The mock filming session was halted. It happened amidst a great commotion.
The actor had fainted, and it was understandable why. The manager and the medical team immediately rushed in to check on Park Do-hee’s condition.
Fortunately, the time she was unconscious wasn’t long.
Wiping her face with a wet towel and applying pressure to her limbs a few times was sufficient. Soon, Park Do-hee slowly opened her eyelids.
“Dohee-ya, Park Do-hee! Can you recognize me?”
“…Manager oppa?”
It seemed as though she hadn’t fully regained consciousness yet. Park Do-hee’s face, which appeared exhausted, quickly turned into one of great shock.
“!”
The memories of what happened right before came rushing back. She quickly checked her surroundings.
“Police, did someone call the police? That murderer kid…”
However, Park Do-hee couldn’t finish her sentence.
“…Hmm?”
The figure of Sua standing within her line of sight didn’t match her thoughts.
Sua, supported by a medical team member’s arm, stood there with a detached expression. The aura of madness which had earlier suited her like a well-fitting garment was completely gone now.
It was as if nothing had ever happened.
“…”
Furthermore, her condition surprised her as well. Park Do-hee couldn’t sense any malevolent intent from Sua at that moment. She wasn’t afraid.
“Hey, Dohee. Are you alright? Are you still feeling dizzy?”
“…”
Park Do-hee, ignoring the manager’s words, after pondering for a while,
“Acting? Seriously, did all of this just happen because of acting?”
“What? What’s she talking about?”
Then, after cross-referencing the script, things became clear.
It seemed Sua had only been acting, and Park Do-hee herself had been heavily swept up in the performance, even fainting.
Park Do-hee’s face turned bright red with embarrassment. Waves of shame and admiration for Sua filled her at the same time.
‘This can’t be. Acting can’t really be this vivid, can it?’
While reminiscing about Sua’s performance, the medical team came to check on her again.
“Dohee-ya, how’re you feeling? Try to take a rest today if possible. This was just a mock rehearsal, not the real filming, so don’t overdo it.”
“I’m feeling better now.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? You fell quite heavily a moment ago…”
“I’m fine, really.”
The medical staff repeatedly confirmed Park Do-hee’s state a few more times.
For Park Do-hee personally, the situation was just bewildering. When and how did she faint in the midst of everything? Her last memory was unclear.
Afterward, she cautiously approached PD Choi Hee-won.
“PD-nim, I’m sorry about having NGs constantly during today’s filming. I don’t know why I’ve been like this myself. Could we just give it another try?”
“NG? What kind of NG are you talking about?”
“Of course…”
Park Do-hee recalled the script.
She realized she should never have fainted in the first place. Her character, Lee Ga-ram, was supposed to beg pitifully for her life until the end.
“I passed out, right? Unlike what was written in the script.”
“No, the way it turned out was much better, and Writer has already revised the script accordingly. All you need to do, Dohee-ya, is apologize to Sua-ya.”
“Apology?”
“Yes. The ad-libs were impressive, but they were a little over the top, right?”
Ad-libs? What ad-libs?
Perhaps due to fainting before realizing things, none of the memories that remained in Park Do-hee’s head were vivid at all.
She just remembered thinking that Sua, at that moment, appeared just like a murderer.
“Anyway, did the filming go well?”
“Yes, it was excellent.”
As Park Do-hee’s state cleared up and her consciousness sharpened,
She started to finally notice her surroundings. Voices of people chatting began to ring out distinctly.
“So, you received the ad-libs as ad-libs?”
“Even while your arm was being bitten, you were still thinking about acting?”
“…I can’t do it. Actually, no one could do it with a sane mind.”
“Who exactly is this person?”
People around showed surprisingly little concern for Park Do-hee who had fainted.
They rather seemed to have no leisure time to concern themselves with her.
All their attentions were captured by the monitor on the makeshift desk.
Everyone was preoccupied with analyzing a replay of a specific video snippet.
Park Do-hee also soon casually approached and joined the crowd.
As the video replayed showing her and Sua’s performance,
She couldn’t help but give her full attention.
Everyone remained transfixed on the monitor.
“‘You’re awake, huh?’”
The environment didn’t include fully prepared costumes or makeup for the actors. Yet amidst these conditions, Sua’s acting stood out impeccably.
“Huh, what’s that? If we really bring in Kim Yu-han…”
His voice was laced with absolute bafflement.
However, no one contradicted his query.
Until now, no one truly knew much about the role of Kim Yu-han.
Of course, it made sense. How could anyone fully understand a role that the writer themselves hadn’t finalized? It was quite natural.
But, the situation differed now.
Now, no one failed to grasp the essence of the role of Kim Yu-han. Because the performer had captured each nuance meticulously. Everyone couldn’t help but glance overtly at Sua.
“Having someone play a role of the opposite gender sounded unacceptable until now…”
“…but now, it seems plausible.”
In this crowd, there was a particular individual who scrutinized the monitor with great attentiveness. One whose appearance seemed to give an impression of a young girl if you happened to glance at her. It was Kim I-seo of Mystic.
On the outside, Kim I-seo had claimed she had come to inspect her contract artist, Seo Yeon-joo, and Kim Sun-il.
However, it wasn’t the truth.
Kim I-seo had come here today to see Sua’s performance.
And currently, Kim I-seo’s expectation was living up to its promise.
‘…Did she improvise right there? Without a single waver or hesitation?’
No doubt, it was all thanks to Sua’s ad-lib.
Kim I-seo valued nothing above a performer’s ‘essence’.
In a world abundant with talented actors, the key was being distinctive. Kim I-seo firmly believed that actors needed to carry their unique characteristics.
And now, it was confirmed.
‘She has her own color and scent, and it’s quite intense.’
The moment Sua dived into ad-libbing, Kim I-seo’s expectations swelled significantly. She even seriously pondered whether the person standing before them might actually be the authentic Kim Yu-han.
‘Wild and raw. Such a scent is rare.’
There are many renowned acting schools and courses, but in Sua’s performance, not a single trace of these institutions could be felt. It was entirely her own discovered and polished interpretation.
Just like Kim Yu-han himself, who had suddenly appeared from somewhere.
“‘Cute, aren’t you?’”
Sua, having bitten the arm, blinked once but soon after curled the corners of her eyes into a crescent moon’s curve. The affectionate glance she directed towards Park Do-hee’s eyes was fleeting.
“‘Keep it up, don’t break.’”
Sua began to stroke Park Do-hee as if they were lovers or even a pet.
Upon Sua finally lowering the mask and revealing her face, the PD paused the video. Simultaneously, the screen rewound.
“Here, this part I’m talking about.”
PD Choi Hee-won pointed towards Sua’s face, particularly her lips.
“Let’s take a closer look. When she bites the arm, initially, she’s in pain, so she never lowers the mask but covers the lower part of the face. However, she gradually gets used to the pain and starts to utilize her face.”
“Is she aware of how she looks in the camera?”
“Then did she plan out this outfit from the beginning?”
Upon hearing this, Kim I-seo unknowingly covered her lips with her hand.
‘Is she gifted with a third eye? What kind of objectivity does she possess?’
It wasn’t just about mimicking Kim Yu-han’s actions. Sua was exercising complete control over how she appeared on camera.
Moreover,
‘If she can do this in a mock shooting, what about the real thing?’
Reflecting on it, what Kim I-seo observed today wasn’t even the full potential of Sua. What would she showcase in the actual filming?
Simultaneously, a phrase from Sua crossed Kim I-seo’s mind:
“I’m still searching for the answer.”
In other words, this brilliance showcased by an untamed gem who hadn’t even finalized their acting direction.
Kim I-seo suddenly envisioned Sua’s potential a few years down the road.
‘If this kind of talent continues acting for, say, three more years…’
Her body tingled. It was indeed a remarkable latent talent.
Ultimately, Sua left a remarkable first impression.
Playing Kim Yu-han, the role Sua had taken up.
What once seemed like a joke that would elicit a dismissive smirk no longer felt so trivial. Everyone’s expressions of lost words stood as evidence.
“‘…Do you understand now?’”
When the video finally ended.
Everyone exchanged glances a few times before turning their eyes from the monitor to a different place. Their heads rotated in unison—all toward Sua.
Of course, Sua herself,
‘Why suddenly performing something not in the script? Do you hate me that much? Contract termination is completely unacceptable. Anyway, everything’s confusing now, and I’m in so much pain… It hurts…’
If she had to describe her current feelings, it would be…
“…”
No, Sua abandoned her attempt to relate her feelings through metaphor. Thinking with her current intelligence made her dizzy…
Moreover, she had left her mask behind in the filming area.
She had lost her means to conceal herself.
Without any choice, she maintained a composed expression, while her gaze affectionately lingered on the dropped mask, which others perceived differently.
‘She isn’t even aware of how extraordinary her feat was. She’s already worrying about the next filming. Is this just a warm-up exercise?’
‘Her eyes! She looks crazed with the desire to act.’
As various thoughts entwined in the air, the renowned supporting actor, Hwang Myung-pil, approached Park Do-hee with a word.
“Dohee, you did well. The performance was a bit too extreme, but happily, your opponent was skilled enough to handle it. Was that planned?”
“Yes, yes? Actually, that is…”
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
Hwang Myung-pil asked with deep concern.
“Yes?”
“Can you maintain this intensity on the real filming days?”
“…”
Park Do-hee suddenly felt like crying.
When her future seemed as gloomy as dark clouds.
“Isn’t there something else to worry about first?”
Seo Yeon-joo interjected at that time.
Her voice was filled with earnest care.
“Dohee, can you handle what Sua did, biting you?”
“Yes?”
“Sua… Well, how can I describe it? From the personality that criticizes others’ insufficient acting off the bat, to the pride that resists even when her arm is bitten…”
At that point, Kim Sun-il spoke up.
“Indeed, she’s nuts in several ways.”
“Ah, yes. That’s evident, even Sun-il agrees.”
That was the decisive blow.
“Ah…”
Park Do-hee collapsed due to her knees giving way. It was almost another fainting spell.
“…”
And those nearby firmly engraved this lesson in their minds.
At the mock filming, a newbie not to be trifled with emerged.
Nevertheless, the mock session proceeded.
This time, it was none other than the scene with Kim Sun-il and Sua together.
Yet for Sun-il and Sua themselves, this scene was incredibly familiar. It was the very part they practiced together on the day Sua first picked up a script at the cafe.
[Page 198. Scene #49] Underground Pursuit Area / Night
[Lee Kang-cheol: This is Lee Kang-cheol. I’ve been assigned to the Special Mobile Unit and will be working alongside Mr. Kim Yu-han using vehicle number 808 from today.]
Kim Yu-han responds accordingly.
“‘This is Lee Kang-cheol. I’ve been assigned to the Special Mobile Unit and will be working alongside Mr. Kim Yu-han using vehicle number 808 from today.’”
“‘Ah…!’”
It started similarly to before. Both actors performed naturally.
Suddenly, however, Kim Sun-il became curious.
Sua. Would she possibly handle his ad-lib?
There was no need to contemplate long. He acted immediately.
[…]
Unscripted, Kim Sun-il furrowed his brow and scrutinized Sua’s arm, which was currently tightly bandaged.
“‘What’s up with that arm? Will it hinder the operation?’”
What would Sua’s response be?
As Kim Sun-il waited for Sua’s reply,
“‘Of course not. It actually helps. Would you like to take a closer look?’”
The moment Kim Sun-il’s gaze was drawn to the proffered arm,
Sua’s eyes swept rapidly in a zig-zag pattern. With meticulous precision, she confirmed various spots before swiftly extracting the car key from Kim Sun-il’s waistband. It happened in the blink of an eye.
She then nonchalantly waved the key around, grinning.
“‘Look at this. Isn’t it quite useful?’”
A flawless improvisation response.
While staying true to the script’s core, there was no obstruction.
‘She was right.’
Kim Sun-il once again confirmed.
‘Sua. You were certainly worth bringing on board, even if I had to kneel.’
His choice was not mistaken.
Sua was the essential piece to complete the production.
.
.
.
.
.
.
When the moon hung boldly in the heavens, the rehearsal finally concluded.
An enormous amount of money had been spent to replicate the actual filming environment as closely as possible, and today, many scenes were filmed on a trial basis. But far from being exhausted, everyone seemed more spirited now.
Because the awkwardness had finally worn off.
Everyone was familiar with this charm of the filming set. As the filming sessions progressed, the initial awkwardness would fade, and bonds would form. They would become one big family.
The massive figure of PD Choi Hee-won spoke.
“We’ll conclude the rehearsal for today. There is a gathering scheduled at the outdoor set; however, those with pressing matters can leave for home. There’s absolutely no compulsion.”
But, unsurprisingly, no one left.
The reason was simple. The star hadn’t left yet.
Everyone simply glanced around, trying to read the star’s vibes. Despite today’s numerous filming sessions, the person who left the deepest impression was none other than Sua.
“Today, didn’t she not once utter an NG?”
“Yeah. Without even a single remark from the meticulous Kim Sun-il. That’s it. Her acting is truly incredible.”
“Looking back, who would’ve foreseen reviving such a struggling project would be possible? Even if you came back to life, you couldn’t predict this, right?”
“…”
“But isn’t it scary, in a way?”
At that moment, someone else chimed in.
“Didn’t she introduce herself as Kim Yu-han? Meaning, in reality, her personality might closely resemble Kim Yu-han’s?”
“If Kim Yu-han’s persona is a mad dog?”
“It’s probably best not to provoke her. That was evident even from her appearance.”
Right after that, everyone’s eyes again turned towards Sua.
Sitting far away, Sua was quietly stroking her bandaged arm. It seemed much like an enlightened sword master reminiscing with regret over his sword.
“Can it not be pleasing her?”
“Seems like she’s got nothing but acting on her mind.”
“We’d better be cautious about our actions. Didn’t you hear Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il’s conversation earlier?”
“How ironic that I, of all people, have ended up paying attention to a rookie…”
Of course, it was all a misunderstanding.
Sua was actually on the brink of tears.
“Ah, seriously, that bite hurt. What even is a piranha?”
She reflected on her day.
Thinking, and thinking, and thinking again, she came to a conclusion.
“…Am I being ostracized again?”
It was a dire situation. There was no doubt she was being subtly excluded.
Starting from the abrupt biting incident, forcing her to act despite the pain, and her inability to refuse out of fear of contract termination. And why was Kim Sun-il throwing out scriptless lines again?
Still testing me, huh? That’s what it is?
What could she do? It was the price she had to pay for not being careful in the first instance, leading to her becoming an outcast on this filming set…
“…”
…So what? Am I outcast again?
Sua’s mood continued to darken, and as it did, the people around her became even more hesitant to approach her, fearing to act rashly.
In a way, it was actually a positive feedback loop.
Nonetheless, the situation remained the same.
“…”
Everyone wanted to reach out and say something, but they couldn’t muster the courage to approach Sua due to her intimidating presence. They all just nervously licked their lips, like meerkats.
That was when it happened.
Heavy, cautious footfall.
A timid figure, like a newborn bird hesitantly advancing, approached Sua. They were clutching handheld cameras and microphones, members of the production’s marketing team.
The marketing team approached.
“Um…”
At the sound of movement, Sua looked up. Everyone smiled frantically to show they were utterly harmless, their sweat glinting under the moonlight.
“Hi! Sua-ya! We’re the marketing team!”
After taking a deep breath, they spoke with vigor.
“My name is Sua.”
“Ah, sorry! Right! Of course! Sua-ya! Since you’re playing the Sua character, calling you this way makes sense!”
As if they weren’t kidding in the slightest, their mannerisms were impeccable. To Sua, though, it felt very awkward.
“Cookie videos, NG compilations, making films… all elements needed to complete the drama, right? Since you’re the lead actor, Sua-ya, may we ask you a few simple questions without being a bother?”
“…”
“Feel free.”
For Sua, there was no other choice.
What if they rejected her too harshly? That’d surely worsen the ostracism. Besides, why were the marketing folks coming to her? If it was a documentary team, it might’ve made more sense…
“I have so many questions I want to ask, but I mustn’t overwhelm you, Sua-ya, so I’ll just ask one, just one question!”
The marketing team member chose their words very carefully.
“Since Kim Yu-han was originally an incomplete character and also a different gender from Sua-ya, one can imagine it wasn’t an easy feat at all, from the get-go. So, as a newcomer, Sua-ya, what made you accept this role?”
At that moment,
Seo Yeon-joo, munching away on snacks nearby, poked Kim Sun-il’s arm.
“Hey, what do you think she’ll reply?”
“…”
As a crumb-covered hand touched him, Kim Sun-il’s veins threatened to burst. After a while, wiping his sleeve with a wet tissue, he said,
“She’ll blurt it out raw as it comes to her mind. And keep your hand off me.”
Seo Yeon-joo wiped her hand on Kim Sun-il’s sleeve with a casual swipe.
“…”
Kim Sun-il’s face contorted monstrously and almost took on a murderous gleam.
“Alright, I know that. But what I’m saying is, isn’t it risky to let her respond like that? You try at least to be gentle with fans, right? But Sua-ya seems like she’s going to be frighteningly honest.”
“I’m scared of myself. I might k*ll you…”
“Hey, are you even listening?”
In any case, Kim Sun-il also resonated with Seo Yeon-joo’s thoughts.
How would she be perceived by the public?
It was a crucial question every actor had to think about carefully. Kim Sun-il himself, who always held his fans in high regard, had long since developed an amiable male image for them.
So, how about Sua?
No, in fact, would it really be problematic?
Might there even be people who’d appreciate that?
Right when everyone was focused intently on her.
Actually, Sua herself felt quite at ease.
She didn’t find it hard to choose what to say.
“Uh… How do I put this… The acting I’ve showcased, was extremely, ah…”
She spoke deliberately, one word at a time.
“Easy.”
Reaching her answer after thorough thought, she concluded confidently.
The instant her words left her lips, it was as though lightning struck above everyone’s heads.
“…Is it really that easy?”
The woman gasped in surprise, echoing the sentiment of everyone else around.
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
