“This is nice.”

Yooil’s comment instantly brightened Woo Jiwook’s expression.

“Yes! I knew you’d say that!”

Woo Jiwook snapped his fingers again, making Min Woojin flinch once more.

【Yooil, we need to inform the agency first.】

‘I know.’

As Brion’s voice echoed, Min Woojin quickly spoke up.

“Yes! Thank you, Director! We’ll discuss it with the company and get back to you!”

“Oh, okay! We will also contact JJ Entertainment. Thank you, Manager.”

After shaking hands with Yooil and Woojin, Woo Jiwook left with a refreshed expression.

“See you next time!”

Watching Woo Jiwook’s retreating figure, Min Woojin immediately called the agency. After a short conversation, he turned to Yooil with a bright face.

“Hyung, how did it go?”

“They’re intrigued! They said they’d get in touch with us once they hear from the other side and arrange the details!”

Min Woojin, now in the car, started to gush about Black Moon.

“I’m a real fan of Black Moon! Been listening to them for 3 years. Love their songs~!”

“Really?”

“Yeah, you should start with this album. This song was made when the vocalist graduated from university…”

Min Woojin navigated through a music app and clicked on an album. Soon, Black Moon’s songs filled the car.

‘…Nice.’

Black Moon was a band that specialized in synthpop. Their music was dreamy and soothing, like floating on water, with a rhythmical bass anchoring the melody.

“The music is great, hyung.”

“Isn’t it?”

Min Woojin introduced more songs with a proud face, and Yooil listened to the ‘Black Moon’ playlist he curated while heading to the practice room.

* * *

The next day, at JJ Entertainment’s office.

Manager Jang Jaeyi slumped onto the large black sofa in the CEO’s office.

“Why call me so early? I’m busy.”

“It’s only a few steps from your office to here.”

Jang Jaeyi squinted at Jang Jaehyun, who was wearing a brown suit and sipping coffee with one hand.

His sibling was always infuriatingly relaxed.

“Still, I don’t like walking. Why did you call?”

“Because of Han Yooil.”

At that, Jang Jaeyi, who had been sitting with crossed legs and a haughty demeanor, widened her eyes.

“Why? What about our actor?”

“Looking at his schedule from this month to next, he’s got a lot, from web dramas to music video shoots…”

“Yeah. But he wanted to do all that. The projects looked promising, so I gave the okay.”

Jang Jaeyi shrugged nonchalantly.

‘…Though I was a bit surprised, honestly.’

Especially the call about the music video shoot was unexpected. It came while she was reviewing scripts from the production company.

“And if the actor wants to do it, what can you do?”

At Jang Jaeyi’s words, CEO Jang exhaled softly and handed her a document.

“Still, keep an eye on the schedule adjustments. He’s still a student, after all, Yooil.”

Jang Jaeyi, who was about to dismiss the matter with a shrug, suddenly remembered and opened her mouth in realization.

“Oh, right. Yooil is still attending university… I momentarily forgot.”

Until now, there hadn’t been college student actors at JJ Entertainment.

Indeed, it wasn’t just JJ Entertainment; finding actors who were passionately pursuing college studies was rare. Aligning lecture times with shooting schedules was challenging, and it was common for assignments to be submitted late due to work.

However, on the day of signing the contract, when Jang Jaeyi asked about school, Han Yooil responded,

‘I plan to continue attending.’

‘Is that feasible?’

To the question filled with concern and a hint of doubt, Han Yooil answered confidently,

‘I have to graduate.’

Jang Jaeyi recalled that moment with Han Yooil and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

She had known from the start. Han Yooil had a gentle appearance, but he was no easy opponent.

‘…That’s probably why my brother liked him.’

Actors with a stubborn and strong-willed nature, moving according to their own standards regardless of what others said. Jang Jaehyun liked those kinds of actors.

Taking the documents, Jang Jaeyi stood up and muttered,

“The more I think about it, he’s indeed a unique character.”

“Yooil is interesting, isn’t he?”

As Jang Jaeyi closed the door to the CEO’s office, she retorted,

“I was talking about you, you know.”

* * *

With the music video shoot, the semester’s start, and the filming of <Sing in High School>, March was indeed a busy month for Han Yooil, just as Jang Jaehyun had anticipated, or perhaps feared.

Min Woojin was in high spirits that morning.

“Today’s the day we finally shoot the music video!”

“Hyung, you seem really excited.”

“Yeah! It’s Black Moon!”

The prospect of being on the set of a Black Moon music video had evidently lifted Woojin’s spirits much higher than usual.

“…But Black Moon won’t actually be at the shooting, right?”

“Ah~ I know! But I’m most excited about hearing their new song! That’s the best part.”

Yooil, observing Woojin’s unusually buoyant cheeks, thought to himself,

‘He seems to like them more than I thought.’

Brion chimed in subtly,

【It seems so.】

As they arrived at the studio listening to Black Moon’s playlist, Woo Jiwook welcomed them warmly.

“Ah, you arrived right on time! Thanks for coming.”

“Hello, Director.”

After exchanging greetings with Woo Jiwook, Yooil looked around the studio. In the center of the studio, enclosed by black walls and floors, there was a single white bed.

As Yooil was curiously scanning the studio, an assistant director approached.

“Here’s the storyboard for today’s shoot. Please don’t feel too pressured.”

The assistant director handed over the storyboard, explaining there might be slight changes. The comic-like drawing style and clean images made it easy to understand.

‘It doesn’t seem too complicated.’

【Yes. A total of 32 shots. It doesn’t look like a complex shoot, so no need to worry.】

Han Yooil nodded, absorbing the storyboard. After a quick makeup session, Yooil came out to find the staff bustling about.

“Please tidy up here~ We’ll start shooting soon.”

Woo Jiwook’s crisp snap galvanized even the staff members in the corners into swift action.

“We have plenty of time, so don’t feel too pressured and be comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

Woo Jiwook smiled faintly at Han Yooil’s respectful nod. Then, he raised his voice.

“Standby~”

Signals came from the sound and camera crews, indicating readiness. Woo Jiwook took a deep breath and shouted.

“Action!”

And so, the shoot officially commenced.

Woo Jiwook, full of anticipation, turned his eyes to the monitor.

‘Let’s see…’

A moment of silence.

Then, Yooil in the monitor slowly began to open his eyes.

And he started to walk around the room. Very slowly and deliberately.

Min Woojin, who had been excited about Black Moon’s new song, swallowed hard as the shooting started.

‘Wow… I’m getting nervous.’

This being his first time accompanying an actor to a shoot, he was quite tense.

As Min Woojin watched Yooil in silence, his eyebrows slightly raised.

‘Something’s… off.’

Indeed, there was no focus in Yooil’s eyes as he walked. Even his steps seemed unnatural.

‘He doesn’t just look zoned out…’

As Min Woojin stared intently at Yooil, he sneakily glanced at Woo Jiwook and his eyes widened.

‘…!’

Woo Jiwook, who had been smiling while watching the monitor, slowly lost his smile. It was a completely different expression from what Min Woojin had seen so far.

What’s wrong?

Did something go wrong?

Min Woojin bit his lip as he alternated his gaze between Woo Jiwook and Yooil, his hands clenched nervously. Just then, the director of photography nudged Woo Jiwook.

“Director, you should call cut.”

“Ah.”

Still dazed, Woo Jiwook finally spoke.

“Cut…!”

After calling cut, he fixed his gaze back on the monitor.

Even as he replayed the footage, Woo Jiwook’s expression didn’t seem to recover.

“What’s going on?”

Woo Jiwook murmured softly, his eyes glued to the monitor.

The shoot was based on a rough storyline, without a script.

All that was provided was a storyboard made of simple drawings. Just a few notes scribbled here and there by him.

‘Could it be?’

Woo Jiwook glanced back at his storyboard. Next to the first shot, he saw a note he had written a few days earlier.

[Like a marionette with its strings cut.]

Upon seeing the note, Woo Jiwook shifted his gaze back to the monitor.

Yooil in the monitor, with his empty eyes wandering the studio, indeed looked strange.

…Like a doll, not a person.

‘Could he have read all the notes on the storyboard in that short time?’

It was a storyboard briefly shown. After all, it was a short shoot, so he hadn’t asked for much, nor had he expected much. It was a shoot that, from the beginning, had no room for luxuries.

“Mr. Yooil, by any chance, the acting just now… how did you do it?”

At Woo Jiwook’s question, Han Yooil looked at him with clear eyes.

“I tried to follow what’s in the storyboard first.”

“Like a marionette with its strings cut?”

“Yes. I tried to exclude any human-like feelings as much as possible.”

Wow, it’s real.

The corners of Woo Jiwook’s mouth slowly rose.

Although he had produced quite a number of music videos for idol groups and hip-hop labels, this was a new feeling for him.

In fact, until he attended the film department, he was a highly anticipated student. He had once won a modest award at a small film festival with a film he made by painstakingly saving money.

But that was it.

Making a film required money, and to earn money, he had to shoot things other than films. As he lived like that and came to his senses, he found himself distant from films.

It wasn’t bad. Making music videos was fun in its own way, and it was good to be recognized by people.

But still… when he thought back to the feeling of making a short film ten years ago, a part of his heart tingled.

However, the moment he was filming Yooil, Woo Jiwook felt as if he was on a movie set, not a music video set.

Han Yooil spoke.

“Shall we try walking with a different feel this time?”

Click!

At that moment, the sound that had startled Min Woojin earlier was heard again.

“No! It’s perfect now. Let’s keep going like this!”

Woo Jiwook adjusted his posture and looked at the monitor with sparkling eyes. His lips sharply rose. The anticipation for the completed music video had already started.

‘I need to shoot this properly.’

And his expectations were never betrayed.