Chapter 109: Army Variety Show (1)

Kang Ra-Eun’s face almost froze from the mention of an army variety show. No matter what anyone said to her, even if they were to curse right at her face, she did her best to not show displeasure. It was a habit that she had picked up during her days as a bodyguard.

There was more information that leaked from one’s facial expressions than one expected. One of a bodyguard’s most crucial roles was to keep as much information as possible hidden from people who come to the scene to harm the client in some way. The moment that they exposed information through their face, it could negatively affect the client’s safety.

However, Ra-Eun had come to realize today that there existed such things that ‘couldn’t be helped.’ She had never expected to receive a casting offer for an army variety show after coming to Nonsan Training Center to send off someone she considered a little brother.

Program Director Joo Seong-Won was greatly bewildered from seeing Ra-Eun’s frozen face because he had never expected her to react so negatively.

“I’m not asking you to appear as a guest right now. We will of course adjust the schedule so that it will have no impediments to your film shooting schedule. We’re thinking of making you the protagonist of the female soldier special.”

Ra-Eun had not shown such a response because of the shooting schedule or the protagonist role.

‘You’re telling me to go back to the army.’

If Director Joo knew that Ra-Eun was a man in her past life and that she was a reservist who had already been back from serving time in the military, he would immediately realize the discourtesy that he had shown her. However, there was no way that he would know of such things.

The army variety show that he made would become a huge hit in the ratings; that was the case in her past life. But even if she knew the program was guaranteed to be a hit, it didn’t mean that she needed to appear in it.

“I’m sorry, Director. I don’t think I can,” Ra-Eun expressed.

She refused because she had no particular attachments to TV shows, and working as an actress was more than enough for her. She had the spirit of someone who was more than satisfied with what she had. However, Director Joo tried to persuade her even more, unwilling to let such a great opportunity slide.

“Ra-Eun. I know you’re scared because you don’t know what the army is like, but you don’t need to worry. As someone who was honorably discharged as a sergeant, military service isn’t as exhausting and difficult as you think. It’s where people live, so it’s not like it’s hell.”

Director Joo continued to blabber bullshit that wouldn’t work on Ra-Eun. As someone who had also been honorably discharged as a sergeant, Ra-Eun couldn’t be won over by sugarcoating. She continued to refuse as if she would contract a terminal disease if she appeared on the army variety show.

“I’ll have to talk it over with my agency, so I won’t be able to give you an answer right this instant.”

Bringing up her agency always worked to put an end to conversations like this.

“I understand. Of course you’d need to discuss it with your agency. I’m sorry for being too hasty,” Director Joo expressed.

That was how much he wanted Ra-Eun to appear on his show. It was understandable, since there were many rumors in the entertainment industry that Ra-Eun was abnormally knowledgeable about the army.

She knew about roll calls, how to use a K2 rifle, and even details that only men would know about. Not only that, she was overflowing with enough charisma for even women to fall for her. With all this considered, there was no way Director Joo wouldn’t want Ra-Eun to appear on the female soldier special. She was an army variety show specialist, but there was one huge problem.

‘I won’t do it! Over my dead body!’

It was that she herself would rather die than to go on such a show.

***

The film shoots of One of a Kind of Girl was entering its intermediate stage. There were several comedic points in the initial stage regarding the protagonist Min Ju-Tae’s weird actions because she had not gotten used to a woman’s body yet. However, she would then acknowledge the fact that she was a woman in the intermediate stage, and experience inner conflict of the fact.

She had a man’s soul, yet a woman’s body. She was a man, but others saw and treated her like a woman. Min Ju-Tae’s concerns would grow more and more due to this, which Ra-Eun also sympathized with.

‘Especially when people would ask me if I’ve ever thought of getting a boyfriend... That was the worst of the bunch.’

Ra-Eun obviously had no intention of getting a boyfriend. There was no way that she had ever thought of dating a man when she herself used to be one. There was absolutely no way in hell. However, what terrified her most was that she actually might in the future.

‘Sigh, I have no idea,’ Ra-Eun thought as she sighed deeply. However...

“Okay! That sigh was a great addition, Ra-Eun. It really gave off the feeling that Min Ju-Tae was in deep conflict. It was fantastic,” Director Yoon praised nonstop.

Ra-Eun would have been happy under normal circumstances, but not so much today.

“Thank you very much,” she said with a weak smile.

Director Yoon and the staff members thought she was making such a face because she hadn’t been able to fully get out of her immersion into her character. There were instances when actors with deep levels of immersion acted as if they had been possessed by their character despite the shoot having been finished. The production staff thought the same thing was happening with Ra-Eun. This was something that only those who had reached the pinnacle of acting could do. However, the problem was that she was not acting, but fully in reality.

Director Yoon asked Ra-Eun as soon as the shoot was over, “Ra-Eun. You know that we’re going to be taking a two-month break from shooting after the end of this month, right?”

“Oh, yes. I heard from my manager.”

The shoots had been progressing much quicker than scheduled thanks to Ra-Eun’s fantastic acting. The production team could go on to finish all the shoots earlier than scheduled, but Director Yoon decided to use the extra time they were given to refine the detailed portions of the film to improve the film’s quality.

“You’ve given us so many fantastic scenes that I’d thought of a lot more scenes that I want to refine than I’d expected. That’s why I’m thinking of extending the shooting runtime more than what we’d originally planned.”

There weren’t many actors who were able to inspire directors, especially if the director was Yoon Tae-Yoon.

“To me, it’s no exaggeration to say that you’re one of a kind of actress,” he expressed.

Director Yoon had been inspired by Ra-Eun every time he watched her act. He seemed to be the one learning from her about the true essence of films instead of the other way around.

“Rest well for two months, and we’ll see you once you’re fully recharged,” he remarked.

“Yes, Director.”

“Oh, and feel free to appear in whatever you’d like during the next two months. We don’t restrict our cast from appearing in TV shows while in the middle of the shooting period.”

Ra-Eun thanked the director again. Two months certainly wasn’t short.

‘What should I do in these two months?’

She thought about going on a trip by herself.

‘I’d never once had any time to enjoy leisure by myself since becoming a high school girl.’

It was possible now that she had a driver’s license. It seemed like a good idea to get some fresh air somewhere by herself.

***

Ra-Eun’s first objective was to go on a trip, but something had come to interfere with it. Chief Jung approached Ra-Eun, who had come to the GNF building.

“Ra-Eun. Perfect, I was looking for you.”

“Why?”

“You’re going to be taking a two-month break from film shoots, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Shin Yu-Bin seemed to have told him.

“What are you gonna do during the break?” Chief Jung asked.

“I’m thinking of going on a trip.”

“For the whole two months?”

“Not that long.”

A day or two for a trip was enough; two months was far too long and exhausting.

“That’s perfect, then. Would you like to appear in a variety show?”

Ra-Eun recalled her displeasing experience in Nonsan Training Center as soon as Chief Jung mentioned a variety show.

“Were you contacted by Program Director Joo Seong-Won?” she asked.

“Yup.”

Ra-Eun reflexively sighed.

“Director Joo mentioned he met you at Nonsan Training Center,” Chief Jung remarked.

“We did. He went off about if I had any interest in appearing as a guest in an army variety show,” Ra-Eun mentioned. She then asked Chief Jung straightforwardly, “Did Director Joo contact you because of that?”

Chief Jung nodded uncomfortably, “Exactly.”

There was no other reason Director Joo would contact Chief Jung for. It was obvious.

“From your reaction, it doesn’t seem like you want to do it.”

“Yes. You’ve deduced correctly,” Ra-Eun admitted.

“But why? I thought you’d want to appear in an army variety show.”

“What possibly gave you that idea?” she asked back.

“Well, because you’re so knowledgeable about the army. You always excitedly talk about it whenever the subject comes up.”

“...”

Ra-Eun had nothing to say regarding that. The army, football, and the times they played football in the army were always discussed when men gathered together. Such a habit had been so ingrained in Ra-Eun’s mind that she unconsciously participated in talks about the army whenever it came up. Habits were indeed terrifying.

“Aren’t you so knowledgeable because you have that much interest in it? That’s why I thought you’d agree to appear without question if an offer came for an army variety show,” Chief Jung expressed.

It made sense, but there was a huge difference between talking about it and experiencing it oneself. Even if it was a show, it did not change the fact that she would have to go through a terrible time in the army. Rather, she would likely be forced to do things that normally weren’t done exactly because it was a show. That was why Ra-Eun had planned on refusing once again, but an anomaly arose.

“Director Joo’s program is receiving massive support, so I’m sure you can expect a handsome appearance fee. You know who Congressman Kim Han-Gyo is, right?”

Ra-Eun did not know why Kim Han-Gyo would come up in such a conversation, but she decided to nod and get an answer from Chief Jung.

“Yes, I do.”

“He apparently pulled some strings to help Director Joo produce this program.”

“Why would he do that?”

Why would Kim Han-Gyo use his authority for the production of a variety program? There was something Ra-Eun was not aware of.

“Apparently, Director Joo is the congressman’s nephew.”

It had been thanks to one of the most broken cheat abilities in Korea, blood ties.