As Minjoon meticulously folded his umbrella and returned it to its original position, he found himself unable to exhale a sigh of relief. Today had undoubtedly been the most tumultuous experience he had ever encountered, yet he remained powerless to control the quivering of his muscles. Reflecting on the day's events, a smile involuntarily spread across his face. Having received praise from both Director Xue and Writer Lee, he found himself unexpectedly cornered by his fellow actors just as he was about to depart for home. Since their collective efforts had necessitated redoing their work, they swiftly concocted a plan to indulge in a karaoke session. Despite politely declining the invitation, Minjoon found himself persistently urged by both his fellow actors and some crew members. Uncertain if they would manage to secure a spot at the karaoke venue, given the absence of any prior reservations and the encroaching darkness of the evening, Minjoon's doubts lingered. However, his uncertainties were dispelled when one of the crew members shared a revelation. It came to his attention that Park Eunhee, one of his fellow actors and a female assassin in the production, happened to own a karaoke establishment with her brother. Consequently, they were able to procure a place to gather and enjoy their evening.
Lacking confidence in his ability to consume alcohol, Minjoon acknowledged that his tolerance was notably lower compared to his friends, and he instead held a predilection for tea. Specifically, he favored Pu'er tea originating from China's Yunnan province, to which he had developed a near-addiction during his stay there. The exception to his tepid relationship with alcohol occurred during his portrayal of Young Master Xuan in The Empress's Serenade: Secrets of the Forbidden Palace. It was on this occasion that he discovered enjoyment in imbibing, courtesy of a gift from Ren Chuanhua, who portrayed his character's mother, Concubine Yi. Ren had presented him with Osmanthus wine, known for its mellowness and sweetness, which Minjoon found himself quite fond of.
Following a brisk shower, Minjoon proceeded to charge his phone and glanced at the time, revealing the digits 4:09. Given the absence of any scenes scheduled for him in the past three days, he realized he finally had the opportunity to take a brief respite and concentrate on preparing for his forthcoming scene, where he encounters The Maiden of Unyielding Noble Virtue. Portraying the character of The Maiden of Unyielding Noble Virtue, Minjoon recognized the pivotal role this antagonist played in shaping the narrative. As the prominent figure within The Lesser Four Celestial of Harmonious White Crane Society, she commanded attention and left an indelible mark on the entire story. According to the script, her character exhibited an all-consuming obsession with beauty, rendering her incapable of tolerating anyone more beautiful than herself. This fixation inevitably pitted her against the heroine, Lady Hyojeong, casting the latter as her arch-nemesis in her eyes. While The Maiden of Unyielding Noble Virtue possessed a retinue of assassins under her command, her primary role within The Harmonious White Crane Society was that of an intelligence gatherer. Her ownership of several brothels allowed her to collect valuable information through her network of courtesans. The Ten Thousand Scent Pavilion served as her main residence, functioning as the customary meeting place for her subordinates. In the upcoming scene, Minjoon encounters her within the pavilion, bringing forth a message he had received while executing an information-gathering assignment on her behalf.
In contrast to the abrupt summer rain that had occurred a few days earlier, today's weather appeared significantly improved and more delightful. Minjoon had arrived early for a scheduled costume fitting, as instructed in the message. Han Jiyeon, who had become a close friend to him, warmly greeted him upon his arrival. According to her, there had been a few minor alterations to the script. In the upcoming scene, instead of meeting The Maiden of Unyielding Noble Virtue at night with a group of ten individuals, Minjoon was now required to encounter his master during daylight, disguised as a servant. Once the measurements were confirmed and the clothes were appropriately fitted, Minjoon found himself whisked away to undergo his makeup application. As Minjoon drew nearer to the location of the makeup artist, the reverberations of quarrels reached his ears. "Do you even possess the slightest clue about applying makeup? These colors aren't even on the designated palette. You should consider finding a different occupation. I refuse to work with amateurs. Do you know who I am? Is this the best you can offer? Leave immediately!" A high-pitched female voice pierced through the air, and without catching a glimpse of the person behind the outburst, Minjoon already knew who it was.
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Actress Yoon Soyeon was a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, known for being in one of the leading second-generation idol groups that disbanded nearly eight years ago. Despite being in her mid-thirties, she maintained an appearance reminiscent of someone in their early twenties. Having ventured into acting while still a member of the idol group, she amassed a vast following of devoted fans. However, one of the contributing factors to her group's dissolution was her problematic attitude toward the staff. WhisperWire, a cutting-edge company specializing in delivering exclusive and captivating rumors from the entertainment industry, had reported incidents of the actress physically assaulting a staff member for serving her a cold coffee, as well as disparaging her fellow group members. Consequently, she lost several endorsement contracts, yet through her networking prowess, she managed to secure the role of The Maiden of Unyielding Noble Virtue.
Standing alongside crew member Han Jiyeon, Minjoon maintained a composed and disinterested facial expression, ensuring he didn't become the next target of the actress's anger. Despite the assistant's persistent attempts to pacify her and convince her to cooperate with the makeup application, Actress Yoon Soyeon remained obstinate. This marked the third makeup artist she had refused to allow near her face, jeopardizing the timely completion of her look. Grumbling under her breath, she lapsed into silence, yet her chilling gaze lingered in the room. Spotting Minjoon, who sat at the back of the room while dabbing powder onto his face, she offered nothing more than a smirk. With her mood once again soured, her assistants resorted to flattery, desperately attempting to regain her favor by engaging in gossip about recent industry happenings. Minjoon's final touch-ups were swiftly concluded, with the makeup artist praising his excellent fair skin. Without drawing attention from Actress Yoon Soyeon, he and Han Jiyeon discreetly exited the room. Curious about why he had to use a makeup stand separate from hers, he inquired of Han Jiyeon. She explained that there had been an issue with the lower actors' makeup stand, necessitating the urgent relocation of Minjoon's preparations.
"Oh! I completely forgot to mention something incredibly important," Han Jiyeon exclaimed with a smile. "Director Kim Minjae will also be present to observe the scene. Although I'm uncertain if he will be the one directing," she added, appearing slightly perplexed. Minjoon found himself pleasantly surprised by this news, as he hadn't expected to have the opportunity to encounter the honorable director. It seemed luck was on his side. However, the sharp voice of the assistant director snapped him back to reality, calling for the actors involved in the upcoming scenes. Minjoon bid farewell to Han Jiyeon and confidently strode into his designated scene.