Shuun had always been good at reading people.
It was part of why he was so picky with his roles.
Bad scripts were easy to spot.
Fake people were even easier.
And now—
Standing on set, watching Minra try to fade back into the background after what just happened—
He knew.
She wasn’t normal.
Not just some newly recruited assistant crew member.
Not just someone who got lucky when she pointed out the stiff acting.
No.
She had seen it.
And that—
That was something only Shuun usually did.
So now?
Now, he was going to test her.
.
It started small.
Subtle.
Nothing that would draw attention.
But still—something she couldn’t ignore.
During the next break, when Minra was scribbling something onto her clipboard, Shuun casually stepped beside her.
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Not close enough to be suspicious.
Just enough that when he spoke, it was only for her.
“You weren’t wrong.”
Minra blinked.
Turned slightly.
“…What?”
Shuun didn’t look at her.
He was flipping through his own script, his expression unreadable.
But his words were sharp.
“About the delivery.”
“It was wrong. The emotions weren’t aligned.”
Minra hesitated.
She hadn’t expected him to follow up on it.
Most actors would have just moved on.
But this wasn’t just any actor.
This was Shuun.
She straightened slightly, glancing toward him.
“You think so too?”
Shuun finally turned his head toward her.
And then—he smirked.
“I know so.”
.
Minra thought that was the end of it.
It wasn’t.
Because the next time an actor fumbled their scene, Shuun didn’t just react.
He glanced at Minra first.
Watching.
Waiting.
And sure enough—
Minra’s eyes narrowed.
Not in annoyance.
In calculation.
And then—before she could stop herself—
She muttered something under her breath.
Too quiet for most to hear.
But not quiet enough to escape him.
Shuun’s smirk deepened.
Because she had done it again.
She had seen the mistake before anyone else had.
And Shuun?
Now he was sure.
.
The final test came during a scene Shuun wasn’t even in.
He stood behind the cameras, arms crossed, watching the rehearsal.
Minra stood a few feet away, pretending to check her notes.
And then—
The actor on stage delivered a line.
A good one.
A dramatic one.
But something felt off.
Minra noticed first.
Her brow furrowed.
Then, almost without thinking—she whispered to herself.
“That wasn’t the original line.”
Shuun’s eyes sharpened immediately.
Because that?
That was not something an assistant should know.
And before Minra even realized she had exposed herself—
Shuun leaned in slightly, voice low.
“What did you just say?”
.
Minra froze.
Her heartbeat stumbled.
She turned—slowly.
Shuun was watching her too closely.
Like he had just caught her in a game she hadn’t meant to play.
She forced herself to stay calm.
“I—”
She needed to lie.
Fast.
But before she could—
Shuun spoke first.
“You knew that line was changed.”
“You knew before the director even noticed.”
Minra’s breath hitched.
Because he was right.
And now?
Now, she couldn’t take it back.
.
Shuun’s smirk was gone.
Not because he was angry.
But because he was interested.
Too interested.
He tilted his head slightly, watching her like she was a script he was trying to read through.
“You’re not just an assistant, are you?”
Minra’s stomach dropped.
Because that?
That was the exact question she had wanted to avoid.
And now—
Now, it was too late.
.
Chapter 6: The Actor Who Never Makes Mistakes