nucmednet Chapter 71 Tests and Distance
Chapter 71 Tests and Distance
Filming resumed after the new cast members joined the cast of "Stranger." Yeon Jung-hoon's professionalism brought a sigh of relief to the entire crew, and the director's smile returned. Park Ji-yeon should have been relieved, but she found herself unable to concentrate.
It's not because acting is difficult, it's because there's always someone in my mind.
When filming scenes with her co-star, she would drift off. When the director yelled "CUT," she would pause for a moment before snapping back to reality. Even Yeon Jung-hoon noticed that something was off about her and handed her a cup of coffee during a break.
"Park Jiyeon, are you too tired? Should we talk to the director and adjust the shooting order?"
"No, no," Park Jiyeon quickly waved her hand. "I'm fine, I just... didn't sleep well."
Yeon Jung-hoon glanced at her dark circles and didn't ask any more questions.
Park Jiyeon definitely hadn't slept well. For three days in a row, every night when she closed her eyes, she saw Su Yu's image. She tried drinking warm milk, counting sheep, and listening to soothing music, but nothing worked. At two in the morning, she was still tossing and turning, her mind replaying the scene in the office that day—Su Yu sleeping on the sofa, the moment he opened his eyes and looked at her, so close that she could see the curve of his eyelashes.
"She's gone mad," she muttered, burying her face in the pillow.
On the afternoon of the third day, Su Yu came to visit the set.
He didn't come specifically to see her. He brought Kim Dong-wook to the film set to discuss a collaboration; the production company of "Stranger" was interested in co-investing in their next drama with Influence Entertainment. Su Yu took a stroll around the set, greeted the director, and shook hands with Yeon Jung-hoon.
Park Jiyeon stood by the set, script in hand, pretending to memorize her lines. Her eyes kept following Su Yu, watching the angle of his head as he spoke to the director, and the moderate strength of his handshake with Yeon Jung-hoon.
He wore a thin black jacket over a white T-shirt today—a very simple combination, but it looked different on him.
"Park Jiyeon," Su Yu suddenly called her name.
Park Jiyeon froze, nearly dropping the script in her hand.
"Huh? Yes!"
Su Yu walked over and stopped in front of her. They were less than a meter apart, and she could smell the faint scent of laundry detergent on him.
"How's the new role? Are you getting used to it?"
"I'm... I'm adapting well. It's fine." Park Jiyeon tried to make her voice sound normal. "Senior Yeon Jung-hoon is very kind to me."
Su Yu nodded. "That's good. Ask questions if you don't understand something, don't try to figure it out yourself."
"Um."
"When will this scene be filmed?"
"4 PM. The confrontation scene with senior Yeon Jung-hoon."
Su Yu glanced at her. "I read the script for that scene; the emotions are very intense. Are you ready?"
Park Jiyeon wanted to say she was ready, but she swallowed the words back. She wasn't actually fully ready, not because her acting wasn't good enough, but because there were three words in that scene—"I love you."
It wasn't spoken to Yeon Jung-hoon, but to the camera; it was the character's last line to her lover in the defendant's dock in court. Three words, very short, but she always got stuck at this point during rehearsals.
"That's about it." She finally lied.
Su Yu stared at her for two seconds, then didn't ask any more questions. He turned to leave, but stopped after a couple of steps and turned back to say something.
Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You've already done a great job.
Park Jiyeon stood there, stunned, and only slowly squatted down after Su Yu had walked away, burying her face in her knees.
"It's all over, it's all over, it's all over," she muttered softly.
A staff member passing by asked her, "Ji-yeon, are you alright?" She looked up, forced a smile, and said, "I'm fine, my shoelaces just came undone." The shoelaces weren't loose; her heart was at ease.
As expected, there was a problem with the scene that afternoon.
The director yelled "Action!" and Park Ji-yeon sat in the witness stand, questioned by Yeon Jung-hoon, who played the prosecutor. She had memorized her lines perfectly and delivered them in one breath, performing well. But when it came to the last line, "I love you," she opened her mouth, but the sound stuck in her throat.
"CUT." The director called out, "Park Ji-yeon, your emotions aren't right. Let's do it again."
It got stuck again on the second try.
The third time, she said it out loud—but her voice was trembling, not the kind of trembling the character should have, but the trembling of Park Ji-yeon herself.
The director frowned but didn't call "cut," letting the camera continue filming. Yeon Jung-hoon cooperated and finished the scene, but it was obvious to everyone that the emotion in that scene was off.
"Ten-minute break." The director put down the script.
Park Jiyeon walked to a corner, squatted down, and buried her face in her hands.
Yeon Jung-hoon walked over and squatted down next to her.
"Is something on your mind?"
Park Jiyeon didn't say anything.
"It's okay if you don't want to say it. But if you keep this up, the filming won't be good." Yeon Jung-hoon's tone was gentle. "Those three words, are you unable to say them, or are you afraid to say them?"
Park Jiyeon looked up, her eyes red-rimmed.
"Yes, we have them all."
Yeon Jung-hoon looked at her and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Then think of it this way: you're not talking to yourself. You're talking to the character. The person the character loves isn't anyone in real life. You say those three words for her, and her story is complete."
Park Jiyeon blinked, forcing back her tears.
"Senior, how do you manage that? When you're filming romantic scenes, don't you let the character's emotions affect your real life?"
Yeon Jung-hoon smiled. "Yes. But you need to learn to distinguish between the two. When you're acting, you're the character. After the director yells 'Cut,' you're yourself."
Park Jiyeon nodded, took a deep breath, and stood up.
"Thank you, senior."
"You're welcome. I'm going to touch up my makeup; my eyes are red."
Park Jiyeon went to the dressing room and touched up her makeup in front of the mirror. The makeup artist asked her if she hadn't slept well, and she said, "Yeah, insomnia." The makeup artist covered her dark circles and touched up her blush to make her look more refreshed.
Even though I'm wearing makeup, I still look haggard in the mirror.
She remembered Su Yu's words, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself," and his words, "You've already done very well." Those two sentences were like two pebbles thrown into her heart, rippling outwards in circles.
On the fourth try, she finally managed to say those three words.
It wasn't a perfect take, so the director had her shoot two more times, but at least she didn't stumble anymore. It was already 8 PM when filming wrapped. Park Jiyeon changed out of her costume, removed her makeup, and walked out of the studio alone.
There was a car parked at the entrance.
It wasn't Su Yu's car. It was Shirley's.
Shirley rolled down the car window and waved to her. "Get in."
Park Jiyeon paused for a moment, then opened the car door and got in.
"Why are you here?"
"Just passing by. Stop by for a quick drop by." Shirley started the car. "Have you eaten?"
"no."
"I haven't eaten either. Let's go, I know a shop that's still open at this hour."
After a twenty-minute drive, the car stopped in front of a secluded Korean restaurant. Shirley was clearly a regular customer; the owner saw her and immediately led her into a private room.
The two sat down and ordered army stew and soju.
Park Jiyeon looked at the bottle of soju on the table and said, "I can't drink much." Sulli said, "Drink a little, so you can sleep better."
After the first drink, Park Jiyeon started talking non-stop.
"Today during filming, I couldn't say the words 'I love you.' The director had to call it four times before we got it right."
Shirley picked up a piece of ham and chewed it slowly. "Because you were thinking of him?"
Park Jiyeon nodded, then shook her head. "Not entirely. I just... feel ridiculous. In the drama, I told a non-existent lover I loved her, and it was so difficult for me. But in reality, I really like someone, yet I don't dare say a single word."
Shirley put down her chopsticks and looked at her.
"Then don't say it."
"I know."
"You don't know." Shirley poured herself a glass of wine and drank it. "I told you, he wouldn't choose us. It's not because we're bad, it's because he's already chosen someone else. It doesn't matter who came first or last, what matters is that he only has eyes for Cai Xiubin."
Park Jiyeon looked down at the soup in the bowl, the steam blurring her face.
I don't expect him to choose me.
"Then what do you expect?"
"Hoping..." Park Jiyeon thought for a moment, "Hoping he would glance at me more. Not like a boss looking at an employee, but... never mind, I don't know."
Shirley was silent for a few seconds, then sighed softly.
"I understand."
The two clinked glasses and drank it all.
The army stew was bubbling away, and the private room was quiet.
"Shirley."
"Um."
"What are you going to do? Just keep liking him like this?"
Shirley leaned back in her chair, looking at the light on the ceiling.
"I don't know. Let's leave it at that for now. Anyway, my focus right now is my career. He didn't sign me so I could date. I have acting roles, singing, money to earn, and... someone I can like. Even if that person doesn't like me, at least he's by my side. I can see him every day, which makes me luckier than many people."
After listening, Park Jiyeon remained silent for a long time.
You're more carefree than me.
"It's not about being carefree, it's about having come to terms with things." Shirley sat up straight and poured drinks for both of them. "I've made a promise to myself—no confessions, no sabotage, no expectations. That's it."
"Not looking forward to it? How could I not be looking forward to it?"
"Then let's expect less." Shirley raised her glass. "Come on, cheers to 'expect less'."
Park Jiyeon was amused by her and raised her glass to clink glasses with hers.
"Expect less."
That night, the two of them drank two bottles of soju. Park Jiyeon blushed, while Sulli didn't react much; her alcohol tolerance was frighteningly high.
When it came time to pay the bill, Shirley insisted on paying, saying, "You can treat me next time."
Park Jiyeon said "okay".
Shirley drove her home and parked the car downstairs.
"Ji-yeon".
"Um."
"If you need someone to talk to in the future, just call me. Don't bear it all alone."
Park Jiyeon's nose tingled, and she almost cried again.
"it is good."
She got out of the car and walked into the apartment building. She was the only one in the elevator, and her face in the mirror was flushed; she didn't know if it was from drinking or something else.
After getting home, she took a shower, lay in bed, and turned on her phone.
An hour ago, Su Yu sent a message to the company's group chat: "Meeting at 10 a.m. tomorrow, everyone be there."
Everyone was there. Including her.
Park Jiyeon stared at the message for a long time without replying.
She opened her private chat window with Su Yu and typed: "Representative Su, thank you for visiting the set today."
After thinking about it, I deleted it.
Then he typed: "Representative Su, goodnight."
It was deleted again.
In the end, I didn't send anything, put my phone on the bedside table, and turned off the light.
She stared at the ceiling with her eyes open in the darkness.
My phone vibrated.
She quickly picked it up; it was a message from Shirley: "Are you home yet? Get some sleep."
It's not Su Yu.
Park Jiyeon replied, "Arrived, goodnight," and then held her phone to her chest.
The sound of his heartbeat was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
Thump, thump.
It's like calling someone's name.
But she didn't dare to say it.
At the same time, Su Yu was looking at his phone on the sofa at home.
Cai Xiubin came over with a plate of cut fruit, sat down next to him, and fed him a piece of apple.
"Did you visit the set today?"
Su Yu chewed on an apple and hummed in agreement.
"The crew of 'Stranger' are discussing collaboration."
"Did you see Park Jiyeon?"
Su Yu glanced at her. "Why are you asking this?"
"Just asking." Cai Xiubin forked another piece of apple, ate it herself, and asked, "How is she?"
"It's alright. The lines were a bit choppy at first, but it got better later."
Cai Xiubin nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Su Yu put down his phone and put his arm around her shoulder.
"What's wrong with you today?"
"Nothing much," Cai Xiubin leaned on his shoulder. "It's just that I feel you're quite nice to the other actresses too."
Su Yu remained silent for two seconds.
"They are the company's artists. I'm nice to them because they can make money for the company. You're different."
"What's different?"
Su Yu looked down at her and tapped the tip of her nose with his finger.
"Marrying you won't cost me anything."
Cai Xiubin paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Who's going to marry you?"
"you."
"You're so shameless."
Su Yu smiled slightly and leaned down to kiss her.
Cai Xiubin closed her eyes and hugged his neck.