Script Reading (1)
Han Da-sol was far from pleased. And on top of that, it was the first script reading…
He's good-looking, I'll give him that.
But that was all. She had no idea where this new male idol had crawled out from. All she could do was hope he wouldn't muddy the waters on set.
She was not a man-hater or a bigot. She didn't dislike every idol, either. It was simply that, in her six years as an actress, she had worked with three male idols.
All three had been disasters. Two of them had been in fairly significant roles, and their incompetence had caused the ratings to swing wildly more than once or twice.
And the tantrums. The demands. In an industry where seniority and proper respect for seniors were the norm, even a sixth-year like Han Da-sol showed deference to her great seniors. After all, today's hot star wasn't guaranteed tomorrow's spotlight. She was someone who understood the importance of manners. Though she could be immature, she didn't openly despise them. She simply… disliked them.
And no one understood that better than Woo Dan-wol. He hadn't followed the standard elite path, after all. If anything, the phrase "a rock that rolled in from somewhere" fit him perfectly. That was why he approached every scene with an even more courteous and consistent attitude.
Thanks to that demeanor, the people around him had grown to regard him with reverence rather than mere praise or jealous envy. And in this world, Woo Dan-wol felt exactly the same way.
"Good morning, sunbae-nim!"
"Oh, hello there. Nice to meet you."
"Good morning!"
"Hello. Let's work well together."
"Good morning…"
Nobody hates a proper greeting. Even if someone's first impression wasn't favorable, when a junior bowed at a crisp ninety degrees and treated everyone with impeccable politeness, what senior could possibly dislike it?
The veteran actors watched Woo Dan-wol make his way down the line, offering greetings one by one, and their expressions shifted to surprise.
Even newcomers among male actors usually carried their noses quite high. It wasn't really anyone's fault, nor could it be pinned on individual character. Society had simply always been this way. There were fundamentally fewer men than women—six out of every ten births were girls, a pattern rooted in genetics.
As a result, even in the modern era, men's privileges had only grown. They knew their own value. Of course, everyone publicly insisted that equality reigned, but it was an unspoken truth that everyone understood.
Which made Woo Dan-wol's behavior genuinely surprising. He was doing exactly what female actors usually did. It felt a little awkward, yet at the same time strangely cute—almost prettier.
A person who always does well but slips once gets harshly criticized. A person who always struggles but succeeds once gets praised.
"Good morning, Senior Han Da-sol. I've heard so much about you."
It wasn't a lie. Besides drilling the script, he had spent nearly as much time watching dramas and films. This world was filled with people different from those in his previous life, so it only made sense.
Han Da-sol returned the greeting formally. She might not like him, but she wasn't so petty that she would ignore a junior's polite introduction.
"Nice to meet you, junior. What was the name of your group again?"
"I'm a new actor. My name is Woo Dan-wol. I don't have an agency."
"?"
"?"
Han Da-sol tilted her head. That can't be right. In that instant, her wandering gaze met Ko A-rin's. The writer wore a sly, perverse little smile—the same one Han Da-sol had seen many times before in their previous collaborations.
She knew exactly what that expression meant. It was a creepy, skin-crawling smile, but it only appeared when something genuinely fun and promising was about to happen. That knowledge only deepened her confusion.
Even after hearing the outright denial, her first impression remained unchanged. She was still only twenty-six and relatively inexperienced, and she had been burned far too many times by the male actors of the past.
"Anyway… let's do well together."
"Yes. Thank you, sunbae-nim."
A bright smile bloomed across his face. The gentle curve of his eyes seemed to radiate light. Han Da-sol instinctively looked away.
Ten minutes later. The reading will now begin!
At the staff member's announcement, Woo Dan-wol returned to his seat. Han Da-sol, who had finally managed to shift her gaze back to normal, fought hard to suppress the twitch at the corner of her mouth. Soon her face settled back into perfect neutrality, as if nothing had happened. She was a professional.
"Da-sol, coffee?"
"I'd love some."
Writer Ko A-rin approached her. Their long collaboration had built a comfortable familiarity between them. Beyond simple personal chemistry, they shared a compatible working style, which was why they kept teaming up. This project made her the most nervous yet, but she kept her feelings hidden as she followed the writer out to the building terrace for coffee.
"Don't hate him too much."
"Is it that obvious?"
Han Da-sol asked, startled, causing the coffee in her cup to slosh.
"No, I doubt anyone else noticed. But I saw it."
"I see."
Han Da-sol took a sip. It was a relief. Even people with decent character could be dragged down by malicious rumors—there were plenty of examples.
"I was the one who cast him."
"...I know."
"He's an elite. Keep a good eye on him, alright?"
"I'll watch how he performs."
Ko A-rin was approaching her mid-thirties. To a writer with her experience, fresh-faced youth like this was simply adorable.
"Our Da-sol is pretty cute too, you know."
"W-what do you mean…"
"You're the prickliest person I know, but your feelings are sincere."
"Me?"
Han Da-sol had occasionally been called rude because her formality came across as cold. She shuddered at the word "cute" and asked again. The immediate reply that followed left her speechless.
"Of course. You try to hide it, but I see everything."
"......"
"Dan-wol is handsome, isn't he?"
"Why are you suddenly bringing him up!"
Han Da-sol's sharp yelp seemed to satisfy the writer. Ko A-rin laughed, tossed her empty cup into the trash, and headed back inside first.
Meanwhile, Woo Dan-wol, still reviewing the script, wore a satisfied smile. He had confirmed the entire casting lineup. Veteran actors were solidly supporting the supporting roles, and the cast possessed more than enough skill to carry the story. How reassuring. Since he already knew the script, he had no premonition that this drama would fail.
The special ability inside his head was shouting the same verdict. It made sense. From the very edges of the script pages, a purple aura was softly rippling.
He still didn't know the exact reason or its rank, but even the original Woo Dan-wol's eyes had recognized it as a quality project. That was another reason he had joined.
Alright, let's begin the reading!
As lead actress Han Da-sol took her seat, the staff announced the official start. Their eyes met as she entered. Woo Dan-wol offered a gentle smile in greeting. She merely looked away.
To Woo Dan-wol, she simply looked cute. He could sense that she seemed to dislike him, but he didn't mind. He had watched her filmography and knew exactly how sincere she was about acting. Woo Dan-wol operated on the principle that no one who was truly devoted to their craft could be a bad person. That was why he viewed her favorably.
If anything, he found her adorable. And she really was. The way her brown bobbed hair swayed as she sat down in her chair. An innocent, dog-like actress.
In his previous life, she would have stolen the hearts of countless male fans. Her smile seemed like it would be beautiful. It was a shame that whenever she looked at Woo Dan-wol, she was too busy growling at him.
And so the script reading began.
Woo Dan-wol watched the scene with sparkling eyes. It felt like the real filming had finally started. Like a dog hearing the words "let's go for a walk." Every cell in his body was waking up. This feeling of being truly alive. He was dying to act.
But it would be a while before Woo Dan-wol's turn came. He was a villain who didn't appear until episode two. For now, all he could do was watch the other actors.
"Violent Crimes Team One. This is Jin Da-yeon."
The atmosphere grew serious. Director Seo Yeon-soo read the narration and stage directions.
The first episode of the drama Forest of Flowers opened with the self-introduction of its protagonist, the detective Jin Da-yeon.
Back when she was still a rookie. After losing her parents to a serial killer, she had applied to the violent crimes unit burning with a need for revenge.
Though she was an inexperienced, greenhorn rookie, her outstanding talent, keen intuition, and unmatched passion put her on par with anyone.
"Why did you come here?"
"I came to catch bad guys."
It wasn't an actual shoot with cameras rolling. It was just a script reading. Yet the actors were completely sincere. With casting confirmed, these skilled performers who had been sharpening themselves began to show their true colors.
"Not for revenge?"
"......"
Veteran actress and supporting cast member Jang Yeon-hee's performance was electric. Her piercing eyes gleamed. They were the eyes of someone worn down by society and battered by hardship. Yet her spirit remained unmistakable.
This was the first wall for Jin Da-yeon, who had come running with such clear purpose. Would viewers later realize she would become the most reliable ally of all?
A small smile formed at the anticipated reaction. The performance continued, and Jang Yeon-hee's line flowed out with perfect disdain.
"It is, isn't it? Revenge."
"It isn't."
"Someone like you joining the violent crimes team? Might as well entrust fish to a cat."
"......"
The tense war of nerves thickened the air, but no one tried to intervene or lighten the mood. They were partly overwhelmed by the pressure the veterans exuded, but there was also genuine anticipation for the acting these performers would deliver on set.
At the same time, the same thought bloomed in the hearts of the staff and everyone watching the reading.
This drama was going to be good. At the very least, it wouldn't collapse from acting controversies involving the lead.