Chapter 162: Daily Life (1)
Apart from the filming, Kim Si-woo was enjoying relatively relaxed days.
Now, except for weekends or the occasional days when Hong Soo-yeon or Lee Yoo-jin asked him to come, there wasn’t really any reason for him to go to the set.
However, his smartphone kept receiving thank-you messages every time.
Thanks to the banners on the catering truck, the parents were delighted, and the Siwoo Film actors sent their gratitude.
“I should do something for the staff too.”
Considering the shooting schedule, it seemed more than feasible to prepare banners for the staff as well.
Vrrrrm.
“Haaam…”
While yawning, Kim Si-woo’s smartphone kept vibrating.
“Who is it?”
He flipped over the phone he had face-down to check the caller, and a familiar name appeared.
“Hello?”
– What are you doing?
“Just on the computer.”
– Really? Then can you come out right now?
The person calling was none other than Shim Ji-young.
After the movie screening ended and all the promotional broadcasts wrapped up, she suddenly had a lot of free time—and the first person she thought of was Kim Si-woo.
“Right now? Where to?”
– The department store. Let’s go shopping for the first time in a while.
“Okay… I’ll shower and head out.”
– Good. Call me after you shower.
After ending the call, Kim Si-woo immediately took a shower, got dressed, stepped outside, and called Shim Ji-young back.
“Hello?”
– Done showering?
“Yeah. Where should I go?”
– Come to Apgujeong H Department Store.
“Got it~.”
Soon after driving to Apgujeong H Department Store, Kim Si-woo spotted Shim Ji-young waiting in the parking lot.
“So, what’s the occasion for shopping today?”
“There’s no occasion? I’m just bored, so I felt like it.”
“…”
When Kim Si-woo looked at her suspiciously, Shim Ji-young seemed a little guilty and instead snapped back at him.
“What? You think I don’t have any friends?”
“A little…”
“You’re right. I don’t have friends. I was so outstanding from a young age that everyone hated me.”
Hearing Shim Ji-young’s words, Kim Si-woo thought that might actually be possible.
Unlike now, in the past, being pretty could sometimes lead to bullying.
That said, it didn’t seem like Shim Ji-young would have just taken it quietly.
“Or maybe not? I beat up the kids who tried to bully me, so that’s probably why.”
As expected, Shim Ji-young hadn’t just taken it lying down.
“Anyway, I don’t have friends, so you have to shop with me.”
“Fine.”
Once inside the department store, Shim Ji-young truly poured her heart into shopping.
From all kinds of dresses to accessories—
“Should I buy you something too?”
“No, it’s okay.”
“No way. You came all the way here because of me—I’ll buy you something that suits you.”
Kim Si-woo didn’t mind receiving clothes as a gift, but trying them on felt like a hassle.
Still, after Shim Ji-young’s persistent urging, he reluctantly agreed and followed her into the men’s clothing section, where she bought him outfits.
“Sigh…”
“You only tried on ten things—why are you acting so exhausted?”
“Noona, most guys just buy without trying on.”
“What? What if you get home and the size doesn’t fit?”
“Well… give it to Dad, or to my little brother…”
At that shocking statement, Shim Ji-young looked at Kim Si-woo with utter disgust.
“I can’t believe you…”
“Okay, let’s get back to your shopping now, noona.”
“Uh… sure.”
Shopping that started at 10 a.m. finally ended around 1 p.m.
Even though the sun was still high in the sky, Kim Si-woo already wanted to lie down and sleep.
In contrast, Shim Ji-young looked completely refreshed and linked arms with him.
“Let’s go eat something delicious now.”
“You’re paying, right, noona?”
“Of course.”
In a good mood, Shim Ji-young grinned and headed toward the reserved restaurant inside the department store.
While eating the course meal at the department store, a thought suddenly occurred to Kim Si-woo.
‘Isn’t this… a date?’
It was because the way they shopped together, occasionally linking arms, and eating affectionately side by side looked exactly like a couple.
Normally, he might have felt a little uncomfortable, but today it didn’t bother him as much.
Perhaps because the movie production had begun, his feelings toward Lee Hae-soo were slowly getting sorted out as well.
After finishing the meal and leaving the department store, Kim Si-woo was excited at the thought of finally heading home.
“Shall we go home now?”
“Already?”
“Already…? I’m tired.”
“Let’s go see the sea.”
“The sea?”
“Yeah.”
“Suddenly?”
“What’s wrong with that? You have to play when it’s time to play, rest when it’s time to rest.”
At the sudden suggestion to go to the sea, Kim Si-woo made a troubled face.
“Are you really that tired?”
“Going all the way to the sea is a bit…”
“Okay, got it.”
Hearing Kim Si-woo’s reply, Shim Ji-young seemed to give up.
But then…
“Why are you at my house?”
“You said you didn’t want to go to the sea. I wanted to hang out with Danbi for the first time in a while.”
“…”
Instead of the sea, Shim Ji-young had ended up at Kim Si-woo’s house.
“Want to watch TV or something?”
“Sure. Let’s watch a movie. How about the one that released in Japan?”
“Ah… that feels kind of embarrassing.”
“What’s the big deal? It’s getting remade in Korea anyway.”
“I guess that’s true.”
Using the remote, Shim Ji-young selected and paid for <The Way a Genius Loves>.
The video started playing right away. Unlike watching in a theater, Shim Ji-young and Kim Si-woo chatted while viewing the film.
“But seriously, is that actually possible? Going from idol to athlete to lawyer…”
“Well… if someone really wants to, isn’t it possible? There are actually smart celebrities out there.”
“Hmm… maybe.”
The two discussed the plausibility of the movie’s plot.
“It’s just a movie.”
“Yeah… true.”
At the word “movie,” Shim Ji-young quietly went back to watching.
Until the infuriating scene came up…
“Arghhh! No way—I didn’t think Noa was like that. She’s total trash!”
When it was revealed that Arimura Noa was marrying someone other than Honda Daisuke, Shim Ji-young screamed and shot up from her seat.
“No, the guy did all that for her and she still does that? Even if it’s a movie, that’s too much.”
“When someone feels too much distance from the other person, that can happen.”
“Really?”
“There are fans like that, you know. The closer the celebrity tries to get, the more they push them away.”
As someone born and raised as a celebrity, Shim Ji-young seemed unable to understand.
But Kim Si-woo—who had been a completely ordinary person (no, below average) until recently—understood the feeling very well.
“Wait… were you like that too?”
“I used to be.”
“So that’s why you dated Hae-soo?”
“Why are we suddenly talking about that?”
“I’m curious! Honestly, Hae-soo isn’t ugly, but among the people who like you, there are prettier celebrities and ones who make way more money.”
At Shim Ji-young’s words, Kim Si-woo opened his mouth with a stiff expression.
“If I dated someone like that, there’d be too much to deal with. All kinds of articles, paparazzi, your face gets sold everywhere. And if we break up, breakup articles come out…”
“That’s why secret relationships exist.”
“There’s no such thing as a permanent secret. And if she appeared in my movie, people would definitely say I cast my girlfriend. How unfair would that be for her?”
“Hmm… I guess so?”
Shim Ji-young, who had been mentally toughened by malicious comments since childhood, didn’t seem particularly bothered.
“And you know what? Once a woman’s appearance reaches a certain level, after that it’s just a matter of taste. To me, Hae-soo doesn’t look any different from a celebrity.”
“Ooh… defending your ex-girlfriend?”
“Be quiet and watch the movie.”
“Yes, sir!”
Seeing Kim Si-woo’s expression, Shim Ji-young focused back on the film.
Throughout, she alternated between getting angry and feeling satisfied as she watched.
When the movie finally ended, Shim Ji-young spoke up with a slightly uncomfortable look.
“So that’s how it ended… She must have gotten a ton of hate, right?”
“Not really in Japan. That’s why we decided to change the ending a little for the Korean version.”
“What? Really?”
“Yeah. Pure love stories tend to get a lot of hate in Korea. And personally, I like having multiple possible endings. Kirishima Sumire’s happiness matters too, after all. Well… in real life, those two actors are actually dating.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
At the mention of the actors dating, Shim Ji-young looked at him with eyes full of curiosity.
“Oh… it didn’t make the news in Korea? In that movie, Kirishima Sumire and Honda Daisuke are a couple. They’re childhood friends, and Daisuke started acting because he liked Sumire. When I heard that, I seriously thought it was like a real-life version of the protagonist.”
“Creepy…”
Shim Ji-young rubbed her arms as if getting goosebumps from Kim Si-woo’s words.
A short while later, Arimura Noa came home from work looking exhausted. As soon as she arrived, Shim Ji-young rushed over to her.
“Noa! Is it true? Honda Daisuke and Kirishima Sumire are dating?”
“Huh? Ah… yes.”
“And they’re childhood friends too?”
“Yes. But why all of a sudden…?”
Seeing Arimura Noa flustered by the unexpected question, Kim Si-woo answered for her.
“We just watched <The Way a Genius Loves> a little while ago.”
“Ah… And you came over to hang out?”
“She said she was bored today… suggested going to the sea, I turned it down… and somehow ended up here.”
Kim Si-woo scratched his head as he explained.
“Unnie.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you staying over tonight?”
“Is that okay?”
While answering, Shim Ji-young gave Kim Si-woo a strange look.
“Do whatever you want.”
“Yes! Then dinner’s on me tonight. How about dakbokkeumtang?”
“I’m fine with anything.”
“Me too.”
“Great, should I order?”
While Shim Ji-young stepped aside to place the food order, Arimura Noa cautiously approached Kim Si-woo.
“Writer-nim.”
“Yeah?”
“Um… Honda and Kirishima said they’re coming to Korea to hang out… What should we do?”
“Huh? Why are you asking me…?”
“They said they want to meet up and spend time with Writer-nim.”
“Ah… Then I’ll send you my schedule.”
“Ah! Yes.”
At Kim Si-woo’s permission, a bright smile spread across Arimura Noa’s face.
That night, including Hong Soo-yeon who came back after finishing filming, the four of them spent the evening eating and drinking soju together.
***
Two days later.
With Arimura Noa’s strong support, the Japanese actors Honda Daisuke and Kirishima Sumire set foot on Korean soil.
“Hello, Writer-nim.”
“…”
“Did we come too early? Sorry about that.”
“No, it’s fine. Let’s go first.”
Seeing the two of them prepare and depart the very next day after he shared his schedule, Kim Si-woo thought to himself that, in a way, it was pretty impressive.
“I didn’t expect you to come this early, though—I was a bit thrown off.”
“That just shows how much we wanted to see you, Writer-nim.”
“You didn’t have any work…?”
“Ugh… you hit the nail on the head. Hahaha.”
The atmosphere inside the car heading to a hotel in Seoul wasn’t bad at all.
“By the way, our next project has been decided.”
“Oh… congratulations.”
“Do you know what it is?”
“No… sorry.”
“It’s one of your works, Writer-nim. They’re remaking it into a drama.”
“Oh, which one?”
“<Revenger>. Daisuke is the male lead, and I’m the female lead, apparently.”
Kirishima Sumire shared the news of her new role while squinting playfully at Kim Si-woo, but he pretended not to know anything.
He kept it a secret that he had quietly asked Only One Film to consider casting them.
“But where’s Noa-unnie?”
“Noa-ssi had to go to work, so we probably won’t see her until evening. That’s why I came in her place.”
“Ah… I see. By the way, oppa—you still call Noa-unnie ‘Noa-ssi’?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Ah… it’s nothing.”
Kirishima Sumire looked at Kim Si-woo with a somewhat frustrated expression, as if she had made up her mind about something.
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