Ignition!
The engine let out a low, powerful rumble, not as sharp as modern sports cars, but full of substance.
"This car is really nice!"
Cassius raised an eyebrow, instantly taking a liking to this old pony.
His plan for today was to go to USC and reshoot the scene for that student short film he had promised.
Before, it was inconvenient without a car, but now with a ready-made ride, it was perfect to drive over.
Driving the flashy Mustang towards Koreatown, Cassius felt like passersby were looking at him more.
He kind of understood why Hollywood stars loved luxury cars; these things really did come with their own aura.
First, a stop at the apartment he shared with Lee Su-yeon.
He hadn't been back for days, so he needed to check on things and pick up the girl.
He had promised to take her to see a film set before. Although circumstances had changed, it was still necessary to say hello.
He unlocked the door with his key.
A smell of kimchi mixed with air freshener hit him in the face.
The living room was much tidier than when he was there, and there were a few cute throw pillows on the sofa.
Lee Su-yeon was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, typing furiously on her laptop, surrounded by several thick books on film theory.
Hearing the door open, she whipped her head around. Seeing it was Cassius, her eyes widened instantly.
"Oppa!!!"
She exclaimed, practically bouncing up. "Why are you here?"
"No, I mean... you came back!"
She was incoherent, her face full of unconcealed surprise as she trotted over.
Suddenly remembering something, she stopped a few steps away, looking him up and down with eyes full of gossip and curiosity.
"Wow... you've really made it big now! Is it real with Kristen?"
"OMG! I can't believe it!"
Cassius looked at the favorability score above her head, which had risen to [70].
Seems the recent news played a big part!
He smiled. "Authentic and verified!"
Cassius changed his shoes and walked in.
"Came back to get some stuff. I'm going to USC to reshoot a scene. You want to come? Consider it experiencing life!"
"Go! Of course I'll go!"
Lee Su-yeon nodded like a bobblehead, quickly snapping her laptop shut. "Give me five minutes, I'll change!"
With that, she rushed into her room.
Cassius shook his head and went to his own room to quickly pack a few changes of clothes and daily necessities.
When he came out, Lee Su-yeon had already changed into a sharp outfit of cargo pants and a T-shirt, carrying a canvas bag. She really looked a bit like an on-set assistant.
"Let's go, Oppa!" She was in high spirits.
The two went downstairs. When Lee Su-yeon saw the Ford Mustang, she let out another low cry. "Wow! This car! Is it yours?"
She walked around the car, her expression exaggerated.
"So cool! Much more flavor than those cookie-cutter supercars!"
"It's Kristen's. She lent it to me."
Cassius opened the car door.
Lee Su-yeon sat in the passenger seat, touching here and looking there, her excitement undiminished.
"As expected of a Hollywood star, unique taste! Oppa, you're really completely different now!"
Her tone carried a hint of emotion and envy.
Cassius started the car. The rumble of the engine made Lee Su-yeon excited again.
He skillfully backed out onto the street and asked casually, "How have you been lately? Is the scriptwriting going well?"
"Don't mention it!"
Lee Su-yeon's face fell instantly, and she started pouring out her grievances.
"The professor is super strict, making us revise one shot over and over again. I feel like my hair is falling out! And the actors in our group, their acting is really..."
"Sigh, I feel like going up there and acting myself!"
She chattered on about funny anecdotes and troubles at school, using exaggerated intonations and gestures typical of Koreans.
Driving, Cassius occasionally chimed in, feeling like he was back in the days when they were just roommates, except now the girl beside him looked at him with a bit of admiration that wasn't there before.
Driving into the USC campus, the familiar scenes made Cassius feel a bit dazed.
Not long ago, he was a dropout with an uncertain future and an extra running between film sets.
He parked the car and found the shooting location according to the text message instructions.
A small open space behind a teaching building.
The student crew had already set up the equipment and were preparing.
Director Mark saw Cassius coming and immediately went up to greet him.
"Cass! You're here! Thank you so much!"
Mark shook his hand warmly, his attitude even more respectful than before.
The success of Insidious and the recent romance had significantly increased Cassius's weight in the eyes of these students.
"A promise is a promise!"
Cassius smiled. His gaze swept over the scene and unexpectedly landed on an acquaintance.
Li Zhe.
They had met once when they were extras!
Li Zhe also saw him. A complex expression flashed across his face—surprise, and a hint of unnaturalness.
He was wearing a costume, seemingly having a role in this short film too.
And it looked like he had slightly more screen time than Cassius's character "Ah Jie"!
Cassius nodded to him as a greeting.
Li Zhe forced a smile in response.
"Cass, here are the adjusted lines. Take a look, very simple."
Mark handed a piece of paper to Cassius. "Mainly reshooting a few close-ups and reactions of your confrontation with Li Zhe."
Cassius took it and looked. Indeed, just two or three sentences, mostly eyes and expressions.
He nodded. "No problem!"
The makeup artist came over to touch up his makeup.
Lee Su-yeon followed Mark curiously, watching the monitor and whispering questions, looking like a studious baby.
Ready, action!
This scene was where Cassius's character, the informant Ah Jie, was suspected by the minor gang leader played by Li Zhe. The two had a brief confrontation at the alley entrance.
Cassius needed to portray the complex state of a low-level informant who was alert and panicked but trying to act calm.
"Action!"
Following the script, Li Zhe stepped forward, grabbed Cassius by the collar, and delivered his line viciously:
"Ah Jie, you've been jumping around a lot lately, huh? Did you say something to the cops?"
His performance was forceful, expression ferocious, voice loud!
But it just gave the feeling of "I am acting," floating on the surface.
The moment his collar was grabbed, Cassius's body subconsciously shrank back slightly—not out of fear, but an instinctive defense.
He raised his eyes to look at Li Zhe. There was no obvious fear in his gaze, but rather the calculation of a low-level nobody backed into a corner. The corner of his mouth twitched, a half-smile appearing.
"Brother Zhe, I don't understand what you're saying. I'm just trying to make a living."
His tone was flat, even a bit ingratiating, but the content in those eyes was far richer than the lines.
Behind the monitor, Mark couldn't help but whisper:
"Good! That's the feeling!"
Lee Su-yeon, standing next to Mark, also watched intently, whispering to Mark:
"Oppa's eyes are completely different. It's like he really became that person."
Li Zhe was obviously suppressed by Cassius's sudden performance. He froze for a second before picking up the next line, his momentum unconsciously weakening a few degrees.
"Cut! Very good!"
Mark shouted. "Cass, that reaction just now was killer! Let's keep that one and do another for safety!"
They shot two more takes from different angles, all going smoothly.
Cassius's performance was consistently stable and layered.
In contrast, Li Zhe's performance appeared even thinner and more deliberate when compared to Cassius's.
During the break, Li Zhe walked over and handed Cassius a bottle of water, his tone carrying a trace of undetectable sourness.
"Alright, Cassius. You're really different now. Acting in big productions, dating big stars, and your acting skills are shooting up."
Cassius unscrewed the water bottle and took a sip, his tone normal.
"Good luck. I stumbled upon an opportunity!"
"That's not just luck!"
Li Zhe shook his head and sighed. "Acting opposite you just now, I felt like an idiot who doesn't know how to act. How on earth did you practice?"
"Maybe just filmed a bit more!"
Cassius couldn't explain the attribute orbs, so he could only be vague.
Li Zhe didn't press further. Instead, he patted his shoulder, his tone becoming more sincere.
"Anyway, congratulations. You've made it. If there are any small roles suitable for me in the future, don't forget to give a brother a hand!"
"Definitely!"
Cassius nodded.
Hollywood is a circle; one more connection is one more path. He understood this principle.
The reshoot was completed successfully. Mark and the rest of the crew thanked Cassius profusely.
Before leaving, Mark specifically exchanged private contact information with Cassius, saying they should collaborate again if there were projects in the future.
On the way back, Lee Su-yeon was even more excited than when they arrived, chattering in the car reviewing the shoot.
"Oppa! You were seriously so cool just now! That look in your eyes, wow... totally movie-level! Li Zhe looked like an amateur compared to you!"
She spoke straight, showing no mercy.
Cassius focused on driving and just smiled.
He saw the favorability score above Lee Su-yeon's head quietly rise by another 2 points, reaching [72].
"What do you want to eat tonight? My treat!"
Cassius glanced at the time.
Consider it a celebration for the smooth reshoot and thanks to Lee Su-yeon for watching the apartment.
"Really? Wow! Daebak!"
Lee Su-yeon's eyes lit up.
"I want to eat Hanwoo beef! I know a new place that opened nearby, heard the meat quality is amazing!"