Ch.106The Seed of Corruption

Kim Donghu’s second consecutive boxing championship victory was getting some attention, unlike the previous time.

“Actor by profession, champion by hobby?! Kim Donghu wins high school division with brutal TKO – ‘Truly an emperor'”

ㄴWow… watching the video, he’s just on another level

ㄴBut looking at his style, it feels like he’s deliberately doing infighting

ㄴWhat do you mean?

ㄴI can’t say for sure, but it feels like he’s just trying to end it quickly?

ㄴSeeing the comments above, it does feel that way

ㄴIt doesn’t feel like he punched, more like he pushed them;

ㄴYeah that’s right, it’s hard to float like that from just strikes

ㄴSo you’re saying the actor was holding back in the boxing match to avoid hurting his opponent?

ㄴYeah…;;;

ㄴGeez… but then when you see him running while doing a handstand;;;

Right after “Run! Rushman!” hit a peak viewership rating of 30%.

Kim Donghu once again made his fame known throughout South Korea.

People naturally developed a liking for his refreshing personality that didn’t hold back.

And now he’s good at sports too?

ㄴKim Donghu is just the perfect son…

ㄴNo, he’s the perfect son that even perfect sons would envy…

ㄴKim Donghu is exactly the perfect son that even perfect sons would envy…

ㄴWow but how did he lol pull off a 30% rating on a variety show, not even a drama;

ㄴEven for a peak rating, that’s really incredible

ㄴHe more than doubled it from the 13% it was getting before

ㄴStill don’t get it? Still need proof? Kim Donghu=success, just memorize it

ㄴSo true LMAO

People wanted to know more about Kim Donghu and see more of him.

And this was the most crucial time.

Excessive attention can also bring trouble,

so it needed to be properly managed.

Therefore.

“Hmm… Donghu, I’ve checked all the advertising offers that came in and sent you a list, okay?”

-Yes, yes.

“There’s also a project, but how should we increase your activities? We’re getting quite a few variety show requests too.”

-I think now is just right. I’ll check the CF offers and get back to you.

“Good thinking. Honestly, I was going to recommend that too. Anyway, don’t worry and get some rest.”

-Yes, thank you.

Click.

Kim Donghu coordinated his schedule,

and Choi Seokho happily adjusted the schedule as well.

Like this.

While most people were feeling good about anything related to Kim Donghu,

there was almost uniquely one person who was feeling displeased.

“Why… why leave me out?”

It was Ryu Jaerin, Bloombell’s center and visual.

At first, Jaerin was really happy when the “Run! Rushman!” advertisement came out.

She was excited to see Donghu on TV again after a long time.

But.

“How does she keep getting involved with him?”

When she found out he was appearing with Sujin,

her anger rose to the point where she couldn’t control her expression.

‘While I’m busy with activities, she’s really, really crossing the line.’

Why was she hanging around someone else’s husband?

‘Because I’m busy!’

Honestly, if you just looked at the environment for becoming close, Jaerin had the advantage over Sujin.

Sujin was in a different grade, but Jaerin was in the same class as him.

So if she could just stick with him continuously,

it would have been possible to stay together all the time, but.

Unfortunately, the schedule of a newly debuted idol was truly murderous.

Starting with university performances, cosmetic advertisements, and various events.

It was impossible to attend school.

Actually, this was the same for Kim Donghu too.

He had been absent for about 8 months to prepare for the play,

so the time not spent at school was similar.

However.

“…why is she not only sticking with him during that time, but now even appearing on variety shows with him?”

The problem was that she couldn’t be with him,

while Kim Sujin spent that time with Kim Donghu.

-<Yes, that’s right. Sujin is cute and pretty, you know.>

“…”

Hearing those words that she didn’t want to believe came from Kim Donghu’s mouth,

Jaerin closed her eyes tightly.

‘We live next door, we even ate grandmother’s meals together.’

Is there a limit to personal closeness?

Wasn’t being personally close usually enough?

‘Why do I have to feel like I’m falling behind?’

Thinking that, Jaerin glanced at the plan she had created.

With thorough security including a password on the Word document,

the title of the first line of the plan inside:

【 ♥Project to Film “Will You Marry Me?” with Donghu♥ 】

Looking at it, Jaerin steeled her resolve.

“I absolutely cannot give this up.”

She was convinced that nothing in any world would be more effective

than officially declaring marriage, even if it was virtual.

++++++

Time flew by quickly to late October.

I got up slowly from bed today while checking my schedule.

‘First script reading, huh.’

Today is the first script reading for “Traitor: The Root of Corruption.”

With schedules continuing like this,

I rarely had to go to school.

‘So this is why they call it Daejong High.’

In a normal situation, I would have had to repeat a year, but they recognized all my absences.

So I didn’t have to worry about repeating a year while doing broadcast activities.

‘But I appear a bit later than I expected.’

“Traitor: The Root of Corruption” is a film divided into 5 acts,

with each act introducing characters and advancing the plot.

Stories divided like that coming together as one.

It used a very loose omnibus format.

‘But if they called me from the first script reading, are we doing the whole thing today?’

Or maybe we’re starting from the later scenes,

where everyone comes together.

‘I guess I’ll find out when I get there.’

If it were a normal script reading time, I should be getting ready now.

But for some reason, the time was pushed back a bit,

so I quickly ate breakfast and lay back down on the bed.

On a day when I could legally skip school,

it was really difficult to resist sleeping in.

+++++

At the same time Kim Donghu was taking a nap,

at the “Traitor: The Root of Corruption” script reading venue.

The place was currently busy setting up for the script reading,

“Don’t put that there! And that… Actor Jin Yuseong prefers green tea instead of water, so take out some green tea.”

“People might get hungry during breaks, so prepare some snacks.”

“Should we prepare something like toast?”

“Well, some actors are on diets, so coordinate with their managers to avoid any issues.”

“Yes.”

It was bustling with activity.

“We have about 3 hours left, so let’s hang in there a little longer!”

“Yes!”

The time remaining until the script reading was about 3 hours.

This was clearly different from what Kim Donghu knew.

“Did you properly inform Actor Kim Donghu?”

“Yes, I deliberately told him a later time.”

“Good, that’s fine. Did you tell all the other actors too?”

“Yes, I told them in advance that Actor Kim Donghu would arrive late for his entrance.”

“Good, that way there won’t be any unnecessary talk, and Actor Kim Donghu won’t get criticized.”

Yoon Seongbin, the director of “Traitor: The Root of Corruption,” nodded with satisfaction.

‘The seating arrangement is also very pleasing.’

The desk was shaped like a ∏.

The director sat in the center,

while on the left side there were more than five chairs.

On the right side, there were only two chairs.

It looked like two sides facing off with a judge in the middle.

This seating arrangement was also intentional by Director Yoon Seongbin.

“It should be obvious at a glance who is on whose side for better immersion.”

“Traitor: The Root of Corruption” is a film with clear distinctions between good and evil.

‘It’s a kind of moral tale.’

The confrontation between commoners who take up swords unable to endure oppression and corrupt nobles.

Therefore, it was necessary to create some competitive structure through this arrangement.

As soon as the neat setting of the script reading venue was completed,

not long after, the actors began to appear.

“Actor Jang Geonho! Haha, it’s an honor to work with you again on another project.”

“What honor? An actor working with a director on a film. I should be thanking you for calling me.”

Starting with the experienced actor, Jang Geonho.

Actors who guarantee some level of success when they appear on screen came in one after another.

Among the rather glamorous production team.

Standing out among them all,

“Am I the last one?”

Jin Yuseong appeared.

If Kim Donghu represented good looks in his teens,

Jin Yuseong would represent good looks in his twenties.

The figure who inherited the role of second-generation good looks before Kim Donghu appeared,

that was Jin Yuseong.

Delicate features and fair skin.

The sharp gaze and jawline carved into it revealed his masculinity.

To the extent that there was a saying ‘handsome man=Jin Yuseong’.

Even standing still, he gave the impression of flower petals fluttering around his face,

and as soon as he arrived, the reading venue instantly brightened.

“Almost everyone is here.”

After confirming that all the actors except Kim Donghu were seated, Yoon Seongbin said,

“Then let’s start the reading right away.”

He said to start the reading immediately without needing to measure anything.

Since the camera setup was also roughly done, there was no need to waste time.

“We’ll start from around Act 3.”

Act 3 is when the story really develops,

the moment when the rebel commoners and the corrupt nobles face each other for the first time.

“You scoundrels…! Do you not fear heaven!”

With Jang Geonho’s thick voice acting bursting out from the start,

the atmosphere of the script reading venue is instantly set.

“Heaven? Damn it, if they feared heaven, would they be living like this? Let’s just go kill them all.”

Responding to that is an actor who can’t be left out when talking about acting,

Ju Seonghwan’s natural dialect acting receives it,

naturally painting the film scene at the reading venue.

“How these lowly creatures dare to chatter so much, it’s truly unpleasant.”

And furrowing his brow as if he really were a nobleman,

Jin Yuseong’s response marking the point where the script reading intensifies,

around this time, the actors slowly looked at the script while focusing on one place.

‘Is it about time for his entrance?’

‘They say he’ll make a dramatic entrance, but isn’t it too forced?’

Being assigned the task of barging in during the middle of a script reading and delivering lines.

Honestly, it was a role that could break the atmosphere itself.

It could be seen as dramatic,

but on the other hand, it was also a cringeworthy entrance.

Nevertheless,

the actors continued the reading with a “what if” mindset.

“How! How could you do this! Between fellow Koreans!”

“It’s because we’re fellow Koreans that I’ve limited it to this much. Out of consideration, I’ll even make you my slaves.”

As the atmosphere was intensifying,

When emotions were reaching a point of no return,

at that passionate moment,

“…The mountain is so noisy, I came to see and found maggots squirming all over.”

As if leisurely appearing through the undergrowth,

someone slowly walked into the reading venue, opening the door.

“My lord, haven’t you heard that talking too long with lowly creatures makes one a fool?”

The one playing the ‘root’ of corruption in “Traitor: The Root of Corruption,”

“Don’t talk to them, just kill them all.”

At Kim Donghu’s entrance, everyone’s eyes widened.

‘…We definitely called Kim Donghu, but why….’

Was the film character Lee Taeseong alive and breathing?

Director Yoon Seongbin was shocked.

It wasn’t a matter of acting well or poorly.

Just,

‘He’s a real person.’

At that level of bringing the character to life,

everyone held their breath and stared at Kim Donghu.

The root of corruption had bloomed.