Chapter 16: The First Script Reading

#16

The drama, already generating buzz as Dohoon’s next project, garnered more attention than expected for Jaejeong, who was making his acting debut. Given the lingering skepticism surrounding idols venturing into acting, negative reactions were, unfortunately, unavoidable.

[Face A’s Jaejeong Joins Drama ‘Yunseul,’ First Acting Challenge]

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Anonymous01: I knew Jaejeong would shine someday.

Anonymous02: It’s his first role, and he’s already in a big production.

└Anonymous09: Is it a big production? I’ve never heard of the writer.

└Anonymous02: The writer might be new, but Dohoon and Seominyeong are the leads, Director Im is at the helm, and the production company, PictureCon, is huge. Every casting announcement for this drama gets hundreds of replies, so it’s already a hot topic, lol.

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Anonymous20: So, who is this guy?

└Anonymous15: It says in the title: >Face A’s Jaejeong< Read the post, you airhead. Anonymous21: I'm tired of idols being thrown into perfectly good dramas. Anonymous22: Well, his visuals are too good to not act. └Anonymous21: Does acting rely on looks? You have to be good at it. **** Anonymous47: Why are so many people assuming he'll be bad without even seeing him yet? Lol. └Anonymous34: They just want him to be bad, lol. Anonymous48: He auditioned and got the part, so he must be good. Anonymous49: Why is this my first time seeing him? He's handsome. **** Anonymous81: For once, Baesung is letting a member other than the main three have solo activities. └Anonymous64: What do you mean by 'main three'? └Anonymous45: Aren't they talking about Baek, Gwak, and Bae? └Anonymous19: Don't make up weird terms. Besides, Yubin and Seonghu don't have many solo activities either, apart from Sejin. **** Balancing repackaged album promotions with drama preparations proved to be more challenging than anticipated. His practice schedule was packed, and having to memorize scripts on top of that left him no time to rest. Though perpetually tired from lack of sleep, Jaejeong secretly didn't mind the situation. Perhaps it was the feeling of a vague, unseen future drawing closer, but the demanding days brought him a greater sense of stability. On the day of the drama's first script reading, he felt as nervous as he had for his audition. It was his initial meeting with his fellow actors and the crew, so his anxiety was inevitable. Having arrived earlier than anyone else, thanks to his haste, Jaejeong settled into the seat marked with his name and quietly gathered his thoughts. 'I just need to do my part well. Everything will be fine.' Composing his trembling emotions was now a familiar act. After a while, staff and actors began to trickle in. Each time, Jaejeong would spring to his feet to greet them, spending more time standing than sitting. It was shortly after Dohoon, the lead actor, arrived that the quiet room began to grow lively. Despite his casual attire, his unique aura remained unmistakable as he entered with a bright smile. He exchanged warm greetings with the director at the entrance and conversed easily with the veteran actors, showing no hint of tension. This was, of course, to be expected for someone who had experienced such occasions countless times. Watching Dohoon from a distance, Jaejeong idly touched the edge of a paper on the table, a strange emotion stirring within him. Of everyone present, Dohoon's presence felt the most distant. Perhaps because the circumstances had changed so much since their first encounter, his feelings about looking at him were bound to be quite different. Suddenly, as if sensing Jaejeong's gaze, Dohoon's head turned in his direction. While Jaejeong stood frozen, Dohoon's eyes met his, and he flashed a wide smile. His eyes, curving into crescents, and his bright lips sparkled as if by magic. Dohoon didn't wait; he approached Jaejeong first. "Jaejeong-ssi." The voice that called his name was filled with warmth. "We meet again." Jaejeong felt a slight bewilderment at the certainty in Dohoon's smile, as if he had anticipated this meeting. However, Dohoon's welcoming greeting seemed to loosen his body, which had been stiff with tension. In that moment, Dohoon extended a straight hand towards Jaejeong. Realizing it was an offer for a handshake, Jaejeong quickly clasped his hand. "Let's do well together." "Yes, I look forward to working with you." Dohoon's hand, clasped in his own, was remarkably soft and warm. A cool, clean scent emanated from him, and his dark brown hair shimmered with an almost magical quality. Despite being right before his eyes, everything about Dohoon felt surreal. Meanwhile, Dohoon turned away and gazed down at his palm, where Jaejeong's hand had rested. 'Was I too smug just now? Did I inadvertently grin like an idiot?' All sorts of worries flooded his mind. Feigning nonchalance, Dohoon walked to his seat and sat down. He couldn't bring himself to turn his head towards Jaejeong. The atmosphere at the first script reading was generally pleasant. Photos and videos taken during this time would be used for press releases and promotional material, so the session was usually conducted in a brighter mood than usual. Dohoon, having taken a long drink from a half-bottle of water to quench his throat, parched from greeting Jaejeong, rummaged in his pocket for a pen. He typically took diligent notes on his script, as feedback exchanged on set was often forgotten if only heard. The script reading began with brief self-introductions. After the director, Dohoon stood up and bowed deeply. "I am Han Dohoon, playing Kim Jimyeong and Yi Seon. To be honest, filming a historical drama in summer is almost hell, but I hope we can finish filming healthily, without anyone getting hurt. I look forward to working with everyone." Applause erupted after Dohoon finished speaking. He felt the making-of camera filming him. Conscious of it, Dohoon maintained his smile until the end as he slowly sat down. Following him, the other actors introduced themselves in turn. With a large cast, Jaejeong's turn came much later. "I am Choi Jaejeong, playing Haesu. This is my first time acting, so I have many shortcomings, but I will approach it diligently with a learning attitude. I look forward to working with you all." It was the longest Jaejeong had ever spoken in Dohoon's presence. Dohoon, who had been intently watching him, felt a pang of regret that he couldn't capture this moment on his own camera. 'He even dressed so nicely today…' Even while at work, his dedication to 'fangirling' over Jaejeong was non-negotiable. He kept glancing at the staff in charge of the making-of camera, hoping Jaejeong was being captured well. After the lengthy introductions, the script reading officially began. Episode 1 primarily focused on the modern era, naturally giving Dohoon the most lines. Most of the cast appeared in the Joseon Dynasty segments, so there was no avoiding it. In the latter half of Episode 1, the first to discover Dohoon's character, Kim Jimyeong (or rather, Yi Seon), who had just fallen into Joseon, was Haesu, played by Jaejeong. This was his first appearance and his first line. "Your Majesty!" Haesu approached Jimyeong—no, Yi Seon—who was sitting alone on the ground in the dark, and looked down at him with a worried expression. "Are you alright?" Jimyeong, a modern man who had just landed in Joseon, had no way of recognizing the mysterious man who called him 'Your Majesty.' To him, the other person's attire and speech were utterly bizarre. "What… who are you?" 'Is he crazy?' As Yi Seon cautiously recoiled, Haesu knelt down before him. "Your Majesty! It is Haesu." Eyes filled with worry, concern, and a hint of fear turned towards Yi Seon. Dohoon, who had been reading both the stage directions and the lines, shifted his gaze towards Jaejeong, who had just finished his dialogue. Jaejeong, too, looked up and met Dohoon's eyes. Their gazes intertwined in the air. Dohoon had expected Jaejeong to be very nervous for the first reading, but he seemed surprisingly composed. 'Is he just not the type to get nervous?' Dohoon thought to himself as he turned a page, then looked at Jaejeong again. He had already bowed his head deeply. At that moment, Dohoon noticed Jaejeong's fingertips tremble slightly as he turned the paper. This was followed by a tightly clenched fist, as if trying to hide it. He wasn't *not* nervous; he was trying to hide his nervousness. Even for Jaejeong, a new and unfamiliar setting was bound to be daunting. Dohoon watched his vulnerable display with a soft gaze, then quietly suppressed a laugh. 'Cute.' Jaejeong's uncharacteristic awkwardness struck Dohoon as utterly adorable. He knew fans would surely love this side of him, and while it was a pity he couldn't share this rare sight, he also felt a sense of triumphant joy at discovering it himself. **** Jaejeong began attending action school for his drama preparations just as Face A's repackaged album promotions kicked off. The sales of the repackaged album, released merely a month after their 4th full album—which had recorded the highest first-week sales for a Face A album—were also quite respectable. Naturally, Jaejeong's daily life became relentlessly busy. After heading to the broadcasting station for early morning pre-recordings, he would immediately go to action school. Most of his scenes involved action, as Haesu had to physically protect King Yi Seon, who was possessed by the reckless spirit of Jimyeong. Thanks to his long history of dancing and excellent athletic ability, Jaejeong showed considerable talent even in martial arts, which he was learning for the first time. He even occasionally received compliments from the instructor, who suggested he could become a professional stunt performer. However, Jaejeong was only human, and the non-stop schedule inevitably wore him down. The high energy expenditure led to noticeable weight loss within a few days. More than anyone, Dohoon, who encountered Jaejeong daily at action school, worried about him. Each time he saw Jaejeong's increasingly gaunt face, Dohoon's own heart ached. As a fan, he understood the struggles of balancing acting and music activities better than anyone, which only amplified his concern.