Top Star by Luck

Chapter 57

“……”

Lee Min Ki’s single word made Kim Ji Hwan freeze.

No, everyone sitting in the script reading room froze solid like icicles in the winter.

However.

Once Lee Min Ki opened his mouth, it didn’t seem like it would close, much like Heungbu’s gourd bursting open.

“I know people like you well. You think you’re something just because you got a barista certificate after rushing to a school, thinking it looks sophisticated because it’s a trendy job nowadays.”

“……”

“But did you know? You can tell the difference between fake and real just by looking at how someone grinds the beans.”

Cold, piercing words poured out of Lee Min Ki’s mouth.

They were beyond harsh, bordering on brutal.

The lines rolled off his tongue like snow being poured over the Siberian tundra.

Everyone stood in stunned silence for a moment.

‘Impressive.’

Director No Ho Yeon chuckled internally.

No, internally wasn’t enough.

“Heh, heh heh. Heh heh heh.”

At the sound of the laugh that escaped him, Lee Min Ki’s previously fierce expression softened back into his usual innocence.

“Director?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just so entertaining. I broke the mood, didn’t I?”

Director No smiled, showing no intention of hiding his amusement.

He was having fun.

For him, this situation was endlessly enjoyable.

‘They said Lee Min Ki turns into a completely different person when he starts acting, even though he’s usually gentle. It’s true.’

The scene unfolding before him was more than he had imagined.

He had once heard something.

That despite Lee Min Ki’s gentle exterior, he was great at expressing cold, icy characters.

Who had told him that?

It was none other than Writer Kim Hee Jin, who had written the script for Campus Story.

She was the one who had praised Lee Min Ki’s acting skills to Director No.

‘When I heard what Hee Jin said, I was skeptical, but this is the truth.’

At first, Director No hadn’t planned on choosing Lee Min Ki.

Although Lee Min Ki’s acting skills were outstanding, he didn’t quite fit the image Director No had in mind.

He was hesitant for a long time, debating who would be the best choice for the lead role.

[Hee Jin, you’ve worked with Lee Min Ki before, right?]

He had asked Writer Kim Hee Jin for her opinion at the time.

She answered without hesitation.

[That actor? He’s amazing.]

During the time Campus Story was being filmed, there was a point when Lee Min Ki received particularly high praise from the production team.

[His basic acting skills are solid, but more than that, his instincts are excellent. He has an incredible sense of character. It feels like he’s the only one in the scene who’s jumped out of the screen.]

It was his ability to embody characters.

[People like us all know that there’s a limit to what can be expressed with a script. That’s why actors who understand their characters are valuable. Lee Min Ki goes beyond that, as if he can already see the final result.]

He understood the structure of the scene.

He fully grasped how best to present himself.

Based on his overwhelming understanding of the script, he seamlessly fit himself in like the critical missing piece of a puzzle.

No, it felt like he had been there from the very beginning, standing in his rightful place.

That’s why Writer Kim Hee Jin had recommended Lee Min Ki.

And this was the reason Director No had chosen him at the last moment.

‘I would’ve regretted choosing someone else.’

And as it turned out, the fact that they were close only added to the good fortune that surrounded Lee Min Ki.

‘An actor who can perform steadily is reassuring. But I don’t mind someone who knows how to take risks at crucial moments.’

For the past week, he had agonized over the decision, thinking about the audition.

Could Lee Min Ki fully showcase his strengths in the role of [Sung Jin Woo]?

And the result of that deliberation.

“Continue.”

Was unfolding right before Director No Ho Yeon’s eyes.

“Do you get the same harvest just because you plant the same seeds? Just because you brew with the same beans, it doesn’t mean the result is the same.”

This was the scene where the newcomer [Sung Jin Woo], who had entered Café del Dia, lectured the long-standing barista [Cha Young Hwan].

It was a moment where Sung Jin Woo realized that Cha Young Hwan had been neglecting even the basic task of setting up the coffee grinder properly, despite working as a barista.

“New beans should be ground coarse, bitter beans fine. I’m sure you wouldn’t say you didn’t know that, right? Let’s see.”

When it came to coffee, Sung Jin Woo was cold, almost obsessive.

That acting, which might have felt over the top, flowed naturally.

Perhaps because of that.

“……”

His co-star Kim Ji Hwan was on the verge of losing it.

‘This bastard, what’s with his sharp tongue.’

Standing before Lee Min Ki, he felt incredibly small.

It was as if a precipice had opened up before him, an endless pressure weighing on his chest.

‘Is this really the same guy who kept avoiding my eyes?’

The answer was simple.

Lee Min Ki had never been intimidated by his gaze.

From the moment he had beaten him in the audition, there was no point where he had been afraid, unless it was out of annoyance.

To be precise, the person standing in front of Lee Min Ki wasn’t actor Kim Ji Hwan.

It was the inexperienced barista [Cha Young Hwan].

[When you act, don’t look at the person as an actor, but as the character.]

Lee Min Ki recalled the advice of Trainer Kim Ah Sung as he continued.

“Not answering?”

“……”

Kim Ji Hwan, who had been verbally beaten for a long time, wavered.

He was supposed to counter this.

All he had to do was recite the lines written in the script.

But the words, stuck in his throat, wouldn’t come out.

‘Am I really scared? Me?’

Overwhelmed, Kim Ji Hwan bit his tongue and shouted.

“……Who do you think you are to act so high and mighty?”

He barely got the words out.

But there was no satisfaction in what he had said, as the oppressive atmosphere still weighed him down.

“You just got here, what do you know to talk like that? Do you really think customers care that much about the flavor in a small neighborhood shop?”

Normally, Kim Ji Hwan had a strong presence, but at this moment, he mumbled under the weight of Lee Min Ki’s performance.

Because he had underestimated him, the reversal hit even harder.

His mind went blank from the unexpected intensity of Lee Min Ki’s acting, making it impossible to project his voice properly.

“……Who doesn’t know how to pull off a cheap bean stunt?”

“Have you tried?”

“Huh?”

“Have you tested whether you can tell the difference?”

“Do you have to taste poop and soy paste to know the difference? Do you think regular people can tell the difference between a thousand-won bean and a ten-thousand-won bean?”

He was crushed.

Crushed by Lee Min Ki’s acting, Kim Ji Hwan spat out words as if struggling to break free from the pressure.

“A shop has to be run rationally.”

“That’s the mindset of losers.”

And somehow.

Ironically, it blended together perfectly.

‘Both of them are good actors.’

That’s how it appeared to the others.

[Sung Jin Woo], constantly pressing, and [Cha Young Hwan], who was being pushed back but still forcing himself to speak.

Both of them seemed to leap off the script and come to life in the middle of the reading room.

‘I was worried Kim Ji Hwan would get crushed by Min Ki, but he’s doing well.’

‘Look at his eyes. He looks so frustrated.’

‘Ha, a rookie has to be at that level to stand out.’

‘Is this the standard for rookies these days?’

Both were performing well.

It was no surprise that Kim Ji Hwan was also considered one of the promising rookies of late.

He’d easily rank in the top ten.

So it wasn’t as if he couldn’t handle himself even when cornered.

Rather, he was enhancing Lee Min Ki’s performance.

Though he might not realize it himself.

‘Anyone with some acting experience can overpower someone with sheer force, but matching them like that isn’t easy.’

Director No Ho Yeon, who saw that, was excited.

“Young Hwan, I’ll be watching you carefully from now on, so make sure you do well.”

“What nonsense. You should be preparing to get kicked out in disgrace.”

Just like that, the two actors solidified their rivalry, much like the characters they were portraying.

Of course.

‘Hmm, good, good.’

‘Both of them have nailed the details.’

At least in the eyes of the others.

* * *

The usual broadcast schedule for a typical Korean mini-drama goes like this.

After deciding how many episodes it will have during the planning stage, the goal is to finish about half of them before the broadcast begins.

Of course, that’s just the goal, and if things don’t go smoothly, the stock of completed episodes may decrease.

In extreme cases, some dramas only start airing with about a month’s worth of episodes ready.

*Café del Dia* was no different.

It was originally planned as a 16-episode mini-drama, with the aim of finishing about eight episodes before the broadcast started.

But things were going a little differently than expected on set.

“If things keep going this well, we might actually finish all eight episodes.”

Everything was going incredibly smoothly.

“Wow, I’ve filmed nearly ten dramas, but this is the easiest shoot I’ve ever had.”

Director Jang Tae Wook, who was assisting with production, burst into laughter.

A veteran PD who had worked on nearly nine dramas.

His role was to assist Director No Ho Yeon, who came from the film world, and even though the work didn’t quite match his experience level, there hadn’t been a moment where a smile left his face.

“Director No, actors like him are really rare on a drama set.”

He was, of course, talking about Lee Min Ki.

“Min Ki?”

Director No asked, pretending not to know even though he clearly did, to which Director Jang Tae Wook nodded energetically.

“Director, when you film a movie, everything follows the director’s intentions, right? The schedule is usually more relaxed too.”

“Generally, yes. If things don’t fit, we keep shooting until it works. As long as the budget allows. Is it different with dramas?”

“Yes, since the schedule is tighter, there’s often a need for more flexibility.”

Director Jang pointed with his finger toward Lee Min Ki, who was standing off in the distance.

“That’s why we need actors like Lee Min Ki. He’s the core that drives the production forward, like a leader in an organization.”

A leader.

It seemed a bit too much of a compliment for a rookie actor, but seeing Lee Min Ki’s recent performances, he was certainly sharp enough to earn such a comparison.

“Min Ki, this might sound strange, but you’re a bit of a monster.”

“Me? A monster?”

“Do you know what? When I act alongside you, I feel like even my own skills are improving.”

That was the tone and manner.

Lee Min Ki’s character was so solid that he became a central axis around which the other actors’ characters naturally fell into place.

It wasn’t just Kim Ji Hwan.

Since the first foundation had been laid so well, it was no surprise the rest of the building was going up smoothly.

Did he even realize that he had become the center of the set?

“What do you mean? I’m too busy learning from my seniors, haha…”

He was nothing but humble in every situation.

“Oh, Min Ki! Be humble in moderation! There’s a limit to how much humility is charming, you know? Keep it up, and it becomes an insult!”

Even now.

As soon as break time started, he was busy chatting with everyone.

As a result, it had become a daily sight to see him surrounded by fellow actors, already acknowledging his abilities, all chatting together.

“……”

Except for Kim Ji Hwan.

He stood off in the distance, mumbling to himself as he stared at his script.

It seemed he was quietly burning with determination.

But even that could be seen as a positive influence for the sake of the production.

‘I’ll chew up the next scene. Let’s see how long you can keep smiling.’

…Is this really a positive influence?

Anyway.

Director No Ho Yeon watched the scene from a distance for a moment.

“Min Ki is certainly unique.”

He said with a proud smile.

“It’s like he radiates positive energy to everyone around him. Even when faced with difficult demands, he handles them calmly with a smile. Sets are stressful environments, after all.”

“Exactly what I mean.”

Director Jang Tae Wook responded, laughing as if in agreement with Director No’s words.

“But in my opinion, Min Ki isn’t so much a leader type… as something else.”

Just as he was about to say more.

“Oh.”

Director No suddenly stopped talking and checked his watch, murmuring to himself.

“It’s about that time.”

“Time?”

“Yeah, you know. Min Ki’s trademark move.”

“Oh, right.”

Without needing further explanation, Director Jang Tae Wook also stood up naturally.

It was as if they had silently agreed on something telepathically.

And it wasn’t just them.

Staff members all around peeked curiously, as if they had been waiting for this exact moment.

A wave of anticipation spread throughout the set.

Amidst all this, Lee Min Ki called out softly.

“My throat’s dry. How about we have some coffee?”

A moment later.

With fluid movements, Lee Min Ki tied on an apron, positioned himself in front of the machine, and began brewing coffee.

Drrrrrk.

The rich aroma of coffee soon filled the set.

“This is the best part of the day.”

“It’s weird, but it’s delicious.”

Lee Min Ki, using the break time to serve coffee.

This had become a regular event over the past few months on the set of *Café del Dia*.

“He sure looks good doing it.”

“Now I understand why people like guys who make coffee.”

“Min Ki’s back looks especially cool.”

“Yeah, his shoulders. Tsk.”

Perhaps this was one of the reasons Lee Min Ki was so well-liked on set.

Not only did he elevate the production, but he also brought a good mood to the atmosphere outside the scenes.

Of course, Lee Min Ki had his own rather self-serving reason for this.

‘I have to practice while I can.’

His self-serving reason for brewing coffee.

He was squeezing in practice so he could look even more stylish in front of the camera later.

In fact, the origin of this event came from when he started practicing making coffee but felt it was wasteful to throw it away, so he offered it to those around him.

“Min Ki’s coffee is getting better every time.”

“What are we going to do when this shoot ends? I’ll miss it.”

“Yeah. I wish this was a 50-episode drama.”

“You’re not planning to brew it yourself?”

“Are you crazy? There’s no way my coffee will taste better than Min Ki’s.”

A win-win for everyone.

And so, the set was filled with the aroma of coffee.

‘Hmm, it’s not just the form that’s good. The smell is great too.’

Director No Ho Yeon enjoyed Lee Min Ki’s coffee with a delighted expression.

‘Wait.’

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind like lightning.

‘Isn’t the press conference coming up?’

A press conference scheduled a few days before the first broadcast.

What if they held a special event there?