Chapter 90

90

"Hello!"

"Oh, Seo Hoyun!"

She entered with a bright smile. Director Yoo, who was sitting in the center of the room where all the actors could see him, stood up and offered a handshake.

"Seo Hoyun! You made it."

"Yes, please take care of me. Director."

Unlike during the audition, I kept smiling, which made the director look a bit puzzled, but he soon patted my back and dismissed it.

I quietly sat down at the seat with my name tag, and the actors began to enter one by one.

"Hey, hello."

Yoo Ji-a, who was playing the lead role of Yoo Jung-hwa, greeted Director Yoo warmly and sat down next to me, where her name tag was placed.

"Yoo Ji-a, I really appreciated your radio show last time."

"I held back quite a bit, didn't I? I was so eager to speak that my mouth was tingling."

Yoo Ji-a responded with a gentle smile.

"Many people have high expectations for you, Seo Hoyun. Composer Im Hyun-soo and PD Kim Hee-young do too…."

"Your words make me feel like I don't know where to stand. It was just good luck, really."

I subtly threw out a bait. It seemed that Yoo Ji-a's fondness for me was because I had sent Today to the bottom.

"Huh."

But Yoo Ji-a tilted her head and smiled meaningfully.

"Are you trying to test me out of habit…?"

"…"

I closed my mouth.

Yoo Ji-a was scary. If Seo Jiwon had more experience, she would probably be like this, and the thought made my arms prickle.

"…Yes, it's a habit. I'm sorry."

"Well, it's not my place to say anything. And I'm not asking you to apologize."

Indeed, Yoo Ji-a should know. I had been too obvious in the filming set. Yoo Ji-a scratched her cheek and added.

"I wish I had more decent juniors like you."

Instead of answering, I just gave an awkward smile. Then, I turned my gaze, and someone opened the door and entered at just the right moment.

"Hello…."

"Ah, hello!"

'Here he comes.'

The bracelet jingling on my wrist, the blood splattering like red petals, the piercing noise and the vivid pain.

Thinking about the car accident still makes my head spin.

"Min Jihun, please sit here."

"Am I late…? I'm sorry. The flight was delayed."

"No, you're right on time."

Min Jihun sat down at the prepared seat, unfortunately right in front of me. When I looked up, Min Jihun met my gaze and smiled warmly.

"Hello, Seo Hoyun."

Fortunately, he didn't call me "Hyung" in this setting. Despite his innocent appearance, he was actually a sharp thinker.

Indeed, if he weren't, he wouldn't have maintained his top star status no matter how well he acted.

However, Min Jihun had made a mistake.

I was Seo Hoyun, and….

"Hello?"

As the official troublemaker of Today, I was ready to cause some serious trouble.

'Let's see who dies first today.'

***

The script reading proceeded in order. Since I already knew the script by heart, I just had to match it appropriately.

The manager standing across from me was looking at me with a moved expression, as if to say, "You didn't even have a single acting lesson…!" but I ignored him.

"PD! Lee Jung-hoon PD!"

Yoo Ji-a, who seemed to be the type to perform just as passionately during script readings as on set, delivered her lines vividly.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?"

The scene was where Yoo Jung-hwa, played by Yoo Ji-a, followed me, playing Lee Jung-hoon PD, and started a conversation.

I paused for a moment, glanced away, and sighed lightly. Then, I tried to hide my tired expression and said,

"Yes, Yoo Jung-hwa. What is it?"

"I was talking about the location scouting we did last time. I did some more research, and I think the Gacheon location would be more suitable for the mission…!"

"No, it won't work."

"…What?"

She was taken aback by my firm response.

Of course.

The location was already decided, and the budget was set.

"The location is already decided, and it's been approved. The budget is also set. There's no need to look for another location unless there's a problem."

"But…"

"By the way, have you finished the task I asked you to do before?"

Yoo Jung-hwa hesitated. I seized the moment to smile slightly.

"…Yoo Jung-hwa, be honest. It's okay."

"…Hehe, no."

"Hehe."

I slowly repeated it and wiped my mouth.

"He-he."

And with the anger I felt towards Min Jihun, I delivered all sorts of realistic acting (over the top) that went beyond the script. Everyone usually kept their eyes on the script during readings, but this time, they all gaped at me.

Min Jihun's eyes sparkled, making me even angrier. After delivering my lines, I asked Yoo Jung-hwa,

"-Did you understand?"

"…Yes."

"If you understood, why are you just standing there? Go and do your work."

"…Yes."

I then pushed the script away. Yoo Ji-a, who had fully embodied Yoo Jung-hwa, trembled.

The next scene was Yoo Jung-hwa's gossip about Lee Jung-hoon PD, who was muttering to himself.

"Hey, what's up with Lee Jung-hoon today? Did he get slapped and kicked or something?"

Yoo Jung-hwa ranted at Lee Jung-hoon. My part was over, so I took a deep breath and opened the cap of my water bottle. At that moment, I met the gaze of the other actors sitting opposite me.

…Their eyes were full of shock.

'Where do you think the nickname "PD with a bad attitude" came from?'

Of course, it came from me. The idol, who was brought in by Min Jihun and was not expected to act, seemed surprised by my performance.

Lee Jung-hoon was just me.

"Lee Jung-hoon PD is the reason I can't live a normal life…."

Then, it was Min Jihun's turn to play Min Seung-tae. A childhood friend of Yoo Jung-hwa, but with a (ridiculous) setting of being a wealthy heir, he was playful and affectionate in front of her but actually had clear boundaries and was cold.

In other words, a character with hidden schemes and a different front.

When Yoo Jung-hwa grumbled, Min Seung-tae tilted his head.

"Why, what's got you so upset?"

"He's just completely crazy… He's just targeting me and tormenting me… Lately, he seems to be doing it for fun."

"Should I change that for you?"

At his words, Yoo Jung-hwa, who didn't know that Min Seung-tae was a wealthy heir, paused.

"…When you say things like that, it sounds a bit serious and scary."

"Jung-hwa, what can't I do for you?"

His diction and voice, though unpleasant to listen to, were naturally convincing. Moreover, the slight change in tone made each line feel different.

Min Jihun looked at Yoo Ji-a with a deep, sparkling gaze, as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

Several cameras, from the actors' agencies to the drama team, were carefully filming to avoid appearing in each other's shots for the behind-the-scenes footage of the script reading.

The camera responsible for the drama team's behind-the-scenes footage focused on Min Jihun's face.

If I were editing this, I would have added a disgusting subtitle like [Min Jihun Actor's Loving Gaze Time♡] and (since I was too lazy to edit) just left his face on screen for 30 seconds. I could already see the comments exploding.

"…Don't act so superior, you bastard. And stop talking to me informally. I'm your senior."

"Hehe."

"I came into this job because I love it… It's not for the money. It's not for the money."

As Yoo Ji-a kept muttering to herself, trying to brainwash herself, Min Jihun finally burst out laughing. His eyes crinkled, and Director Yoo, watching him, also had a very pleased expression.

'Of course, he's happy. Min Jihun is a box office guarantee.'

I had to manage my expression.

Then, Min Jihun's solo part of the script reading began. I tried to ignore whatever came out, but….

I couldn't.

"So?"

His innocent demeanor was gone, replaced by a cold, pressing voice that enveloped the set. A supporting actor hurriedly grabbed Min Seung-tae.

"Min, Min Seung-tae! Please. As the young master, you can talk to the chairman. I'm really, really in a hurry. When you were young, I treated you so well, didn't I?"

"Ha…"

"I respect the chairman… But, and I really didn't do it. Please, just say that one thing for me."

The scene was of a director who had committed fraud in the company, desperately pleading with Min Seung-tae.

Min Seung-tae was a character who cared about nothing in the world except Yoo Jung-hwa. However, because he received the chairman's favor, people clung to him whenever something happened, thinking he was easier to deal with than the chairman.

They didn't realize it was a bigger mistake.

Min Seung-tae just smiled.

"Sometimes it's amusing."

"…?"

He said it as if humming a tune.

"…What, what do you mean?"

"You call me 'young master' in front of people, but behind my back, you call me a bastard and a scoundrel. Now you're calling me Min Seung-tae."

"…"

"My name is one, but the titles are many, aren't they?"

The director, who used to call him "uncle" when he was young, didn't seem to bother Min Seung-tae at all. He had betrayed Min Seung-tae first.

Under the cold gaze, contempt and a hint of resignation were evident.

So, the person standing here was just… Min Seung-tae.

"Are you that desperate?"

"Yes, yes…!"

The supporting actor, the director, nodded frantically. Min Seung-tae let out a short sigh and said,

"But I'm sorry, it's not my business."

"…!!"

"Phew? I'll tell the chairman, whom you respect so much, that this pretty bastard will take care of it."

And Min Seung-tae, with his long fingers, tapped his cheek and smiled brightly.

"Tell him you got a mouthful of your grandson's trash talk."

…This drama is intense.

As soon as he finished the script, Min Seung-tae's sharp gaze and sarcastic words were gone, and Min Jihun returned to his innocent self, making me sigh.

'Wow… Jung Dae-jun would love this.'

There was a reason why Jung Dae-jun was so impressed by Min Jihun. Min Jihun was indeed a master of such brash acting… or so I thought.

"Wait, the next scene is being revised by the writer… Let's do the next scene with Min Jihun right away!"

"…Yes."

Min Jihun was about to deliver a very emotional performance. I couldn't help but look at the part he was about to act.

[Yoo Jung-hwa senses something strange about Min Seung-tae. Yoo Jung-hwa, confused, tells Min Seung-tae to step back for a moment….

Min Seung-tae: (tears streaming down) Sister. (quickly wiping away tears) I'm scared. I'm most scared of you in this world. (gently pulling on Yoo Jung-hwa's sleeve) Don't hate me.]

The lines were simpler than I expected. However, this made me reassess writer Kim Sook-hee.

'Pushing such a brash character into a deeply emotional romance?'

Moreover, Min Jihun, who had just been spouting trash talk and calling people "pretty bastards" in a way that would shock anyone, was still in the emotional afterglow.

Could he suddenly start crying?

Or, is that a basic skill for actors?

'Since it's a script reading, maybe he doesn't need to actually cry.'

However, my doubts were meaningless. As soon as the staff finished giving instructions, Min Jihun took a deep breath, bit his lip, and his previously blank eyes welled up and turned red.

"…Sister, I…"

And with the lines, he let a tear fall as if he couldn't hold it back. The tear rolled down his cheek and fell to his chin.

"…!!"

I was shocked.

Min Jihun was… incredible.

"Ah, sh…."

He quickly wiped his tears with his sleeve, but they kept overflowing. Despite thinking that he looked ridiculous, he was afraid that if he didn't say anything, it would really be over, so he spoke from the heart. His chin trembled from the overflowing emotion.

"…I'm scared."

Min Jihun, or rather, Min Seung-tae, trembled as if he was afraid that Yoo Jung-hwa's pursuit might sever their lifelong bond.

"In this world… you scare me the most."

Min Seung-tae, who had been moving his lips a few times, finally bowed his head. Originally, he was supposed to gently grab and pull Yoo Jung-hwa's sleeve.

"…Don't hate me."

'…He's insane.'

At that moment, I only saw Min Seung-tae.

The director, looking at Min Jihun as if he were a passionate viewer in the first row of his living room, was dabbing his eyes with a tissue, moved.

Moreover, Min Jihun, as if this level of emotional acting was no problem, in the next scene, became a punk with a shaved head, then a deeply emotional younger man who only looked at one person, and then again a haughty and annoying third-generation heir….

Damn, he was just flying.

'This kid lives up to his name as the young head of a large family.'

However, Min Jihun's acting wasn't the main point right now. I had something else to check.

While listening to Min Jihun's next lines, I tapped the table and brought up the system window.

"Hey, come out."