Chapter 111: To Find a Path within a Fog (2)
TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir
Around fifteen people gathered in the large waiting room at Pan Production. The actors and their managers, who were vying for the same role, were looking at each other with wary eyes. A Pan Production employee’s voice could be heard from outside the door.
“This is the waiting room. I’ll call you when it’s your turn so you just need to wait here, chief. Euah, that’s awkward.”
“I still find it awkward as well. Then we’ll be waiting here.”
The employee’s tone when he talked to the person known as chief was very friendly. The people inside the waiting room watched the closed door. They looked nervous as if worrying that a top-ranked actor would be participating.
Soon, the waiting room door opened. The one who entered was a man wearing a hoodie. Their gazes scanned his face. “Who is he?” “It’s my first time seeing him?” “Maybe he’s unknown, don’t worry about him.” Various whispers leaked out.
The eyes that flashed with competitiveness died down when they figure out that their new competitor was an unknown actor. However, the next moment, a tall man with an unordinary appearance entered behind the actor.
While he wasn’t an actor, a few instantly recognized his face.
“Isn’t he that guy? From W&U?” “He is, Manager Jung Sunwoo.” “What the heck? So he’s a rookie actor W&U’s training?” When the whispering voices grew louder, Jung Sunwoo look around the waiting room. The chatting people shut their mouths.
When the two of them sat on empty chairs, a manager who was sitting in the corner approached them.
“You’re Nam Joyoon… right?”
“This industry is quite small.”
The unknown actor known as Nam Joyoon replied. When Jung Sunwoo looked at them, Nam Joyoon said,
“He’s someone who worked at my previous company.”
“Ah.”
Jung Sunwoo nodded while making a weird expression. The manager asked again,
“So Mr. Joyoon is still acting. Is your company W&U?”
The people listening in perked their ears.
Under their gazes, Nam Joyoon casually said,
“No.”
“Then, why…?”
When the manager glanced at Jung Sunwoo as he trailed off, Jung Sunwoo smiled as he replied,
“I’m personally following him since I’m interested.”
At those words, sighs of relief came out throughout the room. If he had a large company like W&U backing him, then he would be a worthy competitor, but if there wasn’t, then he was simply a common, unknown actor.
Even the manager who struck a conversation with Nam Joyoon revealed a smile of relief.
Director Park was on the toilet for ten minutes now.
The auditions would start soon, but the poop that was coiled up in him for the past few days showed no indication of coming out. He squeezed his sphincter as he checked the time.
“How did you get someone like him? That guy’s really bad at picking people.”
He had heard footsteps approaching, but a conversation suddenly started.
“Since you caused a fuss in our company like some crazy person, I thought that you would quit acting. Well, it’s probably difficult for you to find some other job at your age. But do you think something good would happen if you keep sticking to this industry?”
“I know, right? This bothers me as well as I stay in this industry. Constantly seeing people I hate.”
The second voice was dry, yet also contained a bit of cynicism.
Director Park, who had been unintentionally eavesdropping, perked his ears.
“What? Bastard, what the fuck did you just say? You…!”
“What? You want to punch me again? If we ran into each other a while ago, we might have had some fun, but too bad. I can’t leave a bruise on my face right now. The chief who you said is bad at picking people got this audition for me so I don’t want to disappoint him.”
“You bastard!”
“Stop there. I have a knife in my pocket. I brought it as a prop for the audition, but like you said, you never know what kind of a crazy act a crazy person will do, right?”
The moment this threatening voice entered his ears, Director Park had a eureka moment the same time as his bowel movement.
“It hit me. It was like fate.”
Director Park mumbled like someone under a spell. CEO Kim Pansuk clicked his tongue.
“What fate? You said you didn’t even see his face.”
“He wasn’t there when I went out. I should have stopped mid-poop.”
“Don’t be obsessed with an actor when you didn’t even see his face. Just conduct the auditions properly.”
CEO Kim Pansuk sharply glared at him.
As the auditions progressed, Director Park’s expression gradually became worse. There were a few actors that CEO Kim Pansuk and other judges looked favorably upon, but that was it.