All night long, inside the accommodations, a heated discussion was taking place.
“Finally, I heard the casting issue would be resolved, so I rushed over here. What do you mean? Did I hear correctly?”
The casting director, the one responsible for selecting suitable actors for drama productions, adjusted his glasses.
“Are you serious? You’re giving this role to a newcomer?”
“Yes.”
The muscular PD Choi Hee-won nodded his head. His calm reply made the casting director swallow anxiously.
“I’ve run myself ragged trying to find an actor fitting the role of Kim Yu-han. But I couldn’t. Well, could you at least tell me his name?”
“It’s Sua Lee.”
“Sua Lee… let’s see…”
The casting director immediately started typing on his phone. After a moment, when he found nothing, his eyes blinked in surprise.
“Seriously? A total rookie? There’s nothing coming up.”
As the casting director’s confusion grew, the drama producer ‘Artistic Warehouse’ production manager was equally perplexed.
After hearing that the collaboration between writer Lee Geum-sook and PD Choi Hee-won was resuming, he had rushed over eagerly, only to be met with incomprehensible conversations right away.
…Kim Yu-han role to a rookie? Rookie casting meeting?
“Personally, I find this hard to understand.”
Finally, the production manager spoke up while stroking his neatly trimmed mustache.
“If the best fit for the Kim Yu-han role is truly a rookie actor, shouldn’t we not worry at all about how to bring him in?”
“Hmm.”
“I’m utterly confused. This is why I’m asking. With Lee Geum-sook’s script and Choi Hee-won PD’s direction, plus two top-tier actors, shouldn’t they be begging us to let them join?”
The casting director nodded in agreement from the side.
“I agree. How is this even the topic of our meeting..?”
“Certainly, hearing just the word ‘rookie’ would make anyone think that way.”
“What do you mean? Does that mean your opinion will change once we’ve seen them?”
“That’s correct.”
PD Choi Hee-won nodded.
“No matter how much we explain it in words, our doubts would only grow larger. Just take a quick look at this simple video.”
Only then did the casting director and production manager reluctantly agree. Talking it out would be mere theorizing – they would understand by watching.
However, problems started right away.
The casting director immediately furrowed his brow.
“Is this… a store’s CCTV footage?”
“That’s right. We promised not to film in advance, so this is all the footage we have left.”
“PD, you’re really pushing it.”
The casting director adjusted his glasses.
“Does it even make sense to check through a store’s CCTV? We barely see anything even when maximized, and the quality is terrible.”
His complaints were quite valid, but neither the writer nor PD Choi Hee-won showed any signs of anxiety or displeasure.
They simply played the video, quite confidently.
“…What exactly am I supposed to be looking at?”
Even the production manager of ‘Artistic Warehouse’ muttered this.
No matter how hard they tried, it was just store CCTV. The angle was all over the place, and when they zoomed in on Sua, the quality became even worse. Watching this video itself was ruining their appetite.
However…
“Wow, they’re pretty attentive!”
The acting started, and Sua gave CCTV one glance. Though brief, it was quite an intense moment.
“…”
Suddenly, the quality of the video became inconsequential.
.
.
.
.
.
“…”
Silence filled the space.
Neither the production manager nor the casting director made any more complaints. It would be more accurate to say they couldn’t.
The reason was obvious – Sua’s acting. The writer and PD Choi Hee-won watched them with understanding expressions, knowing they had experienced the same reaction initially.
“…Instinctively spots the camera, does she?”
The casting director spoke up. He was clearly quite shocked, as he repeatedly adjusted his already fixed glasses.
“I’m not sure if it was her finding the camera as an actor or her character Kim Yu-han’s trait of carefully observing the surroundings that led her to the camera, but whichever reason, it’s impressive.”
His voice was full of excitement.
“Most actors ask about things like camera positions when instructed to act. They’re just trying to follow instructions properly. But this is different, right? It feels like she’s telling us to just follow her lead.”
“Moreover, Kim Yu-han is an incomplete character yet. This shows that she has that much confidence in her interpretation.”
“Here, here, PD, hold this part for a moment!”
At the casting director’s request, the video was paused.
The first meeting between Lee Kang-cheol and Kim Yu-han, where they shake hands, and Kim Yu-han quickly examines Lee Kang-cheol.
“Such eye movements are impossible to practice. Nowadays, things like trembling eyelids are common CG processes.”
“That she did this purely with her own ability means…”
“…She’s become one with her role.”
The casting director messed up his hair in frustration.
“What, where have you been all this time? If we’d had a rookie like this, I wouldn’t have needed to run around!”
“No one knows her past. But, putting together the given clues, we can guess.”
PD Choi Hee-won continued calmly.
“Sua enjoys acting as a hobby, but apparently, there’s nothing she hasn’t tried as a hobby. That means her other areas are excellent too.”
“If that’s true, cooking, action, romance… there is no drama she can’t handle, right? Are you serious?”
“No, no, no, that’s enough!”
Unexpectedly, the ‘Artistic Warehouse’ production manager interrupted loudly, cutting everyone’s conversation short with a serious expression.
“I just want to watch this once more. No, just three times…”
They enjoyed watching Sua’s acting together. In fact, they ended up watching not just three, but four, five times.
The CCTV footage’s drawbacks now became factors that heightened their anticipation. If even this low-quality video could be this impressive, they couldn’t help but want to see her live.
Eventually, the production manager nodded in defeat.
“We’ll have to bring this person in. I admit.”
Writer Lee Geum-sook smiled as if she had been waiting for this moment.
“Actually, this script was something of a sore point for us too, did you know? It was so good to read as text, but it was impossible to transform into a drama.”
“The script that we couldn’t discard but also couldn’t properly bring to life has been completed with Sua.”
No one argued against what the writer and PD Choi Hee-won said. Even the assistant writers, standing in the back like a fence, nodded like chicks.
The production manager stroked his mustache.
“I now understand why we’re holding a meeting for just a rookie. But, shouldn’t the fees be on the lower side?”
“It won’t work. Sua’s taken informal audition fees.”
“…Audition fees?”
The production manager furrowed his brows. Was there even a precedent for giving audition fees to rookies? It was indeed unprecedented.
But upon seeing her skills, it started to make sense.
“I see. Such an unusual rookie, then just like pocket money?”
“Kim Sun-il personally contributed 3 million. On Seo Yeon-joo’s credit card.”
“…?”
The casting director’s eyes widened upon overhearing this.
“What? What did you say?”
“Exactly what was just said.”
“Then, nothing more needs to be added?”
The casting director continued agitatedly.
“Good acting skills? Sure, I agree. But in the drama business, not everything can be measured in terms of money.”
He tapped the script at the end of his fingertips.
“This rookie’s first line on her resume will be this writer’s work. And even the co-actors are top-notch. That experience alone is significant, plus 3 million won and a credit card? Hey, that’s more than enough!”
Writer Lee Geum-sook shrugged.
“I thought that way too, but we’re still in the subordinate position. The moment the other side thinks it’s nothing special, it loses its meaning.”
“But, to think that this is nothing? Impossible!”
Then the writer changed the video on her laptop. This time, the CCTV from the lower floor of the cafe.
“…”
Both the casting director and the production manager quietly stared at it.
“…!”
In no time, they were startled and stood up.
“This, no, is this… real?”
The sight of the picky Kim Sun-il on his knees is shocking enough, but Seo Yeon-joo handed him a credit card from her bosom.
However, the real shock comes next.
The expression. Sua’s face.
The look down at mere trash, the eyes telling them how inconvenient it is that they’re taking her time…
She clearly didn’t look happy. She looked bored. Certainly.
The casting director took off his glasses and said,
“Wow, my head’s spinning. How could such a monster exist…”
That night, the contract was revised several times.
◈◈◈◈◈
Meanwhile, Sua stepped out of the taxi safely.
“Phew, what a relief…”
Her feelings upon returning home were so brief.
She had worried that her experience would fail to be adequately represented, but judging by the reactions, it hadn’t. It motivated her to work even harder.
“Today was so busy.”
She had confirmed her special abilities in the tests and realized that her acting wasn’t bad. She also understood that her appearance wasn’t just a disadvantage.
As a result, though her body was tired, she felt quite satisfied.
“I want to try everything, really hard.”
Her mundane life, devoid of talent and direction, now seemed to have found its path. Her heart was racing excitedly.
“For now, I’ll take a good rest today. I’m so tired.”
Just as Sua quietly resolved herself, her steps froze. Something had stopped her instinctively.
[ Doll Shop ]
Looking at the transparent display cases, Sua thought.
“Why am I like this?”
Dolls were definitely not her interest, not even after a hundred or a thousand thoughts.
Still.
Always.
“?”
Her gaze was inexplicably drawn to the rabbit doll. All the others were fine, but only the rabbit doll captivated her.
Actually, she had already realized it.
Since becoming a woman, her tone had changed, her habits altered, perhaps her preferences were evolving as well.
Phew, still, dolls are a bit…
Sua shook her head vigorously.
“I can’t do this. I need to become a great actor.”
If she was going to become an actor, she wanted to be an elegant and sharp female actor. So dolls must be avoided at all costs.
“Right, this makes no sense. I’m definitely not interested.”
Sua confidently muttered to herself.
Actually, she opened the door of the doll shop.
“Welcome~”
“…Huh?”
◈◈◈◈◈
The next morning.
Sua was extremely busy since morning.
Bang! Bang!
The two rabbit dolls each held in Sua’s hands clashed. Currently, Sua was lying down with her chest cushioned on the floor and occasionally kicking her feet.
For your information, the two dolls were bought with Seo Yeon-joo’s card. For free.
What? Is she playing?
No, not at all! At least, Sua clearly didn’t think so.
Even though it looked like simple doll play, she was practicing various scripts seriously. Currently, she was working on a story perfectly aligned with her preferences, the forbidden love between a princess and her royal guard…
The princess rabbit doll turned her back.
“『Resign thyself. It is forbidden by heaven.』”
But, dong dong dong, Sua moved her hand. The knight rabbit doll chased after the princess rabbit doll.
“『This too is forbidden, that too is forbidden. Is everything forbidden? Madam, you only see prohibitions everywhere.』”
Slap! Then, the princess doll slapped the knight.
“『I said no! Have you not reconsidered even after thinking ten times? Then think a hundred and change your mind!』”
“『Even after a hundred thoughts, this is my only path, Madam.』”
At that moment.
─♩♪♬
The phone rang. An unfamiliar number.
“Ah, bother.”
An annoying sound escaped Sua’s lips. This was supposed to be a crucial moment…
Without much thought, she picked up the phone.
“Hello?”
A familiar voice reached her ear. Like a refreshing summer day by the sea.
“Is this Sua? This is Seo Yeon-joo.”
“Ah, yes, it’s me.”
While answering, Sua felt confused.
How does Seo Yeon-joo know my number? Ah, she’s calling about the contract, right? Then it’s not strange.
However.
“Sua, did you happen to buy any dolls?”
“…”
The following words hit her like a hammer on the back of her head. After muting the mic, she rushed to check the card given by Seo Yeon-joo.
“Isn’t this recorded? I thought only the amount was recorded, not what was actually bought?”
But she didn’t have much time to think.
“Hello? Hey, is my voice not reaching you well?”
“Ah, yes. Uh, yes. Why, why?”
Her brain stopped.
There was no other way. If it’s known that she’s buying dolls at this age, what kind of image would it be? This would completely shatter the perfectly planned image of the actor that Sua had envisioned.
Moreover, with the contract approaching, this situation was not good at all. She needs to appear as professional as possible to get good contract conditions.
Is this the end? Are things already tangled?
Right at that moment.
“I saw a doll in the transaction history. I thought I might have lost my card.”
“…”
Sua’s expression finally became serious.
“Yes. I lost it.”
