Chapter 16: The Audition and the VIP Reward

The audition to decide whether to cast Ahn Yoo-seok as the lead actor was held in a completely different way from a typical audition.

Director Kim Seung-pyo set the stage like a pro.

An empty container studio with nothing but six cameras, a boom mic, and lighting equipment... 

About twenty filming staff waited solely for Ahn Yoo-seok’s arrival.

Wearing headphones, Director Kim sat in front of the monitor, holding a megaphone.

Even I, who had never stood in front of a camera before, instantly recognized the overwhelming pressure of the set.

Without a manager, Ahn Yoo-seok arrived at the scene and awkwardly froze in front of the perfectly laid-out meal table.

“Mr. Ahn Yoo-seok, please come this way.”

Assistant Director Jo led Ahn Yoo-seok toward Director Kim Seung-pyo.

“Hey—”

“Is this the outfit you came wearing? Which twin’s style did you choose?”

“Ah, um, well…”

“The people here are waiting for you to do a camera test. You should at least have prepared your costume.”

Director Kim’s relentless scolding made Ahn Yoo-seok’s shoulders slump even more.

“…I’m sorry.”

“That’s enough. Let’s start the test quickly.”

I quietly watched Ahn Yoo-seok from a corner.

Our eyes briefly met, but maybe due to nerves, he didn’t recognize me.

“Isn’t Director Kim going a bit too far? At this rate, any acting skills he had will be ruined,”

Hong Joo-hee whispered beside me.

She seemed quite flustered, almost as if she thought 5 billion was someone’s pet name.

“But I can’t really blame Director Kim for his actions,”

Though this was a makeshift filming set and things were somewhat playful, the real shoot would involve even more stressful situations.

If you’ve had some experience playing a significant supporting role, you might be familiar with such circumstances and adapt quickly.

However, Ahn Yoo-seok has never taken on a lead role outside of theater.

Of course, theater audiences focus solely on one actor, but the attention from countless filming staff and co-actors, all potentially suffering great losses because of one actor’s mistake, is on a whole different level.

“The lead role is earned by those who can bear the weight of the crown,”

Some people say it’s ridiculous that actors earn hundreds of millions just by showing some acting skills in front of a camera.

Sure, some actors are paid more than their work deserves, but they’re the rare top 1% in any field.

From what I’ve seen on set, actors live under unimaginable pressure.

They memorize dozens of takes just for a single scene and must perform flawlessly in front of hundreds of staff watching their every move.

One mistake wastes enormous time and resources, and actors rarely get a second chance.

“Especially since Ahn Yoo-seok has been the talk of the town because of Mom’s Food’s shocking proposal,”

Even from afar, Ahn Yoo-seok’s nerves were obvious.

He was swallowing so hard that you could see his Adam’s apple move.

But I believed in Ahn Yoo-seok, the lead actor on the verge of his breakthrough.

The day I first saw his acting in his documentary.

I knew then that he was an unparalleled actor with no substitute.

“Everyone, let’s get ready. Ready, action!”

Dressed in a white shirt and black slacks.

Ahn Yoo-seok stood in front of the camera, wearing the same outfit he wore when visiting his mother.

The scene he acted out was when the twin brother pretends to be his younger brother to approach a friend but gets caught.

When trying to hush things up with money under the pretense of apologizing, he gets angry.

“What are you trying to do? You think I’m weak? You grew up in a different environment, so what? There are far more things money can’t fix, you know?”

As soon as the red light on the camera turned on, Ahn Yoo-seok’s gaze instantly changed.

The main character, who served in the military and earns tuition by working part-time due to difficult adoptive family circumstances.

The jealousy and resentment toward the carefree brother raised in a wealthy family were all captured perfectly in one line.

Moreover, whether by intention or genuine nervousness, his trembling voice tone amplified the protagonist’s emotions.

Director Kim, probably surprised by the unexpected acting, called the scriptwriter and assistant director over to look at the monitor in front of him.

They seemed to be discussing what they just saw from Ahn Yoo-seok’s performance.

“Mr. Ahn Yoo-seok, the script says ‘older brother,’ right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then why did you say ‘you’?”

“If it’s the twin older brother… since they’re the same age, I thought in a fight they wouldn’t use ‘older brother.’”

Now that I think about it, the line I wrote wasn’t “You grew up in a different environment,” but “Older brother grew up in a different environment.”

Even though I read through  several times and edited the script, I didn’t feel any discomfort.

That must mean Ahn Yoo-seok’s acting was that natural.

“Alright, let’s try it from the older brother’s side this time. While setting up the cameras, want to change your outfit? Maybe take off the jacket?”

“No, I’m fine. I’ll just do it as is.”

“No, it’s not about you being okay. We just can’t tell the difference on screen. And our sharp and slick Seong Jae-hoon wouldn’t wear that kind of outfit.”

“Yes, but since Jae-hoon met the younger brother’s friend right before this scene and pretended to be the younger brother, he’d probably dress like him.”

“Wow. The details.”

Hong Joo-hee smiled brightly, clearly pleased by Ahn Yoo-seok’s suggestion.

Not backing down from Director Kim’s scolding, Ahn Yoo-seok confidently expressed his opinion.

Before standing in front of the camera, he was withdrawn, but from the moment he entered the set, he seemed like a completely different person.

Outwardly gentle and harmless, he was actually Seong Jae-il, the protagonist who knows how to speak his mind clearly.

“Hey, you dumb bastard. This is why you always end up a mess. You say there are more things money can’t solve? You idiot. That’s just because you don’t have that kind of money. You’re only saying that because you’ve never solved anything with money before.”

Instantly, Ahn Yoo-seok transformed into Seong Jae-hoon, speaking with a sarcastic tone.

The trembling voice from before was completely gone, replaced by a smoothness as if his throat was greased.

With one hand in his pocket and legs crossed, he tilted his nose slightly in black slacks.

That gesture seemed like a long-standing habit of Seong Jae-hoon.

That gesture alone made him look very unrefined as a bonus.

“………Cut. Okay, that’s good.”

The slightly delayed ‘cut’ and ‘okay’ sign represented the feelings of all the staff in the room.

“Wow. What is that? Goosebumps.”

“Who is that guy? Ahn Yoo-seok? His acting’s insane.”

“Did you see his eyes? So alive. Focus is perfect.”

Without realizing it, I had been holding my breath, concentrating.

The set quickly filled with murmurs praising Ahn Yoo-seok’s acting.

Director Kim Seung-pyo quietly removed his headphones, staring at the monitor.

He got up, looked around for someone, and then strode over to me and Hong Joo-hee.

“Writer, can I have a moment?”

Director Kim smoked two cigarettes in a row near the container studio’s designated smoking area.

“It’s cold… Writer, is this some kind of rigged game?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“The script, and Ahn Yoo-seok too. They’re both betting like they know the exact answers.”

“Hehe. Yoo-seok’s acting was good, right?”

“More than just good. Even if Jae-il’s performance was decent, Jae-hoon’s acting was something else.”

“That’s a relief. I’m glad Director Kim likes it.”

“Do you have some kind of ability to predict the future? Or like in many web novels these days, you see someone’s talent in vivid colors?”

“Oh, Director, don’t say such things like from a comic.”

Haha. Let’s laugh it off.

Director Kim took one last drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly.

“Let’s go with Ahn Yoo-seok. There won’t be any actor who can portray the twins better than him.”

With Director Kim’s decision, Ahn Yoo-seok’s casting was finalized.

After seeing Director Kim leave for the meeting room to prepare for the main shoot,

I checked the notification on my phone from gatflix.

[Your membership rank has been upgraded to Silver!]

[- Reward: 100 million won / 4 free viewing tickets]

***

Jo Section Chief of the Ministry of Finance Bank, Hapcheong Branch, had faced countless hardships throughout his life.

From customers who brought fifty- or hundred-won coins in rice sacks, demanding immediate deposit—the “Rice Sack Villains.”

Queue jumpers insisting it’s their turn by drawing numbers before shopping—the “Sneak Villains.”

Customers who came five times for wrong password attempts and refused to change it—the “Secret Villains.”

And even those who claimed hospital bills after taking out mortgages—the “Mosquito Villains.”

Having pushed back all these villains and arrived here, Section Chief Jo realized something today.

Ah, until now, the heavens prepared this reward for me through such trials.

He even felt like clumsily kissing the sky with a “thank you” despite never believing in God.

Why?

Because the 100 million won in cash right before his eyes was brought by Lee Jung-hyuk—a client of none other than Section Chief Jo himself.

Moreover, this client had already deposited a large sum in cash a month ago.

That meant Lee Jung-hyuk was an extraordinary client, indeed a lucky charm.

“Lee Jung-hyuk, lucky charm—no, esteemed client. Shall we head to the VIP lounge to talk?”

“Is it the one we discussed before? The ‘Real Room’?”

“While the ‘Real Room’ is more comfortable and private, our bank policy requires deposits of at least 3 billion won to use it. Since you’ve deposited less than that, I’ll escort you to the VIP lounge I use as the section chief.”

“Ah, I see.”

After hearing Section Chief Jo’s explanation, Lee Jung-hyuk nodded silently.

Seeing that, Section Chief Jo quickly smiled warmly, stood up, and motioned him inside the reception area’s VIP lounge.

“Still, from next time, you won’t need to draw a number separately like today. Just call me ahead, and I’ll prepare everything in advance.”

“Understood.”

Following Section Chief Jo’s guidance, Lee Jung-hyuk moved to a seat in the VIP lounge.

On the way, Section Chief Jo explained the service for clients who deposit large amounts in cash over a short period.

Because of possible variables during the cash deposit process, the bank dispatches staff to assist from cash transport onwards for VIP clients.

“That’s impressive, that you provide even such services.”

“Not all banks do. That’s why many VIP clients take the long road to come to our bank.”

“Hearing that from you, Section Chief Jo, I definitely want to become a VIP client here.”

At Lee Jung-hyuk’s words, Section Chief Jo smiled the brightest smile I had ever seen from him.

“Yes, from now on, Lee Jung-hyuk will be my lifelong VIP client. Serving clients loyally as if they were kings is my motto. Now, please sign here.”

Thus, Lee Jung-hyuk became the fastest-ever addition to the VIP client list during Section Chief Jo’s eleven-year banking career.