1novels Chapter 54 In the editing room at midnight, someone brought in hot milk.
Chapter 54 In the editing room at midnight, someone brought in hot milk.
January 4th, Saturday, 1 a.m.
Su Yu was still in the editing room. He wasn't editing, he was watching. Master Park had caught a cold that afternoon, his voice was so hoarse he couldn't speak, but his hands didn't stop.
Su Yu sat next to him, staring at the screen frame by frame. Editing wasn't his specialty, but he knew what he wanted.
Whether the emotions in each scene are right, the pacing, the choice of shots—he doesn't rely on technique, he relies on intuition. He writes the script, he chooses the actors, and he has the vision of what the shots should look like in his mind.
"In the third episode, during the scene where he jumps off the building, that one glance back could have been shorter," Su Yu said.
Master Park twitched his finger, cutting off 0.3 seconds. In the footage, Ahn Go-eun glanced back, then jumped down.
"Watch it again," Su Yu said.
Master Park replays the scene. That glance was shorter, but the emotions were more intense. It wasn't a deliberate farewell, but an unconscious search—was Kim Do-gi there? No. Then I'm leaving.
"Passed." Su Yu leaned back in his chair.
Master Park adjusted his glasses but didn't say anything. He continued cutting.
At two in the morning, the door was pushed open. Cai Xiubin stood in the doorway, wearing the white down jacket, her hair loose, carrying an insulated bag. Her cheeks were flushed red from the night wind, the tip of her nose was red, and her breath condensed into white mist in the cold air.
"Why are you here?" Su Yu turned around.
"I can't sleep. I guessed you were still here." She came in, placed the insulated bag on the table, unzipped it, and inside was a carton of hot milk and two pieces of cake. "My mom said staying up late is bad for your stomach, so she wanted you to drink something warm."
Su Yu picked up the carton of milk, inserted the straw, and took a sip. It was warm and sweet. "Does your mother know you're bringing me milk?"
"I know. She said, 'Does that Su Yu not know how to take care of herself?'" Cai Xiubin sat down next to him, leaning closer to look at the screen. "Where did it get to?"
"Episode 3. The scene where he jumps off the building."
"Did you ask Master Park to cut the short hair from that one glance back?"
"Hmm. 0.3 seconds."
She stared at the screen, where An Goeun glanced back before jumping. That glance was brief, but memorable.
"Oppa".
"Um."
How did you know it needed to be cut short?
Su Yu thought for a moment. "Because when I watched it, my heart skipped a beat. If that glance is too long, the audience will be pulled out of the story. If it's too short, the audience won't have time to think, and their emotions will be immediately drawn in."
She looked at him. The lights in the editing room were dim, with only the screen's light illuminating his face. His profile flickered in and out of focus in the light and shadow.
"Oppa".
"Um."
You look beautiful when you're focused.
Su Yu paused, turning to look at her. "What?"
"It's nothing." She turned her face away, her ears turning red.
At 3 a.m., the rough cut of the first episode was finally finished. Master Park packed up his things, preparing to leave work, and put his reading glasses back in their case. "To be continued tomorrow."
Su Yu stood up and stretched. "You've worked hard."
"It's not hard work. The script is good, so editing is easy." Master Park slung his bag over his shoulder, glanced at Cai Xiubin who was asleep on the table, and said, "She waited for you all night."
Su Yu looked down at her. She was sleeping soundly, her breathing light, her eyelashes casting a small shadow in the lamplight. She had drunk half a carton of milk and taken a bite of cake. Su Yu took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. She stirred slightly, mumbled something indistinctly, but didn't wake up, burying her face in the coat.
Master Park left. Only Su Yu and Cai Xiubin remained in the editing room. The heating pipes hummed, and the wind from outside seeped in through the cracks in the glass, causing the curtains to sway slightly. Su Yu didn't wake her; she sat beside her with her eyes closed.
At seven o'clock in the morning, Su Yu was woken up by her phone vibrating. Cai Xiubin was no longer beside her. Her coat was folded and placed on the table, but the milk carton and the cake box were gone.
A cup of hot coffee and a sticky note appeared on the table. It read: "Oppa, I'm going home now. Drink your coffee while it's hot. Don't stay up late, your eyes will go blind sooner or later. —Your leading lady."
Su Yu looked at the sticky note and smiled. She picked up her coffee and took a sip; it was hot and unsweetened. She remembered he didn't add sugar.
At nine o'clock in the morning, Su Yu returned to the company. Cai Xiubin was already sitting by the window. Today she was wearing a gray sweatshirt, her hair was tied in a low ponytail, and she was holding the well-worn script in her hands. Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on her face.
"Didn't you go home?" Su Yu put his backpack on the table.
"I went back. I took a shower and changed my clothes." She looked up. "What about you? Did you go home?"
"No. It came directly from the editing room."
"Did you wash your face?"
"no."
She stood up, went to the bathroom, took out her face wash and towel, and handed them to him. "Go wash your face. It's all oily."
Su Yu took it and went into the bathroom. Cold water splashed on his face; the face wash produced a lot of foam and was strawberry-scented. When he came out, Cai Xiubin had already set breakfast on the table: seaweed rice rolls, soy milk, and a box of strawberries.
"Where did the strawberries come from?"
"My mom bought these. She said you should have some too." She took one and popped it into his mouth. "Is it sweet?"
"sweet."
"Then eat more." She stuffed another one into her mouth.
In the afternoon, Shirley sent me a message.
[Oppa, is the first episode finished editing?]
Su Yu replied: [Finished editing. Rough cut.]
[Send this to me. I want to see it.]
Wait a minute. It's being sent.
Hurry up. I can't wait.
Su Yu didn't reply. After a while, she sent another message: [Oppa, did you stay up late again last night?]
[Yes. I'm in the editing room keeping an eye on things.]
Didn't you say you wouldn't stay up any longer?
The video isn't finished editing. I can't sleep.
An angry emoji was sent. Then another message came: "Are you out of your mind?"
[I need my life. I need the film too.]
【Then go to bed early tonight. Don't stay up any longer.】
【understood. 】
I know you won't do it. It's always the same.
Su Yu looked at the line of text and his lips twitched slightly.
At eight o'clock in the evening, Su Yu walked Cai Xiubin home. The two walked in the alley, the streetlights were on. The wind was strong today, making the branches rustle. She hunched her shoulders.
"Oppa".
"Um."
"Did Sulli message you again today?"
"Um."
"What did she say?"
"They told me not to stay up late."
She was silent for a moment. "She's so good to you."
Su Yu didn't reply.
"Oppa".
"Um."
"She likes you, you know that."
Su Yu stopped and turned to look at her. "I know."
"Then why...?"
"Because I love you." Su Yu looked at her. "You've asked me that question before. The answer hasn't changed."
She lowered her head, her fingers clutching the edge of her scarf. "I'm just scared."
"What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid you'll regret it someday. She knew you before you did."
Su Yu reached out and cupped her face in his hands. "I have many regrets. But meeting you is not one of them."
She stared at him for a few seconds, then stood on tiptoe and kissed him. Then she turned and ran away.
"Goodnight, Oppa!" She ran into the stairwell, her voice echoing from inside.
Su Yu stood downstairs and touched her lips. Strawberry flavor.
At nine o'clock in the evening, Su Yu returned to the semi-basement.
He pushed open the door and went inside. Water was still dripping from the ceiling. Drip, drip. He lay down on the bed and took out his phone. There was an unread message from Shirley. The time showed 5 PM.
Oppa, I watched the first episode.
Su Yu replied: [What do you think?]
[Did you have the editor cut out that one last glance back during the scene where he jumped?]
Su Yu was taken aback. [You figured it out?]
[Nonsense. I watched it three times. The first time I thought it was too fast, the second time I thought it was just right, and the third time I thought it should be this short. Your judgment is correct.]
Su Yu's lips curled up. "Thank you."
You're welcome. I'll treat you to dinner. Tomorrow night. Same place.
Su Yu stared at the line of text, his finger pausing for a moment.
【it is good. 】