Chapter 49

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The following is the main text:

"Um, how do you feel about the script, Mr. So Ji-sub?" Lee Jong saw that So Ji-sub had finished reading the script and asked.

"It's a great script, I really like it," So Ji-sub said.

"If you could choose a role to play, which one would you pick?" Zhang Xun asked.

"Jang Bae!" So Ji-sub said without hesitation.

Zhang Xun and Lee Jong exchanged a knowing smile. They both thought So Ji-sub would be perfect for the role of the gangster boss Jang Bae, and it turned out he chose this role himself.

"Alright, since you've chosen this role, I'm sure you have your own ideas. Why don't you pick a scene to act out? Lee Jong will help you with the lines..." Zhang Xun said, looking at So Ji-sub.

"Me? Help with the lines?" Lee Jong felt that Zhang Xun had some ulterior motive...

"You're the assistant director, and you helped a lot with the script. If not you, should I, the director, do it..." Zhang Xun left Lee Jong speechless with his words...

"Fine, I'll do it. Mr. So Ji-sub, have you picked a scene yet?" Lee Jong felt a bit wronged...

"Let's do the scene where they meet in the bar..." So Ji-sub thought for a moment and decided this scene would be a good test.

Lee Jong and So Ji-sub prepared themselves. Lee Jong sat in a chair, while So Ji-sub stood.

"You look different from the movies!" Jang Bae swaggered up to So Da, speaking in a light, teasing tone.

"I've seen all your movies," So Ji-sub said, then picked up the script beside him. "Sign this for me!"

Lee Jong smirked. "Looks like you really like movies," he said, with a slight upward gesture of his hand.

"Indeed, when I was young, I dreamed of being an actor, but life doesn't always go as planned, does it!" Jang Bae said slowly.

"An actor?"

"I played a small role," Jang Bae said, looking at So Da.

"Ha, anyone can dream of being an actor," So Da's smile stretched.

"What's your name?"

"Jang Bae."

"Jang Bae? What a pity, Jang Bae."

"What, is my name strange?" Jang Bae's eyes wandered.

"Why waste your life like this? Aren't you afraid your child will be ashamed?" So Da changed his posture, his smile fading, and said in a condescending tone.

"Ha, you act like a pro, but this isn't in front of a camera. Acting is all about pretending, isn't it?" Jang Bae said after a moment of silence.

"Do you know what acting is?" So Da laughed.

"What could it be? You just got lucky and can pretend to be someone else in a movie. Shake hands with me."

"Today is really a bad day."

"OK, very good, really good. I didn't know you had such talent for acting, Lee Jong." Zhang Xun was almost impressed. Lee Jong portrayed So Da's arrogance and condescension vividly, almost on par with So Ji-sub's Jang Bae.

"Yeah, I think Director Lee acted very well, and it was comfortable to act with him." So Ji-sub also felt that Lee Jong, being a director, had excellent acting skills. If he had acted in one of his movies before, his own acting skills would have improved significantly.

"Of course, if I didn't know how to act, how could I teach my actors to perform at the level I need? So, Zhang Xun, you can rest assured, with me, this movie won't be bad..." Lee Jong started to show off...

Zhang Xun looked at Lee Jong with more and more ideas. "Lee Jong, stand up." Zhang Xun said.

Lee Jong was a bit puzzled but stood up.

"Turn around, yes, just turn around," Zhang Xun directed Lee Jong to do various actions.

Then Zhang Xun even started touching Lee Jong all over, muttering, "Hmm, good pectorals, abs, oh, even a six-pack..."

"Stop, stop, enough..." Lee Jong noticed Zhang Xun's hands were heading south and quickly jumped up to stop him...

So Ji-sub, standing nearby, understood some of it but didn't say anything.

"Brother Zhang Xun, are you into something special? Don't come to me, I'm very normal... There's a handsome guy over there, go to him..." Lee Jong felt very uncomfortable with Zhang Xun's strange gaze on him.

"Hey, Lee Jong, what does it have to do with me..." So Ji-sub felt like he was being dragged into this, even forgetting to use honorifics...

"Lee Jong, you're the assistant director of this movie, right?" Zhang Xun asked.

"Yes, I'm also the action director, and you agreed to it." Lee Jong was a bit puzzled; wasn't this already decided?

"Right, you're also the action director, but I think you're earning too much this way. I only have a budget of 20 billion..." Zhang Xun looked at Lee Jong with interest.

Lee Jong felt uneasy under his gaze, gritted his teeth, and said, "Brother Zhang Xun, just say it. Whatever you give me is fine, even if I work for free, as long as I get meals. Please don't look at me like that, I'm really normal..."

Zhang Xun was amused by Lee Jong's explanation. "With so many handsome guys, why would I come to you? Since you agreed, I won't be shy. Assistant director plus lead role, I'll give you 3 billion, and then you can invest in the movie, how about that?"

3 billion? That's a lot. An assistant director and action director wouldn't earn that much. Lee Jong only gave Zhang Xun 1.5 billion for his role, and that was because Zhang Xun had helped him a lot.

Wait, Lee Jong finally realized, Zhang Xun was talking about assistant director plus lead role? "Brother Zhang Xun, you don't mean you want me to play So Da?" Lee Jong was stunned...

"Right, you and Mr. So Ji-sub worked well together just now. You said your acting is good, so help me out. When the movie is released, you can share in the box office too..." Zhang Xun started to persuade Lee Jong.

"But, but my movie is about to be released, and I don't have time to act..." Lee Jong quickly defended himself.

"You have time to be my assistant director but not to act?" Zhang Xun continued.

"Ah, I'm a director, you want me to act?" Lee Jong finally said what he was thinking. In Korea, no director would both direct and act.

"Isn't it common abroad, especially in Hong Kong movies? Many actors are also directors, like Jackie Chan and Nicholas Tse..." Zhang Xun knew what Lee Jong was worried about. In Korea, where directors lead the box office, the director is the soul of a movie. Even investors and producers can't go against the director's will, especially famous directors.

"Brother Zhang Xun, let me think about it... Besides, if I act, who will be the action director?" Lee Jong said helplessly...

"Full Woon-sik, the action director for 'The Chaser'," Zhang Xun said.

"Ah, so you've already found an action director. Why did you promise me then..." Lee Jong was a bit unhappy.

"I planned to have you co-direct with him. Since Full Woon-sik was chosen by the teacher, I can't say anything. The teacher hasn't seen your skills," Zhang Xun explained to Lee Jong.

"Alright, I understand. I'll think about it. If I find a suitable actor, I think you should consider a professional actor," Lee Jong was confused by Zhang Xun's words. He had never thought about acting.

After Lee Jong left, So Ji-sub suddenly brought up the topic of his salary. It turned out that So Ji-sub had been paying attention to the conversation between Zhang Xun and Lee Jong. Although Lee Jong had never acted before, his performance just now was really good, so So Ji-sub agreed to act with him.

Another reason was the salary investment Zhang Xun mentioned. From what Zhang Xun said, the movie's budget was limited. If everyone demanded high salaries, the quality of the production would suffer. So Ji-sub was also considering investing his salary, as finding a role that suited him so well was rare. With a small budget, it would be easy to recoup costs and gain a good reputation, so why not?

So Ji-sub told Zhang Xun that he also wanted to invest his salary. Zhang Xun looked at him in surprise, wondering why all the good things were happening to him. If both lead actors invested their salaries, Zhang Xun's funding would be sufficient.

"Mr. So Ji-sub, do you really want to invest your salary? This movie is funded by my teacher to help me become a director, so the budget is limited, around 20 billion. If you also want to invest, I'll give you 2.5 billion as your salary," Zhang Xun felt very lucky. He had already decided to include Lee Jong. Who would be so cheap to both direct and act and help with everything without spending money...