Master Plan
Min-su nodded as he jotted down the working title of the scenario Yeon-woo had mentioned in his notebook.
After checking in with the head office, he headed straight for Chungmuro to start making the rounds.
Strike while the iron is hot — Min-su figured he needed to lock down meetings as fast as possible before any casting decisions were finalized, so he pushed hard and secured one for the very next day.
The following day, Yeon-woo and Team Leader Jeong rode together in Min-su's car toward Chungmuro.
In this industry, no one had a better casting network than Team Leader Jeong Hyeok. LN Entertainment's most reliable ally was personally handling Yeon-woo's casting today, coming along as the man in charge.
"So Actor Ryu's top priority target is the role of Pierre Choi."
"Yes, Team Leader. I'd be grateful for any role they offered, but Pierre Choi would be ideal."
Team Leader Jeong nodded, then stroked his chin.
"We'll give it a shot, of course — but Director Park Chan-hong is a major star director with a stubborn streak. And this film is a pretty big production."
Yeon-woo nodded at that.
"Then I'll just have to leave a strong impression. If you can create the opportunity, I'll do the rest."
The young man's bold drive brought a faint smile to Team Leader Jeong's face, as if it stirred old memories.
"All right. Let's push for it."
Before long they arrived at a film production company in Chungmuro. While Min-su parked, Yeon-woo and Team Leader Jeong Hyeok pushed open the door and went inside.
"Well, well — it's been a while. Director Park, Representative Han."
"Haha. Good to see you, Team Leader Jeong."
The moment they entered, Team Leader Jeong greeted them warmly and shook hands with both men using both of his. As expected of someone famous for how far his connections reached in this business.
Ryu Yeon-woo, following behind, looked at the people present and offered his own greeting.
"Hello. I'm Ryu Yeon-woo, a new actor."
The production company's representative took an immediate interest in the visual of the young man delivering such a spirited introduction.
"A pleasure. Please, have a seat."
Representative Han Yun-su gestured Team Leader Jeong and Yeon-woo toward their chairs.
The moment Yeon-woo sat down, Director Park Chan-hong spoke.
"I don't know much about you, but our casting director suggested we meet, so I called you in today."
The distinctly unwelcoming opening line dropped the temperature in the room at once.
Unfazed by the chill, Ryu Yeon-woo rose slightly from his seat, bowed, and spoke.
"Thank you, Director. I've been a fan of yours for a long time, and the second I saw this scenario I wanted the part so badly I badgered the company into letting me come."
A young actor who refused to be cowed by a cold reception and stated his conviction so plainly — Director Park found himself a little intrigued.
"Hahaha. That kind of passion is excellent, isn't it? Reminds you of Chungmuro twenty, thirty years ago — our own younger days."
Team Leader Jeong assisted Yeon-woo with perfect timing. His words briefly sent the people in the room drifting back to their own fiery youth.
"We've been eating film for a living this long already. Hahaha."
Representative Han eased the atmosphere with a gentle reply.
"Hmm. So. You saw my scenario and got greedy for it?"
Director Park laced his fingers together and fixed Yeon-woo with a low voice.
"Yes, Director. I'm more confident than anyone that I can do justice to the role of Pierre Choi."
"Oh?"
Watching Ryu Yeon-woo single out the lead role of his own film so directly, a flicker of interest entered Director Park's eyes.
According to the casting director, the kid was a rising blue-chip talent these days — but Park Chan-hong had no intention of handing the lead in his film to some greenhorn with one drama credit to his name.
Still, when a young man came at him with this much fire, sitting down for a meeting wasn't much of a hardship. If the acting impressed him, he could always offer a different part. If the kid refused a supporting role, that would be the end of the connection — and at worst, nothing lost.
"All right. Then can I see something? If you're that confident, I assume you came prepared."
Team Leader Jeong Hyeok went pale at Director Park's words. He had never expected an on-the-spot performance at a first meeting.
The company had received the script about a week ago, but it had only been passed to Yeon-woo yesterday — there was no way he'd had time to prepare. Team Leader Jeong opened his mouth in a hurry.
"D-Director, the script only reached the actor yesterday, so if you could give us more ti—"
Yeon-woo gently covered the flustered Team Leader's hand and stopped him.
"I prepared thoroughly. If it's all right, I'd like to show you."
Director Park nodded.
Leaving a visibly uneasy Team Leader Jeong behind him, Yeon-woo rose from his seat and took his place in the empty space beside the sofa.
A staff member from the production company handed out copies of the scenario to everyone present, and Yeon-woo waited with the one he had brought himself — already black with handwritten notes.
"Let's look at Scene 17, then."
Pages rustled as the people in the room and Yeon-woo flipped through their scripts.
His first appearance scene.
It was Pierre Choi's introduction — the moment he pulls a scam disguised as a deal with the Italian mafia and then slips out of his seat as if nothing were wrong.
Yeon-woo checked the stage directions, then pulled over a nearby stool and sat down.
"Beginning Scene Number 17."
He set the script on the floor beside him and began.
A soft, faintly arrogant smile as he regarded the imaginary mafiosi in front of him — then Yeon-woo rose.
"Devo andare in bagno, scusate."
Natural Italian flowed from Yeon-woo's mouth.
Everyone watching him — everyone except Director Park — looked back down at their scripts. The stage direction simply read, in Korean: (In Italian) Excuse me a moment. Something urgent.
He stood, circled the space once with a confident stride, then drew a smartphone from his pants pocket.
The soft smile that had hung on his face the entire time gradually shifted, like a gradient, into a mischievous grin as the phone neared his ear.
"Hey, President Kim. Yeah. What's the problem? Taking these Westerners to the cleaners? Piece of cake. Or should I say piece of cold pasta? Either way, sounds pretty bland."
Then Yeon-woo's expression flipped in an instant.
This time the mischievous grin became a devil's smile — only one corner of his mouth lifting, sharp and terrifying.
"So make sure you prepare exactly what you promised. Or you're going to see hell."
His voice was seething now, the lines delivered with a chill that raised the hair on the back of the neck.
"I take everything I can get. And I only take the fun jobs. It'd be a shame if the next job… wasn't you, President Kim."
The people watching had the uncanny sensation that an untouchable aura of charisma had gathered around Yeon-woo as he delivered the lines.
The moment he finished, Yeon-woo snapped back into the bright, spirited young man he had been, picked up the script, and bowed his head.
"Thank you for watching my performance."
Representative Han clapped lightly and looked over at Team Leader Jeong Hyeok.
"…You brought quite the kid, didn't you?"
"Hahaha."
In truth, it was the first time Team Leader Jeong had seen Yeon-woo act in person either. He scratched the back of his head and laughed.
Representative Han turned to Ryu Yeon-woo with a question.
"Did you prepare that Italian in advance?"
"I speak Italian, so I adapted it on the spot."
A soft murmur of amazement ran through the room.
Director Park Chan-hong, who had been watching in silence from the moment Yeon-woo began — eyes unreadable, giving nothing away — finally spoke.
"I sensed something in your performance. How did you analyze the character?"
Yeon-woo thought for a moment, organized his thoughts, and answered.
"When I read your scenario, Director, I strongly felt the atmosphere of a classic George Roy Hill caper. So I saw Pierre Choi as someone walking the line between a con man and a heavyweight."
A caper movie — a crime genre that paints crime with a romantic brush.
Director Park Chan-hong nodded as if his own expectations had been confirmed.
"Between a con man and a heavyweight — you mean Gondorff and Lonnegan."
Yeon-woo's reading had matched Park Chan-hong's own so precisely that the director named the characters from The Sting without missing a beat.
"Yes, exactly."
Director Park considered for a few seconds, then spoke as if he had made up his mind.
"I never expected to see Gondorff and Lonnegan in a young actor's eyes. This role feels like destiny with you."
"Thank you. I'll give it everything I have."
At the word destiny, Yeon-woo bowed with bright, unhesitating energy.
The people in the room and Team Leader Jeong's eyes went wide.
Team Leader Jeong recovered first and laid on the flattery with practiced calm.
"Wow — this film is going to be something special. The great Director Park giving praise like that."
"You're telling me. He's usually so terse, barely expresses anything."
Even Representative Han, who had worked with the director for years, was stunned — once by Yeon-woo's acting, and once by Director Park's words.
Team Leader Jeong told Yeon-woo to leave the practical business to him and head back first. He had a feeling today's negotiations would run all the way through drinks.
If they had managed to enchant the famously stubborn Park Chan-hong this thoroughly, the scales of the contract between Representative Han and Team Leader Jeong had already tipped in Jeong's favor.
A veteran of the industry, Team Leader Jeong was thoroughly seasoned in this kind of deal — and with full authority from the company, he had nothing to fear.
Yeon-woo whispered a quick I'll leave it to you to Team Leader Jeong, then said his goodbyes to the staff and Director Park Chan-hong, sealing the warm atmosphere with handshakes before stepping out of the production company.
Min-su, who had been waiting by the door so as not to spoil the mood, opened it for him and asked,
"How did it go, Actor Ryu?"
Yeon-woo grinned at him. Just like back at the officetel, he held out both hands for Min-su to take.
"I told you I was confident about the audition. I got it. Pierre Choi."
"Yes! That's our actor!"
Min-su celebrated as if it were his own victory, and the two of them climbed into the car together.
Team Leader Jeong Hyeok negotiated a strong contract with his usual skill. Because the rest of the casting was still incomplete, the shoot start date remained undecided.
Aside from one magazine interview midweek, Yeon-woo had no major schedule to speak of, so he shuttled between Daejeon and Seoul to maximize his school attendance days — until winter break began.
On days when Son Jin-uk wasn't filming, Yeon-woo would often drop by Jin-uk's place, spending the time analyzing and rehearsing Park Chan-hong's film scenario.
Then, one day, a call came in from Director Kim Han-su.
"Yes, Director."
"Ah, Yeon-woo. Belated congratulations on your strong college entrance exam results. I saw it in an article."
Yeon-woo smiled at the warmth in Director Kim Han-su's voice.
"Thank you, Director. I think I picked up some good energy from you — it helped me get a good result."
"Haha. You really do have a way with words for someone so young."
Director Kim Han-su cleared his throat and continued.
"The reason I'm calling — post-production has wrapped on Spring's Lover, the film you helped with that important cameo. We'll be holding the production presentation soon."