Fortunately, Zeno managed to escape the wrath of the reporters through Ian. He should treat that insane guy if they meet again. He was already settled inside the theater, waiting for it to start, just as the main characters settled down. His friends continued looking around, still in a state of disbelief. “Doha, remove your jacket, please,” Eli whispered. “You’re glowing in the dark.” Doha chuckled and removed it, revealing his nipples through the fishnet tank. Eli pursed his lips. “This might be worse, actually.”
Zeno clicked his tongue. “The theater is going to dim soon. Just don’t stare at him,” he said.
Eli merely nodded. Minji then nudged Zeno’s shoulder.
“They loved you back there! See, you have plenty of haters online, but they don’t come for you in real life. You were so handsome and charming, and the way you carried the burnt polo! I believe you’re the only person who can pull it off,” she said in a lovestruck tone.
They all turned to her with raised eyebrows. Her cheeks reddened, and she quickly cleared her throat, avoiding their gazes.
“I mean, it’s amazing. Why did you say your mother’s name when they asked you who the designer is?” she asked, changing the topic.
Zeno looked down at the burnt polo and shrugged. “She bought it.”
Eli chuckled. “Well, the media is eating it all up. They can’t find a designer named ‘Grace Han.’ Turns out, it’s just your mom.”
Meanwhile, somewhere in Busan, the real Grace Han wondered why her name was trending on Sigmoid.
“Mom, you’re trending,” a teenage boy said.
“Thanks!” Grace exclaimed. “That’s so sweet, honey.”
Back to the theater…
Finally, Chaewon PD appeared, her eyes scanning the crowd. Her smile faltered for a moment when she saw Zeno amidst the crowd. She had to rub her eyes to see if she was dreaming. Zeno had declined her offer every time she asked him to walk the red carpet! Did Manshik actually convince him? The smile returned, even more full force since Zeno was here.
“Thank you all for coming,” she said into the mic, her voice steady and filled with emotion. “A year ago, this was just a draft on a table. Today, it’s a film. Code Black is a medical disaster story that takes place in a fractured world—where the land is split between the privileged and the impoverished. And in the ruins of poverty, the last doctor still standing chooses not to turn away. Our cast and crew have poured everything into this film. The fruit of sweat, tears, and a lot of sleepless nights.”
She bowed lightly. “Please enjoy.”
The lights dimmed; the crowd hushed; and the screen flickered to life.
The movie finally began.
Rain poured from the bruised sky as smoke billowed in the distance. A shaky drone shot revealed the collapsed ruins of a factory building. People were screaming.
A vehicle pulled up—an old military truck stripped down and patched with scrap metal. Its back door opened with a metallic groan.
A man stepped out, black coat flapping behind him. His name was Dr. Black.
“What do we got?”
“Structural collapse. Fire in the west wing. The kids are trapped inside from the refugee school but the firefighters won’t cross the zone border.”
Dr. Black didn’t hesitate. He tossed his bag over his shoulder and moved in.
“Wait, are you going alone?”
“We don’t have time to argue.”
Inside, it was hell. Rubble, ash, muffled cries beneath fallen beams. Dr. Black crouched beside a boy with glass in his leg and blood all over his chest.
“Stay with me, alright? What’s your name?”
“T–Taejin.”
“Alright, Taejin. I’m gonna fix you up.”
His hands moved with efficiency. His breathing was calm. Even as fire danced closer, he stayed focused. A girl nearby cried out.
“Is he a doctor?”
“There’s a doctor in these borders?”
“What are you, really?” some asked.
Dr. Black didn’t even look up as he replied,
“A doctor.”
Zeno leaned forward slightly in his seat as gasps filled the theater. It was only a minute in, but Ian’s acting was already impressive.
So far, so good, actually. The pacing. The visuals. The music score that tugged at your nerves just right. He couldn’t look away, and judging by the stillness around him, the others were just as locked in.
At that moment, he could feel that the movie was going to be a huge hit, and the main reason for that would be Ian Seo.
The room stayed quiet as the film continued—until it reached the climax.
It was the scene he was a part of.
A thick black cloud rose behind the governor’s mansion.
The crew, assembled in mismatched scrubs and gear, stood by the gate. Dr. Black was at the front. He turned to address the group.
“Half the mansion is on fire. People are trapped inside. The Governor’s daughter is still breathing, so we need all hands.”
Zeno finally appeared as Dr. Song, and his friends turned to him with knowing smiles. Despite this scene being filmed only a few months back, Zeno could already see the difference in his looks.
The guests found themselves leaning in, curious about Zeno’s performance on the big screen. He was, in fact, going to star in another big production as a main character, so all of them wanted to see if he was deserving. If he was not, then they were ready to pounce.
“We’ve been recruited here by Dr. Black,” Dr. Yan said firmly beside him. “He gave us a home and pushed us to who we truly are, who we’re supposed to be—doctors.”
Dr. Song stared at her.
“Is that supposed to inspire me?”
Again, the crowd gasped, but this time it wasn’t of amazement.
It was of genuine surprise. They didn’t know that Zeno’s character was going to be an antagonist!
“What do you mean, ‘not your problem’? You’re a doctor. One of the last ones left!” Dr. Black said, his voice cracking. “Didn’t you say you wanted to become part of us so we can save more people?”
Dr. Song tilted his head. “More people like us.”
The silence stretched. His hands stayed in his coat pockets.
“These people had their chance. They hoarded supplies and built walls to keep the rest of us out, and now they expect us to save them?” He gave a slight scoff. “Let them burn.”
Exclamations of disbelief were heard across the theater. Zeno said it with so much disdain that they felt it themselves.
Dr. Black ran his fingers through his hair.
“We need you, Dr. Song. People are dying in there. The Governor’s daughter won’t last long.”
Dr. Song exhaled slowly. A soft, tired sound.
“We’re doctors. We help people. That’s what we do!”
Dr. Song’s eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, just slightly. “You still believe that? After everything?”
Dr. Black looked stunned. The fire crackled behind them.
“Yes.”
It came out as a whisper.
Dr. Song paused.
“Then you’re a fool.”
The scene ended.
The room was still.
Zeno sat back in his seat, his own heartbeat in his ears.
“…Dang,” Doha muttered from beside him. “I almost cursed at your character.”
Zeno didn’t respond.
He could feel the shift inside the room. Like someone had just walked into the middle of a conversation and dropped a bomb.
He had acted really good.
Maybe too good.
Because at that moment, it felt like those inside the theater hated him even more.