Chapter 48: [Filename_Lee Sua_profile.JPG.]

Two days later.

Sua was busy moving around from the morning.

First, it was the call from the group chat, from the deer – Go Eun-bi.

Why did she keep calling? Sua furrowed her brows.

[Sender: Go Eun-bi]
Hey, unban me.
▷ I didn’t unban you.
▷ Hey hey hey hey hey.

‘Ah, right.’

She soon understood the reason. She unbanned her right away.

After that, Sua waited in front of the doll department store for the ban to be lifted.

Of course, Sua hadn’t actually planned to meet here.

‘Is this why the ban came here during the mock shoot?’

In the past, Mystic, including Seo Yeon-ju, came to pick up Sua here.

Could that have influenced it? It felt like her waiting spot had implicitly been set here.

It wasn’t something Sua minded. She was happy to wait while looking at the dolls.

In fact, her eyes were already fixed on the display.

‘Wow, I’m definitely buying that. I’ll definitely…’

The rabbit dolls from before were gone, and now all the new ones had taken their place.

She kept a neutral expression on the outside, but inside, her eyes were sparkling as she drooled at the sight.

“Who’s that woman?”
“She’s pretty.”
“Is she a celebrity?”

Passersby glanced at Sua and whispered to each other, but she had no idea. She was too focused on the display.

At that moment.

A little kid holding their mother’s hand came out of the store, stopped when they saw Sua, and stared up at her.

The child pointed a finger and made a gesture.

“Mom, that one. I want that one too.”
“Huh? What’s ‘that one’ to a person, you can’t say that.”

The mother gently patted the child’s back, scolding them, but Sua wasn’t entirely displeased. After all, the child had treated her like a doll. She was secretly proud and waved her hand.

“You look like a wolf. A wolf doll.”

Sua’s hand froze in place.

Her expression unknowingly hardened, and soon, the child hurriedly ran to their mother, clinging to her as they left.

Sua felt wronged. She was an Arctic fox, an Arctic fox! She was far, far from a wolf…

Then, a van stopped in front of Sua.

“Sua.”

The door opened, and Kim Yi-seo, smaller than the seat, appeared.

She looked the same as usual. She still had large hairpins on her bangs, and was wearing a calm, long outfit.

The representative waved her small hand.
“Have you been waiting long? Let’s go right away.”

As soon as Sua got in, the van started moving smoothly.

Kim Yi-seo suddenly glanced at Sua’s face.

‘Is it because the real shoot is coming up? She seems much more serious than before. Well, it’s about time to manage her mindset.’

For Sua, though, the word “wolf” was a shock.

Recently, she had been obsessed with Arctic foxes. After hearing about them from Lee Geum-sook, she searched them up and found such a cute creature. That’s why she was so happy. ‘Is this me?’ She had reacted like that.

Of course, Kim Yi-seo, unaware of these thoughts, could only think that she would be busier from now on. Now, in addition to Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-ju, she also had to care for Lee Sua.

Kim Yi-seo was the first to break the silence.

“I noticed earlier, there were quite a few people glancing at Sua. You haven’t even debuted yet, and they’re already like that. After the drama airs, we’ll definitely need to change the waiting spot.”

“Arctic fox.”

“Huh?”

“I think they must have thought you looked like an Arctic fox.”

Kim Yi-seo was a bit taken aback by the sudden question, but at least she could understand the intention in Sua’s voice.

“Of course, you look like one.”

But in Kim Yi-seo’s mind, she was thinking of a wolf.

Rather than the cute fox that jumps into the water to catch prey, she imagined a wolf that sinks its teeth into the nape of the desired target. A fierce wolf that always gets what it wants…

“Anyway, you know the actual shoot starts in five days, right? Lee Geum-sook, the writer, and the entire production team are generally looking forward to your acting.”

“I know the shoot starts in five days.”

“Everyone’s busy, it’s chaotic. Oh, and the order of filming has been changed slightly. They’re going to start with your scenes.”

“My scenes first? Really?”

“They think that will be the best approach. They believe it will make the other actors more alert and motivated to perform better.”

“Hmm.”

Sua’s heart started racing.

‘What’s that supposed to mean? That sounds so pressuring.’

Now, what lay ahead for Sua was the actual filming. Every performance she gave there would be directly exposed to the public.

There were many tasks Sua had to handle. She had to manage her image throughout the shoot while also performing well in acting.

Kim Yi-seo quietly nodded.

“Still, with someone like you, I can feel reassured. Make sure to manage your condition and show your best when the actual shoot starts. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me immediately.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Sua was about to say “I’m fine,” but quickly changed it to “I’ll think about it.” She had become a little clever lately, or maybe more smart… like a fox. She was feeling proud of herself.

“Today, there’s just one schedule for you to handle.”

What could it be? Sua perked up her ears.

“A profile shoot. We’ll be making your profile.”

“Profile?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t know the term. It was like taking photos for a photoshoot and choosing one to display. However, since she had never had that kind of experience, she was quite nervous.

How many photos had there been in my life?

Had she ever taken a picture with family or friends? No. The only ones she had were graduation photos and her ID card photo…

“Profile shoots are actually really hard. Choosing the one photo that represents you is difficult. Sun-il took an entire day, and Yeon-ju took about two days.”

“Hmmm.”

“Sua, you’ll need to take two photos. Are you confident?”

“Two photos?”

Sua tilted her head slightly.

“While portraying Kim Yuhan, I’m planning to deceive everyone into thinking you’re a male actor. It’s a kind of risky marketing, but if it works, it’ll be a huge hit. It’s like shooting a rocket into the sky.”

I immediately understood what that meant.

Well, I’ve never done a profile shoot before, but…

Still, I steeled myself and said,

“I’m confident.”

If it’s something that needs to be done, then I’ll just do it.

A few hours later, at the profile shoot studio.

What was put on me at the scene was more of a makeover than styling. It was the process of putting the body of “Kim Yuhan,” a man, over my own body.

‘So boring.’

Sitting in the chair for so long was more tedious than I expected.

My butt hurt, and my shoulders were stiff. Since I couldn’t even look at my phone, I had to rely on my imagination.

Most of the time, I imagined myself in various rabbit-related scenarios. In these imaginary worlds, I played an active role…

I spent a long time this way.

“Ta-da!”

One of the stylists called out. She made eye contact with me through the mirror and smiled.

“It’s all done. Want to check how it feels? Do you know how much the writer and PD Choi Heewon insisted on this? They said there’s nothing more important than this, so we really poured our souls into it.”

Now that I think about it, even when they were making my makeup, they kept saying the same thing. The Special Forces 808 production team put everything into my Kim Yuhan look. Anyway, I snapped out of my thoughts.

And then, I looked in the mirror.

“…!”

Immediately, I felt a shock at the back of my head.

What… what is this? Is this really me?

The mirror showed Kim Yuhan.

A white bowl-cut wig, a nose sharpened with shading to highlight its shape, and the stylist covered my body with a curtain-like drape to hide the curves.

When my female figure was concealed, I truly looked like Kim Yuhan.

The stylist smiled happily.

“Once the writer and PD Choi Heewon see this, they won’t be able to help but be satisfied, right? This makeover captured both beauty and handsomeness—two birds with one stone.”

“Two birds with one stone sounds great.”

“Huh?”

It was then that the phone rang.

The caller was none other than Seo Yeon-ju.

Actually, Seo Yeon-ju had been showing interest through text messages earlier. It seemed that when she heard I was doing a profile shoot, she became curious. But now, the call was a video call.

…Is this what it would feel like if I had an older sister?

I hesitated for a moment, then answered the phone.

“Oh my, look at you. Sua, show your face.”

Right, it’s a video call. As soon as I showed my face,

“I heard you were doing a profile shoot, so I couldn’t resist… huh?”

Seo Yeon-ju couldn’t continue speaking.

After that, there was silence. It was as if the screen had frozen, with no response.

Even when Sua waved her hand slightly, there was no change.

There was no word.

The image that Sua had of Seo Yeon-ju was of someone who chattered constantly, so when she became this quiet, it made Sua feel a little uneasy.

Was it really that bad in Seo Yeon-ju’s eyes?

“…Is something wrong?”

But then,

―Yeah. I’m weird.

That was Seo Yeon-ju’s response.

Seo Yeon-ju even covered her eyes with her hand.

• Hey, Sua. Don’t look at me with that makeup on.

“Pardon?”

It’s just too overwhelming, I think I might fall for you.

A few hours later. Midnight.

What had seemed like an endlessly smooth shoot took an unexpected turn.

Sua was now facing an issue she had never anticipated.

She suddenly looked at herself in the mirror.

“Ugh…”

Now, she had to do the profile shoot as herself, not as Kim Yuhan.

So, Sua was styled for the shoot.

There were many things scattered around on the floor. Clothes hangers, tools, empty cosmetic containers—those were the main items.

How many times had she changed outfits and redone her styling?

It was hard to count the number of times, and before she knew it, it was already past midnight.

Sua was starting to feel sore in her hips, neck, and shoulders.

“Which styling do you like best, Sua?”

“Hmm…”

Sua wasn’t sure, so she hummed.

Ponytails, twin tails, apple-head styles, updos… There were many attempts, but choosing just one was extremely difficult.

It was hard to rank them.

Sua’s impression was that they were all just fun.

She discovered looks she never even imagined she could pull off. The process was fascinating and new to her.

That was all she thought.

Anyway, since the stylist also couldn’t decide, everyone was struggling as if their heads were going to explode.

The head stylist scratched the back of her head and thought,

‘…Is this what they mean by a thousand faces? I’ve never had this happen before.’

She gathered the staff and quietly asked,

“Which one do you think is best?”

“I can’t choose.”

…Right? Usually, for actors, the most fitting look is obvious, but this is the first time I’ve had this problem. It’s so hard to choose just one because she looks good in everything.

That’s when it happened.

“Excuse me.”

“Oh, yes, Sua.”

At Sua’s call, the team leader immediately approached.

“Just one, right?”

“Yes. Only one profile can be selected, so it’s really important.”

The team leader continued to explain seriously.

“When people first learn your name, this profile will be the first thing they see. It’s the first impression, and there’s nothing more important than that in this industry.”

The importance of it was something that Sua could now understand as well.

“Let’s try the next styling. If there’s any look that particularly stands out to you, let me know. Let’s see… this time, let’s try an idol makeup look.”

The stylists immediately surrounded Sua.

“Sua, it’s not because we’re getting paid that we’re doing this.”

“That’s right. If it were just for the money, we would’ve done it quickly and casually.”

“Really?”

“Sua, your face is something we can’t get enough of. No matter what, there’s something unique about it, so we want to keep adjusting and finding the best look.”

And so, a few more hours passed.

How many different styles had they tried?

Brushes had tapped Sua’s face countless times, she had changed outfits repeatedly, and each time, her makeup had to be carefully wiped off.

At one point, they even took extra time for a face mask to let her skin rest. It had been exhausting.

Actually, Sua didn’t really have any strong thoughts about the profile shoot.

She thought that as long as the photos were pretty, any of them could be used for the profile.

After all, if she had a good image to showcase, it would be beneficial.

But now, it was different.

Strangely, Sua started to feel more uncertain.

“Sua, how about this look?”

“Mm…”

She realized that she had never seen herself in this light before, and while everything looked good, if asked whether she truly liked it, she couldn’t give a clear answer.

Something was nagging at her.

“Expressing myself in just one photo.”

Which version of herself should she present?

Is it enough to just be pretty?

Would she regret it later?

At that moment, the shooting team leader spoke in a tired voice.

“We’ve tried just about everything. I don’t think we can try more. It’s difficult, but now it’s time to choose. How about the third option from earlier? I think that one looks good.”

“The third option…”

“If you’re confused, it wouldn’t hurt to trust my instincts. I’ve been doing this for over ten years.”

Sua did not answer.

Instead, she reflected on herself.

Looking back, after she gained the privilege, Sua’s life had completely changed.

While performing all kinds of acting, she also took advantage of various expressions and attitudes in society to gain benefits.

She would probably continue to do so in the future.

Sua aimed for greater success and would keep moving forward without stopping.

But because of this, something that had been bothering her deep inside stood out more than ever.

And now, she felt like she knew the name of that obstacle.

It was a very small wish.

One photo.

Just one.

What if she left behind her true self in just one shot?

That small wish.

“Excuse me.”

The moment of hesitation didn’t last long.

With the main shoot for Special Forces 808 approaching, Sua decided to gather the courage for the first time in her acting career.

“Can I style myself?”

“Excuse me? Style yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Um…?”

Confusion crossed the team leader’s face.

“Style yourself…?”

Having dealt with all sorts of demands, this was the first time he had ever heard such a request.

It was something he couldn’t understand.

Other actors usually asked for more elaborate styling, but this was different.

The team leader gently advised her.

“As I said, the profile is your first impression. And in the entertainment industry, nothing is more important than first impressions. But if you style yourself, Sua, you might not be very good at it.”

The other stylists around her wore similar expressions.

However, this only made Sua’s decision even more resolute.

“That’s exactly why.”

“Sorry?”

Sua said firmly.

“I want to leave behind just one photo, one that shows my true self.”

“…!”

Since she started acting, she had always given her best for every role, and in social life, she acted as a newcomer, someone hard to approach.

In other words, she had never left a photo of herself as ‘Lee Sua.’

That’s why she wanted to do this now.

If she didn’t do it now, she might have to live with her true self hidden behind the persona of ‘Lee Sua’ forever.

Leaving just one photo would be good.

So she could always remember that she was, indeed, ‘Lee Sua.’

So that she could also recall her beginning.

The shooting team leader looked almost as if he was about to cry.

“Sua, I’m saying this because I feel bad. I feel really bad…”

“Please.”

Despite trembling, Sua did not regret her decision.

In the end, the shooting team leader nodded.

After all, it was their own desire to style Sua to the extreme.

But since the person in question had her own direction, what else could they do?

“Sua, are you really going to shoot like this?”

“Yes.”

With her bare face, freshly wiped off makeup, and hair loosely falling around her, Sua stood in front of the camera.

She looked messy. It was unkempt.

Her expression didn’t seem particularly strained.

“…Is this really okay?”

The profile shooting team leader thought nervously.

Lee Sua was undoubtedly a gem.

So, it would seem a hundred times better to craft the shot carefully, but this felt like capturing someone who was just thrown onto the dirt floor.

The shooting team leader said to the woman holding the camera.

“Is this not going to work? Should I try to talk her out of it again?”

“No, no, wait a minute. Don’t stop her, team leader.”

An unexpected thing happened then.

The staff members who had been gathered in front of the camera shook their heads.

The team leader was a little puzzled. What could possibly be showing on the camera screen that would make them react this way? Normally, if something doesn’t look good, they would immediately complain.

Meanwhile, the person holding the camera focused.

There was only one subject: Lee Sua.

“…This is strange, but there’s something captivating about it.”

Shooting is about capturing a moment within a rectangular frame.

And right now, the image that Sua was giving off had an essence of ‘unfinished.’

Her hair wasn’t styled, her face wasn’t covered with anything, but strangely enough, that made it even more captivating.

The staff member soon realized why.

When you see something incomplete like this, it makes you want to touch it.

It awakens the desire to complete it.

Because once it’s completed, there’s a certainty that it will be perfect.

That’s how everyone got drawn in. Forced to.

“Team leader! This is good! This is really good!”

Click—!

Finally, the camera made its first shutter sound.

The profile shooting team silently looked at each other.

At the same time, they nodded, and the meaning was clear.

One shot.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was special.

It was just the right amount of distance, but it felt like it could be reached.

[File Name_LeeSua_profile.JPG.]

It would definitely be a shot that would captivate everyone.