Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Television Drama Begins Filming

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. After holding the press conference for the start of filming "Reply 1997," production officially began.

Chen Zhe once again adjusted his personal schedule. The morning after the press conference, around six o'clock, Chen Zhe arrived at the filming site to prepare for the first day of shooting.

The first scene to be filmed that day was the male lead, Yun Zai’s eighteenth birthday, where he received a birthday gift—a GUESS brand T-shirt.

Meanwhile, the female lead, Cheng Shiyuan, gave Yun Zai a note containing a scene in which Yun Zai must grant her one wish.

“Nuna, I think I've grown taller again. I’m already more than a head taller than you,” Yun Zai said.

Due to the crew still adjusting camera positions, the formal shooting had not yet begun. The actors, already made up, gathered here and there chatting in small groups.

At this moment, Chen Zhe and Jung Eun-ji, who had already memorized their lines, chatted idly. Chen Zhe glanced down at Eun-ji, who was shorter than him.

Instinctively, he stretched out his hand to measure the height difference between himself and Eun-ji—about a full head’s difference.

“Hey, A-Zhe, aren’t you a little too full of yourself today?” Eun-ji squinted her eyes at Chen Zhe’s gesture. Although she smiled, Chen Zhe felt a dangerous undertone.

Under Eun-ji’s sharp gaze, Chen Zhe suddenly felt a chill down his spine, a sense of imminent danger. His instincts warned him that if he continued to tease this nuna, he might be in big trouble.

He immediately stopped his gesture, confident in his intuition. Sensing the threat, he wisely refrained from pushing his luck.

“Alright, Chen Zhe and Jung Eun-ji, stop chatting and start getting ready! Makeup artists, check if our leads need touch-ups!” Director Shin Won-ho’s voice cut through the air.

Although Chen Zhe had stopped, Eun-ji, feeling mocked, was about to retort when Shin Won-ho’s authoritative command interrupted her.

Fully in director mode now, his aura was commanding, devoid of the earlier warmth and laughter with the cast.

With a serious expression, he methodically directed the crew in the final preparations before filming.

“Yes!” Chen Zhe and Jung Eun-ji nodded quickly, acknowledging the command.

“Okay, first scene, action!” Seeing the camera crew ready, the lead actors and those playing the female lead’s parents prepared themselves.

Satisfied with the efficiency, Shin Won-ho nodded and announced the official start of the drama’s first scene.

“Yun Zai, what did he say?” Lee Il-hwa, playing Cheng Shiyuan’s mother, looked puzzled and asked Yun Zai (Chen Zhe).

“Uncle said ‘monkey’ and mentioned the dark undercurrents in society. He said guys like that should have their heads shaved and be thrown into the army,” Yun Zai replied with no extra expression, chewing his breakfast as he spoke.

“Shiyuan? Our daughter’s not that ugly, right?” Lee Il-hwa looked at Shiyuan’s father, Cheng Dong-il (played by Sung Dong-il), with surprise and a hint of dissatisfaction.

“No, he meant Tony,” Yun Zai quickly explained to prevent any misunderstanding between the two.

“Oh, that monkey?” Lee Il-hwa instantly understood who Dong-il was referring to.

“Uh...” Dong-il barely got a word out before Lee Il-hwa, seeing Jung Eun-ji (playing Cheng Shiyuan) approaching, swiftly elbowed him to stop him from speaking further.

“Yun Zai, happy birthday! Here, this is your gift.” Shiyuan plopped down onto a chair, smiling as she handed Yun Zai a green paper filled with handwritten words.

“Hey, no gift from Dad?” Dong-il, feeling a little jealous, called out with a hint of displeasure.

“Who’s Uncle?” Shiyuan smiled and then deliberately turned her head away, refusing to look at Dong-il.

“I really want to slap you with an egg,” Dong-il, who had hoped to receive a gift from his daughter, was annoyed and made a playful slapping gesture.

“You always use a piece of paper to brush me off every year?” Yun Zai took the paper, speechless at Shiyuan’s repeated gift tradition. He asked with a resigned tone.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” Shiyuan stared wide-eyed at Yun Zai, as if daring him to object.

“No.” Faced with her intense gaze, Yun Zai backed down immediately, unwilling to argue.

“But I’ve never met anyone who uses a piece of paper like you do,” Shiyuan said, clearly exasperated.

—————— Filming Break ——————

“Cut! Great job, Chen Zhe and Jung Eun-ji, you both did really well!” Director Shin Won-ho praised the two newcomers for their impressive first performance.

He was very pleased with his casting choice and quietly congratulated himself.

Hearing the praise, Chen Zhe and Jung Eun-ji bowed deeply in thanks; this was their first affirmation from the director.

“Alright, everyone take a break. We’ll start the second scene soon!”

Shin Won-ho nodded contentedly and clapped his hands to signal the crew to rest.

During the break, some of the younger crew members, having nothing to do, gathered and chatted casually.

“A-Zhe, when are you planning to release your single and officially debut?” Incheon-born Yoon Ji-won, a bit older, initiated the conversation with curiosity.

“Well, Ji-won oppa, I should release the single on August 14th and debut officially on the 15th,” Chen Zhe shared the company’s recent announcement.

“August 15th? Then your debut stage will be on KBS Music Bank!” Ji-won expressed his confidence in Chen Zhe’s talent.

Since meeting Chen Zhe, Ji-won had even watched his street performance of "Melody" on YouTube to confirm his skills. He was certain Chen Zhe would succeed.

“Yes, Ji-won oppa, my debut stage is indeed KBS Music Bank,” Chen Zhe nodded, somewhat surprised himself. Having KBS Music Bank as a debut stage was a significant milestone.

It was one of Korea’s most influential music programs, highly regarded in the industry. Singers strive to appear on it during their album or single promotions.

“A-Zhe, your debut stage is Music Bank? That’s awesome!” Jung Eun-ji said enviously. Their own debut hadn’t had such favorable conditions.

In addition, Chen Zhe’s street performance video on YouTube and his connections with senior members of Girls’ Generation had already brought him considerable attention and popularity.

At this moment, Apink was still in a lukewarm phase, while Chen Zhe, not yet debuted, had gained significant buzz, which made Eun-ji a bit envious.

“Haha, it’s not that great. It’s mainly thanks to the company’s arrangements,” Chen Zhe scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly, downplaying it.

“A-Zhe, don’t worry. When you debut, I’ll definitely come support you!” Yoon Ji-won quickly changed the subject, patting his chest with a smile.

He was concerned that Chen Zhe, a younger brother he got along with well despite their short acquaintance, might get bullied backstage by senior artists during his debut. Ji-won wanted to be there to back him up.

After all, some less talented individuals might resent outstanding newcomers and use their seniority to intimidate and humiliate them, satisfying their own twisted egos.