Chapter 98: Emoticon Stickers
by GideonReporter Choi, practically buzzing with excitement, turned to Jubin with a smug grin.
“To have the public’s favorite heroes appearing side-by-side in a single project… Don’t you think this is going to be a massive hit?!”
The crew’s reaction to the uninvited guest’s outburst was icy.
“The headlines for this project are going to be killer,” he added, clearly enjoying the tension. He knew they couldn’t just kick him out—he had used his press credentials to get in, making him a guest they were forced to tolerate.
The general producer, Director Bae Eun-hye, stepped forward.
“Please leave, Reporter Choi.”
Her voice was firm, but Choi paid her no mind. Instead, he flashed a fake, irritatingly cheerful smile.
“Ah~ Director Bae~ You of all people should be welcoming me. I’m the one who’s going to properly promote this project, after all.”
Director Bae Eun-hye rolled up her script into a tube and waved it around like she was swatting a fly.
“Enough. Please leave. You’re interfering with the shoot.”
“Oh, come on. I know you’re done filming. You can wrap up and go home, Director. I just need to interview Jubin.”
The reporter’s sarcastic tone carried a condescending undertone, as if to say, Your authority here is over, so get out of the way.
“So, step aside.”
Reporter Choi grabbed Director Bae Eun-hye by the shoulder and shoved her to the side.
Jubin couldn’t bear to cause any more trouble for the staff and the other cast members. He felt that the only way to end this was to agree to the interview. Reluctantly, he stepped forward.
“Don’t go.”
At that moment, Zion’s hand clamped firmly around his wrist. Before Jubin could even turn around, he was pulled backward, shielded by Zion’s broad shoulders.
It was a grip of iron, a silent vow that no matter what happened, he would never let go.
“But…”
“The director is the one in charge on set. Let’s trust her and wait.”
Thwack!
A dull thud echoed through the set.
“What the hell…!”
Reporter Choi whipped his head around, his face contorted with irritation. The source of the sound was still gripped in Director Bae Eun-hye’s hand.
Whap—Thwack! Thud! Bam!
She was mercilessly pummeling Reporter Choi’s head with the rolled-up script. The dull thuds grew louder and more frequent.
“Fuck! Is this bitch crazy?!”
Director Bae Eun-hye gritted her teeth, swinging her arm even harder.
“Don’t. You. Dare. Touch. Me.”
Her expression remained deadpan as she rained down blows with the script, her aura radiating a terrifyingly calm intensity.
Every pair of eyes on set was glued to Director Bae Eun-hye’s hand and Reporter Choi’s head.
“You crazy bitch!”
“What did you just call me, you unhinged bastard?!”
Bae Eun-hye fired back without batting an eye at Reporter Choi’s furious roar.
“Cut the bullshit. You’re acting like a complete savage.”
The one who looked flustered now was Reporter Choi.
“What? A savage? Director Bae, are you done?”
“No. I’m just getting started. How is what you’re doing any different from a savage?”
“Hahaha! Director Bae Eun-hye! You know you just assaulted me, right? I’m reporting this. This is a textbook case for a police report!”
Reporter Choi started wailing, clutching the spot she’d hit and pretending to be the victim.
“Go ahead, report me. I’ll report you right back.”
As Director Bae Eun-hye stood her ground, Reporter Choi’s eyes darkened, his tone turning menacing.
“Director, why do you keep making threats you can’t back up? Do you think words are just cheap?”
“You’re the one who thinks they’re cheap,” she spat. “I haven’t forgotten what you said seven years ago, when my mother collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage.”
She crushed the rolled-up script in her hand until it was nearly pulverized.
“You told me my mother was one thing, but the living have to survive. You begged me to save you first.”
The words hung in the air. Not just Jubin, but everyone on set stared in disbelief. Her knuckles turned white, her voice trembling with raw fury.
“I even begged you, crying, to keep it a secret. I explained that my father, who’s away from home, might collapse from the shock.”
Seven years ago, Jubin had learned the news through an article.
He had tried calling Director Bae Eun-hye back then, but her phone was off. He had assumed she was simply too overwhelmed by her difficult circumstances to answer, never imagining she had suffered such an atrocious injustice at the hands of Reporter Choi.
Reporter Choi clicked his tongue, his expression one of utter disdain.
“Oh, Director Bae. Why are you bringing up something from so long ago?”
His tone was a mocking mix of annoyance and disbelief, as if her dredging up the past was a nuisance. His attitude remained consistently irresponsible and insincere.
“Fine. I’ll help you out this time since I owe you one from back then,” he said, feigning generosity.
Accustomed to Reporter Choi’s condescending act, Director Bae Eun-hye crossed her arms and let out a bitter laugh.
“Right, so this bullshit is your style, is it? Did you even request an interview with Cha Jubin beforehand?”
Reporter Choi shot a glance at Jubin, trying to play it off. “Reporters like us do on-site coverage all the time. Why would we need to request permission for every little thing?”
Director Bae Eun-hye smiled knowingly, as if she’d expected exactly that. “SUB Entertainment will sue any reporter who follows their talent around privately outside of official interviews. Don’t you know CEO Park Ji-bun has a temper from hell?”
For a moment, Reporter Choi was speechless. Even he seemed to find dealing with CEO Park Ji-bun too much to handle.
“And I just got a call from the production company’s CEO,” she added. “He said he never gave you permission to be on set.”
Reporter Choi’s expression slowly hardened. “Hah! That old bastard is just backpedaling because he’s in a tight spot. He said he’d give it to me in writing later…!”
Director Bae Eun-hye cut him off without mercy.
“Show me the evidence. The written agreement, or whatever it is. Otherwise, you’re just a reporter here to leak set footage.”
Reporter Choi ran a hand through his hair in frustration and shouted, “Fuck! What do you take me for? Why do you keep treating me like some tabloid hack?!”
“You’ve delayed our filming schedule. I’ll be demanding compensation for that, too. I’ll calculate the hourly rate for every single staff member and cast member on set.”
Director Bae Eun-hye swept her gaze around, her eyes warning him to look at the crowd.
“Byeong-cheol, you got that kind of money?”
Wanna start a pointless dogfight, or are you just going to get the hell out of here?
“Fuck…”
He cursed under his breath, his hand still tangled in his messy hair.
A security guard tried to grab him, but Reporter Choi shoved him away, shouting, “Don’t touch me!” as he stormed off the set.
Jubin bowed deeply to everyone.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
The staff, though unsure of what had happened, comforted Jubin as if telling him not to pay any mind to someone like that.
“Actor Cha Jubin, Actor Do Zion. A moment, please.”
Just as the chaos seemed to settle, Director Bae Eun-hye called them over again.
Jubin rushed to her, his body tense with anxiety.
“If you two are okay with it, I’d like to proceed with today’s shoot. What do you think?”
Jubin had found it strange that the shoot had been wrapped up so abruptly under the pretext of the broken ceramics. It was clear now that Director Bae Eun-hye had made the quick decision to dismiss everyone because of Reporter Choi’s sudden intrusion.
Jubin wanted to push through with the shoot, no matter what, to make up for the situation.
“I don’t mind, but…”
He trailed off, glancing at Zion to gauge his reaction. As if sensing Jubin’s gaze, Zion quickly replied.
“I’m free today too, so I don’t mind,” Zion replied, his tone casual, though his worried eyes remained fixed on Jubin. “Are you really sure you’re okay, senior?”
Zion had been keeping a sharp eye on Jubin’s condition since the morning.
The truth was, Jubin had been so on edge that he hadn’t even noticed any physical symptoms. His only thought was that he couldn’t cause any more trouble on set. He couldn’t bear to be a burden.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Director, I’m feeling okay. We can proceed with the shoot.”
Despite Jubin’s confident answer, Director Bae Eun-hye still looked concerned. “I don’t know… Jubin, you just don’t look well today…”
At this rate, the entire shoot will be canceled because of me. Though his heart raced with anxiety, Jubin forced himself to reply as calmly as possible.
“It’s just the makeup,” Jubin said. “We’ve already rented the studio. If everyone’s okay with it, of course we should go ahead with the shoot.”
“We’d be more than happy to, as long as the cast can stick to the schedule,” Director Bae Eun-hye replied. “After all, it’s work we have to do anyway.”
“Let’s do it. I want to shoot,” Jubin pressed, leaving no room for doubt.
The consensus shifted back to proceeding with the shoot. The staff bustled about, preparing the set once more.
“Alright, you two, stand by. We’ll get ready as quickly as we can.”
Director Bae Eun-hye left the room, leaving Jubin and Zion alone in the dressing room.
It’s his birthday, Jubin thought. Just saying ‘happy birthday’ isn’t enough. He kept waiting for the right moment.
“Hey, Zion.”
He looked up from his phone, where he’d been reviewing the script.
“It’s nothing much, just a birthday present.”
Jubin had finally sent the custom sticker set he’d commissioned from Seo In-ha. Zion shot upright, his eyes wide.
“What is this?”
“I know you like stickers, so I had these made for you.”
“You actually made these?”
“Yeah. Let’s pick up a brownie cake on the way home and have a little party.”
It’s his birthday, after all, Jubin thought. This much should be fine. I want to do more, but he’ll get the wrong idea.
He’d carefully planned this to be a gesture that wouldn’t be misinterpreted—even if they weren’t partners or lovers.
Wham—
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