“Was it really that easy?”
The marketing team blinked in surprise and repeated the question, then quickly turned their heads towards the handheld camera. Along with their heightened tone, they said:
“Dear viewers watching this video later, did you hear that clearly? Ms. Sua said acting as Kim Yu-han was very easy! Jackpot!”
“Uh…what?”
For Sua, it was merely an awkward moment.
The word “regrettable” had been misinterpreted as “very easy.” Not to mention, she never even uttered the word “main.”
“But I can’t say I don’t see where it’s coming from! Considering Ms. Sua’s skills, it does make sense. So, let’s delve into the character of Lee Soo-a, shall we? Ms. Sua, you don’t have an agency, right?”
“Yes, I don’t have one.”
“No agency! This is absolutely groundbreaking!”
Sua didn’t fully understand, but it seemed the word “groundbreaking” wasn’t far off. There was definitely some murmuring around her.
“Ms. Sua, you’re going to have a tough day today, aren’t you?”
“Tough?”
Tough? What kind of tough?
Could not having an agency mean some kind of disadvantage?
However, Sua didn’t have the chance to correct her already given answer or ask any additional questions. The marketing team’s questions came in a relentless barrage.
“How did you learn to act like that, Ms. Sua?”
“I haven’t really studied it much. At first, it was just a hobby…”
“No training, you say? And a hobby at that?”
The marketing team’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“A-ha, you’re making a joke to lighten the mood on set, right?”
The desperate tone conveyed their hope that it was a joke. But Sua had no intention of lying. A casual shake of her head made the other person’s eyes widen even more.
“S-so, no training, and just started as a hobby?”
“Yes.”
“Eh…”
The woman, who had been adept at keeping the conversation going in any situation, was rendered speechless for the first time. The reason: Sua’s shocking answer.
The reactions from those around were not much different.
The shock rippled through like waves, and everyone chimed in with their own comments.
“What exactly did she say? I couldn’t hear.”
“She said Kim Yu-han’s character was super easy. Acting is just a hobby for her.”
“Is she joking around? This is supposed to be an off-the-record video, right?”
“Does that face look like she’s joking? Look again. Does it seem like she’s joking?”
Among them, one person was particularly stunned.
“Hobby? Just a hobby, and she achieved this level?”
Hwang Myung-pil, who had recently earned the title of “top-notch supporting actor” and was rising in fame, couldn’t help but feel an uncomfortable shock down his neck.
He was welcomed especially as a supporting actor, always with a smile, because he never let go of acting even during his long years as an unknown. He hadn’t even had the chance to take on a leading role.
“Did she secure the main role through a hobby? Did she self-study an incomplete character?”
The sky seemed crueler than ever.
Is acting really about talent, then?
As the outdoor set was filled with gasps of amazement, there were those who remained calm even in this situation.
Lee Geum-sook, Choi Hee-won, Seo Yeon-joo, and Kim Sun-il. The four of them.
Seo Yeon-joo, picking up a thin potato chip, spoke.
“Were we like this when we started?”
“You were a lot noisier. A lot more unpleasant to look at.”
“At least I didn’t kneel.”
Between Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-joo, who were sitting side by side, their usual warm conversation flowed. The nearby screenwriter chuckled as he listened.
“Those two aren’t actually siblings, are they? People sometimes get them confused.”
Both immediately rejected the notion.
Seo Yeon-joo shivered and said, “Please stop saying creepy things. Anyway, I understand the set’s reaction. Ms. Sua really is a fascinating presence.”
The marketing team’s off-the-record recording ended there.
In just a few minutes, it was over. There was no helping it. After all, those who had been involved in the set well understood how extraordinary words like “hobby” and “self-study” were.
Even more so when those two words were combined to create Kim Yu-han. How could anyone not be astonished? At least, that’s how Seo Yeon-joo felt.
On the other hand, the main cause behind this commotion.
Sua, who had inadvertently become the eye of the storm.
‘What is this situation?’
She had no time to think of anything else as she tried to make sense of it all. Mock rehearsals were an incredibly important opportunity for survival, requiring keen observation.
By the time she had pondered for about a minute, one realization dawned on her.
‘…I wasn’t isolated, was I?’
The looks directed at Sua had become quite clear, and now they were readable.
She had thought people were avoiding her, but realized it wasn’t entirely negative. She understood that the vibe around her wasn’t “avoidance” but “caution.”
“…”
It was certain.
There were sidelong glances, amazement, and occasionally, even a sense of reverence.
‘Come to think of it, it makes sense. Even at the dinner party celebrating the beginning of production, I was seen as if I had made some grand proclamation.’
—I will make sure not to draw attention.
Meaning: I’ll quietly do my job.
However, the people around her had interpreted it differently. And what about today’s situation?
‘…Didn’t I do well? I guess I ended up proving myself?’
After declaring an almost-monstrous ambition and then proving it, everything suddenly made sense.
She wasn’t being treated badly; rather, she was receiving unprecedentedly grand treatment.
‘Whoa, I’m getting this kind of treatment?’
Sua’s eyes sparkled.
‘I’m going crazy with excitement. No, this is the reaction I wanted, right? Besides, what’s wrong with it? I didn’t exactly lie in my answers.’
Sua began earnestly encouraging herself.
‘You’re reflecting exactly what you wanted. Be happy. Be happy, myself.’
‘Enjoy it. Don’t tremble. Enjoy it, Lee Soa. Stay calm and natural.’
Sua began to seriously focus on self-management.
It was different from her earlier desperate attempt to maintain a poker face.
Slightly more relaxed, somewhat haughty.
Almost like the heroine of a melodramatic TV drama.
But…
Time passed.
‘Urgh, but I can’t keep it up for too long. My heart hurts.’
Her field of vision remained the same wherever she looked.
The entire scene of everyone stealthily glancing at and whispering about Sua was a heavy burden. The pain in her arm from earlier was still there, and she didn’t want anyone to see her grimace from it.
“Meat’s here! Meat!”
“I’m sad because I have to drive. Can’t drink alcohol.”
“We can always call a designated driver. How often does a day like today come?”
A group approached carrying boxes full of food, signifying that the official afterparty was about to begin. However, Sua got up from her seat.
“I’ll leave early.”
She offered no further explanation. A bold and concise declaration.
But not a single person questioned Sua for a reason. Upon making eye contact, they merely offered greetings and stepped aside.
Sua thought, “It works. This works.”
Deeply pleased, Sua left with her shoulders held even higher than before. Others merely watched her receding back.
Then,
“Yeon-joo, and Sun-il.”
Hwang Myung-pil called out to Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-joo.
“About that rookie playing Kim Yu-han, the more I look, the less I understand. What kind of person is she, really?”
Seo Yeon-joo casually chewed her potato chip and replied,
“Sua is just Sua. There’s no other way to explain her.”
“…What? You guys aren’t supposed to know her well?”
“We don’t. We’ve just gotten used to her.”
“What?”
“Let me tell you this—give up trying to understand her.”
Seo Yeon-joo chuckled,
“You won’t understand anyway. The best you can do is accept her.”
…
Sua walked silently towards the parking lot.
Once she reached the parking lot, she planned to hail a taxi, go home, and collapse like a corpse. Despite feeling very proud, today had truly been exhausting.
‘…Still, I was cool, huh? Sua, you have talent.’
But why was it that, even amidst such exhaustion, a chuckling laugh escaped her?
Though it began with a misunderstanding, if she could maintain it well going forward, it wouldn’t matter, would it? Being liked by others was a profoundly joyful experience for Sua.
Her first time. An event that had never happened in her life before.
“Ahhh, I need to sleep and go to the hospital tomorrow.”
As she continued heading towards the parking lot,
Sua suddenly sensed someone nearby.
Plip— plip—
Footsteps. But they weren’t just one set.
Glancing furtively, she noticed quite a few people moving in the same direction. Of course, thinking about it, that made sense.
After all, she wasn’t the only one eager to get home early.
Sua immediately straightened her back and reassembled her expression. Any hope of reaching the parking lot comfortably was dashed.
But then,
Plip— plip—
The footsteps around her were strangely quick. It felt as if they were deliberately rushing past her. Why were they walking so fast?
“Does she need the bathroom? Or are they trying to secure a taxi first?”
Just as Sua was inwardly wondering,
Whoosh!
One person who had passed her suddenly turned around,
“Hello, Ms. Sua! It’s nice to meet you!”
“…”
Sua froze for a moment then asked,
“What is it?”
She almost jumped from the shock.
“I was thoroughly impressed by the acting you showcased during today’s mock rehearsal. The PD even asked for the recording to be released! Of course, it was kept confidential, so I couldn’t get it.”
“Okay. What do you need?”
“Nothing special. I just happened to overhear that Ms. Sua doesn’t have an agency yet… right?”
“That’s correct.”
Nodding, the person smiled broadly.
Taking out a sleek business card,
“I’m from Ocean Actors, I’m sure you’ve heard of us. It’s the agency that represents Park Do-hee, whom you acted with today.”
…An agency offer?
Sua blinked blankly for a moment.
This sensation felt entirely different from when men asked for her number or when someone handed her their business card. Agency—put plainly, it meant she had value as an actress.
While Sua was immersed in her thoughts, the person grew even friendlier.
“Working with Do-hee on the spot for that ad-libbed scene! I was blown away! It’s rare these days to see such strikingly unique presence, and rookies like Ms. Sua are very much welcomed at Ocean Actors!”
“Hmm.”
“Today’s been quite the day for you, hasn’t it? It would be great if we could be in the same agency, too. I’m not asking for a decision right away. Just give it a positive consideration, please. I’ll be waiting for your contact whenever you’re ready.”
“Okay.”
Sua nodded inwardly pleased, but she didn’t think she’d contact them again. Not quite her style.
And most importantly, she was exhausted. Every minute was becoming more tiring. She slipped the card into her pocket and turned around—
“…”
Sua stopped.
What froze her were the sights before her.
Not just Sua had stopped in this moment. All the people who had passed her stood scattered at certain intervals, as if waiting for their turn.
Their gazes, clearly intended for Sua alone.
Suddenly, the words of the marketing team came to her mind.
—You don’t have an agency?
—Ms. Sua is going to have a tough day today, isn’t she?
“Ms. Sua!”
“Ms. Sua, can I offer you a card?”
“It’ll just take a moment. Ms. Sua…”
The marketing team’s words were true. Sua was paying a heavy price for her dedication during the mock rehearsal.
“Please!”
Everyone was coming at her without exception. It was a flash.
Sua’s once-empty hands were soon filled with a stack of business cards.
“Let us offer you our card!”
“How will you be getting home? We can help…”
Her mind was a whirlwind.
It was almost like a card trick. With the cards in her hands, she could almost start a game.
—♩♪♬
Suddenly, her phone rang.
Amidst the chaos, she pressed the phone to her ear.
[Don’t accept anything.]
The first words that came were sharp.
A familiar voice.
Sua was inwardly greatly startled.
[Trust me, I know what I’m doing.]
The person on the other end was none other than Kim I-seo, the president of Mystic.
