Crushing the Script Reading
Ha, if that's the case... Crunch. The script in Kim Donghu's hand crumpled up. A deliberate squeeze to show his contempt. Kim Donghu—no, now Lee Jae-i—slowly looked around.
Countless award plaques from competitions hung proudly, just like Galaxy Arts High's boast. Every single one represented pure talent, without exception. There was no room for scum crawling up from the gutters.
"If you entrust it to me, I'll take full responsibility and end HideDream for good."
The principal eyed him with interest at those resolute words.
"How exactly do you plan to end it?"
"If you just half-ass it, they'll crawl back up. We need to show them reality at the Miri-nae competition ahead of time."
Miri-nae. The core stage of HideDream's story, the year-end evaluation for Galaxy Arts High. A place to test talent and a launchpad to stardom. Not just within the school—industry insiders came to judge the students' skills. HideDream aimed to win there.
Those maggoty lowlifes from the absolute bottom—
Lee Jae-i swallowed his disgust and continued.
"Put HideDream first in the lineup, and me dead last."
No matter how well they did, the first slot would be forgotten. The last one would burn into memory the strongest. Normally, order was drawn by lottery, but that didn't matter now.
"I'm counting on you."
The principal was cunning. He knew why he'd called Lee Jae-i, and why Lee Jae-i had no choice but to go this far. Principal Wang Ho intended to exploit it thoroughly.
"I'll repay your trust."
The final line of Scene 55. The director, having checked that far, couldn't help but shout.
"Cut!"
"..."
After the director's abrupt cut sign, PD Kim Youngmo suggested a 30-minute break to let everyone catch their breath.
But no one moved from their seats. They were too busy processing the impossible scene they'd just witnessed.
Aah...
Scriptwriter Lee Min-ha, who'd penned the lines, clutched her throbbing head from the dopamine overload. Not only had the character come alive before her eyes, but the exact scene she'd imagined was unfolding right there. How could she not be thrilled? She was on the verge of dizziness from sheer joy.
Donghu's grown into something unreal.
Kim Yuryeon, seeing Kim Donghu after a while, gave him a silent standing ovation in her mind. At just fourteen. His first drama, his first script reading. And in a flash, he'd captivated everyone.
It felt fresh reliving the shock from Kyarruk Doctor!.
And PD Kim Youngmo felt the same rush.
Kim Donghu, Kim Donghu, Kim Donghu!
He wanted to leap up and hug the kid right then. Script readings were usually lighthearted, focused more on blocking than acting. But Kim Donghu's ripple had turned the mood dead serious.
To avoid getting crushed by a rookie—no agency, no prior work, just a fresh kid—everyone was scrambling.
Glances all around. Where the hell did this come from?
As everyone stared speechless at their scripts, the principal—no, Jang Geonho—finally spoke up.
"Kim Donghu, was it?"
"Yes, sunbaenim. Kim Donghu."
"Nice to meet you. Looks like we'll be syncing up a lot."
Kim Donghu shot up and bowed crisply. He'd greeted everyone with a bow before the reading started, but you couldn't overdo politeness.
"Yes! I'll learn a ton from you."
"Haha, we help each other out. But have you trained anywhere before?"
Jang Geonho cut straight to it. Deep down, he knew the answer.
No way he has.
That wasn't something you learned. It was raw, radiant talent. The domain everyone craved but few ever touched—a monster's nest built to devour cameras. To Jang Geonho, Kim Donghu lived there.
"I haven't had formal training, so I'm full of gaps. I'll work harder."
"Haha, harder from here?"
The boy's earnest replies were adorable, drawing a soft chuckle and an incredulous shake from Jang Geonho.
"Feel free to drop the formalities."
"Sure thing!"
"Heard you don't have an agency?"
"That's right."
Slide. A business card landed on Kim Donghu's spot.
"!"
Handed over the moment he mentioned no agency. The intent was crystal clear.
"Geonho sunbae, that's putting me in a tough spot."
Kim Yuryeon smiled softly at the sight.
"I've had my eye on Donghu since way back."
Slide. Her card went right on top of Jang Geonho's.
Playful vibe. But their eyes screamed dead serious.
"You can't just swoop in like that."
"Haha, what? It's just a card. We'll have plenty to talk about for the drama."
"Oh? My mistake then."
Jang Geonho swallowed hard at Kim Yuryeon's elegant retort. He'd known they were close from the start, but not that she'd been gunning for him outright. Then again, it made perfect sense.
A gem like that floating without an agency? No way anyone sits idle.
To Jang Geonho—and everyone there—Kim Donghu was a gold nugget adrift on the riverbank.
This left the rookies from ST Ent and Full Lady in limbo. Spread across ages from mid-teens up, they got zero attention. The plan had been for seniors to guide their rough edges gently. But the catfish had muddied the waters before the sketch was even drawn.
Nothing to do but pray this wrapped quick.
Gotta prep more.
Am I getting eaten alive?
Where'd this kid even come from?
Mixed with envy, jealousy, and awe.
"Great work, everyone!"
The short, intense script reading came to an end.
The morning after the script reading, as I prepped for school, my phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Kim Donghu! You—you—you got the part?!"
Her voice pitched high with excitement, diving straight into it like always. Kim Sujin.
"Yeah, I did. Figured we'd meet there since you got an offer too, but no dice."
"You say that like it's nothing! So you're a real actor now? For real?"
"Pretty much."
"Then do a romance with me later."
"Huh?"
What the—? I burst out laughing at her bold shot out of nowhere. Too random.
Before I could reply, Sujin rattled on.
"We're only fourteen, so no direct romance scenes anyway. Means no big role for HideDream! So when we're bigger, later! Do romance with me then!"
"It's not like we can just decide that..."
"You will!"
Click. She hung up after that. Sounded super embarrassed. Cute as hell.
Time to get proper permission for real now.
Acting meant clashing with school inevitably. Tests were one thing, but worst case, attendance could tank.
Had to coordinate with the teacher. Worst case?
2010's rough on arts activity credits.
If the teacher stonewalled, things could get awkward. Plus, hair regs were still strict—lots of potential friction.
But.
"Oh? Sure thing! Go for it, Donghu—no worries, do whatever you want."
My homeroom teacher backed me hard, blowing away my concerns.
"But Donghu, even with your busy schedule, it'd be great if you joined school life a bit. Like... running for student council president?"
She even pushed to pad my resume. Staring blankly, I got the rundown.
"After the cops investigated back then, our school's model student status got us in the paper. Principal loves you now."
2010, the romantic era. Sinbit Middle made "model school" for no delinquents—two lines on the back page. School ate it up.
"Ah... grateful for the kind view."
"That's our Donghu—straight shooter, love it! Haha!"
She patted my back, stressing no issues.
"Just text ahead when you gotta miss."
"Teacher, and about dyeing my hair for the role..."
"Pfft! Told you it's fine! Trust Jang Boseok! But no complaints if your drama poster goes up after!"
What? What kinda logic is that, teacher?
Time flew. Past summer break, into September. HideDream's first shoot day.
Staff chatted idly under the mild weather.
"But even if he acts great, can he pull it off physically?"
Topic: Kim Donghu. Playing high schooler at fourteen. Aura helped, but issues lingered.
"Height, right? At 170, he gets dwarfed by the other actors."
Compared to 170+ late teens, he was small. And as the antagonist opposite HideDream, bulk mattered.
"Worried, yeah."
Most staff missed the reading, so natural concern.
And then.
"Hello. I'm Kim Donghu, playing Lee Jae-i."
The man himself arrived.
"Whoa..."
Rumors didn't lie—insanely handsome. But something off. Wasn't he supposed to be short?
Then it hit them. Fourteen. Prime growth age.
No way...
Sure enough, vacation spurt. 14 years old, 173cm. Proving elite genes, he announced his presence.
Ha, if that's the case...
Staff sensed it.
This kid might steal the show.
Villain popularity could skyrocket too much.