* * *
The lead actor, Kim Yoo-chan, was already a star. Even he felt his popularity rising, and he enjoyed it.
A film magazine journalist asked him.
“There are many fans who fell for your intense performance in ‘A Sunny Day.’”
“Haha. It wasn’t just me. But I’m glad people are enjoying it.”
“I interviewed Director Son Tae-min, and he said his next project will be a full-fledged action movie. Do you know about this?”
“Really? I need to call him.”
The journalist quickly asked.
“Oh! So, you’re planning to participate in Director Son’s next project? Is that why you’re calling him?”
“No. I’m calling someone else.”
“What?”
“After this interview.”
A call came through to Na Kang-In’s phone from Kim Yoo-chan. They had shared drinks before, so Yoo-chan’s name was saved in the contacts.
“Hello?”
Kim Yoo-chan’s excited voice came through.
“Na Kang-In! I heard you’re joining Director Son’s next movie!”
“Is Director Son making another movie?”
“Didn’t you know?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Did the director contact you?”
“No.”
“Ah, must have been a rumor. Let’s meet up and grab a meal. My treat.”
Na Kang-In was busy preparing food for the PC bang.
“I’m busy with cooking.”
***
The movie “A Sunny Day” continued to sell out.
Director Son Tae-min was known for making great romance films. This latest movie, a romantic comedy, was lighthearted and enjoyable.
The action scenes were also impressive.
It was a film that could satisfy couples with different tastes.
Audience reactions were positive and ratings were high. Praise for the movie was abundant online.
However, not all controversies were forgotten.
Several articles questioned the appropriateness of releasing the movie just days after an important supporting actor was arrested at a drug party.
“Is it right to release a movie so soon after an actor’s drug scandal?”
“It was rushed. More restraint was needed.”
Including a scene showing an on-set accident where the set collapsed also stirred controversy.
“Is this lack of safety awareness on film sets acceptable?”
After these articles, the movie studio’s PR manager asked Shin Eun-ha to appear as a guest on a live radio show.
“Eun-ha, we’d like you to explain things on the radio. You were there when the set collapsed, right?”
“I’ll do it.”
“If you explain well, our PR team will make good use of it to manage the situation.”
Shin Eun-ha confidently replied, “Leave it to me. I’ll handle it all myself if needed.”
“Not just you, Yoo-chan will join too. We need to tackle this issue with maximum effort, so we’re asking both of you.”
—
Shin Eun-ha felt the shift in popularity the most.
She used to play supporting roles, overshadowed by the lead actress. But by the time the movie premiered, she had become a strong rival to the female lead.
Eun-ha visited an internet cafe to boast.
“I was nominated for best new actress before, you know? I was doing well then, but after this movie, I realized that wasn’t even real success.”
Na Kang-In asked, “So, you must be in high demand now.”
“Of course. I have two schedules today. I already did one, and I have a radio show left.”
“If you’re so busy, why are you here?”
Eun-ha replied while eating mixed rice in the cafe’s kitchen, “To eat the delicious food you make.”
“Aren’t there other good places to eat in Korea?”
“Places with food this good are usually very expensive. But here, it’s free.”
“Then why not pay for it?”
“The staff eat for free, don’t they?”
“Then why don’t you work part-time here?”
Eun-ha smiled, waving her spoon.
“I’m too successful now. If I worked here, it would be a big deal, haha.”
“Stop laughing like a villain.”
“Okay.”
She checked the time and put down her spoon, holding out her hands.
“Give me some mixed snacks.”
“Did you leave them with me?”
Next to her, Yoon Ah-reum quickly added, “Eun-ha, ask for the special mixed snacks. So we can all share.”
“Special?”
“It’s really delicious.”
Eun-ha, with her hands cupped like a flower under her chin, said, “Oppa! I want the special mixed snacks.”
Yoon Ah-reum admired, “Wow, Eun-ha, I’ve never seen anyone do that sober. Actors really are different.”
Eun-ha was confident, “Actors have to act crazy sometimes. This is nothing. Plus, I’m pretty, so it’s okay. But Na Kang-In oppa, when will my special mixed snacks be ready? I have to go to the broadcast station.”
Na Kang-In replied, “Homemade cookies from the bakery would taste good too. Why not buy those?”
Field cooking often uses whatever ingredients are available, making the taste variable. Although his mixed crackers were delicious, bakery-made desserts could be just as good.
Eun-ha shook her head, “No, I prefer yours. Your cookies have a special taste. Make a lot so I can show off at the broadcast station. A whole lot.”
She spread her arms wide.
“This much!”
“Then pay for it.”
“Oops! I didn’t bring my wallet!”
Na Kang-In told Yoon Ah-reum, “Ah-reum, take her mixed snack. She’s not a customer.”
—
Shin Eun-ha and Kim Yoo-chan appeared as guests on the live radio show.
After discussing various topics related to the movie, the host brought up the on-set accident.
“Let’s talk about the set collapse incident. Eun-ha, you were almost seriously injured, right?”
Eun-ha waved her hand and laughed, “No, not at all. It wasn’t dangerous. I felt really safe.”
“Even with heavy lights falling above you?”
“Someone was there to knock them away. Seeing that, I felt completely safe.”
To downplay the incident, Yoo-chan joined in, “I was there too.”
“Really? Then why weren’t you in the movie?”
“That person protected Eun-ha impressively but just threw me far away.”
“Pardon?”
Yoo-chan laughed to lighten the mood.
“Well, my ungraceful fight didn’t even make it into the movie. Haha.”
The radio producer sent one of the real-time comments from the broadcast message board to the host.
The host looked at the monitor and said, “Here’s an interesting comment.”
Reading the comment, the host continued, “So, the man was just thrown away because he was a hassle, while the pretty woman was safely protected? Oh, this isn’t my own opinion. I just read it on the comment.”
Kim Yoo-chan quickly waved his hand.
“Oh? No, it’s just a joke. A joke. I had to step out of the scene because we couldn’t have two of me in it. The person who threw me out was my stunt double. Haha.”
The host asked, “Speaking of your stunt double, I heard he wasn’t a professional actor? There were rumors he was just a food truck guy.”
Excitedly, Kim Yoo-chan explained, “My original stunt double got injured, so we needed a replacement quickly. There was no time to call anyone else, so we looked around and found that the only person with a body similar to mine who had some athletic experience was the catering guy. The director asked him to be the stunt double.”
“And it turned out to be a hit.”
“Yes, I was really surprised too,” Kim Yoo-chan agreed.
The producer sent another comment.
The host said, “Let me read the new comment. Come on, I bet I know what’s going on. There’s no way the catering guy could do such good action scenes. They must have planted a skilled actor to boost the movie.”
* * *
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