15
## Chapter 15
"I prepared Scene 4, the opening scene."
By coincidence, Kang Jihoo had chosen the exact same scene Lee Chanhwi performed.
'If he does well...'
A flicker of anticipation appeared in Writer Woo Myungju's eyes.
Lee Chanhwi's performance had been outstanding.
Even Director Kim Jungsoo and Assistant Director Im Subin, both known for being extremely demanding, had praised it.
Still...
Writer Woo hadn't been completely satisfied.
Something was missing.
Not a matter of acting ability.
Just that final two percent.
That indescribable something that could truly fill a character's empty spaces.
'Still... there's no way he'll surpass a ninety-eight.'
She shook her expectations away.
Lee Chanhwi was considered one of the finest actors of his generation, alongside Bae Jiho.
Expecting an unknown rookie to outperform him was unrealistic.
And even if Kang Jihoo somehow impressed her more...
That didn't automatically mean he would be cast.
If Director Kim and Assistant Director Im both preferred Lee Chanhwi, the decision would naturally lean that way.
A writer's opinion carried weight.
But not more than the director's and assistant director's combined.
"Whenever you're ready."
Director Kim gave the signal.
"An... accident?"
Barely a second later, Kang Jihoo delivered his first line.
"An accident?"
"...Yes, Taesan. I know it's difficult to accept..."
Assistant Director Im hurriedly picked up her cue, caught slightly off guard by his immediate start.
Thud.
Just like Lee Chanhwi...
Kang Jihoo dropped to his knees.
"...Ah..."
He stared blankly into space and let out a quiet groan.
'So far... it's similar.'
Director Kim watched him with an unreadable expression.
Shock.
Collapsing.
A vacant stare.
The overall approach resembled Lee Chanhwi's.
'If it stays this similar, comparing them will be easy.'
The important part came next.
Then...
Something changed.
Unlike Lee Chanhwi, who had simply shed tears with a blank expression...
Kang Jihoo suddenly frowned deeply.
'Is he trying to express stronger emotions?'
No.
That wasn't it.
His expression wasn't grief.
Nor anger.
It was confusion.
Disbelief.
The face of someone who had just been told his parents had died...
But whose mind still couldn't fully grasp what that truly meant.
"...Hic."
Yet Kang Jihoo—
No.
Kim Taesan—
Already sensed it.
From everything he had experienced growing up...
He instinctively understood...
That this moment would change his life forever.
And that nothing about that change would be good.
"...Hic..."
The tension around his eyes spread across his entire face.
Then...
His tears finally came.
Drip.
Drip.
Heavy drops struck the floor.
'Perfect.'
That was the only word Writer Woo could think of.
Neither restrained nor exaggerated.
Exactly the amount of grief she had imagined while writing the scene.
"Hng..."
His breathing caught between sobs.
Slowly...
He covered his face with both hands.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Time itself seemed to slow.
Within that silence...
His crying gradually deepened.
Then...
Writer Woo shivered.
'Fade-out...'
Not on a television screen.
Not through editing.
Yet somehow...
Her mind naturally faded the scene into darkness.
'This isn't an audition.'
Her breathing stopped.
'This is a scene from my drama.'
Not just any scene.
The exact one she had imagined while writing.
A chill ran through her body.
"That's all."
Only then did Kang Jihoo rise.
"...Ah... yes."
"Thank you."
Even the judges reacted a beat late.
"I honestly felt like I was watching television."
"Me too."
Director Kim and Assistant Director Im exchanged amazed looks.
"...Well done."
Writer Woo barely managed to regain her composure.
"...Director? Shouldn't we continue with the improvisation?"
Director Kim nodded and handed Kang Jihoo an A4 sheet.
"Please use this scene."
Scene 2.
Kim Taesan's home.
A peaceful family dinner before tragedy struck.
"There aren't many lines. Just make it feel natural."
Kang Jihoo looked down at the paper.
'...Is he even reading it?'
His eyes hardly moved.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Nothing changed.
"I'm ready."
"...Already?"
Writer Woo couldn't hide her surprise.
"Let's begin."
Director Kim nodded toward Assistant Director Im.
"How was school today?"
"Taesan, your father asked you something."
The scripted dialogue began.
Writer Woo glanced at the screenplay.
Kim Taesan casually talks about what happened at school.
The actual dialogue hadn't been written.
It was intentionally left blank.
Drama productions often changed at the last minute.
Actors sometimes had to improvise entire conversations.
The empty spaces had been left there on purpose.
Though...
In truth...
Detailed character interactions had always been Writer Woo's weakest point.
She excelled in larger narratives.
Not tiny everyday moments.
'I hope he surprises me again...'
Then...
"Same as always."
Kang Jihoo answered simply.
For a moment...
She felt disappointed.
'So he's ending it there...'
Then—
"Doyoon was late again."
"Eunwoo keeps whining because he doesn't want to register for weekend academy."
He continued naturally.
"Oh right, Eunwoo's transferring to the Daechi academy."
Suddenly...
He turned toward Director Kim.
"Dad, when's your business trip?"
"This weekend?"
"...Y-Yeah."
Director Kim answered instinctively.
"Then I probably won't be able to see you off."
Unlike the startled staff...
Kang Jihoo looked completely relaxed.
As though...
Kim Taesan truly existed.
As though...
He had become Kim Taesan himself.
Then he continued.
"I promised I'd go with Eunwoo to register for his academy."
Writer Woo felt goosebumps spread across her arms.
Months earlier...
Director Kim had asked her something.
"Taesan's parents die on the way back from seeing his father off."
"So why didn't Taesan go with them?"
Back then...
She hadn't had a satisfying answer.
She'd simply brushed it aside.
It wasn't an important detail.
One of the junior writers could fix it later.
But now...
Kang Jihoo had solved that inconsistency with a single line of dialogue.
'He isn't just recreating the scene I imagined...'
Her heart pounded wildly.
'He's recreating the entire world the character lives in.'
Actors who understood a character's emotions existed.
Actors who understood why those emotions formed also existed.
But someone who built...
Not only the character...
But their history.
Their relationships.
Their surroundings.
Their entire world.
She had never seen anyone like that before.
'...A genius.'
For the first time in years...
The word appeared in her mind.
Not even watching legendary actor Lee Gonhae at the height of his career had made her think it.
'We have to sign him.'
'I don't care about Bae Jiho.'
'I don't care about Lee Chanhwi.'
'This actor has to be in my drama.'
She made up her mind.
"That's all."
Kang Jihoo finished the improvisation.
"Incredible."
Director Kim stood up.
"I've never seen such a handsome actor perform like that."
Assistant Director Im immediately corrected him.
"No."
"Forget handsome."
"He's simply the best actor I've ever seen."
She even gave him a standing ovation.
The only standing ovation of the entire day.
Coming from the very person who had been least interested in his audition...
It meant more than anything else.
"...That was unforgettable."
Writer Woo also rose and applauded.
She deliberately kept her praise brief.
Because if she spoke any longer...
She was certain she'd lose her composure completely.
Then another thought struck her.
'Someone this talented...'
'Using him only as young Kim Taesan feels like a waste.'
'Or...'
'Should I take a gamble?'
Writer Woo's mind began racing.