Chapter 364
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 364
Chapter Title: The Final Boss
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Seojun soon found himself enjoying the cheering stick designs rather than judging them for the contest. There was the werewolf from his Halloween costume and the exorcist from his cameo. There was also the baby shaman from *The Possessed* in a colorful traditional jacket and a chubby-cheeked baby Seojun holding a small spoon.
An Daho, who was looking over the [Cheering Stick Contest] forum with Seojun, spoke up.
“Hmm. Don’t these look more like fan art than cheering stick designs?”
“I guess so.”
Seojun laughed when he spotted the words ‘Seojun! I love you!’ written in the corner of a design by a fan who knew he would be looking at them himself.
After scrolling through a few more posts that were a mix of cheering stick designs, fan art, and illustrated letters, Seojun looked up from his PinePad.
“Daho hyung, there are so many good designs, I don’t know which one to pick.”
“I see that… but most of them would be difficult to actually make into cheering sticks.”
“Why?”
Seojun tilted his head at An Daho’s words.
“It’s not like you’re a singer, so you don’t have many concerts or events where they’d be used, but once we make one, it’ll be used for a long time unless we change the design. I think it’d be better to create a cheering stick with a common image rather than one based on a specific role.”
An Daho continued with a smile.
“Every fan has a different favorite role, so it would be a shame to base it on just one… and you have so many more projects ahead of you.”
“That’s true.”
He had a point.
He might star in a better, more interesting, or even a life-changing film in the future. It would be a shame to have the cheering stick represent only one of his roles.
‘Then which one should I choose…?’
Seeing Seojun seriously browsing the forum, An Daho said with a smile.
“There’s still time left in the contest, so you can choose slowly.”
An Daho glanced at the clock in the practice room.
“Hmm. A lot of time has passed. Should we call it a day?”
“Okay.”
There were as many designs as there was love from his fans, and his eyes were starting to feel a little strained.
As Seojun gently rubbed his eyes, An Daho smiled and brought over a script. At the sight of it, Seojun’s eyes sparkled as if he’d never been tired at all.
“While you’re judging the contest, I’ll just give you one script at a time, recommended by Team 2. You can read it at home when you’re bored.”
“What kind of project is it?”
“It’s from Danhong, and it looked pretty good. The other actors haven’t been cast yet, and this is the director’s second film. The first one didn’t do well.”
Seojun blinked as he listened to An Daho’s explanation.
A second film after the first one failed.
The director had the same background as the one he’d met by the Han River, but it had been less than a month, so it probably wasn’t him.
“There’s an audition, but you’re okay with that, right?”
“Yes, I’m fine with it.”
What did an audition matter if the script was good?
Seojun was so passionate about his work that he had even adapted a play himself to put on stage. An Daho and Team 2, knowing this well, had no hesitation in recommending Danhong’s script to him.
‘Everyone seems to know what appeals to Seojun the most now.’
The types of scripts coming into Cocoa Entertainment for Lee Seojun’s dedicated Team 2 were slowly starting to change. Of course, there were still some scripts that were just long shots, but well-known production companies had begun sending genuinely good projects or unique and unconventional works that were rarely seen.
They had realized that the actor Lee Seojun was moved by the quality of the project above all else.
‘Of course, some production companies will try to use a good project as leverage to drive a hard bargain…’
But it was the job of the manager and the agency to prevent that and ensure the actor could perform in the projects he loved, comfortably and enjoyably.
‘The audition is just a formality.’
The manager, confident in his actor’s skills and certain he would pass, smiled warmly. He then handed the script to his actor, who was waiting with sparkling eyes.
Seojun quickly took the script and looked at the first page.
The title, director, and production company’s name were written on it.
“Oh.”
An exclamation escaped Seojun’s lips.
A name he truly never expected to see here was written on the page.
[Working Title: Journey]
[Director: Min Heekyung]
[Production Company: Danhong]
Min Heekyung.
Those three syllables brought back the voice of the director he met by the Han River.
‘I’ll write a great script, so just you wait.’
Seojun smiled brightly and turned the first page of the script.
‘I thought it would take a bit longer…’
He was genuinely curious about what kind of script it would be.
***
Danhong, the film production company.
The planning team seemed to be working as usual, but their minds were elsewhere.
“When do you think we’ll hear back?”
“Who knows. Cocoa Entertainment reviews submissions in the order they’re received, so if they have a big backlog, it’ll be late.”
“It’s only been a few days since we sent the script, but the wait is killing me.”
“We can’t proceed until we get a yes or no from them.”
“Cocoa Entertainment is busy these days. They’re running Seojun’s cheering stick contest and debuting a new idol group.”
At the words of Lee Yunju, a fan of Lee Seojun, her colleague next to her asked.
“I saw the cheering stick designs, and there were a lot of good ones. Which one was your favorite?”
“I liked the Naeuiwon snow globe. I loved how Grand Prince Seongnyeong and Royal Physician Heo were holding hands. But I don’t think I’d shake a snow globe.”
“Why not?”
“A snowy winter… it’s just too sad.”
“Ah. Grand Prince Seongnyeong died in winter.”
*Ugh.*
Her colleague’s words reminded Lee Yunju of the drama, and she felt a lump in her throat.
Seeing the saddened Lee Yunju, her colleague shrugged. Another employee joined the conversation.
“I saw that one too. It made me want to buy one. Do you think it’ll win first place?”
There were quite a few designs that made even casual observers, who hadn’t considered buying a cheering stick, think, ‘Maybe just one.’
Shaking off her sadness, Lee Yunju opened her mouth.
“But I like the other designs too. No matter which one gets first place, I think it’ll be a little disappointing.”
“That’s true. Once it’s out, that’s it. You can’t just swap out the parts you want.”
Lee Yunju, who had been sighing in disappointment, froze at her colleague’s words. Holding her breath, she stared blankly at the person sitting next to her.
“…What did you say?”
“Huh? What?”
Her colleague blinked, confused by Lee Yunju’s strange, malfunctioning demeanor.
“What did you just say?”
With her eyes blazing, Lee Yunju stared intently, and her colleague spoke with a bewildered expression.
“…Once it’s out, that’s it?”
“After that!”
“…You can’t just swap out the parts you want?”
“That’s a great idea!”
Lee Yunju’s eyes sparkled as she pulled out a blank sheet of paper and a pen. Her colleague scratched his cheek, watching her openly slack off.
Meanwhile, another corner of the office was buzzing with talk about Cocoa Entertainment’s new group.
“I was wondering when the next group after Red Crown would debut, and here they are.”
“The gap between new groups at Cocoa Entertainment is a bit long.”
“But whenever they debut someone, they turn the music industry upside down. Brown Black, White, Red Crown. Three consecutive successes. Isn’t that something only major agencies do?”
Everyone nodded, then tilted their heads.
“But isn’t Cocoa Entertainment considered a major agency by now?”
“I feel like they have too few artists for that.”
“But they have Lee Seojun.”
Ah.
They all nodded in unison.
“Is it a girl group or a boy group?”
“A boy group. I heard through the grapevine that some of Lee Seojun’s friends are in it.”
Ooh.
The employees murmured in admiration.
“If they’re friends with Lee Seojun, they must be incredibly talented.”
“I know, right?”
The office, bustling with talk of Lee Seojun and the boy group, fell silent as soon as the planning team leader walked in. A colleague nudged the arm of Lee Yunju, who was busy sketching something on her paper.
“Is the audition script ready?”
With Lee Seojun participating, it was bound to become a hot topic. That meant the movie would also get a lot of attention, and reporters hungry for a scoop might publish articles about the film’s plot.
Therefore, Danhong was planning to prepare a separate audition script, a pre-revision version that was only slightly related to the actual story.
One of the employees answered the team leader’s question.
“Yes. Director Min gave us a slightly revised version yesterday.”
“The audition will draw a lot of attention, so be careful not to let the details leak.”
“Team Leader!”
Just then, an employee called out to the team leader. All eyes turned toward him.
Seeing the employee’s bright expression, everyone in the office had a feeling. The team leader didn’t try to suppress the smile that was unknowingly spreading across his face.
“Actor Lee Seojun. He’s auditioning!”
***
“There’s a new audition notice on the board.”
At the words of Jeon Sungmin, who had just returned from an errand for the teacher, the kids’ eyes lit up. Seojun, who was explaining an English problem to his friends, had a feeling he knew what audition it was.
“What is it? A movie? A drama?”
“When’s the shoot? My drama wraps up next month…”
“I can’t. I’m preparing for a play.”
“I wonder if it’ll overlap with our year-end performance practice.”
“My grades are too bad. I probably won’t be able to do any acting at all next year.”
“Me too. My mom told me to start studying now.”
Aside from the kids who were already filming dramas or movies, appearing in plays, or planning to focus solely on studying for the college entrance exams, everyone was interested in what Jeon Sungmin had to say.
“The production company is Danhong.”
“Ooh!”
“Danhong is a big company!”
“They made *Yeok (Reverse)*!”
At that, all eyes turned to Seojun before shifting back to Jeon Sungmin. Seojun couldn’t help but laugh at his friends’ emphatic reactions to every word Jeon Sungmin uttered.
“What kind of role is it?”
Jeon Sungmin answered Kim Jukyung’s question.
“They’re casting for supporting roles and the main character.”
“…The main character?”
They had expected supporting roles… but the protagonist?
The kids’ eyes widened at his words.
“The main character must be young.”
“Usually, even if the character is young, they cast an adult actor for the lead, right? They can just put them in a school uniform.”
“Maybe it’s like *The Survivors*, where he appears alongside other adult roles?”
One by one, the kids took out their phones to look up the new audition. The mention of the main character role piqued the interest of even those who had previously been indifferent due to their ongoing projects or exam preparations, and they eagerly searched the audition site.
Seojun also took out his phone and read the audition notice from Danhong. Due to concerns about script leaks, the synopsis was different from the script he had read.
‘But there are some similarities.’
Kim Jukyung, who was reading the short character description, spoke up.
“…I think Hansuk would be good at this.”
“…You’re right.”
At Kim Jukyung’s words, the students recalled the first-year acting student who had, unintentionally, caused a stir at Mirae Arts High a few weeks ago.
***
Mirae Arts High School, Acting Department, Year 1, Class 1.
The classroom was abuzz with chatter about the new audition notice.
“I can’t believe this is happening…!”
“Danhong! It’s Danhong!”
“Whoa! Kim Hansuk! This role seems perfect for you, man!”
Unlike his frantic friends, Kim Hansuk was just bewildered.
Three words in the protagonist’s description caught his eye.
[Terminally ill]
Just a few weeks ago.
It was a word that was all too familiar, a word that still made his heart sting a little, for Kim Hansuk had personally experienced something right up to the brink of being terminally ill.
“I’m going to audition too, but… I think I’d be better at playing the protagonist’s friend than the protagonist himself.”
Everyone nodded at the boy’s words.
“That’s true. The anxiety we felt back then was more like that of friends worrying about the main character than the main character himself.”
“Hansuk. Do you remember how you felt back then?”
At his friend’s question, Kim Hansuk searched his memory.
“Hmm. I think I kind of get what it feels like.”
Anxious, uneasy, and scared.
Honestly, he almost died from the stress of worrying, not from the illness itself.
“Who among our peers would understand the protagonist’s heart better than you?”
“Exactly!”
Just then, the door to Class 1 burst open with a bang.
The gazes of Kim Hansuk and the other students turned to the door. The class president, the most well-connected student in their class, raised his voice with a flushed face.
“Hey! Lee Seojun is auditioning for the Danhong movie!”
…What?
At the unexpected appearance of the final boss, Kim Hansuk and his friends froze solid.