Chapter 3: Tensions Behind the Scenes

Sung Minjang wasn't usually one to dwell on things. Years in the industry had taught him how to brush off irritations and focus on the task at hand.

But as he stepped into the bustling makeup room the next morning, he couldn't shake the lingering frustration from his confrontation with **Lee Jang** the day before.

"Morning, hyung!" came the familiar voice.

Minjang froze for a moment before turning to see Jang, already seated in one of the makeup chairs, flashing that same easy smile.

Jang was casually dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt, his light brown hair slightly tousled.

The younger actor didn't seem to have a care in the world, while Minjang had spent the entire night replaying yesterday's exchange in his head.

"Morning," Minjang replied, keeping his voice neutral.

He took the seat next to Jang, letting the makeup artists do their work.

The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension, but the crew, blissfully unaware, moved around them with their usual chatter.

Minjang stole a glance at Jang in the mirror. He was laughing with one of the stylists, completely at ease.

It annoyed Minjang how effortlessly Jang fit in, while he felt like he had to constantly prove himself—even after years of success.

"Ready for today's scene?" Jang asked casually, leaning back as the stylist fixed his hair.

Minjang's eyes flicked toward him in the mirror. "Always."

"Great," Jang said, his tone light but laced with something deeper. "I heard today's scene is... pretty intense."

Minjang knew exactly what scene Jang was talking about.

It was the first physical confrontation between their characters—one where the tension boiled over into a full-blown fight.

The director, Han Yura, had made it clear she wanted it to feel real, raw, and emotionally charged.

Minjang was more than capable of delivering that, but he couldn't help but wonder how Jang would handle it.

The makeup artist finished up, and Minjang stood, adjusting his jacket.

As he walked toward the set, his mind wandered to the scene ahead.

He needed to stay focused, professional. Whatever personal issues he had with Jang couldn't interfere with his performance.

When he arrived on set, the atmosphere had already shifted.

The crew was quieter, more focused, sensing the intensity of the upcoming scene.

Yura was going over final adjustments with the stunt coordinator, who was explaining the choreography for the fight.

"Alright, everyone, places!" Yura's voice cut through the air. "Let's get this done in one take."

Minjang's pulse quickened as he positioned himself. He was ready, fully prepared to dive into the scene.

Across from him, Jang slipped into character as effortlessly as always. They exchanged a brief, cold glance, and Minjang could feel the tension simmering just beneath the surface.

The cameras rolled, and the clapperboard snapped. "Action!"

In the scene, Minjang's character, **Seo Jisoo**, was confronting Jang's character, **Yoon Taehyun**, once again.

This time, the stakes were even higher. Jisoo had found out that Taehyun had betrayed him, leaking confidential company information to their competitors.

The script called for explosive emotions, and Minjang was ready to give it his all.

"You think you can get away with this?" Minjang snarled, his face twisted with anger.

His hands balled into fists as he stepped toward Jang, his voice seething with rage. "You think I won't destroy you for what you've done?"

Jang met his fury with a calm, collected smirk, perfectly in character. "You won't touch me. You don't have the guts."

That was the line that triggered the fight. Minjang's character was supposed to lose control, shoving Jang against the wall in a fit of rage.

Minjang lunged forward, grabbing Jang by the collar and slamming him against the fake office set wall.

The impact was harder than planned, but Jang didn't flinch. Instead, he responded with just the right amount of aggression, shoving Minjang back with equal force.

For a moment, Minjang wondered if Jang was pushing things too far again, but he didn't have time to think about it.

The fight continued, fists flying, their faces mere inches apart as they shouted lines over each other.

The energy was electric, raw, and intense. The crew watched, captivated by the realism of their performance.

The choreography called for Jang to eventually pin Minjang to the floor, a moment of pure dominance that would symbolize the power shift between their characters.

As Jang moved to execute the final part of the fight, Minjang could feel his own frustration bubbling up. Was it just acting, or was Jang trying to prove a point?

"Cut!" Yura yelled, her voice breaking through the intensity.

The scene ended, but the tension didn't. Both actors lay on the ground, breathing heavily, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins.

Jang released his grip on Minjang and stood, offering a hand to help him up.

Minjang hesitated for a second before taking it, his grip tight. He forced himself to smile, despite the lingering frustration. "Good job."

Jang grinned, brushing the dust off his pants. "You too, hyung. That felt... real, huh?"

Minjang's eyes narrowed slightly, wondering just how much of that performance was Jang acting—and how much of it was personal. "Yeah. Real."

Yura approached, clapping her hands together. "That was perfect. The tension, the energy—it was all there. Exactly what I wanted. You two have great chemistry."

"Thanks, Director," Jang said smoothly, flashing her his signature smile.

Minjang barely heard the praise. His mind was elsewhere, trying to sort through the confusing mix of emotions Jang stirred in him.

This wasn't just a role anymore. Every scene with Jang felt like a competition, a battle for dominance, and Minjang wasn't sure how long he could keep it strictly professional.

As the crew began to break down the set for the next scene, Minjang caught a glimpse of Jang chatting with a few crew members, laughing as if the intense fight they'd just had was nothing more than a routine scene.

It irked him how unaffected Jang seemed, as if none of it had any impact on him.

Minjang's phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was a message from Minwoo: **"How's it going with the rookie?"**

Minjang stared at the screen for a moment, his mind whirling.

How was it going with Jang? He wasn't sure how to answer that question.

But one thing was certain—the rivalry between them wasn't going away anytime soon.