Descent of the Demon Master

“It's so humid here…” Choi Yeon-Ha groaned while poking at her own cheeks.

“Unnie, please don't do that. It's going to ruin your makeup.”

Choi Yeon-Ha tutted at the makeup artist. “Forget makeup, the humidity will ruin me first.”

“I'm sorry, but we don't have a choice. With how humid it is around here...”

The initial plan didn't include bringing this many staff over from South Korea. The top Hollywood stars might demand a massive entourage of staff members whenever they were shooting a movie, but Choi Yeon-Ha hadn't reached that level of madness yet.

She obviously understood that she wasn't at that level of fame to demand such a thing. Besides, her independent streak was too strong to accept having so many people fawning over or loitering around her. However, her tune changed immediately after getting the pre-filming test makeup done by the Chinese artists. She didn't waste another second and directly called her agency's boss back in Korea.

Thanks to her vague phone call that could've been either a request or a demand, all these people had to be forced onto a plane to China. Choi Yeon-Ha could endure the costumes as the production's director ordered her to wear them, but the makeup was one thing she'd never yield on.

It wasn't as if the Chinese makeup artists were unskilled or appreciably worse than their Korean counterparts. However, there was still a minute difference, and Choi Yeon-Ha wouldn't have been called a perfectionist if she couldn't even notice that.

“Do we have to apply more makeup? I hope you aren't treating my face as your personal canvas,” said Choi Yeon-Ha.

“No can do, unnie. The director apparently was complaining about how too subtle your makeup was.”

“What is wrong with that uncle, anyway?” Choi Yeon-Ha tutted unhappily. “Even though he's so good at setting up some of the most beautiful scenes, why is he getting so worked up about his actors over-painting their faces? It's so unfashionable!”

“You know the Chinese tend to prefer that look. And this is a historical epic, too.”

“What! Shouldn't we get less makeup in that case? Since it's a historical drama and all? It's not like people had makeup back then, right?!”

“Eh? Unnie, haven't you seen a Chinese opera before? I mean, don't they, like, turn the actors' faces pure white?”

“...Are you saying people back then all walked around looking like that? No way.”

“Who knows, unnie? Didn't Westerners also slather mercury all over their faces to make them look even paler? I guess people will act the same way regardless of where they are from.”

Choi Yeon-Ha frowned unhappily. “That's horrifying...”

But the really-horrifying thing wasn't the ancient people applying too much makeup, but the poor Choi Yeon-Ha being forced to re-enact their antiquated ways! Although, technically speaking, she wasn't forced to match the tastes of old times but the director's peculiar ways!

“...You know what? If I ever choose to star in a historical series again, someone shoot me dead, okay?”

“Eh? Unnie, I thought you told the director you'd love to collaborate with him again if the critical reception for this production is favorable?”

The diplomatic relationship between China and Korea had become frosty of late, and the stories of the Chinese government restricting Korean actors from appearing in Chinese productions were already circulating among those in the loop. Although it was being kept hush-hush for now, Choi Yeon-Ha was seeing more and more of her colleagues bearing the brunt of the current situation.

At least the director of this production boasted a lot of influence in the industry, allowing him to stand his ground and argue that it was too late to change the cast of a TV show that had already finished filming half of his episodes. However, what about other productions? Events of actors in the middle of the shoot being kicked out of the set had already taken place all over the country. So, to talk about collaborating again? That was an unrealistic dream at this stage.

No matter how influential the director was, he was still just that, a mere director of a TV show. He obviously couldn't win against his government. Which meant this was as good as the last opportunity for Choi Yeon-Ha. If she failed to brand her existence to the Chinese public's awareness through this production, her plan to break into the Chinese market was as good as over.

Even her agency had already predicted that the projected revenue would fall by half even if the TV show was a success. It'd be difficult for her to promote the sale of related merchandise or appear in other programs and commercials, after all!

The agency president had already begun whining about this development, but Choi Yeon-Ha didn't really care. Those things didn't matter since she never came here intending to become rich, anyway.

She only chose to sign up for this role as a way to spread her name among the Greater China region. Starring in a Hollywood production might have been faster in achieving her goal, but... Unfortunately, a pretty East Asian actress like her was rarely in demand for American TV shows and movies.

Even if they did look to cast someone of her ethnicity, the American producers usually went for a Japanese actress. Or, more correctly, an Asian actress capable of playing a Japanese character. If not that, then a Chinese character.

Of course, Korean characters have begun showing up more often in American productions of late, but none of those roles was what Choi Yeon-Ha had been looking for. So, she had no choice but to look at other places.

Considering all the factors at play, Choi Yeon-Ha had no choice but to give her all to this role. In other words, she needed to put on the performance of her life with this one production to properly brand her name into the consciousness of the Chinese public!

Of course, she was confident. Confident about pulling that feat off without breaking a sweat! But she had a problem, and it involved a totally different matter.

“Unnie, we're finished. Shall we go back to the location?”

“Oh. Okay, got it.” Choi Yeon-Ha woke up from her thoughts and nodded slightly. It seemed the mind-numbing process of putting on the makeup, sliding into her costume, then putting the finishing touches on her makeup was finally over.

Maybe, just maybe... Actresses allegedly being short-tempered and abrasive was due to this makeup process. Sitting dead-still for two, maybe three, hours just to get some stupid makeup done was unimaginably stressful. And to make matters worse for Choi Yeon-Ha, her costume for the upcoming scene happened to be as thick and voluminous as a duvet!

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced at the assistants. “Can you hold the dress from the back?”

While saying that, she sighed in unhappiness.

With how humid it was, wearing such a thick, lengthy costume naturally made her sweat like crazy. Two assistants had to lift the dress from behind while her makeup artist followed her everywhere to apply more cream and other makeup powder on Choi Yeon-Ha's forehead at every opportunity.

No wonder she felt a little lightheaded while going through all this.

Her weight had decreased so much that her health should start getting affected. No actress could escape the war against fat, of course. However, Choi Yeon-Ha's problem was that her victory in that war had been far too excessive.

“Unnie? Please be careful.”

“...I'm fine,” said Choi Yeon-Ha. Others assisting her looked worriedly at her when she staggered a little. She saw the anxious looks they were giving her, then sighed deeply. “Hah-ah... Listen, girls.”

“Yes, unnie.”

“You all know the frail-girl concept just doesn't suit me. Don't you?”

“...Well, yeah.”

Indeed, Choi Yeon-Ha never really got sick in her regular life. Actually, it'd be more correct to label her a warrioress instead!

“You all seem to be misunderstanding something, what with me doing this role and stuff. I'm not as frail as you all think, so let's not go overboard about this, okay?”

“Okay, unnie.”

Choi Yeon-Ha smiled bitterly. These girls would normally be busy gossiping behind her back, so for them to worry openly about her like this... It seemed Choi Yeon-Ha's condition was indeed not very good.

“Listen, okay? I'm okay. When will I ever get to experience something like this in my career? So, I should take it all in my stride. Besides, I don't have to get on a scale these days, so that's a win, right?”

“Yes, unnie. But, when we go back to Korea after the filming wraps up, promise us that you're gonna gorge yourself on delicious home-grown food.”

“Geez, I hope people learn about how much unnie had to go through during filming…”

Choi Yeon-Ha shook her head. “You think they would care? They'll just badmouth me and say I'm just making a big deal out of nothing. Forget it. Don't you know how scary trolls and antis can be these days?”

“Well, you're right about that...”

Choi Yeon-Ha did her best to be on her best behavior for everyone around her. She might have complained and whined several times if the same thing happened in Korea, but they were in a foreign country. She couldn't lose her temper to a group of hard-working people who only came here because of her demands.

When they exited the makeup trailer, unforgiving glares of the sunlight smashed directly into her face.

The weather was so stiflingly hot that a couple of minutes worth of exposure to sunlight could've KO'ed a person through heatstroke. And Choi Yeon-Ha was stuck in a stuffy costume in such toasty weather, too! Even a blind man could see this was a big problem.

Han Eun-Sol hurriedly cried out at the road manager. “Go and fetch the fans! The portable ones! Hurry!”

“On it, sir!” The road manager hurriedly dashed off somewhere.

Han Eun-Sol turned his attention back to Choi Yeon-Ha. “Noona, please stay strong for a little while longer, okay? I've been told the filming won't take too long.”

“Eun-Sol, some people will think you're the director now. Stop shouting at people, okay? Others will start swearing at you at this rate.”

“I'm merely worried about you, noona.”

“Don't raise a fuss about it, okay? It's not like I'm the only one suffering here, anyway.”

“Actually... Yes, you are.”

“...Huh? Really?” Choi Yeon-Ha blinked her eyes, then suspiciously scanned her surroundings. Supporting actors in the roles of royal concubines also were dressed in voluminous costumes, but theirs weren't as thick or heavily layered as Choi Yeon-Ha's. Not only that, but...!

“Goodness me? Are they mad? What do they think they are doing?” Choi Yeon-Ha's disbelieving eyes landed on her fellow actresses standing around with their skirts flipped up. Although they all wore pants underneath, wasn't this scene a bit too... embarrassing?

“Noona, that's still better than getting cooked alive in this weather,” said Han Eun-Sol.

“Nope! I'd rather get cooked to death,” Choi Yeon-Ha helplessly shook her head.

That was when the road manager returned with several portable fans. Han Eun-Sol took one, turned it on, then directly placed it under Choi Yeon-Ha's skirt.

“What the hell?!”

Without a moment's hesitation, Choi Yeon-Ha returned Han Eun-Sol's act of kindness with a powerful kick to his abdomen.

“Have you lost your bloody mind?! How dare you put your hand in there?!”Thɪs chapter is updated by ɴo(v)elꜰɪre.ɴet

Han Eun-Sol tumbled in the dirt before righting himself. He hurriedly protested at this unfair treatment. “But! That's the only way to cool you down, you know! Even if it's only a little bit! Your skirt's several layers thick, after all! Besides, aren't you wearing pants underneath! So what's the problem!”

“That's off-limits, you idiot! Give the fans to the makeup artists. How dare you senselessly shove your dirty hand under a woman's skirt!”

“Gee whiz...! Why are you modest in weird things?” Han Eun-Sol grumbled unhappily while handing out the portable fans to the makeup artists. And then, those electric devices soon disappeared under Choi Yeon-Ha's skirt. Although those little things might not help much, they were still better than nothing.

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced at the director busy setting up the next scene in the distance and frowned deeply.

Choi Yeon-Ha acknowledged that man's abilities. The director's unique Mise-en-scène helped him earn much acclaim even in Hollywood, after all! However, creating such a memorable Mise-en-scène required too much hardship and sacrifice from the actors involved. And now that she had personally experienced the toil, Choi Yeon-Ha couldn't view the director in a favorable light anymore. [1]

What could she do about it, though? Results were everything in this industry, anyway.

One of the crew members loudly called out. “Everyone! Please get ready to start filming!”

“Fuu-woo...” Choi Yeon-Ha sucked in a deep breath.

Since all dialogue was in Chinese, she had to memorize every line several times before the filming commenced. Without anyone telling him ahead of time, Han Eun-Sol had already flipped open the pages of the script being filmed today while standing before Choi Yeon-Ha.

“Alright, fine...!” Choi Yeon-Ha shot up to her feet, then walked toward the filming location. So far, everything was fine, at least up to this point.

Although things had been difficult and super-annoying to deal with, trying to make money was supposed to be hard, anyway. How dare she complain like an entitled brat when starring in one production was enough to fill her bank account with an unimaginable amount of money?

So, yes. Up to this point, everything was fine. With the sole exception of that slimy bastard smirking detestably while waltzing toward her, that was!

A pro should know how to act all lovey-dovey even if she had a massive falling-out with her co-star. Even if the relationship had already gone past the falling-out stage and into pure disgust and loathing, a top-tier actor still needed to fully embrace the love in their hearts and look their co-star in the eyes as soon as the camera started rolling.

Choi Yeon-Ha repeatedly hypnotized herself with those words in her mind. That was because she was about to shoot a... hugging scene. A scene where the male lead confesses his passionate love for the increasingly-frail female lead, while the female lead must reject his confession since she knows of her impending demise... It was that kind of a scene!

If she had her ways, Choi Yeon-Ha would've just loved to forget about filming and punch that slimy smirk off that bastard's face. Especially when...

“Mm, mm. You are as beautiful as usual. I think I'm really in love now, Miss Yeon-Ha.”

Even if she used a baseball bat to smash that man's piehole daring to spew such cringe nonsense, it'd still not feel good enough for her. In fact, she suddenly wanted to drive an eighteen-wheeler and run over this slimy bastard!

Choi Yeon-Ha desperately tried to calm her mind. She was already being seen as a personality disorder patient, so if her evaluation fell even lower...! She might as well give up on marriage altogether! A problem like that wouldn't have bothered her in the past, but she had to seriously ponder it at the current stage of her life.

“Please shut up and focus on the scene, okay?” Choi Yeon-Ha curtly addressed her co-star.

“If that's what you want,”

The call to start shooting rang out before he could stop smirking like a slimy bastard.

1. “Mise-en-scène” is a French term denoting the stage design and arrangement of actors in scenes for a theater or film production, both in the visual arts through storyboarding, visual theme, and cinematography and in narrative storytelling through direction. ☜