Chapter 35: Reality and Cider (1)

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[Grandpa, I’m here.]

[Ah, my grandson’s come.]

[Grandpa, I didn’t come today just to hang out.]

[What’s happened to my puppy to make him wear that face?]

[You know, Grandpa. I heard something strange. No, I saw something strange. At the police station.]

[What did you see?]

Jeong Chan-yul tosses a brown envelope onto the table.

[I didn’t find this out on my own. Grandpa, do you remember ○○ Corporation? Actually… there was a ghost connected to them who said there’s a ghost in our company too. Like an old-timer—no one knows, but it’s just sitting there as if it owns the place.]

Jeong Chan-yul’s eyes grow red.

[Grandpa, I like you. No matter what the world says about you being cold and heartless, I like you. You’re a good person to me. That’s why, Grandpa, you can’t lie to me. Okay?]

[My little puppy, what have you heard to make you talk like this?]

Jeong Bae-min doesn’t get up from his seat.

Jeong Chan-yul walks toward where Jeong Bae-min is sitting.

As Jeong Chan-yul gets closer, Jeong Bae-min’s breathing becomes more labored.

[My puppy’s brought something… suspicious, hasn’t he?]

The veins on the back of Jeong Bae-min’s hand, resting on the desk, rise vividly.

Jeong Bae-min begins to gasp for air.

With a sad face, Jeong Chan-yul pulls a crumpled yellow talisman from his pocket.

[This is a talisman Ms. Lee Ha-ryeong gave me. Grandpa… it’ll react if you’re not really Grandpa.]

A voice, cracked.

A tone, cold.

[That damned man…]

Jeong Chan-yul flinches.

His pupils quiver ever so slightly.

Then, at that grotesque voice—one he’s never heard before—his legs start to shake.

He’d gotten sick of seeing ghosts working at the Personnel 4 Team, but it’s the first time he’s seen one attached to a family member he loves.

The atmosphere shifts; the lights in the chairman’s office flicker.

Darkness and light.

Within it, Jeong Bae-min’s eyes stare through his proud grandson, Jeong Chan-yul.

The loving gaze from just before, looking at his grandson, is gone.

What’s left in Jeong Bae-min’s eyes—

Is only vicious rage.

[I never should’ve sent you where that damned man is!]

Jeong Bae-min clicks his tongue and slams the desk.

A fierce wind suddenly sweeps over Jeong Chan-yul. Forcing his body forward against the blast, Jeong Chan-yul staggers closer to Jeong Bae-min.

Urgency for his family trembles in his voice.

[Grandpa! What is this—?!]

[Remove the talisman.]

[Grandpa! You’re still okay. The ghost, it’s—!]

Jeong Bae-min, staring straight into Jeong Chan-yul’s eyes, suddenly bellows.

[Remove it!!!]

The flickering lights go out.

Books on the shelf thud to the floor.

A sudden burst of spiritual energy passes through his body; Jeong Chan-yul coughs violently and blood gushes from his mouth.

Unable to withstand the sudden pain and weakness, Jeong Chan-yul’s body tilts to the left and finally falls to the floor.

Even with his fading vision, Jeong Chan-yul keeps looking at Jeong Bae-min to the end.

[Gran—…]

Thud.

His vision blacks out completely.

*****

“Cut! Let’s shoot Chairman Jeong Bae-min’s lines again, full take. Mr. Jeong Chan-yul, you’ll need to go again too, so please stay at your spot.”

“Yes.”

Ah, I really thought I’d die from fright.

They say if you’re scared by a lizard, you jump at the sight of a pot lid. But having seen that ghost overlapping with Jeong Bae-min’s face because of the item coupon, I thought I’d lose my mind.

Watching the legendary senior’s performance up close is an honor in itself, but I couldn’t help feeling exhausted.

Honestly, if I could pick a special ability after regressing, I might’ve said I’d steal Senior Jeong Goong-won’s acting skills.

After a few more takes, the shoot with Senior Jeong Goong-won was finally over.

As soon as I stepped off set, he tapped me on the shoulder.

“Senior?”

“How long have you been acting?”

“All together, about 30—no, actually, it hasn’t even been a full year in front of the camera.”

“Not even a year?”

Jeong Goong-won’s eyes went wide.

He didn’t say anything else; just tapped my shoulder again and left, saying we’d see each other at the after-party.

He’s always been a man of action rather than words, then and now.

Jeong Goong-won left, and there was still half a day before the next shoot.

It was lunchtime, so catering had arrived on set, but I didn’t really feel like eating. Instead, I headed to the van parked in the corner of the lot, thinking I’d get some rest during the wait.

Near the van, a man in a khaki parka and black scarf was talking on the phone.

Judging by his appearance, he was a bit-part actor who often chatted with Senior Choi Geon-hyung.

I heard he was a good guy.

I didn’t really know him, and there was nothing good about eavesdropping on someone else’s private call, so I hurried to get into the van.

“…No, he’s not as great as I thought.”

But I didn’t make it.

“I’m serious, you know?”

Is he talking about me?

‘If it’s about me, that’s a different story.’

Should I just watch a bit?

I gently closed the van door and hid behind the car, listening in on his conversation. Actually, let’s just say I hadn’t gone inside yet, not that I was eavesdropping.

“I’m talking about Choi Geon-hyung. It’s my first time seeing him… sigh, makes work no fun. He won’t answer when I try to talk, just frowns all the time. Is he always like that? I’m not saying this to be mean, really.”

Isn’t that being mean?

‘Well, Choi Geon-hyung is exactly the type to get misunderstood.’

It’s not really strange for him to think that way.

That’s why I didn’t like Choi Geon-hyung either.

“Hey, you don’t believe me? Seriously, you have to experience it yourself. I just wanted to take a quick photo during a break, and when I got close, he frowned and stepped back, you know? Looked at me like he despised me.”

He probably did that because he’s coming down with a cold today and wanted to keep his distance.

Of course, no one knows if you don’t say anything, and it’s not like Choi Geon-hyung is especially kind or anything.

He’s easy to misunderstand, barely talks, and it’s hard to get close to him.

So it’s understandable that this guy misinterpreted things too.

“And Jeon Yeo-hu? He really seems like a good person. Ah, I can’t tell you about the other castings, no way. If I say any more, I’m dead. But he’s really nice and smiles a lot, I swear.”

He’s even complimenting me?

I feel proud.

All that effort holding my temper since regressing finally paid off.

“I mean… huh?”

Just when I thought all that effort was about to go to waste.

“Mr. Jeon Yeo-hu…?”

I smoothly took the phone from his hand.

The call was still connected, and the screen showed the name of whoever he’d been talking to.

[Hey, what’s up?]

“This is an actor from the set. There’s something I need to correct.”

[Huh? Sorry?]

“Mr. Choi Geon-hyung is actually nicer than he looks. And… that rookie, he’s actually not as nice as you think.”

[What? What do you mean by that?]

Leaving just that, I hung up and placed the phone back into his hand.

He stood there, pale and flustered, just moving his lips.

Bit-part actors don’t get much on set.

No decent place to sit, meals often neglected, sometimes having to wait over ten hours outdoors, and all of that’s considered normal.

And sometimes, even if you’re not the lead, if you’re an up-and-coming supporting actor, you could get into trouble with the environment.

He glanced around and spoke.

“Uh, did you… hear everything I said on the phone?”

“By accident.”

He looked visibly embarrassed.

“It’s not that, I was just feeling a bit left out…”

“I understand. Senior Choi Geon-hyung is coming down with a cold today. Even when talking to me, he covered his mouth a bit.”

I get it.

He wasn’t gossiping to the other actors on set, just venting to a friend.

Still… corrections must be made.

“Really? Then I guess I misunderstood. Haha, ha.”

“Yes. And Senior says a lot of nice things about you, by the way. So if that kind of talk spreads, it won’t be good for him or for you.”

“Yeah, I feel kind of bad now.”

“You should say that to Senior Choi Geon-hyung, not me. I should be the one thanking you, since you only said nice things about me. You’d better get going—lunch break’s almost over.”

As I subtly moved aside to clear the path, he bowed his head and quickly scurried out of the parking lot.

‘This is… kind of awkward.’

It’s not like this was some cool “cider” scene.

It was just a slightly uncomfortable conversation.

That guy’s probably a good person to someone.

What I saw was just his bad side.

If anyone knows about being a bad person, it’s me.

I used to be like that too. Now, I just act differently on the surface.

Is this worse?

“Man, I’m overthinking again.”

I kicked a jagged black stone lying in the lot and turned back to the van.

Just then, Gugi-do hyung, carrying a tray of food from catering, spotted me and waved.

“Yeo-hu, come eat!!”

“Hyung, I told you I’m not hungry.”

His pure, unjudging smile made me laugh without even thinking.

“Gotta take care of my star. You should eat some of this green stuff, eat more greens.”

“Yeah, yeah. Got it.”

I feel a little more at ease.

*****

When I play Jeong Chan-yul, I feel at ease.

When I get to act as a blatant bastard, it feels exhilarating.

He’s a third-generation chaebol who’s competent at work but an absolute piece of trash in his personal life—people either love or hate him.

Sometimes I think, “He sure has it easy,” but I can’t bring myself to hate him.

Maybe that’s thanks to ‘s detailed script.

He’s honest about his feelings, always scrambling to achieve something, looking pitiful and desperate—and that just makes him so pathetic, you can’t hate him.

We’re now four months into filming .

 has finished editing up to episode 8, with broadcast dates, press conference schedules, and posters all set.

Maybe that’s why Senior Joo Tae-gang has been in touch more often.

It means he’s got more free time now.

My situation, though, is a bit different.

“We’ll be shooting solo shots and group shots with all three of you.”

 has started magazine photoshoots for promotion.

The participants: Seon Ji-yoon, Choi Geon-hyung, and me.

The photographer in charge is a celebrity in their own right, having recently shot many big stars and frequently featured on TV as “the one who makes any actor a star.”

Of the three, I’m the best-looking, but the leads are Seon Ji-yoon and Choi Geon-hyung, so I let them take the front in a few shots.

Maybe sensing this, Seon Ji-yoon, makeup done, came over to tease me.

“Jeon Yeo-hu, you’re up to something again.”

“What would I be up to, senior?”

“Thinking you’re the best-looking one on set.”

“Senior, that’s not a thought, it’s just a fact.”

I’ve gotten quite close to Seon Ji-yoon after a few after-parties and drinks together.

Before regression, we’d never had much reason to talk, so it took a long time to get friendly, but in this life, we dropped formalities a lot quicker. Maybe because we’re the same age and I’m the junior, Seon Ji-yoon seems to have relaxed more quickly too.

I still use semi-formal speech since I’m the junior, though.

“Fact, huh? Look at you. Not even pretending to be modest now.”

Seon Ji-yoon clicked her tongue, looking speechless.

Well, Seon Ji-yoon is always in the top ranks of “most beautiful actresses,” so what can I say?

It’s just the truth.

Watching me finish my makeup in the mirror, Seon Ji-yoon sneered.

“How did you hide that personality of yours?”

“I didn’t hide it. I just didn’t show it.”

“You should act like this in the making-of too, so the viewers aren’t fooled.”

“I don’t care.”

“You say you don’t care, but as soon as the camera rolls, you’re all grins—makes me want to hate you.”

“So. Do you hate me? This much? That little?”

“Sigh.”

Just then, Choi Geon-hyung, freshly made up, arrived at his seat.

Seeing him approach with his phone, Seon Ji-yoon and I both noticed “that” about him.

Seon Ji-yoon said,

“What’s that?”