Chapter 10: Waves of Recognition

[Idol Noen Embroiled in School Bullying Allegations…]

[Noen, Appearing in , Faces Bullying Controversy.]

[Noen’s Flip-Flop on Filming—If Only He’d Stayed Consistent?]

No wonder the sub-quest hadn’t been marked as completed. Strangely, even weeks after the Youth 2015 shoot fell through, the system didn’t notify me of a quest failure.

I thought the status window might be glitching, but that wasn’t it.

“Oh my! What’s all this about?”

Director Han Jun-hyuk arrived and greeted me. As I tried to stand, he waved me off.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Our Bada doesn’t need to get up.”

“Still, I should…”

“Being too polite isn’t great either.”

“Okay, got it.”

As I sat back down, Han Jun-hyuk, as expected, teased me under the guise of comforting.

He didn’t have to.

“What’s Ha-sin gonna do? He called me saying episode 1 airs today.”

“…He’ll be okay, right?”

“Why so worried? You’re not the one who picked Noen over you, and you’re worried about the drama?”

“Well… it’s not Director Kim Ha-sin’s fault.”

I heard it was pressure from above. What can you do? I’ll just blame my lack of fame.

But if there’s one thing…

“I just regret missing Park Hae-in’s role.”

“What about it?”

“She seems free but is completely trapped, a woman with an empty heart. You don’t see characters like that often in dramas.”

That’s why it stung.

“Ugh… the next-gen acting demon.”

Cheon Ian’s words slipped out after hearing me. Calling me an imp? That’s unfair, but…

“That’s rich coming from you, Sunbae-nim.”

“You’ve been around me enough to talk back now, huh?”

“Sorry for talking back!”

Cheon Ian put me in a playful headlock, making my vision shake. It wasn’t forceful, so it didn’t hurt.

“…Our Bada’s too nice.”

“I’m not nice.”

“You’re nice.”

“I’m not nice.”

“Aw, so cute~.”

The more I denied it, the more Cheon Ian teased me like a hyena pouncing on prey.

“Oh!”

Then he stopped.

“You’re coming to the wrap party, right?”

“Me?”

“Of course.”

His tone implied it was obvious, and I blinked. Then actor Lee Sang-cheol approached, nodding.

“Bada-ssi, you have to come.”

Shocked, I shut my mouth.

Even with my rising fame from the drama, extras or minor roles usually don’t attend wrap parties. They’re cliquey affairs.

And I only had a brief role in The Life of a Prosecutor. It’s not like I carried the show. Are they thinking of season 2?

I’m good at self-assessment. This isn’t my place.

“That’s not where I belong…”

““What?!””

Cheon Ian and Director Han Jun-hyuk glared at me, shouting in unison.

‘Oh, startled me.’

“If I go, I’d be a nuisance…”

Saying “nuisance” would earn me a lecture, so I zipped my lips.

‘Why’s actor Lee Sang-cheol staring at me too?’

I sighed inwardly, lowered my head, and spoke.

“No, I mean, I’ll go to the wrap party.”

“See? Our Bada’s not a nuisance.”

“No, right. Yeah, no…”

As I endured the teasing, Director Han clapped loudly, signaling the shoot.

“Shall we start filming?”

Filming. I put my script in my bag, escaping Cheon Ian.

“Director, please take care of me today.”

“Me too.”

Han Jun-hyuk patted my shoulder and returned to his spot.

Today’s the final shoot for my first drama as an extra. It’s a meaningful day.

First start,

First drama,

First extra.

And here are people who recognized my acting.

“Why’re you shaking?”

“I’m not.”

“You look like you are.”

I glanced at Cheon Ian, a slight smile tugging at my lips.

“I’m excited.”

I caught a flicker in Cheon Ian’s eyes but just stared ahead quietly.

I have a long road ahead and mountains to climb. I can’t tremble now.

“Bada-ya, nervous?”

“No.”

Director Han nodded, and the set fell silent instantly.

“Standby.”

I gripped the doorknob, waiting for Han Jun-hyuk’s cue.

“Action!”

★★★

After finishing The Life of a Prosecutor shoot, I returned home.

‘Been a while since I checked the status window.’

No sooner had I thought it than a pink status window flashed with white light.

[Unable to Memorize Lines: Due to regression penalties, memorizing lines takes time.]

[Per Line: 57 minutes]

Three minutes reduced! It’s steadily dropping. Let’s work harder, fighting!

Then Youth 2015 crossed my mind, so I pulled out my laptop from my bag and searched.

There were already posts questioning if Noen, embroiled in a bullying scandal, should be in Youth 2015. His core fans defended him, saying it was fine, sparking a clash with drama fans tearing into him.

But since the Youth series has a loyal fanbase and drama enthusiasts, most posts criticized Noen.

[Youth 2015) Give Me Back My Youth Series]

– Why use an actor with bullying allegations in a drama exposing bullying?

– No prior notice?

– So pissed off.

– Thought it was a reading class lol. His acting was awful? If you want to act, at least act ;

– I liked Park Hae-in’s character description, but what’s with that acting.

– Honestly, Im Hoon’s acting stood out haha. Both are self-made stars.

[Youth 2015) Rewatching the rooftop scene, what’s with that wooden acting? Idols, if you want to act, learn to act. This guy can’t even sing, so why act? Such a nuisance]

– When the title says it all.

– LOL

– Haha

– Some idols act well these days, but this guy seems to think acting’s a joke.

– Felt embarrassed watching.

[Youth 2015) I Love Reading Drama Reviews]

All the reviews are about Noen’s bullying and acting controversies. Why did the crew pick him?

– Searched for Youth drama reviews, but it’s all about his acting. So annoying.

– Ugh… waited since last year… sigh ᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲ

[Youth 2015) It’s Actually Great Once You Get Past His Scenes]

Insane…

– lolol cute

– LOL After the early parts, the good actors show up, and it’s fun. The bullying is intense, though…

– Cried

The tears of drama fans formed an ocean.

“Ugh…”

As I read through the posts one by one, my phone buzzed incessantly. Curious, I checked the screen.

[Sunbae-nim Cheon Ian: Checked the portal site search rankings? ^^]

[Director Kim Ha-sin: Bada-ya, one of our staff posted a photo…]

[Director Han Jun-hyuk: Ha-sin says it was a mistake, but you know it wasn’t, right? See you at the wrap party.]

[Yeom Hae-jin: Yo! When did you go to Youth 2015?! Your name’s in the search rankings, I’m shocked!!!]

Messages flooded in from all sorts of people. What’s going on? I was utterly baffled, unable to process it.

What was Director Kim Ha-sin talking about? Posted a photo? Why’s my name in the search rankings?

Completely lost, I pressed my temples.

Driven by curiosity, I followed Cheon Ian’s advice, opened my laptop, and checked the portal site.

Real-Time Search Rankings

(1) Im Bada

I didn’t cause any trouble, did I?

Clicking my name, I found a flood of articles about me.

[ Im Bada Also Appeared]

[Rising Star of , Im Bada, in Youth Too?]

Apparently, a Youth 2015 staff member had posted a photo of me sitting with the director on the drama’s SNS account.

Whether it was intentional or a mistake wasn’t clear yet. It seemed like an accidental upload during a batch post.

I’d asked Director Kim Ha-sin to keep my involvement secret to avoid harming the drama due to the Noen incident, but a staff’s mistake led to articles anyway.

The drama community was already filled with posts about me.

[(Youth 2015) Did You See? Staff Post?]

(ImBadaWithBobHair_BackView_PhotoCapture)

– Looks like Im Bada was Park Hae-in in Youth 2015?

– Damn?

– Wait, was Park Hae-in a female character?

– It was Im Bada?! Im Bada?!

– OMG

– Crazy!

– What’s the reason?

– But Im Bada’s acting is great.

– It would’ve been amazing if it was Im Bada ᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲᅲ

[(Youth 2015) My Imagined Park Hae-in (Im Bada) x Jung Jae-wook (Im Hoon)]

– If it was like this, I’d have been so happy.

– ᅲᅲᅲᅲ Should’ve been Bada.

– Why not pick Bada, who shone in The Life of a Prosecutor?

– Park Hae-in seems like an impactful character anyway, ugh…

– I’m already happy imagining it.

[(Youth 2015) Can’t They Reshoot? ᅲᅲ]

– Park Hae-in only appears in episode 1 anyway.

– ? Spoiler ;;

– It’s not a spoiler if it’s already aired.

– Oh.. Please reshoot.

– Using an actor with bullying allegations in a drama about bullying, with zero acting impact—does that make sense?

Many called for a reshoot, but it was unrealistic. The episode had aired, and reshooting would mean overhauling the crew, director, and actors.

Still, this incident sparked:

[(Youth 2015) Who the Heck Is Im Bada?]

– Everyone’s talking about Im Bada lately?

– Seen The Life of a Prosecutor?

ᄂ[OP]

L That’s Jo Arin’s actress.

L[OP] OMG, her real name’s Im Bada?

LOMG

LI only knew her as Jo Arin, didn’t know her name

‘Guess I got my name out there properly?’

I lay on the floor, staring blankly at the TV. The status window still hadn’t updated. Does that mean Youth 2015 will be reshot?

But there was no hope for a reshoot.

“…I want to do it.”

If passersby asked why I’d want to do Youth 2015 after being rejected twice, I’d have no answer.

But one thing: Park Hae-in’s character was etched deep in my heart, refusing to leave.

Am I, as Cheon Ian said, really an acting demon…?

This is getting serious.

★★★

Im Hoon sat in Jason Studio’s meeting room, scanning the room.

Today’s meeting was about Noen’s withdrawal and whether to reshoot episode 1. Noen was officially out.

Reshooting…

“Hoon-ah, what do you think about reshooting?”

“I’m fine with it.”

“…Huh?”

Director Kim Ha-sin stared at Im Hoon, surprised.

“I thought you’d hate reshooting.”

“I’ve grown attached to the drama.”

After acting with Im Bada, he’d developed an affection for the drama. He started attending acting classes daily…

A lead actor can’t be outdone by an extra.

But Im Hoon had a question.

“Director, is Park Hae-in’s role going to Im Bada-ssi?”

“…Yeah. That’s why.”

Director Kim kept glancing at the door, as if waiting for someone.

“They said the actor for Park Hae-in is coming up now.”

Thud, thud.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, stopping at the door.

“Here they come.”

As the saying goes, hope kills. Im Hoon’s wide eyes locked onto Im Bada, and he let out a long sigh in this absurd situation, tempted to mutter, What a sucker.

“Hello, I’m Im Bada.”