Chapter 680. Welcoming (5)

Zhang Xiang could see a once-white van, now covered in dust from traveling on the mountain roads, entering the film set's parking area.

'Isn't that Choi Yeon-Ha's van?'

Without a doubt, that woman had one nasty side to her. Why did she obstinately stick with a white van when it's so much harder to clean? Not only that, but...

“Huh? Would you look at that?”

The van's windshield was nowhere to be found.

Zhang Xiang wearily rubbed his eyes.

'...Not a single person is normal in this place. Not a single one!'

It was already soul-draining trying to deal with Liu Wei, so why did that woman suddenly start acting up, too? If the windshield got damaged somehow, couldn't she have it replaced? What was she trying to prove by driving that thing all the way out here without a windshield! Besides, Choi Yeon-Ha didn't even have any scenes scheduled to film today, anyway!

'This goddamn migraine...!'

The side of Zhang Xiang's head suddenly began aching as if needles were poking him. It seemed extreme stress had finally gotten to him. Whether Choi Yeon-Ha knew her director's plight or not, her van still nonchalantly came to a stop in the distant corner of the film set.

When that happened...

“...I'm gonna die.”

Zhang Xiang's head snapped toward Liu Wei. “What did you say?”

“I'm... I'm gonna die! Die. I'll die!”

“W-what the hell is the matter with you?”

Liu Wei suddenly began convulsing and spasming. Maybe he used to suffer from seizures, because his entire body was trembling and convulsing like crazy! The convulsions were so bad that Zhang Xiang could feel the vibration from where he was!

“H-hey! Get a hold of yourself!”

“Die... I'll...!” Liu Wei continued to gasp and mutter, his eyes filling up with terror.

Slide-!

The white van's side door slid open, and Choi Yeon-Ha emerged while wrapped up in a cozy blanket. She sneezed, then shuddered grandly. “Urgh! That was so freaking cold!”

'We're still in the middle of Summer, woman!'

Zhang Xiang grimaced deeply. His migraine was acting up again.

Since their location was on top of a mountain, the average temperature here was lower than most places. Still, the toasty weather made it impossible to say Autumn was here. Yet, that woman had a blanket wrapped all around her? And she was even sneezing, too?

One should keep their eccentric behaviors to a moderate level in public!

Choi Yeon-Ha strode heroically toward Zhang Xiang and addressed him. “Good day, director. How is the shoot going so far?”

“...It's so-so. Besides all that. Why are you looking like that, Miss Choi?”

“Because it's cold.”

“...Cold?”

Choi Yeon-Ha loudly sneezed before shuddering grandly again. “Do you have any idea how much cold winds will blow inside when your car doesn't have a windshield? I thought I turned into a frozen fish steak, you know!”

Then, why did you come here! Or why didn't you fix the van?! Why did you have to come with such a broken car when you aren't even going to film stuff! Or are you trying to make me lose my sanity through stress?!

Zhang Xiang had oh-so many things to get off his chest. In fact, his heart was overflowing with them!

However, he was an adult who knew how to differentiate between what could be said and what to hold back.

“...I see. I'm glad to hear it's nothing serious. But why are you here?”

Choi Yeon-Ha shrugged her shoulders. “Actually, I'm here to watch.”

“Watch? Why?”

“I mean, the next scene is crucial to the plot, isn't it? I figured it'd be hard for me to get the emotions right while only looking at the footage, you see? So, I thought I might as well watch how that guy does and match that.”

What an admirable professionalism this was. So much so that it brought a single tear to Zhang Xiang's eyes!

Even if he had taken on this job unwillingly, who wouldn't feel motivated by his two lead actors trying so hard to turn this production into a success story? Who! Simple. Zhang Xiang was the one!

'Why! Why are you two doing this to me! Why me!'

Handling Liu Wei was already taking a massive toll, so what was Zhang Xiang supposed to do about an actor wanting to set up a camp in the bloody film set?

'Yeah, fine! I get that people can hang around a film set!'

Since quite a few things happened until now, Zhang Xiang unsurprisingly found dealing with Choi Yeon-Ha a little on the trickier side. Even so, shouldn't he heap praise upon praise on his lead actress for willingly coming to the set when she didn't have to?

'Fine! Fine, I say! However! Why is this as*hole having a panic attack instead?! Why!'

The problem with Choi Yeon-Ha's entrance was that it triggered Liu Wei's mental breakdown!

“Hey, you fool! You're drooling!” Zhang Xiang unhappily pointed out Liu Wei's sloppiness, but the latter didn't seem to hear anything. As a matter of fact, he simply stared at Choi Yeon-Ha's white van, his jaw slack and his expression fearful.

'Her van? Why?'

Why was Liu Wei so fixated on that dusty van? Choi Yeon-Ha had already disembarked, so... Did that mean someone else was still inside?

Naturally, Zhang Xiang's gaze locked on the van as well. That was when he saw another person, a man this time, leisurely climbing out of the open doorway.

'Oh. It's him.

'

Zhang Xiang couldn't help but think that he was seeing a lot of that Korean man lately. Obviously, lots of people frequently came and went on an active film set as if it were their living room. However, that Korean man had this unmistakable presence that inevitably attracted people's attention.

This feeling would probably remain the same irrespective of whether or not Zhang Xiang planned to headhunt that Korean man for a role in his future production.

When Kang Jin-Ho appeared, though...

'...What the hell?'

Liu Wei suddenly stopped trembling. He completely froze as soon as that Korean man entered his view.

Anyone with a brain should realize the truth from this scene. The reason for Liu Wei's psychotic behavior was none other than that Korean man!

'What on Earth has happened between the two?'

Zhang Xiang couldn't understand it. But how could he?

Thankfully, though, it seemed Kang Jin-Ho wanted to resolve millions of questions buzzing inside the director's head, judging from how he leisurely made his way to where Choi Yeon-Ha was.

However, once he got there, Kang Jin-Ho didn't even spare a moment's glance at either Liu Wei or Zhang Xiang but addressed Choi Yeon-Ha instead. “What did he say? Is the filming going well?”

“I'm not sure. He isn't giving me a straight answer, you see. Besides all that...” Choi Yeon-Ha tilted her head in confusion while staring at Liu Wei. “And what is wrong with this guy? I know his condition was never all that great, but he's a complete basket case now, isn't he? Hey, you. Are you high?”

Although her question could be construed as too direct, Choi Yeon-Ha was actually attempting to communicate with Liu Wei. Considering she only wanted to hurl non-PG words at Liu Wei's face whenever they were in the same room, one could argue that this was a massive step forward for everyone involved.

Despite the woman he obsessively chased after finally addressing him like her fellow human being, Lui Wei didn't respond to her. His attention was solely focused on Kang Jin-Ho and no one else.

“Tsk, tsk...!” Choi Yeon-Ha loudly tutted before shouting at Kang Jin-Ho next. “How could you bully someone to this state!”

“Huh? I haven't particularly bullied him, though?”

“Mister Jin-Ho, a person can't just fall into a state like this, you know! Can't you see he's totally gone? Soulless and all that?”

“Maybe he's always been a timid man,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

In all honesty, though, he felt a little aggrieved by this development. He genuinely believed he hadn't done anything serious to Liu Wei, after all!

For him to admit that he had tormented someone, the victim's state needed to resemble Guo Liqin's. Compared to what that man had gone through, Liu Wei really hadn't experienced any bullying. At least not in Kang Jin-Ho's books!

“Do something about him,” said Choi Yeon-Ha.

“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho frowned and grunted as if this whole thing was slightly troubling him. He stared deep into Liu Wei's eyes, then raised his hand toward the actor.

“Heeeeikkk?!” Liu Wei flinched grandly when Kang Jin-Ho's hand closed in. It was rather plain to see that he was desperately suppressing his urges to flee.

Tap!

Kang Jin-Ho lightly tapped on Liu Wei's head. Almost at the same time, something intangible seemed to escape from Liu Wei's body. He was no longer as stiff, while the turbid light swirling in his eyes grew noticeably calmer.

“Hey. Get a hold of yourself,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“Sorry? Oh, uh... Ah, yes, sir!” Liu Wei hurriedly stood at attention.

Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly at this scene.

'He's mentally pretty weak.'

Even though Kang Jin-Ho hadn't mentally tormented Liu Wei too much, the Chinese actor's sanity was on the verge of total collapse. The turbid qi densely packing his head was leaking outside so much that Kang Jin-Ho didn't even need to concentrate to spot it.

If left alone, Liu Wei would've been finished in a matter of days. And he'd never get to live like a sane person for the rest of his life.

That wasn't a bad punishment for someone like him, but Liu Wei's presence was currently 'required' in this part of Choi Yeon-Ha's life, so Kang Jin-Ho figured he should clear up the actor's mind a bit.

Liu Wei's eyes darted around, perhaps to indicate that his mind had cleared up. It seemed he was trying to figure out his current situation.

Choi Yeon-Ha unwrapped the blanket from her and asked Zhang Xiang. “Director?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you show me what you've shot until now? To help me better get into my character?”

“Well, sure. But the thing is... Liu Wei over here doesn't want to take a breather.” Zhang Xiang alternated his gaze between Choi Yeon-Ha and Liu Wei while looking somewhat troubled.

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced at her co-star. “Can you take a break for now?”

“B-but, I...!” Liu Wei fearfully glanced at Kang Jin-Ho next.

That was when Kang Jin-Ho sorted the situation out in the simplest way imaginable. “Go.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

That was all that's needed. Liu Wei didn't even look behind him while hurriedly rushing toward his private trailer.

Choi Yeon-Ha and Zhang Xiang stared at the back of Liu Wei in flabbergast.

“He's a moron, isn't he?”

“Nope. He's not sane. That's what.”

Whatever it was, one thing was for certain. This situation had been sorted out for the time being.

“Oh, that's right...” Zhang Xiang awkwardly scratched his head. “Damn. Since you want to look at what we shot, it'd be great if everyone was here. In other words, that idiot needs to be here, too.”

“Come back,” Kang Jin-Ho suddenly whispered when Zhang Xiang ruefully said those words.

Choi Yeon-Ha tutted again. “No one's gonna hear that, you know...!”

That was when Liu Wei urgently spun around and hurriedly dashed toward where everyone was.

Choi Yeon-Ha's expression crumpled as if she couldn't hold herself back at this spectacle. “Just what did you do to that man?!”

“...”

Kang Jin-Ho felt very aggrieved just then.

***

“...That's seriously Liu Wei?” said Choi Yeon-Ha while staring at the monitor. She uncrossed her legs and sat up straight at attention. In fact, she even leaned closer and peered deeply into the screen as if to burrow a hole in it with her eyes!

'What is going on here?'

The scene depicted on the monitor couldn't even be called something amazing. Nothing to write home about. It was just an actor doing his thing, acting. Nothing more, nothing less.

The thing was, though... Right up until Choi Yeon-Ha's departure from the set a couple of days ago, no one would dare call Liu Wei an actor. He was simply not qualified for that label. But now, someone like that learned how to 'act' on screen in the matter of a few days. Just a few days!

'Is he really high? Which drug did he take?'

Even if the flesh was willing, and the brain took earnest steps to fix the problem... Was it possible for a human being to transform so much in such little time? Could it be...?

“...He was a natural-born talent all along?”

“Eiii, there's no freaking way. Eii.” Zhang Xiang dismissively and rather powerfully waved his hand when Choi Yeon-Ha muttered to no one in particular. “He's not good enough to deserve that label.”

“But, director. Isn't this still incredible? This is like a kid ranked dead-last in the whole school somehow improving his grades to become perfectly average, you know?”

“Well, you're right about that,” Zhang Xiang chuckled wryly.

If only Liu Wei had improved his acting a bit earlier! This TV show's class could've been raised by several notches. Better late than never, so Zhang Xiang was at least grateful for this development. Still, there wasn't much he could do about this ruefully bitter aftertaste.

“Is his acting good enough now?” Kang Jin-Ho curiously asked.

Choi Yeon-Ha nodded. “Yes, it is. Although, 'good enough' is subjective in this case. How should I explain this... Hmm, how about a tortoise that has learned to fly?”

“Mm? I don't follow,” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head.

“We would go,

'That's acceptable'

if other actors are on this level, but with Liu Wei? It's like watching the heaven's gates opening up, you see? If I could, I'd love to drag him to a hospital and get his DNA checked. He might not be the same person, after all! His improvement is so drastic that I'd rather believe the Chinese government has deployed Liu Wei's clone to ensure this show's success.”

“...That means, uh, he's doing okay?” Kang Jin-Ho shifted his head to look at Liu Wei nearby. The Chinese actor flinched but didn't react as viscerally as before. Kang Jin-Ho slightly nodded. “Follow me.”

“Yes, sir...”

Kang Jin-Ho took the lead, forcing the slump-shouldered Liu Wei to silently trudge after him.

When the two men headed to the distant vacant corner of the film set, Zhang Xiang cocked an eyebrow and muttered quietly. “I wonder, what does he say to Liu Wei after dragging the poor bastard over there?”

Choi Yeon-Ha chuckled. "I'm sure he's coaching Liu Wei on the finer points of acting."

“...Huh?”

“Don't worry, what you're thinking of isn't happening over there. He's actually a kind man, you know?”

'...He's kind?'

Zhang Xiang turned his head and stared at the two figures in the distant corner of the film set. Why did it feel like he had seen a scene similar to that before somewhere?

There was a time when Zhang Xiang visited an army base during the production of one of his movies. That was when he accidentally witnessed a senior soldier bullying a new recruit in a remote corner of the base. What was happening to Liu Wei was practically a perfect match to that scene.

Kang Jin-Ho was leaning slightly on one leg while puffing away at his cigarette. Meanwhile, Liu Wei was standing at attention in front of Kang Jin-Ho, his complexion pale with fright.

'You know what... Let's pretend I haven't seen anything.'

Zhang Xiang silently and sneakily turned his head away. Regardless of what was happening over there... No one would deny that the transformation in Liu Wei's attitude should make the upcoming filming schedule that much easier to absorb for everyone involved. Why would Zhang Xiang point out the irregularities and ruin what's evidently a good thing?

“By the way, Miss Choi? Just who is your friend? How did he manage to turn that one-and-only Liu Wei into... that thing?”

Considering the level of Liu Wei's power and financial muscle, most average folks wouldn't dare dream of getting in Liu Wei's face. So, to think Kang Jin-Ho somehow turned a man like Liu Wei into a meek little lamb... No, forget meek, an utterly-terrified sheep!

Choi Yeon-Ha tilted her head while tapping her chin. “How should I say this... I can't think of a good way to explain it, but... Hmm, if I'm going to explain it, how about this?”

“How about what?”

“He's a human rehabilitation specialist?”

“...”

Choi Yeon-Ha chuckled jovially. “At least we know it's effective, right? I'm also indebted to his rehabilitation program, you see? If only you knew what I was like before meeting him... Director, you would have thought Liu Wei was a decent human being compared to me.”

Zhang Xiang squeezed his eyes shut as her mirth-filled words entered his hearing.

He couldn't tell whether he was in a film set or a war zone filled with dangerous explosives.