Chapter 51 - What Happened!

In front of the audition hall.

Baek Hyeon-woo was mixed in among the audition participants, waiting.

‘She must be showing her acting to the judges by now, right?’

Today, Baek Hyeon-woo had come to the audition hall with Kim So-yeong.

However, he didn't stick by Kim So-yeong's side. This was because he didn't want to disturb her concentration on the script.

‘We prepared a lot, but I can't know what level the competitors' skills are at.’

He looked over the participants who had applied for the role of Wol-hwa, but it was impossible to guess the level of their acting skills.

Unlike with former singers, since their status windows weren't visible, he couldn't check their Visual ranks either.

However, there was just one person whose status window was visible.

—————

[Ryu-hwa]

Vocal: A

Dance: S

Visual: A

Potential: A

Body Condition: 75%

Mental Condition: 85%

—————

It was Ryu-hwa of N.A.N, the popular girl group that represents UBX.

Perhaps because she was in charge of the girl crush concept in her group, her image was similar to Kim So-yeong's.

The presence that came from her outstanding looks was like a crane in a flock of chickens among the applicants gathered at the audition hall today.

‘However, her Visual is merely A-rank.’

In terms of visual expressive power, Kim So-yeong is ahead.

If Kim So-yeong can display her own potential and properly act the role of Wol-hwa, she is more than a worthy competitor.

However, there is one problem.

The fact that factors other than acting ability could come into play in the audition.

‘Last time, PD Park-nim gave me a little hint.’

He had already heard from PD Park Jong-hoon that Ryu-hwa would be participating in the audition.

He hadn't said it directly, but it seemed the agency was putting pressure on him to give the role of Wol-hwa to Ryu-hwa.

However, PD Park Jong-hoon added.

That he would take responsibility and try to ensure a fair evaluation was made.

‘I will trust you this once, PD Park-nim.’

Praying that Kim So-yeong's talent would be properly evaluated, Baek Hyeon-woo waited for the judging to end.

……

Ryu-hwa, who had returned from the restroom, called for her manager while yawning.

“Let's go now. Ah, I'm tired.”

“Ryu-hwa-ssi, do you think the audition went well?”

“What's the point of asking that? The result is obvious anyway.”

As Ryu-hwa retorted in a surly tone, the manager urgently looked around.

“R-Ryu-hwa-ssi, that kind of talk is a bit...”

“Ah…”

There are a ton of participants around who came for the audition.

She had to refrain as much as possible from expressions that implied it was already decided who would get the role.

Ryu-hwa also sneaked a look around, but fortunately, it seemed no one had reacted to her words.

“……?”

However, there was a man who was staring intently at Ryu-hwa.

He was a tall young man with neat features. Was he a participant who had applied for a different role?

“Ah, Ryu-hwa-ssi.”

As Ryu-hwa was looking at the young man, her manager urgently whispered.

“That person is Newstarz's manager.”

“What?”

“I saw him at TVX last time.”

“……”

Then is he Kim So-yeong's manager.

To think he follows her even to an audition she's obviously going to fail, he's really going through a lot.

Thinking that, Ryu-hwa suddenly gave a mischievous smile.

“Hello.”

Leaving her flinching manager aside, she approached him and greeted him.

“You're the manager in charge of So-yeong, right?”

“Yes, that's right.”

The young man answered with a calm demeanor.

“It seems So-yeong is participating in this audition too, what role is she trying out for?”

“She applied for the Wol-hwa audition.”

“Ah, then we're the same.”

Ryu-hwa smiled, playing innocent.

“This is a big deal. To think that So-yeong was my competitor.”

Saying that, she sneaked a look to gauge the other person's reaction.

This was also to check if he had heard what she said earlier.

“How about it? Do you think So-yeong can land the role?”

“Well. I'm not sure yet.”

An answer came back in a calm voice.

“If So-yeong can sufficiently display her true skills, I think there will be a good result.”

“Hmm, is that what you think?”

Ryu-hwa felt a little annoyed.

It seemed he hadn't heard what she said earlier, but for some reason, she didn't like the way he was talking.

“But So-yeong has no acting experience, does she? She must have had to prepare a lot to challenge for an HBS historical drama.”

“That's why we prepared a lot. Because she really wants to land this role.”

“……”

It seems he really thinks Kim So-yeong can land the role of Wol-hwa.

From Ryu-hwa's perspective, it was a story that only made her scoff.

An acting rookie with no actor experience landing a semi-main role in an HBS historical drama audition?

It's too reckless a story. This industry isn't that easy.

It might be possible if the agency pushes strongly, but for a small company like Haram Entertainment, it's absolutely impossible.

Furthermore, this time, the internal consensus has already been reached to entrust the role of Wol-hwa to Ryu-hwa.

But for him to talk so motivatedly... it was a truly laughable situation.

“I see. I hope it goes well.”

She spoke while forcefully suppressing the laughter that was about to burst out.

“Even if the result isn't good, don't be disappointed. Because there will be a next chance.”

“Yes, that's right.”

Whether he understood her sarcastic tone or not, he answered with a calm demeanor.

“Everyone should have that kind of mindset.”

“What did you say?”

Just as Ryu-hwa frowned, unable to understand the intention of his words.

The sound of a door opening was heard.

“Ah…”

Kim So-yeong, who had finished her audition, was slowly walking out.

However, it wasn't just Kim So-yeong who came outside.

Another staff member also came out with her and raised their voice.

“We will be pausing the audition for a moment! Everyone, please wait for a bit!”

“……!”

Ryu-hwa's eyes widened.

The audition had never once been suspended like this today.

What did it mean to suspend the audition right after judging Kim So-yeong?

Noticing that something unusual had happened, the other participants who were around also stirred.

Only one person.

Only Kim So-yeong's manager was maintaining a composed expression.

……

“Wow, this is a jackpot?”

“Where did a kid like that roll in from?”

The judges who were sitting in the audition hall showed an excited reaction.

Because the acting that Kim So-yeong had just shown was so excellent.

“Didn't it seem like Wol-hwa herself had popped right out of the script?”

“Yeah, it was truly a perfect performance.”

Kim So-yeong was, in a word, Wol-hwa herself.

She had perfectly embodied the character named Wol-hwa, who had only existed within the script, in the real world.

That's why everyone was sending high praise for her acting.

“H-Hold on. I don't think it was to that extent?”

Except for one person, the casting director Yoon Hae-soo.

“Number 9 did act well, but I don't think there was a big difference from number 8, Ryu-hwa?”

This Wol-hwa role must be taken by Ryu-hwa.

Because he had already taken something from UBX's Director Kim Do-gyun, this was something he absolutely could not concede.

“Besides, number 9 has no experience at all. Ryu-hwa's side, who has been consistently active as an actress for a long time, is more...”

“Casting Director Yoon.”

PD Park Jong-hoon snapped at Yoon Hae-soo, who was speaking enthusiastically.

“Weren't you the one who put the kids with no experience on the list, Casting Director Yoon? If you were going to say something like that, why did you put her on the list?”

“Ugh…!”

“I'm sure you have your own difficulties, Casting Director Yoon... but even if someone has no experience, if they're worth picking, we have to pick them.”

Saying that, Park Jong-hoon turned his head.

“Isn't that right, Writer-nim?”

“Yes, that's right.”

The one who nodded was writer Seonwoo Hyuk, who wrote the script for this drama.

“Watching today, it seems that numbers 1 through 7 aren't worth considering. They were all kids whose acting was too awkward or whose looks were very lacking. So I think we can just compare numbers 8 and 9...”

Seonwoo Hyuk, who was scanning the list that went up to number 9, said as he raised his head.

“If you compare the two, number 9 is more outstanding.”

“W-Writer-nim...”

“Because their styles are similar, it's easier to compare. Number 9 is an upgrade to number 8.”

Yoon Hae-soo felt troubled.

It was Yoon Hae-soo who had shoddily constructed the rest of the list so that Ryu-hwa could snatch the role.

However, because of that, it became a situation where Ryu-hwa and Kim So-yeong were being directly compared.

“It seemed both of them were idols who held similar positions in their respective girl groups, so perhaps for that reason, their direction was also similar. If their directions had been completely different, it would have required some thought, but since they're this similar, it's easy to compare.”

“……”

“Number 8 wasn't that bad either. Her vocalization was also fine. However...”

Seonwoo Hyuk made a dissatisfied expression.

“It's good that she came in to be judged and greeted us brightly and politely. But what are we to do if that feeling remains even in her acting afterwards?”

“Ah…!”

“She wasn't in a state of being properly immersed in the character. Her face as an idol kept remaining.”

She did wear the mask of the character Wol-hwa.

But behind it, the face of the idol Ryu-hwa could be continuously glimpsed.

“On the other hand, how was number 9? She was just Wol-hwa herself from beginning to end. She was perfectly recreating the character named Wol-hwa with her entire body.”

“……!”

Ryu-hwa acted the character of Wol-hwa.

Kim So-yeong showed Wol-hwa herself.

This was the difference.

“I entirely agree with what the Writer-nim said.”

Park Jong-hoon opened his mouth.

“Number 9, Kim So-yeong... was probably in a state of being 100% immersed in Wol-hwa even before entering the audition hall. She took on the audition in a state of having delved into the character of Wol-hwa that diligently.”

“It seemed so.”

“Honestly, it's not that Kim So-yeong is a perfect 100. If you just look at her recreation of the character Wol-hwa, it's 100 points, but in the remaining parts, there are still inexperienced aspects. Since she lacks experience, there are unavoidable aspects to it.”

If there had been someone technically far superior to Kim So-yeong, it would have required more thought.

However, thanks to the casting director, Yoon Hae-soo, excluding all such people, there was no need for such worries.

“Still, I think that the one who can best express the character of Wol-hwa is, after all, only number 9, Kim So-yeong. As for the technical parts, can't we just supplement them well in the future?”

“I agree.”

“I have the same thought as PD Park-nim.”

Voices of agreement came from here and there.

“Casting Director Yoon.”

Park Jong-hoon turned his gaze to Yoon Hae-soo.

“Do you by any chance have any further opinion?”

“……”

Yoon Hae-soo couldn't say anything and was just biting his lip.

‘Damn it, how do I get a refund for the golf clubs?’

Because he was in the middle of worrying about how to get a refund for the golf clubs he had purchased with the money Director Kim Do-gyun had slipped him.

“Since there seem to be no other opinions.”

Park Jong-hoon declared in a calm voice.

“The role of Wol-hwa, let's decide here to entrust it to number 9, Kim So-yeong.”

……

UBX Headquarters.

Ryu-hwa, who was walking down the hallway with her manager, frowned with a sense of unease she couldn't explain.

“Ah, shit, why do I feel so uneasy?”

Since coming back from the audition at HBS, the uneasy feeling hadn't disappeared.

I came back after doing well without any particular problems, so what on earth is the problem?

“Ah, so annoying...”

The faces of a man and a woman came to Ryu-hwa's mind.

The faces of Kim So-yeong and that manager, whom she had met at the audition hall.

They were an idol and a road manager from a small-medium agency that she didn't need to pay any mind to, but for some reason, they kept coming to mind.

And every time she thought of their faces, she felt even more uneasy.

Was it because the sight of them talking so carelessly without knowing their place was that bothersome?

“Hey, Ryu-hwa!”

Right at that moment.

The sight of Director Kim Do-gyun striding over could be seen.

Unlike usual, his face was full of anger.

What's wrong with that person now?

“I heard you failed the audition, what the hell happened!”

“Huh?”

At the roar of Kim Do-gyun, whose face was flushed bright red, Ryu-hwa felt as if her breath had stopped.