Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Diva
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Fan Frenzy and Idol Banter
-----------------------------------------------------------------
With that, I climbed into the car Hong Jong-ho was driving and headed off to the set.
It wasn't a van, but the spacious interior showed some real thought had gone into it—Heo Kyung-hoe's consideration was evident.
'They're probably just rotating a few cars around...'
Isn't this actually the CEO's car?
And sure enough, my hunch was spot on.
I spotted a pacifier tucked under the passenger seat.
"This..."
"Ah, this is the CEO's car."
My suspicion had turned into certainty.
Hong Jong-ho gave an awkward smile as he spoke.
"Still, the CEO said he'd pay me generously. Thanks to that. Though for the time being, I'll have to double as Seo Kyung-bin's manager too... Is that okay with you?"
"So we'll be riding to set together, then?"
Living with a Ghost had just wrapped filming for episode 5, by the way.
Even after signing with the agency, I'd been going everywhere alone until now.
The reason was that Hong Jong-ho's training wasn't complete yet, so we needed a bit more time.
"At least until the MV shoot, I'll make sure you have a manager glued to your side. Eun-rae-ya."
Heo Kyung-hoe was a good CEO.
Even though he'd said he'd deduct Hong Jong-ho's salary from my pay, after meeting him, he'd declared:
"It's not easy finding decent people, and thanks to you we did—so we'll cover Manager Hong Jong-ho's salary."
Good grief.
The man was digging for gold or something. Heo Kyung-hoe.
Anyway—
"Would this be inconvenient for you by any chance?"
Hong Jong-ho asked, looking troubled at the idea of me sharing a car with Seo Kyung-bin.
Huh? Me?
"No, not for me at all..."
It'd be Seo Kyung-bin who'd mind.
With his personality, he'd want to ride with me? Plus, he was a rising star in the indie film scene, objectively speaking.
"Glad to hear it! Seo Kyung-bin Actor-nim said he was fine with it. You two even practice lines in the car together."
"...?"
'That' Seo Kyung-bin said he was okay sharing a car with me?
For real?
That's when I started feeling puzzled.
The car pulled up to the entrance of a university campus in Seoul, famous for its pretty students.
"We're here."
And outside the window—
"...Rowen-ah! Look over here! Just once!"
"Can't you take a gift for Tae-ho before you go?"
...a full-blown fan sign event was unfolding.
"Will you be... okay?"
Hong Jong-ho asked me cautiously.
'The vibe's a bit more chaotic than I expected—'
But nothing I couldn't handle.
I was confident in my acting chops.
"Yeah, of course. Shall we go?"
"Yep."
The moment Hong Jong-ho got out and opened my door—
Every eye from the fans beyond the barricade locked onto me.
A brief silence.
But it shattered fast.
"Who's that?"
"Is she the one doing the MV with our oppas?"
"Whoa, she's gorgeous!"
"Her looks aren't the point right now! Why's some no-name filming an MV with our oppas?!"
Seeing the fans' murderous glares, I thought:
Uh... this might not be okay after all?
"Run!"
"Pardon?!"
I covered my face and bolted into the MV set, with Hong Jong-ho hot on my heels.
* * *
"That side's missing light. Bring it up over there."
"Hey, you! Stop dozing off and get it together!"
I changed into my prepared outfit and stepped out into the hallway.
The set was tense and razor-sharp.
The MV shoot was crammed into just one or two days due to the idols' brutal schedules—
'Filming from 8 a.m. today until 2 p.m. tomorrow...'
They were even batching my scenes, and Million X's choreography and solo shots were already done in advance, I'd heard.
In short, Million X was probably running on fumes right now—
'Gotta be careful. One slip-up because of me and we retake, I could get jumped by the group and their fans.'
That's when it happened.
A face popped out from the upper staircase.
"Oh, it's that actress! Nice to meet you!"
Messy, carefree hair and a school uniform with a few buttons undone, revealing a white tee underneath.
It was Rowen.
The Million X rapper who handled all their lyrics and composition, known as an "all-rounder."
With... ten million followers, was it?
One wrong move, and I'd breed ten million haters for real.
The second I saw Rowen, I bowed deeply in greeting.
"Hello!"
"...?"
Rowen tilted his head at my greeting, then burst out laughing for a split second.
He bowed back in kind.
"Yes. Hello!"
What the—
Was this a trap...?
As I was pondering—
"What're you doing?"
Han Yu-yang, Million X's leader, came down the stairs and nudged Rowen's shoulder.
His eyes followed Rowen's gaze to me.
"Oh? Hi. You're that person... uh, your name was..."
A guy behind him chimed in with a scolding tone.
"Ha Eun-rae Actor-nim. Memorize it, dude."
It was Baek Tae-ho.
The group's visual and lead vocalist.
Dressed neatly in his school uniform, he greeted me.
"Hello. Our kids are a bit rowdy, huh?"
"Pardon? No..."
That's when I noticed a camera peeking from behind Baek Tae-ho.
Finally, it clicked.
'Ah, that's the MV making-of film.'
No wonder these all-nighters weren't slowing them down.
'Pros are pros, I guess.'
They were forcing the energy for the making-of.
'Get it together.'
Every moment the camera was rolling was acting for me—an opportunity.
I'd learned the hard way before, getting flak on variety shows over a single expression.
But now I knew: for an actor, or any celeb, image management was life.
'I've got the experience for this.'
I flashed Baek Tae-ho a practiced smile.
"You Million X sunbaenims have so much energy—it's rubbing off on me. Thank you."
Baek Tae-ho shot back playfully.
"Doubt that. We're probably annoying you."
That's when Rowen slung an arm around Baek Tae-ho's shoulder and chuckled.
"Nah. The actress has way more energy."
He sidled up next to me and reenacted it himself.
"The second she saw me, she folded herself at like 170 degrees and went 'Hello!'"
"Hey, weren't you the one cracking the whip?"
Han Yu-yang had snuck up too, poking his face into the camera frame.
Such natural chemistry.
'This is performance too...!'
Keeping up with their flow was tough.
Variety stuff was never my forte to begin with...!
"Nah, you were cracking the whip."
Even Baek Tae-ho piled on Rowen, who waved his hands wildly.
"No way, right? Tell 'em, Actor-nim. Did I crack the whip?"
I racked my brain for the perfect line.
'He was so scary...!'
That's what it'd take to keep the variety vibe alive...
"Ah, no. I'll do better next time..."
...?
Damn it.
Line flubbed.
Ugh, variety's brutal.
The second I thought I'd blown it, laughter erupted from the members.
"...?"
What?
The staff holding the camera was giggling too.
Before I could figure it out, a staffer approached Rowen.
"Camera's set. Let's roll the scene!"
"Yep!"