Chapter 19: Outshining Shadows

I let out a realistic gagging sound.

“What the…?”

“Bada-ssi, you okay?”

“Sorry, sorry, I drank coffee on an empty stomach.”

Kim Jung-woo belatedly spoke to me.

“Are you… okay?”

“Don’t come near me!”

As Kim Jung-woo approached with a concerned tone, I waved my hands, telling him to stay back.

“Ughhh…”

“Argh! Gross!”

Startled, Kim Jung-woo shouted.

“Don’t come closer…”

“Ugh, gross.”

“Sorry.”

The melodramatic glint in Kim Jung-woo’s eyes faded as he returned to his usual self, pouring water on his hand, claiming my spit got on it.

‘This is when acting comes in handy.’

But Kim Jung-woo, with a sullen expression, didn’t leave. He lingered around me, clearly wanting to talk.

“Since it’s a short scene, no need to rehearse. Just rest.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Director.”

“No problem. My actor’s unwell.”

As I started heading back to my seat, thanks to Director Kang Jo-jo’s kindness, Ko Eun-hyuk approached.

“Bada-ya, are you okay…?”

“My stomach’s upset.”

“Your stomach? Badly?”

“Yeah, a bit. Probably from the Americano earlier.”

“Then lean on my shoulder?”

I appreciated the gesture but shook my head.

“What if I throw up on you?”

“I’ll catch it. I have plenty of clothes.”

…This guy’s sweet but totally clueless. Couldn’t he feel Kim Jung-woo’s glare from behind?

I refused again.

“This isn’t your outfit. I’m fine.”

“Oh, right…”

Finally, Kim Jung-woo, who’d been listening, snapped at Ko Eun-hyuk in a curt tone.

“Hey, no greeting for me?”

“Oh.”

Jerk.

Ko Eun-hyuk apologized repeatedly, bowing deeply. But Kim Jung-woo stood still, uninterested in accepting.

Only when Director Kang Jo-jo called him did he acknowledge Ko Eun-hyuk’s greeting.

“Go.”

Finally straightening up, Ko Eun-hyuk hurriedly turned to me.

“You okay?”

“Are you okay?”

We checked on each other.

“I’m fine, obviously.”

“Good to hear.”

“Heo-jun hyung told me earlier—some senior actors can be real jerks. If you don’t play along, it’ll be tough forever. So I went along with it, no other meaning.”

“Good. You’ll manage now?”

“Yeah.”

By the way.

In my past life, Kim Jung-woo wasn’t this bad.

‘Must be because the future changed.’

Originally, Kim Jung-woo was cast as Min Do-hyuk, but this time Ko Eun-hyuk took the role.

Lost in thought, Ko Eun-hyuk gently tapped my arm.

“Bada-ya, you okay?”

“Me? I’m fine.”

“You threw up.”

If I didn’t tell the truth, Ko Eun-hyuk would worry until filming ended. I whispered, “I’m not actually sick.”

“Huh? You said you were?”

“I acted like that to avoid him.”

Slow to catch on, Ko Eun-hyuk just blinked.

“Did Kim Jung-woo sunbae scold you?”

“…No. His gaze was just weird.”

“Weird?”

That was all I said, but he got it instantly. Clenching his right fist, he said resolutely, “Want me to help?”

I considered it, but he was newer than me. Getting on the bad side of a well-connected actor like Kim Jung-woo wouldn’t be good.

A sub-quest popped up, and I doubted my eyes.

[Sub-Quest Activated.]

[Sub-Quest: Prove Yourself to Kim Jung-woo Through Acting.]

[Points: 1.5]

‘Prove myself through acting?’

The scene with Kim Jung-woo was to be ad-libbed. Is that why this quest appeared?

Smirking at Ko Eun-hyuk, I said, “Eun-hyuk-ah, I don’t need help.”

“…Really? What if something bad happens?”

“I can handle it myself.”

If it’s about acting, I could beat Kim Jung-woo.

★★★

Kim Jung-woo had been a supporting actor for 11 years, but a two-year hiatus followed a drunk driving incident.

Those who’d known him since his child actor days criticized him—calling him a lunatic, a murderer, and worse. Yet Kim Jung-woo remained defiant. Acting well would make people forget.

So, he planned to boost his profile with Save Me, a drama with a great director and popular writer.

Perfect.

Hearing that Kang Jo-jo valued experience, Kim Jung-woo expected to land Min Do-hyuk.

But his expectations were off.

Kang Jo-jo cast rookies Im Bada and Ko Eun-hyuk, some nobody, as supporting leads.

Kim Jung-woo begged his agency for a cameo in Save Me to show he was back in the game.

Luckily, his strong agency secured it.

Arriving at the Save Me set, Kim Jung-woo sat, half-listening to Kang Jo-jo while his eyes followed Im Bada.

“…Jung-woo-ssi?”

“Yes? Yes.”

“Didn’t hear me?”

“No, I heard.”

“Listen.”

Kang Jo-jo explained the scene with the ex-boyfriend.

“…As the ex-boyfriend who sees the sociopathic Ewha-won’s true nature, Jung-woo-ssi.”

‘He’s going on and on… Just play a pathetic ex, right?’

His co-star was a rookie. Could they possibly outshine him?

“What if I ad-lib and Bada-ssi gets startled, Director?”

“…Huh? Oh.”

“What?”

Kang Jo-jo gave him a puzzled look.

“Don’t you watch TV?”

“I don’t watch dramas I’m not in.”

“You’d know if you did. You don’t need to worry about that.”

Kang Jo-jo’s tone, implying more trust in Im Bada’s acting, irritated Kim Jung-woo.

“Isn’t it normal for an experienced actor to doubt a rookie?”

“…Right.”

Kang Jo-jo apologized and turned away, but something felt off, twisting Kim Jung-woo’s mood. He snapped at a makeup staff and drank water.

“If makeup’s done, can we start? We’ve got another shoot.”

“Sure, whatever.”

‘Damn, one drunk driving incident, and they treat me like this?’

Unable to curse openly with people around, Kim Jung-woo fumed.

Then, Kang Jo-jo gestured to Im Bada.

“Bada-ssi? You feeling okay?”

“Yes, I’m better after resting.”

“About what you mentioned earlier…”

Their conversation didn’t reach Kim Jung-woo’s ears.

His sneaky gaze lingered on her face.

‘She’s pretty.’

For a rookie.

He wouldn’t mind dating her if a scandal linked them. Using a rising rookie actress to stir buzz thrilled him.

After talking with her, Kang Jo-jo approached, explaining the scene’s flow.

“Got it, Jung-woo-ssi?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“The knife will be used, just lightly stabbed into the table. No threat.”

“Got it.”

Kang Jo-jo demonstrated, but Kim Jung-woo yawned, ignoring him.

“You saw?”

“Yeah, I saw.”

“We’ll proceed like this.”

Kim Jung-woo nodded absentmindedly. As Kang Jo-jo left for the camera, Im Bada spoke.

“Sunbae-nim, you heard the director, right?”

“Huh?”

“About our scene.”

‘She’s even prettier up close.’ Her words barely registered.

He’d just brush it off.

“It’s an ad-lib scene, right? Don’t be surprised if I grab your arm.”

“…That’d be nice.”

“Then I’ll grab gently.”

Im Bada gave a slight smile and sat, making Kim Jung-woo feel confident.

‘She’s fallen for my charm.’

“Starting. Ready…”

At Kang Jo-jo’s thin “Ready,” Kim Jung-woo slipped his left hand into his pocket, waiting.

The scene began with Kim Jung-woo, the pathetic ex-boyfriend, meeting his ex in a restaurant.

“Action.”

Kim Jung-woo, embodying the sleazy ex, loosened his tie and walked into the restaurant.

The moment he turned toward Im Bada.

“…..”

“…..”

The smiling Im Bada was gone, replaced by an intimidating figure.

“Hey, my ex-girlfriend Ewha-won…!”

He was told to act as pathetic as possible, so he sat naturally beside her.

She should’ve been flustered, but Im Bada ignored him, staring straight ahead.

“Been a while, Ewha-won. Still pretty today, huh?”

Why wasn’t she speaking? Kim Jung-woo swallowed, visibly rattled.

“Meeting my ex…”

“Who?”

Reacting to “ex-boyfriend,” Im Bada narrowed her eyes, glaring at him with a sharp edge in her tone.

“So?”

“I, uh, just missed you~.”

Stumbling over a rookie’s acting—Kim Jung-woo couldn’t lose. He touched her cheek lightly.

Rookies usually falter with unscripted contact—flinching, panicking, or losing focus.

But Im Bada, with a hint of a smile, scanned him up and down.

“Still got bad hand habits.”

“…I—”

“They say you can’t fix a dog’s habits. Wanna try fixing yours?”

With minimal movement, Im Bada grabbed his right wrist, slamming it onto the table.

Thud.

She spun the knife between her fingers and stabbed it hard into the table beside his hand.

Though a prop, the metal knife could’ve stabbed him. Startled, Kim Jung-woo’s eyes widened as he yelped.

“Hey!”

That was his real voice, not acting.

“You bastard!”

His face paled as he struggled to free himself from her grip.

“Let go!”

“Let go!”

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free.

“Not letting go?”

“Let go? Really?”

“Let go!”

“Fine.”

Im Bada gently released his hand. But with the sudden release, momentum sent Kim Jung-woo tumbling backward, his chair hitting the floor.

Sitting on the ground, he glared at her fiercely.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“You know I’m like this.”

“What?”

“Sociopaths kill people, don’t they?”

Kim Jung-woo scrambled up, pointing at her, completely swept up in her pace.

“You, you—”

Countless warning bells rang in his head, but he couldn’t stop his words or actions.

“Forgetting your lines? You’re not a goldfish.”

“Hey!”

At the word “goldfish” and her mocking laugh, Kim Jung-woo stood, raising his hand.

“Cut! Jung-woo-ssi!”

Director Kang Jo-jo’s cut call rang out.

“Damn it!”

Kim Jung-woo cursed loudly at Im Bada.

“Pointing a knife at someone?”

“Huh?”

Im Bada thrust the knife toward him.

It was duller than a real knife, but seeing it flash before his eyes, Kim Jung-woo flinched.

“You agreed earlier, Sunbae-nim.”

“When did I!”

“That’s why the director said to proceed…”

When! When! Kim Jung-woo felt she was setting him up.

“This is a setup, isn’t it…?”

This is why rookies are no good.

How could she act so brazen after nearly causing an accident? Kim Jung-woo shouted, determined to teach her a lesson.

“You think I’m a joke?”

As he moved to grab her shoulder, Kang Jo-jo rushed over.

“What are you doing?”

“No, she—”

Something was off. The staff’s gazes were sharp. Quick-witted, Kim Jung-woo shut his mouth.

“You agreed to the knife ad-lib.”

“What…”

“I thought your acting was great…”

Kim Jung-woo’s face flushed red, biting his lip, swearing internally.

‘Crazy. Crazy. Crazy!’