LS Ch 13

“Do you know what time Kang Yiwon is arriving, Jewoo?”

The assistant director came over to ask Jewoo. Today’s filming, which started in the morning, did not include any scenes with Yiwon. Yiwon was supposed to arrive late in the afternoon due to a magazine shoot and interview in the morning. That much was known to all the staff.

“I don’t know.”

Jewoo hadn’t received any personal contact from Yiwon, so all he could say was that he didn’t know.

“I thought Jewoo would know… We can’t get in touch with him. I wonder if he’s left yet.”

“Did you try contacting his manager?”

“Oh, I’ll do that.”

If they couldn’t reach Kang Yiwon, they should contact his manager first; why ask him? Even if they couldn’t reach the manager, it wasn’t Jewoo’s job to know Yiwon’s whereabouts. Yet, for some reason, both the staff and actors had started asking Jewoo about Yiwon’s location as if it were natural.

“Didn’t you get a separate message from him?”

Choi Jiyoo, who was shooting alongside him, asked. She also seemed to believe that Yiwon would have messaged Jewoo personally.

“Why does everyone keep asking me? I’m not his manager.”

“Because you’re his boyfriend?”

Jewoo only chuckled at her teasing reply mixed with a playful smile. Denying it because they were lovers in the drama would have been absurd.

“Just check your phone, just in case.”

Jewoo had left his phone with his manager, Jiho, while he was busy shooting. Despite saying that checking wouldn’t make a difference, he looked for Jiho.

“Hyung, can you give me my phone?”

When he held out his hand, Jiho fetched Jewoo’s phone from his bag. Not expecting any real message from Yiwon, Jewoo unlocked the screen, and sure enough, there was a message.

“Did he contact you?”

Choi Jiyoo, who had come closer, tried to peek at the phone screen. Instinctively, Jewoo moved his hand away, and she looked at him suspiciously, narrowing her eyes.

“Ah, respect privacy.”

He gently chided her, and she shrugged, backing off as if to say she wouldn’t intrude further.

The shoot took longer. Just starting the interview now.

It was indeed a message from Yiwon, but the content was completely mundane. It wasn’t something he needed to report to Jewoo.

If he was going to send a message, he should have at least mentioned when he’d arrive.

Jewoo had that thought inadvertently but then paused. As long as it didn’t affect the shooting schedule, when Yiwon arrived was none of his business.

“We might need to change the shooting order.”

The assistant director who had asked about Yiwon earlier came back to inform the head director and other staff. Since Jewoo and Choi Jiyoo were standing nearby, they could hear it clearly.

“Looks like Kang Yiwon won’t make it on time.”

Choi Jiyoo turned to Jewoo and said.

“Seems like it.”

Since they both heard the same thing, there was nothing else to say. It was not uncommon for schedules to change because of other commitments of some actors. From experience, Jewoo knew that the director and staff would handle the schedule adjustments, so he only needed to focus on his own filming.

“Disappointed?”

Choi Jiyoo nudged Jewoo’s arm playfully, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

“What’s there to be disappointed about?”

“It’s been two days since you last saw him. Isn’t it about time you missed him?”

She asked with a laugh. As she said, it had been two days since Kang Yiwon had been away from the set. He had gone back to Seoul for a radio show recording right after finishing his part the evening before last. He had mentioned he would return after finishing today’s magazine shoot.

“Just two days, what’s the big deal.”

Jewoo answered casually, but Choi Jiyoo’s eyes narrowed even more.

“Are you saying you’d be disappointed if it were longer than two days?”

She seemed intent on linking Yiwon’s absence with Jewoo. Jewoo gave a weak smile and turned his head. Engaging with her would only lead to endless banter. Sensing that Jewoo wasn’t in the mood to play along, Choi Jiyoo didn’t tease further.

“Uh… Something big happened with Yiwon hyung?”

Yejun, who had been fiddling with his phone at one side, approached Jewoo with his phone after discovering something. Even this guy comes to him first when there’s news about Kang Yiwon.

“What…”

Jewoo’s voice trailed off as he checked the phone Yejun showed him. Surprisingly, it was an article about a scandal involving Kang Yiwon. It reported that he was seen having dinner alone with a female idol member after yesterday’s radio show recording. To be precise, it wasn’t an official article but a YouTube short with photos seemingly taken by a fan.

“Isn’t this photoshopped?”

Choi Jiyoo, who was looking over as well, tilted her head, not believing the outlandish rumors that often circulated online.

“Isn’t it too detailed for that? They even mention the name of the restaurant.”

Coincidentally, the restaurant mentioned in the short was indeed near the broadcasting station. The photos also clearly showed Yiwon and the other person’s face.

“Isn’t this Kim Arin?”

Upon Yejun’s words, looking again, it did seem like Kim Arin.

“They’re from the same agency. Maybe they just ran into each other.”

Choi Jiyoo was still convinced they weren’t dating.

“What do you think?”

She asked for Jewoo’s opinion. Jewoo, with his mouth shut, was fixated on the looping short. Since it was a photo rather than a video, it was hard to tell from that alone. Even if it were a video, it would be tough to believe such circulating rumors at face value.

“I don’t know.”

Contrary to his thoughts, different words came out of his mouth.

“Ask Kang Yiwon directly when he gets here.”

That was all he had to say. There was nothing more certain than asking the person involved.

“If this is true, won’t it impact our drama?”

Yejun asked cautiously, gauging Jewoo’s reaction.

“Who knows.”

Jewoo just shrugged and turned away. Since this was a BL drama, it was preferable that neither Kang Yiwon nor himself had any scandals before the drama aired.

“They’ll handle it.”

That was all he answered before turning away.

“Are you saying Kang Yiwon will handle it himself? Or that his agency or the drama’s production company will handle it?”

Yejun watched Jewoo’s receding figure and asked Choi Jiyoo. Choi Jiyoo shrugged, indicating she didn’t know.

“But it seemed like Jewoo hyung was upset…”

Yejun, unsure if his feeling was right, trailed off while looking at Choi Jiyoo.

“Hmm…”

Choi Jiyoo responded with just a long nasal sound. Her eyes were already on Jewoo, who was now in front of the camera preparing for the shoot.

“I don’t know what he’s thinking, but he’ll handle it. More than that, watch this. You’ll see Han Jewoo’s true worth.”

She gestured with her chin towards Jewoo, signaling Yejun to watch closely. The upcoming scene was when ‘Haeyul’ wakes up days after narrowly escaping death, only to learn of Geonhwon’s death after having stabbed the emperor, not knowing it was Geonhwon.

‘Haeyul’ was still in turmoil, having realized only after stabbing the emperor that he was the one he loved. Moreover, having just survived a near-death experience, his emotions were in complete disarray upon hearing of the emperor’s death. It was a scene where one could hardly guess ‘Haeyul’s’ feelings just by reading the script.

“Action!”

At the director’s cue, ‘Haeyul’ stepped outside amidst the bustling street. Hearing passersby talking about the emperor’s death and the new emperor’s coronation, ‘Haeyul’s’ eyes began to tremble.

“Did you go to another country or something? How can you not know what everyone knows?”

“Whose funeral is it? I didn’t ask!”

His voice rose with urgency, yet it was filled with clear anxiety and unease.

“Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you. It’s the new emperor’s coronation. So, whose funeral would it be? Naturally, the emperor’s.”

At the passerby’s answer, Jewoo’s hand fell limply. His eyes, standing there in shock, were visibly shaken. Soon, his body started trembling like a leaf. Then, the actress playing ‘Kim Sanggung’, an elderly court lady, approached Jewoo, asking why he was out here. Even in the simple act of turning towards her, one could feel ‘Haeyul’s’ despair.

“Haeyul-nim…”

“Tell me I heard wrong.”

Jewoo’s voice was choked up. It seemed like tears would spill at any moment, but for now, only his eyes were red.

“Geonhwon…”

Jewoo staggered, saying that much. ‘Kim Sanggung’, surprised, tried to support him, but Jewoo seemed not to recognize her, shaking his head. He murmured that it couldn’t be.

“It’s my fault… All my fault.”

His voice trembled and was soaked with emotion. Then, suddenly, tears streamed down from both eyes without even a blink.

“Huh…”

The stifled sob was so poignant that even those watching held their breath.