Chapter 154: Chapter 153

"Ha-eun, you seem to be deep in thought. Is something on your mind?"

"I almost broke a friend’s tooth by accident."

"...High school girls these days are really something, huh?"

"We weren’t fighting! I mean it!"

"Sure, sure. The one hit never thinks it’s a fight."

"...Sunbae Baek."

"Alright, I’ll stop teasing."

The follow-up question from Baek Tae-hoon was pointed: Was the person you accidentally hit Min Da-yeon?

In response, Ha-eun silently nodded.

"Oh dear. Did you apologize?"

"I did right away, but she keeps avoiding eye contact with me…"

"Well, maybe she’s still mad."

Or maybe she’s scared of you.

That quip from Baek Tae-hoon sounded all too plausible to Ha-eun.

‘I shouldn’t have teased her.’

Since Ha-eun was the one who initiated the cookie antics, she scratched her head in regret.

She figured she’d need to buy some strawberry milk from the school store later to appease Da-yeon.

If, by some slim chance, Da-yeon harbored any grudge, it would spell trouble—especially with an upcoming collaboration stream looming.

Ha-eun made a mental note to tread carefully around Da-yeon to ensure fewer headaches down the line.

As she mulled over her playful response to Da-yeon’s earlier kindness…

"Ha-eun, it’s time for makeup!"

The familiar voice from beyond the actors' waiting room snapped her out of her thoughts, and she got up.

After parting ways with Baek Tae-hoon, who was already prepped and dressed, she headed toward the makeup room.

After a short walk, Ha-eun arrived at the familiar dressing area.

Today’s look, however, was far from familiar.

"Is this what they call a 'modern girl' look?"

A pink ribbon-adorned fedora.

A white high-neck blouse.

A light sky-blue long skirt.

The outfit, a blend of the Western-inspired fashion of the late Joseon period, was neither the graceful hanbok of a noble lady nor the stealthy black suit of an assassin.

Ha-eun’s character, Kim Jung-hyun, was disguising herself as an ordinary woman from the late Joseon era.

Her mission: to travel covertly to Japan and assassinate an official plotting to exploit Korea.

"Korean assassin in the heart of Japan…"

It was far riskier than any of Jung-hyun’s previous endeavors.

The resistance from people like Hwang Tae-seong, who opposed the mission, made this clear.

Today’s shoot depicted the pivotal moment when Jung-hyun set out on her dangerous journey—a key scene leading to the climactic events of The Sunshine.

-Swipe.

-Tap, tap.

"Alright, all done!"

After her makeup was completed, Ha-eun stood up from her chair.

Joo Jung-yoon, the manager, commented with a mix of admiration and surprise:

"Wow, maybe it’s because this style is new for you, but you look so different, Ha-eun."

She asked Ha-eun to do a slow turn for a photo to post on Instagram.

Ha-eun complied, spinning gracefully in place before another suggestion came her way.

"Wait a second, Ha-eun. I think you’d look amazing holding a parasol with that outfit."

"A parasol?"

Moments later, Jung-yoon returned with a pure white parasol.

With it in hand, Ha-eun posed for another round of photos.

-Snap.

-Snap, snap.

If Jung-hyun had previously exuded the aura of a traditional Korean noblewoman, today she looked like a Western aristocrat.

The parasol added a refined touch to the unfamiliar but striking ensemble.

But the contrast between her appearance and her true identity as an assassin sparked a mix of thoughts.

"An assassin who wields a sniper rifle while dressed like this…"

After taking a few more Instagram-worthy shots, Ha-eun made her way to the set.

Before long, she found herself on a meticulously designed set resembling an old train station.

Parked on the tracks was a small vintage train, completing the period-appropriate aesthetic.

She soon encountered Bae Jin-hyuk, who played Hwang Tae-seong, her companion for the upcoming scene.

"Wow, Ha-eun, your outfit… It’s brighter than I imagined!"

"…Does it not suit me?"

"No, no! It suits you perfectly. It’s just so different from the hanbok look—I was caught off guard."

They chatted briefly about their costumes.

As the heir of a wealthy family who had studied abroad in Tokyo, Tae-seong’s wardrobe had remained consistent throughout the series.

"Man, I envy your variety of outfits, though."

"Even if they’re consistent, sunbae’s outfits really suit you. They never feel boring."

"Haha, thanks."

Bae Jin-hyuk’s warm laugh carried an air of sophistication, perfectly in line with his character.

However, today’s scene wasn’t a lighthearted one.

They would be filming a farewell between Jung-hyun and Tae-seong—a deeply emotional moment.

To prepare for the scene, Ha-eun withdrew into herself, focusing entirely on Jung-hyun’s emotions.

The stakes were high—every scene today edged closer to the series’ climax.

Finally, the awaited moment arrived.

"Alright, if you’re both ready, let’s begin. 3, 2, 1… Action!"

Ha-eun stepped into the train car, her movements deliberate and restrained.

"Haa…"

Jung-hyun sighed deeply, the weight of her perilous mission evident in her demeanor.

Though she knew the dangers awaiting her in Japan, turning back was no longer an option.

She sat silently, clutching her modest luggage, as the train clattered along the tracks.

-Footsteps.

"I thought it might be you. It is, isn’t it?"

"…How are you here?"

"A coincidence. One of those extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime coincidences."

The familiar voice pulled Jung-hyun from her thoughts, halting time altogether.

What began as idle small talk soon shifted.

"I recognize that dress. It’s from a tailor I know quite well."

"The fabric is nice. I thought it’d be good to have something like this."

Then came the cautious inquiry.

"You’ve packed a bag. Going on a trip?"

"A trip… Sure, you could call it that."

And finally, the revelation.

"This train is oddly empty—just the two of us. Doesn’t that seem strange?"

"…It must be a coincidence."

"No. I bought all the tickets. It’s just us."

Tae-seong revealed that he had intentionally orchestrated their meeting, already aware of Jung-hyun’s plans.

"The Kim family’s servants can’t keep a secret."

"I didn’t tell anyone."

"But you, the Kim Jung-hyun, traveling alone without any attendants? Word gets around."

Jung-hyun sighed faintly but said nothing. Tae-seong, seated beside her, tried to dissuade her one last time.

"No matter what you plan to do in Japan, the moment you step foot there, your life is forfeit."

"…I don’t care anymore."

"But I care. I care so much it’s killing me. I’d turn this train around if I could."

The silence that followed weighed heavily on them both.

Even as the train rolled forward, closer to its destination, Tae-seong knew there was no stopping her.

-Slide.

Tae-seong pulled out a ring box he had long kept hidden and placed it before Jung-hyun.

"Stop this. Please. I can’t bear to see the woman I love walk to her death."

"…The woman you love, huh."

"Don’t pretend you didn’t know. I’ve already resented you enough for it."

Their conversation, charged with love and regret, ended on a bitter note.

"You’re really going to die in a foreign land."

"I’m just doing what must be done."

"…How cruel. So, so cruel."

Tae-seong couldn’t bring himself to hold her back or look away.

"If I tried to stop you, would you let me?"

"Probably not."

"I thought so."

The quiet between them was suffocating.

"One last question, then. Was I the only one who loved you?"

Tae-seong’s trembling voice betrayed his fear of the answer.

"I never hated you. Not even for a moment. Not once."

Yet, the reality was clear.

"The opposite of love isn’t hate—it’s abandonment."

Tae-seong’s final thread of hope unraveled, leaving only resignation.

"I wanted to walk beside you forever."

"…Our paths were different from the start."

"You’re cruel, Jung-hyun. Cruel beyond words."

Even so, Tae-seong couldn’t bring himself to let her go with anger.

"Have a safe journey. Write to me if you can."

"…I will."

As Jung-hyun disembarked, Tae-seong sat motionless, grief consuming him.

"…Loving such a cruel woman is my sin."

But Tae-seong didn’t remain idle.

Determined to help her, he left the train at the next station and sent an urgent telegram to an ally.

Meanwhile, at the port, Jung-hyun was preparing to board a ship to Japan.

"Hey, you there!"

Japanese soldiers, suspicious of her lone presence, called out.

As their boots clattered closer, the tension mounted.

-Step.

"What business do you have with my wife?"

Park Joo-ho, posing as an American citizen, stepped between Jung-hyun and the soldiers.

"Your wife? This woman?"

"Watch your mouth. She’s not someone you can speak to so casually."

With that, Joo-ho extended his hand toward Jung-hyun.

Her trembling hand hesitated before slowly intertwining with his calloused one.

"How…?"

"There was someone who wished you luck on your journey."

Together, they walked past the soldiers and boarded the ship.

As the camera captured Jung-hyun’s conflicted expression, the scene came to an end.

Thus, the stage for The Sunshine’s climax was set.

***

It was the day before the final shoot for The Sunshine.

At the same time, it was the day before the rehearsal for Illusionary Realm's 1st anniversary concert.

"I'm here."

"Wow, wearing your uniform really makes you look like a proper student."

"Enjoy it while you can~."

Lee Ha-eun arrived at a park dressed in her school uniform.

Today marked the filming of Pinocchio's very first music video.

"Okay, for now, could you stand right over there? The director says that tree gives the best angle."

"Got it."

And so began the filming of Pinocchio's debut MV.

Not long after they started—

Swoosh.

The breeze swept by, sending petals of cherry blossoms scattering in the air.

At that exact moment, the cinematographer's pupils slightly widened.@@novelbin@@

He was momentarily at a loss for words, caught off guard by an unexpectedly perfect angle.

The reason was simple—what he had just captured was the epitome of purity and grace.

"Hey, what do you think about using this shot as the album cover? Doesn't it look incredible?"

The cinematographer shared the still with Double Lee and Ha-eun, asking for their opinions.

He added that moments like this were nearly impossible to stage intentionally.

To sum it up, no one objected.

The serendipitous shot perfectly aligned with the album's concept, capturing a natural and ethereal charm.

"I think Ha-eun's album is going to be a hit."

"Seriously, everything's already pointing to success."