Whirr, whirr, whirr.

As the helicopter rotor slowed its rotation, Director Choi Sung-Moon and the staff stepped out with their heads lowered.

However, the expression on Stunt Team Lead Chae Ill-Bok, who had to take the wheel today for the rollover accident scene, did not look normal. His face was pale, and he had his left hand pressed against his stomach. He was pretending to be fine, trying to hide it, but at a glance I could tell it was a textbook case of motion sickness.

'So this was it.'

There was just one thing I did not understand.

'How can a man of steel, a former Special Forces soldier with a combined 20th-degree black belt in judo, kendo, and taekwondo, get airsick from a helicopter?'

However, I soon found myself nodding. Chae Ill-Bok was thirty-nine this year, which meant it had been nearly ten years since he left the Special Forces. If that was the case, it made sense that he could get sick after not riding in a helicopter for so long.

On top of that, Scene 10, which we were about to film, had to be shot at dusk as the sun set and the light faded, and he would have to drive while we created rain using a water truck. If Chae Ill-Bok's condition was this bad, there was a real possibility of a serious accident once he got behind the wheel.

If we wanted to avoid wiping out Everyday's schedule entry, it seemed we would have to hand the wheel over to another stuntman under Chae Ill-Bok.

Just then, President Shin Jong-Ki, Director Yeo Ik-Hwan, and Managing Director Lee Eun-Joo stood side by side and greeted Choi Sung-Moon as he approached.

"Have you arrived, Mr. Choi?"

I hurried over and bowed as well. "It has been a while, Mr. Choi."

Choi Sung-Moon raised his right hand as he walked toward us. "Wow. Arriving by helicopter like this makes me feel like a complete star."

"To welcome the best star director in Korea, we had to do at least this much."

"Well, it was less of a welcome and more that I was threatened into coming down here..." Choi Sung-Moon trailed off and shot me an annoyed glance.

I simply smiled. "Threatened? Was it not a deal?"

"Should I just go back? Get on the helicopter again?"

'You're the one making threats here.'

I quickly grabbed Choi Sung-Moon's hand and smiled. "Yes. I recklessly threatened you, Mr. Choi. I am sorry. Since you are here anyway, please help us out, and join us for dinner later."

At that moment, Shin Jong-Ki held up two fingers. "We will keep dinner simple for now, and after filming ends, we have prepared top-grade Hanwoo. Grade 2++."

Choi Sung-Moon let out a short laugh. "Chief Jung and President Shin really make a perfect pair. Fine."

"Yes, sir."

Then Choi Sung-Moon curled the corner of his mouth and spoke. "Ah, Chief Jung. About that issue with Hyeonjong: The King of the Original Text..."

I had no idea what he was about to say, especially with that smile on his face.

"Yes?"

"If I find the problem myself within two weeks, that means I am the one at a loss, right? If I get the answer correct, will you give me something in return?"

'So that was why he had agreed so readily.'

"What... would you like?" I asked.

"Before that, promise me you will give me anything. The price of using my precious staff is expensive."

"I cannot promise absolutely anything, but whatever I can offer, I will."

That was when Choi Sung-Moon placed his hand firmly on my shoulder. "Chief Jung."

"Yes?"

"So you see, I want you. Chief Jung."

"Me...?"

"Yes. Before I start my next project, come to my company for exactly one month and work as my manager while helping out with some film matters. This is non-negotiable."

The proposal was so unexpected that I could not immediately figure out what to say.

"That is..."

Choi Sung-Moon turned his body as if to leave. "Why? You do not like it? If you do not, then I will have no choice but to get back on the helicopter."

I quickly grabbed his arm. "Ah, sir. Just a moment! No, how can you threaten me like this?"

Choi Sung-Moon snickered. "It seems you don't know. This is how threats are supposed to be made. Ever heard of brinkmanship?"

It seemed he was quite upset that I had said I would not reveal the issue for two weeks. Still, no matter how much I thought about it, there was no way he would find the problem. If he could figure it out on his own, the film would not have fallen apart before my regression.

I nodded. "All right. But you will have to obtain permission directly from our President."

Choi Sung-Moon clapped his hands. "Okay! Then let us do that."

Thankfully, my negotiation with Choi Sung-Moon came to an end, and I was about to greet Chae Ill-Bok next.

Then, Choi Sung-Moon stopped me. "Team Lead Chae started feeling a bit sick once we crossed into Chungcheong Province, so greet him later. Thirty minutes of rest should do it. Even if he is former Special Forces, it has been a long time since he was discharged, so there is not much he can do about it. Or maybe Team Lead Chae is just getting old. Hahaha."

At that moment, Chae Ill-Bok took a deep breath, straightened his back, and spoke. "I am fine, Mr. Choi. I am perfectly fine."

"Really? Are you okay?"

"Yes. I just need a little rest. It is the aftereffects of drinking last night. I will stabilize quickly."

Chae Ill-Bok, thirty-nine this year, a former Special Forces soldier with a combined 20th-degree black belt in various martial arts, completely changed his expression after just a few deep breaths.

Even before my regression, I knew better than anyone that he was the type to hide his pain, no matter how much he was hurting.

So I casually brought up another suggestion. "Mr. Chae doesn't seem to be in good condition. Would it not be better to assign the rollover accident scene to another team member? I heard the stuntmen under you are all highly skilled as well."

But contrary to my expectations, Chae Ill-Bok shook his head. "Please don't worry. As Mr. Choi said, I'll be fine after about thirty minutes of rest. And more importantly, today I am alone. The stunt team members under me couldn't come today."

"Pardon?"

Choi Sung-Moon explained instead. "Ah, the youngest guy under Ill-Bok had a housewarming party last night. He finally got a lease after struggling in Seoul, so they all went, drank, and passed out. They can't make it today. They'll sober up and come tomorrow. Team Lead Chae had something to do yesterday, so he left early and was able to come."

I once again debated whether we should cancel the shoot. However, with a deadline to finish filming by the end of May, every single day mattered, so we could not afford that. Besides, if by any chance my prediction was wrong, Everyday's schedule entry might resurface again. In that case, it would be better to wrap this up somehow today.

In the end, I decided to wait and see if Chae Ill-Bok would recover. If he did not, I would have no choice but to use my last option.

I would have to take the wheel myself.

***

The current time was 5 p.m. Soon, the 15-ton water trucks that would be used to create rain for the scene arrived.

"This way."

Two large water trucks slowly entered through the access road to the set, guided by the youngest member of the production team.

Hissss.

The water trucks came to a stop on one side of the set.

Choi Sung-Moon stopped talking with Yeo Ik-Hwan and picked up his phone. "I should call Team Lead Chae over."

Chae Ill-Bok was resting in the lounge, so Choi Sung-Moon was about to call him on his phone.

At that moment, I stopped Choi Sung-Moon. "Sir. I'll go bring him myself."

"You will?"

"Yes. I'll take him a bottle of taurine drink and help him come to his senses before bringing him over."

"Hmm. All right."

After giving a small bow, I grabbed some drinks for the staff and headed toward the lounge set up on one side of the set. The lounge installed to the right of Set Number 1 was a temporary rest area made from a container.

Through the small window in the container, I could see Chae Ill-Bok lying down with his eyes closed, groaning. As expected, he was in no condition to take the wheel. I would have to drive.

Having made up my mind, I knocked on the lounge door.

Knock, knock.

Thud, rustle.

I heard him hurriedly getting up inside.

"Mr. Chae, are you awake?" I asked.

"Ah, yes. I have been up for a while. Hahaha."

Chae Ill-Bok was lying down just moments ago, yet he lied so easily. However, stuntmen had the habit of always saying they were fine. So I pretended not to notice and opened the door.

Click.

Chae Ill-Bok was on his feet, hurriedly straightening his clothes. His face looked much better than before, but judging by the tremor in his hands, the aftereffects of motion sickness were still clearly there.

"Let us go."

Chae Ill-Bok tried to step outside, but I walked into the lounge instead and shut the door behind me.

Thud.

"Mr. Chae. I think it would be best if you rested today."

Chae Ill-Bok tilted his head, then smiled and raised both arms overhead. "I'm fine. I feel completely better. I'll just wash my face and drive."

After a brief moment of hesitation, I decided to lay it out plainly. "I could hear you groaning from outside."

Chae Ill-Bok replied with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry for worrying you. But in the past, I've filmed for three days straight without sleep. Compared to that, this is nothing."

'That was when you were in your twenties. Now you are thirty-nine.'

"And talent agents often drive with almost no sleep while handling schedules, do they not? Stunt work is similar to that, so please don't worry too much."

'Similar? Talent agents may suffer from overwork, but we don't fall off horses, fly through the air, or flip cars over.'

Since Chae Ill-Bok looked determined to push through and drive no matter what I said, I pulled out my trump card.

"I took lessons at the Hwaseong Chae Ill-Bok Driving School in Gyeonggi Province."

"I'm sorry?"

"If the other team members are not here, I can take the wheel. I am practically your student, Mr. Chae."

With Choi Sung-Moon's permission, Chae Ill-Bok had been running a driving school in Hwaseong for the past five years. Most of the students were regular people interested in racing, but he also taught aspiring stunt drivers on a small scale. And before my regression, I had taken both the racing and car stunt courses at his driving school.

Chae Ill-Bok blinked. "You were one of my students? Then why have I never seen you before?"

'Of course you haven't seen me. I won't be learning from you until three years from now.'

Nevertheless, I answered shamelessly, "You didn't come to the driving school every time, did you? On-site, I learned from the Bae Sun-Myung and Ok Jin-Soo crew."

The two men I mentioned were staff members stationed full-time in Hwaseong.

I continued shamelessly, "And whenever a course ends, everyone goes to that tavern in Hwaseong for makgeolli and pajeon, do they not? You said it's been a tradition since the school was founded."

Only then did Chae Ill-Bok look slightly convinced. "Still, no matter how busy I am, I always check in at least once on-site. There's no way I would forget someone as memorable as you, Mr. Jung..." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"It must have been because I was younger then. In any case, I'm practically your student, Mr. Chae. So I will take the wheel later. Please just keep an eye on me."

"Even so..."

"Today, unlike usual, we will be spraying water with the water trucks. The road surface will be slippery. How are you planning to drive with your hands trembling like that?"

Chae Ill-Bok hurriedly hid his hands behind his back. "No, that's just because I slept on my hand and it was cramped..."

"And did you not tell the students learning car stunts that if the situation is truly impossible, they must clearly say they cannot do it? You said it's better to lose a day's pay than to end up crippled. So why are you trying to force yourself to take the wheel?"

Most stunt teams thoroughly hid their injuries from directors. Many directors still only cared about their own shoots, so if stunt teams said they couldn't do something, they were immediately replaced. That was why they endured the pain and kept working.

However, Chae Ill-Bok had always taught his juniors that when they truly could not do something, they had to say so. He used to say that in his younger days, because he could not bring himself to tell directors he could not do it, he had nearly died dozens of times.

I brought up the story I had heard during car stunt school and used it to persuade him.

A flustered look spread across Chae Ill-Bok's face. "That's..."

"So now is the time for you to uphold the very words you taught. You're not in good shape, so you should clearly say you cannot do it."

After a moment of contemplation, he let out a long sigh. "Then let us run one test and decide."

"A test?"

"I need to see your skills with my own eyes. It's true I'm not feeling amazing, but it's not so bad that I absolutely cannot drive. So if I judge that your skills are not up to par, I will take the wheel."

That much, I could concede.

I nodded. "All right."

"Then let us head to where the stunt vehicle is."

"Yes, sir."

To prove my ability, I headed with him toward the stunt vehicle parked along the access road to the set.

***

Screeeech!

I slammed on the brakes and brought the stunt van to a stop. The acrid smell of burning tires drifted up into the driver's seat. I leaned my head out and looked ahead. The front wheels of the vehicle had stopped precisely between the orange, cone-shaped traffic markers set one meter apart.

I had succeeded.

From the far end of the opposite lane, Chae Ill-Bok clapped.

Clap, clap, clap.

"You pass. I did not expect you to succeed on the first try. Your skills are no joke. But how have I never heard that someone this skilled enrolled..."

Chae Ill-Bok's test looked simple, but it was in fact highly difficult. From a distance of fifty meters, I had to accelerate rapidly and then stop at the exact designated position. To indicate the stopping point, Chae Ill-Bok had placed orange traffic cones one meter apart. He told me that when the car came to a complete stop, the front wheel had to be positioned within that one-meter gap.

The front wheel of a nineteen-inch van is typically about seventy-three centimeters in diameter. To bring that wheel to a stop within a one-meter gap between cones was extremely difficult. Without precise braking control and sharp dynamic vision, it was impossible. Yet I had completed the mission perfectly in a single attempt.

As a result, I had only drawn more suspicion.

I shrugged. "I must have just been lucky..."

"If this were luck, then anyone could do stunts."

He spoke so firmly that I hurried to change the subject. "In any case, is this good enough for me to do it? I'll wear all the safety gear, and all I have to do is hook the left wheel onto that ramp up ahead, right?"

About thirty meters ahead, a ramp had been fixed onto the road to make it easier for the vehicle to flip.

Once I drove at high speed and caught the left wheel on that ramp, all I had to do was curl up inside the overturned vehicle and minimize any injury.

"Well... seeing how precisely you control the car, I guess I don't need to worry. All right. Still, let us run a few rehearsals before filming. I'll inform Mr. Choi."

"Yes. Then I'll go get Yoo-Jin. Please get in."

I drove back toward the set with Chae Ill-Bok in the passenger seat.

***

After getting out of the stunt vehicle, I returned to the Merciless Springer parked in the lot. When I opened the rear door, Yoo-Jin was stretching as she woke up.

"Ugh. That was such a good sleep."

The fatigue had completely disappeared from Yoo-Jin's face.

"Did you sleep well?"

Yoo-Jin looked at me and smiled brightly. "Oppa. It feels like I slept for six hours, not one. It's like magic."

"It's not magic. It's reality. Miss Jung Yoo-Jin, you slept a full six hours."

Startled, Yoo-Jin looked at the clock inside the van. "Oh, you are right. Oppa, what do we do? Mr. Choi is angry, right? Yikes, I will hurry and get ready."

I calmed Yoo-Jin down as she began to panic. "It is fine. Something came up today, so filming was delayed."

"Huh? What happened?"

I immediately told her that CK Entertainment had pulled out the staff.

Yoo-Jin fumed. "Wow, that is ridiculous. I thought President Son was generous, but he is so petty."

"He does have that side to him."

"Then we have to work even harder, right? If we do well, it will just make them angrier. Right?"

This was why I liked Yoo-Jin. Instead of shrinking back or getting depressed when someone tried to step on her, she chose to work harder and overcome it.

'Except for this part.'

Grrrrowl.

Yoo-Jin suddenly grabbed her stomach and looked as if the sky had fallen. "Oppa. Does that mean I slept without eating? Oppa, I feel like I am going to collapse from malnutrition. Oh no, anemia."

Whenever she skipped a meal, my food-loving actress reacted like this. However, she had a shameless talent agent.

I smiled brightly and gave her a thumbs-up. "You skipped one meal, so you naturally dieted. Big win, right?"

Yoo-Jin pressed her hand to her forehead, then glared at me. "Fine. Then I'll just eat two bowls for dinner. Oppa, don't even think about stopping me."

"Nope. No way. I have no intention of allowing that. I can't watch my actress binge eat. I have to prevent your face from turning into a steamed bun tomorrow morning."

When I firmly opposed her, Yoo-Jin began to huff. "Ugh. So unfair. So frustrating. I won't forget this."

"Yes, yes. Do not forget. Anyway, we're starting from Scene 10, so review the script again. After the car flips, you'll crawl out with fake blood on you. After that, I'll let you eat something delicious."

"Tch. Fine."

At last, Yoo-Jin gave up and started stretching her legs. As I watched her, I carefully told her that I would be performing the stunt for Scene 10. If I did not tell her in advance, she would be shocked on set later.

"Oh, right. And today, I'm doing the stunt."

Yoo-Jin froze mid-stretch. "What?"

"The stunt coordinator rode a helicopter for the first time and got motion sickness. He was trembling and in no condition to drive, but he insisted. It was too dangerous, so I said I'd do it. You know I'm good at driving, and I have done stunts before, right? So don't worry," I spoke rapidly without even taking a breath.

Yoo-Jin stared at me in shock. "Oppa...are you serious?"

"Yes. The safety equipment is solid, so you really don't have to worry."

I had been worried about what to do if Yoo-Jin absolutely refused.

'What if she goes to the director and demands we shoot tomorrow instead? Or worse, what if she lays down on the ground and throws a tantrum?'

However, Yoo-Jin began to show a reaction completely different from what I had expected.

'Jung Yoo-Jin. What is wrong with you?'