Chapter 110: Cherry Blossoms (3)

Translator: Dreamscribe

From the moment she arrived at the filming location, during the rehearsal with Director Shin Dong-chun, and even right before the shooting began. Of course, she did waver slightly with Kang Woojin standing right in front of her.

But her resolve today was different from usual.

Hwalin’s secret weapon in crisis, unknown to others, was her steely determination to fiercely push through it.

“It’s nothing, be composed just like Woojin! Hwalin, you’re just portraying Lee Bo-min now!”

However, that staunch resolution of hers…

-Swish.

The moment her face came into contact with Kang Woojin’s, separated only by cherry blossom petals, it crumbled completely. It was indeed a dam break. Despite building it up for days, it evaporated like smoke in just one moment.

As if that resolve had never existed from the start.

Kang Woojin’s face was close enough for her to hear his breathing. Had she ever seen him this close? His eyes are incredibly beautiful. Woojin’s eyes, gazing at Hwalin, were intense yet filled with affection. His look was enough to convey his feelings without words.

He cares for me, protects me, watches over me, likes me.

In an instant, an overwhelming amount of affection hit Hwalin. She knew it was all an act. She was fully aware of it. Yet she was drawn in, into those deep, sweet eyes.

‘This is the first time I’m feeling such emotions since the first shoot yesterday. How is this level of intensity even possible? Someone, please save me.’

Han In-ho from the script was right before her eyes. Hwalin began to flounder. Under Woojin’s intense affection, or rather, his acting. The situation was static, just an exchange of gazes, but the emotions conveyed were devastating. It enveloped Hwalin’s entire being.

It might be sweet to others, but to Hwalin, it was like an attack.

Around this time, Hwalin, struggling to maintain Lee Bo-min,’ realized.

‘…I’m screwed.’

She felt she would ruin everything. It seemed she wouldn’t be able to become a true ‘successful fan.’ And that soon became a reality.

-Swish.

Just as Hwalin’s consciousness was getting blurry, Han In-ho in front of her charged forward, breaking through the cherry blossom petals on her hand. Lee Bo-min, or Hwalin, couldn’t react at all.

‘It’s coming, it’s really happening.’

Even though she knew all too well what was about to happen, yet her heart felt like it would burst. Soon, she felt Han In-ho’s lips. For a moment, Hwalin felt as if her entire body had stopped functioning. Her brain was reset, like a blank canvas.

Perhaps because of that?

“Kkheup!”

Hwalin let out a hiccup. It wasn’t a small sound; it was loud. At that, Hwalin tightly shut her eyes. So, she ended up ruining the scene and showing her foolish side. Even so, she didn’t pull her lips away from Kang Woojin’s.

‘……’

It was an emotion close to addiction. Imagine, a fan, deeply enamored, experiencing a lip bump with her idol. Who could maintain a rational thought? Thus, Hwalin’s hiccups didn’t stop.

“Hic!”

At this, Kang Woojin, whose lips were joined with hers, became confused.

‘Is this- an ad-lib? Or not? Ah, I’m confused.’

Regardless of the soft touch on his lips or the strawberry scent, Kang Woojin’s thoughts were filled with Hwalin’s hiccups. He couldn’t figure out whether it was real or not. Should he stop? He didn’t know. But he had to regain his composure. He instinctively felt he shouldn’t falter.

‘Ah- shit, forget it. I’ll just act my part.’

Alright, he decided, so for now, it’s full steam ahead.

At this point.

“Ah, sudden hiccups? Director. That… seems like an NG for Hwalin?”

The staff, watching the two in the shooting zone, were surprised. And why wouldn’t they be, considering Hwalin’s strange change as soon as their lips met?

“Why did she suddenly hiccup at that timing?”

“Was she nervous?”

“…Hwalin seemed rather calm today.”

“It feels like- it came out because she was too surprised. Should we go and ask her, Director?”

To anyone watching, it looked like an NG. After all, the hiccup wasn’t in the script in the first place. But for some reason.

“……No. We keep going without cutting.”

“What??”

Director Shin Dong-chun, staring intently at Woojin and Hwalin on the monitor, showed no intention of calling ‘NG’. He stroked his square jaw.

“There’s a possibility it was intentional.”

“An ad-lib, you mean? That?”

“Hmm, as evidence, Woojin is still carrying on with the emotions. That acting genius would definitely know of Hwalin’s mistake right in front of him. If it wasn’t a mistake—see, it’s like ‘Lee Bo-min’ is utterly surprised by her friend’s unexpected action.”

In other words, Director Shin Dong-chun speculated that Hwalin’s hiccup was intentional. The shot was even better than expected. At the heart of it was the presence of Kang Woojin. It was a scene where Woojin was currently instigating a misunderstanding. A thick mist of misconception enveloped the set.

“······Wow—if that was calculated, it fits perfectly with the current situation.”

“Lee Bo-min is so shocked by Han In-ho’s kiss that she’s hiccuping. The scene is quite interesting.”

Hwalin’s mistake was unintentionally misunderstood for an ad-lib, thanks to Woojin.

About that time.

-Swish.

Kang Woojin slowly detached his lips. At the same time, Hwalin inwardly lamented.

‘I should apologize first.’

She had to confess her shortcomings to Woojin and the production team. But Hwalin, making eye contact with Woojin in front of her.

“······!”

Her eyes widened slightly. The reason was simple. The man in front of her wasn’t Kang Woojin. His tense, flushed face, eyes that seemed a jumble of thoughts and worries, eyelids blinking rapidly in confusion, and the detailed hand movements trembling slightly in uncertainty.

He was still Han In-ho himself.

Why? How? I made a mistake, so why is Woojin still going on acting? Even more, the intensity of his emotion was stronger. Then, as if realizing her mistake, Han In-ho uttered a short word.

“Ah.”

It was exactly as in the script. It was then Hwalin realized.

‘Keep going… he’s telling me it’s okay, let’s go on.’

She realized Kang Woojin was reassuring her. It was a clear misunderstanding, but it calmed Hwalin down. Suddenly, her hiccups also stopped. Right, let’s go all the way. That’s what Hwalin—no, Lee Bo-min—did, covering her mouth with one hand as she looked at Han In-ho, whom she thought was a friend.

Then, she hiccupped again.

“Hic!”

This time, it was acting. Followed by her scripted line.

“······Crazy bastard.”

From this point, everything hidden in Lee Bo-min’s heart began to pour out. The emotions she’d tried hard to hide, avoid, and ignore exploded because of Han In-ho.

Unable to contain herself.

Finally, Lee Bo-min.

“Shit!”

She flung her arms wide and lunged at Han In-ho. She attacked with such speed that the word ‘pounced’ would be apt. Despite the height difference requiring her to jump, Lee Bo-min.

-Thunk!

Wrapped her arms around Han In-ho’s neck, and Han In-ho, whose eyes were gradually widening, also naturally accepted her as she rushed toward him like a beast.”

The camera, in a close-up on the side, captured Han In-ho and Lee Bo-min entwined.

They were completely lost in the moment. The kiss scene was worlds apart from the light tingling exchange of emotions from the soft touch of lips just moments ago. Their faces interlocked, their entwined bodies pressed even closer together. It was intense.

The phrase ‘intense’ was an understatement.

Director Shin Dong-chun and the staff, watching this, kept their mouths shut, but inside, they were all having extreme reactions.

‘Good! That’s perfect, that’s what you call intense! Wow—the scene is crazy.’

‘Wow······That’s really intense, huh?’

‘Isn’t it rare to go that far even in mini rom-com series? The viewers are going to be shocked!!’

Among the staff, the robust Kim Dae-young opened his mouth slightly, wondering if what he was seeing was real.

‘They’ve gone mad… Damn, I’m so fucking envious.’

The core intense shot was just perfect. For about 10 seconds. Satisfied with the shot he captured, Director Shin Dong-chun.

“Cut!!!”

He stood up sharply and shouted into the megaphone.

“Ooookay!! Okay!!”

Director Shin Dong-chun, giving a thumbs up, and the staff, seemingly moved, clapped. Only then did Woojin and Hwalin slowly part. Hwalin, seeming embarrassed, coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem. Yeah.”

Kang Woojin was staring into space with a somewhat cynical expression. But it wasn’t stern.

‘······What was that just now. I can’t quite remember.’

He was just confused whether what he experienced was reality or fantasy. The intense sensation on his lips from moments ago was still vivid.

At that moment.

“Woojin! Hwalin!”

Excited, Director Shin Dong-chun came running over.

“You killed it! Ah! Once this is out, it’ll blow everything away! Hwalin, that hiccup was an ad-lib, right?”

Hwalin hesitated slightly, which Kang Woojin picked up on.

‘So it was an ad-lib after all.’

Regaining his composure, Woojin remarked in a low voice.

“The scene felt much more alive, I think.”

“I totally agree! Lee Bo-min’s shocked reaction to Han In-ho’s sudden move was perfectly captured.”

At this point, Hwalin’s fandom for Kang Woojin increased tenfold.

‘Is he covering for my mistake as an ad-lib?… He’s handling this scene, this cut for me. I totally feel like I’m being carried along.’

Whether it was distribution or aspects of acting.

‘Woojin must have sensed my mistake, right? No, he definitely did. But he thought the mood was good, so he just went with my hiccup and continued acting as if it were nothing.’

Hwalin felt sincerely impressed.

‘Quick thinking, sensibility, understanding of his co-actor. He’s at the top of his game in everything. Amazing, Woojin is truly exceptional.’

Along with her fandom, her delusion grew more substantial. Then, director Shin Dong-chun, who had been watching Kang Woojin and Hwalin with satisfaction, spoke.

“We just ripped through that, but honestly, I’d like to see a version without the hiccup. Let’s try one more time, sticking to the original script.”

Hwalin immediately nodded. She was highly motivated.

“Yes, director.”

Woojin, with an indifferent face, also responded.

“…Understood.”

But internally, he was shocked.

‘Again??! We’re doing this again?! For real?’

Of course, he was delighted.

‘I’m totally up for it.’

Afterward.

The intense kissing scene between Kang Woojin and Hwalin continued. This time, as per director Shin Dong-chun’s request, it followed the script exactly. Lee Bo-min comes running with cherry blossom petals.

“Look at this.”

“What about it.”

“Ah! Smell them, the fragrance!”

The kiss that followed. Of course, this time there was no hiccup from Hwalin, and it naturally led to an intense kiss. There was absolutely nothing wrong with either actor’s performance.

However.

“Cut! NG!! What’s wrong with the wind machine??!”

The cherry blossom petals meant to scatter in the background were missing because one of the wind machines had stopped. So.

“Get it checked quickly! Woojin! Hwalin! Sorry, but it looks like we’ll have to go again!”

The third take of the kissing scene was confirmed. But even after the wind machine was fixed.

“Cut, cut! NG! Why is the boom microphone coming down? It’s in the shot! Raise it, raise it!”

There was a mistake by the staff. In short.

“Again, again! We’re going again!”

The fourth kissing scene. Of course, Kang Woojin pretended to be indifferent, but he felt like he could hug the staff who made the mistake.

‘Thank you, sincerely.’

In the end.

“Cuut!! OK!!”

This intense kissing scene took a staggering five retakes before finally getting the ultimate OK. It was an utterly unexpected outcome, and Woojin felt somewhat dazed, striving to cool down his heated emotions. He was on the verge of laughing out loud, after all. A little gossip could be poisonous at times like this.

Anyway.

“Great work, Hwalin.”

Kang Woojin gave a small nod to Hwalin, who was having her makeup touched up by the staff. Hwalin also responded calmly.

“Yes, you too, Woojin. And thank you.”

“Pardon? For what?”

She whispered, suppressing her voice.

“For covering for me.”

She must be talking about the mistake, but Woojin had no clue what she meant. However, questioning her would disrupt the mood, especially after that intense kissing scene. Here, it was right for him to maintain a cool demeanor according to the concept.

“Ah, yes.”

Woojin sternly responded and turned around. From now on, it was Hwalin’s solo cut, and Kang Woojin was on standby. Soon, Woojin, who had returned to his seat in the shade, let out a small sigh.

“Phew-”

He then blankly reminisced about the day’s historic events. The sensation on his lips was still vivid. Choi Sung-gun joined him at this point.

“Woojin, you’ve worked hard.”

Not really? It was more of a blessing than hard work. However, suppressing his excessive emotions, Woojin responded in a lowered voice.

“No, Hwalin worked harder than I did.”

“Haha, that’s so like you. Even after that intense kiss scene, you’re so composed; Hwalin might feel bad.”

“……”

“More importantly, here, take this. Read it to get familiar.”

Soon, Choi Sung-gun handed him a thin bundle of papers.

“It’s the revised lyrics. The start is in Japanese.”

It was about Kang Woojin’s YouTube channel.

On the 22nd, in Da Nang, Vietnam.

It might be around 11 AM in Korea, but in Da Nang, Vietnam, it was just past 9 AM. The weather was unbearably hot. Despite being morning, the humid air was sweltering. Nevertheless, the streets of Da Nang were filled with motorbikes.

Like any other country, the morning scene wasn’t much different from Korea.

A group of film crew from Korea had recently arrived in such a Da Nang. They were currently making their way through a dense forest in Da Nang. It was a place you’d reach after crossing a long bridge.

There were about a dozen people in the group.

All were wearing safari hats to block the sun, and a chubby man in the lead shouted to everyone.

“How about this spot??!”

The chubby man, wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt already drenched in sweat, played an essential role in overseas filming as a line producer.

The line producer’s tasks are diverse.

As a local coordinator, finding filming locations specified in the scenario, communicating with local officials, mobilizing necessary local staff for shooting, and handling everything related to overseas filming.

Overseas filming relied heavily on the line producer.

At his shout, one of the twelve, a man wearing a loose short-sleeved shirt, scanned the surroundings. It was the master director Kwon Ki-taek, his face also covered in sweat.

However, his eyes, assessing the location, were sharp.

“……Hmm.”

The lush scenery of trees and grass, the sound of unknown animals somewhere, the earthy smell, the insects buzzing around his ears, the rundown house seen far away, the hot wind brushing through the trees.

For a moment, in Director Kwon Ki-taek’s mind,

‘Indeed, this is much better than a set.’

The world of ‘Island of the Missing’ was panoramically spread out before him.