NB | Chapter 3

“Kid… what did you say?”

Woohyun was so stunned to hear Kang Jiwon call him a kid that he was momentarily speechless. He should have asked if he’d ever seen such a giant kid, but instead, a bit of pheromone slipped out.

In that instant, Jiwon’s lips twitched slightly.

An alpha. A young alpha. And quite a…

Jiwon swallowed the thought that naturally followed. He felt that whatever he added would only lead to regret. The clear fact was that staying here any longer wouldn’t be beneficial.

The investor, who had seemed in no hurry to leave the set, checked his watch. Muttering to himself about how time had flown, he soon smiled at the director. The next words were predictable.

“I should get going.”

“Leaving already?”

Finally, he’s leaving. The director hid his relief behind a feigned look of disappointment. Kang Jiwon chuckled, seeing right through him.

“Yes, I’m leaving. No need to see me out, you’re busy.”

He glanced between the director and Seo Woohyun, his gaze lingering on Woohyun. As Kang Jiwon stepped away, his secretary, who had been standing two steps behind, followed immediately.

The fougère scent gradually faded. Woohyun couldn’t take his eyes off Jiwon’s retreating figure until he disappeared among the people. Soon, the director, looking more excited than before, turned to Woohyun.

Come to think of it, he was the one who called me over.

“Do you have a management company?”

“No.”

His curt response sounded more like someone with no interest in the industry than an aspiring actor. The director felt a momentary distance but couldn’t back down without trying to persuade him.

“If you’re okay with it, would you like to do a camera test?”

“What?”

“Your face looks great on camera. I’m getting all sorts of inspiration!”

“Director, I—”

“There’s a scene I really want to direct with you. Oh, I should explain first.”

When his words were cut off, Woohyun decided it was better to let the director say everything he wanted.

“I have a new project starting in the fall, and there’s a new role due to some script changes. It’s still open, and you caught my eye as a perfect fit.”

As the director paused for breath, Woohyun quickly interjected.

“I’m not really interested in this line of work.”

The director, as if he hadn’t expected Woohyun to refuse, exaggeratedly widened his eyes.

“Why not?”

Why not? What am I supposed to do if I’m not interested?

Despite his reluctance, the director didn’t seem to get the hint. Woohyun’s expression turned colder as he internally clicked his tongue.

“Wow, that look is great!”

The director suddenly clapped, his eyes sparkling as if he’d discovered a masterpiece.

“That cold, rebellious look is perfect. It’s infuriating but not easy to confront! This is exactly the mood I wanted with Writer Kim!”

What is he saying in front of me? Whether it was a compliment or an insult, Woohyun understood he was being called insolent.

Woohyun barely resisted the urge to rub his forehead in disbelief. Usually, when he refused this much, people gave up and left, but this director seemed to like it more the more serious he got.

“So, the role is some kind of thug?”

“How did you know?”

He had guessed it wasn’t a good role from the director’s reaction, but seeing the director genuinely surprised made him chuckle.

“The character is a bit rough. But you know, villains get more attention these days.”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t watch much drama.”

“You can start now. Villains with charm usually have good looks. If they’re ugly and have a bad personality, they just become unlikable. The saying ‘a face is a narrative’ is famous in our industry.”

At that point, Woohyun suddenly recalled the lingering fougère scent. If a face truly was a narrative, the owner of that scent fit the bill for a charming villain.

But… why am I thinking of that guy all of a sudden?

Surprised by his own thoughts, Woohyun flinched. Trying to regain composure, he tilted his head as if hearing he was handsome for the first time, making the director laugh heartily.

“Haha, Woohyun, you seem humble and kind. This pure side appeals to viewers. If your real self is different from the thug role, it stirs mixed emotions.”

“I beat someone up recently and took them to the hospital. Does that count as kind?”

The director, who had been returning at least five words for every one Woohyun said, finally fell silent. His tense lips quivered, trying to gauge if Woohyun was joking or serious.

The calm voice confessing to assault sounded almost like a lie. Yet, despite his gentle appearance, Seo Woohyun had an unrefined aura. It was as if he was ready to hit someone and face jail time if pushed to the edge.

“Isn’t that kind? Or responsible? Anyway, you took responsibility for your actions…”

The uncertain tone indicated the director knew he was grasping at straws. Woohyun found the director’s attempt to praise him somewhat intriguing.

He noticed the director unclenching his fists and rubbing them on his thighs. Despite his age, worry lines creased his forehead.

“Woohyun, you haven’t made any enemies, right? No one would recognize you for the wrong reasons if you appeared on TV, no school violence in your past, no frequent police visits…”

In short, he was asking if Woohyun had any character flaws. The voice grew smaller and fainter toward the end, amusing Woohyun. The director seemed to be wrestling with complex emotions, feeling sorry for prying into someone’s criminal record, worried about any positive response, and a primal fear of the person before him.

Woohyun chuckled. The director’s question made him reflect on his life.

Resentment was subjective, making it hard to gauge others’ motives. But if asked if he’d done anything so bad that being recognized would be problematic, the answer was no.

Counting the director’s forehead wrinkles, Woohyun finally shook his head. The director, who then smiled brightly, reached into his back pocket. He pulled out a business card from a black wallet.

“Then contact me here later. If I don’t answer, leave a message.”

He forcibly placed the card in Woohyun’s hand.

[Vanilla Bean Studio Producer Lee Byungho.]

The small paper card, like the company name, seemed to emit a sweet scent. It gave a good feeling, yet also a sense of unease.

***

The alley without a single streetlight was Woohyun’s life itself. Not being someone who lived in the sun, the path home no longer felt particularly dark. Woohyun found solace in his eyes, accustomed to the dark, being able to navigate the unlit alley as he climbed the stairs home.

He saw a red cigarette ember flickering in front of a concrete wall.

A firefly in the middle of Seoul. And it’s red.

Trying to escape with an unrealistic thought was futile. The red firefly fell straight to the ground and died.

“Seo Woohyun! You’re home late?”

Ah, damn…

The gruff voice that followed made Woohyun mutter a curse rising from his core. Though it didn’t reach the other person, the man seemed to understand Woohyun’s feelings from his expression. The nasty smile on his delinquent face deepened.