Chapter 46

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 46

Chapter Title: Beyond the Script

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Do-jun steadied his breathing lightly and unleashed his lines with fierce intensity.

"This is a hospital—a hospital. A place where patients ache alongside their families and find comfort. And you're causing a commotion here?"

"Man, what's so great about a mere animal anyway? It's not even going to understand."

Swept up in Do-jun's fiery acting, the staff member got caught in the moment.

The staff's response sounded genuinely dismissive of the animal. Do-jun's emotions blazed even brighter in response.

"A mere animal? The ones you're calling 'mere animals' understand the situation better than you do. They know how to care for others. So what does that make you—a machine? Just more efficient, capable of doing more than those kids?"

He delivered every line flawlessly without a hint of awkwardness, then let out a short sigh.

As if the furious version of himself from moments ago felt foolish. As if the 'protagonist' right in front of him was pathetic and pitiful.

And then he took off his glasses.

'...Oh no!'

President Lee Seong-hoon, fully immersed in Do-jun's performance before he knew it, nearly let out a sympathetic gasp.

Any action not scripted was a clear point deduction. Especially for a writer like Seo Ji-hye.

'Even with company training, if they haven't been on set, they might not know better.'

Normally, he would've docked points for an actor pulling an undirectable move, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Do-jun's acting had impressed him that much.

But more important than his own opinion was the writer's stance. President Lee glanced at her.

"President Lee."

"Yes, Writer."

A low call came right on cue. He braced himself, tense about what she'd say next.

'She won't disqualify him for breaking basics, will she?'

She was infamous for demanding actors stick strictly to the script.

But dropping someone with such solid—no, excellent—acting over that would've been a shame.

"I'm revising the script. You got that?"

...What?

President Lee was so stunned he forgot to respond. The other staff on the audition set froze too.

But Seo Ji-hye, who'd just dropped that bombshell on everyone, was already lost in her own thoughts.

'That glasses removal just now.'

With countless scripts under her belt and plenty of set experience, she could see it clear as day.

Do-jun hadn't broken character from lost focus or poor script prep.

He just felt too awkward playing angry. And he couldn't stand looking at the protagonist anymore.

Not as 'Lee Do-jun'. As 'Veterinarian Lee Jung-woo'.

The 'Lee Jung-woo' in her head was exactly that kind of person.

She'd thought the character was fully formed, but apparently not. A whole storyline for him wrote itself in her mind effortlessly.

Her thoughts settled, Seo Ji-hye snapped sharply.

"President Lee! Didn't you hear me? Why no answer? You ignoring me?"

"Yes? Oh! Yes, yes! If that's what you say, Writer, of course you should! You should, but..."

Words he couldn't voice lingered in President Lee's mouth. The script had already gone out for circulation—revising it now?

But Seo Ji-hye was barely listening, her gaze already shifting elsewhere.

And at the end of that gaze.

Do-jun, still without his glasses, stared into the empty space where the protagonist should be.

The audition wrapped up without any hitches. For some reason, Writer Seo Ji-hye vanished right after, muttering about urgent business.

Normally, I'd be rushing to the hospital for a full check-up by now, but...

"What kind of accident was it? Don't tell me a car crash?"

"Yeah, I got lucky!"

The Byeokjo-mok Pictures staff member's eyes went wide at my answer.

For whatever reason, their president was deep in conversation with Kim Han-soo, pinning me in place.

So the lingering staff hit me with a barrage of questions.

"Oh my god... You sure you don't need a hospital? You're just standing here chatting with us?"

Eyes on my shredded clothes, the staff looked more pained than I felt, full of worry.

It was just from crawling around on the ground, but they were clearly misunderstanding.

"I'm fine. Nothing hurts."

"Wow, must be the youth. We'd be shattered all over."

"Look at those clothes. Total wreck. Yeah, definitely the young blood."

I just smiled. Couldn't exactly say, 'What nonsense? Being young doesn't make you invincible. Pure luck.'

That was when it happened.

"Huh? Looks like there's an article about Do-jun's accident?"

One staff member browsing the internet held out their phone. An article with my name already up?

"For ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠real? Lemme see!"

"Me too!"

Before I could budge, they swarmed the phone.

And then a brief silence.

"This is real...?"

"Multi-car pileup?"

The lively vibe turned weird in an instant. Then, like they'd rehearsed it, they all stared at me in unison.

Why? What'd it say?

"...This the accident?"

Finally, someone shoved the phone in front of me. I read the article carefully.

Drunk driver crossed the median, causing the trailing bus to flip and burst into flames.

And crucially, my name was plastered right there.

Witnesses reported B.O.Y leader Lee Do-jun crawling into the smoke-filled bus, smashing a window, and pulling out unconscious passengers.

Pida Entertainment stated, "We haven't gotten full details yet. We'll discuss after he returns from the hospital."

"Yeah, that's the one. My name's right here."

With my name out there, why ask again?

But the staff stared at me like they'd seen a ghost.

"But you're totally unscathed...?"

"You really okay?"

Incredulous, they kept glancing between me and the article.

No, come on! Why the ghost eyes? Someone might think a specter showed up. I'm right here, alive and well.

"Um... Want us to call a taxi? You really should get to a hospital..."

...I said I'm fine.

"That's him."

"Huh?"

"Not like he died and came back as a ghost."

"Ah... right."

The staff nodded awkwardly. Their faces left me dumbfounded.

What was with that 'we'll humor you' look?

"I see..."

...This is insane.

The loose patient gown. The sharp tang of hospital disinfectant.

Bad memories flooded back.

"Hyung! Stay put! I'll get it for you!"

"Water? Cold one? Warm?"

But this time was different—I remembered the entire admission process from start to finish. And the surroundings were ridiculously noisy.

'No issues, so why...?'

The full check-up came back 'no abnormalities.'

Just as I figured. My body felt exactly like always, weirdly normal. Without the ruined clothes, even I might not believe the accident happened.

But they forced me into admission anyway—possible aftereffects anytime, they said.

...So resting at home wouldn't cut it?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Hyung, here's water!"

"I can handle it myself."

I protested as Kim Ha-woon thrust the cup right under my chin. But the response was totally unexpected.

"No way! You're a patient! Stay still!"

Not even letting me drink water alone? This was house arrest, not hospitalization.

Of course, I appreciated the worry. Appreciated it, but...

'Not my first unscathed scrape.'

Every tiny twitch had them jumping—driving me nuts with the pressure.

"Try reining them in a bit."

I appealed to Lee Jae-ha, the least rowdy, but...

"Just rest up. When else you gonna get this kind of VIP treatment?"

"..."

VIP treatment? Just leave me alone—that's the real help. Couldn't snap at their concern, though. Frustrating as hell.

"What about Team Leader Kim? No work there?"

"Already went. Others are handling it."

"Yeah!"

Got it. Others on duty, so you guys stick around here.

"Sigh..."

A sigh slipped out unbidden.

Even Park Tae-hoo showed up late from another schedule, turning the room into total chaos.

Thankfully, the commotion didn't last. Visiting hours ended, forcing the members back to the dorm.

"Get some good rest."

"Hyung, we'll come again!"

No, really, don't bother. But I just smiled and waved them off.

Click.

The door shut, leaving me alone in the room. Finally, some peace.

I lay back in bed and checked my messages. Tons from people asking if I was okay.

First to the most important one.

Thud, thud thud.

I'm really fine. Please don't worry too much.

Dad had sent a long text despite our earlier call—clearly itching to fly back home.

Next came friendly trainees and staff from Pida, Kim Min-jae, Flame members including Lee Jae-yoon, and even Park Min-ha.

Replying to every single concern took time, but now I was truly at loose ends. Surfing the net or TV only killed an hour or two.

Naturally, my eyes drifted to the status window.

'Hey.'

Let's talk straight, no bullshit.

What the hell are you? Showing me remaining lifespan, letting me play guitar like I've practiced for years?

'And walking away from that crash without a scratch? That make any sense?'

Honestly, seeing the status window didn't rile me up or freak me out like at first anymore.

I was used to it, had coin spare, but mostly because it actually helped me.

'But is it okay to keep using this stuff?'

Buying time with coins, mysterious items popping up—I'd never given it serious thought. Until today.

Right before the crash, if the system's 'luck' hadn't kicked in, I probably wouldn't be fine.

'Speculation, sure.'

But damn near certain. Otherwise, surviving unscathed doesn't add up.

Plus, I couldn't forget that rush—fatigue vanishing, strength surging the instant I used the item.

Different from 'Ho, Not Bad' maxing my current limits. This was real, tangible power-up.

'What even is this?'

Maybe I'd used these occult 'items' too casually, no second thoughts.

This ain't normal.

Pop one in, and boom—full potential no matter the environment, motor skills jacked, fatigue gone.

"Better play it safe, just in case."

I muttered quietly.

Suddenly? Now of all times?

...Looks like the system wants me using items nonstop.

Whatever. Worrying won't fix it. It'll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠work out somehow.

I shoved the dead-end topic aside and turned my mind to the drama.

Wonder how it'll turn out? The post-audition vibe screamed pass.

'Hope I make it.'

Body's fine—no acting obstacles. All that's left is waiting.

And so, the first day of hospitalization passed.