Rookie but One-in-a-Million Actor

Chapter 10

First Reading

“Woohoo! This is amazing!”

Pork belly and beer!

The taste, long missed, brought tears to Oh Seok’s eyes.

It was the last week of February, with the new semester just around the corner.

Instead of the smell of sweat, the practice room was filled with the aroma of grilled meat.

“This is so delicious! Really!”

“Here, try this too.”

“Are there any more lettuce and perilla leaves?”

“Stop just eating and help with the grilling!”

It was a graduation party, as they say.

Oh Seok and the students, who had been together throughout high school, were having their farewell party.

Of course, there was also good news to add to the celebration.

“Hey, everyone, raise your glasses.”

“Ah, teacher, this is the third toast already.”

“Mr. Oh Seok, you’re really a handful at drinking parties.”

“Hey! There’s a unique taste that cola can’t give you. Raise your glasses, quickly!”

Oh Seok raised his beer, and the students raised their drinks.

Whether it was because of the portable gas burner’s heat or the alcohol, his face was flushed like a beetroot.

“Everyone, you’ve worked so hard, thanks for believing in me and following along, and I’m relieved you all got into college-!”

“And you’re especially happy that Bora and Mooyoung passed their auditions, right?”

Junho quickly interrupted Oh Seok’s words. After hearing the same toast three times, it was hard not to memorize it. Junho smiled and placed some well-cooked meat on Bora’s plate.

Snap.

Bora, who had been picking at her food, put down her chopsticks as if to tell him to stop.

Although Oh Seok and the others glanced at her, they didn’t stop eating.

“Why are you even here?”

“Me? I brought the meat. The director said we should eat together since I’m here.”

His sly response.

Bora turned sharply to Oh Seok.

“Wasn’t this on you, teacher?”

“Do I look like I have money?”

“Ha Mooyoung, tell your friend to leave. He’s annoying me.”

But Mooyoung just smiled awkwardly.

“Sorry. Do you want to switch seats?”

“We’ve already switched once!”

If that guy leaves, the meat goes with him. That would be a problem, especially when they’ve just started!

There was no one in the practice room on Bora’s side.

Even Yoochan was too busy eating to care.

“By the way, when do your shoots start?”

Junho asked, placing another piece of pork belly on Bora’s plate. A quick change of topic. Mooyoung answered promptly.

“We have to do the script reading first. They said we’d start filming right after that this weekend? It’ll probably overlap with the start of the semester.”

“Really? You’ll be busy. Isn’t the lead Enbin?”

“Yeah. I didn’t know at first, but his songs sounded familiar.”

“…Mooyoung, you’re probably the only one here who didn’t know Enbin.”

The center of the famous idol group ‘ZeroTern’ and successful solo artist, he’s one of the hottest celebrities these days. Being chosen as Seoul’s PR ambassador says it all.

“Let me know how it goes. I want to see if he looks the same in real life.”

“Sure. From the photos, he’s really handsome. It’s the first time I’ve seen a guy that pretty.”

Mooyoung smiled brightly in admiration. Junho and his friends briefly showed stern expressions.

‘Is he bluffing…?’

‘What’s he talking about?’

‘Is he joking?’

While it’s normal for celebrities to look glamorous, it’s rare for an ordinary person to be called pretty.

Though curses and compliments rose to their throats, they swallowed them down with meat.

“What about you, Bora?”

“…I’ll start mid to late March. And please, stop giving me meat.”

“You haven’t been eating much.”

“I’ve eaten plenty.”

Bora had a supporting role with a small part.

She played a colleague of the female lead at her part-time job.

However, she had a decent amount of lines and was on screen whenever the chemistry between the leads sparked.

“Meat doesn’t make you gain weight.”

“You eat a lot. I’m dieting.”

She had started dieting.

Mooyoung looked at her sympathetically and stuffed a huge piece of meat into his mouth.

He had experienced forced starvation but never dieted…

“Anyway!”

Oh Seok, who was gulping down beer, banged the table with his spoon.

“Don’t forget this teacher even after you go to college.”

“Ah, Mr. Oh Seok, I feel bad for you. Once we leave, your pockets will be empty.”

Hyeongju pretended to wipe tears and put kimchi in Oh Seok’s mouth.

The intermediate class had been the backbone of the academy’s revenue.

Had they been adults, they would have moved to the advanced class, but with college ahead, no way.

“That’s enough. Knowing when to leave is the coolest thing. And don’t just give me kimchi, give me some meat too. Tsk!”

He laughed heartily and waved his hand.

Mooyoung made a wrap with kimchi and meat as Oh Seok requested.

“I’ll come back often if I can.”

Of course, he’d be busy, but unlike the others, he wasn’t in an acting department, so he wouldn’t be on campus much.

Moreover, Mooyoung thought he still had a lot to learn. He’d only been studying for about three months.

“And if anyone asks on set, I’ll make sure to say I learned from you.”

“Ha. Who would ask that? Your agency or your experience or something-”

“The team leader asked? Where I was learning to act.”

Mooyoung replied innocently to Hyeongju’s casual comment.

Then he quietly continued eating meat. Yuchan clicked his tongue and filled Mooyoung’s glass with a drink.

‘You’re causing yourself trouble, Hyeongju.’

“So? What did you say?”

Oh Seok’s eyes sparkled with interest. With a bright smile, Mooyoung answered.

“I said I’m learning at BV Academy.”

“That’s right! Good job! My kid! Bora, you should also proudly say you’re from BV wherever you go. Got it?”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

“Everyone, raise your glasses again-”

“Stop it, teacher! Seriously!”

The short winter evening.

It was only six o’clock, but it was as dark as night outside. When was the last time they ate so fully and laughed so loudly? Mooyoung felt truly happy as he raised his glass.

* * *

Then came the weekend.

Mooyoung realized something was off when he arrived at Square Film’s office. The surroundings were too quiet.

‘Oh, right, it’s the weekend, isn’t it?’

While he might be a half-unemployed student, the company employees were office workers who typically had weekends off. He couldn’t fathom why a reading was scheduled for such a day.

Creak.

“Hello.”

“Yes, welcome. How can I help you?”

“I’m here for the reading today.”

“Oh, this way, please.”

The small lobby was cramped. Mooyoung followed the staff member up to the conference room. Inside, he found some familiar employees and the team leader seated.

“Hello.”

“Oh! You’re here?”

There were also two other people: a woman who looked to be in her thirties and a middle-aged man.

The reason he thought they weren’t employees was because of their name tags.

[Episode 2 Marriageable Age Guest]

[Episode 3 Head of Household Guest]

Their roles must continue from Mooyoung’s episode.

The team leader tapped his watch and introduced them.

“Enbin only has time this afternoon, so we’ll just read up to episode 3. Since it’s an omnibus, Mooyoung, you can leave after your part. Sit over there, please. Youngest!”

“Hello. Nice to meet you.”

Mooyoung greeted warmly as he sat next to them. They responded with awkward smiles, clearly nervous. An employee placed a name tag in front of Mooyoung.

[Episode 1 High School Student Guest]

Although it was just folded A4 paper, Mooyoung liked it very much.

It must be because it was his first time experiencing all of this.

Tick tock.

Mooyoung sat quietly, watching the clock tick. The session was about to start, but the protagonist was nowhere to be seen.

The staff were waiting silently, looking tense.

Creak.

“Sorry for the delay.”

The team leader entered, followed by CEO Jo Miyeong.

Of course, to the supporting actors, she was just another staff member.

“Enbin said he’ll be a bit late.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Would you all like another cup of tea?”

“No, we’re fine.”

Everyone shook their heads at the team leader’s formal offer.

As guest actors, they weren’t in a position to complain about delays.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man fiddled with his phone, looking troubled.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

Mooyoung asked upon noticing his discomfort.

“Do you have somewhere to be?”

“Ah—”

Everyone in the room turned their attention to the two. The man stammered, his face reddening.

“It’s nothing really. I just need to pick up my daughter after this. It’s fine. Really.”

Worried he might be giving a bad impression, the man hastily explained.

He was a late-blooming actor chasing his dream!

Hearing the team leader and staff whisper, he felt even more embarrassed.

‘What’s with the sudden question…’

Just as resentment was about to rise, Mooyoung smiled as if it were no big deal.

“Would you like to switch places with me?”

“Switch places?”

“Since it’s an omnibus, it shouldn’t matter, right?”

Mooyoung asked, looking at the team leader.

Such boldness.

Most rookies were too nervous to speak up, but this kid…

‘Does he really only care about acting?’

The team leader, seeing no issue, nodded.

“If Enbin is okay with it.”

“Thank you so much!”

Relieved, the man thanked Mooyoung with a grateful look. CEO Jo Miyeong, who had been observing everything, thought:

‘Is he the one?’

The team leader had praised him endlessly, saying he was the perfect fit for the high school student role. His overall physique was decent, but it was hard to judge from just sitting there.

‘I’m curious to see how he acts.’

What was it about his acting that had all the staff talking?

Jo Miyeong checked her watch, clucking her tongue.

‘We need to start soon so I can see him act.’

She also had another appointment. She had come specifically to see Mooyoung’s first performance, but at this rate, she might miss it…

“Please, let’s get this right?”

“Sorry. It’s just those guys sticking around.”

“It’s too much! Can’t you sue them?”

“I’ll suggest it. But they’re fans…”

“Fans? Stalker fans, more like!”

At that moment, they heard a commotion in the hallway.

A familiar voice.

Mooyoung recognized it as Enbin’s voice, though it was deeper when he sang.

The door burst open, and Enbin appeared, looking somewhat disheveled.

Finally!

“Sorry for being late.”

Enbin apologized mechanically as he took his seat, without even glancing at the supporting actors or staff.

“Did you sort everything out?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. Kind of.”

What could have happened?

Mooyoung studied Enbin’s face closely, determined to give Junho a detailed account later.

It was fascinating to see someone he’d only seen on screen in real life!

“Shall we start right away? We’re running late.”

“Oh, shall we? Director!”

The director and writer, who had been having refreshments in the next room, rushed in. They were all affiliated with Square Film.

Despite their presence, Enbin didn’t lift his head and kept sighing, clearly in a bad mood.

“I’m Director Kim Hangmok.”

“I’m Writer Cha Yejin.”

“I’m Enbin. Nice to meet you.”

After the formal introductions, Enbin opened his script.

“Ah, the order.”

“Pardon?”

“Could you do episode 3 first? This gentleman has an appointment with his daughter.”

Mooyoung asked innocently, his expression pure and sincere.

Enbin hesitated for a moment, looking taken aback.

“The delay caused some inconvenience.”

Mooyoung tactfully hinted that it was because of him.

Enbin let out a sarcastic laugh but surprisingly agreed.

“Fine, go ahead.”

“Thank you!”

“Let’s start with episode 3. Director, could you brief us on the script?”

Everyone was busy, so the reading proceeded swiftly.

They were briefed on the work’s intent and expected direction.

“Shall we start with the lines?”

“Yes, let’s begin.”

Enbin read the first line flatly.

The atmosphere turned cold instantly.

Especially for Jo Miyeong, who almost screamed in frustration.

“Ah. Morning. Has. Come again.”

It was a prime example of wooden acting.