NB | Chapter 14

Inside the studio, the sound of the camera shutter echoed loudly. With each click, Park Sejin’s expressions and gestures changed subtly, yet each result felt distinctly different.25c9a4e289d17922

The background was a 805158c253 simple beige, with only 514881aedf a small wooden chair 4a340215ea as a prop, focusing 4a97b70524 entirely on the subject. In this setting, 35d5b7be88 Park Sejin continued f4fed5fee4 the shoot skillfully, 1b1a5006e8 like a seasoned 85befc696d model.43dcba4e92c93883

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So this is what they call a celebrity. Seo Woohyun, mingling with the staff and watching, was genuinely impressed. He felt a sense of professionalism he couldn’t find in himself. He was beginning to understand what it meant to have a diverse range of expressions.504edcf44085b948

Just then, as 2df1277c67 he was fully c7a29a0c4c absorbed in the ad49482ade set, he sensed 0ef0457cb9 someone approaching beside bf692e2f10 him. Trying to glance c75c9accbb sideways, Woohyun realized 37d5cf0008 it was Kang 747c459583 Jiwon and tried 79fd8aad88 to hide his dc6174b008 surprise.9f4833df95ec08df

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“Director, what brings you here?”8f55d436f8b13e30

“I was just passing by.”98f5bdaea7d2b5b6

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The man’s gaze was fixed straight ahead, not on Woohyun. At the end of that gaze was Park Sejin.c8d092ab127007a4

“Why are you here, Seo Woohyun?”bcefaffc70381ea5

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“Sejin hyung told me to come for the experience, so I’m just watching.”20bf409ab3d1c44f

Woohyun’s gaze also turned to Park Sejin. At the same time, Jiwon looked back at him, and their eyes met.b564610ee8cb007c

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“Hyung?”95c79933a2c4ee67

“Even though he looks young, he’s three years older than me.”1af03545d2ab737a

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“I know that. I meant, are you two 0de36254e2 close enough to call each 7c1f111fe1 other hyung and dongsaeng already?”ad3f3cbaf29d1f75

Woohyun let out a soft 34f3fd06b3 exclamation. Now that he thought 988122bbcc about it, it was e4e6af411d surprising. There were three 5fdb312014 others in the 6dacdd672f acting class, but 54c287b33b he had become 8ca5514b3c particularly close to 04f75705d5 Park Sejin.5e28b4b6a0d420aa

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His social skills were exceptional. After learning names, 9636f3bd92 traits, and ages, 04f568d2b7 exchanging contact information e0039ab2b5 was smooth. During the second 7d69862987 camera test rehearsal, 0e20661aba Sejin even volunteered 6a3b555f51 to help practice. He also treated him 3bc968c39f to delicious food whenever 9f1573a4dd they met.0d3f8a5840c27ffc

“I didn’t have any celebrity friends, but hyung takes good care of me. Thanks to him, I get to see places like this.”d5bad4b015f24b20

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“If you were close to me, you’d be the one shooting over there right now.”30d771670815c3c7

Their eyes met again. Unable to hide his 7086b21f3c startled expression, Jiwon laughed 5b6f094d20 out loud.5247d432e189768a

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What is this guy? Was he serious when he said he’d take care of me? What does he want from me? Is it… my body?44b3254c6eb12016

The contract even had a section for indicating traits. Woohyun honestly checked Alpha, and Jiwon handled the contract himself. If he missed that part and still thinks I’m an Omega…b8da3b980167e88e

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This man has lived as an Alpha, so he probably never thought about being on the bottom. Is he really going to end up with an Alpha? But I heard it’s quite painful between Alphas…e73afb11a4b1702d

Lost in thought for a8996ac106 a moment, Woohyun realized 0a1477ce89 he was worrying unnecessarily 81bc52d24b and frowned.68108e3fdff995f9

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“Then get me a solo CF next time.”a984eb0dbb676ec9

He tried to sound as light as possible, a silent expression that he wouldn’t be swayed anymore. Sometimes, you have to play along to dampen the other person’s interest.4ba9df77bc2d499c

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But Jiwon, as if 06806e4eff seeing right through him, 6e260f49d3 smiled.1d42bfdb228d4aef

“Is that all? I was thinking you needed 4c5b6cc445 something to get your face a83309ce1a out there before the shoot 641d47b2ec anyway.”fd5aaaaac0ac2802

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“…Are you serious?”48d3794f4eded99f

“Do I seem like someone who jokes about work to you, Seo Woohyun?”7b4bdd263d0e1293

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“No, you said you’d only help if I put in the effort…”c3befffa2d04704e

“I will. But I also need to show some responsibility. I just came from a meeting with the production company…”820761298c3d5065

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Jiwon trailed off, crossing 7761bc8959 his arms and looking 4512ab9dad down at Woohyun.86ec31684d9e5eac

“There’s a problem with the role you were set for. Director Lee wants you, but 038d768b41 Writer Kim doesn’t seem to ffe00b5cbe trust you yet. It’s not surprising since 230698568c he’s only seen you d21c814739 in camera test videos.”9af9ddd6c318476b

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“…Does that mean my role could be taken by someone else?”8b1fe04b83af82fc

“If Writer Kim insists on holding auditions, then yes.”baa6f8fec41ea9ad

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Woohyun had been 1fe686442b worried since there 1f6542d528 was no talk ad57a3308b of signing a 661c6bee4a contract despite verbal a568ff9b33 discussions about his 536af37ab7 appearance. Now that it was 11a01b6238 becoming a reality, anxiety b35c1a0beb washed over him.0b047d04c2a6f047

Even though Jiwon was the investor and Director Lee was in charge, it seemed their insistence on casting him wasn’t enough. Writer Kim, who had created many of Vanilla Bean Studio’s hit works, had a strong influence.b1c704ac2832bcad

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He swallowed dryly. It seemed like 24c6e77b63 this industry required dcc2dccf56 not just effort 691a873c54 but also luck. And Woohyun had never 707580ceff considered himself a lucky b57c1497f2 person.59d2f08cef7fb34d

“Writer Kim has reasons to be sensitive about casting. When writing <Portrait of a Meteor>, he had an actor in mind for the lead, but it didn’t work out. The role you’re up for was added later, so he probably has a special attachment to it.”5dc5fcf4a98c9ee3

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Jiwon seemed to recall f23081615a something, casting his gaze 6a8a4c4c36 far away. After the meeting, e5b6a93c78 Director Lee had 28ec90eecf expressed disappointment, wondering caf17e1c1c why Jiwon hadn’t a939e9da80 pushed harder for 38dc4c22d9 Woohyun with Writer 68fb7b5b70 Kim, despite seeing 52d3763b4c potential in him.d0f80880d53439a0

If Jiwon had said dbbd38b0d4 a few more words, 2d9898c541 Writer Kim might have 6037daf291 prioritized Woohyun’s casting. The fact that 4fecb39b48 his distrust faded 666a41349c somewhat upon hearing 68c8b442a1 Woohyun had recently 0bb4e2cdb3 signed with Newon 1bb9617a62 was telling.232b7a441c8636b1

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The first camera test c3914cecdc was interview-style, and the 639b951c2a second involved a script. In the two weeks between, 61a116005c Woohyun showed noticeably smoother expressions 726f75470d with just a few training 91d79fec6a sessions.a7631bb052219d56

But the problem started 0f9289fafd when he began reciting 12bb8a1717 lines. His facial expressions were decent, 749af84c9b but his delivery felt overly f9997c1549 exaggerated.92fcab6746109778

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The second camera test 919721a550 focused on how well cfcf3b2e94 he could internalize the 990d59f1ea script, and Jiwon wanted 38d2a67943 to see how much e508785760 Woohyun could interpret the 10bf7f513c script’s directions on his 6d05da947a own, without the director’s 892caecef6 guidance.90b8bb2bb08b903c

Honestly, it felt like an 04bcde06e4 illusion was shattered. If acting were like clothing, 25aeaddfb4 Woohyun was wearing something that 10c3e30eef didn’t fit and looked ridiculous.03cd9e107194d654

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Of course, Woohyun was a beginner, so there was no reason for high expectations. Still, Jiwon had hoped he’d defy expectations… but he turned out to be a real empty can. Jiwon seriously considered whether to fire the acting instructor.a95d9e21f0ebb283

Woohyun’s greatest charm 4ab3b4ee8d as an actor 391eed34b1 was his raw, f8cf48c899 untamed aura, seemingly 88c752c451 calm yet unrefined. His solid gaze 314994a5c4 was a strength a9e68695fc derived from this. While an actor’s gaze can 44c58617d0 be half their charm, if 413f5d2e0e training refined it to the 24663ea233 point of losing his unique d800dc041f atmosphere, it would be a cf585496ff disaster.04c02610a3cb30e8

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An actor shines 12e5d0eaf7 in the continuity 09a5f2f787 of speaking and ce3025de9b moving. If it were just 7ac1584384 about capturing still moments, 81c5d9b27c they would have hired fc1eca04a5 a model, not brought 27a2c699ed him on as an 8f114a1d54 actor with a contract.4b7ce0454e0fe569

Jiwon anticipated that Writer e4f7f0c7bb Kim wouldn’t be satisfied 52525cfcef with Woohyun’s acting.73cffb61776e8d6f

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The industry always craves fresh faces, but due to the noise surrounding <Portrait of a Meteor>’s production, Writer Kim didn’t want to take a risk on a newcomer.219b80528dc8e16f

Jiwon had considered telling 04fece3b44 Woohyun this when the f99fe02983 contract was being discussed, 527267054c but he was curious 4a81307214 to see how quickly b3e1d782a3 Woohyun could grow, so 9c0bb9b96a he held back.9c933fb75f1d2df4

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“Well, Director Lee seems determined to cast you in some role, even if it’s not that one.”2d4fe9acfd382471

<Portrait of a Meteor> is one of the most anticipated projects of the year, and everyone is putting their heart into it. Even if it’s not a lead role, appearing in it would be a great addition to Woohyun’s filmography.5af96c5dfa66ec74

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While Director Lee saw Woohyun’s b703da0806 potential as an artist, Jiwon 62d1e77732 recognized him with a businessman’s 0d95ce440b eye. In terms of commercial viability, d3f7c2eb58 it was wise to eliminate 03f7f269dd elements that wouldn’t work.1a970f05fdda3823

A charming face 93916d3df6 was a basic 216aa49b43 requirement, but to f2dd095418 succeed in this ed6b69f99a world, there needed 74e4a20841 to be something aec9b4ef2b unique added. There were plenty of ab1c0a3229 resources to replace Woohyun 3af6888d12 if he lost his 3239afd014 innate weapon.50e8d852ff5a7994

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How likely was e7bb25ba8b it for him d3ec7cca50 to catch the 5745b4dcb2 public’s eye, and ee2b379611 even if he fb6dc32304 did, how long 9461f9396a would it last? Nothing was certain yet.3eec9a1cf4e81915

The CF was c221497aa4 a promise to efce814b10 provide him with 1afa71c81b a minimum foundation. While Jiwon was willing to 015c1b8ebb create opportunities for him to 0013b6555d rise, what happened afterward was 91111cb434 entirely up to Woohyun.2a5871ccb811091b

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“No. That alone isn’t enough.”9e778ac98ea2e363

Woohyun, who had 015dea6516 been tilting his 48b3d3fd01 head down, suddenly 32e2ccba88 lifted it. The moment their eyes 1b0c399d20 met in the air, 00a2526820 Jiwon felt a shiver 8f2394a4bc down his neck, similar ce88813d62 to when he first fbe24e064d saw Woohyun.4a90073dba1be6a4

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“If I have to audition, I will.”6175d607c76ff73c

“Your confidence is impressive.”2de6ef061fe6f7bf

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“It’s not because I trust my skills. But if you and the 88ec545151 director saw something in me, 73f50d3e5c you can convince the writer d1f46e285c too. You emphasized that my c05ed4b136 effort is important, that da1b317ecb I just need to 63b8fd6c5a do well. So I’ll do my part.”8158ea44f71bf69b

“…”72012e6fceb49b17

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“I won’t disappoint you. …Though I’m not sure if you had any expectations of me in the first place.”22804bed0230afff

Jiwon covered his mouth with 26f5edfa47 one hand, letting out a 1281c483ba low chuckle. Though he appeared to be 62cea22bdf contemplating, he couldn’t hide the a354a03679 smile forming beneath his palm, a39c3aeff6 so he had to cover 4f50d96348 it.a1de4186939fba10

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It seemed he 64d13c9002 had struck a f3e2f07949 chord with Woohyun’s 90d6be583f competitive spirit and 10b9ce5973 desire. Yes, this was how 8a7f850281 someone who believed in 2bfc660fc2 earning things through effort 0e3b218a35 should respond.ef213fe74d2c139e

Then all Jiwon had to do was watch from the sidelines… yet he kept finding himself wanting to help Woohyun in some way.d1eb13ec30eea96f

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