Chapter 64
When their eyes met, intense curiosity appeared on Song Hee-jun’s face. He quickly rose from his seat and approached where Cheong-yeon was sitting. Then, his eyes sparkling as if he had discovered some fascinating animal, he looked back and forth between the staff and Cheong-yeon.
The one fortunate aspect was that unlike Cheong-yeon, who was just starting his hair and makeup, Song Hee-jun’s side was in the final stage of setting his hairstyle with styling pins. This meant he would be leaving soon.
“Wow, it really is Cheong-yeon. Good to see you. How have you been?”
Song Hee-jun displayed his characteristic expression that existed somewhere between contempt and harmlessness.
“I’ve been well. By the way, you have really sharp ears. How did you manage to catch my name from that far away… Ah. I’d like this hairstyle please. It seems the most suitable.”
Cheong-yeon responded half-heartedly while flipping through the scrapbook provided by the staff until he found a style he liked.
“Yes, please wait a moment.”
The staff member left briefly to get a curling iron, and Song Hee-jun seized the opportunity to move even closer to Cheong-yeon.
“Hey. I’m really sorry about last time. I wanted to help you out for old times’ sake, but the director absolutely refused and made a huge fuss about it.”
He rambled on with an expression of genuine regret, saying things Cheong-yeon hadn’t even asked about.
“I think the problem might have been that your face was a bit swollen that day.”
Whether he was aware or not of Cheong-yeon’s desire to punch him in the face, which he was barely restraining, Song Hee-jun continued his irritating comments.
Just thinking about how he had spent over an hour organizing Song Hee-jun’s costumes like some errand boy after the audition that day still made his teeth grind.
“I don’t care about that anymore since it’s in the past. Thanks to that, I failed that audition but got confirmed for another drama. So it worked out well in the end.”
Cheong-yeon smiled with his lips slightly curved upward. Surprisingly, Song Hee-jun’s eyes widened in response.
“Drama? You got cast?”
“Yeah.”
“Wait, how?”
“You’re talking as if I shouldn’t be cast at all. But thanks to your concern, things worked out well. You know that script that’s rumored to cost about 60 billion won per episode? The one coming out as a Netflix original.”
Someone as plugged into the entertainment industry as Song Hee-jun couldn’t possibly be unaware of this drama. In terms of promotion or cast, the scale of the drama Cheong-yeon would be filming was much larger than the one Song Hee-jun was confirmed to appear in.
“Wow, Cheong-yeon. Your pride might be hurt, but there’s no need to tell such an obvious lie.”
“……”
“Are you still upset because I had you organize my clothes? I already apologized.”
Song Hee-jun burst into laughter with a contemptuous expression, either not believing the news about Cheong-yeon’s drama role or simply mocking him.
Normally, knowing there was nothing to gain from a fight, Cheong-yeon would have quietly let it pass, but something about Song Hee-jun’s mocking voice made his irritation rise sharply. The humiliation from last time was still fresh in his mind, making Song Hee-jun’s laughter all the more grating.
“I’m here today for the drama poster photoshoot, but if it sounds like a lie, then don’t believe me.”
“Poster? Seriously?”
Song Hee-jun’s lips twitched briefly. Being photographed for a poster meant that he wasn’t just an extra but at least a supporting character with significant screen time.
“Yeah.”
“No. Ha, how strange. What kind of trick did you pull?”
Song Hee-jun’s voice rose slightly, as if he were genuinely curious.
“I wonder. I’ve been criticized so much for relying only on my looks. I’ve tried to deny it, but I guess it’s an unavoidable fact. Seeing how certain places keep casting me despite my causing enormous trouble.”
Cheong-yeon touched his chin and murmured as if lamenting while looking in the mirror.
“So exactly what role are you playing?”
“Why? Are you curious?”
“Of course I’m curious, that’s why I came all the way over here to ask.”
Song Hee-jun answered somewhat irritably. Cheong-yeon pretended to ponder for a few seconds, moving his lips slightly, and then suddenly winked at him.
“I’m not telling you.”
“……”
“Oh, are you angry? Sorry. Spoilers are forbidden. You understand, right?”
“Sigh, you’re really so childish.”
Song Hee-jun, who seemed briefly annoyed, soon sighed and shook his head.
Who’s he calling childish? He’s been the most childish one all along.
Cheong-yeon snorted and ran his hand through his hair. Just then, a staff member approached Song Hee-jun’s side, saying they could now remove the hair pins and finish up.
Song Hee-jun’s presence had been like a thorn in his side, and now it seemed he would be leaving soon.
Thinking this was fortunate, Cheong-yeon waved goodbye to Song Hee-jun’s reflection in the mirror.
“Bye.”
“Yeah, good luck with your poster shoot. See you next time.”
Song Hee-jun responded with a slight smile before turning around and returning to his seat.
Though it wasn’t a particularly impressive comeback, just the fact that he had managed to irritate Song Hee-jun even slightly made Cheong-yeon feel better. He tried to hide his emerging smile and unintentionally glanced at the mirror.
At that moment, his eyes met with Min Hye-rin, who was standing with a cold expression in the mirror.
“Ah, you startled me!”
Cheong-yeon turned his head to the side and looked up at Min Hye-rin. He hadn’t even realized she was standing right next to him, having arrived without making a sound.
“Hye-rin. When did you get here?”
“I’ve been here since Actor Song Hee-jun started picking on you, Oppa.”
So she had been here from the beginning? Cheong-yeon glanced at Min Hye-rin with surprise as she glared at Song Hee-jun with an uncharacteristically expressionless face.
“Come to think of it, you would know Song Hee-jun too.”
“Of course I know him! How could I not?”
“Do you know him that well? Were you a fan by any chance?”
“What? A fan? Are you joking with me right now, Oppa?”
Though it was meant as a joke, Min Hye-rin frowned at Cheong-yeon for the first time.
“How could you ask if I’m a fan of that jerk? Whenever he was bored during his activities, he’d pull on our oppas’ hair. He even targeted DEX through Instagram Live, insinuating they had referenced his dance for their Dance Challenge.”
Min Hye-rin lowered her voice and gritted her teeth.
“How dare he try to cause trouble so despicably? I created several anonymous Twitter and Instagram accounts because of the uproar that caused!”
“R-really?”
He had thought there weren’t many fan wars like that since DEX was such a minor group. But apparently, they had their own intense battles he hadn’t been aware of.
Since their activities ended without much success, Cheong-yeon had always buried it like an uncomfortable past, but seeing Min Hye-rin genuinely indignant, he felt both grateful and sorry. Though he had thought he was doing his best at the time, he now felt some regret, wondering if things might have been different had he tried harder.
“Yeah. But Oppa, why haven’t you started getting your hair done yet? There’s not much time left.”
“You’re right. I still need makeup too, so we should get started quickly.”
After chatting with Min Hye-rin for a while about past events, Cheong-yeon belatedly sensed that something was off.
The staff member who had been moving around preparing for the blow-dry was nowhere to be seen, and Cheong-yeon was left sitting alone in the chair.
Looking around, he noticed the shop was in disarray. Staff members were bustling about everywhere, and their expressions didn’t look particularly good.
“Sujin, could you ask Teacher Sangho if he has Aid Blusher #2? Quickly.”
“Ah, yes!”
“And bring a new brush too. We need to redo the shading.”
“Got it!”
“How’s the hair setting coming along?”
“I’ll do it right away.”
Looking more carefully, Cheong-yeon noticed that most of the staff had gathered around Song Hee-jun. Judging from the conversations, it seemed Song Hee-jun had suddenly become dissatisfied with his styling and was insisting on redoing his hair and makeup from scratch.
Since Song Hee-jun was also facing an imminent photoshoot like Cheong-yeon, the staff seemed to be anxiously complying with his unreasonable demands.
Even the staff member who had been assigned to Cheong-yeon was now running errands for Song Hee-jun’s team.
Cheong-yeon was still just an unknown rookie actor, while Song Hee-jun was a fairly recognized actor with several notable works. From the shop’s perspective, it made sense to prioritize appeasing Song Hee-jun over Cheong-yeon, whom they barely knew.
Song Hee-jun continued to throw a tantrum, complaining to the chief stylist that his skin coverage was terrible and his hair was a mess, making it impossible for him to go into the photoshoot. As he created a scene demanding everything be redone to avoid being late for the shoot, the staff appeared frantic, trying to work on his makeup and hair simultaneously.
He was clearly doing this to sabotage Cheong-yeon.
“Why is he acting like this…”
Cheong-yeon muttered as he observed the situation.
“I’m really sorry, but all the stylists are busy right now. If you could wait just a little longer, we’ll assist you as soon as possible.”
When Cheong-yeon tried asking a passing staff member to proceed quickly as time was running out, he was told it would be difficult.
Even if they started his hair now, there wouldn’t be enough time to complete the makeup before the photoshoot.
“Ugh, seriously. It’s not right to neglect Cheong-yeon Oppa like this when he also has a photoshoot scheduled!”
Min Hye-rin stomped her foot and spoke loudly enough for the passing staff to hear. However, they all pretended not to hear and remained clustered around Song Hee-jun.
“I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting. Which style did you choose earlier?”
After a while, one staff member finally returned. They began hurriedly styling Cheong-yeon’s hair, trying somehow to manage the situation.
Min Hye-rin anxiously checked the time while glaring at the area where multiple staff members were gathered.
“There are almost five employees over there. Couldn’t at least one come over here to help?”
“Ah, that’s something the chief decides, and I don’t have the authority… I’m sorry.”
The staff member repeatedly apologized, seeming unfamiliar with such a situation.
It was somewhat expected that in the entertainment industry, resources would gravitate toward those with higher recognition. Having experienced this countless times during his singing career, Cheong-yeon wasn’t as anxious as Min Hye-rin. He knew that even worse situations were commonplace.
In fact, this level was relatively manageable. If time became too tight, they could finish the makeup in the van, or they could ask the makeup artist stationed at the photo studio to complete the final touches. Though he might face criticism from the photographer, at least the situation could be salvaged.
As annoying as Song Hee-jun was, his name carried more weight, so it couldn’t be helped. Resolving to completely ignore him in the future, Cheong-yeon tried to comfort Min Hye-rin.
“This is still a manageable situation. Don’t worry too much. If we leave on time… Huh?”
However, in the middle of speaking, Cheong-yeon realized Min Hye-rin was no longer beside him and awkwardly closed his mouth.
Where did she go?
As he rolled his eyes and looked around the shop, Min Hye-rin, who had just been complaining with a serious face beside him, was nowhere to be seen. Only Song Hee-jun’s irritating back view was reflected in the mirror.
Thinking she might have gone to the bathroom, Cheong-yeon didn’t give it much thought. Just as he was reaching toward the table to continue looking at the scrapbook to occupy his idle hands, the crisp sound of a bell attached to the door tingled in his ears.
Reflexively raising his head, Cheong-yeon saw his manager and Min Hye-rin entering the shop. So that’s where she had gone—to call the manager.
Cheong-yeon had heard that after parking the van, the manager had gone to buy lunch to eat at the photo studio, but for some reason, he was empty-handed. Wondering if he had left the food in the van, Cheong-yeon watched as the manager walked directly toward him.
“Actor Yoo, I heard you still haven’t received your makeup, and we need to leave for the studio in forty minutes.”
The manager asked Cheong-yeon with an incredibly concerned face.
“Everyone seems busy today. Things got delayed somehow.”
“I see. What should we do… Please wait a moment.”
The manager left this polite message and turned toward the direction where the staff was gathered. Simultaneously, he dramatically unzipped and removed the jacket he was wearing.
This revealed bulging muscles along with tattoos peeking out from under his short-sleeved T-shirt. Fierce designs of Buddha, eagles, tigers, and other intimidating patterns densely covered the manager’s entire arm.
“Whoa.”
Cheong-yeon unwittingly opened his mouth and turned his head toward the manager. The staff member who had been blow-drying Cheong-yeon’s hair also seemed surprised, as their busy hands paused for a few seconds.
Since the manager always wore long sleeves and treated Cheong-yeon with such respect, Cheong-yeon had no idea he had such extensive tattoos. Now that he looked closer, the manager was also quite large in build.
“Excuse me. I need to ask for some consideration regarding our schedule. How much longer should we wait? We need to leave in forty minutes, and our actor’s hair isn’t even done yet.”
“What? Ah, well, the stylists are… gasp.”
“The stylists are what?”
“No, um… I’m sorry. Just a moment, please.”
The salon director, who was styling Song Hee-jun’s hair, gave a vague answer to the manager before noticing his imposing body and ominous tattoos, and gasped in surprise.
The manager continued his protest with an extremely polite tone that contrasted with his intimidating appearance.
“We still need to do makeup, but if five people are here, what happens to our actor?”
“I-I’ll send additional staff right away. Park and Min! Please go over there and support that actor…”
“Ah, yes sir!”
As soon as the director finished speaking, staff members broke away from Song Hee-jun and hurriedly gathered their equipment to move toward Cheong-yeon.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
