Ch.85A Story That Will Never Be Again

After seeing senior Bong Jinwoo lose consciousness twice in a row, we all entered the theater.

‘What on earth is going on?’

After laying senior Bong Jinwoo down comfortably in the lounge, I struggled to speak as I looked at the seniors who had come up on stage.

“…But how did you get here, senior Jang Geonho?”

“I took a taxi. The audition place was hard to find, tucked away in a corner.”

“What?”

“Haha, just kidding. I was shooting a commercial with Seo Jinwoo, and he was reading the script.”

“He doesn’t usually read scripts much. So I peeked at it, and here we are.”

As senior Jang Geonho explained with a casual laugh, I repeatedly rubbed my face in disbelief.

‘Senior Han Taegeon called senior Seo Jinwoo, and senior Seo Jinwoo called senior Jang Geonho…’

Senior Kim Yuryeon obviously came because of Sujin’s influence. When I connected all these thoughts, I wondered if this was really happening.

‘This is too big in scale.’

Some might say I was being greedy, gathering actors in one place that others would struggle to cast. But this was actually a serious problem.

“Seo Jinwoo, I’m warning you now. Give up the role of Jo Jongsu.”

“You give it up. I’m dead serious about this.”

It was especially serious when industry top stars were competing for the same role.

‘Why are you fighting over that role?’

I couldn’t even speak up. With such senior industry figures gathered in one place, what could I possibly do?

In reality…

‘Sujin is completely cornered.’

Sujin was hiding in a corner, extremely shy. I understood. If I weren’t the lead, I would have done the same. So naturally, attention turned to the person who actually came for the audition.

The only focal point in this absurd situation.

“Actor Jin Myeongtae?”

“Yes?! Yes!”

“I saw your script earlier, and it had the Stupid Tree part highlighted. Are you auditioning for Stupid Tree?”

“Yes, yes, that’s right.”

I decided to reorganize the situation, starting with Jin Myeongtae’s audition. Just as I was about to prepare for the audition…

“Haha, Stupid Tree is great. I was going to do that one too.”

I naturally noticed actor Jang Geonho sitting in the audience area. As I wondered why he was sitting there…

“Which role are you applying for, senior?”

“I like the King. After always playing kings in historical dramas, I wanted to try a Western-style king too.”

“The King is good. I’m definitely going for Jo Jongsu.”

“So you’ll be competing with Jinwoo? I never thought I’d see Han Taegeon versus Seo Jinwoo in an audition.”

The actors, as if by prior arrangement, sat down in the audience seats, chatting casually.

That left only me and actor Jin Myeongtae on stage. I immediately realized what their actions meant and was shocked.

“Seniors, are you planning to watch the audition?”

“Of course. This is how it’s always done. Rookie, come down too.”

Actor Seo Jinwoo, looking like he didn’t see any problem, patted the seat next to him, signaling me to come sit.

‘So they’re going to watch Jin Myeongtae’s audition… all of them?’

Do they think this makes sense? Is this normal? Do they think he can act properly under such pressure?

‘No, they probably think he can precisely because of the pressure.’

The actors sitting in the audience were exceptional from the beginning of their careers. They were all called monster rookies, with undeniable talent. This was a completely different case from ordinary people.

Could that be why?

“A-a-a-am I au-auditioning n-now?”

Actor Jin Myeongtae began trembling uncontrollably. The greatest misfortune in this situation was…

‘I should have secured at least some authority when investing.’

I had no authority to direct anything.

Why did I delegate most of the authority to senior Bong Jinwoo when investing? Why didn’t I assert my opinions strongly as an investor and instead trusted senior Bong Jinwoo?

‘Because I didn’t know.’

I didn’t know this would happen. I didn’t know such big names would show up on their own when no one invited them!

Now senior Bong Jinwoo was my only hope. But I already knew how this story would end.

“…So it wasn’t a dream after all.”

Senior Bong Jinwoo, who had just woken up in the lounge and was assessing the situation. The one speaking to him was…

“Oh, Director, you’re awake. Would it be alright if we watch the audition together here?”

The queen of the small screen, senior Kim Yuryeon.

Refuse? Do you think that’s even possible?

“…Y-yes, of course. It’s an honor for me.”

“What honor? I’m honored that you’re allowing us. Please, sit in the middle.”

Of course, senior Bong Jinwoo’s answer was YES. And so the curtain rose on the audition for “Story of the Moon and the Stars.”

Looking at this, I had only one thought:

‘This isn’t Daehangno scale at all.’

And then.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

A message from Sims arrived, and…

‘…Is this real?’

As soon as I checked it, I was shocked.

+++++

Bong Jinwoo found it difficult to clearly understand the current situation.

‘Why are actor Jang Geonho and actress Kim Yuryeon sitting on either side of me?’

Is this a dream? Can dreams even be like this? It seems too unrealistic.

Regardless of those thoughts…

“I am the Stupid Tree, I only think about growing big. Hugely! Hugely! I’m going to be an enormous tree!”

The long-awaited audition for “Story of the Moon and the Stars” was beginning. The target audience for “Story of the Moon and the Stars” was all ages, with elementary and middle school students as the main focus.

The reason was clear.

The children who grew up with him in the orphanage were exactly that age. That’s why many of the lines and directions were silly and childish.

But the important point here was…

‘That doesn’t mean the actors should be childish too.’

He wanted a performance that was childish but compelling for everyone to watch. Therefore, solid acting skills were essential.

Someone who could deliver childish lines in a non-childish way. That’s what he was looking for in this audition.

‘The first impression is really good.’

Jin Myeongtae, was it? His fundamentals were so solid that it was hard to understand why he had been unknown for 10 years.

“I love eating the most, so I’ll eat everything and grow up! Up! Up!”

Especially since he seemed to understand the characteristics of theater, his gaze was clearly focused on the audience.

“Wow, that’s good…”

An exclamation of admiration escaped his lips.

The Stupid Tree was a character focused only on growing, representing a child’s primal desires. A character who doesn’t care what happens to others as long as he’s happy. A role that needed to express the emotions of a selfish 5-year-old.

“I think we’ve seen enough. Thank you.”

And since Jin Myeongtae had clearly shown that, there was nothing more to see—an immediate pass.

‘Now I need to see the next one, but…’

He couldn’t bring himself to ask them to come up on stage.

Was it right for a high school student like him to evaluate industry seniors? Still, as the director, shouldn’t he take command?

As Bong Jinwoo’s head was spinning…

“Senior, can you leave everything to me for a moment?”

Kim Donghu appeared before Bong Jinwoo like a savior.

Coming so naturally that Bong Jinwoo didn’t even notice when he arrived, Kim Donghu went up on stage as soon as Bong Jinwoo nodded.

“Since the audition seems to have started rather abruptly, I’d like to take a moment to clarify things.”

Let me formally introduce myself. Hello, I am Kim Donghu, who will be playing the lead role of the Little Prince in “Story of the Moon and the Stars.”

With that one introduction, the casual atmosphere became focused.

Jin Myeongtae who had finished his audition and was tense, Bong Jinwoo who was rolling his eyes unable to grasp the situation, and the industry seniors who were leisurely observing the audition—

Everyone’s attention turned to Kim Donghu.

“I am both the lead actor and an investor in ‘Story of the Moon and the Stars.’ So before we proceed with the formal auditions, I want to share the dream behind this play.”

Everyone was surprised by those words.

You invested too?

What exactly is this performance?

What dream are you talking about?

Then I definitely can’t give up the Jo Jongsu role.

Neither can I.

A brief commotion. After it settled down, Kim Donghu continued.

“Actually, ‘Story of the Moon and the Stars’ was initially planned as a one-time performance for children.”

Due to various circumstances. After all, there are actor fees, venue rental costs, and so on. We could only afford one free performance.

As he listened to Kim Donghu’s words, Bong Jinwoo recalled a conversation they had before.

-I want to give dreams to children.

-Dreams?

A story he had shared like a complaint, thinking it would be impossible.

-Yes, dreams. This might be sudden, but I’m an orphan, and the funny thing is, that makes you grow up faster.

Family history he had shared because he felt he absolutely had to, though he didn’t know why.

-And you realize, consciously or unconsciously, that your starting line and finish line are behind others, and shorter.

A hymn for the dream he had wanted to achieve since writing “Story of the Moon and the Stars.”

-Someday, someday when I become a truly great director… at that time, I want to gather all the children and put on a performance.

-What kind of performance?

-One that makes them dream… that they can do it too. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? And we wouldn’t even charge the children.

He remembered that moment when he spoke of a goal he wanted to achieve, no matter how long it might take.

Recalling all this, Bong Jinwoo hurriedly went up on stage. From here on, he had to do it himself.

Even if it meant breaking up this perfect cast, he, as the director, had to be the one to take the microphone.

“L-let, let me speak.”

“Yes, I’ve been waiting.”

As soon as Bong Jinwoo came up, Kim Donghu naturally handed over the microphone.

With an expression suggesting he knew all along that Bong Jinwoo would come up. With movements so smooth it seemed like he might have seen the future.

Taking the microphone, Bong Jinwoo brought what he had thought was a future dream into the present.

“I, I want! To b-borrow your p-power! To put on a performance for children!”

Dreams are not just to be dreamed but to be achieved. Opportunities must be seized when they come.

“I, I want to use aggressive marketing… borrowing your names! I want to be greedy!”

A non-profit performance. A performance to show hope to children in the same situation as himself.

But a story with extremely low feasibility.

However.

“I knew it.”

Starting with Jang Geonho’s words.

“I figured as much.”

“Anyway, the pilot role is mine.”

“Perhaps we’re witnessing the birth of a master.”

Han Taegeon, Seo Jinwoo, and Kim Yuryeon all showed positive signs.

Even…

“We absolutely must do this.”

“Mm, mmm! That’s right.”

Kim Sujin, who had appeared late, and the impressed Jin Myeongtae. Everyone firmly grasped Bong Jinwoo’s dream.

To prevent the dream from simply dissipating. They firmly held it and planted it in reality.

Watching this, Kim Donghu felt a thrill.

‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime story.’

The curtain was now rising on a performance where the actors would receive almost no pay, all to give hope to children.