New Actors Joining the Third Quarter Performance?
The main director of the theater troupe Actor's Yard, Oh Tae-hyeop, took a sip of the coffee in his hand and asked back.
"Yeah, that's how it turned out. It was decided suddenly yesterday, but I wanted to talk it over with you too."
"Well, if you've already decided, there must be a good reason for it. By the way, how much did you drink yesterday?"
"Uh... I can't remember. It's been forever since I blacked out like that. Ah, I'm dying."
Jeong Jae-min spoke while slumped over his desk, still suffering from the hangover. Oh Tae-hyeop shook his head with a hollow chuckle. He handed Jeong Jae-min a hangover remedy drink from the fridge and sat down across from him.
"You need to take care of your health too."
"I couldn't help it without drinking."
"Who'd you drink with? The actors you just mentioned?"
"Yeah."
"Tell me more. Who are these actors you're bringing in?"
"You're gonna flip when you hear this."
"Come on, just tell me already. Who is it?"
Oh Tae-hyeop, his face brimming with curiosity and excitement, took another sip of his coffee with a slurp and urged him on.
After downing the hangover drink, Jeong Jae-min named the lead actor.
"Lee Kang-sik."
"Wha—huh? Senior Kang-sik?!"
"See? Told you you'd be shocked."
It was a name no one could have anticipated. Oh Tae-hyeop jumped to his feet, his mouth agape in surprise. Jeong Jae-min giggled at the reaction.
"Senior Kang-sik is joining the third quarter performance? Is this confirmed?"
Jeong Jae-min nodded. Oh Tae-hyeop's eyes sparkled. The thought of Lee Kang-sik gracing a stage he directed was thrilling enough on its own.
"This is huge. Senior Kang-sik is perfect for the lead role right away."
"Not done yet. There's one more. A guy in his twenties..."
"Oh, who?!"
"...Baek Woojin."
Huh? Career, buzz, acting chops—nothing short of Lee Kang-sik's level. No, arguably surpassing him in every way. Was he talking about that Baek Woojin?
Oh Tae-hyeop blinked rapidly. Even he, who poured all his energy into theater day in and day out, had heard the name dozens of times and checked out his works.
Oh Tae-hyeop already knew just how skilled an actor Baek Woojin was.
"Baek Woojin... You mean the one I know?"
"Yeah, the Baek Woojin I worked with on that drama last time."
"...!"
At Jeong Jae-min's follow-up, Oh Tae-hyeop could no longer hide his excitement. Just the legend from Actor's Yard returning to the stage painted vivid pictures in his mind. And now another unexpected name popped up.
Whoa, hold on. How was he supposed to direct this?
Acting and direction were relative. Theater was a stage where audiences instantly noticed any imbalance if one side fell short. These two joining made even the ever-confident Oh Tae-hyeop feel the pressure before rehearsals even began—a sensation he hadn't felt in ages.
Their star power and talent created an obsession: no room for even the tiniest flaw in direction.
Oh Tae-hyeop clenched his fist.
"You brought some massive news. No wonder you blacked out yesterday."
"Right?"
"How'd you pull this off? How did Senior Kang-sik and Woojin end up joining our show?"
"Woojin reached out first. Said he wanted to do theater."
"For real?"
"He said he's never done stage acting before. Always wanted to try it someday, and now felt like the perfect timing."
"So he contacted you."
"I was grateful. During Justice filming, I told him to call anytime if he wanted to do theater. And he remembered."
"I can picture your face. Hearts in your eyes like the first time you met Seol-ah, huh? Hahaha!"
Oh Tae-hyeop laughed heartily and added,
"Speaking of which, have you told Seol-ah yet?"
"Not yet. It was decided yesterday, like I said. You're the first I'm telling."
"Then I'll let her know. We're having a script meeting soon anyway."
"Good. When?"
"Day after tomorrow. Oh, and the final script will be done by the end of the week."
"She'll love that."
"Seol-ah hit the jackpot!"
Thinking of delivering the good news to their youngest, the two seniors smiled warmly.
Oh Tae-hyeop asked Jeong Jae-min,
"So, about the auditions."
"Yeah."
"Reserve spots for Senior Kang-sik and Woojin in A Team, full auditions for the rest in B Team?"
"Nah, not quite."
"Huh? What do you mean...?"
"Just reserve one spot."
New actors Lee Kang-sik and Baek Woojin—two of them—but only one spot reserved? Oh Tae-hyeop looked puzzled, and Jeong Jae-min explained right away.
"Fix Senior Kang-sik in A Team, auditions as usual for the rest."
"What about Woojin?"
"Exactly what I said. Business as usual."
Jeong Jae-min smiled brightly. Oh Tae-hyeop pondered, then clapped his hands.
Ah, no way...
"...You're putting Woojin through auditions outright? Not fixing him in A Team?"
"Bingo."
"Why? His skills are proven—why bother?"
Oh Tae-hyeop tilted his head. Jeong Jae-min replied in a low voice.
"We need to. Because Woojin asked for it."
"What? He requested it himself?"
"He said Senior Kang-sik's an Actor's Yard alum and a theater senior, so he deserves respect. But not him."
"..."
"He's a total newbie to theater, not even debuted yet. Special treatment wouldn't be right. It's disrespectful to our Actor's Yard seniors working hard to make A or B Team. Just let him audition fairly from the same starting line."
"...That guy's mindset is something else."
"Hearing him hit me like a ton of bricks. Made me ashamed of myself for a second."
Jeong Jae-min reflected on yesterday's talk and continued slowly.
"Kang-sik and I go way back—we suffered together in Actor's Yard from the start. And Woojin? I saw his skills firsthand on the drama set."
"True."
"Both wanting to perform with us at Actor's Yard—it made me so happy. I unconsciously fixed them both as A Team leads, auditions for the rest. But as the rep of Actor's Yard, I overlooked our own actors' feelings."
"Don't beat yourself up. Anyone would've thought the same."
Jeong Jae-min scratched his head. Oh Tae-hyeop patted his shoulder.
"Can't wait to meet them. I'm already a fan of Woojin just from your stories."
"Thanks for saying that. Anyway, once you talk to Seol-ah, let's schedule auditions quick."
"Got it."
"One more thing: treat Woojin exactly the same—no special favors. Fair and square."
"Don't worry. You know I'm strict about separating work and personal."
Oh Tae-hyeop grabbed a cigarette and headed out of the office. Watching his back, Jeong Jae-min touched his lips thoughtfully.
Ma Seol-ah's next play. A Team had Lee Kang-sik fixed for one role; B Team's equivalent was still open. They'd talked a lot yesterday after the surprise additions.
Those burning with acting passion weren't just the returning Lee Kang-sik and theater newbie Baek Woojin.
"...Maybe I should try being fair like Woojin too."
Jeong Jae-min was an actor once, after all. He murmured softly.
While Jeong Jae-min and Oh Tae-hyeop were deep in admiration over an actor's conviction and mindset...
The man at the center of that conversation stood at the front door with a meaningful expression.
*Ding-dong.*
He pressed the bell, and a voice came from beyond the door.
"Who is it?"
"..."
He didn't reply, pressing it again.
*Ding-dong.*
"Who is it?!"
The voice from inside sounded a bit sharper now.
He pressed without answering once more.
"Hey, who is it?!"
This time, irritation laced the response. One final press.
*Whoosh!*
"Ah, who is it!"
The door flew open, and a head poked out through the gap. Woojin waved cheerfully with a grin.
"Hi?"
"Ah, what... Why didn't you answer?!"
Baek Woo-hee frowned upon seeing her brother.
But,
"Missed you, sis."
"No, why'd you ring and not answer?!"
As Woojin kept dodging, Woo-hee raised her voice in frustration.
"I've been waiting all day for you."
"What's with you today? You're acting weird."
"Nah, I'm clearer-headed than ever."
"Hey... You sick or something?"
"I'm fine."
His beaming smile contrasted with his floaty responses. Woo-hee, initially puzzled, grew serious.
"Come in first."
She hurriedly grabbed his bags, pulled him inside by the hand, and shut the door.
The moment they sat on the sofa, Woo-hee pressed her hand to his forehead worriedly.
"No fever... You sure you're okay?"
"..."
"Why aren't you talking now! If you're sick or something's wrong, say it. We'll go to the hospital."
Seeing her brother so strangely after nearly three months, Woo-hee pouted. For someone who worried about him like no one else in Korea despite their constant bickering, it was natural.
She missed the faint smile on his lips and rushed to grab her wallet from her room.
Returning, she clutched his hand on the sofa.
"No, hospital now. Get up."
*Grab.*
"...?!"
Suddenly, Woojin yanked the arm holding his hand. Woo-hee tumbled onto the sofa.
"Ow, what the—?!"
She whipped her head up to yell at him. Then,
"Sis..."
He finally spoke.
"What are you doing!"
"Sis."
"What!"
"What's that supposed to mean? Strip and ride?"
"What the hell! You must have heatstroke or... Wait."
Something flashed in Woo-hee's mind.
Oh, right...
"Ahaha..."
She laughed awkwardly, but Woojin ignored it, slowly leaning over her.
"Take off your shoes first?"
"Didn't think you'd actually say that..."
"Oh, no guilt either?"
"You're an idiot? Who'd believe that for real?"
"Whatever, let's start."
"Start what?!"
"What else? Revenge after over two months. You're dead today."
"Hey, wait! Hey!"
Woojin leaped onto the sofa.
"Mom, Mom!"
At Woo-hee's desperate cry, their napping mother jolted awake from the master bedroom and rushed into the living room.
"Sorry, sorry! I surrender! Surrender!"
"No such thing, Baek Woo-hee!"
The rare sight of Woojin twisting his sister's joints(?) had their mother bursting into laughter.
'Aaaah!'
Woo-hee's pitiful screams filled the house. The siblings' day, even on this long-awaited family reunion, spun wildly in every direction—heavenly chaos, utter bewilderment, round and round.