A broadcaster’s voice is so important.
Vroom.
A stylish foreign car speeds down the quiet, empty road in the early morning.
I don’t really know much about cars, but I can tell it’s a foreign one.
Inside that car are me and Bihangwoon.
Of course, Bihangwoon is driving, and I’m sitting quietly in the back.
So, where are we going?
We’re on our way to a project that I promised to appear in with Bihangwoon.
Or more accurately, I’m being dragged there.
“”
And yet, despite the atmosphere of a car that seems like it should have some hardcore foreign hip-hop blasting, the inside is surprisingly quiet.
Bihangwoon has been driving in silence, focused on the road, and I haven’t spoken a single word for the past thirty minutes.
The reason is painfully obvious.
The doctor literally begged me to shut up, so I even took a break from my broadcasts.
But honestly, isn’t it ironic that I’m heading to act in this condition?
‘…But Bihangwoon, my throat is a mess. Can I even act like this?’
“Of course.”
Bihangwoon’s voice is filled with certainty.
“Eh…?”
“Ah. I do feel a little bad for visiting you in the hospital on Friday just to make this offer. But the shoot is today, so there was no other choice.”
“Well, I understand, but…”
I can’t believe I’m about to act with this voice.
It’s not that I don’t want to go, but now I’m genuinely curious.
Won’t my ruined voice completely mess up the project? It’s not even fully recovered yet.
“If I read even a few lines of the script, my voice will be completely gone. This is the worst my condition has ever been…”
“Yes, I heard from the doctor as well. Suhyun, you won’t have to read any lines. There’s a mask over there, so you can wear it if you want.”
“…Huh?”
That’s… acting?
No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t make sense, so I keep glancing at Bihangwoon through the rearview mirror, trying to read his expression.
His face is calm, expressionless. He’s even humming.
As I keep pressing for answers, Bihangwoon finally opens his mouth to explain the role.
And what he says is utterly shocking.
“The character doesn’t need to speak at all?”
Then… is acting even possible?
Isn’t an actor supposed to convey emotions through vocal intonations and delivery?
Pffft.
Bihangwoon bursts into laughter at my dumbfounded face and slowly reduces the speed of the car.
Looking around, I realize we’ve pulled into the parking lot of a shopping district at dawn.
We’re already here?!
Before I even have time to process, Bihangwoon steps out first and opens the door for me.
“You don’t need to speak at all. Today, Suhyun, your role is that of a ‘mysterious, silent girl’ in the story. The only thing you need is…”
Eye acting.
“Cut! That was great! Guys, if we keep going like this, we’ll all get off work early! Hahaha!”
Clap, clap, clap…
The one leading the filming site with such a cheerful tone is director Lee Myungho, a well-known director of romance dramas with a unique aesthetic.
He’s directed quite a few trending romance pieces, making him one of the more popular drama directors.
Lee Myungho slowly scans the set, a satisfied smile forming on his lips.
‘If this works out well, this could really blow up.’
The project he’s directing now, Busker, is a drama about the romance of art university students.
The male lead, Choi Han, played by the currently trending actor Jung Hanwoo, meets various people while busking on the streets and eventually forms a band.
He ends up falling in love with the band’s drummer, Go Eunha, an idol-turned-actress recognized for her acting skills.
A classic storyline.
However, despite Jung Hanwoo’s unexpectedly decent singing skills and his natural popularity, the drama was progressing too peacefully.
There was no real “hook.”
It had a calm atmosphere, so apart from Hanwoo’s face and songs, there wasn’t much to see.
At this rate, it wouldn’t blow up.
So Lee Myungho sent several emails to the scriptwriter.
He asked if they could add at least one buzzworthy scene.
A cameo appearance, or at the very least, some kind of scene that could spark noise marketing.
The writer, who always apologized in their replies, finally sent a different kind of response a week before filming.
[There’s one role that could leave a huge impact…]
Choi Han’s first love, Baek Haneul.
In the story, Choi Han had a crush on her back in high school, but she only loved the sound of his guitar—not him.
A painfully cliché tale.
‘All that matters is that she looks stunning.’
Since the character has a speech impediment and doesn’t talk, it should be easier to play compared to other roles.
But portraying emotions without speaking—doing it well—is something even veteran actors struggle with.
It’s one of the hardest acting challenges.
But if we’re talking about just passing the bar…
She just has to nod a bit and give some sad glances.
After all, Baek Haneul isn’t meant to be judged on acting but on appearance.
So Lee Myungho’s task was to find a woman with “overwhelming visuals.”
‘Our casting budget is completely drained.’
‘What?!’
Hiring another actor was impossible.
So, with no other choice, Lee Myungho decided to pay for the appearance fee out of his own pocket.
Now, he just had to find an “overwhelmingly beautiful woman” within a week.
Most of the staff had given up, suggesting they should just mention Baek Haneul without actually showing her.
But Lee Myungho refused to give up.
Actors should have at least one stunning acquaintance, right?
So he begged the actors for help.
‘Director, I think I know someone who would fit the role perfectly.’
Our film’s pride, Jung Hanwoo, had come to the rescue again.
So, Lee Myungho didn’t even look at a picture—he simply waited at the filming site, excitedly high on anticipation.
“Great! Let’s move on to the next scene!”
One hour passes after Lee Myungho’s enthusiastic shouting.
It was finally time for the promised actress to arrive.
Vroom—.
A red foreign car smoothly pulls into the filming set with a stable engine sound.
A car enthusiast himself, Lee Myungho is already feeling good about this.
‘Hooh. A Maserati GranTurismo… This person must have some money.’
Nodding in approval, Lee Myungho focuses intently on the car door.
Who exactly will step out of it?
His eyes are about to pop out from anticipation.
Click!
The door finally opens, revealing…
“Huh? Bihangwoon?”
A stunning woman with black hair and golden eyes.
“It’s been a while, Director.”
Bihangwoon smiles warmly.
Bihangwoon responded with a gentle smile.
Something felt… off.
Lee Myungho struggled to control his expression, his face twisted in disappointment.
Bihangwoon? Sure, she was beautiful. She was an actress, after all, and a talented one at that.
But her unique aura didn’t quite match the “first love” concept.
Yeah. Bihangwoon suited roles like a femme fatale, a girl crush—those kinds of characters.
“Director, aren’t you going to greet the actress?”
“Oh! Sorry—wait. Didn’t I just do that?”
“No, you didn’t.”
Bihangwoon tilted her chin slightly and gestured behind her with her thumb.
A girl hesitantly approached from a distance.
Her silver hair, as pale as moonlight, fluttered in the breeze.
Her cold, transparent blue eyes gleamed like ice crystals, and the faint blush on her cheeks was like pressed balsam flowers.
Her snow-white skin was immaculate, pure as fresh snow.
Her delicate frame was like a watercolor painting—ethereal and beautiful.
Actors, models, idols.
Lee Myungho had seen countless celebrities throughout his career.
All of them, born beautiful and refined through cosmetic enhancements and meticulous grooming.
But in front of this girl, all of that effort felt meaningless.
It was only her.
The role of Baek Haneul belonged to her and her alone.
Lee Myungho instinctively knew.
This wasn’t just someone who was pretty.
This was the kind of beauty that left people in a daze.
A face that could dominate a scene simply by existing.
“Is she really… a regular person?”
The words slipped out unconsciously.
The staff members had also gone silent, holding their breath.
The girl carefully stepped forward.
Hesitating behind Bihangwoon, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
Despite the overwhelming beauty that had just captivated the entire room, she now seemed like a timid puppy.
And that, ironically, fit the image of “first love” perfectly.
A presence that made the heart tremble just by looking.
Her slightly lowered head, her anxious gaze flickering around the room—she was, quite literally, Baek Haneul.
Lee Myungho was at a loss for words.
‘Is this… actually happening?’
If this drama didn’t take off, then something was seriously wrong with the world.
That’s when Bihangwoon smirked and said,
“It’s fine. Our Suhyun is also a perfect actress.”
She can act, too?
Lee Myungho snapped out of his daze.
And then he thought,
This drama… it must be blessed by the heavens.
But what he didn’t realize was—
It was far too early to say that.
Five minutes before filming.
All the actors for Scene 56 had changed into school uniforms.
“Wow, it’s been ages since I wore this…”
“Pfft. Senior, are you sure you can still play a student at your age?”
“You wanna die?”
It might have looked like a dangerous situation, but… this wasn’t just cosplay.
It was makeup and styling for the sake of acting.
The scene they were about to shoot was a flashback of the male lead, Choi Han.
A classic youth drama moment—falling in love at first sight with Baek Haneul on the way home from school.
Sitting alone in the waiting room was Jung Hanwoo.
Unlike the other actors, who were filled with excitement and anticipation, he remained calm.
And he wasn’t the only one with that expression.
In the corner of the waiting room sat the girl with snowy silver hair and blue eyes.
Her long eyelashes cast shadows over her serene gaze, but the depth of that blue was striking.
She wore a white mask over her lips, and over her white school uniform shirt, she had lightly draped a beige cardigan.
Her delicate fingers gently gripped the cuffs as they subtly tapped on the chair.
“”
The room was moderately noisy, but it didn’t seem to reach her.
She was lost in thought about something.
Bihangwoon watched and chuckled softly.
This girl. She wasn’t nervous at all.
“Suhyun, are you feeling any pressure?”
“Not really. Strangely, I feel calmer right before filming starts.”
Some of the actors turned their ears toward the conversation.
At first, many had looked down on her, thinking she was just a nepotism hire.
But the moment they saw her appearance, all those thoughts vanished.
Now, they were simply curious.
What kind of words would this visually overwhelming newcomer say?
“That’s a good thing,” Hanwoo commented.
At some point, he had naturally taken a seat beside Suhyun.
More than that, he had naturally joined the conversation.
“Try to keep that habit going in the future.”
“Yes, Hanwoo-senior.”
Suhyun lifted her gaze and met Hanwoo’s eyes.
Yeah. She really was a beauty.
Hanwoo was just about to pat himself on the back for his excellent casting recommendation when—
“I… I’ll definitely win this acting scene…!”
She clenched her small fist and declared with determination.
Hanwoo stared at her blankly for a moment before responding.
“That’s… not how acting works.”
This girl.
She had definitely read way too many web novels.