Chapter 30: Louis!
“Hijun, we’re almost there, so wake up.”
The manager, who had been driving quietly, glanced at the back seat. Lee Hijun was sleeping, drooling on his neck pillow. He rubbed his eyes and frowned.
“Uh-huh. How long will it take?”
“About five minutes. Wake up so you can get rid of the swelling.”
“Haaam—”
In his hands was the script for The Plague.
Lee Hijun stared blankly out the window and muttered.
“Who’s coming to the meeting today?”
“Director Jin Gyeongmun, the production team, the screenwriter, and Yoo Yuna.”
“Ah. Damn.”
A low curse. Lee Hijun scratched his head in annoyance. He hated kids even on a normal day. But to have to work with a child protagonist?
“What a hassle.”
He’d have to pretend to be nice, act friendly with the kid—basically, put on a whole lifestyle performance. And he’d have to do it for the entire filming period.
“Have you seen that kid, hyung?”
“Who? Yoo Yuna? No.”
“Rumor has it that the kid’s got a nasty temper.”
‘Do you think you’re any better?’ was what the manager wanted to say. But what could he do? It was a statement he couldn’t utter, so he swallowed it back down.
“Still, she’s a good actress.”
“For her age, that is. Hyung, can’t you just ask them to change my role?”
“Didn’t you already talk to the manager about it?”
“I don’t know! Park Moonchul is just so stubborn, damn it.”
“Watch what you say. You’ll get into big trouble.”
“Why? Are you going to snitch on me, hyung?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Lee Hijun took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Since it was a Jin Gyeongmun film, he’d have to do it no matter what. But role changes during the casting stage of a production were pretty common, right?
“I’m just saying there’s no flexibility here.”
“It’s because the production team’s position is so strong. The director too. I don’t know the details, but I heard the screenwriter strongly recommended you for the role of Louis.”
“Wow. I’m so touched I could cry.”
It was a Jin Gyeongmun film, but the role he was offered was a supporting one. That was pretty ambiguous. He hadn’t played a supporting role in his filmography for three years now. He couldn’t refuse, but he couldn’t be happy about it either.
“So is there any role you’d like to play?”
“Jin.”
The script itself was excellent. You could say it was well-written. So he wanted to play a more significant role even more. Especially this attractive villain.
“He’s pathetic and sexy, which is nice. Plus, he’s got the second most screen time after the protagonist. He’s basically a lead, so wouldn’t he be credited as such in the filmography?”
It seemed like a small thing, but it was pretty important for actors. If you only played lead roles and then took on a supporting role even once, you could get labeled as someone whose career was on the decline.
‘They’re a place that makes a big fuss over the order of the cast names too. Ugh.’
The manager smacked his lips and replied.
“……I’ll talk to the manager again.”
“Yeah, please do. They don’t listen to a word I say.”
“Let’s just get through today’s meeting first. Test the waters and see how it goes. If you make a mistake, you’ll get scolded.”
By Manager Park Moonchul.
Lee Hijun just stuck his tongue out and stared out the window. It had been a long time since he’d been to Chungmuro for work.
The van entered the parking lot as the sign for Monet came into view.
Squeak—
“Let’s go up.”
“Can you check my outfit? How does it look?”
“It’s good. It’s fine.”
Lee Hijun adjusted his sleeves and went inside. The staff recognized his face and led him to the meeting room.
Click.
“Actor Lee Hijun is here.”
“Oh dear. Hello.”
“Hello. It’s been a while.”
“You look taller every time I see you? Huh? Hahaha!”
“Lee Hijun, is this already your fifth year? But you look the same as when you were a rookie!”
The director and the production company’s CEO, who were already gathered there, and Yoo Yuna all stood up to greet him. But only two people remained like stone statues.
“This is…….”
“This is screenwriter Aok.”
Aok and Yuna, to be precise.
Lee Hijun put on a fake, friendly smile and extended his hand. Aok, however, pulled her hat down further and gave off a gloomy vibe.
“Hello. Nice to meet you, writer. I read the script.”
“Uh…… nice to meet you.”
‘What the hell?’
A chilly feeling swept past behind the cheerful smile. Was everything really okay here? Then there was Yuna.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Yuna. You’re Lee Hijun.”
“It’s Yoo Yuna.”
The child answered while sucking on a chocolate milk carton. Her small, delicate features were as refreshing as a cat’s, and her cheeks were like rice cakes. She was definitely pretty…… but…….
“Do you have something on your face?”
Yuna tapped her finger near her chin and glared. Thinking it might be a saliva stain, he quickly wiped it off with his sleeve. The child giggled.
“Just kidding.”
“……That’s really funny. Hahaha!”
Hijun forced a laugh, suppressing his rising irritation. Director Jin Gyeongmun moistened his lips and took out the script.
“Well, since everyone who needs to be here today is here, let’s get started.”
It was a meeting to discuss the casting stage.
They talked about how each person analyzed their character, how they would act it out, and since it would likely be rated for adults only, they discussed the intensity level in advance.
“-So I thought that when Louis gave Jenny chocolate at that moment, it was out of pity. It was too cruel for a child, so it was a way to comfort her.”
Hijun recited what he had analyzed. The production company’s CEO and the director listened without much reaction, but Aok, the writer, looked uncomfortable, picking at her fingers.
“Writer Aok? Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”
At the staff member’s question, he shook his hand. And then, stammering,
“Th-that’s not it. The interpretation you just gave…….”
“Huh? Me? What…….”
At Aok’s words, Lee Hijun tilted his head in confusion. Yuna was still sucking on her straw and rolling her eyes. Then,
Knock knock—
“Boss, did you have an appointment with Big Win today by any chance?”
A staff member opened the door and asked.
The CEO then feigned surprise, as if he’d forgotten, and exclaimed. Aok and Lee Hijun both faltered and stopped talking.
“Oh dear! I forgot. Are they here now?”
“Yes. They’re in the reception room.”
“Director, this is the friend I told you about…….”
“Oh, the one you wanted to use as an extra? Let’s take a look.”
The director answered cheerfully, twirling his pen. The CEO then quickly gestured to the staff member with a wave of his hand. A moment later,
Squeak.
“Hello. I’m Ko Gyeongmin, the manager at Big Win Entertainment.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Sorry to interrupt the meeting. Our kid is a huge fan of the director and really wanted to meet him.”
“Hahaha! That’s embarrassing. So who is it?”
“It’s a friend named Ha Muyoung. Muyoung.”
Ko Gyeongmin turned his body and called Muyoung.
Loose white T-shirt, brown perm. Eyes that seemed filled with sadness. But pale skin and a faint smile.
“Hello. I’m Ha Muyoung.”
When Muyoung appeared, Aok’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out. No one noticed because they were all too surprised.
“Huh?”
Yuna also put down what she was eating and stared intently at Muyoung. And soon, she shouted what everyone was thinking but couldn’t say.
“He’s Louis!”
When Muyoung saw Yuna—no, Jaeni—he felt like he was about to burst into tears. It must have been because he’d been emotionally immersed for several days.
“Hi.”
“He’s totally Louis, right? Don’t you think so, Director?”
Yuna got up from her chair altogether and approached Muyoung. The director couldn’t say anything as he looked at Lee Hijun’s face. It was true that he bore a strong resemblance to the character description Aok had given him,
“You’ve never met him before?”
“He’s only filmed one web drama recently, and he doesn’t have a proper debut yet. So he really wants to have the honor of debuting in the director’s work.”
Ko Gyeongmin bowed deeply and asked.
Lee Hijun just clicked his tongue inwardly and looked away.
‘How annoying. Tsk.’
That’s why you need to join a big agency. What a hassle, all this over an extra role and nothing else.
“Mr. Lee Hijun. Miss Yuna. Would it be okay if we took a moment?”
The director asked the two actors for permission, rubbing his chin. Yuna had already moved to sit next to the director, and Lee Hijun forced a smile and nodded.
“Of course. There’s no better opportunity for a rookie than this.”
“Thank you. Uh, Ha Muyoung?”
“Yes, Director.”
“Could you sit down for a moment?”
Muyoung sat across from him.
The director kept admiring his face, full of awe.
It wasn’t just his appearance, but his eyes—filled with sadness—and his atmosphere were exactly like the Louis he’d imagined.
“So I guess you have no acting experience?”
“Yes. But if you give me the chance, I’m confident I can work hard and do well.”
“Have you read the script?”
“Yes.”
“Is there any role you’d like to play…….”
“Louis.”
Oh no! Just as I thought!
An actor always knows what role suits them best. At Muyoung’s answer, the director’s nostrils flared.
He’d been in this business for decades, but he’d never met an actor who fit a role so perfectly during the casting stage. He looked like he’d just jumped out of the script!
“Louis has already been cast. Actor Lee Hijun.”
Then Hijun’s manager, who was standing behind him, suddenly stepped in. He’d felt a creeping sense of unease and decided to strike first. Don’t touch the role of Louis, he meant.
“Hyung.”
At that, Lee Hijun clenched his molars and silenced his manager. He meant for him to stay quiet. The way things were going, he might be able to blow his nose without even lifting a finger!
“I’m sorry. I was just asking because you asked.”
“No, no. It’s okay.”
“I’d like to play Louis, but since I loved the script so much, I don’t care what role I get. I’m just grateful to be a part of it.”
Muyoung said, looking at Aok, who was sitting in the corner. The writer’s face turned red with embarrassment. She then got up clumsily and called the production company’s CEO and the director.
“Uh, Mr. CEO. Director.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Could I speak with you separately for a moment…….”
Her voice was trembling. The director and the CEO exchanged glances and then smiled as they stood up.
“Just a moment. Take a rest.”
Thud—
The three of them moved to the adjacent meeting room.
Aok, the writer, looked flustered and stammered.
“Th-that guy who just came in…….”
“You mean he looks exactly like the character description the writer gave you?”
“Yes, yes. So I was wondering if we could…….”
“No. Actor Lee Hijun is already here. How can we do that? Writer, that’s why we told you it’s hard to make a decision at this early stage.”
“I-I’m sorry. But when I saw Hijun, he seemed so different from what I imagined.”
“Oh, come on! This isn’t a game-!”
The production company’s CEO was frustrated, and Aok, the writer, was flustered by her own mistake. The director stood between them and looked at the adjacent meeting room.
“Oppa. Oppa.”
Yuna leaned halfway on the desk and called Muyoung. She tilted her head this way and that, looking interested. Muyoung smiled and made eye contact with the child.
“What?”
“Is there something here?”
Tap tap. Yuna pointed to her own cheek with her finger. But Muyoung answered nonchalantly.
“You’re the one. Is chocolate milk that delicious?”
“Huh?”
Yuna was taken aback and wiped her mouth. Muyoung whispered softly,
“Just kidding.”
An interesting smile spread across Yuna’s lips. She pulled her chair all the way over to Muyoung and started chattering. Lee Hijun was whispering something to his manager.
“That Ha Muyoung guy…….”
No matter how well you act, natural scenes come from the chemistry between actors. Just like Muyoung and Yuna right now.
“Let’s have them do a reading together.”