Chapter 59: A Bit of a Commotion, But...
There had been a slight commotion, but after the 'gym incident,' Kim Kwang-woo had grown more lenient toward Tae-gyu, and with the approval of DK's CEO Do Yoon-seop—who judged everything by money—Tae-gyu's audition proceeded.
And so.
- Please start with the scripted performance.
Since the private audition began—more precisely, since matching lines with the actors auditioning for this role—Kim Kwang-woo had never felt chills like this.
Gulp.
As Kim Kwang-woo's partner detective in this installment of Model Detective 3, the co-lead role of [Detective Seo Woong-tae]. This hot-blooded cop, modeled exactly after a real person he'd known for over ten years—personality, name, and all—was no easy character to portray.
Not just the piercing gaze unique to detectives or the passionate speech, but the shifting expressions in specific situations, the hand gestures that built tension when excited...
He'd barely managed to memorize the lines as usual, but even he, who had known Seo Woong-tae for so long, struggled to pinpoint exactly where that distinctive vibe came from.
'...What the hell.'
That Seo Woong-tae detective was standing right in front of him now.
"Look, what bugged me was you saying I got caught just 'cause I'm a cop and had no choice."
The speech pattern.
"Take off your jacket. Loser strips down to his skivvies, winner calls the shots."
The eyes.
"Hey, all of you, turn around. These punks better not whine later."
The gestures.
"Heh heh."
Even that eerie chuckle, like the calm before the storm.
Lee Tae-gyu.
The more they exchanged lines, the more those familiar emotions bursting from this guy's face and body weren't just something from a role in Model Detective 3.
No, it was...
'...It's Woong-tae hyung.'
'Seo Woong-tae' himself.
An overwhelming sense of unreality—Kim Kwang-woo, who had shared drinks, meals, saunas, workouts, and more with Seo Woong-tae over the years, struggled to calm his shock.
"Rumor has it you're a total psycho, and damn if it ain't true."
"What're you on about."
"Cops supposed to catch criminals, not brawl with 'em. Real classy."
"Pfft-haha."
If not for his superhuman willpower honed through relentless training, he might not have been able to keep up the lines.
'...How the hell did he do it.'
As a fellow actor, Kim Kwang-woo was dying to know.
'Role interviews? That effective?'
He knew Tae-gyu had interviewed all sorts of dangerous types—from Gangwon Land gamblers to inmates—to understand his roles.
He knew his acting was top-tier too.
But.
Seeing him replicate the atmosphere of the real Seo Woong-tae—someone he'd met alongside Kim Kwang-woo—like a perfect copy at 100%...
Kim Kwang-woo finally reached a conclusion.
'...A monster.'
A monstrous actor beyond imagination.
He realized the rumors from the violent crimes unit weren't kidding. Chills ran down his neck just then.
And Kim Kwang-woo wasn't the only one stunned.
"........."
"........."
Hong Director and Representative Heo exchanged glances.
A nod.
The CEO of [Gold Media], handling distribution for this film, and veteran blockbuster director Hong Chan-yeol shared the same sentiment in their eyes.
'Perfect chemistry.'
'The buddy vibe is spot-on.'
The core of a buddy movie was synergy.
Old friends, back-to-back comrades, mentor and student, bickering seniors and juniors—the duo types varied, but no successful buddy flick ever felt like the leads weren't actually tight.
Many buddy films scouted actors who were already pals from casting.
If not, they'd force bonding via pre-shoot drinks or hobbies, even boot camps in extreme cases.
'...Their synergy is perfect.'
No need for any of that here.
They were already in flawless rhythm.
Kim Kwang-woo and Lee Tae-gyu.
The timing of their eye contact and line exchanges, the breaths between dialogue—it was all natural already.
Like they'd been buddies forever, comfortably flowing into the scene. Hong Director and Representative Heo were floored.
'Tae-gyu must be close to Kwang-woo since they're same agency, right?'
'Dunno. Never heard they're tight personally...'
'But it feels that way?'
'Maybe... Tae-gyu's desperately sucking up.'
'Gutsy kid.'
Kim Kwang-woo, a dual-blockbuster star, wielded massive influence regardless of acting chops. Even A-listers minded him.
But this guy? Different.
"Beat it."
"...What?"
"Don't cockblock me beating criminals. What, steroids clogged your ears?"
That sounded like ad-lib...
Yet no room to nitpick—talking down to Kim Kwang-woo felt utterly natural.
Like real close bros.
'No wonder the buzz.'
'Yeah. Could be the best duo in series history if it pans out.'
'Agreed.'
Diverging ambitions bloomed simultaneously.
Representative Heo plotting revenue boosts via duo promo marketing; Hong Director's heart racing at Tae-gyu's jovial hot-blooded cop, a 180 from Monster City.
Amid it all.
A hollow chuckle escaped CEO Do Yoon-seop, seated across the room.
'What the...'
Even on monitor, he was a monster.
But live? Insane.
'A whole different person.'
Great actors could portray over a hundred people from a single line like 'Had lunch?'—via subtle timing, tone, inflection, emotional depth.
Tae-gyu's acting nailed that.
Micro facial twitches, unconscious habits in gestures and speech, eye glints, emotional expressions...
All perfectly matching the Seo Woong-tae he'd met with Kim Kwang-woo.
A nod.
Do Yoon-seop unwittingly bobbed his head, concluding.
'Lee Tae-gyu.'
To max Model Detective 3's profits, they had to cast him.
'...Re-sign him no matter what.'
He'd be DK Entertainment's cash cow.
- Cut!
And so.
- That's enough, thank you~
With unanimous agreement from the four key judges, Lee Tae-gyu's audition wrapped.
- Great work!
Clunk.
The audition room door shut behind him.
"Whew."
Tae-gyu exhaled in relief as he stepped out, his manager and stylist flanking him instantly.
"Good job."
"You did great."
"Thanks."
He nodded and headed to the first-floor lobby with them.
Thud, thud.
Having burned off Seo Woong-tae's dokkaebi fire, he calmly replayed the audition vibe.
'They loved it.'
No fool could miss it.
The friendly questions post-scene, Do Yoon-seop's greedy stare.
Thud, thud.
Good feeling he'd snag the Seo Woong-tae role, Tae-gyu strolled the lobby lightly—until.
"...Huh?!"
His head turned slightly.
Across the lobby.
In a cluster of people heading to the bathroom, a familiar face.
'...Han Joo-hyuk?'
A faint gladness hit Tae-gyu.
He excused himself to his manager and stylist.
"Gimme a sec, just a quick hello."
Approaching his battle-tested co-star from two projects—but.
"!"
Up close, the mood looked off.
"So, how long'd they delay you?"
"Like twenty minutes?"
"Fucking psychos. Actor time means nothing, huh?"
"Dude, chill out."
"You think killing the emotion is that easy?!"
"Splash cold water on your face first."
"Argh!"
Managers struggling to calm him, eyes red with boiling rage.
Deep breaths suppressing fury, oblivious to Tae-gyu approaching.
"Douse him to snap him out of it, hurry."
Han Joo-hyuk shoved toward the bathroom.
Tae-gyu's manager, beside him with a tilted head, spoke.
"...Looks like Joo-hyuk came for an audition too."
"Audition?"
Han Joo-hyuk, who'd shared two shoots? This project too?
His puzzled echo drew a knowing nod from the manager.
"Model Detective series is a guaranteed blockbuster. Timing overlaps weirdly, but no one passes on co-lead with Director Kim Kwang-woo. And Joo-hyuk's always prioritized acting over variety or CFs."
"...It was the last one."
"Huh?"
"Co-lead, so the 'Seo Woong-tae' role. They said I was the final slot."
Manager's eyes widened slightly.
'...What?'
Han Joo-hyuk, passing on co-lead audition?
Then why here?
Of course, he didn't know.
Han Joo-hyuk.
Having failed to achieve what he craved on the Sai-bi Church Maknae Son set, chasing Tae-gyu's shadow once more.
Bam.
Han Joo-hyuk punched the wall by the mirror, deep-breathing to tame his surging heat.
Huuuh, huuuh...
For the private audition's emotional immersion, now suppressing it.
His goal: singular.
'...This time, I get it no matter what.'
Just once, hear 'Teach me your acting' from Tae-gyu.
Truth was, on Sai-bi Church Maknae Son, he never got it—not to the end.
Even Cheon Yoo-seong, the weakest actor in the [Han Ji-cheon] trio, had.
Grind.
For Han Joo-hyuk, proud of his skills, unacceptable.
Even Monster City's skyrocketing popularity near finale didn't satisfy.
Frankly, he couldn't deny twinges of inferiority to Tae-gyu's sudden acting prowess.
All this fueled his application for Model Detective 3's private audition slot.
At [Han Ji-cheon] trio level, most film auditions got skipped.
Plenty of directors and producers knew him; his proven talent opened doors sans tryouts.
But.
Han Joo-hyuk chose to return to basics.
That's why he entered this audition, ignoring the production team's calls upon seeing his name—no lame excuses.
'Go full Tae-gyu.'
Recalling his early career passion—taking any freak role for impact—he realized their difference.
'...Impact.'
The answer: intensity.
Maybe his defeats stemmed from role disparities.
In Monster City, Tae-gyu played a gambling addict beyond human norms, while he stayed relatable despite unleashed desires.
In upcoming Sai-bi Church Maknae Son, he chased money rationally inside, versus Tae-gyu's truly deranged cult elder brother.
Tae-gyu always edged him with bolder roles, giving acting clashes an advantage.
Then.
'This time... I go hard too.'
That's why Han Joo-hyuk eyed Model Detective 3's main villain—second-heaviest role after co-lead.
Huuuh... huuuh...
Red-rimmed eyes from pre-audition rage unsuppressed; deep breaths to vent via mirror—all for this.
'Grateful he sparked my acting breakthrough.'
Method actor Han Joo-hyuk was convinced.
Recognition from that madman, surpassing Seol A-yoon this chance.
'...Lee Tae-gyu.'
In a way, thanks to him.
Jail visits? Backroom baccarat? Tae-gyu's wilder role prep reignited his early fire, pushing him to 'this extent.'
Heh heh heh...
Sneering at his vile reflection in the bathroom mirror, satisfied.
Flash!
Eyes fierce enough to terrify cops or detectives—now shattering the mirror.
Yes.
His target: Model Detective 3's primary antagonist, heftier than the hot-blooded cop Tae-gyu auditioned for.
Per his script read, a chance for greater madness.
The drug-lord boss of Incheon's gang.
'This time.'
His resolve matched the madman's.
Mobilizing agency, every connection, even hiring real thugs for boot camp insanity—alongside Han Joo-hyuk's fervor.
'...My psycho wins this round!'
Model Detective 3, now in the crosshairs of two lunatics—