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Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Team leader Nam asked. He swallowed dry saliva in response to the 5th Division chief’s words.
“Mr. Chief, what does that mean? Are you saying: Our company is directly involved in the audition?”
Nam asked in a worried voice. The head of the 5th Division replied as if he was wondering what he was so worried about.
“Uh. ‘Ronald Jang,’ he’s one of the judges we’re working with. Why, is there a problem?”
“Oh, no. It’s a little difficult to directly intervene in the audition, rather than a problem.
“Isn’t it against commercial morality?” team leader Nam wanted to say.
But when he couldn’t ask that much and blurted out his back. The 5th chief sighed as if frustrated.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. . . . “Team leader Nam, how long have you been working for the company?”
“This is only the 11th year of service.”
“It has already been 11 years. “You are the senior team leader Joo Minhyun in room 4.”
“—- That’s right.”
Team leader Nam’s expression hardened a bit when he heard the name “Joo Minhyun”. He was junior but better than him.
The head of the 5th division continued: “Whether he knew it or not.
“Six new rooms for actors will be in place next month. You know that he’s going to be promoted to head the Department, right?
“—- Yes, I know.”
“You’re senior, and you’ve got more to perform. Do you have any idea why there was a delay in your promotion?”
“—.”
“It’s because you’re so behind, man.”
“It’s soft,” Team Leader Nam said, bowing his head. The head of the 5th division continued to speak calmly.
“You have 30 skills, 30 luck, and 30 connections if you want to succeed in this place, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then do you have any idea what the other 10 are?”
Team leader Nam shook his head. After thinking for a while, he said.
“I have no idea.”
“It’s loyalty. Loyalty!”
“—.”
“That ‘loyalty’ that understands what the superiors want and somehow gets things done.”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
“You have to do it. No matter how dirty and cheap it is. Bribing a judge at the audition? It’s no big deal. For example, the crazy guy in the second director of the acting department is ….”
The 5th chief was about to say something. He sighed and shook his head.
“Phew, that’s the end of it. What’s the point of my talk about other managers? In any case, live a strong life. If you want to stay on this team.”
Thinking about the words of the 5th division, team leader Nam nodded his head.
“Still.”
In a casual voice, the head of the 5th division said.
“Sometimes there are people who are really over the top with their skills. Those kids should have no part in this.”
“I’m going to try to remember that.”
“Yes, I am telling you this because I have a good feeling about you. This is a very expensive tip that no one will tell you about.”
The director of the 5th department got up from his seat. He wanted to leave the room.
It was at this time that Nam, with a very serious face, asked the head of the 5th department.
“Mr. Director.”
“Why?”
“You bribed the judge to let Kang Jinseok drop the hook this time.”
“And?”
“But like you say, you use what you’ve got.”
“—.”
“If he’s going to play ‘Ohmanho’ when he auditions like he did when he played ‘Nakamura’…”
The head of the 5th division interrupted while the team leader was talking.
“That’s not going to happen.”
“No, but the only thing is if…”
“Hey, do you think that Kang Jinseok is able to act like that?” “A rookie who just had his debut?”
Without even thinking about it, Team Leader Nam shook his head.
It didn’t matter how good you were, but that didn’t mean that you could do well in other roles as well.
“In my opinion, it would be difficult.”
“Yeah. I’m sure he’s lucky enough to get cast. You’ve seen a lot of actors like that, haven’t you? Glittering kids in one piece.”
“Yes.”
“Well, never mind about that. Nakamura and Omanho are completely different roles.
The head of the 5th division walked out of the room after finishing his talk. He was confident and calm as he walked to leave.
However, the feeling of something uncomfortable could not be erased by Team Leader Nam.
***
Auditions are in full swing in the audition hall of Studio Redcat Headquarters.
Ronald Chang, who had received money back from KL Entertainment, looked at his profile.
Kang Jinseok is the next applicant.
Jinseok, who was known to Ronald, was that kind of actor.
An actor who appeared for a few seconds as a supporting character in “Dreaming of the Sun Rising” and appeared in an instant as “Nakamura” in “Spring Without Flowers”.
And the poor rookie who was the target of KL Entertainment’s hatred.
Well, no matter what. I just need to get paid.
Why KL Entertainment wanted to drop Jinseok, I didn’t know.
But he had no regrets about dropping Jinseok.
Failing an audition is as common as eating for an actor. And it was the same with getting a deal for a big project like The Way They Chose.
“Ha Sarang, PD, and the writer, I don’t think you have to pay much attention to him. Is he the variable?
Ronald had a look at the man with the thick glasses.
“Kwak Jinwook…”
I’ve heard many anecdotes about him, but today is the first time I’ve seen him.
This is because Kwak Jinwook used to be quite famous in the Korean entertainment industry, especially in acting.
When it comes to new actors, he’s very strict.
At the same time, he was fair enough to be called a ‘principal’. So the public’s evaluation was not bad.
When Ronald looked at himself in silence for a long time, Kwak Jinwook asked him while fixing his glasses.
“Is there something wrong with my face?”
Ronald’s reaction to the sudden question was one of anger.
“Oh! No, no, no, no. Just…”
“Just?”
“Mr. Kwak’s question was what he thought of the next contestant, actor Kang Jinseok, yo.”
Kwak Jinwook said after thinking for a while.
“You have to see the details.”
“—.”
“So far, he’s an actor who is good at watching films. That’s all there is to it.”
Hearing Kwak Jinwook’s answer, Ronald laughed.
As expected, the rumor goes: You seem to hate new actors. Kwak Jinwook is not going to give Kang Jinseok a good grade.
***
When I went to the audition hall, I didn’t think about unraveling a complicated thread in my head.
It was because of the words Min Kyungsoo said, “Be nervous,” and Lee Nayeon said, “Acting coach who doesn’t like new actors.
“The thing that has me the most on edge is…” They said: “There is someone who is the most problematic.
It was at this time that Joo Minggu, the staff member who took me to the audition hall, said.
“Was there a problem with Lee Taesik earlier?
Lee Taesik?
“What? Nothing happened.”
“Just in case something happened. You had a serious look on your face.
It was because of the words of Min Kyungsoo and Lee Nayeon, but I think that Joo Minggu thought about it because of Lee Taesik.
Soon after that, he stopped in front of a door. It looked like an audition room.
Knock, knock.
“Actor Kang Jinseok is entering.”
“Please come in.”
The resident opened the door. He said a few words of encouragement.
“Good luck with your performance.”
“Thank you.”
There were four judges in the audition room and a chair in front of them.
He walked up to the chair in the middle and got the attention of the judges.
“Hello everyone! I’m Kang Jinseok who auditioned for the role of Fan ID.
After saying hello, I sat on a chair and made eye contact with each of the judges.
“Photographer Kang Hyunjin, Producer Ha Sarang, Ronald Jang, and Acting Coach Kwak Jinwook.”
There was a sign in front of the judges so I could tell who was who.
The writer and producer said: “This is a normal audition. The acting coach
I don’t really like new actors. Dunny, it really seemed that way.
The way he was lookin’ at me, he was really fierce.
“So this is the judge who can be the most problematic one?”
A judge named “Ronald Jang” looked at me with a smooth smile.
“Nice to meet you. Actor Kang Jinseok. I’m Ha Sarang, who contacted you a few times by text.”
“Yes! Nice to meet you! I’m Kang Jinseok.
“Ho-ho, I know it’s Kang Jinseok, so I’m going to ask you a few quick questions before I start watching you act.”
Let’s focus on the audition first. Don’t have any regrets if you mess up after your worries about other things.
Before the acting began, the sergeant and the PD asked one or two questions.
Omanho’ thinks of a person who is so thin that he can lose so much weight. If it is possible to digest the rough actions without stunts, etc.
Of course, my answer was ‘possible’.
Ha Sarang said with a satisfied smile.
“Good. Then you can have a look at the envelopes on my table.
Ha Sarang pointed at three envelopes. They were all the same kind of envelopes.
I thought about it for a while. I chose the one in the middle.
At the same time as I opened the envelope, my vision became blurred.
“This, this, this…”
This is the memory of Lee Manseok.
——
“Manseok…” Let’s go meet our Mom.”
“Mom, ——-”
“You should always be honest and kind to people. And this is my younger brother, Minyoung. You have to be my protector, Oppa. “OK?”
“Yes, yes, no, no, no, no, no.”
“Yeah, even without mom. Brave…”
——
It was a stunningly cold room.
In it, a young Lee Manseok is seen nursing his mother.
Lee Manseok is now about 10 years old.
It was so cold. The mother was sweating profusely. There were several sheets of cloth around a baby next to her.
It was Lee Minyoung, the younger brother of Lee Manseok.
The scene had changed.
——
“Oppa! I won an award at school today!”
“Really? As expected, Minyoung! Good job! Shall we eat Jajangmyeon today?
“Yes!! Oh, brother! I’m coming to visit Mom and Dad at school next week, can you come?”
“Of course! I’ll go with Jiyeon! That’s nice, isn’t it?
“Woong! You’re the best!” Jiyeon, you’re the best!
——
Lee Manseok, a 22-year-old man with a stupid smile.
He raised his younger brother by running a small shop inherited from his parents.
With his wife Kim Jiyeon.
On the surface and in practice, it was a harmonious and well-adjusted family.
——
“Hey, Lee Manseok. If you inherited your parents’ shop, you should pay off the debt.”
“I warn you. Don’t even think about spending money on anything else until you pay off your debt. Do you understand?”
——
It was a short scene.
There were several gangsters in the dark shop and one of them threatened Lee Manseok.
But Lee Manseok was in a state of relief.
This was because his younger brother, Lee Minyoung, did not know that he had debts at home.
Lee Manseok didn’t care what happened as long as Lee Minyoung was okay.
——
“Your guardian. The situation is not so good.”
“—.”
“Patient Kim Jiyeon, you need an operation as soon as possible.”
“Doctor. I’ll give you the money later, so proceed with the surgery first.”
“I’m sorry, sir. That’s impossible according to the hospital policy.”
——
Inside an old hospital full of rustic green letters.
My wife, coming back from shopping, was hit by a car.
The doctor said he needed an operation immediately, but all he had was the money he had saved to pay off his debts.
Lee Manseok thought about it for a while and then made up his mind.
——
I’ve got to get Jiyeon an operation first. The money is here. I can earn it back.
——
Lee Manseok put his wife’s life first.
——
“You’re paying for your wife’s operation without paying the debt?! Did that punk hit you!!”
“Hey! Drop everything!”
——
A gangster who realized that Lee Manseok was spending money on his wife instead of paying his debt.
They came and started to tear down the shop.
Lee Manseok stood still without resisting.
The problem will only get worse if I touch them now.
But then.
——
“Hey! Get your little brother. I’ll have him for sale on the island.
“Oppa!”
“Don’t touch Minyoung!”
“Hey! If you don’t bring him back fast, what are you going to do?
“—- Don’t touch me!
——
He was Lee Manseok, who endured everything but couldn’t bear it if someone touched his younger brother.
Lee Manseok, who was standing still, flew up.
He broke the jaw of a gangster who tried to kidnap his brother and broke the leg of a man who rushed him.
They were stabbing, slashing, and smashing gangsters all over the place.
It was a gruesome image that I couldn’t imagine from the Lee Manseok I had seen so far.
Before I knew it, the store was empty.
Only his younger brother, Lee Min-young, was looking at Lee Man-seok with fear.
——
“Oh, brother. . . .
“Mi, Minyoung. “Are you okay?”
——
Lee Manseok approached Lee Minyoung, but Lee Minyoung stepped back and refused to touch him.
Lee Minyoung looked at Lee Manseok, who had blood all over his body, with terrified eyes.
The look was like a dagger to Lee Manseok.
A “man” was watching Lee Manseok and his brother in front of the store as if he was interested in them.
——
“Manseok, life is like hell, right?”
“No. It must be more hell than hell. It’s not much, but I’m just happy to live with my brother and my wife.”
“Because you can’t even do that.”
“Right?”
——
Lee Manseok outside the store a while ago, is drinking alone.
The man said with a wry smile as if he understood everything.
——
“Manseok, do you know how to be happy in this hellish world?
“What should I do?”
“You have to be a devil. The only happy foal in hell is the devil.”
“—.”
“So have a try and work under me. Work like the devil.”
“— What can I do? I’m just a shopkeeper.”
“What do you mean, a small businessman? I saw earlier that you didn’t lose your martial arts skills when you were in school.”
“How can I do that?”
“How do I know about that?” I am friends with all the guys in Busan’s martial club.”
“—.”
“If you work for me, I’ll pay off your debt and your wife’s operation. That solves everything.”
“—.”
“Let’s live happily in the future. What do you think?”
——
Lee Manseok clenched his fist as he listened to the man.
My fingernails dug into my hands and bled from gripping it so tightly.
But I didn’t feel any pain. I felt like I was going to burst, and I was even more frustrated.
He wanted to kill the man who was the main culprit of all this. But his inability to kill him was catastrophic.
Lee Manseok was in such a state of self-hatred.
——
“I’m going to think about it a little bit more.”
——
When I opened my eyes, I was back in the audition room.
My heart was heavy with emotion.
Because in that short period of time, I experienced happiness, sadness, and lethargy in a person’s life.
“Let’s have a look at the script first.”
There was a piece of paper in the envelope. There was a familiar scene written on it.
——
“Omanho,” who was proposed as a gangster.
He is drinking in his shop in ruins. He made a monologue while looking at the place where his younger brother stepped back and ran from him.
——
“Happily…”
The most difficult moment in Lee Manseok’s life.
It was the moment I made the decision to be a gangster instead of a normal family man.
It was also the moment when my sister saw me as a monster.
I sat back in the chair and stared into space.
As if I was sitting in midair, I stared into space.
Whatever was around me. It didn’t matter.
What matters to me now is whether I will become a gangster or not.
That was all I needed to know.
I inhaled. I filled my lungs. Then he sighed deeply.
Deeper than a sigh, in a dark and heavy voice.
“Let’s get to work.”