CHAPTER 184: GOOD LORD

"She is an idea."

Those words echoed in Averie’s head, bouncing around his skull like a rubber ball.

It was a memory from a few months ago—of a conversation held between him and Director Groux.

"That’s what Mr. Cao said."

His neck felt heavier as he turned his head.

"She is whatever one wants her to be, is how I interpret it."

Enjoying the warm, windy sunset, he refilled the director’s teacup.

"Is that why you haven’t given her any direction?"

The good director observed as the warm liquid spilled into his cup with the beauty of a waterfall.

He picked up the cup, observed the heat, and took a scalding sip.

His tongue burned, but he remained unfazed.

"What direction would I give her?"

That question was thrown more at himself than at Averie.

Beads of sweat trickled down the bridge of his nose like condensation on a chilled bottle of packaged water.

"I’ve thought about it." He stared at his hypnotic reflection on the surface of the semi-transparent liquid. "Countless times, at night, unable to sleep—I’ve thought about it without a solution."

Averie lowered his voice. "If you don’t know, how would I?"

The silence between them stretched for a quiet moment.

Averie tented his fingers. "What attire does she wear?"

"Anything. Everything."

The actor rapped his knuckles against the table, his gaze cast on the burning sky above.

"What about the length of her hair?"

"Short. Long."

"Her height?"

"A giantess. A gnome."

"Style?"

The man let out a hissing breath. "I don’t know."

Averie lowered his gaze as the birds returning to their nests chirped. "It sounds like you haven’t prepared enough. The script isn’t complete."

"It’s not about the script."

The director’s voice was firm, his vision resolute.

"It was never about the script."

Averie stared at him expectantly.

The director covered his mouth, splayed his fingers, and spoke through them.

"It’s about moving pictures, Monsieur. It’s about the art of the moving pictures. The story is well and good; it will continue. The Lady’s part in all of this is to be a moving picture."

"What about her part in the plot?"

"Doesn’t matter. I would be working with a bigger producer if that’s what I was providing." The man lightly drummed his fingers. "My refusal to draw her more firmly into the conflict was what caused many companies to turn away. They called it an ’utter lack of care.’

But she doesn’t need to be what they want her to be..."

The voice of the director grew blurry; images rushed through Averie’s mind.

It felt like he had caught a glimpse of something fun; it felt like he was extremely catching lightning in a bottle.

"Then," — he leaned forward, his eyes glazed — "can we make some changes to the script?"

The director felt something on his skin, and his left eye slightly twitched.

"As long as it doesn’t affect the other roles."

The memory grew distant. Averie’s closed eyes fluttered half open.

’She is an idea. She is whatever one wants her to be.’

But that wasn’t enough—not for Averie. He needed to add more.

’Yet, at the same time, she makes us wonder who she is.’

***

It was evening in Seoul.

On the balcony of a spacious penthouse overlooking the city, a woman sat, her back hunched as she scrolled on her phone.

- So, when’s the film coming out?

- I think it’s still in production, so like a long time, probably more than a year.

- What’s the premise? What’s it about?

- They haven’t clarified anything. It’s like they are keeping it a secret or something.

- Jean-Louis Groux is a stickler for art and all that. He won’t say anything until the film’s production is completed.

- I bet he’s preparing this one for the Serenes Film Festival. He didn’t get an invite last time. That must burn.

- Starting filming for the Serenes this late?

- Preproduction ran long, apparently. They were having trouble with casting.

- Lead role in his first film? He is moving up really quickly.

- Yeah, but it’s not a big production...

- Man, people on the internet know nothing. It’s a big enough production to be excited about. Every good film isn’t created by a big producer.

"Still on your phone?"

Actress Su-Bin Kang handed the woman a glass of wine.

"You’ll ruin your back, Ha-Yun."

Ha-Yun Jung, the leader of NeRen, looked back at her friend.

"It’s fine, isn’t it?"

She took the glass and emptied it in her gullet as if she were chugging beer.

"In a few years, I’ll be thirty. That’s practically death for girl group members. Who’s going to care about my back, then?"

"Your perspective is all messed up. It’s not about your fans or your career; it’s about your health. You need to take a break from work. Go on a yacht or something. Enjoy a little."

"And what? End up dead like all those deaths at sea?"

"What a drama queen," Su-Bin muttered between sips.

"When that name popped up—Jonathan Kim—I thought of Patricia Kim. All these famous people are dying; I don’t want to be one of them."

"Nobody will know it’s you if you don’t wear makeup—"

Ha-Yun’s head swerved sharply towards her friend. "What was that?"

"Give it some thought, I said." She took another sip. "End of the year vacation would be nice. It won’t be an inconvenience for the group. Go tour Europe or something."

"In the cold?"

"Maybe go a little earlier."

"Hmm." She tapped her chin. "Serenes will be held around that period. If I schedule the rest of the year right, maybe I will get to see Lady Ethereal at the festival—"

"Wait, wait, wait, what?" Su-Bin looked at her with wide eyes. "The Quinn’s new film is entering Serenes? Where did you hear that from?"

The girl blinked. "He told me."

Su-Bin’s passive face went through a gradual change. It navigated a smooth path through ridicule, confusion, disbelief, disgust, and interest.

"You talk with him often?"

"What gave you that idea?"

"He hasn’t yet replied to my lonely ’hi’ that I sent after the first episode of Long Live the Quinn. And—that show ended so weirdly, by the way."

"Right?" Ha-Yun nodded vigorously. "What do they mean he was abducted from the jail by aliens? He clearly overdosed after bribing everyone and their mother."

"That whole show was like a fever dream. It just kept getting more stupid and dangerous. It made me stop drinking for an entire week."

"That’s admirable."

"Yeah, yeah." The girl swirled and sniffed the wine. "But I digress. He doesn’t reply to me, and he gave you information about the film just like that? Are you two friends?"

Ha-Yun scoffed. "This is the difference between immature girls and graceful ladies."

Su-Bin recoiled. The sheer arrogance was hard for her to handle.

’She is too strong!’ she thought.

"Unlike you," — Ha-Yun pointed a condemnatory finger at her friend — "I kept sending messages even when he didn’t reply."

The radiance emanating from her shameless friend was enough to blind the actress.

"No!" she screamed like a vampire exposed to sunlight.

"That’s right!" continued Ha-Yun. "I bugged him so much, he replied before blocking me!"

***

Ari was reading a freshly published article.

It wasn’t from a highly respected journalist, nor was it from a bought-out scumbag.

’Ryan Hoffman.’

Even though he called himself an unbiased journalist, he was a prominent Averie-hater.

Unlike the bribed tabloid writers, he doubted and criticized Averie out of his own beliefs.

He had been there since Averie’s first role, and Ari had kept a close eye on him ever since coming across an article of his.

’He has finally gained the ear of the mainstream media.’

It was something to worry about.

’One loud voice can disrupt public opinion.’

Internet taught her what her enthusiastic history teacher couldn’t.

She was a bit worried, because even she was not spared.

Doubts over Averie’s acting prowess had begun plaguing her mind.

’He never acted before and only took it up on a whim.’

She knew she shouldn’t, but still, she couldn’t help but doubt.

’What if the first time was a fluke? What if it was a perfect role for his personality?’

The cameos weren’t long enough to show anything significant.

’The mockumentary was basically him being him if Hyerin is to be believed. Did he really do cocaine, then?’

She shook her head.

’It’s better not to think about it.’

She stood up, her toes pointed towards the makeup room.

Something caught her eye, and her feet halted.

Hyerin was entering the set from the room, holding the door open for someone following behind.

’What’s with that expression?’

The woman’s mouth was gaping incredulously, her eyes captured in a trance.

’Who is that—’

Ari’s eyes went wide as she saw the figure stepping out of the door after Hyerin.

Her hair was black, her pupils just as dark. She was clad in an Eastern dress, a fusion of a kimono and a Chinese fairy dress.

Half of her face was hidden behind her long sleeves.

But Ari could never mistake the look in those eyes.

’Good lord.’

She drew a cross in the air.

’There’s a devil on set.’