“You’re laughing here?”
Tae-ha, looking as if he had just met an old friend from school, smiled without hesitation.
Seeing that, everyone wondered the same thing.
Contrary to expectations that an NG would be called, the filming continued.
Han Yun-seong also kept acting without pause.
He smiled gently, yet coldly, as if this was the reaction he expected.
So, Tae-ha and Han Yun-seong faced each other, both smiling.
“So that’s why…”
At that moment, those watching finally realized.
The effect Tae-ha had created by not following the Script exactly but interpreting the Role in his own way.
“The depth of the character.”
Byun Kwang-ja 2 had been inseparable from the perpetrator group in high school.
He watched more closely than anyone as the group bullied the main character.
He neither stopped the perpetrators nor helped the victim—literally a bystander to the violence.
“Even so, Byun Kwang-ja 2 doesn’t feel guilt. He’s actually proud of it.”
He might have snickered at the victim’s ridiculousness, but he never used violence himself.
He was in a position to bully the main character, but chose not to.
“A person who lived thinking, ‘I’m decent enough.’… That’s Byun Kwang-ja 2’s true face.”
If Byun Kwang-ja 2 had shown an obviously uncomfortable expression at the Reunion, just as the Script said, it would have been a shallow portrayal.
But by hiding his discomfort and smiling, Tae-ha brought out the character’s hypocrisy on a deeper level.
“But I didn’t act like this just for my own Role.”
If he had, Tae-ha’s acting might have disturbed the flow of the scene as a whole.
What mattered was that Tae-ha and Han Yun-seong both smiling at each other greatly heightened the tension of the scene.
Because Han Yun-seong’s coldness seemed to double, as if he had expected it all along.
And behind the Camera, Director Lee Hae-ik was surprised for another reason.
“What is this guy… Does he know what he’s doing?”
***
This was the first Drama Director Lee Hae-ik was working on after declaring his independence from the Broadcast Station.
Having created many popular works in both Historical Drama and Modern Drama, Lee Hae-ik had earned a certain nickname.
“Art Ik.”
A nickname given for his extreme attention to art, props, composition, and directing style.
At the same time, it was because, even though he was directing a Drama, he pursued cinematic aesthetics and Art.
It was both praise and sarcasm.
When he did well, his beautiful directing captivated viewers, but when he overdid it, he’d linger on props during important scenes or experiment with strange angles, ruining immersion.
And among the virtues of a Drama Director, efficiency was essential.
Because Drama isn’t a movie—you have to shoot many episodes in a short time.
Yet Lee Hae-ik was obsessed with the artistry of every single shot, eating up time and money.
Even if ratings were high, the production costs were so high that he was constantly getting scolded by the department head.
There had even been times when broadcasts were missed because shooting and editing weren’t finished on time.
“This time, there’s no need to worry about that.”
He had a generous budget and plenty of time.
This time, he thought he could really make the most of his strengths.
With such ambition, Lee Hae-ik was currently in the middle of shooting a scene.
He remembered exactly his own comments on Scene 14 of Part 2.
[Why does Byun Kwang-ja 2 suddenly smile here? This should be an awkward Reunion.]
[He’s uncomfortable inside… But Byun Kwang-ja 2, through self-justification, denies that discomfort, and actually bites down and pretends to be cool. So even when he meets the main character, he just smiles, as if there’s nothing between them…]
In response to the Writer, Lee Hae-ik had objected.
[Well, it’s good to think deeply about even the smallest characters. But isn’t it too much meaning for a bit part that barely appears in a few scenes?]
[Ah……]
[It’s not even a cameo. This is a Role that’s going to go to a no-name rookie unless there’s some special casting. Can a new actor really pull off such a complicated portrayal?]
[It’ll be difficult…….]
[If it’s done awkwardly, it’ll just mess up the scene. Let’s keep it simple, Writer Park.]
Lee Hae-ik had a point.
Since it wasn’t an important enough character to argue with the Director about, the Writer revised the Script as Lee Hae-ik said.
Also, since the Writer was a rookie, Lee Hae-ik’s influence was naturally stronger.
So,
[Byun Kwang-ja 2 …… (smiling) Right. It’s been a while.]
That single line ended up changing to what it was now.
[Byun Kwang-ja 2 (unable to hide discomfort) You… Right. It’s been a while.]
That was why Lee Hae-ik was surprised.
Tae-ha was acting exactly as the Writer had originally intended in the first draft.
“Earlier, he was just acting normally… Did he have some sort of realization in between?”
The comparison made it clearer.
The depth and tension made the scene so much better.
Han Yun-seong’s following lines also took on more significance.
“You notice right away, don’t you?”
Only then did Tae-ha’s expression show discomfort.
Thanks to that, the short scene had a distinct beginning, middle, and end.
“See you again.”
“Will we… really see each other again?”
The uneasiness of Byun Kwang-ja 2, feeling both discomfort and a strange anxiety, was captured in Tae-ha’s performance.
It was so immersive and vivid that those emotions came across clearly.
“He expressed it all. Was he always this good at acting?”
Lee Hae-ik was even a bit stunned.
This wasn’t the first time he had filmed with Tae-ha.
He’d seen him a couple times before when shooting some flashback scenes.
“If I can’t even remember his name, he must’ve been just average then. Maybe it was because he barely had any lines…”
But now, what was this?
His ability to interpret and act out the Role was astonishing.
“And he’s got a good look, too.”
He even thought it would’ve been fine to give him a supporting Role, not just a bit part.
“Like today, we might meet again by chance.”
Han Yun-seong seemed to focus even more, inspired by Tae-ha’s good acting.
After finishing his final line in Scene 14, Han Yun-seong passed by Tae-ha indifferently.
Tae-ha glanced back briefly at Han Yun-seong, who had intentionally brushed past his shoulder.
[Byun Kwang-ja 2, sensing something strange, soon shakes it off and continues walking.]
Tae-ha watched Han Yun-seong’s back with an unpleasant look, but then forced away the uneasiness and let out a wry smile as if nothing had happened.
And walked on.
“Cut!”
Lee Hae-ik’s satisfied voice rang out on set.
“Good. Let’s keep it like this.”
Filming continued after that.
From Long Shot to Bust Shot, to Close-Up Shot.
Lee Hae-ik, living up to his nickname “Art Ik,” poured his artistic soul into getting various angles without rest.
“Normally, I’d focus on Han Yun-seong for the shots…”
But in this scene, Tae-ha had ignited something in Lee Hae-ik’s heart.
With such vivid eyes and expressions, Tae-ha’s solo shots were certain to be a valuable addition to the directing.
“Cut!”
“Cut!”
“Cut, that was good!”
***
After dozens of repeated takes.
Only when the sun set and it became impossible to film any longer did Scene 14 finally wrap up.
It was typical of Director Lee Hae-ik that the filming lasted longer when the actors did well, not poorly.
The actors themselves couldn’t tell whether to be happy or sad about it.
They were glad their performances were praised, but as people, the delayed end meant fatigue.
Even for today’s scene, no one expected filming to drag on so long.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
As soon as filming ended, Han Yun-seong greeted the Director and staff.
Coming to his senses, Tae-ha quickly bowed his head and waist here and there in greeting.
“That was intense.”
Even so, he slowly clenched and unclenched his burning hot palms.
After deciding to really focus, as soon as he started reading the Script, he had entered the same immersive state as when writing the Script.
Up to that point, it wasn’t unusual.
Even if it wasn’t his own Script, the act of reading, thinking about lines and stage directions, felt similar.
“But I never thought that state would carry over into acting.”
Tae-ha performed with such focus that his whole palm felt burning hot.
When he wrote in this state, the Script’s words would seem to burn alive and move on the page.
This time, each line he delivered came to life, burning and vivid.
“Did the actors who performed my scripts feel something similar?”
While Tae-ha briefly pondered that,
“Great job.”
Han Yun-seong reached out his hand to Tae-ha.
“Huh.”
Tae-ha quickly grasped Han Yun-seong’s hand.
“You worked hard too, Actor.”
“Were you nervous? Your hand is really hot.”
Han Yun-seong tilted his head as he asked, and Tae-ha laughed lightly.
“Of course I was nervous. Having to act in front of someone as handsome as you, Actor.”
No Actor dislikes compliments, no matter how many they’ve worked with.
Even those who seem to hate flattery secretly welcome praise.
As expected, Han Yun-seong let out a pleased laugh.
Even though he was in his late twenties, his smiling face was boyish.
Even after doing heavy makeup for night shoots.
“No wonder you became famous playing the younger guy Roles.”
“You didn’t look nervous, though.”
“Ah, I was really nervous. Maybe I should’ve let it show a little.”
At Tae-ha’s sly words, Han Yun-seong laughed again.
Though he looked young, his manner felt more mature than his own.
“You didn’t act according to the Script, did you?”
“Ah, if you felt uncomfortable because I suddenly changed my acting…”
It could have been awkward for the other Actor.
Not to mention, it made filming run longer.
Tae-ha tried to apologize, but Han Yun-seong stopped him.
“No, it was good. Thanks to you, my acting came alive too.”
Tae-ha laughed aloud and scratched the back of his head, feeling the pleasant awkwardness for the first time in a while.
“I’ve had to evaluate other actors’ performances plenty, but this is a first.”
Life really does throw days like this—getting praised for acting by a younger Actor.
Actually, not just “life,” but more precisely, “after dying and coming back,” you could say.
Now that his focus was gone, the situation felt unreal all over again.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Lee Kang Tae-ha.”
For a moment, he almost answered “Lee Ho-jun,” but corrected himself quickly.
Han Yun-seong repeated Tae-ha’s name as if to memorize it.
Then, Director Lee Hae-ik approached between the two.
After first complimenting Han Yun-seong, Lee Hae-ik looked at Tae-ha and spoke.
“Let’s keep up the good work.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’ll be watching.”
Lee Hae-ik’s face was meaningful as he patted Tae-ha’s shoulder a couple of times.
Han Yun-seong, sensing something in the Director’s mood, looked a bit surprised and glanced between Tae-ha and Lee Hae-ik.
“I’ll do my best!”
Tae-ha bowed almost reflexively, spouting polite words.
But inwardly, he clicked his tongue.
“Is this… for real?”
I’m actually being recognized by the Director as an Actor…
Is this really happening?
***
“Hey, you did great, good work.”
“Yeah, you worked hard waiting around, too.”
“You punk… You were always studying the Script and analyzing, and you finally pulled it off.”
No one could deny that today, Tae-ha had done his very best within the bounds of his Role.
Of course, Im Chan-hyung, his Manager, was delighted.
“Yeah, that’s right. Wow…”
“What’s with you, zoning out again? Is this someone else’s business?”
“Then is it my business?”
Tae-ha wanted to ask.
Im Chan-hyung, looking at Tae-ha’s complicated expression, could only feel perplexed.
While Im Chan-hyung was still confused, as if something came to mind, he handed Tae-ha a cell phone.
“It’s your phone. You got a call from an unknown number.”
Taking the phone, Tae-ha checked the screen, and his eyes widened.
At the same time,
“Crazy.”
A curse escaped his lips.