"Time is... faster than I thought. The sun... eventually... rises!"
Whoa. Moo-young stared in awe, completely dumbfounded. The lead actor—the one and only star of this drama—and it was a total disaster. How the hell was he supposed to carry the show in that state? Up until now, the only acting he'd seen was from the raw kids at BV Academy, so this unpolished performance hit him like a truck.
Damn!
Of course, it was nothing compared to Jo Mi-young's shock. She yanked the team leader by his lapels and whispered fiercely.
"What the hell? Why's he like that?"
"I-I don't know. He wasn't this bad before."
"This isn't a joke! We're all screwed!"
Her lips mouthed the words silently, but the veins bulging in her neck made it clear she was raging. The team leader was just as clueless.
"What was his last project?"
"KBC's Carolina and Toy Friend."
"Argh! This is insane!"
Surprisingly, they were solid hits on public broadcast—decent ratings for an idol's debut, with mostly positive reviews despite some acting debates. That's why Square Film had snatched up this project...
"Team leader?"
"Huh? Oh?"
"Is something wrong?"
Enbin glanced up from his script, his face the picture of boredom. Propped on one elbow, chin in hand.
That's when Jo Mi-young realized the root of his half-assed acting.
This bastard—
He was phoning it in. Public dramas had massive reach, so he'd probably crammed with his agency, script worn to shreds, voice hoarse from practice. But this? Just a web drama.
"Shall we keep going?"
He'd only taken the role because it was pitched to him—no audition like for other shows. Just because he was the promo poster boy!
In his wave of packed schedules, a web drama's priority had shattered like glass.
And Seoul subscribers are only at 120K.
No expectations for views. His fans might watch, and foreigners wouldn't catch the bad acting anyway—language barrier.
"Yawwwn— Let's... go home!"
The CEO swallowed a ragged breath.
This is bad. Really bad.
To some, just a blip. To others, make-or-break.
She chewed her lip, glaring at Enbin's profile. How to handle this? Couldn't call him out directly...
"Pfft!"
Sudden laughter exploded. It was Moo-young.
He could stomach most of it, but that robotic yawn? Foul play. He clapped a hand over his mouth and straightened up.
"Sorry."
"...Why are you laughing?"
Thud. The director and writer sandwiched between them froze stiff. Enbin had tossed his script aside.
Staff and manager's eyes widened in shock. Only Moo-young stayed chill.
"Your acting's so... unique."
"What did you say?"
"No intent to break the flow. Truly sorry."
He bowed to the room. Enbin shot his manager a look, like Can you believe this? Not sorry for mocking the acting, but for interrupting?
"Supporting role confirmed?"
His manager asked the team leader, eyes sharp. The tone screamed power trip: one-off side character? Easy to swap.
"Yes. I'm confirmed."
Moo-young flashed an even brighter smile. The trapped director and writer fidgeted, pleading with Jo Mi-young via glances.
"Director, that scene has a schedule change, right?"
Jo Mi-young signaled the director, redirecting.
Remember—this is business.
The director caught on quick.
"Oh, right! That last bit. We're doing a loose short—background-focused—and it's mostly set, but outdoors for this part—"
"No confirmations before shooting."
Enbin cut in, irritated. Just a reading? Projects tanked post-article all the time. A web drama? Whatever.
"I'm pissed now. Can't act with someone half-assing it."
Oh boy, what a headache. The team leader squeezed his eyes shut, mentally screaming God help us!
Yeah, just a reading! First steps, and it's already a mess!
"Uh— um."
Moo-young bit back words, lips sealed. To the fuming Enbin, even that grated.
"What? Spit it out."
"Nah. I get reading the room too."
"Good. See? You're fired. Get out."
"For real? I'm really fired?"
Moo-young's eyes went wide at the team leader. He could only nod awkwardly—Bow and beg, quick! Moo-young misread it.
"Huh? Fired it is. Weird."
His luck didn't run that smooth.
"Guess I can speak freely now? You're the half-asser. Got the script first, but zero prep. Who reads lines like that?"
Similar age, never seeing him again. Moo-young unloaded critiques right in Enbin's face.
Too ridiculous? Enbin just gaped blankly. The whole room mirrored him.
"Breathing's off too. Practice properly."
"Y-you—!"
"We're all here for a good show. Lead can't do that. There—done! Thanks for your time."
Moo-young clapped once, grabbed his bag. As Enbin shot up blankly, click.
"Oppa?"
The door cracked open. Tension shattered.
"Wh-what?"
Enbin's pointing finger swung from Moo-young to her. Masked and hatted, massive camera around her neck—a cannon lens.
Click. She snapped a casual shot, like a souvenir.
All eyes on Enbin in the stunned silence.
"Hehe. Did I interrupt? Sorry."
"No, you fucking—!"
Unlike her shy apology, he was furious. His manager stormed over, face twisted.
"How'd you find this place?"
"Ways exist."
No dice.
"Forget the lawyer's warning? One more time, harsher penalties. This is illegal—"
"Yeah. Call 'em. Handle it."
Click.
"Crazy bitch!"
"Recording now. Touch me, and it'll flip like last time."
Last time.
Enbin paled in terror. Idol life threw weirdos at him, but she was next level. Past-life grudge? Her "love" was stalking hell, drying him out daily.
"Not here to disrupt. Ignore me, keep going. I'll wait up front."
Click. She rolled up her sleeve closing the door—faint knife scars.
Enbin clutched his face, slumping defeated.
"Haa."
"Bin-ah. You okay? Calling the cops."
"Hurry."
His voice hollowed out. Rage at Moo-young evaporated.
Team leader and Square Film staff panicked toward the door.
"Why'd she come in?"
"Sasaeng fan, right? We'll chase her."
"No. Leave it."
The manager blocked them, whispering harshly.
Through frosted glass, she squatted outside.
"Recent sasaeng. Total psycho. Came to the agency harassing, dragged her out... then self-harm..."
"What?"
Enbin clawed his hair, frozen. Shock rippled.
"Now, security or staff try removing her, she pulls a knife threatening suicide. Bad press if it blows up... Sorry. She's compliant with cops, though. Wait a sec."
He phoned someone—cops or company, probably.
"Don't sue?"
Jo Mi-young muttered at the severity. Enbin replied flatly.
"We're proceeding. She's new, company wants to watch... Haa. Sorry. Dodged her today, total ordeal."
That explained his lateness—and extra edginess.
"That bitch showed again? Where's everyone?"
"Huh? We're downstairs?"
Manager tilted his head at security's baffled reply. Guarding the entrance, they said.
How'd she sneak in?
"We're screwed."
Team leader eyed the ticking clock. Enbin's next schedule loomed. First reading—a total clusterfuck.
And Moo-young, their hyped pick? First impression trashed...
Untenable.
"CEO. We're done."
"Shut it."
Jo Mi-young snapped, swallowing a sigh. No way Enbin continued. Even if he did, pointless. That attitude and skill? Not even passing content.
Web dramas are still dramas—still art.
She rubbed her throbbing temples. Sky falls, there's a way out—where was it now?
Meanwhile.
Moo-young adjusted his bag awkwardly amid the chaos. While all gawked shocked at the door, his eyes sparkled curious.
Behind that woman earlier...
Black smog! A rare sight, coiling her neck, clinging to her back. But shape odd—not his usual view.
"Then. I'll head out."
"Ah..."
Screech. Team leader couldn't grab him.
Moo-young peered down at the squatting woman.
"What?"
She looked up fiddling her camera. He tilted his head.
Smog was smog, but... humanoid.
Stray ghost? Unclear.
"What, I said."
Instead of answering, he squatted eye-level.
Stray ghosts mixed hazy colors—not pure black.
"Maybe..."
Moo-young blinked puzzled. His sharp eyes gleamed in her black sunglasses.
* * *
Everyone watched through frosted glass as Moo-young faced the sasaeng. What were they saying? Muffled.
"Hyung. Cops ETA?"
"Soon."
If Moo-young got stabbed...? Disaster.
Enbin slumped over the table, glued to their silhouettes. Then—
"Aaack—!"
She shrieked, bolting up. Enbin, manager, everyone jolted.
"Wh-what?"
"Why's she—?"
"Hyung! Do something—"
Seizure? But she bolted down the hall, gone.
Enbin crept up, cracked the door.
Screech.
"What the..."
Hall silent. Only Moo-young squatted innocently—same pose as her.
"What'd you do?"
Enbin muttered, stunned. What drove off that leech?
Moo-young grinned wide.
"Wanna know?"
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Read 168 more chapters ahead on NovelDex!
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