Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Script Reading (2)
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"What? What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden! You and your big mouth..."
The gorilla looked flustered as I, who had been nodding enthusiastically while listening, suddenly teared up.
If it had just been me tearing up, he probably would've started with something like, "What do you have to cry about?!" or "You think crying solves everything? That's just like women..."
But I had dragged in the other actors, the production staff, and even the company.
Unless he was a total idiot third-rate thug, someone who had risen to assistant manager should at least pick up on my intentions.
'...Though doing something like this in the first place does make him seem like a total idiot third-rate thug.'
It might actually be easier if he just hit me.
If a low-level guy like him showed up and I pretended not to notice and let it slide, this whole thing would just vanish.
Then the gorilla would chase me around the set every day, hounding me, and I'd have to rack my brains looking for better opportunities.
'One good hit, and his tune would change.'
It'd be hard for anyone—assistant director, assistant writer, whoever—to witness someone from another agency getting physically assaulted by him and just sweep it under the rug.
The gorilla had exactly three options.
Get pissed and swing at me, change the subject with some conciliatory gesture, or cluelessly keep harassing me.
All I had to do was wait for his choice.
Clack-clack.
Not high heels—more like men's dress shoes.
No one who had to run around would be wearing those.
High chance it was someone important or an actor.
I was standing with my back to the stairs, and the gorilla assistant manager was facing them, so I couldn't see who was coming up.
Now I'd gauge the opponent's status from the gorilla's expression.
If they seemed low-level enough to brush off, I'd at least pretend to get hit.
Time to show this gorilla why they call us actors.
'...Though this isn't really my style.'
I'm no brawler. I'm not the type to take on every fight that comes my way and scheme like some mastermind villain.
It's just that this was the first shoot, and I wanted to do it right.
If some saboteur stirred up trouble from the start, nothing would go smoothly, so I had to nip it in the bud.
This was all a necessary evil, I suppose.
I've seen too many shoots ruined by one slippery eel like this, so I couldn't just leave the gorilla be.
Clack-clack.
The footsteps now sounded almost right behind my back.
I checked the gorilla's expression...
'...?'
He was pale as a ghost. His mouth kept opening and closing like he couldn't string words together.
Who the hell could provoke a reaction like that?
Even the station head showing up wouldn't faze him that much.
Whoever it was, they were definitely big-time.
No need for the fake hit now—it was time to pour some real emotion into my lines once more.
"I don't know what I did wrong... but I don't want anyone else suffering because of me. Just tell me what I should do... At least let me know who the actor DK Entertainment was fully backing, and I'll go apologize right away..."
"...No, Miss Jeong Gyeowol, saying it like that makes it sound like I was scolding you or something. I was just sharing my experience from years in the industry and giving some advice..."
Panicked words tumbled from the flustered gorilla's mouth.
He seemed desperate to smooth things over.
But it was pointless. His voice had been so loud earlier that whoever it was must have heard the whole conversation.
I regretted that my all-out performance on the "Sob... Are you really gonna end it with just me..." part had been too quiet to catch, but this would do.
The man who had come up the stairs was now right beside me.
The gorilla finally greeted him as if he'd just noticed him.
"...President Kim Seul-ong, how have you been?"
"...Huh?"
I turned my head and saw it really was KS Entertainment CEO Kim Seul-ong.
I think I was more shocked than the gorilla. Huh?
But no matter what sound effect escaped my mouth, it was understandable.
Why the hell was Kim Seul-ong here all of a sudden?
"Assistant Manager Ju. Seems like you're doing just fine."
"...Yes?"
"I just witnessed one of my precious actors getting chewed out for no good reason."
"...No, that's not it, President. It's a misunderstanding!"
"I'll be the one to judge that, not you."
He was on my side, but instead of reassuring, he scared even me.
Was that the kind of charisma a person could emit?
A few words, and goosebumps prickled my arms.
Kim Seul-ong used even that to press the gorilla harder.
"Miss Jeong Gyeowol... you okay? Look at the goosebumps on your arm. How terrified were you?"
He knew full well it was because of him, yet saying it like that made him even scarier.
"I-I'm fine. President, what brings you here...?"
"Just stopping by to show some support. Glad I did."
His face was gentle when talking to me.
"Assistant Manager Ju, you stay here. I need a word."
"...Yes, President."
But blank and emotionless toward the gorilla.
No sign of anger at all.
It made me wonder if Helena was actually modeled after Kim Seul-ong.
The gorilla was sweating bullets.
So was I.
"The reading's about to start, so head on in, Miss Jeong Gyeowol."
"...Yes. I'll go ahead then."
I'd been thrown by Kim Seul-ong's unexpected appearance.
But everything had worked out perfectly, just as I'd hoped.
I slipped out the emergency exit with a faint smile.
'Wipe that smile off!'
This makes me look like the bad guy.
As soon as I opened the door, Executive Manager Kim Gyu-jin and Manager Yoo Jun-seung stood there with anxious faces.
"...Manager? Manager Yoo?"
"Nothing happened, right? You didn't get hit or anything?"
"Waaah! We were so worried! I went to grab some snacks, and no one was at the seats—they said you got dragged off by Assistant Manager Ju..."
"...If you were worried, why didn't you just come in?"
I could forgive Manager Yoo, but this felt like a betrayal from Kim Gyu-jin.
They knew I'd gone into the emergency exit but waited out here?
Did that mean the other manager who "befriended" me and dragged me off earlier had done it on purpose too?
Leaving me alone with the gorilla? Knowing this would happen?
This crossed the line a bit.
But Kim Gyu-jin continued as if making excuses after reading my face.
"I tried to follow late, but the president called. Said he was in the parking lot... I explained the situation, and he told me not to do anything—just block the emergency exit so no one could come through. He was coming up the stairs himself..."
"...I see."
Even so, just block the door and wait?
What if I'd actually taken a real hit...?
My elbow might be a deadly weapon, but murder uses the character for "person."
It probably wouldn't work on the gorilla.
Kim Gyu-jin was just following orders, but that's one thing—this was another.
For the time being, I'd only answer if asked. No initiating conversation.
And right away, "Did he hit you?"
Better to fake cry like Jun-seung.
Leave the gorilla cleanup to his handler, Kim Seul-ong.
With the reading starting soon, I hurried back to the conference room.
The seats that had been mostly empty earlier were now packed.
"Ah, Gyeowol. Was just about to look for you. Take a seat."
"Sorry. Had to take a call..."
The screenwriter and PD sat front and center, flanked by the leads.
The table curved around with seats for the other actors.
Thanks to having sat down before the gorilla grabbed me, I headed straight to my spot without wandering.
Of course, I greeted every actor I passed on the way.
No press invited—production staff with cameras snapped away.
Probably drafting articles for outlets to tweak and post.
The days of calling in reporters for grunt work were over.
Next to the screenwriter sat actress Geum Yu-na, playing female lead Kim I-seo.
Beside the PD was actor Kang Min-hyuk as male lead Kim Doo-han.
The beagle-faced idol or puppy-origin guy—Kang Ho-su—was chattering away at the other actors.
Mid-level veterans watched with fond amusement.
A few rookies like me sat frozen, striking poses.
"Looks like everyone's here, so let's do introductions? Leads first, then by seniority—no, we'll go reverse order."
The seating was already perfectly conventional and clichéd.
Yet here was boomer PD trying to ape MZ culture.
The called-upon actor looked lost.
They'd probably planned to mimic the seniors, but the PD ruined it.
At least I dodged it.
Age- and experience-wise, I'd be last, but luckily my supporting role put me mid-pack.
"Um, I'm Im Ye-ji, playing orchard worker Seo Hae-na. I'm 22, have done a few indies... This is my drama debut! Please take care of me!"
"Hahaha, that rookie vibe is fresh. Love the greenness. Let's work hard together."
"Y-you did , right? Loved it."
"Th-thank you!"
Rare to recite your whole filmography at a reading.
"Playing so-and-so. Please take care of me" is the standard.
Her blatant "I'm a rookie" intro drew laughs from the actors.
Nice vibe with vets tossing encouraging words and reactions at the tense newbies.
Even the worrisome female lead Geum Yu-na reacted positively.
'...Guess the gorilla was the only problem.'
I clapped along attentively, and soon it was my turn.
"Hello. I'm Jeong Gyeowol, playing profiler Dr. Helena. Drama newbie here, but I'll work hard following the seniors' lead. Please take care of me."
My intro sounded perfect even to me.
Not trembling and spilling TMI like the rookies.
Nor curt and minimal like the vets.
Perfectly balanced, optimal self-intro...
But no applause. No reactions. No well-wishes.
A few rookie actors and managers clapped tentatively then shrank back.
The leads and supports just watched silently.
...?
'Am I already being ostracized?'
Just then, belated applause trickled in.
So... not full outcast, but definitely on the outs.