Chapter : 59
……Ah.
She’d just been thinking about Seo Do-jun, yet her face had turned red again. Ha-ein quickly shook her head.
Ga-young looked at Ha-ein with a suspicious expression. It was obvious she was hiding something. After all, they had spent so much time together.
Still, she would speak when she wanted to. Ga-young was always willing to wait for Ha-ein.
“By the way, are you still doing morning workouts with the CEO? Or… early morning training?”
“No. I haven’t been able to for the past few days because my schedule’s been tight. I’ve been resting since the Jeju Island shoot.”
“You really should keep it up. Your vocal projection is getting better.”
Since Ga-young had studied acting with Ha-ein before transferring schools, she had noticed even small changes in her. Their long-standing connection made Ga-young keenly aware of Ha-ein’s subtle actions.
At that moment, Ha-ein’s phone lit up.
Ding~
“Looks like you got a message, Yoon Ha-ein.”
Ha-ein glanced at her phone to avoid Ga-young’s gaze, and for the first time in a while, a smile appeared on her face.
A beef specialty restaurant not far from the company.
Ha-ein, Jia, and Ga-young entered together. The restaurant, located in Cheongdam-dong and popular among celebrities, offered fully private rooms.
“You’re here?”
Do-jun, who had already taken a seat in the room, looked at the three with a welcoming expression. It had been almost a week since he last saw Ha-ein, so his eyes couldn’t leave her.
“Ha-ein, your face must be worn out.”
“Hey, don’t joke like that.”
At Ga-young’s playful remark, Do-jun finally averted his gaze from Ha-ein.
“I pre-ordered in case you were hungry. They said the beef chuck flap tail and sirloin are really good today, so I got those. Hope that’s alright.”
“Ah, that’s more than fine. Today I’ve only eaten half a kimbap.”
Do-jun smiled faintly at Ga-young’s teasing.
He had already heard from Ga-young during the recording that Ha-ein had passed the redemption mission. More than that, he was curious about the script she received today.
“The next mission is a group dance, right?”
“…Yes. I’m worried. I’m so clumsy.”
“They’ll probably have a professional choreographer guide you. Don’t worry about that.”
“Ah, also, only thirty people will participate in the group dance. That means twenty people will be eliminated beforehand… though the elimination mission hasn’t been revealed yet.”
Do-jun nodded, showing he already knew that too.
“I tried to find out, but JBN didn’t share any information citing fairness issues. Since the production company’s actors are auditioning as well, I guess they’re cautious too.”
Still, if he wanted, he could easily find out. Yet he didn’t want Ha-ein to become the center of rumors later, and above all, he believed she could handle anything now.
“You got the script today, right?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s take a look.”
Ha-ein pulled out the script she received today from her eco-bag. She didn’t yet know if she would be among the thirty participating in the group dance, but she had brought the script regardless.
The script only contained the group dance scene, so it wasn’t thick. Do-jun took the slim booklet from her.
“From Crown Princess to Gisaeng”
Scene: Spring, flowers in full bloom. Three years after Hye-in was presumed dead in the Hwakhwadang fire at the gisaeng house. Now a gisaeng, Hye-in participates as part of the female musician ensemble in the queen mother’s birthday celebration. Ten gisaengs begin the drum dance (mugo) around a large central drum. Soon, twenty more join for a sword dance (geommu).
SCENE 1
Grand banquet hall. The king sits on the dragon throne with the imperial cannon, the queen sits to his left with Hwajin, and the queen mother sits to his right.
On the lower tier, the crown prince sits with the crown princess to his left, and the elaborately dressed Seol-bin directly below. The remaining concubines are seated around them.
Musicians 1: Plays the trumpet.
Gisaengs 1-10: A large drum made of cowhide sits in the center, surrounded by masked dancers. They begin the drum dance (mugo) around it. (Music intensifies.) Their dance is mesmerizing, otherworldly.
Queen Mother: (looking at the king) …Indeed, a magnificent sight!
King: It’s Her Majesty’s birthday celebration. I wanted to show you the most precious thing in the world.
SCENE 2
Gisaengs 11-30: Enter the center of the banquet hall at a rapid pace. (Gisaengs 11-20 distribute swords to Gisaengs 1-10.)
Queen Mother: (admiring the king) I prepared more, Your Majesty! Today my eyes are delighted.
Queen: (disapprovingly) Tsk, mere women’s dancing.
Queen Mother: Truly… a magnificent sight!
Gisaeng 1: Steps into the center of the formation.
Scene: Movement begins like waves, signaling a flowing sequence of swords. As the gisaengs move, black silk skirts ripple like waves, revealing layers of white skirts beneath. They perform extravagant movements with long swords balanced on their shoulders.
They draw swords from sheaths and hold them across their shoulders, spinning in place to express a blossoming flower. Music swells, and all thirty gisaengs converge at the center as one.
Situation: The group, like a single giant flower, disperses its petals. Gisaengs 21-30 sit first, followed by 11-20, and finally 2-10, leaving only Gisaeng 1 at the center.
Gisaeng 1: (Eyes shining beneath the black veil.)
All eyes in the hall focus on Gisaeng 1. Though her face is hidden, her eyes are radiant, captivating everyone.
Gisaeng 1: Ebony hair lifted high, two gleaming swords in hand. Her skirt cinched tightly at the waist sways gracefully, revealing an elegant waistline.
Gisaeng 1: (Bends backward fluidly, embodying a blossoming flower, spinning and raising her waist, staring intently at the crown prince while continuing the dance.)
Crown Prince: (Enthralled) Stands, reaching toward Gisaeng 1, moving toward the lower hall.
Seol-bin: (Watches the crown prince in shock, glaring at Gisaeng 1.)
The food had already arrived. While the dishes were laid out and the server grilled the meat, Do-jun repeatedly read the script.
“Ha-ein, you’ve read the script, right?”
“Yes. I read it while moving earlier.”
The purpose of “From Crown Princess to Gisaeng” was clear: a revenge-based story delivering catharsis, featuring a successful female protagonist. It incorporated trending elements like regression and growth, and used gisaengs as a key motif, including visually striking scenes designed to capture attention.
“The main scene is Hye-in asserting her presence to the crown prince who abandoned her. Perfectly executing the group dance is important for the scene’s completion, but above all, Hye-in’s gaze must shine through.”
Do-jun analyzed the script and looked at Ha-ein.
