Chapter 276: Vigilance (1)
The role of Min Woo-Chan had gone to Je-Woon as originally planned. Both Ji Han-Seok and Je-Woon were extremely close candidates in Director Yoon’s head to the point that it wouldn’t be weird for either of them to play the role. However, he had chosen Je-Woon in the end.
The reason was that although it would be no problem for Han-Seok to play Min Woo-Chan, Director Yoon wanted him to play the role of Nam Yun-Seok more. Having Je-Woon playing Min Woo-Chan and Han-Seok playing Nam Yun-Seok was perfect, but it did not match very well if their roles were reversed. He had chosen Je-Woon not because he was the better candidate, but because Han-Seok was more fit for a different role.
Director Yoon gave that explanation to Han-Seok until his throat turned dry.
“So, Han-Seok, I’d like for you not to have any wrong ideas about my decision. You also did extremely well.”
Director Yoon gave such a long-winded explanation because he was worried that Han-Seok might get upset that he had failed the audition and leave the production altogether. Hence, the director did his absolute best to clarify things.
Han-Seok laughed awkwardly and remarked, “You don’t have to be so worried, Director. I’m not planning on ignoring your efforts after you’ve even agreed to my selfish request to audition for the role.”
“Then...”
“Nam Yun-Seok, right? I’ll take on that role.”
Han-Seok had decided to play a different role than to leave the production. Director Yoon unconsciously grabbed both of Han-Seok’s hands.
“Thank you so much, Han-Seok!”
“Not at all. I should be the one thanking you for playing along with my selfishness. I’ll be in your care during the production.”
“Yes, likewise!”
And with that, the casting for the three main characters that had the production team in a bind had finally been resolved. All that was left was for the production to open. Meanwhile, both Je-Woon and Han-Seok had found it to be a relief at first that Ra-Eun found both of their performances equally amazing, but were now both disappointed.
Je-Woon smiled bitterly at Han-Seok as soon as Director Yoon left the waiting room.
“I guess it’s a tie.”
Han-Seok had more or less an idea what Je-Woon had meant by that.
“I guess so.”
They would have to postpone their showdown to next time.
***
Kang Seo-Mi, played by Kang Ra-Eun. Min Woo-Chan, played by Je-Woon. Nam Yun-Seok, played by Ji Han-Seok. After these three roles had been finalized, the production team began to cast for the other roles.
In the meantime, Ra-Eun once again went to see Vice President Park Hee-Woo to see her as well as to check on how the plan to sever Kim Han-Gyo’s final lifeline was going.
Hee-Woo had reserved seats in a western cuisine restaurant. It wasn’t as big as Ra-Eun had expected. Noticing her thoughts, Hee-Woo gave Ra-Eun an explanation about this restaurant.
“They only accept eight customers a day. The owner is a chef who used to work at a very famous hotel in America.”
The prices were steep to reflect that fact, but it was nothing for someone as wealthy as Hee-Woo.
Hee-Woo brought up what Ra-Eun was curious about as soon as they sat down, “My father will be meeting up with Chairman Jang Yun-Jik soon. I believe he’ll be bringing up Congressman Kim Han-Gyo during the meeting.”
That was much faster than Ra-Eun had expected. She did not think she would be able to sever Han-Gyo’s last remaining lifeline so quickly. She had thought it would take some time, but she was now in a good mood from the unexpected news.
“You must have really outdone yourself. Thank you very much, Vice President.”
“No, it wasn’t me, but my little brother spoke a few more times with my father after that. That’s why he’s acting much faster than expected.”
Her former self Park Geon-Woo had been helping her behind the scenes.
“He’s been talking about how he wanted to repay his debt to you as soon as possible, so he’s been giving us a lot of help despite it having nothing to do with him,” Hee-Woo stated.
“I see.”
“Yes. Geon-Woo is far better at grinding at my father’s pride than me.”
Park Chan-Gil had taken action to pressure Chairman Jang Yun-Jik far earlier than expected after being influenced by Geon-Woo’s words. Ra-Eun was fine with anything as long as the tie between Han-Gyo and Yun-Jik was completely severed. The time it took did not matter; what really mattered was surefire results.
Hee-Woo brought up something else after their conversation regarding Chan-Gil and Yun-Jik came to an end.
“I’d heard from Director Yoon that Han-Seok and Je-Woon had an audition for the role of Min Woo-Chan.”
“Yes. Han-Seok sunbae had requested it first.”
“I wonder if it was because a kiss scene with you was on the line?”
Ra-Eun stopped in her tracks while drinking water from her cup from Hee-Woo’s dead-on guess. Hee-Woo lightly laughed.
“It was a joke. There’s no way those two would have such a showdown over something like that.”
Ra-Eun had no words after Hee-Woo had perfectly guessed what had happened.
***
The venue for the production press conference of Just Like a Melodrama Protagonist was already filled with reporters. It was as expected of a film that had the eyes of every single member of the film industry focused on it. The desire of the reporters to cover this huge news could be felt all the way in the waiting room.
Je-Woon in formal wear returned to the waiting room where Han-Seok and Ra-Eun were and remarked, “There were tons of people in the hallway. I think it’d be best to go around rather than take the shortest route if you want to use the bathroom.”
“It’s that bad?” Ra-Eun asked.
Je-Woon nodded in succession and answered, “Yeah, it’s that bad.”
Je-Woon had starred in a fair number of films himself, but had never gotten this much attention for any of them. Hence, his face was covered in bewilderment. While they were spending time in the waiting room, a staff member entered.
“The production press conference will begin soon, so please gather at the stairs below the stage.”
“Understood.”
They were guided to the stairs by the staff member.
Moments later, Director Yoon, who had gone to the bathroom for the fifth time today out of anxiety, regrouped with the actors.
Ra-Eun asked, “Are you still not feeling well, Director?”
“Oh... I’ve taken some medicine, so I’m more or less fine now.”
Director Yoon’s stage sickness was as strong as always even after having become a star director. The host’s loud voice echoed throughout the venue.
“Now then, let us introduce Miss Kang Ra-Eun, Mr. Je-Woon, Mr. Ji Han-Seok, and Director Yoon Tae-Yoon to the stage. Please give them a warm round of applause!”
The audience showered them with applause in accordance with the host’s request to liven the mood. Just then, Han-Seok went up to the stage before Ra-Eun all of a sudden.
“Ra-Eun,” he said as he extended his hand out toward her from the top.
It had been to escort Ra-Eun, who was wearing high heels.
“It’s okay, sunbae. I can climb up by myself.”
“The stairs are dark, and it would be a big problem if you trip.”
Han-Seok had a point; although the chances of Ra-Eun tripping and falling down the stairs was very low considering her high physical prowess, there was still a chance. She reluctantly took Han-Seok’s hand. Je-Woon smacked his lips in disappointment as he watched Han-Seok and Ra-Eun climbing up the stage together from behind them.
“He beat me to it.”
Je-Woon thought that he would pay if he let his guard down just because he had won the audition.
***
The four of them climbed up to the stage. They sat in the order of Ra-Eun, Je-Woon, Han-Seok and Director Yoon. Ra-Eun was wearing dress pants instead of a skirt today, so there was no need for a lap blanket. They introduced themselves as directed in the script after sitting in their designated seats.
Ra-Eun raised her mic first.
“Hello, everyone. I am Kang Ra-Eun, and I will be playing Kang Seo-Mi.”
She no longer found introducing herself on stage difficult in the slightest. Je-Woon, Han-Seok and Director Yoon also introduced themselves in order, and then they began to introduce the film to the audience. Director Yoon was supposed to introduce the film, but...
“The director is quite nervous today, so we’ve asked Miss Kang to introduce the film in his stead. Is that alright with everyone?”
The audience said that it was fine, and some even said that it would be even better to be introduced to the film in her elegant voice. Ra-Eun had gotten so used to memorizing scripts that she had already fully memorized the introductory script that she had received earlier.
“To put it simply, the story is about three people who had been in the same film production club in high school. I believe the most entertaining aspect of the film will come from the love triangle between Kang Seo-Mi, Min Woo-Chan and Nam Yun-Seok, depicted in Director Yoon’s unique sense of screenwriting. It was so entertaining that I wanted to star in the film as soon as I read the script.”
But of course, that was not the real reason. It had been nothing but a business contract between her and Vice President Park Hee-Woo, but there was no way that Ra-Eun could announce that here. Hence, she had packaged it into something that the audience would want to hear.
While Ra-Eun was introducing the production, one of the reporters suddenly raised their hand.
The host said to the assertive reporter while chuckling, “The Q&A session is still miles away... You must have a lot of questions.”
“I do. Will Miss Kang Ra-Eun have a kiss scene in this film? Please just let us know that.”
Ra-Eun could only give the reporter one answer.
“That might be a spoiler, so I can’t tell you that in detail right now. Please check for yourselves by watching the film.”
She had to do it, whether she liked it or not, so she decided to make use of it so that it piqued the public’s curiosity.
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