Top Star by Luck

Chapter 65

‘This is unbelievable.’

Yoo Seon Ah’s pupils gradually widened as she stared at the TV screen.

‘Was Min Ki always this good at acting?’

Yes.

In just a few months.

Lee Min Ki’s acting had progressed beyond simply improving—it had reached a completely different level from his past performances in Forever Green.

It was like he had become a completely different person.

This transformation was fully reflected in his acting.

‘Wow, look at this guy. While everyone else is walking, he’s driving a Lamborghini at 380 km/h.’

Kim Tak also burst into laughter.

He never expected Lee Min Ki’s acting skills to improve this much.

It was almost laughable.

‘Amazing.’

Kim Tak gave a wry smile.

He had lived by the motto of enjoying life to the fullest, but watching Lee Min Ki act pricked at his sides.

He used to look down on him a bit.

Half jokingly, but also half seriously.

But now he knew.

‘This guy is the real deal.’

Lee Min Ki was a big vessel.

A big vessel takes time to shape, and he was just waiting for his moment.

That’s why Kim Tak felt envious.

Lee Min Ki’s growth made Kim Tak reflect on himself as well.

‘Growth, huh.’

Why?

How had Lee Min Ki managed to improve so much over the past few months?

There were two major reasons for it.

The first was…

[Is Barista Cha Young Hwan still struggling with the grinder?]

[Barista Sung Jin Woo, how about focusing on your own work instead of someone else’s?]

It was the presence of a rival.

Many people in the industry believed that Lee Min Ki’s acting had lifted Kim Ji Hwan up, but in truth, the opposite was also true.

Someone who was growing at an incredible speed and chasing right behind Lee Min Ki.

Whenever it seemed like he had pulled ahead, the next day, the gap had closed again. Whenever he tried to catch his breath, he would meet Kim Ji Hwan’s burning gaze.

This had been happening every day for months.

Can you imagine it?

Even though you’re a few steps ahead, you feel like the hunted, constantly being chased.

And what about that person’s growth?

Perhaps Kim Ji Hwan wasn’t aware of it himself, but he was providing Lee Min Ki with endless motivation.

And.

Lee Min Ki wasn’t much different either.

[In my opinion, Min Ki isn’t the leader type.]

Director No Ho Yeon had said.

[He’s more of a stimulant type.]

[Stimulant type?]

Director No Ho Yeon calmly explained to a curious PD Jang Tae Wook, who was surprised by the unexpected comment.

[When you watch him, it makes you want to improve. He’s working so hard, as a fellow person on set, you can’t help but push yourself too.]

[Aha.]

[Even I, as a director, feel like I want to create better results. It makes it impossible for me to slack off.]

He inspires the people around him.

If someone is standing still, he somehow makes them take another step forward.

If someone is already walking, he makes them run.

If someone knows how to run, he makes them fly.

It was the power of observation.

This observation allowed not only himself but also others to see a better version of themselves.

In this way, Lee Min Ki and Kim Ji Hwan created a synergistic effect with each other in Café del Dia.

This was the first reason for Lee Min Ki’s growth.

And the second was…

[Hmph, no matter how good a raw gem is, it takes a skilled chef like me to bring out its true value.]

There was also the assistance of a well-matched director like No Ho Yeon.

With the combination of these two factors, Lee Min Ki was now undoubtedly leading Café del Dia as a powerful protagonist.

“The coffee gives us a lot, but let me ask you something. What are we giving back to the coffee?”

On TV, Lee Min Ki delivered his lines with a fierce expression.

“Second store? Third store? That’s laughable. What’s the point of expanding if the roots are rotting?”

Café del Dia.

The story revolved around a café.

[Sung Jin Woo] was a foreign mercenary brought in to reform the café’s operations and franchise it, and various acting performances unfolded in the process.

“Let’s make coffee.”

At times, he was passionate.

“Do you still not realize that Barista Cha Young Hwan is the dust on this café?”

At times, he was cold.

“Boss Oh Yoo Na, you’re quite an amusing person.”

At times, he was sarcastic.

Lee Min Ki, as an actor, seamlessly portrayed all of these emotions.

As for the drama’s evaluation, that would have to wait.

But at least when it came to Lee Min Ki’s acting, it was hard to find any flaws.

‘…As much as I hate to admit it, he’s better than me.’

Kim Ji Hwan bit his lips and found himself motivated once again.

‘I need to catch up soon.’

Kim Tae Yang also watched the drama leisurely but with a small sense of urgency.

No one knew how the audience would receive the first episode of Café del Dia.

But one thing was clear.

The resolve of the four people working alongside Lee Min Ki had changed dramatically.

* * *

Café del Dia.

The much-talked-about drama had drawn close to the public.

[Title: Spoiler) Did you watch the first episode of Café del Dia?]

[Lee Min Ki is seriously good at acting.

I knew he was good at playing those cold, handsome characters, but he kept changing it up, lol.

He does passionate scenes, comedy scenes, and does it all by himself.

After the drama ended, all I could think about was Lee Min Ki.

If he keeps this up, this could become my favorite drama, lol.]

The story was about an elite barista who had won awards at international coffee competitions and returned to Korea, where he was scouted by a café.

The plot was about his efforts to revive a failing café and turn it into a franchise.

It was a fairly typical storyline for a food and beverage-themed drama.

They’d probably have some cooking battles with rivals, throw in some romance, and then the café would thrive, leading to a happy ending.

But because the plot was so predictable, the acting was all the more important.

And this was where Lee Min Ki truly showcased his skills.

[Sung Jin Woo’s character is truly unique.]

The character he played was indeed special.

[Comments (18)]

[He was really good.]

[LOL, I could only think of Lee Min Ki’s voice throughout the drama.]

[Kim Ji Hwan was good too, but Lee Min Ki overshadowed him, lol. It’s not like Kim Ji Hwan was bad, though.]

[Lee Min Ki stole the show.]

[I don’t even remember who the female lead was.]

[Was her name Yoon Ah?]

[It’s Yoo Na Rae.]

Lee Min Ki’s character overshadowed all the others.

His portrayal of [Sung Jin Woo] was that strong.

It might have been what Director No Ho Yeon intended from the beginning, but it was possible only because Lee Min Ki delivered such an outstanding performance.

Perhaps because of the buzz surrounding the drama before its broadcast.

The first episode of Café del Dia scored a viewership rating of 9.2% nationwide.

For a midweek evening drama, it was a solid start with room to grow based on its positive reception.

“Phew.”

And thanks to that, there was one person who had found a turning point in his life.

That person was Director No Ho Yeon.

Holding a mug in his trembling hands, he spoke as PD Jang Tae Wook laughed.

“Fortunately, we got off to a good start.”

“…This was the expected result.”

“Yes, it’s a well-made work, after all.”

Director No Ho Yeon nodded as if the ratings were an expected outcome.

But.

That wasn’t how he truly felt.

‘What if it flopped? I was so scared.’

His whole body felt like it would collapse under the weight of relief.

‘I did it.’

Café del Dia wasn’t just any project.

It was the first drama that Director No Ho Yeon, who had been active in the film industry, had directed.

On the outside, he acted nonchalant.

A director needed to carry the most weight on set, after all.

But deep down, he had been terrified of failure.

“Haha.”

PD Jang Tae Wook laughed continuously and said,

“They say the river eventually flows into the sea, right? As expected, Director No, your skills from the film industry are just as sharp in the world of dramas.”

It sounded as if he had known from the start that the drama would be a success.

But that wasn’t the case.

This project had been a big gamble for Director No Ho Yeon.

While the public called it a challenge, in reality, it was closer to a bet.

With the OTT market growing, he figured dramas had a better shot at international success.

It was a choice made while looking several years into the future.

‘That’s what I boldly proclaimed everywhere.’

Though he acted confident, he had been terrified because it was something he had never tried before.

He had barely made it through.

And one person played a significant role in that.

“It’s all thanks to you, Director.”

“Haha, no way. It’s thanks to PD-nim and Min Ki’s efforts.”

It was Lee Min Ki.

His influence on the project was immense.

Not only did he act well, but he also boosted morale on set.

[Enjoy your coffee!]

And he took on a significant promotional role, which no one had expected when they cast him.

How could he not be proud?

If he could, Director No Ho Yeon wanted to kiss his cheek… although that would be weird since they were both grown men. Buying him a house sounded like a better idea.

Of course, he didn’t have the money, so it was just a thought.

But.

There were still concerns.

“PD-nim, there are still seven episodes left.”

Because they still had more work to do.

With 16 episodes in total, they had 7 episodes left to film before the end.

“It’s too early to feel relieved.”

Director No Ho Yeon’s words might have been unexpected.

Or perhaps they sounded like humility.

But PD Jang Tae Wook continued to smile as he responded.

“Haha, at this rate, the ratings are practically guaranteed.”

“That’s not the case.”

Director No Ho Yeon shook his head.

“In fact, this drama relies solely on Lee Min Ki’s character, Sung Jin Woo.”

“Yes, it’s a character-driven story.”

The storyline of the first nine episodes had certainly revolved around Sung Jin Woo’s character.

The female lead and café owner, Oh Yoo Na.

The elite barista recruited from abroad, Sung Jin Woo.

And the entrenched barista, Cha Young Hwan.

These three characters’ dynamics made up 80%, if not 90%, of the drama.

“That’s what worries me.”

“Is there a particular problem?”

PD Jang Tae Wook seemed unconvinced by Director No Ho Yeon’s concerns.

“There are plenty of dramas where the characters drive the story. More and more, the importance of characters is growing in this era.”

In other words, if they just kept doing what they were doing, everything should turn out fine.

Café del Dia wasn’t aiming to be some groundbreaking, high-art drama.

The worry seemed unfounded.

“I’m not arguing against that.”

But Director No Ho Yeon shook his head again and said,

“The problem is the character itself.”

The next moment, Director No Ho Yeon spoke in a determined voice.

“The character’s essence is starting to waver.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“As you know, PD-nim, no matter how well-defined a character is, the tone of the acting must change from episode 10 onward.”

That’s right.

Café del Dia was about to reach a turning point in its story.

Director No Ho Yeon continued.

“Up until now, the two lead baristas have been in constant conflict with each other.”

The antagonism and rivalry had driven the story well so far.

The female lead had wavered between them.

Their performances had been so well-balanced that the drama had continued to thrive.

But now, the situation had changed.

“Now, they’ve acknowledged each other.”

With the franchise expansion storyline and the two-year time skip in the narrative, the main characters had grown to respect each other.

Sung Jin Woo had moved away from idealism and gained a more realistic understanding of the business.

Cha Young Hwan had learned the responsibility that came with being a barista.

Both had recognized their limitations and used each other as benchmarks to grow.

“Now, they must join hands to face a greater competitor.”

And that was…

[The World Coffee Championship]

Winning the competition.

To win, they needed the dream beans.

To get those beans, they had no choice but to cooperate.

Their performances would now require more than just bickering.

“Can the two actors handle this kind of acting?”

Director No Ho Yeon asked in a voice filled with uncertainty.

Café del Dia was a drama that relied heavily on its characters.

If the characters wavered, the show’s appeal would plummet.

But the acting had to change.

The drama had been designed with this shift in mind from the beginning.

If the keyword for the first nine episodes had been internal conflict, the focus from episode 10 onward would be on cooperation and competition with external forces.

They had handled the conflict well.

But could they handle the cooperation?

‘If they were veteran actors, I wouldn’t be worried, but both of them are rookies.’

Rookies often had a limited range in their acting.

They might excel in one area, making their performances sparkle, but in another area, they could come across as flat and uninspired.

This was the challenge for rookie actors.

How much could they expand their acting spectrum?

‘Some actors get stuck here and end up playing the same character their whole careers. Of course, if they specialize in one type, there will always be demand for it.’

In any case, there was a reason directors were often hesitant to cast rookie actors.

They might excel at one or two things but fall short on the third, giving off an amateurish vibe.

“Hmm.”

PD Jang Tae Wook tilted his head and asked,

“Director, don’t you think Lee Min Ki will manage well enough once he gets into it?”

“Yes, of course, he will.”

Director No Ho Yeon responded immediately.

Without a moment’s hesitation.

It was almost as if he was saying that if the dish was bland, you could just add some salt.

‘Isn’t this guy a bit too biased?’

PD Jang Tae Wook couldn’t help but chuckle to himself at the director’s unwavering confidence, as Director No Ho Yeon calmly continued.

“Min Ki’s acting feels more like that of a seasoned actor who’s been in the industry for over five years. He might stumble a bit, but he’ll adapt quickly.”

“Then.”

PD Jang Tae Wook rubbed his chin, thinking deeply, and then spoke.

“The issue is with Kim Ji Hwan, right?”

“Yes, he’s the typical rookie.”

The question was whether Kim Ji Hwan could rise to the occasion.

Could he bring about the necessary change in his character without making him feel unstable?

PD Jang Tae Wook thought back to how Kim Ji Hwan had interacted with Lee Min Ki on set.

‘Well, as long as it’s not awkward, we’ll be lucky.’

Was it even necessary to have this kind of concern?

It was a headache.

“If worse comes to worst, we might need to prepare for a smooth landing rather than a ratings surge.”

Director No Ho Yeon left that comment hanging as he raised his mug to his lips, as if trying to calm his nerves.

Slurp.

The sight of him sipping his coffee seemed oddly pleasant to PD Jang Tae Wook, who asked with a curious look.

“Director, is that coffee any good?”

“It’s exquisite. Would you like a cup?”

“Oh, sure.”

Director No Ho Yeon stood up and walked over to the coffee machine, pulling out a bag of beans from the shelf.

But the design on the bag was unusual.

“Director, is that a squirrel on the bag?”

“Yes, isn’t it cute?”

“It is, but… is that the original design?”

PD Jang Tae Wook asked with a hint of suspicion, to which Director No Ho Yeon replied with a smile.

“Yes, this is squirrel poop coffee.”

“…”

Squirrel poop?

PD Jang Tae Wook’s face darkened.

Looking at him, Director No Ho Yeon said in a gentle voice.

“Unique, isn’t it? It’s called Konsac Coffee, a specialty from Vietnam. Min Ki gave it to me as a gift.”

“Ahem.”

PD Jang Tae Wook cleared his throat and said,

“I’m afraid I’ll have to pass.”

“What? It’s delicious.”

“I have chronic colitis.”

“PD-nim, didn’t you eat spicy seafood noodles this morning?”

“Yes, and it flared up again.”

* * *

The next day.

The atmosphere on the set of Café del Dia was more cheerful than ever before.

Why?

“Hehe, I never expected we’d break 10% viewership.”

Because they had just surpassed the 10% viewership barrier.

“Wow, I thought it was a long shot at 9%, but to hit 10% in the next episode…”

Indeed.

Perhaps because the show had gotten off to such a strong start.

Word spread quickly, and by the second episode, the ratings had jumped to 10.4%.

For a weekday evening drama, it was now on the path to undeniable success.

“If this keeps up, Café del Dia could be the big winner of this season.”

The actress playing the female lead, Oh Yoo Na, smiled brightly.

Her stage name contained the character for “snow” (설, Seol), and fittingly, her pure and gentle face lit up the set.

“It’s all thanks to Min Ki.”

“What? I didn’t do anything. It’s all because of Seol Ha, Ji Hwan, Director No, and PD-nim…”

“Did you memorize all our names?”

But.

There was always someone who couldn’t sleep due to nerves.

‘It starts today.’

It was Director No Ho Yeon.

Suffering from chronic insomnia and even constipation, he blinked his dry eyes as he stared into the empty sky.

All around him was the lush green of coffee farms.

The filming location for the next scenes.

It was the largest coffee farm in Korea, located in Jeollanam-do, though it would appear as a South American coffee farm in the drama.

“…..”

After staring at the vibrant green fields for a moment.

‘I’ve done all I can. Let’s go.’

Director No Ho Yeon finally made up his mind and spoke.

“We’ll start filming in three minutes. Get ready.”