Chapter 51
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: First to Arrive
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The call came right after I got in the car, and now, thirty minutes later, there was still no sign of it ending.
Lee Jae-yoon had said he'd just check in briefly, but once he started talking about the drama casting, he got so fired up that he couldn't hang up.
The guy kept going in an excited, high-pitched voice.
"Whoa, Seo Ji-hye rewriting the script because of you? It's like something out of a movie. You go to an acting agency and get all the secrets handed down just to you, hyung."
This topic again.
This made twenty-seven people already, counting Lee Jae-yoon. My ears were starting to hurt.
Hearing the same story over and over with just the names swapped felt like watching remake after remake of the same film, only with different actors.
"It wasn't because of me. Come on, does that even make sense? The writer just came up with something better."
I gave the twenty-seventh version of the same response, and sure enough, I got the twenty-seventh version of the same comeback.
"But didn't they revise it right after your audition? That's what the article said."
"That was just timing."
"So it was because of you."
No matter how much I denied it, everyone jumped to the same conclusion. At this point, maybe I should just agree with them.
"Why else would they put it out there like that? No reason to."
I just laughed at that one. The agency had been in a foul mood for a while after the production company put out the article on their own.
"Anyway, I'll watch the drama when it starts and give you my thoughts."
"Nah, you're busier than I am. No time for that."
"Things are okay lately."
Okay, my foot. We're close enough that I know damn well how packed his schedule is. The leader of the hottest idol group right now? No way he's not swamped.
He barely squeezed in time to visit Dad on his way somewhere else, just popping in for a quick face.
Come to think of it, is it okay for him to be on this long call? He must be busy.
As I listened to Lee Jae-yoon while lost in those thoughts, Kim Han-soo, who was driving, gave a casual wave. The signal to wrap it up.
Sure enough, a glance out the window showed we were pulling into the parking lot.
"Hey, I'm here. Catch you later."
"Script reading today, right? Don't psych yourself out—do great."
"Oh, please. Anyone hearing you would think you're the hyung."
"In this industry, I am the hyung."
Say what he wants, but the encouragement actually pumped me up a bit.
We wrapped with some playful banter, and as I stepped out of the car, the distinct underground parking lot smell hit my nose hard.
"We've got time to spare. Since you came early on purpose, let's head up and wait. You know this already, but make sure to greet the staff and actors properly."
Listening to Kim Han-soo's unchanging nagging, we headed up to the MVT broadcasting station lobby.
Was it just my imagination?
Everyone's staring at me.
It might sound like self-importance, but the prickling on the back of my neck was real. A quick scan around confirmed it—eyes from all directions locked on me.
Well, yeah. The articles were everywhere. The agency even issued an internet blackout order.
I hadn't seen them myself, but from the staff and members' reactions, I could guess the gist.
Whatever. What's done is done.
Following Kim Han-soo's expert lead, we confirmed our IDs, entered, and took the elevator.
And...
"That's not going there—that goes to the room at the far end!"
"Hey! Careful, you idiot! That's more expensive than your yearly salary—know that?"
The elevator doors opened to a barrage of frantic shouts assaulting my ears.
I'd been to the station before, but the vibe felt different this time. First visit to the drama department, maybe?
Chaotic, tense, yet everyone buzzing with this weird excitement?
"Ah! You're already here?"
A staff member who came running guided us to the conference room for the script reading.
I greeted energetically the moment the door swung open.
"Hello...!"
...or not?
But my words cut off midway.
Empty chairs and tables were all that greeted me—no people in sight.
Yeah, something felt off the second I opened the door.
Why is no one here? I whipped around to the staff, who had this subtle expression like he was holding back a laugh.
"Actor Lee Do-jun arrived first. Wait inside, and the others will show up soon."
Then Kim Han-soo chimed in annoyingly from the side.
"Exactly. Should've looked before greeting."
"No..."
You told me to greet right away when the door opened.
Watching Kim Han-soo keep smirking made my feelings all mixed up. Holding back the laugh was worse. Just let it out already.
I'll get revenge...
Anyway, the brief mishap ended, and I found my seat—marked with my name, pretty much in the corner, as expected for a newbie.
"I've got something to ask the staff. Go over the script one last time. Greet anyone who comes in."
With Kim Han-soo gone too, I was alone in the empty room. Thinking about it like that started making me nervous.
Can I pull this off? First script reading ever.
Back at the agency, I'd practiced nonstop with the trainer and even members, trading lines.
They said I was doing great, so just keep it up—no more parachute or token hire talk. Don't worry.
But would that fly with veteran actors?
Agency folks would hype me up, sure.
Ah, I thought I was fine, but now I'm anxious.
Remaining Cumulative 'Likes': 371,575 / 500,000
Likes were closing in on 400,000. When the drama casting article first dropped, they skyrocketed, but now the pace had slowed.
Because of the script revision articles?
Likes weren't climbing much, but comment notifications kept pinging nonstop. No need to check—I knew what they said.
If I screw up this drama, forget likes—won't I have to quit Goodstar altogether?
The chilling future that popped into my head made my neck crawl.
No way...
But it wasn't impossible.
I decided to review the script again, like Kim Han-soo said. I'd memorized all the lines already, so I focused on my analysis notes.
No new paths to find, but I'd do everything I could.
The rustle of turning pages filled the air.
In the empty conference room, I slowly immersed myself in the script.
Park Min-ha sensed the odd atmosphere the moment she arrived at the conference room for the script reading.
Three actors who had arrived before her were lingering near the door instead of going in.
"Oh, hello."
An actor she'd met on another project spotted her and greeted first.
"Long time no see. What's up? Why aren't you going in?"
"No big deal, but..."
The actor trailed off, flicking a glance inside the room. Park Min-ha's eyes followed naturally.
A junior?
Do-jun sat there, earphones in, glued to his script.
Even with the room buzzing from camera and lighting setup for the making-of film, his eyes never left the pages.
"We've only been here a bit, but he's been like that the whole time."
"Earphones or not, how does he not hear anything?"
"He's probably faking it 'cause he doesn't wanna greet us. At the peak of his fame? Bet his nose is in the air."
They gossiped about Do-jun without entering, jealousy thick in their words.
Park Min-ha didn't jump in. Defending him now, or not, would just land her in hot water either way.
"Seo Ji-hye won't be here for a while—maybe he's doing it to get her attention."
"What are you all yapping about? Acting like this before reading even starts? Pathetic."
"Eek."
A middle-aged actor who arrived just then barked at them, and they scattered, bowing politely.
But even with the loud voice, Do-jun's focus didn't break. Someone muttered, "Man, that's intense."
Lee Seon-jeong, the middle-aged actress set to anchor Oh, My Cat, shot a glare at the mutterer and said coolly,
"If you wanna badmouth someone, do it at home. Not here."
The actors nodded awkwardly. No way they'd keep badmouthing after that.
Uncomfortable around her, they huddled and slipped away.
Then Lee Seon-jeong grabbed Park Min-ha as she moved to enter.
"Be honest—what do you think?"
"Pardon?"
"Does he really act well? Or is it all hype?"
She'd lowered her voice, glancing around. Coming from a senior like her, it was brutally direct.
Park Min-ha smiled brightly, unflustered.
"Not hype."
"So the script really changed because of him?"
"Who knows?"
Lee Seon-jeong peered at the enigmatic smile, then glanced at Do-jun again.
He was still in the exact same pose, reading.
"What kinda answer is that? Give it straight."
"You'll know soon enough."
"Tch, true. Still curious, though."
Park Min-ha, answering with a smile, headed to Do-jun's side. Seon-jeong's eyes followed.
A light tap on the shoulder startled him. He yanked out his earphones, stood abruptly, then widened his eyes at the growing crowd.
Lee Seon-jeong, who caught every bit, clicked her tongue in disbelief.
"The ones who make it always do."
"Huh?"
A junior who'd come up beside her to watch reacted, so she elaborated.
"If that focus was real in this situation, impressive. If that reaction was acting? Even more so. Yeah, makes sense. Seo wouldn't cast just anyone."
Lee Seon-jeong smiled faintly as she entered. If Seo's hype held up, this shoot would be fun.
"Hello, sunbaenim! Sorry! I had my earphones in and didn't realize you arrived!"
Meanwhile, Do-jun hurried over with a polite apology—brisk, courteous, not overly servile. Solid.
Soon, the other actors for the reading trickled in.
The once-empty room filled up fast.
Ten minutes before the reading started, writer Seo Ji-hye and PD Kim Shin-hyo finally entered.
"Writer, you're here?"
"Yeah. Long time, everyone."
Seo Ji-hye took the actors' greetings with her usual icy face.
Her cool gaze only softened slightly for friends like Lee Seon-jeong or leads like Park Min-ha and Han Yeo-ul.
And then.
"Writer, long time no see."
"Yeah. Body fully recovered? I said no issues for shooting."
"Haha, your word is law. All good now."
"Good. Looking forward to it."
At Do-jun's banter, Seo Ji-hye gave a tiny smile and lightly smacked his arm as she passed.
In that instant, a low mutter escaped Lee Seon-jeong.
"...What the hell."
She rubbed one eye and asked the junior beside her.
"Seo just tapped his arm, right? I'm not seeing things?"
"Y-Yes. She did."
"...Knew it, but damn, it's real."
At the cryptic mutter, the junior couldn't hold back.
"Why, though?"
This was her fifth project with Seo. Probably no actor in Korea had worked with her more than Seon-jeong.
So she knew for sure.
"Seo Ji-hye isn't kind to rookies."
But that didn't convince the junior.
She's not kind now, either...
"Isn't that just her intimidating him?"
"You think that's intimidation...? No."
Without knowing Seo's personality, sure. But to Lee Seon-jeong, it looked totally different.
She wouldn't touch actors she disliked like that.
No wonder she stayed quiet despite those articles.
Suddenly, the drama's first shoot—no, the reading about to start—felt exciting.
Idol parachuted in thanks to Park Min-ha. Everyone thought that of Do-jun. How fun would the reactions be?
The hunch that something entertaining was coming made Seon-jeong smile unwittingly.
But the wait dragged on unexpectedly.