Chapter 70

< Multi (9) >

In the wake of Harin's bombshell statement, the JML Entertainment office fell silent for about ten seconds.

“W-Wait. Wait a minute.”

The CEO of JML Entertainment was the first to break the silence. He usually exuded a composed demeanor, but now he took off his suit jacket while continuing to stare at Harin, who was sitting beside him.

“So, Harin, you're saying you're going to do a one-act play now?”

Harin, who was about to take out her phone, nodded nonchalantly.

“Yeah, that's right.”

“Are you going to drop all the major projects and movies we've lined up and do a four-episode one-act play written by a new writer?”

“Why are you leaving out Netflix?”

“H-Huh! What do you mean! Oh, I'm dizzy.”

“S-Sir!”

The CEO, looking pale, pressed his forehead, and the plump manager quickly supported him.

“Manager Lee, what did you do? Why didn't you stop her?”

“S-Sir. W-Well, that is.”

At this moment, Harin interjected.

“Manager Lee kept trying to stop me. He even said I should think about it. So, Manager Lee, stop it.”

“Hey! Harin! You, you need to make sense! Why are you suddenly saying you want to do a one-act play? Even if it's Netflix and they have some project, are you at the level to do a one-act play right now?”

“Is there a level for doing a work? Hyeyun is at the top tier in Korea, and she did a short film.”

“T-That’s different!”

“What’s different? Besides, didn’t you say before that a work needs enthusiasm to be done well? You said I should do what I’m passionate about, regardless of the scale.”

“...Doing a one-act play is too small-scale, isn’t it?”

The CEO, who seemed to have a headache, pressed his temples. Harin, looking resolute, moved her lips again.

“Anyway, I’ve made my decision. I’m interested in ‘Nam Sachin.’ Besides, I want to take it easy for a bit.”

“Take it easy?”

“Yeah. Honestly, our recent album was really intense, right? You know that, right? How many schedules did we have in a day? We finished all of them, took a night flight to Japan, and the next day came back to Korea and had more schedules. Stage performances, variety shows, radio, ads, photo shoots, YouTube, and so on.”

Harin, who had been listing the hellish schedule, crossed her arms.

“Did I or the others complain? No, right? We managed because everyone, the company, and the fans supported us. So, can’t I take it easy during my solo activities?”

The CEO, hearing her honest feelings, was at a loss for words. It was all true, after all. He let out a long sigh, giving up on persuasion.

“Sigh— Fine, fine. Who can change your mind?”

“Also, reduce the schedules of the others. This is a request as the group leader.”

“Understood.”

The CEO, running his hand through his hair, asked the plump manager, his tone lacking its usual force.

“So, tell me the story. What’s the feel of this one-act play?”

“Huh? Oh. It seems to be a format where selected works from a one-act play contest are released every few weeks. The title is something like a One-Act Play Festival, but it’s not finalized yet.”

“All in the planning stage. Pre-production.”

“Right. They plan to launch about five works.”

The CEO, who had been listening, turned his head back to Harin.

“Why did you like this one-act play?”

“Just— The script is interesting. For a one-act play, the storyline is quite tight, and even though it’s written by a new writer, there are no awkward parts. It’s a romantic comedy, and the characters are well-developed.”

“...Do you think it will do well? Even if it does, a one-act play has its limits.”

“I guess. But it’s Netflix, and if it’s well-promoted, the audience can enjoy it in a short and intense way.”

Harin’s calm response. On the other hand, the CEO’s worries deepened.

“Manager Lee. If Harin joins this short film, have the other actors been decided? Since it’s a one-act play, they’ll probably be unknowns.”

“I don’t know about the other one-act plays, but I heard today that the co-star is quite good.”

“Really? Who?”

“Kang Woojin, decided today.”

“Kang Woojin?”

The CEO, stroking his chin.

“Kang Woojin, the rising star? I thought he was with Choi Sung-geun’s agency.”

“Yes. When I went to the meeting, he was already meeting with the director.”

“Oh— He’s hot. Well, but he’s as eccentric as Harin.”

“Excuse me? Sir, I’m right here.”

“Why is a rising star like him doing a one-act play? He could easily get major projects.”

“That actor... doesn’t seem to care about the scale of the work, I guess.”

“Is Kang Woojin okay, Harin? What did you think of him?”

“Just— He was okay. No particular impression.”

Harin’s indifferent response. The CEO, stroking his chin, looked serious.

“Is that so? Hmm. If it’s Kang Woojin, it might work out well if the chemistry is right. His acting is top-notch. Did you know Kang Woojin beforehand?”

“I didn’t know him either.”

At this point, the plump manager, looking at Harin, spoke.

“But, shouldn’t we keep the kiss scene? You originally said you wanted to cut it.”

Harin shrugged, indicating that it wasn’t true.

“When did I say that?”

The next day, Sunday, March 31st, in Suncheon.

A large-scale set for filming, comparable to a small town, with old houses and buildings. Currently, the set was bustling with the filming of the movie ‘Drug Lord.’

The background of ‘Drug Lord,’ in which Kang Woojin was recently cast as a replacement, was Busan, but some scenes were being filmed at the Suncheon set, which was made to look like Busan.

Anyway.

“Stunt team! The director is calling you!”

“Can someone check the car? It won’t start!”

“Director! Check the props’ positions!”

The set was as chaotic as any other filming location. The busiest person was Kim Do-hee, the director in charge of ‘Drug Lord.’

“Art director! Let’s check the props together. Art director! Over here!”

At this point.

“The director’s energy has suddenly increased.”

In a corner of the set, actors gathered in small groups, each holding a script. However, their expressions were filled with worry.

“O Jun-woo seemed very depressed after the accident, but it’s fortunate that it was resolved well. From what I heard, both Jun-woo and Kang Woojin settled things well.”

“Ah— There are only about ten days left until Kang Woojin joins, right?”

“Indeed... It’s good that things were resolved, but I feel bad for Jun-woo. It’s a bit complicated.”

The actors’ conversation revolved around the actor O Jun-woo, who was absent due to an accident, and the replacement, Kang Woojin.

“But, will it really be okay?”

“What? Oh— Kang Woojin? If he’s okay, it’s fine.”

“Is he eccentric? He’s obviously a replacement, but he just took the role. Usually, rising stars would pass on such a role, right?”

“It depends. I’m more worried about whether the new actor can handle the role.”

It was a natural concern for the actors, who had already completed a significant portion of the filming.

“Indeed, that role isn’t easy. It’s a very challenging part.”

“I wonder if it was decided too hastily. Even if it’s a new actor, to cast him in a role so close to filming...”

“The situation was urgent. The director was in a bind. It’s been about two weeks since the script was handed over, but it might have been tight for Kang Woojin.”

“But he’s a good actor, right? I saw ‘Profiler Hanrang.’ His performance as Park Daeri was amazing.”

At this point, most of the actors nodded in agreement.

“I saw it too. His acting style is unique, but the question is whether he can handle it in about two weeks. Most new actors couldn’t do it. It’s a bit tough. ‘Profiler Hanrang’ had plenty of time, right?”

“Indeed... O Jun-woo also prepared for a long time.”

“Still, Kang Woojin is a genius, according to the media.”

“Even geniuses have their limits. Reading the script and analyzing the character would take more than a week... Will the quality be there?”

“It’s a bit uncertain.”

The actors, who hadn’t yet met Kang Woojin, were increasingly worried.

“What’s the point of talking here? We’ll have to see him in person, won’t we?”

At this moment, in Kang Woojin’s van.

Woojin had been in the van, heading to the company since early morning. However,

“Man— It’s so jammed.”

As Choi Sung-geun, sitting in the passenger seat, said, the morning traffic was a nightmare. Woojin, with a cynical expression, had been browsing his SNS and then put his phone down, turning his gaze to the window. Seeing the traffic jam, he thought it would take a while.

‘Hmm— Should I use this downtime to do some reading (rehearsal)?’

Woojin’s eyes turned to the stack of scripts and scenarios on the seat next to him.

A pile of works.

All of them were roles Kang Woojin was about to take on. Recently, Woojin had no time to read scripts at home, so he read and rehearsed whenever he had a moment, immersing himself in the roles.

‘In the order of upcoming shoots.’

Soon, Kang Woojin picked up the script at the top of the pile. It was the script for the movie ‘Drug Lord,’ which was scheduled to start filming in ten days. Woojin pressed the black square next to the script with his index finger.

The world changed instantly.

Suddenly, Woojin found himself in a completely dark space.

Kang Woojin chose the white square for ‘Drug Lord.’

-[4/Script (Title: Drug Lord) selected.]

-[Listing characters available for reading (rehearsal).]

-[A: Jeong Sung-hoon, B: Choi Jun-ho, C: Kim Hyun-soo... G: Lee Sang-man]

Lee Sang-man. The role Woojin was to read (rehearse) was ‘Lee Sang-man.’

“This role is different from murder or something like that.”

A role involving drug addiction. Kang Woojin slowly moved his finger to select Lee Sang-man. Soon, a familiar robotic female voice echoed in the dark space.

[“‘G: Lee Sang-man’ preparing for reading...”]

Kang Woojin took a shallow breath.

[“...Preparation complete. This is a very high-quality script or scenario. The realization rate is 100%. Starting the reading.”]

A massive grayness enveloped him.