NB | Chapter 14

Inside the studio, 54d2256081 the sound of 2da820dd34 the camera shutter e98b5dc410 echoed loudly. With each click, Park Sejin’s expressions and gestures b7671b6de2 changed subtly, yet each result felt distinctly different.ac4b0ace07df29b4635c

The background was a simple 3528efd042 beige, with only a small 18293ea24b wooden chair as a prop, 4a9042443c focusing entirely on the subject. In this setting, Park Sejin continued the c7a3c6ed20 shoot skillfully, like a seasoned model.c0e04661a73dd0df849e

So this 9ce5e39a82 is what ecf80ef153 they call f7dcc22b36 a celebrity. Seo Woohyun, mingling c186086d94 with the staff 5b1cd93622 and watching, was 8c589d7b97 genuinely impressed. He felt a sense 44b16bef59 of professionalism he couldn’t cd575d1ce0 find in himself. He was beginning to understand f78ebc5f4f what it meant to have 22e96c31c5 a diverse range of expressions.0422e96fb1c9d5a57c84

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Just then, as he was fully 6625e5b5cb absorbed in the set, he sensed b772126f69 someone approaching beside him. Trying to glance sideways, Woohyun realized 813efa6cfe it was Kang Jiwon and tried abfcfe3ff8 to hide his surprise.889a818075b081f983b1

“Director, what 977a03a15a brings you 160e29e23c here?”ed2cc06e309acf52fb78

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“I was just 7c0a5519fa passing by.”2f7de94e1fe69ec6b5b7

The man’s gaze was 435489cb27 fixed straight ahead, not 6b1f9fc437 on Woohyun. At the end cea83b07c9 of that gaze d4a5f4a713 was Park Sejin.78a2f3435f1333440a0a

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“Why are you 4f5aabae37 here, Seo Woohyun?”76f8ab2251a260212500

“Sejin hyung told me to come for 7def0bdb15 the experience, so I’m just watching.”46c93fe34d5e2a7a1be4

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Woohyun’s gaze also 848609ff52 turned to Park 5fa4cc91d6 Sejin. At the same time, Jiwon 3576632bb8 looked back at him, and 0b0c76dc12 their eyes met.54151b3f935e455554a3

“Hyung?”804b675b4b37e1fb53f6

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“Even though he looks young, he’s becb239d3c three years older than me.”67865a67ef7957993dc5

“I know that. I meant, are you 0718c8177f two close enough to 1a9742baa9 call each other hyung 139c6bc9c3 and dongsaeng already?”27796aee761f78144b2f

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Woohyun let e96f10b4a8 out a f69c9520ab soft exclamation. Now that he 9ff37c8916 thought about it, 8dda1a64c8 it was surprising. There were three others in the 4c31e86927 acting class, but he had become 9c5221fac9 particularly close to Park Sejin.25949dcbba44023c64a0

His social bb93f865ee skills were 4b066b1877 exceptional. After learning names, 839c015091 traits, and ages, 27df076bef exchanging contact information b3fd9c10e1 was smooth. During the second camera 2dbed5a754 test rehearsal, Sejin even a41a79655f volunteered to help practice. He also treated 9afea6f2cd him to delicious ea802ec7d7 food whenever they 87da84f0e6 met.82bb1c00b9ba931ec0db

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“I didn’t have any celebrity 98dca4c76a friends, but hyung takes good 8dd8072df7 care of me. Thanks to him, I 5588a1ba7d get to see places 9b8b670b48 like this.”ad86d09b75409836a372

“If you were close 64cbcc18e0 to me, you’d be e406a6a974 the one shooting over 9bfda35a32 there right now.”db5f0b2559dcf98b8a0e

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Their eyes 37d3b4baa6 met again. Unable to hide his startled 8a9d32c22f expression, Jiwon laughed out loud.9d01f1689f1aaaad7fa7

What is c9cc440af3 this guy? Was he serious ba8d58a9a2 when he said 2442bf9a71 he’d take care 413ec44384 of me? What does b708bb41df he want beb0766c2e from me? Is it… 17278e8030 my body?61b36e8dc65c2b2cbc41

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The contract even 1625e5ddc2 had a section aab123d9c6 for indicating traits. Woohyun honestly checked Alpha, and 1245949d37 Jiwon handled the contract himself. If he missed that 552572886c part and still thinks a748d1ae37 I’m an Omega…8d5da53a7d1b7a900d3a

This man has lived as an Alpha, so he a2cfe961ae probably never thought about being on the bottom. Is he really going 9c915d5269 to end up with 130b80fa43 an Alpha? But I heard 1602436297 it’s quite painful c74a5d7285 between Alphas…d5a61a4cbae946c2942c

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Lost in thought for a b562054f19 moment, Woohyun realized he was 2f8b57bec1 worrying unnecessarily and frowned.e7149002072bab549c5e

“Then get me a 822166c736 solo CF next time.”ae6a28e0a76e0fca6a8c

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He tried to sound as 4d32866776 light as possible, a silent e709f5ebab expression that he wouldn’t be 294196150e swayed anymore. Sometimes, you have to 493bbf03bf play along to dampen c6e4912dc6 the other person’s interest.4cdcf6b309c9efc07139

But Jiwon, as if seeing 9677307903 right through him, smiled.bba1bc56082bcacf958f

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“Is that all? I was thinking you needed something to get 2241239c16 your face out there before the shoot anyway.”38092ed75ec960538681

“…Are you serious?”e5048a92acacd294937f

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“Do I seem like someone who jokes 176fa89284 about work to you, Seo Woohyun?”debf309525056de2d878

“No, you said f33c227f7b you’d only help 9145761227 if I put c3ab328a94 in the effort…”f0bfabeac36a2b4227cd

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“I will. But I also need 2213a55444 to show some responsibility. I just came from a fb42796353 meeting with the production company…”d03265f4ca0954d4b7cf

Jiwon trailed off, crossing 5b254f3470 his arms and looking 2bb726bb14 down at Woohyun.f83bde0196d7758e8dfc

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“There’s a problem with the 519f219fc3 role you were set for. Director Lee wants you, but 551d6ee3b6 Writer Kim doesn’t seem to d80a137e70 trust you yet. It’s not surprising since he’s only ae22375585 seen you in camera test videos.”8b6bb4d50670fa7b052d

“…Does that mean my role could 1a4fca05f5 be taken by someone else?”b2b375314be05090dd9f

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“If Writer Kim d29111b22c insists on holding 2a42976106 auditions, then yes.”81d626e8ae1386458e98

Woohyun had been worried since b83332d6b2 there was no talk of c371693cde signing a contract despite verbal 860f59814d discussions about his appearance. Now that it f32da265ae was becoming a d447807f4b reality, anxiety washed 414dfeb887 over him.1ed6049eb6696d9b76a3

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Even though Jiwon was the investor 9da0d39e03 and Director Lee was in charge, e751715fd1 it seemed their insistence on casting 1490d603b0 him wasn’t enough. Writer Kim, who had created many 1a39ecc308 of Vanilla Bean Studio’s hit works, 8db7407bbc had a strong influence.cb883ca9957a52cb796f

He swallowed dryly. It seemed like this industry required fb7e525f59 not just effort but also luck. And Woohyun had 255b2d2a4e never considered himself c6b59cc754 a lucky person.76f60dd0a104affa3b9f

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“Writer Kim has 51a93b1abc reasons to be 54bd887bdc sensitive about casting. When writing <Portrait of a Meteor>, he had an actor f57d80ea7f in mind for the lead, but it didn’t work out. The role you’re up for 63249b127e was added later, so he 55405de400 probably has a special attachment 156fecfde0 to it.”825c821568749cdb168d

Jiwon seemed to 3e9a4a5410 recall something, casting 06f6307ea9 his gaze far baa38d8021 away. After the meeting, Director Lee had expressed disappointment, 6d7f10f789 wondering why Jiwon hadn’t pushed harder for Woohyun 5a46b5ddc7 with Writer Kim, despite seeing potential in him.88b956dbdbecd2a8a104

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If Jiwon had said a few more words, b9d346a79b Writer Kim might have prioritized Woohyun’s casting. The fact that his distrust faded somewhat upon hearing 895b600c57 Woohyun had recently signed with Newon was telling.88aabc2572febc2ca571

The first camera 98895c3b95 test was interview-style, 881d224549 and the second b151c56487 involved a script. In the two weeks between, Woohyun 6c8c8eb3bf showed noticeably smoother expressions with just e7287a96e9 a few training sessions.c1bc5f1cc932d59e208c

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But the problem 8bd011c2a0 started when he a80361146f began reciting lines. His facial expressions were 63ffc49dfb decent, but his delivery 97c0c4342b felt overly exaggerated.69d837726a7f9c4132c3

The second camera test focused on how well he could internalize the script, and Jiwon wanted to c93d14d418 see how much Woohyun could interpret the script’s directions on his own, without the director’s guidance.17f2dd7b736fa6dcf999

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Honestly, it 9c2f5a6dc8 felt like 4be02b14bb an illusion 71e487e8bf was shattered. If acting were like 980634d178 clothing, Woohyun was wearing 27d5377484 something that didn’t fit bbd205af8b and looked ridiculous.ba1378200e9a3f5ba966

Of course, Woohyun was a beginner, so 1266a06636 there was no reason for high expectations. Still, Jiwon had hoped he’d defy e5b9c4cdd7 expectations… but he turned out to ae98324bdd be a real empty can. Jiwon seriously considered c65d28ee3c whether to fire d4301b75b3 the acting instructor.2642a80a26c42bd1970e

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Woohyun’s greatest charm as an 2ea40de291 actor was his raw, untamed 124bc64b7e aura, seemingly calm yet unrefined. His solid gaze was a 4a7d9e7d82 strength derived from this. While an actor’s gaze can be half their charm, dc6f840294 if training refined it to the point of losing 5f844b0e02 his unique atmosphere, it would be a disaster.af17fd741adc4e1ecfd1

An actor shines in the 6f673d035b continuity of speaking and moving. If it were just about capturing still moments, they would have hired ed2f76fef1 a model, not brought him on as an actor with a contract.40cd51a8e3a4b551e8a1

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Jiwon anticipated that Writer d03b258b71 Kim wouldn’t be satisfied 9911921f14 with Woohyun’s acting.c7ef6081ea9dd75b4ed7

The industry always craves fresh faces, but due to the 0a9974e890 noise surrounding <Portrait of a Meteor>’s production, Writer Kim didn’t fb40056563 want to take a risk on a newcomer.e1c288bdb532c0e96e93

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Jiwon had considered telling Woohyun this when the contract was being discussed, but he affb46e135 was curious to see how quickly Woohyun could grow, so he held back.66e109aa55cc34633dfa

“Well, Director Lee seems determined to cast you in 127c708123 some role, even if it’s not that one.”fadb9f5c6ae0cefc585a

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<Portrait of a Meteor> is one of the 8049daa92b most anticipated projects of the year, and everyone c01b7309ad is putting their heart into it. Even if it’s not a lead 3b1237329c role, appearing in it would be 3c97d66376 a great addition to Woohyun’s filmography.3c1fa2a12d8cf1bd840c

While Director Lee saw 8ff1dfa8e8 Woohyun’s potential as an 4e7f01ad84 artist, Jiwon recognized him f547b416e5 with a businessman’s eye. In terms of commercial viability, 9f9b3bb351 it was wise to eliminate e20f418bcc elements that wouldn’t work.3f9040438f6484a8d77d

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A charming face was a basic requirement, 46291cc14e but to succeed in this world, there b0a7b7d09f needed to be something unique added. There were plenty of resources 3463f89d9f to replace Woohyun if he 7452a17498 lost his innate weapon.6e3eeb841eb45fed9646

How likely was it for him to catch the public’s eye, 1d3fe88ea1 and even if he did, how long would it last? Nothing was 304b0a00c7 certain yet.80c920113632d1fbb77d

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The CF was f3a7e9ade3 a promise to 32910e9359 provide him with 98deb5a041 a minimum foundation. While Jiwon was willing to create opportunities for him to 5eeeb5ead6 rise, what happened afterward was entirely up to Woohyun.53a95a0b33bb192b4ba0

“No. That alone d0b5b46ccb isn’t enough.”76dc91eb0f5003084efc

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Woohyun, who had been tilting his 2ff384abd8 head down, suddenly lifted it. The moment their eyes met in the air, d0456890f9 Jiwon felt a shiver down his neck, similar f4a9be1dd7 to when he first saw Woohyun.775995d9aab284744ec0

“If I have e34d523f08 to audition, I 04ad35a244 will.”e5d78f4bde02ae3074f4

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“Your confidence 922d1a67c0 is impressive.”56977c3bd5bf97a5c721

“It’s not 5dda5b867a because I 94420d7d46 trust my 371218b373 skills. But if you and f1dab6554a the director saw something cb3ffac46e in me, you can 455ce6532f convince the writer too. You emphasized that my effort 59e52dd111 is important, that I just 85cd86d817 need to do well. So I’ll do 05c45880ae my part.”afa20361ddc90c68fc1e

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“…”54b6bff14158e63980ed

“I won’t cbfdaa8ffa disappoint you. …Though I’m not sure if a007a33781 you had any expectations of 42726d35a2 me in the first place.”2b57d5a036b4d56b0c6c

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Jiwon covered his 009a2b7d2b mouth with one 9d4dd0189a hand, letting out d439443ef4 a low chuckle. Though he appeared to be contemplating, he 9a4a44ad41 couldn’t hide the smile forming beneath his 0add7faa8c palm, so he had to cover it.73193380b1c40633d403

It seemed he had struck a chord 0cb3cde9b2 with Woohyun’s competitive spirit and desire. Yes, this was how 9a09d4c7ef someone who believed in aca9cbb016 earning things through effort 340638e31f should respond.45b0940222024464a0ac

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Then all Jiwon had to do was watch 791d3f26e1 from the sidelines… yet he kept finding himself cdcac3cdd2 wanting to help Woohyun in some way.c07dd59147fbd5d09903