Chapter 52
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Script Reading Tension
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Twenty minutes past the scheduled time to begin the script reading.
"Why hasn't he shown up?"
Unlike when she'd first arrived at the meeting room, Writer Seo Ji-hye was now thoroughly irritated and shooting glances at PD Kim Shin-hyo.
The male lead, Lee Jun-hyung, still hadn't arrived.
"That's... There was an accident up ahead," the youngest assistant director answered Seo Ji-hye's question, rather than PD Kim Shin-hyo. She immediately furrowed her brow.
"And you're only telling me now?"
Her voice was chillingly sharp. The actors, well aware that she despised tardiness and excuses above all else, held their breath and watched her cautiously.
"What, did he roll his car like Do-jun? If not, tell him to run over here right now!"
PD Kim Shin-hyo gave a subtle hand signal. Just as the assistant director moved to make another call,
The meeting room door slid open, and Lee Jun-hyung strolled in with a cheeky grin.
"Whew, am I the last one? There was an accident up ahead."
Tardy without so much as an apology—his brazen attitude made one of Seo Ji-hye's eyebrows twitch.
The atmosphere was primed to erupt like a volcano. PD Kim Shin-hyo quickly stood and guided him to his seat.
"Come on, let's sit down first."
It wasn't favoritism by any means.
He simply hoped the mood wouldn't sour right from the start of the script reading. They had a long road ahead; the first step couldn't go wrong.
"Guess this is my spot?"
But Lee Jun-hyung plopped down in his seat without a hint of remorse, utterly shameless.
At that sight, Seo Ji-hye's other eyebrow twitched as well.
"Hello. Hi. Hello, seniors."
He immediately greeted the PD, the writer, and the other actors upon sitting, acting every bit the star of the show.
His greetings went equally to everyone present. Except for one person.
'Huh?'
Do-jun couldn't hide his momentary bewilderment when the man abruptly turned his head away during his turn. Gazes converged at the blatant snub.
Lee Jun-hyung, however, looked utterly unconcerned as he addressed PD Kim Shin-hyo and Writer Seo Ji-hye.
"Sorry for being late. Shall we get started?"
"Let's do it."
This is why celebrities are celebrities. PD Kim Shin-hyo sighed inwardly and kicked off the script reading with practiced ease.
He feigned nonchalance, but it felt like he was cradling a live time bomb.
His side had voiced the strongest objections when the script changed, so it wasn't entirely unforeseen.
'But still...'
What could he do? Words wouldn't sway him, and they might even sour the mood further.
If anyone felt wronged, Do-jun would just have to prove his talent—or outshine Lee Jun-hyung in popularity.
And PD Kim Shin-hyo wasn't the only one thinking that. Most people in the room shared the sentiment.
His attitude grated, but actor Lee Jun-hyung had earned the position to act that way.
And so, the script reading began amid the uneasy tension.
❤
The frozen atmosphere began to thaw the moment Do-jun started reading his lines.
"...Huh?"
Starting with someone's short exclamation of surprise, the actors in the room either doubted their own ears or exchanged incredulous glances with each other.
'It's just a table read, and he's already this good?'
No one voiced it aloud, but the thought was universal.
From the instant the reading began, Do-jun transformed into a completely different person.
A pair of oversized glasses—who knew when he'd slipped them on—only amplified his presence.
The lines weren't particularly challenging, yet he'd managed to stun everyone. How?
If someone played a recording of just his delivery, you'd swear it was the animal hospital vet speaking.
As shock rippled through the room, only one person—Writer Seo Ji-hye—wore a faint smile.
'He came prepared.'
The irritation from Lee Jun-hyung's lateness melted away; she was thoroughly pleased. She nodded with a satisfied expression.
'Revising the script was the right call.'
The 'Veterinarian Lee Jung-woo' born from her imagination stood vividly alive before her.
Of course, inexperience showed in spots here and there. Yet Do-jun was undeniably immersed in the performance.
At that level of focus, the rough edges would smooth out soon enough.
And what delighted her most was the state of the script in Do-jun's hands.
'Should I get him a fresh copy?'
The battered pages were covered in dense notes.
As if to prove he'd studied and analyzed it himself, Do-jun recited his lines with barely a glance at the pages.
"Whoa, no wonder Pida didn't block those articles."
"Right? Not even nervous. Must be a natural."
"Hit number one right after debut, huh? And debuting in Writer Seo's project. Smooth sailing from here."
The supporting actors whispered among themselves. A hint of envy seeped through despite their hushed tones.
To them, Do-jun was a naturally gifted rookie riding a wave of luck.
But if Writer Seo Ji-hye or Seon-jeong overheard, they'd have scoffed outright.
Seon-jeong couldn't tear her eyes from the worn script in Do-jun's hands either.
'Park Min-ha said we'd know when we saw it, and she wasn't kidding.'
There had been endless speculation about casting Lee Do-jun, but Pida Entertainment hadn't addressed a single one.
Until now, she'd assumed it was because they had something to hide. Wrong. It was confidence.
Seo Ji-hye's attitude toward Do-jun moments ago, and the packed notes filling his script, lent real weight to that realization.
And it wasn't just the writer and actors stunned by his acting.
'...I figured it'd be decent.'
But this good?
PD Kim Shin-hyo swallowed hard.
He hadn't doubted the writer's judgment. He'd just assumed limits would show outside a short audition setting.
Yet from Do-jun's very first line, that notion shattered.
Not 'good for an idol'—'good even as an actor.' On a level most rookies couldn't touch.
Dozens of camera angles flashed through his mind, then vanished.
If this were actual filming, how would he capture the scene? Ideas bubbled up endlessly.
And it hit him.
This project wouldn't be about success or failure—but how big the success would be.
His gaze locked on Do-jun, fully absorbed in the reading.
❤
I sat facing Park Min-ha across a table.
The lounge for the cast had simple refreshments laid out. We sipped coffee brought by her manager and kept chatting.
"So, how was the table read?"
"Fun. Different from practicing alone, I guess."
"Must be fun 'cause you're good at it. I was shaking like a leaf my first time, terrified of getting chewed out."
"Articles said you nailed it from the start, though, senior."
"That was just hype. You're different. Even Writer Seo praised you, right?"
Park Min-ha chewed her straw and added, "Being all humble just makes you more annoying."
I couldn't say it was thanks to an item, so I just smiled.
Hm. Still, Park Min-ha probably got even more praise than I did.
She gazed at me for a moment, then flashed a bright smile.
"If you've got questions, ask away. No point suffering in silence."
"Thanks. You're already a huge help."
"Psh. Good for my senior, that's all."
She planted her hands on her hips and puffed up proudly—adorably so.
We used to be even more awkward than this. It suddenly hit me how much more comfortable we'd become.
Then the door opened. I turned toward the sound and saw Lee Jun-hyung entering the lounge.
"Wow! Min-ha, you're here?"
He spotted us and headed straight over. I stood to greet him, but he lightly pressed Park Min-ha's shoulder to keep her seated.
"Why bother standing? I'll just sit right here."
He pulled out a chair and sat beside her.
'Dude, our vet didn't even ask...'
He didn't so much as glance my way and kept right on talking.
"They listed your name first in the articles and on the official site. They asked if I was okay with it, and I said sure."
"You didn't have to."
"How could I not? You're way more popular than me. Oh, right—we can drop formalities, yeah? I'm older, and we'll be filming together for a while."
"Sure. Go ahead."
"Come on! Then you call me oppa too. Oppa."
Park Min-ha managed an awkward smile. His intentions were so blatant, I wasn't sure what to say.
No—more than that, he was completely ignoring me. Same as in the meeting room. This was deliberate, right?
'Unbelievable.'
I could guess why. With the script changes, the actors might see me as a thorn in their side. And rumor had it his scenes got cut the most to make room for my expanded role.
'But come on, this is too much.'
A simple greeting wouldn't kill him.
I raised my voice and tried again.
"Hello, senior. I'm Lee Do-jun."
"When I heard you were cast, I was so excited. Everyone raves about your acting."
This guy.
I'd spoken loud enough for anyone in the hallway to hear, but he kept chatting away with Park Min-ha.
No way he hadn't heard. He'd decided to ignore me outright.
Then Park Min-ha gently cut in with a sweet smile.
"Have you greeted our junior?"
"Who? Oh, Lee Do-jun?"
Only then did he turn to look at me. He tapped his forehead like he'd just remembered.
"Got so excited seeing our Min-ha, I blanked. Nice to meet you—take care of me. First gig, right? Stay humble, learn quietly."
As if. The lounge wasn't a soccer field; how do you miss someone coming in?
'And our Min-ha?'
Since when was she ours? Weren't they strangers until moments ago?
I couldn't exactly say it, but... was he nuts?
His public image was miles off. Sure, he played chaebol heirs a lot and got misunderstood, but interviews always painted him as friendly and down-to-earth.
I'd seen him say it myself multiple times. Guess that's why they say never trust a celebrity's image.
Anyway, he seemed set to stay a while— he'd already sent his manager for coffee—and kept talking to Park Min-ha like I wasn't even there.
Anyone walking by would've thought I was the manager and they were the stars. Or... invisible?
"Want anything else? Oppa'll get it."
"I'm good, but what about the junior?"
"I'm fine too."
Eating anything he bought would probably taste like ash and give me indigestion.
"Alright, can't force you. No schedule today?"
"No, I've got to head to the company with the junior."
"Right now? If you haven't said bye to Writer Seo, wanna go together?"
"Ah, I already greeted her with the junior."
Every time I came up, the corner of Lee Jun-hyung's mouth twitched faintly.
Park Min-ha was clearly drawing a line, yet her expression stayed all sunny smiles.
It hadn't been long, so I couldn't be sure, but the vibe didn't seem comfortable for her either.
Yeah, if it were me, I'd wonder what was up with someone suddenly going casual, acting buddy-buddy while blanking the other person in the conversation.
'But is this okay?'
I didn't want things getting awkward between her and Lee Jun-hyung because of me.
I was grateful she was being upfront for my sake, but we'd be filming together for months—worry crept in.
Maybe I should bow out? As I mulled it over, Lee Jun-hyung licked his lips and spoke.
"But... you're not that close with Lee Do-jun, are you?"