Chapter 60: The Black Hand

"Ah, what should I say to Jin Yohan? Let Ms. Yoon Caddy do it. Isn't that the role of the casting director?"

"Really? I'm the captain of this ship, but the director is calling."

As the director playfully laughed and passed the bomb to the casting director, Yoon Caddy firmly refused.

"I have to do it myself. Sigh. Even with too much casting luck, there are drawbacks."

Yeonwoo, who entrusted the casting negotiation to Team Leader Jung, left the broadcasting station with Minsoo.

In the car on the way back to the office apartment, Minsoo spoke up.

"Mr. Actor, I always get so excited at times like this."

"The audition?"

Minsoo gently pressed the brake at the red light that just turned on, stopped the car, and turned back with a grin.

"In fact, I wasn't watching your acting but the faces of the production staff."

Minsoo continued, shifting his gaze back to the front.

"At first, they didn't seem to have much expectation."

"Maybe Actor Jin Yohan, who went in before you, did a good job."

Minsoo nodded at Yeonwoo's words.

"Yes. They were going to watch your acting, but it felt like they had already made up their minds. The more you acted, the more their expressions changed, and by the end, it looked like hearts were coming out of their eyes."

Seeing Minsoo's unusually excited appearance today, the corners of Yeonwoo's mouth also lifted slightly.

On the other hand, in Jin Yohan's car after the audition.

Team Leader Han Young-ho's smartphone rang.

"Ah, yes. Director."

Team Leader Han Young-ho answered the phone with a bright face, but soon his expression turned sour.

"Really? Ah, I see. Hmm, there's nothing we can do. It's not the director's fault."

Hearing the conversation, Jin Yohan, who had been wearing sunglasses, took them off and looked at Han Young-ho.

"Yes, that's right. I'll see you later."

After hanging up, Team Leader Han Young-ho's expression turned fierce.

"Really, what a ridiculous story. Saying that the image fits the other side better, do they have eyes or not? How could they watch Yohan's Seo Hee and still—"

"They said the image fits Actor Ryu Yeonwoo better?"

Jin Yohan's voice was calmer than expected.

"Yes. I can't understand it. He only does KBC period dramas, so he doesn't know the trends at all."

"I thought I was well-prepared, but it seems Actor Ryu Yeonwoo did a great job."

Jin Yohan's face showed more interest than hurt pride.

"Team Leader, can you please call the director again?"

"Why? Yohan, you should endure it. There's no point in making enemies with the broadcasting station's PD."

Jin Yohan chuckled at Team Leader Han Young-ho's words.

"Am I the kind of person who would do that? It was a fair audition."

With a dubious expression, Team Leader Han Young-ho handed over the phone.

While the call was connecting, Jin Yohan said to Han Young-ho,

"The only clause I requested when signing the contract is still valid, right?"

The clause that allowed the actor to choose any role they wanted, as long as it wasn't a low-budget independent film or a role that would seriously damage their image.

"Yes, of course. But it seems the director has his heart set on Ryu Yeonwoo."

At that moment, the call connected.

- Yes, Team Leader Han.

"Director, this is Jin Yohan."

***

After hanging up and heading to the meeting room with the staff, Team Leader Han Young-ho's call came again.

Director Lee Sang-hoon tilted his head, gestured for his team to wait, and answered the call.

"Yes, Team Leader Han."

- Director, this is Jin Yohan.

"Ah, Mr. Jin Yohan."

- I heard that Actor Ryu Yeonwoo has been cast as Seo Hee.

Director Lee Sang-hoon's face turned sour.

Is he going to protest the casting? It was a fair audition. Maybe he's been out of touch with reality since he was a child.

"Yes, but?"

Director Lee Sang-hoon's voice was already brusque, jumping to conclusions.

But then he heard an unexpected response from Jin Yohan.

- Then, I would like to participate in the role of Lee Jibae. Is that possible?

Director Lee Sang-hoon's eyes widened.

"Really? The role of Lee Jibae is a supporting role. While it has a significant part, it's different from the lead male role in a romantic comedy."

- That's fine. I really want to participate in this project.

"Lee Jibae's role involves being dispatched as an envoy to Song Dynasty, so there will be overseas filming. Is that okay?"

Jin Yohan's immediate and unhesitant response came back.

- Yes, of course.

Director Lee Sang-hoon was speechless at the unexpected offer.

"Ah, then it's like we've gained a thousand troops. I'm so happy."

- Then, please discuss the detailed casting negotiations with my agency. I look forward to working with you during the filming.

They exchanged pleasantries and hung up.

As he entered the meeting room where the production team and key staff were gathered, Director Lee Sang-hoon couldn't help but shout with a big smile.

"Jin Yohan is going to participate in our project as Lee Jibae."

The staff, surprised by the unexpected news, reacted.

"Really? As Lee Jibae? Jin Yohan?"

"Wow, our lead is Ryu Yeonwoo, and the supporting lead is Jin Yohan? This is amazing."

"Um, it's good, but even if Jin Yohan's side gives a good guarantee, the budget for the female lead might be tight, right?"

It was a period drama where it was hard to include PPL, and with overseas filming and post-production CG work, the production budget was already tight.

"Don't worry about that. We can get more investment or ask the broadcasting station for more budget. Focus on finding a female lead who fits the image well."

The production team, suddenly getting two of the hottest young male actors, started the meeting with bright faces.

"What about Yeo Min-seo?"

"She's busy with another schedule, so it's difficult."

Director Lee Sang-hoon, flipping through files to find a female lead.

"Then, do you have any recommendations?"

"I... What about Seo Ji-eun?"

The assistant writer's words drew everyone's attention.

"Seo Ji-eun? The one who became famous for the high school role?"

A few years ago, she became famous for a high school drama, but her career took a downturn after a drug scandal in her first lead role in a mini-series.

"Yes, if it weren't for the drug scandal with Han Joon-kyung, she would have done well. I always thought she would fit well with Actor Ryu Yeonwoo."

In fact, Assistant Writer Jung Ye-na is a member of the UZ community. She was thrilled when she heard that Ryu Yeonwoo might be cast.

After joining the team when Kim Jin-ju wrote this project, Jung Ye-na had run countless virtual castings in her head.

The best combination was Ryu Yeonwoo and Seo Ji-eun.

She never imagined Jin Yohan would join, but if all three were together, it would be perfect.

"Hmm, it might work. Let's check it out."

Director Lee Sang-hoon, flipping through files, continued.

"By the way, while casting, let's thoroughly check the actors' drug issues. There have been a lot of drug scandals in the entertainment industry lately."

"Understood."

At that moment, in the car heading back to the office apartment, Ryu Yeonwoo was checking the real-time news on his smartphone.

- Breaking News: An Jun-ho is under investigation for drug use.

- Shock: Another drug scandal in the entertainment industry, An Jun-ho included.

'An Jun-ho on drugs?'

The breaking news updates.

An Jun-ho was an actor who had worked with Yeonwoo in "Summer's Closet" as the role of Hwang Jae-il.

"He didn't seem like the type to do drugs?"

He was usually cheerful and didn't even smoke.

Hearing Yeonwoo's words, Minsoo, who was driving, asked,

"Who? Drugs as in narcotics?"

"Yes. There's an article saying Jun-ho hyung did drugs."

"Jun-ho hyung, you mean An Jun-ho?"

"Yes, from 'Summer's Closet.'"

Minsoo was surprised by the unexpected news.

"He didn't seem like the type...?"

At that moment, Yeonwoo's smartphone rang. Checking the screen, it was Son Jin-wook.

"Yes, Jin-wook hyung."

- Yeonwoo, did you hear the news?

"About Jun-ho hyung?"

- Yes. What's going on? Jun-ho on drugs? I haven't seen him in private since he changed agencies. It's a shock.

Hearing Jin-wook's sigh through the phone, Yeonwoo continued.

"Jin-wook hyung and Jun-ho were close, right?"

- Yes. He debuted as an extra in 'Your Name.'

"Did he recently change agencies?"

Yeonwoo's question was met with a sigh.

- He was originally with the same agency as me, but when we signed with LN Entertainment, he was also in the re-signing period, so he moved. I think it was Plus Ten.

"Plus Ten's President Byun Hak-gyu?"

Hearing the agency name, Yeonwoo immediately thought of the name.

- I'm not sure about the president's name, but...

It was definitely the same person who had tried to sponsor Jung Su-yeon.

"Jin-wook hyung, I need to make a call. I'll hang up for a moment."

- Ah, okay. Talk to you later.

As soon as he hung up, Yeonwoo called Jung Su-yeon.

The call connected quickly.

- Yes, Yeonwoo. I was about to call you.

"Really? You were going to call me?"

- Yes. My agency suddenly notified me that they were terminating the contract! They initially threatened to prevent me from working for the remaining period.

"Ah, I see. Congratulations, Su-yeon. That's a relief."

- Really. It feels like the shackles that bound me have been removed.

Since Su-yeon had already mentioned the issue, Yeonwoo only had a brief chat before hanging up.

'Something definitely smells fishy here.'

Meanwhile, Minsoo's car had arrived at the office apartment.

Even after the car stopped, Yeonwoo was still lost in thought.

"Mr. Actor, we've arrived."

"Ah, right. Thank you, Minsoo hyung."

"Mr. Actor, don't be too upset."

Minsoo must have thought Yeonwoo was deeply troubled.

Yeonwoo smiled and nodded.

After saying goodbye to Minsoo, Yeonwoo went up to the office apartment and started researching the drug cases on his computer.

It felt like drug scandals were becoming more frequent in the entertainment industry.

Even in "Summer's Closet," where he had debuted, he had heard at a dinner party that if there hadn't been a drug scandal, the role originally intended for Jung Min-ho, an idol-turned-actor, would have gone to Cha Woo-joon.

Entertainment, drugs, and sponsorship.

Yeonwoo's instincts told him something was off.

In his days as an agent, when he had this feeling, things usually went in a bad direction.

There was something he could sense, but a piece of the puzzle was missing.

Ring—

At that moment, Yeonwoo's smartphone rang.

Checking the number, it was a number he knew but had not saved for security reasons.

Han Hae-won's smartphone number.

They usually communicated through a secure application, so a phone call meant something was wrong or urgent.

Yeonwoo answered the call.

"This is Ryu Yeonwoo."

- ...Team Leader, I need... some help.