NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 81

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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 81. Joining

“Bernard Fenton?”

“According to him, he first saw Yeon-woo when he attended the Korean Arts Awards and has been watching him with great interest ever since. Their casting structure is a bit different from ours – even for famous actors, they usually take about 4 months to see if the actor fits the role, going through several auditions to work things out together.”

 

Yeon-woo nodded after hearing CEO Kim Ju-seong’s words.

He had watched several documentaries about overseas casting, so he roughly understood what kind of system it was.

 

“Hmm, if I choose this project and film it, it would be the first time my name gets known overseas.”

“「Master Plan」 will also be exported to various countries after its screening ends. Still, this would be your first official launch. If you turn to the next page, there’s a rough outline of the content, though not very detailed.”

 

At CEO Kim Ju-seong’s words, Yeon-woo turned the paper to look at the next page.

 

– A noir action series where various characters from different countries become entangled and move toward one goal.

 

“This is really just rough information, literally speaking, to understand the content.”

“That’s how they usually are. They’ll probably give you more information if you decide to participate in the audition. After that, you’re free to withdraw if you don’t like it.”

 

CEO Kim Ju-seong picked up the cup in front of him, took a sip of water, and continued speaking with a relaxed expression while clasping his hands together.

 

“Of course, the fact that Bernard Fenton is involved means it’s probably a blockbuster-level big project and a good opportunity. But considering Yeon-woo’s current domestic status and momentum, there’s no need to rush into it. And even if you accept, things won’t proceed right away. They tend to take their time with work, so the audition schedule probably won’t be set until early next year.”

 

After hearing CEO Kim Ju-seong’s words, Yeon-woo nodded and pondered.

 

‘Noir action…’

 

In his previous life, his life itself had been noir action, so it wasn’t a genre he particularly liked, but if he were to do it, it would also be the genre Yeon-woo could excel at the most.

 

‘I’m not going to avoid all noir action in the future, and reality and works are different.’

 

Yeon-woo, having made up his mind, nodded his head.

 

“I’ll give it a try. It sounds interesting.”

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, Kim Ju-seong smiled as if he had expected it.

 

“Since Yeon-woo is also proficient in languages, I thought it would be a good opportunity. Let’s proceed with that understanding.”

 

Looking at Kim Ju-seong, Yeon-woo spoke again.

 

“By the way, I’m really grateful that you helped with Jung Su-yeon’s matter last time. Since she’s not even one of your agency’s actors, I wondered if I made an unreasonable request regarding another agency’s affairs.”

 

Yeon-woo expressed his gratitude both out of genuine appreciation and hoping he might be able to get some information about Byeon Hak-gyu from CEO Kim Ju-seong.

 

Hearing those words, Kim Ju-seong shook his head as if it was nothing.

 

“You don’t need to worry about that matter. Plus Ten’s CEO Byeon Hak-gyu is someone who came in as a newcomer when I was still working on set, and his problem is that he’s too greedy. He’s been causing trouble since he was young… Oh, young people call this TMI these days. Haha.”

 

Yeon-woo smiled and shook his head.

 

“Not at all.”

“Setting aside the Netflix matter, I think it would be good if Yeon-woo could rest a bit during your break period by doing non-project activities. There’s a lot to do outside of projects too, like commercials and fan meetings.”

 

Yeon-woo nodded at his words.

 

“If I choose Netflix, it would be difficult to enter another big project during that preparation period. I understand, CEO.”

 

Soon after, a staff member brought in the meal, and they wrapped up the meeting while having a friendly conversation about the projects Yeon-woo had recently completed.

 

***

 

The next day after coming down to Daejeon and spending time with his family.

 

While exercising at home, Yeon-woo’s smartphone rang.

 

Ding─.

 

– Woo Seong-sik: Yeon-woo, are you busy? Can you talk?

 

Seeing Seong-sik’s message after weeks of no contact because he was busy preparing for midterms, Yeon-woo replied.

 

– I can talk.

 

Then Seong-sik immediately called.

 

“Yeah, Seong-sik.”

– Yeon-woo, I saw the article. Congratulations on finishing filming. And good job beating up that pervert and catching him.

 

Yeon-woo chuckled at Seong-sik’s unfiltered, direct way of speaking.

 

“You say the strangest things.”

– Oh, and Yeon-woo, what are you doing this weekend?

“This weekend? Well, I’ll be monitoring episodes 11-12 of 「Beyond the River Garam」, right? I’m at my family home now.”

– Oh, then do you want to go to a pool villa with Jun-su, Ju-hyeong, and another college friend?

 

Yeon-woo tilted his head at Seong-sik’s words.

 

“Ju-hyeong, you mean my college classmate?”

– I went to a joint university presentation competition and happened to meet him there again. We’ve become pretty close since then.

“Your social skills really don’t go anywhere, Woo Seong-sik.”

– Anyway, I failed my midterms because of you. I didn’t have time to study because I was watching 「Beyond the River Garam」 and 「Master Plan」.

 

Yeon-woo, who had directly taught Woo Seong-sik during their school days, chuckled and looked at the calendar before nodding.

 

“You probably slacked off again anyway. I can go. What about Yuri Noona and Su-yeon?”

– Let’s go with just the guys this time. Yuri Noona is mad at Jun-su for doing something wrong.

“Okay, got it. It’ll be nice for friends to get together after a long time.”

– Ooh, I’m already excited. Let’s have a really intense friendship gathering. Yeon-woo, you melt my heart.

 

Click─.

 

“···That bastard Woo Seong-sik.”

 

Yeon-woo, who had been staring at his smartphone in disbelief, shook his head and started exercising again.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, at KBC1 Channel Drama Department, they were checking the rerun ratings for “Stars Beyond Garam” which started at 1 PM on Tuesday afternoon.

 

“Kuhahahat. This is absolutely amazing.”

 

Director Hwang and the programming department staff faced each other while checking the ratings, their smiles stretching from ear to ear.

The ratings received from the survey company were incredible. The afternoon rerun ratings, which usually get about 20% of the original broadcast, exceeded 40%.

 

“Director, at this rate, we might exceed 25% this weekend, don’t you think?”

“Ryu Yeon-woo is quite the lucky charm. Oh right, so no one got hurt in yesterday’s incident, right?”

 

Director Lee Sang-hoon thought ‘asking about it pretty quickly’ as he watched Director Hwang and the programming staff giggling and answered.

 

“Yes, fortunately both of them are safe.”

“That’s a relief. From the movie to creating buzz, everything’s great. Hahahat.”

 

Of course, Director Lee Sang-hoon was also happy about the rising ratings, but his heart felt heavy since something bad happened to the actors he’d grown fond of during filming.

Still, Director Lee Sang-hoon breathed a sigh of relief that it was handled and resolved well without any damage, thank goodness.

 

And Seo Ji-eun, whom Director Lee Sang-hoon was worried about, was now sitting blankly on the living room sofa.

 

Seo Ji-eun stared into space with unfocused eyes, deep in thought about something.

Seo Ji-eun’s mother, who had finished washing dishes in the kitchen, felt sorry seeing her daughter like that and approached her.

 

Mother’s touch, holding her daughter tightly with tears welling up.

 

“Huh? Why?”

“Our daughter, you must have been so scared. Just staring blankly into space.”

“No, that’s not it. I’m thinking about what gift I should give Yeon-woo. A wallet would be too common, right?”

“Huh?”

 

Mother looked at her daughter, questioning the unexpectedly bright voice.

Then Seo Ji-eun clenched both fists and nodded her head.

 

“The culprit’s been caught and everything’s resolved now, so there’s no need to be depressed! Let’s go, let’s go, fighting! But what should I buy that he’d like?”

 

Watching her daughter immediately search for what would make a good gift on her smartphone, mother thought it was fortunate, but was also secretly bewildered by her daughter’s absurdly positive mindset, even though she gave birth to her.

 

***

 

“A lot of stuff piled up.”

 

The day before going to the pool villa with friends, after Yeon-woo finished dinner with his family and came up to Seoul, numerous KakaoTalk messages had piled up while he was driving.

 

Reading from the top, it seemed they were originally going to bring one more college friend, but he bailed on the day of.

 

– Kim Jun-su: Hey, didn’t you say we made a reservation for 5 people? We need to match the numbers with the other team.

– Woo Seong-sik: Exactly, bailing suddenly like that. He’s throwing away a chance to travel with a top star.

– Kim Jun-su: That’s Jin-gyu’s fate, I guess.

 

‘Hmm? Did they reserve a 5-on-5 futsal game or something?’

 

Seeing the message about needing to match numbers with the other team, he tilted his head in confusion, then suddenly thought of someone and typed a message.

 

– Ryu Yeon-woo: Then should I ask a friend I know?

– Kim Jun-su: Oh, who is it? We’re not the shy type, so it doesn’t matter.

– Kim Ju-hyeong: That would be great.

 

Yeon-woo saw the message and tried calling just in case.

 

Ring ring─.

 

– Yeah? Yeon-woo, what’s up?

“Ah, do you have any schedule this weekend? I’m going somewhere with friends and wondered if you’d like to come along. They’re all guys.”

– ···Hmm. Do those friends like movies by any chance?

 

The person who answered the phone was Jin Yu-han.

As expected of acting-obsessed Jin Yu-han, he asked an unexpected question.

 

‘Do the guys like movies? Well, my college friend Ju-hyeong is definitely a movie buff.’

 

Soon nodding his head, Yeon-woo continued.

 

“Yeah. I think so. One of them is a complete movie fanatic.”

– Okay, then I’ll go.

 

Jung Su-yeon had said Jin Yu-han was an unapproachable iron wall among child actors, but his unexpectedly cool acceptance was surprising.

 

“Great, then I’ll pick you up Saturday morning. Yu-han, send me your address.”

 

Yeon-woo ended the call with Jin Yu-han and typed in the group chat.

 

– Ryu Yeon-woo: Got one friend to come along. He’ll ride with me tomorrow. Seong-sik, you’re driving like before?

– Woo Seong-sik: Yeah. I’ll pick you up at the officetel. Who’s this friend? It’s a guy, right?

– Ryu Yeon-woo: Yeah, it’s a guy. What’s this about matching numbers? Are we playing futsal or something?

– Kim Jun-su: Not something boring like futsal. Much more exciting. Hehe.

 

What on earth did they reserve?

 

So Yeon-woo kept Jin Yu-han as his special guest surprise, while his friends kept their exciting leisure activity as their surprise, and the next day approached.

 

 

“Ji-eun must have been really scared. Good thing you didn’t get hurt either.”

“I called her and she’s more spirited than I thought. We’re all here.”

 

Yeon-woo had picked up Jin Yu-han from the morning and returned to the officetel.

 

“They’ll be here soon. Let’s get out and wait a bit.”

 

As Yeon-woo and Jin Yu-han got out of the car and stretched, a van arrived with the familiar diesel engine sound.

 

Vroooom─.

 

“Yo, Yeon-woo man.”

“Doesn’t suit you at all.”

 

Watching Seong-sik imitate rappers’ greetings with exaggerated hand gestures, riding the current hip-hop trend, Yeon-woo delivered a sharp retort that immediately made him sulk.

 

Jin Yu-han stood next to Yeon-woo, finding it interesting to see this casual side of him with his friends.

 

“Let me introduce you. This is my friend Jin Yu-han who’s coming with us today.”

“Hello.”

 

When Yeon-woo introduced him, Jin Yu-han took off his hat and mask and greeted them.

 

“Whoa. I had a feeling but…”

“…Wow, damn.”

 

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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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