The Rising Star's Moment
At the dinner gathering of the headquarters department heads at JMT Entertainment, Director Kang Ha-seong sat with his shoulders squared and a booming laugh.
“Haha. Didn’t I say it? Kim Deok-su is a man who gets things done when the time comes. You have to believe in people to the end.”
Ever since Kim Deok-su passed the audition and landed a role in a drama, the rotten feeling in his stomach had turned into something much darker.
Moreover, the positive reactions had already led to requests for additional filming.
At the time, when Lee Gwang-yong had tried to crush him, he never imagined this outcome would become his greatest achievement.
“It sounds like you’re pouring cold water on the moment, but is it too early to be optimistic? Kim Deok-su’s image hasn’t been fully cleaned up yet…”
Director Min Du-jin lifted the corner of his mouth slightly.
All throughout the dinner, Director Kang Ha-seong had boasted and flaunted his power, making it impossible to ignore his presence.
For sure, that bastard had protested the tuition fees he had spent.
Or perhaps not. Director Kang Ha-seong smiled with a rotten expression and leaned toward Production Director Jeong Geun-seok.
“Haha. Production Director Jeong, our Deok-su has become useful, hasn’t he? Let’s see, how about putting him in the drama we’re producing soon…”
“Is that a judgment you should make, Director Kang?”
President Kang Sang-mi, who had been quietly sipping her drink, spoke up.
Director Kang Ha-seong flinched.
“S-sorry.”
“I know you care for talented people, Director Kang. But Kim Deok-su needs careful watching. If he gets a lead role, who knows? But that probably won’t happen…”
President Kang Sang-mi’s words silenced Director Kang Ha-seong. She set her glass down and continued.
“Recovering broken trust is almost impossible. For Kim Deok-su, it’s best to support him minimally while sticking to the contract.”
“But…”
“No objections, right?”
All the department heads nodded.
Only Director Kang Ha-seong showed a hint of disappointment before it vanished.
Even two minutes on air was two minutes on air.
Kim Deok-su’s brief appearance left a strong impression on viewers, and it led directly to a re-appearance request.
Signature’s L’Vyu confirmed for re-appearance in My Hwarang, pairing once again with lead actor Han Gyu-yeong…
Back as Hwarang… Viewer request to summon L’Vyu again.
NT Media, the production company of My Hwarang, invested heavily in promoting Kim Deok-su’s involvement.
The advertising budget was substantial, but the payoff was undeniable.
Viewership ratings rose, and the peak rating time coincided exactly with Kim Deok-su’s appearance.
“So, NT Media called Kim Deok-su and did promotion?”
“Yes, Director.”
Lee Hui-yeong’s shoulders were tight with tension as she reported.
Lee Gwang-yong let out a laugh.
He looked like a little boy stubbornly insisting that his words were correct.
“Well, good. What did you say when they contacted you earlier?”
“I said I would check the schedule and respond within a day.”
“A model answer. Who taught you that?”
“I saw how the seniors did it before.”
Lee Gwang-yong stared at Hui-yeong.
After she rejected the Signature manager position, he had investigated her thoroughly.
She had one older sister and was known as an overly strict junior at the company. Her senior manager had complained about her lack of flexibility and frustration.
But today, it seemed that wasn’t entirely true.
“What did the seniors teach you as the most important part of a manager’s job?”
Even under Lee Gwang-yong’s sharp gaze, Hui-yeong didn’t tremble like before.
She had adapted to the wild Kim Deok-su, so there was no reason to fear a normal director.
“Checking the actor’s condition, mental state, and schedule management.”
“What did the seniors say about that work?”
“I don’t know much about that.”
Lee Gwang-yong answered calmly.
“That’s the entirety of what a manager does.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“A manager must not get too emotionally invested in the celebrity, nor stay too distant. Especially you—you must keep a proper boundary. You’re assigned to Kim Deok-su. Understood?”
“Yes? Ah, yes!”
Hui-yeong nodded and left the office, puzzled by the dismissal.
He had just been lecturing her like a teacher.
In the training room, Deok-su was monitoring with Kim Hyeok-jung.
“Uharang! This is the right moment…”
Kim Hyeok-jung played the same scene over and over without a word.
His serious expression made even Deok-su hesitate to speak.
After watching Deok-su’s scene more than twenty times, Kim Hyeok-jung spoke heavily.
“What do you think made you stand out compared to Han Gyu-yeong?”
“Honestly… I don’t know. Even knowing I stood out, I don’t understand why. I just feel dazed.”
“Honesty is good. It’s immersion.”
Kim Hyeok-jung played the screen, pointing to their expressions.
Han Gyu-yeong’s reaction was slightly sluggish, while Deok-su’s was vivid and immediate.
“What were you thinking while acting at that moment?”
“I don’t know… I was just thinking I was Hwarang.”
“That’s what showed up here. Han Gyu-yeong was acting.”
As they replayed it slowly, Deok-su understood why their acting felt so different.
Immersion was essential to change the voice, and it had come through positively.
But there was still room for improvement.
“This is a surrounded scene. Were you flustered?”
Deok-su nodded awkwardly.
The second scene involved being surrounded by enemies and disappearing. He had panicked then.
PD Cho Hyung-gyu had given the OK sign, but personally he had felt regretful.
It was impressive how Kim Hyeok-jung pointed that out so precisely.
“The one-on-one reaction is decent, but the reactions to the majority or the situation fall short. The senses are dull. If you had more screen time, hearing someone call you Hwarang would have been difficult.”
No praise this time either.
But Deok-su actually felt good about it.
‘…I have to practice even harder.’
Receiving praise wasn’t the point.
Deok-su had unconsciously become deeply immersed in acting.
As the class ended and Lee Hui-yeong approached, Kim Hyeok-jung’s stern expression softened into a warm smile.
“This manager has worked hard today too. It seems the script has arrived.”
Kim Hyeok-jung and Deok-su took the script and read it carefully.
“Mihyeonrang. The minor character has been promoted to supporting role.”
For the first time, the role had a name attached.
Deok-su felt dazed.
Hey, I only got called because I crossed angles or was late to the call, and now…
“What kind of character is Mihyeonrang?”
Kim Hyeok-jung’s question shattered Deok-su’s thoughts.
“The character… um. I think he’s stubborn, has a strong sense of self, and doesn’t listen well to others.”
“Stubborn. Good. How should we express that?”
Naturally, Kim Hyeok-jung and Deok-su moved into character analysis.
There weren’t many lines, but they built the character with imagination and depth.
‘I have to work hard too.’
Lee Hui-yeong quietly closed the training room door.
The two continued practicing for a long time.
“Deok-su oppa? You’ve been working super hard lately. Calling yourself Hwarang while putting white makeup on your face…”
“Me? I’m doing great.”
As Ryu Min-hye finished her call, Deok-su was focused on squats.
The pale face in the mirror and the eye makeup looked particularly out of place.
When Ryu Min-hye returned after her call, Deok-su had just finished filming and was wiping sweat.
“Good condition today?”
“Kang Hyuk-in? He’s doing well?”
After the call, Ryu Min-hye adjusted Deok-su’s posture and answered.
“Sure. He’s in Hanoi now.”
“Signature has expanded to Vietnam.”
“You talk like you know everything? Hey, oppa, I’m from your group. Pay attention.”
Deok-su had no attachment to Signature as a singer.
He was curious about the job but not particularly interested in the group.
He just hoped Signature wouldn’t bother him like the old Kim Deok-su.
Ryu Min-hye sighed at Deok-su’s pale face.
“But oppa, how do you handle that white makeup? It’s not filming…”
“It’s the role with the name for the first time. I can’t be careless.”
“Yes, Mihyeonrang. How different is it to always look like Hwarang? Your skin is fine, right?”
After receiving the script, Deok-su had been wearing Hwarang-style makeup every day.
There were many actors at JMT, but none had taken such pains, so Ryu Min-hye had been frustrated.
“Hui-yeong found this makeup that suits my skin.”
“The manager has it tough too. Anyway, Mihyeonrang, can we keep bulking? If we keep going like this, you’ll be a super bulky Hwarang?”
Deok-su had his own reservations.
Hwarang’s physique was slim but with firm muscles subtly built in.
“It’s a pity, but for now, strengthening the body is better than just adding muscle.”
“Got it. Then focus on core for now. Tweak the diet a bit. But when exercising, find a way to deal with the sweat and white fluid.”
Deok-su just smiled at Ryu Min-hye’s exasperated plea.
As body management and practice filled the time, it quickly passed to the filming day.
Early in the morning, Deok-su left home and rode Lee Hui-yeong’s compact car toward the Munjeong set.
Like last time, he arrived early and greeted everyone, but the staff’s faces were heavily shadowed.
“Everyone looks tired…”
“I think they did night shooting.”
“Night shooting…” Hui-yeong nodded. “Oh, they worked all night.”
Hui-yeong realized the filming had ended at four in the morning the previous day.
The staff who had only slept three hours and were called out looked exhausted.
“Please tone it down just a little.”
Deok-su, who had worn Hwarang makeup every day, had become a specialist in it.
The makeup team leader, Han Ju-ah, frowned at the interference but let out a small exclamation upon seeing the finished face.
“Wow. It suits you.”
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. Oh, congratulations on the re-appearance. If it gets erased, come right away.”
The respect was clearly different from when he was a minor character.
Deok-su felt satisfied but had a bitter taste.
‘Uharang, stay calm. Now…’
After makeup, while reading the script, a presence appeared behind him.
“Deok-su. You look happy.”
It was writer Na Mi-yeong, wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
When Deok-su tried to stand, she gestured for him to sit again.
“Don’t the name?”
“Ah, thank you. Again…”
“No need for formalities between us. How does the makeup suit you today? It suited you back then too. Please act and deliver the lines today. Okay?”
Deok-su shrugged at the heavy request to act well.
The filming started early.
It was the scene where Mihyeonrang raced across the field with the other supporting actors.
Then came the scene without lines.
“Run it once more.”
“Uhh… yes.”
Deok-su ran across the field several times but wasn’t tired.
It was a stark contrast to the others panting.
PD Cho Hyung-gyu smiled without realizing as he watched Deok-su.
“Cut. Next.”
Deok-su’s night scene filming ended with the assistant director’s loud voice.
Only the night scene remained.
The schedule was set for lead actor Han Gyu-yeong, so Deok-su waited endlessly.
“Han Gyu-yeong is coming down from Seoul. Ah, this is taking forever… It will probably end very late today.”
“Han Gyu-yeong’s schedule was late?”
“I overheard the director’s words. He said he was at a club and got up late.”
Deok-su sighed.
The staff were already tired, and now this for lateness…
The production team looked furious from afar.
‘Kim Deok-su must have looked like that too.’
Deok-su made a firm resolve never to be late again.
At the lunch truck, while Deok-su fiddled with his phone, he glanced at Lee Hui-yeong.
She was uploading a photo of Deok-su she had just taken to his SNS, PhotoStargram.
It was a photo of Deok-su in Hwarang makeup.
“Should I upload this right away?”
“Oppa’s participation was already covered in an article. This is bait that isn’t even for spoilers. The company should be more proactive…”
NT Media had already provided promotional articles, so this was promotion, not spoiler.
“What an interesting situation. The company is quiet, but the production company is promoting…”
“The company seems cautious. But if we show something concrete, it might change…”
Hui-yeong’s tone suggested she was frustrated too.
Now Kim Deok-su was rising gradually. Pushing him now would be perfect, but she showed no sign.
The company wouldn’t let the improving L’Vyu slide.
Hui-yeong showed Deok-su the recent comments on his account.
“Working hard. I support you.”
“Deok-su oppa, welcome to acting! When are you quitting Signature?”
“Looks like a misyoo.”
“Jonzaller OK. Fake acting… It’s not that either. I really hate it.”
“Body improved…” “Teach me the workout method.”
Even compared to a few days ago, the reactions had changed noticeably.
There were still weird comments, but far fewer than before.
As Deok-su read the comments, he smiled.
It was the result of their steady efforts.
She had also received good responses from the outfits he wore to and from work.
Deok-su was happily browsing PhotoStargram when a DM suddenly arrived.
“Hello. This is Menclothing representative Oh Ju-yeong. I’d like to inquire about sponsorship, but I don’t know the method. I’ll contact you in advance.”
The word “sponsorship” made Deok-su and Hui-yeong’s eyes widen.