episode_0068

“Actor Seo Eisu. Do you want to work on a project with me?”

Hong Geunsik looked straight at Seo Eisu and asked.

At that moment, Shin Jihu, who had been watching from the side, clenched his fist under the table, as expected, the best scenario was unfolding.

Hong Geunsik had proposed to work together on a project.

Of course, the lead role in the project would be Hong Geunsik.

Seo Eisu would probably play a supporting role, maybe even a minor one.

“But it doesn’t matter.”

Even if it’s a supporting role.

As an actor in a film that has attracted over 10 million viewers in South Korea.

It was Hong Geunsik’s movie.

Just by appearing in it, he would surely attract the attention of the entire nation.

“Uh? What do you think?”

When Shin Jihu was lost in thought, Hong Geunsik asked Seo Eisu again.

And Seo Eisu immediately turned to Shin Jihu.

“Shin Jihu. What do you think we should do?”

“Huh?”

“During the vacation, at the beach, didn’t I say that I’m fine with any role you choose for me?”

“Oh… right, I remember.”

The two of them had that conversation.

‘Hmm.’

Hong Geunsik watched them with great interest.

Shin Jihu asked, “Can we hear about the project?”

Just as they were about to start talking about the project in earnest, the waitstaff began serving the meal.

The group continued their conversation while playing with chopsticks.

“Of course. It’s natural to see the project before making a decision. So, first…”

Many things were discussed.

The title of the project was “Business Partners.”

It was a hard-boiled action noir genre.

Seo Eisu’s role was a significant supporting role.

And the director holding the megaphone was a young but talented director who had won awards at several film festivals.

“Haha. Actually, a director should be here instead of me. But I said I would come because Seo Eisu wanted to see me.”

If someone else had heard this, they would have been surprised.

It meant that Hong Geunsik, who had shown impressive acting in a few films, was paying attention to Seo Eisu, who was still a rookie.

“I recommended Seo Eisu for the project as well.”

“I see. Thank you very much.”

“It’s nothing. It’s just that Seo Eisu is a good actor.”

Raising his glass, Hong Geunsik smiled elegantly.

But his words were not over yet.

“However.”

Clang-

Putting down his glass.

Hong Geunsik changed the atmosphere and showed a serious expression.

“Regardless of how I view Seo Eisu, if you participate in this project, there is something I want you to keep in mind.”

There was a sharp edge to his tone.

A normal manager would have felt intimidated just by his gaze.

But Shin Jihu, with a calm breath, casually accepted the sudden change in atmosphere.

And he looked straight at the other person.

“Please tell me. I will listen.”

“It’s nothing special. I just want you to be prepared if you decide to join this project.”

“Prepared.”

“Yes. Directors, and I, are ambitious. The filming won’t be easy.”

Ambitious…

Could there be anyone else besides Shin Jihu, a member of a conglomerate, who truly understood the weight of that word?

That’s why Shin Jihu could accurately feel the weight behind the word “ambitious” that Hong Geunsik had mentioned.

Hong Geunsik said.

The filming of “Business Partners” would not be easy.

Shin Jihu suspected that his words were probably true.

***

The only time Hong Geunsik dampened the mood was that one time.

After that, they enjoyed the meal and finalized the details through the production company.

Shin Jihu headed to Seo Eisu’s studio apartment.

It was to take her home.

“Shin Jihu, are you just going to go back like this today?”

Normally, Seo Isu would have insisted on hanging out together with Shin Jihu, and a series of rejections from Shin Jihu would have followed.

But today was different.

“Let’s go inside first.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. We need to decide whether to participate in the project or not. Before other actors take the roles.”

“Ah, I see. I’m not sure, but let’s go inside anyway.”

Seo Isu confidently led Shin Jihu into the house.

“Just wait a moment. I’ll bring something to drink.”

During that time, he must have learned about Earth civilization.

His hospitality had improved significantly.

Seo Isu poured his favorite drink into a cup and handed it to Shin Jihu.

“Try it. It’s a revolutionary taste.”

“Uh… thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”

However, Shin Jihu’s reaction was somewhat hesitant.

In the cup that Seo Isu had so generously offered, there was a yellowish, slightly murky drink.

It was a fruity juice commonly served in restaurants that specialize in spicy, sweet, and instant-flavored dishes.

Too sweet and thick for an adult man who doesn’t like spicy food.

Of course, Seo Isu was unaware of this fact.

“I tried it for the first time when I ordered tteokbokki last time. Earth is truly amazing. How can they give away such an incredible drink as a service for free? Since then, I’ve been buying one every day and drinking it.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“…Wait. One every day?”

“What’s the problem?”

“What’s the problem? What do you mean? Hey, Seo Isu. You’ll ruin your health if you keep drinking this every day.”

Shin Jihu scolded Seo Isu as if he were disgusted.

Drinking that sweet drink every day was not good for him. Wasn’t he worried about getting diabetes?

Oh well, a 20-year-old wouldn’t be worried about diabetes.

Shin Jihu had to lecture Seo Isu to only have one glass of the drink per day.

“Hmm.”

Anyway, Shin Jihu cleared his throat and got to the point.

“So, are you going to do ‘Business Partners’?”

Working with the top actor in Korea, Hong Geun-sik.

It was definitely an opportunity.

But it wasn’t without risks.

As it was going to be a highly anticipated work by the public, showing any flaws here could be fatal.

Moreover, it was an action noir genre.

Most of the action scenes would be handled by the lead actor, Hong Geun-sik, and the villains.

But there was a high probability that Seo Isu, as a supporting actor, would also be assigned some minor action scenes.

Shin Jihu explained these details to Seo Isu in detail.

However, as always, Shin Jihu’s explanations seemed too complicated for Seo Isu.

Seo Isu didn’t like explanations.

So he said to Shin Jihu, “Even if you explain it like that, I still don’t understand. Can’t you just decide for me, Shin Jihu?”

“Even so, the actor’s own opinion should be taken into account.”

“I don’t really care.”

Seo Isu pouted in dissatisfaction.

It seemed like this manager didn’t understand why he would be okay with whatever he chose.

Seo Isu found that frustrating.

Then, for some reason, he had an idea.

“Fine. I got it. Let’s choose together. But to choose a project, don’t we need to know what the project is about?”

“Right. Why don’t we read the script and decide?”

“It’s not that. I just don’t like reading. Instead… come here.”

Seo Isu took Shin Jihu’s hand and led him to his bed.

Then he snuggled under the blanket and handed the script to Shin Jihu.

“…What do you want me to do?”

Feeling a creepy vibe, Shin Jihu tried to step back.

But before that, Seo Isu boldly grabbed Shin Jihu’s hand.

“What do you want me to say? If you want to choose a work, you need to know what it’s about. But honestly, I’m not too fond of reading scripts.”

“Oh, please.”

“Bring me the script, Shin Ji-hoo. I, to be honest, feel like I’m about to fall asleep listening to you like this.”

“Ugh.”

With a sigh, Shin Ji-hoo replied to Seo Yi-soo.

It’s not like he’s asking for a bedtime story like a child.

Where in the world is an actress asking her manager to read the script before going to bed?

No, more importantly.

Isn’t there any sense of urgency here?

How can she think properly with a foreign man in front of her?

I really don’t know what to do with this actress.

“Well? I said read it quickly. Hurry up. Quickly, quickly.”

Shin Ji-hoo didn’t slow down.

Seo Yi-soo pulled the blanket up to her chin and watched with a bright expression.

“…….”

And, probably.

Having spent a long time with the peculiar Seo Yi-soo.

Shin Ji-hoo felt like he was slowly going crazy.

“Huh. Fine, I’ll do it.”

For some reason, that pathetic little guy just looked cute to him.

There was no doubt that it was a mental disorder caused by excessive stress.

He should probably visit a reputable hospital for an examination soon.

If he left this mental illness alone.

It seemed like a really big problem.

“Well, okay. I got it. I’ll read it, so stop staring at me.”

Shin Ji-hoo picked up the script.

In Korea in 202x.

The evil doctor Jung Hoon who kidnapped women and conspired to trade their eggs and fetuses.

As the police investigation targeting them begins, Jung Hoon continues to live a carefree life by selling out the kidnapping organization to the police as a condition to escape the crisis.

Then one day.

Jung Hoon realizes that his only daughter has been kidnapped.

The suspects are the kidnapping organization members he betrayed.

Jung Hoon starts a frantic search to find his daughter.

“……Tell me. Where is my daughter!”

Shin Ji-hoo typed out the lines and stage directions hesitantly.

To be honest, it was a mediocre and hesitant performance.

Shin Ji-hoo’s voice stuttered and occasionally cracked, making it an unsmooth recitation of the long lines and stage directions.

It seemed that training might be necessary to smoothly recite the long lines and stage directions.

Therefore, Shin Ji-hoo’s script reading was not very pleasant to listen to.

But strangely, Seo Yi-soo found Shin Ji-hoo’s voice appealing.

His low voice exuded a sense of stability.

And the raw emotions in the lines felt incredibly poignant.

Just by listening to Shin Ji-hoo’s recitation, Seo Yi-soo naturally immersed herself in the world of .

Shin Ji-hoo was the most warm and familiar form of script to Seo Yi-soo.

The world unfolded before her half-closed eyes.

“……Hmm.”

Seo Yi-soo, half-drowsy.

Lying on the bed.

Mumbling lines with a half-open mouth.

She entered a very light trance.

***

At that moment.

A classy bar.

“Teacher.”

“Yes? What is it, Director Choi?”

“To be honest, I don’t understand why we should cast Seo Yi-soo, that rookie actress, in the production. And not even as a supporting role, but as a minor role.”

Director Choi Da-woon, who wrote the script for and even took the megaphone, did not hide his dissatisfaction towards the industry veteran Hong Geun-sik.

The two had a decent friendship.

And Director Choi Da-woon was also a director with talent, ability, and passion that Hong Geun-sik would acknowledge.

Therefore, Director Choi Da-woon expressed his dissatisfaction without hesitation.

“Admit that Seo Yi-soo’s acting is good. She’s very talented. But, technically, she’s still below par.”

Choi Dae-woon criticized actor Seo Yisu with a sharp tone.

Hong Geun-sik did not deny Choi Dae-woon’s evaluation.

“If Seo Yisu were to play the role of Jo Dan, yes, it would be a great honor. But if it’s a supporting role, then it’s a different story.”

Choi Dae-woon was a genius director.

But at the same time, he was also the kind of person who did not welcome the word “talent” on set, despite being a talented director.

The set was a place to prove one’s abilities, not a place to show potential.

“If Seo Yisu wants to play a role more than a supporting one in my work, she needs to polish her skills here for another 3 years.”

“Haha.”

Even with Choi Dae-woon’s bold words, Hong Geun-sik did not get angry but simply burst into laughter.

Choi Dae-woon’s words were certainly following common sense.

Why get angry at someone who speaks common sense?

Instead, as a senior in the industry, Hong Geun-sik tried to enlighten Choi Dae-woon, a young and promising director who did not know everything.

“Most of what Director Choi says may be right, but…”

“Right but…?”

“Sometimes, characters outside the norm come out. Here, in the world of actors.”

“…”

“I met Seo Yisu today to confirm one thing.”

“Confirm?”

“Yes. And I became convinced. I understood when I met her. A person, even when just standing still, shines.”

“…”

“It reminded me of the past so much that it felt like seeing Sunhwa.”

“Um, sir. The Sunhwa you mentioned, is it not the ‘Jeong Sunhwa’ actress I know?”

“Why wouldn’t it be.”

“Huh. No, surely not. How can you compare a rookie actress to Jeong Sunhwa.”

Director Choi Dae-woon spoke sensibly again this time.

And Hong Geun-sik chuckled at such a director.

“Well, I think I’m not the only one who thinks that way.”

“Really?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Hong Geun-sik did not reveal his true feelings.

Instead, he reassured the worried Director Choi Dae-woon.

“Don’t worry. Seo Yisu. Most of the scenes will be shot with me. I’ll take care of her and bring out the best in her.”

“Well, if you say so, sir. But you know, she’s quite ambitious. She’ll run the set ruthlessly.”

“True. What can I say. You’re the director.”

The lead actor and director of the work had such a conversation.

And…

“Hey, Seo Yisu.”

“…”

There was no response to the call.

It was natural.

After finishing the short and shallow play, Seo Yisu fell asleep right away.

“…”

Shin Ji-hoo looked down at the sleeping Seo Yisu.

She was breathing softly under the tightly pulled blanket.

With those small and innocent-looking lips, and even with a mumbling tone, she could show ‘that kind of acting.’

Shin Ji-hoo couldn’t bear not to see that shining performance again.

He said, “Seo Yisu, you have to do this work.”

And he chose the work for Seo Yisu to act in.