By Zephyria Fortunately, Song Hyun-soo wasn’t alone. Shin Hyo-jin opened a new bottle of soju and said to Yoon Joo-ho,
“Senior, how about we take turns pouring drinks for each other? We have a lot of scenes together, right? We’re close relationships according to the script. We need to get along before filming starts.”
“Hmm. Baek Kang and Jeon Yu-jeong don’t have many overlapping scenes.”
Yoon Joo-ho, who was nibbling on the complimentary macaroni crackers served at the bar-like setting, glanced at Han Joo-young and said. Baek Kang was Yoon Joo-ho’s character, and Jeon Yu-jeong was Han Joo-young’s character. Song Hyun-soo felt like shoving a handful of crackers into Yoon Joo-ho’s mouth.
“Still, there’s team spirit. The atmosphere on set is important.”
Shin Hyo-jin didn’t back down easily this time either.
“If the atmosphere on set is flexible, we can focus on acting without thinking about other things. I’ve experienced sets where actors are wary of each other and engage in power struggles, and it’s exhausting.”
“You know the film industry better than I do, Hyo-jin. If you say so, then it’s so.”
Yoon Joo-ho, resting his elbows on the table, shrugged and leaned back. Song Hyun-soo looked at Yoon Joo-ho again, thinking that he could say some rather sensible things. Shin Hyo-jin also looked surprised, even though she was the one who had spoken. She probably hadn’t expected Yoon Joo-ho to accept so readily.
“Y-yes, that’s right. When actors trust each other, ideas can flow freely on set, and you can grasp the flow just by looking at each other’s eyes or gestures. That’s how it was for me.”
After listening to Shin Hyo-jin, Yoon Joo-ho paused for a moment and nodded.
“As Hyo-jin knows, drama sets aren’t quite like that. It’s tight just to match the day’s shooting schedule. Some actors prefer that pace, but. In any case, I also think the atmosphere on set is important. When actors have a good relationship, the staff doesn’t waste energy unnecessarily.”
“That’s right, that’s important too!”
Shin Hyo-jin chimed in. Han Joo-young looked like she had a lot to say to Yoon Joo-ho, but she just pouted her lips and didn’t speak this time.
Yoon Joo-ho reached for the liquor bottle first. Shin Hyo-jin then received her glass.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a drink with Joo-ho Sunbae.”
Shin Hyo-jin said with a tone of deep emotion.
“Has it? Have we not met anywhere since ‘Star Forest’?”
“I saw you at Senior Nam Se-yeon’s housewarming party, but you only made a brief appearance then.”
“Ah, I saw you then. Was that already two years ago?”
Yoon Joo-ho and Shin Hyo-jin had co-starred in a drama called ‘Star Forest’ several years ago. At the time, Shin Hyo-jin was past her rookie days and just starting to gain popularity. The drama was a great success, and Shin Hyo-jin gained significant acclaim for her role, leading her to star in subsequent projects.
He thought Yoon Joo-ho was impartially sharp with everyone.
Shin Hyo-jin found it strange watching him, who was ‘relatively’ mild-mannered towards her. He was even conversing with her in a way that was almost normal.
Song Hyun-soo’s curiosity overtook his fear of Yoon Joo-ho.
“So, are you two close?”
“Um… back then, Joo-ho Sunbae was the male lead, and I was the female lead’s best friend. We didn’t have many overlapping scenes. Unlike movies, dramas don’t have many wrap-up parties either. We didn’t get very close.”
“Still, I thought Hyo-jin would do well.”
Yoon Joo-ho said as he refilled Han Joo-young’s glass. Shin Hyo-jin’s face lit up with pleasure.
“You thought so, Senior?”
“I heard you told Park Gon PD you wanted to reshoot a scene.”
“Ah, did that rumor reach you, Senior?”
“I know everything that happens on set.”
“You must have said a lot of bad things about me.”
“There are many actors who ask to reshoot because they don’t like their face on screen. But I heard Hyo-jin talked about her acting. She said she wanted to reshoot because her acting tone didn’t match her co-star’s, making her emotions feel jarring.”
“Yes, yes. I was scolded a lot for being presumptuous.”
“When I heard that, I laughed a lot.”
“You did? You laughed a lot?”
“Why? Can’t I laugh?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you burst out laughing.”
Yoon Joo-ho shrugged and then slightly turned his body to refill Song Hyun-soo’s glass.
“She’s got potential. How can anyone be called an actor if they don’t have that much ambition for their own performance?”
Even as he refilled Song Hyun-soo’s glass, Yoon Joo-ho spoke of Shin Hyo-jin. He even seemed to be enjoying himself.
What Jung Ji-in had said was true. Yoon Joo-ho was more sincere about acting than anyone else, and more of a perfectionist than anyone else. It was natural then that he would find a junior who approached acting seriously endearing.
“Oh? Ah, Senior, you’re not making it up, are you? I’ll pour for you.”
Yoon Joo-ho was about to pour his own drink last, and Shin Hyo-jin stepped forward to stop him. But from her seat across the table, she was too far to intervene effectively.
“On your turn, you pour your own drink.”
With that, Yoon Joo-ho offered his glass first, suggesting a toast. The other three raised their glasses.
“Let’s do well.”
Yoon Joo-ho said, glancing alternately at Han Joo-young and Song Hyun-soo. He then added,
“Each other. Let’s not be a burden to the project.”
Unproven actors seemed to make Yoon Joo-ho uneasy. But talking about his commitment to the project with his mouth wouldn’t convince Yoon Joo-ho at this point. He would have to show it through his actions.
“Whether we’ll be a burden or a hidden card remains to be seen.”
Han Joo-young confidently retorted Yoon Joo-ho’s words, unlike Song Hyun-soo. Then he reached for the liquor bottle.
“Then this time, I’ll pour for everyone.”
However, Yoon Joo-ho stopped him by gripping the base of the bottle.
“It’s Shin Hyo-jin’s turn next.”
“Why? I’m older than Hyo-jin.”
“You’d be ‘oppa’, not ‘hyung’.”
Yoon Joo-ho’s correction made Han Joo-young huff as he rephrased.
“Alright, then. I’m Hyo-jin’s ‘oppa’.”
“Is this a private gathering? We go by debut order, not age.”
Yoon Joo-ho threatened, raising and lowering his eyebrows. Han Joo-young reluctantly let go of the bottle. Shin Hyo-jin, no longer tense as before, sighed and shook her head. She seemed to judge that there was no need to take the argument between these two seriously. However, Song Hyun-soo, the youngest and a rookie, was still having a terrible time.
After Shin Hyo-jin’s turn went around the table, Han Joo-young, thinking it was finally his turn, reached for the bottle again.
“Wait.”
“What is it now! It’s my turn.”
Yoon Joo-ho, stopping Han Joo-young once more, turned to Song Hyun-soo and asked.
“When did you debut?”
Being suddenly looked at, it was definitely bad for his heart. Song Hyun-soo unconsciously fumbled at his left chest and recoiled slightly.
“S- ‘Happiness of Wednesday’.”
“Director Woo Sung-min’s work?”
He nodded.
“That was four years ago. And you?”
This time, Yoon Joo-ho asked Han Joo-young.
“Hyun-soo and I both decided to make our true debut with
“What kind of calculation is that? Is there a ‘true debut’ and a ‘fake debut’? A debut is a debut.”
Then, he snatched the bottle from Han Joo-young and handed it to Song Hyun-soo. Unable to accept it or refuse it, Song Hyun-soo looked back and forth between Yoon Joo-ho and Han Joo-young, sensing the mood. He felt like a shrimp caught between a whale fight, not just getting hit but being ground to dust.
“Aren’t you giving it to me? The drink?”
Yoon Joo-ho urged.
“I’m the youngest, and… maybe I should just do it last…”
Yoon Joo-ho’s eyebrows twitched.
“In college, if you’re older, don’t you call your senior ‘senior’?”
“I wouldn’t know, I didn’t go to college.”
Song Hyun-soo replied, scratching his cheek with his index finger, and Yoon Joo-ho sighed.
“I didn’t go either. But in this industry, experience is age. Age as an actor.”
“…”
“Once we’re friends privately, we can call each other ‘hyung’ or ‘dongsaeng’ as we please, but right now, we’re sitting here as actors, so let’s go by debut order.”
Having finished speaking, Yoon Joo-ho placed the soju bottle directly into Song Hyun-soo’s hand. His hand touched Song Hyun-soo’s skin, and his beautiful fingers brushed against his own. So startled, Song Hyun-soo almost dropped the bottle. He quickly regained his composure, thinking that if that happened, Yoon Joo-ho might really strangle him this time.
What else could he do? No matter how much the world changed, the entertainment industry, especially the film industry rather than broadcasting, still had strict hierarchies between seniors and juniors. Yoon Joo-ho, with 30 years of experience, was a distant senior. He had no choice but to comply.