Chapter 50
Chapter 50: A Frog in a Well
Translated by POWERPUFF
The actor who takes on the main role in a drama carries meaning beyond just a role.
An actor’s skill and charm shape the overall tone of the work and play a crucial role in determining its success.
Fan appeal also couldn’t be ignored.
That was the power of A-list actors, and the reason why they were cast even at fees reaching tens of billions.
Occasionally, like Director Go Jinseok’s “A Shop for Killers,” rookies were cast as leads, but it was rare.
More often than not, using a rookie led to failure.
But “Afterlife Restaurant” was different.
It didn’t only use rookies, but it did give them opportunities.
Because of this, there was immense interest, and over 500 applicants applied for the female lead role.
Of course, not all 500 were auditioned.
Through applications and video submissions, only 15 were selected.
Once again, the judges were Director Park Taeho, writer Kim Sehee, and Baek Seungchan.
And in case there was another actor like Kim Namseok, Team Leader Kim Sungho also attended as an observer.
“Writer Kim, do you have anyone in mind?”
Before the audition started, Park Taeho asked while looking at the list.
“I have three.”
“Oh? Who?”
“Actress Yoo Mira and Jo Hyun.”
Yoo Mira was a young actress in her early twenties who had been active since childhood.
She wasn’t quite A-list, but she had experience and solid skills, making her a promising actress.
On the other hand, Jo Hyun was a former model and a complete rookie in acting.
“Mira’s good. But who’s the last one?”
“You already know.”
“That’s true.”
Park Taeho nodded with a smile.
“I never thought Cha Minhee would apply.”
Cha Minhee, the genius child actress.
Until her sudden retirement five years ago, she was an actress many in the industry wanted to work with.
Both Park Taeho and Kim Sehee had felt the same.
“What about you, Seungchan?”
“I’m curious about actress Cha Minhee as well.”
Baek Seungchan felt the same.
He hadn’t been deeply interested in dramas as a child, but Cha Minhee had been such a hot topic that even he had seen her acting.
Even after all this time, it remained impressive.
And he was curious about the skills of someone called a genius.
Soon, the audition began.
A short-haired actress with a charming eye-smile entered the room.
With her elegant, puppy-like image, she suited the female lead role well.
She was Yoo Mira.
“Hello, I’m Yoo Mira.”
Perhaps due to her long experience as a child actress, she showed no signs of nervousness.
“Nice to see you, Mira. Feels like just yesterday you were a kid.”
Park Taeho had worked with her before.
“Hello, Director.”
She replied with a smile.
“Why did you apply for this project? Haven’t you been getting lead roles already?”
While not in major productions, she had played lead roles in smaller dramas.
“That’s true, but I really liked the script. And I wanted to act with Baek Seungchan.”
Her main goal was acting alongside him.
“Alright, let’s begin. Seungchan, please.”
“Yes.”
This time was different from the villain audition.
Baek Seungchan acted as her counterpart, performing an actual scene from the drama.
The scene was of the female lead dying after being attacked, comforting the grieving protagonist.
“Please take care of me.”
“Let me know when you’re ready.”
Yoo Mira closed her eyes to immerse herself, and Baek Seungchan waited.
Soon, she sat down, ready.
“Wife, are you alright?”
As the acting began, Baek Seungchan’s expression, gaze, and voice changed instantly.
Holding her, he looked as though his beloved wife was truly injured.
“Dear… don’t be sad…”
Yoo Mira also delivered an excellent performance.
She was fully immersed in the character.
“Good work.”
“Thank you.”
After a brief conversation, she left.
“Mira’s acting is definitely good.”
“Yes, and she fits the image.”
Both judges were satisfied.
“What about you, Seungchan?”
“There’s a reason you both noticed her. She was good.”
He also thought she was solid.
Her understanding of the character, emotional expression, and delivery were all strong.
There was nothing lacking.
“Let’s keep going.”
“Yes.”
The auditions continued.
But aside from Yoo Mira, no one stood out.
“As expected, rookies have their limitations.”
Even Jo Hyun didn’t meet expectations.
“At this rate, it’ll be Mira.”
“Seems like it.”
Based on what they had seen, Yoo Mira was the best fit.
“But let’s see the last one first.”
Soon, the final applicant entered.
With long straight hair and a cold, cat-like beauty, she contrasted Yoo Mira.
It was Cha Minhee.
“…Hello.”
“Minhee, are you feeling alright?”
Her voice sounded calm but lacked energy.
“…I’m fine.”
“Then let’s begin.”
“…Okay.”
Baek Seungchan faced her.
“Let me know when you’re ready.”
“…I’m ready.”
Without taking time to immerse herself, she immediately lay down in position.
Baek Seungchan also began right away.
“Wife, are you alright?”
Again, his expression and voice transformed instantly.
“….”
Seeing his acting, Cha Minhee felt her heart race.
She immediately recognized his aura.
He was like her.
At that moment, she immersed herself as well.
Her empty gaze filled with emotion.
“Dear… don’t be sad…”
Her voice conveyed love, concern, and regret all at once.
Though brief, she was completely immersed.
Baek Seungchan smiled inwardly.
“Not bad.”
He could see why she was called a genius.
Despite some rust from her long break, she was still better than anyone else he had seen.
Her aura was brilliant.
“I can’t take this lightly.”
He put more sincerity into his acting.
Otherwise, he might be overshadowed.
“And how could I not be sad… seeing you like this…”
At his shift, she immersed herself even deeper.
“Dear, if there is a next life… will you take me as your wife again?”
“Of course. I promise… I will find you again in the next life.”
At his words, she smiled brightly and closed her eyes.
Their short but powerful performance ended.
“….”
Silence filled the room.
Those watching felt as though they had entered the script.
But the two actors simply stood up as if nothing had happened.
“Good work.”
“…Good work.”
Park Taeho and Kim Sehee were amazed.
To act with such immersion and then return to normal so easily.
“Minhee, did you prepare anything else?”
“…No.”
“Any questions?”
“…No.”
After delivering a chilling performance, she returned to her quiet demeanor and left.
“She’s not called a genius for nothing.”
Park Taeho said.
“She’s another one.”
He looked at Baek Seungchan.
“Just like you.”
Kim Sehee agreed.
Initially, Yoo Mira fit the image of the character.
But after seeing Cha Minhee, her perspective changed.
Just like when she saw Baek Seungchan’s performance as “K.”
“Let’s go with Cha Minhee.”
“I agree.”
Thus, Cha Minhee was chosen as the female lead.
“We just need to do our part now.”
“Indeed.”
With the cast finalized, the pressure on the production team increased.
With Baek Seungchan, Cha Minhee, and Kim Namseok, there were no weaknesses in acting.
As she left the audition room, Cha Minhee murmured softly.
“…Monster.”
The one she referred to was Baek Seungchan.
At first, she thought he was similar to her.
But as the acting continued, she realized—
She had been mistaken.
She had been a frog in a well.
In every aspect, his talent surpassed hers.
He even carried the experience of a veteran actor.
It was the first time she felt such a wall of talent.
And instead of despair, her face filled with a smile.
“…Good.”
For the first time, she had found a goal to reach.
After all auditions ended, the production team sped up preparations.
The actors also began preparing in their own ways.
Baek Seungchan was no exception.
His role as the restaurant owner required cooking.
But not just ordinary cooking.
It involved flashy techniques—throwing knives into cutting boards, spinning cleavers, and dynamic wok tossing like a fire show.
It was closer to action than cooking.
So he needed to practice in advance.
And he began preparing.