Ch.18The River Tyrant, Catfish

The long-awaited first day of filming for High Dream.

Everyone gathered around the pig’s head to perform a ritual ceremony with one heart and mind.

But there were some unexpected figures at this gathering.

Most notably, ST Entertainment CEO Kim Gilsan and Full Lady CEO Lee Sanghak.

It wasn’t that they shouldn’t be there.

The High Dream drama itself was a joint production between ST Entertainment, Full Lady, and KBC.

However, what raised questions was why figures of their stature had come.

Was it really just to attend the ceremony together? Or to watch the first filming?

While those reasons played a part, there was another main purpose.

ST Entertainment CEO Kim Gilsan.

His weasel-like brow recalls a past conversation.

“Mr. Kim, I’d like to ask you for a favor, would that be alright?”

“Yes, yes, please speak freely.”

“Do you remember someone I saw a long time ago? Donghu.”

“What? Ah… the one who appeared on Hehe Doctor!”

“Yes, yes, that child is working with me on a project now, but he doesn’t have an agency?”

It’s not because my daughter likes him, but he’s really handsome and overflowing with talent.

He remembered actress Kim Yuryon’s words floating in his ears.

‘He is certainly handsome.’

His height wasn’t bad either.

‘But he’s too handsome?’

Glancing repeatedly.

CEO Kim Gilsan found it fascinating how Kim Donghu seemed to get more handsome each time he looked at him.

An impossible appearance that made everyone around him look like squids in comparison.

Honestly, he’s so handsome it’s almost frustrating.

Then.

‘Huh? What’s this.’

His eyes met with Full Lady CEO Lee Sanghak.

‘Why is an idol agency targeting an actor?’

CEO Lee Sanghak snorted at CEO Kim Gilsan as if in disbelief.

His toad-like cheeks twitched, replaying another conversation.

“CEO Lee, just do me this one favor.”

“Oh, what kind of favor are you going to ask now.”

“Haha, it’s nothing difficult… I did a script reading, and that Kim Donghu… that friend doesn’t have an agency yet, right?”

“What?”

“This is my first time saying something like this… To be direct, there’s this rookie named Kim Donghu.”

“Yes, yes.”

“He doesn’t have an agency yet. In my view, this is his lowest point. We absolutely must bring him into our agency.”

And if possible, I’d like to do a few projects with him. His acting is monstrous, absolutely monstrous.

‘Does his acting match his face?’

CEO Lee Sanghak shook his head slightly while looking at Kim Donghu’s face, as if he couldn’t imagine it.

A guy who looks like that actually acts well instead of just coasting on his looks?

‘Actor Jang Geonho isn’t the type to lie about such things.’

How good must his acting be for him to go so far as to appeal to do several projects together?

What could it be?

“Then let’s bow one last time and finish.”

“Wishing for High Dream’s success!”

The ceremony ended safely amid the two CEOs’ curiosity.

“We’ll begin filming now. The first scene…”

Generally, drama filming doesn’t proceed in sequential order.

In extreme cases, they might film the final scene first,

and such decisions are mostly made based on filming conditions and the director’s judgment.

‘Since everyone is gathered, it might be good to have a competition.’

Film director Ji Jangmin glanced at Kim Donghu.

About four months had passed since the first script reading.

Had he grown more, or was the script reading his peak?

To resolve this curiosity, he made a decision.

“Shall we go with Scene 65, the first confrontation between the High Dream members and Lee J group?”

Let’s have them clash properly.

+++++

High Dream is a story about youths at Eunha High School.

As the title suggests, it centers around High Dream.

A story of youth, emotion, and success for bottom-tier underachievers.

That was the plot of High Dream.

Children with individual flaws coming together to create powerful synergy,

but because of their clear weaknesses, they bloom later than others.

Their club “High Dream” decides to participate in the biggest year-end performance, Mirinae,

and this news quickly spreads throughout the school.

Some supported them, but others hated them intensely.

At the forefront of that hatred was Lee J, a flower blooming in the midst of contempt.

The meeting of the underdog High Dream and top dog Lee J.

It all began with High Dream erasing graffiti painted on their club room door.

“…Again.”

High Dream’s female protagonist, Yu Hyeri, sighed deeply while erasing the graffiti in front of the door.

“Why are we Eunha High’s disgrace? Just because our grades are a bit low!”

“I know, we haven’t done anything wrong.”

The one who responded was High Dream’s male protagonist, Song Cheolsu.

While the two were busy erasing the graffiti,

the second male lead, Jinhyuk, appears with a mop.

“Hey, move aside, that won’t work. We need to erase it all at once with this.”

Yu Hyeri, Song Cheolsu, and Jinhyuk.

They erased the graffiti while being conscious of each other.

“What’s this, they did it again?”

“Looking at it, wasn’t it that Lee J who ordered this?”

After that, the supporting female lead Yoon Eunjeong and supporting male lead Jace appeared.

The story of five youths, High Dream.

According to the script, they should have been close by this point in the middle of the story.

But since it was the first filming, there was a strangely awkward atmosphere due to the shallow emotional investment.

It couldn’t be helped.

It’s difficult to become close from the first meeting, isn’t it?

As they were cleaning like that.

“Ugh! If we’re going to be bullied like this, should I just drop out?”

Yoon Eunjeong blurted out what wasn’t quite a complaint.

“Yeah, if you’re going to live like that, just drop out.”

The one who responded wasn’t a High Dream member, but Lee J.

-What?! Are you done talking?!

Originally, Yoon Eunjeong should have shouted those lines while looking at Lee J who had spoken.

‘W-what?’

But as soon as she saw Lee J’s face, she faltered and stepped back in confusion.

Fierce hostility.

An unbelievable hatred poured onto Yoon Eunjeong, impossible to believe this was their first filming, their first interaction.

The warm yet somewhat awkward atmosphere of the school corridor changes instantly.

Hatred boils, and disgusting emotions form a swamp on the floor.

Hatred toward innocent children with only flower gardens in their heads.

Inferiority complex toward the harmonious family environment they had but he didn’t have.

All these mix together to create Lee J.

“You should just stay quiet and graduate quietly. Why try to rise up from the bottom?”

Step by step.

As Lee J walks, the filming set gradually becomes quiet.

Among the fish still awkwardly trying to find their rhythm,

a catfish appears, stirring up the river.

‘What kind of look is that…’

Everyone shrinks back from Lee J’s aura, as if facing a mortal enemy.

“Say you won’t participate in Mirinae even now. It’s not a place for the likes of you.”

“W-what are you t-talking about.”

Everyone is flustered.

The emotional intensity was excessively strong.

Just by approaching, putting hands in pockets, and looking down on them,

everyone on the filming set felt Lee J’s contempt.

It was an inferiority complex about his broken family,

and pride in having reached this position based on his brilliant talent.

Having lost his original name,

having lost his foundation and desperately searching for a place to belong.

“Why pretend you don’t understand after hearing me?”

No one could look directly into Lee J’s eyes.

Because no one was prepared to receive the gaze of a growling beast.

Heads slowly bow down.

“Don’t even think about looking up.”

Overwhelming.

A rookie who just debuted tramples over agency-trained children.

“I told you clearly.”

Looking at the frightened ones, Lee J smiled coldly.

This is talent, a wall that defective products can never climb.

Lee J delivered a chilling warning and turned around.

No one could deliver their lines according to the script.

Lee J, or rather Kim Donghu’s violent solo performance.

Normally the director should have called “NG,” but he kept his eyes wide open, capturing every moment on camera.

‘He’s a monster.’

A catfish wearing the mask of Lee J tries to destroy High Dream.

It opens its mouth wide, bringing waves the minnows cannot survive.

That’s why the director couldn’t easily call “cut.”

He wanted to continue this flow.

Whirrrr.

The camera slowly moves toward Lee J.

What was originally meant to portray High Dream’s crisis and highlight their hardships

is transformed by a single catfish.

The appearance of a powerful villain.

A genius born from seething contempt.

The camera captures Lee J’s arrival.

‘Not yet, not yet.’

Step by step.

Watching Lee J exit, the film director held his breath.

Lee J, Kim Donghu, had not yet given permission.

He appeals with his whole body to keep filming him.

A somewhat gloomy expression.

Lee J whips himself while looking at the happiness he couldn’t have.

Saying that’s unnecessary, that having such things makes one weak.

His expression, on the verge of breaking, precariously maintains the line before hardening.

“Hoo…”

A short sigh organizing emotions.

As soon as he saw that.

“Cuuuuuuuuut!!!”

The film director, with an excited face, gave the OK sign.

+++++

Right after the first filming.

“Ha!”

ST Entertainment CEO Kim Gilsan laughed in disbelief.

What did I just see?

Honestly, he wanted to curse at the audition judges who had selected Kim Donghu.

Controversy over idol actors’ acting skills? Of course it exists.

Because it’s not their main specialty!

But there was a way to avoid such criticism,

which was for everyone to be at a similar level.

If they’re all the same quality, acting skill differences won’t be noticeable.

However.

‘Where did they find someone like that!’

He’s a tyrant of the river.

A single catfish muddying the waters, ready to casually kill the minnows.

Can’t beat him.

Then.

‘I’ll have him join us.’

If you can’t beat them, make them join your team.

With that thought, Kim Gilsan immediately moved.

As he was about to approach Kim Donghu, who was taking a short break after the scene.

Without hesitation, he extended his foot when suddenly.

Bump!

He collided with someone.

“Isn’t it unconscionable for an idol agency to covet actors?”

Full Lady CEO Lee Sanghak.

His toad-like face was filled with venom.

“Don’t cross the line, brother. Actors should grow among actors.”

At these textbook words and somewhat bold speech, Kim Gilsan laughed in disbelief.

“Hey, don’t we have actors too? Are you saying Actress Kim Yuryon is nothing?”

“Good grief, who doesn’t know that? I’m saying you don’t have a proper training system!”

“Traiiining?”

Kim Gilsan, as if triggered by the word “training,”

rubbed his face dryly once and flared up.

“How can you talk about training when all the kids you’ve raised get devoured?”

“…”

Lee Sanghak couldn’t answer that.

Cold truth was sometimes too painful.

+++++

After filming.

Jang Geonho immediately approached Kim Donghu.

It would be more accurate to say he ran over,

grabbing a bottle of water to hand to Kim Donghu.

“Haha, if you come out this strong already, will your stamina be okay later?”

“Huh, senior! Thank you for your concern!”

“No, no, I didn’t give it to you for this kind of response, sit comfortably, rest, rest.”

After stopping Kim Donghu, who was hurriedly trying to stand up and show respect,

Jang Geonho repeated what he had just said.

“If you’re like this already, your stamina will suffer later.”

This was a genuine concern, and

Kim Donghu answered naturally.

“Thank you for your concern!”

“Yes, yes.”

Jang Geonho nodded contentedly while listening to Kim Donghu’s words.

It was a common occurrence.

Putting in excessive effort because it’s the first filming.

But then.

“Then I’ll try to use less energy next time!”

Jang Geonho was dumbfounded by Kim Donghu’s following words.

Less energy next time?

So this wasn’t his full power?