Come Back

“Enough, everyone. Didn’t you hear what the director and the vice president said about this matter?”

Jo Won-tae intervened with a stern voice, and Seo Jun-young reluctantly closed his mouth, though his sharp gaze still remained on Choi Hong-seo.

Choi Hong-seo didn’t avoid Seo Jun-young’s stare. He had no intention of backing down over something he hadn’t done wrong.

Lee Hye-sung’s words were a hundred percent right.

People like Seo Jun-young had caused him endless pain. And the extreme decision he had made was partly due to that pain.

Humans who had no interest in the truth, only wanting to enjoy a sensational drama using others as material. He had tried to persuade such people, and it was embarrassing that he had once feared the stories they told as if they were righteous. Now, he could simply ignore them and stand up to them.

“Our actors’ mood seems off. I’m worried about the director,” said Kang Woo-hyun, the director, in a gentle tone.

The director, holding a drink, moved to the actors’ table and pulled a chair next to Yun Hye-an, taking the seat. The actors forced a smile upon seeing the director.

“Here, Hye-an and Jun-young, you’re the new lead actors, so let’s all try to help you adjust. You don’t have to know exactly what someone wants just by looking at them, but you do need to communicate. A good performance doesn’t come from just doing your part in the script well. If you’ve worked on a project, you’d know that. If you can’t connect with the director and your fellow actors, it just turns into a solo show.”

The director’s pointed words made everyone drop their gazes.

“By the way, I heard Dong-ha and Hye-an are both from the same group?”

“Yes, Director,” Park Dong-ha replied cheerfully.

“I didn’t know that. So, you both aren’t part of the group anymore?”

“Yes, the team disbanded a few years ago.”

“I see. I’m sorry, I don’t know much about the music industry. With handsome guys like you in the group, I thought you would’ve done well. It’s a shame. But Dong-ha, you’ve worked hard researching the script and you’re so dedicated. You’d have succeeded in whatever you did.”

Park Dong-ha smiled shyly but looked pleased by the director’s praise.

“Are you going to do well too, Hye-an? Since I picked you despite strong opposition, you’ll need to show something in return. Otherwise, I’ll look ridiculous in front of the staff.”

Despite his outwardly gentle and pleasant appearance, Director Kang wasn’t someone who just used kind words. When it came to things that needed to be said, he went straight to the point without beating around the bush.

It was true that Yun Hye-an had a poor reputation in the industry, and from what Kang had seen so far, it seemed that his behavior had contributed to that reputation. It was easy to understand why the director was speaking that way.

“I’ll work hard to make sure you’re not disappointed.”

Director Kang smiled, seeming satisfied with Choi Hong-seo’s answer.

“Then, Jun-young, Hye-an, I need to get close to you both and understand who you are. Hmmm, what kind of movies do you like? Any recent films that left an impression?”

With the added condition of “excluding my own work,” Director Kang looked back and forth at Seo Jun-young and Yun Hye-an.

While Seo Jun-young was pondering his answer, Choi Hong-seo noticed Lee Hye-sung exiting the private room with a few other staff members. He pretended to sip his drink and briefly watched his profile and the back of his head. The group seemed to be heading out to find a place to smoke, as everyone was holding cigarette packs in their hands.

They appeared to be having a good time. Whatever Lee Hye-sung had said, it had made them laugh, even though he himself wasn’t smiling.

He had once said that people trying to flatter him were only being sycophantic, but Choi Hong-seo didn’t think it was entirely that.

Even without considering his background as the future head of ARA Group, Lee Hye-sung was undeniably attractive. His looks and presence were unique, and he had a magnetic quality that drew people in. People naturally gathered around such a figure. As Choi Hong-seo observed the people leaving the room around him, he set down his drink and picked up a glass of alcohol.

“I recently watched Crash and found it quite interesting, Director.”

Seo Jun-young had finally come up with an answer after some thought.

“Oh… really? David Cronenberg?”

“Yes, I’ve been a fan of the director for a while.”

“He’s not very well-known in Korea. A lot of people think his work is bizarre and disturbing. I couldn’t even finish Crash myself. What did you like about it, Jun-young?”

“Despite being a horror film, it boldly showcases the director’s auteur style, and I found pleasure in his sharp critique of the capitalist values and human relationships that uphold Western society.”

“Hmm…”

Director Kang slowly nodded with an ambiguous sound, as if he had expected such a memorized response from Seo Jun-young.

“Alright. And Hye-an? Any movies you’ve enjoyed recently?”

“I enjoyed a love story, which left a strong impression on me.”

After Yun Hye-an’s response, a few people, including Seo Jun-young, quietly sneered.

It was too conventional of a movie. People only still talked about it because the OST was well-received, but the predictable script, rough direction, and lackluster performances made it far from a well-made film. Choi Hong-seo knew all of this. In short, it wasn’t a film you’d bring up to give the impression that you were a serious film lover. But he didn’t want to lie. With Lee Hye-sung absent, it seemed okay to speak honestly.

“It’s an older movie, so young people might find it boring. What stood out to you about it?”

“I can’t explain it theoretically… but the lines of Ryan O’Neal, sitting alone in an empty correctional facility, have stayed with me.”

“How do you feel about a woman who died at 25?”

“Yes…”

Director Kang smiled broadly.

“When people talk about Love Story, they usually mention the line ‘Love means not saying sorry,’ but Hye-an, you seem to be focused on a more unique part, huh?”

“……”

“While it’s important to analyze a piece objectively, it’s also a valid approach to dissect, expand, eliminate, and reassemble a film from a very personal perspective. That’s one way to appreciate it.”

Director Kang’s interpretation sounded far more sophisticated compared to Choi Hong-seo’s simple thoughts on the film.

“You’ll be seeing me once or twice a week until the crank-in, so let’s try to get to know each other better, okay?”

As he patted Choi Hong-seo’s back, Director Kang looked around at the actors before suddenly looking up at the ceiling as if recalling something.

“Ah! I almost forgot to mention this!”

Drawing everyone’s attention, Director Kang addressed not just the actors but everyone present.

“Everyone! We’re going to move the traditional crank-in ceremony up a little.”

People began to murmur.

Director Kang was famous for having a big, elaborate ritual before the crank-in, completely closed off from the media and the public. It was an industry secret, and the general public didn’t know about it. When Choi Hong-seo was cast previously, the production was halted during the pre-production phase, so the ceremony never happened then.

“The film almost got canceled, and as you know, I’m someone who gets really obsessive about these things. This time, I want to get it out of the way earlier so I can feel at ease. What do you all think? Oh, here comes the vice president!”

Director Kang called out to Lee Hye-sung, who had just returned from smoking.

At the mention of Lee Hye-sung, Choi Hong-seo felt a pang of discomfort, almost like a child caught in a mistake.

“We’re moving up the crank-in ceremony a bit. What do you think, Vice President?”

Maybe it was just a feeling, but Choi Hong-seo couldn’t help but notice Lee Hye-sung’s gaze linger for a moment on the seat next to Director Kang, where Yun Hye-an was sitting, before returning to the director. It wasn’t clear if there was any significance to the look. It might have just been a casual glance, but Choi Hong-seo was certain that, for a split second, his eyes stopped on him, almost as if pressing down on him.

“I’m not really knowledgeable about these things… Just proceed however makes you comfortable, Director.”

Once the topic of the ceremony came up, a new excitement filled the dinner atmosphere.

“I’m going to see the famous Director Kang’s shaman ritual. I’m excited.”

“A ritual? Is it not just a simple prayer and done?”

Now everyone was talking about it.

“They say a shaman who’s close to Director Kang will come and perform a ritual to avoid accidents and ensure the film goes smoothly. Apparently, this shaman is well-known among the wealthy and politicians… There are rumors that the director is personally spending one billion on it, even though it’s just a movie ceremony.”

Choi Hong-seo knew that Director Kang was a fervent believer in shamanism. He had heard that even the film’s crank-in date and release date were determined by a shaman he consulted.

“That shaman is definitely not like those amateurs. It should be worth watching. It was spine-chilling.”

“You’ve worked with Director Kang before, right? I’m sure you’ve seen it already.”

With Jo Won-tae’s testimony added to the conversation, people’s excitement grew.

The only person who didn’t seem interested in the one-billion-won ritual was Choi Hong-seo. Every time he glanced at Lee Hye-sung, who had made eye contact with him a moment ago, their eyes would inevitably meet again. This prevented him from thinking about anything else.