Chapter 55

55. The Debut of the Controversial Rookie

"Jinhyuk! Did you sleep well last night?"

"Yes. And you?"

"Well, I didn't. Hehe."

Kim Yongsoo, who would be Jinhyuk's manager, burst into a hearty laugh.

Jinhyuk had liked Kim Yongsoo from the moment they met. He reminded him of Do Minwoo in some way.

Of course, despite his laid-back appearance, Kim Yongsoo was a thorough person when it came to work, which Jinhyuk could tell.

"Because of you, the internet is in an uproar. You know that, right?"

"Yes."

"Hehe. It's a good thing. For a rookie, whether it's positive or negative comments, attention is always good. Try to think of it that way."

"..."

Jinhyuk responded with a slight smile.

"Kid, I haven't known you for long, but you're a really unique one."

"Is that so?"

"How should I put it? You're still a high school student, but sometimes you seem like someone who has seen the world."

Manager Kim Yongsoo glanced at Jinhyuk and chuckled.

"Anyway, I'm really looking forward to you. I haven't seen your acting yet, but I've heard the rumors going around the company. When your acting video goes viral, I wonder how those people who were so noisy will react. Hehe."

Despite looking exhausted, Kim Yongsoo was full of energy. He was brimming with expectations for the new actor he would be managing.

It was a well-known fact in the industry that being a manager was tough, but Kim Yongsoo was one of the rare people who genuinely enjoyed and found fulfillment in the job.

Even in the way he treated people, it was clear that the company had taken great care in assigning him to Jinhyuk.

There was a script reading for the making-of film, so they stopped by a shop for a simple styling that wouldn't ruin Jinhyuk's youthful charm before heading to the production site.

"Wow, Jinhyuk, you really are something."

Kim Yongsoo gave Jinhyuk a thumbs-up. Just a little bit of styling made Jinhyuk, who was already striking, look even more dazzling.

The car pulled into the parking lot in front of the building where 'Grim Production' was located.

When Jinhyuk got out of the car, someone approached him. It was Min Seoyeon and her manager.

Jinhyuk hesitated for a moment.

"..."

Seoyeon looked very different from her usual self.

She was far from the Seoyeon who usually didn't bother with makeup, wearing either a puffy school uniform or gym clothes. She usually wore a T-shirt and jeans when in civilian clothes, and even at auditions, she appeared in the same casual attire.

Perhaps because of this, Jinhyuk might have seen more of Seong Minryeong in her.

She could only wear such outfits on stage. Jinhyuk had only seen Seoyeon in different looks twice, both on stage, with heavy makeup and roles from the Joseon era and the Victorian era, which were far from a modern girl's appearance.

Today, Seoyeon looked very different with a feminine style.

She wasn't just pretty;

She was beautiful.

If Seong Minryeong had lived an ordinary life and dressed like a normal woman, she might have looked like this.

Jinhyuk felt a warm, protective feeling, as if he was an older brother who hadn't taken good care of his younger sister.

"Isn't it a bit strange?"

Seoyeon frowned at Jinhyuk, who was staring at her intently.

"I haven't worn something like this in a long time. It feels really awkward."

Seoyeon looked down and scanned her outfit again.

"It's not strange."

"Huh?"

"You look good."

"Really?"

Jinhyuk's words made Seoyeon's lips curl up slightly, unable to resist. At that moment,

"Jinhyuk! Seoyeon!"

A lively voice that was immediately recognizable. Serin ran towards them from the far end of the parking lot.

Serin was dazzling, but she wasn't overly made-up.

However, due to her naturally striking appearance, even someone who didn't know her might think she was trying too hard for a first impression.

With Serin joining them,

"Hello."

"Hello."

The managers and actors, six in total, exchanged a flurry of greetings.

Just a few days ago, they were just classmates at a local acting school, but now they were meeting as rookies from different agencies.

"Phew. I'm so nervous. But it's reassuring to go in with you guys."

Serin said, looking very nervous. Seoyeon also looked a bit tense.

But Jinhyuk remained calm as usual.

"Jinhyuk, that's normal for a rookie."

Jinhyuk's manager, Kim Yongsoo, patted him and laughed.

***

"Ah, I'm so nervous. Why am I so nervous? I'm not even a rookie."

Jeong Haneul, a member of the female idol group 'Pink Punch,' shivered slightly in the conference room where she had arrived early for the script reading.

"Hey, you've only been in the industry for two years. You're not a rookie."

"Two years is enough to lose the rookie label."

Another idol group member, Lee Sojin, scolded her, but Jeong Haneul didn't care.

"By the way, Jeong Haneul, you broke up again, didn't you?"

"Who said such nonsense?"

"Really?"

"Hey, I've never even dated. What break-up?"

Jeong Haneul, a member of the female idol group 'Pink Punch,' scolded Lee Sojin, who was also an active idol.

Despite being known as a 'man killer' among her peers, Jeong Haneul refused to acknowledge it.

Why do guys like her?

All she did was smile. After that, the boys did their own thing.

Meeting a few times, going out to eat, and receiving some gifts. That was it.

What's the big deal about that?

And yet, she managed to avoid any dating rumors.

"You're something else."

Lee Sojin shook her head.

"Anyway, I really hope this drama does well. My team isn't doing so great these days."

"True."

Lee Sojin agreed with Jeong Haneul for the first time. Her team was also struggling.

The drama 'High School 2' was a big opportunity for both of them and their teams. Their determination was bound to be different.

"By the way, they're bringing in complete rookies this time, right?"

"I heard. They've never even appeared on TV."

"Wow. They must be really talented. Or..."

Jeong Haneul hesitated and then continued.

"Anyway, I hope they're not landmines. It's already causing a stir, and if the drama fails because of them..."

"Hey, you're already predicting the worst."

"Well, in the first season, there wasn't a single rookie in the main cast. But since the first season did well, they're already pulling strings and trying to get on board. It's a bit much, you know. That kind of thing ruins teamwork as well as talent."

Jeong Haneul, who was from the same agency as Park Do-yoon, who was fired due to Woo Jinhyuk, didn't have a good relationship with him. However, her concern about untested rookies wasn't entirely unfounded.

"Hey, but from the photos I've seen, the kids look pretty good. They're aspiring actors, after all. Especially that boy."

"Hey, you've been in this industry for a while. How can you tell from a profile photo? By profile photos, you'd be a top actress too."

"Ah, don't compare me to that."

Jeong Haneul's words made Lee Sojin angry.

"Hello, Haneul, Sojin."

"Wow, Oppa Yi Jun! You look so sweet today."

The male lead of the drama, Yun Yi Jun from the popular idol group 'New Face,' entered.

Jeong Haneul gave him a bright smile and whispered to Lee Sojin next to her.

"By the way, Sojin, Oppa Yi Jun is still good-looking, isn't he?"

"Of course."

"That rookie boy's role is 'Jin Seojin.' In the drama, he's a handsome guy who steals the female lead's heart."

"Right."

Jin Seojin. The role played by Woo Jinhyuk. The first love that the female lead pines for from a distance.

"To be convincing enough to make the female lead fall for him over Oppa Yi Jun... Is that even possible?"

"Well, the concept is that Oppa Yi Jun has been a friend since childhood, so the female lead is desensitized to him."

The male lead, Yun Yi Jun, has a crush on the female lead, but she doesn't see him as more than a friend at first. The person she has a crush on is 'Jin Seojin,' played by Jinhyuk.

"Even so, he should at least look as good as Oppa Yi Jun for the viewers to believe it."

"Is that so?"

"It's making me really curious. What's the name of the guy playing Jin Seojin?"

"That 'Woo'... Ah, Woo Jinhyuk."

"Woo Jinhyuk..."

Just as Jeong Haneul repeated Jinhyuk's name,

"Hello, everyone. Hello, Oppa."

The female lead, Ahn Yeona, entered the conference room and greeted everyone. She looked calm and elegant, but as the lead, she took her seat with a composed demeanor.

"Hey, hello."

Jeong Haneul and Lee Sojin greeted her with friendly expressions, but there was a subtle tension in the air.

As Yun Yi Jun and Ahn Yeona entered, the cast members started to arrive one by one, and the conference room quickly became crowded.

With a common background as idol singers, the peers were full of energy, regardless of their true feelings.

"Hey! Hello, teacher!"

The young actors who were already seated all stood up. A few veteran actors took their seats, and the room began to calm down.

Jinhyuk and his group arrived at the conference room.

***

"Hey, look."

Lee Sojin nudged Jeong Haneul.

Jinhyuk and his group were entering.

'Oh my.'

Jeong Haneul's mouth dropped open, and everyone in the room turned their gaze to Jinhyuk as if on cue.

"Hey, close your mouth. You're drooling."

Lee Sojin nudged Jeong Haneul.

"Huh? Oh."

Jeong Haneul closed her mouth, which had opened without her realizing, and whispered to Lee Sojin.

"Photoshop still has a long way to go. Why did they take such a bad profile photo?"

"Really. I'm shocked. Aspiring actors are definitely different, aren't they?"

"It's not that aspiring actors are different, but this guy is. We have aspiring actors in our company too."

The shock continued.

"Ah, hello, seniors."

Sarin, who followed Jinhyuk, bowed deeply.

"Wow. Damn, she's so pretty."

One of the cast members muttered dangerously, and the lead actor, Yun Yi Jun, who was next to him, nudged him and frowned.

"Watch your mouth."

"Ah!"

The guy clamped his hand over his mouth. Fortunately, it seemed only Yun Yi Jun had heard. He let out a sigh of relief.

When Min Seoyeon entered next, everyone had the same unspoken thought.

'Wow, who are these people?'

Sarin bowed deeply again as people's gazes lingered on them.

"I'm sorry for being late!"

A middle-aged actor laughed.

"Hehe. You're not late. There's still time before we start. We just arrived early. Please, take your seats."

Jinhyuk and his group found their seats. When Jinhyuk sat across from Jeong Haneul, her expression brightened.

She gave him the sweetest smile she could muster.

Jinhyuk gave a slight nod and looked away, but Jeong Haneul's gaze remained on him.

'Oh, here we go again.'

Lee Sojin shook her head at Jeong Haneul.

After Jinhyuk and his group entered, a strange tension filled the conference room.

The idol-turned-actors gathered here were already known for their looks in their groups.

The appearance of these rookies, who outshone them, was enough to make them nervous.

The veteran actors, familiar with such tension, smiled.

"This time, it feels like it's going to be fun."

"Even though they say no sequel is better than the original, I think we might surpass the last season's ratings. I have a good feeling about it."

An actor who played a teacher in the first season said with an expectant look.

At that moment,

"Hello, everyone. Nice to meet you all!"

Director Jeong Doo-il and writer Han Yujin entered the conference room. Greetings were exchanged again.

The two took their seats.

The making-of cameras were rolling, and some of the cast members were fidgeting with their scripts.

"Since everyone is here, shall we start?"

Director Jeong Doo-il stood up.