[Huh? Hyung, is this right?]
[It should be…… right?]
[Is, is it?]
Heeyeon was watching Hyunjae’s music show MC Vlog that had just been uploaded to Kingdom’s channel.
Despite his door-sized physique, he was staring intently at the small smartphone, practicing the challenge choreography.
“Ah~ So cute.”
His stiff, clunky movements as he tried his best, twisting this way and that, looked utterly adorable in Heeyeon’s eyes.
[Uaah~ Hyung, I guess I’m no good at this. Hing.]
In the end, Hyunjae pouted his lower lip and flopped onto the waiting room sofa, burying his face in his arms.
[Kyaak! What are you doing!]
Then, the stylist’s voice rang out from off-screen. At her shout, Hyunjae jumped in surprise, eyes wide and round as he gauged her reaction.
[Ma, makeup…….]
[No! It didn’t smudge! I was holding it like this.]
[Watch yourself.]
[Yep.]
Fans already knew the stylist was the real power in Hyunjae’s team, so it didn’t faze anyone.
[Ah, should I ask them to adjust the choreo difficulty?]
[No…… I have to do it…….]
Hyunjae slowly got up. Tackling a high-difficulty challenge and making people go, “Oh~ He must have improved a lot after a few challenges,” only to reveal this behind-the-scenes effort made his dedication shine even brighter and more endearing.
“Here, I need to cut this part.”
Heeyeon planned to clip the practice footage with the challenge video to make a short Shorts clip.
‘Hyunjae’s records.’
Her fan channel was growing subscribers quickly thanks to her witty editing and high-quality videos.
-Ah~ Jung Hyunjae is so cute these days
-This account made me a total fan
-What camera do you use btw?
-The music show MC is really good too. I hope they become a permanent host, so good, so good.
-I just finished ‘Today’s Fruit Shop’ and fell for Dohwan, wanna stan—any recs on what to watch?
‘Blue Sky Spring’ Hyunjae cuts, watch them and…… sob
He’s still a rookie so not many works yetᅲᅲ He filmed ‘Love Some’ but no airing news yet!
ᄂᄂGasp! Oh no… (crying)
ᄂᄂBut music show commute vids are coming often so let’s hold on with those
└If you can, even the overseas fan meeting for Fruit Shop…….
Seeing new fans join from her videos and fans bonding with each other made her proud.
As she read the comments, one caught her eye.
-This is bs. I know someone who went to acting academy with him? He was always an aspiring celeb lol
It was on the video titled [The acting skills of a god-tier talent scouted by chance at a broadcasting station].
‘Huh? That can’t be right.’
Since stanning, she’d dug up everything about Hyunjae—knowing his debut story was basic.
He’d caught an idol audition program writer’s eye and been cast, but rejected since he wasn’t interested in idols, then filmed a promo video at the director’s request—it was a famous tale among fans.
‘That’s how he got the ad too.’
The video led to ad offers, sparking his interest and leading him to acting—it was even in interviews.
“What’s this random acting academy talk?”
Fans sharing her thoughts replied under the comment.
ᄂHyunjae himself said he’s never gone to acting academy. Don’t spread rumors
ᄂᄂThey say his photo’s up at the academy. Going all out to craft a genius image huh
ᄂᄂWhat are you on about, go read interviews
ᄂᄂThe writer said he had zero interest in celebs and it was a hassle to persuade him
ᄂᄂIf you’re gonna say that, bring proof
The person didn’t add more after the proof demand.
‘These rumors are always the problem.’
His standout acting in his first drama earned him the acting genius title, and this was clearly from someone jealous.
Heeyeon debated deleting but left it.
“These types need a beating to snap out of it.”
No need to delete when he was confident, and leaving evidence of them fleeing without proof was better for later.
“Huh? Taewoon posted on Starsta?”
Perfectly timed, Taewoon uploaded a selfie from the practice room with the ‘Today’s Fruit Shop’ members.
“Kyaah~ Awesome!”
In a t-shirt and comfy pants, with sweat-dampened hair, flashing a V at the camera— it was a look hard to see while he was acting.
“As expected from Taewoon.”
He knew exactly what fans liked as an idol.
[D-30 See you soon!]
The Starsta post promoted the upcoming ‘Today’s Fruit Shop’ fan meeting.
***
“Hello~”
“Huh? Not a shoot day today, right?”
“I was passing by and thought of the staff, so I brought snacks!”
He visited the set even though it wasn’t a shoot day.
‘Wonder if he’s doing well?’
He’d said passing by, but there was a reason. Today was Jinseok’s first shoot day.
Jinseok and Incheol had a private meeting, and Incheol was satisfied, but since he’d recommended him, he couldn’t help worrying.
“You’re really keeping us fed.”
“Thanks for bringing food every shoot day, but even on off days…….”
Given Incheol’s situation, staff welfare was hard to cover, so he brought tasty stuff when he could.
‘Good thing the ad money came in decently.’
“I got bunsik! Still a while before shooting starts, right? Better eat while it’s warm.”
“Oh~ Bunsik! No problem. Still got time.”
“Mmm~ Smells good—everyone, eat quick and let’s go.”
The staff swarmed the food he’d bought.
“Where are the director and Jinseok hyung?”
“Mmm! Delicious. Those two?”
“Yeah.”
They were the only ones missing from the set.
“Probably conferencing in that corner over there?”
The camera director pointed to the stairs outside the office.
No budget for sets, so they were shooting in a decorated empty office in an old shopping complex.
“Conference?”
Why a sudden conference mid-shoot?
“Cheolmin’s the one you introduced, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Ha, how’d you introduce someone just like you.”
He let out a wry laugh as he spoke.
“Someone just like me?”
Jinseok like him? What made him say that?
“Go see. You’ll get it. And tell them to come eat when done.”
“Ah…… Okay.”
He nodded like he understood and headed out the office to the stairs.
“This is…..”
“Ah~ I think I get what you mean. Cheolmin’s a villain after all…….”
As he neared the stairs, their voices reached him.
“Director? Hyung?”
He climbed half a flight and called them. Squatting on the stairs, poring over the script, they looked up at him.
“Huh?”
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
Both looked surprised at his unexpected appearance on a non-shoot day.
“Worried you might shoot without eating, so I dropped by with food.”
“Ah~ No wonder it got quiet suddenly—must be the food.”
“Thanks, we’ll enjoy it.”
“But what are you doing here?”
It was odd seeing two grown men huddled over one script.
“What else—script analysis.”
“Cheolmin’s role is pretty tough, so I was asking the director.”
“Who’d expect the guy you recommended to be just like you.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
You can’t spit on a smiling face—he grinned at Incheol, who smiled back like he couldn’t help it.
“Jeez…… Yeah, it’s a compliment. Happy?”
“Yes! Got it.”
“Then let’s eat quick and start shooting.”
Incheol stood first and headed to the office, Jinseok following.
“Hyung, you okay?”
“Yeah, it’s so fun!”
Worried he might be tense after a long break, but far from it—his enthusiasm was overflowing, hitting Hyunjae too.
“Thanks for calling me like this.”
“No, thank you for doing it. Let’s go eat.”
“It’s fine. I’m full even without eating right now!”
“Don’t lie~ How’s that possible. Hurry and eat.”
After the quick snack break, shooting resumed, and Hyunjae settled in a corner to watch Jinseok’s acting.
“Ha, fuck. Really…… You think you can cut ties like this and I’ll just sit quiet, treating me like what?”
Jinseok’s role, Cheolmin, was a branch in a dotted-line crime organization.
But as a tough, ambitious guy, he climbs up and succeeds.
“Hey, let’s start a new room. Gonna lay down a big one this time…… Real big.”
Jinseok’s eyes on the phone were full of venom.
“Cut! Good.”
Flawless acting no one could nitpick.
‘Yeah, knew it.’
He’d just not gotten fitting roles before, but his skill was top-notch even then.
With this much effort, his worry was needless in hindsight.
“Director, was it okay?”
“Yeah, well done.”
“I tried not to rush lines, but does it drag?”
“No. Actually…….”
No reason to stay longer, so he told nearby staff and quietly left the set.
“Looking forward to it.”
Wondered what he’d show when acting with him later.
“Ah, gotta hurry.”
Train time was short, so he quickened his pace, then faced someone head-on in an alley.
“Ah, sorry.”
“It’s fi…… Huh? Jung Hyunjae!”
He looked late 30s, so Hyunjae thought he wouldn’t recognize him, but he did instantly.
“Uh, sorry.”
Realizing pointing and naming was rude, he apologized right away.
“Ahaha, no, it’s fine.”
“I’m a fan. I really like your acting, Hyunjae-ssi.”
“Thank you~”
Used to female fans, a middle-aged male one was novel and gratifying.
‘My charm works here too.’
“I’m an aspiring actor too!”
“Ah~ Really?”
That explained spotting him instantly.
“Yeah! So I’m attending an acting academy now!”
“Hope we work together someday. Good luck. But I have something…….”
Train time tight for more chat, so he tried to bow out, but the man stopped him.
“I’m attending the acting academy you went to, Hyunjae-ssi.”
“Huh? The acting academy I…… went to?”