Chapter 141: Go on a Date With Me

TL: Aniea

‘Crazy bastard.’

Kim Min-jae almost lost his mind for a moment.

Even for someone like him, who had spent decades in the field encountering all sorts of human characters, Kang Woo-ju’s madness was beyond imagination.

‘...There’s no way that’s just acting.’

The limits of his acting had already been shown in the previous shoot. Wasn’t that alone enough to be impressed?

But now, Kang Woo-ju wasn’t simply acting, he was genuinely exploding with rage toward [Jung Woo-cheol], or more precisely, toward a ‘psychopath criminal.’

Anyone unaware would simply dismiss it as incredible acting, but Kim Min-jae, who had stood shoulder to shoulder with legendary actors of the era, saw through the truth.

‘Just what the hell happened?’

It had only been a week.

A psychopath criminal doesn’t just roll around on the street like a pebble, so how could he have found one in such a short time?

Even if he had met a murderer directly, it would have been impossible to build up such hatred. If that were the case, they’d be watching him on the news, not on set.

‘I don’t know the details, but...’

The important thing wasn’t how Kang Woo-ju had improved, but how to counter his acting.

Slamming the desk was part of the script. The action of unwrapping the bandage in the middle was added, but that much wasn’t a problem.

‘If it were a rookie, they’d have had a hard time.’

They would’ve been crushed by Kang Woo-ju’s intensity and wouldn’t have even been able to open their mouth. That would’ve been an NG without question.

No matter who the counterpart is, [Jung Woo-cheol] is a character who must never lose in a battle of nerves.

In a way, it seemed like Kang Woo-ju had trusted him enough to prepare such an ad-lib.

Realizing that, Kim Min-jae quickly calmed his surprised heart and calmly delivered his next line.

“This is disappointing. I actually quite like you, Prosecutor. If it weren’t for a situation like this, we might’ve become good friends....”

“Bullshit.”

Whoosh-!

Kang Woo-ju fired back the line as if he’d been waiting for it, clearing the bandage spread across the desk. Then he laid out the photos one by one on the desk.

Men and women, young and old, all sorts of people. They were all victims sacrificed by [Jung Woo-cheol].

“You know these people, right?”

“You’re asking the same question as last time. Of course, I remember. Every single person here. They’re all buried in my heart.”

“The most disgusting thing is that you’re not lying.”

“.......”

Grit-!

Kang Woo-ju ground his teeth. His clenched fists trembled uncontrollably with suppressed rage, and his eyes burned as if they would shoot lasers any moment.

The emotions of Kang Ba-ram, barely holding himself back from flipping the table and throwing punches, were fully conveyed.

Watching him, not only Kim Min-jae but also the production crew beyond the camera caught their breath.

It was because even they finally realized that Kang Woo-ju’s performance wasn’t ordinary.

‘Wow... I can’t breathe.’

‘Did Kang Ba-ram possess him or what?’

‘Did the director know something?’

Thanks to this, real-time evaluations of Director Park Hee-seok, who had readily approved the ad-lib, also changed.

Park Hee-seok himself was staring at Kang Woo-ju in a half-dazed state, but no one noticed.

‘...It’s done. This is it!’

Director Park Hee-seok clenched his fist so tightly that his skin turned pale. Anyone watching Kang Woo-ju would do the same.

To be honest, at first, he wasn’t sure if this movie could even make it to release, but the moment he saw the two actors' performance, he realized.

This is a guaranteed hit.

As long as he captured it properly.

‘And also....’

Director Park Hee-seok subtly turned his head and looked somewhere. There stood Seo Jun-woo, watching the set with a completely serious expression.

Seeing the fire in his eyes made him smile involuntarily. If Seo Jun-woo, currently at his peak, joined this as well.

‘Just imagining it excites me.’

With a heart pounding like a girl in love for the first time, Park Hee-seok grabbed his megaphone once again. Then he shouted in a louder, more booming voice than ever before.

“Cuuuut-!! Okay!”

Clap clap clap clap-!

Along with the director’s shout, a standing ovation poured out for the two actors who had given such a passionate performance.

***

Time passed quickly.

Thanks to the other actors being inspired by Kang Woo-ju’s awakening and delivering passionate performances of their own, filming progressed more smoothly than expected.

All the courtroom scenes, which made up one-third of the movie, were completed in about a week.

Most of the small daily life scenes had also been wrapped up, leaving only the large-scale action scenes ahead.

“The action scenes won’t be much of a problem, right?”

“Well, that’s true.”

At Kim Eun-ha’s words, I nodded calmly. Unlike other actors, I actually found shooting action scenes more comfortable.

That’s only natural since I had been consistently learning martial arts under Team Leader Kang Dae-ho.

And also because I had practiced like crazy in the previous role for <Snow White and the Forest Prince>.

Honestly, compared to that time flying around with a lightsaber, the modern-day action in the movie <Crows> was, with a bit of exaggeration, something I could do with my eyes closed.

“We’re off today, right?”

“...That’s true, but?”

“Then you have to grant my request today.”

“Request?”

“You didn’t forget, did you?”

Zing-

When I tilted my head in confusion, Kim Eun-ha shot me a sharp glare.

Sensing a threat to my survival, my brain quickly spun and found the answer she was looking for.

“...Of course I remember. In exchange for arranging that special prison visit, I agreed to grant one request of yours, right?”

“Hmm.”

I quickly shared what I remembered to avoid giving her anything to pick on. At that, Kim Eun-ha didn’t drop her suspicious gaze, but she slowly nodded.

“That’s right. I plan to use it today.”

Hehehe-

Kim Eun-ha let out a wicked laugh. An overwhelming sense of unease swept over me, and I had to work hard not to show it on my face.

“What kind of request is it?”

“It’s nothing too difficult.”

“For something so simple, you sure are being dramatic about it.”

“Go on a date with me.”

“...That’s your request?”

“But!”

Of course.

Kim Eun-ha raised her index finger right up in front of me. Her smile was perfectly symmetrical on either side of that finger, like a mirror.

That mysteriously beautiful expression made me momentarily lose focus, and in that brief moment, Kim Eun-ha moved her deep red lips with purpose.

“While we’re on the date, call me ‘noona’.”

“Denied.”

“Ah, why!”

When I rejected her without even filtering it through my frontal lobe, Kim Eun-ha raised her voice, a rare occurrence.

Her sharply arched brows and pouty lips clearly showed her displeasure.

She looked so cute I almost pinched her lips on instinct, but I barely restrained myself, knowing she’d genuinely sulk if I did.

“It’s a wish ticket. I get to use it however I want!”

“Within a reasonable scope, that is.”

“It’s not like I asked you to die or doubled the wish. I think it’s a very reasonable request in many ways.”

“No. What you’re asking for is ‘go on a date with me’ and ‘call me noona’. That’s two wishes, right?”

“.......”

Stare-

Kim Eun-ha looked at me with cold, piercing eyes. Unlike before, when there was a hint of playfulness, this time her gaze held real disappointment.

“...Do you not want to go on a date with me?”

Checkmate.

When Kim Eun-ha puts it like that, there’s really only one answer I can give. Who could possibly say ‘yes’ to that question?

“...You can’t just use a cheat code like that.”

“Answer properly.”

“It’s not like I don’t want to.”

“Then problem solved, right?”

“.......”

Smile-

Kim Eun-ha smiled victoriously, as if she’d never shown a disappointed face in the first place. She really did know how to handle people.

“Sigh.... At least tell me why. Most women don’t like to show they’re older, even if they are. From what I remember, you weren’t an exception either.”

“Well, of course.”

“Then why?”

“Hmm....”

Suddenly, Kim Eun-ha closed her eyes and began seriously contemplating. Even as she voiced her wish, it seemed she had never logically thought about why she wanted it in the first place.

Then, her eyes suddenly flashed. It looked like a reason had come to her, but she avoided eye contact instead of speaking right away.

“W-Well, I don't know? No particular reason, really?”

“Are you seriously going to lie that obviously?”

“...What do you want me to say! And besides, do I really need to explain why I’m using a wish I earned? I’ve already made a huge compromise!”

“What if you hadn’t compromised?”

“Like, ordering you to be my slave or something?”

“Understood.”

“???”

When I nodded without hesitation, Kim Eun-ha tilted her head with a blank expression. She looked like she couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

I smiled slightly and took a step toward her. She instinctively stepped back, and I matched her pace slowly.

One step, then another.

Before long, Kim Eun-ha found herself backed into a wall. As she felt the wall against her back, she flinched and looked up at me.

“Please give your order, Master.”

“M-M-Master...!?”

Fwoosh-!

Kim Eun-ha’s face turned visibly red. Her round eyes shook like there was an earthquake.

Pfft-

Seeing that rare, pure expression of hers made me laugh unintentionally.

Realizing she’d been played, Kim Eun-ha narrowed her eyes sharply again.

“You think I’m a total pushover now, don’t you?”

“Hm. I wonder?”

“.......”

As I feigned ignorance with a clueless expression, her gaze grew even sharper.

Then, regaining her composure in an instant, Kim Eun-ha curled up one corner of her mouth.

“No take-backs. Woo-ju, you’re going to be my slave for the weekend. You clearly agreed, right?”

“Understood.”

“Oho. I wonder why you’re so calm. What if I tell you to crawl, or to give me your hand? Hm? You really know what you’ve agreed to, right?”

“Of course.”

Whatever she ordered, it couldn’t be that bad. I was planning to go along with whatever she asked this time anyway.

There were too many things I felt sorry about. Even without the Kim Hee-tae matter, she had done so much for me.

“...Let’s see how long you can stay that confident. Well then, let’s start with something very, extremely, super light.”

“Give your command.”

Hmph-

Apparently in a good mood, Kim Eun-ha even hummed through her nose. After a brief moment of thought, she suddenly pointed a finger at my face and said,

“First, carry me on your back... Waaah!”

Before she could finish speaking, I lifted her up into my arms. A classic princess carry.

“W-Wait a second! I definitely said carry me on your back....”

“This humble servant is not very smart and misunderstood.”

“You were planning this from the beginning, weren’t you!?”

“I shall escort you.”

Kyaaaaah-!

As I walked with her in my arms, Kim Eun-ha let out a youthful scream. She looked happier than she had in a long time.

Since we were already ready to go out, I carried her all the way to the parking lot.

Then, after gently setting her down in the passenger seat, I even fastened her seatbelt for her.

“I’ll be driving today.”

“...Fine.”

Kim Eun-ha’s face was slightly flushed with embarrassment. Though she usually didn’t like letting others drive, she seemed okay with it in this mood.

I naturally settled into the driver’s seat, buckled up, and turned to ask her,

“So, where are we going?”

“Took you long enough to ask.”

“Ahem....”

When I cleared my throat, Kim Eun-ha shook her head with a helpless look and typed the address into the navigation system.

“This place is...?”

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”

“Are you really sure about this?”

“What’s there not to be sure about?”

Hmm-

I swallowed hard as I looked at the address she entered. The name of the most famous amusement park in the country appeared on the navigation screen.

I hesitated briefly, wondering how crowded it would be, but then I glanced at Kim Eun-ha sitting beside me.

Her face was filled with expectation and excitement.

An expression like a pure young girl.

‘...Don’t tell me she’s never been to an amusement park before?’

Vrrrm-!

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I started the engine without another word. I could worry about the rest later.

“Then, let’s head out.”

Kim Eun-ha gave a firm nod. At that moment, the car carrying the two of us moved powerfully forward.

*****

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