Acting Prowess
"Gu-ryong, you okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Of course."
The manager continued with Gu-ryong's audition. There was no need to reveal the tattoo right here and now. He hadn't shown it to anyone before...
'But I did mention it on Weverse.'
It wasn't a complete secret, but it wasn't public knowledge either. With the audition results still up in the air, opening his mouth now would be premature.
"By any chance, can you handle OST work too? We're planning to use the band's songs from the drama as OST tracks."
"Yes, I can."
Idols, so no worries there. It was practically a passive option. If anything, he needed to ask Moo-young separately.
"Ha Moo-young has no music experience... Of course, we're casting actors here, but it'd be great if we could hire you both together. How's your singing?"
"They said it's worth listening to."
"Haha, really? Who said that?"
"Me."
Lee Yu-jin, who had been resting her chin on her hand, raised her own. So that's how it was. The manager nodded and asked again.
"Setting singing aside, we'll have to contract Ha Moo-young separately for album work?"
Hand it to an idol, and costs drop. The manager wanted a reason to justify paying extra for him.
Ro Min, who had been quietly listening, jumped in, swiftly redirecting the flow.
"If I'm cast with him, we can work on it together."
"With you, Ro Min?"
"Yeah. I want the Little Mermaid Prince role. I was an aspiring actor, but I'm still lacking a lot. My breathing and line delivery are weak, but I'm confident in facial expressions."
That's what idols do every day on stage—facial acting. Openings, closings, ad-libs synced to lines.
"So Ha Moo-young wants the lead, then?"
A pointless question. His looks and styling were already screaming, 'I'm gunning for guitarist.' Moo-young smiled and nodded.
"Yes. I just wrapped Plague with Director Jin Kyung-moon, so my schedule's wide open. No overlaps with other gigs. Should be easy to coordinate."
And a quick glance. At the ponytail guy. He had no idea who he was, but according to Ro Min, that dude was in the running for a lead in another network drama.
"I believe in doing one project at a time."
"Smart. That's key for rookies. Rushing multiple can backfire. You can't just switch on and off like that. What do you see as your weakness?"
Moo-young pretended to think at the manager's question, lips pursed. Then, with a deeply embarrassed expression, he answered.
"Honestly, I'm worried about chemistry with the co-star. I've never dated."
"No way! Really?"
"Yeah. But the character's super charismatic, like a devilish playboy vibe. Haha."
"Why? You seem like you'd have tons of girlfriends."
"Too busy studying. And now it's all auditions."
"Right, you're at Seoyeondae, yeah?"
"Yes. On break now, but I could take a semester off for the second one."
"Our character's got that devilish allure, but he's no playboy. Total fool in that department. Dummy. You'll get it from the script."
"Better an awkward shy guy anyway. Remember last time? Two actors hit it off on set, broke up mid-shoot? Ugh, the awkwardness."
Like neighborhood gossips, the staff dragged up old stories. Everyone laughed except one awkwardly chiming in.
'That guy's really—like, super really—into women.'
Hmm. Without a face to match, he could only guess from Ro Min's description of his build.
In this way, Moo-young fired off wide-area shots disguised as interview answers.
'What's with him?'
'Is he talking about me?'
'Nah, no way he knows.'
Question marks floated in competitors' heads, while subtly imprinting on the staff. That alone was half the victory.
After the subtle power play—
"Alright, shall we do a reading?"
Now for the real showdown.
Gu-ryong flipped his script toward the manager.
"Which part?"
"Anywhere you want. It's an audition—pick what you do best."
Flip, flip. At his words, everyone skimmed their scripts. Moo-young too. In the brief moment flipping pages fast—'Huh?'
Something sparkled between the pages.
#37. Club Interior
[A house party at the club. Jeong-min runs into old club members, who mock him now that he's deaf. Then Do-ha appears from behind.]
'Do-ha. The protagonist's name is Do-ha!'
His heart raced like rediscovering his own forgotten name. Moo-young lightly smoothed the page and tapped Ro Min's arm.
"Wanna try this with me? If you're cool with it."
Whispering. Heads together, murmuring. The PD and writer exchanged intrigued looks.
'Great chemistry.'
'Yeah, they match well. Throw in Song A and Pyo Rai, it'd be gold.'
"Can we go together? Ro Min needs an opposite anyway."
"Whatever's comfy. Be free. Free as you like."
With permission, they dove deep into that scene.
Gu-ryong cleared his throat and launched into lines.
"First time seeing street performers? If it's new to you, sit and clap—or get lost. Wham! This body's trying to play guitar, and you're not even grateful?"
"This body? Who the hell are you?"
A production staffer fired back. Dry, emotionless, but he didn't break immersion.
"Im Do-ha. Merrill Kellin leader. Im Do-ha."
Oho. Seasoned for sure. His acting flowed like water, infused with personal flair that shone. A bit more exaggerated than the script, but actor's license covered it. The writer circled his name and nodded.
'Nailed it.'
But eyes kept drifting to Ha Moo-young. It'd split down the middle—production favoring Gu-ryong, PD side leaning Moo-young.
"Kinda nervous. More?"
"That was nerves? Don't stress."
Gu-ryong bantered on through the back half. Idol or not, he'd pass as straight actor. Starting strong deflated the others.
"Next."
"Ahem! Yes!"
Whatever. Moo-young and Ro Min focused solely on their script, ignoring sides.
Then Ro Min scribbled at page bottom and showed Moo-young.
"Wh-who we turnin' back for? They ain't bendin'. Us? We?"
"Die before we bend."
"Ex-exactly!"
"Yep. Good job. Next."
Super nervous, huh. Stuttering like that. The manager adjusted glasses and called next.
Moo-young and Ro Min's turn. Production staffer started.
"Not Jeong-min?"
"Right. Quit the club 'cause you can't talk, straight into somewhere else. Hey hey! Kim Jeong-min!"
Staffer yelled big; Ro Min looked over. Blank face, like the world's biggest hassle.
"What're you doing here? Performing tonight?"
"What? Mute kid on stage? Heh."
Blatant provocation; he sneered. Moo-young, watching, smirked faintly.
Way better silent!
"Pisses you off? Then say get lost—"
"Then get lost, you bastards~"
Moo-young cut in smooth, no awkward gap—pure 'charge ahead.' Hand on Ro Min's shoulder.
"Get lost. Need it twice? Deaf?"
Weird? The shy Moo-young who blushed about no dating experience? Dirty words clung sticky-sweet. PD smiled, watching.
Swoosh— Ro Min raised right hand. Furious, annoyed glare. Middle finger rising.
"Whoa, no no."
Moo-young palmed it flat. For broadcast standards.
But—
"Hahaha!"
Moo-young playfully spread fingers fast. Middle finger peeking through gaps. Manager burst laughing at the cheeky move.
"What? Original stage direction?"
"Hm... Do-ha covers Jeong-min's finger and cheekily flips them off, it says."
Moo-young murmured like whispering in Ro Min's ear. Ro Min grinned, starting sign language.
Sweeping arms side to side, rubbing ear, wiping nose.
"...?"
PD checked next direction.
[They make a racket chasing off the group. Light, fun, club-vibe.]
Swearing signs. Only the writer, who learned for Jeong-min's role, caught it.
'Step on Lego barefoot!'
'Snot explode every sneeze!'
'Rejected for armpit stink!'
Snap snap snap! Ro Min's crisp moves danced. Moo-young watched, grinning wide, mimicking.
Snap snap snap! Sword-sharp sync, like martial arts.
They signed curses over and over, locked eyes, burst laughing.
"Puhahaha!"
"... ."
The scene visualized itself. Their weirdness would scatter the group—call 'em crazies, let's go.
Moo-young's laugh rang clear as a waterfall.
'Oho.'
Manager watched his acting keenly. Harder than lines: sudden emotion dumps like laughs or tears. Lines lubricate, but pure action? Tough.
'Convinces without line setup.'
PD agreed. Dialogue-free cackling, yet genuine joy—Moo-young's feat surprised her.
Proof of success? Room's faces.
"What was that? Haha, hilarious!"
"Ro Min knows sign language."
"Lots of deaf fans."
"Whoa, really? Epic. But Moo-young, you nailed it first try?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah? Kinda happened?"
"Man, fun!"
Laughter spread contagiously. PD set down her pen, arms crossed.
No matter how she thought, she liked this Ha Moo-young for the role. Perfect fit. PD instinct.
"Writer? Thoughts?"
At Lee Yu-jin's question, writer closed script. Whispered unheard:
"Just saw Do-ha and Jeong-min."
Satisfied. Images meshed perfectly, acting solid. Ro Min needed watching, but.
They mulled shared points with Moo-young.
'Conditions match great.'
No big issues—no tattoos, no schedule clashes...
Lee Yu-jin eyed the production manager, resolved.
'I'm casting Ha Moo-young no matter what.'