FY 30

Chapter 30

“Since we don’t know when it’ll start, Gokyeol, you should start warming up too.”

The valley water was so cold that the actress kept jumping out in surprise several times. Yujeong wasn’t so much worried that Gokyeol might not be able to handle it during the next shoot, but more concerned that something serious might happen if he went into the freezing water.

“Warming up… it feels a little embarrassing to do it alone. Can you do it with me?”

Hearing his gentle voice, Yujeong froze for a moment. Was he always this charming? The expression was completely different from the artificial smiles she had seen in interviews or videos. His eyes were so captivating that Yujeong felt as if she were facing a fox—or even a gumiho.

“Warming up?”
“It’s better if we do it together.”

At his words, Yujeong glanced at the filming area. Doing warm-ups together wasn’t that strange. Whenever there was an NG, the female lead’s manager also went into the valley water to cover her with a towel, so there was no reason Yujeong couldn’t enter the cold water too.

“I guess it’s a bit embarrassing too.”

She added this trailing off slightly, and Yujeong couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“An actor who’s used to being in the spotlight shouldn’t be embarrassed by something like this.”

It was her instinctive defense. She reacted a bit sharply without realizing it, worried that someone might misinterpret the situation. It was her way of signaling that there was no special relationship between them.

“Then, should we just skip it? The warm-up?”

Meanwhile, Gokyeol acted as if other people’s gazes didn’t matter at all. Yujeong felt unsettled seeing his affectionate gaze.

“What are you talking about? We have to do it.”

As Yujeong stretched out her arms and began warming up, he mirrored her movements. With their long arms and legs moving in sync, even a simple warm-up looked impressive. Standing opposite her, Gokyeol smiled each time their eyes met. A man already called a “face genius” casually showing his smile made her heart race uncontrollably.

‘Calm down. He’s the future of our company! He’s Gokyeol!’

Yujeong did her best to avoid looking at his face. To avoid being attacked by his charm, it was best not to look at him at all.

“Next, Gokyeol, please get ready for filming.”

At the assistant director’s urgent voice, both of them nodded. In the rough outdoor filming environment, there was no proper place to change clothes. That’s why they brought a heavily tinted van. The path to the valley was narrow and hard to maneuver, but Yujeong had brought the van up solely for Gokyeol.

“How does it look?”

Dressed in a blue hanbok inside the van, Gokyeol tilted his head as he looked at Yujeong. The staff on site were even more impressed than her.

“You look amazing. Our ratings will definitely soar with this!”
“You look perfect in it. Honestly, just seeing your face will be entertaining, so we don’t need to worry about the ratings.”

Hearing the staff’s praises, Yujeong felt uplifted. When her actors were complimented, it was impossible for her not to feel proud. She remembered feeling this way when following Seola years ago. Like a proud parent, all the actors under her care seemed beautiful. Hearing others say her actors looked good was a joyful feeling.

“This is a bit crooked here.”

Adjusting the hanbok, Yujeong smiled faintly. Gokyeol exuded elegance and beauty. He looked like a man straight out of the Joseon Dynasty, naturally regal, radiating a king-like aura.

“I’ll do my best.”

Gokyeol smiled at her, as if to tell her not to worry. Yujeong nodded, with a serious expression like a wife sending her husband off to battle. As he headed toward the valley, Yujeong hurriedly grabbed blankets and hot packs from the van and followed him, busy with preparations.

“Please take care of him today, Actor Go.”

When Yujeong finally caught up, Director Kim Haengseok was extending his hand to Gokyeol. Rumor had it he was picky about people, and he still seemed a bit tense, probably due to Gokyeol’s popularity. But Yujeong couldn’t be completely relieved—gossip in this industry usually had reasons behind it.

“Please take care of me too.”

Gokyeol smiled easily, appearing relaxed, and the atmosphere on set wasn’t bad for the first shoot. The slate holder, waiting before the take, looked tense.

“Scene 8, take 24!”

Once filming started, Gokyeol’s expression completely changed. The sweet, fox-like eyes that had tempted Yujeong were gone. He was cold, almost as if he had never known emotions. Watching him enter the valley water, Yujeong’s hands trembled under the blanket.

“Who’s there!”
“I should be asking you that. Why is a woman alone in such a remote mountain?”

He pointed his sword toward the female lead.

“Good!”

At the director’s satisfied voice, Yujeong felt her frozen body relax. Quickly, she approached Gokyeol, giving him a hot pack and draping a blanket over his shoulders. He frowned at her wet shoes and pants, seemingly unconcerned about his own wet body.

“You don’t need to come in this far. For the next scene, stay in the car.”
“What? Won’t you catch a cold if I do that?”

Surprised, Yujeong frowned at the icy water. Standing briefly in it was already cold; Gokyeol had to enter it and act. He needed the hot pack even for a moment to regain strength.

“Let’s go straight into the next scene.”

At the assistant director’s crisp voice, Yujeong stepped out of the valley and took a step back. The wind against her wet clothes felt like her skin was tearing. Even in pain, her eyes followed only Gokyeol. Calmly changing out of his hanbok and acting as if he felt nothing, she was speechless.

As Yujeong moved around with hot packs and blankets whenever Gokyeol’s scenes ended, he felt uncomfortable all through filming. Caring for an actor’s comfort was part of her manager duties, but his health took priority, leaving no time to consider his mood.

“Are you angry?”

On the way back to the car, Yujeong cautiously asked. The blanket on his shoulders slipped down but soon rested on her shoulders.

“Cover yourself.”
“What are you talking about? You’ll catch cold if you’re in the wind with a wet body.”

Surprised, she tried handing the thick blanket back, but he pushed his wet hair back and glanced down at her.

“Were you standing there like an idiot knowing that?”
“Huh?”
“You’re wet too, Chae Yujeong.”

He looked down at her wet shoes and pants. Embarrassed, she hesitated, watching him carefully.

“You’re soaked. I’m just a little wet and cold. You…”
“Don’t do this next time. I’ll get out of the water instead.”

It was not an easy choice. For staff filming all day, Yujeong helping quickly versus him being delayed by her presence felt different.

“I’ll tolerate it even if I don’t like it. That’s just my style.”
“….”
“If you really don’t like it, I’ll ask Hyunho to help. Just bear with it until we hire a new manager and work with him.”

Yujeong spoke coldly, and Gokyeol sighed, placing the blanket over her shoulders.

“I don’t dislike it. I’m just worried.”
“What do you mean?”

Seeing her sensitive reaction, he stepped back and smiled lightly, as if to show it was out of goodwill, not emotion.

“If a manager catches a cold, it’ll spread to me. I’m saying this because I care. Please just listen.”

He slipped the hot pack into her pocket. Stunned, Yujeong could only watch as he strode ahead, glanced back once while opening the car door.

“Did you bring a change of clothes?”
“…Yes, just in case.”
“Then go change first. I’ll keep the blanket on.”

Every word he said felt uncomfortable to Yujeong. He was the one who needed care, yet he was tending to her, making the situation burdensome.

“You go change first, then I will.”
“But the seat might get wet, so you should go first.”

Hearing his firm voice, Yujeong realized she couldn’t win against Gokyeol. Her stubbornness reminded her of the character she was portraying.

“Sigh… okay.”