Hhh—
The van’s window was hurriedly shut.
The moment they were finally alone, Kim I-seo quickly asked.
“Sua, did I hear that right? You’re not going to do this piece?”
Her voice was laden with panic. She seemed to be searching for an answer, but Sua didn’t change her attitude.
She merely nodded again.
“Yes. I don’t plan to be involved with this work.”
“Hmm.”
Kim I-seo fidgeted with her fingers. It was such a far cry from the responses she had anticipated.
“Ugh, ugh.”
Kim I-seo’s mind became incredibly complicated.
Of course, Sua had never once moved according to Kim I-seo’s expectations, but this was excessive. Why did Sua always voice differing opinions in areas that Kim I-seo couldn’t even imagine?
And that too, on the very day of Mystik’s contract.
They were already facing obstacles.
Knock knock—
That was when there was a tapping on the window. It was Manager Seo Jae-woo.
Kim I-seo lowered the window slightly with a wry smile.
“Manager Seo, just a moment. Let’s have a private chat.”
Her voice and demeanor were perfectly relaxed.
However, even that couldn’t conceal how her bangs were sticking to her sweaty forehead beneath the two prominent hairpins, appearing unusually heavy in that moment.
This situation must have been pretty perplexing.
“…Is this something we really need to deliberate on for so long? It’s just a few pages of a teaser script, and I certainly don’t think the conditions are bad.”
“Sua is new. There’s a lot I need to explain.”
Kim I-seo met Manager Seo’s curiosity with a confident smile before closing the window again and continuing her negotiation with Sua.
“Sua, did you hear that? This is just a teaser script. It’s a bit premature to outright reject it. Trying out an audition wouldn’t hurt, would it?”
“I’m sorry, I’m just not interested.”
“Does that mean it’s a matter of preference? Let me humbly advise you—it’s a great opportunity, far too good to dismiss just based on that. Especially for a newcomer like Sua.”
“No, it’s not about preference. The script seems a bit … odd.”
Kim I-seo paused mid-sentence. She had felt Sua’s unshakable determination after questioning her several times.
After taking a deep breath, she briefly questioned.
“Ultimately, Sua, you don’t intend to be part of this project, right?”
Kim I-seo barely managed to swallow the words that were tumbling out in succession.
How this role perfectly suited Sua’s look, and that it was a project by the highly connected Director Kim Jun-ki.
“Yes.”
An exceedingly resolute reply.
It was beyond Kim I-seo’s abilities to change her mind at this point.
You can lead a donkey to water, but you can’t force it to drink. When an actor themselves clearly refuses so stubbornly, what can you do?
‘It’ll be tough to persuade her right now.’
Kim I-seo hadn’t entirely given up on convincing Sua, but this made her think of several things she had to do.
Manager Seo Jae-woo was waiting outside the van, looking perplexed. The longer he waited, the more likely he would start to think something was off.
Hence, the task at hand was rather straightforward. It would be best to send Seo Jae-woo off first and then methodically persuade Sua.
Hhh—
Once again the window lowered.
“Director Seo, I’ll return the teaser script to you for now.”
Kim I-seo said with a delicate tone.
“Even a quick glance shows how luxurious it is. I’m genuinely impressed.”
“Isn’t it? There’s even a cruise shoot in the future, and it’s all about rich people having fun. But… Sua, your expression doesn’t seem too good?”
Manager Seo Jae-woo’s gaze turned towards Sua, and realizing the situation, Kim I-seo nudged Sua’s toes lightly with the tip of her shoe. A clear enough message, even for someone like Sua.
Meaning: even if she must refuse, there’s no harm in putting on a bit of a pretense.
Sua agreed. She was well aware of the importance of image management. After all, hard-to-deal-with actors and rude actors were worlds apart.
Sua parted her lips.
“It looks interesting. I could imagine myself in that role.”
“If that’s the case, there’s no reason to hesitate. You just need to go for the audition! I watched your mock shoot, Sua. Even if you only showcased half your abilities, you’d definitely pass!”
“But…”
Sua cautiously asked.
“What is the rating for this movie?”
“That’s right. My mind slipped there. I didn’t mention it. It’s rated 15.”
“Aha.”
The manager continued after noticing Sua subtly nodding her head.
“Other actors really struggle. They learn piano, baseball, martial arts for their roles… even get dragged off to some remote countryside. Just take the character Ryu Hyun-ah in this. As a piano prodigy in the story, the actor has to go through a lot.”
“Hmm.”
“But for Sua, all you need to do is dress up in designer clothes and enjoy yourself. Isn’t that incredibly unfair?”
Then he smirked.
“But that’s the way the world of actors is, unfair. And if it works to Sua’s advantage, there’s no reason to reject it!”
His statement was straightforward and clear.
This project could let Sua play around and still make tons of money.
At that moment Kim I-seo intervened timely.
“Sua is pondering because she’s satisfied, not dissatisfied. She’s new. With so many demanding shoots behind her, it’s understandable to be surprised by such an offer.”
“Oh, is that it? She was surprised in that way?”
Director Seo Jae-woo finally nodded as if understanding, and Kim I-seo continued speaking. It was her calculated move to keep Sua and Seo Jae-woo from conversing further.
“Still, isn’t Director Kim renowned for making high-quality age-restricted movies? Why is he challenging himself with a rating of 15 this time?”
“Age-restricted films ultimately have a ceiling on audience size, don’t they? This time, it’s a move towards a broader audience. Although age-restricted films tend to receive high praise, for box office success, the age limit must be lowered.”
“Indeed, it’s a good move for Mystik. Sua is a newcomer and female, so an age-restricted movie would be too risky.”
Kim I-seo continued to pretend she was extremely interested, skillfully offering compliments. Ensuring Manager Seo Jae-woo would leave feeling reassured and without any bad mood.
A short while later,
“I’ll get back to you later then.”
Her years of experience definitely showed in that moment.
“When later, how long should we expect?”
“You were at the mock shoot, so you know. There are quite a few people obsessing over Sua these days. It’ll take some time to handle them all and juggle everything.”
“Even so, I kindly request you to expedite the process. After all, I have loudly claimed to the director that I found him the right cast. Please give me a chance to prove it.”
“Of course. I’ll let you know soon.”
Buying time won’t work miracles, Kim I-seo knew she’d have to provide a response by tonight. Meaning, from Kim I-seo’s perspective, she needed to persuade Sua within this period.
With a gentle nod, Kim I-seo successfully sent Manager Seo Jae-woo away.
Right after,
“Phewww…”
Kim I-seo tore open a bottle of water. Her petite frame made the bottle look especially large.
She drank the whole bottle without pause, then
suddenly grasped Sua’s hands,
“Sua, look me in the eye and tell me what’s going on.”
Had Kim I-seo ever questioned Sua so earnestly? Sua felt a slight sinking sensation in her chest.
“Sua.”
“Yes.”
“Out of a hundred roles, such an easy one may come once, maybe not at all. And it’s a Kim Jun-ki production. It’s a piece to relax, improve your reputation, and make money.”
Sua knew this role was convenient. She really did!
However, she had her own undeniable reasons.
‘…What can be done if this role is beyond experience?’
The moment Sua touched the script, she was able to visit a special hotel’s phone booth and confirm it clearly.
[Movie ‘Money is All That Matters’]
▶ Sufficient simulation elements.
001 – Park So-jin (Virgin simulation N/A)
This ‘Park So-jin’ is the youngest daughter in a wealthy family, but Sua cannot simulate it because she is still a virgin.
Not only her. Most of the characters were the same.
002 – Jeong Do-jin (Virgin simulation N/A)
003 – Choi Hyun-woo (Virgin simulation N/A)
004 – Ryu Hyun-ah (Caution, Special Ability Included)
All had conditions that were impossible for virgins, and for number four, Ryu Hyun-ah, it seemed too dangerous to attempt.
Of course, there was a method to verify this.
Sua had already learned how to use the feature.
024 ─ Cheese.
What’s Cheese? It’s a cat.
…A real cat. A meowing cat.
Sua was even able to simulate being the cat of a wealthy family.
It was truly a bizarre experience. If she were to seriously try mimicking a cat right now, she might even be able to walk on all fours.
Anyway, the grade they had gone through such trouble to confirm was as follows.
[Movie ‘Money is Everything in Life’]
▶ Sufficient in realization.
▶ Experience complete / Grade 6.
Grade 6. It was a bizarre grade, beyond mere puzzlement.
“Isn’t the director supposed to have a wide network? How did this happen? Ah, did they only hear good things from everyone around them, leading to this?”
Moreover, there was one more curious point.
“The director mentioned 15 years of age, but upon closer inspection, all roles are adult-only. What’s going on here?”
Yet soon, all these thoughts were dismissed.
There was no use pondering; it was merely a waste of time.
Sua wasn’t gifted with clairvoyance, and regardless of what lay hidden behind the scenes, the moment she was offered a role she couldn’t experience, her refusal was already set.
Besides, with a grade as trash, there was no reason to do it.
Meanwhile, Kim I-seo was still watching Sua.
It was quite a dilemma.
She couldn’t consult on matters like, “Why did the grandmaster director produce a Grade 6 movie? Isn’t that cover fraud? And if it’s meant for a 15-year-old audience, why are all the roles adult-rated?”
After pondering for a while, Sua chose the safer option.
“My heart isn’t resonating with this.”
To others, it might seem like she was filtering works based on her feelings, but it couldn’t be helped. This was the best response, after all.
In fact, Kim I-seo currently regarded Sua as such an actor.
Clashing opinions. The situation only became more convoluted.
“…So, Sua is completely unmotivated?”
“Yes. You mentioned I have a particular scent. But it seems that scent wouldn’t be utilized in this work.”
Kim I-seo’s expression grew subtle.
Sua understood her thoughts.
Did the sports car trio bring her here only for her to turn down a grandmaster director’s work on the first day, citing a lack of motivation? It must be frustrating.
“I’ll work hard on something else. Please reject this for me.”
“…”
Kim I-seo silently opened her water bottle and drank.
She brought Sua because she trusted her, but this was still confusing. Reflecting back, she had never encountered such issues with Seo Yeon-joo and Kim Sun-il. Everything always went according to Kim I-seo’s will.
Do I need to get accustomed to situations like this if I’m to work with Sua? Or can I ever get used to it? Kim I-seo continuously drank from the water bottle due to this never-before-experienced situation.
“…Alright.”
Nonetheless, she reluctantly nodded.
Managing Sua wasn’t going to be easy from the start.
◈◈◈◈◈
A few hours later.
Kim I-seo dropped Sua off at the Mystic Enter building, and Sua headed towards a nearby nail salon.
A nail salon?
She had never imagined herself going to a place like this. In the past, she even thought that she’d never have a reason to visit a nail salon her entire life.
No, today, she wasn’t coming here willingly.
It was all thanks to Seo Yeon-joo’s call.
Sua promptly entered the shop by opening the door.
“Welcome.”
The polite greetings of the staff.
In response, Sua slightly bowed her head. It was an unconscious action, but the fact surprised her inwardly.
‘…How did I become so adept?’
All these actions were flowing as naturally and fluently as water. It was so familiar.
The slight intimidation she presented when facing others, the elegant greetings calculated meticulously, minimizing unnecessary movements to avoid looking trivial…
Countless such behaviors flowed effortlessly without much thought. Was this also a form of acting? Or was it merely a sign of improving skills?
Regardless, it wasn’t a bad thing. Definitely not.
“This feels good. This sense of image being completed.”
Then.
“Did you come, Sua? Come and sit over here.”
The reason she came here, Seo Yeon-joo tapped the chair beside her. Currently, she had one of her hands treated by a staff member and was sitting leisurely.
Sua sat next to Seo Yeon-joo and asked.
“What’s the matter?”
“The matter? Let’s just chat while doing our nails. We’re family now, right? Sisters should get along well.”
“…So it’s not business?”
“If it’s not business, are you disappointed? That’s called work addiction.”
Sua had been at peace internally but realized she must have sounded differently to Seo Yeon-joo. She smiled gently.
“Life becomes arduous if you only think about work. Sometimes, we need days like these. Hopefully, enjoy it and relax right now.”
Sua was purely amazed.
‘How did I end up spending personal time with Seo Yeon-joo…’
The epitome of grace, the top-tier actress, Seo Yeon-Joo, chose her to spend time with. What an honor.
Sua marveled at Seo Yeon-joo’s face up close, and it was mutual. Seo Yeon-Joo stared at Sua with wide eyes.
“Wow, you look more remarkable up close. White hair is incredibly difficult to pull off, but Sua is different. It suits you perfectly.”
“Arctic Fox.”
“Huh?”
“Arctic Fox. They say I resemble an Arctic Fox.”
Sua emphasized the words “Arctic Fox.”
There was a brief silence over this metaphor.
In truth, Seo Yeon-Joo had envisioned a wolf of the snowy fields. An Arctic Fox wasn’t entirely off the mark, but she still felt Sua was more akin to a wolf.
While pondering, Sua asked again.
“Right?”
“Uh, um, yes, absolutely.”
Seo Yeon-Joo nodded hurriedly.
It was now time to begin the nail process. An attendant handed Sua a catalog filled with samples like a menu.
“How would you like yours?”
“Hmm.”
Already, Sua faced her first challenge.
Conch shell concept swept onto the sandy shore, leopard-print concept, checker-pattern concept, and more.
Sua was unsure what to choose, and none of the options appealed to her. Applying these designs to her nails? It sounded merely troublesome.
Seo Yeon-joo chuckled at that moment. Sua feared she had betrayed her childishness.
“Ah, sorry. Watching the attendant tremble was just too funny. Hey, Sua, relax your expression. This is a place to unwind, unwind. You can be at ease here; it’s not in front of the camera.”
The attendant shrugged.
“…It’s a bit nerve-wracking with such a special guest than I expected.”
“Dear, am I not special?”
“No, no, not in that sense. Anyway, what would you like?”
Sua was still uncertain about what to choose, and once again, Seo Yeon-joo broke the silence.
“Sister, it seems Sua doesn’t like any of it. Let’s go custom.”
“Custom… Yeah, that makes sense. Looking at the samples, none seem fitting for a guest like her. There’s no other choice but to custom-create something that suits her.”
“…”
For Sua, this was even worse news.
Not being able to select an option meant she had to entirely decide what kind of image would be painted onto her nails. The difficulty level had increased exponentially.
Meanwhile, Seo Yeon-joo pondered what would suit Sua.
“Hmm, come to think of it, we talked about the Arctic Fox earlier.”
Considering her hair color and preferences, it seemed Sua liked the Arctic.
What’s in the Arctic? Penguins? But they’re from Antarctica. Arctic salmon? Nah, Arctic bears are somewhat off.
Repeating “Arctic Fox” was somewhat bland. Reflecting, weren’t there rabbits in polar regions as well? Seo Yeon-Joo’s eyes gleamed.
“…Sua, how about a rabbit?”
After pondering deeply, Seo Yeon-Joo spoke about “rabbits.”
“Rabbit? Oh, I get the picture. Would you like this feel?”
The staff member promptly moved her hands. To this skilled person, sketching a sample was child’s play.
Soon, the design was born.
On a white background, two red eyes were painted with a green leaf on the forehead.
It was a very small but explosively cute snow rabbit.
“…”
Sua’s heart raced. Thump thump thump. Very intensely.
“…It’s troublesome anyway, so let’s just go with this.”
Sua’s casual tone. But inside, she was very excited.
The work began, and Seo Yeon-joo spoke.
“Come to think of it, Sua, did you hear about this?”
“About what?”
“During the main filming of Special Tactical Unit 808, it’s rumored that a few renowned figures might visit. What were they called recently? They’re eager to make music films these days….”
Soon after, ten such snow rabbits adorned Sua’s nails.
She was born.
The result was something even Seo Yeon-joo, standing nearby, could admire.
“Oh my, let me try my hand at this. Sua, you’re absolutely adorable….”
Sua moved slightly in what seemed to be irritation. She nodded.
Truthfully, she herself was too pleased to find words, but…
Seo Yeon-joo neatly placed Sua’s hand on the desk, then posed her own hand beside it and clicked a photo. Seo Yeon-joo’s nails had a striking cheetah print design.
Next came a selfie. They posed with their palms turned upward to show off their nails, using a pose akin to the hand movements zombies or reanimated corpses might make when they hop around.
Seo Yeon-joo chuckled softly.
“Today’s nails are my gift to you. To commemorate becoming part of Mystic. I look forward to working together.”
Sua, still unable to tear her gaze away from her own nails, thought to herself that such moments, on occasion, weren’t so bad.
Her life had already changed drastically.
.
.
.
At a certain packaged snack bar, the scene of a soju commercial shoot.
“Mr. Sun-il! That was amazing just now! In ten minutes, we’ll do one more take with a different tie; it’s the last one!”
Dressed in black slacks, with the top button of his shirt undone and a loosely tied tie, his hair damp with wax mimicking the look of having endured the rain, Kim Sun-il exuded a relaxed elegance.
There was no way the staff wouldn’t respond positively.
“Mr. Sun-il… he’s stunning.”
“What can we do about this decadent vibe he has?”
“How can a tired office worker after a long day look so sexy?”
Meanwhile, Kim Sun-il was checking his phone during a break. He had ten minutes. A text message had come from Seo Yeon-joo, which was unusual.
He debated deleting it without looking but decided to check. Upon seeing it wasn’t text but a picture, his curiosity piqued.
[ Sender: Seo Yeon-joo ]
▷ I took a picture with Sua.
▷ (A photo taken after getting a matching manicure)
▷ Jealous, right~~~~~~
Even Kim Sun-il thought Sua’s decision to dye her hair white was a stroke of genius. It felt as though a dragon had finally found and grasped the pearl of wisdom within its jaws.
Moreover, the combination of the two was quite appealing. If Seo Yeon-joo was the rabbit, then Sua was the wolf—a curious arctic combination.
As Kim Sun-il gazed contentedly at the screen, soon a blank expression returned to his face, uncomfortable with this side of himself.
He typed out a short reply.
▶ Don’t get too cocky.
.
.
.
Time flowed intensely for everyone.
“One more try before dinner!”
Led by Park Do-hee and Hwang Myung-pil, the cast of the special tactical team drama “808” continued to focus on their rehearsals.
Meanwhile, in the editing room of the short film “Sword,”
Director Park Jun received some news.
“Ms. Sua has finally joined Mystic? Hmm, it suits her well! Good choice! I wonder how much her signing bonus was? If a newcomer managed to secure one, it’s almost unprecedented, isn’t it?”
Having momentarily rejoiced as though it were his own success,
Park Jun soon ended the call and plunged into editing with greater fervor than ever, brimming with energy.
In his mind, the future was already unfolding.
The indomitable vision of “Sword” breaking through to the finals. The lead role, Lee Soo-a, dressed elegantly in a flowing gown, striding confidently through various film festival events.
Viewing these scenes before his eyes, it felt less like a dream and more like an impending reality.
He was certain he could make it so.
◈◈◈◈◈
Night.
Sua wandered through the interior of Mystic Entertainment’s building.
Looking here, looking there—where an ordinary person might yearn to escape the workplace, Sua was different.
The building felt like a playground to her.
‘Just strolling around here is so much fun…’
The complex featured an in-house cafeteria, a gymnasium, even a dance studio equipped with mirrors. To Sua, all of it was a novelty.
She suddenly stopped near a certain area.
“Here….”
A soundproof room where a grand piano had been prominently placed.
Suddenly, a remark Director Seo Jae-woo had made came to mind.
– Learning baseball for a role. Training in combat techniques… Even being dragged off to secluded mountain areas… Take this Hyun-ah role for instance. The scenario requires her to be a piano prodigy, causing immense hardship for the actress.
Sua was curious.
Just how much did script immersion affect her body?
After experiencing speed violations, she’d gotten a driver’s urge, though she had no way to confirm since she didn’t have a license.
Though she experienced “Sword” through Wi Ji-hye, it wasn’t enough to definitively conclude whether her fencing skills had improved, given that the short film focused on the metaphysical aspects and philosophy of swordsmanship.
In short, Sua still didn’t know.
Just how much does script immersion enhance her body and skills?
‘In the future, I’ll encounter numerous scripts, but…’
This was a problem Sua needed to resolve promptly.
‘What if I avoid high-level scripts simply because they’re too difficult to experience? Or if I undergo the experience but my reenactment doesn’t meet expectations, affecting my acting?’
Sua reflected on the past.
She avoided torturous experiences like waterboarding and couldn’t partake in those requiring virginity since she wasn’t one. Luckily, those scripts hadn’t been particularly high-ranking.
But surely, from now on, there would be roles demanding a high ranking with much greater challenges.
…Wouldn’t it be such a pity to miss those opportunities?
Thus, it was time to verify now.
Sua reviewed her list of potential experiences.
[ Movie “Money is Everything in Life” ]
▶ Sufficient elements for visualization.
001 ─ Park So-jin (Virgin experience unavailable)
002 ─ Jung Do-jin (Virgin experience unavailable)
003 ─ Choi Hyun-woo (Virgin experience unavailable)
004 ─ Ryu Hyun-ah (Warning: Includes special abilities)
Initially worried by the warning, now knowing that Liu Hyun-ah was a piano prodigy, she started to see it differently.
Could the warning of “special abilities” mean the very possibility she was hoping for? A small spark of optimism ignited within her.
Finally, Sua selected Liu Hyun-ah.
[ Recognized a character with included special abilities.]
[There is a significant gap between the character’s and the possessor’s abilities.]
[Preparing to bridge the ability gap…]
[…Preparation completed. Initiating injection.]
This was the first time Sua had ever seen such messages.
Sua murmured without thought.
“Inject? Why does it sound so eerie…?”
Moments after, the world felt like it was on fast-forward.
It was as if all the books in a vast library were suddenly forcing their way into her very consciousness. Every time her focus wavered, it felt like her head would explode.
Ryu Hyun-ah’s life was relentless.
Awakening every day to practice the piano for hours, being subjected to beatings and punishments for the slightest mistake—how long had she endured such days? Sua was compelled to relive these experiences over and over again.
When Sua could barely remember she was Sua anymore,
Flash!
“…Huh?”
Sua returned to reality.
While living as Liu Hyun-ah, she’d completely forgotten she was even Sua, but now, Liu Hyun-ah’s memories felt strangely faint. It was as if she’d experienced a moment so fleeting it barely registered as a second.
It was just like clicking the mythical “500 million years” button one might encounter online. Regardless, Sua now felt no mental or physical strain.
Sua swallowed.
It wasn’t a dry swallow—it was a gulp of anticipation.
The grand piano before her seemed suddenly welcoming, like her one and only friend. When she realized it, her hands were already resting on the grand piano.
Her fingers moved before she even knew it.
Dah-dah-dan…
Sua froze instinctively.
Then, after a long pause, she tried again.
Dah-dah-dan…
She couldn’t help but freeze once more.
But this time, it was accompanied by a delayed admiration.
“Wow….”
The sound emanating from her touch was breathtakingly beautiful.
And then she understood, her whole body tingling with goosebumps.
Her acting spectrum.
It was far from narrow. It couldn’t be.
