"Hey, Gang Hajun."
Seong Sihyeon, who had been walking over from the opposite side, pretended to know Gang Hajun.
He was putting strength into every inch of his body.
His hairstyle went without saying, and even at a glance, the material of the clothes he wore looked expensive.
Particularly eye-catching were the flashy accessories hanging all over him.
There was no way sponsorships had already come in for someone with zero real-world acting experience.
He had simply dressed to the nines and come to show off.
He had even nagged his manager since early that morning to take him to a shop.
"Why?"
Responding to his approach with a calm face, as if nothing had happened—
all because of this very Gang Hajun.
'How ridiculous must I have looked back then? Today, I absolutely have to seize the initiative.'
Seong Sihyeon glared, putting force into his wide-open eyes.
"I re-auditioned. For the role of Lee Jinhwan."
"I heard. You passed, right? Congratulations."
Gang Hajun said.
For some reason, Seong Sihyeon felt his blood boil.
"You heard that the president of Hat TV is my uncle, too? Be grateful that my uncle tried to strong-arm Britz with scheduling rights. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have given up on the role of Baek Seongchan."
He tapped Gang Hajun's shoulder and walked past.
And said in a low voice,
"Next time, I definitely won't go easy on you."
**
There were about 20 minutes left until the reading start time.
Even so, it seemed most of the main actors had roughly gathered in the reading room.
Most of the actors cast in the drama *Elegant World* were not yet famous.
It was a differentiation strategy unrelated to production costs.
It was to prevent viewers from forming prejudices based solely on the actors' image.
So that the true culprit could only be deduced according to the flow of the drama.
But securing buzz was essential for a commercial drama.
Britz, following Hat TV's recommendation, had also cast several actors who were riding a wave of fame and driving up their price points as supporting roles.
"Hello."
Gang Hajun, entering the reading room, greeted his new colleagues.
They were people he would have to work with for at least the next four months.
The actors, who had been quietly conversing or reading scripts, smiled awkwardly and nodded in greeting.
'A loan shark.'
'Is he really a celebrity? He looks so ordinary.'
Among them were those who knew Gang Hajun's face and those who didn't.
'What role did he come for?'
But no one knew what role he had come to this place for.
They had heard the name 'Gang Hajun' through agencies or the production team but couldn't match it to his face.
There was nothing strange about that.
Because nothing about Gang Hajun's personal information had been revealed yet.
He had been added belatedly to the very end of the cast list for *Money Bubble*, but at most, the introduction was just 'role of a loan shark.'
—Does anyone know the real name of the actor playing the loan shark?
So occasionally, questions like this were posted on online community boards.
Of course, there were no netizens who could answer.
"Come sit here."
A middle-aged male actor pulled out the chair next to him with a kind smile at Gang Hajun.
He was Jeong Hwansik, playing the role of the agency CEO for star Lee Jinhwan.
Jeong Hwansik was an actor who had finally begun to shine as a 'luxury supporting actor' after 11 years since his debut.
Having grown through all sorts of trials, his pride was also exceptional.
"Thank you, sunbae-nim."
Gang Hajun went and sat beside him.
He knew Jeong Hwansik.
Because they had appeared in the same film in his previous life.
Jeong Hwansik asked him,
"Your manager didn't come with you?"
"I don't have an agency yet."
"A rookie?"
"Yes. *Elegant World* is my second project."
Jeong Hwansik nodded with a pleased face.
"If there's anything you don't know while filming from now on, ask me everything."
He naturally dropped to casual speech.
Gang Hajun pretended not to notice.
"But what's your name?"
"I'm called Gang Hajun."
"Gang Hajun..."
Jeong Hwansik mulled over his name.
Then his expression soon twisted.
"Gang Hajun? So you're the rookie who took the role of Baek Seongchan?"
"Yes."
When Gang Hajun answered calmly, Jeong Hwansik's eyebrows twitched instantly.
He had expected Gang Hajun to be at most a minor role with some weight.
He had tried to help because he found it praiseworthy that a rookie without an agency had managed to get cast in a drama, but his rare good mood completely vanished.
'These days, anyone and everyone is a main character. Whose backing is that punk?'
He was already in an unpleasant mood.
'If they're going to use someone with my level of recognition, shouldn't the surrounding characters' level match to some degree? It's not like I'm looking down on supporting roles. Tch!'
It had been that way just a few minutes ago, from when he first met Seong Sihyeon.
He couldn't stand the sight of him showing off money, decked out in luxury brands that didn't suit the character Lee Jinhwan at all.
'Ugh! The drama's going to be ruined by the big shots throwing money around. I stepped in shit.'
Jeong Hwansik regretted signing the appearance contract in haste after only looking at the synopsis.
He had been letting his guard down because his recent projects had been lucky.
He should have checked the casting lineup at least.
Just thinking about the movie he had kicked away with his own feet at the same time as signing the drama contract made him dizzy.
Jeong Hwansik seriously pondered how to soothe the film company officials who must have been offended.
The script reading began.
The actors sat around, with PD Min Useok and writer U Yeongyeong at the center.
"I'm PD Min Useok, in charge of main production for *Elegant World*. Please take care of me."
"I'm writer U Yeongyeong. Please take care of me."
Businesslike applause filled the reading room for a moment.
PD Min Useok waited briefly for the bustling atmosphere to settle, then finished a rough explanation of the drama's plot.
He then made sure to take time for the actors to get to know each other's faces.
Since there was no making film team, introductions and greetings went back and forth in a very free atmosphere.
"Hello. I'm Gang Hajun, playing Baek Seongchan."
Gang Hajun, the first to be called on by PD Min Useok, stood up from his seat and greeted simply.
Lim Changseop, playing the role of Lee Jinhwan's road manager, made a fuss as if he had been waiting for this.
"I really enjoyed watching *Money Bubble*! Honestly, when I saw Actor Gang Hajun entering the reading room earlier, I almost shouted. To think you're the main character. Can you take a picture with me later?"
Lim Changseop had a lively personality that didn't match his fierce-looking appearance.
Leveraging such charm points, he had appeared as a supporting role in a comedy drama and become a hot topic, enjoying a surge in popularity.
The position he took in *Elegant World* was creating tension and comedy.
Gang Hajun smiled playfully.
"Is that a compliment?"
"Of course! I was a fan of the loan shark. Ah, seriously, Manager! You should have told me about something this important in advance. I dressed sloppily without knowing."
Lim Changseop turned to look at his manager and furrowed his brows.
"They said this is flashy enough."
Lim Changseop's manager also made a face.
He had a much more menacing appearance than Lim Changseop.
The people in the reading room burst into laughter all at once.
Only two people couldn't fit into that brightened atmosphere.
Seong Sihyeon and Jeong Hwansik were exactly those two.
They found the situation where attention was focused on Gang Hajun nothing but unpleasant.
Arms crossed, each looking down at their own script, when they suddenly raised their heads, their eyes met.
For a brief instant, the two did not avoid each other's gaze.
**
The reading proceeded smoothly.
PD Min Useok read the stage directions.
"Scene 10. A sunny afternoon. Baek Seongchan climbs onto the rooftop of a shabby villa and discovers Lee Jinhwan looking down below, wearing a hat pulled low."
It was the scene of the first meeting between incompetent job-seeker Baek Seongchan and lonely star Lee Jinhwan.
Gang Hajun glanced at Seong Sihyeon and then returned his gaze to empty space.
"You won't die if you fall from here."
It was a flat tone devoid of any emotion.
Seong Sihyeon stared at Gang Hajun silently.
"......"
"Weren't you trying to die?"
At Gang Hajun's question, Seong Sihyeon looked at the floor again.
"When people see me, they usually say other things first."
"What things?"
"Asking for an autograph."
"......Could it be."
Gang Hajun examined Seong Sihyeon's face.
"You borrowed money and didn't write the promissory note properly?"
"What?"
Seong Sihyeon's pupils shook.
Snickering laughter leaked from here and there.
PD Min Useok was scrutinizing even the voice tones and minute expression changes of the two actors.
Soon he gave the okay sign.
"Good. Scene 11......"
Jeong Hwansik, who had been clicking his tongue inwardly in secret, grew increasingly flustered as the reading progressed.
He realized that he had been getting absorbed in Gang Hajun's acting without knowing it.
The character named Baek Seongchan was one who hardly revealed his own emotions.
It meant that if done incorrectly, it could easily induce boredom from viewers.
The reason it seemed like anyone could pull it off, yet no one actually could, lay right here.
But Gang Hajun subtly expressed emotional ups and downs through minute changes in his gaze and modulation of his voice, making it impossible to relax even for a moment.
At a glance, his expression looked similar, but the psychological state he was expressing was different every time.
Moreover, he accurately caught every part that needed to be acted with emphasis.
'This is unfair.'
Jeong Hwansik gritted his teeth.
He hated people of the same kind as Gang Hajun the most.
People who showed prominence the moment they started something.
In simple terms, 'a lucky genius.'
He'd rather have a parachute appointment.
Because a reputation built on deception without skill would be exposed sooner or later.
Even if it infuriated him right now, in the long run, it posed no threat at all.
But born geniuses were different.
'I've suffered for 11 years, gotten recognition, and I'm still playing supporting roles, while that bastard...!'
He was feeling inferiority toward his green junior.
The reading proceeded until episode 3.
"We'll stop here."
"Good work."
The actors and staff exchanged warm greetings.
Jeong Hwansik, who had been smiling with a kind face and nodding, held out his cell phone to me.
"Give me your number. It must be hard filming a drama alone without a manager, so I want to take care of you a bit."
He didn't have to.
"Thank you, sunbae-nim."
I obediently followed Jeong Hwansik's words.
I had no appropriate excuse to refuse his request, so it couldn't be helped.
Vrrt—
A short vibration rang from my cell phone in my pocket.
Jeong Hwansik's number was marked on the missed call.
"If you have a hard time, don't hesitate and contact me right away. Even if it seems like nothing, having one sunbae to lean on will make you feel secure."
"Yes."
What was he plotting?
"Actor Gang Hajun!"
Without time to think, Lim Changseop approached.
"Exchange numbers with me too."
"Then you young people continue talking. I'll tactfully step away."
Jeong Hwansik vacated his spot.
Lim Changseop, who had greeted him briefly, turned back to me.
"But Actor Gang Hajun, how old are you this year?"
"I'm twenty-five."
"Ah, really? Your face looks like you just got discharged from the military. Turns out you have a baby face? Let's get along well."
"Please speak comfortably."
"Can I? I'm seven years older than you. Haha!"
Lim Changseop dropped to casual speech as if he had been waiting for this.
"You too, speak comfortably and call me hyung. We can't have our loan shark nim hearing stiff titles like 'sunbae-nim,' now can we?"
Lim Changseop had not been part of my previous life's connections.
Therefore, I had no information about him, but at least he didn't seem to harbor malice toward me.
"Just take one picture with me."
Lim Changseop pressed close to my side and launched his camera app.
I followed his lead and made a 'V' with my fingers.
A cute request like this was welcome anytime.