“The Last Diner’s” final shooting was particularly dramatic.

Characters who had been merely covering up issues and traveling together began to express their dissatisfaction and start doubting each other.

The incident of Sohee’s poisoning was the start. The story, flowing unpredictably with the eruption of distrust among them, revealed an unexpected twist at the end.

With the right direction, it seemed like a production that could capture both entertainment and artistic value.

Of course, there was still post-production dubbing left, and no one knew how many more months it would take before everything was completed.

‘I can’t wait to see the final version.’

Yooil clenched his fist, filled with anticipation.

When he first auditioned, he couldn’t imagine that the end of the film shooting would ever come.

“…Action!”

The shooting of the last scene began. Yooil, who had already finished his part, was watching the set with the staff.

He felt anew how filmmaking was a genre that required many people.

‘It feels strange.’

【Currently, Mr. Han Yooil, your heart rate is normal, and your oxygen saturation is also normal. Make sure to maintain your body temperature.】

‘…’

He clenched the hand warmer he had in his pocket and focused straight ahead.

Before Han Yooil’s eyes were people hurling almost scream-like insults at each other.

Lee Jongsun, Park Joonki, Min Sohee, and…

‘I didn’t know this person would be in it.’

Han Yooil watched the face of one actor with a serious expression.

Joo Heeyoung.

She was a famous supporting actress known to anyone as ‘Ah, that person from that film.’ Wasn’t it already three blockbuster movies she had appeared in?

He had been curious why there was an extra character in the script when there were only four leads.

It seemed like the other actors, until a few days ago, hadn’t known about Joo Heeyoung’s participation.

‘Did the director intentionally keep it a secret?’

【The likelihood of that is low. According to research, they continued to look for actors even after the shooting started.】

…He wasn’t even curious anymore about how this insane AI knew such things.

‘Anyway, everyone’s energy is really good.’

【The actors on average have over 20 years of experience. Experience cannot be underestimated.】

Whether the AI could feel experience or not, Yooil agreed with the sentiment.

Han Yooil quietly observed the middle-aged actors before him.

‘…Could I become like them?’

Except for Joo Heeyoung, the four lead actors loved acting and maintained their livelihoods while passionately pursuing their craft.

Han Yooil wasn’t sure if he had the confidence to tread such a tough path solely for the sake of acting.

【Do not worry, Mr. Yooil. I will take responsibility.】

‘…What exactly?’

As Yooil felt uneasy and fiddled with his collar, Director Yoo Jaeho shouted loudly.

“…Cut!”

As his cut sign fell, everyone began to applaud. It was a show of support for the actors who had given their all in their performance. Han Yooil too clapped until his palms felt numb.

“Great job, everyone!”

“Thank you~”

“Everyone, let’s have dinner!”

Greetings filled the set. Everyone was heading towards the indoor set for dinner. Yooil was also about to move when someone tapped his shoulder.

“…Excuse me, actor.”

“Yes?”

A youngest staff member, her face reddened by the cold, approached hesitantly.

“It’s just… if it’s okay, could we take a picture together?”

“…With me?”

To Han Yooil’s question, the staff member nodded. She suppressed the awkwardness welling up to her throat and looked at the camera of her phone.

“One, two, three!”

The staff member pressed the shutter with a bright face, as if her shyness had never existed.

“Thank you. I’ll continue to support you.”

“Thank you. Your name is… Hansol, right? I’ll support you too.”

Yooil’s words widened the staff member’s eyes.

“You remember my name?”

“You mentioned it when we had lunch together during the first shoot.”

‘Wow…!’

The youngest staff member clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Han Yooil.

‘Even the sound director gets my name wrong…’

Although she didn’t have much experience, having entered the filming set at a young age, she had seen various actors. “The Last Diner” was among the best sets she had been on in terms of atmosphere.

The director was significant, but the actors’ preparedness and quick comprehension were also huge factors. Especially Han Yooil, despite his young age, was an actor with incredible intuition.

“It’s quite cold. Let’s go inside.”

At Han Yooil’s words, the staff member quietly nodded.

“…!”

As they entered indoors, the actors let out small gasps.

What caught their eyes first was not the dinner or the cream cake, but large letters.

[For the final shoot – From all the staff of “The Last Diner”]

It was a banner written by hand by the staff who participated in the film. It looked like they had taken a brief moment during their break to create it.

“My, when did you prepare this.”

“It’s so cute~”

“Look here, what’s this drawing! Who drew this.”

Even Director Yoo Jaeho was taken aback. He laughed awkwardly, not knowing about it himself.

The production crew and actors took several group photos in front of the banner before they could start dinner properly.

Though the wrap-up party was scheduled for another day, it almost felt like one already.

Shooting had finished earlier than expected, and everyone was lively.

* * *

“Hey, hey, you can’t leave yet~”

“I have a part-time job tomorrow.”

“…Ah, dear.”

With regretful looks behind him, Han Yooil finally made it home and collapsed on his bed, utterly exhausted. His body was screaming with fatigue, but sleep didn’t come easily. It felt like someone had taken his brain and tossed it high up in the air.

‘…The movie was quite fun.’

With that thought, Han Yooil closed his eyes.

【Phase 1 objective 100% achieved.】

【…Entering Phase 2 now.】

* * *

“…Is this the place, Yooil?”

Jin Hayoung’s voice quivered slightly.

“Yes.”

Even after getting out of the car, she still looked bewildered.

“…We’re having dinner here?”

“Yes. I’ve made all the reservations.”

‘This is… a hotel.’

Jin Hayoung looked at the hotel entrance, so luxurious it made her feel insignificant.

She was happy when her nephew suggested they have dinner together outside. Even when Yooil said he would drive, she only felt proud of him.

But now, arriving at a hotel in the center of Seoul, Jin Hayoung realized she had never crossed the threshold of a 4-star hotel before.

Yooil, seemingly unaware or indifferent to Jin Hayoung’s feelings, led her inside with an untroubled expression.

They passed through the lobby adorned with an opulent chandelier, took the elevator up, and entered a restaurant where classical music played.

“Really… we’re eating here?”

She was sure that a meal here would cost over 100,000 won per person.

“I’m fine with the local Chinese restaurant… Where do you get the money?”

Yooil responded to Jin Hayoung’s remark with a bright smile.

“It’s okay. I received my pay yesterday.”

Jin Hayoung kept blinking in disbelief, and Yooil added,

“The fee for the movie.”

With the completion of “The Last Diner,” Yooil received his pay according to the contract.

There were a total of 12 shooting days, and he was paid 400,000 won per day. So he received a total of 4.8 million won.

“Don’t worry too much. I always wanted to come here with you, no matter when.”

“But still…”

As Jin Hayoung hesitated, she closed her mouth. Seeing Han Yooil’s radiant face, she decided to set aside her discomfort for the moment. She knew the heart of her nephew who wanted to treat her to something delicious.

‘I should enjoy this as much as I can.’

Jin Hayoung cleared her throat with a serious expression. She liked eating, but she was a light eater.

However, the moment the appetizer that marked the beginning of the course meal was served, she realized all her worries were in vain.

The lobster tasted different from any she had before. The tender, sweet flesh combined with the fresh salad brought a fragrant aroma of lemon and herbs.

Starting with the appetizer, followed by the rich cream soup, grilled sea bream with carrot puree, tender steak, and a peculiar dessert whose name she couldn’t remember…

‘Expensive is indeed good.’

Time flew as she savored the flavors.

“…I’m living in luxury because of you.”

Jin Hayoung kept marveling as she enjoyed her meal.

“Aunt.”

“Hmm?”

“I have something for you.”

“What is it?”

As Jin Hayoung leaned back contentedly, Han Yooil handed her an envelope.

“Oh, a letter?”

She opened the envelope with a bright smile, but her mouth fell open, powerless.

It was too much money.

“…Yooil.”

It was money she couldn’t accept, especially from her nephew.

Jin Hayoung attempted to persuade Han Yooil with a serious expression, but bending her nephew’s stubbornness was no easy task. Their dispute finally ended in the car on the way back home.

In the end, Jin Hayoung agreed to use the money as part of her living expenses.

* * *

“Yooil. You don’t have to buy such meals for me in the future. And definitely no need for money. I have more money than you, you know?”

“I know.”

‘Does he really though?’

Jin Hayoung sighed internally, watching her nephew, who was focused on driving.

‘I keep thinking… Maybe I’ve raised the kid to be too grown-up for his age.’

Would her sister scold her later? Jin Hayoung swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape.

“Are you going to your part-time job tomorrow?”

“Yes. I’ll go to the part-time job then head to prepare for the play.”

“…Can you manage both?”

Han Yooil shrugged.

“It seems to work when I do it.”

…Her nephew was relentless.

Jin Hayoung shook her head and cast her gaze out the window. The lights from the passing cars shimmered over the river.

“Yooil.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what your mom and I used to do when we couldn’t sleep?”

Yooil’s face stiffened slightly at that question. Unaware, Jin Hayoung continued.

“We would list things we wanted to have.”

“…Like cars, puppies, things like that?”

“Yes.”

Jin Hayoung nodded.

“Your mom… that is, your mother, always talked about things that were unique in the world. The Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa, things like that. Isn’t it funny?”

“…”

“When she named you Yooil, I teased her so much. Saying she only picks names that suit her… like ‘the only one’…”

Jin Hayoung’s vision began to blur with the lights along the road.

“…”

Han Yooil quickly wiped the corners of his eyes.

The car they were in continued to travel the road for a long time. It was a beautiful yet solemn night.