An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 125

Cut! Okay!”

Director Song leaped from his seat, visibly pleased with the performance.

“Wow, Hee-sung, that was a great performance.”

He approached, patting my shoulder.

“Thank you, Director.”

I smiled and bowed slightly.

“Min-young, your portrayal of anger was also excellent. Let’s carry that emotion into the next scene.”

Shin Min-young gave a curt nod.

“Yes, don’t worry.”

“I really nailed the casting. The chemistry between Min-young and Hee-sung is so good; that’s why the acting is so great. Haha.”

Shin Min-young and I joined his laughter, but an awkwardness hung in the air.

A few days prior.

The day we had that minor disagreement about her cat.

Since then, Shin Min-young’s attitude toward me had noticeably cooled.

Having worked together on two projects, we usually shrugged off minor disagreements.

But this time, Shin Min-young was quite cold.

Still, she didn’t completely ice me out, seemingly trying not to make it too obvious.

She just stopped initiating personal conversations.

“Alright, let’s move on to the next scene.”

Director Song patted Shin Min-young and me on the shoulders before heading back outside the camera’s view.

We made eye contact, then immediately slipped back into character.

“Ready, action!”

After several takes, we wrapped up the morning shoot.

“Good work, everyone.”

I exchanged polite greetings with Shin Min-young, acting as if nothing was amiss.

Then, I headed toward the food truck, drawn by the aroma of warm rice.

While waiting in line with Manager Kim.

“Sunbae [senior colleague]!”

Seo In-woo called out, waving.

“Oh, In-woo.”

He jogged over and greeted me.

I gestured with my spoon, asking, “Have you eaten?”

“Yeah, I ate with my manager as soon as the food truck arrived. Your next shoot is late this afternoon, right, Sunbae?”

Since we’re together every day, he seems to know my schedule inside and out.

I chuckled.

“You know my schedule better than I do?”

“Of course.”

I shook my head.

“Impressive. But you’ve already eaten, so why are you here?”

“Ah, right.”

Seo In-woo grinned.

“Sunbae, do you remember the game I mentioned the other day?”

Half of an actor’s time on set is spent waiting.

So, after rehearsing lines, we often hang out with the other actors.

Seo In-woo, Shin Min-young, and I usually chatted together.

We also spent time betting on games, fueled by our competitive spirits.

Seo In-woo, being the most playful, always brought the games.

“So, you’ve got another game this time?”

“Yeah, but this one might be tough.”

Seo In-woo raised his eyebrows suggestively.

I shrugged.

“Oh, are you going to lose to me again?”

“No way. This time, Min-young and Hee-sung sunbae will probably be buying us coffee. Just you wait.”

“Haha, okay. I’m going to eat now.”

Seo In-woo shook his head.

“Yeah, Min-young said she’s coming too, so come right after you eat.”

“Alright.”

“Enjoy your meal.”

Seo In-woo bowed to Manager Kim, who stood beside me.

“Manager Kim, enjoy your meal too.”

“Yes.”

Seo In-woo bounded away.

Manager Kim watched him go, smiling.

“In-woo has a great personality.”

“Yeah, he’s very bright and kind.”

I smiled, watching Seo In-woo disappear.

After finishing my meal, I headed straight for Seo In-woo and Shin Min-young.

Just before turning the corner, I heard Shin Min-young’s voice.

“What? I’m uncomfortable. I don’t want to.”

…What?

Shin Min-young’s sulky tone stopped me in my tracks.

Then I heard Seo In-woo’s reply.

“Come on, don’t be like that. Let’s play together.”

“Then I’m leaving.”

“Min-young, still…”

Seo In-woo’s desperate attempt to stop her.

Curious, I started to move forward.

“Don’t be like that, let’s play together. It’s more fun when the three of us play. Hee-sung sunbae said he’s coming right away too.”

I froze at Seo In-woo’s words.

Shin Min-young said she was uncomfortable and didn’t want to be with me.

It seemed she was still upset about what happened that day.

I bit my lip and turned around.

I didn’t want to rehash that day and argue again.

And thinking about what Shin Min-young had said back then, I felt a surge of resentment.

I pulled out my phone and texted Seo In-woo.

-In-woo, I don’t think I can make it because I have to practice. See you on set later, sorry.

***

“You won’t be able to sleep well tonight, so catch some sleep whenever you can.”

Manager Kim handed me a fatigue recovery drink as I prepared for the shoot.

“Haa… That’s right. It’s an all-nighter tonight, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, now that the broadcast date has been set, we’ll be busy from now on.”

He opened his schedule and explained.

“Did they say our broadcast is next week?”

“Yeah, we’re filming episode 5 this week, and episode 1 will air starting next week.”

I took a deep breath.

“It’s finally starting.”

Since it was a drama that started despite everyone’s opposition, I was more nervous than ever.

I hoped I wouldn’t hear things like, ‘You should have listened when they opposed it,’ or ‘Why did you choose that drama?’

But looking at the script, I felt a renewed conviction.

I wasn’t wrong to choose this project.

I wanted everyone who opposed it to watch the first episode and applaud.

Sensing my worry, excitement, and nervousness, Manager Kim asked, “You’re really curious about the reaction, aren’t you?”

I smiled faintly.

“Yeah, I’m especially looking forward to this project.”

“We’ll be busy filming until this week, and then it’ll be slow until the first episode airs.”

I nodded.

“Because of the viewers’ reactions, right?”

“Yeah, we can either continue as is based on the reactions, or revise the script even a little bit.”

Unlike pre-produced dramas where the entire series is filmed before the first episode airs, producing a drama while it’s airing has this advantage.

You can film while observing the viewers’ reactions.

Dramas filmed calmly from start to finish like pre-productions are often better in terms of quality, but it’s difficult to immediately gauge public reaction.

That’s why the reaction after the first episode of this project airs will be something that not only me, but all the staff will be waiting for with bated breath.

I clenched the script, my shoulders shaking with nervousness.

“I should practice the next scene.”

Manager Kim shook his head.

“You’ve been practicing until now. Hee-sung, you have a lot of filming early in the morning today. Get some rest.”

“But…”

He pushed me away.

“I’ll wake you up early instead. Let’s get some sleep and wake up to practice. Your eyes are red right now.”

Looking at my reflection in the window, I saw the burst blood vessels he mentioned.

It seems to be because I haven’t been able to get proper sleep for several days.

He handed me a nutritional supplement.

“Let’s adjust our condition and do it. You’ll suffer if you push yourself too hard.”

“Alright. Wake me up early so I can practice then.”

“I will.”

I leaned back in my chair.

Manager Kim looked out the window.

“Go sleep over there. You can stretch your legs out, and the toppers are all laid out.”

“That’s right.”

The temporary tent that I had been visiting frequently for the past few days.

It wasn’t as crowded as I expected.

Actors without managers slept on the bus.

Most of them didn’t come to the tent because they moved as a group after filming.

And none of the actresses slept in the tent.

Perhaps that’s why it was always just me in this tent.

“No one’s here again today.”

I stretched out in the empty tent and slowly closed my eyes.

It would have been boring to rest here alone, but I was so tired that I fell into a deep sleep before I could even think about anything else.

I liked that this place was just for me.

How many hours had passed?

“Hee-sung, wake up.”

Manager Kim shook me awake.

I barely opened my heavy eyelids and looked around.

I was still alone in the tent.

Manager Kim handed me water.

“Let’s get ready for filming.”

“Okay.”

After clearing my throat, I got up and stretched.

“Haa… I’m really tired.”

Manager Kim naturally put his hand on my shoulder and massaged it.

“You must be tired too, Hyung [older brother/male friend]. Are you okay?”

“No. I rested too.”

Pushing my hand away, Manager Kim continued to massage my shoulder.

My body was still stiff even with his massage.

There weren’t many NGs [outtakes/mistakes], and Director Song’s direction aligned with my own vision.

So, unlike other projects, there wasn’t much to stress about.

The amount of sleep was the same as in previous projects.

But I was lost in thought, twitching my lips at my unusual fatigue.

My physical condition seems to be strangely bad every time I film outdoors like this.

Is it because I can’t sleep well?

“Please prepare for filming.”

A staff member’s shout broke my train of thought.

Shaking off my worries, I quickly moved to my position.

***

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

As I was saying goodbye and heading back to the car.

“Hee-sung.”

The documentary team rushed toward me.

“Ah, PD [Producer] Park. Thank you for filming me today.”

“Oh, no, not at all.”

Manager Kim asked PD Park, “PD, is filming over for today?”

“Yes, I know you don’t have any schedules after this, so you’re going straight home, right?”

“That’s right.”

PD Park nodded.

“Yes, then we’ll wrap up too. See you at tomorrow’s shoot.”

“Yes, see you tomorrow.”

“Drive safely.”

I bowed to PD Park.

PD Park grabbed my arm and hesitated.

“Um… Hee-sung.”

“Yes?”

“I have something to talk to you about for a moment…”

I slowly nodded.

He and I walked to the back of the vehicle.

“Is something wrong?”

I frowned at his serious face.

PD Park looked around, leaned in, and spoke in a low voice.

“Hee-sung, I unintentionally witnessed something.”

“Witnessed?”

I asked, eyes wide.

PD Park clicked his tongue and bit his lip.

“Of course, I won’t include it in the documentary footage…”

Why is he hesitating so much?

I blinked.

“Yes, it’s okay. Please tell me.”

“That’s… Shin Min-young…”