“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” Zeno muttered.
Well, for one, most of the actors weren’t fond of him already because word has gotten around that he didn’t heed Hyunbin’s request.
Zeno couldn’t care less about that, though.
It was the second point that made him feel strange—the lack of doctors and firefighters within the area when they were going to film a disaster scene.
He was uneasy that one of his past lives might get summoned again.
“Everyone in your positions!” Chaewon PD exclaimed through the megaphone.
“We’re going to be filming the riot scene first,” she started off. “The wall has been torn down, but the chaos has remained. We are working with limited time, so please make as few mistakes as possible.”
“The doctors! Ready?”
Ian smiled so brightly that all of the extras felt rejuvenated. “Ready, PD!”
Chaewon couldn’t help but smile, too.
“Ian is such a joy to work with.”
“Yes! He’s been kind throughout this filming.”
“We haven’t even started yet.”
As the new extras discussed Ian Seo’s charms, Luli, one of the women present in Zeno’s acting class, beamed when she saw Zeno among the doctors.
“He got the role,” she muttered. “I knew it.”
“Who are you talking about?” another extra, an influencer named Rex, asked.
“That guy,” she said, pointing at Zeno. “We were in the same acting class together.”
“Oh, I heard he isn’t a good guy. I can’t wait to talk about it to my followers.”
“What?” Luli asked, turning to the content-hungry man.
“What?” Rex chuckled. “Do you like him?”
Luli clicked her tongue. “I just think he’s an amazing actor, that’s all.”
“Well, let’s see about that.”
Jiho entered the frame, sneering a bit at Zeno before clicking the slate.
“Riot Scene Shot 1 Take 1!”
Ian immediately went into character, surprising even Zeno.
The extras, who were nothing but observers and were hired to fill up the screen, quietly talk among themselves while the main actors were filming.
“Ian is killing it as usual,” Rex chuckled. “That Zeno guy is going to be eaten up.”
“Everyone, listen to me please. Innocent civilians are in there,” Dr. Black exclaimed. “I know we have been divided for far too long, but this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help them.”
Dr. Yan, Jisoo’s character, stepped forward with a determined nod.
“Cut!” Chaewon PD exclaimed. “That was too awkward. Join in naturally.”
Jisoo pursed her lips and bowed at the other actors. Zeno could tell she was feeling nervous. She was filming on a literal battlefield before this one, though, so Zeno didn’t understand.
Still, the scene continued.
Dr. Yan stepped forward. “Where do we start, Dr. Black?”
The Governor, who was none other than Hyunbin Lee, entered the scene. “My daughter is inside,” he pleaded, appearing pathetic.
Zeno couldn’t deny the old man’s acting skills. It was apparent he had a lot of experience.
“Please, Dr. Black. I know you have already saved my wife, but is it too much to ask for you to save my daughter, too?”
Dr. Black didn’t hesitate. “We will save as many lives as possible.”
With that, he began instructing his fellow men on their certain tasks. However, not everyone began moving.
Dr. Yan turned to Dr. Song, who hadn’t moved an inch since the beginning of the catastrophe.
“Here it is,” Rex said, already finding the situation amusing. “Zeno Han might look decent acting with a bloke like Daniel Byeon, but I’m sure he’s going to look like a complete amateur with Ian Seo as the lead.”
Luli pursed her lips. “I think he’s really good, though,” she muttered, her gaze also focused on the scene.
“What are you doing? Get moving,” Dr. Yan said.
Zeno still hadn’t come to terms with the profession. However, since these people paid him well, he decided to do his part.
He didn’t think of himself as a good actor. However, he was great at acting like he didn’t care. In fact, he didn’t have to act at all!
“We’ve been recruited here by Dr. Black,” Dr. Yan continued. “He gave us a home and pushed us to who we truly are, who we’re supposed to be—doctors.”
Dr. Song looked at Dr. Yan with a look of indifference, one that sent shivers down her spine.
“Is that supposed to inspire me?”
Chaewon PD lifted her head as soon as Zeno said those lines. It seemed like the chattering extras also turned silent the moment he spoke.
Rex was also rooted in his spot, watching the scene with furrowed brows.
Finally, Dr. Black noticed what was going on. Dr. Song’s hesitation definitely affected the others, and they also stopped moving.
The Governor got on his knees. “Please, please save my daughter and everyone else inside that mansion. I promise the wall will be torn off for good.”
However, the crowd was still hesitant.
Dr. Black sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “We need you, Dr. Song,” he started off. “Half of the mansion is on fire, and people are getting trapped. The Governor’s daughter is in dire need of our help.”
Dr. Song sighed, the small sound being carried over through the crowd.
For a moment, Zeno made eye contact with Jiho, who was behind the cameras. ‘What a negligent man,’ he thought with a scowl. However, the camera picked up his expression, and it was perfectly tailored for the scene.
Jiho looked behind him before shuddering. “That bastard,” he muttered. “Is he looking at me?”
Ian was even surprised. Hyunbin, too, looked at the young man with a small frown. How could he muster such an expression?
“Not my problem,” he answered after a while, sounding so casual.
Luli, who knew for a fact that Zeno was merely acting, began to resent him for being so passive!
The scene hasn’t even been shown on the big screen, but she already felt so much disdain for his character.
“What do you mean, ‘not your problem’? You’re a doctor. One of the last ones left. These people need us,” Dr. Black exclaimed. “Didn’t you say you wanted to become part of us so we can save more people?”
“More people like us,” Dr. Song casually said, placing his hands inside the pocket of his white coat. It was a subtle gesture that showed he truly didn’t want to move.
“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? Let them burn.”
Jiho’s ears rang. For some reason, it was like Zeno was talking to him. However, he shook his head. He shouldn’t be swayed by a newbie.
“This isn’t about them!” Dr. Black exclaimed. “It’s about who we are. We’re doctors. We help people. That’s what we do.”
“You still believe that? After everything?” Dr. Song asked, making Dr. Black stumble back.
“Yes,” Dr. Black whispered.
“Then you’re a fool.”
As they continued the scene, Chaewon couldn’t believe her eyes. She was immersed in the scene, and it felt like they weren’t acting anymore.
Since Ian has been in the industry for quite a long time, there should be some kind of gap in their acting.
But, at that moment, it didn’t seem like that at all.
Zeno and Ian Seo stood pretty equal when it came to acting ability.