Chapter 142:
The word "traitor" cast a colossal, heavy, and icy silence in the conference room.
Managers and team leaders, standing behind them observing the meeting, began to feel a cold sweat forming on their backs.
Meanwhile, Lee Youngkyung stared menacingly at Manager 1.
The intensity of his gaze made the other managers stay silent, cautiously navigating the situation between Manager 1 and the CEO.
"It won't be like that," Manager 1 said, looking straight at Lee Youngkyung.
"For others, I don't know, but the people in this room have their lives tied to the CEO."
""
"Isn't that right?"
Manager 1's words solidified the expressions of the managers. It was because the forgotten vulnerabilities of their own, constantly changing managers surfaced.
Perhaps sensing the managers' changing expressions, Lee Youngkyung, in a much softer voice than before, spoke.
"Well, that's true."
""
"But, Manager 1, saying it like that makes me sound like a really bad guy. I'm not that bad."
"If it was unpleasant, I apologize."
"It's not that unpleasant."
With a hollow laugh, Lee Youngkyung stood up from his seat.
"Hmm. I guess I was a bit emotional in today's meeting. Suspecting you, the Managers. I apologize."
After a formal apology, Lee Youngkyung headed toward the door of the conference room. However, instead of leaving the room first, he hesitated and then looked back at Manager 1.
"Manager 1, come see me separately. Come up to my office."
***
"' CEO Lee Youngkyung has started to suspect internal figures, so it might be difficult to contact for a while.'"
After reading the message sent by Manager 1, Jang Sunho deleted it. He then stretched his neck, calmly contemplating.
"It was quite helpful, but is it going to be tough from now on?"
Jang Sunho shook his head. If there was no help from Manager 1, he would manage the incidents on his own.
Standing up from his desk, he cracked his knuckles and straightened his back. Coming to the office early in the morning had left his body a bit fatigued.
The reason for this fatigue wasn't solely due to long hours. It was because of Go Seoyeong. Since that day when he lost sleep, the fatigue hadn't dissipated properly.
"Hmm. It's been over a week, but feeling tired like this is a bit strange As the actor suggested, maybe I should get a check-up."
Knock, knock. At that moment, the voice of the employee who had brought Jinseok to him spoke.
"Team leader, it's Yeom Junyeol. I brought actor Kang Jinseok. May we come in?"
"Yes, come in."
As the door opened and Jinseok entered, he was greeted with a bright smile.
"Hello, Manager. Good morning."
As if the fatigue he showed a moment ago was a lie, Jang Sunho replied with a strong and reliable voice.
"Yes, Mr. Kang. Good morning. Today is the first shoot for the audition program. How's your condition?"
Before the first shoot of the audition program.
"Your skin is really good. Did I mention that? Normally, I only work with female actresses. Male actors seem to have rougher skin, and my skills don't shine as much. But with you, it sticks perfectly as I draw."
"Ahaha Thank you."
A makeup artist, wearing something that looked like a swimming cap, examined my face with a brush, or rather, makeup.
Although I thought I had become accustomed to makeup after several shoots, this enthusiastic makeup artist made me feel a bit drained.
Surely, I had been full of energy until I met Jang Sunho at the company and came to the shooting location.
If Jang Sunho were with me, he probably would have noticed my mood and said something, but after sitting here at the makeup table, he only left the room, saying, "I have something to discuss with the PD. I'll be back in a moment."
Thanks to that, I was suffering at the hands of the makeup artist, wearing what looked like swimming goggles and a swimming cap.
"Well, how is it? I tried to capture the image the writers and PDs mentioned earlier in a moderately stylish way."
I didn't know what moderately stylish' meant, but my face didn't seem to have changed much from its original state.
"If I had said it directly, it felt like I would have to erase everything I've done so far and start over. So, I just smiled and nodded, saying, Haha, yes, it feels good.'"
"Haha Yes, it has a good vibe."
"Really? I focused on preserving the original because the original was good. Indeed, actors who act well like you also have an eye for makeup, huh? Actors who notice these subtle details really last. Oh, I enjoyed the movie. By the way, what cosmetics does actress Yeo Hyemin use? We want to put them in our shop. And what about her and the bar she worked at? Does she still work there? If she does, maybe I could"
After that, the swim cap bombarded me with a barrage of questions and comments that I couldn't answer all at once.
Fortunately, the swim goggles didn't have much to say. If they were as lively, I might have lost my mind.
"Sorry for being late, actor. The conversation with the PD got a bit long."
While I was smiling weakly, trying to answer somehow, my savior, Jang Sunho, appeared. Although he always had a sturdy presence, today, I was especially glad to see that figure.
As Jang Sunho approached me, the swim cap looked at him. Perhaps he wants to ask about the makeup and boast about his skills.
However, Jang Sunho, without paying attention to the swim cap, looked at me in the mirror and said, "Let's get started. It's time for your interview shoot."
"Ah, yes!"
I stood up with a bright smile.
From behind, I heard the swim cap say, "Do well and come back! I'll definitely watch the broadcast!" After a brief glance in his direction and a light wave, I followed Jang Sunho.
As we entered the interview studio, only the chair in the center was visible. All the lights were concentrated on that chair.
Feeling a bit solemn, I approached the PD, who was busy giving instructions to the staff and greeted him quietly.
"Hello, PD. I'm Kang Jinseok."
"Oh, yes! You're here. I'm PD Lee Geonyoung."
The PD smiled and greeted, then added with a sorry expression, "Mr. Kang Jinseok, I'm really sorry, but the interview with the other judges in front took a bit long. Would it be okay for you to go straight into the interview shoot?"
"Of course. That's fine. Do I just sit there?"
"Thank you. Then please."
As I sat in the central chair and looked straight ahead, my face appeared on the large screen next to me through the camera.
As talkative as the swim cap was, her skills seemed to be good because, through the camera, my face glowed smoothly.
The interview, based on pre-discussed topics, wasn't difficult. It was about my recent activities, impressions of Absolute Unlicensed Counseling,' and commitments as a judge on the audition program Let's Be an Actor.'
However, towards the end of the interview, the PD said something not in the script.
"Judge Kang Jinseok. Before we interviewed the judges, we had an anonymous vote from the audition participants."
"A vote?"
"Yes. It was a popularity vote for the judges, and you came in first, sir."
At the mention of coming first, a smile unconsciously spread on my face.
While I was smiling, a staff member handed me a box with a round hole in it. Inside the box were numerous small, round balls.
"What's this?"
"It's a box with the missions for the audition. Just pick the first audition mission."
"Let's Be an Actor" contestant waiting room. In this place where 100 applicants gathered, there was a subtle psychological warfare going on among them.
It couldn't be helped. Everyone was competing for the few casting' tickets available.
In this context, the only good friends were Kwon Seokhoon and Seo Yeonsoo, who quickly became close due to the commonality of being Jinseok's friends.'
Kwon Seokhoon quietly said to Seo Yeonsoo, "Wow. The atmosphere is no joke. It's incomparable to the KL Entertainment rookie audition."
He said it like this, but there was no sign of tension in Kwon Seokhoon.
Perhaps because he was a veteran actor even though he was a participant, or maybe he was nervous but didn't show it. Only he knew.
"Well, even if you don't know Mr. Kwon, I"
"Ms. Yeonsoo is famous too. Even if the public doesn't know, other actors should know, right?"
"Hehe Maybe."
"Don't be too nervous. It won't help if you're more nervous."
"Yes"
Always confident Seo Yeonsoo was unusually tense at this moment. Cameras were installed everywhere on the ceiling and walls, making her feel constantly aware of being watched.
At that moment, the screen installed in the waiting room turned on. As it did, the attention of the applicants, who had been silently competing, shifted to the screen.
On the screen, only a black space and ordinary chairs were visible.
"Looks like they're showing the judge's interview again. Who's it this time?"
In the same scene as when the six judges appeared earlier, Kwon Seokhoon said with his fist clenched. Soon, when Kwon Seokhoon confirmed the face of the person who appeared on the screen, he smiled subtly.
"It's Actor Kang Jinseok."
The one who appeared on the screen was Jinseok.
[Hello, I'm Kang Jinseok.]
As Jinseok greeted with a smile, the waiting room buzzed with excitement. It wasn't just Jinseok; it was the same when the other judges were interviewed.
[After the release of Absolute Unlicensed Counseling,' I've been quite busy. Meeting fans, attending school events, and other than that, always doing what I used to do]
Seo Yeonsoo watched Jinseok's interview with sparkling eyes.
He's really good. Way to go, Jinseok oppa.'
The title of judge' suited him so well, and there was no hesitation in Jinseok's words as if the position was natural. He was clearly on a different level from herself, who was tense in front of multiple cameras.
While Jinseok was conducting the interview, he looked at the box handed to him by the PD and asked.
[What's this?]
[This is a box containing the missions for this audition.]
At the mention of missions,' the waiting room buzzed again.
"An audition mission?"
"I thought we just had to act. Was there such a thing?"
"I think it's a mission expressing what kind of acting to perform?"
A deep hum penetrated through, and the voices of the PD and Jinseok continued to emanate from the speaker.
[Would you like to open the ball once? There's a mission inside.]
[Sure.]
Jinseok's hand was shown in a close-up. On the back of his hand, appropriately masculine, attractive veins were visible. He used that hand to take out and check the mission slip.
[Wow This wasn't just an audition? They do things like this too?]
When Jinseok laughed as if to say, "Really?" the PD responded with a satisfied tone.
[Even if it's an audition, it's entertainment. Please read the mission.]
[Sure.]
Jinseok, chuckling again, smiled subtly and showed the note to the camera.
At the same time, Jinseok recited the mission.
[Haha The first audition is Role Played by the Judge Random.']