The Chaebol Family’s Youngest Daughter Doesn’t Hide Her Acting Skills - Chapter 36

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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 36

 

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Inside the meeting room of ‘Studio Cocoa’, a tier-1 media content production company.

 

Today was the day for the main meeting of Studio Cocoa’s anticipated work and local government collaboration project, 【May the Mountain God Bless You】.

 

Ju Sae-i, who played the female lead, Dojehyeon, who played the male lead, and other officials including the writer and director sat in their designated seats.

 

On the wide table, warm honey water, snacks, and officially printed scripts were neatly arranged.

 

Among the numerous officials, Studio Cocoa’s representative Park Ji-seok’s gaze was fixed on one person.

 

‘Why such a nobody…’

 

It was Ju Sae-i, who would play the female protagonist ‘So Ji-min’.

 

Park Ji-seok’s Studio Cocoa was a production company famous for churning out hit after hit.

 

Popular appeal, commercial viability, and even the meaning contained in the works – taking care of all these was Studio Cocoa’s motto and strength.

 

‘How hard I worked to build this up to where it is now.’

 

Thanks to making a name as a production company, this project was able to collaborate with Gyeonggi Tourism Industry.

 

When he received Choi Gi-yeong’s work, he had expected a huge hit, but Representative Park Ji-seok was disgusted by the conditions Choi Gi-yeong attached afterward.

 

‘Please leave the casting authority entirely to me.’

 

‘I suppose you have an actor in mind?’

 

‘Hmm, of course. You know I work with specific images in mind.’

 

He should have noticed when Choi Gi-yeong smiled meaningfully at that question.

 

The person Choi Gi-yeong brought as the female protagonist was a newcomer with no previous works.

 

She was said to have participated in writer Choi Gi-jeong’s drama, the younger of the Choi sisters, but given the nature of that work, its broadcast timing would be later than the web drama format 【May the Mountain God Bless You】, so it was essentially her first work.

 

‘What am I supposed to do when she just shoves in a newcomer like this?’

 

It wasn’t that he doubted Choi Gi-yeong’s eye for talent. It’s just that it would have been nice if she had cast an actor with at least some recognition built up – that was exactly his feeling.

 

At least it was fortunate that the big catch Dojehyeon was anchoring the work.

 

Dojehyeon must have built some friendship with Ju Sae-i on set, as he expressed his intention to appear as soon as he learned of her casting.

 

“Haah…”

 

Her face is quite nice though. Clear, exactly like a student, and prettily delicate.

 

Park Ji-seok, who had been scanning Ju Sae-i all along, sighed and thought to himself.

 

“Let’s start with introductions first. Nice to meet you, Mountain God team. I’m writer Choi Gi-yeong.”

 

The first to speak was Choi Gi-yeong, the writer who had written 【May the Mountain God Bless You】.

 

“I’m director Kwon Hee-taek. Let’s make this roll along well, hehe.”

 

After taking turns with introductions, Choi Gi-yeong, who received the speaking turn again, stretched her arms toward Ju Sae-i and Dojehyeon to draw attention.

 

“These are the two protagonists I snatched from my younger sister’s work. Let’s welcome them once more with applause.”

 

“Waah!”

 

With a sharper tone than her younger sister Choi Gi-jeong, Choi Gi-yeong requested applause.

 

At her request, being the center of the project, everyone in the meeting room clapped loudly. Representative Park Ji-seok just watched the scene with his hands in his pockets.

 

“First, Ms. Ju Sae-i. She’s an actress I was determined to make my female lead. As for her skills, well, you’ll find out soon enough.”

 

Choi Gi-yeong moved the hand that had been pointing at Ju Sae-i toward Dojehyeon.

 

“You all know Mr. Dojehyeon well, right? You’d be a spy if you didn’t by now. Our Mr. Jehyeon said he wanted to participate as soon as he heard about Ms. Sae-i’s casting.”

 

“Writer-nim, if you say that…!”

 

Dojehyeon, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly interrupted Choi Gi-yeong’s words. He covered his face with his large, broad palm as if embarrassed.

 

“Even though it was child acting, we’ve worked together before, so I’m looking forward to it. Let’s work hard together until the end.”

 

Choi Gi-yeong put down the microphone. The next person to gain speaking rights was Representative Park Ji-seok.

 

“This work will be produced in web drama format. We’ll upload a total of 4 episodes of about 25 minutes each to the Intube channel. Instead, it will be broadcast as a weekend single-episode drama special programming.”

 

Park Ji-seok continued his explanation while drawing a summary table of the structure on the whiteboard prepared in the meeting room.

 

“The programming has been confirmed by KDS, and two episodes uploaded to Intube will be combined into one episode of about 55 minutes.”

 

Park Ji-seok, who had been casually scribbling on the whiteboard with a board marker, glanced at Ju Sae-i.

 

‘Oh?’

 

Ju Sae-i was listening with the most passionate, bright eyes in this place.

 

Rather than an actress, she looked like a model student attending class, making Representative Park feel like he was at student teaching practice.

 

“Depending on the Intube and broadcast reactions, we can also plan follow-ups, well. Either way, our two main actors need to do well. Right, Ms. Ju Sae-i?”

 

He specifically asked her, wanting to see Ju Sae-i’s reaction. Her nodding appearance was really like a newcomer.

 

“Yes, I think that’s enough explanation.”

 

“Ah, and also.”

 

As soon as Representative Park returned to his seat, Choi Gi-yeong adjusted her glasses and spoke.

 

“Since we’re all gathered today, shall we do a simple script reading? Even just to check the tone.”

 

“Sounds good.”

 

Dojehyeon pulled his chair closer and opened his script.

 

Representative Park Ji-seok naturally stared at Ju Sae-i. She turned the script prepared in front of her with slightly trembling fingertips.

 

‘She’s going to flub her lines later.’

 

When newcomers do impromptu script readings, they usually tremble like that, then flub their lines and end up tearful. It was a case Park Ji-seok had seen countless times while serving as Studio Cocoa’s representative.

 

“We’re just checking the atmosphere, so drop the pressure. Of course, it’s better if it’s perfect. Now, let’s go to episode 2.”

 

Choi Gi-yeong couldn’t be unaware of this situation, yet far from retracting her script reading suggestion, she encouraged it. She seemed to have something to rely on.

 

Representative Park Ji-seok waited for the reading with a lukewarm expression, without much expectation.

 

The actors lightly skimmed through the script, and soon the reading began under the writer’s lead.

 

“Are you perhaps filming a historical drama right now?”

 

Ju Sae-i read her lines with bright eyes. At the same time, cracks appeared in Representative Park’s lukewarm expression.

 

‘What the…?’

 

A bouncy tone. The intonation of an active high schooler, as if she had completely absorbed So Ji-min, the 21st-century high school female protagonist.

 

“What is this… No, wait! Wait! This is a joke, right?”

 

“Release this hand.”

 

“Ahhhhh, it’s cosplay, right? But I have to go to academy…”

 

“Gosuborae? Is that a four-character idiom?”

 

“Ah, seriously, what are you saying. Please tell me it’s a joke…”

 

The energy that perfectly captured even the back-and-forth with Dojehyeon that would colorfully fill the early part of episode 2.

 

It was the feeling of ‘So Ji-min’ that Park Ji-seok had vaguely imagined when he first read the script of 【May the Mountain God Bless You】.

 

“So you’re saying I need that, that divine power… to go back?”

 

Ju Sae-i flying around energetically like a fish in water, and Dojehyeon skillfully supporting her.

 

Park Ji-seok closed his eyes at the sense that naturally drew images of a noisy high school student and a quiet mountain god. Even though it was just a simple reading, every breath was as vivid as being on set.

 

‘…Is this really a newcomer’s skill level?’

 

He opened his eyes again and observed Ju Sae-i.

 

The trembling fingertips were gone, and at the sight of her boldly delivering lines with great vocal projection, Park Ji-seok’s heart stirred for no reason.

 

Park Ji-seok shifted his gaze to Dojehyeon.

 

The Dojehyeon he knew was an actor who approached script readings with an expressionless face despite his overflowing talent. But…

 

‘His eyes are sparkling? That Dojehyeon?’

 

As if proving he wasn’t called a child prodigy for nothing, having already memorized his lines, Dojehyeon was delivering his lines while keeping Ju Sae-i in his sight.

 

“Eek, please save me… I really get beaten on the back by mom if I don’t go to academy, on the back!”

 

“Why do you come to me seeking your way to live…”

 

“Eek…”

 

“Hah, even if you open your eyes like that, I cannot transfer divine power.”

 

“Damn, I should spread rumors that the golden axe silver axe mountain god thing is all lies.”

 

And with sparkling eyes, as if he couldn’t contain himself because acting with Ju Sae-i was so enjoyable.

 

‘What is this…’

 

Representative Park Ji-seok finally realized.

 

‘It’s not that a rookie caught a big fish.’

 

The casting of Ju Sae-i and Dojehyeon was like a big fish bringing along a big fish friend.

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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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