Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Stand-in CF
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‘But yeah, it’s true.’
I had to use it sparingly. I’d taken that stuff.
‘Gotta watch my diet.’
In this line of work, my body was my asset. Once the money came in, the first thing to improve would be my meals.
‘Home-cooked food is still the best.’
Maybe I’d pick up a kitchen knife for the first time in a while.
“All right then~ Now that introductions are done. My lovely rookies?”
Yoo Hajin said with a bright smile.
“Why don’t you show off your skills for your seniors?”
Seniors, my ass.
‘Is this some kind of welcome party?’
Lee Seungjun and I exchanged glances.
‘Could be.’
What should we perform? What could we show to leave a good first impression on the seniors?
I grinned as I looked at them. Their eyes had a strange glint.
‘They’re sizing us up.’
These punks. Getting ahead of themselves.
That was when Lee Seungjun suddenly threw his arm around my shoulder and spoke.
“Can we exclude this guy?”
“Why?”
“He’s definitely gonna dance, but he hurt his wrist and ankle yesterday.”
Ah, damn it.
“It’s fine now.”
“You promised to take it easy on practice.”
No, really, it’s okay.
“Dowon, are you good to practice already? Shouldn’t you rest?”
I was just about to say there was nothing wrong when the door opened behind us, and a familiar guy walked in.
“Huh, what’s going on?”
As soon as Kang Minje appeared, everyone turned to look at him.
‘Ah-ha.’
The power structure was clear at a glance.
‘Impressive bastard.’
Kang Minje spotted me and strode over. I flashed a big smile and said,
“Minje hyung!”
“You really made it up!”
“Yeah. Thanks to what you taught me!”
Thanks a lot, you punk.
‘It was brutally tough, but the results were killer.’
In that short time, how hardcore was the training? My vocal skills had risen to B-grade.
“Oh, I saw Yumi’s music video. You acted pretty well, Dowon.”
“First time acting, how good could it be? I got chewed out a lot while doing it.”
Not really.
“But it looked natural?”
Kang Minje turned his gaze to the bear-like husky with his hand on my shoulder.
“What’s your name?”
“Lee Seungjun.”
“Ah, I’ve heard of you. Great body and face, right? They say you rap well?”
“Yeah. But I can’t sing.”
Huh. I didn’t know Lee Seungjun couldn’t sing.
‘News to me.’
His voice was low and nice, but tone-deaf?
“If you can’t, it’s not bad to give up entirely.”
“Yeah. You even advised me on that.”
“You two came up as a debut duo?”
Kang Minje smiled brightly. Seeing that face made me want to puke for a second, but I kept up the act.
“Yeah! I’m so happy to practice with you, hyung!”
Damn it.
“Good job. But have you done your welcome performance yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Do it. I wanna see your skills too.”
I clenched my fist tight.
That was when Yoo Hajin spoke.
“The little one can’t dance.”
“Huh? Why?”
“He’s injured.”
Kang Minje grabbed my hand suddenly.
“Dowon, you’re hurt? Why didn’t you say anything?”
Why would I tell you!
“It’s no big deal, and I didn’t want to worry you.”
Though you’re not the type to worry anyway.
Kang Minje started to say something but shut his mouth. I smiled brightly and said,
“If I can’t dance, I’ll sing instead.”
The mood lightened in an instant. People backed off, and I was about to start singing.
Clunk—
The door suddenly burst open roughly, and the plump manager rushed in.
“Dowon!”
He bounced in excitedly, like a well-fed eel. What had him so lively? Did he win the lottery?
‘What now?’
The manager grabbed my hand hurriedly and said,
“Let’s go shoot the CF~”
What?
“They said it has to be you.”
“No, shooting’s fine, but this suddenly?”
“That’s how it worked out.”
The manager said to Kang Minje,
“Taking him for that reason?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go~ Let’s go~ The CF’s waiting~”
I gave a slight bow as the manager dragged me away.
“I’ll sing later.”
Kang Minje shook his head.
“Nah, no need.”
He turned to the debut duo kids and said,
“You’re good enough as is.”
What a mood killer. No, wait, good enough for what?
“You guys think so too?”
They exchanged glances without a word.
‘Damn, what’s that about.’
No time to probe further. The manager shut the door, and that was that.
“Jeez.”
As I shook my head, the manager asked,
“What’s ‘jeez’? A 15-year-old talking like an old man.”
Sharper than I thought. I cleared my throat and said,
“I don’t get what Minje hyung meant by ‘good enough.’ Do you know, Manager?”
The plump manager grinned at me.
“Aigoo. Our crazy ambitious kid’s still young.”
You called me an old man earlier.
“Ambitious one. Who do you think debuts from the debut lineup?”
“The best-skilled trainees.”
“Wrong!”
That surprised me. Then who debuts?
“That’s just a given. Usually, it’s the ones that fit the group image.”
I quietly rummaged through my memories. Come to think of it, what kind of group was Zenith?
‘Idols who suited suits?’
But suits were common for male idol outfits.
“Who decides the group image?”
“Who do you think?”
I pictured a woman in a black suit.
“Director Joo?”
“Director Joo decides too.”
Ah-ha.
I narrowed my eyes.
“There’s more, huh.”
“Of course, you punk. Do you know how much it costs to push out kids? Crazy ambitious one. Get it now? Why the debut duo said you don’t need an initiation.”
I tilted my head. Still not clicking.
“It means you already have recognition.”
“From one music video?”
“You do. Look at this, ambitious kid.”
The manager held out his smartphone.
“How many views? See?”
“12,773,422.”
“That’s a lot?”
“Hell yeah, it is!”
Didn’t know. I didn’t visit video sites much, so no sense for it.
“It’ll go up more.”
“Really.”
“That’s why they said no need. What’s the most important thing for a new group? Recognition! And you’ve got a music video and now a CF.”
So just keep going like this?
‘Planning’s tricky.’
I shrugged.
“Got it. Just do my best on today’s CF, right? I’d do that anyway. But what CF is it?”
“Uh, well...”
The manager avoided my eyes.
Why’s this now?
“It’s a stand-in gig.”
“I see.”
“Mad?”
“Nah.”
I felt good, actually. Didn’t know whose, but someone was gonna have a stomachache ahead.
“Vita screwed up. Giki was supposed to shoot, but drunk driving scandal drops in a few hours.”
“Tsk, too bad.”
Not my problem.
“It was that guy’s slot, but it fell through. Begged and pleaded, got you in as stand-in for no pay.”
Possible?
“Even no pay aside, why’d the company agree? There are other celebs with similar images.”
“Some higher-up’s circumstances.”
Some connection I don’t know about?
“Got it.”
Whatever, shooting’s good.
“The director insisted on you.”
“What CF?”
“Bread.”
Ah-ha.
I grinned as I got in the manager’s car.
“Nice.”
Weird CF or not, I’d give it my all, but a bakery? Solid.
“There’s a storyboard in there.”
“Yeah.”
I read the storyboard in the car. Mulling over how to shoot it best, I realized something.
My heart pounded pleasantly.
‘Nice.’
Maybe from upping my eye for detail, the mental simulation felt vivid. I grinned. Felt great.
***
The bakery CF was simple but tricky.
‘Acting while eating’s hard...’
A boy eats bread at a bakery, then someone below tugs his coat. He looks down to see a cute kid he doesn’t know gesturing for bread.
The boy doesn’t want to give it up, but seeing the kid’s big, pleading eyes, he hands it over. He watches sadly as the kid eats happily, then suddenly realizes.
‘The kid’s alone.’
The boy scoops up the kid and yells if the parents are around, and the CF ends.
‘Needs real acting chops.’
Tougher than Yumi’s music video.
“We’re here.”
I nodded and got out. Orange-toned set, maybe. Old memories surfaced.
‘Reminds me of kids’ cafes.’
Kids’ cafe, read: living hell. Of all my part-time gigs, that one crushed body and soul the most.
“All right, crazy ambitious kid. Be polite.”
Soon I saw the director. One look at his furrowed brow, and I knew.
‘He’s pissed.’
The drunk driving? I bowed calmly.
“I’m Cha Dowon.”
“Who gives a damn.”
No welcome, no good lucks. The manager smiled awkwardly.
“Director Han. Upset, right?”
“Upset? Hey, does your company not do basic manners training?”
“Sorry.”
The manager bowed deeply.
I quietly stared at the guy.
‘Fine, he can be mad.’
But it’s not the manager’s fault?
“Director, cool it. We’re shooting soon.”
“Think this newbie’ll pull it off? Drag in some random trainee punk, and look at the attitude.”
The director eyed me up and down.
“Hey, how old are you?”
“Turning 16 this year.”
“Fuck. Should be fun.”
The director suddenly smacked my head. The manager grabbed his arm to stop him, but he stepped on my foot.
“Drag in a trainee and expect a great shoot? Huh?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
‘Taking it out on me.’
Plenty of stand-ins at the company. Friends Entertainment had groups besides Vita. But this guy specifically wanted me.
‘Was wondering why...’
This was it.
I stared quietly at my dear director.
“I’ll do my best to meet expectations.”
With all my heart and soul, just for you.
At that, Director Han got even madder and lifted his leg. But it didn’t connect. Blocking him wasn’t just the manager.
“Uh, Director! That’s enough.”
Looked young, assistant director maybe. He whispered for me to step back.
“How can you take it out on a stand-in!”
“Cheeky bastards!”
I nodded to the assistant and stepped aside. Then fiddled with my phone in my pocket.
‘What to pick.’
Wanted to give our director a gift. What’d suit him best?
‘Too much and he can’t shoot.’
Stand-in or not, CF chance was precious. Franchise bakery nationwide. Nail it, maybe posters everywhere.
‘Oh, right, don’t even know his name.’
I asked a nearby staffer.
“Excuse me, what’s the director’s name?”
“Director Han? Han Jinsan.”
“Thanks.”
“Hey, shocked?”
I smiled brightly.
“A bit. Knew it was stand-in, though.”
“That old geezer. Useless since Director Kim handles everything, but the temper...”
“Director Kim’s the assistant?”
“Yeah. The one who stopped him.”
Situation clear now.
‘Dear Director Han’s not needed for the shoot?’
Cheat options widened. I quietly turned on my phone.
[Change Director Han Jinsan’s body to one-time acute gastroenteritis]
[Changed.]
[Side effect: Eyes blind for 3 seconds.]
Didn’t know cheat side effects’ standard, but minor. Vision honestly blacked out 3 seconds, then fine.
“Director, stop it.”
“Who are you to stop me!”
Now kicking too. Watching the manager block hard, the director’s face suddenly twisted weird.
“Huh?”
His movements stopped.