Chapter : 23
“Excuse me?”
“Your company is X, so you probably won’t provide proper support. Your company’s filming team won’t be much help either. And Yoon Hae-in is so simple-minded, just hang around on the side.”
Soi recalled that day, a week before the shoot. The top star, Baek Ah-yeon, who had whispered for her to hold her hand.
[The One: Actresses] – One week before the first shoot.
“Your voice, your expressions, everything was good today. At this rate, the audition shoot should go smoothly. Looking at the final list, there’s hardly anyone as recognizable as you. Soi! Your company’s fate depends on you.”
“The final list must have changed—fate probably won’t follow me that closely.”
Soi had been talking at length with her agency director when she suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice, making her lift her head. She blinked a couple of times, as if she couldn’t believe the figure in front of her.
“You know me, right?”
“Se-Senior Baek Ah-yeon….”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Baek Ah-yeon.”
When the director discreetly stepped aside, only the two of them remained in the long corridor.
The brightest star in the sky, Baek Ah-yeon, and herself—a small meteor that had lost its shine. The contrast was so stark that even Soi felt it was unnatural.
“…Did you come looking for me?”
Ah, what a foolish question.
Ordinary people, who know nothing, see the entertainment world through a square TV screen and think celebrities move only within that tiny frame.
But in this vast entertainment industry, there are people you might spend your whole life in it and still rarely encounter—top stars like Baek Ah-yeon in front of her.
Soi, scolding herself and trying to quickly change her question, heard Ah-yeon’s voice.
“Yes. I came to find you. I checked multiple times, and there’s no one like you for [The One: Actresses]. It’s time for you to move into commercial acting, isn’t it?”
Soi had spent ten years in obscurity, debuting just after turning twenty.
Her filmography, carefully built in independent films, had only recently made her a recognizable actor. Yet she knew better than anyone that she was still lacking to be considered a commercial actress.
Her current agency wasn’t enough to support her.
Even if the company, which held a strong grip on art films, tried to market it as advantageous, it had almost no ability to develop a commercial actress.
Changing agencies wasn’t easy either—no suitable company would accept her, and her principle of not having taken a single sponsor until now was also holding her back.
“…If you change companies, you risk losing the filmography you built with independent films. If you take a sponsor, it feels like abandoning your principle of succeeding in art without relying on anyone else. So that’s why you chose this audition, right?”
Ah-yeon spoke as if she could read Soi’s mind, leaving Soi no time to hide her surprise.
“I’ve only seen a few like you in this industry. Not being able to hide a single expression is kind of cute.”
Soi wanted to ask why she had come all this way, but couldn’t bring herself to speak. The towering Baek Ah-yeon was speaking practical words right before her eyes—it felt unreal.
“Do you remember Yoon Hae-in? You must. Your name was on the unofficial final audition list for <Hypnotize> as well.”
The only person who knew Soi had participated in the <Hypnotize> unofficial audition and reached the final meeting was the director of <Hypnotize>.
No article had been published, and no one else had been informed. Baek Ah-yeon seemed to understand the question even before Soi spoke.
“When you become a top actor, you can know everything—what others hide, what others have. Aren’t you curious about that world?”
Soi studied Ah-yeon’s expression for a moment before speaking.
“Yoon Hae-in… hasn’t she retired?”
“No, she’s participating in [The One: Actresses] too.”
“That’s impossible. I heard Yoon Hae-in can’t act anymore.”
“That impossible became possible. In two days, the PR team will distribute an article. So, want to hear my story now?”
Baek Ah-yeon’s proposal was simple: if Soi did as she was told, she would be recommended as the main supporting actress for Baek Ah-yeon’s film, which would start filming in December.
Only three months remained. The female supporting actress had left due to an injury during filming, and a replacement was needed.
It was the fastest route to the path of a commercial actress.
And Baek Ah-yeon’s connections were excellent, and her plan was extraordinary.
Thus, Soi joined hands with Baek Ah-yeon.
Using the information Baek Ah-yeon had gathered beforehand, Soi could identify which of the ten boxes contained the <Hypnotize> script.
She also knew in advance about the ‘script exchange’ step, which hadn’t been included in the planning stage, making the rest much easier.
Back in reality, Soi stared at the black river flowing outside her window. She was scared of the ripple effects her choice might trigger.
“You’re done with your part now. Don’t make that face.”
“Unni, what if Yoon Hae-in doesn’t get eliminated? I don’t have the confidence to do anything else.”
“Don’t worry. Yoon Hae-in won’t act in <Hypnotize>. She’ll fail in the first round without even trying. You just need to meet the director next month and prepare for filming. Until then, keep your mouth shut and stop whining. It’s annoying.”
Having said her piece, Ah-yeon gestured toward the door. It was a signal to leave. Soi, who was about to say more, quietly got out of the car.
“Hae-in, get up. You need to get ready.”
The small officetel where Hae-in lived became busy from early morning with Gayoung and Jia.
Gayoung would act as Hae-in’s manager and stylist for the time being, while Jia would assist Gayoung with makeup.
Hae-in, who hadn’t slept a wink last night, got out of the white bedding, looking exhausted.
“Hey, you didn’t sleep?”
“Uh, yeah… no, I just tossed and turned a bit.”
She didn’t mention that she couldn’t sleep because she kept replaying Hae-jin’s voice. She didn’t want Gayoung, who cared for her more than anyone, to see her struggling again.
“What time is it now?”
“3:40 a.m. Filming starts at 6. Some of the early ones are already shooting and doing post-production.”
Since the first-round evaluation included MyTube views, uploading quickly was advantageous.
They hadn’t filmed yesterday due to working with Pa Tae-young, so today’s shoot had to be completed.
“First, makeup… Who the hell is calling at this hour?”
RRR.
Gayoung was startled to see her phone vibrating. The display showed the name ‘CEO Seo Do-jun.’
“Seo Do-jun?”
Hae-in also looked at Gayoung’s phone.
“Yes, CEO. Hae-in is at home now. Wait… Hae-in, can you work out? About 40 minutes?”
“Workout? Why?”
Gayoung lowered her voice so the person on the other end wouldn’t hear. After roughly explaining the situation to Hae-in, she picked up the phone again.
“CEO, Hae-in needs to prepare for filming, so there’s not much time. She has exactly 40 minutes. Please take her and finish quickly.”
Meanwhile, Jia brought clothes suitable for exercise from Hae-in’s dressing room.
“Unni, change into this.”
Still half-asleep, Hae-in changed into the workout clothes and was pushed out of the officetel. Standing outside was a very familiar person.
“CEO Seo Do-jun.”
His black training suit looked a little unfamiliar compared to the usual suit he wore.
Without greeting, Do-jun pointed to the park ahead. Perhaps yesterday’s incident remained an unspoken understanding between them, and no one brought it up.
