How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor Chapter 140

Chapter 140

 

“First of all… I’m sorry for not recognizing you, Writer.”

At my apology with my head lowered, Writer Gu waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s fine. Honestly, it was refreshing. You know how in romance dramas the chaebol male lead falls for the heroine because, ‘You’re the first woman who’s ever treated me like this!’?”

Her voice was cheerful as she said she finally understood why that trope existed.

When she mentioned she’d never understood it because she’d never written a romance before, I became curious about what she’d written instead.

‘I’ll ask Choo Seomok later.’

Fortunately, Writer Gu brought it up first.

“I’ve been working as a writer for a long time, but I don’t think we’ve ever met. Still, you know my works, right?”

“Truth Game, The Hunters.”

As she listed one title after another, my eyes widened on their own.

‘Those are dramas I watched recently.’

While filming the horror movie, I’d become interested in action after filming my fight scene with Hyewoo, so I went looking for action dramas.

I’d been surprised by how many different styles of action there were.

Dark, gloomy noir…

Professional spy thrillers…

Hero stories where the protagonist defeats evil…

There were also action stories combined with comedy, fantasy, drama, and many other genres.

‘I thought they were all just gangster stories.’

Of course, if I were cast as a loan shark, I could portray the role more realistically than anyone else.

But I’d grown so sick and tired of that world that even returning to it in fiction held no appeal.

“How exactly does the dentist’s daily life change? And what kind of criminal organization are we talking about?”

“The fact that you’re asking those questions means you’re interested, doesn’t it?”

I nodded at Writer Gu’s words.

When I asked if she could send me the script, she tilted her head.

“Seriously? I’m Gu Nahui.”

“I know it’s an honor just to work with you, Writer, but I can’t agree to a project without even reading the script.”

“……Wow.”

Thinking I might have offended her, I apologized.

She simply shrugged.

“No, it’s fine. I was just surprised. No one’s said that to me since I was a rookie writer. Well… I understand.”

Though she said that… her expression looked anything but pleased.

Anyone could tell her pride had taken a hit, and the man standing behind her became visibly flustered.

The desperate look he gave me practically screamed,

Please do something.

‘What exactly do you expect me to do?’

I hadn’t even signed a contract yet.

Why should I be the one groveling?

Of course, there was no reason to deliberately get on the bad side of a famous writer.

But I didn’t want to shrink back, either.

‘If she doesn’t like it, we just won’t work together.’

It’s not like I’d die if I couldn’t work with this writer.

So I simply stayed silent instead of trying to ease the atmosphere.

After staring at me for a long moment, Writer Gu smiled.

“It’s been a while since I’ve wanted something this badly…”

Then she turned toward the man behind her.

“PD Kim, contact Wooyeon Entertainment.”

“Understood. Um… what about the audition schedule…?”

“Ah.”

Writer Gu looked back at me.

“Would you be alright with auditioning? I know actors with as much experience as you don’t usually audition anymore. But… well…”

She trailed off.

I immediately nodded.

“If it’s necessary, then of course I should audition.”

It hadn’t been that long since Yoo Seulho had finally shed the nickname Useless.

The movies I’d filmed during the second half of the year hadn’t even been released yet.

As far as the public was concerned, they’d only seen my acting in a single drama.

‘That’s not enough to gamble on.’

Besides, I wasn’t even the real Yoo Seulho.

There was no reason for me to get upset because someone wasn’t treating twenty years of experience as automatically deserving respect.

When I agreed without hesitation, Writer Gu smiled in satisfaction.

“I like how straightforward you are. Thank you. The final decision is mine, but I’ll still need something to convince the investors.”

“That’s only natural.”

“I’ve already heard good things about the movie you filmed this time. My husband invests in films, and he’s been talking about nothing but your projects for months.”

‘Her husband?’

I thought about it for a moment before noticing the ring on her left ring finger.

Judging from the design, it clearly wasn’t just a couple’s ring.

“So you got married young.”

“Hm?”

“Oh, I’ve been in the industry for a long time, but I don’t really have any connections, so I don’t know much about what’s going on. I’m sorry… I really don’t know much about you.”

I bowed once again.

She looked bewildered.

“No, you don’t have to apologize for that… But what do you mean, I got married young? I got married well past the usual age.”

“……Then don’t tell me… you’re actually over thirty?”

I deliberately said age instead of using the more respectful term.

At that moment, the corner of Writer Gu’s mouth twitched.

Her sharp eyes immediately searched my face from top to bottom.

She was trying to determine whether I was shamelessly flattering her… or whether I really was that oblivious.

‘Scary.’

Even a crime boss probably couldn’t produce a look like that.

Still, I’d come up with this compliment the moment I’d noticed her wedding ring.

‘No need to grovel, but it doesn’t hurt to leave a good impression.’

No matter how stylishly she dressed, she’d looked like she was in her early to mid-thirties at most.

I shamelessly acted with every muscle in my face.

“Hahaha!”

Apparently, I’d passed her sincerity detector.

Writer Gu burst into loud laughter.

“Ah~ This guy is something else. I’m almost fifty.”

“What??”

That genuinely surprised me.

The reaction that escaped me went beyond acting.

Seeing my completely genuine shock, Writer Gu smiled in satisfaction.

“PD Kim, do we really have to hold an audition? I really want to work with this actor.”

The atmosphere instantly relaxed again after she addressed the man behind her.

The man bowed repeatedly as he laughed.

“Haha… If that’s what you want, Writer, then of course. Though I still think we should hold the audition…”

“I’m joking.”

“Ah! Right.”

Writer Gu stood up, saying we’d talk again after I’d read the script.

The team leader, who had been quietly waiting nearby, hurriedly joined the conversation.

“Writer… does that mean Mr. Seulho and Wooju would both be cast together?”

“If Mr. Seulho agrees and passes the audition.”

As Writer Gu nodded, the team leader’s face immediately brightened.

“That’s wonderful! Our Wooju is incredibly smart! He worked really well with Mr. Seulho during the last drama too.”

“Oh, so that’s the dog from that drama? Hmm… Then they’ll probably have even better chemistry.”

“Exactly. Wooju really follows Mr. Seulho around.”

Writer Gu looked even more pleased after hearing that.

‘I never actually said I’d do it.’

These people were already celebrating on their own.

Just then, PD Kim, who’d been quietly crouching nearby, cautiously spoke up.

“Writer… don’t you think a Border Collie is a strange choice for a therapy dog?”

“Oh, good point. Usually it’d be a Golden Retriever or something, right? Friendly, harmless breeds.”

“As far as I know, Border Collies are extremely energetic. It might feel unnatural for one to stay quietly inside a dental clinic…”

His concern made sense.

Unlike the team leader, whose expression immediately darkened, Writer Gu simply thought for a moment before shrugging.

“There aren’t any dental clinics in Korea using therapy dogs anyway. We can just make it part of the drama’s setting.”

“That works. Hmm… By the way, how much exercise does a Border Collie need every day?”

The team leader answered immediately.

“They need as much as four hours a day, but absolutely no less than two.”

I was honestly surprised.

‘That’s incredible.’

Raising a dog really wasn’t easy.

The moment I thought I’d never be able to own one… Writer Gu nodded.

“I like it. I was already thinking it was a bit much for a dentist to be doing action scenes.”

“Right. We can say he became physically fit because he exercises with his Border Collie every day.”

“Then let’s say the protagonist exercises the dog for an hour before work and another hour after work… and hires someone to exercise him at lunchtime.”

“I like that. Since he’s a dentist, he’d make enough money to hire someone. Hmm… Even so, there’ll still be people looking for flaws.”

“Then let them complain.”

Answering coolly, Writer Gu told me to read the script and contact her before leaving.

PD Kim hurried after her.

“…It feels like a typhoon just passed through.”

The employees laughed at my muttering.

The team leader smiled as she stroked Wooju, who was still in my arms.

“When we heard Writer Gu was coming, we were worried for days. She’s famous for having very strong likes and dislikes.”

“You were worried she wouldn’t like any of the dogs?”

“Yes. From what we heard about the drama, the lead actor and the dog have to perform action scenes together.”

The chemistry between the human actor and the animal actor was apparently the most important part of the project.

Which was probably why Writer Gu had become completely captivated after seeing Wooju and me playing together.

‘Hmm.’

I hadn’t read the script yet… but based solely on the explanation, I couldn’t think of any reason to refuse.

A hit guaranteed by a star writer.

A generous production budget.

And action… the very thing I’d wanted to do.

“Can Wooju handle action scenes?”

“Wooju is almost ten years old now. Since he’s a medium-sized dog, he’s not exactly a senior dog… but he’s entering the early stages of old age.”

The team leader stumbled over the words, as though she hated even saying senior dog.

“Still, he’s been kept in excellent condition, so as long as the action isn’t too intense, he’ll be perfectly fine. Though… we’ll probably have to start thinking about retirement soon.”

Hearing that this might be his final project gave me a lot to think about.

Since the situation was what it was, I stood up, saying I’d come back another day.

Whine…

Realizing I was leaving, Wooju immediately began whining.

I told him I’d come back soon.

I didn’t mean it just to comfort him.

I genuinely intended to return.

‘As long as he’s okay with the fact that I’m not the real Yoo Seulho.’

Then there was no reason not to.

As if he’d understood every word, Wooju grinned broadly and even saw me off.

“What are you going to do?”

After we got into the car, Choo Seomok asked.

“I don’t know…”

Seriously…

Who would’ve thought I’d come to see a dog and end up getting offered my next project?

“Let’s tell Team Leader Ahn first.”

“Yes. Then we’ll head to the company.”

We drove straight to the agency.

Perhaps because it was the last day of the year, the office was in complete chaos.

“Team Leader, do you have a moment?”

“Oh… yeah. Go ahead.”

Instead of being in his office like usual, Team Leader Ahn was out in the main office giving instructions to the staff.

He looked so busy that I almost felt bad for interrupting.

‘I’ll just tell him the important part and leave.’

Everyone working here had been with the company for years.

There was no need to worry about keeping secrets from them.

So I got straight to the point.

“I just met Writer Gu Nahui.”

“She asked me to do a drama with her.”

“……”

At that instant… every employee in the office froze.

Team Leader Ahn stared blankly at me.

“Writer Gu Nahui?”

“Yes. Could you arrange an audition for me?”

“She asked you to do a drama? That Writer Gu?”

“Yes.”

Why was everyone reacting like this?

As I looked around blankly, Team Leader Ahn finally came back to his senses and let out a hollow laugh.

Then he turned to the employee beside him and said,

“Our company really is blessed, isn’t it?”

“It really is. Blessings just keep rolling through the door.”

“…?”

Don’t tell me… they meant I was the blessing?