“It really came.”
Staring at the monitor screen, Han Seongtae murmured quietly with a strange expression.
There was an email from Kim Mucheol’s manager, Lee Seonwoo.
That email had the script for “Baeknyeoncho” attached.
Kim Mucheol: “You got the email, right? Take a look through the script.”
Seongtae: “Yes, hyung, thank you for thinking of me.”
Kim Mucheol: “Yeah. Do your best.”
After exchanging those texts with Kim Mucheol, Han Seongtae looked over the script.
[Scene 51. Mountain Spirit, Ji Yeonwoo. He looks at Yoo Yena.]
It was the part of the script that contained the scenes for Ji Yeonwoo, one of the roles in “Baeknyeoncho.”
The moment he saw that script, Seongtae could tell right away which role he was supposed to take.
When they were expressing it this blatantly, how could he possibly not realize it.
[The One Who Made Laughter from Tragedy looks over the script for “Baeknyeoncho” and says it contains a very interesting story.]
[The One With a Thousand Faces wonders what kind of directing the director of “Baeknyeoncho” will do.]
[The Actor of Eternal Youth smiles, saying they are looking forward to your acting.]
Going through the script together with the gods, Han Seongtae skimmed all the way to the last page and then suddenly jumped up from his seat.
Once he was on his feet, he grabbed his smartphone and immediately made a call.
“Hey, Minseok, are you busy right now?”
As he called his friend, Han Seongtae started getting ready to go out.
Looks like I will be sleeping at Minseok’s place today.
Packing his pajamas and the script, Han Seongtae left the house without a moment of hesitation.
Ding dong, ding dong.
After arriving in front of Kim Minseok’s place, Han Seongtae pressed the doorbell, showing just how urgent he felt.
He was not sure how many times he had pressed it.
Beep.
The door lock clicked and the door opened.
“Oh, come on. You could just punch in the passcode and come in!”
“Hey, still, I am coming into someone else’s place. How could I do that.”
“Since when did you ever care about that kind of thing. You know you are really weird sometimes, right?”
At Kim Minseok’s words, Han Seongtae shrugged his shoulders and walked inside.
It was something he felt every time he came into his friend’s place.
“Doesn’t living in a place like this get lonely?”
It was a studio apartment far too big for one person.
What kind of place for a single person had three rooms.
Maybe he was even more surprised because it was the kind of place he could not even imagine living in himself.
“It was a bit like that at first, but now I am used to it.”
Speaking casually, Kim Minseok sat down on the edge of the sofa.
“So what is going on? You are not the type who would say you are coming over for no reason. You even said you are staying the night.”
“Oh, it is nothing much. I just wanted to watch a drama together.”
“…A drama?”
Seeing Minseok tilt his head, Han Seongtae laughed and nodded.
The reason he had come to Minseok’s place.
Before practicing with the “Baeknyeoncho” script, he wanted to perfectly familiarize himself with the contents of season 1 in advance.
It does not make sense to remember all the content of a drama from ten years ago.
Han Seongtae had watched a lot of dramas, and because of that, there was no way he could remember every single one perfectly.
To him, dramas were nothing more than reference material for his growth.
“What drama is it?”
“It is called ‘Baeknyeoncho.’ There is one Mucheol hyung is filming.”
“I am just asking in case, but did you get a project?”
At Kim Minseok’s question, Han Seongtae only smiled and lifted his shoulders instead of answering.
Seeing that, Minseok let out a small, incredulous laugh.
“I knew it. I thought something was weird from the moment the guy who would not even call because he was always practicing suddenly said he was going to sleep at my place. You had a purpose.”
“So you do not like it? If you do, I can go back.”
“Who said I did not like it? I am just saying you should keep in touch and live like a person. We are starting from episode 1, right? It has been a while since I pulled a proper all-nighter.”
Watching Minseok speak as he picked up the remote, Han Seongtae chuckled and sat down next to him.
“You are asking who I am? Can you not tell just by looking? I am a gumiho.”
On the TV screen, they could see Kim Mucheol speaking with a face full of self-confidence.
“This is why I do not like folk tales. My story has been made too pretty. I do not eat raw liver. Who eats something like that so barbarically. There are delicious things like this instead.”
He shook the strawberry-flavored ice cream in his hand as he spoke.
The gumiho, Baek Yeon.
“Veterans really do act differently, huh. How can he make such a sly performance look that natural?”
Beside him, Minseok’s voice of admiration could be heard as he watched Kim Mucheol.
At those words, Han Seongtae nodded in deep agreement.
[The One Who Defined an Era nods, saying it is indeed a solid performance.]
[The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed says you can definitely do it too.]
While even the gods were saying it was good and expressing their admiration, Minseok tapped Seongtae’s shoulder and spoke to him.
“Hey, so when are you going to sleep?”
“…?”
“You are not really going to watch straight through without sleeping, right. It is already past four in the morning.”
Had time already passed that much.
Picking up his smartphone to check the time, Han Seongtae stretched his body and stood up.
Seeing that, Minseok’s face brightened.
“Going to sleep?”
“No, I am going to do squats while I watch.”
He had already been sitting in one spot in the same posture for over six hours.
With more than five episodes still left, he could not skip exercising.
[The Founder of Jeet Kune Do gives you a thumbs-up, saying it is a very admirable posture.]
Watching Han Seongtae sit down in a horse-riding stance, Minseok made a strange face.
“Are you not even tired? I did not think you were really going to stay up all night.”
“Well, I can still endure it for now. If you are tired, go ahead and go to bed first.”
“Yeah… I think I will. Hang in there.”
“Got it. Good night.”
After Minseok went into his room, Han Seongtae kept his eyes fixed on the screen.
His legs trembled as he held the horse stance, but it could not disturb his concentration.
He did not know how much time had passed like that.
Ah, it is finished.
Only after he had finished all of season 1 of “Baeknyeoncho” could Han Seongtae finally turn off the TV.
Before he knew it, it was already past one in the afternoon.
If I sleep now, I can sleep for about two hours.
After washing up, Han Seongtae changed into his pajamas and moved to lie down to sleep.
Bzzzt.
He had no choice but to wake back up when a call came in from Jung Dusik, just as he was about to fall asleep.
“Yes, hyung, what is going on?”
“You, come to the office.”
“The office?”
“Yeah.”
At Jung Dusik’s words, Han Seongtae tilted his head.
For some reason, Jung Dusik was mentioning Seo Harin’s name.
“…”
As he looked around, Han Seongtae’s face was full of doubt.
The company he had come to because of Jung Dusik’s phone call.
He had come here without thinking too much about it, and there he ran into people he had never expected to see.
What is this situation?
In front of Han Seongtae stood Jung Dusik.
And beside him were Seo Harin and Kang Minyoung.
He could understand Seo Harin being there, but why was the head of Singer Team 1 there.
No, why am I even here?
Dragged out here so suddenly, without a proper explanation of the situation, Han Seongtae could not understand what was happening to him right now.
What he understood even less was the fact that, unlike Kang Minyoung, who sighed as if she were frustrated, Seo Harin’s expression looked very bright.
“I think I have said everything I needed to say. I will get going first.”
“Ah, yes. Please go ahead.”
After giving Seongtae a once-over, Kang Minyoung left the meeting room.
At that sight, Han Seongtae blinked and looked at Jung Dusik.
Han Seongtae wanted to know what was going on right now.
“Harin told Team Leader Kang that she is going to quit being an idol and become an actor.”
“…”
As soon as he heard Jung Dusik’s explanation, Han Seongtae was able to understand the situation.
Seo Harin had been doing very well as a trainee, and then suddenly said she was quitting and becoming an actor, so from Kang Minyoung’s point of view it must have felt absurd.
Seo Harin really is… unbelievable.
Just because you wanted to act did not mean you could do it however you liked.
There were clear procedures and processes that had to be followed.
Ignoring all of that, Seo Harin had insisted that she would become an actor.
No wonder she seemed to look at me with disapproval.
Now he could clearly understand why Kang Minyoung had sighed while looking at him.
From her perspective, it must have looked like Han Seongtae had influenced Seo Harin.
He was the one who had suggested she appear in “Haru,” after all.
It was unfair, but what could he do? Things had ended up like this.
Of course, it is true that Seo Harin has talent.
Turning his head and looking at Seo Harin, Han Seongtae could not say anything.
Unlike the others, who looked frustrated and kept sighing, Harin looked relieved.
She showed no sign of regretting what she had done.
“You two talk. I am going to step out for a bit to get some air.”
After Jung Dusik left the meeting room, Han Seongtae let out a sigh.
How should he even start?
He had not even started talking with her yet, but his head already hurt.
“You are going to act?”
At Han Seongtae’s question, Seo Harin nodded.
Watching her, Han Seongtae thought for a moment about what would be best to say.
Before he could open his mouth, Seo Harin spoke first.
“Um… when I acted back then, I had so much fun.”
“Back then, as in when we filmed Haru?”
“Yes. It was my first time acting, but strangely enough my heart felt at ease. It was fun, and I felt like I was actually doing something.”
As Harin spoke with a smile, Han Seongtae could not bring himself to say anything.
The way she explained it made her look as if she felt completely refreshed.
“My dream is to become a star, you know. That is why I decided to become an idol.”
“Yes, you told me that before. I know.”
“But these days, no matter how much I practice, it is not fun. I used to just love practicing, singing, and dancing, but now it all feels like it has no meaning and it was making me miserable.”
“Ah…”
Han Seongtae could understand her feelings at least a little.
No matter how much you like something, when you hit a plateau, it stops being fun.
Practice that used to be enjoyable becomes hard and boring.
You even start to question why you are doing this work at all.
As an actor, Han Seongtae had also had many times when things felt blocked.
I have had times when I wanted to give up too.
Of course, in the end he had not given up.
“But it is different when I am acting. Every moment feels fun, and I feel alive.”
“So that is why you said you want to become an actor.”
“Yes. After thinking it over, I went straight to Team Leader and told her. I said I knew it would not be easy, but I wanted to act. I never thought it would end up causing trouble for you too. I am sorry.”
“No, I am fine. I can completely understand.”
Han Seongtae was supporting Seo Harin.
She was one of the few acquaintances he had, and someone who lived her life diligently.
“I am on your side, Harin.”
At Han Seongtae’s words, her face brightened.
After that, Han Seongtae talked with her about things they had not been able to share until now.
They were able to part in a good mood.
Time passed like that, and the day of the “Baeknyeoncho” meeting drew near.
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