By Zephyria Unlike Yoon Joo-ho, who was perfectly dressed, he was in comfortable casual wear. Jeans, a padding jumper, and sneakers. Though not overtly branded, they were all high-end designer items. The bag he wore cross-body was particularly expensive luxury.
When he only knew Han Joo-young was a third-generation Korean-American who started acting late, he had vaguely speculated their situations might be similar. A rookie actor struggling with living expenses, living away from family, yet nurturing his dream with hope. A comrade in arms who could share their plight among star actors like Yoon Joo-ho and Shin Hyo-jin. But it seemed not all struggling actors were in the same boat.
Looking down at Han Joo-young’s bag, which was more expensive than the deposit for his rooftop room, Song Hyun-soo reached a conclusion about Han Joo-young.
Sharing the same plight is out of the question.
“Joo-young, you know you can’t get too good at Korean, right?”
PD Kim, who had been giving the same hollow reactions as Song Hyun-soo, suddenly placed her hand on Han Joo-young’s shoulder and said with a serious expression.
“What? Why?”
“Jeon Yu-jeong is also set as a director active in the US. You need to maintain your current pronunciation until
“Oh wow, I didn’t think of that!”
“Yes, that pronunciation you have now! You need to maintain that level.”
Han Joo-young seemed to be contemplating whether he should pause his Korean lessons for a while. PD Kim took advantage of his silence to speak to Song Hyun-soo.
“Hyun-soo, what do you think? Isn’t Han Joo-young perfect for the role of Director Jeon, especially since he’s a Korean-American?”
“Yes, his appearance is exactly how I imagined Jeon Yu-jeong. He’s also very tall.”
“Our Joo-ho is tall too. It was hard to find an actor who wouldn’t be overshadowed by him.”
“Huh? So, I was cast because of my height?”
The three of them burst into laughter at Han Joo-young’s joke, delivered with a serious face. Song Hyun-soo’s laughter was only half-acted, though. The atmosphere in the conference room where the script reading was to take place was warm and friendly.
Except for the dark aura emanating from Yoon Joo-ho’s seat, far away from the three of them.
“What is it?”
A stiff voice suddenly emerged from that dark aura. The three of them simultaneously fell silent and turned to Yoon Joo-ho. Yoon Joo-ho, with his brows deeply furrowed, was on the phone.
“I told you to discuss the details with Director Bang.”
The atmosphere was not good. Although Yoon Joo-ho was speaking in a low voice, the conference room wasn’t as vast as a sports field. The content of his call was bound to be heard.
Regardless of the hostility, Yoon Joo-ho, impeccably dressed from head to toe, looked like an alien from another planet. A manga character drawn in a different art style. Like Seo Taewoong intruding into the Crayon Shin-chan universe.
Seo Taewoong, or rather Yoon Joo-ho, seemed very angry. He pushed his chair back and stood up.
“There will be no change in content, and no agreement. I believe I made that clear from the beginning. Does a lawyer, who has studied much more than I have, not understand that?”
Agreement? Lawyer? The three exchanged glances and then looked back at Yoon Joo-ho. Yoon Joo-ho, pacing in the corner of the conference room while on the phone, looked like he could kick his chair over with those long legs at any moment. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
“It means the money paid to hire a large law firm was wasted.”
Regardless of the other person’s response, Yoon Joo-ho let out a disbelieving snort.
“No, Attorney Park, I think you’re misunderstanding. That’s not what I meant…”
So, even the great Yoon Joo-ho doesn’t try to retract words spoken thoughtlessly…
“The money paid to you is a waste.”
He wasn’t. No, he wasn’t.
After ending the call, Yoon Joo-ho returned to his seat, exhaling loudly as if to cool his temper.
“Joo-young, Joo-young.”
PD Kim signaled Han Joo-young with a nod of her chin. Unlike before, she spoke in a very low, whispering voice.
“Go and greet him.”
“Now??”
“Honestly, it’s already a bit late.”
“You saw the atmosphere just now, PD-nim. Do I really have to greet him?”
A dark cloud momentarily overshadowed Han Joo-young’s usually cheerful face.
“That’s why I’m saying it, because I saw the atmosphere. He’s like that, so what would happen if you just passed by without greeting him?”
“We don’t have many scenes together. I think we can just stay awkward like this.”
“You must show proper respect to your senior. You don’t really follow that strictly in America either, do you?”
“In America, I got along well with everyone regardless of age. As you know, PD-nim, I’m very fond of people. As long as they’re not growling and snapping.”
“Growling… what?”
PD Kim asked the question Song Hyun-soo wanted to ask. Han Joo-young proudly explained, lifting his chin.
“Growling and snapping. I learned it in my Korean class. It means someone who is scary and threatening.”
“Sigh, Joo-young, you should probably look for a new Korean tutor.”
“Why?”
“What good is it to learn something no Korean living today uses?”
“Still, we talk well together…”
“Juyeong, Juyeong?”
“……”
“Anyway, introductions first.”
It wasn’t my fault, it was Yoon Joo-ho’s fault. Han Joo-young seemed to want to say that. Song Hyun-soo felt he had no choice but to agree with Han Joo-young on that point.
“Even if it’s his first film, he’s a powerful person in this industry. Connections in the entertainment world are as important as talent.”
PD Kim gave off an atmosphere that suggested he wouldn’t be lenient. Han Joo-young, with a reluctant step and an awkward smile, approached Yoon Joo-ho.
“Joo-ho Sunbae, hello. You’re early. I hurried to get here quickly too.”
Yoon Joo-ho looked up at Han Joo-young and glanced at his wristwatch.
“It’s 3:50 PM.”
“…Yes?”
“It doesn’t seem like you hurried that much.”
Then he returned to looking at the script.
Though they hadn’t known each other long, he was a man with a knack for chilling the atmosphere. Song Hyun-soo, watching, felt his lips drying out. Still, strictly speaking, it wasn’t wrong. If the reading starts at 4, arriving at 3:50 isn’t exactly early, is it?
Han Joo-young, who had been standing awkwardly next to Yoon Joo-ho, turned back this way and ran his hand down his arm.
“PD-nim, look at that. I told you he’s growling and snapping.”
“It’s okay. You don’t need to be scared. He doesn’t just do that to you. In a way, he’s fair?”
At PD Kim’s words, Song Hyun-soo nodded inwardly. He was right. He’s equally infuriating to me.
“I thought it would be fun since we’re the same age, so I was looking forward to it.”
“It’s just starting. There’s plenty of time before filming. You said you were sociable, Juyeong-ssi. Try using that sociability.”
Han Joo-young glanced at Yoon Joo-ho again and shook his head.
“I don’t think I can work with that person. I’m not confident.”
Just then, Yoon Joo-ho suddenly stood up. Thinking Yoon Joo-ho had heard them and was coming after him, Han Joo-young instinctively hid behind PD Kim. However, Yoon Joo-ho was heading towards the entrance.
“Oh, Joo-ho! Long time no see.”
Someone who was just entering the conference room extended a hand to Yoon Joo-ho for a handshake. Yoon Joo-ho bowed and accepted the handshake with both hands. The person who elicited that demeanor from Yoon Joo-ho was actor Choi Do-hoon, who plays the father of Lee Sol and Lee San. A senior actor with over 35 years of acting experience.
Han Joo-young, still hiding behind PD Kim, muttered.
“Still, you treat him respectfully.”
“If he were a real scoundrel, he wouldn’t have lasted 30 years in the entertainment industry.”
Even if he wasn’t smiling brightly and acting cute, Yoon Joo-ho was certainly polite in front of Choi Do-hoon. Standing with his hands clasped in front of him, listening intently to the senior’s words, Yoon Joo-ho looked like a male protagonist steeped in sorrow and melancholy at his lover’s funeral. In reality, he was just listening to Choi Do-hoon’s fishing stories.
PD Kim’s expression as he watched Yoon Joo-ho was pleased.
“Whether it’s growling and snapping or rumbling and crashing, it’s going to make a good picture.”
Song Hyun-soo agreed with her 100 percent. The man made even signing a credit card terminal pad look like a picture.
Other actors, the production crew, and even Director Jung Joon-hee. In the following ten minutes, most of the team members arrived. As the room filled up, the temperature of the once-chilly conference room quickly became warm.
“We will now begin the first script reading for
Song Hyun-soo looked around at the people seated at the table.
Jung Joon-hee, a respected director carrying on the tradition of Korean melodrama.
Choi Do-hoon, a veteran actor known as the ‘God of Acting.’
Shin Hyo-jin, who is building her own filmography with a charming mask that possesses both neatness and individuality, and solid acting skills.
Han Joo-young, an actor of Korean-American descent broadening his scope of activities with his gentle demeanor.
And Yoon Joo-ho, a top star who needs no adjectives.
Could he play his part among these people? Song Hyun-soo rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants under the table. But it had taken a full eight years just to get this far. Whether it turned out well or poorly, he had no intention of leaving the stage.
“Then, we will begin with opening remarks from the Director.”
Director Jung Joon-hee, whom he had been introduced to, stood up from his chair with a benevolent smile.
In a place without an audience, the movie
■■■