Chapter 114: The Role with No Safety Net

“I’m a NO.”

As expected, the answer came from Hyungkyu’s mouth.

“But everything you mentioned back then has been resolved. And you still say no?”

“Yeah. This is purely a decision based on the script alone.”

If it had been for some other reason, I might have accepted it, but hearing that it was decided just from looking at the script only made me more curious.

“Why?”

He shouldn’t be unaware of this work’s appeal.

“Because I don’t trust you.”

“Me?”

Suddenly saying he didn’t trust me—I couldn’t understand it, so I widened my eyes and asked.

“Why me?”

“Are you confident in this role?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking if you can pull off Chae Juho like it’s really you.”

We’d talked about works and characters before, but Hyungkyu had never once mentioned my ability to embody a character, so I was flustered by him bringing this up.

“So, you’re opposing it because you think I can’t properly handle the role of Chae Juho?”

“Yeah.”

I asked again, thinking I might have misheard, but nothing changed.

“I’m Hyunjae, you know?”

It was awkward to say it myself, but I’d never heard any bad comments about my acting so far. What made him think I couldn’t do it?

“All this praise about how good you are has your confidence piercing the sky, huh?”

“No, it’s not that—it’s just that you’re saying I can’t do it without even letting me try.”

“This is a difficult role.”

In my view, the psychopath acting I did in that special appearance last time seemed harder.

Is this role… difficult?

Reading my confused expression, Hyungkyu calmly explained the reasons.

“Do you feel any special charm in this character?”

The protagonist, Juho, was an ordinary person you could commonly see around—someone who only knew how to scheme a little, with nothing particularly special about him.

“Or is there any scene in the script that would make people like Juho?”

There wasn’t. 

Of course, he wasn’t inherently a bad character, but he had no special abilities, and even though it wasn’t intentional, he committed wrongdoings sometimes, so he wasn’t a character meant to be loved.

“In short, there’s zero character buff. You have to convince people and win them over purely with your acting—can you do that?”

“Ah…”

At Hyungkyu’s words, I thought about the character again. 

And if I were to act as Juho, how would I do it?

“CEO.”

Then, a phrase I’d heard while browsing the internet came to mind.

“I heard something like this.”

“What?”

“You bastard, don’t screw up.”

“What?”

Juho was a pitiful kid from an orphanage whose goal was just to live like a normal person, but I had a hunch that acting pitiful would backfire instead.

The era where sympathy works is long gone.

Now, you had to be bold.

“You know, that feeling of—he’s a bastard, but you don’t want him to screw up? Like being drawn to a bad boy?”

“Hey, that only comes out when the villain is cool.”

Hyungkyu spoke as if frustrated.

“He’s not a good character, right? But Juho can do it too. Since he’s an ordinary person, it’ll be easier to gain people’s empathy.”

This setting of being ordinary could actually be a tremendous weapon.

“Sigh, so you’re saying you want to do it?”

“Yes, I want to try.”

I expressed my opinion to Hyungkyu.

“I knew it. Do you know how hard it is for independent films to succeed? The pay is low, hardly anyone watches them, and you pour in all that time.”

“I know. But filming something like an independent film makes you look sincere about acting and full of passion, which is good for your image, right?”

The types who film independent movies usually fall into two categories. 

The first are those who can’t get cast in commercial films due to lack of ability, and the second are those who do it for artistic value and self-satisfaction.

That’s why when a well-known actor does it, they gain an image of not caring about money and being genuine about acting.

“Where did you hear something like that…?”

It was something I’d heard from Jeuk. 

Jeuk was interested in independent films, and we’d talked about it during breaks in filming.

“I haven’t tried something like this before. I want to challenge myself once.”

Among all the similar scripts, this was the only one that was different, so it was the only choice I could make right now.

“Challenge, my ass… Is now the time for challenges?”

“Of course. If not now, when? If I do it later when I’m more popular, you’ll hate it even more.”

By then, my appearance fee would be higher, and time would become money, so from the agency’s perspective, filming an unprofitable independent film wouldn’t be welcome.

“…Did you take some classes or something? Why are you suddenly so good at talking?”

“I’ve read a lot of scripts and books in the meantime.”

“Ugh, how am I supposed to win against you?”

“Huh? Are you approving it?”

I thought he’d resist a bit more, saying no, but unexpectedly, he gave up quickly.

“You’re not the type to listen to me anyway, and seeing you now, your ego is way too inflated. I feel the need to bring it down a notch.”

“My ego? This is just a plain hoodie with nothing on it?”

Thinking that couldn’t be, I fiddled with my shoulder, and Hyungkyu shook his head side to side.

“Read more books.”

“Whyyy!”

“Before filming starts, let me make it clear—this is something you wanted to do, right?”

What’s with this ominous feeling?

It didn’t feel like a simple question. 

It carried the nuance of—since you insisted, don’t regret it later. 

But I couldn’t take back my words.

“Of course.”

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it too.”

“Looking forward to what?”

“The director said it. He’s curious about how far you can go.”

Seeing my limits? 

As Juho? 

I couldn’t tell what Incheol was thinking about me.

“Independent films don’t have long shooting periods, so I’ll keep looking for your next project.”

“Got it.”

“And from what I saw today, you’re not the smartest, but you have no problem speaking. You can do it.”

“Do what?”

What is he trying to make me do?

“With variety shows ending and the drama wrapping up, a short-term job came in just in time.”

“A short-term job?”

“It’s a great job where you just read what’s given to you.”

Just read what’s given? There’s a job that good?

“Is there such a job?”

“Yeah, it’s super easy. You just stand still and read. And only once a week. You’ll do it, right?”

“Well, I can handle that much… But it’s not something weird, is it?”

It was highly suspicious that he wasn’t telling me exactly what it was.

“Weird? There are so many people dying to get this position—we’re lucky. I’ll set up a meeting for tomorrow right away!”

“Tomorrow already?”

“Yeah, it’s urgent because you’re filling in temporarily for someone else.”

“Ah… Okay.”

He’d accepted my opinion on doing Clash, so I wanted to do as much as I could for him.

I hadn’t expected this, though…

***

K Broadcasting Station.

“Oh my~ Hyunjae, thank you so much for agreeing to this right away.”

“Hahaha, I’m the one who’s more grateful.”

“We suddenly had an accident and needed to find someone urgently, but your image in Taewoon’s music video was so good~”

The job Hyungkyu mentioned—where you just stand still and read—was none other than being an MC for a music show.

It is true that you just stand still and read.

He hadn’t said anything wrong. 

The problem was that the difficulty of what you had to read wasn’t easy.

[What a surprise!]

[Huh? Why all of a sudden?]

[Didn’t something sparkle and shine right in front of me just now?]

[Huh? What are you talking about?]

[Ah! I get it. It was the Spark fans passing by that made it sparkle~]

[Ah! I thought it was because of my lovely beauty.]

[If it’s lovely, it’s these people…]

Scripts like this made me cringe just looking at them.

“You writers have really great ideas.”

“Our target audience is mostly teens, so it’s a bit childish, right? Actors do find it a little hard at first.”

It seemed I wasn’t the first to react this way to the script.

“But I think you’ll do great, Hyunjae!”

“I’ll do my best!”

I’m getting paid, so I’ll just tough it out and read the cringy lines.

“We’re happy too, thinking we’ll see you for three months.”

The original male actor MC had injured his leg in an accident during drama filming, and I’d been chosen as the short-term replacement.

“Next week’s outfit concept is fairy tale, and you’d suit a prince so well~”

“Wow, a prince?”

“We have outfit concepts every week. This week is fairy tale concept.”

“Ah~”

“Then, starting next week, please take care of us.”

Since the meeting was already set with the decision to do it, it ended early after greetings and receiving the script.

“Hyung, do you think I can do well?”

I wasn’t confident in my speaking skills, so I was a bit worried about a live music show.

“You’ll be able to do well.”

“What if I get nervous like when I won that award and blurt out anything?”

“You spoke well then too.”

“No, I left out all the important people.”

I’d definitely thought about mentioning names if I won.

“But this is my first time at this broadcasting station—looks like they film dramas here too?”

Actors walking with setups complete and staff busily carrying filming costumes were visible in the broadcasting station lobby.

“Probably the drama set is here too.”

“Here?”

“Yeah, I think daily dramas or weekend dramas are filmed on sets here.”

“That’s cool.”

Wondering if they film historical dramas here too, a person with a long beard attached to his chin, chugging an Americano at the first-floor cafe, caught my eye.

“Hyung, aren’t you thirsty?”

“Thirsty?”

“I think I’m thirsty from being nervous about the meeting—let’s go to the cafe… Wait a second.”

The moment I pointed to the cafe, a familiar face at a corner table caught my eye.

Why is that guy here?

He was someone I thought I’d never have to see again in my life.

“Should I buy it? What do you want?”

“Ah, no. Hyung, let’s just go.”

Before that person spotted me, I quickly turned my head and pulled Hayoon’s arm.

“Why? You said you were thirsty.”

“I just remembered there’s water in the car.”

“Still, if you want a drink…”

“No. It looks crowded anyway—let’s just go.”

I dragged Hayoon out of the broadcasting station quickly, and that person seemed busy earnestly explaining something to the person in front of him.

He looked like he’d never do this kind of work again, so why is he here?

On the way to the parked car, Hayoon seemed to sense something odd and asked what was up.

“I saw someone it’s not good to meet.”

“Someone not good to meet?”

“Yeah, they say you avoid shit not because it’s scary, but because it’s dirty.”

He was a person who fit that saying perfectly.

“Hyung, I’m really lucky to have met you.”

“Suddenly?”

“You know I love you, right?”

The person I compared to shit… was none other than my first manager, Yongmin.