How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor – Chapter 25

Author: Cireng

Chapter 25

“Seulho-ssi!!!!!”

Whoa, that startled me.

With an earth-shaking shout, a woman I had never met suddenly came charging at me.

Her completely uninhibited approach, without even a hint of hesitation, startled me so much that my body jerked reflexively.

“It’s so nice to meet you!! I finally get to see you!!!”

“Ah, yes. Hello…”

The dumbfounded voice that came out wasn’t intentional.

Despite my foolish reaction, the woman simply burst into laughter.

“You’re even more handsome in person! I’m really happy to meet you!”

The woman’s name was Lee Seulgi.

She was the host of Wise Hot and Cold Bathhouse, the show I was filming today, and currently one of the most well-liked entertainers among younger audiences.

Yesterday, while researching the program, I binge-watched several episodes and immediately understood why she was so popular.

The way she genuinely listened to people, her knack for keeping conversations lively, her comfortable and unpretentious demeanor, and more.

There was no reason not to like her, and I had thought it would be nice if I could leave a good impression as well.

I’d planned to greet her politely when we met on set, but…

‘To think she’d come charging at me like this.’

The complete lack of personal space was one thing, but what confused me more was just how excited she seemed to see me.

‘Why is she so happy to see Yoo Seulho?’

Since entering Yoo Seulho’s body, this was the first time I’d met someone this openly friendly.

As I searched for the right words, wondering if I’d missed something, she immediately explained herself.

“I’ve heard soooo much about you from Miran. I wanted to meet you anyway, and when I heard you’d be appearing on our show, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep last night!”

“Miran?”

“Oh, Ran! Choi Ran!”

Lee Seulgi explained that Choi Ran was her best friend and suddenly launched into endless praise, claiming there wasn’t a more sane person in the entertainment industry than her.

“Miran–I mean, Ran… can sound kind of prickly, but that’s all self-defense. She’s actually really affectionate and kind-hearted.”

“Yes, she is.”

“Of course, you’ve known her for a long time too, so you probably know that already. Ah, Oppa, you’re coming to the after-party tonight too, right? Ran and I are planning to have drinks.”

“Probably…?”

At some point, she’d switched to calling me Oppa.

The conversation was heading in unpredictable directions, leaving me completely bewildered.

‘This is overwhelming.’

I was barely managing to answer when Choi Ran arrived.

Slowly stepping out of her car, she spotted Seulgi and me. Her first greeting was:

“What is this?”

“……Ran-ah, is that really how you greet people? Honestly.”

“Didn’t you two just meet for the first time? What are you even talking about?”

Ignoring Seulgi’s sighs, Choi Ran alternated her gaze between us with her usual expressionless face.

“Oppa, why do you look like that?”

“Like what?”

“Hmm… You look like a student called into the principal’s office? Or a future son-in-law meeting his father-in-law for the first time? Anyway, someone cornered and desperate.”

She really was an actress.

Even her comparisons were absurdly specific.

When I gave an awkward smile, Lee Seulgi suddenly looked horrified.

“Oh no, I’m sorry, Oppa. I was acting too much like Choi Ran, wasn’t I? I wasn’t trying to seem crazy. I just got too excited.”

“Hey, do I look crazy to you?”

“Quiet. Oppa and I are talking. Why are you interrupting?”

“You little–”

They really did look like normal girls.

Watching Choi Ran and Lee Seulgi bicker excitedly made them seem exactly their age.

There wasn’t even room for me to join the conversation, so I quietly slipped away.

At some point, Woo Junseo had arrived and approached me, looking exhausted.

“Ah… I want to sleep ten more minutes.”

“You’re here? You look dead tired.”

“Don’t even start. We filmed until three in the morning yesterday. Seriously, is this normal? We don’t even have enough time to shoot, and we’re filming variety shows? Next time I’m only doing pre-produced projects.”

This guy started whining the moment he arrived.

Maybe we’d gotten comfortable around each other, because Junseo had started complaining a lot more than before.

I comforted him out of habit.

“Let’s finish quickly today and get some rest. Ah, have you greeted Seulgi yet?”

“I should, but later. She’s talking to Choi Ran right now. I don’t even want to look at that girl.”

“What’s your problem now? Why are the male and female leads always fighting?”

“I’m telling you, she’s weird! We fought so much during filming yesterday. Seriously. She’s a total psycho.”

Junseo frowned like he genuinely disliked her.

It was fascinating how they managed to perform romance scenes while hating each other this much.

“Oh my, Junseo-ssi.”

At that moment, Lee Seulgi noticed him and walked over.

The Junseo who had been leaning on me and whining moments ago instantly changed his expression.

“Hello, Seulgi-ssi.”

“We met once privately before. Do you remember? It was only for a moment.”

“Of course. I thought it back then too, but seeing you today confirms it… you have such an elegant aura.”

“Oh my, are you flirting with me?”

“Haha.”

Woo Junseo flashed a smile that made him look like a genuinely attractive man.

Apparently, Choi Ran found it disgusting, because she immediately made a gagging gesture.

I hurriedly stepped between them before another fight could break out.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Seulgi-ssi.”

“Really?”

“You’re quite popular, aren’t you? When I told my friends I was meeting you today, every single one of them was jealous.”

“I’m honored.”

The smile on Lee Seulgi’s face looked surprisingly professional.

The high-school-girl energy she’d shown moments ago had vanished completely. Now she maintained a polite distance from Junseo.

“Before we start filming, shall we all discuss something?”

After skillfully deflecting several of Junseo’s attempts at flirting, Seulgi looked around at all of us.

“What kind of discussion?”

“You’re here to promote your drama, right? Then today’s variety show should serve that purpose. Usually when actors come on with a romance drama, they focus on showing chemistry.”

She explained that it was important for the lead actors to appear so close that viewers wondered:

‘Are they actually dating?’

Ideally, viewers should think:

‘They should date! No, they should get married!’

“People call it the shipping lens. Not just the scenes in the drama, but watching the actors interact in real life and getting excited over it… that’s all part of the content of a romance drama. Some actors even pretend to date. But Junseo-ssi and Ran…”

“We’ll need another strategy.”

I gave the clear answer in place of the hesitant Seulgi.

“Yes. I think that’s for the best.”

Seulgi grinned at me and said she already had an idea.

“Since Oppa’s here too, and all three of you are around the same age, I think it’d be better to push the angle that you’re all really close friends. That way people can enjoy the drama chemistry separately from your real-life chemistry.”

“Sounds good.”

“But for that to work, neither Ran nor Junseo-ssi can show hostility toward each other. No glaring behind each other’s backs either. Variety show cameras catch everything. We don’t have enough time to edit every little thing out, so please do your best. Understood?”

Faced with her firm words, both Choi Ran and Woo Junseo reluctantly nodded.

After Junseo stepped away because his manager called him, an even harsher lecture followed.

“Ran, don’t treat Oppa and Junseo-ssi differently.”

“What different treatment?”

“If people start saying the male lead should’ve been changed because of you, are you going to take responsibility? Don’t make things difficult for them. At least while the cameras are rolling.”

“I didn’t treat them differently.”

“Yes, you did. Everything. Literally everything about you is different treatment. And call them both Oppa. Keep it consistent. That way people won’t start talking.”

Choi Ran puffed out her lips and grumbled.

“You call people differently too, but only I get scolded…”

While patting the sulking Choi Ran on the back, I asked:

“Seulgi-ssi, what should I do?”

“Oppa…”

She glanced at me, then smiled.

“Just keep being yourself.”

***

The currently hottest YouTube variety show, Wise Hot and Cold Bathhouse, was a talk show filmed inside a jjimjilbang (Korean public bathhouse)

Since they rented an actual bathhouse rather than using a studio, the atmosphere felt very relaxed.

“So I just wear this?”

“Yes! The men’s and women’s designs are exactly the same.”

The MC and all the guests changed into the bathhouse uniforms provided by the venue.

It was nice not having to wear special clothes just because we were celebrities.

“Hot or cold! Hello, I’m Lee Seulgi from Wise Hot and Cold Bathhouse. First, let me introduce today’s guests.”

“Actor Woo Junseo.”

“I’m Choi Ran.”

Because the staff, MC, and guests were all wearing identical outfits, the atmosphere felt far less formal.

As I thought about how this show’s sincerity was created through details like this, I introduced myself when it was my turn.

“I’m Yoo Seulho. Thank you for having me.”

“Yes, welcome. For viewers watching our show for the first time, let me briefly explain how it works.”

Seulgi explained that we would move through four rooms.

The hotter the room, the hotter the conversation topics would become.

“In the 50-degree room, we’ll have a light catch-up chat. At 70 degrees, we’ll discuss past relationships. At 90 degrees, we’ll reveal embarrassing black-history stories. If you survive all that, you’ll be allowed into the ice room to promote your drama.”

“Wow. So if we quit halfway, we can’t promote it?”

“Of course not. You’ll lose your screen time too.”

With Seulgi’s playful guidance, the talk show began.

Since it was a dry sauna, enduring the heat wasn’t as difficult as expected.

We occasionally played mini-games to win sweet rice punch and eggs, and we enjoyed the karaoke booths and massage machines scattered throughout the bathhouse.

‘This place is really nice.’

No wonder kids these days loved places like this.

I was just thinking that the detective agency guys would probably enjoy it too when…

“Oppa.”

Feeling my T-shirt being tugged, I turned my head.

Choi Ran was gripping my side.

Perhaps because we’d been filming for several hours already, warmth practically radiated from her body.

“I want a hot dog.”

“Really?”

Seeing her normally expressionless face looking sleepy and relaxed was amusing.

Just as I was about to laugh, Woo Junseo slung an arm over my shoulder.

“Seulho, want some popcorn? Let’s split it.”