Kim Kangil: Not answering? Fuck, what—does keeping your mouth shut make you sothing?
“Should I repeat the question?”
The reporter’s voice pressed for an answer. In that mont, I understood what kind of response Myeong Jeha had been pointing toward.
In the sharp, tense atmosphere, I forced a smile and lifted my head.
“I’m sorry. I think I was just really nervous today... my mind went completely blank.”
For a question like this, avoiding it was the correct answer.
‘If I speak well of traditional broadcasters, they’ll spin it into criticism of NetHolics. If I highlight NetHolics’ strengths, they’ll fra it as putting down existing networks.’
Better to answer in a way that belongs to neither side.
“What I can say is that everyone is working hard across all platforms, so I’d be really grateful if people enjoy the content... yes, sothing like that. I’m sorry.”
In truth, I’d done script readings plenty of tis. There was no real reason for to be this nervous.
But Manager Ma from JC ENM would probably spin it sohow.
“Oh. That’s exactly what I wanted to say. Looks like we’re on the sa wavelength. Then we’ll do our best to greet viewers with a high-quality production, and with that, we’ll wrap up the script reading after a short video ssage from each of you. Thank you all for taking the ti to be here.”
Director Oh imdiately backed up. Seeing that, I knew this had been the right answer.
When I turned slightly to look at Myeong Jeha, the corner of his lips lifted as if to say, well done.
The script reading session finally ca to an end.
* * *
“What was that earlier?”
“I wasn’t the only one who found that weird, right?”
“Ugh, this is seriously annoying.”
After the session, I could hear the reporters’ dissatisfied voices.
‘This is my first ti at a script reading like this....’
Maybe because I’d gotten used to the favorable atmosphere around , the tension hit harder than usual.
I didn’t leave right away. Instead, I leaned against the door and listened to the conversation outside.
“There’s no way her screen ti will really be that small when it airs, right? It’s Han Yeoreum, after all.”
“Co on. There’s no way Jegal Rok would let that slide.”
The reporters began throwing out their own theories.
“I heard sothing sowhere—I wasn’t sure if it was just a rumor, but I think it’s true. Originally, Seomun Ihwa didn’t plan to include Han Yeoreum, but Jegal Rok requested it through NetHolics and pushed her in.”
“Oh, is that the spoiler they ntioned earlier? Is there a part where she gets linked with Myeong Jeha in the story?”
“Then it makes sense that Seomun Ihwa didn’t want to include her. If those two get paired up with the montum from , it’ll feel like Taeseok-Huijae all over again.”
The rumors started gaining weight. Guesswork was slowly turning into certainty.
“Then doesn’t that make her appearance in NetHolics’ first production kind of aningless?”
As I listened to their grumbling, I refreshed my phone screen. Articles had already piled up.
[NetHolics Korea, script reading scene... “Are they even prepared?” Cold atmosphere]
[High-quality blockbuster for just ‘10,000 won a month’—Seomun Ihwa’s confidence in ]
[Han Yeoreum: “NetHolics? I’m not really sure” awkward smile]
[Introduction withheld? A well-set table with nothing to eat—will succeed?]
Malicious articles were already flooding in. I let out a small sigh.
“Ha...”
The reporters’ complaints didn’t stop.
Then—
a familiar voice.
“Still, with Seomun Ihwa, O Seonyul, and Jegal Rok attached, I’d say the outco is already decided.”
It was Reporter Wi.
“Fair. That combination can’t fail. It’s just fucking annoying they called us here and then kept their mouths shut.”
“So what is Han Yeoreum’s character? I’m dying of curiosity!”
“Co to think of it, shouldn’t Han Yeoreum be included in that lineup anyway? None of her projects have flopped so far.”
“She’s Jegal Rok’s pick, so just take it as a package deal. Still, her filmography is solid.”
The conversation slowly shifted into sothing more favorable toward .
Then soone voiced what everyone was thinking.
“What the hell did Seomun Ihwa do to her role for it to end up like that? So is Han Yeoreum a hidden card—or just a throwaway?”
I wanted to step out right then and say it.
‘I’m not a throwaway!’
Thanks to the status window that had appeared when I showed Lee Seohae in front of Seomun Ihwa, I already knew the answer.
「Hidden Mission: Inspire soone」
You have moved the heart of a genius! A new scenario is being written around you.
So it was fine.
Even if my screen ti was reduced, even if I didn’t have a single line in the script reading, even if I was hit with aggressive questions, even if I beca a target because of it—it was all fine.
‘Because I can show it through acting.’
Stories that go too smoothly aren’t satisfying anyway. A little unfair struggle makes the ending hit harder.
Thinking that way, my mind eased.
I pushed myself off the door I’d been leaning against.
‘Ti to go.’
Just as I turned the corner of the private hall with light steps—
“What took you so long? I’ve got sothing to say to you, Yeoreum.”
I ran straight into Myeong Jeha, who looked like he had been waiting for .
“Huh? Oh. I just... yeah.”
Caught off guard by seeing him sowhere I hadn’t expected, my eyes widened.
But only for a mont. Maybe because of that dream before, the second I looked at his face, I quickly turned my gaze away.
Who am I?
Han Yeoreum—the prepared future top actress who always handles her schedule with professionalism. Especially in public settings like this, I’m soone who knows the importance of maintaining composure. Don’t get hung up on dreams. Stay calm.
“Why are you acting like this? This is suspicious.”
His teasing voice sounded strangely unfamiliar today.
‘I need to keep my head straight. Filming starts soon.’
That dream last ti really wasn’t like .
If I kept seeing his face like this, that disrespectful dream might not stay a one-ti thing.
‘Absolutely not!!’
Even the smallest change in condition affects performance quality. At least, that’s what I believe.
Once filming starts, everything—eating, sleeping, resting—has to be controlled. If I keep having dreams like that, I won’t sleep properly. Then I won’t eat properly. And if I can’t rest properly—
‘What about my On Jihwa?’
Am I supposed to just get devoured by Do Gyeoul’s acting? Get overshadowed by Myeong Jeha?
‘No way.’
Who am I? Han Yeoreum—the one who, even without a single line in the script reading, will make On Jihwa’s presence overwhelming the mont the cara rolls.
“I-I have to go see Director Kang Hanseong. So... yeah. I’ve got, um, timing...”
But unlike my thoughts, the words that ca out weren’t clean.
My brain had been running calculations like a top actor’s survival instinct, and multitasking wasn’t going well. —soone who never fumbled lines—stumbling over my words only made look more suspicious.
‘This is why I should’ve ssed up my lines more often.’
Being too perfect really is a problem...
Myeong Jeha crossed his arms ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) and looked down at . Under that gaze, I added an excuse for no reason.
“You did really well at the script reading today... and thank you for the interview. But I was really nervous earlier, so I’d like to go rest for a bit, sir...”
Just go. That dream was enough once.
But I could still feel his eyes on .
I slowly took a step back. As the distance grew, Myeong Jeha moved too. For every three steps I took back, he took one forward.
Until there was nowhere left to retreat, and my back hit the wall—our toes touching.
“Look at .”
“Oh, I’m good.”
“What is wrong with you? You said we liked each other before.”
“? When did I ever say that?”
Did he have the sa dream? What? Was that dream one of Myeong Jeha’s regressions? Does he rember?
I snapped my head up without realizing it, and his face was suddenly close.
“I’m starting to feel hurt.”
Tilting his head slightly, Myeong Jeha frowned.
“Don’t you rember?”
“This feels like a malicious edit...”
“Stop using weird abbreviations.”
“Guess it’s too modern for you, sir.”
Just then, his phone rang. A vibration buzzed from inside his pocket.
Bzz—. Bzz—. Bzz—.
He checked the caller ID but didn’t answer. Instead, he asked ,
“Were you upset about not having any lines?”
“....”
I thought about the question for a mont, then shook my head.
“I’ll do well even without lines.”
I can. Definitely.
“The interview got aggressive. That surprised you, didn’t it?”
This ti, I nodded.
“A little.”
“It’s fine. It’ll get buried soon, so don’t worry about it too much.”
Was that why he waited for ?
The call seed urgent—on the second vibration, even he couldn’t ignore it.
“I’ll go. Pick up when I call.”
Soon, even more aggressive articles would be uploaded.
I could already imagine the sarcastic lines written next to my na.
Even though I had been thinking about it just monts ago—
“....”
Strangely, I felt like it would be okay.
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