Chapter 12
Chapter 12
A New Mentor
Were the rumors exaggerated?
Yu Yeon-seo was quite excited, but he couldn’t just jump into a project because he wanted to.
“All of these came for me?”
For one, Yu Yeon-seo had only one body, and he had to pick a script he liked from the mountain-high pile.
“Why are there so many?”
“That’s how many desperate people there are.”
Among the stacked scripts, not a single one was from a popular writer. Most were from either up-and-coming or completely new writers.
Even if they wanted to build their careers, newcomers were often pushed aside for experienced professionals during production scheduling. That’s why they were sending their scripts to Yu Yeon-seo, clutching at straws.
“But why are they all leading roles?”
“You said you wouldn’t do it unless you were the lead.”
“Did I? I haven’t even had any lessons yet. Taking a lead role right off the bat isn’t a great idea...”
Manager Park held his breath. He studied Yu Yeon-seo’s face with a sense of wonder, seeing him so uncharacteristically docile. He’d heard from the CEO that it was something like amnesia, but his personality had changed so much? The Yu Yeon-seo he knew wouldn’t insist on a lead role?
“You’ll be the one calling the shots on set anyway, so you can change the role as you please.”
Anyone whose script Yu Yeon-seo chose, which then got successfully produced and launched their career, gained a fair amount of recognition in the industry.
However, no one ever cast Yu Yeon-seo in a subsequent project. The reason was his terrible acting.
“What should I pick? Any good suggestions?”
“Just pick whatever you want. That’s what you always did.”
“If it were me... I think I’d choose something based on what I’ve experienced.”
As expected, Manager Park offered useless advice, but Im Seung-hyeon was different. Yu Yeon-seo, who had been playfully fanning through the scripts like a card trick, stopped at Im Seung-hyeon’s words.
“Something I’ve experienced...?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t it be easier to immerse yourself in the role that way?”
Come to think of it, wasn’t there a soldier role among the scripts? Yu Yeon-seo shot up and rummaged through the mountain of scripts.
Just as Im Seung-hyeon said, he could play many different roles as he went on with his life, so it seemed best to start with a familiar one.
“Found it.”
Manager Park and Im Seung-hyeon peeked over Yu Yeon-seo’s shoulder. Glancing at the script, they saw that he had chosen something completely different from what they had expected.
“...A soldier?”
“Why? I’ve been to the military too.”
Hadn’t his original body completed his mandatory service period? Yu Yeon-seo asked back as if to say, ‘What’s the problem?’ However, Im Seung-hyeon and Manager Park wore ambiguous expressions.
“But this will have a lot of action scenes. Will you be okay?”
Whatever one imagined, Yu Yeon-seo’s acting was worse. He was famous for not only his poor vocalization and pronunciation but also his inability to use his body. His terrible acting was so unparalleled that other bad actors were overshadowed.
Someone like that filming action scenes? Even with a stunt double, there would be limits.
“Really? Even better.”
But right now, the thing Yu Yeon-seo was most confident in was an action role. Especially a soldier, which was the very essence of Kang Jin-hu’s life.
“I can just go to an action school.”
“You can’t even act properly, and you’re talking about action school...”
Yu Yeon-seo whipped around. Meeting his sharp gaze, Manager Park cleared his throat with an “ahem.”
“By the way, Manager Park, don’t you have work to do? What are you doing here?”
“You have a top-notch eye for picking projects.”
Manager Park gave him a thumbs-up. Normally, he would have been so repulsed he wouldn’t even look at Yu Yeon-seo’s face, but he’d heard his personality had changed, so he could do this. Besides, wasn’t Yu Yeon-seo not cursing and speaking more politely now? Even if it was half-formal.
“Is that so?”
What should I do? I’m not the Yu Yeon-seo who had a great eye for projects. Yu Yeon-seo idly twirled a pen and opened the script.
‘Wait, if I use Auto-Action Mode, couldn’t I pick a decent project?’
<It is possible, Master.>
At Beta’s following words, Yu Yeon-seo was tempted for a moment. Even if people cursed his terrible acting, his eye for projects was acknowledged.
As Yu Yeon-seo was thinking this, a phone notification sounded from behind him.
“Ah, excuse me. It’s an important call.”
“It’s fine.”
Im Seung-hyeon took his phone out of his inner pocket and looked at the screen. He grinned as if the information was satisfactory, but he gave off such a bad vibe that Manager Park took a step away from him.
“Young Master, I’ll be on my way.”
“Number 12?”
“Yes.”
Yu Yeon-seo waved his hand. Im Seung-hyeon bowed his head in a silent nod of respect and left the meeting room.
“Manager Park, aren’t you leaving?”
“I’ll go after I see you pick a project.”
“Instead of relying on me, how about you work on developing your own eye for things? That’s why you’re still just a manager. Don’t you have any pride? Clinging to me like this?”
Manager Park’s face scrunched up into a deep frown. Was this amnesia thing all a lie? Why hadn’t his sharp tongue been lost at all?
“I’ll sort through them and put the ones I like on top here, okay? It’s not like I can do all of these anyway.”
I take that back.
Manager Park excitedly left, and Yu Yeon-seo was left alone in the meeting room.
‘Beta, turn on Auto-Action Mode.’
<Yes, understood.>
As if he’d been waiting, he summoned Beta. If he was going to take on a project, wasn’t it better to borrow the original body’s eye and get into a good one?
“Yu Yeon-seo, I’ve finally brought an acting coach!”
CEO Han burst open the door to the meeting room where Yu Yeon-seo was alone.
“CEO Han, you should knock.”
“But why is your face so pale?”
“My face has always been clear and radiant.”
Yu Yeon-seo answered shamelessly, but CEO Han narrowed his eyes and studied him. Yu Yeon-seo hid a wad of blood-stained tissues behind his back.
“Are you sick?”
“I guess my blood sugar dropped from looking at too many scripts. You said the acting coach is here. Where is she?”
“In the practice room. We’re not starting lessons today, so let’s just introduce you to each other.”
That’s a relief to hear. Yu Yeon-seo followed CEO Han out. His head was throbbing and his vision swam, causing him to stumble for a moment, but he quickly regained his balance.
‘I’m getting used to this after doing it a few times.’
Secretly throwing away the tissues and clearing his fading consciousness, Yu Yeon-seo entered the practice room.
“This is actress Park Hyeon-jeong. We’re close, like an older sister and younger brother.”
“‘Older sister’? You’re the only one who calls me that.”
The middle-aged woman with upturned eyes jabbed CEO Han in the side with her elbow. She had an air of experience and looked like she wouldn’t be a pushover. Her face itself was well-maintained and didn’t look that old, but her hair was completely white.
“Hello, Mr. Yu Yeon-seo.”
“‘A Happy Farewell,’ right?”
Yu Yeon-seo felt his mouth move on its own. What? Auto-Action Mode was turned off a while ago.
<There is no problem. It seems the aftereffects of Auto-Action Mode are lingering, reflecting the original body’s unresolved feelings.>
If there’s no problem, that’s a relief. But now that I think about it, was the original Yu Yeon-seo a mama’s boy?
One might have been offended by him speaking so abruptly without even a greeting, but CEO Han and Park Hyeon-jeong just stared with wide, surprised eyes.
“...Yes, that’s right. I appeared in the same movie as Hui-seo.”
“Ma’am, hello. I’m Yu Yeon-seo.”
Yu Yeon-seo said, bowing politely from the waist.
“I truly enjoyed your work in that film, ma’am. It was a shame you didn’t have any filmography after ‘A Happy Farewell.’”
It wasn’t empty praise. As Kang Jin-hu in the year 2207, it was safe to say he had watched almost every piece of video media from the past.
He had been particularly impressed by ‘A Happy Farewell,’ having rewatched it two or three times. He’d also been surprised when he first looked at Yu Yeon-seo’s wiki page and learned that his biological mother was Lee Hui-seo.
‘So what CEO Han said was true...?’
Park Hyeon-jeong raised a hand to cover her mouth, which had fallen open in a daze.
[Please, Hyeon-jeong. Just this once. Won’t you please take him on? Yeon-seo’s personality changed a lot after the accident. I’m telling you, he’s not the Yu Yeon-seo from the rumors!]
In truth, she had been reluctantly dragged here by CEO Han’s persistent requests. Many people wanted to become her students, and she had no reason to take on Yu Yeon-seo, who was notorious for his terrible personality.
‘Were the rumors exaggerated? He seems like a completely different person from what I’ve heard...’
Still, the way he smiled so warmly while calling her ‘ma’am’ greatly resembled someone from her memories.
“Seeing you now, Mr. Yu Yeon-seo... you’re different from the rumors...”
“They say that when people have a near-death experience, their attitude toward life changes, don’t they? Please think of it that way, ma’am.”
They’d be seeing a lot of each other, so a good first impression was important. As Yu Yeon-seo spoke with a smiling-eyed charm, CEO Han’s jaw dropped in astonishment. Who is this? I really can’t get used to this personality change.
Park Hyeon-jeong watched him quietly for a moment before nodding.
“Alright. I hope that shows in your acting ability as well. I’ll help you.”
At her words, which were as good as an agreement to take charge of Yu Yeon-seo’s acting lessons, CEO Han clenched his fists tightly. Yes! He did it!
“Lee Tae-gyeom, did you get into some kind of trouble while making deliveries?”
“What?”
“The shop just called and told us not to send you anymore.”
“What?! Why?!”
Lee Tae-gyeom, Yu Yeon-seo’s twelfth manager, yelled at the sudden bad news. Lately, there had been a constant stream of complaints from the places he delivered to. Naturally, the shops started protesting too.
“I don’t know either. Are you sure you didn’t cause any trouble?”
“Ah, damn it...”
“Hey, where are you going! Are you going to confront the shop?!”
“I have to know the reason!”
“Don’t go there and cause a scene!”
Lee Tae-gyeom ignored him and headed to the shop he had just visited on his delivery scooter.
“Sir!”
“Oh? The delivery driver from before...”
“Why did you boycott me?”
The shop owner broke out in a sweat at his abrupt question.
“Well... the customer filed a complaint saying the delivery driver’s appearance was unpleasant... We didn’t want to do this either, but we have no choice.”
“What do you mean! I don’t look that bad!”
“Even if you argue with me, the complaint came from the customer... We don’t want to lower our ratings. I’m sorry.”
A guy like me could have at least three ‘boyfriend material’ pics floating around on social media! Lee Tae-gyeom argued out of frustration, but the shop owner just kept repeating his apologies before disappearing back into the kitchen.
“Hah... What is this, really?”
His luck has been terrible lately. He didn’t have much education or any particular talent; the only thing he was confident in was his driving. Should he move to a new delivery area?
As Lee Tae-gyeom stood there blankly, tearing at his hair for a long while, a tall man in a suit approached him.
“Hello.”
Im Seung-hyeon was a talented individual who had joined Juseong Group after beating out incredible competition. Juseong Group placed great importance on a person’s appearance during interviews, so Im Seung-hyeon had a clean, trustworthy face like that of a news anchor. Moreover, his voice had a sweet quality that strangely put people at ease.
“Ah, damn, you scared me. Who are you?”
That’s why, despite being startled by the sudden approach, Lee Tae-gyeom wasn’t wary of Im Seung-hyeon.
“You’re Mr. Lee Tae-gyeom, correct? I’m...”
Im Seung-hyeon smoothly offered a business card from Juseong Group’s Strategic Planning Division.