NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 230

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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 230. Hong A-yoon

The day after meeting Director Lee Yong-su, Yeon-woo came to work at the company and called a meeting.

 

In the meeting attended by the working staff, he explained step by step the process of deciding to produce the scenario “Moon,” from his conversation with Director Park Chan-hong to his meeting with Director Lee Yong-su.

 

“When you said you had a meeting with Director Lee Yong-su, I was puzzled wondering if there was an advertisement schedule the company didn’t know about, but you were busy moving around on your own?”

 

Director Yoon Mi-yeon glanced at Yeon-woo lightly with a face asking why he didn’t consult with the company.

Then Yeon-woo scratched his head and made an excuse.

 

“I was also planning to just have a light conversation and then talk to the company about it, but I didn’t know the discussion would progress this quickly.”

 

Somehow, things had progressed to the point where they could start filming immediately once the actor casting was completed.

 

Lee Yong-su had already finished the location setting, and since production and investment were Saebyeol’s responsibility, there was no need to seek them separately.

 

And the special effects and music were practically already assigned to their respective handlers.

Considering how Director Jung Yo-han and Chrissy Monroe usually cherished Yeon-woo terribly, even if they were currently working on other projects, they would set aside other work and make Yeon-woo’s request their top priority.

 

At that moment, CEO Jeong Hyeok, who had been quietly reading the scenario copy Yeon-woo had distributed, looked up with a deep sigh.

 

“Hmm, just reading this work’s scenario leaves a slight lingering feeling in my heart.”

 

That meant it was good.

Since scenarios aren’t the type of writing that uses flowery language and detailed descriptions like romance novels, it’s difficult to fully convey the feeling of a work through the scenario alone.

 

When you watch a movie while comparing it with the scenario, you can see there’s a big quality difference between the final product and the scenario, which naturally leads to the saying “written like crap but made like gold.”

 

Writers and directors sometimes deliberately do this because too much description can actually become a frame that limits the imagination of directors or actors on set.

 

‘So scenarios are specialized in explaining situations in a plain and dry manner, to put it nicely, or frankly speaking, they’re a bit shabby.’

 

Therefore, CEO Jeong Hyeok’s comment about feeling lingering emotions just from reading the scenario content, which simply and briefly explains the story without frills, was in a way high praise.

 

“Then what remains is external investment attraction or casting, and you said the director has an actress in mind?”

 

Yeon-woo nodded at Director Yoon Mi-yeon’s question.

 

“She’s an unknown actress named Hong A-yoon, and it seems she’s now left the entertainment industry and participates in small plays at a small theater as a hobby.”

“Hmm, so she’s practically a civilian…?”

“Yes. Her former agency was Plus Ten.”

“Ah…”

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, everyone attending the meeting understood simultaneously.

 

Including Jung Su-yeon and Gong Min-jeong, there were quite a few people who had moved from the collapsing Plus Ten to Saebyeol.

 

Therefore, the atrocities committed by Plus Ten had become quite widespread rumors not only within Saebyeol but also in the industry.

 

Just the fact that she was affiliated with Plus Ten alone gave them an idea of why the actress Hong A-yoon had retired.

 

Director Yoon Mi-yeon, who had been thinking for a moment, spoke up.

 

“Then how about we definitely check on that actress Hong A-yoon’s whereabouts, ask if she’s willing to participate, and hold a private audition once?”

 

Even if Director Lee Yong-su wanted to use that unknown actress, they basically needed to verify her from the production company’s standpoint, so Yeon-woo had the same thought.

 

However, he had already finished checking her whereabouts. She was one of the people in Han Hae-woon’s database.

 

“I heard through someone I know that she’s currently doing theater with a small theater company at a small theater in Hongdae. She goes on stage every Tuesday and Thursday, and works part-time on other days.”

 

And today happened to be Tuesday.

 

Yeon-woo grinned and held out the ticket exchange voucher he had pre-booked online.

 

“We could hold a private audition so private that even the actress herself doesn’t know about it. Would you like to watch a play with me?”

 

***

 

CEO Jeong Hyeok was busy coordinating security and local schedule routes due to the Brazil schedule, and Director Yoon Mi-yeon and Manager Kim Min-su accompanied Yeon-woo to the theater.

 

In the car heading to Hongdae, Director Yoon Mi-yeon scratched her cheek.

 

“Actually, it would be a bit funny if we go watch the play and make a casting offer, but the actress ends up refusing.”

 

Hearing Director Yoon Mi-yeon’s words, Yeon-woo smiled and lightly shook his head.

 

“She probably has a greater thirst for acting than anyone else. She might be sick of the entertainment industry, but seeing how she consistently acts at a small theater like this.”

 

Yeon-woo had sufficiently experienced in his previous life what it felt like to feel burning thirst when blocked from doing what you want to do.

 

Therefore, he somewhat understood what kind of feelings the actress Hong A-yoon had when she went on stage belonging to an almost amateur theater company at a rental small theater in Hongdae.

 

“Min-su hyung, do you usually watch plays?”

“No. Actually, ‘Mirror’ that you performed in was the first and last play I’ve seen.”

 

Hearing Kim Min-su’s words, Yoon Mi-yeon clapped her hands softly.

 

“Ah! I wanted to see that play too, but I always failed to get tickets.”

“Huh? Didn’t I give you tickets?”

“No. You didn’t give me any.”

 

At Director Yoon’s firm answer, Yeon-woo broke into a cold sweat and turned his gaze toward the window.

 

At that time, Yeon-woo didn’t have much time left on his contract with LN Enter and had no intention of renewing.

Toward the end of the play, he was busy simultaneously draining Baeksol and establishing Saebyeol.

 

“…Next time I do a play, I’ll definitely give you opening performance tickets.”

 

Then Director Yoon Mi-yeon’s eyes lit up.

 

“Oh, are you going to do theater again?”

“There’s no plan for right now, but we do have Saebyeol Theater Troupe among our affiliates(?). I’ll probably do it again someday.”

 

Rather, after that theater performance became a hit, it became a more famous troupe than the ones on the main street in Daehangno.

 

Now Cheol-min’s theater company had moved in on a rental basis and was performing various plays including “Mirror.”

And since that theater building was strictly Yeon-woo’s property, he was still the theater company owner.

 

‘Our troupe members will be enlisting soon, so we’ll take a break for a while, but someday we’ll have to put on another play.’

 

Yeon-woo briefly thought of Seong-sik and Jun-su.

And even at this very moment, Ju-hyeong was writing a new play in his spare time.

 

‘Hmm, should I pair Ju-hyeong with Director Lee Yong-su during this vacation?’

 

Since Director Lee Yong-su was practically a newcomer when it came to feature-length directing, it would be convenient to have an assistant to help with the work.

 

And Ju-hyeong’s capabilities as a writer were more professional than expected, so putting the two together seemed like it would create quite a synergy.

 

While thinking about various things, Min-su’s car carrying Yeon-woo and Director Yoon arrived in Hongdae.

 

Yeon-woo got out of the car wearing a hat, black mask, and baggy coat.

 

“This should be fine, right?”

“Yes. I don’t think anyone will recognize you.”

 

When Yeon-woo asked while turning around in place, Min-su nodded.

 

With just a hat and mask, his extraordinary height would give away his identity even when seen from ten meters away.

So Yeon-woo wore long, baggy robe-like clothing that was almost like a raincoat to hide the proportions of where his legs began and ended.

 

Director Yoon Mi-yeon, seeing his appearance, added her comment.

 

“It’s kind of avant-garde fashion. But it’s fortunate the location is Hongdae. There are many people like this in Hongdae. Shall we go?”

 

Yeon-woo, who had suddenly become “this kind of person(?)”, followed behind Min-su and Mi-yeon.

 

***

 

“How was it?”

 

Looking at the stage after the play ended, Yeon-woo asked Director Yoon Mi-yeon.

 

“Her acting ability definitely stands out. It seems like a waste for her to be on such a small stage.”

 

Yeon-woo agreed with Director Yoon’s words.

 

Of course, theater acting performed on stage had a different quality from camera acting.

However, that adaptation was something Yeon-woo could sufficiently help with.

 

This time Yeon-woo asked Manager Kim Min-su for his opinion.

 

“Well, what would I know about acting? But I can definitely tell she’s beautiful.”

 

Despite being unknown, she had been selected as a CF model several times, so her appearance was outstanding.

Actually, whether she was pretty or not wasn’t important – she had the right look for the story of the scenario “Moon.”

 

‘A face where you can’t gauge her age. She could look twenty or thirty at the same time – that’s the kind of face we needed.’

 

He could see why Director Lee Yong-su had his eye on this actress.

 

“Then shall we make contact?”

 

While they were talking, all the audience members had left, and only the actors on stage and Yeon-woo’s group remained in the small theater.

 

First, Director Yoon Mi-yeon approached the stage.

 

 

At first, Hong A-yoon had looked at Yeon-woo and his group with puzzled eyes since they didn’t get up from the audience seats and kept sitting.

 

The combination was also strange.

 

A tall man wrapped up from head to toe like a vampire avoiding sunlight despite the warm weather, and a big man stuck close to him like an executive secretary or bodyguard.

And a career woman who didn’t seem to be in a romantic relationship with either of them.

 

They definitely weren’t the typical type of audience that visited small theaters.

 

But soon those audience members got up and started approaching her.

As A-yoon waited with a smile to take photos, Director Yoon Mi-yeon approached and pulled out a business card from her jacket.

 

A-yoon’s eyes widened as she received the business card with a puzzled expression.

 

“Hello. I’m Director Yoon Mi-yeon from Saebyeol Media. I was deeply impressed by actress Hong A-yoon’s performance – if you have time, could we have a light conversation?”

 

A-yoon’s face was colored with various mixed emotions upon hearing Director Yoon’s words.

 

‘Ah, even if I receive a good offer, I’m in no position to accept it anyway…’

 

Like an awl in a bag, no matter how much it tries to hide, it will naturally catch people’s attention.

 

While doing small performances until now, entertainment industry people had visited the small theater quite often.

 

They all approached A-yoon for casting, but once they learned about the debt contract she owed to Plus Ten, they all gave up and backed away.

 

Since childhood, she had been raised as a trainee, receiving both idol lessons and acting classes.

 

Those inflated costs accumulated and were chained to A-yoon’s name like shackles, and the thickness of the chains only grew – even shooting CFs never reduced them.

 

Eventually, unable to endure the unreasonable demands, she ran away from the company and became unable to engage in entertainment activities according to the contract until she paid off the hundreds of millions in debt.

 

‘Still, Saebyeol…’

 

Even though she couldn’t set foot in the entertainment industry again, her interest hadn’t completely disappeared.

The hottest company recently.

Saebyeol had become the company that every aspiring actor dreamed of, watching A-list stars living like family through their YouTube channel.

 

But along with the joy of having her talent recognized, an even greater sense of despair born from that very joy overwhelmed Hong A-yoon.

 

Every time entertainment industry insiders came to make offers, Hong A-yoon’s heart sank to the depths.

 

At first, she felt disgust and anger toward Plus Ten and the dirty aspects of this industry, but as time passed, she gradually began to blame herself for being foolishly used since childhood.

 

‘It’s like a dream, but I wish I could act freely too.’

 

The gray iron chains that bound her tightly felt more resentful than usual today.

Her eyes quickly reddened.

She had endured well, but today it felt like tears would fall.

She struggled to hold back and opened her mouth.

 

“Ah, I am…”

 

Unaware of these circumstances, Yoon Mi-yeon was flustered seeing Hong A-yoon’s expression.

 

She had merely handed over her business card and casually suggested they could talk for a moment, but seeing her expression change as if she was about to cry left her no choice but to be confused.

 

At that moment, a vampire who had been tightly wrapped up behind them fumbled to remove the mask and strange coat that had been concealing his identity.

 

“Wow, this is honestly too hot.”

 

The temperature was still ambiguous for turning on the air conditioner, so there was no air conditioning indoors, but being wrapped up in baggy clothes with no ventilation made him feel like he was dying of heat throughout the entire performance.

 

“Hong A-yoon.”

 

At Ryu Yeon-woo’s sudden appearance, Hong A-yoon and the other actors’ eyes widened.

 

While Director Yoon Mi-yeon might not know, Yeon-woo could fully guess why Hong A-yoon was showing such a reaction.

Since he knew all the detailed contract terms.

 

“I’ll resolve the unfair contract with Plus Ten for you. Don’t worry, could we talk for a moment?”

 

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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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