episode_0040

The acting lessons for Gil Hye-yeon’s role began.

However, as expected, no matter how much she taught, Seo Yi-soo couldn’t come up with an original interpretation of the script.

From the start, it was impossible for Seo Yi-soo to even properly read the script with her poor reading comprehension.

At this point, even the clueless Seo Yi-soo couldn’t help but realize what the problem was.

It was me.

It was me who was the problem.

What’s the point of talking about an original interpretation when she can’t even read the script?

Seo Yi-soo made a dejected expression.

“It’s over now…”

“Oh, no. Yi-soo, let’s try a little harder.”

Despite Gil Hye-yeon’s attempt to comfort her, it was futile.

Seo Yi-soo hung her head with a face that looked like she might cry at any moment.

“It’s been over 3 hours, and there’s been no progress. It seems like it’s because I’m stupid and slow. Gil Hye-yeon, you’ve taught me so hard. I’m sorry for being dumb…”

Blaming herself for her ignorance.

How pitiful.

As someone who cherished Seo Yi-soo like a younger sibling, Gil Hye-yeon found it unbearable to watch her anymore.

“I need to change the subject somehow.”

Gil Hye-yeon racked her brain desperately.

What could be an interesting topic for Seo Yi-soo?

“Oh.”

And then, one idea came to mind.

“Oh, I forgot to mention this. Yi-soo, how about doing a project with me?”

“W-what?”

That was about discussing a project.

A project that Gil Hye-yeon could star in together with her.

And, as expected.

Seo Yi-soo’s gloomy expression brightened up at the mention of a project.

“A project? Together? What is that all about?”

A barrage of questions followed.

“Such a kid.”

Gil Hye-yeon chuckled inwardly.

Failing to learn acting properly, yet brightening up at the mention of a project where she could act.

It made her think that Seo Yi-soo was truly an actor at heart.

“It’s a new thriller drama on KCN. It’s a project that’s currently in the middle of public auditions.”

As Gil Hye-yeon was about to say more, she showed a proud smile.

It was quite a proud expression.

“It’s my first leading role.”

In major projects, Gil Hye-yeon had only appeared in supporting roles, even though she was recognized for her acting skills. Due to being overshadowed in terms of recognition, she had limitations on the roles she could take.

But now, Gil Hye-yeon had finally secured a leading position.

It was an unexpected opportunity, but it wasn’t easy to be completely happy about it.

“It’s a happy thing, but it’s also a burden in a way.”

In a major project, her first leading role.

Even if she just hits a home run, Gil Hye-yeon’s career would dramatically rise.

But if she were to fail even once…

“If I fail, it will be tough in many ways.”

The entertainment industry is small.

While there are limits to the number of major projects one can participate in, there is an overflow of actors.

No one could predict when a failed actor would be given another leading opportunity.

Especially since Gil Hye-yeon’s agency was small and it was difficult to leverage the company’s power.

Her sense of responsibility was extraordinary.

“So, I need a reliable supporting actor to help me… That’s the situation.”

That’s why Gil Hye-yeon proposed to Seo Yi-soo that she could help her.

However, it was not an easy request.

“Ma’am, I think I know what that project is. . Am I right?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“Hmm.”

Sin Ji-hoo had a dark expression.

“That one, the rumors aren’t good. The auditions are public, but they already have their chosen ones.”

“You can almost consider it true. That’s why I couldn’t easily bring it up to Yi-soo.”

Public auditions.

It sounded grand, but in reality, it often turned out to be a mere formality.

Already, there have been many cases where the topic of discussion or the attention of the actors is used to attract attention to the cast.

This time, it was the same with “The Predator of Crime”.

“Lee Soo is suitable for the role of Haesoo. There’s an actor recommended by the investment company. So, from my perspective, it would be nice if Lee Soo could at least try the audition. I don’t force anyone.”

“I see.”

Shin Ji-hoo nodded approvingly.

Although Gil Hye-yeon said she wouldn’t force anyone, in reality, her words were not important to him.

Glancing.

He looked at Seo Yoo-soo out of the corner of his eye.

“Hmm. Hmm. Asking for help. Those are nice words to hear. I don’t know what they’re talking about, but let’s leave it to them.”

Seo Yoo-soo didn’t understand the conversation that had passed between Gil Hye-yeon and Shin Ji-hoo.

Instead, he was full of enthusiasm.

“Seo Yoo-soo.”

“Hmm?”

Shin Ji-hoo asked Seo Yoo-soo.

“Do you want to do this project?”

“Of course.”

Shin Ji-hoo is Seo Yoo-soo’s manager.

He is the one who helps her do what she wants to do.

It’s the same this time too.

Shin Ji-hoo gave Seo Yoo-soo a cold look.

“Surely… the main investor in ‘The Predator of Crime’ was JD Entertainment.”

A major entertainment company in South Korea.

Known for quickly turning their chosen actors into top stars with their abundant financial resources.

“In simple terms, it’s a company that’s all about money.”

It’s really fortunate.

If the only thing standing in the way of Seo Yoo-soo is money, Shin Ji-hoo is too easy an opponent for him.

Shin Ji-hoo let out a silent sigh.

“It’s much better to deal with Seo Yoo-soo’s empty head than that…”

He has been Seo Yoo-soo’s manager for about 5 months.

Unknowingly, Shin Ji-hoo had come to misunderstand Seo Yoo-soo as a troublemaker.

It’s just that his knowledge of the world is severely lacking and his way of thinking is simple.

It’s not that he’s a troublemaker.

If Seo Yoo-soo had known his thoughts, he would have been very angry.

How can a dragon understand the heart of a person?

Peace is maintained in ignorance.

“Yoo-soo, you don’t have to push yourself. There’s a high chance you’ll just hear negative things and fail if you audition for no reason.”

“Oh, don’t worry. Trust me. I’ll respond with all my might to that trust.”

“Uh… yeah. Of course, I trust you.”

The world is so bright.

Unknowingly, Shin Ji-hoo let out a small laugh.

He didn’t realize it himself.

The eyes looking at Seo Yoo-soo were warmer than ever.

“Yes. This kind of look suits you best.”

The glamorous yet dirty jungle of the entertainment industry.

It’s filled with fake gems covered in filth pretending to shine.

Shin Ji-hoo didn’t want Seo Yoo-soo to become one of those fakes.

As long as Seo Yoo-soo wants it, she will remain pure forever.

Before the dirty and vulgar filth reaches Seo Yoo-soo, Shin Ji-hoo will clear it all away.

“The Predator of Crime”.

The audition was the same.

Seo Yoo-soo will never be treated unfairly just because another actor has already been chosen for the role.

That day, the audition will be so clean that it will be talked about in the industry.

***

“Hey, what’s going on here?”

Kim Jung-ho PD crossed his arms in annoyance.

He said to the woman sitting next to him.

“This author. Can’t we just go with Kang Sun-ah?”

The woman, who was close to middle age, laughed.

Mid-level writer Lee Kyung-mi snorted.

“Why? JD Entertainment said we don’t have to use Kang Sun-ah. They assured us that they will invest as planned, no matter who gets the role.”

“Well… still, people’s minds are not like that. Even if they say that, they might withdraw the investment if Kang Sun-ah fails.”

“No way. Would a big company act so petty?”

“Author, you’re acting innocent for someone who’s not a rookie.”

The two of them are the director and writer of “The Predator of Crime”.

And this was the place where the public audition was taking place.

The audition was progressing smoothly like flowing water, but the director and the writer, who held the real decision-making power, were at odds with each other.

It was all because of Kang Sun-ah, the rising star.

An actress who hoped to secure a role in the production under the pretext of investment from JD Entertainment.

It was the dirty and twisted reality of the industry.

If nothing had happened, no one would have raised any complaints.

Kang Sun-ah was not an untalented actress, and the role JD Entertainment wanted her for wasn’t even a lead role.

They demanded the supporting role of “Haesoo.”

It was a fair trade-off to give up one supporting role in exchange for a large investment.

However…

A few days ago, JD Entertainment suddenly changed their tune.

Kim Jung-ho PD chuckled as he recalled that moment.

“What? You don’t need to secure a role, just conduct the audition fairly and cleanly? What nonsense is this?”

Especially coming from a company like JD Entertainment, which had actively exploited industry practices and dirty deals.

They urgently made such demands as if a fire had been lit under them.

Kim Jung-ho PD was a seasoned director.

He knew better than anyone how dirty and fickle the entertainment industry insiders could be.

To say to conduct things fairly…

But if Kang Sun-ah were to fail in the role of “Haesoo,” there was always the possibility of changing their minds again.

“Writer. Let’s be practical. Directors and writers are the bosses of the actors. We’re the ones with the power when it comes to investors.”

“Ugh, come on! And honestly, Kang Sun-ah. She’s a good actress, but she just didn’t fit the role of ‘Haesoo.’”

“Ugh, fine.”

The director just wanted to push Kang Sun-ah aside as she was at the beginning.

And the writer wanted to take the opportunity of JD’s change of heart to cast an actor they truly liked.

The two of them were at odds with each other.

However, in reality, if nothing significant happened, the director’s decision was much more likely to prevail.

Lee Kyung-mi, the writer.

She had established herself as a mid-level writer by writing several works in a row, but she had yet to produce a blockbuster work that would make a sensation.

She, too, was a seasoned writer.

She had no intention of casting a mediocre actor and upsetting the investors.

Lee Kyung-mi let out a sigh inwardly.

“Honestly, all the actors I saw today were mediocre at best. In contrast, Kang Sun-ah’s acting was solid.”

Although JD Entertainment had proposed a fair audition, Kang Sun-ah, who was the closest to being cast, had an advantage over the other actors.

And then, it happened.

“Next… Actor Seo Ee-soo, please come in!”

The assistant director called out the next audition participant.

Creak–

The door to the audition room opened, revealing a petite, seemingly barely twenty-year-old actress.

Lee Kyung-mi let out another sigh.

“She’s not going to make it either. Why does she look so nervous?”

Seo Ee-soo’s first impression as an actress seemed timid.

She hunched her shoulders and kept glancing around nervously, clearly showing signs of extreme tension.

And then…

“Shin Ji-hoo… They said managers can’t come in for the audition. How am I supposed to do this alone?”

She kept muttering to herself, too small to be understood, clearly not in the right state of mind due to excessive nervousness.

It was impossible to act well in such a state of tension.

“Looks like we’ll have to go with Kang Sun-ah after all.”

“Thank goodness. Hopefully, Lee Kyung-mi won’t insist on anything.”

The writer and the director looked at Seo Ee-soo and had the same thought.

Kim Jung-ho conducted the audition, shuffling through the materials.

“Affiliated with KS Entertainment. You came from a good company, right?”

“That’s… yes.”

“…Yes?”

“Oh, no. I mean, that’s right.”

Rambling.

It was evident how nervous she was, switching to informal language in response to a question, then correcting herself with a surprised shake of her head.

“No matter how much you ask. I can’t even answer properly.”

“Well, that’s enough. Let’s start with the acting first. Episode 1, Scene 27. It’s the entrance scene of , right? Please give us a good performance.”

“Sure. Don’t be too nervous, just relax. Seo Eisu.”

It was so awkward to see Lee Kyungmi, who was visibly tense, that she needed words of comfort.

The director, as well as the writer.

No one had high expectations for the actor Seo Eisu.

“Um… Please take care of me as well.”

With a face that seemed like it could burst into tears at any moment.

The actor, who looked pathetic and fragile, begins the performance.