Chapter 5. Secret Audition

Jung Chulmin was the one who was greatly flustered by the situation.

Seeing the immense sorrow in front of him, he thought something terrible must have happened and quickly embraced Yeonwoo, not knowing what to do.

“What’s wrong? You’re not a young man, or rather, not even a young person. What great sorrow could a young boy have to burst into such a loud cry?”

By this point, Chulmin wondered if Yeonwoo was a genius actor or if, as his friend who taught him this skill said, he was pouring out the negative energy that had built up from some emotional pain.

Even if it was the latter, the speed at which he immersed himself was worthy of being called a genius.

Of course, there is a difference between just shedding tears and expressing emotions within the frame, but Ryu Yeonwoo was an ordinary person who had come to learn acting for the first time today.

After a considerable amount of time had passed and Yeonwoo had calmed down somewhat, he apologized to Jung Chulmin.

“I’m really sorry, sir. I didn’t realize it, but suddenly...”

“No, no, what are you talking about? I asked you to express sad emotions, after all.”

Jung Chulmin quickly waved off Yeonwoo’s apology.

Thinking of ending the session for the day, but then seeing Ryu Yeonwoo’s burning passion, Chulmin tried various other tests and finally came to a conclusion.

‘This kid was born to walk this path.’

Of course, there were many clumsy aspects, but the Ryu Yeonwoo that Chulmin saw was a genius.

He could move the fine muscles of his face with ease, and he could amazingly capture the subtle characteristics of various professions such as a limping beggar, a thief, a ruffian, a nouveau riche, and a soldier, and even mimic the unique atmosphere of each profession.

Of course, Chulmin wouldn’t know, but because of the numerous covert operations over the years, where Yeonwoo had risked his life to play various cover identities in his previous life, these skills naturally blended into his acting.

To refine these fresh ingredients and present them as a dish to be captured by the camera, various techniques and detailed adjustments would be necessary. But if he couldn’t refine a talent like this, Chulmin’s life dedicated to acting would be in vain.

Thus, rumors began to spread in the academy that the principal had a prodigy student, and the number of unofficial fans of Ryu Yeonwoo at school increased day by day.

***

Han Haewoon, a prosecutor at the Busan District Prosecutor's Office.

Han Haewoon is a man who has lived a fierce life with the sole goal of becoming a legal professional.

Perhaps because he lived so intensely, he suddenly collapsed due to a hemorrhagic stroke while on duty and was rushed to the emergency room.

The doctor tried emergency treatment but shook his head, saying it was too late. Then, miraculously, Haewoon regained consciousness.

The hospital called it a miracle, and Haewoon interpreted it as a sign from heaven to complete his unfinished mission and worked even harder as a prosecutor at the Busan District Prosecutor's Office.

At first, it was a dream.

A dream so realistic that it made him shiver, thinking it might really be a dream.

He kept having the same dream after he collapsed.

The dream always involved a conversation with someone called “Team Leader Jeon Suhoan.”

The story was about how he had decided to donate to a welfare organization if he died.

At first, Haewoon didn’t think much of it, but as the dream repeated, he gradually became interested and started investigating during his free time.

At first, he found many people named “Jeon Suhoan” with the title “Team Leader” across the country.

Haewoon, who had to look at numerous Jeon Suhoans whenever he had a chance, found it distressing.

Then, a few months later, a chill ran down his spine. While flipping through pages, he saw the face of the person he had seen in his dream.

The Jeon Suhoan that Haewoon found was an ordinary employee of a water purifier trading company.

A life and history that had no connection to his own.

Still, finding the person he had seen in his dreams made it impossible for Haewoon to consider it a coincidence, and he began a thorough investigation.

However, the more he dug, the more he found himself in a maze.

At first, he believed the information registered in the system, which described Jeon Suhoan as an ordinary employee of a water purifier trading company, and contacted the company directly, but they replied that there was no such person.

***

Six months had passed, and Yeonwoo consistently ranked in the top three in both the final and midterm exams. His acting talent, which absorbed everything like a sponge, had already exhausted all that Chulmin could teach.

“Yeonwoo.”

“Yes, sir.”

“My senior at university is in charge of a new drama for a comprehensive channel. It’s a college romance comedy based on a webtoon.”

By now, Yeonwoo and Chulmin had become close, and Yeonwoo thought of Chulmin like an uncle.

Chulmin had heard from a few days ago at a film department reunion that his senior, Kim Hansu PD, who worked at an outsourcing production company, had asked a few of his colleagues who were instructors at a large academy or professors in the theater department to look for new faces for a secret audition for the drama.

“The main roles are already cast, but they are holding a secret audition for a few supporting roles. If you’re interested, I’ll try to put in a good word for you.”

Kim Hansu PD, who maintained a relatively good relationship with the kind Chulmin despite being difficult to approach, was a senior who had little contact with his juniors.

Originally, Chulmin’s academy had consistently received opportunities for secret auditions, but over the years, his students had consistently failed the auditions, and the academy gradually fell to the back of the line, and the audition notices stopped coming.

“I’m really grateful. If you give me the opportunity, I’m ready!”

“I haven’t married, but if I had a son like you, I’d have no regrets. I envy my brother Chulwoong. I’m envious.”

Chulmin smiled at Yeonwoo’s energetic response.

During the past six months of guiding Yeonwoo, Chulmin and his father, Chulwoong, who surprisingly got along well, occasionally had drinks together and, despite different surnames, addressed each other as brothers.

“Come on, sir, you’re my uncle.”

Yeonwoo joked.

In reality, he was grateful to Jung Chulmin, who generously shared his talent with him.

“Right, if you do well, our academy will also thrive.”

Chulmin added, grinning and giving a thumbs up.

“Anyway, I’ll let the director know that you’re interested. I think you have the looks and talent to pass, but let’s prepare thoroughly for everything.”

“Yes, I understand.”

***

Next Monday morning

Ring

The dial tone ended, and a neat and tidy voice was heard.

- Who is this? Is this Jung Chulmin?

Chulmin answered kindly to the voice of Kim Hansu PD, which he could hear through the phone.

“Senior, how are you? I saw you at Kyungjun’s wedding last time, and it’s been a while.”

- Yes, it has. Time flies.

“Yes, Senior, I heard you’re working on a new project?”

Kim Hansu, who had a unique and sharp personality, always treated everyone, including distant juniors like Chulmin, with respect and preferred to keep conversations brief and to the point.

Chulmin, recalling his senior’s personality, immediately got to the point.

- Yes, it’s based on a webtoon, and the script is well-written.

Despite his sharp tone and personality, Kim Hansu PD is one of the directors who can skillfully bring out warm and youthful emotions on both the big and small screens.

“Yes, Senior. I have a very promising student whom I’m ambitiously raising. Can he participate in the secret audition for a supporting role?”

- Hmm, sure. It’s always good to introduce new faces. I understand. But I don’t give special treatment based on personal connections, you know?

“Of course, Senior. How about a drink with Senior Junchul after you finish this project?”

- Sure, let’s do that. I’ll send you the audition schedule and script soon.

“Yes, thank you, Senior. Have a good day.”

Click.

Chulmin, with a smile on his face, forgot that Yeonwoo was in class and called him, then sent a message when he realized.

Ryu Yeonwoo, after changing his clothes while enduring the foul smell in the classroom after physical education, saw the glowing screen and opened his phone to check the message.

- The audition schedule is set. Prepare well.

“Yes!”

Yeonwoo clenched his fist and raised it.

Kim Junsu, who was changing clothes, asked curiously.

“What’s up? What are you so happy about? Let me share the joy.”

“I’ll tell you if it goes well.”

Yeonwoo smiled and dodged the question. He couldn’t get ahead of himself before he was accepted.

“What? You’ll tell me if it goes well? Is it a girl?”

U Seongsik, standing next to Kim Junsu, smirked.

A statement that would make the members of the school’s Ryu Yeonwoo fan club cry.

Yeonwoo just smiled and looked at him without saying anything.

After school on Tuesday afternoon, Yeonwoo headed straight to the academy.

“Sir! I’m here.”

Chulmin laughed at Yeonwoo’s hurried entrance.

“You must have been waiting for school to end, huh? Hahaha.”

“That’s right. I was so curious about what the script would be about.”

Yeonwoo smiled and asked for the script.

Chulmin had received the script that morning, and the audition was scheduled for Sunday, five days later.

He received it later than others, but as long as he had enough time to familiarize himself with the script, it wouldn’t make a difference.

“The preparation time is tight, but it’s also sufficient.”

“The key is character interpretation.”

“Right. Since it’s a romance comedy, the supporting roles are mostly flat characters, so it shouldn’t be too difficult. Here, take it.”

Chulmin handed the script to Yeonwoo.

“You need to understand the script to analyze it, so read it first. I’ll be in the third practice room watching the acting of the advanced class students, so ask me if you have any questions.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After Chulmin left, Yeonwoo, alone in the principal’s office, immersed himself in the script.

The title of the work for which Ryu Yeonwoo was to audition is “Summer Wardrobe.”

It’s based on a webtoon, but Yeonwoo, of course, had never read a webtoon in his life.

He thought he should have read more comics in his previous life, but then laughed at the thought.

Of course, he had a strong desire to act. But in the harsh life of an orphan, a spy, and a field agent, comics were a luxury. Who would have thought he would be reincarnated as an aspiring actor?

Yeonwoo shook his head to clear his thoughts and focused on the script.