Top Star by Luck

Chapter 34

Chemistry Works

Chemistry.

It referred to the harmony between two actors, making their interactions enjoyable to watch.

It was a term that people who claimed to know a thing or two about the industry habitually used.

To the casual listener, it might not have sounded particularly special, just a common compliment.

But when this word came out of Director Yeom’s mouth, things were different.

-“Did Director Yeom just give a compliment?”

Everyone in the reading room, actors and staff alike, was in shock.

_“He did well at the reading, but…?”_
_“And his co-star is Kang Do Won?”_

Who was Director Yeom? He was known for having a keen eye for acting, strict to a fault.

His personality was as bold as the works he filmed, and if someone on set performed even a little clumsily, he would blow up in anger like a raging fire.

So, when he praised Lee Min Ki right after seeing his reading, it meant only one thing to those present on set.

_“This could bring changes to the project.”_

It suggested a potential shift in importance within the production.

Director Yeom wasn’t someone who shot strictly according to the script.

If necessary, he would freely modify the script and direction, making the work more dynamic.

For him, fun was his guiding principle, almost like a Bible.

As the actors’ hairs stood on end, he continued speaking.

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure how it would go since Min Ki is a rookie, but seeing how he handled the scenes, I liked what I saw.”

It was yet another positive evaluation.

“Newcomers are really impressive these days. Didn’t he show promise even back in *Campus Story*?”

More praise followed.

The mention of _Campus Story_ made the actors flinch.

It wasn’t a title they had been particularly conscious of, but the hint given about Lee Min Ki’s role in that project made them pay attention.

However, Lee Min Ki himself was feeling increasingly awkward.

_“This praise feels a bit excessive.”_

He didn’t particularly feel like he had delivered an outstanding performance.

No, even if he had, he couldn’t think of anything to say in response to the situation.

Dozens of eyes in the reading room were all staring at him.

With so much praise, the pressure grew.

And as he stood there frozen…

“If this goes well, we might have to increase Goo Hak Jin’s screen time.”

A dangerous compliment followed.

More than just flattery, it was a statement that could shake the established order among the cast.

It was unclear whether Director Yeom intended it or not, but whatever Lee Min Ki said at this moment would likely backfire.

At that tense moment, someone spoke up.

“Haha, Director, aren’t you favoring the rookie a bit too much?”

It wasn’t Lee Min Ki who responded.

_“Who is this person?”_

Lee Min Ki turned to look in the direction of the voice, startled.

The man sitting there was someone he knew very well.

No, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the whole nation knew him.

Choi Yoo Chang.

He was the other lead in this project.

A veteran actor just as prominent as Kang Do Won, and a top-tier star who had brought in over ten million theatergoers.

He suddenly jumped into the conversation, smiling brightly as he spoke.

“Director, please share some of that love with us too!”

“No, Yoo Chang, that’s not what I meant…”

“If you cut my screen time to give the rookie more, I’m going to sulk, okay? I’m Choi Yoo Chang, the ten-million-viewer actor, Director!”

Despite the words, it was clearly a joke.

A playful remark to gently defuse the overwhelming attention on Lee Min Ki.

Those few lines caused soft laughter to spread throughout the reading room, and Lee Min Ki could finally breathe easier.

Just enough to manage a proper response.

_“Focus.”_

Finally, Lee Min Ki bowed his head and spoke.

“Thank you, Director. I’ll continue to work hard.”

“Wow, he’s so polite too.”

With Choi Yoo Chang’s well-timed reaction, the laughter grew even louder.

Director Yeom cleared his throat and said, “Alright, shall we continue?”

Thus, the first reading session proceeded peacefully.

And with it, the presence of a major new star named Lee Min Ki was firmly embedded in everyone’s mind.

And also…

_“That guy… he’s pretty amazing.”_

He quietly earned the subtle favor of Joo Ha Na as well.

—

**Empty Rooftop.**

_Ssshhh._

Kang Do Won lit a cigarette, deep in thought.

_“What was that line from earlier?”_

There was something he wanted to ask Lee Min Ki.

The line he had thrown at him during the reading session as an example:

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

The way Lee Min Ki responded had been refreshingly unexpected.

[“…You know that wasn’t my intention, right, sunbae?”]

The exchange had left such an impression that it lingered in his mind.

Was the subtle tremor in his voice something Lee Min Ki had consciously added as a detail? Or had it been a coincidence?

_“If that was intentional, he’s no rookie.”_

There was a saying among actors:

[If you’re only good at your own acting, you’re third-rate. If you’re good at watching others, you’re second-rate. If you can combine both, you’re first-rate.]

Judging by that standard, Lee Min Ki had observed Kang Do Won’s performance and adjusted his accordingly, meaning he had the potential to become a first-rate actor in the future.

But still…

“…”

Kang Do Won watched the cigarette smoke float and scatter into the air for a moment before…

_Ssshhh――_

He pressed the cigarette into the ashtray and thought to himself.

_“I’ll know for sure once filming starts.”_

The recent shoots had been dull, but with this rookie on board, they had just become a lot more interesting.

—

After the reading session, the first day’s schedule wrapped up with a quick tour of the set.

The first reading had felt more like an orientation.

Filming would officially resume after a one-day break, starting the day after tomorrow.

[“Min Ki, we should bond like comrades, right?”]

Lee Min Ki politely declined actor Park Yoo Chang’s invitation to drinks and left the set. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

_“It’s nice to get attention, but it’s also overwhelming. But to be honest… it feels good.”_

Yes, it felt good.

In the past, he’d exchanged a few words with famous actors.

But it was always as a bit part, never with the feeling of being a true member of the cast.

Now, having received direct praise from those very people, it felt like he was walking on air.

Besides, the reading had been tough at first, but after a while, it became manageable.

Once his body adjusted to the tension, he could smoothly display the acting skills he had practiced so diligently.

_“Overall, I did well.”_

As Lee Min Ki gazed out the window of the moving car, a satisfied smile spread across his face.

“Seems like you’re in a good mood?”

Manager Park Han Mo, who was driving, glanced at him through the rearview mirror and asked.

It must have been obvious from the way he was grinning.

Clearing his throat, Lee Min Ki replied, “Well, yeah.”

“How did it go? Tell me, I’m curious.”

In fact, Lee Min Ki had secured this role partly thanks to Park Han Mo’s advice.

Since they would continue working together, Lee Min Ki decided to be honest.

“Actually, during the reading…”

And so, they chatted for a while.

After listening, Park Han Mo laughed and said, “Wow, really? Kang Do Won is famous for never complimenting others. The same goes for Choi Yoo Chang.”

“Really?”

Lee Min Ki answered in surprise at this unexpected revelation.

“No way. They were saying nice things all day.”

“They only said that because you were genuinely good. Do you know Kang Do Won’s nickname? Have you ever heard of ‘the reading killer’?”

“The reading… what killer?”

“The reading killer. He’s called that because he crushes whoever he’s reading with. He overwhelms them during readings.”

Was Kang Do Won really that kind of person?

This was the first time Lee Min Ki had heard of such a nickname, and it didn’t match the gentlemanly image he had seen today.

But there was no reason to doubt his manager’s words.

_“I guess there’s a lot I don’t know, and Manager Park knows quite a bit.”_

In the past, his acting career had only been a shallow experience.

He carried the title of actor and signed contracts, but no one recognized him as an actor.

It was like carrying a passport from an English village to the airport.

_“I used to scrape by with part-time jobs and wonder if I could really call myself an actor.”_

But now, things were different.

_“Now I really am an actor.”_

He could feel it in his bones that he was genuinely doing the work of an actor

.

Overall, he felt satisfied.

If it were up to him, he’d be humming with joy right now.

As these thoughts filled his head, Park Han Mo spoke up teasingly.

“But don’t let it show too much on your face. You know you’ve got to manage your expression, right?”

“Oh.”

At those words, Lee Min Ki pulled himself together and replied.

“Yeah, I’ll make sure to be careful.”

Actually, he had another engagement today.

Why else would he have turned down a drinking session with senior actors?

It was because he had an important task ahead, one that he absolutely couldn’t miss.

Park Han Mo calmly reminded him.

“Your first interview is crucial.”

That’s right.

It was an interview.

Having appeared in a supporting role in his debut project and gained some attention, it was now time to officially introduce himself to the media.

This first step was an interview with the press.

“The moment when rookie actors receive the most attention is when they release their debut work and do their first interview. Even though it may seem like nobody’s watching, quite a lot of people are paying attention. It spreads through press releases, and industry insiders also quietly take note. You’d be surprised how much of an actor’s mindset can come through in these interviews. And rumors spread fast among journalists.”

Park Han Mo explained calmly.

“And this time, your interview will be with *Star Magazine*, which isn’t known for sugarcoating things.”

Lee Min Ki knew what that meant.

He had heard of *Star Magazine*’s reputation and notoriety.

_“Most entertainment magazines are all about gossip and sensational headlines, but *Star Magazine* is pretty objective.”_

They praised what deserved praise.

But they were also known to criticize harshly when needed.

Because of this fairness, they were highly trusted by readers.

To the point where people said you could believe what *Star Magazine* reported without fact-checking.

“Ugh…”

Lee Min Ki groaned.

_“It was nice when I was just reading the magazine, but being the subject is a whole different story.”_

Thankfully, they had sent over a list of questions beforehand.

Over the past two days, Lee Min Ki had rehearsed responses to each one, memorizing countless potential answers in his head.

Some might say he was overreacting.

But for Lee Min Ki, it wasn’t an overreaction at all.

_“A single word can cause so much trouble.”_

He had often seen how an innocent remark could be misunderstood and spread in unintended ways.

_“I once complimented a friend’s clothes, and it turned into gossip that I was judging their taste. I mentioned seeing a friend’s sister in passing, and suddenly people thought I was stalking her.”_

Like the flapping of a butterfly’s wings causing a storm on the other side of the world, Lee Min Ki had often experienced how his words could spiral out of control.

_“I even got badmouthed just because I went to a cram school for counseling, and the building happened to have a hostess bar on the upper floor.”_

The rumors always spread.

It was purely due to bad luck.

Even though timing and place were everything when it came to words, somehow Lee Min Ki’s comments always seemed to end up twisted in the worst way.

And people around him were eager to tear him down.

As he sat in the seat, shivering from these unpleasant memories, Park Han Mo smiled and said, “But I believe in you.”

“Huh?”

“Sure, I haven’t met a ton of people in this industry, but I’ve noticed that most celebrities who get into trouble over their words usually give off a certain vibe beforehand. It’s like they have a

sense of entitlement or something. They get overly defensive about the smallest things, and you can see it even on their social media.”

“Well, I don’t use social media, do I?”

“Haha, true. But when you talk, you’re always considerate with your words. I believe that will come through in your interview as well.”

“…I hope you’re right.”

“It’s all about people in the end, right? Good people end up having good things come their way.”

His words were heartwarming, but sadly, they were the exact opposite of the experiences Lee Min Ki had faced.

He had no confidence in his ability to foster good relationships.

_“But who knows?”_

Hoping that the interview would go well, Lee Min Ki said, “If this project succeeds, I’ll treat you to an expensive meal.”

“Haha, I’ll remember that. By the way, I only eat premium Hanwoo beef, grade 2+. Nothing less.”

“…”

The manager’s bold statement made Lee Min Ki’s facial muscles twitch.

Why did everyone he met recently seem to have such a fondness for top-grade Hanwoo?

—

JC was a large company.

Most acting agencies tended to be small and specialized, with compact offices. But JC was an exception.

Perhaps because they dabbled in music, acting, variety shows, and video production, they stood out from the rest with their sheer scale.

The JC office Lee Min Ki visited today was no different.

A building in Mapo-gu entirely dedicated to JC.

From the entrance of the first floor, the large letters of “JC Entertainment” stood boldly on display.

On that first floor, Lee Min Ki checked his reflection in the glass wall once more.

_“Skin looks good, the clothes are fine, hair’s perfect.”_

He was wearing a white sweater and black pants.

It was a clean, neat style that wouldn’t appear too flashy but would leave a positive impression.

Since it was his first interview, JC had made sure to take care of his appearance.

The company’s internal stylist was skilled.

It was a simple outfit, but even a thorough inspection wouldn’t reveal a single flaw, not even the tiniest bit of fuzz.

_“The reporter said they’d arrive soon, right?”_

The interview was scheduled to begin in about 20 minutes.

But before that, Lee Min Ki decided to review his interview notes in the first-floor lobby’s cafeteria.

Or rather, he was about to—

*Splash!*

Suddenly, he was drenched.

No, looking at the drops falling from his hair and the way his white sweater was turning brown, it wasn’t just water. It was a splash of iced Americano.