The Prince Hunt and My Reluctant Acting Debut
#15. Survival S (5)
The web drama "Our School Has a Prince" kicks off with rumors spreading about a chaebol third-generation heir attending the school. Students who burst into giggles at the sight of falling leaves aren't about to sit idly by when they hear something like that.
The female protagonist is just as curious as everyone else about who this chaebol heir might be. Soon enough, the so-called "Prince Hunt" becomes the hottest trend at school.
Several candidates pop up, only to be eliminated one by one as the truth comes out. Finally, the list narrows down to three guys being touted as the prime "prince" suspects in the school.
The first candidate is Yoo Euntak, the student council president who's taken top spot in the entire school for three years running. With his otherworldly looks, he's nicknamed "Perfect-Tear Guy" and "CG Face." Even though he's not an idol, he has a massive fan club. He hasn't let that number one spot slip once—not even in nationwide mock exams. He's a bona fide genius.
The second is Yoon Daehwa, the ace of the baseball team. When he takes the mound as pitcher, the screams from his female fans turn the place into chaos. He's got handsome features and rumors swirling that he could go pro in the majors right after high school, thanks to his insane talent. At 190cm with an overwhelming physique, but with a puppy-like innocent face, women flock to him in droves.
The third is Hwang Sangho. His skills might be more average compared to the other two, but his kind, affectionate personality and refined, aristocratic looks make him the guy who gets confessed to the most by girls. He's friends with everyone, and his lavish spending habits put him at the top of the "prince" list.
I was cast as the first candidate, and Kang Jun landed the third, Hwang Sangho.
"Jun, your personality is the total opposite of his. But hyung, this role is perfect for you."
Kang Jun, who's shy, doesn't talk much, and doesn't have a huge social circle, is playing a character that's his complete opposite. He shook his head firmly at the members' comments.
"It's acting. I can do it."
"Whoa~ I can't even imagine you smiling sweetly and chatting people up."
"I thought it'd be boring since it's a rookie writer's work, but it seems fun. Right?"
"Yeah, if we promote it well, it shouldn't be bad. But hyung, don't you have barely any lines?"
"I was wondering why they cast someone who can't act and why the company was cool with it. Guess it's because of this."
"I feel like I got cast just for my face?"
"Yeah. It's a lock. They made the character with you in mind, no doubt."
I'd been wondering why the company wanted to shove me, the guy who can't act, into a web drama. Turns out they had an agenda. Checking the script, I had a decent amount of scenes, but hardly any actual dialogue.
If there'd been a lot of lines, I could've turned it down flat...
This makes it hard to bail using my acting skills as an excuse.
"Can't we do it together, hyung? I was kinda scared doing it alone, but with you, I think it'd be fun."
And with Kang Jun clinging like this, I couldn't bring myself to refuse.
Should I level up my acting?
I was saving coins right now to pay back what I'd borrowed from Poni. But unexpected expenses were looming.
No matter how little acting the role required, I didn't want to get flamed for being a total amateur. Best case impossible, but I had to avoid the worst.
"You really wanna do it with me?"
"Yoo Euntak is basically a character modeled after you, hyung. No one else would sell it. And with barely any lines, any awkward acting won't show."
"Hmm."
"I'm learning acting too, but if you say yes, I'll help you practice hard!!"
Had Kang Jun ever pushed his opinion this hard? If I said no, he'd be seriously disappointed and hurt.
"If I had even a shred of confidence in acting, I'd jump on it. But since I don't, I've got a lot to think about."
"I know."
He takes acting lessons with me, so he knows my skills. He gets why I'm hesitating.
"What if I do it and get hate..."
"It'd be a waste not to act with your face, hyung. Skills come with experience and practice. You're not a genius like in singing or dancing, but that's how normal people grow—bit by bit."
"......"
Kang Jun hits hard. Yeah, I suck at acting, but it's not like I have zero talent for it. I'm growing steadily, just like anyone else.
But with my cheat coins making dance and singing grow ridiculously fast, people around me think, "Oh, no talent for acting, huh?"
And that's what Kang Jun just pointed out. My insane growth in dance and singing was the outlier—not my normal acting progress. That's standard for regular folks.
"That's how I built my skills too—through long, steady effort. It might feel slow compared to dance or singing now, but keep at it, and it'll get better. Honestly, you haven't put much effort into acting since you were focused on singing and dancing."
With him going this far, I couldn't say no.
"You don't have to convince me this hard. Is there a real reason you want to do it with me?"
"Scared" or "sounds fun" aren't enough. If that's all it was, I'd turn it down.
"This opportunity is too good. Experiencing real shoots when our skills aren't there yet? Huge chance. If we weren't idols, we wouldn't get it. Passing it up just to avoid hate? You'd regret it later. I don't want you missing out and regretting it, hyung."
"...Hearing you makes me wanna agonize over it more. I wasn't gonna do it. Felt above my station."
Am I skilled enough not to tank the project? But I know from life how valuable "experience" is.
Should I take acting seriously?
With coins, my cheat power, I can do anything. Closing off a path like that would be a loss.
"It's such a great shot? Rookie project, low pressure—why pass?"
Sure, I'd eat some hate, stress from unfamiliar shoots. But filming starts during our break, so better than doing nothing.
"Wanna give it a shot?"
"For real? Really?"
It wasn't just his convincing. Jua noona popped into my head.
If I try acting first, I could give her advice. Not a bad idea.
I want her to be an actress, but I know zilch about it, so I couldn't help before.
Kang Jun jumped for joy when I agreed.
"Like you're possessed by Ki Uyeon."
"Ah—c'mon, hyung!"
"Haha, sorry sorry."
"...Um? I'm right here?"
Ahem! And just like that, Kang Jun and I somehow committed to acting.
Wonder if I did the right thing. Tsk.
？ ？ ？
Our track held at #2 for about a week before slipping down bit by bit. Jelly Nyang sunbaenims held firm at #1, and their B-sides climbed back above us. We couldn't topple their stronghold.
Disappointing, but it fueled our resolve for next time.
Uyeon picked the most schedules, so busy we barely saw him. Jeki was swamped with featuring and music work. Everyone dove into solo activities, while Kang Jun and I crammed acting practice in the studio outside schedules—chaotic days.
Surprisingly, when I told Jua noona I was starting acting, she got excited and started teaching me.
"Noona, why are you so good at acting?"
"You think I'd chase something I had no shot at?"
Jua noona was shockingly good. Too good—it threw me off!
She was skilled enough that the company tried to stop her from quitting training. Turns out...
The genius wasn't out there somewhere. She was right by my side.
Makes me feel even guiltier about knocking her up...
Our Blessing might get jealous, but noona's talent is too good to waste buried like this.
Rub rub rub—
"Hey, babe, aren't you groping too hard?"
"Your boobs hurt 'cause of the baby."
"I'm teaching you acting, and this is how my student behaves?"
She'd mentioned slight breast pain early in pregnancy, but said it was fine. Probably thanks to the item I gave her.
But lately, pain again. Sure enough, she wasn't wearing the
bracelet I'd given her.
I pouted, making it obvious I was sulking about the bracelet.
Had to guilt her into keeping it on.
"I'm still mad you took off the bracelet, noona."
"Liar. You're over it."
"Nope? Still sulking."
"Aish, seriously! I won't take it off again, okay?"
"Promise?"
"Yes!"
I whined till she shook her head in exasperation. I emphasized again.
"Never take it off. Your boob pain's 'cause you ditched the bracelet I gave you."
"Pfft! You believe in superstitions?"
"I believe in the love I poured into this bracelet. Not superstition—my love for you."
I kissed her lips—mwah mwah mwah—and a sweet vibe flowed.
"You're getting impossible. Where'd all this aegyo come from?"
"Sad story behind that..."
"Sad story?"
"Yeah. Idol life gave me occupational aegyo. Can't help it."
Fans want everything. Winks, aegyo on demand, finger-heart cheek poses—they beg.
Can't ignore them when others nail it effortlessly.
"Haesol! You've been doing that aegyo for fans? Me too!! Show me!!"
"That's your takeaway from my sad tale?"
"You've deprived me till now! Unfair! Half my life's wasted!"
She pinned me down, made me do fan aegyo, then let me go. She even recorded my "ugly" face for lonely times.
Damn, black history established.
Steal her phone later and delete when she ain't looking!
"Anyway."
"Yeah?"
"I want it."
"Want what?"
Smack! Ow!
Noona slapped my chest hard.
"Don't play dumb!!"
"...We cool? Blessing okay?"
"She said yes. It's fine."
"Asked the doc?"
"Yeah."
"'Cause you want me?"
"......"
Noona glares, blaming me silently. I chuckled, gently stroking her bulging belly.
"Won't shove it in right away. I'll suck you off first."
Never regretted my size till now. But her womb means average might be better. Can't see Blessing hurt from deep thrusts.
But I could satisfy her horny suffering fully.