Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 485: Unexpected Event (3)

Whoosh!

The swords wielded by Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon sliced dangerously close to Yoo-Jin's neck from both sides. The distance was so perilously tight that even a slight movement of Yoo-Jin's head could have caused her to be grazed.

At that moment, Yoo-Jin suddenly stopped her elegant movements and held her sword high in the air.

In that instant, the two blades swung by Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon passed mere centimeters from either side of Yoo-Jin's neck, their trajectories breathtakingly close. The gap was so narrow that only seasoned stunt doubles would typically perform such a sequence.

Whoosh!

The two actresses completed their turns and their skirts slowly settled back down as they came to a stop.

As Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon ended their sword dance, the visibly alarmed Oh Bok-Hee opened her mouth to shout for a halt.

But I quickly stepped in and whispered to her, "Wait, Mrs. Oh. Just a moment."

Oh Bok-Hee stopped and looked at me with a confused expression.

At that precise moment, Yoo-Jin, who had been standing frozen like a statue, lowered her sword. The blade traced a graceful arc as it descended, and Yoo-Jin's movements flowed seamlessly into a beautiful finale.

When the sword's tip finally pointed downward, Yoo-Jin's mesmerizing sword dance was complete.

Yoo-Jin exhaled deeply as she returned the sword to its sheath. Then she gazed down at the two queens still catching their breath with her expression calm and composed in silence.

Just then, a gust of wind swept through the set.

Whoosh!

Yoo-Jin's layered silk costume billowed dramatically in the wind, creating an unintentional but picture-perfect moment. The scene meant to highlight Princess Yu-Hwa's bold and resolute nature was made even more striking thanks to the intensity of the queens' performance.

It was then that Song Ji-Hwan, playing King Eumgalmun, burst out in an improvised line with his booming voice.

『The greatest challenge on the battlefield amidst a storm of blades is to remain calm! Behold our princess! Even before the sharpest swords, Yu-Hwa stands unflinching!』

The veteran supporting actors were quick to pick up on the ad-lib and instinctively followed suit.

『They say Princess Yu-Hwa is extraordinary. Indeed, it is true!』

『Hah! She is truly someone fit to lead a nation.』

『As expected of the sacred bone lineage. I once thought the claim that the Gyerim's sacred lineage was blessed by the gods was mere exaggeration, but now I see it is true!』

Yoo-Jin clasped her hands together and bowed toward the royal platform in a natural demeanor. Her delivery was so smooth and in character that no one would have guessed it was an improvised moment.

『Thank you, Your Majesty!』

With that, the filming of Scene 5 from Episode 8 came to a close.

Only then did Oh Bok-Hee shouted at the top of her lungs and release her tension. "Cut~~!"

The staff were initially frozen with fear at the near-accident, but they soon erupted into cheers.

"Wow! That was incredible!"

"Unbelievable. Jung Yoo-Jin is something else."

"She held her ground even with swords flying at her without even flinching?"

"What kind of actress has guts like that?"

Compliments about Yoo-Jin spread like wildfire among the staff.

Just as I had anticipated, Yoo-Jin turned the dramatic situation created by Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon into her own stage, elevating her reputation even further. Her value as an actress was undoubtedly climbing.

I quickly checked my planner again.

[Everyday V12]

[Date: December 10, 2020]

-6:00 p.m [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin] Arrival at Gyeongju S Hospital Emergency Room. (Company Report: Fracture. Six-week recovery.)

'As expected, this wasn't it.'

Relief washed over me momentarily, but it was quickly replaced by another wave of concern. The fact that the schedule entry was still there meant that an accident serious enough to cause Yoo-Jin a major injury had yet to occur.

'Surely they wouldn't try to film this scene again, would they?'

If Oh Bok-Hee suggested reshooting, I would step in to put a stop to it myself.

At that moment, Oh Bok-Hee shouted over the cheering staff. "Quiet, everyone!"

The startled staff fell silent.

Unable to contain her frustration, Oh Bok-Hee glared at Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon. "Ms. Tae-Yeon and Ms. Joo-Yeon. What were you thinking?"

Realizing that their stunt had backfired and only served to enhance Yoo-Jin's reputation, Lee Tae-Yeon responded with a scowl. "What do you mean, what was I thinking?"

"You know what I mean."

Feigning realization, Lee Tae-Yeon replied with a dismissive tone. "Oh, that? Are you talking about the action? If so, I'm sorry. I got too into the scene and lost control of the distance."

Yoon Joo-Yeon followed with an equally shameless response. "Me too. My character hates Princess Yu-Hwa, right? I must've gotten carried away in the moment. But it's fine, isn't it? No one got hurt and she was wearing protective gear anyway."

Oh Bok-Hee's voice rose sharply. "Do you call that an excuse? I clearly told you to stick to the rehearsal plan to avoid accidents!"

However, Lee Tae-Yeon didn't back down. "She didn't get hit, did she!? And let me remind you, PD Oh. I'm tolerating you because you're the PD, so don't push it any further. You act like you're the only one making this drama!"

Yoon Joo-Yeon jumped in to support Lee Tae-Yeon. "Exactly. We're treated like props! You want everything your way down to the last detail. And by the way, Mrs. Oh, did I stab her? No. I just made the scene more realistic, so maybe you should thank me instead of yelling!"

The two actresses tried to shift the blame and use their “immersive acting” as an excuse.

However, Oh Bok-Hee wasn't having any of it as she was aware of their intentions. "There's a limit to this so-called immersion! If you're going to use getting into character as a cover, then what's the point of rehearsing? If you're a professional, act like one! How could you swing a sword at the lead actress's neck like an amateur?"

Oh Bok-Hee's firm and sharp voice left the two S class actresses red-faced. Actresses of their caliber weren't used to being scolded like this and their eyes blazed with resentment.

Yet Oh Bok-Hee didn't flinch and glared right back at them as she issued a stern warning. "Let me make this clear. If you ever pull a stunt like this again, I won't let it slide. Got it? Both of you!"

The crew, who had been frozen in fear, now cast judgmental glances at Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon. The close call with Yoo-Jin's safety had not gone unnoticed. If not for their star power, a less patient PD might have already replaced them on the spot.

Noticing the murmurs among the staff, Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon glanced around nervously.

As the situation turned against them, Lee Tae-Yeon was the first to give in. "It won't happen again..."

Yoon Joo-Yeon also muttered awkwardly with her face flushed. "I got too emotional. I'm sorry, Mrs. Oh."

Oh Bok-Hee pointed toward Yoo-Jin coming down from the stage. "Apologize to Miss Yoo-Jin directly."

Left with no choice, Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon turned toward Yoo-Jin as she approached.

When she reached them, they reluctantly spoke.

"Sorry, Miss Yoo-Jin. It wasn't intentional."

"I got carried away and made a mistake. I'm really sorry."

Yoo-Jin smiled warmly and replied with a calm and forgiving voice. "It's okay, sunbae-nims. I understand how acting can get intense. Don't worry about it."

Yoo-Jin's gracious response, especially given her inexperience compared to them, only deepened their embarrassment. To be "understood" by a hoobae actress made their faces flush even more.

Unable to stay any longer, Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon turned away abruptly to leave the scene. As they walked off, the actors and staff resumed the praise they had paused for Yoo-Jin.

"Miss Yoo-Jin, you were incredible."

"Your charisma was out of this world."

"Wow~ as expected of our lead actress!"

Yoo-Jin responded with a bright smile, carrying herself with confidence befitting the star of Hwaranjeon.

"Thank you! I'll keep working hard!"

Her voice echoed powerfully through the set, almost as if she wanted Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon to hear her.

Yoo-Jin had grown to the point where she could hold her own against those two actresses without my intervention.

***

Oh Bok-Hee reviewed the footage and gave the final OK.

Thanks to the dangerously close swordplay by the two senior actresses, the tension between Princess Yu-Hwa and the two queens was magnified to make the scene even more gripping. To top it off, Song Ji-Hwan's timely ad-lib elevated the scene to perfection.

As I had anticipated, Lee Tae-Yeon and Yoon Joo-Yeon's antics ultimately worked in Yoo-Jin's favor to solidify her position even further.

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With the commotion behind us, I escorted Yoo-Jin to the waiting tent.

Inside, Yoo-Jin shrugged playfully. "How was I?"

I removed Yoo-Jin's neck guard and replied honestly. "How were you? You were the best."

Yoo-Jin gave me a bashful smile. "It was all thanks to you trusting me, oppa."

"It was close, though."

Yoo-Jin admitted that she had thought about stepping back for a brief moment when the blades came dangerously close. But then she asked herself what Princess Yu-Hwa would do in such a situation.

Once she imagined herself as Yu-Hwa, the answer was simple—Princess Yu-Hwa wouldn't flinch even in the face of mortal danger.

Realizing that the two actresses were deliberately trying to intimidate her, Yoo-Jin decided to stand her ground even more confidently.

I smiled and said, "You really did great."

After removing her neck guard, I handed it to Yang So-Ri. However, I left the rest of her protective gear in place. The planner's schedule entry about Yoo-Jin's injury still hadn't disappeared, which meant the danger wasn't over yet.

Yoo-Jin tilted her head in confusion. "Oppa, why aren't you taking off the chest guard?"

"Keep it on. We're filming the hunting scene next."

The sword dance scene had already been completed, so the next likely point of danger was the upcoming hunting scene. This scene involved horseback riding on a mountain slope, making the risk of an accident much higher.

'Could it be a fall from the horse?'

Unlike the other actresses playing the princesses, Yoo-Jin was still new to horseback riding. Because of this, someone was always assigned to hold the reins for her and a stunt double was supposed to perform the more demanding scenes.

"I'm just sitting on the horse and you still want me to wear all this gear?"

"Don't let your guard down. Do you know how tall a horse is? Even a fall could cause serious injury."

For a moment, I considered postponing the shoot altogether. However, based on my experience, things that were meant to happen usually did no matter how much you tried to avoid them.

'No, it's better to deal with it now and resolve it.'

If the accident happened after I returned to Seoul, I wouldn't be able to intervene. At that moment, an idea struck me.

"Yoo-Jin, who's supposed to hold your reins during the scene?"

"The actor playing the princess's secret bodyguard is supposed to."

The secret bodyguards wore goblin-shaped masks, which conveniently concealed the actors' faces.

'Perfect. I'll step in as an extra and keep an eye on her.'

As I resolved to take this approach, a cautious voice came from outside the tent.

-Uh... may I come in?

I recognized the voice in an instant.

"Come on in, Ms. Myung-Hee."

The tent flap rustled as Yoon Myung-Hee entered with her exotic beauty radiating a South American charm.

Yoon Myung-Hee, now with Angel Planning, had been Han Hyun-Ho's ex-girlfriend. She had been severely injured at his hands and later abandoned by Hoop Entertainment, but now she had fully recovered.

Yoon Myung-Hee greeted me with a smile. "Mr. Jung, how have you been?"

"I'm doing well. How about you? Are you sure you should be moving around already?"

"Yes. Thanks to Hoop Entertainment and you, I recovered quickly."

Right behind her, Angel Planning's President Lim Ha-Yeon entered the tent. "Mr. Jung, it's been a while. How have you been?"

"I'm doing well, Ms. Lim. You both look great."

Seeing how healthy and happy the two looked made me feel unexpectedly proud.

I greeted Yoon Myung-Hee and Lim Ha-Yeon, then gestured toward Yoo-Jin. "Yoo-Jin, remember what I told you before? This is Ms. Yoon Myung-Hee from Angel Planning. She'll be playing your bodyguard until Episode 15."

Yoo-Jin extended her hand warmly and shook hands with both women. "Unnie, I'll be counting on you!"

Her friendly demeanor made Yoon Myung-Hee smile in relief.

I asked again, "But Ms. Myung-Hee, are you sure you're fully recovered?"

"Yes! Want to see?"

Stepping back, Yoon Myung-Hee suddenly launched a powerful kick into the air. As a taekwondo black belt, her movements were sharp and precise.

"Ms. Myung-Hee. Yoo-Jin's not great at horseback riding, so please keep an eye on her."

"Of course. If it looks dangerous, I'll step in as her double."

Since Yoon Myung-Hee was an experienced rider, I felt a little more at ease.

"Thank you."

Though I was planning to stick close as an extra, having Yoon Myung-Hee around added an extra layer of security.

Just then, I heard Geum Eun-Dong's voice from outside the tent. "Miss Yoo-Jin! We need to move to the next set. Please come out when you're ready!"

The mountain set was just a two-minute cart ride from the main set and most of the key staff had already gone ahead. I told Yoo-Jin to change clothes quickly and left the tent to find Oh Bok-Hee.

My goal was to officially request the role of Yoo-Jin's bodyguard in the hunting scene.

***

The mountain set located just behind the Wolseong set was a sprawling area filled with trees and grass.

Midway up the gentle slope, a wide path had been cleared for the scene. Trees grew thickly up to the mountain's peak on one side of the path, while the other side sloped gently downward toward the base.

In this scene, the three princesses would ride along the path while exchanging tense dialogue. Their lingering animosity would escalate to the point where they aimed their bows at each other, a situation fraught with tension even before the actual hunt began.

With multiple horses and a large number of extras playing warriors, the scene required ample space. For this reason, the monitoring area where Oh Bok-Hee and most of the staff gathered was about 50 meters away from the action.

On set, only Geum Eun-Dong and two camera crews remained to manage the shoot.

In front of me, a pristine white filming drone was performing a test flight. I was already in costume and dressed in black robes with a half-mask shaped like a goblin's face. I tightly gripped the reins of Yoo-Jin's horse named "Dolsoe."

At that moment, Geum Eun-Dong shouted over the radio. "Actresses! Mount your horses!"

I turned to Yoo-Jin. "Alright, Yoo-Jin. It's time to get on."

"Okay, oppa."

Yoo-Jin struggled to place her foot in the stirrup and climbed onto Dolsoe's saddle. Dolsoe was so large that the saddle was higher than my shoulder. Once seated, Yoo-Jin held onto the reins tightly following my instructions.

Snort!

I gently stroked Dolsoe's neck, trying to calm the horse."It's okay. It's okay. Dolsoe, I'm counting on you today."

Yoo-Jin leaned forward slightly from the saddle. "Oppa, you really look good in that outfit. Maybe you should consider acting?"

"Princess Yu-Hwa, the shoot is about to begin. Please focus."

The current time was 5:15 p.m. I tried to mask the tension in my voice, but I was acutely aware of the possibility of an accident happening soon.

Yoo-Jin straightened up and replied playfully. "Yes, Sir Bodyguard!"

She gripped the reins tightly and adjusted her posture.

Glancing back, I saw Yoon Myung-Hee mounted on her horse right behind Yoo-Jin. Further back, Han Sang-Hee and Min Gyu-Ri were also getting onto their horses, while around 50 extras dressed as warriors stood ready with bows slung over their shoulders.

Geum Eun-Dong shouted again. "Alright, let's start filming! We'll take it in cuts, and if anything seems dangerous, speak up right away!"

Both staff and actors nodded in acknowledgment.

From a distance, Oh Bok-Hee grabbed her megaphone and yelled, "Alright, Episode 8, Scene 15! Ready~ Action!"

At the signal, I tightened my grip on Dolsoe's reins and led him forward at a slow pace. Simultaneously, the red REC light on the hovering drone camera blinked on.

Whirrrrr.

The drone emitted a faint hum as it moved further away. The horses seemed a little uneasy at first, but soon settled down.

Then the actresses began their dialogue. While their sharp words flew back and forth, my focus remained solely on Dolsoe and Yoo-Jin.

However, the horses suddenly halted barely a few steps into the scene and their hooves skidded slightly against the dirt.

Snort!

That's when I heard a faint rustling sound from the underbrush.

Rustle, rustle.

'What was that?'

The sound agitated the horses further, making them restless.

At that moment, something entirely unexpected burst out of the faded undergrowth about 10 meters ahead.

'What the... what is that?!'