PD Jeong Suryeong was now excessively flustered. Though she had a full fifteen years of experience directing dramas, she had been left dazed by the impact of that monstrous dump truck. That was how Kang Rojun’s words had hit her.
With a single bout of facial acting from Rojun, PD Jeong Suryeong was disarmed.
Still feeling her heart pounding, she stammered slightly as she asked Kang Rojun.
“A-are you sure you’ve really never acted before? There’s no need to hide it.”
Rojun answered plainly.
“It really is my first time acting.”
It wasn’t a lie.
‘I used “AI Automation,” but I’m still a complete beginner, aren’t I?’
But in Jeong Suryeong’s eyes, the acting Kang Rojun had just shown was by no means something a novice could produce.
‘Does that even make sense? That was the kind of mood only top-tier kids could pull off.’
She had even forgotten it was acting and been captivated by him. PD Jeong Suryeong had gone through countless male actors in the past who were said to be outstanding in both looks and acting. As a veteran among veterans, she had never once looked at a male actor as anything other than a director.
And yet, just now, even if only for a moment, she had melted.
‘Because it was me, it only went this far. An ordinary woman would’ve lost her mind on the spot.’
The professional PD Jeong Suryeong somehow calmed her racing heart, then silently looked at Kang Rojun and began to assess him step by step. It was a storm made up of many factors: Kang Rojun’s terrifying visuals, his acting ability with an unexpected twist, Rojun’s current situation as someone close to an ordinary person, the sealed space with only the two of them inside, and even the process of “Rental Lover,” which Jeong Suryeong herself had little experience with.
If it had been a normal routine, PD Jeong Suryeong probably would not have been shaken.
‘Whatever the case, it’s true that I was captivated by him for an instant.’
She had to admit it. Jeong Suryeong had forgotten her duty as a director and fallen for Kang Rojun.
‘Acting that would make any woman in front of him mistake herself for the female lead, that would make her fall into a fantasy.’
On top of the three-dimensional acting, PD Jeong Suryeong focused on Kang Rojun’s eyes. His pupils were absurdly clear, yet within them, confidence and a decadent coldness coexisted. If a man like that spoke with an expression filled with affection and attachment, who could possibly withstand it?
“……This is a natural disaster.”
When Kang Rojun tilted his head slightly and asked back.
“Pardon?”
PD Jeong Suryeong gave a faint smile and let out a small sigh.
“It really was your first time acting, right?”
“Yes. It’s my first time properly doing both writing and acting.”
“Ha— I really can’t predict you at all, Writer. All I can think is that you’re beyond any standard. How can a first-time performance have tension beyond lead-actor level?”
Rojun knew the answer, but he brushed it off vaguely.
“I’m glad it wasn’t bad.”
“Wasn’t bad? No. Acting at that level would make viewers go wild asking why he was given a role worse than a supporting character.”
At that moment, a short vibration rang from Kang Rojun’s wrist. “AI Simulation” had displayed a notification.
-[You have achieved the hidden mission “Establishing a Foothold for Your Second Side Job!” 20 coins have been awarded as a gift.]
Of course, Rojun did not check the notification right away. PD Jeong Suryeong spoke to Kang Rojun again.
“Then what is this? It means you have talent in vocals, choreography, and even acting right now, Writer. You’re good at Japanese too. And on top of that, your face—”
Suddenly worked up, PD Jeong Suryeong threw a question mark at the inhuman Rojun with complete sincerity.
“No, just why have you only come out into the world now?? When you had such monster-level specs?”
Because before, I was a monster in a different sense. Kang Rojun answered inwardly and remained silent, while PD Jeong Suryeong, her head complicated by this unexpected development, organized her thoughts.
‘This is— something that can overturn the board once again.’
Writer Kang Cheolsu’s Japanese ability, which she had not expected at all. On top of that, his highly three-dimensional acting that could even crush top-tier actors. The aggro from No. 1 Kang Rojun alone had been incredible, but now the result far surpassed the design Jeong Suryeong had originally planned by several times.
‘An idol, a writer with good writing skills, and an actor— this kid won’t even have time for his image to be consumed.’
What was absurd was that Kang Rojun was only at the starting point. If he began to truly rampage and grow, just how vast would the presence he displayed become? Jeong Suryeong, who had been imagining it for a moment, returned to reality.
‘Damn it, if I’d known his acting was this good, I would’ve gone with him alone from the start.’
However, many parts of “Rental Lover” had already progressed. Regretful as it was, PD Jeong Suryeong had to push ahead.
“Have you tried acting the other roles?”
“No.”
“How do you think it would go?”
“I don’t know unless I try. But I think I can do it.”
“……”
For this time, she had to be satisfied with “Lover No. 4.”
There was always a next time.
PD Jeong Suryeong pictured Rojun taking on the male lead in another work after “Rental Lover” ended.
“Okay, I understand for now. I’ll watch your acting one more time. Not sitting down, but standing, with a different cut.”
After that, Kang Rojun performed the acting Jeong Suryeong requested without a problem. Of course, every bit of it was perfect. PD Jeong Suryeong’s eyes flashed as she dissected everything, starting with Rojun’s acting.
‘What are those legs, why are they so long? I knew his proportions were a cheat, but they stand out even more today. Of course clothes look good on him. But his body’s good too. Looks like he’s been working out hard lately. It’s amazing how his eyes, nose, and mouth all fit on that tiny face, seriously.’
She was thinking about how to style him as an actor. From the makeup of “Lover No. 4” to his costumes, props, atmosphere, and more. Elevating the aura of Kang Rojun, who was already a monster, was also PD Jeong Suryeong’s job.
Afterward, PD Jeong Suryeong gave Rojun a thumbs-up.
“Nice, that’s enough. Just practice your acting at about that level of tension. I have nothing to direct. Same goes for your Japanese. However, you’ll need to repeat the English lines until they sound a bit more natural.”
Then she moved on to the next topic. The current situation of “Rental Lover.”
“For now, we’ll finalize the script with this and distribute the final script to the key staff and actors. As for the storyboard work, the volume itself is short, so it’ll be done quickly. You can consider the casting of the actors finished, and the location scouting is wrapped up too.”
Listening to unfamiliar terms, Kang Rojun wrote them down carefully in his notebook. Finding that cute, PD Jeong Suryeong gave a small laugh and continued.
“Excluding the minor things, only the big ones are left now. Among them, the core is, of course, the last step of pre-production: the script reading. Once the script reading is over, we go straight into the first shoot. It’s really right in front of us now.”
PD Jeong Suryeong, who had been murmuring, rose from her seat.
“As I said earlier, the place where we’ll reveal your existence for the first time, Writer, and the schedule we need to get through the soonest is.”
She tapped the words written on the whiteboard with her index finger.
“The pre-meeting with all the actors before the script reading.”
The next day, Monday morning on the 10th.
The location was the “Geubaekpeu” campus in Paju. Kang Rojun could be found in the park beside the dormitory. He was in the middle of running. Behind him, his Room 105 peers and other contestants followed, panting.
About two hours later, after finishing the exercise missions, Rojun looked over his body before showering.
‘Mm, it’s gotten better.’
There was some self-praise mixed in, but Kang Rojun’s body was definitely improving. The lines of his abs and back muscles had become clearer, and overall, he had grown firmer. After finishing his shower with satisfaction, he immediately checked the “AI Simulation” app.
-[Coins Owned: 450]
Including yesterday’s bonus, his coins were piling up quickly again. Next, he moved to the cafeteria with his roommates. Overall, the mood among the dozens of contestants was subdued. It seemed to be because it was the voting period for the “vocal team” and “rap team.”
‘Everyone’s serious.’
Naturally, the members of Room 105 were smiling on the surface too, but there was a seriousness different from usual. Talkative No. 19 and No. 37 had grown quieter, and No. 88, who usually had good reactions, was subdued. In particular, No. 58 felt even gloomier than usual.
Thinking it would be better to remain similarly silent at a time like this, Kang Rojun ate his meal roughly.
-Slide.
He moved according to the schedule that had already been delivered. Around a dozen contestants gathered in the center of the hallway. It was Team 1, whose survival had already been confirmed. Thirteen people, including Kang Rojun. Once all of Team 1 had gathered, PD Woo Hanseok appeared with fatigue written all over his face.
“How’s everyone’s condition?”
You should probably take care of yourself first. Around the time Rojun answered inwardly, PD Woo Hanseok, who had been speaking with the writers, gestured.
“We’re moving.”
Cameras attached themselves to them. In other words, it was an official shoot. Whatever the case, Team 1, including Kang Rojun, arrived at a spacious practice room. Cameras had been set up at the back of the practice room, which was covered in mirrors, and small cameras were also attached here and there to the ceiling. A dozen or so staff members had taken their places around the cameras in the back.
Kang Rojun and the other contestants, scanning the interior of the practice room, looked around and roughly stood in the center.
PD Woo Hanseok, who entered after them, seemed like he would brief them on something, but instead, he withdrew to the back without saying anything. Just as they wondered what was going on, another person entered the practice room. A familiar face.
“It’s been the first time seeing you all since the second evaluation— it feels new seeing you in the practice room.”
It was the famous choreographer Lee Hanna, whose stage name was Jessica. For reference, she had also been a judge for the second evaluation. When she appeared, her firm lean muscles standing out, the contestants bowed in greeting. Lee Hanna, who had been waving her hand, stood in front of the thirteen contestants.
Soon, a large monitor was set up beside Lee Hanna.
While the staff operated the monitor, Lee Hanna opened her mouth with a smile.
“I’m choreographer Lee Hanna, in charge of the choreography, evaluation, and performance direction for this ‘Geubaekpeu’ theme song. I look forward to working with you.”
The contestants applauded first. In the meantime, the setup seemed to have been completed, and the staff withdrew. Lee Hanna, who had been looking over the thirteen contestants, met eyes with Kang Rojun mixed in somewhere around the middle.
“Mm— first, shall we stand in order by number? Contestant No. 1, you’re first.”
Following the instruction, Rojun stood at the starting point, and then the next fastest number, No. 15, and the others lined up in sequence. Kang Rojun glanced at No. 15 on his right. His hair was yellow.
‘The redhead leaves, and now a blondie shows up.’
In any case, the contestants completed three rows of five, five, and three. Lee Hanna nodded as if it looked fine and pointed at the monitor set up beside her.
“From now on, I’ll show you the choreography for the first theme song. Ah, the song title is ‘Produce.’ Since none of you have stage experience, we didn’t make the formations or the choreography itself difficult. It’s closer to group choreography than individual parts, so watch closely for now.”
When Lee Hanna signaled the staff, the large monitor turned on. On the monitor, a practice room just like this one appeared, and thirteen people who seemed to be the choreography team under Lee Hanna were divided into two groups.
Lee Hanna explained.
“To make it easy to understand, I’ll call the people on the left A and the people on the right B.”
Soon, the song played.
-♬♪
The theme song “Produce” began with intense drums. The shoulders of the choreographers on the monitor bounced slightly. Then, among the two groups, the choreography for Team A began first, while Team B did not move at all. Roughly a few seconds passed. Team A, who had been dancing, abruptly stopped, and this time Team B moved brilliantly.
Lee Hanna cut in again.
“It’s a switch. In the intro, we’ll secure attention by alternating between Team A and Team B like this, and then in the verse, the two teams will combine.”
That was exactly what happened. The choreographers who had been divided on the monitor began riding the full-fledged rhythm and merged into one group. For a while, they all danced the same choreography without anyone standing out. At that moment, the five people at the very back moved straight forward, and the remaining eight took one step back.
They danced in that state.
Then the five fell back, and this time, another four came forward. This repeated once more. In other words, it was a formation where five, four, and four came to the front in time with the music and danced. When the song entered the chorus, the thirteen choreographers mixed again and performed flashy choreography. There were no visible individual parts in particular.
Around the time the first verse of the theme song “Produce” ended, the video stopped.
The briefing was, as expected, handled by Lee Hanna.
“You get what kind of feel it is, right? If you practice, you’ll be able to do it too. During the actual performance, you’ll wear group uniforms with each of your numbers attached. Individual practice is important, but this time, group practice will be necessary too.”
Kang Rojun, who had just watched the choreography video, trembled slightly.
‘Am I going to dance that choreography in front of people? As a surprise performance? Wow— damn, I’m nervous.’
Furthermore, that performance would soon be the third evaluation. Therefore, deep tension also settled on the faces of the other contestants excluding Rojun. Among them, there were those confident in choreography and those who were not, but whoever they were, they had to stake everything on it.
It was then that Lee Hanna, who had been watching the contestants’ expressions, spoke again.
“After the individual practice period, you’ll go through training. During the next group choreography practice, I’ll watch and evaluate you.”
In an instant, the smile vanished from Lee Hanna’s face as she spoke coldly.
“No matter how short an amateur performance is, a performance is still a performance, right? Any contestant I determine does not have the skill will not be able to go onstage. Of course, that doesn’t mean elimination from ‘Geubaekpeu.’ They’ll simply be excluded from the performance.”
If they could not go onstage for the surprise performance that was the third evaluation, even if they could receive votes, their popularity and vote count would fall drastically. She said it was not elimination, but if they could not go onstage, they were essentially guaranteed to be eliminated.
Soon, all the contestants swallowed hard. On the other hand, Kang Rojun had a calm face.
He was nervous, but he was managing his expression.
Lee Hanna noticed Kang Rojun like that, smiled faintly, and asked.
“Contestant No. 1, you look strangely relaxed. Does the choreography I made look easy? As expected, you’re confident like you were during ‘Brake,’ right?”
Receiving everyone’s gaze, Kang Rojun answered as if it were nothing.
“It doesn’t look difficult.”
The color of the villain grew darker.
At this time.
A fairly shocking bomb dropped on the entertainment industry, which was in the middle of heated “Geubaekpeu” fever.
《[Issue Pick] Top Actress Choi Rina Suddenly Chooses a One-Act Drama for Her Next Work… Agency Says, “It Was the Actress’s Choice”》
《Choi Rina in a One-Act Drama? The Title of the Work She Chose Is “Rental Lover.” Why Did Choi Rina Suddenly Choose a One-Act Drama?》
“Rental Lover” revealed itself to the world for the first time.