Gi Do-Hyuk was someone with a strong sense of possessiveness, but at the same time, his narcissism was just as extreme. He was handsome, successful as an actor, and came from a powerful family.

Just moments ago, Ju Yung-In and I had damaged his pride, so it was more than possible he held a grudge. His pettiness was honestly absurd, but since I had planned to deal with him anyway, granting Miso's request to keep him in check wasn't a problem.

"Alright. Then I'll stay close to Yung-In today. Can you pretend you didn't notice anything, Miso?"

Miso's face brightened a little.

"Really? Then you'll protect her?"

Lately, Miso had grown quite close to Ju Yung-In. They appeared as mother and daughter in Missing – The Lost Ones, and they were also acting together in KBC's Haze. Because of that, she was spending more time with Ju Yung-In than with her actual mom, Yoo-Jin, and they had even started messaging each other privately.

"Yeah. I will."

Miso held out her pinky finger as she said, "Promise!"

I hooked my finger with Miso's.

"Promise."

Only after sealing it with the full ritual—promise, stamp, copy, and laminate—did Miso seem reassured and step away from my side.

"Uncle Yoon-Ho, then I'll go change now."

As Miso's expression brightened after whispering, Director Ahn Jung-Hae teased her. "Miso, did you only tell Uncle Yoon-Ho your math score? Come on, tell me too. What did you get? Below fifty?"

At that moment, Miso narrowed her eyes and glared at Ahn Jung-Hae, puffing her cheeks like a blowfish. Now a tiny, angry pufferfish, she huffed and spun around before running off.

Startled, Ahn Jung-Hae called after her. "I'd be fine even if you got zero...!"

Then, without even turning back, Miso shouted, "It's not zero!! I hate you, Mr. Ahn!"

Miso's voice was full of force. Ahn Jung-Hae made a miserable face.

'Tsk. He should've stopped while he was ahead.'

"Mr. Ahn, don't worry. If you buy her a few Powertuff Girls buns later, she'll forgive you."

Ahn Jung-Hae slumped his shoulders even more. "I heard those are impossible to find these days. Kids and adults are hoarding them... how am I supposed to get her to forgive me?"

"I've got some hidden in my car trunk. I'll give you three."

Those buns with Powertuff Girls stickers were incredibly hard to come by, but I had stocked about thirty of them in my car. I had already instructed talent agents traveling all over the country to buy them whenever they stopped by convenience stores near their locations. The Powertuff Girls buns weren't just for Miso, but they were a secret weapon to cheer up child actors whenever they felt down or didn't want to work.

Ahn Jung-Hae grabbed my hand. "You really have Powertuff Girls buns?"

"Yes."

"Hahaha. As expected of you, Chief Jung. Is there anything you can't handle?"

He looked at me like I was some kind of all-purpose solution. Only then did Ahn Jung-Hae relax and ask, "By the way, Miso was whispering to you earlier. What did she say? What was her math score?"

"Oh, not that. She said Gi Do-Hyuk's way of looking at Yung-In isn't good."

"Because of what happened earlier?"

"Yes."

Ahn Jung-Hae's expression turned bitter. "I brought in the wrong person for no reason. I cast him because he's a guaranteed five-million-ticket draw, but all he did was worry Ms. Yung-In and Miso. I feel terrible."

"It's not your fault. It's not like you knew he was that kind of person, and you brought him in to lift the mood on set, didn't you?"

When the investment and distribution had been switched to LT Entertainment, the atmosphere must have dipped, and they needed something to turn it around. With Gi Do-Hyuk known as a "box office guarantee" joining, the staff would have regained confidence that the film would succeed. So if anyone was to be held responsible, there was only one person—Gi Do-Hyuk.

"I'll take care of the situation with Mr. Gi Do-Hyuk, so please just focus on the film, Mr. Ahn."

"Alright. And if anything happens on set, just say I approved it. I'll take responsibility."

Since I had secured the film rights and even brought in investment from Reverse Entertainment, Ahn Jung-Hae treated me almost like a producer.

"Yes, sir."

I gave a small bow and stepped aside with Talent Agent Choi Dae-Gi. I needed to warn Ju Yung-In in advance.

***

After I left, Ahn Jung-Hae called Gi Do-Hyuk over separately. Because of that, filming from Scene 101 onward was temporarily delayed. I left Miso with Choi Dae-Gi and approached Ju Yung-In, who was focused on her script.

"Yung-In. It looks like Gi Do-Hyuk is holding a grudge. You should be careful when acting."

Once filming started, unless the director called a cut, no one could interfere as it became the actors' domain. And in that space, actors could use "acting" as an excuse to do just about anything.

Ju Yung-In smirked. "Don't worry, oppa. You know me. I'm Ju Yung-In."

Her confidence was almost arrogant and it made me chuckle. She really was different from Yoo-Jin. Yoo-Jin wouldn't back down either in a situation like this, but she would return whatever came her way. However, Ju Yung-In went a step further. It felt like she was ready to completely crush anyone who crossed her.

"Alright. Then we're good."

At that moment, Ahn Yung-Hee stepped in. "Chief Jung, don't worry. If anyone messes with Yung-In, I won't just sit back."

Ju Yung-In smiled. "You can't step in during a scene anyway, Ms. Ahn. I'll handle it myself, so don't worry. By the way, what happened to that plastic washbasin from earlier?"

"I hid it well, just in case."

I thought she had thrown it away, but she actually hid it.

Ju Yung-In seemed to like that, raising her thumb. "Nice!"

Ahn Yung-Hee flicked her short hair back. "Heh."

The actress matched the representative perfectly.

Just then, Ju Yung-In noticed Miso standing at a distance, staring intently. "By the way, why is Miso over there looking at Gi Do-Hyuk like a hawk?"

"She says he's on her radar. She's keeping a close eye on him in case he tries anything with you."

I told Miso to pretend she didn't notice, but it was completely obvious.

Ju Yung-In let out a small laugh. "I should be extra nice to Miso."

"Yeah, you should. Buy her some Powertuff Girls buns once in a while too."

Then Ju Yung-In asked carefully, "I have a lot of bread."

"Really? Then Miso's going to love that."

Ju Yung-In tested the waters as she asked, "Okay, but... can I give them without the stickers?"

"What's the point of Powertuff Girls buns without the stickers? That's just plain red bean buns, chocolate buns, or roll cake."

Ju Yung-In flinched.

'Wait... no way...'

"Yung-In... are you collecting stickers?" I asked.

Ju Yung-In flinched and looked away. "Oh, is it time for rehearsal?"

I really couldn't picture someone as aloof as Ju Yung-In happily collecting bread stickers. Still, ever since the regression, I had been discovering unexpected sides of her more and more.

Just then, I saw Gi Do-Hyuk heading back toward the set after finishing his conversation with Ahn Jung-Hae.

At that moment, the youngest assistant director, Cha In-Seo, shouted loudly, "We're going into filming!"

At that call, Ju Yung-In let out a small sigh. "Then I'll be back."

"Alright."

Just then, Ju Yung-In whispered something to Ahn Yung-Hee before heading off.

I tilted my head and asked, "Ms. Ahn, what was that about?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

Ahn Yung-Hee shook her head and watched her walk toward the set of Lee Tae-Gil's house. I was curious, but since she wouldn't tell me, there was nothing I could do.

At that moment, Ju Yung-In walked confidently onto the set. She was playing Oh Jung-Hyun, a kidnapping victim, dressed in ragged clothes with her hair disheveled. But even that couldn't hide the aura of a top star radiating from her. It was as if she was declaring she was the only star here.

That was the kind of presence Ju Yung-In carried.

***

From Scene 101 to Scene 104, the story followed Oh Jung-Hyun, a kidnapping victim, fleeing with her phone while trying to escape from Lee Tae-Gil, who intended to brutally kill her. She barely managed to escape his house, but unable to remember the location of the basement where she had been imprisoned with her daughter, she wandered aimlessly before heading down the mountain to find help.

However, as she fled, the wound from the knife kept bleeding more and more, draining her strength, and fearing Lee Tae-Gil would catch up, she hid in the brush on the hillside.

Then, when she managed to get a single bar of signal on her phone, she called 112. The call connected, but she heard the sound of Lee Tae-Gil, whom she had knocked unconscious, approaching again.

In the end, in a whisper, she quickly spoke only fragmented words such as "Oh Jung-Hyun," "Lee Soo-Yeon," "Hillside," "Brush," "Kidnapped," and "Please save me" before hanging up. After that, she barely made it through by covering herself with mud and leaves, but due to excessive blood loss, she eventually lost consciousness.

Through all those scenes from 101 to 104, Ju Yung-In held nothing back in her performance. Before I even had time to fully process my amazement, it was already time to move on to Scene 105.

Scene 105 was where the male lead, rookie cop Park Dong-Joon, and his sunbae, Go Ill-Joon, searched through the hillside brush and found Oh Jung-Hyun. And the role of Go Ill-Joon was played by Gi Do-Hyuk in his cameo appearance.

Ahn Jung-Hae, seated in front of the monitor, picked up the megaphone. "Alright, Ms. Yung-In is lying next to the third tree by the large rock, so be careful when you approach. She's camouflaged with mud and branches, so she won't be easy to spot."

After repeatedly emphasizing her position, he raised the megaphone again. "Okay, Scene 105. Here we go. Ready! Action!"

At that moment, Gi Do-Hyuk, wearing his police cap at an angle and his jacket loosely open, began sweeping through the brush with a baton.

『Dong-Joon, let's go back. There's no way anyone's out here.』

From a distance, Ahn Tae-Sik shouted.

『This is definitely near where Ms. Oh Jung-Hyun said!』

『Always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. Acting like you're FBI or something... you've been watching too many dramas, kid.』

Gi Do-Hyuk spoke with an annoyed expression, continuing the search half-heartedly. And then, he stopped right at the exact spot Ahn Jung-Hae had pointed out. But then he did something completely absurd.

'That bastard...'

Gi Do-Hyuk stepped on Ju Yung-In's right hand and started looking around as if nothing had happened. I never imagined he would pull something that insane in the middle of filming.

"That crazy bastard..."

Ahn Jung-Hae also saw what was happening on the monitor and grabbed the megaphone, muttering a low curse.

Then Ahn Yung-Hee, who had been watching the monitor beside him, spoke. "Mr. Ahn. Please... just let it go."

"President Ahn, what are you talking about? Can't you see this?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Ahn Jung-Hae pointed at the monitor, at Gi Do-Hyuk's filthy shoe pressing down on Ju Yung-In's hand.

Ahn Yung-Hee trembled as she replied, "When Yung-In went in for the scene, she asked me... no matter what happens, not to call NG."

So that was what she had whispered earlier.

"Why on earth would she—"

"I don't know either. But she insisted."

"...Alright."

Ahn Jung-Hae slowly lowered the megaphone. Meanwhile, Gi Do-Hyuk continued pretending nothing was wrong, casually looking around.

『Huh? What is this?』

Gi Do-Hyuk looked down with a startled expression. He flinched and stumbled backward in shock.

『Dong-Joon! There's someone here—no, a body! A body!』

As Gi Do-Hyuk pointed and shouted, Ahn Tae-Sik pushed through the brush and approached.

『She's not dead. She's alive! Ms. Oh Jung-Hyun? It's you, right? Stay with me!』

At that moment, Ju Yung-In, who had been lying with her face buried in mud and leaves, slowly lifted her head. Her face was smeared with dirt as she reached her right hand behind her.

『My daughter... kidnapped... mountain... above... basement... multiple people...』

Even though her hand had just been stepped on by Gi Do-Hyuk and she must be in pain, Ju Yung-In didn't falter for a second. Her voice cracked and broke as she delivered each fragmented word, yet her performance remained flawless.

At that moment, Ahn Tae-Sik grabbed his radio and shouted.

『Gwacheon Precinct, Officer Park Dong-Joon reporting! I'm sending our location. Dispatch an ambulance and backup immediately!』

After calling it in, he drew his gun and stood.

『Sunbae, stay with Ms. Oh Jung-Hyun! I'm heading up the mountain!』

『Y-yeah... got it.』

Leaving the rest to him, Ahn Tae-Sik pushed through the brush and ran off.

Then, Ahn Jung-Hae called out, "Okay! Cut!"

The moment filming ended, the staff were about to erupt into cheers. They wanted to applaud Ju Yung-In's all-consuming performance across Scenes 101 to 104.

However, Ahn Jung-Hae's shout stopped them cold. "Gi Do-Hyuk! What the hell are you doing?!"

Gi Do-Hyuk's face twisted slightly. Even though Ahn Jung-Hae was five years older, this was the first time he had spoken to him so bluntly.

"What are you talking about all of a sudden?" Gi Do-Hyuk asked.

"I told you Ju Yung-In was next to that tree! And you step on her hand on purpose while acting? Have you lost your mind?!"

Gi Do-Hyuk widened his eyes, pretending innocence. "No way. I only realized it halfway through. I swear!"

"You expect me to believe that?"

"It's true!"

At that moment, Ju Yung-In pushed herself up and spoke. "Mr. Ahn, I'm fine."

"No, Yung-In, that's not the point—"

Ju Yung-In gently rubbed her right hand as she continued, "It's okay. There are plenty of clueless actors who can't even keep track of their surroundings while acting. And I'm the lead. I can't be calling NG over something this small."

A clueless actor who couldn't even keep track of their surroundings was never a label that should be attached to a senior with thirty-five years of acting experience, starting from childhood. Nevertheless, Ju Yung-In wore an aloof, arrogant expression as she looked down at Gi Do-Hyuk like he was pathetic.

Perhaps because he had never once received such a look in his thirty-five-year career, Gi Do-Hyuk stammered in confusion.

"Y-you... you... you..."

Ahn Jung-Hae let out a hollow laugh at the sight of Ju Yung-In overpowering such a veteran purely with her presence.

"Guess I didn't even need to step in." With that, he grabbed the megaphone. "Gi Do-Hyuk, seriously, don't do anything that could be misunderstood next time. And! Ju Yung-In, well done! That was nice!"

The moment the praise for Ju Yung-In dropped, the staff burst into cheers.

"Wow~ Ms. Yung-In, your acting was insane today!"

"Did you eat some kind of acting acting fruit?[1] How do you keep getting better?"

"I swear, I'm about to fall for you."

At that moment, Ju Yung-In, covered head to toe in mud and fake blood, walked out confidently and bowed her head. "Thank you."

Just then, Miso grabbed my hand tightly and said, "Auntie Yung-In... She's awesome."

'Yeah. Today, she deserves it.'

What Ju Yung-In had shown as an actress was worthy of applause. But at this rate, Gi Do-Hyuk would only become more obsessive in targeting her. So I decided to draw that anger toward myself instead.

I walked toward Gi Do-Hyuk, who was still trembling in the brush.

'You're dealing with me now, Gi Do-Hyuk.'

***

Gi Do-Hyuk regained his composure and pushed through the brush. I stood in front of him with a bright smile.

"And what do you want now?" asked Gi Do-Hyuk.

"Picking on a woman you like is something eight-year-old kids do."

"You little punk—"

Gi Do-Hyuk stepped forward threateningly as if he might throw a punch. Instead of backing away, I stepped even closer. When we were close enough to feel each other's breath, he flinched and stopped.

That was when I provoked him, deliberately sharpening my tone so he would target me. "When all you can think about is getting back at a woman instead of acting, no wonder you've never won a Grand Prize in your life but only Excellence Awards."

If he threw a punch here in front of all these staff, I was ready to take it. It would hit the headlines immediately.

Just then, Na Soo-Hyuk rushed over and stepped between us. "Hey! He said he didn't realize he stepped on Yung-In's hand!"

I shrugged. "That's your claim. Oh, and speaking of which, an article will probably come out tomorrow. 'Gi Do-Hyuk Steps on Ju Yung-In's Hand with His Shoe and Panics.' Not a bad headline, right? I wonder how many views it'll get."

At that, Gi Do-Hyuk lunged forward, practically foaming at the mouth. "You crazy bastard!"

However, Na Soo-Hyuk threw himself in the way and stopped him. "Do-Hyuk! There are too many eyes on us. Hold it in. Let's not get involved with trash like this and just go!"

The situation had completely reversed from earlier. Even the ever-gentle Gi Do-Hyuk couldn't withstand my provocation. Still, Na Soo-Hyuk held him back and dragged him toward the parking lot. It was a shame. The provocation had almost worked.

'Well, there's no helping it. I'd just have to move on to the next step.'

I immediately pulled out my phone and called Chief Choi Go-Yoon from The Best Detective Agency.

"Mr. Choi, I'm in Gwacheon. I need you to track a vehicle for me."

-Who's the target?

"Actors Gi Do-Hyuk and Na Soo-Hyuk. You know them, right?"

-Yes.

Those two weren't the type to forget a provocation like this, which meant they would come after me before Ju Yung-In. However, that would be their biggest mistake.

'Welcome to hell, Gi Do-Hyuk and Na Soo-Hyuk.'

1. devil's fruit from manga one piece ☜