Aura of a Genius Actor

It was the added scene.

Although Yoomyeong insisted on including ‘The Phantom’s Gaze,’ the script itself had not changed much. He simply expressed a different interpretation of the character through subtle tonal changes in dialogue and eye acting.

Only two scenes had been added.

Scene 38.5, featuring the cherry blossoms where the Phantom’s obsession began, and the scene they were filming now, scene 110.5.

The Phantom’s reaction after Hwaran trapped Yeonjeong.

She dealt with Yeonjeong without realizing he was watching. However, from above, a blurred figure swiftly passed through the slanted gap in the ceiling.

After the camera zoomed in as though observing a distant figure,

“Wire team, get ready and release on cue!”

Yoomyeong, strapped into the wires,

Whoosh—

Leapt and landed smoothly in another shadowy corner of the theater.

Once the wires were removed in post-production, all that would remain was the Phantom moving through the theater as though it were his own home.

The camera followed him into the dark corner where he landed, swaying uneasily.

As the darkness adjusted into focus, the Phantom’s unmasked face was gradually revealed.

Half of his face was grotesquely distorted.

The twisted side of his face curled into a sly smile, as though applauding Hwaran’s wicked deed.

The final shot captured the gleaming white teeth exposed between his upturned lips.

“Cut! Okay!”

After several jumps, they finally got the perfect shot.

Director Ki Dohan reviewed ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the footage on the monitor and gave the final approval.

And then,

“That’s a wrap! Great work, everyone!”

“Whooooo!”

Late June. had finally wrapped filming.

It had been three months of shooting and nearly six months in total including preparation.

Both Yoomyeong and Seryeon, who played major roles, had immersed themselves in this film for almost half a year.

The main cast, overflowing with emotion, embraced one another tightly.

“Me too, me too—”

Director Choi dragged over the slightly awkward-looking Director Ki and joined the hug.

The crew, who had been especially high-spirited throughout the entire production, followed after them.

Soon, they had all become one large group as the behind-the-scenes camera captured their jubilant moment.

The day after post-production recording (a process of re-recording sound in a studio when it was not captured clearly during live recording) was completed, Seryeon made an unexpected suggestion.

It might be a long time before he saw her again, so Yoomyeong readily agreed.

Despite the intense mid-July heat, the inside of the car was comfortable. Seryeon, having brought her flashy red sports car, skillfully drove out of the congested city.

“Wow, you’re a good driver.”

“It hasn’t been long since I got my license, but I improved quickly because I’ve been driving so much.”

“I should probably get my license too...”

Having driven for nearly ten years, he would only need to brush up on the written test. The only car he had ever owned was an almost-junked secondhand vehicle worth 500,000 won, bought out of necessity for traveling between filming locations.

After arriving in Gangneung, they ate sashimi for a late lunch.

“If we’re having sashimi, we need soju with it! Auntie, one bottle of soju, please.”

“What about driving?”

“I’ll call a designated driver.”

‘A designated driver all the way from Gangneung to Seoul? Rich people really do live differently...’ freewebnovel.cσ๓

Yoomyeong silently picked up a slice of sashimi and tasted it. The fresh sashimi eaten by the seaside melted softly in his mouth unlike anything he had tasted before.

“To the success of ‘Ballerina High’—”

“To its success—”

The clear clink of soju glasses echoed between them.

Seryeon, unexpectedly a strong drinker, emptied her glass in one go.

“Whew... that really hits the spot.”

Speaking in a voice oddly husky for her, Seryeon let out a satisfied exclamation. Yoomyeong chuckled and asked,

“Do you actually care about the movie succeeding, noona? You don’t seem very concerned about recovering the investment.”

“What are you talking about? Of course I’m going to squeeze every penny out of it like a miser... just kidding. I always thought of it as a passion project, so I naturally assumed it would lose money... but the director says otherwise. Even if it’s not a blockbuster, he says he’ll make enough profit to surpass the investment.”

“Director Ki’s ambition is really something. It won’t be easy...”

“That’s why I have high hopes. He looked really fired up.”

“He might actually pull it off.”

“Then I should ask him for a guarantee.”

As they traded lighthearted jokes, she suddenly changed the subject.

“The film was fun.”

“It was, right? But our filming atmosphere was especially good. I’m sure it’s not like that everywhere.”

“Let’s go watch a movie.”

“All of a sudden?”

“There’s something I’m curious about. Let’s go now.”

Seeing her hurry him along, Yoomyeong asked,

“What movie are we watching? Do you already have something in mind?”

“It doesn’t matter. Pick whatever you want to watch.”

“Alright... How about ‘Family Life’?”

At a movie theater in downtown Gangneung, Yoomyeong picked a film with a 7.1 rating.

It was a genre mix of comedy and family drama, and also a movie Yoomyeong had wanted to watch after filming ended.

The reasons for its low ratings were...

— I watched this because I trusted Yoon Hansung despite the terrible premiere reviews, but I was disappointed.

— Wasn’t he famous for his acting skills? His acting feels like it’s regressed. Maybe it’s because the role doesn’t suit him...

The runtime was 115 minutes.

After finishing the heavily criticized movie, Yoomyeong smiled knowingly.

Hansung was in a transitional phase.

The way he approached his characters had changed.

Watching a veteran actor in his late thirties, someone who had already solidified his reputation, discard his established methods and learn a new style of acting was genuinely impressive.

‘There really are incredible people out there.’

Watching Seryeon as she gazed at Hansung on the screen, Yoomyeong felt grateful for his good fortune.

Compared to his unstable previous life, he had met so many remarkable people in just one year.

People who cautiously, yet steadily, walked along an uncertain and dark path.

He wanted to become like them.

“Pardon?”

After the movie, they went somewhere for dinner and drinks. Then Seryeon spoke candidly.

“While filming the movie, I had more fun than I expected, so I wondered if maybe I was interested in that field too... but it was only because it was a ‘ballet movie.’”

As though confirming something she already knew, she continued calmly.

“It seems I really can’t do anything except ballet.”

She spoke with the kind of strength that came from accepting a predetermined fate.

At that, Yoomyeong nodded in understanding.

Perhaps it was a feeling shared by people who did not simply choose art, but were chosen by it.

“Are you... going to start rehabilitation?”

Even though he already knew she had begun, Yoomyeong asked as if unaware.

“I don’t know about fifteen years... but I’m thinking of trying for at least two. I wasted two years after retiring anyway.”

Tilting her head, she let out a playful, half-hearted laugh as her long hair slipped to one side.

“I’m pretty, and I don’t have to worry about making a living. Isn’t it fine to waste that much time?” ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Even as she boasted so arrogantly, the surface of the drink in her glass rippled.

Her hands were trembling.

The resolve she had gathered to finally voice her determination to endure the pain ahead was obvious.

It was not unpleasant to hear.

Because he knew she would willingly abandon beauty and wealth if only she could dance again.

“You were my first partner.”

“...Yes.”

“You’re someone I think is both cool and beautiful.”

“...”

“I’m really proud that both of those things belong to the same person.”

Hearing his serious answer to her joke, she looked into his eyes.

His gaze was sincere.

Seryeon smiled.

“Because of what you just said, I’ll add another year. So, three years.”

“...Haha.”

One drink.

Then another.

The alcohol kept flowing.

Their conversation drifted from behind-the-scenes stories from filming,

“Isn’t it funny how Director Ki flinches every time cinematographer Choi speaks formally to him?”

To interpretations of the film,

“Hwaran is like the darkness inside me. I may never completely let go of my resentment toward people who take for granted the opportunities I would die for... but I already lived through it as Hwaran in the movie. Now I want to live my own life.”

As the night deepened and the alcohol settled in, their conversation became more honest.

And then...

“Thank you, Yoomyeong.”

Yoomyeong silently looked at her.

“The Phantom I originally imagined was an absolute being, something akin to ballet itself. A force of nature I couldn’t stop chasing even if I wasn’t chosen.”

“But you showed me a Phantom who wasn’t perfect, yet was just as obsessed with Hwaran. That Phantom... was a ‘human’ Phantom. One I wanted to comfort and be comforted by.”

Her voice was calm.

“After tonight, I’ll stand on my own without relying on anyone. For a long time, I won’t cling to God or to any person. I’ll trust only my own time and effort, and I’ll endure.”

Yet her delicate hand clutched Yoomyeong’s collar.

Her hand trembled.

“But just for tonight... I want to stay with my Phantom.”

“...Would you... stay with me tonight?”

Her voice faltered at the end.

Yoomyeong gently loosened her tightly clenched hand and held it in his own.