Chapter 23: No blind spots
Haru returned to the apartment after a short, brisk stroll, his mind already pivoting back to the script. He was nearly finished with his initial review before moving on to a full read-through. He was seasoned enough to know that this wasn't the final draft, in show business, half the dialogue could change before the cameras even rolled,but he needed to capture the rhythmic beat of the character.
He had spent an hour researching the Gyeongseong High franchise. It was a juggernaut. In terms of sheer visibility, even a supporting role was a golden ticket. If he could garner even a fraction of the public's attention, it would put Fei Entertainment on the map.
He eventually fell asleep with the script draped over his chest, only to be jolted awake by his alarm. He moved with practiced efficiency, showering and dressing with minutes to spare before Alice was due to pick him up. He headed to the kitchen for a quick breakfast, where he found Se-hee staring intently at the TV.
Uncharacteristically, she didn't spare him so much as a glance.
He poured a bowl of cereal, the silence in the room stretching uncomfortably. After five minutes of being pointedly ignored, he realized he was in the doghouse.
He cleaned his bowl and approached her, leaning against the partition. "Did I do something wrong?"
She turned the channel angrily, her jaw set.
"What did I do?" he asked, his voice dropping into a soothing, persuasive register. He sat on the arm of the couch, invading her personal space just enough to force a reaction.
Without a word, she shoved her phone toward him. On the screen was the viral photo from TRace.
Haru's heart sank. He hadn't even noticed anyone taking a picture. The modern world truly had no blind spots.
"Is this about him?" he asked. Silence. "I'm sorry. I couldn't tell you,I promised him I'd keep our meeting a secret."
She finally looked at him, her indignation softening into a pout. "But I'm your best friend."
"Would it help to know he personally gave me those concert tickets for you?"
Her face brightened instantly, the anger evaporating. "He did?"
"Yeah."
"So the person I've been teasing you about... the 'sugar baby' clothes... that was him?" Shock flooded her features.
"Yes. And we are just friends," he reiterated firmly.
"But—"
A loud, impatient honk blared from the street. Alice had arrived.
"We'll talk later!" Haru grabbed his backpack and bolted for the door. Behind him, Se-hee was left wearing a look of pure, ecstatic disbelief.
In the car, Haru buckled his seatbelt as Alice pulled into traffic.
"Nervous?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the road.
"Yeah," Haru admitted. He felt like a man walking a tightrope. He knew how to act, but what if his methods were relics? What if the "90s style" felt like a foreign language to a 2026 audience? He forced himself to breathe, treating the anxiety as just another challenge to be dismantled.
"Don't worry. I'll be right there with you," Alice said, offering a confident smile as they hit a red light.
"Thanks." It did help. Alice was headstrong; he knew she'd be a fierce shield if things turned sour.
When they arrived at the production complex, Alice leaned in close. "There are some big shots in there. Don't let them intimidate you. You earned your seat at that table."
Haru smiled. He remembered his first major drama as Sunghoon,he'd been shy, and the industry had tried to eat him alive. Veterans had whispered behind his back, lobbying the director to cut his lines to protect their own screentime. He wasn't that boy anymore.
They entered the fourth-floor conference room, where the air was already humming with the low chatter of the cast.
Haru greeted everyone with a polite, respectful bow. To the world, he was a twenty-three-year-old rookie, and he played the part perfectly. While waiting for the leads, he struck up a conversation with one of the writers. The man seemed taken aback by Haru's script,it was covered in meticulous notes and emotional cues.
"You've really done your homework," the writer praised.
Haru's natural charisma, a blend of youthful energy and a strangely grounded maturity, soon drew others in. He shared a few lighthearted jokes with a minor cast member, and within minutes, a small circle had gravitated toward him.
The atmosphere shifted when the leads finally arrived.
The female lead was Deul-Hwa, a rising idol. Alice had whispered that she was the "Country's Princess," despite being panned by critics for her limited acting range in previous hits. She carried herself with a delicate, almost ethereal grace. Her group DayZ despite being from a midtier company had quickly to risen to be among the top girlgroups.
Following her was the male lead, Go-Jip. A former child actor, this was his first adult starring role. He had a massive, dedicated fanbase, and his pairing with Deul-hwa had already set social media on fire.
Then, the last person entered.
Haru froze. He didn't need Alice to identify this man. He recognized the face instantly,not from a search engine, but from his own memories as Sunghoon. It was a face from his very first drama decades ago. He was older, his features sharper and etched with a certain bitterness, but it was him.
Shim-Sul.
As their eyes met, Sunghoon,couldn't help but curse the cosmic irony. Of all the sets in Seoul, he had to walk onto one managed by a ghost from his past.