Chapter 74
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Audition Results
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After that, Lee Cheong-ha and Song Ha-na's auditions proceeded one after another.
The role assigned to both of them was 'Jung Hee-seon'.
She was a pure woman who loved one man.
Just like before, it wasn't a major part in the show.
Even from watching on the waiting room screen, their styles were distinctly different.
Lee Cheong-ha had a clear, refreshing vibe, like she could star in a sparkling beverage ad right away.
And as expected, her unique tone stood out the most once again.
In contrast, Song Ha-na delivered utterly flawless acting.
Vocal technique, technique, breathing control—she had it all.
It was like she showed a stability that no 17-year-old should possess.
It was a razor-close battle between two completely different powerhouses.
If I were directing, who would I pick?
Once the auditions ended, the waiting room fell into a tense silence.
I imagined what it would be like if the two of them actually took the stage, picturing their performances as Jung Hee-seon.
It was too tough, so I shook my head and gave up.
This won't be an easy choice, Director Jang Jun-ho.
And no wonder—they each had such completely different charms.
In the end, it probably wouldn't come down to objective skill, but to Jang Jun-ho's personal judgment.
So, between Moon Woo-hyuk and me, who would it be?
Today, unusually, Moon Woo-hyuk was sitting quietly without even touching his phone, just waiting.
Song Ha-na and Lee Cheong-ha were that different, and so were Moon Woo-hyuk and me.
Moon Woo-hyuk's performance today was incredible, even in my eyes.
I couldn't feel any confidence that I'd win.
We had both delivered such different acting that neither felt definitively better.
This one would come down to Jang Jun-ho's judgment too.
Hmm.
If I don't make it, what should I do over break?
***
Once all the auditions were over, the audition hall—now with only the judges left—filled with groans of frustration.
“This one's really tough. So tough.”
“Ha…… This is seriously hard. How do all these kids have such perfect faces under those masks?”
With only four candidates, they'd thought it'd wrap up easily, but it had turned into a real headache.
Purely on skill, they were all so outstanding that it was hard to pick one decisively.
If they went for fit to the role—or better visuals—not a single one fell short in looks either.
“Cheongyeom lives up to its name, huh.”
Jang Jun-ho smirked as he double-checked all the kids' profiles.
At least it was a happy dilemma.
Not because they were bad, but because they were all so good.
“Shall we start with the boys?”
Jang Jun-ho set down the profile papers and stood up.
He stepped in front of the lead actor Choi Chang-dong and sound director Seo Ji-eun, who had judged alongside him for the final decisions.
“Both students are undeniably skilled beyond their 17 years.”
The lead actor, Choi Chang-dong, spoke first.
“But for Lee Hyun-woo this time, it has to be Moon Woo-hyuk. The image fits perfectly—the exact Lee Hyun-woo you envisioned, Director.”
It was a pretty firm tone.
Just as Choi Chang-dong said.
Moon Woo-hyuk's Lee Hyun-woo matched the image Director Jang Jun-ho wanted to a T.
But the opposing view was strong too.
“Who delivers the lines and numbers with more impact? Isn't it Lee Do-hyun? You don't hear a tone like that every day.”
Seo Ji-eun cast her vote against Moon Woo-hyuk.
As the sound director, she seemed especially captivated by Do-hyun's tone.
Well, it was a rare, precious timbre you couldn't find just anywhere.
“Forget image—what image? Think about how it'll play on stage. If Lee Hyun-woo's image changes, the vibe in his scenes shifts. You ignoring the director's vision?”
“Hah, so we're tossing that raw gem now? Doesn't that delivery make you regret it, Chang-dong? We can tweak the direction for one day. Can't we adjust for a voice like that on stage?”
“That's not—”
The two went back and forth for a while after that, but they couldn't bridge the gap.
“Enough, enough.”
It felt like a fight might break out, so I stepped in.
At Jang Jun-ho's intervention—who'd been listening quietly—the two finally stopped.
Stroking his chin, Jang Jun-ho pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.
“For Lee Hyun-woo, Moon Woo-hyuk definitely fits.”
“See? It was exactly the performance the director wanted.”
Choi Chang-dong shot a smug grin at Seo Ji-eun.
“But man, it's a shame about Lee Do-hyun. Even for a tryout, that's a voice you want to work with. And his own interpretation shone through too.”
“Exactly!”
This time, Seo Ji-eun puffed out her chest triumphantly and glared at Choi Chang-dong.
Jang Jun-ho pondered a bit more, then ruffled his hair wildly.
“Argh! I don't know!”
He threw up his hands and shook his head.
“Jung Hee-seon first. Let's decide Jung Hee-seon.”
In the end, they pivoted to casting Jung Hee-seon instead of Lee Hyun-woo.
“Jung Hee-seon will probably be unanimous.”
Unlike before, Jang Jun-ho spoke matter-of-factly, as if he'd already decided.
The other two nodded in agreement and said the name in unison.
“Lee Cheong-ha.”
“Lee Cheong-ha, right.”
Straight to Lee Cheong-ha.
Song Ha-na's acting had been impeccable too, but everyone picked Lee Cheong-ha for Jung Hee-seon.
And the reason was the same for all three.
“For Jung Hee-seon, Song Ha-na's interpretation was too sharp and clever.”
There wasn't a single flaw in Song Ha-na's acting or singing.
It just didn't suit the role.
“But you know…… it's a shame to just let this Song Ha-na go like that.”
Casting Lee Cheong-ha as Jung Hee-seon was an easy choice.
But dropping Song Ha-na so easily felt like a big loss.
“Right? Kids her age with that level of polish are rare.”
“Exactly. Just give her more experience making roles her own, and she'll be a terrifying actor.”
“Yeah. Honestly, purely on vocal technique and acting skill, Song Ha-na had a slight edge.”
All three smacked their lips in regret.
Her image was just too different, but they all knew her skill gave her the advantage.
Beyond that, her level was rare even among college students.
Cheongyeom Arts High lived up to its reputation.
They'd sent only prodigies you wouldn't believe were 17.
“These kids are giving us headaches in every way.”
Jang Jun-ho clutched his head and agonized for a long time.
Then suddenly, as if certainty struck, his eyes lit up and he looked up.
“Alright. Let's do this.”
***
How long had we waited in the green room?
Just as I was thinking the judging was taking forever.
We were finally called back onstage.
The four of us from Cheongyeom Arts High who auditioned today stood in a row at the front of the stage.
The atmosphere……
Something felt off as I scanned the three judges' eyes and expressions.
No matter how I looked, it was puzzling, so I tilted my head slightly.
Weird?
Beyond good or bad vibes, it was just…… strange.
The three judges, with inscrutable expressions, straightened up as we all took our positions.
“Yeah. You all worked hard. As expected from Cheongyeom—you four all gave outstanding performances.”
Jang Jun-ho, as today's head judge, started with praise.
“First, Lee Do-hyun and Moon Woo-hyuk.”
At Jang Jun-ho's call, the two of us stepped forward.
“You both did so well. Too well—I've got nothing to say. It's a waste to even compare who was better or point out flaws. Sorry.”
Whoa, getting praise like this from a directing legend.
Results aside, this alone felt like an accomplishment.
“But we still have to announce, right?”
I'd given it my all, so no regrets.
“First, the one cast for the role we had in mind.”
But having heard praise like this, I couldn't help wanting to snag the part.
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly without realizing.
Jang Jun-ho's lips slowly parted.
“Congratulations. Moon Woo-hyuk.”
“Yes……?”
Moon Woo-hyuk softly echoed back, as if he couldn't believe his name was called.
“Moon Woo-hyuk, you're in.”
Jang Jun-ho kindly repeated it.
Seeing his faintly smiling face, Moon Woo-hyuk snapped to attention.
“Ah.”
Finally grasping it, Moon Woo-hyuk's eyes went wide.
He bowed a crisp 90 degrees right away.
The momentum was so fierce his hair whipped around.
“Thank you!”
His booming vocal projection echoed through the theater.
Moon Woo-hyuk was genuinely shocked.
He'd won.
He'd beaten Kim Sun-woo in overall rankings, and now Lee Do-hyun in this audition.
What would Dad say?
He wanted to tell him right away.
It had been so long since he'd felt like that.
On the other hand,
“…….”
Ah, so it ended up like this.
The regret hit harder than expected.
For the first time since regressing, something I wanted didn't pan out.
Audition rejection.
It used to be so familiar before regressing, but apparently I'd gotten out of the habit.
Whatever—it's just the start.
Actors need to get used to rejection.
Otherwise, you can't hold your mental game and act properly.
Better this way, honestly.
If I'd passed again, I might've gotten cocky.
It wasn't that I lacked skill, or that it was stolen unfairly.
No need to mope.
“Congratulations.”
I immediately extended a hand to Moon Woo-hyuk.
He looked a bit surprised, then smiled faintly and clasped it.
“Thanks.”
Congratulating Moon Woo-hyuk was sincere.
His performance today had been a great stimulus.
Maybe I'd gotten complacent from taking first place too much this semester.
“Next, results for Jung Hee-seon.”
Now it was Song Ha-na and Lee Cheong-ha's turn.
I could even hear the two of them gulping from nerves.
Jang Jun-ho didn't drag it out and announced right away.
“For Jung Hee-seon: Lee Cheong-ha.”
“Yes?!”
Lee Cheong-ha let out a loud yelp, then clapped her hands over her mouth in shock.
“Congratulations, Miss Lee Cheong-ha. Keep giving us that great acting from the audition.”
Jang Jun-ho smiled at her and confirmed once more.
Lee Cheong-ha floundered wordlessly in surprise, then nodded rapidly over and over.
Who was her competition?
Song Ha-na, that's who.
Beating out that Song Ha-na for the role warranted this reaction.
On the other hand, a thought crossed my mind.
Is she okay?
Song Ha-na's state worried me.
I glanced cautiously her way, and she was gritting her teeth, hands trembling.
Frustrated, embarrassed……
Probably a ton of dark thoughts swirling.
How many setbacks had Song Ha-na faced in her life so far?
This might even be her first.
“Song Ha-na.”
Jang Jun-ho called her.
Had he noticed the state I'd spotted?
“Yes.”
Song Ha-na barely managed a response in her thinly quivering voice.
“This isn't the end.”
It was the standard line after an audition.
Song Ha-na knew that too, since she didn't reply.
Probably not much help to her right now anyway.
That's what I was thinking when—
“Huh? For real?”
Jang Jun-ho gave a slight smile and continued.
And then, he looked not just at Song Ha-na, but at me too.
Why's he looking at me at a time like this?
“Song Ha-na, and Lee Do-hyun. How about you two join this tryout stage as well?”