The group was huddled in the cozy living room of the villa. The fire crackled in the hearth, and the night air outside was quiet, the sounds of the wilderness muffled by the safety of the electric fence. Tonight, the group had decided to relax, taking a break from their usual routines.

“So, Ji Hyo,” Abraham began, leaning back on the couch with a grin, “you’ve told us about your life as an actress. But you’ve never told us about your most intense acting experience.”

“Yeah,” Tara chimed in, nudging Rosita. “What’s the craziest thing you ever had to do for a role?”

Ji Hyo hesitated, her expression thoughtful. She sipped her tea, her gaze drifting to the flickering flames in the fireplace. “The most intense? That would have to be A Frozen Flower.”

“What’s that?” Glenn asked.

“It’s a historical film I starred in,” Ji Hyo said. “It’s… complicated.”

---

Curious Questions

“Complicated how?” Rick asked, his curiosity piqued.

“It’s a story about a forbidden love triangle between a king, his bodyguard, and the queen,” Ji Hyo explained, her cheeks tinting slightly with embarrassment. “I played the queen.”

Rosita raised an eyebrow. “Sounds dramatic.”

“Oh, it was,” Ji Hyo said with a faint smile. “But what made it intense were the scenes I had to film.”

“What kind of scenes?” Daryl asked bluntly, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

Ji Hyo hesitated, then cleared her throat. “Let’s just say they were… very intimate. Far more than anything I’d ever done before.”

---

The Group’s Reaction

The room went silent as the group processed her words.

“Wait,” Tara said, leaning forward. “You mean… like that kind of intimate?”

“Yes,” Ji Hyo said, her tone matter-of-fact but her face slightly flushed. “It was a pivotal part of the story, and I wanted to do it justice. But it was incredibly challenging as an actor.”

Rosita smirked. “And here I thought running up hills in a hanbok was intense.”

“It was a different kind of challenge,” Ji Hyo said, laughing softly.

---

The Emotional Toll

“It wasn’t just the physical aspect,” Ji Hyo continued, her tone growing serious. “It was the emotional depth required. The queen is trapped in a situation where she feels powerless, torn between duty and desire. Portraying her pain and vulnerability was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”

“That sounds heavy,” Michonne said, her voice empathetic.

“It was,” Ji Hyo admitted. “I spent weeks preparing for the role, researching the historical context and working with the director to bring authenticity to the character. But even then, filming those scenes took a toll on me.”

“Why did you do it?” Rick asked, his tone curious but respectful.

“Because I believed in the story,” Ji Hyo said simply. “As an actor, you sometimes have to push yourself to uncomfortable places to bring a character to life. And while it was difficult, I’m proud of the work I did.”

---

Lessons Learned

“You must’ve been really brave to do something like that,” Glenn said, admiration in his voice.

“It wasn’t easy,” Ji Hyo said. “But it taught me a lot about myself—about my limits, my fears, and my ability to overcome them. It also made me realize the importance of supporting each other, especially in difficult situations. The cast and crew were like a family to me during that time.”

“That’s impressive,” Rosita said, nodding. “I don’t think I could’ve done it.”

“Me neither,” Tara added.

“You’d be surprised what you can do when you’re passionate about something,” Ji Hyo said with a smile.

---

A New Perspective

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Ji Hyo felt a sense of relief. Sharing this part of her past had been daunting, but the group’s understanding and support reminded her of why she felt so connected to them.

“That’s another reason why you’re the Ace,” Daryl said quietly as the others began to disperse for the night.

Ji Hyo turned to him, surprised. “What do you mean?”

“You do what needs to be done, no matter how hard it is,” Daryl said, his tone gruff but genuine. “Not everyone can do that.”

Ji Hyo smiled, her heart warming. “Thank you, Daryl. That means a lot.”

As she prepared for bed, Ji Hyo reflected on the journey that had brought her to this point. Though the world had changed, the lessons she’d learned as an actress—about courage, resilience, and the power of human connection—had stayed with her, guiding her through even the darkest of days.