Chapter 9. Script Reading for "Summer Wardrobe" (1)

It had been a few days since Yenu signed a contract with LN Media.

"Hmm, come to think of it."

A problem he hadn't thought about since deciding to live a new life.

'What happened to my assets from my previous life as Jeon Suhoon?'

In reality, actual combat is rare, but as a field agent who enters dangerous operational areas, it is a characteristic that the state manages a non-profit foundation to pre-designate heirs for retirement benefits and assets, and to set up security interests for debts and credits in advance.

Yenu, who had been stationed overseas for ten years before his death, rarely entered the country, so he had no home in Korea, and the accommodations he used in operational areas were mostly safe houses provided by the embassy.

'The cash in my bank account, which was in the billions. How did I designate it?'

Deep in thought, Yenu snapped his fingers.

"House of Love and Hope."

The House of Love and Hope is a traditional children's welfare facility in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, operated by a convent, where Yenu's previous life 'Jeon Suhoon' grew up.

The heir to the estate that Jeon Suhoon set up in his early thirties when he was assigned to the overseas department was 'House of Love and Hope.'

Thinking about this, he became curious if the donation had been properly made.

After all, it was the money accumulated as a reward for a lifetime of risking his life for the country.

Yenu picked up his smartphone and, after a long deliberation, called the number listed on the internet.

Ring ring ring—

- Yes, this is the House of Love and Hope.

The voice of a female staff member he had never heard before.

It had been over twenty years since Yenu left the orphanage in his previous life, so it was natural.

"Ah, hello. I have a question to ask."

- Yes, please go ahead.

"By any chance, did a donation come in under the name 'Jeon Suhoon' last year, in 2017?"

- Yes, it did. Our donation records are transparent and publicly available on the internet. What a coincidence. I got a similar question today...

Yenu, hearing the staff member's last words, asked back.

"A similar question?"

- Yes, this morning, a prosecutor asked about Jeon Suhoon's donation records.

'My donation records...?'

"By any chance, do you remember the name of the prosecutor?"

- No, I don't remember. I only remember that he was from the Busan District Prosecutor's Office.

Yenu tilted his head and continued.

"Thank you. I appreciate your help. Have a good day."

- Yes, you too.

After hanging up, Yenu sat there, lost in thought.

'My donation records being investigated by the Busan District Prosecutor's Office...? Why?'

He had no connection to Busan in his lifetime, and even if he did, his personal information was treated as top secret after his death, and would have been managed as a normal person's.

'There's no way to find out now.'

If someone had doubts or was investigating Jeon Suhoon's life, it was a state-managed top secret matter, and he was already dead, with no family or friends who could be affected.

Moreover, finding a connection between the reborn Yenu and his previous life was impossible, so it wasn't a big deal.

He was just curious.

"I'll look into it discreetly when the time is right."

***

Time passed, and the first script reading was just around the corner.

When he explained the situation to the school and submitted an absence note, his friends were puzzled.

"I knew you were attending an acting school, but are you really going to miss school for it?"

Junsu asked, to which Yenu replied with a smile.

"Yeah, I received an official notice, but attendance might be difficult. I think it will be treated as an early dismissal."

"Are you performing somewhere? I know a friend of mine who went to the same acting school and performed in a small theater."

"Well, not exactly... I'll let you know when things progress a bit more."

Yenu, who hadn't started filming yet, didn't want to make a fuss and planned to tell his friends when the broadcast date was near.

Sungshik, sitting in the front row, turned his head.

"By the way, if you're in the top ranks of the school and miss classes, won't your internal grades be affected?"

"I'm not sure. I've never thought about it."

Actually, the current education system felt distant to Yenu, who had attended university under the fifth education curriculum, and he had little interest in it.

"You're a really amazing kid. If I had those grades, I'd be hanging on to my internal grades for dear life. Sigh. I suddenly feel depressed."

"University... Actually, I don't really care, but if I have to, I'll go through the regular admission process."

Yenu, who was currently focused on his acting career, had little interest in university or school life.

"Still, we're almost seniors now. My older brother told me that once you blink, you'll be in university and then in the military before you know it."

"Ah?"

Yenu was momentarily stunned.

Unbelievably, he hadn't thought about the military at all since being reborn.

"Am I still a minor?"

"What kind of nonsense is this? We're eighteen."

"Right... I guess I should go to university. Maybe even graduate school."

Junsu and Sungshik, tilting their heads at Yenu's alternating between silly and obvious statements.

***

"Hello, I'm new actor Yenu. Nice to meet you."

In a different floor of the building where he had auditioned before.

Yenu, who had been sitting alone in the middle of a large conference room, stood up to greet the incoming staff.

"Oh, you look like an actor. Why did you come so early? We're just setting up."

The staff scattered to prepare for the script reading, which would be filmed.

Nowadays, it's essential to upload such behind-the-scenes videos before the show airs to attract viewers.

"Oh, you look so pretty, actor."

Yenu went around the conference room, greeting the production team and makeup team.

"That kid is really polite, isn't he?"

"Indeed. These days, kids usually arrive exactly on time and are hesitant. It's been a while since someone came to greet us first."

Kang In-chan, a veteran director with 20 years of experience, who is tall and handsome, naturally compared Yenu, who is also handsome and polite, to his son.

"Yenu, you said your name was?"

"Yeah, I'm planning to join the fan club today."

Yeonju, who was talking about the fan club, smiled slightly.

"He's a new actor. I doubt he has a fan club yet."

"Then I'll make one."

The makeup team, waiting to interview the lead actors, had hearts in their eyes.

"But, that actor. He wasn't wearing any makeup, right? Wow, he has great skin. I wish I could do his makeup today."

"Is there a separate interview for a new actor? I don't think he'll have a separate makeup session today. He's probably a supporting actor or a minor role."

"Maybe."

About an hour later, with about 30 minutes left before the script reading.

Actors and staff members were entering the conference room.

They gathered with people they had worked with before or had personal connections with, catching up and chatting.

"Who is that handsome actor who came to greet us earlier? I don't recognize him."

Son Jin-wook, who plays the male lead 'Kang Seo-jun' in this drama, asked the nearby actors.

"I'm not sure. His name is Yenu, right? Let me check."

Lee Jae-sung, looking at the name plates in front of the actors' seats, found Yenu's name at the front.

"Jin-wook, you're sitting opposite him."

"Hmm? Was he cast as a lead? I thought the lead casting was complete. If he's a supporting actor, maybe he's playing Hwang Jae-il?"

"Jin-wook, I'm playing Hwang Jae-il. We had a brief conversation at the audition. What role is he playing?"

An Jun-ho, who plays Hwang Jae-il, raised his hand lightly.

"Actors and staff, please take your seats as the script reading will start soon."

Just as the assistant director's announcement came, everyone started to find their seats.

"Did we meet earlier? Nice to meet you. What role are you playing?"

Son Jin-wook, who had gone to the bathroom and returned to sit opposite Yenu, smiled and greeted him.

"Ah, senior. I'm playing Cha Woo-ju this time."

Yenu replied with a bright smile.

"Oh, I see. I heard Jung Min-hwan was supposed to play that role."

"I heard he had to leave due to some circumstances. Nice to meet you, senior!"

Seeing Yenu's polite greeting, Jin-wook smiled warmly.

"Since it's a campus drama, I was already nervous, but now that they've cast such a handsome guy, what am I supposed to do? I'm already thirty."

Son Jin-wook, jokingly praising Yenu's good looks.

Han So-hyun, who plays Jung Ye-geum, playfully patted Jin-wook's shoulder.

"Hey, you played a college student in your last movie. The great Son Jin-wook complaining? I'm twenty-eight. Ye-geum is twenty. Sigh."

Seeing this, Yenu bowed slightly.

"Hello, I'm new actor Yenu. Nice to meet you, senior."

"Nice to meet you. You look exactly like the character Woo-ju in the drama. It makes me feel close."

"My younger brother's name is So-hyun, so I also feel close, senior."

Yenu's soft voice and eye smile made So-hyun's cheeks turn slightly red.

"Oh, I see. But, senior, just call me by my name. How old are you...?"

"Eighteen."

"Wow? A minor?"

Her eyes widened in surprise.

The supporting actors and on-site staff, who had been listening to the lead actors' conversation, were equally surprised.

"By the time the drama ends, you'll be taking the college entrance exam."

"What? We have a ten-year age gap. What do I do?"

"Looks like I'll be competing with a high school student for Ye-geum. Oh dear."

The jokes from Son Jin-wook and Han So-hyun made the set burst into laughter.

Just then, Director Kim Han-su and writer Choi Mi-hyun entered the conference room, and all the actors and staff turned their attention to them.