It was a morning of restless dreams. Rushing to the event, I realized my stocking had a run. Dashing to the convenience store to change, my face reddened from the exertion. A noisy start to the day. I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
My heart pounded relentlessly. Was it from running around all morning or nervousness for the production announcement? I wasn’t sure. Clasping my hands, I took a long, deep breath.
Although it wasn’t mandatory for a writer to be present at the production announcement, the director insisted.
Despite my discomfort and multiple refusals, he was adamant. Eventually, I donned the neatest black dress suit I had at home and tied my hair up. I even got makeup done at Yeong’s shop. The unfamiliar styling felt awkward.
‘Let’s endure this.’
It was my first time in such a setting, and my palms were sweaty.
Peeking at the stage, I saw dozens of cameras and a massive setup of sound and lighting. The staff hustled and shouted amid the urgency of the live broadcast. The tension slowly crept up from my core.
Suddenly, a hand reached from behind, popping something round into my mouth. Startled, I turned around to see Cheon Ji-hyeok, the lead actor.
“A tranquilizer. You seemed too nervous,” he said, smiling and popping another into his mouth.
“Ugh. Bitter. But chew well, Writer.”
“Thank you.”
The bitterness filled my mouth, bringing some calm. Whether it was the effect of the pill or just the taste, I wasn’t sure.
“Don’t be too nervous. Anyway, no one’s really interested in the writer. They’re all focused on me,” he said confidently, making me smile silently.
He was the victor of a heated casting war. His confidence had some basis.
I remembered the casting day. He was the only actor who had perfectly analyzed the role of Kim Min-jun. His meticulous attention to detailed emotional changes, props, and costume concepts had surprised me.
The sharp questions he asked, clearly having read the script multiple times, convinced me that Cheon Ji-hyeok was the only choice for Kim Min-jun.
Despite his delicate visuals, his effort was commendable.
His well-toned muscles alone showed his thorough self-discipline. No wonder women in their twenties and thirties were all over Cheon Ji-hyeok.
“But Writer, we agreed to speak informally when we meet again,” he said, finishing his tasks on SNS.
I remembered. We had talked about various things during the casting meeting, discovering a common interest in volunteering for abandoned dogs, and went volunteering together a couple of times afterward.
“…Yes. We did agree.”
“Then you can’t say ‘yes.’ Call me by my name.”
I looked up at him, puzzled, our eyes meeting.
He had a fascinating personality. Easily friendly with anyone and quickly becoming close. Initially, I thought it was a facade, but it wasn’t.
Ji-hyeok could make friends within five minutes even with strangers. They say he’s a ‘social butterfly.’ I found his unblemished cheerfulness burdensome and yet enviable.
“What should I call you…”
“Call me by my name. Ji-hyeok. Like that.”
He led the conversation. I followed.
“Alright. Ji…hyeok.”
“You’re doing well.”
He then unwrapped a candy and handed it to me. Its excessive sweetness crinkled my face. Ji-hyeok laughed.
“Cute, Writer.”
“Cute,” he said, making Yeoreum feel her ears heat up. It was the least fitting word for her. As she was about to retort, Ji-hyeok spoke first.
“I decided to adopt that puppy. The new Maltese from the announcement. I’ll tell you later.”
He turned away at a staff’s signal. The abrupt end to the conversation left Yeoreum feeling a bit more relaxed, her clenched fists slowly opening.
She looked down at her loosened fists, wondering if Ji-hyeok had intentionally been considerate.
[Star Icon]“What would be the three main highlights of ?” the interviewer asked.
The atmosphere was warm and friendly. The three lead actors seemed to get along very well, laughing even at small jokes. Yoo-young and Luda, arm in arm, contradicted rumors of discord.
Regardless of their true feelings, they were seasoned actors in front of the camera. Pretending to be close was a piece of cake.
“I can’t stand having to enter holding hands with Luda,” Yoo-young had complained to Yeoreum just the day before, but she was laughing the most.
“I’ll answer that. First, it’s the growth of the youth that’s appealing,” Luda replied crisply, taking the microphone. Yeoreum managed a mechanical smile and watched her. Just five minutes in, she already felt strained. Despite her resolve, the stage was not becoming any more familiar.
Even the lights were too bright, threatening to expose even the pores’ impurities.
Then she noticed an extra chair on the stage. One too many.
‘Someone must’ve made a mistake.’
While mistakes happen, it was a bit disappointing. Viewers might find the empty chair odd.
“It’s not practical to remove it now during the live show,” she thought.
“Writer Choi.”
Director Lee whispered.
“We have a surprise guest. Look forward to it.”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
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