Chapter 50
Chapter 50
[Real Protein? What’s that?]
[I’ve hardly ever heard of it before.]
It was a brand that literally no one had heard of.
Real Protein.
They could guess it was a protein supplement, but even the fact that such a product existed was something few people knew about.
[Apparently, it’s a domestic product?]
[Isn’t domestic stuff kind of meh? All the pros eat imported brands.]
[Seems like they’ve put in some effort. The ingredients are actually decent.]
[I’ve heard domestic brands mix in flour or other junk and sell it.]
[They’re a listed pharmaceutical company.]
The Korean fitness community is small, but news travels fast.
If someone hadn’t heard of it, that was one thing. But once a name got mentioned, it spread like wildfire.
This is where Lee Min Ki’s strength came into play.
‘If it’s at that level, can’t I give it a shot too?’
Lee Min Ki’s body was realistically in good shape.
While professional bodybuilders’ physiques looked unreal, as if they had stepped out of a comic book, Lee Min Ki’s body was different.
It was clearly good, but it felt like if one worked hard enough, they could achieve something similar.
It felt within reach.
Yeah.
‘I don’t think it’s impossible?’
There was a subtle confidence.
Of course, in reality, it was far from achievable.
Just like people are born with certain facial features, body structure is something you’re born with.
Lee Min Ki’s build wasn’t just about having a good ratio; it was more than that. His physique fell comfortably within the top 1% in terms of being aesthetically pleasing.
However…
[I’ll try to get a body like Lee Min Ki’s in three months.]
Famous celebrities with handsome faces often make it look easy, so it feels deceptively achievable.
[I’ll try it out first.]
[lol, another sucker falls for it?]
[It’s not as expensive as the imported ones anyway, so isn’t it worth a try?]
[For real, you can finish 30 scoops in a month anyway.]
Moreover, professional bodybuilders weren’t well-known among the general public.
No matter how good a protein supplement was, there was always a bit of hesitation or skepticism about trying it. Lee Min Ki seized on this gap.
[This is the supplement everyone’s talking about?]
[Lee Min Ki – Official Advertising Model for HanGye Pharmaceutical]
[New ad images released]
[10-month workout schedule and before & after photos revealed, join him!]
[Make your daily life your workout, Real Protein]
A period of 10 months, which wasn’t too short or too long, made the campaign more effective.
It was just the right amount of time to appeal to the general public.
In just a few weeks, HanGye Pharmaceutical got exactly what they deserved.
[Lee Min Ki effect: ‘Sales increased by 11 times’]
* * *
At Daon Entertainment.
Among talent agencies that boasted of being selective, Daon Entertainment stood out.
Recently, they had been dealing with a significant source of frustration.
“Lee Min Ki, that guy is seriously on a roll.”
Lee Min Ki was the reason.
Was there even a need to say more?
It was already a well-known story that Daon Entertainment had rejected Lee Min Ki during the audition process after seeking him out.
“Isn’t he the top among the rookies who debuted recently?”
“Unless they were an idol who built recognition as a trainee, yeah… based on potential, he’s at the top.”
Lee Min Ki’s success only proved Daon Entertainment’s incompetence.
Of course, there were plenty of agencies that had passed on Lee Min Ki during the initial screening.
But at least they had only rejected him based on his paperwork.
Very few had seen his skills in an audition, like Daon had, and still turned him down.
“Did you see the video from that audition the other day?”
“He was good even back then. His body wasn’t as built as it is now, but there was a rawness to him. I’d say he was already better than most rookies, definitely not worse.”
“Why did the CEO reject him?”
“Don’t you know? He chose his friend’s son instead of Lee Min Ki.”
This behind-the-scenes story had spread so much that it was public knowledge among the staff.
But was it just Lee Min Ki’s name that came up?
There was a name that always followed his: three familiar syllables.
“Who is this friend’s son, anyway?”
“Don’t you know? It’s Kim Ji Hwan.”
“Kim Ji Hwan was a nepotism hire?”
Kim Ji Hwan.
The actor who had taken Lee Min Ki’s spot.
With his tall height and chic face, he was considered a promising rookie in his own right.
[Kim Ji Hwan cast as a supporting actor in a Wednesday-Thursday mini-drama]
[His gaze captivates female viewers]
[His proportions are impressive]
With Daon backing him, Kim Ji Hwan was achieving some results.
Despite early predictions that he would become a terrible actor, he had grown quickly, much to everyone’s surprise.
But that was it.
“He’s not as good as Lee Min Ki.”
He was lacking.
Compared to Lee Min Ki, who had already starred in a successful movie and a decent drama, and even had a successful commercial campaign, Kim Ji Hwan clearly fell short.
“Why did they choose him over Lee Min Ki?”
“Because of the CEO’s friend’s son.”
“This is why hiring actors through connections is a bad idea.”
The rumors wouldn’t stop.
It would have been hard for Kim Ji Hwan, the person in question, to remain unaware of the talk surrounding him.
‘This is ridiculous.’
Kim Ji Hwan overheard the gossip while near the smoking area, his face contorting in frustration.
Was Lee Min Ki really that great?
And so what?
Why did they feel the need to constantly compare them?
‘I didn’t skip the audition to get in.’
Kim Ji Hwan felt wronged.
They had competed fairly at the audition, and he had won.
That was why he got the role, wasn’t it?
Of course, behind the scenes, his parents’ influence had a lot to do with it, but still.
[Don’t worry about it. You’re doing well as you are, just focus on your acting practice.]
CEO Hwang In Goo of Daon tried to encourage him, but words alone couldn’t lift his spirits.
Instead, he felt like even the CEO secretly looked down on him.
It was the same at home.
[Is this Lee Min Ki guy really that famous?]
That was what his father had said.
[Because of him, our profits aren’t looking great, and the atmosphere isn’t good.]
Did he really need to say more?
“Who was it again? You know that pharmaceutical company we invested in, Ivoryum? That one, right?”
“Yes, the CEO often brags about his kid.”
“Right, it seems his son wants to try his hand at the entertainment industry.”
The pharmaceutical company Ivoryum.
This was the company run by none other than Kim Ji Hwan’s father.
Ironically enough, it was also a competitor of HanGye Pharmaceutical in the protein supplement market.
[The Pride of Supplements, Ivoryum]
[A New Era of Supplements Born from the Scientific Power of California Research Labs in the U.S.]
Of course, Ivoryum’s supplements were different.
While HanGye Pharmaceutical researched and developed its own supplements, Ivoryum simply imported American products and repackaged them with their brand and packaging.
Ivoryum was that kind of company.
A supplement/nutrient distribution company hiding under the guise of a pharmaceutical firm.
Still, even with that, they had managed to do well through marketing alone.
But now…
[Market share is plummeting.]
Recently, they had lost market share to HanGye Pharmaceutical, causing their sales to decline.
That frustration soon made its way through Kim Ji Hwan’s father and fell squarely on Kim Ji Hwan’s shoulders.
[That guy’s doing commercials with his fitness regime, can’t you do something like that?]
“…”
It was a situation that made the blood rush to Kim Ji Hwan’s head.
It wasn’t as if Kim Ji Hwan hadn’t tried working out. He had done it diligently, and he was still keeping up with it.
And yet, his resentment toward Lee Min Ki only grew.
‘How could that possibly be a body he built in just 10 months?’
It was definitely a scam.
A sneaky guy.
The face of Lee Min Ki, whom he had briefly crossed paths with during the audition, began to seem more and more detestable.
‘He pretends to be all innocent on the outside, but inside, he’s like a snake, coiled and ready to strike.’
But there wasn’t an answer for him right now.
Even if he didn’t like it, there wasn’t much he could do in retaliation.
Despite whatever backing he had, he was still just a rookie actor.
“Sigh.”
He let out a sigh.
“…Huh.”
“Actor?”
The employees who had been gossiping about Kim Ji Hwan just moments earlier while smoking in the corner suddenly froze in place when they saw him.
“Uh…”
“Don’t smoke too much. It’s bad for your health. Oh, and take magnesium.”
“Oh, thank you.”
At his words, the employees scurried off as if running away.
This scene irritated him as well.
These pathetic employees couldn’t even speak their minds, constantly gauging a rookie actor’s reaction.
When he thought about it, Kim Ji Hwan came to one conclusion.
‘This is all because of that guy, Lee Min Ki.’
Lee Min Ki was the source of all his problems.
Being gossiped about in the company.
Having his position as a rookie actor shaken.
His father’s company losing sales.
It was all because of Lee Min Ki, there was no other way to explain it.
‘If I ever run into him again, I’ll make sure to crush him.’
Grinding his teeth, Kim Ji Hwan swore revenge against the young and innocent-looking Lee Min Ki.
And that day came sooner than expected.
* * *
JC Office.
Lee Min Ki spoke with a hint of surprise in his voice.
“A drama?”
“Yes, we’ve found a good project. Please have a look.”
Director Seo Jung Woo slid an audition notice across the table toward Lee Min Ki.
But the content seemed somewhat familiar to him.
Project Introduction
Title: Café del Dia
Director: No Ho Yeon
Genre: Youth Romance
Lead Actors: TBD
Gender: Male
Audition Role
Lead Actor (Male): Character’s age is in their 20s
# Established or rookie actors welcome
# Preference for those with previous drama experience
# Must be able to film in Seoul
Café del Dia.
A drama set in a cafe, revolving around two men and one woman, with various events unfolding between them.
“There hasn’t been a work with this kind of position in years. It’s likely to receive a decent response. The role they’re casting for this time is…”
Director Seo Jung Woo continued with a formal explanation.
But even without hearing it, the plot of the drama was already clear in Lee Min Ki’s mind.
‘It was a pretty fun piece.’
Lee Min Ki remembered the story well.
Since he watched practically everything, [Café del Dia] was a major drama aired on a public broadcasting station.
Of course he had watched it.
He had even analyzed it thoroughly, watching it multiple times to study its structure.
‘It was a well-made drama with a good script and solid ratings. But being cast as the lead…’
The thought of starring in a public broadcasting station drama as a lead actor weighed on him.
Now entering his second year since debut, Lee Min Ki had yet to play a lead role.
He had only been a supporting actor twice.
‘I heard that roles like these have competition ratios of at least 100:1.’
Would he really be able to land the role?
If he didn’t, wouldn’t it just be a waste of time?
After a brief moment of contemplation, Lee Min Ki shook his head to clear away his doubts.
Since when did he start worrying about such things?
There was no point in thinking about whether he would succeed or fail.
The only thing that mattered was whether or not he wanted the role.
“Another advantage is that it’s a drama related to food. If you land the role, it will be easier to secure food-related advertising deals in the future.”
While Lee Min Ki was lost in thought, Director Seo Jung Woo continued his detailed explanation.
“I’m confident that, unlike last time, where the project’s success didn’t lead to any significant advertising deals, this won’t be the case this time.”
“Hmm, yeah, I’ve learned that thrillers aren’t always the best choice.”
“I advised you against it, though.”
“But I’m glad I took the role, right?”
At Lee Min Ki’s remark, Director Seo Jung Woo smiled warmly.
“Yes, the project did well, and an actor’s image isn’t determined by just one project.”
He was right.
It wasn’t about a single victory. Just because you fail once doesn’t mean it’s over.
“Right now, your position as an actor is quite strong. You’re a rookie whose acting skills and visual appeal have both been proven. That’s rare. [Forever Green] has really elevated your career.”
It wasn’t just the public’s attention.
People in the industry were also paying attention.
Thanks to [Forever Green], Lee Min Ki’s value had undeniably risen.
“But there is one thing that concerns me.”
“What is it?”
“Café del Dia is an attractive project, so there will be plenty of actors aiming for the lead role. They’re casting a male actor in his 20s, so I’m sure rookies will be at the center of the competition.”
“Rookie actors, huh.”
Come to think of it, this was originally a love triangle drama.
It didn’t just have one male actor in his 20s, but two.
Besides the male lead, there was another male supporting character. Who was that again?
‘Wait, who acted that role?’
As his thoughts reached this point, it suddenly hit him.
‘Ah.’
The name of the actor who had appeared in Café del Dia and truly started to rise in popularity flashed in his mind like lightning.
Kim Ji Hwan.
The rookie actor he had faced during the Daon audition.
The one who would carry Daon’s future on his shoulders, and who had been the lead actor in Café del Dia.
At that moment, everything came together in Lee Min Ki’s mind.
‘I didn’t expect to cross paths with him again like this.’
A small flame ignited in Lee Min Ki’s heart.
That flame was named…
‘Can I win this time?’
It was a competitive spirit.