Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Script Reading
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Finally, the long-awaited script reading day had arrived.
"...Wow, this is my first script reading. I'm so nervous, what do I do? I feel like I won't be able to say a word."
...It was Manager Yoo Jun-seung making a fuss.
Anyone would think he was the actor.
He was in worse shape than me.
He's saying all the lines I should be saying.
"Why are you more nervous than me, Manager? You're making me nervous too."
"You're right. Why am I the one shaking more? I even took some calming pills before coming."
"...Calming pills? You prepared some for me too, right?"
"Uh... I have the case left, want to sniff it?"
"I'm kidding. I can't take stuff like that."
I was trying to mind-control myself to hide my nerves, but Jun-seung ruined it all.
My body started shaking again.
Even bantering back and forth didn't help.
If I mess up the reading, it's all your fault.
I could see why some actors snap at their managers.
Of course, that wouldn't happen with me.
Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin, who had been checking his phone while listening to our chit-chat, suddenly hardened his expression.
"...Gyeowol, you might need to tense up a bit."
"Pardon? Do I look too relaxed?"
No way.
I'm shaking right now.
This was my first script reading in 12 years.
I was so excited and nervous that I barely slept the night before.
"No, it's not that... The Helena role. One of DK Entertainment's executives was working behind the scenes to push one of their actors for it. You won it fair and square with your skills. But the lead actress is also from DK, so they'll definitely try to nitpick something."
"Ah... So this is that power struggle thing?"
Am I going to have my first power struggle at my first script reading?
I should be worried or scared, right?
But somehow, excitement and thrill were bubbling up too.
"...Strictly speaking, it's more of an agency power game than actors clashing. But it's similar."
"So what should I do?"
If they come at me and I hit back... my image goes to hell, and I'll be blacklisted from the industry.
Not just this industry—hit a senior, even if they're wrong, and everyone blames the junior.
In my past life, there was an actress who snapped, "Sister, I don't like you," and didn't show her face for years.
So, I have to hit back slyly, without getting caught.
Like hitting someone where it doesn't show, no external marks, but it hurts like hell.
Were my eyes gleaming in a bad way?
Kim Gyu-jin couldn't continue, then pressed his temple and sighed.
"Just... stay quiet. I'll handle it. Geum Yu-na probably won't step up anyway."
"...Aha."
Geum Yu-na, the lead actress, is called a rookie killer, but it's her acting that's the issue, not her personality.
She chews up rookies and racks up tons of NG takes.
Kind of disappointing.
I was hoping for some actress catfight, lasers shooting from our eyes.
It wasn't time yet to show off my survival skills as a lone wolf.
We arrived at the reading room soon after.
It was the large conference room on the floor above the office from our last meeting.
The manager had gone to buy snacks, so he wasn't there.
Only Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin stood behind me, face stiff.
I could feel the tense atmosphere in the room.
The air was already buzzing with anticipation.
I greeted the actors, then the production staff, and found my seat.
I'd already memorized everyone perfectly the night before.
To the point where if someone asked, "You liked my work? Which scene?" I could answer instantly.
But everyone seemed shy, just giving perfunctory greetings.
Of course, the leads and veterans hadn't arrived yet.
Maybe that's why it was mostly staff.
I heard some idol-turned-actor, a beagle type or something, was coming.
No idea why beagle, but anyway, a beagle.
People were only chatting with familiar faces, everyone still awkward.
And I'm no slouch at being shy either.
I zipped through greetings—greetings, or greetings, or more greetings—and sat down.
Definitely not because I was scared of DK picking a fight.
...Really.
"Gyu-jin hyung! Wow, you're even here?"
"...Min-jae, long time no see. Heard you went to DK—looks like you're doing well."
A guy named Min-jae from DK Entertainment acted chummy with Kim Gyu-jin and dragged him out.
Managers knowing each other makes sense. This industry's tiny.
'...Wait a sec.'
Shouldn't you stay to protect me? Where are you going?
Kim Gyu-jin, who said he'd handle it so I should just stay put, abandoned me and left the room.
Even a dog turd is useful for medicine sometimes, but Manager Yoo Jun-seung still wasn't back.
So... I was totally alone here.
"Jeong Gyeowol? Remember me? Joo Sang-wook, executive from the Nomen audition."
"Ah... Yes, hello. I remember."
"Want to step out and talk for a sec?"
"...Sure."
As expected, right after Kim Gyu-jin left, another DK manager called me out.
I desperately hoped Kim Gyu-jin would be outside the door.
But no one was there.
You gotta get your foot chopped by the axe you trust to grow. Yeah.
Kim Gyu-jin didn't abandon me—he's trying to make me grow.
Lions drop their cubs off cliffs, so I get it... like hell I do.
At a time like this, where are all my managers, ditching their actor!
When she might get slapped any second!
My managers are so incompetent.
DK's Executive Joo Sang-wook didn't seem to want a casual hallway chat.
He opened the emergency exit door and dragged me to the stairs.
...This feels more dangerous than getting shaken down by delinquents.
Kim Gyu-jin warned me to be tense, but I didn't expect them to be this blatant.
"Jeong Gyeowol, didn't think you were the rude type."
"...Pardon?"
Condescending eyes, word choice of "rude."
The type who starts low, asserts authority to take control.
Definitely effective on rookies or aspiring actors.
Executive level, and skilled at politics too.
"We extended the business card first, but you ignored it and went straight to KS. Maybe you're too young to know, but that's socially rude."
"Ah...."
I wondered what he'd say, and it's just lame boomer crap.
No need to be nervous... I got scared for nothing.
You can't have a real conversation with this type. It always ends with "Cheeky kid!"
I just nodded vaguely, letting it go in one ear and out the other.
Thinking about it, he's maybe two or three years older than past-life me.
You're not even that old... stop with the boomer act~~~!!
"All the actors I managed are successful now. Know why? Talent? Looks? Sure, but I gave them strict personality training...."
The lead is from DK, but agencies and actors aren't the same.
Don't judge people by one moron.
"You listening?"
"Ah, yes! Some people say I look distracted when I'm actually focused... Sorry if you misunderstood."
"Ahem. Anyway, the actress for Helena is throwing a fit about retiring because of you. You should've fought fair on skills, not snatched it with agency power...."
By the way, where are their actors? Why are they here doing this?
I didn't see Geum Yu-na, the lead, in the reading room earlier.
Are they ditching their own actors too?
Suddenly feel bad for Geum Yu-na.
"Still, for a young one, you're listening politely. But the world doesn't reward good personality alone, got it? You think you can hide in KS Entertainment's shadow forever? Back in my day...."
But when does this end?
I got pulled out about 30-40 minutes before reading... time to head back.
Need to greet the punctual seniors....
This gorilla-lookin' guy has no intention of letting me go.
'Ah, damn, spit again.'
I was managing my actor face—Olive Young skincare, masks and all.
Feels ruined today.
"What's with that face? You think I'm doing this for me? I'm advising for your sake, and you make that face? Pretty face and straight into KS makes you think you own the world? Even KS, I could blow away a nobody actor like you...."
He caught my brief grimace and went berserk like "Gotcha!"
"Not just you—I could wipe out every actor in that room! Don't get cocky! If a drama flops because of you, how you gonna handle the fallout?!"
Maybe it's time to hit back.
From what gorilla's saying, KS wins the agency power game anyway.
Not even my senior, who does he think he is, grabbing me like this?
Unless he's scheming to socially bury me, he's just a third-rate thug insulting me with boomer BS.
As I pondered if my elbow—that nearly killed Screenwriter Bae Jong-wook—needed to swing again.
Footsteps echoed.
Someone climbing the stairs.
Gorilla was too hyped to notice.
'...Oh?'
Suddenly the world's on my side.
Footsteps on the stairs, this time, this place?
Definitely staff.
Jeong Gyeowol. When it's time, I get it done... man—no, woman.
"Hic.... Can't you just end it with me? The other seniors, the production staff who've worked so hard, and our company folks are innocent.... Please don't touch anyone else...."