161: Chapter 161 Visiting the Film Set

A black sedan drove steadily along the slightly crowded streets of Seoul in the afternoon.

Inside the car, it was quiet, with only the faint sound of the air conditioning system.

Shin Se-kyung sat in the passenger seat, her hands unconsciously gripping the strap of the backpack on her lap, her gaze drifting as she watched the streetscape flash by outside the window.

A sense of nervousness quietly grew as she left the warm, private space of the Villa and gradually approached the professional domain known as the "film set."

Going to see Director Lee Chang-dong, going to see Director Kang Hyeong-cheol, and watching Senior Son Ye-jin and Senior Han Hyo-joo film... every term made her heart beat a little faster.

"Are you nervous?" Song Tianhao's voice broke the silence in the car.

He rested one hand on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed ahead, his tone calm.

Shin Se-kyung snapped back to reality, turned her head to look at his sharp profile, and nodded honestly: "A little. President, will I... will I be disturbing the seniors' work by showing up at the film set so abruptly? And, as for Director Kang Hyeong-cheol..."

She paused, her voice dropping lower, "I haven't signed the contract yet, it's only tentative, and to just go over like this..."

"Since Director Lee initiated the suggestion, it means it won't be a disturbance."

Song Tianhao's tone carried a sense of certainty, as if he were stating a simple fact, "As for Director Kang Hyeong-cheol, meeting him in advance and letting him see you in person is more useful than looking at resumes and photos.

You are an actress; you must ultimately speak through your acting, but first impressions are also important. Relax, just treat it as a learning opportunity; speak less and observe more."

He turned his head to glance at her, and seeing that she was still tense, he added, "You were much braver in the water yesterday than you are now."

Shin Se-kyung was stunned, then immediately remembered her clumsiness splashing in the Swimming pool yesterday, as well as his words, "Because you are worth it." Her cheeks flushed slightly, but strangely, that sense of nervousness seemed to be diluted by this sentence.

She took a deep breath and straightened her back: "Yes, President. I will observe carefully."

The car finally drove into a large studio complex located in a relatively secluded area of Gyeonggi-do.

After showing their passes and passing security checks, the car stopped outside a warehouse-style building that looked like it had seen better days.

Even before getting out of the car, one could feel a tense and focused atmosphere that was different from the outside world.

Following Song Tianhao into the studio, Shin Se-kyung subconsciously held her breath.

Before her was a huge space meticulously decorated to look like the interior of an old, dimly lit apartment.

Lighting equipment stood everywhere, and thick cables snaked across the floor like black pythons.

Staff members moved back and forth with hurried steps, but all deliberately lowered their voices.

The air was filled with the faint smell of dust, the acrid scent of overheating wires, and an indescribable sense of oppression that belonged to a creative set.

In the center of the shooting area, under two huge soft lights, was the set of an apartment living room.

The furniture was old, the wallpaper was mottled, and the lighting was deliberately dimmed, with only a little pale daylight filtering through a fake window.

And right in this dim light and shadow stood two people.

Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo, even though they were only wearing simple costumes—Son Ye-jin in a faded white cotton dress, and Han Hyo-joo in a slightly tight black knit sweater and trousers.

Even with traces of fatigue on their faces, the fact that they stood there made them a sight to behold.

That was the aura that only top actors, tested by countless lenses and recognized by the market and the audience, could possess—it didn't need to be forced; it was already there.

At this moment, the two stood facing each other less than three meters apart.

Son Ye-jin (playing Yoon Soo-ah - Light) tilted her head slightly, lips pressed into a thin line, eyes rimmed with red, hands clenched into fists at her sides, her body trembling slightly from some intense emotion.

Han Hyo-joo (playing Yoon Soo-ah - Shadow) tilted her head slightly, wearing a cold smile that was almost cruel and inquisitive, yet her eyes were icy, devoid of any warmth.

Behind the monitor, Director Lee Chang-dong's brows were furrowed, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of his chair.

Beside him, the assistant director, cinematographer, and lighting director all held their breath, and the entire set was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

"Action!" Director Lee Chang-dong's voice rang out through the walkie-talkie, low and clear.

Son Ye-jin stepped forward, her voice hoarse and tearful: "Why... why did you have to become like this?!"

Her eyes held pain, confusion, and struggle.

Han Hyo-joo sneered, advancing instead of retreating, almost pressing against the other person, her voice extremely low but every word cutting like a knife: "I became like this? Yoon Soo-ah, look at yourself. Hypocritical, cowardly, packaging your selfishness with kindness! I am the real you, the part of you that you are desperately trying to hide, the part that cannot see the light!"

"I am not!" Son Ye-jin shook her head violently, tears finally rolling down, "I am not like that! Shut up!"

"Cut!" Director Lee Chang-dong's voice sounded, carrying clear dissatisfaction.

The clapperboard clapped, and the tense atmosphere instantly dissipated.

Son Ye-jin immediately raised her hand to wipe the corners of her eyes, taking a deep breath to adjust her emotions.

Han Hyo-joo also retracted her cold smile, rubbed her brow, and walked to the side to pick up a water bottle and take a sip.

"Wrong, still wrong." Director Lee Chang-dong stood up, walked to the monitor, and pointed at the playback on the screen, "The emotion is there, but it's too 'acted.' Both of you are 'acting' the confrontation, 'acting' the anger and pain.

What I want is reality, that fear and... attraction that seeps from the bones when seeing another version of yourself. Find the feeling again, take a five-minute break."

He sighed, and when he turned around, he saw Song Tianhao and Shin Se-kyung, who had been standing on the periphery without him noticing.

"Tianhao is here." The seriousness on Director Lee Chang-dong's face eased slightly, and he nodded.

His gaze lingered briefly on Shin Se-kyung, acknowledging her, though his mind was clearly still immersed in the scene just now.

"Director Lee." Song Tianhao nodded slightly without making small talk, his gaze already cast toward the frozen frame on the monitor.

Shin Se-kyung followed half a step behind him, breathing lightly, her gaze involuntarily drawn to the two top actresses on the set.

The focus on their faces, a mix of fatigue, impatience, and an unwillingness to lose, was something she had never experienced so closely in her limited acting career.

This was a real film set, without the ease of retakes, where every second was burning.

Song Tianhao watched the playback a few times, then lifted his eyes to look at Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo, who were each brewing their emotions in the middle of the set.

Son Ye-jin closed her eyes, silently muttering something, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her costume dress.

Han Hyo-joo leaned against an old sofa, staring at a point in the void, her eyes somewhat unfocused.

"Let them come over and rest for a moment, have a drink of water." Song Tianhao said to Director Lee Chang-dong in a low voice, "They are wound too tight; the strings are about to snap."

Director Lee Chang-dong glanced at him and waved his hand. The assistant immediately trotted over to notify them.

Upon hearing this, Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo both walked over.

Son Ye-jin saw Song Tianhao first, and those eyes, which had been somewhat misty from getting into character, brightened significantly, and her pace quickened a little.

But when her gaze touched upon the quiet, slightly reserved young girl standing behind Song Tianhao, her steps paused almost imperceptibly, the light in her eyes dimmed slightly, and she regained the aloofness and scrutiny characteristic of a senior actress.

"President." Son Ye-jin walked up close, her voice still carrying the slight hoarseness from the scene.

Her gaze swept over Shin Se-kyung's face before she gave Song Tianhao a shallow, weary smile, "Why did you come over?"

"Director Lee said he was a bit stuck, so he asked me to come over for a cup of coffee and take a look while I'm at it."

Song Tianhao's tone was casual as he picked up two bottles of water from a tray brought over by a staff member and handed them to Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo respectively.

"Thank you, President." Han Hyo-joo took the water, thanked him obediently, and her gaze fell curiously on Shin Se-kyung, with a look of friendly inquiry.

"This is Shin Se-kyung, a rookie actress at the company." Song Tianhao introduced her simply, without saying more.

Shin Se-kyung bowed quickly: "Senior Son Ye-jin, Senior Han Hyo-joo, hello, I am Shin Se-kyung. Sorry for the disturbance."

"Hello." Son Ye-jin nodded, her attitude not exactly warm but polite and courteous.

Han Hyo-joo returned the smile: "Hello, Shin Se-kyung-xi."

Song Tianhao didn't continue the small talk, his gaze falling back on the two actresses, and he cut to the chase in a calm tone: "I watched that last take a few times. The problem isn't with the technique; it's with the mindset."

Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo immediately put aside other thoughts and looked at him with focus.

Even Director Lee Chang-dong, standing nearby, perked up his ears.

"The two of you are trying too hard to 'act' out that sense of extreme confrontation." Song Tianhao's voice was not loud, but it was clearly audible in the quiet film set, "Every expression, every line, even the rhythm of your breathing, is being designed and controlled.

The result is that while it looks full of tension, you are actually 'performing' tension rather than letting it naturally arise from within the characters."

He walked to the spot where they had just been standing, simulated their movement, and then turned to look at them: "What is the relationship between Yoon Soo-ah (Light) and Yoon Soo-ah (Shadow)? On the surface, it's the opposition of light and shadow, the conflict between good and evil.

But what is the core of the script? It is two sides of a split person, the collapse and reconstruction of self-awareness.

They hate each other because the other reveals the truth they don't want to face; but they also need each other, because light without shadow does not exist, and shadow without light has no meaning."

He paused, looking at the two who were deep in thought: "So, when they truly see each other in this 'mirror' for the first time, besides the fear, disgust, and anger written in the script, what is the deeper emotion?

Is it possible that in that moment, there is also a trace of... relief at finally finding the other? That complex feeling of 'Ah, so you were here, so this is the part of me I didn't want to admit'?"

Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo were stunned at the same time.

Song Tianhao's words were like a fine needle, precisely piercing the emotional shell they had been struggling to create, revealing a deeper, more complex, and more humanly authentic core underneath.

They had been "acting" the opposition, but forgot that beneath this opposition was a twisted symbiosis of the same origin.

"Forget the expressions and movements you designed, forget the emphasis and pauses in your lines." Song Tianhao's voice softened, carrying a guiding tone, "Just look at each other. Don't look at a fellow actor; look at that 'self' in the mirror."

"Think about it. If one day, you truly saw a 'self' in the mirror that was completely strange, yet so familiar that it made you shudder, what would your mood be? Would you just want to smash the mirror, or... would you be unable to resist wanting to reach out and touch it?"

The set was so quiet that only the faint hum of equipment running could be heard.

The eyes of all the staff were focused on Song Tianhao, or perhaps, through him, focused on the two actresses lost in thought.

Shin Se-kyung stood behind and to the side of Song Tianhao, watching his calm yet powerful silhouette, watching how he used only a few words to seemingly tear open a new path for a shoot that had been stuck in a quagmire, her heart accelerating involuntarily.

This was how he looked when he worked. Calm, sharp, and incisive.

He didn't rely on the title of Best Actor to pressure others, but used a true understanding of the characters and human nature to make people convinced.

"I think I... understand a little now." Son Ye-jin spoke first, her voice very light, but her eyes gradually becoming clear. The previous feeling of overexertion and tension was slowly fading from her.

When she looked at Han Hyo-joo again, there was something in her gaze that hadn't been there before.

Han Hyo-joo also nodded. She looked at Son Ye-jin, the coldness and hostility in her eyes fading, replaced by a deeper, more complex scrutiny, as if she were truly looking through the other person at some strange version of herself.

"Thank you, President Song." Han Hyo-joo said softly, her tone sincere.

"Go over there, run through the lines, but don't 'act'. Just try talking, using the identity of Yoon Soo-ah." Director Lee Chang-dong spoke at the right moment, a trace of relief finally appearing on his face. He patted Song Tianhao's shoulder, "You kid, your eye is still as sharp as ever."

Song Tianhao was noncommittal, his gaze turning to the other side, where a middle-aged man wearing a casual jacket with slightly curly hair was walking towards them, a smile on his face.

"Director Kang." Song Tianhao walked up two steps and extended his hand.

"President Song, long time no see." Director Kang Hyeong-cheol, who was also the director of Shin Se-kyung's future film "My Ghostly Girlfriend", shook hands with Song Tianhao with a smile, his gaze naturally falling on Shin Se-kyung who was following at Song Tianhao's side, "This must be Shin Se-kyung-xi, right?"

"Director Kang Hyeong-cheol, hello, I am Shin Se-kyung." Shin Se-kyung immediately bowed and greeted him, the string in her heart tightening again.

Director Kang Hyeong-cheol looked her up and down a few times and nodded: "Hmm, your appearance and temperament are indeed a good fit for the character 'In-young'. I heard," he looked at Song Tianhao with a hint of teasing, "in order to act well in several underwater scenes, you are doing special training in Swimming at President Song's place?"

Song Tianhao's expression didn't change, his tone normal: "It's a good thing for young people to be willing to put in the effort. Se-kyung is very hardworking for the role; she started Swimming from scratch, and in just two days, she can already swim about ten meters. What she lacks is experience, but she doesn't lack attitude or aptitude. For the specifics, once filming starts, I will have to ask you to take extra care in guiding her."

These words were said neither humbly nor arrogantly, both highlighting Shin Se-kyung's efforts and giving the director enough face, while also implying the importance Sky Entertainment placed on this film.

The smile on Director Kang Hyeong-cheol's face became more genuine, and he said to Shin Se-kyung: "Being willing to put in hard work for a role is the first step, and also the most important step. I hope that after filming starts, I can see your progress and potential."

"Yes, Director! I will definitely work hard!" Shin Se-kyung immediately promised.

The brief exchange did not last too long; Director Kang Hyeong-cheol was clearly just taking some time to come over and take a look, and he was soon called away by someone.

Song Tianhao didn't intend to stay long either, and after speaking a few more words in a low voice with Director Lee Chang-dong, likely suggesting giving the two leads some time to adjust and rest so they wouldn't be too tense.

Director Lee Chang-dong sighed and nodded in agreement.

When leaving the set, Shin Se-kyung felt her back was a little damp with sweat. Not because of the heat, but because of that omnipresent, high-intensity creative pressure, and... those gazes from all sides, whether overt or covert.

She could feel that when she appeared with Song Tianhao, especially when Song Tianhao personally introduced her to Director Kang Hyeong-cheol, many of the staff on set, including some actors, cast gazes full of inquiry and curiosity.

She could clearly capture that when Song Tianhao was guiding Son Ye-jin and Han Hyo-joo, Senior Son Ye-jin's gaze had more than once seemingly unintentionally swept over the position where she was standing; although it moved away quickly, that momentary pause and scrutiny made Shin Se-kyung's heart tremble slightly.

Senior Han Hyo-joo's gaze was relatively simpler, mostly curiosity, but after Song Tianhao finished those words, the gaze she directed at her seemed to have a little more of a different meaning.

In the car on the way back, it was even quieter than when they came.

Shin Se-kyung leaned against the back of the seat, watching the streetscape rapidly receding outside the window, her fingers unconsciously squeezing the unfinished bottle of mineral water in her hand, the plastic bottle body emitting a slight, almost inaudible "crackle" sound.

"What's wrong?" Song Tianhao's voice sounded, breaking the silence, "Scared by the atmosphere on set? Or scared by the number of NGs?"

Shin Se-kyung collected her thoughts, released the bottle that had been slightly deformed by her squeezing, shook her head, her voice a bit low: "No. I just think... President, you are really amazing."

Song Tianhao raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

"Senior Son Ye-jin and Senior Han Hyo-joo, they are already such top-tier, such excellent actresses."

Shin Se-kyung turned her head, looking at Song Tianhao's profile as he drove, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration, as well as a hint of confusion and self-reproach, "But in front of you, they still listened to your explanation of the scenes so seriously, listening to your guidance."

"The things you said, they immediately took to heart, and they could really change their state immediately... I, I don't know when I will be able to reach... the qualification to have you spend such effort to guide me."

She spoke very slowly, each word seemingly squeezed out with difficulty from her heart.

This half-day on set let her truly see the gap between herself and those people at the top of the mountain, and also made her more clearly realize what kind of height the man standing beside her was actually standing at.

She felt proud of him, but behind that pride was a huge, almost suffocating sense of distance.

The car was quiet for a few seconds, with only the steady roar of the engine.

"Shin Se-kyung." Song Tianhao spoke, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the enclosed car, "Everyone has their own time zone. Son Ye-jin, Han Hyo-joo, they have struggled and climbed in this industry for many years to have today's position and acting skills. You don't need to, and you shouldn't, compare yourself with anyone."

He paused, his gaze still looking ahead, his tone calm but carrying a kind of steady strength: "You only need to do one thing: be one step further than your yesterday's self."

"Just like Swimming, yesterday you didn't even dare to submerge your head in the water, today you can already swim a distance relying on a kickboard. That is enough. That is worth affirming."

Shin Se-kyung looked at him blankly, her nose suddenly feeling a bit sore.

"And," Song Tianhao's tone slowed down a bit, carrying a rare gentleness, "I took you to the set today not for you to compare, to look up to, and then belittle yourself into the dust. It was to let you see for yourself what this mountain you want to climb in the future is really like."

"Having seen the scenery at the top of the mountain, and also seen the paths of climbing and the steepness you might encounter, only then will you know how your own path should be walked, step by step, solidly."

He turned his head and glanced at her, and in those deep eyes, there was no blame, no disappointment, only calm, elder-like guidance and expectation.

"The road is still very long, Shin Se-kyung. But at least, you are already standing at the starting point. And," he turned his head back, his tone returning to his usual indifference, "you are not alone."

You are not alone.

These simple few words were like a warm current, instantly breaking down the dam of self-pity in Shin Se-kyung's heart.

She blinked hard, forcing back the damp heat that welled up in her eyes, and then, nodded heavily, her voice, though still a little choked, was incredibly clear and firm:

"Yes! President, I understand. I will work hard! Step by step, I will climb up!"

Song Tianhao curled the corner of his mouth almost imperceptibly, said nothing more, and just focused on driving.

The car drove towards Gangnam District, in the direction of the Villa.

Shin Se-kyung looked out the window, the glass curtain walls of the high-rise buildings reflecting the golden-red light of the sunset, and this city appeared exceptionally prosperous yet also exceptionally cold in the twilight.

However, the chill and timidity in her heart, caused by witnessing the top-tier battlefield, were being replaced by another kind of burning thing. That was a goal, a determination, a craving to desperately catch up, to want to one day be able to stand side-by-side.

At this moment, the phone she was holding in her hand vibrated once.

Unlocking the screen, it was a KakaoTalk message sent by Kim Sae-ron.

"Se-kyung Unnie! Was the Swimming lesson with CEO Oppa smooth today? (≧ω≦)/"

Following it was a cartoon emoticon cheering her on.

Looking at Kim Sae-ron's energetic and warm text and emoticon, the corners of Shin Se-kyung's mouth curled up unconsciously.

She thought of that lively and slightly precocious little sister, and thought of those times in the Sky Entertainment practice room that were busy but had a relaxed atmosphere.

On this mountain that seemed cold, cruel, and fiercely competitive, perhaps, it was not entirely ice and thorns.

At least, the car she was riding in right now was driving towards a place whose password she knew, a place with sunshine and a Swimming pool. And the person in the driver's seat...

Shin Se-kyung quietly raised her eyes, looking at Song Tianhao's well-defined profile, the afterglow of the sunset plating him with a layer of warm golden edge.

And he was leading her, walking on the road leading up the mountain.

She lowered her head, her fingers tapping lightly on the screen, replying to Kim Sae-ron: "Very smooth. Thank you, Sae-ron. See you at the company tomorrow?"

Click, send.

Then, she gently pressed the phone against her chest, feeling the steady and powerful beating there, her gaze turning back to the rapidly flowing twilight city outside the window, her eyes gradually becoming calm and firm.