The set became completely silent. Everyone was captivated by Yoo Hana's performance, almost as if the air had become too heavy to breathe.

"Please... just give me one more chance. Just one more. I’ll make everything right. I’ll fix all the things that broke your heart, Jin-seok. I really can't take it anymore."

Yoo Hana’s body trembled violently, tears and snot mixing together as they streamed down her face.

"I don't need that."

Smack.

Lee Ho-joon harshly slapped away Yoo Hana’s delicate hand with a look of utter contempt, making it seem almost real.

"Do I really have to die for you to look at me again?"

She looked at him with wild, crazed eyes.

"Disgusting. Don’t ever come looking for me again. We’re done."

His tone was icy as he spat out the words and exited without a backward glance.

‘Wow. I should be doing that too.’
‘That b** Chae Soo-hyun should be crying like that, just like Yoo Hana.’**

I couldn’t help but be impressed as I watched the scene unfold. My jaw dropped.

‘Now I see why Yoo Hana wanted me to watch.’

This wasn’t just acting—it felt like reality itself.

It didn’t feel like I was watching actors; it was like witnessing a real couple’s story.

Yoo Hana appeared to be on the verge of convulsing. Her trembling was so intense it was pitiful to watch.

Staggering, she finally stood up and gazed in the direction where the male actor had disappeared, her face full of deep emotions—regret, nostalgia, remorse, sorrow, longing...

The depth of her sorrow was beyond words.

Multiple cameras captured every nuance of her final, intense performance. Even the directors were completely immersed.

The main director watched Yoo Hana with his mouth agape. Normally, he would have called "cut" by now, but he seemed unable to, as if savoring the lingering atmosphere.

"Okay!!!!!!!"

Finally, as the tension began to fade, he shouted the okay sign loudly.

He looked almost overwhelmed, as if he had just witnessed something unprecedented in his life.

With trembling hands, he rushed over to Yoo Hana.

"Wow... Hana, I almost cried just now. For real. Wow..."

Yoo Hana quickly composed herself, then ran over to me, still full of energy. The entire crew and directors watched her intently.

"Ji-hoon? How was it? This time? Did I change your mind?"

Her expression was filled with hope. Just moments ago, she had been the woman full of regret, but now she was a completely different person.

"Hmm. It was good. I really liked it. The scene just now was excellent."

I clapped for her. It was truly impressive.

The scene went beyond mere acting. If it aired, it would certainly create a buzz.

It felt like she might become the goddess of regret in the acting world.

"But... can we talk about it later?"
"Huh?"
"Everyone’s watching us right now."

The entire set's attention was focused on me since Yoo Hana had run over right after the shoot ended.

"Ah, right. Sorry about that. I’ll talk to you later then!! Over dinner~"

‘What? Did she just plan dinner without asking me?’

Back in the dressing room.

Scratching the back of his head, Lee Ho-joon approached Yoo Hana.

"Ha... Yoo Hana, I think I hit your hand too hard earlier. I’d like to apologize... maybe over dinner?"
"No, it’s fine."

Yoo Hana was all smiles. Her performance had been outstanding, and Baek Ji-hoon seemed genuinely moved.

‘He clapped for me. For the first time.’

She felt her heart fluttering.

"But still... I feel really bad about it..."
"I said it’s fine, didn’t I?"

Her tone became slightly irritable.

Lee Ho-joon, a top star, was clearly interested in her, trying to get closer, but Yoo Hana had no interest in him.

"Ah... okay... ha..."

He sighed deeply and left with his head hanging low.

"Heheh. Sis, how was I today?"
"Wow, Hana, you were amazing. Did you hear the staff talking? They were all completely engrossed in your performance as the villain. They said it was the first time they’d ever been so captivated by a villain character."
"Really?"

Yoo Hana’s face lit up with innocent delight, as if all her stress had been lifted.

"This project was originally centered around the lead actress, right? But I feel like you’re the main character now. I think you’re going to win an award for this—maybe not for Best Supporting Actress, but Best Actress."
"Best Actress?"
"The script might be revised. I saw the director talking about it earlier. He seemed to be seriously considering rewriting the entire script. Wow..."
"Heheh."

She beamed with pride.

"Alright, I’m heading out for the day."

It was time to wrap things up. I said my goodbyes.

"Uh... Ji-hoon!"

Yoo Hana, now fresh-faced with her makeup removed, came running out.

"Let’s go together! Please, have dinner with me tonight. I really want to talk about my performance. I want to discuss it with you."

She pleaded with earnest eyes.

"Is this acting?"
"Ah! No!!! I’m serious!!"
"Hmm."
"Please. I’ll take you to a really expensive place. Just give me this one chance."

It reminded me of the desperate character she had just played.

‘It still feels like she’s acting, though.’

"Alright. I’ll give you a chance. Let’s go tonight."
"Yay!!! Thank you. I’ll call my manager!"

She quickly dashed off.

"Seriously, Hana, I’m so disappointed."
"Why?"
"Have you ever taken me to a place like this?"

He was driving, taking Yoo Hana and me to a restaurant.

"Well, you didn’t help my acting, did you?"
"And Ji-hoon did?"
"He was a huge help. I couldn’t have nailed today’s scene without him."
"What? Are you saying you regret something with Baek Ji-hoon? Or did you learn something about regret from him? How exactly did he help?"
"No!!! What are you talking about?"
"Then what is it?"
"Just be quiet and drive. I don’t know!"

She then closed the partition between the front and back seats.

At the restaurant.

"Ha... Ji-hoon, my acting was really good today, right? I overheard the crew saying I might win Best Actress this year."

She smiled brightly.

"Hmm. Yes, it was good."

I calmly replied while cutting my steak.

"Originally, I was supposed to play a villain who falls out of the story midway through. But who knows what’ll happen now. Hehe."

She giggled while chewing her steak.

"But Ji-hoon, you said you wanted to make someone regret something, right?"
"Yes."
"So, what if that person begs for forgiveness like I did earlier? What will you do?"

She looked at me as if she was trying to peer into my soul, genuinely curious.

"What would I do?"
"Well~ you could forgive them, right?"
"Not at all."

I cut her off sharply. There wasn’t even a hint of such a thought.

"Really?"

Yoo Hana seemed to be quite pleased with my response.

"Wow~ That person must have done something really terrible."
"Exactly."
"They deserve punishment~ for sure."
"That’s why I’m working hard on a few things."
"Like what?"

She seemed genuinely intrigued by my words.

"First, I’m going to push Hunter Lee Soo-ah back to the number one S-rank spot, and then I’m going to recruit all the S-rank Hunters to the Blue Guild."
"???????"

She paused mid-bite, staring at me with a bewildered expression.

"You’re joking, right?"
"I’m serious."
"???"

She tilted her head, confused.

"It’s already started."
"What?"
"Hunter Lee Soo-ah started her dungeon raids today. She’s going to reclaim her number one S-rank spot."
"Oh...?"
"And I’m going to gather all the S-rank Hunters into the Blue Guild. Including you, Yoo Hana."
"No way~ I’m not going anywhere~"
"Are you sure?"

I stared at her intently, almost piercingly.

"Ah... um... well... maybe I could... possibly go..."

She started to avoid my gaze, her eyes darting around nervously.

"But... you’re really going to push Hunter Lee Soo-ah to number one again?"
"Yes."
"Oh... so, are you going to give her the points you mentioned before to boost her rank?"

She bit her lip and asked seriously, with a hint of jealousy in her expression.

"Nope. Not at all. Hunter Lee Soo-ah will have to work hard on her own."
"Oh~"

She looked relieved, her expression brightening considerably.

"That’s fine then~ Hehe."

She covered her mouth and laughed, clearly in a good mood.

"But."
"Yes?"
"I’m curious... So you need someone to be number one?"
"Hmm. Yes."
"Aha~"

Yoo Hana’s eyes sparkled.

"So it doesn’t have to be Hunter Lee Soo-ah, right?"
"No."
"Oho..."

She seemed deep in thought, scheming something.

"Oh, I forgot to ask something important."

Her expression suddenly brightened, as if she had just remembered something crucial.

"What did you think of my performance earlier?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, did your opinion of me change at all after watching my acting?"
"Hmm..."

I paused to think. Yoo Hana rested her chin on her hand, looking at me with high expectations.

‘What should I say...’

I put down my fork.

"Yoo Hana, your performance today was very moving. I almost forgave you myself."

I calmly praised her.

"Oh~ really?"

She began to smile so broadly that it looked like her grin would stretch from ear to ear.

"So, do you like me a bit more now? Right? Right?"

Her voice was full of anticipation as she leaned closer to me.

"No, not at all."