Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Melodramatic Music Video
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That was right what Lee Seungjun said. I heard he’d snagged a pretty decent apartment nearby.
“Does Kang Minje live with you too?”
“Minje hyung’s renting out the villa upstairs, but he lives with us.”
Even if the villa wasn’t worth much, being in central Seoul, it had to cost a pretty penny. And he wasn’t even selling it?
“Must have a lot of money.”
“Minje hyung’s already made a good amount from his songwriting and composing, right?”
Oh, right.
“Kang Minje’s overqualified if you think about it.”
What trainee has already got a dozen self-composed hits under his belt?
“Overqualified...”
Lee Seungjun grinned at me.
“It’s not just Minje hyung.”
“Who else?”
Lee Seungjun shook his head with a laugh. Come on, you big bear, don’t laugh after spilling it.
“There’s the acting genius.”
Zenith had another actor besides me?
“Oh...”
It was me.
I couldn’t hold back the laughter. I rolled around on the bed, cracking up.
“Genius...”
Me?
Man, our leader would’ve lost it laughing if he heard that.
“Dowon?”
“If I were a genius, I’d have made it big ages ago.”
I would’ve nailed at least one decent audition and shot straight to the top. Then I’d have had money, and noona might’ve even become a doctor.
“I’m no genius.”
Sure, I had years of grinding in theater under my belt.
“You were sixteen and acted that well. Isn’t that genius?”
Ah, they were cutting me slack because of my age.
“Still not genius level. There are tons of child actors who can act circles around adults.”
I wiped the tears from my eyes—pure reflex—and sat up on the bed.
“Compared to peers my age, I handle adult roles well enough, but that’s not rare. Still, the genius image sounds solid.”
Owning that wouldn’t be bad. No, it’d be great.
“Image?”
“Stars are all image anyway. A fantasy with maybe one percent truth mixed in. Wow, acting genius. That’ll sell like hotcakes.”
I wondered how our dear Executive Director Joo would market me.
“Probably shove me on variety shows to build name recognition first.”
I unfolded the script board and grinned.
“Whatever works.”
Make it happen, Executive Director Joo.
“That’s exactly what I want.”
Lee Seungjun still looked puzzled.
“Eh, you’ll figure it out once you debut and get into showbiz. No way you won’t.”
Lee Seungjun didn’t ask again. True to form, he just diligently packed his bags in silence.
I got up from the bed, still chuckling.
“Can’t wait for tomorrow’s shoot.”
A trashy drama role: pining for hyung’s woman. Morally dubious, sure, but I liked the part.
“I’m hungry.”
It had taken forever for that debut spoon to arrive. I let out a small sigh. But it was starting soon.
***
The set was a country house in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. As I stepped out of the nicely renovated place, the manager grabbed my arm.
“Know what this is?”
“No clue, obviously.”
“Executive Director Joo’s. It’s his villa.”
Aha.
“Nice digs you’ve got.”
The reply didn’t come from the manager.
“Got it in the divorce.”
Executive Director Joo smiled in front of me.
“I see.”
“Felt like the perfect fit for this music video, so I offered it up myself.”
I rested one arm on my abs and gave a slight bow.
“Honored.”
“Ahahaha! You pull that off so naturally.”
Of course. I’d spent a month greeting customers at that queenly cosmetics shop.
“Wasn’t gonna offer at first, but the second I saw the cue sheet, I knew: this place.”
“You must be really looking forward to it.”
“Blood’s been spilled—how could I not? Aigoo, our treasure.”
Executive Director Joo threw an arm around my shoulders and whispered.
“How’d a gem like you roll right into my lap?”
“You picked me at the audition.”
“Right! My ambitious little star! A total treasure. Treasure.”
He wasn’t hearing me.
“Such lavish praise.”
“Yeah. Gotta stuff you with carrots so you feel the pressure.”
Any more carrots and I’d be in trouble.
“Do great.”
“Yes.”
“Do great for me.”
“Yes.”
“Screw up, and you’ll never set foot on a set again.”
Ends with a threat, huh. As I let out a quiet sigh, a woman appeared, tossing her hair back.
“Sorry I’m a bit late.”
Her clear voice rang out. I narrowed my eyes from under Executive Director Joo’s arm.
“I know her.”
Actress Yi Haejin.
A fresh-faced beauty who’d walked the Cannes red carpet.
“Didn’t expect her as my co-star.”
Sure, even Cannes ladies had their off days. Yi Haejin hadn’t blown up yet, and she looked softer than expected.
Executive Director Joo kept his arm around me as he spoke.
“Ah, right, you did theater.”
“Yes. I’ll show you what I’ve got.”
She seemed feisty. Then the PD approached. I bowed and straightened with Executive Director Joo’s shoulder still pinned to mine.
“Park PD! Long time!”
“Director! Still the same. This kid’s the boy for today?”
“Please take good care of me.”
Park PD lifted my chin with his hand.
“Felt it on the Yumi video, but you’re still so fresh-faced.”
“He’s sixteen!”
“No way. Sixteen for this role? Anyway, Dowon, right? You were better than expected. Think you can nail it today?”
I flashed a bright smile.
“I was super nervous, but I’ll do my best.”
Nervous, my foot.
“Good, good. Gotta nail it. Or else. Our ambitious one!”
“Cute smile. Director, Zenith, right? The debuting group?”
“Yeah. My pride and joy.”
I finally wriggled my arm free from Executive Director Joo’s hold. As I straightened my clothes and looked ahead, Yi Haejin’s cold glare caught my eye.
“Oh...”
Come to think of it, my co-star Yi Haejin was right there. No one had said a word to her.
“Because of the fame gap?”
I bowed again.
“I’m Cha Dowon.”
Yi Haejin glared, then turned away sharply.
“What’s that about?”
I clicked my tongue in disbelief, but she whipped back around and stormed over.
“Hey!”
She whispered harshly.
“Don’t act all high and mighty! You’re just a kid!”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Fresh.”
Never expected that from the other side.
“Got a lot of gripes, huh, actress?”
She fired back, and her eyes flashed.
“But wrong address. If it’s dirty and tough that’s pissing you off, tell the director yourself.”
Yi Haejin’s face flushed red.
“What bugs you so much? Enough to snap at a stranger... What is it?”
I smiled brightly.
“Me as your co-star? Or the director’s indifference? Which hurts worst?”
“Hey!”
“We gotta do great, noona. Gotta nail it for everyone. I need this video to rock. You want the exposure, right? So maybe drop the attitude.”
Yi Haejin clamped her lips shut.
“We should be all ‘let’s do this’ and hyping each other, not fighting.”
She balled her fists.
“People always get mad when you hit ’em with the truth.”
I smiled brightly.
“Let’s do great. Skip the pointless drama.”
“You!”
Yi Haejin shoved her face close. Future Cannes lady’s temper. Should I feel honored?
“Ever done theater? Don’t get cocky just ’cause a big agency’s handing you red carpets from the start. Think it’s your talent getting you this?”
Wow. That’s the reason.
“So you’re mad ’cause I’m at a good company, cruising easy from day one? Super fresh take.”
Never thought I’d hear that at debut.
“Friends Entertainment really must be top-tier.”
That’s why I joined.
“Even Cannes lady’s a rookie now.”
Don’t make enemies over nothing, Ms. Yi.
First things first.
“Red carpet? This is a music video.”
Her face reddened again.
“Can’t you read between the lines?”
“Of course.”
“Hey!”
I smiled brightly.
“Then, veteran theater actress.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Show me your skills. I’m dying to see. How good are you? Really looking forward to it.”
Future Cannes lady’s eyes blazed.
“I’ll shut you up good, rookie.”
I placed one hand on my abs and bowed like I had for Executive Director Joo.
“Honored.”
Yi Haejin flushed deeper. I quietly turned and greeted the other staff. My back burned, but I didn’t look.
“Kinda cute.”
Yi Haejin started out like this too. I covered my mouth and chuckled softly. This shoot was gonna be fun.
***
The first scene was the sister-in-law and boy meeting.
“Looks simple, but these are tricky.”
Plus, no dialogue in the MV. Had to carry the vibe with subtle glances and gestures.
“But this is where true skill shines.”
I slipped into the baggy hoodie and closed my eyes, then opened them. The makeup artist smiled.
“Aigoo, so pretty. Anything uncomfortable?”
I eyed the outfit.
“It’s big.”
Executive Director Joo laughed.
“That’s the point.”
“They picked this on purpose.”
“MV’s lifeblood is curiosity. Toss some bait, make ’em speculate. The oversized look too baggy?”
“Nah, not uncomfortable. I wear stuff like this all the time.”
Executive Director Joo blinked.
“Ah, gonna grow soon. So I just buy big.”
Gotta make ’em last. For noona’s med school.
“Eh, old habits from regression days too.”
I tugged up the slipping clothes. Executive Director Joo rubbed his forehead and groaned.
“Director?”
“Ambitious one. Mention that in interviews. Gotta.”
Why?
“Everyone’ll eat it up, guys and girls, young and old.”
“Dunno about that.”
“Trust me! This is my wheelhouse!”
Didn’t trust him one bit. But if he said do it... I nodded.
“Boy, standby!”
I hurried over. Executive Director Joo watched, arms crossed.
“First scene’s rehearsal.”
I smiled brightly like I got it. The director called immediately.
“Cue!”
I bowed awkwardly, then looked up with a slightly surprised face.
“Cut! Nice! Wow~”
The director grinned, scanning me up and down.
“Not bad. You? I braced for an NG.”
I smiled brightly.
“Still nervous.”
Nervous, yeah right.
“Nervous kid pulling that natural expression? Your facial acting’s killer. Acting academy?”
“Self-taught.”
“No way. This kid’s a genius.”
I shrugged. Riding the hype wasn’t bad.
“Right, right. Acting genius. Our ambitious Dowon.”
“Thought you were joking, Director, but he’s legit good.”
They went back and forth. I quietly glanced at Yi Haejin. She glared daggers.
I smiled brightly back at her fire.
“Next is her peeking at me reading in the living room...”
Hope that works. She’s staring hard.
She clenched her fists. The director spoke right up.
“Sister-in-law role! Prep for the scene after next. Boy! Straight to reading on the living room sofa!”
I took off my socks as per the cue sheet and sat on the living room sofa.
“Why socks off, though?”
’Cause it’s home in the MV, I guess.
“Even starring in it, music videos are weird.”
Some symbolism or bait, maybe.
I lay on the bed holding the book in the pose from the cue sheet.
“Standby!”
The camera panned over me focused on the book. I fidgeted a bit, and OK sign came quick.
“Perfect!”
The director yelled, waving everyone over.