They'll Definitely Pick Me
At this level, they'll definitely pick me. Episode 25. At this level, they'll definitely pick me.
Woo Ri-na wore an extremely uncomfortable expression. Watching her brother's back as he rummaged through the closet, insisting he would do it properly before acting, she let out a sigh. Memories of the past rose unbidden.
If she could erase her memories, or turn back time, she would return to that night. The memory was that horrifying and shameful.
If he hadn't openly asked her to watch his acting, another dark chapter in their history might have been written. Looking at Woo Dan-wol as he picked out clothes, she voiced her doubt once more. He had selected only two items—his old high school uniform. There had been several sets, but since it was a simple scene, he only wore the dress shirt and tie.
"What are you doing?"
"I have to put it on."
"H-Have you lost your mind?!"
Woo Ri-na shrieked. It was summer, so Woo Dan-wol had been wearing a short-sleeved shirt. He was trying to take it off to put on the dress shirt.
He had simply acted out of habit from his previous life, but in this gender-reversed world, it caused this situation.
Woo Ri-na turned her head sharply. No, it would be more accurate to say she spun her entire body around. Her face didn't flush, nor did her heart pound.
Still, as someone of the opposite sex with an age gap, it was only natural to be cautious about such things. Normally, people would react with an "Ah, tsk..."
Though she was still young, she wasn't so poorly raised that she would curse at her own brother. That was why she showed this consideration. It made her realize anew that he truly suffered from amnesia.
If it had been like before, he would have either thrown a fit or sent her to the bathroom instead of going himself.
"Ah, sorry. Sorry, Ri-na."
"B-Be careful..."
"Got it. Just wait like that for a moment."
A brief silence followed, broken only by the rustling of clothes changing in the studio apartment. Only after Woo Dan-wol announced he was done did she turn back around.
"Let's finish this quickly."
"Yeah. It won't even take five minutes."
"What should I do?"
"No need for lines... Just watch."
"Okay."
Woo Ri-na had been an ordinary middle school student—except she had a brother pursuing a career in the arts. Because of that, she was inevitably exposed to media. In other words, Woo Dan-wol, who monopolized the living room TV, had terraformed her tastes. Conversely, it meant she had enough experience with dramas and movies to judge whether Woo Dan-wol's acting would be acceptable on television. Of course, he was already a professional, having filmed Forest of Flowers.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As Woo Ri-na watched, her eyes gradually widened.
Wind. Yes, a wind blew—not the scorching August wind, but a fresh, cool breeze carrying the air of early March.
Yet it wasn't an ordinary wind. It carried a pink current.
It was almost like...
First love?
Yes. Woo Ri-na recalled the first love she had never experienced. Maybe it was because she was still a student. When was it again?
Right. The feeling she had when she saw a boy in her class during her first year of middle school.
As Woo Dan-wol's expression gradually changed, the world began to transform.
It was an illusion that unfolded only in Woo Ri-na's eyes. This place was clearly Woo Dan-wol's studio apartment, yet in her vision, it had become the front of a school with cherry blossoms falling like snow. She swallowed hard. She didn't know why.
Woo Dan-wol's expression shifted with delicate precision, like a nine-tailed fox enchanting someone. He didn't speak outright seductive words, nor did he expose himself or act provocatively.
It was pure charm. Woo Dan-wol's signature eye acting possessed the power to move people's hearts.
Thump, thump. Thump. Thump.
Woo Ri-na's heart began to pound. She had only met his gaze, yet the feeling was so confusing it bordered on terrifying.
The atmosphere emanating from him carried a strange allure that captivated people—especially those of the opposite sex.
From Woo Ri-na's perspective, it was maddening. Breathing grew increasingly difficult.
She felt as if her heart were being squeezed. Her pounding chest moved of its own accord, and something hot rose to her face.
She was only in her third year of middle school. While her friends might understand, it was an emotion too difficult for her to define. And then—
"Ah..."
In that instant, as his gentle smile bloomed, it felt as though light was bursting from behind Woo Dan-wol. It was a sight she could never have imagined from her brother.
Finally, unable to endure any longer, Woo Ri-na—
Smack!
"Ri-Ri-na!"
Smack! Smack!
She slapped her own cheeks. The fact that she had felt an inappropriate emotion toward her own brother—her uterine mate, her blood relative—sent her into what professionals would call a reality check.
Of course, it was due to Woo Dan-wol's special ability, so she bore no fault. But even allowing room for such feelings? She could never accept that.
"Don't look! Don't look this way!"
"C-Calm down, Ri-na..."
Woo Dan-wol, who had stopped acting, looked flustered. He had thought she might find it a bit repulsive, but he never imagined this level of reaction.
After taking several deep breaths, Ri-na, now composed, slowly raised her lowered head and met her brother's eyes with a cautious glance.
"Phew..."
Thank goodness. Nothing had happened. Grateful that it had merely been an aura from the acting, Ri-na forgave herself.
"Ah... It hurts."
"......"
How could he even begin to address her self-harm? Knowing the reason lay with him, Woo Dan-wol couldn't say a word.
***
The audition for the drama I Want to Stay for Just One More Minute had begun. Lead roles were usually filled through direct casting, while supporting and minor roles were often filled through auditions or newcomers attached to the leads.
The twin sisters, renowned director Seong A-reum and writer Seong Da-un, had decided to hold auditions. As it was a large-scale open audition, a huge crowd had gathered.
From aspiring actors and academy students to new talents from entertainment agencies, many had come. While leads were important, writer Seong Da-un understood the significance of supporting roles. That was why she poured effort into shaping the characters. As the saying went, leads only shone because of the supporting cast.
"Haa..."
"Should we take a short break?"
"Let's do that."
They had already seen over thirty auditions. Since these were supporting roles rather than leads, they had encountered both highly skilled and less skilled performers.
At roughly five minutes per person, including transition time, they had been auditioning nonstop for nearly three hours. Even though it was public broadcasting and they weren't yet star writers, the turnout was manageable. For larger productions, auditions could stretch over a week.
"Next, please come in."
"Hello."
A male actor bowed his head. Seong A-reum, Seong Da-un, and the production team's manager exchanged glances. The agency listed on his profile was concerning.
"He's from Idun Entertainment?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"His name sounds familiar..."
"I'm Jang Geon-woo. It's embarrassing, but my older brother is also active as an actor."
"Oh, I've heard of him. Good for you."
Idun Entertainment—the company that gave the sisters headaches. Of course, the production company liked them because their projects generally guaranteed viewership, so it wasn't entirely negative.
However, the problem was that the forced casting deals were already over. If the actor was below the role's standard, it would be an issue, but usually the newcomers from such deals were acceptable and even improved the set's atmosphere.
They didn't inherently dislike forced casting, but this matter had already been settled. Having someone new show up for an audition was troublesome—especially since it was for a different role.
In other words, it was the actor's independent action. Of course, if his acting was good, it wouldn't matter, but...
"I'll be auditioning for the role of Lee Shin-woo."
"Yes, that's fine."
The production team smiled and proceeded with the audition. Having brothers working on the same project would surely be positive for promotion. Meanwhile, the director-writer sisters began watching with unease.
Understandably so—Lee Shin-woo wasn't a simple supporting role. Though listed as a supporting character, he was a candidate for the male lead.
Because the drama was set in a school and focused on the fresh stories of youth, Lee Shin-woo was a character who could appear strange to viewers.
"Hey, didn't I tell you to buy bread?"
"......"
That was because he was an extremely sharp and prickly role. On the surface, he seemed like a typical delinquent—flighty, occasionally skipping school.
He had a backstory that would be revealed later, but how the actor portrayed him remained to be seen.
"Hmm..."
Seong A-reum and Seong Da-un exchanged glances. His acting wasn't bad. It wasn't bad, but... there was something about it. The synchronization between the character and the actor was remarkably high.
The performance was suspiciously detailed and familiar. Some might praise it as realistic acting, but in this situation...
"Ah, Teacher. I threw the test anyway."
It looked as though he had simply lived that way during his school days. There were two possibilities: either he was a genius actor, or it was method acting where the details came alive through personal experience.
"Thank you!"
"Good work."
After greeting and leaving, Jang Geon-woo wore a triumphant expression—though the judges couldn't see it from behind. He clearly believed he would pass without a doubt.
After about twenty more minutes and several other actors passing through—
"New actor, Woo Dan-wol."
He appeared.