Chapter 104: Effective Use of Connections (2)

Despite having come to the studio early in the morning for the movie shoot, Kang Ra-Eun’s face was as exuberant as it could be. Woo Kang-Hyun, the actor playing the male Min Ju-Tae, was fascinated as he saw her.

“You’re so full of energy every time I see you. I wonder if it’s because you’re young?”

“Aren’t you still pretty young yourself, sunbae?”

“Even if I’m on the young side, I can’t compare to a 21-year-old.”

Youth certainly had more merit than anything else in the world. Kang-Hyun had also been acting since he was young like Ra-Eun, so he could understand her blaze of passion.

“Actors your age all love starring in movies and dramas. I was exactly the same,” Kang-Hyun mentioned.

However, he was sorely mistaken. Ra-Eun was not blazing with passion because she loved starring in movies and dramas, but because she found acting like a man to her heart’s content in the studio so comfortable. Even now, she was sitting cross-legged while standing by for her scene, just like when she used to be a man.

The other staff members misunderstood her actions to be to immerse herself into the role even off-camera, but it was nothing of the sort. A place where she could be praised for acting like a man was nothing short of heaven.

‘I wish I could work on a gender bender production next time as well.’

Ra-Eun wondered why gender bender was not a mainstream trope. If it was popular, then she could have starred in a bunch of them and be comfortable in the process; it would have been two birds with one stone. She found it to be one hell of a shame.

***

Ra-Eun had satisfied the meticulous Director Yoon with single takes yet again today. The shoot finished early as usual, and she thanked the director and the other staff members for their hard work before heading out.

There was one last person she needed to greet. Vice President Park Hee-Woo of TP Entertainment was looking at her in satisfaction.

“I really enjoyed watching your performance. I knew my eyes hadn’t deceived me.”

Once Hee-Woo watched Ra-Eun acting in front of the camera, she became certain that her decision to choose Ra-Eun as the protagonist had not been wrong.

“I hope the movie releases soon. I’m sure it’ll be a huge hit.”

Ra-Eun smiled from how certain Hee-Woo was. She focused on her smile to thoroughly hide her emotions, and also expressed that she felt the same way.

“I’ll try my best to live up to your expectations, Vice President.”

“You’re already doing well enough. I don’t usually come to the studio to watch the shoots since I might unknowingly pressure the director and the actors, but that hasn’t been the case for this movie. I want to come often to watch you act from up close. I think that’s how much I’ve taken a liking to you.”

Hee-Woo expressed how much of a fan she was of Ra-Eun while laughing. When Ra-Eun first met Hee-Woo, she thought that Hee-Woo was simply giving her lip service to give a good impression.

‘But it looks like she’s being genuine.’

Ra-Eun could tell whether Hee-Woo was telling the truth or not since she used to be Ra-Eun’s older sister, and her words just now were the truth.

“In any case, I leave our film in your good hands, Ra-Eun.”

“Okay. Please don’t worry, Vice President.”

The success of One of a Kind of Girl would not only be good for Hee-Woo, but for Ra-Eun’s career as well. She was going to put her all into this film not for her older sister, but for herself.

‘But before that, I have to give attention to my company too.’

Rita’s promotion photo shoot was scheduled for next week. She decided to be at the studio as well since she was the one who recruited her. Both acting and business were things that she couldn’t afford to neglect.

***

Snap, snap!

The photographer rapidly clicked the camera shutter. Rita casually posed in black leggings, white high-top sneakers, and a tracksuit top. Ra-Eun hid her astonishment as she watched Rita in the middle of the photo shoot.

‘That’s a pro for you.’

She could instantly tell how much Rita was used to doing things like this just from her poses. The photographer was so impressed that nothing but praises were coming out of his mouth.

“Very good, Miss Rita! Please look this way. That expression just now was great! Could you do it again?”

“Okay.”

Snap!

Despite the photo shoot having been going on for almost three hours, Rita stood in front of the camera without a hint of fatigue. She then took a ten-minute break.

“Let’s move on to the next outfit.”

Ra-Eun approached Rita with a drink that she had prepared in advance as Rita got ready to change.

“Good work, sunbae.”

“Oh! Did you get this for me, Ra-Eun?”

“Yes. I saw a cafe on the way here, so I bought something for you. You like americanos right?”

“Anything that you buy for me is delicious. Thanks.”

Rita’s love and affection toward Ra-Eun were still going strong. She drank it through a straw while being careful not to spill it on her clothes. Ra-Eun sat across from her and asked if she found the shoot tiring in any way. However, Rita’s answer was already decided.

“This is nothing. You have no idea how much they slave me in music video shoots.”

Rita was such a veteran singer that she didn’t find a simple photo shoot in any way difficult.

“I heard from Chief Jung that you were going to pause your appearances on TV and take a break. Is that true?” Ra-Eun asked.

“It’s more working on my new album than taking a break.”

Just like how Ra-Eun continued to find work through movies or dramas, Rita continued to appear on TV through her albums. After all, she was a singer.

“My fans have been howling about when my next album is gonna come out. I thought I should at least release one before the end of the year, and I kinda wanna make a new song too,” Rita expressed.

“Please let me know if you need my help with a music video shoot like last time.”

“Oh my, can I really?”

“Yes. But please remove scenes where we roll around in bed together like last time.”

Ra-Eun had first found out about Rita’s preferences at that moment. She couldn’t even remember how bewildered she had been. However, she had gotten somewhat used to it that such things had become nothing but memories that they’d sometimes mention.

“Don’t worry. I don’t want my forehead to get injured anymore either,” Rita replied.

She was met with Ra-Eun’s forehead flick every time she approached her, and this defense system was naturally still active. However, it did not apply if Ra-Eun herself approached Rita.

“Oh, come to think of it, I couldn’t finish what I was going to say during our call last time.”

Ra-Eun looked at Rita in anxiety from whatever she was about to say.

“I was asking you to have a meal with me, but you just hung up. Shouldn’t you at least buy me something to eat when I’m working this hard?”

“...”

Ra-Eun was lost for words in front of the grumbling Rita. She had taken the promotional shoot as hostage.

‘Well, it’s not like I didn’t expect it.’

Ra-Eun had no choice but to accept in such a situation. It was a fact that Rita was working hard for her.

“Okay, I’ll treat you to something. Do you have something you’d like to eat?” Ra-Eun asked.

“Yup, I do.”

Rita even suggested a restaurant as if she knew Ra-Eun would ask such a question.

“There’s a Chinese restaurant called Mi-Ran Pavilion. Let’s go eat there. The mother of a junior I know owns the place, so we might as well help out with their sales.”

“If she’s your junior, then is she also a singer?”

“She was a singer, but then switched to acting. She hasn’t been getting much work lately, so she’s been helping out at her mother’s restaurant.”

“Really?”

It was obvious, but not all celebrities had great things going for them. Some even struggled financially. The junior who Rita was referring to could be one of them. Ra-Eun couldn’t refuse since Rita seemed to treasure this junior of hers.

“Okay, let’s go together. When are you free?” Ra-Eun asked.

“Right after the shoot.”

“Today?”

“Yup.”

Ra-Eun checked her wristwatch. It was currently 4:10 PM.

“There’s not much time left until dinnertime.”

“Don’t worry,” Rita said as she got up from her seat with a smile that exuded confidence. “I’ll be done before then.”

Ra-Eun realized from Rita’s confidence how she was able to rise to become a top star.

‘Yeah. A star should at least have this level of confidence.’

Although Rita was obsessed with Ra-Eun, she definitely possessed many other qualities that Ra-Eun could learn from.

***

Like Rita had declared, the shoot finished at 6 PM. They went straight to Mi-Ran Pavilion without Rita even removing her make-up. Only after heading deep into an alleyway could they barely see the signboard.

“I don’t think they’ll get many customers in such a location,” Ra-Eun expressed.

“You’re right. Not many customers come here.”

There were barely any customers despite a celebrity working as a part-timer there. It likely was not good enough as an advertisement for the restaurant since she was likely nowhere as near as popular as Rita. A young woman greeted the two as they entered the restaurant.

“Sunbae! I didn’t think you’d actually come!”

Ra-Eun’s big eyes widened further. An attractive woman with short hair was standing in front of her. The first thing Ra-Eun felt when she first laid eyes on the woman was familiarity. The woman had not even introduced herself, but...

‘Why does she look so familiar?’

She was an extremely beautiful woman, but she possessed something that Ra-Eun couldn’t put her finger on besides beauty.

Rita introduced the woman to Ra-Eun. “Her name is Lee Si-Ahn. She’s the junior that I mentioned.”

Ra-Eun forced her astonishment down as soon as she heard the name. The singer and actress Lee Si-Ahn was very special to Ra-Eun back when she used to be a man.

‘She used to be my dream girl!’

She figured out the reason for the familiarity.