Chapter 12: Rise Amid Redemption

‘A mess.’

Belly Entertainment would, years later, be called the epicenter of a drug scandal. And at the heart of it was Im Hoon.

That Im Hoon might be indicted, potentially derailing the drama.

Soon, the drama halted production, and for a year, Im Hoon couldn’t work on any projects, only attending investigations and keeping a low profile.

Later, articles revealed that his agency’s CEO falsely implicated him as an accomplice to secure a lighter sentence.

But even after the truth came out, the public, once turned against him, didn’t easily welcome him back.

To reinvent his image, Im Hoon took on a psychopath role requiring heavy acting, but the drama flopped. Afterward, he only landed roles in melodramatic or children’s shows that didn’t demand much acting.

‘Will Im Hoon live the same life in this timeline?’

“Bada-ya! Let’s start filming!”

“Yes!”

First, I need to focus on acting well.

★★★

“We’ll shoot the final bust shot.”

A shot framing just the upper body, no legs. At 192cm, Im Hoon towered over me, and I had to tilt my head way up to meet his eyes.

I’m 169cm—not short—but he’s tall.

“Man, you’re tiny.”

“…You’re just huge.”

This bust shot was a scene of me and Im Hoon fighting in the rain on the school field.

After filming, I rubbed my sore neck, and Im Hoon handed me something.

“A business card?”

“My manager noona told me to give it to you.”

A business card usually means, “How about joining our agency?” I glanced over to see Im Hoon’s manager smiling from afar.

Taking the card, his manager hurried over, whispering, “Our CEO’s been eyeing you, Bada-ssi.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Belly Entertainment has great contract terms and is perfect for building your acting career. It’d be amazing if you joined us.”

From what I’d seen of Im Hoon and his manager, it wasn’t empty talk. But, as I said, Belly Entertainment is a mess.

I’m hesitant to join that mess. Plus, I’ve already decided on an agency.

“What do you think? We’ve got great actors at Belly Entertainment.”

Why’s Im Hoon puffing out his chest as his manager talks?

“Our agency’s solid.”

“Why’s it solid?”

“Because I’m there?”

I was dumbfounded by Im Hoon’s smug, chin-up attitude. His manager chimed in.

“Exactly! Hoon will help you out.”

“Haha…”

This is awkward. As I gave a vague response, his manager tactfully backed off. Quick on the uptake, nice.

“Since the director said my acting’s improved, I’ve been a bit cocky, huh?”

His rooftop scene came out well, and now he’s cracking jokes he never would’ve before.

“Yeah, a bit. Hearing your acting’s good must feel nice. Join our agency, I’m there.”

“Hmm.”

No matter how I think about it, Belly Entertainment has no appeal.

Sure, they have good actors, but knowing the future, I’m not interested.

“Why? Tons of new actors want to join Belly Entertainment. Come on. They produce dramas too, so you and I…”

“No way.”

“Why?! I wasn’t done talking, how do you know?”

“You were gonna say we’d do a historical drama together? No thanks.”

This guy’s relentless. It’s written all over his face—he’s been thinking about this.

“What’s wrong with me?”

What’s wrong?

I looked at him like he was a whining kid.

“Practice your acting more.”

“If I do, will you help me?”

…This guy.

His persistent gaze and questions left me no choice but to nod.

“Fine.”

“Yes!”

Embarrassed by his excitement slipping out, Im Hoon quickly shut his mouth. I gave him a subtle hint.

“Your agency isn’t all that great.”

“…Huh? Why?”

“Just be careful. Don’t just focus on yourself. Watch how your agency moves.”

“…Okay, got it.”

I gave him the hint.

“It’s your life, you figure it out.”

That’s enough advice.

I’m busy enough with my own life.

“Wait, you’re dodging, aren’t you?”

“What?”

“Trying to avoid joining our agency…!”

As Im Hoon started to grill me, Director Kim Ha-sin, holding a walkie-talkie, spoke up.

“Filming starts. Bust shot first.”

I took off the raincoat I’d been wearing before the rain and handed it to a staff member.

“Time to shoot.”

“…Man, you really won’t tell me.”

“Check the articles later.”

★★★

[Im Bada, A Rookie Actor Rising Like a Comet.]

[ Reshot Scenes Air Today. Im Bada Draws Intense Public Attention.]

Today’s the day the reshot scenes air.

Youth 2015 is a drama exposing school bullying. Director Kim Ha-sin consulted victims to incorporate real cases.

It starts with the story of Jung Jae-wook, a bullying victim, and Park Hae-in, who lost her emotions due to bullying.

The school rooftop.

Jung Jae-wook, a victim of bullying, skips class to idle on the rooftop.

Creak.

The usually empty rooftop door opens, and Park Hae-in appears. Here, Im Hoon’s acting growth, previously stiff, stood out.

– What?

– Im Hoon’s acting improved?

– Sudden acting growth…

– Please don’t waste that face.

“The rooftop’s off-limits to just anyone.”

Even with this single short line, viewers could tell Im Hoon’s acting had significantly improved. Especially his diction.

The delicate performances of rookie actors quickly heightened the immersion in the first episode’s opening.

– Was episode 1 a barrier? It’s changed now.

– Im Bada’s acting is so stable.

– What? She acts that well?

– Is she a rookie?

The scene continued with Park Hae-in eating dinner with her parents, spending a happy day. Suddenly, a suspicious message pops up in a group chat she was invited to.

– [Yo haha]

– [You were an outcast, right?]

– [LOL So you, an outcast, pretended to be my friend all this time? So pissed.]

A secret no one knew is exposed, and Park Hae-in becomes a victim of bullying at this school too.

Following are relentless bullying scenes.

Her desk is missing when she arrives at school, or she’s hit with spoiled milk while crossing the courtyard—small harassments that escalate in intensity.

– Insane.

– Are these really real bullying cases?

Every night, Hae-in hides under her blanket, crying alone, burying her face in her pillow to muffle the sound.

Another day, Hae-in goes to school as usual.

“Goddamn weirdo. You don’t even make a sound after getting hit like this?”

“Right, so boring. Hey, wanna go to karaoke?”

As the bullies leave the bathroom, Park Hae-in slowly stands, wetting her hands and face with water.

She looks up, staring blankly into the mirror, her expressionless face captured in a close-up.

“Ha… Mom, Dad.”

A quick flash of her smiling parents passes, and Park Hae-in’s eyes lose their spark, life draining from them.

– No life in her eyes?

– Wow.

– Pupil control;;;

Time filled with bullying passes quickly.

“Please… save me.”

Her cry for help echoes as the scene returns to the school rooftop.

“Hey! Park Hae-in! Hae-in-ah!”

Park Hae-in stands on the rooftop ledge, smiling at Jung Jae-wook.

“Jae-wook-ah.”

“…What are you doing? Come down.”

“Jae-wook-ah.”

Calling his name with a faint smile, her gaze is hollow.

Then, looking up at the sky, Park Hae-in suddenly lets go of the railing, spreading her arms wide.

“The world won’t help me. I can’t breathe.”

Her small movement creates a precarious atmosphere, as if she could fall any moment.

Jung Jae-wook, unable to approach rashly, pleads with a trembling voice.

“We can be happy again. We can do it. We can find happiness again.”

Looking at him, she asks in a calm, refined voice, “How do we find it?”

“We’re friends, aren’t we? Let’s overcome this together. We just need to hold on.”

At the word “friends,” Park Hae-in smiles sadly.

“If we’d met earlier…”

“Hae-in-ah.”

“We could’ve been good friends, right? But I can’t hold on anymore. I don’t have the strength.”

A single tear rolls down her wet eyes.

“Sorry, Jae-wook-ah. Be happy for both of us.”

With those words, Park Hae-in falls from the rooftop. Jae-wook, unable to look down, leans against the railing, sobbing.

The screen pans to the school courtyard, showing the teacher who ignored her and the students who bullied or stood by, rushing out in shock at her death.

Jung Jae-wook’s narration follows.

“No one expected Park Hae-in’s death. Of course not. No one cared about her.”

The chaotic siren fades out, and Jung Jae-wook, clutching the bracelet she gave him, cries bitterly.

The screen brightens, showing the school as a bell rings.

A subtitle appears: [6 Months Later.]

The noisy classroom quiets as the teacher enters.

“Alright, alright! We have a new transfer student.”

Jung Jae-wook, slouched at the back, lifts his head, blinking rapidly at the transfer student.

A girl who looks exactly like Park Hae-in appears.

– Wow.

– The drama’s so well-made.

– Park Hae-in, Hae-in-ah ᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲ

– If I skipped this because of Noen, I’d have missed out.

– Her lifeless eyes acting is insane, gave me chills.

With Park Hae-in’s performance, Im Bada began earning more recognition.

★★★

After Youth 2015 aired, I was establishing myself as an actor.

[: A Stinging Critique of School Bullying.]

[Im Hoon’s Acting Skills? Taught by Im Bada.]

While preparing for the wrap party, I reviewed Youth 2015 and wasn’t satisfied with my acting.

Especially my vocalization.

I’d told Im Hoon vocalization was key, but…

Just then, a status window popped up, signaling the sub-quest’s completion.

A sparkling pink window with white light.

Finally!

[Sub-Quest ‘Appear in ’ Successfully Completed.]

[Reward Obtained.]

[Points: 2]

I got 2 points this time.

With a new drama goal in mind, I decided to boost my vocalization.

[Im Bada]

Appearance: B+ ▲

Acting: A ▲

Immersion: C ▲

Vocalization: D ▲

Talent: F ▲

Charisma: C ▲

[Im Bada]

Vocalization: C

Is this good enough? One more thing.

[Eraser in My Head: Due to regression penalties, memorizing lines takes time.]

[Per Line: 49 minutes]

With my larger role, my line-memorizing speed dropped by 8 minutes.

Feeling good, I glanced at my buzzing phone.

[Mom: My daughter!]

[Mom: You worked hard.]

[Dad: Good job.]

Seeing my parents’ support, I grinned widely.

“Oh! Today!”

Checking my phone, it was nearing 5 p.m. Tonight was The Life of a Prosecutor’s wrap party.

“I’m gonna be late!”

★★★

I barely made it to the wrap party. Stepping out of the taxi, I saw reporters swarming.

Actors posed for photos, then spotted me, waving one by one.

I gave a quick wave, trying to pass, but…

“Im Bada-ssi! Photo!”

“…Me?”