About 30 minutes ago.
After Gang Ha-jun had gone off alone, Seong Sihyeon, who had been pacing in front of the elevator, headed for the restroom.
His manager wasn't accompanying him because he had a lunch appointment with his uncle.
As he placed his hand on the restroom door, a murmuring buzz began to leak from inside.
"Ah, man, I almost stepped in shit."
"That's what I'm saying, Senior. I mean, how could anyone say your nephew is no good right in front of the President?"
Seong Sihyeon stopped and pressed his ear to the door.
"Do you think they sat me down to say that? They sat me down to lie that your nephew is the best. I'd play along if it were anything reasonable, but that's really crossing the line."
The voices belonged to PDs who had slipped out of the small auditorium with an excuse just before the casting meeting began.
Having been called in as audition judges on short notice, they spouted words that could have been curses at either the President or Seong Sihyeon.
"But honestly, rather than the President's nephew being a drag, that Gang... what was it? Anyway, that actor seemed far superior."
"It's all the same, whatever!"
"Nephew or whatever, the drama needs to succeed first. Insisting on something everyone can plainly see..."
As they were about to leave the restroom, they came face-to-face with Seong Sihyeon.
"..."
In that fleeting instant.
Silence fell.
The PD at the very front felt a bead of cold sweat roll down his spine.
His mind went blank, and gooseflesh prickled across his entire body.
Seong Sihyeon was the first to speak.
"Is the meeting already over?"
"Ah, n-no. It's not over yet."
"Yes. ...Please go back in."
He bowed slightly and left the restroom as if fleeing.
"What, did he not hear?"
"Hey, you idiot. If he didn't hear, why did he stop on his way to the restroom?"
"Shit, we're fucked."
The PDs muttered and clawed at their own heads in dismay.
Seong Sihyeon bit his lower lip hard.
It was true that he had briefly felt intimidated while watching Gang Ha-jun's performance.
But that had stemmed solely from admiration for a script interpretation different from his own.
'There was nothing wrong with my acting. It was definitely fine!'
Seong Sihyeon cracked open the door to the small auditorium by half a knuckle.
And eavesdropped on the conversation between the judges.
His mind grew increasingly confused.
'What is that supposed to mean? My casting as the lead was a condition for the drama's scheduling?'
A single word surfaced in his mind.
'Parachute.'
That was the one thing Seong Sihyeon could never allow.
"...Let's wrap this up, Writer-nim."
PD Min Useok tried to adjourn the meeting.
As if possessed, Seong Sihyeon flung the auditorium door wide open.
His face was flushed red.
"I won't do it—the role of Baek Seong-chan."
The startled President shot to his feet.
"What are you talking about? Where is there anyone who can do it as well as you!"
"Do you really mean that?"
He recalled how he had been overwhelmed by Gang Ha-jun's performance, and the judges' reactions.
"I lost this audition."
"Who said you lost? You're more than capable of that much!"
"Uncle. Do you know why, during the three years I attended the academy, I never once took the roles you wrangled for me? Because I didn't want to become that damned parachute. I wanted to hone my skills to perfection so that no one could ever think of me as a parachute."
The President, his lips twitching, let out a pained groan.
Seong Sihyeon continued.
"If I had known this audition was a rigged affair over drama scheduling rights, I never would have participated in the first place."
"I just thought you were ready now..."
"I'll win my roles with my own strength. So please don't worry about it anymore."
He found himself from just minutes ago laughable.
He had thought that he and Gang Ha-jun could be positive catalysts for each other.
He had thought that he wasn't lacking, but that Gang Ha-jun was just a little bit better.
But not anymore.
'I'll show you I can surpass someone like you even without my uncle's help.'
Seong Sihyeon had to prove his own worth.
To avoid becoming a parachute.
He clenched both fists tightly.
**
"They've reached a decision?"
I asked Writer U Yeon-gyeong in return.
Through the phone, I heard her let out a relieved breath.
"Seong Sihyeon gave up the role of Baek Seong-chan. He was going to overturn the scheduling with Hot TV or whatever if things went wrong."
He 'gave up' the role.
It couldn't help but be an unsettling choice of words.
"Does that mean the choice on Hot TV's side wasn't me, but Seong Sihyeon?"
"That was the case. Rumor has it the president there dotes on his nephew to death. Maybe because he has no children of his own. But don't read too much into it. Your acting and character portrayal were crushing victories. The Hot TV judges acknowledged that, too."
Only then did I feel at ease.
"Anyway, congratulations on being cast as the lead of
"Thank you for the good news."
"Let's make our drama a huge hit. I'm counting on you, Ha-jun. See you on full script reading day."
After ending the call with Writer U Yeon-gyeong, I got off the bus and turned my steps away from entering the apartment complex.
Where I headed was a nearby bakery.
"I'll take this, please."
"That will be 38,000 won."
Shortly after, I held the packaged cake box in my hand.
Click—
I took a photo of it and sent it to Go Hyeon-su.
A text came from him immediately.
'Why a cake?'
Why a cake? Hyung, today's audition...
'Don't tell me you...??'
Before I could even finish typing my reply, the second message flew in.
A smile crept across my face without my realizing it.
I replied simply.
'Yeah.'
That evening, a modest party took place.
Though calling it a 'party' was generous—it was just family sitting around eating cake.
Go Hyeon-su didn't come.
It seemed he had tactfully excused himself.
"Didn't you contact Yeonjun?"
Father looked for his eldest son.
He seemed to miss his firstborn, whom he barely saw except on holidays.
"I only called him briefly earlier. I didn't think to invite him."
"What did he say when you told him you passed the audition?"
"He congratulated me and told me to do well."
That was a lie, of course.
His older brother had expressed an opinion similar to Mother's.
"Think carefully. How long do you think this fleeting success will last? You're not a kid skipping school to follow Hyeon-su around anymore. You're an adult. You need to come to your senses and return to reality. The longer you wait, the more you'll regret it."
His older brother harbored a sense of indebtedness toward me.
That was likely why he deliberately spoke in a colder tone.
He believed that he, that is, the original Gang Ha-jun, had influenced me to dream of becoming an actor.
And to some extent, that was true.
During his school days, he had dreamed of becoming a singer and often told his younger brother about the glamorous entertainment industry he had read about online.
After that, he gave up on his dream, and the younger brother met Go Hyeon-su.
"Well, of course you have to do well. It's not just anyone—you beat out a broadcasting station president's parachute."
Father patted my head vigorously.
"Amazing, our youngest! You only showed up now and then, and I wondered when this punk would ever make it. At least before I retire, I can brag to my team members to my heart's content!"
"What do you mean before retirement? I'll definitely make it this year..."
"You bought a delicious cake. Which bakery is it?"
Mother cut me off and changed the subject.
The cake on her plate was practically untouched.
She didn't want to encourage me, but apparently couldn't bring herself to say anything negative either.
Because it was still a good day.
"From the bakery right in front."
"Hey, why are you cutting him off while he's talking?"
"What did I do? Don't let your food fly out of your mouth and just eat quietly. It's delicious."
Father grumbled, but Mother didn't bat an eye and merely nibbled at the whipped cream.
"If something good happens again, I'll buy another one from there."
I said.
Mother, who had been staring blankly at me, replied reluctantly.
"Sure."
**
Finally, the full script reading for
A few days ago, Gang Ha-jun had been invited to the wrap party by the
Unfortunately, he had been unable to attend.
Because the event was this very evening.
Usually, only main and supporting leads were invited to wrap parties, but Gang Ha-jun was a special case.
He had contributed no small amount to achieving the feat of breaking 10% viewership ratings.
Up until episode 15,
Then the mid-point of episode 16 hit the jackpot.
The moment the imprisoned loan shark subdued the existing inmates in the penitentiary, the ratings had soared to 10.7%.
Although they declined afterward, they maintained the 10% range until the end.
Gang Ha-jun was the hidden hero of the
No one could deny that fact.
"Hey, are you really not coming? Everyone's really disappointed."
'Ha-jun, hurry up! You're killing the drinking mood, what are you doing!'
'You have to come and propose a toast~'
'Are you abandoning us because you're starting a new project?'
Hardly had Go Hyeon-su's whining ended when an uproar burst through the phone.
Gang Ha-jun placated Go Hyeon-su in a voice full of regret.
"Sorry. You know I'm going to the full script reading tomorrow. What would everyone think if I showed up on my first day reeking of alcohol?"
"You could just drink moderately and come."
"Do you think that would work?"
There was no way those around him would just watch him exercise restraint.
"...Tch. Fine. Good luck with your preparation."
In the end, Go Hyeon-su relented.
"You drink moderately and head home too."
"Got it."
Even at that moment, articles about the
But there was only one piece of news netizens were waiting for.
"So what did the loan shark wear to the wrap party? I'm curious about his street fashion but not a single photoㅠ I feel like he really only wears boxy suits every day."
"I was waiting in line to meet the loan shark in person, but he never came until the endㅠ"
"OMG, don't tell me he wasn't invited because he had too little screen time? Ready to call DLB to complain."
"My acquaintance is related to that place, and they said he couldn't attend because he's entering a new drama."
"Everyone and their dog claims to know an insider LOL. If you're an insider's acquaintance, I'm the loan shark's friend."
"For real though; prepare your friend verification, dumbass."
Gang Ha-jun didn't usually bother going online unless he needed feedback on his acting.
Thus, he had no idea how much of the
After ending the call with Go Hyeon-su, he was immersed in reviewing his script.
The notebook open alongside the script was packed with notes.
Not only for his own role, Baek Seong-chan, but meticulous analyses of other characters as well.
'I wonder what kind of 'Lee Jin-hwan' Seong Sihyeon has prepared.'
Perhaps he had worked harder because he was conscious of him.
Gang Ha-jun already knew thanks to Writer U Yeon-gyeong's hint.
The fact that Seong Sihyeon had newly auditioned for the role of popular star Lee Jin-hwan and passed unanimously with the judges.
He had heard the competition was fierce because it was a key supporting role.
Of course, the credibility of his passing was high.
Because Hot TV's executives hadn't participated in the judging.
"Whew—shall I turn in now?"
Gang Ha-jun stretched after checking the clock.
He made sure to pack his script, notebook, and pencil case into his bag without forgetting anything.
And the next day.
The first person Gang Ha-jun ran into at the reading room of Britz Studio was Seong Sihyeon.
He greeted Gang Ha-jun with a demeanor completely different from the one he had shown during the lead role audition.