Chapter 23

23. Sign here!

"I would like to give Jinhyuk a scholarship."

At the unexpected proposal, Jinhyuk, who had been staring at the chairman, listened as the chairman continued.

"We will cover the full tuition and provide a monthly educational allowance. However, there are conditions. I won't demand that you always be the top student, but you must maintain a top 10 ranking in the school."

A genius who had captured his heart.

The chairman wanted to provide some motivation to this genius, who could easily revert to a lazy sloth at any time.

"If Jinhyuk attends a domestic university or an overseas university recognized by the foundation, we will also provide a proportionate amount of university tuition. What do you think?"

While he wasn't sure how much this carrot would motivate Jinhyuk, given the family's financial situation, it was unlikely to have no effect at all.

Of course, Jinhyuk was thinking something entirely different.

'What do you think?'

What was there to think about? It was just free money.

Jinhyuk had always intended to maintain the top rank and was confident he could. His goal was the prestigious Korean University. He definitely wanted to experience college life.

"Thank you for your consideration. I will work hard."

Seeing Jinhyuk's serious expression, the chairman continued with a satisfied look, feeling that the carrot had some effect.

"And I have one more request."

"Yes, please go on."

"There's a national youth drama festival in February next year. Our school's drama team usually participates with the festival play, but I want to do something different this time."

"Something different?"

"Prepare a play where Jinhyuk is the lead and participate in the festival."

The chairman's face lit up with excitement.

"Of course, Mr. Park Dongchul can't direct it. He doesn't have the right chemistry with Jinhyuk."

The chairman's face turned playful as he continued.

"Jinhyuk can take the lead in selecting the script and casting. We will try to match the director with Jinhyuk. If necessary, we can even bring in an external expert, as the rules allow."

This was purely out of the chairman's curiosity. He was very eager to see how far this incredible genius could go in drama.

The chairman had a deep love for drama, as evidenced by the large budget allocated for the school festival play every year.

"National level, and with preliminary rounds, so making it to the finals won't be easy. But if we do, I plan to send the entire drama team on a short overseas training trip."

The final eight plays of the national youth drama festival, held in Busan, are selected through a review of videos submitted from across the country. The eight plays are performed over two days, four each day.

Though titled a drama festival, it is more like a three-day youth festival, with various attractions and activities for the youth beyond the performances.

After the performances, the final judging selects one grand prize and two excellence awards, a total of three winners.

Sponsored by the KJ Group and organized by the Yongam Scholarship Foundation, this is the top youth drama festival, significant enough to be featured in major daily newspapers.

Given the fierce competition, Myeongseong High School had never made it to the finals.

"What do you think? Will you give it a try?"

Though it was a question, the chairman looked at Jinhyuk with a pleading gaze.

***

"Hey, just listen to me. I was on my way back when that guy just appeared, okay? Really. I'm about to go crazy. If I had contacted him first, I would have really been in trouble."

"Wow–."

Yoon Se-rin, who had agreed to read Jinhyuk's lines, let out an exclamation instead of her line.

Jinhyuk, who had looked like he was about to go crazy, quickly returned to his usual calm expression.

"… There's no line that says 'Wow,' right?"

Se-rin smiled sheepishly in response to Jinhyuk's question.

"No, you did it so well. I couldn't help it."

"What do you mean, 'I couldn't help it'?"

"Really? I did well?"

You did.

Jinhyuk wasn't in a position to evaluate others' acting, but if he had to, he thought Yoon Se-rin showed considerable talent.

However,

"Bang! If you're going to lie, you need to answer quickly. You're too slow."

Se-rin pouted but then laughed.

"Hehe. It's okay. I know my acting."

"You do. You really do."

"You really think so?"

"… You do."

"Che– What's that supposed to mean?"

Se-rin's acting felt… a bit empty, perhaps.

It was a vague feeling that came from her skilled performance. Jinhyuk couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Jinhyuk, when you act, you really seem like a different person."

"You are acting as a different person."

"Exactly. That's true, but not everyone can do it."

Se-rin leaned in with a curious look.

"By the way, you got top marks in all subjects, right? My dad said so."

"Sure, just."

"Not just. You got perfect scores in all subjects."

"Sure, just."

Se-rin suddenly scrunched up her face and forced a deep voice.

"Wow, really. Did you have to get everything to feel satisfied?"

"…"

So, you were acting?

Yoon Se-rin suddenly put on a serious face and asked.

"Isn't it similar?"

"Uh."

I don't think so. There's no way his acting could be similar to that, Jinhyuk thought.

"But you're so good at acting, and you look great, and you're so smart. Isn't that cheating?"

Looking at Yoon Se-rin, who was staring at him intently, Jinhyuk thought.

It's not something he should be hearing from a genius singer who looks like a doll.

"Hey, I have a favor to ask."

"A favor?"

"Will you listen or not?"

Huh?

"I need to know what the favor is to decide whether to listen or not."

"No, that won't work. If you promise to listen, I'll tell you."

What is this strange conversation pattern? Is it typical of a teenage girl?

"Then… I don't really need to listen, I guess."

"Hey– What, you're not curious?"

Jinhyuk wasn't particularly curious about things unless they were necessary. It was a result of training. After all, curiosity killed the cat, as the foreign proverb goes.

Unnecessary curiosity in the battlefield is a shortcut to crossing the Jordan River.

"Let's go see a movie this weekend."

So, he didn't really need to listen, did he?

… Huh? A movie?

Going to the movies was one of the things Jinhyuk really wanted to do.

"I refuse–"

Thinking she would be refused, Yoon Se-rin batted her big eyes, trying to evoke sympathy.

"Jinhyuk, let's go, okay?"

Jinhyuk thought of a cat from an animation he had seen at the orphanage.

"Sure. Then."

"No! I refuse… Huh? What did you say?"

"Let's go see it."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Yay!"

Yoon Se-rin clenched her fists.

***

Jinhyuk was excited. It had been almost 20 years since he last saw a movie in a theater.

The last time he went to a theater was when the orphanage kids went as a group, sponsored by someone.

Of course, from the current point of view, it was about two years ago.

"Hey, hey."

Two young girls, probably in middle school, approached Jinhyuk and Se-rin, who were standing in front of the ticket booth.

"Hey, big brother!"

"Are you Byun Sato?"

Ah…

Before Jinhyuk could respond, the friendly Yoon Se-rin answered.

"Yes! Byun Sato. You saw the play!"

"Yes! I did. I'm really good at recognizing faces. See? See? I told you it was him."

"Hehe. We went to the Myeongseong High School festival with my mom."

"Big brother, you were amazing!"

The girls raised their thumbs and started to explain in detail why they were there, how they recognized Jinhyuk and Se-rin, and what they had seen in the play. There was no time to interrupt.

"Wow!"

"Right! Right!"

Jinhyuk was momentarily overwhelmed. With Se-rin joining in, it felt like three beagles had been let loose in front of him.

"Hey, big brother, wait a moment!"

The excited girls rummaged through their bags and pulled out something like a diary.

"Here! Big brother, sign this!"

They unfolded the item and held it out.

"No, girls. I'm not someone who should be signing…"

"Oh, big brother~ Big brother~ Sign this~."

"Please~."

His usual composure, which had never failed him even in the heat of battle, was about to crumble under the beagles' assault. In such situations, the best course of action is to sign quickly and send them on their way.

Finally, Jinhyuk signed for the girls, and Se-rin watched with a smile that was about to burst.

"Hey, big sister. You too."

"Huh?"

The girls' charm quickly shifted to Se-rin.

"Me? Why?"

"You're so pretty!"

"Huh?"

"You're the prettiest person I've ever seen. Big sister, sign this too!"

Se-rin, who couldn't withstand the attack that even Jinhyuk couldn't, signed frantically. The girls then exclaimed.

"Wow~ Wow~ Then, a photo for proof."

"Proof photo!"

The girls surrounded Jinhyuk and Se-rin, and the two awkwardly posed.

"Thank you! Hehe."

The young girls, having achieved their goal, bowed repeatedly as they walked away.

Phew.

Jinhyuk let out a light laugh. Despite the chaos, they were quite discerning.

Getting the signature of the future top star Yoon Se-rin in advance. Of course, the signature they got from him was a different story.

***

Click. Click.

A woman in her mid-30s was leaning on a table in a cafe, her chin in her hand, moving her pen-holding index finger rhythmically. It was a habit she had when lost in thought.

Writer Han Yookyoung. Her drama 'High School' was a must-mention when discussing the hit shows of last year.

A much-needed rain in the long-dry high school drama genre.

Although the ratings weren't very high, the buzz was unmatched by any other show.

Thanks to the explosive interest from teenagers, the drama characters built a solid fan base, and the show received even more attention overseas than in Korea.

Given the success in a genre that was like a barren land, Han Yookyoung was proud of her first hit.

However, there was still a lingering regret about the casting.

Due to the lack of a hit show and the niche nature of a high school drama, it was difficult to secure investment, so all major roles went to idol stars.

Her dream of discovering fresh and new young actors and creating a real high school drama by high schoolers was just that—a dream.

'Still, I should have found a way to include Jeong Jihan.'

It was a regret. In the movie 'Korean' she had just seen, 19-year-old actor Jeong Jihan, who played a mixed-race character struggling with identity, delivered a stunning performance.

Han Yookyoung, who had discovered Jeong Jihan in the audition, wanted to include him in a major role.

However, at the time, Jeong Jihan was an unknown child actor, and the production's decision, considering the investment, was to not include him.

'Sigh… I'm so disappointed…'

In the end, failing the 'High School' audition and being cast as the lead in 'Korean' was a better outcome for Jeong Jihan.

But Han Yookyoung couldn't help feeling disappointed. Especially since the movie confirmed that her eye for talent was not wrong.

'This time, no matter what, I will include a few.'

The situation was different now. Thanks to the success of her previous work, the script fee for 'High School 2' was higher.

This meant she had more leverage to influence casting.

Even if the lead had to be a famous idol, she intended to fill some significant supporting roles with fresh young actors.

However,

'S