“This is my number.”
At Seo Harin’s words, Han Seongtae nodded right away.
Her phone number was entered into his smartphone.
“I’ll think about it a bit more… and get back to you later.”
“There’s no need to decide in a hurry. We still have time.”
“Yes.”
“Ah. And this is the script, please give it a read.”
Han Seongtae handed her the script he had brought.
There were a few notes he’d written, but nothing that would get in the way of reading the script.
If she was going to decide about the project, she needed to know what it was about.
Seeing the script would make it that much easier for her to make a decision.
“I’m not sure if I should even be taking this.”
“It’d be a problem if you showed it to someone else, but I don’t think you’d do that, Harin-ssi.”
“…I’ll make sure to read it by myself only.”
Watching Seo Harin speak as if making a vow while clutching the script tight, he let out a faint laugh.
“Then please contact me later.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t feel pressured. Just do whatever you want to do, Harin-ssi.”
It was true that he wanted her to act, but he had no intention of putting pressure on her.
After she nodded, Han Seongtae finished his goodbyes to her and headed home.
“…Ah, I didn’t bring back a script.”
Once home, he let out a hollow laugh at the realization that he didn’t have the scripts he’d taken from the agency’s script room.
For a moment he considered going back to the agency.
‘I’ll just practice with what I have.’
He only wanted variety in practice. He didn’t absolutely need a new script.
Thinking he’d practice with the script he received from Kim Minseok, Han Seongtae sat down.
“Should I let Minseok know too…?”
After a brief hesitation, he stared fixedly at the script and then picked up the smartphone next to it.
After a few rings, there was a click. It was the sound of Kim Minseok picking up.
—Oh, what’s up?
“Nothing big. I just called to tell you I met Harin today.”
—Yeah? What did she say?
At the news that he’d gone to see Seo Harin, Kim Minseok’s tone ticked up a notch.
Since she was the very person Han Seongtae had said would be great to do it with directly, he couldn’t help but care.
“She said it’s hard to decide right now. She’ll think it over and contact us later. I also got her number separately.”
—Nice. Mm… It’d be great if she decided right away, but well, we still have time. Got it. Good work.
Was that really “good work” when all he’d done was ask her opinion?
—The film, y’know, we can take our time. What are you going to do about the musical? You should land the lead this time.
“How would I take the lead? I’ll just do whatever’s left.”
—Huh? What are you talking about. If you don’t take the lead, who will? You’re active now. You’re a sunbae. A guy who’s already shot two projects should be the lead.
“I’ll see how things go. It’s not like that’s up to us.”
It wasn’t that Han Seongtae didn’t want to play the lead.
If he could act, any role was fine but…
It was also true he still dreamed of a lead role.
It’s just that Han Seongtae felt he still lacked too much to take a lead.
—If you say so, fine… I don’t know.
It wasn’t that he didn’t understand Kim Minseok’s feelings; Han Seongtae was simply someone who looked at reality over ideals.
—Anyway. The freshmen are going on an MT, they say. You going?
“An MT?” (T/N: Membership Training)
—Yeah, the class rep says it’s optional from second year, but it still seems better to go. Third- and fourth-year sunbaes are coming too.
To Kim Minseok’s point that there was no need to make a bad impression, Han Seongtae did not agree.
‘We won’t see each other once we’re out in the world anyway. What’s the point.’
Just because you graduate from Theater and Film doesn’t mean everyone becomes an actor.
As long as you act well and conduct yourself well, you can build connections as much as you like.
“I don’t particularly want to go. If it’s not mandatory, I don’t think I will.”
—Yeah? Well. Okay. I’ll tell the class rep.
At Kim Minseok’s words, Han Seongtae said okay and glanced down at the script.
Acting mattered more to him than a college MT.
After trading a few more words, Han Seongtae hung up.
[‘The Thousand Faces’ says you need to shift your thinking if you’re going to play a psychopath.]
In line with the god of acting’s advice, Han Seongtae began practicing the role in “Survive the Serial Killer (working title).”
One day passed like that, then two.
—They say episode 1 airs today—if you don’t have plans, want to watch together?
The day of Race Start’s episode 1 broadcast was approaching.
Click. Clack.
A man lying in bed was pressing down hard on the buttons of a remote.
The TV screen across from the bed flipped rapidly at his touch.
“…”
Boredom completely colored the face of the man who kept pressing the buttons.
“Isn’t there anything worth watching?”
Hugging the blanket under his arm, he lay there and searched for something to watch for quite a while, then gave up and picked up his smartphone.
He opened an online community out of habit and poked around here and there, when a post title caught his eye.
[Race Start airs today!]
A faint hint of interest appeared on his face as he looked at the title.
‘I remember Jo Seokjeong was supposed to star.’
Lately, there’d been a drama that had stirred up the community a bit.
Even for him, someone who had watched many dramas and films, the chase scene shown in the trailer had sparked pretty strong interest.
“They said nine o’clock, right.”
Checking the current time, he moved his finger to tune in to the J, TV channel.
Right on time, episode 1 of “Race Start” was starting.
Hopefully that drama would wipe away his boredom.
Bang, bang!
Episode 1 began with gunfire.
‘A shootout right from the start—nice.’
The Russian mafia and the Japanese yakuza were firing wildly at each other.
After a ruckus with few left standing—
Step, step.
Someone walked in, treading on blood.
Wearing a black suit with a white shirt, he looked like someone attending a funeral.
—You—who the hell are you!
One of the yakuza shouted at the man in Japanese.
At that voice, the man glanced over, then pulled a pistol from his pocket and aimed it at the yakuza.
Bang!
Even as the yakuza’s head burst open and blood soaked the floor, the man walked on as if nothing had happened, picked up a black attaché case, and left.
—Kono yaro! Go catch him right now!
—That bastard took it!
Despite the shouts behind him, the man kept his cool, loaded the case into a car—
Bwaaaang!
—and hopped behind the wheel, roaring off with a heavy engine note.
“Whoa…”
Watching that, he couldn’t help but let out a gasp of admiration.
The car the man was in shook off the vehicles giving chase and coolly left the scene.
A man who could even shake the police… Now that tugged at the viewer’s heart.
Oof.
When the man was stabbed and died at the end of episode 1, the viewer even sighed.
Only after some time had passed since the drama ended did he return to himself with a deep breath.
“Who is he? A face I’ve never seen before.”
His fingers moved busily over his smartphone.
[A smooth start for Race Start.]
[Race Start hits 3.2% for episode 1—can it live up to its name and keep running?]
[A palm-sweating, incredible chase—audiences go wild.]
Race Start’s numbers were very good.
J, TV dramas, which always hovered around 1–2%, recorded a viewership of a full 3%.
Given that episode 2, which aired right after, also recorded 3.32%, it was clear the show had left a strong impression.
Jo Seokjeong and Lee Minseong’s acting was good, but what people focused on most wasn’t those two. It was Han Seongtae, who played the drug courier.
“[Anyone watch Race Start?]
It’s the first time I’ve been on edge watching a K-drama that isn’t even an American show.
The chase scene could hold its own even compared to Western series.
It was thrilling the whole time.
But who was the drug courier in episode 1?
Never seen that actor before, and his acting was no joke.
Even compared to Jo Seokjeong, he held his own—does anyone know who he is?”
—MacaronsAreSweet: C’mon, comparing him to Jo Seokjeong is crossing a line. But yeah, I’ll admit he acted well.
—MyMouseIsBroken: At that level, he’ll blow up soon, no? Acting was great. The driving was insane, too. But there’s no way he actually drove himself, right?
—StopIt: I know someone on the Race Start production team. They said the actor did the chase driving himself.
—GoneInAFlash: fr?
—StopIt: Yeah. They said the atmosphere on set was nuts during that shoot. My contact works in the industry. Take it as solid.
—GoneInAFlash: Wow, that’s crazy.
—CourageOverflowing: So who is he, then? If anyone knows, spill. No way a rookie acts that well.
—GaRa: If nobody recognizes him yet, doesn’t that mean he is a rookie? I’m a K-drama fiend and it’s my first time seeing that face.
—WaterDrippingFromEars: Then he’s really a rookie?
His name, “Han Seongtae”, didn’t yet come up, but many people were curious who he was.
Soon enough, his name would start making the rounds.
“A good start.”
Even as a bit player, just getting this much attention felt fresh to Han Seongtae.
In his previous life, no matter how hard he tried, it had been hard to get a good response.
[‘The One Who Defined His Era’ urges you to scroll down faster.]
[‘The One Who Made Laughter in Tragedy’ laughs, saying the reactions are entertaining.]
He’d better get used to this.
He’d be getting even more attention going forward.
Setting his smartphone down, Han Seongtae chuckled and lay back on the bed.
It felt like he’d sleep well tonight.
Bzzzz.
He would have fallen asleep right away if the phone hadn’t rung.
Springing up, he checked his smartphone, and his expression turned curious at the name on the screen.
[Seo Harin]
He saw her name.
“What’s with this sudden meeting?”
Inside a café.
Looking nervous, Kim Minseok fidgeted with his hands as he spoke.
Seeing him like that, Han Seongtae gave a faint smile.
“She really is coming today, right?”
“Yeah, she is.”
“Wow… this is my first time having a meeting with an actor.”
“She’s not an actor yet, is she?”
“Ah, right? Yeah, I guess. You said she’s an idol trainee.”
As he chatted with Kim Minseok, Han Seongtae saw someone come through the door.
She glanced around, met eyes with him, and hurried over.
Like Kim Minseok, she looked nervous; the sight made Han Seongtae chuckle.
“Ah, hello.”
“Y-Yes. Welcome! Harin-ssi.”
Facing Seo Harin, Kim Minseok greeted her with awkward body language.
“Sorry for calling you out so suddenly.”
“Not at all. No need to apologize. I heard everything from Seongtae.”
“Okay…”
Han Seongtae quietly watched the two of them.
He was only the one who set up the meeting so they could meet. He had no intention of stepping in himself.
‘I’m an actor too. This is something the two of them should handle.’
From the moment he received the call from Seo Harin, Han Seongtae had foreseen this situation.
Kim Minseok was doing everything—prep, directing, even editing.
The right to decide about the project rested with Kim Minseok.
“The coffee’s good.”
Under Han Seongtae’s gaze as he sipped his coffee, Kim Minseok and Seo Harin continued their conversation.
“I heard you wanted to see me.”
“Yes. I heard you’re the director. They said I should get the director’s approval.”
“Ah… yes.”
Kim Minseok glanced at Han Seongtae and then nodded.
“Please let me do it.”
At her words, Kim Minseok froze for a moment.
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