Chapter 52

52. The Reason for the Choice (Free up to this point)

"Jinhyuk, come in. You’ve worked hard."

Director Yeon Seong-hoon greeted Jinhyuk with a bright face.

"Ah!"

It was a scream Jinhyuk was now familiar with, but it was unusual for it to happen at the SH Acting Academy.

Students with new faces, sitting in the lobby, were looking at Jinhyuk as if they were already seeing a star.

Jinhyuk smiled at the students and entered the director's office with Seong-hoon. As soon as he sat on the sofa, Seong-hoon said:

"First, we should congratulate you on winning the award, right?"

"Thank you."

Seong-hoon's face beamed.

"The academy seems busier than usual."

"Hey, don't even mention it. Ever since the casting for High School 2 was announced last weekend, it's been chaos. It's not every day that three people get cast in major roles."

"Looks like you'll need more help soon."

"Damn."

Director Yeon Seong-hoon laughed meaningfully.

"I knew you would be the one to bring it up."

"Me?"

Just as Jinhyuk was widening his eyes at Seong-hoon's unexpected words:

"Jinhyuk!"

Teacher Kim Jong-ho, who had entered the office, smiled widely at Jinhyuk. Jinhyuk bowed his head in greeting and looked at Seong-hoon.

Seong-hoon nodded.

"How many times have you talked about Teacher Kim Jong-ho? Even though you're not much of a talker, I can read you well."

"..."

"Since we needed more help, it worked out perfectly."

Teacher Kim Jong-ho, whose future had been uncertain after the drama festival, couldn't become a temporary teacher due to the lack of a teaching certificate. Guiding the club as an external instructor wasn't enough to make a living.

During the festival preparation, the chairman had supported his salary, but that couldn't continue indefinitely.

Thanks to Director Oh Tae-ho, Jinhyuk learned early about the casting for High School 2 and anticipated that SH Acting Academy would need more help after the casting announcement.

Jinhyuk had already mentioned Teacher Kim Jong-ho to Seong-hoon several times.

"Jinhyuk, I owe you a lot."

"You owe me nothing. I won the award thanks to you, and the academy has gained a great teacher."

The sensitive Teacher Kim Jong-ho was already tearing up. If left alone, he might have cried for a long time.

But fortunately, a bright, high-pitched voice changed the mood.

"Jinhyuk!"

Sarin ran into the office with a wide smile.

"Phew, Sarin. You make it seem like I didn't even welcome you? Anyone would think we haven't seen each other for years."

When Seong-hoon grumbled playfully, Sarin blushed and looked at her father.

"N-no, Dad, that's not what I meant."

"Ha. Just kidding. Just kidding. I'm not jealous. Feel free to be happy."

Sarin, looking embarrassed, smiled and turned to Jinhyuk.

"Jinhyuk! You really turned the stage upside down, didn't you?"

"No, not that much…."

Seeing Jinhyuk's calm smile, Teacher Kim Jong-ho said:

"That's what it was. If there had been a Best Actor award, Jinhyuk would have definitely won it."

"Ah, that's a shame. I wanted to see it, but it coincided with my school volunteer work."

Sarin blinked her big eyes with a very disappointed look.

***

"Alright, then, let's choose an agency as we agreed."

Seong-hoon looked at Jinhyuk, Seol, and Sarin in turn. They all nodded.

"Okay."

"Then, write down the agency you've thought about and give it to me."

The three of them wrote down their choices as if taking an exam, folded the papers in half, and handed them to Seong-hoon.

"Haha. This feels kind of thrilling."

Seong-hoon laughed as if it was fun, but Seol and Sarin's faces showed a hint of tension.

"Ha. Dad, I'm nervous. Can't you open them quickly?"

"Sure. Let's start with Seol's. Seol…."

Seong-hoon unfolded Seol's note. The words written there were:

HC Entertainment.

"Of course. HC would be the most comfortable for Seol, right?"

Seol nodded.

"After 'Jang Soon-i Can't Be Tamed,' her comeback with a hidden story would be psychologically challenging."

Noohyun Woo's presence was a significant source of comfort for Seol. HC's courtship was much more active than NTN's, which hadn't seen Seol.

"Next, Sarin's."

The moment Seol's note was opened, Sarin's disappointment revealed the company she had written. As expected:

NTN Entertainment.

"Sarin decided to challenge singing with Producer Jang Dong-su."

Seong-hoon, as a father, explained the reason for her.

"Alright, then. Now it's just Jinhyuk's choice."

Seol and Sarin's faces showed a moment of unhidden tension.

Seong-hoon carefully unfolded Jinhyuk's note and placed it down. The eyes of the other three people widened in surprise.

The words written on Jinhyuk's note were:

WP Entertainment.

One of the top three agencies in Korea, alongside HC and NTN.

It was a choice they hadn't even considered.

"..."

The silence was broken by Seong-hoon.

"WP also made contact, I see."

"The representative came to see me right after the drama festival."

"What? President Lee Seung-soo came to see you personally?"

"Yes."

Seong-hoon's mouth dropped open, knowing who Lee Seung-soo was.

***

Lee Seung-soo, the president of WP Entertainment, visited Jinhyuk just two days after the drama festival.

"Exactly as I heard."

The first words from President Lee Seung-soo, sitting across from Jinhyuk, were. He smiled pleasantly, looking into Jinhyuk's eyes.

A high school freshman being visited by the president of a top agency was an unprecedented event, unless there was significant expectation.

High expectations often lead to disappointment, but there was no sign of disappointment on Lee Seung-soo's face.

"Is it not surprising that I came?"

"It's more unexpected than surprising."

President Lee Seung-soo was rather surprised. By Jinhyuk's eyes, which didn't flinch even knowing his identity.

"Haha! Indeed, indeed, you're not ordinary."

Lee Seung-soo burst into a pleasant laugh and asked:

"I heard the two directors from HC and NTN came all the way to Busan."

"Yes."

"Remarkable people. With such employees, it's no wonder they're HC and NTN."

President Lee Seung-soo continued with an interested look.

"So, do you feel drawn to either of them? They showed such sincerity, so you should give a convincing answer, right?"

The president smiled. Before Jinhyuk could respond, the president continued:

"That's why I came to give a convincing reason. I thought this level of sincerity would give you a reason to reject the other two agencies."

Lee Seung-soo added:

"Not that I'm boasting, but I don't just meet anyone."

WP, HC, and NTN, the top three agencies, were in a close competition in terms of scale, none having an absolute advantage.

However, WP could still be considered a representative of Korea's entertainment history.

Unlike the frequent appearances of HC and NTN's representatives, Lee Seung-soo of WP was known for not revealing himself much outside the company.

"Besides me coming here personally, I also brought another gift to show my sincerity."

Jinhyuk looked at the president with an unreadable expression. Lee Seung-soo continued, finding Jinhyuk's attitude intriguing.

"We've never paid a signing bonus to a new actor. It's not just our company; it's an industry practice. But do you know why my name is 'Seung-soo'?"

Lee Seung-soo suddenly asked an unexpected question.

"Seung-soo means 'a fight with a sure win' and 'knowing how to make a bold move.'"

"..."

"Was it not interesting?"

Jinhyuk shook his head.

Was this why President Lee Seung-soo didn't meet many people? Because he was so dull.

"Ahem! Anyway, if it's a precedent-breaking new talent, we can set a precedent. I'm preparing a signing bonus that could help Jinhyuk's parents. Since you're still a student, it's awkward to talk about money directly. If you're seriously considering the contract, we can discuss it with your parents."

Jinhyuk shook his head.

"I'm not choosing an agency based on money."

"Of course. You're still a student, and I expected as much."

President Lee Seung-soo smiled calmly.

"Money is not just money; it's a gesture. I said we've never paid a signing bonus to a new actor. It's a gesture to show how much I want to give Jinhyuk unprecedented treatment."

Jinhyuk asked:

"May I ask why you're doing this for me?"

"Hmm. Where should I start? First, the Busan Youth Drama Festival you attended. The head judge was Professor Lee Chang-soo from Korea National University of Arts."

"Yes, I know."

"He's my brother and also a board member of our company."

Jinhyuk nodded quietly.

"You're not surprised?"

"It doesn't seem like a big surprise."

President Lee Seung-soo wondered what would surprise this boy.

"Anyway, my brother strongly recommended you. He's a very conservative person, but he has a good eye. And, Jeong Ji-an."

"Jeong Ji-an?"

Jinhyuk's eyes sparkled. It was the strongest reaction he had shown since meeting President Lee Seung-soo.

"Ah, you're curious about Ji-an? She's from our agency. She went to see the play that day. And guess what? She said the same thing as my brother."

"..."

"Aren't you curious what they said?"

Seeing Jinhyuk's calm expression, President Lee Seung-soo waved his hand and said:

"A perfect hexagon in terms of looks, star quality, and acting ability."

Jinhyuk asked:

"You didn't see it yourself, but you trust these two a lot, don't you?"

"If I didn't see it, what do you mean? I'm seeing it right now."

His brother, Professor Lee Chang-soo, and the genius actor Jeong Ji-an. Two people who rarely praised anyone had given high praise. That alone was enough reason to meet. There was something in their judgment that he could trust absolutely.

However, what President Lee Seung-soo trusted the most was not someone else's evaluation. The ultimate reason for his decision was one thing:

His 'instinct.'

It was this instinct that had made him a pioneer in the Korean entertainment industry, blooming the Hallyu wave in the periphery of the world.

And the moment he met Jinhyuk, his 'instinct' whispered:

This kid must be signed at all costs.

President Lee Seung-soo was excited by a strange feeling he hadn't felt in a long time.

Looks, charm, star quality. He has them in abundance. But this kid is more than that.

He's the representative of one of the top three agencies in Korea, the oldest among them, and could be considered a representative of Korea.

Most new actors he met couldn't even make eye contact with him.

But this kid is different. He's too calm to be just a fearless teenager.

It's not just a calm personality; there's something unyielding in him.

I don't bow to anyone easily.

But he is polite and mature.

He's no longer a child. Lee Seung-soo felt the presence of a great actor, despite Jinhyuk being just a high school student.

Jinhyuk was a type of person he had never met before, even as a businessman who had met countless people.

"Are there enough reasons for you to seriously consider our agency?"

"Yes, President. Thank you for coming today. I'll contact you after thinking it over deeply."

'Hmm.'

President Lee Seung-soo clicked his tongue.

A boy who surprised him until the end.

***

"President Lee Seung-soo, he's as impressive as I heard."

For the head of Korea's top agency to bow to a high school freshman to get the result he wanted? It was an unbelievable situation.

It was hard to add any other comments to Jinhyuk's choice of such an agency.

"Alright, then, is this how it's decided?"

Seol and Sarin's faces showed disappointment, but Seong-hoon looked more interested and proud.

"So, Jinhyuk is with WP, Seol with HC, and Sarin with NTN."

"..."

"Once the contracts are signed, you'll all be artists under the top three agencies in Korea."

It didn't feel real even after saying it.

"Now, as the new faces of your respective agencies, you'll engage in friendly competition."

Sarin pouted.

"Why are you saying that? I have no intention of competing with Jinhyuk and Seol."

Seong-hoon smiled.

"I just meant it that way. Alright, let's work together and prepare for the next mission."

The journey of 'High School 2' was about to begin. Seong-hoon distributed the scripts for the first two episodes to the three of them.

"Wow!"

Sarin exclaimed, rubbing the cover of the script in amazement.

"Wow, it feels more real now that I see the script."

Jinhyuk and Seol also looked at the script with expressions different from usual.

"Alright, the script reading is coming up soon."

The script reading, where all the main cast would gather.

The other main cast, being active idol singers, knew each other well. But the three of them were still shrouded in mystery.

Most of the cast would be very curious about these three.

This curiosity was more than just anticipation or interest.

The cast of a drama is a team and also competitors. Especially in a drama like 'High School 2,' where many young actors appear, the invisible competition for roles would be intense.

They were also desperate, challenging the transformation from idols to actors.

How they impressed the audience would greatly affect their future careers.

The desire to make their scenes more impactful. The tension they would create on set was clear to Seong-hoon.

And this competition would start from the script reading.

"Alright, now that you've chosen your agencies, let's give it our all."