Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Genius Fraud Controversy
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📰 Forum Thread Anyone catch that new actor audition show that just started yesterday? I flipped it on outta boredom, and suddenly this kid who says he's only been acting for 6 months is getting main character treatment. What blew my mind, though... honestly, the skills they showed on air? No way that's just 6 months in. I did a few months at an acting academy back in the day, and even nailing basic vocal control takes forever. Staying chill in front of a camera and syncing emotional delivery? That's gotta be 1-2 years minimum, right? But this guy? Owned the prelim stage like it was nothing. Perfect breathing, expressions, total immersion—looked like he'd already shot a few dramas. The PD's straight-up calling him an "acting genius," subtitles hyping it too... feels like a total manufactured character to hook viewers. I get shows chase drama, but parading someone who screams "not a newbie" as a prodigy? Straight-up misleading. Gotta feel unfair for all those aspiring actors grinding away diligently ㅠㅠ 💬 Comments — EndlessScroller 6 months is total BS lol looked like years minimum — KittyPawPunch Scripted as hell... gotta force that genius storyline — KimchiFanatic But real prodigies like that do pop up sometimes fr — Anon ↳ Reply No friggin way lol I did academy too, half a year and you can't even nail vocals lmao — Anon2 ↳ Reply If he faked his resume for real, massive letdown. Genius gimmick is trash lol — KnowItAllSnap Hella overhyped... gonna backfire hard later — RageQuit 6 months lmaoooooooo speechless ⭐ Top Comment — GrapefruitSoda Thought I was the only one—everyone's suspicious too ㄷㄷ — QuokkaKim Kinda problematic... aspiring actors seeing this are gonna get mega depressed ㅠㅠ — BraveSnail Everyone jumping the gun too much? Learning speed varies wildly in any field. — BraveSnail Everyone's seeing it so maliciously... — BraveSnail To me, 6 months checks out. Some people just click with anything. "Never imagined this kind of controversy would blow up..."
Minhee scrolled down with a look of utter disbelief on her face.
"Who'd have thought they'd doubt your actual experience."
"...I didn't see this coming either."
Seonwoo let out a wry chuckle.
People saying You've only got 6 months experience? No way, liar!—it was getting hard to tell if he should take these as hate or compliments.
After all, the underlying assumption was No one can act like that with just 6 months!
Which meant they thought highly of his skills, right?
"You taking it that way?"
"Hey, good is good."
"Your mental game's no joke..."
Minhee stuck out her tongue in amazement.
No matter how flattering the misunderstanding, if that many people spammed "lol" while doubting her, she'd be pissed beyond endurance.
Of course, Seonwoo wasn't totally unfazed either.
Insults hurt no matter who they're aimed at. His family, for starters, felt it hard.
Mom: Son! Don't mind what others say. Reading those comments broke my heart. But our boy can do anything.
Dad: Seonwoo. I've lived long enough to know rain hardens the earth for a reason. Ignore the nonsense from fools. Even their crap will nourish your growth.
Seonjun: lololol you're awesome af?
...Ignore that weird last message.
Anyway, his parents had sent these long KakaoTalks. Seonwoo had brushed off the hate at first, but seeing this made him sigh.
He could tell they were worried sick.
He replied he was fine, no need to fret—but his heart wasn't at ease.
Not everyone doubted him, though.
Some defended him.
Especially...
That "BraveSnail" username popped up constantly.
Amid the mob labeling him a career fraud, this one kept posting supportive comments.
BraveSnail.
Not his parents, probably...
"Kim Seonwoo?"
"Yes."
"Could you come to the interview room for a sec? PD's asking for you."
"Sure. On my way."
Guess he'd ponder that later.
Seonwoo headed to the interview room.
The moment he entered, Im Youngdo clasped his hands apologetically.
"Sorry, Seonwoo."
"...Pardon?"
"Didn't expect things to blow up like this. No idea people would doubt the 6 months itself. But..."
Im Youngdo scratched his head, avoiding Seonwoo's eyes.
Then, sighing deeply like he meant it, he spoke.
"What if we just... ignore the controversy? No clarification?"
An unexpected pitch.
But the reasoning clicked instantly. Seonwoo met Im Youngdo's gaze.
"For buzz?"
"...Yeah. You might not realize, but your resume drama's outpacing the show itself. Hate's attention too, y'know? Tough on you personally, but gold for the program."
"Got it. Let's do that."
"I know it's rough. Really do... Huh? Say that again?"
"Let's roll with it."
Seonwoo nodded calmly.
Now Im Youngdo was the flustered one. Suggesting delayed clarification meant eating more hate.
Yet here he was, accepting without hesitation.
"...You sure you're okay?"
"Worried about my parents, but... three steps forward, one back, right? And I trust you'll help clear it up properly later."
"Seonwoo...!"
Im Youngdo looked touched.
Didn't expect this level of faith. He clenched his fist.
Right. Gotta prep the aftermath solid.
"Seonwoo, for the eventual clarification—mind sharing more pre-acting background?"
"Sure."
Seonwoo nodded.
The production knew only that he'd prepped for jobs before diving into theater.
Time to fill in the timeline.
But moments later...
Hearing Seonwoo's university name, Im Youngdo's face turned hilariously weird.
"...Hold up, this school?"
"Yeah. Er... issue?"
"No... not an issue."
Im Youngdo stammered, stunned.
"Seonwoo, you were a total elite?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "No clarification?"
Everyone around Seonwoo gawked when he explained.
Made sense. In the short time he'd met Im Youngdo, dozens more skeptical posts had flooded in.
Yet no rebuttal?
Seonwoo shrugged nonchalantly.
"Yeah. Attention's pouring in thanks to it."
Hyeseong frowned.
"Great for the show. But you're the one getting doubted and hated on. Not unfair?"
"I'm good. Show succeeds, I win too. Short-term hate passes. Comments? Just don't look."
"...You're one weird dude."
Hyeseong chuckled dryly.
If hate were that easy to shrug off, celebs wouldn't suffer so much.
But it didn't feel like bravado.
His eyes screamed he truly didn't care about empty words.
Genuine indifference to hate.
Yeonwoo smiled brightly at that.
"Smart play, IMO. All eyes on you now—if you can handle it, perfect viral marketing, no?"
"Most couldn't hack it."
Minhee smirked at Seonwoo.
"But this guy's got me zero worried."
Time to learn: fussing over Seonwoo was pointless.
Yechun grinned too.
"Kinda proud, actually! They can't believe it 'cause you crushed it so hard!"
"Right? You hiding experience from us too? Makes no sense."
"Even you, senior?"
"Kidding, kidding."
Hyeseong waved it off with a grin.
Yeonwoo spoke up again.
"So what's next? No clarification's fine, but can't be just 'wait and see,' right?"
"...Let 'em keep hating. More the better."
"More hate?"
"Bigger the hate... bigger the shock when truth drops."
Seonwoo replied coolly, like it was someone else's problem.
Yeonwoo blinked in surprise at the nonchalance, but Seonwoo's eyes sparkled.
"Gonna act even better, rack up more hate. No way that's 6 months. When outrage peaks... prove it definitively. Wasn't a lie."
Yeonwoo gasped in realization.
He could picture it: doubts at fever pitch, then vindication—Seonwoo sweeping up every gaze.
Soaring sky-high.
Yeah. With that calculus... this move made sense.
Yeonwoo's eyes narrowed.
...This kid's too much like me?
Not normal people thinking.
Treating hate as promo fuel? Mindset veteran celebs envy—and he's got it already?
Yeonwoo said,
"If that's the plan... keep delivering un believable acting. Stuff that screams 'no way 6 months.'"
"Exactly."
Not that he'd half-ass acting anyway... but this lit a fire.
Seonwoo was a "fake genius" now.
To the public, and deep down, to himself.
One way to overcome it...
Become the real deal.
A true genius.