Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Kim Se-hee looked a mess.
Her hair was greasy, and dark circles under her eyes were so deep that even a raccoon would suggest being friends. She had stayed up two full nights to revise the script.
Tap, tap, tap-.
Despite her exhaustion, she kept typing relentlessly. After finishing the final scene, she hit Enter, completing the manuscript.
“Done!”
Stretching, Kim Se-hee smiled with satisfaction. Her eyelids felt like lead, yet imagining the actors performing her story made the fatigue vanish. At this moment, giving up her trip or staying up all night didn’t matter.
She immediately called Director Park Tae-ho.
-Hey, Kim.
From the other end, Park Tae-ho’s voice was filled with anticipation.
“Director, I’m sending the script now. Take a look.”
Kim Se-hee spoke briefly and sent the revised manuscript to him.
“I wonder how he’ll interpret it.”
She was eager to see how Baek Seung-chan would bring her newly written character to life. The synergy between his acting and her story filled her with curiosity.
-This is amazing.
A moment later, Park Tae-ho called back, his voice excited.
-It’s almost a shame to make it just a web drama.
“I thought the same. But what can we do?”
Kim Se-hee agreed. With some polishing, the characters and story could easily fit a mini-series, but for now, a web drama was the only option.
“When does filming start?”
-Why, you wanna come?
“Of course! I gave up my trip; watching it on video isn’t enough. I need to see it for myself.”
-Good call. Seeing it live gives a completely different feeling.
Park Tae-ho smiled at the thought of Kim Se-hee being amazed on set. While Baek Seung-chan’s performance was impressive on video, seeing it in person was another experience.
“That makes me even more curious.”
-Don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed.
His confidence reassured her.
“I’ll be ready, but I need some sleep first. I haven’t slept in two days.”
-Got it. See you tomorrow.
“Yes…”
Kim Se-hee hung up and collapsed onto her bed, falling into a deep sleep instantly.
After morning training, Baek Seung-chan showered and left home. Today was the filming day for the drama Legend of the Nerd. He headed toward Dongincheon Station.
“Where are you? You said you’d be in front of the station…”
He looked around, then heard a familiar voice.
“Seung-chan! Over here.”
Turning, he saw Kim Seong-ho leaning out of a car. On his day off, Seong-ho had come to pick him up and drive him to the set.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Morning.”
Baek Seung-chan got into the car and greeted warmly. As they drove, Kim Seong-ho glanced at him.
“Have you read the script?”
“Yes, but isn’t the supporting role too big?”
Seong-ho nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, it’s almost like a lead role.”
The script had changed significantly. Originally, it was a simple story of a bullied protagonist learning martial arts and taking revenge on the bullies.
Now, the revised story had a transfer student who excels at fighting come to help the bullied protagonist. They become friends, but the protagonist becomes a target of the delinquent gang. Together, they teach the gang a lesson.
Baek Seung-chan played the ‘friend’—a key character guiding and supporting the protagonist.
“I heard the director and writer liked your acting, so they increased your role.”
“I’m really grateful they appreciated it.”
“It’s because you acted well. And there’s even better news.”
“Better news? I’m already happy to have a supporting role.”
“There is.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll get 2 million won for this role.”
“Two million won?”
Baek Seung-chan was shocked. He expected at most 600,000 won. Rookie supporting actors usually earn between 300,000 and 1,000,000 won.
“Since your role is significant, the pay was higher. Plus, your acting is amazing.”
Seong-ho looked proud, and Baek Seung-chan realized Seong-ho must have asked Park Tae-ho to raise the fee, which the director gladly approved.
“Thank you, sir.”
“No need to thank me. The money comes from the production company.”
“I know, but still, thanks.”
“Kid… you’re too smooth…”
Seong-ho focused on driving, pretending to be embarrassed.
They arrived at an old school in Pyeongtaek.
“Seung-chan, do your best today.”
“Yes, thank you for bringing me.”
“I should stay with you on days like this, but my son has a judo match.”
Seong-ho left, and Baek Seung-chan felt a slight emptiness but understood he couldn’t always be there.
“Let’s start with the set over there.”
The staff were busy preparing, and upon seeing Baek Seung-chan, they greeted him.
“Hello, Seung-chan.”
“Nice to see you again.”
Baek Seung-chan smiled, slightly surprised they remembered him.
After brief greetings, he headed to the waiting room. Supporting actors now had a separate space with snacks and better amenities compared to his earlier days.
Inside, three people were already there. Two faces were familiar—they had played minor delinquent roles in the previous shoot.
Baek Seung-chan approached them with a bright smile.
“Hello.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Hi.”
The two relaxed immediately, but one person ignored him.
“······.”
The boy who had lost the delinquent leader role to Baek Seung-chan turned away. The room fell silent briefly.
A fellow minor actor broke the tension.
“They said there’s a new supporting role because of the script changes. Guess it’s you, Seung-chan.”
“Ah, so this is the person Hyuk-soo mentioned.”
“Yes. You’ll be amazed at his acting today.”
“Really? Can’t wait to see it.”
The initially tense boy left in annoyance.
“Don’t worry, he’s just prickly,” the other actor reassured.
“Got it.”
Baek Seung-chan nodded, unbothered. The atmosphere was back to normal, and they chatted comfortably until filming began.
“Lucky you. I haven’t even had a proper minor role yet, and you’re already a supporting actor.”
“Yeah, and it’s almost a lead role too.”
Baek Seung-chan understood their feelings. Both had pursued acting for over two years without significant roles.
“You’ll get your chance soon.”
He smiled, focusing on the script until shooting started.
The boy who openly disliked Baek Seung-chan was Lee Myung-jun.
A former stuntman aspiring to be an actor, he left the waiting room and went to the smoking area. Lighting a cigarette, he frowned.
“Damn kid…”
He had disliked Baek Seung-chan from the start. Lee Myung-jun had been waiting over a year for a minor role while Baek Seung-chan landed a minor role on his first day.
Recalling how much he had struggled for a single line made him hate Seung-chan even more.
Moreover, Baek Seung-chan had taken the delinquent leader role from him due to an improvisation. Since then, Seung-chan was no longer just an annoyance but a sworn rival.
Even acknowledging that Seung-chan’s role grew from minor to supporting didn’t matter. Seeing a rival succeed was infuriating.
“How do I make him pay…”
He exhaled deeply and schemed.
Then a thought struck him.
“The first scene is an action scene, right?”
The opening scene had Seung-chan saving the bullied protagonist from the delinquents and fighting alongside him.
“This is perfect.”
Lee Myung-jun stomped out his cigarette, a sly grin spreading across his face, and headed back to the waiting room.