Worries, Torment, Resolve, Determination
“Hoo~.”
“Whoa…”
“Hey, hey, look at that, look at her.”
Sigh~ Stop staring already, you people…
On the way to the shooting set, the only thing I was wearing was a long, pure white T-shirt that came down to my knees. People's gazes were locked on me—not just my face, but the bulging outline of my junk that showed through the fabric every time I walked. They wouldn't even let me wear panties.
Why the hell did I accept this offer?
Before I arrived in this body, I couldn't understand why this world's Ji-an Lee had made such a choice. The memories teased at the edges of my mind, tickling but never quite connecting clearly. By the time I got to the set, I was too busy with greetings and prep to think deeply about it—or even grab a drink.
What I had checked in a rush was the money.
In a capitalist society, what can't you do for cash? I tuned out my surroundings for a moment and recalled the standard appearance fee guide.
The rock bottom 5-tier—extras or bit parts—tops out at 1 million KRW per episode. The tier above, 4-tier supporting roles, can hit 10 million KRW per ep. From 3-tier on, where mid-level and rising stars cluster, the units change: up to 100 million KRW per ep. 2-tier leads max at 400 million, and the holy grail 1-tier global stars pull 1 billion KRW or more per episode.
Here, as a rare guy with a unique look, I skipped straight past 5-tier bit pay into top 4-tier supporting rates—even for a single scene. That's 10 million won per ep, and just one scene at that! Movies pay a bit differently and higher, but that's mainly for leads…
Finished with fees, I thought about something that made me feel even better: the profit split.
80-20.
Jackpot… Phew… Let's do this.
It wasn't like I wasn't embarrassed, so I steeled myself and reviewed today's script.
Not many lines. Almost none, really.
My role was pure exposure bait—drawing eyes and attention. Not physically tough, but mentally? This shoot was gonna suck.
“Director's here!”
“Hahaha, come on in, Ji-an!”
“Ha, hahaha… Yes, Director.”
We'd arrived around 10 and already done greetings, but the director rushed over with a beaming smile like it was our first meeting.
Chin.
Sigh…
A hand thrust out like it was the most natural thing. I sighed inwardly and extended mine.
Grab.
Pat.
“Hahaha, just tough it out a bit for us today, Ji-an.”
I mustered a weak smile as he shook my hand vigorously and clapped my shoulder way too hard. Even in a reversed world, sleazy creeps with dark intentions didn't vanish.
“Hmm… Impressive… Was it this big?”
“Pardon?”
“Ahem, ahem, nothing…”
Following the director's gaze as he released my hand and stepped back, I saw why he was fake-coughing. The T-shirt clung to my body in the breeze, outlining my junk crystal clear.
“Ha, haha…”
Mortified, I grabbed the hem and flared it out as wide as possible.
“Hmm… Should we have him wear underwear…? Didn't expect it to be this big…”
Underwear? Oh, right… My dick's way above average… They didn't account for that?
Only then did it hit me why the production had begged no panties—and why this world's Ji-an had agreed. With a T-shirt this loose, it'd just hint at a silhouette at most. 10 million won for one scene showing that much! But that was then-me, and now…
“Uh, so… underwear…?”
“Tsk…”
As I shot a troubled glance, the director rubbed his chin in thought.
But two women's voices cut in, halting his dilemma.
“Hahaha, don't sweat it, Ji-an. This looks way better.”
“Yeah, exactly. Get shy over this, you'll never act.”
“Hmm…”
Yu-ri Cha, the sharp-featured mid-20s actress playing the villain, and Ee-seul Han, the calm late-20s detective. These bitches…
The director nodded at their words, and unease crept in.
“Hmm… Ten minutes—no, 20-minute break! Hahaha, wait here a sec, Ji-an? Quick huddle!”
He barked it like an order and dragged the two actresses plus some crew into the tented break area.
“N-Noona… Gotta wear underwear, right? Yeah?”
Turning hopefully to my manager, she was chatting with a staffer. Her eyes flicked to me.
“Ahem… Didn't realize it'd be this much…”
Fair enough. The T-shirt was knee-length even if oversized, and she'd helped me dress in the break room—I'd just sat still after.
She scanned me top to bottom quick, then met my eyes.
“Stay put. I'll check it out.”
“Okay.”
Sigh… Hope it works out…
As they walked off, I prayed for good news and settled on a mat under a big tree.
“Actor Ji-an Lee, have some of this.”
A 30-something staffer handed me steaming green tea.
“Oh, thanks!”
“No problem, hahaha.”
Sigh… My head's killing me… They really can't keep hands off.
She could've just handed it over. Grabbing my hand to guide the paper cup to my lips? Annoying.
Whatever… This is alpha life, I guess. Let the small stuff slide.
Big stakes here—nitpick every touch, and I'd never survive. Compromise time.
Slurp, gulp… Slurp, gulp.
I nursed the hot tea slowly, enduring the anxious boredom.
As the cup emptied, the crew poured out—meeting over. Kyung-hee noona approached.
“Phew… Ji-an…”
Her sigh spiked my nerves.
10 million won accepted no-underwear, crowds assembled for the shoot. Insist now, and we'd tank it. Me bailing? Today's prep alone would cost millions. How to face those stares… Future career damage too.
“Script's changed a bit… And the fee.”
“Meaning…”
“Yeah, no underwear condition. You can do it? Please… I beg you…”
Ah…
Her eyes welled up pleadingly, and it clicked why this happened.
Desperation.
Male actor shortage, male privilege. Collective refusal of sex-selling roles bred entitlement and rudeness. Agencies, productions, networks—headaches galore.
Guys? Easy money anyway, no regrets, so why expose unwillingly?
Here, naive, too-nice me couldn't ignore the agency's plea.
Parents' loss… In a world with no one to lean on, being desperately needed proved my worth—the only way.
Plus househead burden.
Treatment's top-tier, though…
That 80-20 split shocked, but at lead pay, it's 90-10 on a 3-year deal.
And my personality matched this world's Ji-an perfectly. Same tracks, reversed genders or not.
“Y-You okay with it? Ji-an? We can say no—pay the penalty… But your career… Sigh… Ji-an…”
Her voice snapped me back; she was on the verge of tears.
Right… She's the team leader.
Memory: Introduced as my manager, saved as such in my phone. But en route chat revealed she's mid-30s, running a whole team at Hanul Entertainment.
A woman like that groveling to a rookie guy… Before value, as a person—as Ji-an Lee—I couldn't just watch.
Plus, parking lot held a huge van with road manager and makeup staff tailing me. Lead actor treatment.
Do it, let's go! Ask to edit out the raunchiest bits! From today, I'm a pro! Ji-an, fight!
Recalling repeated failures and retirement thoughts, I hardened my resolve.
Do it!
But before blurting, one key thing left… I whispered in noona's ear.
“Ahem… How much for the fee?”
“Kuh.”
Assuming I'd cave, she blinked back tears.
“Five times the fee, plus 1% running guarantee!”
“Whoa…”
Had to confirm at least. The script change.
Then I'd throw a fit for underwear… But… five times! 50 million won plus running guarantee… 1% of 15,000-won tickets, minus theater cuts, investor shares—about 65 won per viewer. At a million viewers…
My money-brain spun wild.
6.5 million?! Two million viewers? 130 million?!?! Bank account… Hold on, bro's filling you up soon!
Family breadwinner picturing my emptying account… I caved hard to the cash haze.
“Let's do it now.”
“Heh, yes!”
“Awesome!”
“Ooh!”
“One, two!”
“Hahaha, glad we worked it out… Prep for shooting!”
“Yes!”
With the director's call and surrounding cheers, we followed the departing crew.