Life is Easier If You're Handsome-Chapter 334

The set was complete. Unlike Murcielago 2 (working title – Black Smoke), which kept undergoing script edits, ArcBorn had everything locked and ready. So, preparations for filming began immediately.

The actor had arrived. The set was ready. The early portion of the script needed no further revisions.

Knock knock.

"Then... may we begin shooting now?"

Director Jenker personally knocked on the container door where Kim Donghu was waiting.

Normally, a staff member would handle something like this. But this was Kim Donghu. There was no way Jenker could just send someone else.

The desire to be present for every moment with him made the director’s steps light.

"Oh, you didn’t need to come yourself. I’m ready."

"Haha, how could I just radio you and risk making it feel impersonal?"

There’s a special kind of sincerity in showing up yourself. That’s what Director Jenker said, while quietly breathing a sigh of relief.

How lucky am I that Donghu Kim is a superstar with a great personality?

Popularity and personality don’t always go hand in hand. And in Hollywood, actor ego—no, let’s call it superstar tyranny—is nothing new. So having someone like Kim Donghu, who had none of that, truly felt like a miracle.

Frankly, even if Kim Donghu caused a scene on set, everyone would’ve swallowed their pride—there was just too much money already invested.

But he never did. That alone made Director Jenker believe he was blessed when it came to actors.

"Would you possibly reconsider the stunt work?"

As they headed to the set, he brought up the issue again.

The most urgent problem right now was the stunt scenes. Donghu was famously against using doubles. The director just wanted to prevent any accidents—before they could happen.

But—

"No, my stance hasn’t changed. I’ll be doing all the scenes myself... I’m not budging on that."

He also didn’t want risky scenes to be cut just for safety. Donghu was determined to complete every single scene personally.

His stance was unwavering.

But what if he gets hurt...?

There were quite a few dangerous scenes in ArcBorn.

Like actual American football sequences involving real collisions. Dangerous stunts depicting a fall due to suit malfunction. And intense hand-to-hand combat with armed robbers—meant to show off his football past.

Even knowing how strong Donghu was... The director simply didn’t want injury to even be a possibility.

But then—

"I actually think there aren’t enough edge-of-your-seat moments. Honestly... I kind of wish we had some Mission: Impossible-style shots."

Kim Donghu doubled down. He wanted more dangerous scenes.

Scenes that could thrill the audience.

"ArcBorn is a successor work. We need dramatic execution—tense, brutal sequences."

There had to be a gap between the former hero and the one taking up the mantle.

The previous hero had reached the absolute pinnacle before disappearing. The successor was just a fledgling beginner.

That’s why Donghu thought—Instead of suddenly showing the successor’s power, they needed hardship.

Scenes that made the audience think,

"Ah, the former hero could’ve solved this easily... but this guy isn’t there yet."

Then, in the sequel, they could cut down on the predecessor’s presence and go full force into an independent storyline—a seamless torch-passing.

Donghu felt that would be the most effective generational transition.

"But that process can’t be boring. We need shocking scenes."

"...Even if they’re dangerous?"

"Yes. So I’d like you to reconsider what we talked about."

"You mean the scene where you cling to a flying plane... and the one where a car flips while you’re still inside?"

"Yeah. I think I can handle those."

You’re the very reason you shouldn’t be doing that, what are you even saying...?

But the director already knew how this conversation would end. So Jenker just nodded with a resigned smile.

Wouldn’t it be nice if he were a diva who only did safe acting? That was Director Jenker’s small, quiet wish.

***

Late September 2025.

Kim Donghu wasn’t just filming ArcBorn.

He’d done commercials. He’d boldly purchased multiple buildings. And thanks to the proposal of the polygamy law, he was steadily working on a second-generation plan.

Time flew by—and as mid-October arrived—

"This finally came."

A script was delivered to Kim Donghu.

Murcielago 2 – Black Smoke, S+

Once again, an S+ rating. He didn’t know if there was a rating higher than that, or if it simply hadn’t been used yet.

Donghu leaned toward the latter.

Because he hadn’t yet claimed the record for the highest-grossing film in Hollywood history.

If that ever happens, would it be SS? Or EX?

Where did this scale even end? With that curiosity in mind, he dove straight into the script.

FWOOOOSH!

The first scene hit him—

"Hmm... is it about time to make my exit?"

Slick.

Joker’s hand was boldly groping Harley Quinn’s body.

There hadn’t been this kind of physical contact before. Maybe they wanted to show a new side of Murcielago’s Joker.

As he enjoyed Harley Quinn’s sensual body, Joker pulled his prison uniform—draped over the bars—back on.

"You’re leaving? From here?"

"Yeah, I’m tired of the prison life. Made plenty of friends in here, anyway."

"Friends? I’ve been stuck here forever and I haven’t seen any!"

"Oh, Harley. Friends don’t form just because you’ve been together a long time."

Sometimes it’s just a look. You know where you stand.

Joker spread his arms and leisurely stepped out of the cell. It should’ve been sealed with six layers of locks. No one should’ve been able to escape alone.  But an inside mole had unlocked it easily.

"Wouldn’t be right to leave all by myself, hmm... We should all go."

Snap.

At the sound of Joker snapping his fingers— 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

HISSSSS—CLACK.

One by one, Arkham Asylum’s sealed cell doors began to open.

They were all people Batman had thrown into prison with nothing but two handguns. Monsters, crippled by him but now fully recovered. Or worse—beings who became complete precisely because they were crippled.

They smiled darkly—

"I owe you a lot... So I won’t kill you."

And then they broke the guards’ bodies, one by one.

Men judged by law to be beyond rehabilitation. Wearing the black prisoner uniforms that symbolized society’s final verdict.

Now that black uniform spilled beyond the prison walls—spreading through Arkham like a literal black fog.

"God... What a beautiful sight."

Joker smiled thickly and brushed the corner of his mouth.

A gift he was quite pleased with. Now he wondered how Batman would respond.

Everyone in the prison hated Batman. But of course, that hatred wouldn’t only be aimed at him.

"This time for real... Let’s make Gotham fun."

How are you going to stop the smoke spreading now, Batman? This is your homework.

As Joker murmured to himself, elsewhere at the same moment—

"...I need more power, Alfred."

"Are you saying you’ll go through with it?"

"Yes. I won’t hand that power over to anyone... Only I can wield it."

To withstand the spreading malice—Batman was pushing the development of a new suit.

"If the Hellgift Suit works properly..."

He could finally gift them a life of unbearable pain.

With that,

FWOOOOSH!

The immersion broke.

Simultaneous filming was about to begin in earnest.

***

Meanwhile, across the globe in South Korea—while Kim /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Donghu was busy filming in America...

In a tightly secured home, a certain 13-year-old girl had a very serious complaint.

Kim Seohyun.

She was deeply, profoundly upset.

"Polygamy... This is ridiculous. That would mean I’d have five sisters-in-law??"

Normally, she wouldn’t care about something like this. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized it directly affected her life.

"I mean, how could Oppa even think about getting married?! He’s supposed to live with me!"

She wasn’t emotionally prepared to let go of her brother. Especially since they hadn’t even played together properly lately. Her cheeks puffed up with resentment—honestly, it was inevitable.

"Ughhh!"

She wanted to video call him right now. Complain. Yell. Tell him everything.

But she knew how busy he was. And how annoying it would be to interrupt. So she got angry at herself for even wanting it.

Ugh, I should just call him! But what if he says I’m being annoying?!

Tsk.

That wouldn’t be forgivable either.

Maybe I should just bully the sister-in-laws instead?

Should she go full-on evil 13-year-old mode? She was still debating that when—

"Mother, we’re here!"

Voices came from the front door.

"Oh! It’s the uncles!!!"

"Haha, at least she’s not calling us 'old men.'"

"Uncles sounds better. Makes it feel like family."

It was the usual duo— Nagangshik and Kim Minhyuk—regular visitors to the Kim household.

Clatter clatter clatter.

Since Donghu was always so busy, they often filled the “playtime with little sister” role.

"Oh my, you’re here again? Thank you so much, really."

"No need to thank us!  Seohyun helped us a lot during game development, remember?"

As always, they exchanged greetings, chatted for a bit—then suddenly—

"So... I’ll mention this again when Donghu’s here, but..."

"Huh?"

Nagangshik paused at the table with a cup of coffee, took a deep breath—

"I think...I’m getting married."

"What?!"

A bombshell hit the Kim household.

Thud.

And no one was more shocked than Kim Seohyun.

Because if one day her brother said those exact words...

...I would 100% oppose it. No matter what, I’m going to torment those sisters-in-law.

It was simply unbearable.

Even if the sisters-in-law were wonderful people—

Her brother’s independence?

Absolutely not.