Top Star by Luck

Chapter 33

Time passed, and the day of filming When the Green Lasts Forever had finally arrived.

In the cold air of the early morning, Lee Min Ki busily observed the surroundings in front of the bustling studio.

‘I really made it here.’

When the Green Lasts Forever.

He never imagined he would stand on the set of a film like this.

Of course, he wasn’t talking about a lead or a significant supporting role.

Getting a small part was understandable.

But whether he could proudly claim it as part of his official career was another story.

“We’re meeting again after the last shoot?”

“Oh, I should have greeted you first, senior.”

“No need. It’s good to see you again, Cha. Let’s work well together.”

Some actors, seemingly familiar with each other, exchanged greetings.

The lead actors and A-list supporting cast exuded an aura of exclusivity, as if they had their own social circle.

You could feel the aura around them.

Their confident energy, as if the familiar faces and the studio were their own backyard, created an unapproachable atmosphere.

Even their casual conversations reflected this.

“Does my face look puffy? I shouldn’t have eaten late-night snacks yesterday.”

“You look fine. Makeup can cover it.”

“So you’re saying without makeup, it’s noticeable?”

“Oh, come on. You’re not that old.”

To an outsider, the conversation seemed ordinary.

But in a high-pressure environment like this, where tension filled the air, that sort of casual banter was a privilege.

“Ugh, but the director is really late. Did he drink last night or something?”

Among them, the middle-aged lead actor, Kang Do Won, stood out.

He chuckled as he spoke.

“That’s why I keep telling him to quit drinking.”

“Haha, but it’s Director Yeom we’re talking about. He says he draws inspiration from alcohol. If he quits drinking, we’re doomed.”

Look at the way they joke around.

How could someone without recognition dare make jokes like that?

For a no-name actor to even voice complaints on set would be a miracle if they didn’t get scolded.

That kind of conversation was only possible when backed by their stature.

‘Everywhere I look, I see familiar faces.’

Of course, none of them knew who Lee Min Ki was.

Or at least, that’s what he thought.

“Excuse me, are you perhaps Actor Lee Min Ki?”

A woman approached him, her small face and neatly arranged features giving her a striking appearance that was quite different from the average person.

“Huh? Me?”

Startled, Lee Min Ki looked at her, and she eagerly nodded her head.

“I saw you in Campus Story. I also remember you from that baseball video.”

“Oh…!”

“Are you okay?”

“No, it’s nothing, just a personal thing.”

It was true that the baseball video had helped raise his profile.

Embarrassing as it was, looking back on it, he felt a sense of gratitude.

Still, embarrassment was embarrassment.

As his face slightly flushed, she giggled and introduced herself.

“I’m Joo Ha Na. This is my first supporting role in a film.”

“I’m Lee Min Ki. This isn’t my first… but it’s my second appearance.”

He awkwardly tried to gloss over his words, causing Joo Ha Na to chuckle again.

Her laugh was as fresh as a flower blooming for the first time in spring.

From the moment he first saw her, Lee Min Ki’s heart pounded, but not in a romantic sense—rather, for a different reason.

‘Joo Ha Na… that’s her.’

There was one rookie actress who had gained a lot of notoriety in the past few years.

Not for her acting skills or career, but for something else.

‘She had that “fishing” scandal, didn’t she?’

What was it again?

Joo Ha Na had been the subject of rumors that she flirted with multiple men on set.

Though it wasn’t a huge story, he remembered seeing an article about it.

Her personality wasn’t necessarily bad, but scandals could be a disaster for an actor’s image.

‘There was even an actress whose advertising revenue halved because of a single scandal.’

Especially for actresses, the damage could be enormous.

Joo Ha Na herself had suffered from a significant drop in her value during her rookie days due to the “fishing” scandal.

Once he recalled this fact, even her sweet, smiling face began to look suspicious.

‘I’d better be careful.’

Who knew if she would target him next?

He might just be jumping to conclusions, but caution never hurt anyone.

“I’ve always wanted to act with you after watching your work, so I’m glad we finally get the chance.”

“Haha… yeah, me too.”

“You’re more muscular than I expected. Do you work out?”

“I do when I have time.”

He kept the conversation light, but he could feel attention starting to shift toward them.

Up close, it was obvious that Lee Min Ki was trying to avoid the conversation.

But from a distance, it wasn’t so clear.

For instance, one couldn’t notice the subtle buildup of dislike.

‘Well, it’s good that rookie actors get along and all…’

‘But those types don’t last long.’

‘Do they think the studio is their dating ground?’

‘Ah, so fresh.’

Even before the real work began, Lee Min Ki had already left a different impression.

Soon after, Director Yeom Gwang Ho, looking a bit disheveled, appeared on set and said,

“We’ll start with the script reading.”

* * *

A script reading.

It was a preparatory session where the actors gathered to check their performances and how well they had memorized their lines before filming began.

A kind of rehearsal.

However, script readings had two additional purposes.

The first was as an icebreaker.

It shattered the tense atmosphere of the first day, helping the shoot proceed more smoothly.

The second purpose was clear.

‘Let’s see how good they are.’

It was a way to gauge the actors’ skills.

While one could argue that true talent only emerged during actual filming, one could still get a good sense of an actor’s abilities during a script reading—especially for rookies.

Some veteran actors even said they enjoyed script readings the most.

Occasionally, they would playfully tease the newcomers during this session.

Today, there were two main targets: Lee Min Ki and Joo Ha Na.

‘So, that’s Lee Min Ki, huh?’

‘They both look decent, but there are plenty of good-looking actors.’

‘I doubt Director Yeom would have cast just anyone, though… hmm.’

‘Oh, look at him. He’s so nervous. How cute.’

‘That’s Joo Ha Na, right? She’s smiling even in this situation?’

Among the cast of When the Green Lasts Forever, there were only two rookies with significant roles.

Normally, the barrier to entry for rookies was high, especially since Director Yeom was known for being strict about acting skills.

‘Let’s see what kind of performance they bring.’

Yet, many still had their doubts about Lee Min Ki’s acting ability.

Or rather, it wasn’t so much doubt as the fact that they simply didn’t know him.

Though he had made his debut in Campus Story, most actors, busy with their own schedules, rarely had the time to watch cable dramas.

While these suspicions and expectations swirled around the room, the time finally came.

“Scene number 9, let’s begin.”

It was Lee Min Ki’s turn.

‘Scene 9, where the story inside the police station starts in earnest.’

Scenes 1 through 8 focused entirely on the protagonist, a serial killer.

But starting with Scene 9, the second protagonist, the corrupt detective [Oh Man Shik], made his full-fledged appearance, along with his subordinate, [Goo Hak Jin].

In other words, this was the scene where Lee Min Ki’s performance began.

“Wow, this guy’s quite the piece of work.”

The first to begin the reading was the seasoned actor playing the corrupt detective, Kang Do Won.

His wrinkled face, sharp eyes, and rugged beard combined to create a unique atmosphere befitting a middle-aged actor.

Rather than being referred to as “Actor Kang,” he was more often called “Teacher Kang,” a title befitting one of Korea’s finest actors.

With a hearty laugh, Kang Do Won spoke.

“He’s no amateur.”

With his deep voice, the scene instantly transformed into the middle of a busy police department.

“Anyone can stab a person. Even a grade schooler could stab a gut if you hand them a knife. But what’s important is the cleanup. This guy’s a pro. He slipped out of the investigation without leaving a single trace, as if he had perfect knowledge of the police’s procedures.”

Though the detective was corrupt, he still had enough experience to suspect that the culprit might be someone within the system.

This served as a hint for later in the story.

But for now, all eyes were on how Lee Min Ki would respond.

‘Teacher Do Won’s acting is amazing.’

‘Wow, if I had to act alongside that, I wouldn’t even try.’

‘Anyone else would be completely overshadowed.’

With just a few lines, any doubts about Lee Min Ki had vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of pity for him.

Why was Kang Do Won so famous?

There was no other reason needed—his acting was superb, plain and simple.

But his fame also came with a certain reputation.

The infamous nickname.

[Script Reading Killer].

It was said that he could “kill” his acting partner in a script reading.

‘The key in front of Kang Do Won isn’t if you’ll be overwhelmed, but how much.’

Director Yeom, sitting in the middle of the room like a judge, chuckled internally.

‘On set, you can save a performance with retakes and editing. But in a script reading? There’s no such luck.’

Script readings were purely about the script and acting ability.

There were no tricks to rely on.

In some ways, a script reading was even purer than an audition.

‘Even seasoned actors struggle when paired with Kang Do Won. A rookie like him must be even more nervous.’

Director Yeom glanced sympathetically at Lee Min Ki.

He wasn’t alone.

Everyone in the room felt the same way.

‘Look at him. His face has gone completely pale.’

‘Teacher Do Won should take it easy. The poor kid’s going to cry when he gets home.’

Another victim claimed by the Script Reading Killer.

Lee Min Ki was bound to mess up.

He would stutter, or maybe even gag from the pressure.

In that moment, everyone in the room predicted the same outcome.

“Senior.”

A surprisingly calm word flowed from Lee Min Ki’s mouth.

“Are you saying the real culprit is another detective?”

It was plain.

Utterly plain.

His voice was that of a rookie detective, [Goo Hak Jin], burning with righteous determination.

It was clean but nothing more than that.

In a regular script reading, it would’ve been fine. But against a top-tier actor like Kang Do Won, it was clearly lacking.

Lee Min Ki’s script reading was just that—ordinary.

But as mentioned earlier, in a moment where you’re expected not to be ordinary, being ordinary can be a huge twist.

“You punk, do you think words are enough? Lower your voice.”

At Kang Do Won’s rebuke, Lee Min Ki frowned and retorted.

“Isn’t it strange? It fits together too perfectly. There victim—no, the culprit had just been released, and the news wasn’t even out yet. How could someone from outside know and act that fast?”

He made his point.

Faced with the pressure of a top actor, Lee Min Ki didn’t falter.

He delivered his lines without a single mistake. Just that alone filled the actors with undeniable surprise.

‘Look at this kid.’

Even Kang Do Won was inwardly impressed.

Had there ever been a rookie actor this confident in front of him?

Even seasoned actors often wavered when facing him, yet here was this rookie, holding his ground.

‘Let’s see if he can keep up with this.’

Kang Do Won, feeling a bit of enjoyment now, read the next line.

“Hey, Goo Hak Jin, do my words sound like crap to you?”

His voice was as hard as concrete.

The pressure it carried was enough to make Lee Min Ki’s mind go blank.

‘It’s heavy.’

His voice was so heavy.

Even watching him on the screen felt suffocating, but to face him directly in a performance felt like it would cause his lungs to seize.

That’s right.

For Lee Min Ki, holding his ground against Kang Do Won’s acting was no easy task.

He could only endure thanks to his preparation.

‘I’m glad I practiced.’

He had rehearsed not dozens, but hundreds of times before the reading.

He already knew the plot of the movie.

So he repeatedly imagined how the performance would play out, over and over again.

Just like how a martial artist prepares to take a punch by bracing themselves, Lee Min Ki prepared himself for Kang Do Won’s overwhelming pressure.

‘Focus, this is the first script reading. You can’t mess up here.’

Not much was left.

Gritting his teeth to refocus, Lee Min Ki continued his lines.

“…You know that’s not what I meant, senior.”

And just then.

The moment he finished speaking, he realized.

‘Damn, I failed.’

Had the pressure gotten to him? He couldn’t maintain a smooth performance.

He hadn’t fully withstood Kang Do Won’s intensity.

Like ripples in a pond after a pebble is dropped, a slight tremor was audible in Lee Min Ki’s voice.

His spirit was shaken.

But.

There was one key factor.

His acting partner was none other than Kang Do Won.

In front of such overwhelming pressure, a wavering voice wasn’t strange.

No, it was expected.

‘He’s even going for that detail?’

Lee Min Ki’s portrayal of Detective [Goo Hak Jin] had a touch of realism that stunned the other actors.

‘Wow, it’s his first reading, and he’s pulling off all these nuances in front of Teacher Kang? So composed.’

‘I thought he was just some kid with a pretty face.’

‘He’s not just reading the script, but considering the entire situation? This guy’s interesting.’

The previous part of the reading hadn’t been a fluke.

The waves of re-evaluation spread rapidly.

‘He almost fooled me.’

Even Kang Do Won, subtly impressed, continued the scene.

“Kid, how many people do you think would hold a grudge against a guy with 11 prior convictions? There are plenty of people who’d want to bash his head in with a rock, knowing he’s about to be out on the streets.”

“But the method was too precise….”

“Maybe he’s just used to it after being arrested so many times.”

“Senior!”

“I have a meeting, so we’ll talk later. Organize the documents while I’m gone.”

And with that, Scene 9 ended.

But no one in the room spoke.

All they could do was silently exchange glances.

Lee Min Ki had held his own during the reading, despite Kang Do Won’s overwhelming performance.

Yet, no one dared to say anything aloud, either because they were too astonished or because they were still processing what had just happened.

In this quiet room, the only person who could break the silence was someone not intimidated by Kang Do Won.

“Wow.”

Director Yeom Gwang Ho.

He clapped his hands and said,

“The two of you have pretty good chemistry, huh?”