Chapter 28: Another Regressor? (2)

The official reading began.

The reading, which opened with greetings from the director and writer, continued with opening remarks from Seon Ji-yoon and Choi Geon-hyung.

“It’s an honor to join such a wonderful project. As the lead, I’ll do my best not to cause any trouble and give my all to my performance.”

Clap clap clap clap.

Choi Geon-hyung was the same as ever.

Even as he said those lines, the only lead who didn’t smile was either me or Choi Geon-hyung.

“Next is actor Jeong Chan-yul, played by Jeon Yeo-hu?”

As soon as the writer turned her head toward me, I stood up and greeted everyone.

“Ah, yes. I’m Jeon Yeo-hu, a rookie actor taking on the role of Jeong Chan-yul this time. I haven’t released any works to prove myself, but I promise not to let you down and will show you the best Jeong Chan-yul possible. Thank you.”

Finishing my rookie-like remarks and sitting down, I could feel the gazes of the actors who had just returned from the bathroom burning into me.

The introductions, starting from the actors seated in the front row, wrapped up without issue, and the reading of Episode 1 began.

Today’s reading would go up to Episode 5, but since Jeong Chan-yul didn’t appear until Episode 2, there was almost nothing for me to do in Episode 1.

Thanks to that, I could watch the other actors’ performances.

Seon Ji-yoon’s acting skills were as excellent as ever.

Choi Geon-hyung was the same.

He’s an annoying guy, but if you watch him, there’s nothing to criticize.

Even though it was just a reading, he never stumbled, and when it was time to inject some humor, he knew how to lighten the mood, as befitting a reading. If only he were like that in real life. But it was only when reading scripts or filming that he showed this side—he’s impossible to pin down.

‘Annoying guy.’

With a sullen face, I stared at my script until Episode 1 ended.

I took a sip of water and cleared my throat.

*****

‘Jeon Yeo-hu….’

Choi Geon-hyung was bothered by Jeon Yeo-hu sitting across from him.

Is it really right to put a rookie with no real experience straight into a lead-supporting role?

But Director Woo Hyun-sik wasn’t the type to put someone in an important role just because of connections.

With that trust, Choi Geon-hyung had gladly accepted the role in this drama.

He waited for the reading of Episode 2, where Jeong Chan-yul would make his first appearance.

When he glanced over at Jeon Yeo-hu’s seat, he noticed Jeon Yeo-hu’s script was suspiciously pristine.

Unless he had a spare copy, did he not even bother to research his role?

‘Not impressed.’

*****

The reading of Episode 2 began.

This was the scene where Jeong Chan-yul meets Lee Ha-ryeong in the company lobby and, while chatting, realizes she works on the same floor.

[Hello.]

Jeong Chan-yul, with a sly expression, stands next to Lee Ha-ryeong as she waits for the elevator.

His gaze drifts toward her company badge.

[Lee Ha-ryeong? Is that right?]

[Ah… Yes, hello. I’m Lee Ha-ryeong, just joined.]

[I’m Assistant Manager Jeong Chan-yul. So you’re new here?]

[Yes, I was just assigned to the HR team.]

[Oh, HR? I’m in HR too. But I thought there weren’t any vacancies in our team?]

‘Who does this jerk think he is, mixing in informal speech?’

While Lee Ha-ryeong internally grumbled about Jeong Chan-yul’s rude way of talking, she revealed she was in Team 4 and got off the elevator right away.

But Jeong Chan-yul got off, too.

……?

Jeong Chan-yul grinned and looked around.

[Huh? Team 4 is on the same floor? Maybe it’s fate.]

[I heard Team 4 is in the annex, though. Well, I’ll be going now, Assistant Manager.]

[Ah, sure~ Go ahead. Rookies have to be quick on their feet. Let’s have a meal together sometime.]

[……Yes.]

After that, Jeong Chan-yul, who fell for Lee Ha-ryeong at first sight, started dropping by HR Team 4 every day. As he met her more and more, he began to feel an increasingly chilly presence.

[Tsk, why is the office so cold in the summer? Was it always like this? It gets chilly~ every time I come to Team 4.]

Does it make sense for an assistant manager to visit another team every day and fiddle with the heating?

‘No way…….’

That nonsensical situation was excused solely because he was the chairman’s grandson.

Jeong Chan-yul fiddled with the thermostat here and there but soon gave up.

The office was already at 26 degrees.

No way it should feel cold.

Why did he keep getting chills?

As Jeong Chan-yul left Team 4 with this question, that night, when Lee Ha-ryeong stopped by the company, the fact that HR Team 4 was an exorcism department was revealed.

[……Do I have to see ghosts here, too?]

[Welcome, junior~.]

[I’m running out of ink for talismans.]

[We’re out of holy water, too.]

[Aaagh!! No way!!!!]

+

As Lee Ha-ryeong began her exorcism work,

In the meantime, Jeong Chan-yul actually encountered a ghost.

A ghost he’d never seen before in his life!

[Now that I think about it, Lee Ha-ryeong said… she can see ghosts.]

Recalling that Lee Ha-ryeong had said she could see ghosts, Jeong Chan-yul called her over to confront her.

+

Choi Geon-hyung was honestly surprised.

During the reading, Jeon Yeo-hu didn’t look at the script even once. He made eye contact with his scene partners, using his hands and gaze as if he were actually filming.

It was the perfect portrayal of Jeong Chan-yul—the villain whose looks sold his character as a detestable chaebol third-generation brat.

Even the way he drew out Lee Ha-ryeong’s name at the end of his sentences was enough to annoy anyone who worked with him.

And the scene where he gets irritated with Lee Ha-ryeong even though he was the one following her around……

Just how……

‘Pathetic he is.’

An amazing acting performance.

+

On the rooftop, Jeong Chan-yul stamped his feet and shouted.

[Hey, this is all your fault, Lee Ha-ryeong! Damn it, look at me now. My whole body’s trembling. My precious body is about to be possessed by a ghost!]

[How is that my fault? I warned you to keep your distance since the ghost attached to me might jump over to you.]

[Who’d believe that? And I’m the chairman’s grandson! Watch your tone, will you?]

[If you acted like an assistant manager should, I wouldn’t have to! Smoking during work just to look cool when you can’t even smoke on duty, wasting time by coming to me! That’s why the ghost is after you! Because you’re pathetic!!]

[Wha, pa-pathetic?!]

[Yes!! Pathetic!!]

[I did all my work and just played around after! If there’s a chaebol heir who’s more efficient and better at their job than me, bring them!]

[Normal office workers slack off in place after finishing their tasks! Not like you, wandering off to other departments!]

[Wh-what!? But nobody’s ever said anything to me…….]

[Right! Who would dare say that to the chairman’s grandson? You said it yourself! Chairman! Grandson! Who knows if they’ll lose their job just by offending you? Never thought even once that your comfort was because of your privilege, huh?]

[Hey! That’s…… Ah, shit. Anyway, I’m scared of ghosts!]

[Right! Then go solve it with your chaebol money!]

[Wait, wait, wait! Really……? Are you really just going to leave me like this?]

[Want me to send you another ghost?]

[Oh, hell no. Not that.]

+

As soon as Lee Ha-ryeong’s line ended, Jeong Chan-yul jumped in.

It didn’t feel like a script, but as if two real people were fighting on the rooftop before our eyes.

Even Choi Geon-hyung had to cover his mouth to stifle his laughter.

Laughing during a reading.

That’s something Choi Geon-hyung would never do.

“Pfft.”

“Hehe.”

But it seemed everyone else felt the same way. The actors watching Seon Ji-yoon and Jeon Yeo-hu’s quarrel couldn’t hold back their laughter either.

Only then did Choi Geon-hyung admit to himself how embarrassing and lacking he’d been as a senior.

Jeon Yeo-hu had truly earned that seat through his own ability.

‘I was a fool.’

*****

After the reading of Episode 3, we were given a short break.

As soon as break started, the actors scattered to chat with their friends. Since I didn’t have any close ones, I just sat blankly in my seat and played on my phone. People say SNS is addictive, and it really is hard to put down. What should I post?

Do fans like selfies? Probably not just for my face.

Should I at least reply to some comments?

“Jeon Yeo-hu?”

“…Choi—no, sunbae-nim?”

Choi Geon-hyung?

My body shot up reflexively. Guess I really am a junior now. Look at me, acting all polite.

“Sit down. I just wanted to have a quick chat.”

But.

Choi Geon-hyung coming over during break, not reading his script, and talking to me?

I was so surprised by this unprecedented event, I dropped the script I was holding. And Choi Geon-hyung even picked it up for me. My jaw nearly hit the floor.

What the hell is up with this guy?

“This… your script…”

“Th-thank you.”

“But.”

“…?”

“You have two scripts?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. I tend to write messily, so the writer gave me a spare when she saw mine.”

“……”

“I….”

What is he looking at?

Ah, that.

• Don’t turn head first
• Consider Jeong Chan-yul’s character
• Pause before speaking, enunciate clearly.
• Motivation for behavior unknown. Ask if reason appears later in the script.
• Does this guy actually have a character issue? What a loser;;

……

Did he read even the insults about Jeong Chan-yul?

“P-please don’t tell the writer about that. But honestly, Jeong Chan-yul really does have a character problem.”

Choi Geon-hyung quickly turned his head, his shoulders trembling and his cheeks puffed up like a balloon.

Seeing him force down his laughter, I figured he’d keep the secret.

He returned the script and asked,

“Do you always practice like this? By writing? These days, everyone just uses files.”

“I find it easier to organize things on paper.”

“Do you?”

Choi Geon-hyung stared at me. Now that I think about it, before regression, Choi Geon-hyung also always insisted on paper scripts rather than PDFs. Maybe he liked my answer, because he held out his hand.

“Let’s work well together.”

To shake a hand I’d never grasped, even before regression—

It felt pretty unpleasant.

“It’s an honor, sunbae-nim.”

*****

The short and unpleasant break ended, and by the time we’d finished up to Episode 5, it was already 4 p.m.

The reading finished before sunset only because we’d all gathered so early in the morning.

Once it ended, some people immediately started packing up for the after-party.

“Um…”

As I was packing up too, someone tugged at my sleeve.

Habit is a scary thing—I frowned without even looking at who it was.

Control your temper, control it.

I turned around, and there he was. The guy who, by all rights, shouldn’t even be at this reading, just like me.

“Ah… um.”

“I’m Ha Jeban. Playing Tae-k’s younger brother, Geon-hyung sunbae’s younger sibling.”

Ha Jeban greeted me casually, unfazed by my intimidating glare.

‘Strange kid. Isn’t there something up with him?’

Once I got suspicious, all kinds of thoughts flooded in.

I nodded lightly in response to his greeting.

“I’m Jeon Yeo-hu. I’ve seen you a lot in other projects.”

“You’re older than me. You can speak casually if you like.”

“Ah. Okay.”

“Hyung. By the way, hyung, did you regress?”

That’s odd.

That’s supposed to be my question.

For a moment, I barely resisted the urge to cover Ha Jeban’s mouth with my hand.

I asked as calmly as possible.

With a face that said I didn’t know a thing.

“Re…gress?”

“Yes.”

He even awkwardly scratched his cheek.

“Uh, I like calling you hyung, but I don’t know what you mean by regression.”

“You gave me a weird look when I came in. Isn’t it because you knew I wasn’t originally in this drama’s cast?”

Ha Jeban, Ha Jeban, Ha Jeban……

I didn’t know much about him. Even before regression, we hadn’t interacted much.

Was he always the type to joke about this stuff?

Maybe he’s been reading a lot of web novels lately? Is he just kidding around?

Is it because he’s young?

Either way, I decided to smooth things over as gently as possible.

“If I made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry. I’m still not used to reading sessions, so meeting all these actors is still exciting for me.”

“I see. Actually, before my mom got sick, she used to love coming to sets to watch celebrities.”

“Ah, your mother… is she ill?”

“Yes.”

I almost let it go.

‘Isn’t he just a total fox?’

The fact that Ha Jeban’s mother passed away after a long illness was only revealed when she died.

In other words, at this point—before December of his twentieth year—no one should know his mother is sick.

That’s when I was sure.

Ha Jeban knows something and is sounding me out.

That’s not a suspicion. It’s a certainty.

“You’re the first person I’ve told this to, hyung.”

“I’ll keep it a secret.”

“By the way, I guess the director’s already informed the others, huh? I replaced Lee Jae-ho, but everyone’s treated me normally. Did you hear about it too?”

Trying to sound me out again.

I shook my head.

“No, I didn’t hear anything.”

“Really? Then why did you look surprised earlier when I showed up instead of Lee Jae-ho? I read lips a bit for acting, so I saw everything.”

“Ah, lip reading.”

What kind of lunatic learns ventriloquism for acting and actually uses it in real life?

“You might’ve learned it wrong.”

I ignored Ha Jeban and stepped out into the hallway.

Manager Hyung was waiting for me on the first floor, so I just had to get down there.

As I got in the elevator, Ha Jeban followed.

“You really never mentioned Lee Jae-ho? I feel like I’d have been surprised. I was surprised. The casting changed a bit.”

While riding the elevator down, my brain spun.

Ha Jeban knew something about regression and suspected me.

Getting tangled with another regressor isn’t necessarily a good thing.

So, would it benefit me to act like I know something here or not?

Do I need Ha Jeban for my survival, or not?

I needed to calculate this properly.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened, and Manager Hyung waved from a distance.

I called him, telling him I’d join him later at the restaurant.

As soon as I hung up, I turned to look at Ha Jeban.

Yeah.

One person, at least.

“Did you regress?”

I can win him over.

Ha Jeban answered.

“Yes, hyung.”

“After you died?”

*****

Just in case, I’ll grab some hangover cure and head to the after-party restaurant! Jeon Yeo-hu will be joining me!

*****

The twenty-year-old Ha Jeban, still so young, dragged me straight to a convenience store.

We bought hangover drinks and coffee, then sat at a table outside the store.

It seemed Ha Jeban had a lot he wanted to say to me in this seat of truth.

“I died the same year I retired.”