Chapter 52: Trust and Tensions

Ryubyul posted 20 photos from my college days on SNS. 

(BalletPoseImBadaJPG) (SleepingOnTheFloor_ImBada_JPG) 

My friend. 

She said she wouldn’t call me her friend, but in the end, she wrote “my friend.” 

“…She didn’t even delete my college photos.” 

This was unexpected. Not a single article came up about Ryubyul and me being on bad terms. Instead, the photos from our college days caused a huge stir. 

Looking at the screenshots Seo-eun unnie sent me… 

Negative@Q_E

Im Bada is seriously ridiculous; 

We had to find out about these cute and adorable photos through Ryubyul? 

(SnowmanSmiling_ImBada_JPG) 

TwoDots@DDD_2

I’m going crazy because of this photo; lol 

Sob sob aahhh so cute ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ College days photos 

The fans’ reactions were intense. I wanted to create an official SNS account but kept putting it off due to lack of time. I only had the agency’s official account. 

‘I feel a bit bad…’

Maybe after Youngyoung wraps up, I should make an SNS account… or maybe the agency’s official account is enough. After all, as long as an actor acts well, the fans will love them. 

Or maybe not… 

“…Bada-ya, you okay?” 

“I’m fine. Why?” 

“It’s just, it’s your first time dealing with this…” 

This was my first time facing an article in this life. Manager Min Seo-eun seemed quite worried. 

“Luckily, since Byul posted the photos on SNS, the agency won’t respond separately.” 

“Got it!” 

“I was wondering how you feel about it. You and Byul are close, right?” 

…Why does everyone keep saying I’m close with her? 

“Does it look like we’re close to you, unnie?” 

“…Huh? What do you mean?” 

Min Seo-eun, who had parked at the Yongin historical drama set, turned to look at me. 

“No, I mean, do we seem close to you?” 

“Yeah, it looks that way.” 

If it looked like that from a third-party perspective, that’s a relief. It probably looks the same to others. 

Min Seo-eun hesitated before speaking. 

“So… there’s a press conference before we shoot episode 6, right?” 

Oh, right, there’s a press conference scheduled between episodes 5 and 6. I could feel the broadcast date approaching. 

“Some nasty reporters might ask you…” 

“If I’m close with Ryubyul?” 

“Yeah, yeah. So…” 

“They might ask, sure.” 

“It’s not something to brush off so easily…” 

“Hey, unnie, I’m fine.” 

Reporters’ bad questions aren’t new. How you handle those trashy questions shapes an actor’s image. 

“I’ll handle it well.” 

“Okay, but be careful on set too. I’ll keep an eye out.” 

“Thanks, unnie.” 

I playfully blew a hand kiss and winked. Only then did Seo-eun unnie let out a small laugh, her worries easing. 

By the way, the headache from time travel isn’t going away. 

‘…Is it getting to the point where even medicine doesn’t help?’ 

Even though I had a light schedule, resting three days a week… 

Ding. 

[21:01:34] 

A red status window appeared, showing I had 21 hours left. Getting rid of this accumulated fatigue was tough. 

“Bada-ya, how’s the headache?” 

I answered with a smile. 

“Still hurting?” 

“…It hurts even with medicine.” 

“You sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?” 

“Am I going to die?” 

Min Seo-eun widened her eyes and shouted, 

“Im Bada!” 

“…Y-Yes?” 

“Take care of yourself. Your body is my body too.” 

“Huh? I’m taking care of myself just fine.” 

“When an adult speaks, you say ‘yes.’ Got it?” 

I’m an adult too. But I surrendered to unnie’s worried gaze. 

“Yes. Got it.” 

Guess I’ll have to sneak headache medicine later. 

“Tell me if you’re hurting anywhere.” 

“Okay!” 

“Even if it’s a little pain, tell me.” 

“Okay, unnie.” 

As I nodded enthusiastically, her expression softened, and she gestured outside. 

“You can go now.” 

“Okay!” 

I opened the car door and stepped out. The Yongin historical drama set felt different from Mungyeong. 

“You’re here early.” 

The first person I saw upon getting out was Ryubyul. She was already done with hair and makeup, dressed in a hanbok. Just a simple pink hanbok, yet she exuded an intellectual aura. 

I was about to thank her when I felt eyes staring at me from all directions. 

Well, they wouldn’t be friendly gazes. 

“Ryubyul.” 

I called out to her without showing it. Spotting me, Ryubyul flashed a picture-perfect smile. 

“Oh, it’s Im Bada, the actor I’m supposedly not close with?” 

…This girl. 

“Oh, it’s Ryubyul, the one I’m supposedly not close with.” 

When I shot back, Ryubyul chuckled, tilting her head. 

“Saw the article? They made it sound like we hate each other.” 

“Yeah, like we’re mortal enemies itching to take each other down.” 

They wrote that we were growling and fighting on set. Hilarious, really. 

“Thanks for posting the photos on Instagram, by the way.” 

“If you’re grateful, let’s take more photos.” 

“Photos?” 

At that moment, Ryubyul’s manager came over and got ready to take pictures. 

“…What kind of photos?” 

“Ones that make it look like we’re not close.” 

“Why photos like that?” 

Ryubyul raised the corners of her mouth and said, 

“These kinds of photos work well with the public.” 

“Really?” 

“Photos posted on Instagram are practically official. If we post ones that make it seem like we’re not close, people will think, ‘Oh, they’re actually close!’” 

“Oh.” 

I let out a small sound of admiration. 

“You’ll take them, right, Im Bada?” 

“Yeah, I’ll do it.” 

We took a few photos with a hanok in the background—ones where we’re glaring at each other like we’re fighting, and ones where we’re staring with arms crossed. As soon as we took those two, Min Seo-eun came running over. 

“You’re posting these photos?” 

“Yes. What do you think?” 

While the managers checked if it was okay to post, I pulled a handkerchief from my bunny bag. 

“What’s with the bunny bag?” 

“I lose bags a lot, so my manager unnie gave it to me.” 

Ryubyul nodded as if she understood. 

“You do lose things a lot.” 

“Me?” 

“…You’re not going to say you didn’t know, are you?” 

“I didn’t know until unnie gave me this bag.” 

I only realized recently, thanks to Min Seo-eun, that I have a habit of losing things. 

“…What’s with you?” 

“What?”  

“Never mind. Let’s not talk about it.” 

It felt like asking would put me at a disadvantage, so I shut my mouth. I sat on the ground nearby and pulled the script from my bunny bag. 

‘…Gotta check it carefully.’

Today’s scene had a lot of lines. Ryubyul, looking down at me, suddenly said, 

“…You’re secretly super thorough with lines, huh? You weren’t like this before.” 

“What are you talking about? I’ve always been thorough with lines.” 

“No, I mean…” 

“Yes, go on.” 

Ryubyul narrowed her eyes, scanning my face. 

“You used to memorize lines like it was nothing.” 

“People change.” 

“No, they don’t.” 

‘She’s sharp.’

Worried I’d fall behind on checking lines, I was about to head to the makeup van when I saw Im Hoon running toward us in a dragon robe. His running form was like a national athlete’s. 

“Hey, is that a dog or what?” 

“No dog’s that big.” 

“It’s a figure of speech.” 

He stopped in front of us, frowning. 

“Why did you guys eat kuktbab without me?” 

“…Kuktbab?” 

“You ate kuktbab nearby without me! Just me left out! Me!” 

He ran all the way here just for kuktbab? To ask about that? Ryubyul snorted. 

“We can eat kuktbab.” 

“Argh! I have a mouth for kuktbab too! You think you’re the only one with a mouth?” 

He’s not a kid… What’s this development? 

“I saw it with my own eyes. You posted the photos on SNS!” 

It must be because the kuktbab photo was posted on Ryubyul’s SNS. I get why he’s upset—he might’ve felt left out. 

I raised both hands to calm the angry “dog.” 

“Whoa, whoa.” 

“…Huh? I’m a dog?” 

“Stop!” 

“Stop?” 

“Calm down.” 

I looked at Im Hoon’s flushed, angry face. 

“Cool your face. It’s bright red.” 

“…What’s wrong with my face?” 

“It looks like it’s about to explode. Not a ticking time bomb.” 

He checked his face on his phone screen and pressed his cheeks with the backs of his hands, still glaring at us. 

“You think I’ll let this slide?” 

“Article.” 

Ryubyul, annoyed, changed the subject. 

“Article? What article?” 

“You don’t even read entertainment news?” 

“I only read articles about me.” 

“Crazy guy.” 

…When will he fix that prince syndrome? 

“So? What article? Not about me, right?” 

Im Hoon kept throwing out guesses. 

“What is it? Dating rumor? Scandal? Drugs? Affair?” 

What does he usually read? 

“Entertainment articles are all the same, aren’t they?” 

I sighed at Im Hoon’s noisy behavior and pointed at Ryubyul. 

“There was an article saying she and I aren’t close.” 

“I knew it…” 

His reaction suggested he’d expected it, and I raised an eyebrow. 

“I had a feeling an article like that would come up. I wondered why Im-sensei’s photos suddenly appeared on her SNS. So that’s what it was?” 

He looked smug, like he’d predicted it. It was annoying to see. 

I lifted my right foot and stepped on his, hard. 

“Ow!” 

“…Be quiet.” 

“Argh! My foot! My toes!” 

“Seriously… so dramatic.” 

While Im Hoon hopped around clutching his foot, Ryubyul muttered seriously, 

“To think I have to film a romance with this guy…” 

“Same here.” 

Im Hoon shot back, not backing down. 

I’m the most pitiful one, having to film a drama with these two in the same space. 

Sighing inwardly, Im Hoon muttered quietly, 

“Anyway, I’m not filming a romance with you today.” 

“…True.” 

“And the writer said you and I won’t see the end of our romance. Lucky, right?” 

Wait a second. 

“Hey, no spoilers.” 

“…What? Spoiler?” 

“Ugh, forced spoiler.” 

I’m a supporting character, so I don’t know the main leads’ storyline. I didn’t want to find out like this, through the lead’s mouth. 

“Annoying.” 

“How’s that a spoiler?” 

“It ruins immersion.” 

“Huh, unbelievable. Me…!” 

Im Hoon could only let out exasperated exclamations. 

“Completely useless.” 

As Ryubyul joined in, Im Hoon let out a hollow laugh. 

“No, I was wrong. You two are friends. Who said you’re not?” 

Shaking his head, I responded, 

“Yeah, we’re friends.” 

Ryubyul, lowering the corners of her mouth and shrugging, added, 

“If we’re not friends, what are we?” 

Time to get back to work. Checking the script is more productive than this pointless conversation. 

As I lowered my head to read, Im Hoon, regaining his composure, asked, 

“By the way, today’s the scene where you two meet, right?” 

“Yeah, it is.” 

Ryubyul answered. 

“I heard your chemistry during Heejae was great~” 

His sly tone and expectant gaze felt greasy. 

“Since it’s been a while, I wonder what kind of acting you’ll show? Maybe I’d match better with Im-sensei.” 

This wasn’t about recruiting me—it was blatantly picking a fight with Ryubyul. 

‘Pouring oil on a small spark?’

But she’s not the type to fall for low-level bait. 

“Well… since it’s been a while, our chemistry might not be great.” 

I smirked at her serious tone. 

“Yeah, I’m a bit worried since it’s been so long since we acted together.” 

She fell silent after that. 

In today’s shoot, Yeonwoo, coming to meet Prince Iyoung, is shocked to see Kim Sohyun there. 

Igeum Jin had guaranteed she’d become the Crown Princess, but in reality, Prince Iyoung wants Kim Sohyun. That’s the misunderstanding Yeonwoo has. 

Meanwhile, Kim Sohyun suspects Yeonwoo’s mother, and Yeonwoo, noticing this, avoids answering. 

I was curious. 

What kind of acting would Ryubyul show in this life? Would she surprise me? That’s why I needed to prepare quickly. 

“I’m going to get my makeup done. See you later.” 

I put the script in my bunny bag and headed to the makeup van. I could feel her gaze on me from behind. 

‘She’s looking forward to it too, right?’ 

So am I. 

I’m going to show my best. 

★★★

After makeup was done. 

Yeonwoo enters the palace to meet Prince Iyoung, and Kim Sohyun appears before her. 

*‘…Yeonwoo must be confused.’* 

Thinking her mother might be the killer. Guilt toward her friend, yet wanting to protect her mother as a daughter. 

If not done carefully… the audience might brand her a “trash sub-lead.” 

“Bada-ssi.” 

Yeom Haejin called me, gesturing. 

“This scene, you know, I included it because I trust you.” 

“I trust your acting, so I put this scene in.” 

I thought this scene was a turning point for Yeonwoo too. Otherwise… 

“She said to make Yeonwoo not seem hateful.” 

It’s practically a mission. As if responding, a sub-quest window flashed before my eyes. 

[Sub-Quest Activated] 

[Sub-Quest: Act Yeonwoo in a way that doesn’t make her seem hateful.] 

[Points: 1]