Not Just a Simple Villain
Before Woo Dan-wol stepped into the audition room, Jang Geon-woo was brimming with confidence. At the same time, he was mentally reviewing the performance he had just delivered, full of self-assurance.
In professional terms, it could be summed up like this: he had crushed it. When he ran into Woo Dan-wol, his face twisted with displeasure, but what did it matter? He despised the man to the point of outright loathing, so much so that he could no longer view his skills objectively.
Or more accurately, he had refused to watch. During their last theater production together, he had deliberately ignored Woo Dan-wol’s acting. As a result, he never once considered the possibility that Woo Dan-wol might pass the audition.
Jang Geon-woo climbed into his car after finishing the audition, a victor’s smile playing on his lips. Well… in truth, his performance had been solid. The synchronization with the role was so perfect it could have won awards. People often called it a career-defining character, didn’t they?
Back in the audition room, several actors had been evaluated, but none truly stood out. They were decent enough, yet nothing grabbed the judges. That was the situation.
“For the role of Lee Shin-woo, I think Jang Geon-woo would be good.”
“Hmm… Yes. Well.”
A judge from the production company had spoken. There were some concerns about his acting stability, but when factoring in his buzz factor, she believed the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. With no better options in sight, even Seong A-reum nodded with a somewhat reluctant expression.
That was when Woo Dan-wol entered the audition room. The judges’ attention immediately focused on him.
It was because of his neat attire and that strangely captivating face. At first glance he looked almost plain, with soft facial lines, but the more you looked, the more handsome he became. There was something about his ordinary-yet-not atmosphere that stirred an irresistible desire to keep watching.
“I’m newcomer actor Woo Dan-wol.”
“Yes. Which role are you interested in?”
“Lee Shin-woo.”
“Ah…”
The situation had suddenly become awkward. At that moment, someone from the production company gently asked,
“Haven’t you considered any other roles?”
Although they had acted without prior discussion, neither Seong A-reum nor Seong Da-un showed any outward reaction. After all, they hadn’t officially announced the casting yet; it was simply an opinion being sought.
“I want to play the role of Lee Shin-woo.”
“…Is there a particular reason you feel that way?”
“That’s…”
Writer Seong Da-un had asked the question. During the time she was crafting the script and shaping the characters, the one she had poured the most affection into was precisely Lee Shin-woo. Regardless of screen time or importance, he was her favorite. Her absolute beloved character.
Even as she posed the question, she hadn’t held much expectation. In the audition script, the character only appeared as a typical delinquent. There were hints and pieces of information, of course, but those were things only the writer could infer and understand.
However, the moment she saw Woo Dan-wol’s meaningful smile, an inexplicable sense of anticipation washed over her.
“I’ll show you through my performance.”
“Alright. Go ahead.”
“I’ll do scene S#14.”
Woo Dan-wol announced the scene he would perform. A flicker of doubt crossed the judges’ faces. The scene he had chosen was simply a slice-of-life moment. Usually, actors picked emotionally charged scenes or moments that best showcased the character. Just as each judge harbored a question in their mind—
Woo Dan-wol took a brief breath and began his performance.
“What are you staring at?”
“……!!”
Perhaps it was because Jang Geon-woo’s performance still lingered in their minds. In the judges’ heads, the character of Lee Shin-woo had taken the form of a sharp-edged delinquent. But the character Woo Dan-wol analyzed and portrayed was slightly different.
Should it be called cynical? The words flowed out with an indifferent, mocking tone that quietly soaked the atmosphere.
If a timid or introverted student saw him, they would surely misunderstand. He looked every bit the classic bully, after all.
Though he seemed easygoing, his deeply lowered eyes carried an unmistakable prickliness. The aura he gave off was strangely mature for a student. Yet the faint trace of freshness that remained revealed just how meticulous his facial acting was.
One of the hardest things for adults to imitate was a student’s youthful innocence. Writer Seong Da-un’s mouth gradually fell open. Her eyes, staring blankly at the performance, were drenched in fascination.
If someone asked a drama writer when they felt the most thrilled, Seong Da-un would answer like this: when a character she created comes alive and breathes in reality.
And that was a wish she had never truly experienced before. Actors had performed, yes, but she had never seen characters that made her think, This is it! At first she had been impressed, but the thrill had gradually faded.
But now, Writer Seong Da-un’s heart was racing. There was Lee Shin-woo.
From across the room, under the name of an audition, he was looking this way and speaking to her—the writer. I’m here. I’m right here, breathing and living. He was whispering to his creator.
At the same time, Woo Dan-wol’s performance continued. He was simply following the script. Yet how was it that the background she had only imagined in her head was now rising so vividly?
A man with a painful past, curled up like a hedgehog. That was the Lee Shin-woo who was speaking to another student.
Like being pricked by sharp thorns, the other immature kids began to misunderstand him. Rumors spread because of his prickly aura and handsome face—He’s always been like that. Rumors too heavy and devastating for a student to bear.
Yet he stood up. Lee Shin-woo pretended nothing was wrong, enduring it all alone, standing tall by himself.
“…Thank you.”
Woo Dan-wol’s gaze drifted forward before dropping to the floor, unable to meet anyone’s eyes as he murmured. The way he awkwardly offered gratitude could only be described as cute. Even though he was spitting out a single word while hiding his heart behind a rough exterior, why did he look so endearing and fresh?
It was a realm Jang Geon-woo could never reach. Woo Dan-wol’s acting was overwhelming.
There was probably no director who had read Writer Seong Da-un’s script as many times as Director Seong A-reum—from drafting to final review. That was why the beautiful twins watched the character leap off the page with dazed expressions.
“Thank you for your performance.”
“We’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you!”
Was it because they had just witnessed his acting? Even a simple greeting made Woo Dan-wol look incredibly charming. After he left and before the next actor entered, the three exchanged glances. Just as the production company representative, still clinging to her desires, was about to speak—
“Um…”
“No.”
“But you saw it, right?”
“…Yes.”
The production company staff member who had already prepared the press headline saw her dream crumble into nothing. After watching that performance, any attachment to her previous choice was nothing but stubbornness.
“Good work, Dan-wol.”
“You worked hard too, noona.”
“What did I do?”
“I’m always grateful. You stay by my side.”
Lee Hye-ri froze for a moment, unable to speak. It was only natural. Woo Dan-wol’s words could easily be misunderstood by anyone. Sometimes his oblivious comments hit her with unexpected intensity.
Lee Hye-ri’s heart grew complicated. A manager dating her own artist? She’d deserve to be stoned. So she tried her hardest to act normal. Even though her cheeks were burning red as she drove.
“Are you feeling sick, CEO?”
“Huh…?”
“Your face looks a little strange.”
“No, no… I’m fine.”
“Do you have a fever?”
Since she was driving and couldn’t look away from the road, Woo Dan-wol, seated in the passenger seat, reached over and placed his hand on her forehead. This only made Lee Hye-ri’s cheeks grow even hotter.
Convinced she must be running a fever, Woo Dan-wol showed no hesitation in their skinship. Lee Hye-ri told herself it must be because of his amnesia and swore she would definitely educate this defenseless man later.
“Let’s go straight to the hospital.”
“I-it’s close, Dan-wol!”
The distance between them had closed more than she expected. Woo Dan-wol’s gentle voice rang out like a whisper right beside her ear. To keep her sanity, Lee Hye-ri desperately began singing the national anthem in her head.
Time passed. Woo Dan-wol received news that he had passed the audition. Lee Hye-ri smiled and congratulated him, while Woo Dan-wol simply nodded, as if he had expected the result. August, deep in the heart of summer, gave way to September as autumn arrived. And then new news reached Woo Dan-wol.
The broadcast date for the drama Forest of Flowers had finally been decided. In other words, the production presentation was right around the corner. Since Woo Dan-wol’s role was a major supporting part with significant screen time, he was invited to the event.
Production presentations served primarily as promotional tools. They were usually held a week before the premiere, and the amount of attention they generated often determined the drama’s viewership ratings.
And as Woo Dan-wol smiled brightly upon hearing the word “presentation,” Lee Hye-ri’s expression was filled with worry. She felt as if she were sending an innocent child to the edge of a river.
“Will he be okay…?”
“Of course!”
She could only hope he wouldn’t get swept up in anything involving the opposite sex.