Han Hae-un and Cha Woo-joo
"Is there a reason you prepared a free-acting scene for the sub-lead when this is an audition for supporting roles?"
"Of all the characters in the scenario you sent, he was the one who spoke to me most. I know it's not one of the parts you're casting today, but I wanted to try performing him at least once while I had the chance."
The production team had only learned that morning of the sudden casting vacancy for Cha Woo-joo, so there was no way an applicant could have known in advance. Jeong Cheol-min nodded, thinking this must be fate.
"Hmm. Well done, Ryu Yeon-woo. Looks like I'll owe Cheol-min a drink for this. Thank you for your time. We'll be in touch — you may go."
The production staff, worn down by the nonstop audition marathon that had been running since lunch, brightened the moment they saw Yeon-woo.
"Yes. Aspiring actor Ryu Yeon-woo! Thank you!"
With a spirited bow, Yeon-woo exited.
The door opened again as a staff member stepped in.
"I'll send in the next applicant."
"No — hold on. Let's take about a ten-minute break."
"Yes, Director."
Director Kim Han-su watched the staff member close the door and leave, then looked around at the others. The rest of the production team met his eyes.
"We're all thinking the same thing, right?"
"Director. This must be what they call a blessing in disguise."
"Woo-joo… Yeon-woo…"
The production company people exchanged glances and nodded, while writer Choi Mi-hyeon still hadn't fully recovered her wits.
And so Yeon-woo's first audition of his life came to an end.
Yeon-woo came down to the first floor. Having never experienced a casting audition before, he honestly couldn't tell whether he'd done well or not. Still, he'd gotten through everything he'd prepared without a single mistake, so he had no regrets.
He pulled out his smartphone and called Jeong Cheol-min, who would be waiting for him to come out.
"Oh, kid, you done?"
"Yes, I'm at the spot where you dropped me off in front of the building."
"Good. I'll be right there. It's dangerous to talk while driving, so let's talk once you're in the car."
"Yes, I'll wait."
A short while later, Cheol-min's car arrived and picked Yeon-woo up.
"Did you get through it without any mistakes?"
Cheol-min asked as he shifted gears and turned the car around.
"Yes. No mistakes, but something felt a little strange."
"Strange? How so?"
"After the free acting, for the assigned scene I also did a Cha Woo-joo scene."
Cheol-min tilted his head.
"Not Hwang Jae-il or Choi Hyeok?"
"No. Should I have prepared Hwang Jae-il for the free acting after all?"
Cheol-min scratched his chin as he answered.
"Nah. Free acting is just about showing your skill. In other auditions, people perform scenes from completely different movies or dramas all the time."
He kept tilting his head as he asked again.
"Did they say anything else?"
"Hmm, they complimented my looks before I performed. Oh, and the director said something about owing you a drink?"
"Senior Kim? Owes me a drink?"
They chatted about the audition as they headed down toward Daejeon, and as the early-morning departure began to catch up with them, both grew hungry and stopped at a rest area.
"Ma'am, one ramen, please. Yeon-woo, what do you want?"
"I'll have the loach soup."
At Yeon-woo's answer, Jeong Cheol-min considered changing his own order.
"Look at this kid's taste. That's an old man's preference."
"It's soul food."
They traded light banter as they sat down.
"Yeon-woo, look around. Feel those stares? Anyone watching would think you're already a celebrity."
Just as Cheol-min said, every person coming and going through the rest-area restaurant — men and women, young and old — kept glancing at Yeon-woo's face. Some even turned their heads to stare openly.
"They might be looking at you, Teacher. You're an actor."
"Kid, who recognizes me? Industry people, maybe."
Yeon-woo tried to deflect out of embarrassment, but the gazes boring into him were unmistakable.
"Yeon-woo, number 157. The youngest goes and gets it."
"Haha. There's only two of us — what's this 'youngest' business. Of course I'll go."
As he took the number ticket and went to collect the food, murmurs rose around him.
"Must be an idol!"
"He looks a little young — maybe a trainee?"
"Anyway, that face is insane."
"Hey, go ask for his number."
Encouraged by her friends, one of the murmuring group approached Yeon-woo.
"Um, could I maybe get your number?"
"…Pardon?"
Caught off guard by the sudden approach, Yeon-woo reflexively held out the number ticket in his hand.
"Uh, but this is for our food…?"
"Not that number… never mind. I'm sorry!"
She bowed and fled in a hurry, leaving Yeon-woo tilting his head in confusion.
He headed back to the serving counter and presented the ticket, and the ajumma smiled as she handed him a tray of food.
"Aigoo, young man. You're so handsome. I gave you an extra-generous portion, so eat well."
"Ah, thank you."
They give extra portions even at a highway rest stop…?
Living with this face — so different from his previous life — Yeon-woo found himself marveling every time at how kind the world could be.
Even on the way back to the table, the stares and whispers didn't let up. As Yeon-woo set down the food and sat, Jeong Cheol-min grinned.
"See? You haven't even debuted, and you're already a celebrity."
"I've never experienced anything like this. It caught me off guard."
"It'll be everyday life soon enough."
After finishing his meal, Cheol-min said he was going for a cigarette and headed to the smoking area with a coffee. Yeon-woo said he'd wait in the car first, took the keys, and turned to go.
Just then, Cheol-min's phone rang.
"Yes, Senior!"
Seeing the name on the screen, Jeong Cheol-min answered urgently. Ryu Yeon-woo, who had been turning away, pricked up his ears and looked back at Cheol-min.
"Cheol-min. That student who auditioned today — Ryu Yeon-woo. The auditions just wrapped up."
"Yes, Senior. I'm driving him back down right now."
"You came up to Seoul together? And you didn't even show your face."
At Kim Han-su's faintly wounded tone, Jeong Cheol-min put on a show of flattery.
"Aigoo, Senior. I know how chaotic an audition set gets. I'll treat you to a proper drink soon. Oh, and this has absolutely nothing to do with the casting. Haha."
"Cheol-min. I think I'm the one who should be buying."
"What? What are you talking about. I should be the one treating you."
"Well, you see…"
Pffft! What?!
As the call continued, Cheol-min sprayed the coffee he'd been drinking.
"Yes, yes, of course. Aigoo, thank you so much. Absolutely, Senior. Didn't I tell you? He's incredible. Yes, yes."
At Cheol-min's intense reaction, curiosity flooded Yeon-woo's face.
"Yes, take care, Senior. I'll see you soon."
Ending the call, Cheol-min looked at Yeon-woo.
"How did it go, Teacher?"
Cheol-min stared at him in silence, then broke into a grin that stretched ear to ear and slapped Yeon-woo hard on the back.
Thwack!
Argh!
"You little— you lucky bastard. You got cast."
"Really? Hahaha. Honestly, I was worried sick inside."
He'd put on a calm front, but deep down Yeon-woo had been fretting over finishing the audition without even doing the assigned scenes for the other roles being cast.
"But listen — brace yourself, Yeon-woo."
"Yes, Teacher? What is it?"
"You got cast as Cha Woo-joo."
"What?!"
According to Director Kim Han-su, circumstances had caused the sub-male-lead casting to fall through at the last minute, and though Yeon-woo was a complete newcomer, the casting panel had unanimously decided to give him the role of Cha Woo-joo.
As he listened to the explanation, Yeon-woo jumped up and down on the spot with pure joy, delighted like a child his actual age. It was dozens of times happier than when he'd passed the NIS exam in his previous life.
Yeon-woo rode Jeong Cheol-min's car back down to Daejeon.
"Teacher. Thank you so much for driving me today."
"What thanks. You did so well, our academy's going to get some good publicity out of this."
He said it lightly, but compared to all the effort Jeong Cheol-min had put into helping prepare for this audition, a little promotional value through Yeon-woo's name was a small reward. Like his own son — as if he himself were the one auditioning — he'd stayed up late every night helping, fretting, and putting their heads together.
Yeon-woo had already possessed a foundation for acting, but it was Jeong Cheol-min who had sown the seeds in that fertile soil.
Yeon-woo bowed his head once more, full of gratitude.
"Teacher. Thank you so much for everything you've taught me."
"You kid."
As if Yeon-woo's feelings had reached him, the tip of Jeong Cheol-min's nose turned a little red. Embarrassed, he rolled up the window.
"I'm off. Tell your parents the news yourself."
"Yes, drive safely!"
Jeong Cheol-min's car pulled away, and Yeon-woo went home with a joyful heart.
A few days later, Jeong Cheol-min accompanied Yeon-woo's father, Ryu Cheol-ung, to a building in Seoul. They had come up to finalize the appearance contract with representatives from LN Media, the outsourced production company for the drama Summer's Closet.
"Brother, I've gone over it carefully, and they've taken excellent care of him for a newcomer."
"Haha, that's right. It's not that we're casting a newcomer because we're short on production budget. We're investing in the future of your son here, Ryu Yeon-woo."
For Cheol-ung, an ordinary family man who had spent his entire life as a civil servant, the amount was more than enough to be astonished by.
"Heh heh. This is all a bit overwhelming. I only vaguely heard a few days ago that my son was going to Seoul for an audition — I had no idea it was something this big."
"We're certain Ryu Yeon-woo will grow into a major star. If this amount surprises you, Father, you're going to have a hard time going forward."
The production company representatives were delighted by Ryu Cheol-ung's pure reaction. After all, when the receiver is happy, the giver enjoys giving all the more.
"Ah, and once this project wraps, various agencies will probably reach out to Yeon-woo. When that time comes, please also consider LN Entertainment, which is run by our LN Media, Father."
Ryu Cheol-ung was inwardly pleased by the production company's proactive attitude, but since he knew little about such matters, he deferred to Jeong Cheol-min who had come along.
"Yes, I understand. But for things like that, it would be more convenient to discuss with Jeong Cheol-min here. What would I know about this business. Ah, of course Yeon-woo's own thoughts matter most."
"We'll discuss the agency contract again at that time. Still, you'll need management during this shoot, so as family sharing the same pot of rice on this project, we'll take responsibility. Please sign here."
After smoothly completing the contract, Cheol-ung headed back down to Daejeon, lost in emotion at the fact that his son had earned money for the first time — when had the boy grown up so much?