Chapter 143:

Chapter 143:

One Month After the First Shoot in Tokyo, Japan

In the late evening, on a bus heading home in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, a high school girl showed her smartphone to her friends, all dressed in the same school uniform.

"Kyoko, have you seen this?"

" Episode 3? You watched it, right Huh? It's Episode 4? Did I miss it? Why didn't I know?"

"A girl who wants to be an actress can't miss this. It was uploaded yesterday. Let's watch it together."

What they were watching was Episode 4 of with Japanese subtitles. Like many popular Korean variety shows, was also available on Netflix.

[Hoo. Well, I don't know. The applicant, Lee Jinwook, seemed very confident, and he acted in his own way, but He seems overly confident. His understanding of the role was lacking. I'd like to say he looks confident, but Well, it's a bit hard to watch. Yes. Director Yeo Jaeyoon, how was it?]

Min Kyungsoo, who had watched the audition participant's performance, sighed deeply.

"Just now, the script that applicant Lee Jinwook acted in is the one actor Kang Jinseok performed during the audition. Right in front of me. When I saw actor Kang Jinseok's performance at that time, it gave me goosebumps Now, Lee Jinwook's performance gives me goosebumps in a different way. How can he be this bad?"

The harsh evaluation from Yeo Jaeyoon echoed, and the face of the applicant was shown in a close-up. It was a face that seemed like it would burst into tears if touched.

In response to the applicant's reaction, Yeo Jaeyoon continued mercilessly.

"Acting is a process of convincing the audience The acting Lee Jinwook showed us now lacks persuasion. I don't know what he was thinking while acting, but it's just cringe-worthy. He just said he was the post-Kang Jinseok, but it was the worst. I don't know how he survived until now."

As if not wanting to see anymore, Yeo Jaeyoon closed his eyes.

Continuing the severe evaluation, tears finally flowed from the applicant's eyes.

Seeing that, one of the high school girls commented, "Really, what the judges say is so scary. Saying it's the worst, isn't that too harsh for a Korean audition variety show?"

"You didn't watch Episode 3? This one is something else."

"Why? What happened in Episode 3?"

"He said that if he had done like Kang Jinseok, he would have done better than Jinseok-nim himself."

"Huh? Really? Even though their faces are so different?"

After gained immense popularity in Korea, it was released worldwide, extending its success to Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Unfortunately, it didn't gain as much popularity in English-speaking regions, but it became a huge hit in Asian markets.

At that time, with Netflix distributing worldwide, the show caught the attention of viewers around the globe.

In Japan, especially among the younger generation, particularly women, was receiving a lot of love.

The applicant displayed on the high school girl's smartphone screen bowed his head, shedding tears like small droplets.

[Hoo. How was Judge Kang Jinseok? Since you acted in the role you did yourself, you probably have a lot to say.]

Seeing this, Yeo Jaeyoon sighed and asked.

[Um Lee Jinwook, in the first mission, showed the role Oh Manho' that I played in . At that time, he did so well that I had high expectations this time too, but it's a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, your fundamental skills seem very solid. Although the other judges spoke very harshly, I didn't see it as that bad.]

As Jinseok comforted the crying applicant, the eyes of the high school girls sparkled.

"He's so handsome. How is he so good-looking? And he speaks so kindly."

"Yeah. Ah~! Why don't we have someone like Jinseok at our school? If we did, I'd somehow get to know him."

"Even if we had someone like him, you wouldn't date him? Kyoko-chan, you might."

"What's it to me!"

"Why are you asking if you don't know? You only have to look in the mirror."

"What are you talking about?"

"Look in the mirror."

As the students bantered about, a middle-aged man in a worn-out suit observed them silently.

"Huh, I knew Kang Jinseok would become famous this quickly."

The person they were watching on their smartphones, or precisely in the reflection of the screen, was Katashiro, the director of .

He had wanted to cast Jinseok as the lead in his work for a long time.

Katashiro took a deep breath and thought.

Yet, the casting for is not over yet. But would he want to participate in a movie where I previously offered 2.5 million yen for his appearance?'

2.5 million yen, approximately 25 million won. Although considering that Jinseok was not as famous back then' as he is now, it was still too little.

"What kind of stories?"

"Well I won't go into details. Since Absolute Unlicensed Counselling' is gaining such enormous popularity, we decided not to make a work centered around romance.'"

Not make a work?

At the shocking news, Katahiro's eyes widened.

"Oh, no. What do you mean? What's the reason"

"Um. Well, I won't beat around the bush. Since Absolute Unlicensed Counselling' is attracting so much attention, we decided not to create a work with a romance' theme to avoid diminishing the popularity of the later work. If the work supported by Toho Corporation, under Director Katahiro, receives worse reviews than Absolute Unlicensed Counselling,' it would damage our reputation."

"Just for that reason my work?"

"It's not just for that reason. As Director Katahiro knows, our decision to support the director's work was out of respect. After all the time we've spent together."

""

"But the situation has changed, so there's nothing we can do. Since it hasn't gone into production, you can simply cancel it with a reasonable penalty, considering it's already cast."

Katahiro, looking dumbfounded, stared at the man. The man forced a smile and said, "Haha, it's not like our connection is completely severed. If Director Katahiro wishes, we can introduce you to our company's animation department or the drama production company that has a close relationship with us."

"That's enough."

"What?"

"I said that's enough."

With an air of bewilderment, Katahiro kicked his bag on the floor and stood up.

"A year ago, when I came here with this project, all of you made a clear promise to me. For the revival of the Japanese film industry, let's bring out that unique, poignant emotion we can create so well. Let's help once again introduce Japanese films to the world.' That's what you said."

""

"But to just abandon a project for such a reason ha. Is it difficult to produce a work because a similar one is popular? Won't you do it to avoid losing a competition with a rival company? It's just too sad to think that your distribution and confidence at the forefront of the Japanese film industry are only at that level."

As Katahiro was about to leave the room, he paused. After taking a deep breath and organizing his thoughts, he bowed.

"Thank you for everything until now. Goodbye to the Japanese film industry."

Thud!

With that, Katahiro left the conference room without any regrets. If they had decided not to create the work, there was nothing more to see.

A few minutes ago, Katahiro retraced his steps through the corridor he had walked. No one came to stop him.

Outside the company, Katahiro headed towards the main road. In the midst of busy traffic, he hailed an empty taxi.

"Welcome. Where would you like to go?"

"Doesn't matter, just go anywhere."

"Really?"

"Just go anywhere."

The taxi driver assessed the passenger through the rearview mirror. Despite his neat suit, he didn't seem to have much money.

Seems like something bad happened.'

"Alright. We'll get going then."

From the driver's perspective, as long as he got paid, it didn't matter where they went. He started driving silently.

After about 20 minutes of driving through the city, the passenger's mobile phone rang. The driver paid no particular attention and continued driving in silence.

"Hello? Wh-who is this? How did you get my number, no, more importantly Yes? No, really? All of a sudden, how No, no, I'm fine. Sorry? No, I'm good. I'll go to Korea right away. No, I have plenty of time."

The passenger, who had been staring out the window as if the world had collapsed just a moment ago, regained his vigor after a phone call.

"Huh."

After ending the call, he sighed in wonder.

Observing the sudden change in the passenger, the driver, who had been silently watching, hastily averted his gaze when the passenger looked at him intently.

"Driver."

"Yes, yes."

"How long does it take to get to the nearest airport?"

"Um?"

TN: Ghaddd I wish I could watch Jinseok movies in real life.