"Christmas…" Ye-Jun mused to Su-Jin once they were gone. "That was a good one, don't you think?"
"Mr. Yeong, she didn't seem very happy about it. It was my mistake to bring it up — I should apologize to her later" Su-Jin confessed.
"Why apologize? You didn't say anything untrue" he replied, dismissively.
"I still think it's not right to comment on someone's personal matters when you don't know them. I got carried away and made her feel bad" she said quietly.
Ye-Jun thought Su-Jin was overreacting. It wasn't her fault that the intern happened to be named after Christmas. He wasn't about to argue over something so trivial. He simply shrugged and waited, watching her finish up her work with quiet patience.
Ten minutes later, he was ready. The makeup artist called production to make the final preparations for the shoot. Beneath the layers of costume, wig, and makeup, Ye-Jun had started to feel uncomfortably warm. Su-Jin noticed.
"Mr. Yeong, why not go to Ms. Myong's trailer? Should I ask the crew?" she suggested.
"No, no — I don't want to be a bother" he said quickly. The very thought of being shut inside that tiny space with Chae-Youn made him tense. Alone with her? Absolutely not. "In this business it's not good to ask for favors" he added, trying not to make room for second thoughts.
"We need to keep you cool somehow. I have a hand fan somewhere — I'll wave you some extra air" she said, searching through her bag.
"No way! I…" he began, meaning to say I'll do it myself. It was ridiculous to have someone fanning him. But then, an idea struck. His personal team was here — they were supposed to take care of him. He rarely asked for favors at work; perhaps it was time to start behaving more like the star of the show. "I… think Mi-Suk should help," he said, knowing full well that Mi-Suk was no longer sitting at the table a few meters away.
"Mi-Suk? It's fine if I do it. Filming will start soon anyway," Su-Jin said. She had already found the fan and was holding it up.
"No, I'm sure you have other things to do" he replied. She probably had to wash her sponges and brushes, reorganize her foundation, her eyeshadows — he'd seen her do it a hundred times.
"Well… alright. I'll go fetch her. Where is she?" Su-Jin asked, glancing around. "I only see the other girl — Noelle."
"It's the same. Call her" he said innocently.
Su-Jin nodded and hurried off to fetch the intern — a not-so-happy intern. When Noelle heard she'd been called, she looked startled, but followed Su-Jin obediently. "Thanks again for helping out, Noelle. You can imagine how this works — just keep fanning until we start shooting" Su-Jin instructed.
"Yeah, it's simple enough. I can handle it" the intern said. She opened the fan and began waving it lazily, making it clear she was bored.
Ye-Jun looked at her. They were alone now. She was avoiding his eyes, her posture stiff. "A little faster, please" he told her.
She immediately sped up, waving the fan wildly.
"I didn't ask for a tornado" he complained.
Noelle exhaled sharply, adjusted, and began fanning at a steadier rhythm.
"That's better. You're learning fast. You'll make a fine intern on set — fetching water, coffee, tea, running errands all day. I'll be watching your progress… and reporting it, of course".
"I'm not an intern on set to carry water" she said sharply.
He grinned. Spot-on. Again.
"Do you think it makes a difference? You'll still have to help around. Or do you think Chloe sent you here just to observe? Maybe she figured you'd be more useful here," he said.
Her eyes flashed. "Like you know everything".
"You think I don't know Chloe? I've worked with her for ten years" he said evenly.
He could see her doubt creeping in. Good. He needed her unsettled. He would cut every link between her and Chloe before this was over. Then why did that thought make him feel… uneasy? He pushed it away. Sympathy had no place here.
"Chloe is a successful manager because she's cold and calculating. She plans everything and she's not afraid to use people. Right now, she's using you. If you're useless, she'll drop you. So while you're here, do what you're told, and maybe she'll let you finish whatever you're writing" he said. It sounded as harsh as it should.
The intern stayed silent, fanning him mechanically. Maybe she was weighing his words. Still, curiosity got the better of him. "You never answered before. Why were you named after Christmas?" he asked.
"For very obvious reasons" she said, slamming the fan onto the table in front of him before storming off.
He stared after her. What was that about? He picked up the fan and continued fanning himself. Well, at least she was gone. He'd succeeded in pissing her off. A little more, and she'd run all the way back to where she came from.
A few minutes later his arm began to ache. How much longer was this going to last? He saw Su-Jin walking back, looking confused. "Where's Noelle?" she asked, inspecting his makeup.
"Oh, she was called away — something important. I can handle it myself, don't worry" he said quickly.
Just then, Myong Chae-Youn emerged from her trailer. She looked stunning in full costume — stunning, and unbearably arrogant. Ick, he thought, forcing a polite smile.
She approached him cheerfully. "What happened to you?"
"Don't ask. It could've been worse" he said dryly.
"I better leave you two to talk" Su-Jin said before walking off.
'Please don't go', Ye-Jun thought. But he couldn't say that aloud.
"Are you ready, honey, to shed some tears?" she teased.
"Please, drop it" he replied with a forced smile.
"You'll break up with me — after all the kisses and passion we've shared. I'll cry easily today. I'll think of how you've rejected me a thousand times in real life" she continued dramatically.
"Yes, please. Cry quickly so we can wrap up sooner and I can stop standing near you" he shot back.
"Oh, that resistance… it makes me crave you more" she said.
That woman. "What can I do to make you stop hitting on me?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Just… fuck me," she said casually.
He blinked. 'She's insane'.
"I'm sorry. Can't do that" he said.
"Having difficulties lately? Hmmm… I'll tell you this much — I'm not wearing any underwear right now" she announced.
He froze, the fan halting midair. He'd had enough.
"Oh, I see… got your attention, huh?" she said, smirking.
"I'm going to find the director," he said flatly, and strode off.
Halfway to his station, his assistant appeared in the golf cart — the signal that filming was about to begin. The cart was their small luxury: it moved them around faster and shielded them from the heat.
"Hey, I'll sit next to you — better view" he told the assistant, not daring to sit beside Chae-Youn.
He looked around. Chae-Youn was approaching the cart; she climbed into the seat behind him, brushing his shoulder as she did. Thankfully she didn't say another word..
Mi-Suk was back under the tent talking to the intern, showing her something. The intern turned her head — their eyes met — and she quickly looked away, pulling on that awful yellow hat. Who even wears yellow? That freaking color kept catching his eye, and he hated the idea that she might think he was looking at her, of all people.