I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 172

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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 172

If there was a scene he absolutely never thought he’d see in this place, it would be Kim, the CEO’s current appearance.

The gentleman who had been so stubborn about only accepting top stars was now shouting “Bravo!” and clapping his hands.

Kim, the CEO had even stood up from his chair!

“…Ahem.”

However, perhaps embarrassed by his own behavior, he soon sat back down in his chair and pressed his lips tightly shut.

It was fortunate. If he had said anything to Seon-woo, the atmosphere would have become quite awkward.

But Seo Ji-hye paid no attention to Kim, the CEO.

Only Seon-woo filled her vision right now. More precisely, only the traces of I-mu-gi that Seon-woo had just shown.

“That was good. Now please show me designated acting scene number 1.”

Honestly, she wanted to ask what mindset he had prepared that acting with.

That contempt that had filled his eyes was clearly directed at himself.

Had he connected I-mu-gi’s desire to become a dragon through self-contempt? It was a fresh approach. So fresh that even as a writer, she felt shocked by it.

But now was the time to continue watching his acting.

Designated acting scene 1 was where I-mu-gi saves Yeo-ui-ju from a nine-tailed fox’s attack. And Yeo-ui-ju, seeing I-mu-gi like this, falls into confusion and asks.

Why exactly are you saving me?

Weren’t you also trying to devour me?

And seeing Yeo-ui-ju like this, I-mu-gi answers.

Yes, like that.

“Because I have lived to meet you.”

This wasn’t like a love confession.

Yet why did that voice sound more heartfelt than any love confession?

“Because without you, I am nothing.”

It was probably because what I-mu-gi was confessing was actually something greater than love.

I-mu-gi was confessing his very existence as it was.

Seo Ji-hye looked at Seon-woo with eyes that seemed ready to be captivated at any moment. Watching Seon-woo’s I-mu-gi, it felt like she could immediately recall what kind of feeling she had when writing this scene.

If what we’ve pursued our entire lives took human form… what emotions would we feel then?

That was why Seo Ji-hye came to write [My Jade].

She thought the relationship between I-mu-gi and Yeo-ui-ju would itself become an answer to this question.

But if there was one thing she hadn’t properly examined, it was Seon-woo’s current gaze.

‘…How can it be so empty?’

Actually, when writing this scene, Seo Ji-hye thought I-mu-gi would have an inorganic expression.

I-mu-gi was someone who couldn’t find value in anything other than Yeo-ui-ju.

She had only thought that such a character would inevitably feel empty somewhere, even in this moment of confessing his life.

But Seon-woo had poured a drop of self-hatred into it… no, an entire bucket.

In that gaze, in that voice, contempt so deep it was hard to notice… she could feel that I-mu-gi loathed himself to a terrible degree.

“Because you are mine.”

The feeling of this line completely changed too.

Right. It was an intentional line. A line that revealed I-mu-gi’s possessiveness and hinted that Yeo-ui-ju and I-mu-gi would become entangled in earnest.

But… Seon-woo changed that feeling in an instant.

That declaration of “you are mine” sounded more like a desperation that “you must be mine.”

She could feel the frightened heart afraid of possibly losing this last lifeline to escape from a wretched and miserable life.

The character I-mu-gi… that arrogant and overbearing monster, looked so pitiable.

And,

Clap clap clap! Once again, applause came from Kim, the CEO’s direction.

He was clapping with an excited expression, nodding his head repeatedly. No, I mean, this isn’t a theater or anything like that…

Seo Ji-hye swallowed a sigh.

And opened her mouth again.

“Please show me designated acting scene number 2.”

Naturally, there were no surprises this time either.

Seon-woo acted out magnificently even the moment when I-mu-gi first begins to feel romantic feelings for Yeo-ui-ju.

A unique character quality that couldn’t be found in the I-mu-gi that other actors had shown so far.

It was an I-mu-gi full of charm that kept catching the eye and making one curious.

Perhaps that’s why.

Even after Seon-woo left, Seo Ji-hye couldn’t think about calling the next actor for a long time.

She had been captivated.

Because the I-mu-gi character that Seon-woo had shown… was too perfect.

Jeong Yu-jun cautiously opened his mouth.

“Um… Writer. This time, did you… like it?”

“I liked it!”

It wasn’t Seo Ji-hye who answered, but Kim, the CEO.

He strode up to them and raised his voice.

“I really liked it! Yes. If that guy plays I-mu-gi… I’ll invest!”

“In, invest, you said?”

Jeong Yu-jun looked back at Kim, the CEO in shock.

From the moment he started clapping, he had a feeling… but still, this was Kim, the CEO who had been singing top star songs all this time. He never thought he would accept Seon-woo so easily.

Jeong Yu-jun opened his mouth again with an anxious voice, as if he was worried about something.

“Um, but CEO. That actor Kim Seon-woo isn’t a top star. Rather, he’s a newcomer who’s just starting to rise up…”

“Tsk, PD Jeong. That’s your problem! What exactly do you think a top star is?”

“Huh? Well, of course…”

Jeong Yu-jun recalled the standards that the industry talks about when defining top stars. But before he could voice them, Kim, the CEO shook his head and spoke.

“A top star is someone born with different genes. Someone who can fly while others are busy walking. What does it matter if he’s a newcomer or whatever? In the end, that guy will be flying around.”

And he glared at Jeong Yu-jun with a somewhat displeased expression.

“Anyway, you’re lucky. Very lucky!”

“Haha…”

“Well, I think I’ve seen everything I need to see, so I’ll be going now.”

Kim, the CEO said that and left the studio. Or rather, he tried to leave. Until the moment Seo Ji-hye opened her mouth.

“CEO.”

“Oh my, what are you calling me for now?”

“Let me make one thing clear. While I’m grateful for your investment, choosing actors is within the domain of PD and myself to judge.”

Seo Ji-hye looked at Kim, the CEO. It was quite a sharp gaze.

“There won’t be any casting decisions made just because you pointed someone out.”

“W-Writer…!”

At Seo Ji-hye’s bombshell statement, Jeong Yu-jun fidgeted restlessly and kept looking back at Kim, the CEO.

What would they do if he said he’d withdraw his investment?

But Kim, the CEO had a quite calm expression, making Jeong Yu-jun’s worries seem pointless.

“That’s only natural. That’s how business works. If you try to match investors’ tastes, you end up with something that’s neither here nor there.”

“…Thank you for understanding.”

“But, well… I do have this feeling this time. Somehow, it seems like our writer’s taste and mine won’t be too different this time.”

Kim, the CEO said that with a sly smile.

An expression as if asking ‘Right?’ But Seo Ji-hye didn’t give any answer, and Kim, the CEO shrugged and stepped back.

“Anyway, PD Jeong! Please take good care of our writer! She’s a very precious person! Hahaha!”

Kim, the CEO left just like that.

Jeong Yu-jun, who had been blankly watching his retreating figure, slowly turned to look at Seo Ji-hye.

“W-what should we do, Writer?”

“About what.”

“Well… have you made up your mind a bit, Writer?”

“It seems like you’ve made up your mind, PD.”

“Well, I…”

Jeong Yu-jun couldn’t quite answer and scratched his head.

While he did like Seon-woo’s acting, the fact that Kim, the CEO liked Seon-woo resonated very strongly with him.

At least his worries about Kim, the CEO’s investment issues had completely disappeared. Of course, there was still the matter of the actor to play ‘Yeo-ui-ju’… but fortunately, they had a plan prepared for that part.

It meant there would be no big problems once the male actor issue was resolved.

Seo Ji-hye looked at such Jeong Yu-jun and inwardly swallowed a sigh.

A PD should have some backbone and resist when someone invades their territory… but being this weak.

She had heard that his abilities as a PD were good… but for now, there were many moments when he seemed unreliable in various ways.

“Let’s keep thinking about it. I need to consider more what would be best.”

“Um… was there any part you didn’t like?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Seo Ji-hye immediately shook her head.

Didn’t like it? It wasn’t acting that could be disliked.

It was just that it was a style of I-mu-gi she had never thought of, so that part was a bit concerning.

“It’s not something that needs to be decided right away. Let’s think about it slowly.”

For some reason, the words Kim, the CEO left behind seemed to linger in her ears.

Those words about how his and her tastes probably wouldn’t be different this time.

* * *

“Good work, hyung!”

“…Hoon. Sorry, but could you not greet me so intensely.”

“I’m sorry!”

After finishing the audition and coming out, Park Hoon bowed at a right angle in greeting.

…Even when I tell him not to do this, he keeps doing it. Really, he’s a friend who’s hard to handle. Seon-woo smiled bitterly inwardly and spoke.

“But aren’t you going to ask if I did well?”

“Hyung doing well is such a natural thing. There’s no need to ask if the sun rose from the east today, is there?”

“Hoon…”

Seon-woo was inwardly moved.

To think he would trust him this much.

But the next moment, Park Hoon glanced around and opened his mouth.

“…But, so how was it?”

“You said there’s no need to ask if the sun rises from the east.”

“Still, it might have risen from slightly less east, right?”

“Really…”

If you’re going to do this, just ask from the beginning.

Seon-woo chuckled and shook his head.

“I showed everything I prepared without any shortcomings. If I fail, it probably wouldn’t be because there was a problem with the acting… but rather because there was a problem with the interpretation.”

“It was quite a challenging interpretation.”

Park Hoon nodded his head.

“But it was a wonderful interpretation. I think you’re right, hyung. If they don’t pick you, wouldn’t they be the fools?”

“…Forget it, we just didn’t match in direction.”

Seon-woo smiled bitterly and shook his head.

He didn’t know for sure, but it would probably take quite a while for the results to come out. It wasn’t just any role, but the lead. It wouldn’t be something they could easily decide overnight.

Even if the writer and PD made their decision, they would still need to consult with investors, the broadcasting station, and others.

And honestly, Seon-woo thought he was at quite a disadvantage in this regard.

After all, he was still a newcomer.

A newcomer who had never taken on a leading role before.

‘Things will work out as they should.’

If Seon-woo’s I-mu-gi had been charming enough to cover all those disadvantages, he would be given the opportunity, and if not…

Whatever happened, it was already out of Seon-woo’s hands.

Worrying about it any further would just be a waste of time.

The time with I-mu-gi had been enjoyable, but now, given his schedule, he had to move straight to the next stage.

It was time to prepare for Yi Bang-won in [The Traitor].

‘…I’m getting nervous all over again.’

Seon-woo gulped.

Though he had deliberately avoided thinking about it to focus on I-mu-gi, Yi Bang-won’s presence had been steadily pressuring Seon-woo all this time.

Yi Bang-won had already been portrayed in countless historical dramas.

Numerous actors had already performed his charisma. Did Seon-woo really have the charisma to surpass all of them?

‘When it comes to charisma, I don’t really feel like I have much connection to that.’

Seon-woo had never once thought of himself as charismatic.

He had always been the quiet student who stayed tucked away in corners, just doing his own work. So it was inevitable that fundamental doubts would arise about whether he could really pull off Yi Bang-won well.

That’s probably why Si-hun’s call was even more welcome.

—Hey, I heard your audition’s over. Come to the practice room. Let’s prepare for Yeokjeok together.

Though his audition had just ended, Seon-woo asked Park Hoon to take him straight to the company building.

He had been thinking it would be good to have a partner to practice acting with anyway. Since Si-hun was also preparing for [The Traitor], they could practically devote themselves to practicing together 24/7.

However,

“Come in, come in.”

The moment he opened the practice room door, Seon-woo couldn’t help but freeze in place.

The practice room was filled with purple mist. It felt like looking at the world through purple-tinted lenses.

It was clear where that mist was coming from.

Yu Si-hun.

More precisely, Si-hun wearing a bright yellow dragon robe was grinning at Seon-woo as if intoxicated by some drug.

“What are you doing? Hurry and dress yourself properly!”

Si-hun pointed his fan toward the floor.

There was a bright red court robe, commonly seen in historical dramas, neatly folded.

As Seon-woo stared at it blankly, Si-hun raised his voice again.

“Hey now, are you making me wait right now!”

And only then did Seon-woo recall a fact he had forgotten.

Right.

This senior wasn’t normal.

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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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