Chapter 86
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Aren't You Auditioning?
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Aren't you going to audition?
Jennifer Weisz.
Seeing her in person was an incredibly surreal feeling.
Of course, meeting celebrities like Lim Eun-ha or Han Woo-hee for the first time had felt strange too.
But with Jennifer, maybe because I was such a fan, even as she jabbed her finger at me right in front of my eyes, it still didn't feel real.
'A doll is talking?'
Her looks were so doll-like, hovering somewhere between reality and fantasy.
Jennifer's face openly displayed her shock, as if insisting, "I'm really surprised," inching closer little by little.
Her eyes were locked on me, leaving me no choice but to meet her gaze.
She was coming right up to me, but her footsteps barely made a sound.
Glancing down, I saw she was wearing a miniskirt and comfy canvas sneakers.
Under the short skirt, the gap between her thighs was dizzyingly visible.
And when I looked back up...
Jennifer Weisz was right in my face, staring up at me with huge round eyes.
And her first words to a total stranger were...
"What are you? You human?"
It was the most unfamiliar greeting I'd ever heard in my life.
But maybe because it came from Jennifer Weisz...
It actually felt refreshing.
I quickly wiped the sweat from my palm on my pants and extended my hand to her.
"Nice to meet you, Jennifer. I'm actor Jung Woo-jin."
She stared at my outstretched hand for a moment, then slipped her small hand into mine.
"Oh. You are human."
As she said it, a thrilling jolt like electricity shot through our clasped hands.
⤷ Primary Condition: Shake hands with 'Jennifer Weisz'. (Completed)
⤷ Secondary Condition: Perform the audition in front of 'Jennifer Weisz'.
⤷ Tertiary Condition: Fulfill the secondary condition first.
How was the very first talent an A+ rank?
My idol, the star among stars I'd admired to the point of reverence—Jennifer Weisz.
She was showing me infinite possibilities right from the start of my overseas venture.
I was sitting in what looked like the CMTV staff break room.
And...
Beagle? Capybara? Meerkat?
Jennifer Weisz—this bizarre creature with an indefinable friendliness—kept circling me, observing closely.
"Wow! This is so weird. Catherine sis, right? Doesn't this guy look super strangely fascinating?"
Catherine Trammel, sitting a bit away, seemed the quiet type; she just glanced at me and nodded lightly.
Maybe because she was a lovable headache of a character, the staff didn't react too seriously.
A female staffer came over with warm coffee for everyone and smiled.
"It's not malicious or anything."
Just when it felt like she'd pace around me forever if left alone...
"Hoo..."
Director Steven Hozza let out a deep sigh, covering his face with both hands. Then, dropping them, he pleaded with Jennifer.
"Please, Jennifer. Just sit still for a bit. Let's talk."
At Steven's weary voice, Jennifer dragged a chair over and sat across from me, raising both hands.
"Okay! Okay! I'll sit quiet and just listen. Go ahead."
Director Steven Hozza stared at her for a moment before turning to me.
"Sorry. Not the best look in front of a guest. Anyway, straight to business."
His face shifted instantly from fatigued to sharp and intellectual as he gestured animatedly, explaining the 'Brian' role he wanted.
In the early parts, a friendly, reliable ally that viewers could easily mistake for safe, while subtly hinting at creepiness through glances and tone shifts. And in the latter half...
"So, to sum it up, there's one key thing I want most from the 'Brian' role."
Steven continued with a meaningful smile.
"Absolute presence."
"Absolute presence..."
As I quietly repeated his words, Steven's voice rose with excitement, diving back in.
"People say dramas follow the leads' perspectives, but honestly, the story's appeal hinges on how captivating the villain is. What made Batman complete was the Joker. In No Country for Old Men, Anton Chigurh carried over 90% of that nail-biting tension. And Woo-jin—I believe you can deliver on that level."
As I met Steven's intensely burning gaze...
A clear, tension-breaking voice cut in.
"Aren't you going to audition?"
"......"
"......"
There was Jennifer Weisz, hand raised innocently, looking genuinely curious.
Having moved to a straight conference table, Jennifer eyed the man in front of her intently.
He was truly, bizarrely strangely handsome.
She could confidently say she'd never seen anyone more 'beautiful' than this Jung Woo-jin guy.
Though his unfamiliar Eastern features weren't exactly her type at first glance, the sheer handsomeness was seared into her mind like a brand.
And he didn't seem nervous at all, calmly meeting her eyes.
Just then, Jung Woo-jin finished his early-season priest 'Brian' scene, straightened up, and said,
"That's it."
Jennifer glanced around.
The CMTV execs, Catherine Trammel, even Director Steven—all wore dazed expressions.
It was that good an act, that fantastically handsome a face.
Clap clap clap!
Realizing she was the only one still compos mentis, Jennifer started clapping first.
It began with just her, but soon everyone snapped out of it and joined in.
Clap clap clap clap!
About three seconds of applause later, Director Steven cut it off.
"...Fantastic. Could we see the latter-half designated scene now?"
The sidescript he'd given Jung Woo-jin. The latter half was where the seemingly helpful priest 'Brian' finally revealed his true colors.
Not to the leads yet—it was him issuing orders to his underlings.
For viewers who'd grown subtly reliant on Father Brian psychologically, it'd hit like a brick to the back of the head.
"Got it."
Jung Woo-jin nodded briefly, then...
Slowly raised his head.
And in that instant, a small sigh escaped Jennifer's lips.
"Wow..."
Shadows fell over the kind, dependable priest's face, transforming it into something utterly heavy and eerie.
In about a second, his facial muscles shifted as naturally as ink spreading.
He was just standing still, same as in the priest scene. But with wildly uninhibited yet refined gestures...
Jennifer felt like the man before her had vanished, replaced by the real vampire 'Brian'.
Shiver.
His arrogant, lifted chin and icy downward gaze sent goosebumps prickling across her skin.
Jung Woo-jin took two deliberate steps forward in that pose.
The approach was bold, but Jennifer caught every precise control of his muscles.
Every facial twitch, even his chest puffed out more than needed for that supreme air.
It was miraculous.
Gazing down at her briefly, a cold voice emanated from him.
"You want a chance?"
Jennifer startled and looked up at his face again. From those seemingly parched lips came a husky tone.
"There's a saying: A general who fails in battle can be forgiven, but not one who fails on watch. Know what that means?"
Jung Woo-jin took another step closer.
"Failure itself doesn't matter. I know your lot are dim. But after I personally intervened and handed you solid intel—still failing?"
A sardonic smile crept onto his bone-chillingly impassive face.
"Doesn't that make me look like a failure too? That's—"
Amazing.
How could he flash such a bright smile and still radiate coldness?
Jennifer didn't blink once, drinking in every moment of his performance.
Soon, Jung Woo-jin let out a mocking chuckle and thrust his hand forward.
"That pisses me off a little."
A simple motion.
Yet it carried an absolute authority that hushed the room.
His elegantly extended fingers began to curl...
Then snapped shut into a fist in a flash.
Thud.
Having memorized the script, Jennifer pictured it: the subordinate vampire crumpled before 'Brian'—now Jung Woo-jin—twisting into a bloody mess.
"......"
"......"
"......"
A heavy silence blanketed the audition room for 'Brian'.
Jung Woo-jin stepped back three paces, straightened, and said,
"That's it."
Only Jennifer, who'd vowed to stay sharp and absorb every bit of his acting, registered the words.
The CMTV execs, Catherine Trammel, Director Steven. Even the woman from his agency sitting off to the side.
Even after his performance ended, they sat entranced, blank-faced.
Jennifer raised her hand to clap...
Then stopped.
'Just... maybe savor the lingering vibe like this for a bit?'