Was it because Ha Eun was originally an actor?
There was no significant noise during the first music video shoot for Pinocchio.
The handling of gazes was also perfect.
They were adept at assuming postures that matched the camera angles.
However, from Ha Eun’s perspective, it was her first time performing a pure and innocent role.
“Can I really just stand still and look?”
She had various doubts about the script for the music video “One Spring Day.”
After all, the script simply instructed her to slowly look up at the cherry blossom tree without any lines.
It didn’t quite register that merely gazing could count as performing innocently.
The outfit was just an ordinary school uniform.
Still, the responses from Lee Jun and Lee Geon-yeol reassuring her that there was no problem kept coming back.
“Adults can’t pretend to be innocent, even if they try.”
“Why would a high school student need to act innocent?”
Then, when the question about whether they were bragging about being young came up, she averted her gaze slightly and exercised her right to remain silent.
Looking back, there was indeed a bit of a feeling that it was somewhat deceptive.
In any case, since an expert who had done many music video shoots said so, she didn’t question it any further.
“It feels more like a commercial shoot than a music video.”
Thus, she stood in front of the camera for quite a while, feeling like she was taking what is referred to as an ‘emotional photo.’
Although the music video for “One Spring Day” also required various indoor studio scenes, the outdoor scenes were not the only ones being filmed.
By the time all the shooting had wrapped up, the sky was beginning to darken.
However, since she had to choose her favorite take among several during the shoot…
“…It’s already 12 o’clock.”
“Well, it turned out okay, didn’t it?”
“Yes, well… it’s better than not turning out well.”
For the first time in her 19 years of life, Ha Eun returned home in the early morning.
Since she had already told Na-yeon that she would be home late, she wasn’t specifically scolded but felt a little self-conscious nonetheless.
“…Will I have a curfew in the future, too?”
It’s common for parents to set curfews for their daughters.
She had never experienced that in her past life when she wasn’t a daughter, so she was somewhat curious about what it would feel like.
“There probably wouldn’t be that much reason to come back late anyway.”
In any case, she would officially be an adult at 20 next year.
She had heard that there would be drinking gatherings once she entered university.
However, for now, it seemed unnecessary.
Alcohol was unappealing and unhealthy for Ha Eun.
Especially for entertainers like her, the probability of undesirable controversies arising from drinking was slightly higher than for ordinary people.
“Although the drinks I had in Japan were delicious, looking at how I blacked out… it’s still risky.”
She had no intention of enjoying drinking in the future.
There was also the thought that she would likely get scolded by Na-yeon, who was sound asleep in the living room now.
This was Ha Eun’s 20th year.
Thus, while thinking briefly about what it would be like when she became an adult, her eyes gradually closed.
When she finally opened her eyes again, it was already morning.
It was slightly later than her usual wake-up time, as she usually woke up early.
Was that the reason?
She locked eyes with Na-yeon, who had just entered the room to wake her up.
And almost simultaneously.
“Sweetheart, when do you think you should text ahead so we know when you’ll be home from now on~?”
Na-yeon pinched Ha Eun’s nose gently with her index and thumb fingers.
Thanks to that, she realized that Na-yeon wasn’t too pleased about her coming home late at night.
“…I’m definitely going to have a curfew now.”
However, coincidentally, she also needed to come home late again today.
After all, she had to go to the live rehearsal for the first anniversary of the fantasy world.
So, she finally gathered the courage she had to muster.
“Um, Mom. I think I’m going to be a little late again today…”
“What?”
“Well, there’s a late-night filming project at the company this time.”
“Isn’t today the day we’re filming ‘The Sunshine’? Is there another shoot?”
“Uh, it just happened.”
They exchanged suspicious glances.
Feeling like they would dig deeper if she stayed quiet, she ultimately had to escape to school.
What she didn’t know was that while Ha Eun was at school, Na-yeon had found a business card.
She was also unaware that the owner of that card was the CEO of LUX, Jee Hye-min.
-♪
-♪
-♪
-♪…Hello?
“Hello~. Is this CEO Jee Hye-min?”
[Ah, yes. That’s correct. But, who is this?]
“Ah, I’m Ha Eun’s mom. I called to ask a few things since my daughter has late filming tonight.”
[H…Ha Eun’s mom?! Ah, nice to meet you!]
*
“It’s been a long day~.”
By now, it was after the last filming of ‘The Sunshine.’
Familiar faces approached Ha Eun among the lighting and cameras being cleaned up one by one.
“We’re going out for a company dinner later, you’re coming, right?”
The writer in charge of Ha Eun spoke with mild expectation on her face, as though she didn’t think of the possibility of her refusal.
In fact, it would have been odd to refuse.
After all, she was the lead actress in ‘The Sunshine,’ playing the role of Kim Jeong-hyun.
In other words, Ha Eun, who played the female lead, should not miss the final celebratory dinner.
However.
“Ah, um… I have plans later. I’m really sorry.”
In the end, the answer she gave took the form of a refusal, resulting in Baek Tae-hoon, who was right next to her, asking in surprise if she really wasn’t coming.
“Is it an appointment you can’t postpone? The director is coming too.”
“Well, it’s a promise that I’ve already postponed once. There’s no way I can go to the dinner.”
Thus, when it was confirmed that Ha Eun would not be attending the dinner, sounds of disappointment could be heard here and there.
After all, they were people who had spent a long time with Ha Eun from last fall until this spring.
For them, who had grown fond of Ha Eun in various ways, it was only natural to feel regret.
Since Ha Eun had always made a point to greet them without any feeling of distance, they had no doubt that she would participate in the last farewell as well.
However, given that entertainers tend to lead busy schedules where they can’t even catch a brief break, it wasn’t incomprehensible that Ha Eun, who was presently gaining popularity as Kim Jeong-hyun, was still busy even after the shoot.
But still, no matter how busy she was.
“We must take a group photo.”
Not being part of the group photo involving all the actors and staff of ‘The Sunshine’ was unacceptable.
Hence, even without having changed her outfit yet, she found herself in the middle of the filming location.
She had to gather in the center among many people and strike a V pose.
Even so, it didn’t feel like they were making her take the photo unwillingly.
There was no downside to leaving a group photo to commemorate the filming of ‘The Sunshine.’
She wanted to finish the long journey of more than half a year well.
This was Ha Eun’s self-justification for arriving 30 minutes late at the rehearsal venue for the first anniversary of the fantasy world.
“…To be honest, there was a bit of traffic.”
“You came three hours early for the recording~. But for the rehearsal, you arrived late because you didn’t want to wear tight clothes~.”
“Th-that’s not it at all. Really.”
“Then why can’t you make eye contact with me?”
“Well, to be honest. The way you guys look right now…”
It’s just so funny.
Immediately after that, Ha Eun burst into laughter, causing Lee Yena’s eyes to narrow even further.
However, Ha Eun didn’t notice it at all.
“You all look like those guys in tight suits from Power Rangers.”
By delivering such a second blow, Ha Eun unwittingly sealed her fate, and Lee Yena and the other members firmly resolved to punish her.
– Tickling.
– Tickling, tickling, tickling.
“Ah, ah! I-I’m sorry, I’m sorry!!”
“Are you calling us soldiers? What about you, Ha Eun?”
In the end, they were indeed different.
Especially around the chest area.
If we were to argue, the original tight clothes were designed to hug the body closely.
However, by sheer coincidence, the absolute truth of “face value determines everything” applied even to the tight suits for motion capture.
“…I feel like I’ve seen that somewhere before.”
“Wait, that’s the first time wearing those tight suits today, right?”
“It exists. Things you can’t see, Ha Eun…”
“Pfft.”
“Eun-hye, are you crazy? Ha Eun is still a minor!”
A misunderstanding arose for Ha Eun that she couldn’t comprehend for a moment.
She couldn’t grasp what the members were joking about, filled with laughter, regarding whistles and lashes.
Nonetheless, the reason everyone gathered in this strange fashion—according to Ha Eun’s highly subjective evaluation—was simply for the rehearsal.
Before long, they all headed to their respective positions, and to the song “Illusion,” they had to practice the choreography they had worked hard on.
Everyone, including Ha Eun, also wore what is commonly called the ‘idol mic,’ or an earpiece.
In other words, it meant they had to rehearse with both choreography and singing.
“…The end of the first verse became strange. Let’s start again.”
The other members besides Ha Eun occasionally had pitchy notes.
The reason Ha Eun kept going back and forth in the monitoring room, which was placed in the corner of the studio, was because of this situation.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t that odd.
It was the first time the fantasy world members were doing a live performance.
It would have been odder if there were no mistakes at all.
Eventually, the rehearsal ended much later than planned.
The time that made the reassuring words from Lee Dong-jin about finishing as early as possible feel useless.
Of course, Lee Dong-jin and Jee Hye-min didn’t intend to hold rehearsals for this long.
It was just that they couldn’t stop Ha Eun, who was determined to pursue perfection to the utmost.
“…I told her I’d try to get her home as soon as possible.”
“What can we do….”
Thus, while Ha Eun was still checking the last, last rehearsal footage—depicting the appearance of 3D avatars instead of real studio visuals—Jee Hye-min, who had been contemplating for a moment, finally decided to approach Ha Eun timidly and revealed the fact that she had called Na-yeon.
“Uh, did Mom… call my sister?”
“Y-yeah. Still, she doesn’t know about your broadcast yet. I made sure to cover it well.”
“…Mom is very perceptive, though….”
