Chapter 14

Just as Li Zhong had secured the actor for the role of Zhong Hao, Jin Yunseok, Zhang Xun had also finalized the choice for the female lead.

Xu Yingji, born in 1980, graduated from Dongguk University with a degree in fine arts. She had participated in several films and could accept the bloody scenes in "The Chaser," as she had experience in horror and thriller movies. Her acting was good, and her price was reasonable. After Zhang Xun informed Li Zhong over the phone, they decided to cast her.

In the following days, the other supporting roles and extras were all found, but the actor for the other male lead, Ji Youngmin, was still not found. It wasn't that no one was interested in the script; it was just that none of the candidates fit the role. Among them, the one Li Zhong favored the most was So Ji-sub. Although he had just been discharged from the military, his acting skills had not declined. However, his image did not match that of Ji Youngmin, which left Li Zhong in a dilemma.

At this point, Zhang Xun gave Li Zhong an option: "I have a candidate, but I'm not sure if he's suitable. I think his acting and image are quite fitting for the role of Ji Youngmin."

"Ah, why didn't you say so earlier? Who is it? We've thought of everyone we could, but either they're too big of a star or their acting doesn't meet our requirements. We finally found one, but he didn't fit the image. Is there someone we haven't noticed?" Li Zhong perked up at the news.

"Hehe, I know this person very well, and I was afraid you might misunderstand. Besides, I'm worried he might not accept the film." Zhang Xun explained.

"How could that be? Who is it? I must have overlooked him," Li Zhong was very curious about who this person was.

"Ha Jung-woo, the winner of the 2005 Korean Film Critics Association Best New Actor Award, the lead actor in Kim Ki-duk's films over the past two years. His acting has been honed, and he starred in 'Breath,' which was released earlier this year. Ha Jung-woo has only recently started to gain recognition, so it's understandable that you might not know him well." Zhang Xun revealed his choice.

"Alright, then contact him. Let's see if he can handle the role of Ji Youngmin." Li Zhong thought that there indeed was such a person, but he was not very famous and his acting was average, so he had overlooked him.

Zhang Xun called Ha Jung-woo and arranged to meet at Li Zhong's apartment. Recently, Li Zhong had started breaking down the script, dividing each part for the actors to prepare for the shoot. Since he was also the investor and producer, he had to make all the decisions, which kept him extremely busy.

Ha Jung-woo stood at the entrance of a residential complex in Cheongdam-dong, feeling a bit lost. Was this really an audition for a film's lead role? In a residential complex? And a lead role? Was this a joke? However, Zhang Xun had called him for a film audition, saying the role was very suitable for him and might bring a significant breakthrough in his acting. Ha Jung-woo decided to trust Zhang Xun and came, but he hesitated when he saw the place.

After some thought, Ha Jung-woo walked in. It didn't matter if he just took a look; Zhang Xun wouldn't harm him. Zhang Xun was waiting for him downstairs, and they went up together. As they exited the elevator, they saw a few girls laughing and entering the elevator. "Are they also here for an audition?" Ha Jung-woo asked.

"How could that be? This film isn't suitable for young girls. They might be Li Zhong's neighbors. By the way, the director of this film is Li Zhong," Zhang Xun said.

The girls who got off the elevator included Hwang Mi-yeong, who owed Li Zhong a high-interest loan, and Kwon Yu-ri, who considered Li Zhong her first fan, along with Kim Tae-yeon. After their debut stage, they had a few days off from promoting their debut song. The three of them had lost a game and had to go to the supermarket to buy some food, as everyone was quite lazy.

"Softie, do you think I should call that uncle?" Hwang Mi-yeong whispered to Kim Tae-yeon. Since her debut, Hwang Mi-yeong had been calculating how much money she could earn to quickly pay off her high-interest loan. However, after more than ten days, they had not earned much. Their debut single had sold over 15,000 copies, which was a good start for a new group, but it wasn't impressive for a group heavily promoted by S&M Entertainment.

"I think you should forget about him. He doesn't even remember your number, and he can't find you. Why do you remember him so clearly? According to your agreement, you now owe him 2.2 million won," Kim Tae-yeon said.

"You're right. That uncle is so despicable, tricking you into owing him a high-interest loan. If I saw him, I'd help you teach him a lesson. My uncle fan is much better," Kwon Yu-ri said angrily.

"Are you just being infatuated? Uncle fan? How could that happen? And he even comforted you backstage. Is the backstage open to just anyone?" Kim Tae-yeon thought Kwon Yu-ri had been acting strangely since her debut.

Since Hwang Mi-yeong returned from the Han River Bridge, she had been cautious and gloomy, not in the right state for practice. With their debut approaching, this was not a good state. Everyone noticed, and after Kim Tae-yeon told them, they all tried to comfort her, which helped her feel better, but it was still a troublesome issue.

Today, they finally had a day off. Hwang Mi-yeong had initially refused to go out, but the others tricked her into coming. They hadn't had a proper rest since their debut, so it was a good time for her to go out. The leader, Jeong Seo-yeon, said, "Seoul is so big; you won't run into him just by going out. If you're that fated, you might as well ask him if he has a girlfriend and marry him."

Ha Jung-woo was reading the script. To be honest, when he first saw Li Zhong, he thought it was a bit absurd. A young director, a simple place—had it not been for Zhang Xun sitting beside him, Ha Jung-woo would have thought he was being fooled. Even a low-budget film by Director Kim Ki-duk wouldn't be this shabby... However, when he read the script, he had to admire the young director. The script was so unique; as long as they followed it, it would be a high-quality film. "Director Li Zhong, may I ask who will be playing the former detective Zhong Hao, my co-star?" Ha Jung-woo looked up at Li Zhong and asked.

"It's Jin Yunseok, last year's Best Supporting Actor at the Blue Dragon Awards," Li Zhong explained.

"Alright, I can try the role of Ji Youngmin," Ha Jung-woo said.

"Alright, then let's do a scene where Ji Youngmin confesses to being a murderer at the police station. I'll play the detective," Li Zhong thought for a moment and chose a moderately difficult scene for Ha Jung-woo to perform.

Ha Jung-woo prepared himself, lifted his head, and looked at Li Zhong. "Did you use a chisel or a hammer?" Li Zhong asked.

Ha Jung-woo's eyes were calm, and he said indifferently, "Of course, a hammer."

"Why did you kill them that way?" Li Zhong asked again.

"I thought about strangling them or using a knife, but that would be too painful for them," Ha Jung-woo said with a smile. "I've seen how to kill pigs, so I did it that way."

"How did you do it?" "Ah, I hung them on the wall."

"Hung what?" "Of course, their bodies."

"What next?" "Do you know the muscle behind the ankle?"

"The Achilles tendon?" "Yes, I cut it with a knife."

"Why?" "To let the blood out, otherwise they would be too heavy to move."

"Is that why the bodies were lighter?" "I left them there all day to let the blood drain, then I cut them with an axe and buried them."

"Where did you bury them?" "Here, ah, there."

"Specific location?" "Ah!!!"

"Surely not all 9 of them in your front yard?" "It's 12, not 9."

Throughout the dialogue, Ha Jung-woo remained calm, especially when he said it was 12, appearing innocent. However, a flash of cunning and cruelty appeared in his eyes.

"OK, good, that's the effect I want. I think this role is very suitable for you. I hope you can accept it," Li Zhong suddenly felt that Ha Jung-woo was the Ji Youngmin he was looking for.

"I also think this role is very challenging, and I believe I can handle it. When can I join the cast?" Ha Jung-woo was also straightforward.

"Alright, once I have the equipment, crew, and location ready, which should be in about 10 days. Take the script for Ji Youngmin home, and I'll contact you to sign the contract after I discuss the salary with your agent. It will be based on market rates," Li Zhong said.

Zhang Xun and Ha Jung-woo left, and Li Zhong returned to breaking down the script, making adjustments to improve it.

When Li Zhong picked up a cigarette from the table, he realized it was empty. It was 9 PM, and he was hungry. He decided to go out for something to eat and buy a few packs of cigarettes.

Li Zhong grabbed some loose change, took his keys, and opened the door to leave. As soon as he opened the door, he heard a little boy's voice crying out, "Open the door, open the door, I'm going to starve to death!!!!"

Page flip, AD starts

Page flip, AD ends