Chapter 378
Chapter 378
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 378
Chapter Title: Idol Maker (16)
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"Unbelievable. She's that precious to you?"
"I told you."
"Citrus is the president's dream?"
"Yeah."
"That doesn't mean it's the vice president's dream, though."
"Well... true."
"Hmph, then shouldn't you take care of me a little? Vice President, listen... it was the wrap party, and I got cursed out... cursed out! Don't you feel sorry for me like this? In what world does a lead actress get cursed out at her own wrap party, huh?!"
"Ji-young, you're drunk."
"Yes, I'm drunk! Why? Can't I be?"
"Everyone's staring."
"So what?!"
"Sigh... I'll take you home. Drink some cold water and sober up. Go say goodbye to the PD too."
The vice president let out a sigh and handed me his coat. It had been a pretty humiliating incident... but thanks to that, things worked out perfectly. Because of that crazy bitch who cursed me out, I could legitimately get angry, and used it as an excuse to bring the vice president back to my place.
If I tempt him just a little here... he'll fall for it, right?
I stumbled home drunk and grabbed the vice president's lapel as he tried to leave.
"Ji-young?"
"Don't go."
"Sigh... what's with you now?"
"I'm so pissed off I'm going crazy... take responsibility and stay."
"What?"
"Take responsibility! Sigh... I even had to apologize because of you!"
"That... sorry."
"Don't just say it—show some sincerity."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Do I have to spell it out?"
"I'm leaving."
As expected, looks can be deceiving... Even after I set up such an easy opportunity on a silver platter, the vice president didn't lay a hand on me. Being so strict about work and personal life... it was a charming point usually, but right now it was just annoying.
Just sleep with me already.
He went all the way with Senior Seo-yeon, but won't even touch me—talk about humiliating.
'Ji-young, the vice president is surprisingly easy. Just tack "lesson" onto anything.'
In the end, should I use the cheat key? Determined to seal the deal tonight no matter what, I brought up the word "lesson" to the vice president. It wasn't just for today... but when would I get him back to my place again? I didn't want to let him go like this.
"Fine, but before you go, help me with a lesson."
"Lesson? Out of nowhere, what lesson?"
"You saw the finale, right?"
"...Yeah."
"The kiss scene there was awful, wasn't it?"
"......"
"So teach me properly this time."
"Ji-young."
"A drunk man and woman kissing at home."
"You, seriously..."
Honestly, with just his looks, it was pretty underwhelming... but a man's skill is what matters. The man who turned a nobody like me into the top rookie, and someday... will make me the top actress. Unlike other actresses, I genuinely wanted to connect with him.
So giving up my virginity was no big deal.
"Oh, right. Vice President, got a condom?"
"Hey, Han Ji-young!"
"What? You're the one who always emphasizes realism for us."
"No, still..."
"So, a drunk man and woman kissing at home... you think it'd end there? Even if the cameras don't catch it, I need to know the vibe. So quit messing around and teach me for real. I don't want to embarrass myself again because of inexperience like today."
"You serious?"
"Would I do this if I wasn't?"
He's the responsible type, so... once he takes my virginity, he'll treat me even better, right? With my calculations done, I told the vice president where the convenience store was. It was a safe day even without one, but... I just wanted to say the word "condom."
Lessons after lessons, and more lessons... living in this destructive schedule made time fly by in the blink of an eye. I'd only learned the basics of acting, and already a month had passed. There was a mountain of things left to learn, but time felt so short.
The audition in two months... can I make it?
I felt a moment of worry and gloom, but shook it off and mustered my courage. I'm getting private lessons from the famous vice president himself. Recalling the past month's lessons restored my confidence.
From the most basic vocalization to professional script analysis, his lessons were more systematic and intense than I'd imagined. Just keeping up without falling behind qualified me for the audition.
Mm-hmm, that's right.
The vice president said I had high potential too.
I clenched my fist, thinking of the vice president who believed in me.
Of course, prepping for comeback overlapped and made things overwhelming... but feeling myself grow gave me strength. In Citrus, my presence is faint, but during acting lessons, I'm the star. That sparked my motivation, making everything enjoyable.
Hee-hee, all thanks to the vice president.
Going to him in the end was the right call.
And speaking of the vice president... after a month of lessons by my side, I realized he had so much to teach. His looks were a bit... an acquired taste, but his actions were incredibly professional.
First off, he separates work and personal life perfectly? He's kinder than anyone during breaks, but turns ice-cold once lessons start—that reliability earned my trust. And surprisingly smart despite appearances, great at script analysis, teaching me character mindsets I couldn't grasp alone. Huge help.
I get why actors flock to him. For acting, he's a cheat key. Just follow his instructions, and everything clicks. And I'm the lucky one who got that cheat key.
"Want to try from the top again?"
"Yes, got it."
And getting to audition for this script, this role—pure luck. The little sister who's super mature, practically the breadwinner. Lots overlaps with my leader role, so acting it was easy.
Did he pick this role knowing that?
I couldn't know for sure, but it was good for me anyway.
"Hmm, not quite."
"Whaaat?! R-really?"
Oh no... critique time from the vice president. What did I mess up this time? I stopped acting and looked at him with trembling eyes. Getting critiqued sucked, but overcoming it was how I'd grow.
"Jin-hee, hate to ask, but I have to."
"...Huh?"
"Don't take it wrong. Jin-hee, are you a total newbie with romance?"
"Y-yes?! "
"Any dating experience?"
"Uh... th-that... no."
"Knew it, total newbie."
Why suddenly ask if I'm a romance virgin? It didn't hurt my pride... but it hit too close, making me sweat. Does he think I'm unappealing? Panicking, I racked my brain for the best excuse.
"T-trainee days were too long... no time for dating."
"Huh? Trainees date each other though."
"Whaaa?! N-no? It's super strict now, no such thing."
"I see, I'm clueless about idols."
"Y-yeah... wanna date but can't... ahaha..."
Truth is, I'd gotten a few confessions. Not lying—two or three guys asked me out. But with debut looming, I didn't want casual flings, so I turned them all down.
Was that a mistake...?
Curiosity won; I asked the vice president.
"Look closely at the script: Min-ho sees Min-ji as just a sister, but Min-ji's different. She sees him as a man. They're not blood-related, met at the orphanage, right? Read carefully, you can feel her trembling emotions."
"...Yeah."
"Seems the writer wants to hint at Min-ji's confused feelings subtly... but your acting has zero romance."
"Ughhh... really?"
"Script Min-ji is a little sister in love, hiding her feelings for her oppa. Yours is just a mom-like sister taking care of Min-ho."
"I see..."
That's why experience and realism matter.
I thought I'd captured the emotion... but failed. And he pinpointed my reference exactly. Mom loves me too, so mimic that? ...Total wrong approach.
Ugh... what now?
I fidgeted, gazing at my cheat key.
"No one around to date?"
"...Huh?!"
"Not telling you to date for real—just fake it with someone. You gotta experience it directly. Books or dramas won't cut it."
"Uh..."
So... try a mock romance?
His advice would surely help, but honestly, it felt daunting. No clue how to even ask... or what to do in a fake relationship.
Wh-what do I do?
As I pondered silently, he added,
"No guys around?"
"Trainee life was too long..."
"Or... ask Team Leader Lee or Manager Park?"
"Whaaa?!"
Ughhh... s-sure, they'd support my challenge and help if asked... but I didn't want fake dating with them.
Siwoo oppa... I didn't dislike him, but he's swamped with comeback prep—I hated bothering him. Jin-su oppa... nope, total opposite of my type. Impossible to fake lovers.
But... no other guys around me.
Wh-what now?
Crisis hit just one month into lessons.
"Don't like those two?"
"Not dislike, just... ahaha..."
Wait. Hold on.
The vice president is a guy too.
Not my type exactly... but not scary like Jin-su oppa, and subtly caring—could fake being lovers. After agonizing, I timidly pointed my index finger at him.
"Can't it be with you, Vice President?"