"A phone call? You don't have to."
Click! Click! Moo-young kept changing poses as he replied. A long line of people waited beside him, but he didn't seem embarrassed at all—just completely natural. No wonder they call it a natural talent. How could he ignore everyone else like that?
"Yeah, I did mention that. I told Senior Hyo-jeong to get an allergy test. Why? She never snacked before, but that day she ate Yuna's chips. Kongkong Chips."
"You told her that?"
"It just came up. It's not like it was something to hide."
Go Kyung-min set down his camera and let out a hollow laugh. Not something to hide—exactly! Especially not on Hyo-jeong's side! They'd thrown that fit blaming cosmetics, but when the allergy test came back positive, they were left groggy and punch-drunk. No knockout blows on either side, but they'd swung right up to each other's noses.
"They're going to a big hospital for another test. But does that change your blood? Your constitution? She never had a soy allergy before, but suddenly it showed up."
"Right. Kongkong Chips."
"Anyway, the agency decided to send official apologies to Gon Art and Doctor Martel, and I heard things got sorted out smoothly. She'll be back on set next week, or as soon as the rash calms down."
"That's a relief."
Click! No wonder Doctor Martel called. Of course they'd exchange thanks! If it weren't for Moo-young, they'd have been hit with a massive settlement.
"Just accept the courtesy. Connections anywhere help you out. I heard the CEO there is some big shot in Cheongdam, famous for something or other."
"What's that? You're missing the key words."
He must have heard it somewhere, but half-assed or glossed over. But it wasn't important to Go Kyung-min. Whatever it was, it'd be useful.
"This is good enough. I'll copy-paste that Doctor Martel review from last time and post it. Then straight to the coffee truck for proof shots. That way, everyone's eyes go to Enbin."
Advertising was advertising, after all. Some might see the feed and think badly of it. So pivot attention to Enbin's event—that was the plan. Good for Moo-young, good for everyone, and the contract gets fulfilled! Best of all worlds.
"Delete this one. This one's face is a bit..."
Go Kyung-min agonized over the best shots. Aligning the toes to the screen edge for longer-looking legs was basic.
"Boss. Green tea for me. Lots of ice."
"Got it."
Moo-young stuffed his pockets full of snacks and pressed the cool drink to his face. The chill snapped him awake.
"How long you doing this?"
"Until the orders run out. Three hundred drinks and three hundred cookies. If any left, till 6 p.m."
"Cookies won't last. Guess I can take my time then. Thanks!"
Worst case, he'd pack it all up. Humming to himself, Moo-young handed Go Kyung-min a coffee. He too washed away the early summer heat with the iced drink.
"Whoa! Moo-young! You're actually tight with Enbin?"
"Yeah, didn't know. Wasn't it just one episode? That YouTube web drama, right?"
Then the shooting directors and Yi Hi-jun approached. They all seemed shocked by the unexpected connection. And why not? Enbin was riding the absolute top of the idol wave right now.
"Guess 'cause we're the same age, we hit it off."
"Jealous! Friends with a superstar—jackpot!"
"Moo-young's got such a great personality. That's why."
They naturally set down their canned coffees. Store-bought stuff could wait, but iced coffee like this? Only now.
"Right, Hi-jun?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah, yeah. Totally. And he hasn't even debuted properly yet... haha."
Yi Hi-jun could only muster awkward laughs. Damn. Utterly mortifying. While rookie Ha Moo-young got a coffee truck from a top idol, established actor Yi Hi-jun got nothing from anyone!
Self-inflicted, Hi-jun's manager muttered, eyeing the actor's stiff neck pitifully. With that attitude, who among the celebs would stick around? They were all proud stiffs like him.
"Eat up. Not that I bought it."
"Nah, it's in your name, so you bought it."
"Haha. Be right back. Gotta take a call."
"Sure! Take your time! Looks like a long wait today."
Louie's scenes were just three. Maybe five minutes total runtime. But waiting and shooting? All damn day. Nothing less efficient.
Please no reshoots! Moo-young prayed silently as he pulled up Enbin's number.
The ringtone dragged on. Finally connected.
📞 Enbin"Picked up, huh?"
"What the— you scared me!"
"You should be scared. Grateful? Bow and say thanks already."
"Which way? Toward Seoul?"
They traded silly jokes and laughed. It had been ages since they talked, but no distance at all. A heavy beat thumped low behind him. Not a bar in broad daylight. Rehearsal?
"Busy? I'll call back later. Anyway, seriously thanks. It's brutal hot today. Outdoor shoot, everyone's wiped."
"Good timing then. Oh, right. You said you went to an academy after the college entrance exam."
"BV Acting Academy?"
"They take celebs? Like private lessons. Our team's maknae, Ro Min, wants to try acting. Company ain't thrilled."
Enbin knew. Moo-young's talent was innate genius, not from classes. But spotting and nurturing it? That's educator skill. If they could handle him, worth expecting good things.
"Why? More activities are good, right?"
Shouldn't they welcome it with open arms? Economic perks too. Made no sense to him.
"He's a terrible actor."
"Ah, got it."
That explained it. If Enbin called it terrible, it was dire. Company had trainers, but this seemed secret prep...
"Director would love it. Might cry tears of joy. I'll text the number. Have him call."
"Thanks. Catch you when free."
Moo-young stared at Enbin's blinking name, vowing. When he made bank, concert. Fan sign. And someday, he'd send Enbin one too! That majestic pink coffee truck!
"Alright."
"Scene 86, standby! Get ready!"
While he vowed to himself, the staff megaphone blared filming start.
86 meant Moo-young too.
"Scene 86! Gather up!"
Even the site manager appeared from nowhere. Real shoot incoming. Filming the factory lot overrun by Jin's gang—armed adult men swarmed in. Oon Jeong-gil among them.
Wink! The ajusshi raised his coffee and beamed.
Ten years, he'd said. As an extra.
Must've been tough. Worse back then? For money, day labor beat it. Fixed hours there. Extras? No clue on schedule, self-pay meals. Sweltering or freezing hells.
But ten years means—
Money aside, something more. Even as 'Pedestrian 1,' part of the work. Tiny solo, but vital to the whole. Pride like a lead's. That sustained him.
Fighting— Moo-young mouthed encouragement.
Yuna brushed crumbs from her mouth and tugged Louie's hand.
"Oppa. What're you doing? Sit over there."
Sitting put the factory lot in close-up over Yuna's shoulder. Lawless chaos unfolding. Brutal, hopeless.
"Assistant director! 'Cigarette 1' is missing."
"What? What're you talking about?"
"Said he was hitting the bathroom, then vanished..."
'Cigarette 1' spotted Louie as the corner store owner and approached for a line. Super short.
—Right, super owner? Got spare smokes?
Louie and Janey just stare blankly upward, no reply. Simple role, but image extra—director auditioned personally.
"Find him in three minutes. Ridiculous. Told him to stay put. Tsk."
"Assistant director. Problem?"
"Nah. One extra vanished. You two just sit. Watch the angle."
Couldn't delay a started shoot for one extra. While staff hunted 'Cigarette 1,' Moo-young eyed the milling extras.
"No luck, maybe ask one?"
"Extra? Meh. Broadcast Story affiliate. Hassle for pay. And it's a line."
Extras and image roles differed. Pay, agency, expectations. To them, extras were outsourced 'backgrounds.' No line skills.
"Keep hunting 'Cigarette 1'... No luck, oh well."
Site manager directed extras to check paths. Oon Jeong-gil prowled seriously. Acting his part.
"Assistant director, going nuts. 'Cigarette 1' had sudden business and bounced."
"What? Why?"
"Family emergency or something."
"Crazy bastard? Argh! Director!"
Moo-young covered Yuna's ears, watching. Assistant director conferred with director, then approached extras. Hard to hear, but predictable.
"Anyone here do the line? Or long experience?"
"Me, me! About ten years."
"One line. Can you nail it?"
Oon Jeong-gil's startled face said it all. Timidly following the assistant director, he stood before Moo-young, eyes dreaming.
"—Come here, pause two seconds, eye the camera for the line. Camera's second over there. Over Louie and Janey's shoulders, so no angle slip. Bust low, got it?"
Gonna lose it. Line simple, but path tricky. He answered mechanically.
"Y-yes! Y-yeah, got it."
"Practice once. Hold on."
Assistant director frazzled by the swap. Oon Jeong-gil stared blankly down at Moo-young and Yuna. Script note trembled.
"Wh-what is this?"
"It's simple. Don't worry."
"Second line in ten years."
What if he flubbed? Greed made him volunteer—too greedy? Damage the shoot, site manager's wrath...
"Ajusshi."
Moo-young crouched, took his hand. Oon Jeong-gil looked down from his anxious whirl.
"Relax. I'll help."
"Yeah, ajusshi. Super simple."
And Yuna too. The two cute ones reassured him confidently.
"Just trust us and follow."
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Read 129 more chapters ahead on NovelDex!
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