* * *
Director Son Tae-min completed the editing and post-production on schedule. The film was set to be released on the originally planned date.
All the scheduled screenings in the past week had been canceled. They had reshot the film during the period set for screenings.
Over the past week, the film company’s marketing team released promotional videos online. However, those were just edited versions of the existing material, so the response was minimal.
In any case, they couldn’t skip the screening.
The screening for ‘A Sunny Day’ was scheduled for the night before the official release.
Na Kang-In received a few tickets for the screening.
He asked Cha Eun-seo, the niece of the PC bang owner.
“Want to go watch a movie tonight?”
Cha Eun-seo initially widened her eyes, then smiled brightly. She quickly adjusted her expression and checked the time on her smartphone.
“Hm. I wonder if I have time tonight…”
“No worries if you’re busy.”
Cha Eun-seo quickly changed her tone.
“Oh, I have plenty of time. Nothing to do tonight.”
Night-shift part-timer Yoon Ah-reum, standing nearby, stomped her feet.
“Oppa! What about me? What about me?”
“Aren’t you working the night shift?”
“I don’t work every single night. Today’s my day off.”
“Then you can come too. I have plenty of tickets.”
“Yay!”
College student hacker part-timer Ahn Sung-hwan raised his hand.
“Hyung, if there are extra tickets, can I come too?”
“Is today your day off as well?”
“I only work when I’m busy. The rest of the time, I’m free.”
Na Kang-In asked.
“Then why are you all here if you’re not working?”
Yoon Ah-reum responded confidently.
“Hoping you might make us dinner?”
“We’re eating out after the movie.”
Yoon Ah-reum cheered.
“Yay! Looks like our actor Na Kang-In is treating us to celebrate his debut!”
“I’m not an actor. I haven’t debuted.”
“Stuntmen are actors too.”
They knew Na Kang-In had been away filming over the past week. They couldn’t be unaware since he had been absent a lot because of it.
However, they thought Na Kang-In had been working as a simple martial arts stunt double on set.
Yoon Ah-reum commented.
“Oppa is appearing in the movie premiere, so of course, I have to watch it with you.”
“And the tickets are free.”
“Right! The tickets are free.”
“As expected, the free tickets are the main goal.”
“No way. After watching the movie, we have to eat a meal that Oppa treats us to. Preferably with some alcohol. Chicken and beer would be great. Ah, it’s been a while since I had chicken and beer.”
“Ah-reum, you wouldn’t starve even if the world ended.”
Yoon Ah-reum smiled brightly.
“I hear that a lot. Hehe.”
—
Na Kang-In and the PC bang trio took the subway to the theater where the premiere was held.
Even though the premiere was hastily arranged the night before the release, a photo zone for promotional videos was set up.
The actors took photos there in the order they arrived. Thanks to the significant buzz around the movie and the hard work of the promotion team, many reporters showed up, and flashes went off frequently.
From behind the crowd, Yoon Ah-reum looked at the photo zone and asked,
“Oppa, aren’t you going to stand over there?”
“I haven’t appeared on screen, so why would I go there?”
“True. A stuntman wouldn’t stand in the photo zone.”
They watched the actors taking their places in the photo zone.
A new actor appeared. Yoon Ah-reum clapped her hands.
“Oh! It’s Kim Yoo-chan!”
Male lead Kim Yoo-chan stepped into the photo zone.
He waved to the reporters and then noticed Na Kang-In watching from the back.
Kim Yoo-chan waved vigorously and smiled widely at Na Kang-In.
Yoon Ah-reum was excited.
“Did you see that? Kim Yoo-chan smiled at me! He even waved his hand big!”
College student hacker Ahn Sung-hwan interrupted from the side.
“He wasn’t waving at you. He was waving at the reporters in this direction.”
The reporters also thought Kim Yoo-chan was waving at them.
“Kim Yoo-chan has become quite friendly.”
“He’s polite.”
Na Kang-In said,
“If we’ve seen enough, let’s go in.”
He led the PC bang trio inside the theater. In the lobby, they ran into Shin Eun-ha.
As soon as Shin Eun-ha saw Na Kang-In, she approached with a big smile.
“Oh! Oppa! You came!”
They had dropped formalities after drinking together on the second round at the sushi restaurant last time.
Na Kang-In replied,
“Because I got four free tickets.”
Yoon Ah-reum and Ahn Sung-hwan had met Shin Eun-ha at the PC bang last time. Cha Eun-seo had known Shin Eun-ha since they lived in the same neighborhood.
Cha Eun-seo waved and said quietly,
“Hi, unnie.”
“Hi. You should have brought your uncle too.”
“He’s busy.”
Yoon Ah-reum beamed and said loudly,
“Wow. Eun-ha unnie, you’re so pretty!”
Shin Eun-ha put the tip of her pinky finger to her red lips and smiled.
“Of course, I’m always very pretty.”
“Hehe. Agreed!”
Lead actor Kim Yoo-chan approached and said,
“Na Kang-In, I waved so enthusiastically just now, but you just walked right in without acknowledging me? I’m hurt.”
“How could I acknowledge you with so many reporters around?”
“I was trying to get you some face time, Na Kang-In.”
Yoon Ah-reum was so shocked that her mouth dropped open. She alternated her gaze between Kim Yoo-chan and Na Kang-In and said,
“Wow, Oppa is talking casually with Kim Yoo-chan!”
Cha Eun-seo, equally surprised, added,
“Oppa, you’ve become quite impressive. You know Kim Yoo-chan?”
“Unnie, should I try acting too? If I become an extra, will I get to know actors too?”
“No, they wouldn’t even know your name.”
“Then why does Oppa know Kim Yoo-chan?”
Cha Eun-seo thought for a moment, then clapped her hands.
“I got it! Food!”
“Huh?”
“Oppa first went to the filming site to serve food, right? Kim Yoo-chan must have tasted Oppa’s cooking.”
Yoon Ah-reum nodded vigorously.
“Aha! Oppa’s cooking! That makes sense.”
Suddenly, quick footsteps were heard. They turned their heads in that direction.
Elementary school student Lee Min-ji ran up and hugged Na Kang-In.
“Snack uncle!”
Na Kang-In also hugged Min-ji lightly.
“We’ve only been apart for a few days, and you’re this happy to see me? We’ve been texting, haven’t we?”
“Hehe. I feel secure like this.”
Lee Tae-ho and Jang Mi-jung approached.
Lee Tae-ho smiled and said,
“We’ve secured good seats for you, Na Kang-In.”
Na Kang-In checked the invitation tickets.
“Our seat numbers are….”
“Just leave those empty.”
Min-ji boasted,
“Snack uncle’s seat is right next to mine!”
Yoon Ah-reum saw this and exclaimed with her mouth wide open,
“Amazing. You know Jang Mi-jung too! Unnie, should I really learn cooking and try acting as an extra?”
Cha Eun-seo quickly pulled Yoon Ah-reum aside and said,
“Oppa, we’ll watch on our own, so go ahead.”
* * *
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