Ch.83Kim Donghu, come out here.

“I wonder what Han Taegeon sunbae’s KakaoTalk message yesterday was really about.”

As soon as I saw his reply saying he understood.

I asked several times exactly what that “I understand” meant.

But the answer that came back was still,

>I understand, I understand exactly, Donghu.

Just saying he understood.

Actually, I’m somewhat perceptive, so I had a rough idea of what he meant.

‘Is he saying he’ll come to the audition?’

But no matter how I thought about it, that didn’t make sense.

Why would a national actor with the title,

A lead actor in a ten-million-viewer film, come to audition for a student play?

It made more sense to think he was just coming to watch the play.

However.

‘It feels off.’

I just couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t simply coming to watch.

But regardless, we couldn’t just cancel the audition.

As soon as my school classes ended, I immediately called Senior Bong Jinwoo.

“Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Donghu. I’m right in front of you.”

Awkward.

Seeing Senior Jinwoo who suddenly appeared before my eyes with a “poof” as soon as I called.

I awkwardly scratched my cheek.

“Ah, I was heading to the theater club for the play audition.”

“If you’re talking about Sparking… that’s over. I don’t need to be there anymore.”

“What?”

“No need to be surprised. It’s just… we need to get serious, and I don’t have time to focus on kids’ games.”

We absolutely need to make Story of the Moon and the Stars successful, so I need to focus on that.

Senior Jinwoo conveyed his message without the slightest hesitation, as if he truly believed it.

“And I’ve already posted the audition notice online separately.”

“Oh, really? Without preparing together?”

“Yes, I felt it would be a bit much to get help with that too. We’ve already received a lot of investment….”

Received a lot of investment?

I suppressed the itching urge to ask about the exact amount.

How much would one need to receive to say they’ve received “a lot”?

‘Wait, how much money are they pouring into a student performance anyway?’

Seokho hyung’s comment about his entire fortune suddenly bothered me.

Surely he didn’t actually invest that much?

How much does he expect to recover to take such a risk?

‘I mean, I know the rating, but…’

He just believed what I said and invested without knowing?

‘Does he have a beast’s heart like my father?’

That’s what I was thinking right now.

“Could I know when the audition will be held?”

“Oh, well… we don’t need that many characters, so I’m planning to hold it in about two weeks from now.”

“Ah, at Daehangno then?”

“Yes, yes, we’ll be performing there anyway.”

“I understand.”

I suddenly had a feeling that things were going to get bigger.

Like the size of this was going to be different?

“Do you have any actors in mind?”

“Ah, um… I was thinking of Kim Sujin for the role of Rose. I asked her, and she agreed right away.”

“What about the others?”

“Well, honestly, just having Kim Donghu choose my work is an honor… I think I’ll decide the rest through auditions.”

As we continued our conversation, I noticed a problem with this dialogue.

“Wait, senior. You’re being too formal… I’m your junior.”

“What? Yes, yes, I know. I know that. You’re my junior.”

“?”

Senior Han Taegeon is like that,

Senior Bong Jinwoo is like that,

‘What exactly do they know when they say they know?’

From my perspective, they don’t seem to know anything at all!

+++++

The afternoon after Bong Jinwoo said he would post the audition notice online.

“See, I told you it would be posted!”

“It-it really is!”

Han Taegeon’s manager widened his eyes as he saw the theater notice that was really posted.

‘This is an incredibly stylish design that couldn’t have been made by a high school student.’

It clearly showed talent, but.

Unfortunately, the post’s view count was only 8.

Even after six hours, it still hadn’t reached double digits.

“It’s hard for people to be interested in theater anyway.”

Many are already part of theater companies.

The manager nodded at actor Han Taegeon’s explanation.

Theater companies might recruit screenwriters.

But it was rare for a screenwriter to form a theater company.

Or rather, even if they did, it was extremely rare to recruit like this from the beginning.

But the author of this recruitment post had just registered yesterday.

Looking at the profile, they were only a second-year high school student, and this was their first work?

“Just looking at the personal information, no one would want to click on the post.”

What crazy person would rush into doing a work like this?

The manager gave Han Taegeon a strange look at his words.

“You’re trying to do it.”

“That’s because this notice is so righteous. Can you imagine how many people would have applied if it said they’d be working with Kim Donghu?”

But they’re deliberately not taking that easy path, wanting to succeed purely on their own strength.

I like directors like this, people who are truly confident in their own work.

People like this have a high chance of making it big.

The manager, who had been quietly listening to actor Han Taegeon, decided he needed to speak up.

After working together for about 9 years.

The proactiveness shown by Han Taegeon, who had never shown such behavior before.

He had just figured out the cause.

“You really do talk a lot when there’s something you want.”

“Huh?”

“You want to work with actor Kim Donghu again, right?”

“…Is it that obvious?”

“It was obvious from the beginning, but I didn’t know it was this serious.”

Han Taegeon fell into thought at the manager’s words.

‘Was it?’

At some point, acting started to feel like just a job.

The pressure that came with the title of national actor.

The burden of knowing he could fall at any moment if he made even one mistake.

All those things were slowly tightening around his neck.

And then he met Kim Donghu.

Overwhelming acting.

A vast presence announced by destructive talent.

Watching that, Han Taegeon thought:

‘Perhaps my original passion is right there.’

The moment he admired someone’s acting,

Wanted to be like them, and felt a strong urge to stand beside them.

Han Taegeon wanted to match acting with actor Kim Donghu for a longer period, not just briefly like in Endless Frontline.

And now that moment was right in front of him, how could he not be excited?

“Besides, isn’t it thrilling that nobody knows about this?”

“Huh?”

“Think about it, who would know that both Kim Donghu and I will be in this play? Who could even guess that?”

It’s like going back to being a rookie, you know?

I’m seriously so excited.

The manager smiled at the response, which was like that of a pure child.

“Well, as long as you’re happy.”

Since his schedule was open anyway,

And an actor of Han Taegeon’s caliber had the freedom to adjust his schedule.

No one would make an issue of him doing something like this.

‘The funny thing is that an actor of his caliber isn’t even negotiating his appearance fee.’

Getting actor Han Taegeon to come to an audition without fee negotiations?

That would be an unbelievable story to anyone.

‘A play starring Kim Donghu and Han Taegeon.’

That’s incredible, isn’t it?

With that thought, the manager suddenly realized one possibility.

‘I hope this doesn’t become a rumor…’

Anyway,

National actor Han Taegeon decides to participate in the audition!

+++++

Unfortunately, Han Taegeon’s manager’s prediction was wrong.

To be precise, there was no need for rumors to spread.

“Should I audition for that too, mom?”

“Huh?”

“The one with Donghu and you, should I audition too?”

“What are you talking about, mom?”

Kim Sujin expressed her surprise at the words of her mother, Kim Yuryeon, the Queen of the Small Screen.

“Mom, this is just something kids are doing.”

“What do you mean kids? They’re recruiting actors like this, which means they’re accepting outside actors.”

“But that…”

Isn’t it weird for mom to join in on kids’ activities?

Wouldn’t it be strange to intrude on their play?

Kim Sujin was about to say that but stopped.

‘It’s not exactly kids playing around.’

The moment Kim Donghu appeared, it was no longer just a talent show.

How could it be a talent show when the star of a drama with 40% viewership ratings was involved?

Plus.

‘And there’s me too….’

It’s a more serious play than expected.

No, the casting was even excessive.

It was beyond the level that a high school student screenwriter could cast.

“I enjoyed working with him during High Dream, and I’ve always wanted to act with my future son-in-law again.”

“S-son-in-law? What son-in-law! Why are you saying that! It’s not like that yet!”

Kim Sujin’s mother, Kim Yuryeon, narrowed her eyes sharply upon hearing her daughter’s words.

“Yet? Yet? Did you say ‘yet’? I knew it… Donghu is destined to be our son-in-law, isn’t he?”

“I-I don’t know… he doesn’t seem interested in that kind of thing.”

Seeing her daughter suddenly deflated, Kim Yuryeon smiled gently.

“Seeing you like this makes me even more determined to audition.”

The Queen of the Small Screen, Kim Yuryeon.

Decides to participate in the audition!

++++++

There are certain types of people in this world.

Clearly human, but

Possessing the senses of a well-trained beast.

Their intuition is close to precognition,

Making it impossible for anyone to ignore.

The lead actor of Swordsman Baek Dong-soo, Seo Jinwoo, was such a person.

“Why do you look so happy?”

“Huh?”

Seo Jinwoo, who often met with actor Han Taegeon privately,

Narrowed his brow as he looked at Han Taegeon, who seemed strangely happy these days.

Why does this overly sensitive guy look so pleased lately?

“You’re hiding something.”

“What could I be hiding? What are you talking about?”

Swish!

After distracting him by starting a conversation.

Seo Jinwoo immediately snatched Han Taegeon’s phone.

He wanted to know what was making him stare at his phone during their drinking session.

Looking at the phone screen, a new question arose.

“Actor recruitment notice? Theater company? What’s this?”

As he was about to ask if Han Taegeon was going to participate.

Something flashed in actor Seo Jinwoo’s mind.

“…Kim Donghu is in this, isn’t he?”

His savage intuition hits the mark perfectly.