SDM 6

“Oh, so now you’re bringing in a complete rookie as a substitute? That’s ridiculous. Even if it’s just a role with 10 lines, it’s the first face on the screen. I’ve asked several times to at least include a good kid in the mask…”

“Ah, he’s really good?”

“Honestly, I didn’t really like the previous kid, but suddenly bringing in someone else is better than that?”

A person who appeared to be a director and a person who appeared to be a production manager were arguing for quite some time. Seong-woon was quietly listening to the conversation while waiting for the manager, who had momentarily left to park the car.

“This is about the tent pole. Sure, Baek Sang-hyun alone might be fine, but don’t you know that the first impression is crucial if you want people to watch ten episodes?”

“I know. Isn’t that why I’m here, having this conversation?”

“You told me to handle the casting!”

“We’re the ones who brought in Baek Sang-hyun?”

“That’s why I’m saying, can we just make do with Baek Sang-hyun alone?”

From the director’s perspective, it was a reasonable thing to say. They were shooting a series that needed to be released next month, and even if it was a zombie genre, they would have to spend money and time on CG—getting delayed permits while the production budget and schedule were already tight, and having not even a supporting actor but an extra cause trouble? If it were another director Seong-woon knew, they would probably be furious by now.

“Young master?”

“I was going to greet the director, but the atmosphere doesn’t seem good.”

“Ah, um…”

Even though he was whispering, it appeared that the director had heard his voice. When the director turned around unexpectedly, his countenance was so grim that it seemed like a bad omen, prompting even Seong-woon, who had been rolling around in this field, to take a step back. Still, he managed to muster a polite smile and greeting.

“Hello.”

Since waking up in this body, Seong-woon had been experiencing quite a new journey, which could be considered the best among all he had experienced so far.

As the director, who had seemed like he would kill someone at any moment, approached him step by step, it felt like he was transforming like a Buddha. Even Hyeong-seok standing beside him seemed bewildered by the tremendous change.

“…Cherry?”

Cherry? Before Seong-woon could be startled by the name “cherry,” the director rushed in front of him, grabbed Seong-woon’s hand firmly and shouted in an excited voice.

“The substitute was Cherry? You should have told me that first!”

Who is Cherry? No, what is Cherry, exactly? As Seong-woon struggled to gather his thoughts, the manager, who was the only one in the room aware of Seong-woon’s memory loss, whispered.

“Your nickname on social media is Cherry.”

Are you crazy? Surely it’s not a cherry just because it’s ‘Chae’ Yoon? That’s truly a ridiculous nickname, like something out of a century-old joke. It sent shivers down his spine, as if he had somehow given it to himself.

Attempting to regain his composure, Seong-woon managed to smile politely and greet the director again.

“Hello, Director. I’m Ryu Chae-yoon.”

“… Ryu Chae-yoon-ssi.”

“Yes.”

“So, are you really going to act now?”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t know how many scripts I’ve sent to RBS. There must be countless directors who want to work with Ryu Chae-yoon-ssi, aside from me. Why did CEO Ryu Young-joo keep you hidden for ten years, preparing to send you to such an amazing place?”

“Haha….”

There was nothing else to do but laugh. Whether Ryu Chae-yoon had actually intended to act or not, sending a script to someone with no acting experience… It could be because this person alone could cover the production costs, or perhaps they didn’t need acting skills at all, just a good face. Perhaps Ryu Chae-yoon fit into both categories.

Now that he owned it, but just a few days ago it belonged to someone else, so Seong-woon was able to evaluate Ryu Chae-yoon’s face very objectively. Ryu Chae-yoon was a very attractive subject that directors liked. He appeared impeccably groomed.

With a face that appeared to have been skillfully molded to represent both the image of a teenage boy and a young man, the atmosphere changed completely depending on the lighting, thanks to his thin eyelids and the enchanting angles of his nose. It could evoke a very poignant feeling at times, and occasionally, it seemed as though it could be chillingly cold.

In the hospital restroom, in the hallway, in the room, in the living room, Seong-woon couldn’t help but admire Ryu Chae-yoon’s face as it changed colors and angles in the light.

Moreover, his eyes were exceptional. Unlike his jet-black hair, his eyes had a light hue that sometimes appeared green and other times yellowish. Additionally, the sparkle in his eyes added even more to the atmosphere.

When combined with his long arms and legs and lean body, it created a somewhat unstable yet beautiful young man.

Any casting director looking for characters ranging from slightly risky boys to young adults would want to cast him at least once.

Most directors believe that acting can be achieved through the magic of directing and editing.

Furthermore, knowing that RBS Ryu Young-joo kept him tightly wrapped up might have sparked even more ambition. Also, if they knew that Ryu Chae-yoon was Ryu Young-joo’s rumored man and Ryu Shin’s youngest son, they would have been more greedy because they would be able to raise production costs indefinitely.

“You have a good voice, but really, why didn’t you act?”

Chae-yoon’s voice was almost identical to Seong-woon’s. He had heard compliments about his voice before. Although he gave a good impression over the phone, when they met in person, he didn’t seem to gain much favor.

“… I feel like I’m not prepared.”

“So you’re ready now? I’m looking forward to it.”

As for acting, Seong-woon simply nodded. The director smiled broadly and patted Seong-woon on the shoulder in a very friendly manner before leaving. It was an attitude you could never imagine from a person who had been shouting loudly just a moment ago.

Seong-woon found it fascinating whether the director showed such favor because he knew he was the youngest son of a conglomerate, or whether it was just his natural behavior. It was intriguing to Seong-woon either way. The fact that someone he had just met was unconditionally friendly.

“They’ll do your makeup and hair in the dressing room.”

Though they called it a dressing room, it was just a tent. As Seong-woon walked in, the person doing makeup on another actor’s face widened their eyes and asked, “Cherry?” before laughing and offering a friendly look

“After you change, I’ll do your makeup.”

Even the makeup team, who used to be quite indifferent to the previous Seong-woon, were now warm and friendly. Sitting in a chair for a moment, the makeup artists behind him praised him.

“Your skin is amazing. I’ll adjust the color slightly to match your tone.”

“Yes.”

“It’s such a waste to dress up as a zombie. Right. Manager?”

“Indeed. It’s regrettable to cover such a face. Next time, let’s play a prettier role. We will create a masterpiece.”

The manager’s warm praise felt awkward, so Seong-woon just lowered his gaze. Even though he had encountered this director many times before, the man had never uttered a word to him.

What was the reason behind everyone’s aversion to him? Seong-woon absentmindedly stroked the wrist that had once been injured and swallowed back his saliva. Even though there was nothing there now, he somehow felt a rough sensation.

“They say it might rain today, so let’s finish it quickly!”

As it was the time for the school scene, the perfectionist director muttered that they had to finish when the sun was still in the east. Although it was already quite close to noon, Seong-woon stood in the alleyway leading to the school, gazing at the sun that had not yet risen above.

His mind was still dizzy, and he lacked a sense of reality, but he could focus solely on acting. After all, it wasn’t real. What he was creating was perfect fiction. There was no need for a sense of reality in that world.

“The cat will be added with special effects, so just reach out and act surprised.”

This was how the synopsis began. The zombie virus started from a mouse, transmitted to a cat that ate the mouse, and then spread to humans bitten by the cat, causing a zombie outbreak. The protagonist’s role was to protect his younger sibling while smashing zombie heads with a baseball bat.

Seong-woon cautiously reached out towards the green chroma key. He had acted against a green screen more than a few times, so it was easy to imagine with this kind of background. Moreover, the filming environment was unexpectedly welcoming. The director probably wouldn’t mind if he made a few mistakes.

Even under the strong summer sun, Seong-woon acted gracefully. In a moment when he gazed at the non-existent cat and then gently reached out to pet it, he flinched and shrunk his shoulders as if genuinely startled, as if he had truly been bitten.

“Ah!”

He checked his fingertips for blood, then quickly shook off the pain as if he had been bitten. The smooth movements made it hard to believe that this was his first time acting.The filming crew was stunned by the unexpected performance, completely different from what they had anticipated.

The director had already spread the word that the substitute was Ryu Chae-yoon, and most people who enjoyed celebrity gossip were aware of Ryu Chae-yoon’s existence and identity. Therefore, they naturally expected a disastrous performance.

Seong-woon hadn’t delivered anything extraordinary in his acting. It wasn’t even that kind of scene to begin with. However, his performance completely surpassed everyone’s expectations in the room.

The director was the slowest to react. This was because he had no doubt that filming with Ryu Chae-yoon would be very long, regardless of the fact that he had brought Ryu Chae-yoon on board. The production company RBS suddenly pushed him in as a substitute, so there would have been no practice, and since it was the first acting gig, he thought he would have to teach from the very basics.

Even though the line was just a surprised sound and the acting was just getting bitten by a cat but… to act so perfectly in front of the camera? 

The director, who had worked as an assistant director for Baek Sang-hyun’s debut film, which was already completed from the start, felt a sense of absurdity now that he hadn’t felt back then.

“…Cut! Let’s move on to the next scene right away. Is the actor for the role of Yoo-ha ready?”

“Yes, yes! I’ll get ready right away.”

He had even mentioned that it might take a while, so he told the actor for the role of Yoo-ha that he could rest in the car, but who knows that he would be called as soon as he laid down.

Seong-woon stayed still until the director’s cut sound was heard, then stood up and waved at the director.

“Director.”

“Yes?”

“I… didn’t draw the bite mark here. Is that okay?”

You even think about that? Are you really a beginner actor?

“I’ll handle it well with CG.”

“Yes.”

In fact, whether the wound was real or not wasn’t important. Just through acting, he made the nonexistent wound appear as if it were real.