episode_0009

Sua narrowed her brow. The sudden phone call was the reason.

“Voice phishing, maybe?”

However, it was subtly different from what she knew.

Usually, they impersonate public officials and induce advance payments, but this one introduced themselves as an actor and even offered money.

“This…”

Don’t call me with this kind of thing. She was about to say that sharply.

“Two million won? Great. Consider it round-trip transportation costs.”

“Huh?”

Sua expressed her question.

Come to think of it, there was another strange thing. The tone of Korean was not at all awkward, the call came from a normal number, and the pronunciation didn’t slur even in the lower register…

“Instead, come right now. I don’t want to waste time.”

Even listening again, the voice was excellent. To the point where it didn’t feel like a clumsy criminal call. Have they gotten that advanced these days?

Anyway, she was about to hang up.

*Saga-reuk*, a sound like something brushing against something came through. The unique scratching sound when handing over a phone. Soon, the voice coming from the phone was completely different.

“Hello. Can you hear me well?”

The voice was very firm.

“Ms. Sua, Sun-il is not very good with words, so I took over. This is Choi Hee-won PD, do you remember me?”

“Ah? Rock solid.”

The words came out before she knew it.

However, the image of Choi Hee-won that remained in Sua’s mind was like that. A huge physique and distinct muscles. A solid human.

“…Wait, why are those two together?”

Choi Hee-won PD being together meant that this call was not voice phishing. Could the person Sua had been talking to until just now really be an actor?

While Sua’s mind was spinning rapidly.

“I’m glad you remember me. Sun-il expressed himself a little too aggressively, but we want to see Ms. Sua once now.”

“This is sudden.”

A word popped out because she couldn’t overcome the confusion.

“Haha, you haven’t changed. Even with my size, I keep shrinking. But Ms. Sua, we were also very sudden.”

Choi Hee-won said in a firm and calm tone.

“We thought we’d definitely see you in the second round, but we were surprised and shocked to hear that you dropped out. Many people were looking forward to it. Did you have a particular reason?”

“Reason…”

There was no need to think any further.

Torture. I hate it.

“I don’t like the script.”

“The script is bad…. As expected, just like I heard.”

Choi Hee-won continued.

“Ms. Sua said you participated in the audition as a hobby from the start. Dropping out because the script is bad…. That’s possible. I understand.”

“Pardon?”

“This, rather, the audition was eaten up by Ms. Sua. You only took the rich experience, didn’t you?”

“What?”

Sua thought. How many question marks am I spitting out today?

“But Ms. Sua.”

It was then that Choi Hee-won’s voice became even firmer.

“Dropping out because the script is bad, that also sounds like you’d act if the script was good. Am I understanding correctly?”

“Please tell me why you called in the first place.”

“The question I just asked is the main point.”

Choi Hee-won replied calmly.

“I want to discuss a great opportunity with Ms. Sua.”

Opportunity?

Because something came to mind, she immediately frowned.

“I don’t do auditions. I’m not changing my mind.”

I don’t like being tortured by the script, and I also don’t want to receive an offer to change the second-round script. If I participate again while disrupting fairness, I can’t feel comfortable.

“I know. You must have felt the audition was like a narrow lake.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m sure I’ve brought Ms. Sua an opportunity as vast as the ocean. You can just come and take a look.”

“…”

I don’t know what they think of Sua, but she was tempted by the words ‘good opportunity’. An opportunity compared to the sea.

Sua checked the things she had already started.

[Energy Drink CF]

[Historical Short Film ‘Sword’]

She had already applied for two, and she was having trouble because there was nothing that caught her eye after that. It might not be bad.

“A good opportunity…an ocean-like opportunity…”

It was when Sua muttered that.

“Hahahaha!”

Suddenly, a very loud laugh. Sua almost dropped her phone. She was really surprised….

“…Wh-wh-why are you doing that?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. It’s not that, but…”

Choi Hee-won continued in a voice mixed with laughter.

“I could clearly see that you wouldn’t bat an eye even at this kind of offer. Thanks to that, I feel it once again. How many offers Ms. Sua has received.”

“What nonsense…”

“Yes. Everyone must have been making ridiculous offers. But I’m different. I guarantee it’s a good opportunity.”

“…Are you listening to me?”

A rock. A rock that cannot communicate at all.

But it’s okay because there’s nothing to lose, right?

“I’m listening. Tell me your requirements.”

“No…”

She sighed deeply.

Sua thought. Let me say what I want to say.

“It’s not hidden camera filming, is it?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

“And what do you mean by ‘we’?”

“There are a few faces that you’ll be quite familiar with, including me and Sun-il. I’ll send you the address in a text message soon.”

After thinking for a while, Sua accepted the offer.

The call ended like that.

◈◈◈◈◈

Immediately after hanging up, the address was sent to her via text message. Only then did she feel a sense of reality. Sua quietly went over the situation again.

“It wasn’t voice phishing?”

No, no.

It might be something similar.

She shouldn’t let her guard down yet. There’s no telling what they’ll do after luring Sua out with a good opportunity. She knew well that in any industry, if you let your guard down, you’ll get your nose cut off without even knowing it.

“Besides, I don’t know those two at all…”

An opportunity as vast as the ocean that isn’t an audition.

She was tempted by that and suddenly accepted, but the problem is that she has no information. Kim Sun-il and Choi Hee-won are unknown figures.

Lee Sua immediately picked up her phone.

After entering the actor gallery, she wrote two posts.

[Kim Sun-il isn’t really that good]

[Choi Hee-won isn’t really that good]

Somewhat abstract posts. Usually, when you upload like this, explanations are attached one after another. After that, she took off her clothes and took a bath.

A little later.

Sua, who was full of moisture, carefully wiped off the moisture on the outside with a towel. Even carefully to the moisture under her breasts.

“…Wow. The reaction is hot.”

As expected, Sua’s posts were receiving excessive attention.

[Title: Kim Sun-il isn’t really that good]

– Aren’t there no actors doing as well as Kim Sun-il these days?

– I guess this person hasn’t seen Psychometry

– Don’t you know the Handsome Garbage meme?

– Live on the internet a little

– Just by looking at the ads, Kim Sun-il is rising a lot

[Title: Choi Hee-won isn’t really that good]

– We’ve been seeing him for too long, so that’s why

– He’s always reliable because we’re used to it

– I heard he’s doing a new work with writer Lee Geum-suk this time

– Then tell me about a better director ㅋㅋㅋ

“Both are great people, it seems. A little too much…”

She was a little scared, but she tried to erase the distracting thoughts. It doesn’t matter if you’re nervous, as long as the other person doesn’t notice.

After that, she dried her hair and put on basic makeup, and began to prepare in earnest, and after a long time, the group chat room rang.

[@Sua]

[Are you alive?]

[Why are you so quiet these days?]

Sua, who was about to pat her cheeks, glanced at the screen.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t made a peep since the special privilege was unlocked.”

Soccer, golf, swimming…. Even Sua, who had experienced countless failures, enjoyed the game. Even if she didn’t have any talent.

Naturally, she made game friends who interacted with each other, and this led to the creation of a group chat room. It was the only shelter for Sua, who had no family or friends after reincarnation.

Even though she had never actually met them.

Sua, who had applied a light lipstick, touched her phone.

[Sua: Me]

[Sua: It’s because I started working again]

[Black Bear: How many days will you quit this time?]

[Deer: You’ll feel the wall again after a day]

[Deer: Game tonight ㄱㄱ]

[Monkeying: Is this the second job after the Lab Rat?]

[Lab Rat: Tell me what you’re doing]

“Huh?”

Come to think of it, there’s one more person who got a job. A friend with a Lab Rat profile. I think he said he was a reporter….

“Eh, let’s not say it yet. I’m just going to be embarrassed.”

Sua chuckled and tapped the screen.

[Sua: lol]

[Sua: It’s different this time]

[Lab Rat: This time I’ll quit making excuses (twisting my ankle while playing soccer)]

[Monkeying: This time I’ll quit making excuses (sucking at games)]

[Black Bear: This time I’ll quit making excuses (burning all the food)]

[Deer: This time I’ll quit making excuses (collapsing after running for 3 minutes)]

After this, countless jokes and bursts of laughter were posted, but she didn’t care. The unique friendliness of this place always relieves tension.

Sua laughed after a long time and left the house.

◈◈◈◈◈

As a result of delivering the address received from the taxi driver, a huge cafe was the destination. Sua stared blankly at its sophisticated appearance for a while.

“…Wow, I’m coming to a place like this.”

A cafe that seemed like the upper class would frequent. A place that was just a pretty building to Sua, who had no knowledge of photos or coffee.

─We’re using the entire 3rd floor.

─Please come up comfortably.

This is the additional text message received from Choi Hee-won PD.

Sua patted herself, telling herself not to be too nervous, and went up the stairs. When she arrived on the 3rd floor, everyone except one was familiar. The judges of ‘I Became an Actor Like This’.

Unexpectedly.

Really unexpectedly, Seo Yeon-joo smiled first and waved her hand.

“Oh? It’s Ms. Sua. Ms. Sua!”

Feeling like she had become a great person, the feeling of being greeted by the smiling Seo Yeon-joo was so great.

Choi Hee-won PD and writer Lee Geum-suk’s reactions were no different. They greeted her with a smile. Even this writer suddenly came up and handed Sua a card.

“Was it hard to come? Pick what you want to eat on the 1st floor.”

“It’s okay.”

Sua politely returned the card.

No, she pretended to be polite, but in fact, her hands were shaking….

Even if they told me to buy something, I can’t do it.

There are so many kinds of coffee and desserts. I didn’t know what to order at all. The situation of having to stand in front of the counter itself was considered a kind of fear.

“Are you really sure you don’t want to drink anything?”

“Yes. I just want to get to the main point right away.”

“Okay. The main point is that Sun-il has something he wants to say first, Ms. Sua, you’re seeing him for the first time, right? That friend’s tone is a bit rough originally. I hope you don’t mind it too much.”

“Ms. Sua doesn’t seem like she’ll be overwhelmed at all? Even now. I’m actually more scared of Ms. Sua….”

While Seo Yeon-joo was answering writer Lee Geum-suk instead, Sua finally turned her head and looked around.

In the place where Son Ji-woong, who is originally a variety show PD, should have been, a man with neatly combed hair was sitting.

‘Kim Sun-il.’

She knew it without explanation.

It was because he was a human who fit the words “Handsome Garbage” that she had seen in the comments. His all-black clothes were calm, and his expression was somewhat rude.

An actor is an actor. He was different from Seo Yeon-joo.

If Seo Yeon-joo is light, Kim Sun-il is darkness.

Kim Sun-il tilted his head.

“Let me ask you a few things.”

A minor but precise action.

“I didn’t like the script. What exactly does that mean?”

“It’s exactly what it means. I didn’t like it.”

“Does it simply mean you were annoyed or not interested? You don’t have any experience. You shouldn’t be in a position to pick and choose the script.”

Sua only shook her head slowly.

“I don’t need to build experience. I don’t do those kinds of scripts.”

“….”

Kim Sun-il’s eyes narrowed.

Lee Sua’s attitude was different from what he had expected.

‘…Does she have her own acting beliefs?’

No matter how well they act, rookies always bow their heads. They have to do anything to fill their empty careers.

However, Lee Sua, who was facing Kim Sun-il, was different.

She didn’t seem to have any regrets, and she had the attitude that she could quit even such a huge audition if it just bothered her. Confidence.

Kim Sun-il quietly took a sip of coffee.

…I don’t know.

The more questions he asked, the more curious he became.

“Okay. It’s a good attitude to be picky about the script. But.”

Kim Sun-il continued.

“You throw away this one because it’s a bad script, and you take this one because it’s a good script…. Basically, you need to have an eye for judging scripts. Right?”

“I guess so.”

“That’s good. I’m a little overwhelmed right now.”

A bitter smile spread across Kim Sun-il’s face.

“When I see a great junior like you, I want to give you a good opportunity. But I don’t have a good eye. I can’t pick a script.”

“…That must be hard.”

Kim Sun-il unconsciously twitched his eyebrows.

…That must be hard? Is that what she just answered?

It’s unique. She’s a really strange woman. The way she’s nodding as if she’s feeling a little sorry, and the way she’s not intimidated in front of Kim Sun-il.

He spoke again after a while.

“But you came just in time with a good eye, right? Try picking a script yourself. I think it’ll be good for each other.”

Kim Sun-il slightly raised his chin.

“If you pick a good script, I’ll be recommending something good, and you’ll be happy to get something good…. Isn’t it heartwarming?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“It’s nothing much. It means I’ll show you a few scripts and tell you to pick just one yourself. I’ll give you plenty of time.”

Tap, tap.

Kim Sun-il tapped the desk with his fingernails. There were five thin scripts on it, in addition to coffee and desserts.

“All of them are scripts written by writer Lee Geum-suk. Take a look.”

“Tell me what you want.”

“Pick the one you think is the best. I’ll give you the opportunity to participate in that drama. With my lacking eyes, I can’t pick it at all.”

Sua sighed inwardly.

‘I knew it would be like this. Opportunities aren’t just given away.’

Sua wasn’t ignorant.

Kim Sun-il clearly put Sua on the test deliberately. It’s obvious that she has to choose only one out of five.

He wants her to pick the best one and the closest to the right answer.

“Is it difficult? You can give up. I did too.”

“No.”

However.

“It won’t take long. Just a moment.”

A few short words. That’s how Sua answered.

.

.

.

.

How much time had passed?

A sneer appeared on Kim Sun-il’s lips.

‘I knew it.’

In his opinion, Lee Sua’s actions were nothing short of strange.

She was flipping through the pages very quickly, but at that speed, it’s hard to see her reading the contents. It’s obvious that she’s just moving her hands because she’s anxious.

Besides, Lee Sua sometimes did strange things.

She puts her hand on the script and closes her eyes for a while. Is she going to feel the script, or is she going to feel the energy? It’s ridiculous. He was about to laugh.

‘Non-participation in the second round. Did she just avoid it because she was afraid?’

A person who avoids a scary script.

A person who accurately picks out and throws away a bad script.

It’s as vast a difference as heaven and earth.

The former is a coward, the latter is first-class.

He had hoped that Lee Sua might be first-class, but it seems that’s not the case. He clearly saw that she was struggling with just five thin scripts.

Yes, Lee Sua is not a rookie with thorough beliefs. She’s just a coward who was afraid of the second round.

Let’s quit. Kim Sun-il was about to say that.

It was then that Lee Sua raised her eyelids.

Eyes meeting. Eyes shining like jewels.

She’s not even expressionless. A slight upturn of the corners of her lips.

“….”

Kim Sun-il felt a sense of incongruity.