“Shining Star.”
The very program I once appeared in as The Dawn—now, in “Nugu Actor Tycoon,” a drama in planning. WH Entertainment and Studio Ollio were co-producing it, with the intent of streaming it through a domestic OTT platform.
With global interest in K-POP at its peak, the meaning was clear: to team up with an entertainment agency and properly cash in on idol-related content.
The overall plot was simple.
A PD, pressured from above and robbed of his idea, clenches his teeth and comes up with a new broadcast format.
He gathers aspiring singers whose talents have been buried and holds a survival competition to select a winner.
At first, the protagonist races forward solely for the sake of success. But as the filming goes on, he comes across the contestants’ stories, gradually lending his strength to their dreams, passion, and youth.
In the end, they grow together, the broadcast finishes successfully, and the drama concludes.
A happy ending, if you overlook that—it was basically my story.
“Sigh....”
...Or so I thought, until I realized one thing I had overlooked.
In this game world of “Tycoon,” there was another PD known for survival programs.
“This is just Kim Heeyoung, isn’t it....”
At the café inside the WH Entertainment building, I ruffled my hair, then spread open the script I had already read several times.
Seo Uiyoung PD, 34 years old, from WBC Broadcasting.
A person who most despises injustice, corruption, and unfairness. Someone who carries an unyielding conviction and lives according to her beliefs.
The age was younger than the real Kim Heeyoung—hell, younger than my own core self.
[Seo Uiyoung: My only regret, you know.]
[Seo Uiyoung: Is that I could not kill that payroll-leeching parasite with my own hands.]
“Sounds familiar.”
Just a glance at a few lines of dialogue—it was Kim Heeyoung.
Well, thinking about it, she fit the role of protagonist more than I did. If she were a character in an RPG, her assigned class would always be Hero.
I gulped down my drink, suppressing the boiling frustration inside.
At least, there was no trace of romance, not even the “R” in it.
“Pull yourself together.”
With the error triggered by Min Jiheon’s ability, who knew how long this state would last? I had to use my time efficiently.
I closed the script and rifled through the drama proposal again.
I traced my finger along the brief introductions of the characters.
Seong Juhyeon, who, after dropping out of high school to devote himself to dance, entered Shining Star but faced bullying allegations during the broadcast.
Ji Yeongwon, who could not stand the corruption of a major agency and stormed out....
The names were different, but the similarities to The Dawn’s history were uncomfortably blatant.
A faint frown tugged at my brow from the displeasure.
“Well, whatever...”
They would never see this drama anyway. As long as I endured, it would be fine.
I clicked my tongue and lazily flipped the pages.
Ding!
[But Mr. Seo Hoyun, you are not here?]
True.
No matter how much I looked, there was no role that seemed to point to me.
So the role that had been offered to me was—
“Hoyun hyung!!”
I was just about to stand and close the script when Shin Heechan, who had just entered the café, spotted me and rushed over.
“Mr. Shin Heechan?”
“Wow! Why does it feel like it has been so long?”
Sure enough, he somewhat resembled the maknae.
Still, there was no reason to get entangled, so I was only planning to greet him and leave. But then Min Jiheon suddenly poked his head out from behind him.
“Hi~.”
His polished, gleaming face looked pretty damn good.
“Well, look who’s here—the scammer.”
“Do you know me?”
“Quick to cut ties, aren’t you?”
Acting all nonchalant, he plopped himself right into the seat beside me. The way his hazy eyes tilted up ever so slightly—it seemed a bit of resentment still lingered from last time.
I averted my gaze toward Shin Heechan.
“Anyway, Mr. Shin Heechan, why are you here?”
“I had a meeting today! I ran into Jiheon hyung right out front by coincidence.”
He looked between Min Jiheon and me, then beamed.
“You know how WH Entertainment is co-producing a new drama with Studio Ollio? I got cast as the youngest contestant.”
“The youngest contestant?”
“Yes! I am playing an aspiring singer who wasted several years after being scammed into a fraudulent contract with an agency!”
“....”
That was Jung Dajun.
I shut my mouth, already weary.
Thanks to Dead after Hope, Shin Heechan seemed thrilled, with good roles pouring in for him.
“—Especially Shining Star. The very first day I got the script, I found it so fun I stayed up all night reading! And the next day, I begged the management team director to let me do this project. He opposed it, saying I should take something with a bigger part. But I clung to his pants until I got cast! We already did the script reading not long ago. Uh, though, there is a teeny little problem....”
“What problem?”
“One of the cast members got hurt, so they are urgently looking for another actor.”
Ah.
“Anyway, whoever comes in new will probably start filming right away.”
As I listened silently, Shin Heechan glanced around, then leaned in to whisper.
“But you know, hyung... it is so obvious who one of the characters is modeled after.”
“...What?”
“Well.”
He swallowed once, lowered his voice.
“It is a character named Kang Jiseong, but my guess is he is modeled after Black Call’s Joo Woosung.”
Bullseye.
The idol of idols, the celeb among celebs, the star of stars.
Kang Jiseong—clearly modeled after Joo Woosung of Black Call.
Originally, in Shining Star season 2, Joo Woosung had been a mentor. In the drama, however, he appeared instead as Kang Jiseong, a friend of Seo Uiyoung PD, occasionally giving advice to the contestants.
“He was so charming. If Kang Jiseong and Seo Uiyoung even got tied up in a romance, ratings would skyrocket....”
“That will be up to the writer.”
Absolutely not.
“...Ah, y-yes. Right. I got ahead of myself.”
Scratching his head with an awkward grin, Shin Heechan watched as I gathered the script. Then Min Jiheon’s drawn-out voice floated over.
“Joo Woooseooong....”
A prickly premonition stabbed right into the top of my skull.
“Well, I am busy, so I should....”
“Do you know him?”
This bastard noticed something.
I quickly stood up, but Min Jiheon spoke first.
“No?”
Not too fast, not too slow.
Just the right tone.
“Mm. Really?”
He answered smoothly, but his eyes curved, smiling as if he had seen through everything.
At this rate, he was bound to deduce sooner or later that I had come from somewhere else.
Even while Min Jiheon radiated that chilling atmosphere, Shin Heechan clung to him like a child, whining shamelessly.
“Hyung, Jiheon hyung! Give me some acting tips. When I first got the role I was happy, but now that I face it, I do not know what this character is really thinking. He seems so bright one moment, and the next he feels endlessly mature....”
That is just Dajun being Dajun.
But I did not add anything. I thought Min Jiheon would brush it off vaguely, but surprisingly, he spoke up readily.
“Try imagining that you have become that person.”
“...Sorry?”
“That is what works best for me.”
As he started, Min Jiheon’s eyes turned toward me.
“What kind of family did that person grow up in? How did he come to like this particular food? What is the origin of this behavior?”
“Oh! That is good!”
“Once you immerse yourself, the answers come surprisingly easily. Like why that person did what they did.”
Then, resting his chin on his hand, he gave a meaningful smile.
“Why his temper soured, why he uses people so effortlessly, why he is indifferent to others’ thoughts...”
“What??”
“Do you not agree, Mr. Hoyun?”
...What, so what.
Before Min Jiheon’s shitty acting lecture dragged on, I decided to leave for real.
It was not a role that needed his help anyway. I already knew the subject well.
Someone who carried great pride in his profession, overflowing confidence in his own skill.
A man filled with talent, beloved by many, but who fell into emptiness and could not look around him.
After sticking close for two and a half years, I had all his habits figured out.
“Huh?!”
Just as I was about to leave, Shin Heechan’s eyes widened at the sight of the Shining Star script and proposal in my hand.
“Hoyun hyung, why do you have the Shining Star script? Are you cast too?”
“Yes.”
“Is it a cameo?”
I drained the last of my drink, the glass clinking, then answered.
“No.”
The role offered to me was, funnily enough—
“Kang Jiseong.”
It was Joo Woosung.
***
Tap.
Tap tap tap tap tap.
“I do not get nervous...”
“Please stop shaking your leg!”
The rustling of clothes filled Studio Ollio’s conference room. Despite the assistant director’s words, Director Joo Hyungchang could not stop his bouncing leg.
This urgent meeting had been arranged because of a recent headache.
“Who would have thought we would have to replace the actor due to injury?”
Come to think of it, maybe the role of “Kang Jiseong” was too overstuffed from the start.
He had to be handsome, with refined features, possessed of inhuman-level dance skills, and even sing well.
“Damn it! Where the hell do we find such an actor?!”
“There he goes again.”
It was over the top.
Looks could be matched. An actor ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) who danced decently and sang well? The musical theater world had plenty.
But add to that the element of needing to carry an idol’s aura—suddenly, there were no options left.
Even the actor who had originally been confirmed for “Kang Jiseong” had barely been persuaded to accept, as the main writer had grumbled that he did not fit the image she had envisioned.
Now, forced to face another casting hell, Director Joo truly wanted to cry.
“Let us just drop the dance and singing requirements. I will make sure to match the visuals as best I can. These days, there are tons of actors with idol-like good looks.”
“Uh, b-but, there is an actor I have been eyeing lately...”
“Who?”
“Someone totally catlike and cute!!”
“......”
A few weeks ago, in a work meeting, the main writer had been busy showering someone with praise.
How can he dance idol choreo so well, how handsome he is, overflowing with natural talent and charm, maybe he was even a trainee once—blah, blah, blah.
That someone was none other than Seo Hoyun.
Though the main writer had been a bit deflated when the crucial role suddenly opened up, she quickly began hounding Director Joo to offer Kang Jiseong’s part to Seo Hoyun.
But realistically, the chance of Seo Hoyun accepting was slim.
Rumor had it that after Dead after Hope, he was refusing every project offer coming his way, apparently wanting to rest.
While the main writer pressed for one more attempt, the production team was searching for other candidates—when, out of the blue, WH Entertainment reached out.
And today was the day of the face-to-face meeting with Seo Hoyun.
“But why did Mr. Seo Hoyun suddenly change his mind?”
“Who knows? How could we? This industry is fickle....”
“Ugh. It hurts my pride. If not for this writer, I would never with these rookie actors...”
“Director, hush!”
While waiting for Seo Hoyun, Director Joo and the assistant director were whispering when—a knock came, and the conference room door opened.
“Hello. I am Seo Hoyun.”
With an easy smile, Seo Hoyun greeted them—not with the black hair from Dead after Hope, but dyed in a rich brown.
Director Joo, who had been scowling just seconds before, leapt up with a bright face.
“Mr. Seo Hoyun! Hahaha! Welcome, welcome.”
“Haha, yes.”
In truth, there was no proper replacement who could handle “Kang Jiseong.”
In this industry, a seasoned director like Joo could easily fake being fond of someone if he needed them.
“Sorry to have called you so suddenly, Mr. Seo Hoyun.”
“Not at all. I am more sorry for replying late.”
“This is going well.”
As Seo Hoyun set down the guitar case slung over his shoulder and took a seat, Director Joo judged it was the right time to build rapport and threw out a casual question.
“It is a bit late—did you have dinner yet? You should eat well.”
“Oh, me?”
A smooth curve formed on Seo Hoyun’s lips.
“I had kimchi fried rice.”
“Ah, kimchi fried rice! Delicious!”
Just as they were about to move on to talking about the project, Seo Hoyun added again.
“Yesterday too.”
“...Huh?”
“The day before yesterday as well.”
At that moment, Seo Hoyun recalled Min Jiheon’s advice.
“The day before that too...”
“......”
When you want to act someone, act like them first.
Seo Hoyun was faithfully embodying Joo Woosung.
