Chapter 41 : I’m a Living Actor (41)

‘Should I even kneel down?’

It was a moment when my thoughts veered somewhat extremely.

“That should be enough for now. Everyone’s bound to be late at least once in their life… and besides, Chaemin, you’ve never been late until now.”

Though his voice was a bit stiff, it was unmistakably Director Lee Seunghun’s.

Yet, what he said was so unexpected that at first, I thought I had misheard.

‘…Even the staff are reacting in surprise.’

Looking at their faces, it was clear I wasn’t dreaming.

It was Director Lee Seunghun himself speaking like this.

“Thank you, Director.”

I bowed again and studied his face.

He looked tired as usual, but there was something different.

I wasn’t sure if this was the right way to put it, but he seemed somewhat more gentle… or rather… ‘Ah.’

No, that was just Director Lee Seunghun’s usual expression.

The sharpness that always surfaced when he dealt with me had simply vanished, which made him feel different.

‘…What’s going on?’

An unexpected person was showing an unforeseen reaction.

Before deciding if it was good or bad, I was just a little stunned.

Honestly, it wasn’t really my place to judge emotionally.

‘It just means the chance of getting Okchun has increased, so that’s a good thing.’

There was no need to get emotional about those who met me as Yoo Chaemin.

Now, maybe it was time to prepare for the shoot.

Just then, the stylist, who had left separately after getting my message, was entering the set.

I exchanged glances with her and started to walk when Director Lee Seunghun cleared his throat quietly.

“I’m sorry.”

His voice was louder than necessary for someone right in front of him.

It was as if he wanted not only me but everyone around to hear.

‘But what exactly did Director Lee Seunghun just say?’

As I mulled over his words, I blurted out without realizing it.

“…Pardon?”

He glanced at the floor for a moment before looking back at me.

“I sincerely apologize for the rude attitude I’ve shown since filming began. It was my decision to cast Yoo Chaemin, and there were definite reasons for it. Beyond just looks…” Director Lee Seunghun hesitated briefly before continuing.

“…Yoo Chaemin’s acting wasn’t bad. She was well-prepared and clearly made an effort to express the image we wanted. Although we met many actors for the role of Jung Bongsik, she was the only one who exceeded expectations in both regards.”

He explained why he had cast me, carefully and clearly.

To be honest, even I hadn’t guessed the real reason.

I had just assumed it was because my appearance was decent and my acting wasn’t as bad as expected.

“But I ended up ignoring my own choice and, ultimately, ignoring you as well. Once again, I truly apologize.”

Director Lee Seunghun’s apology was straightforward.

His emotions weren’t over the top, and there was no sentiment mixed in other than regret.

For some reason, he realized his behavior was wrong and logically explained it.

It was complicated.

‘I didn’t expect an apology…’ Was all this really necessary?

At the same time, a weight inside me seemed to lift.

I had no reason to feel frustrated, so I tried to look away… But ignoring it didn’t make the feelings disappear.

The emotion was still clearly there, making my heart uneasy.

‘Don’t get emotional.’

In the end, the conclusion was always the same.

No mixing in emotions.

Don’t get overly involved in Yoo Chaemin’s life, which isn’t mine.

With that thought, I knew exactly what I had to do.

I received the apology and should accept it.

Director Lee Seunghun’s apology didn’t feel like a cheap joke or something he was forced to say.

“…Thank you, Director.”

Again, there was no need for long words.

I bowed slightly and spoke in a serious tone.

The slight quiver in my voice was… ‘Because if I’m too dry about it, they’ll think it’s strange.’

Naturally, it was a bit of acting.

…

Meanwhile, Jiminseong, watching this scene from the side of the set, scratched the back of his neck irritably.

‘What the hell? Why is this situation going like this?’

His mood, which had been quite excited when he heard Yoo Chaemin was late, instantly dropped.

Not only did Director Lee Seunghun, who everyone expected to be harsh on Chaemin, side with her, but he also apologized.

In front of the entire cast and staff.

As if to show off. ‘So damn annoying, damn it.’

The curse he had been consciously cutting back on to manage his image had recently increased again.

Jiminseong thought it was all because of Yoo Chaemin.

She looked gentle and naive, but her actions were ridiculous.

He still vividly remembered when she pretended to follow instructions but blatantly ignored his directing.

‘Arrogant bastard.’ He was determined to crush that spirit of hers.

He felt he couldn’t endure it any longer without doing so. ‘It’s all just a show anyway.’

Unable to accept the positive shift in atmosphere toward Yoo Chaemin, Jiminseong twisted the situation to his advantage.

‘No way the director would seriously apologize like that…’ Muttering a curse under his breath, Jiminseong’s mind went back to the term he associated with Chaemin: “bad acting.”

Anyone who saw her performance yesterday would naturally think so, but he couldn’t even accept that.

“Bad acting! Bad acting, bad acting!”

Muttering repeatedly as if seeking revenge, he started to run his hand through his hair but stopped.

He couldn’t mess up his styled hair, so he just clicked his tongue.

“Anyway, there’s no way that bastard apologized sincerely unless he’s crazy.”

Since the atmosphere toward Yoo Chaemin was so bad, maybe the agency had filed a complaint.

Jiminseong had never seen Chaemin with a manager since the script reading, but he completely ignored that fact.

Anyway, whatever the reason, Director Lee Seunghun must be feeling awful inside.

He couldn’t miss this timing again.

With a sudden, smooth smile as if he hadn’t just been irritated, Jiminseong approached Director Lee Seunghun. “Director, are you okay?” The director, who was checking the camera, looked up.

His face when he looked at Jiminseong clearly said, ‘What nonsense are you spouting now?’ ‘I’m already busy enough; why now?’ That was Director Lee Seunghun’s honest thought, but he couldn’t show it openly.

Hesitating as he considered how to reply, he suddenly paused. ‘Come to think of it…’ Since the first group scene, Jiminseong’s attitude toward Yoo Chaemin had definitely changed.

Until then, he had subtly ignored and disregarded her, but suddenly he began giving her acting directions.

Moreover, yesterday, even after his own shoot was over, he stayed behind to watch Chaemin’s filming.

At that moment, Director Lee Seunghun understood everything. ‘He’s trying to keep her in check, huh?’

He was threatening but unwilling to admit it.

He understood the competitive mentality.

But the problem was those who express it in strange ways and cause trouble for those around them.

Jiminseong right before him was exactly that kind of person.

At first, it annoyed him, but as he thought about it, all he could do was sigh.

What good was it if he got irritated and angry?

If Jiminseong never straightened up, they would only hurt each other’s feelings, and the acting would remain stagnant.

That would benefit the film’s quality in no way.

‘Please, stop doing useless things.’

Use that time to think about acting and work harder! Swallowing back the words that rose to his throat, Director Lee Seunghun forced a smile.

“Jiminseong.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Aren’t you busy?”

Jiminseong’s smile, as if waiting for his name to be called, froze instantly. “Pardon?” “The feedback I gave earlier hasn’t improved at all. If you keep acting like this, it’s going to be… problematic.”

The director sighed softly and continued.

“Stop looking elsewhere and focus solely on your own acting and filming. Please.”

There was no way Jiminseong properly understood those words.

Even after, he tried to give acting advice to Yoo Chaemin, which made Director Lee Seunghun lose the last of his patience.

“Don’t try to direct others; just act well yourself, will you!!”

Everyone present understood the director’s words and anger perfectly.

….

Before long, the filming of was nearing its end.

Although the movie was about halfway done shooting, my parts were almost finished.

“Cut! Okay!”

When the okay sign was given, I moved toward the monitor.

On the screen was Yoo Chaemin playing Jung Bongsik.

“…….”

‘Why did she act like that there?’

I missed one of the details I had practiced and envisioned.

It was a mistake I rarely made when living as Myung Seungho but was happening frequently during this shoot.

The discomfort I’d felt during the first shoot resurfaced.

‘Weren’t I supposed to avoid mixing emotions?’

So there was no reason to be nervous or to feel nervous.

Regardless of lacking acting skills, there was no need to regret not doing as well as I prepared. ‘Then why does she keep making the same mistake?’

One or two times could be a slip, but repeating it several times was a lack of skill. Limited acting ability due to the company’s interference was one thing, but failing to deliver what was practiced and prepared was a real problem.

I shouldn’t feel disappointed but rather pathetic at my own shortcomings.

Even if I generously excuse it as nervousness, it was still a problem.

Whether sick, nervous, or for any reason, the acting had to be done properly.

That was what an actor was—and the me, Myung Seungho, had guarded that petty pride. ‘I’m completely lost.’ My acting had become C-grade, and maybe I truly was that level of actor now.

Reluctantly, my gaze shifted to Director Lee Seunghun.

He was staring at the screen with serious and sharp eyes.

‘Isn’t it time to say something?’

Since Director Lee Seunghun apologized to me, the atmosphere on set had changed a lot.

He clearly respected me as an actor now.

So maybe I could politely make a request once… At that moment, the director’s gaze moved to me.

“Chaemin.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Are you satisfied with today’s shoot?”

The question I wanted to hear was thrown suddenly in front of me.

My eyes naturally shifted toward Director Lee Seunghun.

There was no hidden meaning in his gaze.

He was genuinely asking as he was. I spoke cautiously.