Rookie but One-in-a-Million Actor

Chapter 11

A Complete Mess

“What a mess.”

“Time… is faster than expected… and the sun… eventually… rises!”

Wow.

Mooyoung was stunned and admired the scene in awe.

The only main character in the drama, and it was already a hit.

How could they lead the work in such a state?

Until now, he had only seen actors from BV Academy, so the raw performance was shocking.

“Damn!”

Of course, it couldn’t compare to Jo Miyoung’s shock.

She immediately pulled the team leader’s collar and whispered.

‘What’s going on? Why is he like that?’

‘Well, uh, I don’t know. He wasn’t like this before.’

‘This is not a joke! We’re all doomed!’

She mouthed silently, her face turning red with fury.

The team leader was just as clueless.

‘What was his previous work?’

‘KBC’s Carlona and Toy Friend.’

‘Ugh! This is crazy!’

Surprisingly, those were well-received public network dramas.

There were some criticisms about his acting skills, but for an idol’s first attempt, the general opinion was that it was decent enough. That’s why Square Film took on this project…

“Team leader?”

“Yes? Huh?”

“Is there a problem?”

Enbin asked while reading the script.

He looked bored and uninterested, his chin resting on his hand.

Only then did Jo Miyoung realize why Enbin’s acting was so terrible.

‘This guy is-’

He was ignoring them.

For public network dramas, there’s a lot of pressure and his agency would have drilled him for the role.

Reading the script until it was worn out, practicing until his voice gave out.

But this was just a web drama.

“Shall we continue?”

From the start, he didn’t audition like for other dramas, but Enbin’s side had suggested it.

Just because he was an ambassador!

In the flood of schedules, the importance of the web drama was shattered.

‘And, Seoul’s subscriber count is only 120,000.’

His attitude showed he didn’t expect much from the views.

Only his fans would watch, and foreign viewers wouldn’t be able to tell if it was bad acting or not due to the language barrier.

“Yaaawn—let’s go home!”

The director gasped.

‘This is a problem. Really.’

For some, it was just a passing event.

For others, it was a project their future depended on.

The director bit his lip, glaring at Enbin’s indifferent profile.

What to do with him? Can’t openly criticize him…

“Pfft!”

Suddenly, laughter broke out.

It was Mooyoung. He could endure everything else, but that mechanical yawn was too much. He quickly covered his mouth and composed himself.

“Sorry.”

“…Why are you laughing?”

Thud.

The director and writers between them froze.

Enbin had lightly tossed the script.

The staff and even the manager’s eyes widened in shock.

Only Mooyoung remained calm.

“Your acting is so unique.”

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t mean to disrupt the flow. I’m really sorry.”

He bowed again to everyone.

Enbin looked at his manager, as if to say, “Look at this absurdity.”

Was he apologizing for laughing or for disrupting the session?

“Is he confirmed as a supporting actor?”

The manager asked the team leader, his tone dripping with arrogance.

“Yes, I’m confirmed.”

Mooyoung answered with a bright smile.

The director and writers caught in the middle looked at Jo Miyoung anxiously, as if asking her to handle this.

“Director, about the scene schedule changes.”

Jo Miyoung signaled the director to shift the topic.

They needed to remind everyone that they were working. The director quickly picked up her cue.

“Yes, right. About the earlier part. We’ll capture it with a loose shot, focusing on the background more. Almost a set shot, but outside-”

“How can anything be confirmed before filming even starts?”

But Enbin cut him off with irritation.

It’s just a reading? Projects get canceled even after articles are published. This trivial web drama?

“I can’t do this. I don’t want to act with someone who’s not serious.”

Ugh, what a headache.

The team leader closed his eyes, silently praying for divine intervention.

Yes, it’s just a reading! The first step, but why is everything going wrong?

“Ah- um.”

Mooyoung had something to say, but he decided to stop there.

To Enbin, who was already heated, this was even more annoying.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“No. I’m someone who knows how to read the room.”

“Great. As you can see, you’re out. Get lost.”

“Really? I’m really out?”

Mooyoung asked the team leader, his eyes wide with surprise.

The leader, unable to respond, just nodded awkwardly.

He meant for Mooyoung to bow and apologize quickly. But Mooyoung misunderstood.

“Oh? I’m really out. Strange.”

This wasn’t the kind of luck he usually had.

“Then, since I’m out, can I speak my mind? You’re the one lacking sincerity. You clearly got the script first, but you haven’t familiarized yourself with it at all. Who reads their lines like that?”

Since they were of similar age and he wouldn’t see him again, Mooyoung sharply criticized Enbin to his face. Maybe it was too absurd.

Enbin just stared at Mooyoung in a daze.

In fact, everyone in the room had the same expression.

“Your rhythm is off too. Practice properly.”

“You, you, you-!”

“Everyone’s here to make a good piece, the lead shouldn’t act like this. Alright, I’m done! Good luck.”

Mooyoung clapped his hands and grabbed his bag.

As Enbin, with a blank look, stood up abruptly,

Click.

“Oppa?”

A woman peeked into the meeting room.

The tense atmosphere crumbled instantly.

“What, what is this?”

Enbin’s finger, which was pointed at Mooyoung, now pointed at the woman.

She was covering her face with a hat and a mask, with a massive camera around her neck.

A so-called “cannon camera.”

Click—

The woman lightly pressed the shutter as if to commemorate the moment. Everyone looked at Enbin, who turned back to face her.

“Hehe. Looks like I interrupted something. Sorry.”

“No, you bitch!”

Unlike the woman, who shyly apologized, he was furious.

The manager also hurried towards the door, wearing a fierce expression, but,

“How did you find this place?”

“There are ways.”

It didn’t faze her at all.

“Did you forget what the lawyer said? If you do this again, the penalties will be harsher. This is legally—”

“Yeah, call them. Do what you want.”

Click—

“Hey, you crazy bitch!”

“I’m recording this right now. And if you lay a hand on me, it’ll be the same as last time.”

‘Last time.’

At her words, Enbin nearly crumbled in fear.

He had encountered all sorts of strange people during his idol days, but this woman was on a whole different level.

It was as if she had a vendetta from a past life… The stalking disguised as love was making his life hell.

“I don’t intend to disrupt your work, so don’t mind me and continue. I’ll be waiting outside.”

Click.

She slightly rolled up her sleeves and closed the door. There were faint knife scars. Enbin covered his face and weakly slumped down on the spot.

“Haa.”

“Enbin, it’s okay. I’ll call the police right away.”

“Tell them to hurry.”

His voice was filled with genuine despair.

The anger he had directed at Mooyoung dissipated in an instant.

The team leader and Square Film staff, in confusion, approached the door.

“Why did she come in here?”

“Is she a stalker? We’ll kick her out.”

“No, leave her.”

The manager whispered to them to hold off.

Through the opaque glass door, they could see her crouching outside.

“She’s a stalker who recently started following him. She even showed up at the agency, causing trouble, so we dragged her out… Then she… she self-harmed…”

“What?”

Enbin clutched his head, frozen. Everyone was stunned by the shocking revelation.

“Since then, whenever security or staff try to remove her, she threatens to kill herself with a knife. It’d be troublesome if this went public… Sorry. But she’s compliant with the police. Please wait a bit.”

The manager said this and made a call somewhere.

Probably to the police and the agency.

“You should press charges.”

Jo Miyoung muttered, realizing the severity of the situation. Enbin replied in a subdued voice.

“We will. She hasn’t been around for long, and the agency wanted to monitor the situation first… Sorry. I was exhausted from trying to dodge her all day.”

That explained Enbin’s lateness.

Moreover, his unusually sharp and irritable mood was likely due to the stalker.

“She showed up again. Where is everyone?”

-Yes? We’re downstairs.

The manager, talking to the security team, frowned.

They insisted they were guarding the entrance. Then how did she get in?

“We’re screwed.”

The team leader glanced at the ticking clock and muttered.

Enbin’s next schedule was approaching.

The first reading was ending in a complete mess.

Moreover, Mooyoung, who had been highly anticipated, had a disastrous first impression with Enbin… He couldn’t possibly use him.

“Director, we’re done for.”

“Quiet.”

Jo Miyoung sighed deeply and cut him off.

There was no way Enbin could continue the reading in this state.

Even if he did, it was meaningless.

With such an attitude and acting skill, he couldn’t even be used for a passing web drama.

‘A web drama is still a drama, a piece of work.’

She massaged her throbbing temples, pondering.

Even if the sky collapses, there’s supposed to be a way out. Where could that way be now?

Swoosh.

Meanwhile, Mooyoung, who had been standing awkwardly, adjusted his bag.

While everyone else was staring at the door in shock, only Mooyoung looked on with curiosity.

‘Behind that woman earlier…’

Black smog!

For the first time in a while, he saw smog wrapped around her neck and clinging to her back.

But unlike what he’d seen before, its shape was somewhat unusual.

“Well then, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Oh…”

Screech.

As Mooyoung opened the door to leave, the team leader couldn’t stop him.

Mooyoung looked down at the woman sitting right outside.

“What is this?”

She fiddled with her camera and looked up at him.

Mooyoung tilted his head in curiosity.

It was smog, but…

It was close to a human shape. Was it an evil spirit? He wasn’t sure.

“What is it?”

Mooyoung squatted down and met her gaze instead of answering.

If it was an evil spirit, it should’ve been a more diluted mix of colors rather than this black.

“Perhaps…”

Mooyoung started to speak, bewildered.

Through the woman’s black sunglasses, his glittering eyes reflected.

* * *

Everyone was watching through the opaque glass as Mooyoung and the stalker faced each other.

They couldn’t hear what they were saying clearly.

“Hyung, when are the police arriving?”

“They’ll be here soon.”

If Mooyoung got stabbed by her…

That would be a nightmare. Enbin, lying on the table, continued watching their blurry figures.

Then suddenly,

“Argh-!”

The woman screamed and stood up abruptly.

Enbin, the manager, and the others flinched and stood up too.

“What, what’s happening?”

“Why is she acting like that?”

“Hyung! Do something-”

It looked like she was having a fit.

But then, she just ran down the corridor and disappeared completely.

Wondering what had happened, Enbin carefully stood up and opened the door.

Screech.

“What the hell…”

The corridor was silent, and only Mooyoung was sitting there with an innocent expression.

Just like the woman had been earlier.

“What did you do?”

Enbin muttered in shock.

What had he done to make that leech run off like that?

Mooyoung smiled brightly and answered.

“Do you want to know?”