NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 215

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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 215. Pre-Meeting

– We’ve already identified the coordinates of what we believe to be their base, and the boat for reconnaissance is ready.

 

Yeon-woo nodded at Han Hae-woon’s words.

 

“Having Kim Su-hyeok infiltrate the island directly would be too risky, so let’s stick to the plan and only conduct reconnaissance with drones.”

 

If Yeon-woo or Han Hae-woon had gone, they would have proceeded with direct infiltration if they judged it feasible after reconnaissance.

Because they were confident in their ability to execute the mission perfectly.

 

However, other agents hadn’t been verified to have that level of capability yet, and since there was no rush, there was no need to take on the risks that came with uncertainty.

 

– Then the operation should probably be conducted tonight, right?

“That’s right.”

 

The plan was for Kim Su-hyeok to sail near the island at night with the lights off, then conduct reconnaissance using a low-noise drone.

 

The open sea at night, far from the artificial lights of the city, becomes pitch black when even the boat’s lights are turned off, leaving only the moon and the Milky Way in the night sky as visible light sources.

 

“Hmm, then tell Kim Su-hyeok to conserve his energy for tonight’s operation. I have some business to attend to at the company.”

– Understood. Then I’ll see you again tonight.

 

After focusing intensively on the Okinawa operation for several days, Yeon-woo took off his headset and stretched.

 

“Time to return to my main job, I suppose.”

 

Today was the day when all the main cast members, director, and writer would gather for a meeting about the basketball drama that didn’t even have a title yet.

 

In fact, this drama was an unusual case where casting was completed before the title and subject matter were decided, so writer Choi Mi-hyeon was able to create characters that perfectly matched each actor’s image.

 

‘If the actors themselves participate in creating the characters they’ll play, it should result in a more vibrant work.’

 

It was a fresh attempt in many ways.

 

As Yeon-woo was thinking about various things while washing up, Kim Min-su called at just the right time.

 

“Yes, Min-su hyung.”

– Actor, I’ll be there in about 10 minutes.

“Got it. If I dry my hair and come down, the timing should be perfect.”

 

After hanging up, Yeon-woo finished preparing to go out and went down to the parking lot, where Kim Min-su’s car was waiting.

 

Getting into the car, Yeon-woo looked toward the driver’s seat.

 

“Min-su hyung. It hasn’t even been 10 minutes since we talked, but you’re already here.”

“Ah, all the traffic lights were green on the way here. This drama must be destined to succeed.”

 

Yeon-woo laughed at Kim Min-su’s joke.

 

“Is that so?”

“Yep. Then let’s get going.”

 

Kim Min-su’s car started, and as discussed last time, music from the top 100 charts began playing.

Seeing Kim Min-su bobbing his head to the beat from the driver’s seat, he clearly enjoyed listening to music while driving.

 

‘Min-su hyung has been my manager for almost 4 years now. How did he endure it all this time? I should at least ask.’

 

Yeon-woo smiled as he looked at the driver’s seat, then shifted his gaze outside the window.

 

‘By the way, what details should I add to my character?’

 

Yeon-woo began thinking about the protagonist of this drama.

 

The foundation of acting is ‘becoming that person.’

To do that, one must explore the character’s inner self, and understanding others begins with ’empathy.’

 

‘What kind of thoughts does this guy have, and what kind of pain might he carry?’

 

Yeon-woo began gradually immersing himself in the still-nameless protagonist while watching the cars passing by outside the window.

 

The protagonist is someone who gradually felt frustration and developed mental wounds as the things he wanted to do were continuously blocked by his parents.

 

‘From an adult’s perspective, one might wonder if such things could really cause illness, but the protagonist in the story had his pent-up complaints explode after entering high school, causing problems…’

 

Every age has its appropriate worries.

And when too many thoughts are contained before the vessel to handle them has grown large enough, they’re bound to overflow.

 

This could manifest as simple rebellion, defiance, or complaints, but some children often fester and burst from within.

 

Compared to the minor worries and frustrations experienced during school days, the trials of life that one faces after becoming an adult are naturally more harsh and rough.

 

So when listening to students’ concerns, people too easily say, ‘You’ll understand when you grow up. The worries you’re experiencing now are ultimately nothing.’

 

But are the various worries and trials faced in childhood really nothing?

 

‘That’s not quite right.’

 

Starting with small waves and gradually enduring increasingly fierce crashing waves, the breakwater in one’s heart breaks little by little, and through repairing those places, it becomes thicker and stronger.

 

‘But the protagonist is someone whose breakwater shattered all at once with a bang. What would such a person be like? First of all, they’d be timid about everything.’

 

As Yeon-woo delved deeply into the protagonist, he began forming a virtual personality including hobbies and habitual behaviors.

 

‘How about having him habitually clench and unclench his fists to the rhythm whenever he speaks? And naturally, he wouldn’t be able to look people straight in the face when talking.’

 

Meanwhile, Kim Min-su, who had been bobbing his head to the music, saw Yeon-woo’s thoughtful expression in the rearview mirror and spoke up.

 

“Actor, do you have something on your mind?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, you just looked so serious.”

 

At Kim Min-su’s question, Yeon-woo thought for a moment and then told him about the things he was currently considering.

 

“···So it’s this kind of character, and I was thinking if there might be something distinctive about him.”

 

After hearing Yeon-woo’s story, Kim Min-su thought for a moment and then began sharing his own experience.

 

“Hmm, there’s someone who comes to mind after hearing your story. When I was doing my military service, there was a junior who came in after playing soccer in civilian life. I don’t remember exactly, but I think he said it was the third division league. He injured his ligaments a bit during training, and it turned out to be more serious than expected, so he was told it would be difficult to continue playing soccer in the future.”

 

Yeon-woo, who had been nodding and listening to Kim Min-su’s story, added to the conversation.

 

“So what happened to that person?”

“Well, I don’t know what happened after he was discharged, but throughout his military service, his eyes became dull and hazy, and I felt like his spirit was gradually dying. There was a term for a condition that soldiers experience···.”

“PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), you mean?”

“Ah! That’s right.”

 

Actually, the case Kim Min-su described was slightly different from PTSD, but the characteristic behaviors seemed roughly similar to the character Yeon-woo would be acting.

 

‘PTSD, huh···. If it’s that, I could write a thesis about it with a bit of exaggeration, considering how much I’ve seen of it.’

 

In his previous life, many soldiers or agents who were deployed to battlefields or went on missions suffered from PTSD after directly experiencing torture or accidents, or witnessing such scenes before their eyes, and Yeon-woo had watched this countless times right beside them.

 

As he conceived the character while thinking about the characteristics of those he had met in his previous life, he seemed to get a clearer sense of it.

 

“Thanks to Min-su hyung, I think I’m getting some kind of clue.”

“Is that so? I’m glad I could help with something. Actor, we’ve arrived.”

 

Yeon-woo got out of the car and went up to the 2nd floor.

 

‘Come to think of it, this is my first time at the media office since the office opening.’

 

Since he always went to the cafe on the 3rd floor and the entertainment CEO office or main conference room on the 4th floor, Saebyeol Media felt unfamiliar.

 

When he got off the elevator, numerous frames were hanging on the walls surrounding the lobby.

 

There were various works he had appeared in, including “Sketch” and “White Blood” where Yeon-woo played the lead role, as well as Son Jin-wook’s works like “Your Name” and “Prisoner.”

 

Since he had arrived earlier than expected, he was looking around and admiring the works hanging there when the elevator opened and Director Yoon Mi-yeon got off.

 

“Oh? Yeon-woo. You came early?”

“I happened to arrive first. Director Yoon. Looking at them all gathered like this, our affiliated actors have appeared in so many works.”

 

As Yeon-woo looked over the frames hanging on the wall, Yoon Mi-yeon smiled bitterly and replied.

 

“Of course they’re our affiliated actors, but actually many of these works were produced when we were at LN. We’re planning to fill them with works produced by Saebyeol Media from now on.”

“Of course. From now on, Director Yoon will have to work like an ox. I’m going to be prolific, you know? This year, I’m definitely going to do a movie in addition to dramas.”

 

Yoon Mi-yeon laughed at Yeon-woo’s playful threat.

 

“Working like an ox would be great. I’m a workaholic, you know? I think there will probably be many people coming early, so everyone will arrive if we wait a bit. Shall we go in first?”

“Let’s do that.”

 

Yeon-woo followed Yoon Mi-yeon into the meeting room and waited for a moment when Writer Choi Mi-hyeon, whose face he hadn’t seen in a long time, was the first to enter.

 

“Oh my! Yeon-woo!”

“Writer. Have you been well?”

 

When Yeon-woo got up and approached Writer Choi Mi-hyeon who was opening the door and entering, she hugged Yeon-woo happily and patted his back.

 

“Of course! I’ve been doing well. I’m so happy that you’re doing well. These days, wherever I go, I brag that I’m the writer who discovered Ryu Yeon-woo, you know? But did I just sound a bit like an ajumma?”

“No, not at all.”

 

Yeon-woo smiled at Writer Choi Mi-hyeon’s words.

 

Even if Choi Mi-hyeon bragged about discovering Yeon-woo, it wasn’t wrong. Of course, even if he hadn’t been chosen, he would have debuted somewhere else in a different role, but it was certainly true that she was the writer who recognized the potential of Yeon-woo, who was just a high school student from the provinces, and actively argued that he must be cast.

 

“I also think I built a good foundation in acting by starting with your work, Writer.”

“This kid speaks so beautifully, just like back then and now.”

“By the way, Jin-wook hyung, the director, and you, Writer, are all gathering again for this project.”

 

If the production schedule had been delayed a bit more, Han So-hyeon could have joined too, but she wasn’t an affiliated actor yet, and he heard that Han So-hyeon was currently filming a movie.

 

“Right. By the way, Yeon-woo. Did you hear about Jun-ho?”

“Yes. Of course. I even talked to him on the phone.”

 

Did he only talk on the phone?

Probably Yeon-woo knew the full story of the An Jun-ho incident better than anyone on Earth.

Even things that An Jun-ho himself didn’t know.

 

“It turned out so well. I felt frustrated as if I had a stone placed on one side of my heart. I knew too well that he wasn’t that kind of person.”

“That’s right. Jun-ho hyung is still doing his military service, but did you know he signed a contract with our entertainment company?”

“Really? Oh, that’s great. Well done. The CEO is Team Leader Jeong who was at the previous company, right?”

 

In reality, the CEO of the company was Yeon-woo himself, but he smiled and nodded.

 

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Team Leader Jeong is such a good person.”

 

As he was chatting with Writer Choi Mi-hyeon whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, time passed quickly and noisy sounds could be heard from outside.

 

“Everyone seems to have arrived.”

 

At the same time as Director Yoon’s words, the meeting room door opened.

And the cast members of this drama and Director Kim Han-su entered together.

 

“Oh my, Writer Choi, it’s been a long time.”

 

Jeong Cheol-min smiled and extended his hand, and Choi Mi-hyeon shook it.

 

“Nice to see you. It’s really been a long time. These days, Teacher Jeong’s student has grown up so well that you must be full even without eating, right?”

“Haha. That’s true, but I’ve been drinking with Jin-wook a lot lately, so I keep getting a beer belly.”

 

Writer Choi Mi-hyeon, who was beside them, began observing the faces of the actors who would be appearing while greeting them.

 

Since Son Jin-wook and Yeon-woo had worked together on a project relatively recently, she knew them fairly well, but since it was her first time seeing people like Dong-ha and Jin Yu-han, Writer Choi Mi-hyeon’s eyes kept sparkling.

 

And so the director, writer, and main cast of the still-unnamed amateur basketball drama had all gathered together.

 

 

Meanwhile, each broadcasting station that had caught wind of the news about Saebyeol Media’s secret drama production went into emergency mode.

 

If the content in the tabloid was true, regardless of the genre, just looking at the cast alone, it was a guaranteed hit.

 

A silent war between broadcasting stations began as they tried to attract the project to their own network by any means necessary.

 

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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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