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Chapter 54 - If it's you, Eun-ha ssi
Chapter 54 - If it's you, Eun-ha ssi
Chapter 54: If it’s you, Eun-ha ssi
TL: Aniea
“…What on earth could it be?”
“…Well. I don’t know the reason either, but I can definitely tell it’s something incredibly serious. It was always intense, but now I can’t even talk to him.”
“Director-nim, you shouldn’t be like that too!”
“Then how about our Writer Jung, who’s close with Woo-ju ssi, go talk to him first? My life’s goal is to live a long and prosperous life.”
Zap-!
When Writer Jung Ha-rin’s intense gaze was directed at him, Director Kang In-ho subtly turned his head to avoid her eyes.
However, even in doing so, he did not stop rolling his eyes around to check Kang Woo-ju’s condition.
This was not a situation exclusive to Kang In-ho. Regardless of whether they were actors or staff, everyone on set was glancing at Kang Woo-ju.
“Could he have fought with CEO Kim Eun-ha?”
“Nah, no way.”
Kang In-ho shook his head left and right, as if it was absurd. The others around him also showed similar expressions.
What kind of person was Kang Woo-ju? He was a person who used his time down to the second.
You could see this even during the brief breaks during overnight shoots.
While everyone else was busy nodding off with their eyes closed, he was the monster who leisurely drank coffee and read the script.
“Um…. I can’t imagine that guy worrying about relationship problems. What makes you think that?”
“Just watch carefully. Normally, Woo-ju ssi rarely takes out his phone, but now, except when filming, he’s staring at the phone’s black screen all day.”
“…So what?”
“Oh, really!”
Even after pointing this out, seeing that Kang In-ho still had no clue, Jung Ha-rin stomped her feet in frustration.
“…I can see why Director-nim haven’t been in a relationship.”
“Hey, what’s that got to do with this!?”
“Come on, why would Woo-ju ssi, who doesn’t even play games, just stare blankly at his phone? Think carefully.”
“Well, maybe he’s on social media or something?”
“Woo-ju ssi doesn’t have any personal social media.”
“How do you know that?”
“…….”
Sliiide-
At Kang In-ho’s words, she subtly turned her head. Scratching her cheek awkwardly under his piercing gaze, Jung Ha-rin quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway! If Woo-ju ssi, who neither plays games nor uses social media, is holding his phone all day, there’s only one possibility.”
“He must be waiting for someone’s call or message.”
“Exactly! That’s it!”
Assistant Director Oh Dong-gyu, who had joined the conversation at some point, excitedly jumped in, finally feeling relieved. Jung Ha-rin, whose frustration seemed to have been lifted, poured out the words she had been holding back.
“See, that’s why Director Oh is married. There’s a reason for it.”
“This is basic stuff.”
“Mm-hmm, yeah. It’s basic stuff.”
“…….”
Nodding in strong agreement, Jung Ha-rin felt awkward as Kang In-ho muttered and opened his mouth.
“How are you so sure it’s the CEO?”
“If Woo-ju ssi started it, sure, but how many people in the world are there who he would seriously wait for a call or message from?”
“…You really know how to write a script. But no matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t seem like that to me.”
“Why do you think so?”
Hmm-
At the returning question, Kang In-ho, rubbing his chin, fell into deep thought. After thinking for a while, he voiced the thoughts that came to mind.
“After all, we’ve been watching him closely while working together these past few days. From what I’ve seen, that expression must mean a problem far more serious than a relationship issue.”
“What kind of problem?”
“…Well, maybe something like his parents?”
Hmm-
At Kang In-ho’s words, everyone around him hummed in unison. They quickly racked their brains, but no one could think of anyone that fit.
“Woo-ju ssi’s parents….”
“It’s hard to even imagine what kind of people they are.”
“Maybe they’re like some hidden power controlling South Korea?”
Gasp-
Just then, everyone gasped at the plausible suggestion someone threw out. Kang Woo-ju’s identity was truly shrouded in mystery.
“That’s right! Come to think of it, wasn’t Ji-hwan a junior at the same school as Woo-ju ssi? I remember seeing it on the profiles when we were selecting actors.”
“Oh, really?”
“…….”
At Kang In-ho’s words, everyone turned their gaze towards Choi Ji-hwan. Startled, he widened his eyes.
“Ji-hwan ssi, what was Kang Woo-ju like in school? At his level, everyone in the entire school must have known him, right?”
“I don’t know! I really don’t know anything!”
Before the other person could even finish speaking, Choi Ji-hwan hastily waved his hands in denial. Everyone tilted their heads at his intense reaction.
“What the heck, why are you suddenly shouting?”
“Look!? Look at the cold sweat on his forehead. Ji-hwan ssi, are you sick? Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine! But… um… it’s just that… my head! My head feels a bit dizzy. I’ll go rest in the shade for a bit!”
“……?”
Without giving them a chance to say more, Choi Ji-hwan quickly left the scene. Watching his retreating figure only heightened everyone’s curiosity. Just then.
“What are you all talking about?”
“Oh, Soo-bin ssi.”
Park Soo-bin, who had been memorizing her script from afar, took Choi Ji-hwan’s spot like a baton pass.
Jung Ha-rin turned her gaze towards Kang Woo-ju as she explained the situation, and after hearing everything, Park Soo-bin immediately turned her body.
“So now… Soo-bin ssi!?”
“I’ll go ask him directly.”
“…….”
Without hesitation, Park Soo-bin walked straight towards Kang Woo-ju. Everyone was left speechless by her bold action.
At the same time, they all strained their eyes and ears to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two.
“Park Soo-bin ssi?”
“Woo-ju ssi, can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Did you fight with your girlfriend by any chance?”
“……?”
Kang Woo-ju silently stared at Park Soo-bin as if wondering what absurd question she was asking. She shrugged her shoulders and spoke again.
“Today, you’ve been staring at your phone unusually long, so I was wondering if something happened. Everyone is worried about you, Woo-ju ssi.”
“Ah….”
At her words, Kang Woo-ju glanced around. People who met his eyes all coughed awkwardly and looked away.
Understanding the situation, Kang Woo-ju pushed the phone he was holding into his inner pocket and spoke.
“My apologies. I made a mistake, which is unlike me.”
“Oh, it’s not something you need to apologize for. It’s just that the atmosphere around you feels a bit different today, so everyone, including myself, is worried about you.”
“Did it really show that much?”
“Well, it’s hard to pinpoint, but it feels like you’re more on edge than usual. Honestly, when we were filming earlier, it was so intense I thought I was going to suffocate.”
Whew-
Imagining it made Park Soo-bin shiver as she rubbed her arms. However, a broad smile soon spread across her face.
“But I actually liked it.”
“……?”
“Until now, I thought Woo-ju ssi was either a robot or a psychopath. But today, you seem a bit more human. For the first time, it feels like I’m meeting ‘Kang Woo-ju’ and not [Kang Joo-heon].”
“…….”
“Oh! But your acting was perfect. Actually, I think you appeared even more captivating on camera. You know, sometimes it’s hard to empathize when someone seems too inhuman. Sometimes I also…”
As usual, Park Soo-bin rambled on. Watching her quietly, Kang Woo-ju spoke in a low voice.
“Didn’t you ask earlier if I fought with my girlfriend?”
“Yes? Ah, yes, I did.”
Momentarily flustered by Kang Woo-ju’s sudden remark, Park Soo-bin quickly nodded, as this was something she was accustomed to.
“I usually don’t answer personal questions, but since my mistake was the cause this time, I’ll make an exception. This has nothing to do with Eun-ha ssi.”
“Then….”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
Kang Woo-ju drew a firm line, as if to say not to ask any further. Even though he didn’t raise his voice, it echoed throughout the entire set.
Everyone realized that his words weren’t directed solely at Park Soo-bin, and they all turned their heads in response.
“Yes, I understand perfectly.”
Just as Park Soo-bin, slightly pouty from his cold attitude, was about to turn away, she suddenly heard a small voice from behind, only loud enough for her to catch.
“Thank you, Park Soo-bin ssi.”
“……!?”
Startled, she quickly turned her head. However, Kang Woo-ju was already walking past her towards the set as if nothing had happened.
.
.
.
“Great job, everyone!”
“Good work, everyone!”
With all the scheduled filming completed, the actors and staff forced their tired bodies up and exchanged greetings.
“Woo-ju ssi, you did great today…. Huh?”
Kang In-ho, who was naturally greeting everyone, tilted his head in confusion. Kang Woo-ju was nowhere to be seen.
“Kang Woo-ju left right after filming ended.”
“Well, that’s nothing new….”
Kang In-ho scratched his head as he looked towards where Kang Woo-ju had disappeared. Normally, they would at least exchange greetings before he left.
Kang Woo-ju, who rarely showed his emotions outside of acting, made everyone keenly aware of any changes in him.
Of course, whenever the word ‘action!’ came out of his mouth, he would flawlessly portray Kang Joo-heon as if nothing had happened.
“…Wow, did you just see that?”
“…Yeah, I did! Totally swoon-worthy.”
“…I didn’t know he could smile like that.”
Pondering the reason for Kang Woo-ju’s behavior, Kang In-ho overheard some peculiar conversations.
Looking over, he saw a group of staff gathered, blankly staring towards the exit.
“What are you all doing here?”
“Oh! Sorry! We’ll get back to work….”
“No, I’m not scolding you. I’m genuinely curious. What were you all looking at over there?”
“Um….”
The staff exchanged glances at Kang In-ho’s question. It seemed they decided who would step forward with just that brief eye contact, and one of them finally stepped up.
“Well… Kang Woo-ju ssi smiled.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
“So, um…”
As the explanation continued, it turned out that they were waiting by the entrance to organize the equipment as soon as filming ended. But Kang Woo-ju moved faster than them.
“At first, we wanted to greet him and say he did well, but he was on the phone, so we couldn’t interrupt. His expression looked kind of urgent too.”
“That’s right. But then suddenly, Kang Woo-ju ssi’s frown completely disappeared, and he smiled a little… Wow. It was amazing.”
“I finally understood what it means when they say winter passes and spring comes. I almost screamed like a high school girl.”
Once the floodgates opened, the staff chatted excitedly among themselves. As Kang In-ho patiently listened, he began to piece things together.
“It happened so quickly that I couldn’t catch the whole conversation, but I definitely heard him say ‘Eun-ha ssi’ and then smile!”
“Me too, me too!”
“…Honestly. I’m so jealous of CEO Kim Eun-ha. A smile reserved for just one woman? I thought that only existed in dramas!”
Sigh-
With those last words, they sighed together. Kang In-ho, watching them, shook his head and quietly left the scene.
*
– The surgery went smoothly, so there’s no need to worry. I even saw him for a moment before he went into the operating room.
After all the filming was over.
The moment I heard Kim Eun-ha’s calm voice over the phone, a sigh of relief escaped my lips.
At the same time, I felt immense gratitude towards Kim Eun-ha, who had squeezed in a hospital visit despite her tight schedule.
– Eun-ha ssi, I will definitely repay this favor.
– You know you shouldn’t say things like that lightly, right? I’m not a big fan of formalities. I’ll make sure to collect a hefty price.
Heh-
Kim Eun-ha’s playful voice made me momentarily forget I was outside, and a smile spread across my face without me realizing.
– I don’t mind.
– Oh, I wasn’t joking.
– Neither am I. Really, you can ask me for anything.
Before speaking again, I cleared my throat, feeling a tickle. Then, I spoke, pouring all my current feelings into each word.
– If it’s you, Eun-ha ssi.
My sincerity flowed directly from the depths of my heart, without even passing through my frontal lobe.
*****
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