Worry
It was a problem.
I got my wits back together and dragged Seo Tae-jun aside, the man standing there with half his head shaved.
"Seriously, Tae-jun. You came here looking like that and didn’t even wear a hat?"
"It’s hot as hell. Why would I wear a hat?"
I let out a disbelieving laugh.
But then again, it was Seo Tae-jun... so somehow it made sense.
Would that arrogant actor even care about what other people thought?
Thanks to that, those stares were pouring over the back of my head.
Curiosity. Interest.
And shock, outright disbelief.
To put it mildly, every employee in the management office was staring at the back of my head.
The Romance Prince had shown up with half his head shaved. It wasn’t exactly a normal reaction.
If weird rumors start spreading because of this, what then?
As if it weren’t enough that people were already paying attention because I’d supposedly been handed a Mercedes at the company, now Seo Tae-jun had to pile on top of that rumor mill?
...Just imagining it was awful.
I dragged Seo Tae-jun into the meeting room and shoved him inside.
Then I let out a heavy sigh and said, "Tae-jun. You really are the kind of man who doesn’t hold back, aren’t you?"
Seo Tae-jun chuckled.
"Someone made me this way."
"...What, you were so wronged by me just asking you to audition that you shaved your head for it?"
"It’s not about feeling wronged. It’s a matter of pride. And..."
He let the rest trail off, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"While I was studying Kang Ji-ho, I liked him enough to shave my head for the role."
"!"
"It’s been a long time since I’ve been this obsessed with a character. So you’d better start cooperating, Chief Manager. I’m telling you, no matter what happens, I have to do this role."
Another laugh slipped out of me.
This time it was in a good way.
Man... seriously.
Seo Tae-jun. That guy.
Why does he have this much charm the second acting is involved?
I forced my expression back under control and said, "Then I’m guessing you’ve prepared a lot for Kang Ji-ho."
"Doesn’t the state of my hair answer that for you?"
"...Fair enough. Then should we see the acting you prepared?"
"If you like it, you’ll set up the meeting right away?"
"Of course. If your schedule allows it, we can even book it for today."
Seo Tae-jun nodded with satisfaction.
"Read the lines for me up front. It’ll help me get into it more."
Instead of answering, I pulled out the script for Black Bride.
I set one copy down in front of me and handed the other to Seo Tae-jun.
He raised a hand.
"Ah, I don’t need to look at the script. I’ve memorized all of Kang Ji-ho’s lines."
...Hah.
What is wrong with this man today?
"Just pick any scene. I’ve got most of Kang Ji-ho’s parts in my head already."
The last lingering trace of worry burned away.
In its place, anticipation began to surge.
I moved quickly, flipping to one of the scenes I remembered best.
"How about Scene 6? The conversation between Seo Rin-bi and Kang Ji-ho after they go out to exorcise the demon?"
Seo Tae-jun’s gaze dropped.
He was already completely inside Kang Ji-ho from Black Bride.
The low, brooding eyes were nothing like his usual look, and a chill ran down my spine.
"Ready? Then start."
My throat bobbed.
To keep Seo Tae-jun from breaking character, I whispered in a voice low and dark enough to suit Seo Rin-bi’s part.
"Ji-ho, this child is possessed by a demon."
The moment Seo Tae-jun heard Seo Rin-bi’s line, his expression changed in an instant.
His eyes were full of melancholy, as if tears might spill at any second.
At the same time, the faint tremble at the corner of his mouth carried open rage.
His delicate facial acting made my eyes widen, and then Seo Tae-jun opened his mouth.
"The Lord is our refuge and strength..."
Just the first line, the first delivery, and I knew it immediately.
"From now on, we’ll strike down the demon bastard. Prepare yourself, Seo Rin-bi."
Seo Tae-jun had come prepared.
He had deliberately gotten himself ready to play a wild, ruthless priest.
***
Seo Tae-jun’s acting came to an end.
Forcing my excitement back down, I made a suggestion.
"Let’s lock in a meeting for tomorrow."
"Oh? Looks like you liked the acting I prepared."
"Yes. It was perfect."
"What if Director Park doesn’t like it?"
"Don’t worry. That won’t happen, but even if Director Park sees your performance and says no, I’ll use whatever means I have to get you that role."
The corner of Seo Tae-jun’s mouth lifted.
"Now that feels like we’re on the same team. Our Chief Manager Kwon."
The next day, I contacted Director Park and Team Leader Choi to set up the meeting with Seo Tae-jun.
***
Blue Pine Production meeting room.
Director Park Jun-seo muttered with a sour expression, "This is giving me a headache. Why did it have to be Seo Tae-jun..."
Team Leader Choi, who was preparing refreshments and drinks for the guest, shot back, "What’s wrong with Seo Tae-jun? He’s got solid ticket power and he’s good-looking. That’s perfect."
"So what if he has ticket power? The guy’s image doesn’t fit Black Bride."
"Honestly... you’re the only director in this day and age who still nitpicks over stuff like that!"
"Do you even understand art? Do you understand film? No, more than that, do you understand occult stories?"
Team Leader Choi clicked his tongue.
"I don’t know about that, but I do know occult films don’t make money, you stubborn idiot!"
Team Leader Choi glared and warned him, "Stop thinking up excuses and just bow your head and take him! If we can get Seo Tae-jun as the lead in an occult film, we should be grateful!"
Director Park snorted.
Take Seo Tae-jun no matter what? Well, maybe.
Of course, Seo Tae-jun was a major actor.
In romance roles alone, his acting could stand shoulder to shoulder with top-tier actors and still not lose.
But if he were going to consider things like an actor’s name value or ticket power, he wouldn’t have written an occult script in the first place.
He’d just have kept churning out commercial films that made money.
To some people, this was nothing more than an artist’s stubbornness.
But Director Park was making films because of that very stubbornness.
If Seo Tae-jun’s acting fits the project, I’ll cast him.
If not, he’d politely turn him down.
Having made up his mind, Director Park raised his spirits like a general heading into battle.
"Kwon Chief Manager said he was coming, right?"
"The appointment was for three o’clock, so... he should be here about now."
The words were barely out of his mouth when the meeting room door opened.
Director Park and Team Leader Choi both turned their heads.
A man with a sharply cut impression was leaning against the doorway, looking this way.
It was Kwon Chan, Chief Manager of Baekhak Management Team 5.
And beside him...
stood a clean-cut soldier with a shaved head and striking features.
"...Huh??"
Team Leader Choi and Director Park blinked in confusion.
Then Kwon Chan greeted them with a smile.
"Have you been well, Director Park? Team Leader Choi?"
Team Leader Choi came to himself a moment later and said, "Uh... yes, we’ve been fine. But, Kwon Chief Manager?"
"Yes."
"That person beside you... he’s not actually Seo Tae-jun, is he?"
Instead of answering, Kwon Chan nodded toward him.
The shaved-headed soldier, no...
Romance Prince Seo Tae-jun stepped forward and held out his hand.
"Director Park Jun-seo, this is our first time meeting, isn’t it? I’m actor Seo Tae-jun."
Director Park stared at him in shock and muttered, "I-it really is Seo Tae-jun!?"
He couldn’t hide his stunned expression as he shook hands with Seo Tae-jun.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tae-jun. But why did you shave your head...?"
"When I read the script, it said Kang Ji-ho was bald."
"!"
"A priest named Kang Ji-ho with a cross tattoo on his head. I thought that description was basically his key visual. Wasn’t it?"
Director Park held his breath.
"Well, yes, but... did you really shave it because of that?"
Instead of replying, Seo Tae-jun just grinned.
That smile forced out the breath Director Park had been holding.
No, what the hell is going on here?
The Romance Prince, Seo Tae-jun, shaved his head because of Kang Ji-ho in Black Bride?
He could’ve just used special makeup. Why go this far?
No, but if his head looked like that, was Seo Tae-jun still okay for commercials and ads??
Everything was so sudden that Director Park couldn’t get his bearings.
But separate from that...
Something like anticipation began quietly blooming in his chest.
Director Park barely managed to speak.
"...Well, shall we sit down first?"
At Director Park’s invitation, Seo Tae-jun and Kwon Chan took their seats.
Team Leader Choi, who had been dazed, quickly set out the drinks and refreshments he’d prepared.
Just as an awkward silence was about to settle over the room, Kwon Chan spoke.
"Director Park. You must have been surprised."
"?"
"I told him to come lightly, but Tae-jun suddenly shaved his head."
Seo Tae-jun, sitting beside Kwon Chan, tilted his head.
"When exactly did you say lightly..."
"That just shows how much Tae-jun likes the character of Kang Ji-ho in Black Bride."
"..."
"And as you know, even if it’s for a role, it’s not an easy decision for an actor like Seo Tae-jun to shave his head."
The corners of Kwon Chan’s mouth lifted faintly.
"I’d appreciate it if you’d keep that in mind when you watch the reading."
Seo Tae-jun, who had been glaring at Kwon Chan, broke into a grin at the last line.
Watching the two of them silently, Director Park muttered to himself.
Wait. Is this some kind of setup Kwon Chief Manager put together?
He didn’t know the details, so he couldn’t be sure.
But when he saw the trust-filled look Seo Tae-jun kept sending toward Kwon Chan...
it didn’t seem impossible.
If that’s true...
Chief Manager Kwon.
Isn’t he terrifying?
In a sense, Kang Ji-ho was just one role among countless scripts.
And yet here was a chief manager who had made an A-list actor shave his head because he’d fallen for that one role among countless others.
Director Park’s gaze toward Kwon Chan changed.
"Fine. Let’s see the acting first and talk after that."
Seo Tae-jun crossed his legs and said, "Which scene should we do?"
"How about Scene 15? The one where Kang Ji-ho sees the child possessed by a demon and starts to cry?"
Director Park held the script out toward Seo Tae-jun.
Kwon Chan, seated beside him, took the script instead and said, "Ah, we don’t need the script."
"...Pardon?"
"Seo Tae-jun has already memorized the entire thing."
"!"
"Am I wrong, Tae-jun?"
Seo Tae-jun nodded with arrogant certainty.
"Well, not all of it, but I do have Scene 15 down for sure since it’s heavy on Kang Ji-ho’s lines."
Director Park’s mouth fell open again.
He memorized the whole script in that short amount of time?
Between shock and confusion, Director Park’s view of Seo Tae-jun swayed hard.
"...Then shall we start the reading right away?"
"Read the narration, and I’ll begin."
"Scene 15. Kang Ji-ho sees the child possessed by a demon, sheds tears, and vows revenge."
The instant the narration ended, Seo Tae-jun’s eyes changed.
Director Park, who had been staring at him, felt his shoulders jolt at the shift.
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
It’s different.
He had only heard the first line of dialogue, but the Seo Tae-jun he knew and the Seo Tae-jun sitting here now were completely different.
The bright, lively expression that was Seo Tae-jun’s trademark could not be found on his face now.
In its place, the shadow of exorcist Kang Ji-ho could be seen.
The facial acting fit the role of Kang Ji-ho better than Director Park had expected.
Goosebumps crawled over his arms, and he scratched at them hard.
"Child. Do not tremble in fear. I am beside you, and the Lord is beside you..."
The more Seo Tae-jun acted, the deeper Director Park’s certainty became.
After all, right now Seo Tae-jun...
fit Kang Ji-ho in Black Bride far too well.
Was it because of the shaved head, prepared specifically to match the character?
"I swear, in the name of the Lord, I will tear apart and kill the demon bastard who has possessed you."
No.
The shaved head was only a tool to bring out Kang Ji-ho’s atmosphere.
What was commanding the room now was Seo Tae-jun’s acting.
His high-level performance was pulling Kang Ji-ho out of the script and into reality.
At that moment, Director Park couldn’t hold himself back any longer and burst out in admiration.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, so from this moment on, I’m going to wring the demon bastard’s neck."
The Romance Prince’s blistering transformation.
The meeting room heated up fast.
***
I folded my arms and watched from a little distance.
Standing back and taking in the scene, I saw things I hadn’t been able to notice a moment ago.
For example, Director Park Jun-seo’s expression.
Until just a few days ago, Director Park Jun-seo hadn’t thought much of Seo Tae-jun.
And now he couldn’t take his eyes off him.
He’s practically drooling with his eyes.
Well, of course.
The guy had memorized the script, shaved his head to match the character’s appearance, and then delivered acting worthy of it. What director wouldn’t fall for that?
My mouth curved upward.
The meeting result is in.
Starting today, Seo Tae-jun was no longer the Romance Prince.
He was the Thriller Prince now.
Just then, Director Park Jun-seo, dazed by Seo Tae-jun’s performance, raised a hand.
"...Let’s take a short break."
"?"
"Whew, I can’t watch this without my nerves rattling. I’m just going to have a sip of water. Tae-jun, you should drink some too."
I cut in, lifting my eyes a little.
"How does it look so far, Director?"
"...How does it look?"
"Yes. Do you like the Kang Ji-ho Seo Tae-jun prepared?"
Director Park’s mouth twitched upward.
"I like it very much."
"!"
"Ah, seriously... I’m not usually the type to make decisions this quickly, but this time I want to. The Kang Ji-ho Seo Tae-jun is playing. I like him a lot."
"...!!!"
The corner of my mouth twitched.
I pushed while the momentum was hot.
"Then can I take that as a confirmed casting?"
"Good grief, after I say all this and then say no? What kind of person would that make me?"
"!"
Director Park couldn’t hide how excited he was as he said, "In that sense, I’d like to see another scene read too. Is that possible, Actor Seo Tae-jun?"
At Director Park’s confirmation, I slowly turned my head.
Seo Tae-jun’s mouth was twitching the same way mine had been.
It was irritating to see, but... well, what could I do?
Today, Seo Tae-jun was allowed to be a little arrogant.
He was the actor Director Park had just recognized for his thriller performance!
After that, the meeting moved smoothly.
Seo Tae-jun and Director Park kept talking nonstop about the project and the role, while I spoke with Team Leader Choi to discuss contract matters in my capacity as manager.
How much time had passed after that, I couldn’t say.
Director Park, who had finished the reading with Seo Tae-jun, came back out.
"Whew... if I’d turned down Chief Manager Kwon’s offer, I would’ve been in real trouble."
From Director Park’s joking tone, I immediately knew the reading had gone well while I was away.
"I’m the one who should be grateful for the opportunity."
"Oh, what opportunity? If it hadn’t been for Chief Manager Kwon, I would’ve missed seeing Tae-jun’s acting altogether. And on top of that, you even shaved his head to get him into the audition because he’s the kind of actor you wanted."
...Huh?
Something about the rest of that sentence felt off.
My head tilted before I even realized it, and Director Park proposed it in a casual tone.
"Now that Kang Ji-ho is confirmed, we’re going to start casting the other roles little by little too. Still..."
He trailed off, then smiled.
"I’ll keep the Seo Rin-bi role open until the end."
"!"
"I got Seo Tae-jun thanks to listening to you, Chief Manager Kwon, so I think it’s only right to trust you and wait again this time, don’t you think?"
I caught the meaning hidden beneath Director Park’s words and nodded.
"I’ll bring you an answer as soon as possible."
"Yes, then I’ll be waiting."
That was the day Seo Tae-jun’s casting in Black Bride was finalized, and I thought to myself,
This side is nearly taking shape too.
My chest rose a little with satisfaction.
Thanks to Seo Tae-jun’s performance, we had secured one of the two lead roles in Black Bride.
The messy situation was finally starting to move in a direction I could control.
But not everything was done yet.
There was still one lead role left.
We still hadn’t secured Seo Rin-bi.
...Yeah. That side is different.
It wasn’t something I could decide lightly.
Unlike the other issues, this one was far too tangled.
But I wasn’t worried.
Because when this Sunday came around, I’d be able to untangle that mess.
And so, on the last weekday, Friday, I went into headquarters with a small meeting ahead of me.
"Choi Go-eun."
The rising star who had won the New Actress Award at the Busan International Film Festival.
It was a meeting with child actress Choi Go-eun.