Top Star by Luck

Chapter 53

Lee Min Ki’s turn ended.

It was an unusually unique audition for a typical role, but it left a lasting impression.

‘Wasn’t his name Lee Min Ki?’

‘I should remember his name.’

‘I’m not sure about his acting, but if he can bring that level of detail to our project, who knows how it’ll turn out?’

In life, sometimes it’s not just about being good or bad; doing things differently can be your weapon.

Lee Min Ki showed something different.

Even he was secretly hoping for a good result.

Meanwhile, someone was boiling inside over the situation.

‘Lee Min Ki, Lee Min Ki. So, this is how you want to play?’

That person was Kim Ji Hwan.

To him, Lee Min Ki’s uniqueness was not just unsettling but infuriating.

“… I’ll begin.”

Kim Ji Hwan, who had been grinding his teeth in secret, finally stood up.

And his performance…

‘He’s definitely good.’

‘Daon really knows how to nurture new actors.’

‘His previous work was good too, right?’

The judges were unanimous in their high praise.

“Have you heard of the third wave? The local coffee market has already matured beyond value-for-money into a premium market.”

He fundamentally aimed for the opposite result from Lee Min Ki.

A solid, good performance.

A portrayal faithful to the character.

The kind of acting expected in a typical audition.

Kim Ji Hwan’s portrayal of [Sung Jin Woo] was exactly that.

Thus, it was solidly good, yet at the same time, it felt somewhat lacking.

‘It’s a bit boring.’

‘Compared to Lee Min Ki, it’s a little…’

‘Hmm, maybe he would’ve been better off in another role.’

The judges felt a thirst.

Having seen something different earlier, they couldn’t help but notice the 2% that was missing in this more conventional performance.

As the judges’ impressions solidified, their interest in his acting waned.

Did you know?

For anyone who’s ever participated in an audition, how much they feel the shift in the judges’ attention?

‘They need to take a better look at my acting!’

Kim Ji Hwan was nearly at his breaking point.

Weren’t the judges filled with anticipation when they watched Lee Min Ki’s performance?

Why had that expectation turned into disappointment when it came to him?

Was his acting subpar?

No way.

Objectively, his performance lacked nothing.

He had practiced hard, grinding his teeth with the thought of surpassing Lee Min Ki in this [Café del Día] audition—efforts he never would have made otherwise.

In fact…

‘He’s really good.’

His delivery was so intense that even Lee Min Ki himself felt a shiver down his spine.

‘He’s much better than I remember Kim Ji Hwan being. Is it because it’s in a live setting?’

The Kim Ji Hwan in his memory was different from the one in front of him.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say his acting had advanced one, no, two levels.

But at the same time, there was a flaw.

‘He’s lacking composure.’

It was impatience.

“That kind of thinking is exactly why this country is stuck in this state without progress.”

There was a certain nervousness in Kim Ji Hwan’s portrayal of [Sung Jin Woo], a nervousness that didn’t suit the character.

A subtle difference in nuance.

He seemed agitated, conscious of Lee Min Ki’s earlier performance.

That turned Kim Ji Hwan’s confidence into anxiety.

Yes, this was the image the judges had of Kim Ji Hwan.

‘He’s the second best.’

‘He’s the second best.’

‘He’s the runner-up.’

‘He’s the runner-up.’

Lee Min Ki was ahead of him.

Even in the free acting section, this evaluation didn’t change.

In fact, it only solidified.

“That’s not my style. I’m everyone’s man, which is to say, I’m not just yours.”

Kim Ji Hwan’s biggest strength had always been the sense of ease he exuded from his expressions down to his fingertips.

His performance made the most of his natural mask and disposition.

But now, all that had vanished.

“…”

“…”

He had performed well.

But having seen better acting, it felt unsatisfactory to heap praise on him.

“Well done. We will send individual notifications later.”

With Director No Ho Yeon’s brief farewell, the audition came to an end.

That was all.

Though they had both performed the same role, the sound of their footsteps leaving the audition room was very different.

* * *

The [Café del Día] audition had come to an end.

‘I’m worried I might’ve overdone it.’

Lee Min Ki let out a short sigh.

He had done his best and showed what he thought was a good performance, but only time would tell the result.

Because, after all, his acting had been flashy.

His unconventional performance might have impressed someone, but on the other hand, it could also be seen as a complete disaster.

And Kim Ji Hwan’s skill had far exceeded his expectations.

‘Did he improve after joining Daon?’

There are types who show exponential growth once they start working in the field.

Kim Ji Hwan seemed to be one of those types.

If that’s the case, CEO Hwang In Goo of Daon had an impressive eye for talent.

‘As expected, the audition judges have a keen eye.’

Enough.

For now, Lee Min Ki had other matters on his mind.

“Hm, none of these listings seem that appealing.”

That was it.

“Properties in good locations are too expensive, and the ones I can afford aren’t good buildings.”

He was busy preparing to move.

Muttering to himself as he clicked through listings, Joo Ha Na, who was crumpling a coffee straw in one hand, spoke.

“Take your time looking. It’s better not to rush when finding a place to live.”

Lee Min Ki hesitated to agree with her, replying,

“I think so too, but the situation is a bit tricky.”

“Tricky?”

“I told you before, right? I think my address has been exposed.”

“Oh.”

That’s right.

Lee Min Ki had originally been living in a small studio apartment in a back alley, but somehow, it seemed like his location had been leaked, and he’d started feeling uneasy eyes on him.

‘A journalist even took pictures once.’

He had gone to the convenience store in front of his house in casual clothes, only to have his picture taken and uploaded without warning.

Fortunately, the reaction had been positive.

[Even in casual clothes, it looks like a photo shoot.]

[He’s a true photogenic star.]

[He looks amazing in real life too, LOL.]

[Lee Min Ki doesn’t have a bad angle no matter how you take his picture.]

Even in such a situation, his luck had held.

But still, the fact that pictures were being taken near his home was a burden.

Some people even started trying to guess his home address.

“It doesn’t feel like I can relax, even when I’m at home.”

Since that incident, he had become paranoid about everything.

He couldn’t open his windows, so there was no way to air out his room.

Whenever he heard footsteps in the hallway, he would unconsciously hold his breath.

Even walking to the local mart had become uncomfortable, so he had started relying more on online deliveries.

“I might be overreacting, but it’s been exhausting.”

“Hmm.”

Joo Ha Na nodded deeply in understanding as Jerry, who had been listening, interjected with a heavy expression.

“Every famous celebrity goes through this at least once, especially someone like me, a handsome actor.”

“… Whether you’re handsome or not is beside the point. I’m not even that famous yet, and it’s already happening.”

At Jerry’s words, Lee Min Ki let out a long sigh.

“Then why don’t you just not live in a studio? Why live in one at all? Do you have no money? No one around to lend you some?”

Jerry hit the nail on the head.

“… That’s embarrassingly true.”

“You’ve done a drama and a movie, and even had that supplement ad that did well. Didn’t you get paid?”

“I’m a rookie, remember? Even adding it all up, it’s barely enough for the deposit on a studio.”

“Right, you are still a rookie.”

Jerry nodded, as if realizing this belatedly.

In reality, Lee Min Ki had no money.

Since he was still a rookie, the pay he received per project was extremely low.

He had essentially been treated as a mercenary during the drama, so there was nothing to say, and the pay for [Forever Green] had been calculated based on rookie rates, barely enough to cover his living expenses.

The supplement ad had earned him some decent money, but after covering living costs and putting some into savings, he had just enough left over to scrape by with the deposit.

‘At least my recognition has risen a bit now, so I might be able to negotiate higher pay for future projects, but the immediate problem is still present.’

He could rent a studio somewhere, but considering the reason for moving, he wanted a place that offered some degree of privacy.

“Is there any place that doesn’t require a deposit, has low rent, is spacious, safe, clean, and in a good location?”

“Min Ki, aren’t you asking for too much?”

“How did you know? Ah, I want to live the easy life. I wish someone would just give me an apartment with a view of the Han River.”

“Even if they did, you wouldn’t be able to afford the gift tax.”

“Ugh.”

Just as he was half-heartedly spouting out his wishes and slumping over the desk in exhaustion, Joo Ha Na spoke up.

“Oh, now that I think about

it.”

Turning her gaze as if recalling something, she continued.

“Doesn’t your agency offer accommodation?”

“Accommodation?”

Caught off guard by her unexpected suggestion, Lee Min Ki turned his head as Joo Ha Na quickly added,

“You know, sometimes agencies provide housing for those who live far away or have special circumstances.”

“Agencies do that for idols, but don’t actor agencies rarely provide housing?”

Jerry countered, shaking his head, but Joo Ha Na disagreed.

“It depends on the agency. Some do. In fact, I know someone who had no place to stay and ended up living with the agency’s CEO.”

“Wow, they’ve got strong mental fortitude.”

“They’re still living there.”

“Wow, that’s really impressive.”

So, it seemed that some agencies did provide accommodation, though it wasn’t common.

As Jerry pointed out, most actor agencies didn’t typically provide housing.

Idols had various benefits because their agencies took a higher cut, but actors had to fend for themselves.

‘Not sure how JC handles it.’

Still, it didn’t hurt to ask.

It might be embarrassing to admit that he had no money and needed a place to stay, but not asking would be more embarrassing in the long run.

“I’ll ask right away.”

Taking a deep breath, Lee Min Ki quickly typed out a message to Manager Park Han Mo.

And moments later…

“Oh, geez!”

In less than 30 seconds, a reply came back immediately.

It read,

[Of course we have accommodation.]

It was a green light.

At least for now.

* * *

A walking path in an apartment complex.

“I understand the situation.”

Manager Park Han Mo walked a step ahead of Lee Min Ki as he continued.

“Most agencies don’t provide accommodation. But JC isn’t like most agencies.”

“It’s a good company.”

“Of course. Our CEO’s motto is to treat rookie actors well so that it pays off later.”

“Will the rent be deducted from my future earnings?”

“Haha, no way. The CEO doesn’t want to hear people saying she’s stingy just to save a few hundred thousand won.”

I see.

While listening to Manager Park’s words, Lee Min Ki was busy taking in the apartment surroundings.

‘It’s definitely nice. Actually, it’s too nice.’

It was, quite literally, a good place.

A large apartment complex near JC’s headquarters in Mapo District.

The building was less than five years old, and even without stepping inside, the first impression from the entrance was great.

It was certainly a far cry from his tiny 5-pyeong studio in a back alley.

‘But I won’t be living here alone.’

That’s right.

No matter how good the company was, it wasn’t a charity.

They wouldn’t give a rookie actor an entire apartment to himself.

It was a shared accommodation.

“There’s already someone living there besides you.”

“Really? Who is it?”

“A fellow rookie actor. You might know him. You’ve met before.”

“What’s their name?”

“Hehe.”

Manager Park only chuckled, not wanting to reveal the name.

Well, he would find out in a few minutes anyway.

‘I just hope they’re not too strange.’

With a mix of anticipation and apprehension, Lee Min Ki followed Manager Park, walking slowly.

Beep-beep-beep-beep.

When the door finally opened.

Lee Min Ki immediately understood what Manager Park’s cryptic words had meant.

‘Ah.’

The person sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

That figure was all too familiar.

“… Kim Tae Yang?”

Kim Tae Yang.

The person he had competed with during the JC audition.

The genius rookie actor.

He was a level above Kim Ji Hwan, without a doubt.

And now, here he was, sprawled out on the sofa.

But seeing him like that, Lee Min Ki couldn’t quite shake the shock.

Because…

‘Kim Tae Yang, wasn’t this guy supposed to debut much later?’

His contract had been signed at least two years earlier than Lee Min Ki remembered.

And more than that…

‘He wasn’t even supposed to be with JC.’

The agency was different too.