"The Kid's Got Talent, Character, and a Sharp Edge"

He muttered to himself, unable to tear his eyes away from Woojin.

"No agency either—kid really grows on you."

Woojin, who had been greeting the staff, finally approached Kim Tae-gon and bowed politely.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"Ah, good work."

As Woojin turned to leave after the exchange, Kim Tae-gon grabbed him.

"Hold on a sec."

"Yes?"

"If you're free sometime soon, how about grabbing a meal? If that's okay with you?"

Woojin hesitated slightly at the words. Who is this guy?

Seeing that, Kim Tae-gon quickly changed tack.

"Ah, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'm Kim Tae-gon, team leader of the management division at Flower Entertainment. Nice to meet you."

"Baek Woojin."

"I've seen you practicing with Soo-hyun at our company a few times. Not that I was peeking—just passing by, coincidence."

"I see."

He handed Woojin his business card and continued.

"We'll be seeing a lot of each other on set now, so let's get acquainted early. No other agenda—just that. No pressure."

"Got it. Thank you."

"Alright then. See you around."

After Kim Tae-gon left, Woojin stood there for a moment, examining the card in his hand before slipping it into his pocket and exiting the studio.

The teaser dropped a week later, igniting a firestorm of reactions online. The mysterious yet grand direction, the BGM, and the aura radiating from the actors' eyes and expressions blended perfectly.

Views hit a million and comments topped 100,000 on major portals in half a day. Wanted rocketed to the top of 2010's must-watch list for the first half of the year.

Reactions to Woojin's teaser footage were off the charts. Curiosity about the unsearchable actor was massive.

Woojin read his news articles with a blissful smile. Filming started next Monday. He couldn't wait to rush to set.

Don't get cocky. Work harder.

The hot reactions brought joy—and a heavier sense of responsibility. Woojin steeled himself and picked up the script again. His resolve ignited. Excitement swelled. For his showtime starting next week.

I'll show them. Who I am.

Woojin was all-in on this project, staking his life on it.

Sudden stars or celebs often say the same thing.

"Woke up and bam—it's a whole new world."

"Everyone recognizes me now. Life flipped 180 in a day."

Nah, not that extreme. Even if fame hits, feeling it the next morning? After just hours? Sounded like MSG exaggeration.

But...

"Actor Baek Woojin, right?"

"Whoa, first celeb sighting. One autograph?"

"Photo, please?"

It was real. Post-teaser, Woojin's daily life changed palpably.

No one would've pegged him as an actor before. Now, on public transport or walking the neighborhood, people spotted him. Frequent photo and autograph requests.

"Thank you."

Woojin expressed gratitude each time, smiling kindly and obliging. It was a joyful, happy shift.

"Look forward to our drama!"

He snuck in promo too. If the teaser alone did this, post-broadcast? Thrilling to imagine.

It's finally starting.

Heart pounding, Woojin stepped forward.

The Wanted set at tvKR Drama Department. First location: in-house set.

Official start of the filming race. The moment they'd all awaited.

"Woojin, you're here?"

As Woojin greeted staff and entered, PD Park welcomed him warmly.

"Hello, Director."

"Teaser reactions are exploding."

"All thanks to your killer direction."

"Gotta say, you're this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠project's biggest winner."

"I'll give it my all."

Park PD laughed heartily. Woojin smiled back, utterly relaxed.

Soon, other actors arrived one by one.

"Hi."

"Nice to see you. How've you been?"

The set buzzed instantly. Teamwork palpable from the jump. Harmony all around.

"Prep okay?"

Woojin asked Soo-hyun.

"Fell asleep on the script last night. You?"

"Same here, more or less."

"I'm a bit worried. Had a schedule yesterday, didn't get much reading done."

"Schedule?"

"Sea Bandits premiere. Director Joo Jung-hoon's new flick."

Woojin paused. Joo Jung-hoon. Familiar name. Director of Endless Road—his 500th audition flop.

"Haven't heard that in ages."

Memories of agency kkwi-pa-ri-gi surfaced, drawing a smile. Not bitter now. No regrets.

"Huh? What'd you say?"

Soo-hyun looked curious at his mumble.

"Nothing. Never mind."

"Boring. Anyway, makeup then lines?"

"Sure. Ye-chan not here yet?"

"Oppa texted earlier—arriving soon. Rehearsal once everyone's here."

"Cool. Catch you later."

Heading to makeup, Woojin tapped the teaser on his phone. Views and comments up from yesterday. Most hyping his acting.

Woojin wrote in the diary, hoping it reached Choi Kyu-bo. He quickened his pace. Standby approaching.

The three actors—made up and costumed—ran lines in a corner. Woojin, Ye-chan, Soo-hyun.

Should be four, but...

No sign of the fourth.

"Noona, try raising the tone a bit?"

"Yeah? Doesn't feel profiler-ish."

"Kinda? But now it's forced low. What do you think, hyung?"

Woojin and Ye-chan were already on bro terms.

"Agree with Woojin."

"Okay. I'll bump mine here—match tones, you two."

"Aye aye, Ye-chan the Great, Soo-hyun Majesty."

"Your wish is our command."

Weighty responsibility for the opener. They fine-tuned ensemble till the wire, ignoring making-of cams and stares. Pure focus on acting.

Then.

"Aigoo~ Sorry I'm late."

Jeong Tae-young, who should've rehearsed already, showed up. Bold as brass right before shoot.

The actors were speechless. 2020 net slang? Halmal ha anh or whatever.

"Traffic was killer. Lines anyway?"

No apology. Par for the course from agency days. No shock.

"...One more run."

Kim Ye-chan exhaled sharply. Swallowed words. Couldn't shatter the vibe pre-shoot. Later, maybe.

"Couple runs left. Go."

"Got it!"

Rehearsal resumed. Seo Jun-mo opens, four-person scene.

But, "Timeframe's too tight for that. Killing and cleanup's rushed—casually dumping the body and fleeing..."

"Huh? Oops, my bad."

Tae-young kept jumping Woojin's lines mid-delivery.

Hoo. Intentional. His lines never overlapped Jun-mo or Eun-soo—only Kyu-bo's.

No time to sync, and this nonsense?

"Hey, Senior Tae-young, what the—"

"Shooting starts! Actors, standby!"

AD Woo Seung-hyun PD boomed. Actors had no choice but to center stage.

Tae-young smirked at Woojin, ignoring the glares.

"......"

Childish. No need to bite. Woojin refocused on Kyu-bo's emotional arc.

"Lighting check. Camera right a bit more. Okay, stop!"

Actors in position; PD Park checked marks and paths. Tension thick. Crew's touchiest moment.

One mismatch delays everything. Lead actor freezes—no head tilts, no steps. Lighting and cam shift otherwise.

"Camera director, position good?"

"Set."

"Lighting?"

"Done."

"Okay. Roll."

All ready.

"Scene 2, take 1."

"Ready! Action!"

Wanted's first shot. Moment the hyped project stretched its legs.

"Okay. Good."

"Ye-chan, bust shot first."

Ye-chan and Soo-hyun's opener flowed smooth. Full shot, then waists (*head to waist) and busts (*head to chest).

Next, "Scene 2, take 3."

"Camera roll."

"Sound okay."

"Ready, action!"

Woojin moved per marks, rising to finger-count ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cheerily at Eun-soo.

Smooth sailing.

"Cut!"

"Woojin waist next."

Under PD Park's baton, lights and mics adjusted.

"Cut!"

Crisp calls echoed. Speedy, issue-free.

Except Tae-young's random NG every take or two, blaming Woojin each time.

"Sorry. One more. Woojin, why stare like that? Cracking me up."

Woojin ignored provocations. Soo-hyun's eyes shot lasers harder.

"Over the top."

One watcher afar: writer Seo Min-kyeong. She'd snuck in unannounced.

"Gotta tweak the script."

She murmured quietly.