Ch.13Unexpected Catfish

The first thing I noticed was his impressive stature.

A fourteen-year-old at 170cm.

I couldn’t believe it, but seeing him in person made it undeniably real.

‘His shoulders are broad too… must work out regularly?’

Not a trace of the modern afflictions of forward head posture or rounded shoulders.

Just his standing posture alone made him look like a dancer.

Those long, graceful limbs.

His overall proportions were absolutely perfect.

And then there was his face.

“Is this kid really fourteen? How is he so… there’s something slightly mischievous about him, right?”

“Mischievous? He looks completely innocent to me.”

“What? This is why you shouldn’t be a casting director. Learn from me—he’s definitely got a mischievous side.”

Everyone had slightly different opinions.

But ultimately, they all converged on one word.

Handsome.

Though each person felt his charm differently, the fact that he was handsome remained unchanged.

But his appeal didn’t end there.

-“I’m a loner, I’m a loner.”

Usually, you can tell someone’s skill just from the first line of a song.

The casting team leader Shin Youngsuk immediately sent an acceptance notice without needing to see more of the video.

“I absolutely need to see this one in person.”

The public audition was scheduled for the following month.

Honestly, Youngsuk wanted to show this kid to the High Dream writer right away.

‘But that would compromise the fairness of the process.’

The moment this kid showed up at the venue,

The audition would lose its meaning.

Youngsuk was certain of it.

+++++

-[You have been accepted. Detailed schedule…]

The morning after submitting my audition application,

I read the long acceptance message as soon as I opened my phone.

Where the audition would be held, what script to prepare, and so on.

Everything was clearly explained, leaving no room for confusion.

‘This is really happening.’

Honestly, I expected to pass, but the difference between imagination and reality was stark.

Lazily.

I got up from bed at my leisure and approached my dad, who was busy with his morning routine.

“Dad, I passed the audition, so I don’t think I can go to school next week.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s for High Dream, airing next year… they were recruiting, so I applied.”

“I see.”

My dad’s response was the epitome of taciturnity.

Feeling awkward about ending the conversation there, I added a few more words.

“Mom’s almost received her full recovery diagnosis, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“America really is better for treatment, I guess.”

In 2010, America was leading the world in cancer treatment.

After much discussion, our family decided to admit my mother to an American hospital.

It cost an astronomical amount, but our building in Bundang made it all bearable.

And that decision quickly proved worthwhile.

After being diagnosed with a treatable form of cancer,

I could see her complexion improving rapidly during our video calls.

“That’s really fortunate.”

Dad’s response was mixed with a sigh of relief.

“She’ll be back in Korea by the time your drama airs.”

“I’m just auditioning, so I don’t know if I’ll actually be in it.”

Hearing that, my dad smiled slightly.

“Who would reject you?”

There was no hesitation in his eyes as he said those words.

+++++

Time flew by, and soon it was the day of the on-site audition.

Even after multiple rounds of screening,

The drama was so big that there were still many applicants.

“Isn’t three thousand people too many…”

“There’s a reason the on-site audition takes about two weeks, and that’s the minimum.”

“But still…”

“What difference does it make if low-level staff like us complain? Just keep quiet and do your job.”

“Yes, sir.”

The KBC audition site was bustling with activity.

There wasn’t much preparation needed for the audition itself.

But with so many people and so much attention, there was a lot to manage.

“It’s a public audition, but since KBC, ST Entertainment, and Full Lady are co-hosting, the reporters are really…”

“I’m worried about strange rumors spreading. Like accusations of rigging…”

“If we’re this concerned, the judges must be really worried.”

“Indeed.”

The on-site staff’s predictions were accurate.

The expressions of the judges arriving at the audition venue weren’t entirely pleasant.

However, this was only half right.

Their expressions were indeed unpleasant, but for completely different reasons.

‘…The writer seems to be in really bad condition today.’

‘PD, why don’t you try talking to her?’

‘Director, you should do it. What power do I have?’

‘What about Youngsuk?’

‘I’m already getting glared at for only cutting the applicants down to three thousand. That’s a 90% reduction!’

There were four judges who had to evaluate three thousand people:

High Dream’s PD, the director, casting team leader Shin Youngsuk, and writer Lee Minha.

As this was a KBC public audition, representatives from ST Entertainment and Full Lady weren’t participating.

But while they weren’t participating, they had submitted their own applicants to the public audition.

And that had thoroughly irritated writer Lee Minha.

“So they want script revisions for image reasons? Okay. They want to maintain their concept? Fine, I get it.”

But if I’ve accommodated everything, shouldn’t they compromise too?

If that’s how they want it, why don’t they write it themselves? Why contract me in the first place?

As her irritated monologue threatened to continue indefinitely,

Kim Youngmo, the PD of High Dream and former PD of “Hehe Doctor!”, abruptly cut in.

“Exactly. For this public audition, I really want to focus on ordinary people or newcomers.”

“That’s right! New faces! People who haven’t been on TV before! They might not be great actors, but they need to have that fresh appeal!”

Shin Youngsuk perfectly picked up on Kim Youngmo’s cue.

Pleased by their support, Lee Minha’s lips curled into a slight smile.

“Right?”

She had been furiously irritated just moments ago, but a few words of agreement quickly improved her mood.

She was truly the epitome of a moody person.

“Trained actors have developed habits, so they don’t have that fresh quality, you know?”

High Dream was set in an arts high school, unlike other dramas.

Of course, the actors would need some acting skills, but it would be strange if they seemed too professional.

Everyone should have a beginner phase.

Actors trained by entertainment companies inevitably showed their professional training.

Minha wanted a completely fresh feeling.

Of course, she knew how unreasonable this request was.

It was like hoping to find a Fedor Emelianenko-level fighter in a street brawl.

But still.

‘It could happen, right?’

The audition that began with such hopes progressively crushed Minha’s expectations as time went on.

“Thank you, we’ve seen enough.”

“Just one more chance…”

“I’m really sorry, but there are two hundred people waiting behind you.”

It felt like being a part on an assembly line.

Everyone performed similar acts, received similar evaluations.

Then the next person was called.

This process repeated for four days straight.

All the applicants wore disappointed expressions.

It wasn’t hard to understand why.

How could anyone properly express themselves in 2-3 minutes?

Among the rejected children, there would surely be some who would become big stars later.

But.

‘We don’t have time to consider all that.’

If they paid attention to every little detail, nothing would ever get done.

“Even so, isn’t there anyone who really stands out?”

The other judges nodded at Minha’s complaint.

There were some who had passed the threshold, but they were just barely acceptable.

What Minha wanted was someone who immediately brought a character to mind.

They had provided an audition script, but it was just for a minor character.

‘I need an actor who can add their own color and make it their own.’

Someone who instantly inspires a script.

Not a role created for that person from the beginning.

She wanted to see the drama’s character appear right before her eyes.

Without having to rack her brains.

Someone who came with all the settings and details already in place.

But what were the chances of such a talent just dropping in?

“Arrrgh!”

Minha irritably put a cigarette in her mouth.

Each judge’s table already had a small forest of cigarette butts.

“Maybe all the talent is in the later numbers.”

“Indeed.”

Kim Youngmo fiddled with his flat cap, hiding his despair.

How many more rejections would they have to issue?

‘This is tough.’

After Toony Train’s decline,

Kim Youngmo, feeling the limitations of children’s programming, had moved to a new nest.

If content for younger viewers wasn’t working, he’d raise the age target to teenagers’ youth.

That was the thinking behind High Dream.

Initially, things had progressed well.

Both idol agencies and actor management companies had cooperated.

But as the project grew, ambitions began to clash.

As a result, he ended up like a shrimp caught between fighting whales.

‘…I was hoping to find some talented kids at this audition to lift my spirits.’

Is it hopeless after all?

With such thoughts, Kim Youngmo checked the next participant’s profile.

“K-Kim Donghu?!”

He shouted and jumped to his feet.

“Youngsuk, is there a Kim Donghu coming to audition?!”

“Huh? Yes, yes. Did you know him?”

“Ah, n-no? I just found his profile interesting.”

Kim Youngmo hid his true feelings while trying to suppress his pounding heart.

‘Kim Donghu!’

How could he forget Kim Donghu?

The person responsible for Toony Train’s first and last 12% viewership rating.

He had appeared just once and never on any broadcast after that,

The one talent Kim Youngmo never wanted to lose.

Kim Donghu was Kim Youngmo’s eternal top pick.

But with no news of him for so long, he thought the boy had given up on acting.

‘And now we meet here.’

His heart was racing.

“Q-quickly, call the next person in!”

I get to see our Donghu!

Kim Youngmo was excited, and seeing this, Minha quickly put out her cigarette.

For the usually calm and composed Kim Youngmo to make such a fuss—

How amazing must this kid be?

‘He’s handsome, but isn’t he too young?’

Just fourteen years old.

It seemed too young for a drama set in high school.

Of course, she acknowledged his impressive face and height.

But those were just numbers on paper.

‘These kids think they can fool us?’

Could Kim Youngmo have fallen for this too?

With such thoughts, she fixed her gaze on the door.

Wondering who could cause such a reaction.

Creeeeak.

At that moment, the door opened.

“Oh?”

The audition room instantly transformed into a high school classroom.