Chapter 48
In high school, with his homeroom teacher’s recommendation, Cheong-yeon accidentally joined the school’s drama club and stood on stage for the first time.
Cheong-yeon was just one of many timid, ordinary students with average grades and little athletic talent. Of course, there were occasionally students who confessed to him after falling for his looks, but at that time, he didn’t think he deserved to date anyone. That’s how discouraged he felt about everything during that period.
During his most sensitive adolescent years, his parents focused all their attention on his brother, who was known for his academic excellence in the neighborhood and at school, while Cheong-yeon was always pushed to second place.
Cheong-yeon could only register for academies with whatever money was left after covering his brother’s private education costs. Even that was impossible when the family finances were tight, so he had no memory of consistently attending any academy. Even when he worked hard to improve his scores, it didn’t come close to his brother’s achievements, making his parents secretly resent the money spent on him.
On top of that, his manifestation happened to be Recessive Omega. His parents preferred his brother’s Beta status, saying at least they wouldn’t have to worry about pheromone accidents.
This environment inevitably left young Cheong-yeon dejected throughout his school days.
So when he first acted on stage, he felt free, as if he wasn’t Yoo Cheong-yeon, the Recessive Omega, but had taken on a completely different shell. For that moment, no one viewed him as inadequate; they saw and treated him as the new character he was portraying.
That’s why Cheong-yeon wanted to act. To become someone else.
“Hmm. That’s a more philosophical reason than I expected.”
After listening to Cheong-yeon’s story, Kim Ji-han crossed his arms contemplatively. Then, after a moment, he snapped his fingers as if he had thought of something.
“Hey. Why don’t you just bite the bullet and ask Moon Do-heon for help?”
“Are you crazy? Absolutely not.”
Cheong-yeon recoiled as if he’d heard something outrageous.
“From what I’ve heard, it doesn’t seem like he completely disliked you. Honestly, regardless of the hurt, it would be advantageous for you, wouldn’t it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I think if you asked him for help, he wouldn’t refuse.”
Kim Ji-han was completely missing the point. Frustrated, Cheong-yeon ruffled his hair and shook his head.
“That’s just because he feels guilty about my uncle, like I’ve been telling you.”
“Even if it’s guilt, that’s still something. Everyone’s desperate to make connections.”
“Haah…”
“Kyung-seop hyung also mentioned sponsorship, right? Hey, if I were going to be sponsored, I’d rather cling to someone good-looking like Moon Do-heon and force a sponsorship than please some old geezers.”
Kim Ji-han urged Cheong-yeon to think about it carefully. In truth, Cheong-yeon somewhat agreed with him. Compared to the faces of the directors he’d met so far, Do-heon’s appearance was certainly distinctive.
No, it was beyond distinctive. He possessed striking good looks that would not be outshined by any celebrity.
But this wasn’t an issue that could be resolved so simply. Cheong-yeon silently downed another shot of soju.
*How could I go back and ask for his help after making such a scene and leaving?* Even if he had to eat dirt, that was something that should never happen.
“Hey. But is he still doing well?”
“Who?”
“Song Hee-jun. You know, from that group… Total something, when we were active.”
“Ah…”
Cheong-yeon nodded as if belatedly recalling whom Ji-han was referring to. Song Hee-jun was from another failed idol group that debuted the same year as DEX. However, he was quite shrewd and talented, so Cheong-yeon had heard rumors that he had successfully transitioned to acting early on. He had actually seen him on TV several times.
Since they hadn’t gotten along well, Cheong-yeon didn’t have a particularly good impression of him.
“Song Hee-jun appears on TV a lot these days.”
“Come to think of it, didn’t he used to go around talking about you being a Recessive Omega back then?”
“I don’t know… I don’t even remember anymore.”
Cheong-yeon waved his hand dismissively, as if he didn’t want to talk about it further.
“Maybe you should ask him for a supporting role, try to get in on his success.”
“Aish. Kim Ji-han, are you insane?”
He seemed to have no filter. Cheong-yeon widened his eyes, asking what kind of nonsense he was spouting. Finding Cheong-yeon’s reaction amusing, Kim Ji-han chuckled while shrugging his shoulders.
Cheong-yeon smacked Kim Ji-han’s shoulder, looking as if even the thought made his blood boil.
“Even if I had to beg Moon Do-heon for help, I would absolutely never ask that bastard Song Hee-jun.”
“I’m joking, joking.”
“What kind of joke is that?”
“Still, as you continue acting, wouldn’t you eventually run into him in this small industry?”
“…That’s true.”
“But if he encounters you, would he leave you alone?”
Kim Ji-han tilted his head and asked seriously.
“Probably not.”
“Remember how he made a huge fuss over nothing, accusing you of copying his outfit? He even targeted you on Twitter.”
“Haah. Right. Something about a bracelet from the same brand, wasn’t it?”
“That guy’s insane, completely insane. This industry is a complete jungle. There’s no safe zone here.”
Kim Ji-han muttered, placing his finger against his temple and twirling it. Cheong-yeon picked up a piece of intestine that was not just well-done but shriveled up.
“I understand why you do personal broadcasts now.”
“Right? I’m telling you, sometimes it’s just more comfortable this way.”
“…Let’s toast.”
As Cheong-yeon raised his glass, Kim Ji-han followed suit, picking up his newly filled glass. Their glasses met lightly in the air.
*
“You really suit the character we’re looking for… If only you hadn’t wasted that production budget. Haah.”
*What? This pattern again?*
It was getting utterly tiresome. Cheong-yeon, having resigned himself to the situation, calmly looked down at the casting director sitting with her legs crossed in front of him.
The difference from previous cases was that the woman before him now seemed to be genuinely considering his casting, at least.
She continuously scribbled something on her tablet, then tapped her forehead with the pen.
Cheong-yeon had thought this would be another wasted trip, but at least it didn’t seem like she had called him in just to mock him.
“Mr. Yoo Cheong-yeon?”
“Yes.”
After contemplating for a while, the casting director raised her head and looked up at Cheong-yeon.
“Do you know about the chaos that happened with the drama filming team you previously bailed on?”
*Yes, this is another one of those standard questions people ask whenever they meet me.*
Humans were remarkably adaptable creatures. Even comments like this became easier to handle after hearing them multiple times.
“There was no script sharing with me at all. I can’t elaborate fully to avoid spoiling the drama’s content, but the director made an unreasonable demand, which is why I had no choice but to withdraw from filming.”
Cheong-yeon explained the situation as clearly as possible.
The casting director, who had been listening quietly, stared into Cheong-yeon’s eyes for several seconds even after he had finished speaking.
“You don’t seem to be reflecting on it at all.”
“…It’s not that I’m not reflecting; I’m just explaining that I had my circumstances too.”
“Even if you get selected for this role, you’ll have to deal with the scrutiny from other staff and actors. Would you be okay with that?”
Cheong-yeon blinked several times in surprise at her indifferent question.
“I’ll be fine. If you just give me the role.”
“Hmm…”
The casting director scratched her temple with a perplexed expression and marked something on her tablet screen. She kept her gaze fixed on the screen while rolling the pen in her hand.
“I understand for now. You can go. There are two more people left. We’ll let you know the results right after all the auditions are finished, so please wait outside for a moment.”
“I understand.”
Cheong-yeon bowed to her and the people seated on either side of her, then left the audition room. There was a waiting chair right in front, so he sat down with a sigh of relief.
Like other audition venues, this place was bustling with people rushing around, making it difficult to distinguish actors from staff. Cheong-yeon nervously killed time by observing people entering and leaving the room in groups.
*Should I have spoken more warmly?* He worried belatedly that he might have answered too stiffly.
But acting too softly could make one seem easy to push around, so a certain level of firmness was sometimes necessary.
Still, even this much was something to be grateful for. Unlike recent auditions where he couldn’t even recite a single line before leaving, this time he was able to properly act. Just not being cursed at and thrown out was already a good outcome.
“What? You’re going to select whom? No… How can you decide on such an important role without consulting anyone?”
But just as Cheong-yeon was beginning to feel satisfied with the situation, an agitated male voice started emanating from the audition room.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
