CHAPTER 78: ROOKIE

OH, it wasn’t a dream.

Wonyoung couldn’t help but blink stupidly.

I’ve really become Cinderella man.

He woke up in Yun Dujun’s bed, realizing that Alpha took out at least half of the luxury haul that he bought for Wonyoung.

Yep, Sunbae-nim bought them for me the entire time I was in a coma.

And, now, some of the luxury items that Yun Dujun bought were around Wonyoung.

Yep, the Alpha surrounded him with all those expensive stuff.

Sunbae-nim can really be weird sometimes.

They didn’t have enough time to talk earlier since Yun Dujun had a flight to catch, but Wonyoung wanted to ask the Alpha why he kept buying him gifts while he was in a coma.

We weren’t in that kind of relationship for him to buy me expensive gifts.

Was it out of guilt?

Because it was his mother who almost killed me?

Well, that was plausible.

Anyway, it wasn’t the right time to worry about something trivial.

"I have an audition today," Wonyoung said to himself excitedly. "I’m back to being a rookie actor, huh?"

***

BASICS ACADEMY.

Pfft.

Wonyoung didn’t pay attention to it before, but he thought the name of Coach Kwon Taeyoo’s acting academy was funny.

Not in a bad way, of course.

After all, he believed that even veteran actors shouldn’t forget the basics of acting.

"Welcome, Wonyoung-ssi, Baekya."

Wonyoung smiled when Coach Kwon Taeyoo welcomed them warmly when they arrived to his acting studio.

It’s the weekend, so it’s time for Baekya’s acting lesson.

"Coach, I’d love to attend your acting lesson, but I have an audition today," Wonyoung said, smiling apologetically. "I’m leaving An Baekya to your capable hands in the meantime, sir."

"Leave it to me— I’ll teach your son well," Coach Kwon Taeyoo promised Wonyoung. "Good luck on your audition, Wonyoung-ssi. If you’ve prepared enough— which I’m sure you did— then you don’t have to get nervous. Just do what you’ve practiced and you’ll be fine."

Those were wise words from a great season actor.

"Thank you for the advice, Coach," Wonyoung said, his heart full of gratefulness. "Thank you for the advice."

Coach Kwon Taeyoo just smiled and nodded.

Wonyoung then squatted down to meet An Baekya’s eye level. "Baekya, I gave you a phone. Call me whenever, okay? And behave— don’t make trouble for Coach Taeyoo. I’ll pick you up after my audition."

"Yes, Papa. I’ll listen to Coach well," An Baekya said while nodding. "Good luck on your audition."

***

IT WAS a unique audition process.

When Wonyoung arrived at the hall where the audition was taking place, he was surprised by the number of people who showed up.

Men, women, children, adults, teens, and even the elderly.

It made sense since the only requirement that the production company asked was dancing skills.

So, I should have expected this.

"Bae Wonyoung-ssi, here," the female staff member called Wonyoung while handing him a round sticker with the number ’93’ on it. "Please wait for your turn."

Wonyoung smiled and nodded. "Yes, thank you."

After getting his number, he then sat on the chair in the last row.

Well, it wasn’t like you had to sit based on your number.

He just chose to sit at the back because children around An Baekya and Yun Yuhyun’s age were playing there. Ever since he accepted the fact that he was a parent now, it was as if his maternal instinct was awakened.

Wonyoung had always been fond of kids, but now he had a very soft spot for them.

I find myself caring more about children around me because I want strangers to look after my kids, too.

"Oppa, you’re so handsome!"

"Hyung, are you a celebrity?"

Aigoo.

Wonyoung was pleasantly surprised when the children that he had been watching suddenly came up to him, praising him for looking like a celebrity.

These kids are so energetic.

He suddenly missed Yun Yuhyun who was just as lively as these kids.

"No, I’m not a celebrity. Not yet, at least," Wonyoung said, smiling at the children. "But enough praising me. You, children, actually look more of a celebrity than I do."

And the kids giggled at Wonyoung’s compliment.

That was how he spent his time waiting— talking and playing with the children who approached him.

But he didn’t have to wait long.

When the audition started, the staff members called the auditionees by batches.

And there were twenty people in each batch.

They probably need a big group of extras.

Fortunately, each batch only lasted twenty minutes inside the audition room.

Hence, it was Wonyoung’s turn at last.

Let’s do this.

***

"ACT like you were a zombie."

Aha.

Wonyoung finally realized what the production company was looking for.

So, they need extras to act like zombies. Is it for a film? Or a series? A commercial? Music video?

The possibility was endless.

Anyway, the audition room was actually an auditorium.

There was a long table surrounded by five middle-aged people.

Wonyoung recognized the person in the middle.

It’s Director Jin Gangseok— the director who posted about this audition.

Anyway, that audition seemed legit.

"GRRR..."

Wonyoung snapped out of daydream when the people around him suddenly started growling while moving like zombies.

Oh, wow.

He was particularly impressed by that one flexible lady who bent her back as if she had no bones in her body.

Even the children were doing a good job.

I should start as well.

But, instead of walking and moving like zombies featured in apocalypse movies before, Wonyoung started dancing.

To be precise, he did the popping dance technique— ’zombie version.’

That meant he was popping while still acting like a zombie.

He didn’t growl, though.

There was only one reason why Wonyoung danced instead of doing what others were doing.

They wouldn’t put dancing skills as a requirement for nothing.

Hence, he popped off and acted like a dancing zombie.

I hope I’m right, though.

Wonyoung only worried about that for a moment, though.

When he saw the five judges looking at him while nodding approvingly, he confirmed that he made the right choice.

Yes— they’re really looking for dancing zombies.

***

MY BODY hurts.

That was Wonyoung’s thought after dancing for ten minutes.

Yes, that was how long the judges made them dance.

And, yes again, the other auditionees began dancing after most of them noticed that Wonyoung’s dance moves caught the judges’ attention.

I started a trend.

Hehe.

"Bae Wonyoung-ssi, you sent a unique audition tape," Director Jin Gangseok said. "Is there a reason why you sent us a video of you dancing while wearing a mascot?"

After showing off their dance moves, the judges started interviewing them one by one.

And it’s my turn now.

"Many people know how to dance, and dancing is an acquired skill anyone can learn if they are passionate about it," Wonyoung said calmly. It wasn’t his first audition. And, after dancing like his life depended on it, he didn’t have the energy to get nervous. "But not everyone can dance while wearing a heavy mascot costume. I wanted to stand out, that’s why I sent that kind of audition tape, sir."

Director Jin Gangseok didn’t say anything, but he seemed pleased by Wonyoung’s response.

The other judges also seemed satisfied.

Except for one.

"Wonyoung-ssi, are you really serious about this audition?"

Hmm?

The judge who asked that question was a famous choreographer who only introduced himself as ’DJ’ earlier.

Why does he look pissed at me?

"You know that you’re auditioning for an extra role, don’t you?"

"Yes, sir," Wonyoung answered politely. "I know what I’m here for."

Choreographer DJ scoffed at Wonyoung’s answer. "I’m sure you know that you have the face of an actor."

"Yes, sir. I know. I’ve been told I have the face of an actor more than I could count."

The choreographer looked shocked by Wonyoung’s bluntness.

Yes, I’m being arrogant on purpose.

Even the other judges and Wonyoung’s fellow auditionees looked surprised— but the amusement in their eyes was more evident.

Only Choreographer DJ seemed offended by Wonyoung’s answer.

And that’s my goal— to provoke this bastard who obviously hates me for some reason.

"Aren’t you too confident in your visual, Wonyoung-ssi?"

"It’s true that Wonyoung Oppa is handsome!"

"I like Hyung’s face!"

"Me, too! And Oppa is kind. He played with us before!"

"Hyung is probably an angel because he looks like one."

"No, Oppa actually looks like a pretty webtoon character!"

Oho?

Wonyoung was surprised when the children with them suddenly praised him.

And it was obvious that the kids were just being honest— they didn’t mean to embarrass Choreographer DJ.

But it was clearly what was happened.

Wonyoung wanted to scoff.

Why is this choreographer suddenly acting like this after he tried to humiliate me?

"What I’m trying to say is that you could have auditioned for a drama role with that face, Bae Wonyoung-ssi," Choreographer DJ said, now openly glaring at Wonyoung. "You’re obviously only here to make this audition your stepping stone. I’m afraid you might end up not taking the extra role seriously if ever you pass the audition."

Ah.

Wonyoung finally understood why the choreographer was acting this way.

He’s being biased against me because of my looks— he thinks I’m taking the role of an extra lightly.

Haaah.

"Sir, you’re right when you said I’m using this audition as a stepping stone. But, as a rookie, what else could I do? I need to start somewhere," Wonyoung said, still calm and collected. "But just because I’m using this opportunity to build my actor portfolio doesn’t mean I’m looking down on the role of an extra. It’s actually the opposite. I’m hungry." He clenched his hands tightly. "Hungry to be an actor that I’m determined to devour every single role I could grasp— be it an extra role or a main role."

***

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