When Song Hyunsoo arrived, the Production Company building for <Dissolve> was more bustling than usual.
It was the day they were shooting a promotional video for the movie before the Script reading.
He thought he’d hurried, but ended up taking longer than usual getting ready, fussing with his hair by himself.
Even so, he was still early, but as expected, Yoon Jooho had arrived first and was getting his makeup done in a busy corner of the meeting room.
Their eyes met over the shoulder of a Stylist he didn’t recognize, but Song Hyunsoo quickly looked away as if he hadn’t noticed.
It was an awkward distance— too far to go over and greet him, but too close to just nod in passing.
Since he’d been told in advance about the filming, Song Hyunsoo had paid extra attention to his outfit and hair today.
He’d even gotten some advice from Yoon Jooho in the process.
“It’s just a casual video for the Production Company’s YouTube. If you dress up too much, it’ll look awkward. You’re a rookie, so focus on looking clean and presentable.”
In the past, he would’ve called Jung Jin for advice or brainstormed with Jung Ho.
Now, he realized, he had more people he could turn to.
And it was none other than Yoon Jooho, the top in the industry, giving him advice.
Compared to the days when he and Jung Ho were just blindly charging ahead, he felt much more reassured in many ways.
“Are you actor Song Hyunsoo?”
While calming his nerves with deep breaths in a chaotic corner of the meeting room, someone approached and asked in a curt voice.
It seemed to be a Staff member from the filming team. Song Hyunsoo bowed his head first.
“Ah, yes, that’s me. Thank you for your hard work.”
“You can’t just stand here. If you’re here, you should let us know…”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
Song Hyunsoo apologized quickly and simply.
It was common for Staff to be short-tempered on busy, hectic sets. This wasn’t something to get discouraged or embarrassed over.
“Did you get your Script for the shoot later?”
“No, I haven’t received it yet.”
“Where’s your Manager?”
“I don’t have a Manager.”
“If you don’t have a Manager, you need to take care of these things yourself.”
Ha, as if I’m not busy enough already— how annoying. The Staff muttered to himself while checking a chart in his hand, then spoke in a flat, quick tone with no expression.
“The Production Company should have your Script ready. If there’s anything you want to change, discuss it in advance and fix it. Your turn is last, Song Hyunsoo. Don’t miss your spot and be ready ahead of time.”
“Yes, understood. Thank you!”
As the Staff hurried away, Song Hyunsoo bowed again toward his retreating back.
He’d had plenty of experience on film sets as an extra or supporting actor. But since this was his first time doing an interview shoot, it felt like he’d gone back to being a complete newbie.
Song Hyunsoo quickly found PD Kim Yookyung and received his Script.
“Oh, here, your Script. Sorry, I’ve been all over the place and forgot to give it to you.”
“No worries. This is my responsibility.”
“It’s about 20 seconds worth. Not much. You’re last, right?”
“Yes.”
The main cast, Yoon Jooho and Shin Hyojin, plus supporting but major roles Song Hyunsoo and Han Jooyoung— four people in total were set to film the video.
It was a format where each person would take turns saying a line of greeting. As the rookie and the youngest by age, Song Hyunsoo was last.
Depending on the situation, sometimes the youngest went first, sometimes last. There was never a middle ground for the youngest.
“By the way, your outfit looks nice today.”
PD Kim’s compliment put Song Hyunsoo at ease.
“Does it look okay?”
“Yeah, it’s not too casual, but you can tell you put effort in. Good sense.”
PD Kim gave him a thumbs up.
He’d originally planned to wear horn-rimmed glasses and a jacket too. But listening to Yoon Jooho and going for a cleaner look had been the right choice.
“There’s coffee and snacks over there. Grab something while you wait, okay?”
“Thank you.”
PD Kim gave his shoulder a couple of reassuring pats before hurrying off somewhere else.
Coffee. Right, he needed some coffee to clear his head.
He’d been so nervous about this first-ever video shoot that he’d slept even worse than usual. A little caffeine seemed like it would help.
Standing, he sipped coffee and looked over the Script.
Even though the video was only supposed to be 20 seconds, the written Script was still quite substantial.
It was the usual stuff: self-introduction, a brief explanation of his character, his mindset for the film.
Now he had to memorize all this and say it naturally, as if he were just talking.
Hello, I’m <Dissolve> actor Song Hyunsoo, greeting you for the first time through the movie …
“We made eye contact. But you avoided me, didn’t you?”
Without him noticing, Yoon Jooho had come up and was now standing beside him. Pretending to choose snacks from the table, he didn’t look at Song Hyunsoo.
“You’re here. I didn’t avoid you— it’s just, you were getting your makeup done, so I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Yoon Jooho picked up a packaged Madeleine, unwrapped it, and finally turned to face him. Then, frowning, he gently lifted Song Hyunsoo’s chin.
“What happened to your face? That’s your only saving grace, you know.”
Song Hyunsoo slipped away from his hand, glancing around at the people nearby.
“I just didn’t sleep much.”
“Nervous about the shoot?”
Yoon Jooho gave a little snort and bit into the Madeleine. The laugh seemed to say, You’re nervous over something like this? Song Hyunsoo felt a bit defensive.
“It’s my first time doing this kind of shoot. Of course I’m nervous.”
As he brought the straw of his coffee cup to his lips, Yoon Jooho just took the cup away.
“What are you doing? Why?”
“Coffee is even worse for your skin when you haven’t slept. Caffeine won’t help when you’re already tense. Drink water.”
With that, he handed over a bottle of water from behind the coffee. It sounded like nagging, but he wasn’t wrong.
As Song Hyunsoo twisted open the cap, Yoon Jooho turned and called out to someone.
“Sunhye, can you do Song Hyunsoo’s makeup? Just a quick touch-up.”
At his words, his Stylist nodded and opened her makeup kit.
“No, sunbae, I’m really fine.”
“That’s what you think. But this is your first time greeting everyone as part of <Dissolve>. You need to look your best. For actors, taking care of your appearance is part of the job.”
Again, he wasn’t wrong. He’d only put on some CC Cream that Jung Ho gave him, and it didn’t feel right to stand in front of the camera like that.
His skin was in worse shape than usual anyway. So, quietly, he followed Yoon Jooho and sat in the chair he’d just vacated.
Standing beside him, Yoon Jooho finished the Madeleine and told the Stylist,
“Just cover up the dark circles and even out the skin.”
“Sure. Honestly, your skin’s already so nice, there’s not much to do.”
The Stylist squeezed some makeup base onto the back of her hand as she spoke.
Maybe because it was a simple shoot, instead of the Head Director from before, the Staff member doing his makeup looked to be around Song Hyunsoo’s age.
“Hello, I’m Song Hyunsoo. Thank you for taking care of me, even though it must be a hassle.”
“No, it’s just my job. Honestly, I prefer this to just sitting around. I’m Kang Sunhye. The Head Director who usually works with Jooho sunbae is my boss.”
“Oh, I see! I met the Head Director last time.”
“If the Head Director can’t make it, I work with sunbae instead.”
“Wow, you look about my age, but you must be really talented.”
Song Hyunsoo said this with his eyes closed as she dabbed his eyelids with a sponge.
“The Head Director and sunbae just look out for me, that’s all.”
“No way. Sunbae’s not the type to— if you’re not good, he wouldn’t— pfft, haha.”
Suddenly, a sweet vanilla scent filled his mouth and Song Hyunsoo frowned, squinting his eyes open.
Yoon Jooho was looking down at him with a crooked smile, having shoved the Madeleine he’d been eating into Song Hyunsoo’s mouth.
“Even got your makeup done for you, and now you’re talking behind my back?”
“This isn’t talking behind your back. If anything, it’s a compliment.”
Trying not to laugh, Song Hyunsoo glanced at the Stylist as he chewed and swallowed the Madeleine.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but ever since his birthday, things felt weird between him and Yoon Jooho.
Even before, Yoon Jooho would sometimes get close out of nowhere, but in front of others he’d always keep his distance, calling him “Hyunsoo-ssi” and being formal.
Maybe it was because they’d seen each other naked once.
Now that he realized he liked him, it was a situation where he couldn’t laugh or cry. Still, it was better than being ignored like nothing happened.
After finishing his makeup, Yoon Jooho grabbed his chin again and examined his face from different angles.
Not only his touch, but the distance between them felt strangely close.
“Now you look presentable.”
“Enough already.”
Song Hyunsoo tried to pull his arm away and turn his head, but this time Yoon Jooho was stubborn. He kept holding Song Hyunsoo’s chin firmly.
“Enough what?”
“Ah, people will get the wrong idea.”
“……”
Maybe that hit a nerve, because the playful look vanished from Yoon Jooho’s face.
He looked like he might rub his fingers hard against Song Hyunsoo’s lips, just like he did in front of Jung Sungwon at the birthday party.
“Why? Would it matter if people saw? It’s not like I kissed you.”
Song Hyunsoo gave a stronger tug and finally freed himself from Yoon Jooho.
“This isn’t the time for jokes. I’m so nervous I could die.”
“You have the Script, don’t you? Just think of it as acting. Compared to acting, this is easier.”
Easy for you to say— you’ve probably done thousands of these interviews.
Turning his back halfway to Yoon Jooho, Song Hyunsoo tried to drink some water, but a Staff member approached, calling for Yoon Jooho.
“Yoon Jooho-nim, are you ready by any chance?”
The voice was cautious and friendly— so different from how he’d just spoken to Song Hyunsoo.
When Song Hyunsoo looked back, he realized it was the same Staff member who’d given him that curt, soulless tone earlier.
“Yes, let’s go.”
Yoon Jooho answered lightly and followed him, while Song Hyunsoo watched their backs.
It wasn’t that he felt relatively deprived by the difference in treatment.
No matter what anyone said, Song Hyunsoo preferred movies where the protagonist never got hit and soared to victory.
Since childhood, Yoon Jooho had been his hero. He wanted to see him loved, respected, and shining at the top.
Now that he knew just how fiercely, sincerely, and passionately Yoon Jooho loved acting— even when no one was watching— his feelings had only grown stronger.
There was nothing to be resentful or jealous about. If anything, he was proud.
If you’re upset, just get better. — That saying was like an unspoken rule in this industry.
Not just the crew, but the other actors, Staff, and Production Company employees— all of them gathered behind the camera in a fan shape to watch Yoon Jooho’s shoot. Yet Yoon Jooho didn’t look nervous at all.
He was the one standing in front of the camera, but Song Hyunsoo’s mouth was dry. Without realizing it, he clenched his hands together, fingers laced like in prayer.
As Yoon Jooho received a final hair check from the Stylist before the shoot, his gaze lingered on Song Hyunsoo for a moment.
Was it just his imagination, or did he see Yoon Jooho smile faintly?
As the Stylist finished, Yoon Jooho put his hands on his hips and looked at the Director behind the camera.
“Shall we start?”
“Yes, begin whenever you’re ready.”