Chapter 42
Before the production announcement event, Kim Doyun arranged a private interview for Seo Dongjin and Hong Sujeong in a hotel room.
That interview would likely make it to the front page of entertainment news by tonight.
Hong Sujeong had secured an exclusive scoop, and Seo Dongjin had to seize this chance to clean up his image.
And it had to be done perfectly.
“I’m an orphan.”
The bombshell dropped by Seo Dongjin left the reporters momentarily stunned, but soon they started firing questions at him.
“Mr. Seo Dongjin, didn’t you say in previous interviews that your father was a professor and your mother an artist?”
“Does this mean you lied to your fans and viewers?”
“Why did you lie?”
Faced with the barrage of questions, Seo Dongjin let tears well up in his eyes, eventually letting them fall.
At that moment, Kim Doyun signaled Hong Sujeong with his eyes.
Quick on the uptake, Hong Sujeong immediately asked Seo Dongjin:
“Mr. Seo Dongjin, why did you feel the need to reveal this story during the production announcement event? Did you discuss this with the drama’s production team?”
Jeong Woon-Young muttered under his breath.
“Damn it, that bastard! Hey, Kim Doyun. Did you know that punk was an orphan?”
“Yes.”
“You crazy idiot. Are you trying to ruin my drama?”
“It’s quite the opposite.”
Kim Doyun pressed the remote control in his hand.
The night before, he had requested the hotel’s event team to set up a multi-vision screen.
Pop! The multi-vision screen lit up, displaying the photos Kim Doyun had taken of Seo Dongjin during their trip to Jeongdongjin.
The composition and lighting of the photos were so perfect that they resembled promotional posters for the drama. The reporters likely thought the same.
Images of Seo Dongjin walking out of Jeongdongjin Station in denim-on-denim fashion, dancing and laughing in a yard, strolling along the beach.
And finally, a photo of him sobbing while gazing at the nighttime ocean froze on the screen.
‘When I took that photo, Seo Dongjin was crying out of longing for his mother.’
Amidst the solemn atmosphere, Seo Dongjin spoke into the microphone.
“I became an actor because I wanted to find the mother who abandoned me. I thought that if I became famous, she might reach out to me.”
The somber mood deepened as he continued, standing against the backdrop of the multi-vision screen.
“I always felt tormented. It was as if I was living someone else’s life. Then, when I was cast as Yeonwoo…”
The story naturally shifted to his character in the drama.
Seo Dongjin, who had built a reputation as a CF star with an inflated image of wealth, had to pay the price for his lies.
That was the reality.
But in the framed world of fiction, the impossible becomes possible.
“…After reading the script, I went to Jeongdongjin… and realized that to truly embody Yeonwoo… I needed to correct my lies.”
In the multi-vision’s frame, Seo Dongjin had already become Yeonwoo.
A pitiful young man crying out after being slapped while cleaning up the mess his drunk father had made.
“…I didn’t want to cause trouble for the production team because of me…”
“I support you, Mr. Seo Dongjin.”
Hong Sujeong began clapping, and soon, the reporters joined in, applauding Seo Dongjin with encouragement.
Forgiveness might be hard to come by in real life, but it was possible in a drama.
Kim Doyun had turned on the multi-vision screen to evoke this exact reaction, hoping the reporters would open their hearts to Seo Dongjin after seeing him in the frame.
And it worked, just as he had expected—perfectly.
The reason people watch dramas, the reason they laugh and cry despite knowing it’s all fiction.
‘It’s because they want to live in such a world.’
A world where impossible love, success, revenge—and forgiveness—exist.
“Wow, this is going to be some promotion.”
As the overall sentiment toward Seo Dongjin shifted to one of goodwill, Jeong Woon-Young commented.
“This will get ten times the coverage of the article about The Emperor of the Night’s Jin Gunwoo. Are you still going to put Seo Dongjin on a motorcycle?”
“What motorcycle? Forget it. He won’t need one anymore.”
Jeong Woon-Young shook his head, thoroughly exasperated.
This was how you competed—not by comparing yourself to others, but by turning your weaknesses into strengths and securing an unrivaled position.
Just then, a notification sound chimed.
Eun Jihoon’s Future News began playing.
Perhaps because of the high success satisfaction rate, the report seemed to be scheduled for tonight.
[A Summer’s Cantabile held its script reading today. It’s said that Seo Dongjin and Cha Dojin, who compete for Hyein in the drama, are close friends as senior and junior models. We’re envious of Jeon Sera, who will be the object of affection of these two actors…]
‘Seo Dongjin and Cha Dojin weren’t exactly close.’
Kim Doyun remembered their awkward relationship. Cha Dojin, the senior, had been dissatisfied with Seo Dongjin taking the lead role, leading to a clash of egos.
‘That tension added to the chemistry when competing for Hyein in the drama.’
As he looked at Cha Dojin, Kim Doyun raised an eyebrow.
‘What’s this?’
While everyone applauded Seo Dongjin, Cha Dojin was whispering and chatting with Kim Sojeong.
Did he feel like a prop left out of the spotlight as everyone’s attention focused on Seo Dongjin?
‘Isn’t it natural for supporting actors to get less attention?’
***
“Dongjin, is it true that you don’t have a mother?”
At the script reading, a group of middle-aged actors gathered around Seo Dongjin.
Seong Soyoung, ever the cheerful one, patted his shoulder and back.
“Now that I think about it, you don’t have a mother in the drama either.”
“I’ll be your mother.”
Jo Soojin, who played Jeon Sera’s mother in the drama, pressed her hand to her chest and said:
“Since you marry Hyein in the drama, wouldn’t that make me your mother-in-law? So I’ll just be your mother.”
“That works. But hey, did you really work at a nightclub?”
Seong Soyoung openly dug into Seo Dongjin’s past. Seo Dongjin glanced at me as if asking for permission to speak.
Kim Doyun nodded once, signaling that it was okay to share.
“I worked at a nightclub called Champagne near the Express Bus Terminal Station.”
At that, Seong Soyoung lowered her voice and asked Seo Dongjin:
“Did you ever see me there? You didn’t, right?”
“…I saw you quite often.”
“What?! Not often! I only went on rainy days.”
Seong Soyoung jumped up and waved her hands in denial. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she narrowed her eyes and whispered even softer:
“Wait, weren’t you the guy handing out flyers in the nightclub parking lot? The one they called Odori?”
“…Ma’am, if you dig any deeper, we’ll both get hurt.”
“Is that so? Ah, anyway, it’s nice to meet you.”
With their heads close to the table, Seo Dongjin and Seong Soyoung whispered to each other.
Jo Soojin, who had been chatting with another actor, turned to Seong Soyoung and asked:
“What are you two talking about so seriously?”
“Huh? Oh, the script.”
Seong Soyoung quickly changed her expression and replied in a coy tone, prompting Jo Soojin to pout.
“You two don’t even meet in the drama, so what script are you talking about? Anyway, Dongjin, I’m your mom now, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“There comes your drunkard of a father.”
Woo Gukhwan entered the room just as Jo Soojin made her remark, bristling at her words.
“Who are you calling a drunkard?”
“I meant your character, obviously.”
“How could someone misread the script so badly and still make a living off acting? My character is a clumsy father who loves his son but can’t express it properly. Get it right!”
As Woo Gukhwan accurately described his role, Kim Doyun politely greeted him.
“Mr. Woo Gukhwan, thank you for coming. I know it must have been a hassle.”
“Hassle? My house is right by a subway station. It was no trouble at all.”
Seong Soyoung rolled her eyes as if to say, “What kind of actor takes the subway?”
“Is riding the subway something to brag about?”
“What’s wrong with using public transportation? In a country with no oil reserves, everyone driving their own cars is…”
“Ugh, stress. It’s like listening to my dad’s lecture all over again.”
Seong Soyoung pressed her ringed fingers to her forehead and walked off to sit far from Woo Gukhwan.
“That brat!”
“Dad, please hold it in.”
Seo Dongjin stepped in to calm Woo Gukhwan, who played his father in the drama. Woo Gukhwan, playing along, cleared his throat.
“Son, should I let it go?”
“Yes, sir. Let’s finish the script reading quickly so we can go eat.”
“That’s true. What do you like, Dongjin?”
“Black bean noodles.”
“Ugh! If you suggest black bean noodles after this, I’ll disown you. Got it?”
The chemistry between Seo Dongjin and Woo Gukhwan seemed even better than in their previous lives.
‘It’s probably because Woo Gukhwan learned about Seo Dongjin’s past.’
Actors often tried to appear poised, leading to insincere behaviors.
But since Seo Dongjin had revealed his entire past, Woo Gukhwan likely saw it as genuine.
“Dongjin, about this scene… Can I really hit you?”
“Of course, sir. Feel free to hit me for realism.”
“I’ll make sure it doesn’t hurt too much. Haha. Anyway, I think we’re a good match. Let’s do our best.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kim Doyun smiled warmly as he watched the interaction between Seo Dongjin and Woo Gukhwan.
At that moment, Cha Dojin entered the room. His chilly demeanor made Seo Dongjin stand to greet him.
“Hmph.”
Kim Doyun observed Cha Dojin and Seo Dongjin closely while checking attendance.
Once he confirmed that almost everyone, except the child actors, had arrived, Eun Jihoon and Yoon Jia entered.
Kim Doyun didn’t go out of his way to greet Eun Jihoon.
The entertainment world was a jungle, and drama sets were dangerous territories full of predators.
Everyone might be smiling now, but if someone messed up a scene or caused trouble for a fellow actor, curses would quickly follow.
‘Curses? Fists fly too.’
In this industry, it wasn’t uncommon for senior actors to assault junior ones.
With the power of agencies backing them, an actor’s career could end if they got on the wrong side of someone influential.
To survive, one had to be strong and learn to fend for themselves. That’s why Kim Doyun had no plans to coddle Eun Jihoon.
“Director, I think we’re ready to begin.”
After completing the headcount, Kim Doyun approached Director Lee Beom-un.
Lee Beom-un and Han Jiseon were seated at the head of the table, flanked by the lead and supporting actors.
“I’m Lee Beom-un. And as you all know, this is Writer Han Jiseon, who wrote the script.”
“I’m Han Jiseon. Let’s give it our all!”
After Han Jiseon’s brief introduction, Lee Beom-un spoke again.
“Let’s start with introductions from the right.”
Script readings bring all the actors in the drama together in one place.
There wouldn’t be another opportunity for everyone to gather like this, even during filming or the wrap party.
‘Some people always skip the wrap party, anyway.’
Kim Doyun took out his camera and captured photos of everyone, from the leads to the supporting cast.
This included Seo Dongjin, who was about to soar to great heights through this drama, Eun Jihoon, who was making his acting debut, and even Han Jiseon, who would grow as a writer by the end of this project.
‘Now it’s truly starting.’
For the first time in a while, Kim Doyun felt his heart tighten with excitement.
—
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