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Join the ServerFrom the start, Jihoon had walked in determined to set the tone so that Yejun’s acting would be belittled.
Since he couldn’t tell whether the Chinese being spoken was good or bad anyway, he let out a mocking chuckle first.
“Seriously, haha.”
The actors nearby glanced at Jihoon, but since it was the final scene of Episode 1, Director Kim Minsu immediately stood up, clapped his hands, and spoke.
“Good work, everyone.
We’ll take a short break and then proceed with the Episode 2 reading.
We’ll only read up to Episode 2 today, but readings put a lot of strain on the actors’ voices, so please hydrate well during the break.
We’ll reconvene in twenty minutes.”
Once the director and writer left their seats, the actors began chatting among themselves during the break.
Jihoon looked at Yejun with half-lidded eyes and spoke loudly enough for those around him to hear.
“Didn’t the Chinese sound kind of strange?
It’s really different from what I usually hear.
Well, I guess he didn’t have much time to practice, right?”
A middle-aged actress nearby shrugged.
“I wouldn’t know.
I don’t know Chinese in the first place.
But his voice tone was nice.
It felt very engaging.”
Another actress sitting right next to her smiled and added,
“Oh, you felt that too?
I felt like the flow of air in the room suddenly changed.”
“Right?
Is he from a theater background?
His voice has strength.”
Jihoon ground his teeth.
This wasn’t how he’d planned things to go.
Still, even to his own untrained ear, Yejun’s vocal projection was excellent.
That meant his only option was to nitpick the Chinese, not the voice.
When Jihoon looked over at Lee Sooncheol, who had lived in Shanghai for many years, he saw that the veteran actor was staring intently at Yejun.
That’s it.
Since he lived there, he’ll definitely notice what’s lacking.
When Jihoon stood up, Jisoo rose with him.
She hadn’t been told anything in advance, but since they were from the same agency, she followed instinctively.
Jihoon stepped in front of Lee Sooncheol and bowed slightly as he spoke.
“Sir, are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”
Lee Sooncheol, who had been quietly watching Yejun, raised a hand.
“Oh, no.
I’m fine.
Thank you for your concern.”
Jisoo spoke in a sweet voice.
“Sir, there’s a soft cushion in the car.
Should I bring it for you?”
“No, it’s fine.”
Thanks to Jisoo, Jihoon naturally managed to strike up a conversation with Lee Sooncheol.
When the actor next to him vacated his seat, Jihoon slipped into it and said,
“I’m a bit worried this time.
There are quite a few action scenes.”
“…..”
“I’m going to an action school, but I get injured all the time.”
Lee Sooncheol looked at Jihoon quietly before speaking.
“So?”
“……Yes?”
“Are you asking me to comfort you?”
“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant.”
“An actor studying and training for a role is only natural.”
“Yes…..”
At that moment, Seong Su-il appeared and said with a smile,
“Ah, sir.
People like us don’t have action scenes, so we’re fine, but it’s different for the younger ones.
An actor’s body is their livelihood.
Don’t be too hard on them—just think of it as a young actor struggling, haha.”
Startled by Lee Sooncheol’s reaction, Jihoon regained his composure thanks to Seong Su-il’s support and said,
“Sunbae, your reading earlier was killer.”
“I didn’t kill anyone.”
“Come on, I mean you did great.”
“I know, kid.”
Jihoon glanced sideways at Yejun, who wasn’t blending in with anyone, and asked,
“But didn’t the Chinese sound a bit strange?
It felt different from the Chinese usually spoken by Joseonjok criminals or Chinese-Korean actors.”
Seong Su-il puckered his lips and nodded.
“It wasn’t the tone I’m used to hearing.”
Yes.
I’ve got a solid ally now.
Jihoon hurriedly spoke up.
“Sir!
I heard you lived in Shanghai for a long time.
What did it sound like to you?
It was strange, right?”
Lee Sooncheol said nothing and continued to look at Yejun.
Although no answer came to his question, Jihoon assumed it was the old master actor protecting a rookie.
With a grin, he raised his voice slightly and said,
“I wonder what the viewers will think.
People who know Chinese will definitely make a fuss about it.
Do you think it’ll be okay?”
Jihoon’s voice was a bit loud.
Because of that, actors who had been resting nearby turned to look.
Seong Su-il lowered his voice and growled,
“Lee Jihoon.
Lower your voice.
You’re in front of Sir Lee Sooncheol.”
Jihoon laughed sheepishly.
“Oh!
I’m sorry.
I didn’t even realize.
My mistake, haha.”
Jihoon cautiously checked Lee Sooncheol’s expression.
But the older actor was still staring only at Yejun.
Heh.
At this rate, he’s definitely going to get an earful, idiot.
I knew this would happen.
Part of him felt satisfied, but another part resented CEO Song Minsu for putting him through a whole month of hellish training just for an unknown actor like Ma Yejun.
Damn it.
I ruined my Hong Kong vacation for a piece of trash like that?
Just wait until the contract period is over.
Scratching his head and putting on an awkward expression, Jihoon said,
“I’m sorry, sir.
That actor used to be with our agency, but not anymore.
Still, we can communicate, so if there’s anything lacking, please feel free to point it out.
I’ll take your words as valuable advice and keep them close to heart.”
Even Jihoon thought it sounded polite.
Just as he decided the buildup to humiliating Ma Yejun was complete and started to stand, Lee Sooncheol finally turned to look at him.
“That actor used to be under your agency?”
Jihoon, who had half-risen, sat back down and answered quickly.
“Yes, sir.
He did two dramas as a bit part nine years ago, but after that, he was stuck in the practice room nonstop.
He must’ve failed around three hundred auditions.
Eventually, the company let him go.”
“When was that?”
“About four or five months ago.”
“Then which agency is he with now?”
“None, probably.
Who would sign someone who’s been unknown for nine years?”
“That guy—he’s Korean, right?”
Yes.
Finally, the moment I’ve been waiting for.
If a veteran actor like Lee Sooncheol criticized that clumsy Chinese, it would definitely reach the director’s ears.
With a triumphant look, Jihoon said,
“Yes, sir.
He’s never even left Korea since he was born.
That’s why his Chinese is so awkward, right?
I’ll make sure to warn him.
He probably just didn’t practice enough, don’t you think?”
Lee Sooncheol looked quietly at Jihoon, then turned to Seong Su-il.
“You think so too?”
Seong Su-il grinned.
“What do I know, sir.
The only Chinese words I know are a few I picked up watching old hopping-vampire movies.”
Lee Sooncheol glanced at Jihoon.
“That’s the normal reaction.”
“Th-that… yes?”
Lee Sooncheol’s eyebrow twitched.
“Tell me ten Chinese words you know.”
“…..?”
“Go on.”
“Well, um…”
There were words he knew.
A phrase asking if someone had eaten—something he remembered because it sounded like a curse in Korean.
And a few basic greetings he’d memorized for this Hong Kong trip.
But he didn’t know ten words.
“Well… I don’t think I know ten.
I know a few.”
Lee Sooncheol clicked his tongue and looked at Jihoon.
“There’s nothing shameful about admitting what you don’t know.
But pretending to know what you don’t is truly shameful.”
“……I don’t understand what you mean.”
“That’s enough.
Go back to your seat.
Break time is over.”
“……Sir.”
When Jihoon tried to say more, Seong Su-il glared at him.
“Didn’t you hear him?
Go back to your seat, Lee Jihoon.”
“…Yes.”
Jihoon frowned slightly, careful not to make it obvious.
Things were going just the way I planned—what the hell was that?
What exactly do I ‘not know,’ and what was I ‘pretending’ to know?
Has the old man gone senile?
Unable to say even a single one of the thoughts running through his head, Jihoon smacked his lips and stood up.
Right on cue, Director Kim Minsu and writer Hong Jihyun entered.
Returning naturally to his seat, Jihoon glared at Yejun, who sat alone with an expression he didn’t like.
I’ll humiliate you here no matter what.
Just wait, you bastard.
Once all the actors were seated, Hong Jihyun stood and spoke.
“Everyone’s here, right?
Then let’s begin the Episode 2 reading.
Episode 2, #A-1, Take 1.
Major Crimes Unit office.
Officer Choi Jina discovers a fax coming in, checks its contents, and speaks with a grave expression.”
Episode 2 opens with the line of Officer Choi Jina, played by Jisoo.
“Ha, this is insane.
Take a look at this.
An Interpol Red Notice criminal has illegally entered Incheon?”
An actor playing one of the major crimes detectives fires back,
“Let me see—whoa, the Triads?
Aren’t these guys usually active in Hong Kong?
Why a Shanghai boss?
It says here his rank is Honggun (紅棍)—what’s that?”
“It’s like an enforcer who handles punishment within the organization.
He was the Shanghai branch chief, but after a massive crackdown by the Chinese government, he fled to Macau, and now it looks like he’s illegally entered Korea.”
“This is nuts—damn, this guy’s insane.
There are over forty confirmed murder cases.
At this point, isn’t he a serial killer?
And someone like that is in Korea right now?
Senior Cha!
Look at this!”
Jihoon replies with a bored expression.
“What now?”
“This guy.
A Chinese man named Zhang Wei.
Interpol sent a notice asking for his immediate arrest.
If we don’t catch this bastard fast, all our heads are on the line.”
At that moment, another actor playing a detective spoke urgently.
“Major Crimes detectives!
All units, including the chief!
You’re summoned by the commissioner!”
From the corner, Seong Su-il, who had been pretending to sleep under a newspaper, spoke.
“Damn it.
It’s my son’s birthday today.
Guess lighting candles on a cake at home is out.
What are you standing around for?
It’s a commissioner summons—run!
Cha Seung-hyun, you bastard.
If you flap your mouth in front of the commissioner again today, I’ll kill you, got it?”
“Hey, why are you only picking on me?”
“Because you’re the only one who deserves it, you bastard!”
Hong Jihyun steps in.
“Scene transition, #A-2, Take 1.
Location: a Joseonjok karaoke bar in Garibong-dong.
Zhang Wei, who has brutally slaughtered the Joseonjok gang members, rests with a blood-stained axe embedded in a VIP table.
Around him, dismembered gang members moan.
Zhang Wei calmly wipes the blood from his face with a wet towel.
He splits the head of a Joseonjok gang member who appears behind him with the axe, then smiles coldly and mutters.”
Perhaps because of the earlier commotion caused by Jihoon, the other actors—who had been focused only on their scripts—lift their heads and look at Yejun.
Seong Su-il does the same.
When he looks up at Yejun, his face suddenly stiffens.
Wh-what…
Is that really a human gaze?
The rookie actor who had been sitting awkwardly alone during the break is nowhere to be seen.
In his place sits a beast.
Something clenched in his mouth, Yejun makes a soft tss sound as he drags something across the table.
Su-il furrows his brow.
Is he even smoking?
Where does he get that kind of composure?
Was it even possible for a rookie actor to act like that during a script reading?
At the very least, Su-il couldn’t have done it.
Back when he was a rookie among legendary actors, he’d been so nervous during his first reading that he could barely remember anything after the halfway point.
But Ma Yejun, sitting before him now, was different.
Like a beast wiping away freshly splattered blood, Yejun curls his lips into a grin and opens his mouth.
“理智的人始终会备好一颗子弹,不管是为了自己,还是为了他人.”
(A rational person always keeps one bullet ready—whether it’s for himself… or for someone else.)
Chinese with tones different from what they were used to hearing.
Once again, it sounds slightly strange—just like Jihoon said.
Then, suddenly, someone bursts out laughing.
“Haha—hahahaha!”
All eyes turn toward the source.
The one laughing loudly in the middle of the reading is none other than Lee Sooncheol.
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