Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 030
Chapter Title: First Acting (2)
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Amid the applause, the acting began slowly. But moments later, Writer Min and Director Heo found themselves utterly absorbed in the flow of the performance created by Yeonwoo and Kwon Seonghyeon.
It was a location without a single proper set piece, yet somehow, luxurious high-rise interiors seemed to stretch out behind them.
“I had a hunch ever since I saw that video, but damn, it’s the real deal.”
Director Heo muttered without taking his eyes off the two.
“That presence is spot on. With just that, that kid’s definitely going to make it in this industry.”
Presence.
It was an essential quality that anyone called a star in the entertainment world had to possess. It wasn’t something you could manufacture on purpose.
“I told you, didn’t I? The moment I saw that video, I just knew. I didn’t push for a camera test for no reason.”
“Our Writer Min struck gold. How does he hold his own next to Kwon Seonghyeon without getting overshadowed? It’s insane.”
The indescribable aura that ordinary people felt when encountering a star—that untouchable quality—was precisely this ‘presence.’
Good proportions. Good looks, handsome or pretty. Such external factors weren’t all that important for presence.
You could hone your appearance or acting skills.
But a unique aura was a different story.
That was something you couldn’t force, no matter how hard you tried.
That was why, in the entertainment industry overflowing with beautiful and handsome people, only a tiny fraction survived as ‘stars.’
Presence was something you either had innately or not at all.
“I’ve got an eye for people, right? Wow. Even Seonghyeon’s debut didn’t have this level of insane presence.”
“The mask suits him too. No embarrassment standing side by side.”
Kwon Seonghyeon, the pinnacle among the elite.
Naturally, his looks were like a sculpture crafted by the gods themselves.
Even actors, singers, or idols considered handsome would look like drowned rats next to him.
Yet.
“He’s delicately handsome, but that unique vibe makes him feel like he’s in a whole different category, not comparable.”
“How’s the acting? Looks good to me.”
“Good? That’s an understatement. It’s completely insane.”
Writer Min was busy drinking in Yeonwoo’s performance with her eyes.
Right there was the character she had painstakingly envisioned, alive and breathing.
The cold, ruthless, aloof Grim Reaper.
The principle-driven Grim Reaper was perfectly captured.
But the intermittent flickers of cold flame-like emotion brought the character to vivid life.
“It’s insane, totally insane. Oh my god.”
All she could utter was admiration.
The original Grim Reaper that Writer Min had crafted was exactly like that.
The unshakable being gradually revealing emotions bit by bit—that was the key point.
Yeonwoo nailed exactly the part she had intended.
The subtle foreshadowing of the Grim Reaper’s change, planted right from the first appearance.
“Whoa…….”
“Damn…….”
“No joke…….”
It wasn’t a long scene.
Yet before they knew it, staff members had gathered one by one, drawn in despite their other tasks, because their eyes were inevitably pulled toward it.
“How does he not trip over a single pronunciation? Plenty of folks mess up in short scenes like that.”
“Handles the lines so smoothly too. Heard he’s never acted before. How?”
Monotone lines risked sounding awkward.
Without inflection, they could feel artificial.
But Yeonwoo’s delivery had none of that contrived feel.
“That’s a full-on Grim Reaper. Like he ripped the script apart and owned it.”
“A Grim Reaper needs that kind of cool factor. That Lee Deokchun punk ruined such a charismatic character…….”
The staff, mesmerized by Yeonwoo’s acting, all got chills at the final moment.
-You will pay the price for this, without fail.
As he poured icy rage at Kim Taehoon who had obstructed him, chewing out each word with chilling precision, everyone shuddered in unison.
The degree varied, but they were all overwhelmed in that instant.
“Cut!”
Only with the director’s booming voice did the spell break.
“Incredible…….”
Someone muttered dazedly.
It spoke for everyone’s feelings.
***
“……?”
Silence hung in the air.
Finishing his lines, Yeonwoo turned and startled.
‘What’s this? Why’s everyone gathered?’
Beyond the lights, in the shadowy area, dozens of eyes stared blankly at him.
No one said a word, just quiet.
“Looks like you all came to watch our practice. The reactions say it went pretty well?”
Kwon Seonghyeon, back to being the goofy chaebol heir-slash-big-puppy from Kim Taehoon, chuckled softly.
“Yeonwoo-ssi! Yeonwoo-ssi!”
Writer Min broke the stunned silence on set.
She rushed over and grabbed both of Yeonwoo’s hands.
“Yeonwoo-ssi, where’ve you been hiding? Huh?”
“Yes?”
“Let’s sign the contract right now. No need to wait. You’re perfect for it. No one else can do the Grim Reaper but you.”
“No, wait a sec…….”
“I’ll beef up the Grim Reaper’s screentime. Top-two male lead might be tough, but as a major supporting role, you won’t feel shortchanged. I’ll make sure you get plenty of scenes.”
“No, um…….”
Shortchanged? What?
More than that, Writer Min’s reaction seemed off.
“We have to sign. Got it? The Grim Reaper is yours. You’re the one!”
Excited, Writer Min called him the Grim Reaper nonstop, while the dazed staff chimed in.
“Whoa, gave me full-body chills.”
“Good call kicking that Lee Deokchun off.”
“At this level, ratings’ll hit 20% easy.”
“20%? With three main characters acting like maniacs? It’ll top that.”
Listening, Yeonwoo thought.
‘This isn’t what I expected?’
Memorizing lines? That was nothing.
The real deal was acting.
Even if Writer Min and Kwon Seonghyeon egged him on for a test, he’d figured his acting wouldn’t click with them.
‘Just make it a notch above Lee Deokchun.’
He’d done casual acting to fool ghosts, but never become someone else, so it was natural.
But.
‘Something’s weird?’
The stage directions between lines started bugging him slightly.
[Grim Reaper: (frowning)…….]
[Grim Reaper: (cold smile)]
[Grim Reaper: ……(angry) You will pay the price for this, without fail.]
Brief action cues.
How much to frown. How deep the smile. How to show anger.
Nothing specified.
That was up to the actor.
‘Smile just faint enough to barely show.’
‘Eyebrow twitch just a little.’
‘Don’t explode in anger here—keep voice steady, no big movements…….’
It flowed naturally.
No one taught him, but the gaps between directions read like they should.
Simple descriptions, but different for Yeonwoo.
He instinctively knew exactly how to express them.
‘……Didn’t expect it to turn out like this.’
Look at those intense stares.
“You’re signing, right? Come on, sign. My Grim Reaper, I’ll take good care of you. Don’t worry about pay!”
And Writer Min too.
She straight-up called him the Grim Reaper.
Somehow, Yeonwoo had a hunch why.
‘Because of ‘Intent Discernment’?’
The extra ability from helping Writer Min’s son.
Specialized in text-based reading, maximizing it.
Come to think of it, mimicking unfamiliar speech patterns never tangled his tongue.
‘Crystal-clear pronunciation that sticks in your ears…….’
The A-grade extra from saving Min Yerin.
‘This is nuts.’
He hadn’t aimed to wow Writer Min this much.
Just memorized lines, tweaking nagging bits as natural ideas popped up.
The duo collabed into perfection.
***
“So Yeonwoo-ssi is officially our Grim Reaper now? No take-backs?”
“How could there be? We signed.”
“Good thing I shoved the contract at him first. Whew, glad I locked it down before anyone else snatched him.”
After the camera test.
The contract was sealed faster than lightning-roasting beans.
“No agency, and you’re contracting?”
“Doesn’t matter. Nice to have one for management, but they take a cut. Want to go through an agency? That’ll delay stamping the contract though…….”
Writer Min bit her nails anxiously.
“No funny business in the contract. Just stamp it. I’m the nervous one here.”
“…….”
He had no clue what about him fired her up like this.
Well, becoming someone else was a fresh experience.
“If you need an agency, come to mine. I’ll treat you well.”
Kwon Seonghyeon smiled and chimed in from the side.
“Seonghyeon-ssi’s a one-man agency, right? Gonna take Yeonwoo-ssi?”
“If Yeonwoo-ssi’s cool with it, sure.”
Kwon Seonghyeon’s agency was literally a solo outfit.
Simple maybe, but it rivaled any major agency in power.
It poured resources equal to a big entertainer, solely into him.
Naturally.
Others didn’t know, but Yeonwoo did.
The agency’s roots were Kwon Seonghyeon’s father, a massive corp chairman.
“But what if your agency says no to our project?”
“Who knows?”
Kwon Seonghyeon smirked mysteriously, and Writer Min turned to Yeonwoo without a second thought.
“Stamp it first. Think later.”
Yeonwoo knew zilch about contract terms, but it was fine.
“Terms look good.”
Kwon Seonghyeon checked each point beside him.
And so, Yeonwoo stumbled into officially joining the drama team.
Not a total loss for him.
He’d had a vague aversion, but trying it erased that illusion.
‘Pretty decent, actually.’
The brief stint was fresh and intriguing.
Plus.
‘Recognition…….’
Most of Yeonwoo’s life was stained with rejection.
His uniqueness had isolated him.
But.
‘Amazing.’
This place was different.
The ‘uniqueness’ that tormented him was pure gold here.
Seeing it click like this was impressive.
Wondering how far it’d go.
‘Not bad to give it a shot.’
The entertainment world was a goldmine anyway.
Staying in a slightly different form wouldn’t hurt.
“Finally working together. Looking forward to how high you’ll soar, Yeonwoo-ssi. Welcome.”
Kwon Seonghyeon extended a hand with a faint smile.
Yeonwoo gripped it after a moment.
His first official step into a new world.