Chapter 7: A Rookie’s Resolve

I couldn’t help but be shocked. Even if it was just 9 seconds, it meant there was hope for improvement.

‘But why did it decrease? I didn’t do anything.’

That means I’d need to appear in dramas more frequently.

What if, just maybe…

With a hopeful heart, I cautiously asked the status window, “If I become a lead actor… would it decrease a lot?”

[The reduction increases based on the role’s prominence.]

[Per Line: 59 minutes, 51 seconds]

A spark of joy rose from my core, lifting the corners of my mouth. The bigger the role, the more screen time, naturally.

‘The day I reduce it completely…’

As if waiting for the cue, the system flashed a new window.

[You can completely overcome the penalty.]

In my past life, despite countless attempts and years of struggle, I couldn’t overcome the PTSD. The possibility of overcoming it? Of course, I was thrilled.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a new message.

[Sunbae-nim Cheon Ian: Sorry for texting again.]

[Sunbae-nim Cheon Ian: Our agency’s CEO is asking for your contact info. What should I do? ^^]

…Cheon Ian’s agency?

The CEO wanting my contact likely meant they were considering signing me. This must be around the time he moved to H Entertainment.

An agency…

Honestly, I needed one. Schedule management, contract negotiations, transportation—there were more aspects than I’d thought where an agency’s support was crucial.

But there were things holding me back from deciding rashly.

If I joined Cheon Ian’s agency, people might speculate online that I flattered my way in, or worse, rumors of a scandal could spark out of nowhere.

But the bigger issue was this:

Cheon Ian was soon to be embroiled in a contract violation lawsuit.

Years ago, when he was a child actor, X Entertainment, his former agency, had withheld his wages, causing a prolonged controversy.

Cheon Ian and his manager left to start H Entertainment.

If that were the end, it’d be fine.

But from what I remember, shortly after The Life of a Prosecutor ended, X Entertainment sued for double-contracting, putting him in a tough spot, as he mentioned in an interview.

“Hmm, no way.”

I was just starting to gain recognition. I didn’t want to stir up trouble, nor did I want to ride Cheon Ian’s coattails. If I joined his agency and the lawsuit hit, I’d be a kite with a cut string.

Calmly, I typed a reply.

[Me: Thank you for the kind offer, sunbae-nim. You can share my contact, but I’m not looking for an agency yet. Sorry.]

[Sunbae-nim Cheon Ian: That’s scarier than a straight-up no. Got it. (Disappointed emoji)]

[Sunbae-nim Cheon Ian: See you at the Prosecutor shoot.]

[Me: Yep. Good night.]

[Sunbae-nim Cheon Ian: It’s only 6 PM?]

‘Can’t it be nighttime?’

[Me: Yep.]

[Sunbae-nim Cheon Ian: ^^;;]

As I was about to put my phone down, another message arrived.

[010-XXXX-XXXX: Hello, this is the casting director for . We’re contacting you urgently to fill in for the role of Park Hae-in. The requirements are…]

‘Youth 2015 casting director?’

Ding—

[Sub-Quest activated.]

[Sub-Quest: Appear in .]

[Reward: 2 points]

A pink sub-quest window popped up with a small chime.

‘What…’

A replacement role? What happened?

★★★

The next day.

Her confusion was quickly resolved.

[Idol Noen abruptly drops out of .]

[ facing issues with extras?]

News articles about male idol Noen dropping out of Youth 2015 as an extra due to scheduling conflicts were trending.

Whether it was Noen’s choice or his agency’s decision wasn’t clear from the announcement.

Regardless of the details, Im Bada, thrilled at the chance to act, entered the set and greeted loudly, “Hello, I’m Im Bada!”

“Hello, actor!”

Despite the sudden request, the crew smiled and returned her bright greeting.

“…Oh, Bada-ssi.”

Director Kim Ha-sin awkwardly greeted Im Bada.

He felt a bit guilty toward her.

She’d been cut from the audition after evaluation, but asking her to shoot the next day after a last-minute call wasn’t common.

Im Bada smiled brightly at him and said, “Thank you, Director.”

“Huh? No, I mean, what’s there to thank me for?”

“For recognizing my acting.”

“Bada-ssi, you reviewed the script, right?”

Last night, as soon as she replied to the text, she received the script.

“Yes, I got it and reviewed it.”

“What do you think of Park Hae-in’s role?”

“It’s impactful since he’s the first friend the male lead makes and dies in front of him.”

“Right. It’s a short appearance, but it’s a pivotal event and character for the male lead, so it needs to have impact. It might be tough to act. You okay with that?”

“I’m fine.”

Park Hae-in appears in a flashback in Youth 2015. As a key figure in Jung Jae-wook’s transformation, the role demanded impactful acting.

“You could’ve refused since it’s a death scene.”

“No, it’s work. I’ll do it.”

“That’s a good mindset.”

“And, Director, you can speak casually. You seem a bit uncomfortable.”

Kim Ha-sin had felt it during the audition too—Im Bada gave off a raw, unpolished vibe but also the presence of someone seasoned.

“Hmm, alright. By the way, since Hae-in doesn’t talk much, a lot of scenes will rely on your eyes.”

“Yes, Hae-in has more stage directions than lines.”

“Right? You got the script just yesterday, so it must’ve been tough to grasp, but you nailed it.”

Im Bada set her bag down and pulled out her script. Kim Ha-sin was genuinely surprised by its tattered state.

Despite receiving it last-minute, the A4 pages were covered in underlines and sticky notes, as if she’d studied it for days.

“Do you analyze scripts this thoroughly?”

“…Oh, I can’t act if I don’t understand the situation.”

‘Few lead actors study scripts as thoroughly as this. I remember Cheon Ian being like this back in the day.’

“What are the underlines for?”

“So, the underlines mark parts I didn’t understand, which I reviewed about five times. The indexed sections are where I noted my interpretation of the character’s emotions. Speaking of which…”

Flipping through the script in one go, Im Bada pointed to a page with her index finger.

“But there’s something I don’t get in the rooftop scene at school.”

“Which part?”

[#21 School Rooftop: Sunny weather with sunlight streaming down. Jung Jae-wook lies on the rooftop, basking in the sun. Just before closing his eyes, he hears the door open. Park Hae-in, stretching, appears and gazes at Jung Jae-wook lying on the ground.]

“My take on Hae-in is that he’s a self-centered kid, someone who doesn’t care about others. Why would a kid like that look at Jung Jae-wook?”

Im Bada was interpreting Park Hae-in exactly as the Youth 2015 writer had described.

“Maybe… because they’re in similar situations?”

“Park Hae-in and Jung Jae-wook have a lot in common. Both are kids who weren’t loved by their parents but still tried to earn love.”

As Kim Ha-sin explained what he’d heard from the writer, Im Bada’s eyes changed, as if she’d gained a deep realization.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed by her intensity, Director Kim stepped back, hands behind his back.

He scrutinized her face closely. Since the character lives with scars, a short bob would frame well on camera.

Park Hae-in’s free-spirited vibe comes through in his hair.

“Would you consider cutting your hair short?”

He wanted to see her with a bob. But since he couldn’t force it, he only suggested it. Just a suggestion.

“…One moment.”

Im Bada stepped away, making a call to someone—likely about her recent role in The Life of a Prosecutor.

She returned and nodded. “I checked with the director of The Life of a Prosecutor since I have a shoot coming up. They said it’s fine.”

“You didn’t have to cut it.”

“Hair can always be extended. It’s fine.”

It was a crucial moment needing a strong scene for episode 1.

“I’m grateful.”

Her exceptional character understanding and emotional immersion.

It clicked why Im Bada delivered such a performance in The Life of a Prosecutor.

‘People worried about her intense image from the last project, but this might’ve been a great choice.’

Director Kim Ha-sin quietly reassured himself that calling Im Bada, despite others’ objections, was the right move.

★★★

“Wow.”

In the mirror, a girl with a neat mid-length bob, scars dotting her face, stared back at me.

‘Wow.’

It was surreal.

‘I’ve never had short hair, and now a bob? Wearing a school uniform makes me feel so young.’

With injury makeup on my chin, I looked like a carefree teen.

I’d worried my mature face wouldn’t suit a school uniform, but…

“Bada-ssi, the bob suits you.”

“I was relieved it looks good on me.”

“You look like a student now.”

Smiling brightly at the hairstylist’s compliment, I heard, “Hello.”

Im Hoon, playing the male lead Jung Jae-wook in Youth 2015, appeared. My acting partner.

‘He’s… strikingly handsome.’

His face was good-looking, though not as striking as Ko Eun-hyuk’s. A raw, natural charm.

Unlike his looks, Im Hoon wasn’t known for great acting.

In my past life, Im Hoon stirred controversy over his acting skills even after this drama.

It was said his best performance was in Youth 2015.

A year into his debut, he’s still a rookie, but a senior is a senior. I should greet him as a fellow actor.

I bowed deeply toward him. “Hello, Im Hoon sunbae-nim. I’m Im Bada, acting with you this time…”

Huh? Im Hoon glanced at me and brushed past.

“Please take care of me, hairstylist.”

What’s this?

I approached him again to greet him. “Im Hoon sunbae-nim…”

“……”

“Greetings.”

“……”

“Doing them?”

Even I thought my words came out awkwardly. But I couldn’t help it—Im Hoon was glaring at me through the mirror.

‘She’s doing well, huh?’

What? Is this hazing?

My first taste of hazing.

Of course, hazing and power plays are common in the industry. But in my past life, I was a minor extra, too insignificant to even be hazed.

Maybe that’s why his jealous glare made my heart race.

“Are you going to keep standing there?”