Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All - Chapter 275: Manshin Wol-Ah (1)

[Everyday V10.1]

[Date: August 27, 2020]

-10:00 p.m. [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin] Emergency meeting regarding the article <The True Identity of Manshin Wol-Ah is Jung Yoo-Jin> by Star Patch. (Meeting content: Jung Yoo-Jin’s makeup-free photo to be revealed.)

‘What? The identity of Manshin Wol-Ah would be exposed?’ I wondered in disbelief.

I blinked and verified the schedule again. It would have been nice if the name of the Star Patch reporter was mentioned. Unfortunately, only the name of the newspaper was listed.

The article was set to be released by Star Patch five days later on August 27 at 10 p.m. They would even reveal makeup-free photos of Yoo-Jin.

‘How could this happen?‘ I asked myself.

Knowing how hard Yoo-Jin had worked to hide the identity of Manshin Wol-Ah, I couldn’t stand by and watch Star Patch expose her.

Upon seeing my serious expression, Jin Yoo-Jung asked with a worried voice, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Today, Jin Yoo-Jung had to act out an intense emotional confrontation scene with Kim Soo-Hee. Not wanting to cause unnecessary worry, I mumbled that it was nothing.

However, Jin Yoo-Jung looked at me intently and spoke in a low voice. “Don’t keep things to yourself. Just talk to me and I’ll help with anything I can. I hate seeing you with that expression.”

Yoo-Jin candidly expressed her thoughts using the authoritative power of Jin Yoo-Jung. Though I appreciated her concern, this wasn’t something Yoo-Jin could help me with.

“Thank you for your concern, ma’am.”

‘I would have thanked Yoo-Jin by her real name if there hadn’t been others around.’

I saw the staff quickly taking their positions for the filming and said to Jin Yoo-Jung, “It’s time to start shooting. Let’s go.”

Jin Yoo-Jung took my hand and stood up. “Alright. Make sure to tell me if things get tough, okay? Talking it out might lead to a better solution.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Dressed in a white hanbok with her short white hair tightly tied back, Jin Yoo-Jung began walking slowly. Once on the set, she quickly transformed into the hunched Manshin Wol-Ah.

Seeing the genius actress who could immerse herself in a character in the blink of an eye made my heart swell with pride.

Now, it was time for me to do my job.

While Yoo-Jin prepared for the shoot, I started considering all possible scenarios.

***

Today’s scene 99 involved the confrontation between a wealthy family matriarch who hid her son’s serial killings and Manshin Wol-Ah. The matriarch sought out her old hometown friend, Manshin Wol-Ah, to perform an exorcism for her son whom she believed was possessed by a ghost and committing the murders.

However, the truth was that her son was not possessed but simply a psychopath. Upon hearing this from Manshin Wol-Ah, the matriarch went into a frenzy. The scene captured the conflict between the misguided mother trying to protect her son and Manshin Wol-Ah urging her to stop before accumulating more karma.

Kim Soo-Hee, who played the wealthy family matriarch Lee Myung-Ah, had fasted for three days to prepare for today’s scene. Her cheeks were sunken and her eyes flashed wildly, making her look half-crazed.

At that moment, a problem with the camera caused a brief delay in filming. During this pause, Kim Soo-Hee slowly approached Jin Yoo-Jung and started muttering something to her. Their expressions were so intense that I couldn’t even try to guess what they were discussing.

When Jin Yoo-Jung nodded, Kim Soo-Hee returned back to her place. In the meantime, the filming preparations were completed.

“I’m sorry. We’ll resume filming now,” Kim Sung-Woon apologized. Then, Kim Soo-Hee and Jin Yoo-Jung enter the shrine of Manshin Wol-Ah.

“PD Kim, give me a moment,” Kim Soo-Hee asked as she removed the rubber band that tied her hair back. Her dry hair fell limply and her white hair covered half of her face.

Kim Soo-Hee took several deep breaths and then spoke in a cracked voice. “Let’s begin.”

At that moment, Kim Sung-Woon swallowed hard and shouted energetically. “Okay, scene 99. Ready~ action!”

As soon as the filming started, Kim Soo-Hee began to speak in a trembling voice to Manshin Wol-Ah seated opposite her.

『My son… is not possessed by a ghost?』

Kim Soo-Hee’s whole body started to tremble. She screamed that it couldn’t be in a loud voice, then soon began to stutter. She pleaded and even begged, saying it must be a mistake and asking for Manshin Wol-Ah’s help.

『Wol-Ah! Don’t lie to me. You must have seen it wrong. There’s no way my good boy Myung-Seok would kill people without a reason… You’re lying… Aren’t you? Are you taking revenge on me for bullying you when we were young? If that’s the case, I’ll apologize now. I’m sorry, Wol-Ah. Please help me. Please…』

Kim Soo-Hee looked like a person whose soul had left her body. The staff were speechless with their mouths agape at Kim Soo-Hee’s possessed performance.

However, Manshin Wol-Ah remained calm and fanned herself in annoyance even amidst this intense atmosphere.

『Your son is definitely not someone who would forget himself by being possessed by a ghost. He’s rather the kind of person who would capture the ghost and use its power! If you thought he was possessed, he has deceived his own mother!』

Manshin Wol-Ah spoke harshly and clicked her tongue. She had already predicted at the time of Lee Myung-Ah’s son’s birth that he would be a useless wretch and had advised Lee Myung-Ah to abandon him at a temple. Her words led to the two childhood friends becoming enemies.

Manshin Wol-Ah argued that Lee Myung-Ah’s son was beyond hope and warned that if Lee Myung-Ah didn’t report him to the police by the next day, she would do it herself.

Lee Myung Ah’s eyes widened when she heard Manshin Wol-Ah say that her son would eventually kill many people, including his parents. She reached out and grabbed Manshin Wol-Ah’s hanbok collar forcefully with both hands.

『Sh-shut up! You can only say that because you don’t understand how it’s like to be a mother! Especially since you’ve been isolating yourself in the mountains and have never known a man! How dare you run your mouth!』

Kim Soo-Hee’s piercing scream as Lee Myung-Ah echoed through the set and sent chills down my spine. Despite hearing such a curse-filled remark up close, Manshin Wol-Ah remained unperturbed. It was astounding that Yoo-Jin could maintain her composure while witnessing Kim Soo-Hee’s overwhelming performance.

Manshin Wol-Ah’s face started to turn red as her hanbok collar was held tightly. She told Lee Myung-Ah to let go, but the latter simply tightened her grip with veins bulging at her temples. Lee Myung-Ah even threatened to kill Manshin Wol-Ah if she reported her son to the police.

At that moment, Manshin Wol-Ah unexpectedly kicked Lee Myung-Ah in the chest with her bare foot.

『Argh!』

Kim Soo-Hee screamed and rolled backward.

‘This is unbelievable… Was that an ad-lib? What is she thinking!?‘ I wondered.

The staff were at a loss upon seeing Jin Yoo-Jung’s unscripted kick.

No matter how good an actor was, a supporting actor kicking the legendary Kim Soo-Hee was unprecedented. Everyone started to get nervous, worried that Kim Soo-Hee might get angry and refuse to continue acting. Even Kim Sung-Woon seemed to be debating whether to call it a cut.

But then Kim Soo-Hee, who had been thrown into the corner, struggled to stand up with her eyes full of murderous intent.

The acting continued.

Kim Sung-Woon sighed in relief and refocused on the monitor.

This time, Lee Myung-Ah burst out screaming and lunged to grab Manshin Wol-Ah by the hair.

The staff could only watch in stunned silence at the brutal acting and fighting unfolding before their eyes. Kim Sung-Woon also froze on the spot with his hands sweating as he trembled.

After a minute of fierce fighting, Yoo-Jin returned to her original lines in the script.

『Huff, huff… You foolish woman! Do you think you are the only mother suffering in this world? My child also lives on the boundary between humans and ghosts because she was cursed from birth.』

『No, no way… Huff, huff. Could it be that your daughter…like you…』

『Yes! Like me, she cuts her life short to see the spirits! That poor, pitiful child!』

Manshin Wol-Ah cried out in agony.

At that moment, the exhausted Lee Myung-Ah finally stopped attacking Manshin Wol-Ah like a madwoman and slumped to the floor.

The two of them glared at each other in silence with tears streaming down their faces.

After a brief pause, Lee Myung-Ah stood up to leave, saying she would think about reporting her son later.

Just as she was about to exit, Manshin Wol-Ah spoke once again.

『Your child will never stop. So you better report him now while you can… If you don’t, countless innocent lives will be lost. You and your husband will also die!』

Lee Myung-Ah turned around and glared at Manshin Wol-Ah with a look of pure hatred.

『My son loves me more than anything! You don’t understand anything!』

The sharp emotional exchange between the two women left the staff as mere spectators, watching in a daze.

It felt like a cold wind was blowing through the set. Goosebumps rose on my skin and it felt like the dead of winter. The acting as if walking on a razor’s edge slowly came to an end.

“C-cut~~! Okay!” shouted Kim Sung-Woon.

The exhausted two actresses collapsed to the floor as soon as they heard Kim Sung-Woon.

***

“Ma’am, you were amazing!”

“Mrs. Jin! Can’t you continue acting instead of going back to your shrine?”

“Wow, Mrs. Jin! Even the production team learned a lot from your performance today. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Gosh, seriously. Today’s shoot was incredible.”

“Look, I got chills. What did I just witness?”

After the shoot ended, praise poured in for Kim Soo-Hee and Jin Yoo-Jung.

Supported by the staff, the two of them asked for a break saying it was too hard to continue with shooting today. Given the intense emotional battle, Kim Sung-Woon postponed Kim Soo-Hee’s next scene to tomorrow.

The staff worried if Kim Soo-Hee was hurt from the kick, but she assured them it was just part of the act and she wasn’t injured.

‘What a relief,‘ I thought.

After saying goodbye to Kim Soo-Hee, Jin Yoo-Jung wobbled over while receiving congratulations from the staff.

“Phew. Today’s scene was tough. Team Lead Jung, what are you doing? Let’s go now,” said Jin Yoo-Jung.

“Oh, yes, yes.”

I said goodbye to the staff and helped Jin Yoo-Jung into the car. Once the door was closed, Jin Yoo-Jung leaned back in the rear seat and let out a long sigh. “Ah, I thought I was going to die. By the way, how did I do?”

The exhausted Yoo-Jin forgot she was supposed to be acting as Jin Yoo-Jung.

“Um… you were the best. Truly.”

Her performance was so astounding it made my voice tremble.

In that moment, I felt a surge of emotion realizing just how much Yoo-Jin had grown as an actress. I recalled how I initially had doubts about whether Yoo-Jin could pull off dual roles. However, there wasn’t a shred of doubt left in my mind now.

“Anyway, Yoo-Jin, what was that about kicking Mrs. Kim in the chest earlier?” I asked.

Yoo-Jin smiled awkwardly. “Mrs. Kim told me to do it.”

She explained that Kim Soo-Hee wanted to make the scene more dramatic and had instructed her to kick her away forcefully. Kim Soo-Hee had said that since she would be trying to kill Yoo-Jin in the scene, Yoo-Jin should kick her back as if trying to kill her too.

It was a bold direction, but Yoo-Jin had tried to control her strength to avoid hurting her.

“Give me a heads up next time. I thought my heart was going to explode,” I replied.

Yoo-Jin stuck her tongue out playfully while still in her Jin Yoo-Jung costume. “I’m sorry. There wasn’t enough time to discuss it with you because Mrs. Kim told me just before shooting,”

Her playful demeanor despite being dressed as an elderly woman somehow looked adorable.

“Alright, good job. Let’s head home and rest.”

“Okay~”

After saying goodbye to the staff, we quickly left the parking lot. Once we left the set and entered the highway, Yang So-Ri asked cautiously from the backseat, “Mr. Jung, Miss Yoo-Jin must be tired. Should we take the mask off now?”

Since the car windows were heavily tinted, there was no risk of anyone seeing her unless they looked through the front windshield.

I nodded. “Yes, she must be drenched in sweat. Let’s take it off now.”

Yoo-Jin agreed, saying she was soaked in sweat and needed to remove the mask quickly.

However, that’s when something caught my eye.

“Wait a minute!” I yelled.

“Yes?”

“What’s wrong, oppa?”

I noticed a white van that I had seen when leaving the filming location following us closely.

Ristretto’s Thoughts

Let’s go, baby driver