“You changed your phone case, sunbae.”
A pink phone case full of cute characters that’s been popular lately.
“Ah… I changed it yesterday.”
Did Choi Gunhyeong’s tastes change a lot after the regression?
Choi Gunhyeong had never been interested in such characters, nor had he cared about decorating things.
The phone case, which was completely different in vibe from the old, worn-out blue card wallet case he always used, caught Seon Ji-yoon’s attention.
“This is that character that’s super popular these days. Did you know, sunbae?”
“This is popular?”
“Of course. It was hard for me to get one too. Good thing it’s not a couple case.”
Seon Ji-yoon said, shaking her own phone.
Choi Gunhyeong just stared at the case, clearly having no idea.
“A fan I ran into on my way home gave it to me. Said the one I always used looked really worn out.”
“So you switched it right away? What a sweet guy!”
“It’s not really like that. Just… my old case was so worn out, so I thought it was a good time.”
The more I got to know Choi Gunhyeong, the more he felt different from the person I knew before the regression.
I thought he was a blunt, rude jerk, but it turns out he wants to talk but doesn’t know the first thing about small talk and ends up mumbling, or he brings the letters he gets from fans on his way home to the set and reads every single one.
This guy was much warmer than I’d thought.
Was I really the only real piece of trash before the regression? Just thinking about it makes my head spin.
*****
“For this poster, we’re going for the feeling of peeking in as the three of you are working on a spirit-banishing job together. This won’t be the official drama poster, so just give off the right vibe. Lee Ha-ryeong, you’ll have the talisman. Choi Gunhyeong, you look cool holding the sword, like you’re standing up to a ghost—swing it just like this. The camera will be set up above, as if it’s attached to the head of a giant ghost. The layout will look something like this… How does that sound?”
The photographer showed various photo layouts on the tablet while explaining.
Most of the angles were focused on the two leads.
“Yes, I understand.”
Choi Gunhyeong and Seon Ji-yoon nodded.
Wearing black suits, holding the spirit-banishing longsword and talisman, the two struck the poses as suggested.
After four months of filming, the two had gotten quite natural at it.
The photographer nodded with satisfaction.
This is why working with veteran actors is so easy.
Tell them one thing, and they get the rest—they earned their place with skill, and their attitude toward shooting is on another level.
While the two moved aside briefly to practice their duo poster pose, Jeon Yeohu, now set up, approached the photographer.
“Hello, photographer.”
“Jeon Yeohu, yes. Hello.”
“About the poster shoot—regarding Jeong Chanyeol, is there any particular pose I could strike that would help?”
“Well, Jeon Yeohu…”
The photographer looked Jeon Yeohu up and down.
‘He’s ridiculously good-looking, though.’
Honestly, among the amazing cast of , this was the actor whose casting made the least sense.
Rumor had it he landed the part because he had powerful backing.
‘That’s probably an exaggeration—maybe they just chose him for his looks? Or maybe there’s more to the story. Rumors don’t start from nothing.’
After all, if there was truly nothing going on, there wouldn’t be any rumors at all.
Having heard those rumors, it was hard not to feel some aversion, no matter how handsome he was.
There are so many kids still fighting to earn a spot like that.
If he got the part through connections despite lacking skill, I’d honestly be furious.
“You saw what Choi Gunhyeong and Seon Ji-yoon were doing just now, right? I can guide you with the pose, but basically, you need to get a feel for it yourself. We can’t do everything for you. You’re a rookie, so I’m not expecting too much.”
I wanted to nag more, but as a professional, I shouldn’t say anything further.
A pro needs to know how to coax even models they don’t like to get the best shots.
And if the model is a rookie? You have to use both the carrot and the stick, and I know how to do that.
“Anyway. I heard this is your first magazine shoot, Jeon Yeohu. Taking that into account, I’ll keep an eye out for you—just pay close attention to the seniors’ poses and follow along. If you work hard, you’ll improve, so don’t worry if you can’t keep up with the seniors in just one day.”
“Yes. Understood. Thank you.”
When Jeon Yeohu replied with a bright smile, the photographer could only end the conversation with a worried sigh.
*****
That photographer really can’t hide his expression.
I get it.
If a rookie you’ve never heard of suddenly lands a major role in a hot drama, anyone would be suspicious.
I have a good idea what he’s thinking.
I’ve heard those rumors too.
But wearing it so openly on your face is another matter.
‘That’s a lack of professionalism.’
Well, what the photographer thinks doesn’t really have anything to do with me, so I was fine.
It’s not like he wants me to run out of the studio in tears.
“We’ll begin shooting!”
The set didn’t differ much from the concept and sample shots the PR team had sent.
It looked like the dark hallway of an office building.
There was a broken desk and chair, shattered glass made of sugar, and other props.
After one more round of makeup and dabbing some fake blood on, I stood on set.
The photographer climbed a ladder and positioned the camera higher than Choi Gunhyeong’s head.
Choi Gunhyeong sat perched atop the desk, Seon Ji-yoon lay resting her head on his legs. I stood behind Choi Gunhyeong, looking down at Seon Ji-yoon.
“Good…! That’s great!”
“Can you tilt your head a bit more there? Yes! That’s it!”
I thought I’d get hassled during the shoot.
‘But that’s not happening?’
Despite having seemed so skeptical about me, the photographer kept praising us all throughout the shoot.
“The three of you work so well together. Let’s keep that up.”
“Could you hold up the talisman up there? Good.”
“Jeon Yeohu, put your finger under Seon Ji-yoon’s chin—yes, that’s it!”
Whatever. As long as he treats me well, that’s all I care about.
*****
After the first poster shoot, the photographer checked the photos he’d just taken.
With each cut, he felt like he’d been hit on the head with a hammer.
No matter which shot he looked at, there was nothing lacking about Jeon Yeohu.
Honestly, if he’d found even a small flaw, he’d planned to really lay into him.
Because in his twenty years as a photographer, he’d learned that cockiness as a rookie needs to be stamped out, so they don’t become top stars who look down on others.
But there was really nothing to criticize.
He followed the given concept perfectly.
And since it was a magazine shoot, he adjusted his pose mid-way to show off the accessories—without even being prompted!
There’s one thing rookie actors often miss: the concept for a drama poster is completely different from that for a magazine shoot done for drama promotion.
A magazine shoot needs to showcase the outfits and accessories.
‘How does he know that? This must be his first photoshoot.’
Every shot was an A-cut.
If he really were a rookie who got in through connections, he should be awkward, stumbling, or unable to meet my demands.
But watching this shoot, it looked like he was the veteran, not me.
“This… doesn’t make sense.”
The photographer swept his messy bangs back and muttered.
“Just what is this guy?”
“Which guy?”
Just then, Jeon Yeohu appeared out of nowhere.
Startled, the photographer stepped back, nearly falling, but Jeon Yeohu caught his wrist and helped him upright.
“That was close, photographer.”
Smiling innocently, Jeon Yeohu’s face somehow made the photographer feel guilty.
“What brings you…?”
“I just wanted to say your advice before the shoot really helped.”
“My advice…?”
“Yes. You told me to watch the seniors carefully.”
Jeon Yeohu rolled his eyes playfully as he smiled.
Meaning he’d done his best to observe, just as instructed.
“I watched and followed closely.”
Oh, heavens.
The photographer felt like his heart was going to burst from guilt.
What had he almost done to such a good kid?
Wasn’t he about to abuse his power over a rookie just entering the industry—all because of groundless suspicion?
His insides churned with shame. If he kept getting thanked like this, he felt like he might actually throw up.
“Thank you so much, photographer. I look forward to your guidance for the rest of the shoot.”
Seeing Jeon Yeohu bow politely, the photographer could find nothing else to say and sent him away.
As he checked the photos again, the man could only chew over how foolish he’d been.
Perhaps that’s why he didn’t notice Choi Gunhyeong watching him from a distance.
*****
After the couple shoot with Seon Ji-yoon and Choi Gunhyeong, it was my turn to shoot with Choi Gunhyeong.
Maybe the earlier conversation had softened him, but I got nothing but compliments during the shoot.
Well, even before regression, people called me a prodigy at photoshoots when I was a child actor—if someone criticized me now, that would be stranger.
Choi Gunhyeong wasn’t bad either.
He’s stiff, but he’s not a model, so this much is a passing grade.
For the back-facing shots, I even taught him how to tense his back muscles for the camera.
‘Sunbae, if you stretch your shoulders a bit more back, your muscles will show much better. Try it.’
Lately, I’ve realized Choi Gunhyeong doesn’t say much, but if you tell him to do something, he does it right away.
It’s like programming a robot.
Not bad. Doing what you’re told when you’re told is a skill too.
After the PR team finished filming the behind-the-scenes, it was time for individual interviews.
That meant the shoot was nearly over for the day.
With her solo shots finished, Seon Ji-yoon left first, so only Choi Gunhyeong and I remained on set.
I knew Choi Gunhyeong was a man of few words, and we weren’t close enough to chat, so I just fiddled with my phone.
Replying to fans on SNS turned out to be quite a lot of fun.
Maybe because it’s something I never did before the regression.
– Yeohu-ya ㅠㅠㅠ marry me
└ Should I?
└ This is insane
└ Here’s a man who doesn’t know how scary women can be
└ Take responsibility take responsibility take responsibility take responsibility take responsibility take responsibility
– How can someone be this handsome… Please stop, it’s too much
└ Is it really that bad?
└ Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
– Yeohu-ya, it’s me, Joo Taegang. When does the drama you’re filming air again?
└ @ju_taegang_superstar Who’s this imposter?
└ No, it’s really Joo Taegang ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ OMG ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ Ah, sorry;;;;
└ ㅋㅋSunbae, I don’t know either…
“Yeohu-ya.”
“Yes?”
That’s when Choi Gunhyeong suddenly spoke to me.
What is it?
……Why is he talking to me?