Bedroom Genius Actor - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 3

1 hour ago. SBC Broadcasting Station.

“Where the hell did that guy disappear to?”

PD Seo Min-sik said while panting. PD Seo Min-sik had been running around every corner of the broadcasting station with his staff, searching on foot.

Just then, Park Seo-a was returning from afar, apparently having finished her meeting.

“What is everyone doing?”

“Looking for someone. A person.”

“A person? That sharp, cunning guy from earlier or something…?”

“Yeah, he completely turned the audition upside down and ran away.”

“Isn’t there a phone number on his profile? You could just call him.”

Then assistant director Jo Gi-hyeok, who was nearby, said.

“He’s a different person from the profile. He definitely came forward when his name was called, so the name Kim Ji-hu seems right…”

At that moment, Park Seo-a remembered Kim Ji-hu who had arrived late to the meeting.

“If it’s Kim Ji-hu… I think I might know something.”

PD Seo Min-sik’s eyes widened.

“You know him? Who is he?”

“But he’s a bit different from that sharp and cunning person.”

“We can contact him first and ask. Do you have a way to reach him?”

“Yes, just a moment…”

This was how Park Seo-a came to contact Kim Ji-hu.

***

And now.

A cafe near Kim Ji-hu’s house.

“…”

“…You are Kim Ji-hu, right?”

Kim Ji-hu answered while gauging the reactions of assistant director Jo Gi-hyeok and PD Seo Min-sik sitting in front of him.

“Yes… that’s right.”

Director Seo Min-sik spoke quietly to Gi-hyeok sitting beside him.

“Gi-hyeok, is it just me feeling this?”

“Something does seem wrong.”

Kim Ji-hu had definitely shown sharp charisma and cunning at the audition hall.

But his current appearance looked far too pathetic compared to what they had seen at the audition hall.

Director Seo Min-sik touched his thick chin and said.

“The face definitely seems right though.”

“He also confirmed it’s him.”

“That’s true. So what should we do?”

The two had rushed directly to Kim Ji-hu’s house to propose working together on a project.

They were quite troubled by Kim Ji-hu’s appearance, but there wasn’t really any other option.

“That acting was real, wasn’t it? Let’s go for it.”

“Yeah, that’s right. If we ask him to act once more here, he’ll probably just run away.”

Gi-hyeok nodded as if agreeing, and after whispering something together, they both looked at Kim Ji-hu.

Kim Ji-hu seemed burdened by their gazes and shrank back.

“We really enjoyed your acting at the audition earlier. So we were wondering if you could appear as a supporting actor in our project.”

Kim Ji-hu quietly asked.

“Um, may I ask… what will the title of the project be?”

“Ah, come to think of it, you wouldn’t know. It’s ‘Trauma.’ That’s the title of the work.”

“As expected…”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Then how long have you been learning acting?”

Kim Ji-hu answered hesitantly.

“I’ve never… learned it…”

“If you haven’t learned it, does that mean you taught yourself everything?”

“Well… something like that…”

“Wow.”

Jo Gi-hyeok and PD Seo Min-sik’s eyes sparkled.

‘A big story has come in for drama promotion.’

‘This is exactly what they mean when they say someone is different from the start.’

PD Seo Min-sik asked Kim Ji-hu.

“Was this audition your first time?”

“Yes, yes…”

“Then would you be able to work on a project with us?”

Jo Gi-hyeok took out a tablet and showed it to Kim Ji-hu.

“Let me explain the appearance fee first. You’re scheduled to appear in about 4 episodes, and because your acting was so good, we’ve set it at 2 million won per episode. Including additional allowances, we plan to pay you 9 million won total.”

Jo Gi-hyeok spoke triumphantly.

In the industry, it was almost unheard of to pay a rookie supporting actor 2 million won per episode.

In other words, they were offering the best treatment in the industry.

Since he had even run away from the audition hall, they planned to offer the largest amount possible to definitely secure him.

“Hmm…”

However, Kim Ji-hu looked at that amount with a somewhat reluctant expression.

An expression as if something was uncomfortable.

‘What, what’s with this guy…’

‘We definitely gave the best treatment to a rookie…’

From his acting skills to his attitude of having little interest in money, Jo Gi-hyeok found Kim Ji-hu even more difficult to understand.

PD Seo Min-sik seemed to sense this too and made a slightly troubled expression before opening his mouth.

“12 million.”

“PD-nim?”

“…?”

PD Seo Min-sik leaned forward across the table and stared at Kim Ji-hu.

“How about 12 million?”

“PD-nim…! 12 million is an almost unprecedented amount for a rookie supporting actor…”

“It’s fine. I’ll take responsibility.”

PD Seo Min-sik clenched his fist with an expression as if prepared for battle.

His determination to do whatever it takes to secure him was evident.

Jo Gi-hyeok was also anxious, but thinking of his acting, he had no choice but to understand PD Seo Min-sik’s actions.

Kim Ji-hu looked at PD Seo Min-sik with a somewhat bewildered expression, but soon nodded and said.

“Yes, I’ll do it.”

“Nice!!!”

“PD-nim!”

Jo Gi-hyeok and PD Seo Min-sik high-fived as if they had accomplished something incredible.

Then they quickly said to Kim Ji-hu.

“Then please read the contract carefully and sign it.”

***

‘What strange people…’

Kim Ji-hu thought as he walked home.

‘But why did they increase the money? I still don’t understand even thinking about it again.’

Kim Ji-hu had simply been worried about having to appear in front of people, but PD Seo Min-sik suddenly increased the appearance fee.

Either way, good things are good, right?

‘I have no choice if I want to save the blog…’

He had already been threatened by the system that his blog would disappear, and he had been anxious with no solution, but now an opportunity had come.

‘If I use that strange ability, it feels like something will come of it.’

Even during the audition, he had unknowingly displayed incredible acting.

‘Of course, for me it felt less like acting and more like just behaving normally…’

In any case, Kim Ji-hu had become active as an actor.

He could only quietly hope that his goal would be achieved.

***

The next day.

The SBC Broadcasting Station drama production team was in complete chaos.

“12 million won???”

That was because PD Seo Min-sik had offered a large sum to a rookie actor he’d never seen before.

Of course, compared to the money paid to other famous actors, it might seem small, but for a rookie actor, that amount was a kind of exceptional condition.

Park Seo-a carefully asked PD Seo Min-sik.

“PD-nim… won’t you get scolded by the director?”

PD Seo Min-sik touched his thick chin with its sparse beard and said.

“I’ll get scolded. A lot…”

“Then why did you do that… You got scolded last time too for being told to save some budget.”

“But! Once the director sees this guy’s acting, he won’t say much! Even if the Drama Department is having a hard time lately, 12 million won is…”

PD Seo Min-sik, who was about to give an impassioned speech, soon found himself speechless.

The reason was.

“Continue talking, PD Seo.”

Drama Department Director Kim Deok-chil was standing behind him.

“Director…”

“If 12 million won is such a small amount, why don’t you pay for it yourself! Do you think the Drama Department budget is something you can spend however you want?”

“But this time it was really money that had to be spent!”

“So you’re saying last time it was money that didn’t need to be spent?”

A few months ago. PD Seo Min-sik had spent the budget heavily to dramatically film a car accident scene.

It wasn’t enough that he had to write a written apology then, and now that this kind of thing happened again, the director had come personally.

PD Seo Min-sik said indignantly.

“Director! Don’t you know too! That you need to invest the budget boldly to some degree for a big hit! Isn’t it getting harder lately because our in-house drama productions are failing while only external productions are hitting it big!”

“And knowing that, you throw 12 million at a rookie?”

“Aw! Deok-pil hyung! This time it’s really going to be a hit!”

“Who’s your hyung! Call me Director!”

PD Seo Min-sik was already over 20 years into his broadcasting career. Since Kim Deok-chil was also a director who came from being a PD, they were close enough to call each other brothers outside.

So this kind of bickering and fighting was almost like an event in the Drama Department.

However, this time Director Kim Deok-chil had no intention of ending it with just light bickering.

“Anyway, no. Even if dirt gets in my eyes, not this time.”

“Are you saying no even though we already stamped the contract?”

“You already stamped it…?”

“Yes. If we didn’t stamp it there, it seemed like we wouldn’t be able to bring him.”

PD Seo Min-sik said shamelessly, and Director Kim Deok-chil pressed his temples firmly.

“Oh my goodness… PD Seo, should I take away your budget execution authority too? Do you want to film dramas while reporting everything to me one by one?”

“Director, let’s do this. I’ll bring that guy, so after seeing his acting, if you think it’s not good, I’ll pay that money myself. How about that?”

“You’ll pay it?”

Director Kim Deok-chil made a stunned expression, not expecting PD Seo Min-sik to play such a strong hand.

PD Seo Min-sik said confidently.

“Whether I deduct it from my salary or pay with my own money, I’ll do it, so decide after seeing him!”

At that confidence, Director Kim Deok-chil also softened a bit and let out a sigh.

“You handle it yourself!”

“Really? Then we can just use him…”

“Not that! Bring him here! Let me see how good this guy is that you’re making such a fuss. I need to see and decide.”

PD Seo Min-sik clenched his fist with a face that said he’d succeeded.

“Understood! Thank you!”

“I have time the day after tomorrow, so bring him then.”

Director Kim Deok-chil left those words and exited the production team office.

Jo Gi-hyeok, who had been holding his breath behind them, carefully asked PD Seo Min-sik.

“But is this okay…?”

“What is?”

“If they suddenly ask him to act in the Director’s Office, what will Kim Ji-hu think…”

“I don’t know, I don’t know. This was the only way. Hey, Gi-hyeok, you contact Kim Ji-hu. And if there are any problems, tell me.”

“Understood.”

Jo Gi-hyeok said he understood for now, but his anxiety didn’t disappear.

The reason was that except for that audition, he hadn’t seen any acting yet.

‘Kim Ji-hu… he’s good at acting, right?’

Jo Gi-hyeok had Kim Ji-hu, who had been hesitating alone, lingering in his mind.

***

“Hmm…”

Kim Ji-hu, who heard that news from Jo Gi-hyeok, was sitting in the corner of the room alone, deep in thought.

‘It doesn’t seem bad either.’

In fact, Kim Ji-hu couldn’t say he properly understood his own ability either.

When he first used his ability at the audition, he was too frantic, and the second time when he met the landlord grandmother, it just ended as an accident.

‘The ability itself is definitely incredible, but it would be bad if I made a mistake on set like when I met the landlord grandmother.’

Kim Ji-hu, who already had trouble with crowded places, had no guarantee he wouldn’t make mistakes on a crowded film set.

So being able to do a proper test in a place with fewer people was actually fortunate.

“Then shall I try it once from now?”

Kim Ji-hu picked up the script he received from Jo Gi-hyeok and closed his eyes.

After a moment, Kim Ji-hu opened his eyes.

With a bitter smile.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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