Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Chapter 957: You are Kott-Nim (1)

Yoo-Jin said she did not mind letting child actor Yoo Jung-Ae and Miso face off in an acting match.

Yoo Jung-Ae's mother paused for a moment, then answered with a shameless look. "Miss Yoo-Jin. I didn't say that because I had any personal feelings involved. You understand, right?"

Yoo-Jin was smiling brightly with the same innocent expression she wore when dealing with troublesome customers.

"Of course. We're just deciding who's better at acting, so why would feelings get involved? Isn't that right?"

'As if feelings aren't involved! They're one hundred percent involved, aren't they?'

Then again, even I was furious, so there was no way Yoo-Jin, who treasured Miso more than her own life, would just stay quiet.

At that moment, Lee Ji-Yeon joined the conversation. "Yoo-Jin. I've never thought of anyone but Miso for the role of Yoon Kkot-Nim. So there's no need to compare them."

Yoo-Jin looked at Lee Ji-Yeon. "Still, if we send them away like this, Jung-Ae's mom might not accept it. And that could end up damaging your reputation, Mrs. Lee."

Lee Ji-Yeon snorted. "And what is she going to do if she doesn't accept it?"

To Lee Ji-Yeon, drama was life itself. That was why she never compromised when it came to her work. No matter how impressive a top actor was, if they did not meet her standards, they could not take on a role. That meant pushing another actor into a role she had already chosen the perfect person for would only make Lee Ji-Yeon even angrier.

"And! Am I supposed to be scared of what happens afterward? When Yoon-Ho is my talent agent?"

Yoo-Jin gave a small pout as if she was disappointed to lose the chance to crush Yoo Jung-Ae's mother's pride.

"True. If Yoon-Ho oppa is around, you don't need to worry about what comes after. I was being shortsighted. Do as you wish, Mrs. Lee."

"That was what I planned to do."

At that moment, President Kang Gam-Chan stepped forward to send Chief Ju Ho-Sung and Yoo Jung-Ae out.

Then, Miso tilted her head. Holding the tablet in her arms, Miso carefully spoke up. "Mrs. Lee, can't we watch Jung-Ae unnie act too? Jung-Ae unnie must have practiced hard like me, so it would be too sad for her to leave like this."

At Miso's kind heart, Lee Ji-Yeon began to waver. Still, she soon gathered herself and taught Miso that she should not give up a role so easily.

"Miso. You have to protect your own role. Are you going to give it up every time someone else wants it? With that kind of mindset, you won't be able to win good roles in the future."

Miso, however, spoke with a look that showed she did not understand. "No matter what role it is, shouldn't the person who's better at it do it?"

At Miso's answer, confusion appeared on Lee Ji-Yeon's face. After all, what Lee Ji-Yeon always emphasized was that she would use the actor who suited a role best, without considering things like popularity or connections.

At a loss for words, Lee Ji-Yeon asked carefully, "Are you really okay with this? Miso?"

Miso hugged the tablet tightly and made it clear she had no intention of giving up. "Yes! I practiced really hard too!"

Once Miso showed her determination to fight and win, a faint smile finally appeared on Lee Ji-Yeon's face. "Pfft. I have nothing to say to that. Fine. Then let's do that."

Lee Ji-Yeon turned her head sharply and looked at Yoo Jung-Ae's mother. "Audition if that's what you want. But I'll be the one judging. Are you okay with that?"

Yoo Jung-Ae's mother answered with a shameless look. "Go ahead. Once you watch my daughter in person, you'll see the difference right away anyway."

"I hope her skills match that confidence." After speaking as if giving a warning, Lee Ji-Yeon beckoned to Kang Gam-Chan. "Mr. Kang. Is there a place where we can hold an audition right now?"

Kang Gam-Chan nodded. "This place isn't ideal. How about we do it in the practice room on the second floor?"

The choreography practice room on the second floor was perfect for placing a judges' table, and the bright lighting made it easy to observe the children's expressions in detail.

"Alright. Let's go there."

At that moment, Yoo Jung-Ae's mother clenched her fist and spoke to her daughter. "Jung-Ae. Don't be nervous. Just do as well as you normally do. Okay?"

"Okay, Mom!"

Seeing the corners of her lips rise as if she had already passed, only one thought came to mind.

'Both mother and daughter are dreaming together.'

***

In Practice Room 1 on the second floor of Hoop Entertainment, a judges' table had been prepared at the back of the spacious choreography room. And on both sides, cameras for recording had already finished setting up.

A moment later, Kang Gam-Chan and Director Kang Ji-Yung took their seats at the judges' table. And right in the center sat Lee Ji-Yeon and Writer Kim Soll-Ip.

Lee Ji-Yeon adjusted her glasses and spread out the scoring sheets. "To avoid any complaints about unfairness, we'll do two scenes from episode one for the audition. One is Scene 5, where she wakes up in the emergency room and realizes she can no longer walk. The other is Scene 10, where she lashes out at the adults pointing fingers at her in the funeral hall."

After finishing her explanation, Lee Ji-Yeon looked at Yoo Jung-Ae and Miso. "Shall we begin?"

At Lee Ji-Yeon's signal, Yoo Jung-Ae shot Miso a provocative look and walked forward. Miso, however, paid no attention and simply walked toward Lee Ji-Yeon with a blank expression. Seeing that sight, Yoo Jung-Ae's mother smirked from afar while looking at Yoo-Jin. Yoo-Jin answered with a smile of her own.

Even though the two were locked in a fierce battle of nerves, I could no longer hold back my curiosity and asked Yoo-Jin, "Yoo-Jin. What on earth did you make Miso do? Why does she look so out of it since this morning?"

Yoo-Jin briefly stopped her silent battle with Yoo Jung-Ae's mother and answered, "Oh, that. I gave Miso a little homework assignment."

"What kind of homework?"

"Character analysis."

"What?"

Analyzing a character from multiple angles was usually something only adult actors with a wide range of life experience could do. Things like a character's personality or behavioral patterns were difficult to understand unless you had experienced similar things yourself.

"No matter how talented Miso is, isn't character analysis still too difficult for her? Up until now, she's acted more on instinctive feeling than analysis."

Yoo-Jin nodded. "That's true. So this time, I used a different method."

"What method?"

"I told her to think as if she were acting as another character and consider Kkot-Nim's actions and words from that perspective. If she looks at Kkot-Nim through someone else's eyes, she can think about the character she's supposed to portray in a more three-dimensional way."

"Ah... so that's why she's been spacing out since this morning?"

"Yes. She's had a lot on her mind. Still, don't worry. Once you see her actually act, you'll be shocked."

I finally understood why Miso had looked so dazed. To see Yoon Kkot-Nim through someone else's eyes, she would have had to go over the lines and stage directions of every other actor appearing in the scenes, replaying the same moments over and over again.

"Wow. Miso's amazing. But who even came up with that kind of character analysis method? Was it your idea, Yoo-Jin?"

Yoo-Jin pointed a finger at me with a sullen expression.

"Huh? Me?" I asked.

"What? You seriously don't remember? You're the one who taught me that, oppa!"

"When?"

"When you got the script for She Was Beautiful."

"Oh..."

Then I remembered. The female lead of She Was Beautiful, Han Bit-Na, suffered a facial injury and shut herself away in her room, cutting herself off from the world. Still, Yoo-Jin had never gone through anything like that herself, so it would have been difficult for her to understand the psychology of the character just by studying the script alone.

That was why I told her to look at Han Bit-Na from the perspective of the other roles instead—from the feelings of the mother who brought Han Bit-Na food every morning, the father's heart as he approached her with concern and gently talked about the weather outside, to the feelings of talent agent Baek Ill-Seung, who came to save Han Bit-Na.

I had advised her to carefully read the other characters' lines and stage directions while imagining all of that. Then, naturally, she would come to understand the character. Still, that method was not actually my idea.

Before the regression, when Yoo-Jin had become a top actress, she revealed her own secret for character analysis in an interview, and I had simply remembered it and passed it along.

"Hahaha. Well..."

As I scratched my head awkwardly, Yoo-Jin huffed as if she found it absurd. "I thought my head was going to explode trying to get used to the method you taught me, oppa. Were you just talking nonsense back then?"

'No. It was something future you said. The great top actress and Hollywood superstar yourself.'

Avoiding Yoo-Jin's blazing stare, I quickly turned my gaze forward. "Miso's acting. We should watch Miso act."

"This is suspicious..."

'It's not suspicious. And stop giving me those doubtful looks, Jung Yoo-Jin.'

The back of my head prickled, but I absolutely could not turn around. Yoo-Jin could be surprisingly persistent sometimes.

Then, at that moment, Yoo Jung-Ae's mother and Ju Ho-Sung approached us.

At the same time, Yoo Jung-Ae's mother spoke to Yoo-Jin with an arrogant expression. "By the way, Miss Yoo-Jin. I guess Miso wasn't as prepared as we thought? She looks completely out of it."

Yoo-Jin finally looked away from me and put on the smile she reserved for dealing with troublesome customers. "Oh, is that how it looks to you? Well, I suppose if you don't really understand, it could seem that way."

Yoo Jung-Ae's mother's brows furrowed. "W-What do you mean I don't understand?!"

Yoo-Jin deliberately deepened the smile in her eyes. "It really seems like you don't..."

Yoo Jung-Ae's mother snapped in irritation. "Anyway! Even if Jung-Ae gets the role, I hope you won't feel too upset. You know this kind of thing is nothing in this industry, right? Isn't that true?"

Then, Yoo-Jin broke into a bright smile. "Oh my~ I was just about to say the same thing myself. Can you read my mind? You're amazing at guessing~"

When Yoo-Jin fired back without backing down an inch, Yoo Jung-Ae's mother's face turned red with anger. She must have thought Yoo-Jin would be easy to deal with because she was always smiling, but when it came to people like troublesome customers, Yoo-Jin never lost.

'Jung Yoo-Jin wins!'

Seeing Yoo-Jin seize the momentum made my shoulders lift proudly for no reason.

Meanwhile, Lee Ji-Yeon's voice reached my ears. "So, who wants to go first?"

Yoo Jung-Ae shot her hand high into the air. "I'll go first!"

"Alright. Go ahead."

After receiving permission from Lee Ji-Yeon, Yoo Jung-Ae lay down on the polished wooden floor. It was because Scene 5, the first scene they would perform, took place on a hospital bed in the emergency room.

Once Yoo Jung-Ae lay down, Lee Ji-Yeon looked at Kim Soll-Ip, Kang Gam-Chan, and Kang Ji-Yung as she spoke. "Since this is a simple audition, score them out of ten in half-point increments. Overall performance. Acting ability, expressiveness, vocal delivery, diction, all of it combined."

"Yes, Mrs. Lee."

The moment they all answered together, Lee Ji-Yeon announced the start of the audition. "Scene 5. On the emergency room bed. Yoon Kkot-Nim realizes she can no longer use her legs. Here we go. Ready~ action!"

Thump.

Yoo Jung-Ae, who had been lying on the wooden floor, suddenly sat upright with a confused expression.

『Mom! Where are you? Dad!』

With a terrified look on her face, Yoo Jung-Ae frantically searched for her parents, whipping her head from side to side. The anxiety of being left alone in an unfamiliar place was vividly reflected in her expression, making it clear she was different from ordinary child actors.

Then Yoo Jung-Ae looked around before blinking and staring at her own legs. And at that moment. Yoo Jung-Ae's piercing scream filled the entire practice room.

『My legs! What's wrong with my legs?!』

'She's pretty good.'

As if proving that earning the lead role in an independent film at such a young age had been due to genuine skill, her emotional expression was as vivid as that of an adult actor. On top of that, her expressions were alive, and her vocal projection was so strong that even while screaming in despair, every line came across clearly.

Through this audition, Yoo Jung-Ae was proving that she was not merely a child actor propped up by genius-marketing hype.

"Okay. That's enough!" Lee Ji-Yeon raised her hand and stopped the performance.

Yoo Jung-Ae, who had been thrashing around in place, immediately jumped to her feet. "Thank you. This has been Yoo Jung-Ae."

The moment Yoo Jung-Ae politely bowed her head, Lee Ji-Yeon stared at her intently. "So you're not fake after all."

At the comment that she was not one of those fake genius child actors manufactured by reporters, Yoo Jung-Ae proudly puffed out her shoulders. "That's what all the teachers I've worked with have said too."

It was an arrogant answer, but Lee Ji-Yeon did not seem bothered by it. "Alright. Good work. Step aside and wait for now."

"Yes, Mrs. Lee."

As Yoo Jung-Ae walked back confidently, her mother once again provoked Yoo-Jin. "Hahaha. Even Mrs. Lee acknowledged my daughter's talent. Though it looks like Miso got shocked after seeing Jung-Ae's acting. Do you think she'll be alright?"

After watching Yoo Jung-Ae perform, Miso was once again tilting her head with a blank expression.

But at that moment, Yoo-Jin slightly curled the corner of her lips and answered confidently. "Of course she'll be alright. So keep quiet and watch Miso's acting from now on. She's going to show you a completely different level."

"What? Did you just tell me to keep quiet?"

Yoo Jung-Ae's mother trembled with anger and looked ready to snap back. But when Lee Ji-Yeon shot her a sharp glare, she had no choice but to clamp her mouth shut.

"Alright, next is Miso. Are you ready?"

"Yes. I can do it!"

Perhaps because Yoo Jung-Ae's acting had been better than expected, even Lee Ji-Yeon seemed slightly worried.

Miso, however, looked completely calm as she lay down in position and closed her eyes. "I'm ready, Mrs. Lee."

Lee Ji-Yeon nodded and gave the signal. "Alright then. Scene 5. Ready~ action!"

The moment Miso's acting began, every trace of concern lingering from earlier vanished in an instant. In the blink of an eye, Miso stiffened her entire body as if she were truly lying unconscious on an emergency room bed.

A moment later, Miso's closed eyes slowly opened. But at the same time, she frowned. She was acting out the instinctive reaction of seeing the bright emergency room lights overhead. After that, unlike Yoo Jung-Ae, Miso did not immediately sit up. Instead, she stayed lying down for a moment, blinking slowly.

Then, after moving her eyes from side to side for some time, Miso slowly opened her mouth. And surprisingly, her voice sounded hoarse.

『Mom...... where are you?』

The character was still only seven years old. Miso was portraying the natural instinct of a child searching for her mother when something terrible happened.

'Miso is unbelievable.'

Miso was showing acting filled with incredible detail, completely different from before. Because of that, a relieved smile began appearing on Lee Ji-Yeon's face, while Yoo-Jin could not hide the pride written all over hers. Meanwhile, Yoo Jung-Ae's mother was nervously biting her nails with an irritated expression.

At that moment, Miso slowly raised her upper body. She struggled and groaned, unable to sit up properly. Tilting her head in confusion, Miso eventually pushed against the floor with both hands as if pressing down on a hospital bed and lifted herself up again.

Then, just as Miso struggled to raise herself, she suddenly fell backward.

Thud.

Her back hit the floor.

『Huh...... huh?』

'Did her hand slip?'

I was just thinking it was fortunate she had not hit her head when I noticed something strange. Lee Ji-Yeon, seated at the judges' table, looked visibly shocked.

'Why is she reacting like that?'

I could not understand why she looked so surprised over Miso simply falling over, so I quietly asked Yoo-Jin beside me.

"Yoo-Jin. Do you know why Mrs. Lee is reacting like that?"

Yoo-Jin, who had also been worried about Miso, whispered back with a puzzled expression.

"No. I have no idea either."

Just as both of us were left confused, Miso resumed acting. This time, after firmly planting both arms, Miso slowly forced her upper body upright and let out a strained breath. Then she twisted her body to the side as if trying to climb down from a hospital bed. However, Miso's legs did not move at all. Only her waist slowly turned sideways. And following the movement of her waist, her straightened legs dragged limply across the floor.

At that moment, Miso stared down at her own legs with a bewildered expression. Then her face began changing by the second. First was confusion, then shock. And finally, terror and fear exploded across her expression.

At the same time, Miso screamed loudly enough to shake the entire practice room.

『Mom! Something's wrong with me! Where are you, Mom? Dad! It hurts! Dad!! Mom!!』

Miso spiraled into panic, desperately crying out for her parents. As she twisted her whole body around, her legs merely dragged lifelessly across the floor without moving at all. Then the strength left her arms, and Miso collapsed heavily back onto the ground.

『Waaah! Mom! Mommy!』

Lying on the floor, Miso clenched both hands tightly against it and began sobbing with heartbreaking despair. Everyone in the practice room had become completely absorbed in Miso's acting as if they had been swallowed whole by the sudden emotional explosion.

Then it happened.

Bang.

Lee Ji-Yeon abruptly shot to her feet and shouted in a trembling voice, "Cut! There's no need to see any more! Miso is Yoon Kkot-Nim!"

'Fair enough.'

From the details in her acting to the emotional delivery, the hoarse voice, and even the incredible body movements was breathtaking, Miso was better in every possible way.

The problem, however, was Yoo Jung-Ae's mother. If they finalized the decision now without even doing the second scene audition, there was no way she would stay quiet.

And as expected, Yoo Jung-Ae's mother exploded in protest. "Mrs. Lee! You haven't even seen the next scene yet! Isn't this too much?!"

At that moment, Lee Ji-Yeon scoffed. "Too much? Are you seriously saying you can't see the overwhelming gap between the two of them?"

"Well, I mean...Miso may have done a little better, but Jung-Ae is really going to shine in the second scene, so please at least watch the second performance too."

"No. I said there's no need."

"Ma'am!"

"Listen. Do you think I chose Miso based only on acting?"

"Then what is it?"

At that moment, Lee Ji-Yeon looked at her as if she were ridiculous and began explaining why there was no need to even hold the second audition scene.