Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Script Reading Pranks
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"What the hell is taking so long?"
The elevator ascending right now felt slower than usual.
*Ding!* Fifth floor.
The moment the doors opened, I burst into the conference room clutching a bottle of chilled water.
"H-Here, I was late, so..."
"Actor Lee Jun-seo. Just take a seat already?"
"Junior, give that to the director. He likes his water ice-cold."
I was completely dumbfounded by the scene unfolding before me.
The group seated around the U-shaped table looked utterly serene.
"......"
Kim Sung-hyun chuckled softly.
'No way... Did they get me?'
I patted my startled chest and let out a deep sigh.
If that was just acting, then thank goodness.
I placed the chilled water bottle at the director's spot and returned to my seat.
Then I closed my eyes, vividly recalling Senior Kim Sung-hyun's performance.
'It's amazing that was acting.'
I was blown away by the performance so realistic it seemed like he might keel over any second.
I really thought he'd collapsed.
Especially since he's over fifty...
The director took a sip of the chilled water I'd brought and slowly spoke up.
"The child actor we cast will join us later, so let's run through the scenes you see in front of you first."
"Yes, sir!"
"And, Actor Lee Jun-seo."
"...Yes?"
The director clicked his tongue at my delayed response.
"Sung-hyun, I said keep it light. Look at him, he's totally spaced out."
"Hahaha! This guy's so cheeky, countering acting with acting. Director."
"Even so, you're over fifty—did you have to go that hard on a junior? You might've ended up in real trouble."
"You should be more careful too, Director, since you're older than me."
I was shocked again by Kim Sung-hyun's words.
He knew I was trying to counter his acting with my own...
As expected.
His reputation for great acting wasn't hype.
'Guess I can learn a thing or two watching him?'
***
To be honest, aside from Senior Kim Sung-hyun, none of them were standout actors. Not compared to me, anyway.
His reputation for great acting was well-deserved. As I savored his premium performance, our eyes met. He flashed a grin and nodded.
'Ah, my turn now.'
I snatched up the script.
Then I relaxed my body completely and took a deep breath.
Determined to showcase my full acting chops here, I looked at my senior and parted my lips.
"Ah, Pr-Principal."
"What's wrong, Teacher Ha Jeong-min?"
The role I was playing was Ha Jeong-min.
A teacher with no biases toward students—treating delinquents and model students equally.
"About Kim In-hyeok, the student who got into trouble this time... Isn't expulsion too harsh?"
The director fixed me with a steady gaze, but I pressed on with my lines undeterred.
"Could we stop at school service this time? I'll talk to him myself."
"Hmm..."
My senior crossed his arms at my plea, furrowing his brow. Just from the aura he exuded, I could tell he'd nailed the character.
His looks helped too.
With thinning hair that made his forehead look noble, thick eyebrows giving him that authoritative school principal vibe.
Plus those glasses that aged him up.
His look was worlds apart from his profile pics and social media—clearly prepped for today.
I came prepared too, of course.
Dressed neatly to look the teacher part.
He hesitated before speaking.
"That won't be easy. The incident was pretty big, right? Stealing a motorcycle as a student..."
"Th-That..."
The scene where Kim In-hyeok steals and sells a motorcycle.
That's why I end up on my knees begging the principal.
Since I couldn't act out the actions here, I jumped to the next line.
"Please, I beg you."
"Ahem! No can do."
"That's when the principal's office door opens, and the troublemaking students enter."
With that narration, the scene reading wrapped up.
Everyone sighed in unison and started chatting with the person next to them.
Meanwhile, the director kept staring at me.
His lips now curved up more than before.
Was he satisfied with my acting?
As I pondered that, the director looked away and stood.
"Let's take a break."
I stepped out of the conference room, got a vending machine coffee, and sat alone on a bench.
Without Yu-na, it's so boring...
What’s Yu-na up to right now?
Imagining what my unpredictable daughter might be doing at kindergarten made me miss her all the more.
"Hey, junior. What's with the loner vibe out here?"
Kim Sung-hyun, wearing glasses without lenses backward, plopped down next to me, sipping vending machine coffee.
"...Ah!"
I jumped up, remembering my newbie status, and bowed deeply.
"Senior Kim Sung-hyun. Hello."
"Hahaha. Relax. I'm not the type to bully juniors for no reason."
He laughed heartily and waved it off, then patted the seat next to him, urging me to sit.
Do all seniors these days act like this?
The seniors I got close to while filming the sitcom hated it when I treated them with overly polite junior deference.
During my five-year hiatus in my past life.
Had the senior mentality shifted?
The thought crossed my mind.
"Where'd you learn to act? Academy? Or from your agency?"
I shook my head at his question.
"My family couldn't afford an academy. I just studied online."
"So no agency then, huh? Want me to recommend a good one?"
"Ah, well..."
I scratched my cheek.
Touched by his kindness, I paused before answering honestly.
"I appreciate it, but I'm not ready to sign a contract yet. It'd limit my freedom."
My straightforward reply made his eyes widen. Then he burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.
"Hahaha! What a gem. Love having a junior like you. Perfect."
"Really?"
Onlookers who'd been chatting nearby turned their attention to us.
"What's up?"
"Senior Kim Sung-hyun, something funny? Spill for us too."
Kang Min-woo and Cha Eun-hyuk.
The rest of the cast gathered, asking what was going on.
He laughed heartily and spilled everything I'd said.
With a bit of exaggeration, of course.
The second he finished, they all whipped around to stare at me.
Their gazes were oddly intense.
'Am I about to get chewed out for being cocky?'
Contrary to my fears, the seniors just shrugged and showered me with praise.
"Newbies these days are this bold?"
"He's got skills, so it doesn't come off as arrogant. Is this the genius we've heard about?"
Had they all eaten something weird?
In my past life, plenty envied my superior acting.
But these guys were all positive.
I could tell from their eyes.
Thwack! Thwack!
A senior's spicy back slaps jolted me back to reality.
"You gotta have that guts if you're countering acting with acting. Hahaha!"
He suddenly dropped the laughter, fixing me with a serious look.
"Hey, junior. In your opinion, whose acting was the worst?"
"Huh? What do you..."
"During the reading."
At Kim Sung-hyun's words, the surrounding seniors flinched. Then they all eyed me warily.
"Well..."
The mood turned icy in an instant.
My instincts screamed to tread carefully.
As I clamped my mouth shut, Kim Sung-hyun placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Be honest."
Even as he said it, he shot a glare at the fidgeting group.
Like he was saying they'd better not complain no matter what.
"......"
"So we'll just rib that guy a bit and call it. Speak freely."
Even if he said speak freely.
This was my acting career on the line. A junior calling out a senior?
Unthinkable.
'What should I say here?'
I racked my brain simulating scenarios, gauging their reactions.
"Just say what you think."
"Hahaha. Everyone was great? Especially your acting, Senior—it was amazing."
I tried to pivot by praising Kim Sung-hyun's premium performance.
But.
His brow furrowed deeper, eyes sharpening.
"I'm not messing around."
Under the mounting pressure, I sighed deeply and, apologetically, pointed politely at Kang Min-woo with both hands.
"Kang Min-woo Senior..."
After a beat of silence, he stroked his chin and spoke.
"Which part sucked?"
"The friend chat felt awkward. The dialogue sounded like forced buddy-buddy..."
Since I'd spoken truthfully, I figured I was marked. I answered without looking at Kang Min-woo.
"Yeah, I thought the same. No need for it to show up that early."
That's when it hit.
Kang Min-woo, who'd been staring at me, asked in a disappointed tone.
"Wow... You're really honest..."
"......?"
"Honestly, I admit I couldn't pull off what you showed back then. Didn't expect you'd say it to my face."
What?
From his expression, he wasn't hurt at all. He smirked, arms crossed.
That's when I pieced it together.
The rookie hazing wasn't over yet. Feeling deflated after getting pranked twice, I let out a hollow laugh.
"Hahaha..."
So this is how it's done these days...
All the tension drained from me, leaving me languid.
"These guys were dying to trick you this time, so I helped out."
"Our all-nighter scheme, and the junior didn't bite."
Everyone grinned again, the mood turning cheerful.
Guess they were salty about me countering their acting prank.
'Hah, I feel ten years older...'
I finally cracked a smile too.
We spent time getting to know each other amid a barrage of questions.
It was already past 5 p.m.
The later it got, the more urgent I felt—like my feet were on fire. Time to pick up Yu-na from kindergarten soon.
'Didn't expect it'd run this late...'
My anxiety grew with each passing minute. I couldn't focus even during the script reading.
'Even if I leave now, I'll be late...'
I gnawed my nails, checking the wall clock obsessively.
"I told you, this stuff..."
"Hang on. Actor Lee Jun-seo. Why aren't you focusing?"
At the director's call, the actors mid-scene stopped and gaped at me.
Reading their lip movements, they were telling me to apologize to the director quick.
"Th-That... Sorry."
"You keep glancing at the clock. Something up?"
At the director's question, I hesitated before coming clean.
"My daughter's kindergarten is about to let out soon. Didn't think it'd go this late, so I haven't called them."
"Isn't that what wives are for?"
"My wife passed away early... I'm the only one to pick her up."
The atmosphere chilled instantly.
Even the director looked flustered, eyes widening.
That's when Kim Sung-hyun winked at me. He cleared his throat fake and called to the director.
"Shall we wrap here? This is plenty for today, right?"
"Y-Yeah. That's it for now. Actor Lee Jun-seo, you can head out."
"Ah, yes!"
Their consideration moved me.
They'd all listened to me.
No one dismissed me as a rookie.
Treated like family.
It meant the world.
Why am I so lucky?
With my first project too.
And now...
Guess I was born with great people skills this life.
The thought popped into my head.