Chapter 66

Villain Only Acting 066

The Lady of the Prince (3)

It feels awkward to be sitting as a judge alongside the PD and the writer. Just a few months ago, I was the one being evaluated as a newcomer in the last drama, and now I'm in a position to evaluate someone else.

Jung Se-hoon was aware that it wasn't just because of his recent two works and good acting that he was here. Kim Sang-hee treated him as a fully accomplished actor, and Professor Lee Se-jong watched over him as an investor.

Thanks to these facts, he, a newcomer, was sitting in this position. If either of these two hadn't been there, he would never have been able to sit in such a position in the conservative media industry.

He would have obediently controlled his emotions, practiced acting, and performed roles like a doll in front of the camera, as the PD and the writer instructed.

"Rice bends more as it ripens, right? The better you do, the more careful you need to be. This industry isn't that easy. Even if you bow down in front of them, they'll spit and curse behind your back, and that's the norm."

This was what Jung Su-yeon had been saying in the van since this morning.

She must not be tired of repeating it for days.

Manager Ha Tae-soo also emphasized not to be complacent while driving, adding his own comments.

"Se-hoon, you shouldn't think this is a given just because you're sitting as a judge this time. Right now, you're being treated this way because of the combination of the PD, the writer, and the investor. There's no guarantee you'll get such treatment in the next project, so treat the audition participants with respect."

"Right, Se-hoon. You mustn't make the participants feel that you're arrogant. You know how a senior soldier might force a new recruit to sit in his seat and play around? You need to act as if you're in that situation."

"Do you know that the paparazzi haven't found the person who leaked information about us being suspicious when we went home together from the illegal party? There's a good chance that person is hiding among the lower-ranking staff."

"It might not be just one person. Su-yeon is right a hundred times over."

Although both of them said it out of concern, to Jung Se-hoon, it was just a meaningless and annoying echo.

He doesn't act for money or fame.

He started acting because he was captivated by the special scenery and sensations that come from performing in front of the camera, and now he's accustomed to that thrilling experience.

He acts to satisfy his desire for self-actualization.

Maintaining humility for image management and getting drunk on popularity are all trivial matters to him.

"Alright, I've seen enough. Please come in. Who's next?"

"Finally, it's the turn of our protagonist, Prince Daegun's favorite and top pick, Serubia's Lina."

"Oh, a current high school student. But I wonder if she can fully display her fighting spirit without having served in the military."

"Since they're a couple, how about we consider Lina as a high school student who has served in the military, just like Se-hoon?"

The PD and the writer chuckled playfully at Jung Se-hoon.

But Jung Se-hoon remained expressionless, focusing only on the participant's profile.

Kim Sang-hee grumbled, unimpressed.

"Se-hoon, you're always so serious, which is a bit disappointing."

"Why? I think you're serious and deep, and I often forget that you're 21. Your attitude makes you seem like you're in your forties."

"But won't the atmosphere be incredible when you play a 30-something prince after acting as a 21-year-old prince with makeup?"

"Even imagining it makes my pupils tremble. The makeup team mustn't skimp on the budget, PD."

"Of course not."

Soon, Serubia's center, Lina, entered.

Her slender 168 cm height, a waist so slim it could be wrapped with one arm, and long, slender legs that exuded presence from her hips, immediately captured everyone's attention.

Her calmness, which didn't match her 18 years, left a trace with every step.

The being standing somewhere between a girl and a woman stood modestly in front of the judges.

Jang Seung-won, who thought of her as an idol, had already straightened his posture.

Kim Sang-hee also wiped the smile from her face.

Lina, Han Se-hee, said in a clear voice with a slight huskiness, which was flawlessly clean.

The sound lingered strangely in the ears, and the pronunciation was sharp and clear.

It wasn't a conscious effort but a natural routine already ingrained in her lungs and vocal cords.

"Ah, good. Then... would you like to act out Scene 32?"

"Yes."

Her short answer was a voice that made you want to keep listening.

Lina, Han Se-hee, who was aware of the camera, closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them.

The moment she raised her fingertips to begin acting.

'...!'

Jung Se-hoon felt it.

The scenery around him was silently and gradually fading away.

Why, even though she wasn't in front of the camera? He had no time to wonder.

He was completely captivated by the subject before his eyes.

The camera wasn't showing him himself.

It was showing Han Se-hee, who was acting right in front of him.

The audition room had disappeared, and they were in a bustling market street of the past, defying time.

The prince, sitting on a wooden chair, looked up at his wife who had come to find him.

She wore a light purple hanbok, her black hair tied up with a hairpin, and her youthful face looked at him as if about to cry.

A delicate voice, as if it had just arrived from a distant place, echoed faintly.

"Sir, you've had too much wine today. Let's go home now."

Han Se-hee's presence was nowhere to be seen.

The woman standing before him, looking at him, speaking, and shedding tears, was a demure and young wife who only had eyes for the prince.

Just as the prince was about to reach out his hand unconsciously, the scene shattered like a heavy tear drop on the water's surface.

In an instant, Jung Se-hoon was back in the original audition room, and Han Se-hee, who had finished her acting, stood there with a slightly flushed face from tension.

"Hmm... Not bad."

Jang Seung-won's calm and indifferent voice reminded him that he was back in reality. It wasn't necessary.

When he glanced at Kim Sang-hee, her expression was also lukewarm.

They didn't feel the same level of emotion from Han Se-hee's acting as he did.

The director of photography and other staff also had indifferent attitudes.

'So that's how it is.'

Jung Se-hoon realized in an instant.

He had just seen and experienced a different scene from the others.

The camera didn't show him Han Se-hee's current acting.

It showed him a glimpse of her potential that he could draw out when standing in front of the camera and breathing in sync with her.

Dressed as the prince's wife, with her heart and expressions covered, and when breathing in sync with the prince, it showed him the maximized acting skills he could draw out from her.

For a moment, it transcended time and space, giving him a glimpse of great potential.

'Han Se-hee.'

The prince's heart had already chosen his wife to spend his youth with.

***

The first day of the long audition was over.

All the participants had left, and the empty corridor was being cleaned by the staff.

The auditions were just beginning, not ending today, because the roles to be cast were not just one or two.

Jang Seung-won, looking tired, rubbed his neck with his eyes closed.

Kim Sang-hee, who had been massaging her eyes, read through her notes.

"There's no one who really stands out."

"I didn't expect a big hit on the first day, but there really are too few talents."

"I hope some audition stars come out. That would create a buzz and boost ratings."

"How about Lina earlier?"

"Miss Han Se-hee? Her acting wasn't bad. She's decent, I guess?"

"I had a similar thought. It seems her agency has been giving her acting lessons diligently."

"What about you, Se-hoon?"

Jang Seung-won turned the question to Jung Se-hoon.

Jung Se-hoon answered calmly and without delay.

"I liked her looks."

"She is pretty, and she has a good presence. I also wondered why such a girl is in a girl group."

"Exactly. Her voice and diction are also calm, making her a perfect actress. It's a shame they turned her into a girl group member."

"But isn't she appealing too strongly to our personal tastes? Saying you liked her looks. I've never heard you say that to a female actor before."

"Since our Prince Daegun fell in love at first sight, as a PD, I have to seriously consider this. The chemistry between partners can't be ignored."

Jang Seung-won teased, but Jung Se-hoon smiled calmly without blushing.

"I meant that she would look good in a hanbok and standing next to the prince. There's no personal bias."

"Your straightforwardness is making us feel deflated. We know you're not like that. We were just joking. Anyway, you think she's good for the role of the young prince's young wife?"

"Yes."

Jang Seung-won thought for a moment and then asked.

"Writer, how many episodes does the young wife appear in?"

"Since it's the prince's 20s, excluding the young actor's scenes... roughly three episodes at most? She won't appear much after that except in flashbacks."

"It's not that many, then."

The role of the prince's wife in his 30s, preparing for rebellion, was likely to be cast from established actresses.

The role required beauty, acting skills, and experience, so the chances of it being cast through auditions were very low. It was also a role that the PD and the writer scrutinized carefully.

"The young wife needs a fresh and innocent feel. If her basic acting skills are solid, Lina seems like the best card to play."

"I hope what we saw wasn't just a forced performance. I'd like her to be at least average. Otherwise, the risk is too high."

"Hmm, how about we do a camera test? Her agency seems eager for her to appear in our drama. They might be thrilled if we suggest a separate camera test."

"Speaking of camera tests, it reminds me of the illegal party. Everyone was amazed by Se-hoon's acting back then."

Kim Sang-hee chuckled at the memory, and Jang Seung-won also smiled, finding it amusing.

"Right. I heard you're doing a CF with Chae Ji-hyun?"

"Yes. It's a coffee CF. I've seen the concept, and it looks good."

"I don't know if another scandal with Chae Ji-hyun will happen this time."

"If it happens, it happens. I don't care."

"Who would think you're a newcomer who hasn't even been in the industry for half a year? You're a complete veteran."

***

Lina's agency readily accepted the camera test proposal.

They thought the PD was giving her another chance because he saw her positively. Anyone would think that.

Jang Seung-won, along with Kim Sang-hee, Jung Se-hoon, the director of photography, and a few other staff members, conducted a private, exclusive audition.

Han Se-hee's manager also watched her audition performance from a corner, holding his breath.

After 20 minutes of Han Se-hee's performance, it was over.

"Good job."

Jang Seung-won and Kim Sang-hee didn't look particularly pleased.

Her acting skills, while barely meeting the basic requirements, were a bit disappointing due to her outstanding looks.

'But considering the visual chemistry, this is not too bad.'

Jang Seung-won thought he should respect Jung Se-hoon's choice as much as possible and wrap up the test.

Kim Sang-hee also didn't look overly impressed but had a "this is fine" expression.

"Then... "

"Wait a moment."

At that moment, Jung Se-hoon stood up, and everyone's attention turned to him.

"PD, can I try acting with her? She seemed too nervous with the solo performance."