The Tiger Awakens
Suddenly, he snapped to attention. Just like the master directors shuffling timidly out of the bathroom alongside him, Yoon Chang-ho wore a look of sheer astonishment.
·······What the hell was that just now.
It was just a plain, ordinary sentence. But the weight behind those words and that expression—it was immense.
Overwhelming——In an instant, a feral intensity flickered across his impassive face. What was it like? A wild tiger, maybe?
He couldn't be sure, but every director gathered here could feel it: something primal they'd never encountered in their urban lives.
Gulp.
They all started sizing each other up. And that only made them hungrier. A switch had flipped, and this actor Lee Tae-gyu had summoned such monumental presence atop his blank-slate expression.
·······Seong-cheol was right. That's an actor you won't find easily even in Hollywood.
Director Yoon Chang-ho felt deep regret. He should've reached out first. But there was no time for regrets now. Everyone here was waiting.
Thud——Waiting only for that hearty stream of urine from inside to end.
And so, the directors measured the timing, wondering who would slip in first without bothering the actor. Then, Tae-gyu's voice echoed from within the bathroom.
"Ah."
That same overwhelming intensity in his tone.
"As for my next project, I'll need to see the script before deciding."
The directors exchanged glances at the firm declaration. They got it immediately.
"·········"
"·········"
"·········"
This wasn't about some celebration party anymore. What mattered was polishing their scenarios to perfection for this insane actor.
Tap, clack!
One by one, they bolted from their spots.
The rowdy celebration party buzzed. This gathering of industry insiders doubled as a hub for pitching next projects, securing investments, business deals, and even overseas expansions.
With all eyes now locked on the award-winning film, the Sai-bi Church Maknae Son team was having a blast.
"···········Kyaa!"
First up, Yang Se-hee.
"R-Really? Model Detective 3? M-Me?"
"Yep."
"This isn't a prank, right? No hidden camera, sunbae?"
"Haha."
She was over the moon. Kim Kwang-woo, a true industry titan, handing her his card himself!
"I'm serious, so if you're interested in casting, hit me up within three days. We've got an opening for a female lead. Let's do a quick audition."
"C-Can I really? I'm calling you for real!"
"You better. Your acting's solid."
"M-My acting?"
"Haha. See you at the audition."
"Wooaaak!"
At the peak of her joy—earned purely on her own merits, without her family's pull—Yang Se-hee let out a triumphant whoop. But she wasn't the only one basking in the glow.
"Congrats on the grand prize, Director."
"Director O."
"I knew you had it in you to drop a banger. This one's a masterpiece."
"Turning this into a feature, right?"
"Investors are gonna pour in."
"Is that even the point?"
"How'd you pull this off? Casting secrets? I wanna hear your intent before we run the article."
With renowned critics fawning over him—a total shift from their usual snark—
"Ahem!"
O Director stuffed his hands in his pockets and tilted his chin up.
"··········My throat's a bit dry. Words aren't coming easy."
"Huh?!"
"Haha, my glass is empty."
"Oh, aigoo! Sorry, Director. We got carried away at the toast. Here, have a drink—bottoms up!"
He was strutting now. O Director had moved past "What if they find out I suck?" to "Whoa... this is actually happening?" Now he realized he could retire to thunderous applause.
"I was thinking of retiring after this one."
"·········What?!"
"·········You can't bow out now!"
"·········Yeah, Arena Grand Prize—you gotta keep going!"
"·········Please reconsider!"
"·········We need talents like you in film!"
"·········Sorry we slept on your genius so long."
With a smug grin, O Director soaked up the attention from critics he'd always dismissed as pains in the ass.
"Looking good."
"Totally."
Watching him, Cheon Yoo-seong and Han Joo-hyuk clinked glasses with smirks.
The beneficiaries of Sai-bi Church Maknae Son weren't just Tae-gyu, O Director, and Yang Se-hee. Han Joo-hyuk and Cheon Yoo-seong had cameo-ed in a short they didn't need to, proving their undying passion for acting while reaffirming "Yep, that's Han Joo-hyuk and Cheon Yoo-seong for ya."
"Speaking of, you see Ji Kyung-ho?"
"Probably dipped before closing."
Ji Kyung-ho, who showed up at opening with fire in his eyes, vanished like a ghost after closing. Looked like he was grinding his teeth at them, but whatever.
"Serves him right."
"Totally."
Rare agreement between the two didn't last. Cheon Yoo-seong fired first.
"···Gotta sting, though? Our sunbae snagging all the spotlight from 'our bro'."
"Eh."
"Acting cool."
"Not really. Pretty hyped for this shoot."
"You're getting outshined again."
"What're you yapping about, you hack who can't even land an audition."
"Hey, that's···!"
Cheon Yoo-seong bristled, scrambling for a comeback. Han Joo-hyuk just shook his head with a bored look.
"I'm convinced now. You and Ji Kyung-ho—you're not on our level yet. That time with Tae-gyu? Must've been a fluke. Go study acting more, you punk kid."
"Wha—how can you say···"
Right on cue, Tae-gyu appeared.
"Whew."
"Hyungnim!"
Cheon Yoo-seong, mid-stare-down with Han Joo-hyuk, whipped around with a beaming smile.
"What took you so long?"
"Uh··· people kinda followed me."
"Ooh."
Tae-gyu sat, picking up his glass.
"Can't even hit the bathroom in peace."
"Congrats. Now you get what it's like for us."
"I'm not··· that popular yet, am I?"
"Aigoo."
Cheon Yoo-seong shook his head at Tae-gyu.
Finally. After sucking up to him for months, time to reap the rewards.
"·········You're a star starting tomorrow, hyungnim."
Cheon Yoo-seong grinned.
Less than a full day later.
The articles were flooding in about the grand prize winner of one of Asia's top short film festivals.
This time, it wasn't just entertainment sections. The Arena Short Film Festival had social and cultural weight, so "Korean pride" puff pieces were everywhere too.
The beneficiary was obvious.
Lee Tae-gyu. Interest exploded around the actor who'd nailed the lead in Sai-bi Church Maknae Son.
Film communities overflowed with posts about this freshly unearthed next-gen star.
This buzz was leagues beyond Monster City. Back then, it was cult vibes: creepy debut, sticky lines, grotesque charm. But this performance? A whole level up.
Not just the flashy gambler role. Sometimes subtle, sometimes explosive, sometimes chilling—Tae-gyu embodied the everyday cult elder. Film buffs raved over his mastery of the full emotional spectrum, not just a single moment.
The prison guard who'd interviewed Tae-gyu for the cult elder role posted a photo with him on SNS, and it went viral instantly.
Everyone hyped for this rising industry beast, Lee Tae-gyu's next move.
As hype built for his next project···
"·········You saw it, right? We gotta jump on this now."
Director Gu Jeong-hwan's eyes sparkled as he spoke.
Thump! His heart raced uncontrollably. With prime screening slot secured, the swelling fan interest around Tae-gyu was free promo gold for his film.
And so, in the film company's meeting room packed with friendly reporters.
"Time for us to make waves."
Promo posters slid across to each journalist.
Swish.
Defying Seol A-yoon's doubts, the poster boldly centered the faces of Jung Jong Yi Bang-gwa in the romance historical epic——