Chapter 82 - It's Something to Be Truly Grateful For

"A former actor?"

"That manager?"

People's gazes were focused on Baek Hyeon-woo. Because the great actor, Lee Dong-jae, had asserted it with conviction, everyone accepted it without a doubt.

"I thought he had a certain vibe for some reason."

"So that's how he gave acting guidance to So-yeong-ssi."

"Seeing as how he improved her in one go, he must be incredibly skilled?"

Gazes filled with curiosity and awe. Some of the younger actors even glared with wary eyes. It was an animosity born from an actor's instinct toward someone who could become their competitor.

"I think you have a misunderstanding, but no."

Baek Hyeon-woo promptly denied it. Other than participating in things like talent shows in kindergarten or elementary school, Baek Hyeon-woo had no acting experience.

The reason he was able to give Kim So-yeong acting guidance just now was the result of applying his Silhouette ability. Baek Hyeon-woo couldn't guide her on lines or facial expressions, but he could correct her body movements with his Silhouette ability.

"I have no acting experience."

"Hmph, you would want to say that."

"It's not that..."

Lee Dong-jae cut Baek Hyeon-woo off.

"Alright, let's just say you're not."

Saying that, Lee Dong-jae smiled. As if he were being considerate of Baek Hyeon-woo.

"Everyone must have their circumstances."

"......"

Baek Hyeon-woo was at a loss for words.

Right now, Lee Dong-jae was under a very firm misconception. However, if Baek Hyeon-woo were to try and clear up this misunderstanding to the end, he would also have to explain the method he used to improve Kim So-yeong's acting.

He would have to convince people without mentioning his Silhouette ability, and if he spoke while hiding the most important part, there was a high possibility he'd be suspected, 'As I thought, is there something he's hiding?'

"Oppa, were you really an actor?"

"No, I wasn't."

Baek Hyeon-woo let out a sigh at Kim So-yeong's question.

……

There were only two scenes for Kim So-yeong to film today. After filming the duel scene and then a scene where she gives orders to her subordinates, Kim So-yeong's part for the day was over.

"So-yeong-ah, you worked hard."

"Yes, I'll go change and come back."

While Kim So-yeong went to change with the wardrobe staff, Lee Dong-jae approached.

"Team Leader Baek, can we talk for a moment?"

"Yes, Lee Dong-jae-nim."

Lee Dong-jae sat on the edge of a nearby chair.

"From overseas?"

"Pardon?"

"Did you learn acting overseas?"

Baek Hyeon-woo felt troubled.

"Lee Dong-jae-nim, I am really not a former actor."

"Hmm, denying it to the end. I get it."

"But I'm really not..."

This old man is so stubborn. As Baek Hyeon-woo was at a loss for words, Lee Dong-jae massaged his own shoulder and opened his mouth again.

"I was a bit harsh earlier, wasn't I?"

Lee Dong-jae brought it up abruptly.

"As a manager, you must have felt dissatisfied, but I hope you'll understand."

"Lee Dong-jae-nim..."

"Because I didn't want to compromise either."

Lee Dong-jae's voice was serious.

"The acting So-yeong-ssi showed at first was a 70-point performance."

"......"

"Actually, that level can be called a pass. In reality, no one said anything, and if I hadn't overturned it in the middle, it probably would have been aired in the main drama just like that."

If Kim So-yeong's acting had been at a level that anyone could see was terrible, the 'Cut!' would have been heard right away. Therefore, it was by no means at a level below the passing line.

However...

"However, the viewers who watch the drama would probably give it a failing grade of less than 30 points."

"......"

"A former girl group actress with no acting experience... ordinary viewers can't help but think she was forcefully inserted by her agency. If they look with those prejudiced eyes, even an ordinary 70-point performance looks like a less-than-30-point terrible performance."

That's right. Kim So-yeong has to fight against the viewers' prejudice.

"Then, from So-yeong-ssi's perspective, what is the right answer?"

"She has to show a 100-point performance that anyone would have no choice but to acknowledge."

"Exactly.”

Lee Dong-jae is a veteran who has appeared in numerous dramas.

Because he had judged that Kim So-yeong's acting was not at a level to convince the viewers, he had stopped the filming himself.

"So-yeong-ssi's facial acting is excellent. Her line delivery is also flawless. However, her physical acting didn't suit the swordsman character of a historical drama."

"It was a part that couldn't be caught during the script reading."

"Yeah, because you're sitting in a chair during a reading."

The problem with her body movements, which couldn't be known at the script reading. It was to improve that, that Lee Dong-jae had taken such a strict attitude.

"Could you not have taught her specifically yourself, Lee Dong-jae-nim?"

"Team Leader Baek, why are you acting like you don't know?"

As if still thinking Baek Hyeon-woo was a former actor, Lee Dong-jae clicked his tongue and spoke.

"If one could become good at acting just by having a sunbae actor teach them 'do this, do that,' then there would only be great actors in the world."

"That is also true, but..."

"As you also know, Team Leader Baek, acting isn't something you can do by teaching with words. It's something you have to realize with your own body."

Saying that, Lee Dong-jae smiled.

"How did you teach her, Team Leader Baek? Did you show her the ideal movements yourself?"

"I only corrected So-yeong's movements one by one. Like telling her to raise her arm this much more, or to step forward this much more strongly..."

"That's amazing."

Lee Dong-jae sent his sincere praise.

"It means you have a talent for objectifying acting. Even I can't do it like that."

"It's not that, it's just... I can see it with my eyes."

"It's truly excellent."

"......"

Watching the silent Baek Hyeon-woo, Lee Dong-jae smiled.

"I think you'd be a good actor. You have long limbs, and your vocalization is good too."

"The manager job suits my aptitude, so..."

"A shame."

Lee Dong-jae tapped his own shoulder, looking genuinely disappointed.

"Does your shoulder hurt?"

"Well, at this age, everywhere hurts."

"If you don't mind, shall I massage it for you?"

Lee Dong-jae made a surprised expression at Baek Hyeon-woo's proposal.

"Is that okay?"

"I'm good at massaging shoulders and the like."

"Then I'll ask a favor.”

Baek Hyeon-woo placed his hands on the shoulders of Lee Dong-jae, who was sitting in the chair.

"They're incredibly stiff."

"I'm always like that."

Lee Dong-jae's trapezius muscles were as hard as a rock. How could he act so freely with such a stiff body? It was something difficult for Baek Hyeon-woo to understand with his common sense. As expected, there was something different about a great actor.

"I think I'll have to massage your neck first."

"Huh...?"

Baek Hyeon-woo began to massage from the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the side of the neck. This was because the spinal accessory nerve, which controls the trapezius, passes under the sternocleidomastoid.

"Oh, aigo, ugh..."

As the sternocleidomastoid, which was stimulating the spinal accessory nerve, softened, the tension in the trapezius was also relieved.

After massaging the sternocleidomastoid sufficiently and touching the trapezius again, what had been as hard as a rock had softened to about the level of a raw potato. It was still hard, but at this level, a massage was fully possible with Baek Hyeon-woo's strength.

"Ugh, ooh, ooooh...!"

As the full-scale trapezius massage began, Lee Dong-jae let out cries of admiration.

"Wow, this is something else. Where did you learn such a skill?"

"I worked as a physical therapist before I became a manager."

"You were an actor, then a physical therapist, and now you're a manager? What a turbulent life."

"......"

He decided not to explain any further. I'll just massage your shoulders, so you can think whatever you want, old man.

"Aigo, that's refreshing!"

In a corner of the filming set, the great actor's cries of admiration continued to echo.

……

A few days later. As Baek Hyeon-woo was working in the office, Park Yeong-ho came running in, out of breath.

"Team Leader Baek, the news is out!"

"News?"

What news was there to come out these days? They were releasing articles promoting the Newstarz new song every day, but...

"The actor Lee Dong-jae's SNS post became an article, and we're getting attention along with it!"

"What?"

Park Yeong-ho showed him Lee Dong-jae's SNS on his phone. It seemed that before leaving the filming set yesterday, he had taken a picture with Kim So-yeong and Baek Hyeon-woo, and had uploaded it to his SNS.

Lee Dong-jae had been enjoying great popularity as an influencer since appearing on the world travel variety show, so the number of likes and comments was enormous.

———

[LEE_DONJAE]

Click, at the filming site of 'Unshakeable Dynasty'.

Kim So-yeong-ssi, who is appearing as my subordinate, is really good at acting. You can look forward to it.

Manager Baek Hyeon-woo is also the best. What he's the best at is a secret.

#LeeDongJae #KimSoYeong #BaekHyeonWoo #Newstarz #UnshakeableDynasty #HBS

———

It was a post that had a sense that didn't seem like it was from a man in his 60s. Gratefully, he had even added the Newstarz tag. Still, it would have been nice if he had omitted the Baek Hyeon-woo tag.

"Look at this."

Park Yeong-ho showed him a stream of news articles posted online.

"Articles like 'Who is the Kim So-yeong that Lee Dong-jae mentioned? Who is Baek Hyeon-woo?' are pouring out."

"......"

When a popular celebrity throws out something newsworthy, derivative articles pour out. Because reporters pull out all sorts of stories to write articles to get views.

The incident where Baek Hyeon-woo dealt with Joo Ga-hee's hyperventilation in episode 6 of 'The Idol' was also being re-examined.

"The articles are also mentioning that a Newstarz new song is coming out. The promotional effect of this will be considerable."

Lee Dong-jae is not an ordinary historical drama actor. He is an influencer with high popularity, regardless of gender or age. This way, even people who had no interest in girl groups will come to know that a Newstarz new song is coming out.

"To think such a jackpot would hit from an unexpected place, haha."

"I know, right."

Baek Hyeon-woo nodded while checking the continuously uploaded articles.

"To think he'd post it on the very day the Newstarz new song is released... it's something to be truly grateful for."

That's right. Today is the release date of 'After girl', which is being released as a digital single. For Lee Dong-jae to post something like this on his SNS on such a day, causing a flood of articles.

Lee Dong-jae probably intentionally posted it on SNS today. Seeing as he posted it a few days later, not on the day of filming or the next day, it must be true that he intentionally matched the date.

'Thank you, Lee Dong-jae-nim.'

When we meet next time, I'll massage your shoulders again. Thinking that in his mind, Baek Hyeon-woo smiled.

……

And, at 6 PM sharp. Newstarz's new song, 'After girl', was simultaneously released on each music site. The Haram Entertainment employees gathered in the office and waited for the music site charts to be updated.

"Don't have too high expectations."

Choi Tae-hyung said in his usual cold voice.

"Today is also the day the popular boy group 'Drum Fire's' comeback album is released. Their fans will flock in enormous numbers, so just sticking right behind them is successful enough."

"Director Choi, don't spoil the mood and just wait quietly."

"......"

At Baek Yeon-ah's scolding, Choi Tae-hyung shut his mouth.

However, as Director Choi said, the fact that another popular group's comeback album was being released on the same day was a negative factor.

Because if the fans line up all the album's tracks on the chart, Newstarz's rank will be pushed down by the number of tracks.

"Ah, it's out!"

As Park Yeong-ho, who was refreshing, raised his voice, everyone rushed in front of the monitor.

"Huh?"

And, the moment they checked the rank displayed on the screen.

A question mark appeared above everyone's head.