Script Reading
Two weeks had already passed since she'd signed the contract.
Which meant it had been a full month since her reincarnation.
Ding—
Ara stopped by the convenience store in front of her apartment to grab a quick lunch.
"Welcome…!"
The part-timer she ran into every time she came always spoke with a little extra force at the end of every word.
Full of energy again today.
Ara returned the greeting with a faint smile.
"Hello."
Hup! G-goddess…!
Ara headed for the corner stacked with instant ramen.
Hmm… been a while since I had the bibim kind. Tsk. Tough call.
After some deliberation, she grabbed a pack of ramen and a roll of gimbap and brought them to the register.
"Thanks for your hard work."
"Th-thank you. H-have a good day!"
She smiled sweetly at the part-timer, picked up her bagged items, and walked out.
I'm losing it. Actually losing it. Ha…
Once again, the part-timer carefully folded up his dream of quitting and tucked it away in a corner of his heart.
Back home, Ara demolished her lunch in seconds.
"Time really flies."
Her drama casting was locked in, but her daily life hadn't changed much. She'd never been exposed to the public, so of course it hadn't. The only real difference in her otherwise identical routine was that she'd been memorizing the script like her life depended on it.
Flip—flip—
It wasn't like she had anything better to do besides gaming. The script, shaken and ruffled from how many times she'd gone through it, was already looking pretty ragged.
"Would be nice if it auto-delivered the lines too. Or… maybe not. This might actually be better."
If the perk did everything for her, it'd be no different from an auto-hunting game.
"Can't just freeload through this. Ugh."
Ara opened the script and started reading again.
Two weeks later.
Today was the script reading for Forest of Crime.
"Hello!"
A woman swept into the conference room radiating bright energy.
"Ah! Ha-yeong, come on in. You're early?"
"Yes. How have you been, Director?"
Yu Ha-yeong.
A former child actress, she was already a veteran among veterans at the young age of twenty-two — fifteen years in the industry by pure tenure alone. Her acting skill combined with a beauty that only grew more striking as she matured had made her a serious contender for the next generation's top actress.
"Our box-office guarantee has arrived?"
"Writer! Stop that! People will hate me!"
Kim Eun-bi teased her as she greeted Yu Ha-yeong.
While they exchanged brief hellos, more actors filtered into the conference room.
"Hello."
"Good morning! Hahaha!"
First came Lee Seo-jun, with his cold impression and stiff way of speaking, followed by Lee Min-hyeok — a man in his forties often called a silver fox in full bloom. Of particular note: Lee Seo-jun and Yu Ha-yeong had debuted in the same drama and were the same age.
"Hello, sunbae! Hey! Long time no see!"
Yu Ha-yeong beamed as she greeted him.
"Ha-yeong, it's been a while. You've gotten even prettier. Ready to get married already! Hahahaha!"
"Uh."
"Hehe. Thank you! And you're still just as rude as ever?"
"What?"
Lee Seo-jun bristled at Yu Ha-yeong's jab.
"Oh my. We're the same age and your hearing's already going…"
"Ha… this is exactly why I didn't want to work with you."
"Mm~ I got cast first, though~"
"It's fine. I keep work and personal life separate."
"Ooh… so that's how you want to play it?"
"You started it."
"Hahahaha! You two fight every time you meet! What a close pair!"
Lee Min-hyeok overturned the whole mood with his signature booming laugh.
"…Sorry for the noise."
"Apologies."
The two of them offered their apologies to everyone in the room.
That whole cold-handsome-guy act — ugh, I seriously want to punch him.
Shut up.
Their bickering clearly wasn't over.
"Alright. Is everyone here now?"
Current time: 7:55 a.m.
The script reading call time was in five minutes — 8:00 a.m.
"Still missing one."
"Ah. Director — the Lee Eun-ju role, right?"
"Yeah."
Ha Il-gwon answered Lee Min-hyeok.
"Hmm. Five minutes left, so whatever. More importantly — who is it? Who are you hiding that you're being this secretive? It's driving me crazy with curiosity, honestly."
"I told you. She's just a rookie. You need something worth hiding to hide it, don't you?"
"Hmm… if she really is a rookie, I suppose we'll need to set the tone a bit. Hahahaha!"
Lee Seo-jun was thinking something similar.
"All the seniors are here waiting, and a rookie shows up right on time?"
Yu Ha-yeong said it from beside Lee Seo-jun.
"That's what you were thinking, wasn't it?"
"……"
"Ugh! You old fogey."
The short stretch of time slipped by in a blink, and the moment the clock hands struck exactly eight—
Knock-knock—
"Hello."
Ara arrived at the conference room.
A soft collective murmur of awe rose from the people who'd just confirmed her looks.
Clockwork time management…
That face — no matter how many times I see it, I can't get used to it.
This production's visuals are going to be insane!
The frame really comes alive. Now she just needs to act well.
Script reading day, 7:00 a.m.
"Shit!!!"
Crash-bang-clatter—
Ara was in a full-blown panic.
"I!!!!!"
The reason being—
"Overslept!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Aaaargh!! What do I do?! Do I just throw on a hat?!?!"
No. As a modern person, the most important thing of all was a first impression.
Ara washed her hair at lightning speed.
"Faster! Faster! God, why won't my hair dry!! Call a taxi first!"
She started pulling on the outfit she'd bought specifically for script reading day.
"Mm! Good — clean and simple!"
Today's final look, confirmed:
Line-flattering jeans and a white tee. A black leather jacket for the autumn chill that had started settling in. Plain canvas sneakers, finished off with a twenty-thousand-won handbag she'd picked up casually at the market.
Ordinary, if you called it ordinary — but the finishing touch of any outfit was always the face. And her still-damp hair lent the whole look a faint edge of sexiness.
This entire ensemble for just 189,000 won! Wait — no!
"Taxi!! MBS, and hurry!"
"Heh heh~"
Inside the cab.
Tap-tap—
Ara's hands as she put on makeup had grown fairly natural by now. The result of a full month of training via YouTube for this very day. That said, it was still just the bare-bones basics — sunscreen plus powder blended evenly across her skin.
Argh! Because of that ADC bastard!!
For the record, the reason she'd overslept was a night of gaming her heart out.
Reaping what she'd sown.
7:30.
It was genuinely down to the wire.
Ah! I was going to get there early and make an impression!!
She was about to make an impression, all right — the wrong kind.
7:55.
"Thank you, driver!"
"Heh heh~"
The second she got out of the taxi, she sprinted full tilt. She entered the main broadcasting building, got her visitor pass issued, and headed for the elevators — only to find them already going up or stuck on some high floor far above.
The Drama Department conference room for the script reading was on the seventh floor.
Ara started taking the stairs at a run.
A fact she'd discovered not long after reincarnating: this body possessed extraordinary physical ability.
She didn't stop running until she reached the conference room door.
Thank god — I'm not late!
Hoo—
After steadying her slightly ragged breathing—
Knock-knock—
When Ara opened the door and stepped inside, it was exactly eight o'clock.
"Hello."
Dozens of eyes in the conference room locked onto her alone.
Judging by the look of things, she was the last one there. She'd made it on time, but a rookie arriving last on day one…
I'm screwed. Totally screwed.
"Hahahaha. Ara, come on in!"
Director Ha Il-gwon welcomed her.
"Let me introduce you. This is Gil Ara."
"I'm Gil Ara. I look forward to working with you."
Ugh, so nervous.
"Alright! Since everyone's here, shall we get started?"
"Yes. Let's do that."
Just as expected, she'd claimed last place with flying colors. And as a rookie, no less.
I'm screwed. Totally screwed.
Ara sat in an empty seat and pulled the script she'd packed from her bag.
"Alright! Before we begin, let's each introduce ourselves. Hello. I'm Lee Young-min, producer of Forest of Crime."
"Ha Il-gwon. I'll be directing."
"Writer Kim Eun-bi."
"Casting director Choi Mun-su."
Starting with PD Lee Young-min, the people Ara had already met began their introductions. Then came the camera director, audio, lighting, and the rest of the production staff, until it was the actors' turn.
"I'm Lee Min-hyeok, playing Squad Leader Choi Jin-cheol. Looking forward to working with you all. Hahaha."
Aha! So that ajusshi is the lead?
Lee Min-hyeok's first impression was a hearty, handsome middle-aged man.
"Hello! I'm Yu Ha-yeong, playing Lee Ji-yeong."
Wow, she's insanely pretty. Basically lead or supporting-lead tier here too.
"Lee Seo-jun. I'll be playing Lee Hyeon-woo this time. Looking forward to it."
Oh. Cold pretty-boy type? And Lee Hyeon-woo…
Lee Hyeon-woo. The cop in the story who develops strong feelings for Lee Eun-ju — and dies because of them.
The remaining actors' greetings followed, and finally it was Ara's turn.
"Hello. I'm Gil Ara. I'll be playing Lee Eun-ju. I look forward to working with you."
She was nervous, but she managed to get through the introduction cleanly.
Good. Didn't stumble. Perfect. Best first impression possible.
That face is something else.
So that's why they kept her under wraps.
She's incredibly pretty. And those eyes are fascinating.
I can't feel any emotion from her at all. Like something's missing. Is she already acting?
Already immersed in the role? Pretty impressive for a rookie.
"Alright! Introductions are done — we'll do a full read-through of Part One, starting now."
Part One. Episodes one through four, where Lee Eun-ju appeared as the main villain.
"S#1. Police station smoking area, daytime. A gray city under cloudy skies. Lee Hyeon-woo holds out a freshly mixed instant coffee to Choi Jin-cheol, who's exhaling smoke the same color as the sky."
With Ha Il-gwon's narration, the script reading began.
"Squad leader. Have a cup of this."
"Hey, you idiot. You don't know coffee and cigarettes make your mouth reek like shit? Damn it!"
"I know. But you told me to grab one, squad leader. By the way — how many times is this already?"
At Lee Hyeon-woo's words, Choi Jin-cheol's face flooded with irritation in an instant.
"Third time. Fuck."
"What the hell is the motive? This one seemed completely unhinged."
"Kid, if I knew that, huh? I'd already have the bastard. Did you even look into what I asked?"
"Yes. Based on the investigation so far, this victim has zero connection to the previous two. And the scene had nothing useful — no fingerprints, no hair, no leads of any kind."
"CCTV."
Lee Hyeon-woo shook his head.
Choi Jin-cheol pulled another cigarette from his coat and stuck it between his lips.
"Hoo— fuck."
Whoa…
Ara found all of it strange and astonishing.
How does a person shift the entire atmosphere that fast?
Lee Min-hyeok was impressive enough, but Lee Seo-jun especially floored her. The moment the real reading started, that cold impression vanished without a trace, leaving only an easygoing warmth as he sank fully into the character.
Professional actors really are different.
With just a few lines of dialogue, they owned the room.
"Hello, squad leader."
And a little later, Yu Ha-yeong appeared as Lee Ji-yeong. She, too, was completely immersed.
"Right. Results?"
"Cause of death is shock from excessive blood loss. Based on the marks all over the body, the victim was tortured for an extended period. Same perpetrator as before — confirmed."
She reported to Choi Jin-cheol with the materials she'd received from the National Forensic Service.
"Figured as much."
The reading continued.
"What's with the rookie — where is he?"
"Hyung-nim. The rookie's got a girl these days."
"I told you to call me squad leader. Still, so the rookie's equipment still works, huh? About time he got married."
"Ugh. From what I've seen, it's a lost cause. She's a hairstylist at that salon that opened up front a while back — ridiculously pretty. The kid went once and now he just hangs around that place all day."
The scene shifted.
Lee Hyeon-woo loitered in front of the salon, then steeled himself and went inside. In his hands was a box of energy drinks.
"Hello? Hahaha."
Lee Hyeon-woo greeted her. Lee Eun-ju, who was on a break.
Now it was Ara's turn.
But no one was watching her. They were fully locked onto the script — simply waiting for the next line to come.
Hoo—
I can't do it the way they do. But I've got a perk.
Sensory Sharing.
She'd already been synchronized with Lee Eun-ju from the moment the reading began.
So the emotions, the sensations, everything complex — I leave all of that entirely to the perk. The only thing I have to do is deliver each line.
Which meant she poured everything into every single word.
Holding the tattered script, Ara opened her mouth.
"Oh my. Hyeon-woo-ssi? What brings you here?"
Lee Eun-ju, wearing her mask, made her entrance.