Chapter 90
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 90
“Hello!”
“Oh, Seo Ho-yun!”
I walked in with a bright smile. A large U-shaped table had been set up, and Director Yoo, who was sitting right in the center where he could see all the actors best, jumped up to offer a handshake.
“Seo Ho-yun! Glad you could make it.”
“Yes, sir. I look forward to working with you, Director.”
Perhaps because I was smiling constantly, unlike during my audition, the director looked a bit puzzled. However, he quickly patted me on the back and brushed it off as nothing.
As I sat quietly in the seat marked with my name tag, the other actors began to trickle in.
“Oh, hello.”
It was Yoo Ji-ah, who played the lead role of Yoo Jeong-hwa. After a warm greeting with Director Yoo, she sat down next to me, where her name tag was placed.
“Senior Yoo Ji-ah, thank you for your help during the radio show the other day.”
“I was quite patient, wasn't I? My mouth was itching because I wanted to talk so badly.”
Yoo Ji-ah returned the greeting with a pleasant smile.
“A lot of people have high expectations for you, Seo Ho-yun. Composer Im Hyeon-su, PD Kim Hee-yeong…”
“I’m flattered you’d say that. I just got lucky.”
I threw out a bit of bait. I suspected the reason Yoo Ji-ah was so well-disposed toward me was that I had essentially sent Today to their graves.
“Oh, my.”
However, Yoo Ji-ah tilted her head with a meaningful smile.
“Is probing people a habit of yours…?”
“……”
I shut my mouth.
Yoo Ji-ah was terrifying. I got goosebumps thinking that this is exactly how Seong Ji-won might turn out once he has a few more years under his belt.
“…Yes, it’s a habit. I’m sorry.”
“Well, it’s not like I’m one to talk. And I wasn’t asking for an apology.”
Then again, of course Yoo Ji-ah would know. I had handed out a massive "screw you" right there on set. Yoo Ji-ah scratched her cheek and drove the point home.
“I really wish all my juniors were like The Dawn.”
I just gave an awkward laugh instead of answering. As I turned my gaze away, someone opened the door and walked in right on cue.
“Hello…”
“Ah, hello!”
He’s here.
The jingling bracelet on his wrist, the blood scattering like red flower petals, the deafening roar, and the vivid pain.
Even now, my head spins when I recall the scene of that car accident.
“Min Ji-heon, please have a seat here.”
“Am I a bit late…? I’m sorry. My flight was delayed.”
“No, you’re right on time.”
Min Ji-heon sat in his designated seat. Unfortunately, it was directly across from me. When I looked up, Min Ji-heon met my eyes and gave a kind, gentle smile.
“Hello, Seo Ho-yun.”
Fortunately, he didn't call me "Hyung" in a setting like this. It meant that while he looked dim-witted, his brain was actually working at full speed.
Then again, if he weren't that sharp, he wouldn't have been able to maintain his status as a top star, no matter how good his acting was.
But Min Ji-heon had picked the wrong person to mess with.
I was Seo Ho-yun…
“Hello.”
And as the official "nuisance" of The Dawn, I fully intended to be a total, absolute nightmare today.
Let’s see who breaks first.
*
The script reading proceeded in order. I had already memorized the script anyway, so I just had to match the flow.
Across the room, my manager was staring at me with an overwhelmed expression, as if thinking, ‘He hasn’t even had a single acting lesson…!’ but I ignored him.
“PD! PD Lee Jeong-hun!”
Yoo Ji-ah seemed to be the type who acted as intensely during a reading as she did on set, delivering every line vividly.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
This was the scene where Yoo Jeong-hwa, played by Ji-ah, follows my character, PD Lee Jeong-hun, out to talk to him.
I paused for a beat, shifted my gaze slightly, and let out a thin sigh. Then, trying to hide my exhausted expression, I spoke.
“Yes, Yoo Jeong-hwa. What is it?”
“About the location scouting we did last time. I looked into it more, and I think the filming site in Gacheon would fit the mission better…!”
“No, it won’t.”
“…What?”
When I cut her off flatly, Yoo Ji-ah looked flustered.
Of course she was.
The location had been decided and the budget had been approved.
“The location is already set, and the paperwork has been submitted. The budget is already finalized. Unless there’s a total cancellation, there’s no need to look for other sites.”
“Ah, but…”
“By the way, are you finished with what I asked you to do earlier?”
Yoo Jeong-hwa hesitated. Taking advantage of that gap, I gave a slight smirk.
“…Yoo Jeong-hwa. Be honest with me. It’s okay.”
“……”
“You’re not done yet, are you?”
“…Hehe, yes.”
“Hehe.”
I slowly repeated her laugh. Then I brushed my hand over my mouth.
“He—he.”
And then, channeling all my rage toward Min Ji-heon… I unleashed a level of "nuisance" acting that went far beyond the script. Usually, everyone keeps their eyes glued to the script during a reading, but at that moment, everyone was staring at me with their mouths agape.
Min Ji-heon’s eyes were sparkling, which only made me angrier. Having finished my lines, I asked Yoo Jeong-hwa:
“—Do you understand?”
“…Yes.”
“If you understand, you shouldn't be standing there. Why aren't you working?”
“…Yes.”
I then shoved the script away with a thud. Immersed in her role as Yoo Jeong-hwa, who had been completely humiliated by her boss, Yoo Ji-ah’s hands trembled.
The following scene was Yoo Jeong-hwa badmouthing PD Lee Jeong-hun to herself.
“W-what’s up with Lee Jeong-hun today? Did he get slapped and dumped or something?”
Yoo Jeong-hwa poured out curses toward Lee Jeong-hun while trembling. Since my part was over, I took a breather and opened my water bottle, only to lock eyes with the other actors sitting across from me.
…They looked appalled.
Where do you think my experience tormenting celebrities went?
Where did the nickname "The Personality PD" come from? It came from me, obviously. They seemed surprised that an idol, whom they expected nothing from and thought only got the part because of Min Ji-heon, could actually act.
But Lee Jeong-hun was just… me.
“Seriously, PD Lee Jeong-hun is going to be the death of me…”
Then it was time for Min Seung-tae’s part, played by Min Ji-heon. He was a childhood friend of Yoo Jeong-hwa, but with the (ridiculous) setting of being a chaebol. He was playful and sweet in front of her, but in reality, he was a cold figure who drew clear lines.
He was a so-called "schemer" with two different faces.
As Yoo Jeong-hwa grumbled, Min Seung-tae tilted his head.
“Why? What’s making you so annoyed?”
“He’s just a total lunatic… He only picks on me… Lately, it feels like he’s enjoying it.”
“Should I replace him for you?”
At those words, Yoo Jeong-hwa, who didn't know he was a chaebol, paused.
“…It’s scary when you say things like that because it sounds like you mean it.”
“Jeong-hwa, is there anything I wouldn't do for you?”
His diction was perfect, and his voice was so clear it commanded attention even if you didn't want to listen. Not only that, but even a slight change in tone made every line feel different.
Min Ji-heon looked at Yoo Ji-ah with deep, sparkling eyes, as if there were nothing more precious in the world.
Multiple cameras from the actors' agencies and the drama team were filming, carefully avoiding each other's shots to capture behind-the-scenes footage of the reading.
The camera responsible for the drama team’s internal behind-the-scenes focused intensely on Min Ji-heon’s face.
If I were the one editing that, I would have used a disgusting caption like [Actor Min Ji-heon’s Loving Gaze Time♡] and (since I’d be too lazy to edit) just plastered his face on the screen for 30 seconds. Even then, I could already see the comments section exploding.
“…Stop acting tough, kid. And don't drop the honorifics. I’m your Noona.”
“Hehe.”
“I entered this profession because I love it… Not for the money. It’s not for the money.”
As Yoo Ji-ah continued to mutter as if brainwashing herself, Min Ji-heon finally burst into laughter. His eyes crinkled into a smile, and Director Yoo, watching him, had a very satisfied look on his face.
Yeah, I bet you’re happy. It’s Min Ji-heon, the guaranteed box-office hit.
I had to struggle to maintain my poker face.
Soon, Min Ji-heon’s solo script reading began. I intended to ignore whatever he did, but…
I couldn't.
“And?”
His dim-witted personality vanished, replaced by a cold, heavy voice that filled the room. A supporting actor playing a subordinate hurriedly grabbed Min Seung-tae.
“M-Min Seung-tae! Please. If it’s you… if it’s the Young Master, you can talk to the Chairman. I’m truly, truly desperate. I cared for you so much when you were little, Young Master.”
“Ha…”
“Just say one word about how much I respect the Chairman… and, and that I really didn't do it.”
It was a scene where a director who had committed corruption within the company desperately clung to Min Seung-tae, pleading for help.
Min Seung-tae was a character who had no interest in anything in the world except for Yoo Jeong-hwa. Nevertheless, perhaps because he was the Chairman’s favorite, people clung to him whenever trouble arose. They acted this way thinking he would be easier to deal with than the Chairman.
Not realizing that was an even worse move.
Min Seung-tae just laughed.
“Sometimes, this is fun.”
“……?”
Then he spoke in a sing-song voice.
“…P-pardon? What… what is?”
“To my face, it’s ‘Young Master, Young Master’… but behind my back, I’m a ‘son of a bitch’ and a ‘total bastard,’ and now I’m ‘Min Seung-tae.’”
“……”
“I only have one name, but I have so many titles, don't I?”
The director was someone he had even called "Uncle" when he was young, but it was clear that Min Seung-tae didn't care in the slightest. It was the director, not Min Seung-tae, who had betrayed him first.
Beneath the cold gaze directed at the man, there was contempt and even a hint of emptiness.
In other words, the person sitting there was simply… Min Seung-tae.
“Are you that desperate?”
“Yes, yes…!”
The supporting actor, the director, nodded his head frantically. Seeing that, Min Seung-tae let out a short hum and spoke.
“But I’m sorry, I don't think it’s any of my business.”
“……!!”
“Fighting? This ‘pretty little bastard’ will be sure to tell the Chairman you respect so much all about it.”
Then, Min Seung-tae tapped his cheek with a long finger and smiled brightly.
“About how his grandson just got insulted.”
…This drama is intense.
As soon as he finished that script, the sharp gaze and sarcastic remarks vanished, and I groaned as I watched Min Ji-heon return to his blank, dim-witted self.
Wow… I see why Jeong Da-jun likes him.
There was a reason Jeong Da-jun said Min Ji-heon looked like he was possessed when he acted. Min Ji-heon was indeed an expert at playing such an arrogant character… or so I thought, until.
“Wait a moment, the writer is revising the next scene… so let’s try the following scene with Min Ji-heon!”
“…Yes.”
Min Ji-heon was about to deliver a heart-wrenching performance. I found myself looking once more at the part Min Ji-heon was about to act.
[Yoo Jeong-hwa senses something suspicious about Min Seung-tae. Confused, she tells him to back off for a moment…
Min Seung-tae: (Tears streaming down his face) Noona. (Hurriedly wipes away tears.) I’m scared. You’re the person I’m most afraid of in this world. (Lightly tugging at the edge of Yoo Jeong-hwa’s sleeve) Please don't hate me.]
The lines were simpler than I expected. However, seeing this made me re-evaluate Writer Kim Suk-hee once again.
You’re going to turn such a chilling character into a tragic romance like this?
Moreover, Min Ji-heon had just been being sarcastically cold to the point of shocking the listeners, talking about being a "pretty little bastard" and insulting parents.
With the emotions and lingering effects still there, was it possible to suddenly burst into tears?
No, wait. Is that just a basic skill for an actor?
Well, it’s just a script reading… I guess it doesn't matter if he doesn't actually cry.
But contrary to my doubts, as soon as the staff’s instructions ended, Min Ji-heon took a deep breath as if to catch his emotions and bit his lip.
His eyes, which had been blank after the previous scene, suddenly welled up and turned red in an instant.
“…Noona, I…”
And along with the line, as if he couldn't hold it back, a tear rolled down. A bead of a tear brushed his cheek and fell to his chin.
“……!!”
I was horrified.
Min Ji-heon… was incredible.
“Ah, damn…”
He hurriedly raised his sleeve to wipe it away, but the tears kept overflowing. Even as he seemed to think he looked pathetic, he blurted out exactly what he was feeling, fearing that if he didn't say anything, it would really be over. His chin trembled from the overwhelming emotion.
“…I’m scared.”
Min Ji-heon—no, Min Seung-tae—was trembling, terrified of this situation where Yoo Jeong-hwa was pushing him away, and of the possibility that their connection might be severed forever.
“In this world… you’re the person I’m most afraid of.”
After his lips quivered a few times, Min Seung-tae finally hung his head low. Originally, it was a scene where he was supposed to carefully grab and pull Yoo Jeong-hwa’s sleeve.
“…Please don't hate me.”
…This is insane.
At this moment, I only saw him as Min Seung-tae.
The director was watching Min Ji-heon with an emotional expression, as if he were a hardcore fan watching from the front row, dabbing at his own eyes with a tissue from a box.
Min Ji-heon acted as if this level of emotional performance was no problem at all. In the following scenes, he became a total brat again, then a tragic younger man who only looked at one person, then an arrogant and obnoxious third-generation chaebol…
Damn it, he was absolutely killing it.
He really lives up to his name as the sole provider for Daepasung.
But Min Ji-heon’s acting wasn't what was important right now. I had something else to check.
While listening to Min Ji-heon’s subsequent lines, I lightly tapped under the table and quietly summoned the system window.
“Hey, come out.”