The Genius Variety PD
The staff member's voice announced the end of the first rehearsal.
At that moment, my eyes caught a glimpse of Lee Se-rin in the corner. She was lingering near an old, worn-out bag.
What is she doing?
Lee Se-rin glanced around once, then quickly slipped what looked like a small note into the bag's front pocket. After that, as if nothing had happened, she stood up with her usual haughty expression and walked away.
She's carrying around a surprisingly shabby bag, huh?
Just then, Kim Chan-uk approached me. His expression looked strangely complicated.
"Your acting today felt a lot more relaxed than it did at the audition. Must be nice being a supporting actor—you can take it easy."
The last part came out almost like a mutter to himself. It wasn't exactly sarcastic, but there was a sharp edge to it.
But why the hell is this guy picking a fight all of a sudden?
He claimed he left early during the audition because of his schedule, so what exactly did he see to make a comment like that?
For a second I was dumbfounded, but I quickly regained my composure.
Yeah, there's always a crazy dog somewhere. The territorial culture in the entertainment industry is as natural as breathing. Yup.
No, wait, no! Besides, since I was deliberately aiming for that kind of supporting role acting, isn't this basically a compliment?
Hmm, excellent! Bravo! Let's just take it that way.
I shrugged my shoulders and answered casually.
"The hotshot idol actor should shine even brighter. Haha."
"What?"
My harmless remark made Kim Chan-uk's brow furrow slightly. It was as if he hadn't expected that response—like he'd been waiting for something else.
I wasn't even trying to scratch at him.
I had no idea which part had rubbed him the wrong way. People's hearts are complicated, so complicated.
"You..."
Just as Kim Chan-uk seemed about to say something more, a bright, high-pitched voice cut in.
"Oh my, there you are?"
Several nearby staff members immediately bowed in greeting.
Kim Chan-uk instantly switched expressions, straightening up with a bright smile.
"Hello, PD Kang Min-ju."
"Oh, you know me?"
"Of course. I greeted you last time when our whole group appeared on Star Camp."
"Ah, that's right! You're Chan-uk from the idol group Beatwave, aren't you? You're doing really well these days."
"Thank you for recognizing me! I'm Beatwave's Kim Chan-uk!"
Kim Chan-uk extended his hand and did that signature idol hand gesture.
The awkward atmosphere from just moments ago had completely vanished.
This guy changes faces faster than anyone I've seen.
More importantly—PD Kang Min-ju.
It clicked. The genius variety show PD whose name had been attached to several famous programs.
Around this time, she was probably riding high on the success of KBC's flagship talk show, Life Talk Show, Star Today.
Is she here to cast Kim Chan-uk?
That's what I thought, but something felt off. While PD Kang Min-ju lightly acknowledged Kim Chan-uk's greeting, her gaze was fixed on me.
What?
PD Kang Min-ju walked over and abruptly held out a business card.
"You're Kim Doyun, right? This is what I do."
"...Yes."
I took the card in a daze.
KBC Variety Department
PD Kang Min-ju
It was a cleanly designed business card.
"I watched today's rehearsal. You've got good sense. Solid reflexes too."
PD Kang Min-ju gave my face a quick once-over and smiled lightly.
"Up close, your looks aren't bad either. Any interest in variety shows? Feel free to speak your mind."
Her tone was casual and straightforward. It wasn't a clear casting offer, but she was definitely showing interest.
What kind of opportunity was this?
I wanted to drop to my knees and bow 360 degrees in gratitude and loyalty right then and there, but with so many eyes around, I held back. Instead, I bowed deeply with a loud, clear voice.
"Yes! I'd be grateful if you called me. I'll give it my all anywhere!"
"Good attitude."
PD Kang Min-ju smiled, lightly patted my shoulder, and walked away.
This is huge.
It wasn't unheard of for a program PD to discover new talent on a drama set. There was no need to read too much into it.
But if it's PD Kang Min-ju, that's a different story.
For an actor, acting skill is of course the most important thing. But in reality, recognition plays a massive role in landing roles.
And the easiest way to gain that recognition is right in front of me.
In South Korea right now, there were only a handful of programs more popular than the variety shows led by PD Kang Min-ju.
Of course, this wasn't an official casting yet, so it could fall through depending on her thoughts.
In other words, to make this genius variety PD desperate enough to cast me...
I have to make this play generate buzz no matter what.
That was probably the minimum condition for her to choose me.
"So after Masterpiece Theater wraps up, let's talk when you have time. I'll be going now."
PD Kang Min-ju gave a light wink and headed back toward the staff area.
After the program ends, huh?
As expected, she must be planning to cast based on how much buzz this play generates.
The problem is how to turn a fixed-theme program like Masterpiece Theater—which isn't even variety—into a hot topic.
In that case, it really came down to acting.
As I was thinking that, Kim Chan-uk was staring back and forth between me and the direction PD Kang Min-ju had disappeared with an incredulous look on his face.
The smile on Kim Chan-uk's lips froze ever so slightly.
That bastard...
He had clearly seen it—how PD Kang Min-ju had given him only a brief greeting before walking straight over to Kim Doyun and handing him a business card.
Kim Chan-uk glared at Kim Doyun.
What the hell does that guy have?
People had always praised him for his talent and his face. His idol image and natural good looks—that had always been his strength.
Yet that nameless actor was being praised for sense and quick reflexes. Weren't those the exact qualities variety PDs valued most?
At the same time, they were precisely the qualities he needed to be recognized as an actor, not just an idol.
The attention that should have been pouring toward him—for his acting, for his career as an entertainer—was now going to that no-name actor.
Tsk. Just what does that guy have?
The acting during the audition that had come from sheer luck. Was that all? Kim Chan-uk couldn't understand it at all.
Yet at the same time, he felt overwhelmed. That fact made him even more anxious.
On the way back after finishing rehearsal, I looked at the text floating before my eyes.
I couldn't stop smiling with satisfaction, so people kept glancing at me... but who cared about that right now?
Flowers Fall Scene 5 Rehearsal
Final Settlement Change: +70pt
Remaining Balance: [300pt]
"Not bad at all."
With just the first rehearsal, my points had already broken past 300.
"I think I did a pretty decent job with the part-time worker acting."
I nodded, feeling proud.
"And also..."
I wondered how the people in the Actor Gallery had seen it. The moment I opened the Actor Gallery out of curiosity—
"Huh?"
Something was off. The gallery atmosphere was already like a funeral.
Was this really about my acting?
My heart was pounding. Had my performance moved these monsters that much?
No. It might have been a high point by my standards, but objectively speaking, there was no way.
Even as I thought that, I clicked on the post with the most comments, secretly hoping for the best.
It had a whopping 66 recommendations. The comments were even more ridiculous.
...What the hell. Had I really acted that well?
The moment I posted the comment, the atmosphere turned icy.
"What?"
And then came the lethal blow.
"Ah."
That day, Doyun's world collapsed.