I Spent a Night with a Top Star Actress Chapter 47 - The reading.

I turned my head, and Choi Go-eun was standing at an angle in the cafe entrance.

But the look on her face, usually so full of venom whenever we met… today it had gone slack, almost dopey.

Choi Go-eun, looking dopey, asked in confusion.

“Why would you invest in a movie, Chief?”

Ah.

Sounds like she’d overheard what I said a moment ago.

I waved her over and said,

“Sit down first. Is your part-time shift over?”

“Yes. But what was that about just now?”

“I’ll explain, but say hello first. This is Director Kim Jun-su, from Multicultural.”

Choi Go-eun’s head snapped around.

The moment their eyes met, Director Kim Jun-su’s shoulders jerked.

“H, hello! I’m Kim Jun-su, an aspiring film director!”

“…Hello. I’m Choi Go-eun.”

Having exchanged greetings with Director Kim Jun-su, Choi Go-eun looked back at me.

I shrugged and explained.

“It’s nothing much. Director Kim Jun-su’s script is so good I’m considering investing myself, that’s all.”

Choi Go-eun’s brow furrowed.

Her face said she wasn’t buying it.

But neither the setting nor the timing was right to explain further.

“Are we going to keep talking just between us? With Director Kim Jun-su standing right there?”

At my scolding, the edge in Choi Go-eun’s gaze softened.

An uncomfortable silence settled in naturally.

“…”

Director Kim Jun-su was reading the room, and Choi Go-eun, apparently with no intention of speaking first, wore a sullen look.

I found myself clicking my tongue.

‘Tch… these two are a handful.’

But leading difficult people like this was my job.

Just as I opened my mouth to try to loosen up the mood somehow, an unexpected twist happened.

“I enjoyed reading the script, Director.”

“…Yes?”

“The protagonist Choi Ji-seon’s emotional arc was especially good. The way she stays strong even while getting bullied, it really resonated with me.”

Choi Go-eun, the rising star of Best New Actor.

She smiled brightly, her eyes curving into a smile.

Thrown off by her sudden change in mood, Director Kim Jun-su across from her scratched his head in confusion.

…But I was just as thrown off.

‘Well, look at that.’

Choi Go-eun knew how to talk this sweetly?

In the meantime, Choi Go-eun smoothly carried the conversation forward.

“Reading through the script, I found myself curious what led you to this subject. Was there a specific motivation?”

“Uh… honestly, it’s nothing special. During summer break, I volunteered at an orphanage and met a friend there who came from a multicultural family.”

Maybe it was Choi Go-eun’s warm voice.

Director Kim Jun-su, too, started to engage with less tension in his face.

“Ah, so that friend was your inspiration?”

“Yes, exactly. Even at such a young age, that kid was dealing with a lot of isolation and identity confusion. I thought it’d be worth shining a light on that, and that’s how Multicultural came about…”

…Watching him, a complete 180 from how he acted around me, left me speechless.

‘What is with these two?’

Were they only wearing masks around me??

In the meantime, Director Kim Jun-su leaned forward for the first time.

Interest and passion were burning in Director Kim’s eyes.

“…Um, Ms. Choi Go-eun? If it’s not too much trouble, could I see you act, just once?”

Instead of answering, Choi Go-eun looked at me.

Snapping back to attention at her look, I pulled out the Multicultural script.

“You can do it, right, Choi Go-eun-ssi?”

“Yeah, well. Of course I can.”

See that!

She only snaps at me!

“Could you point out the scene number, Director?”

“Then… shall we start with scene #4, Choi Ji-seon’s monologue on the way home from school?”

Choi Go-eun opened the script.

How much time had passed like that?

The chill in Choi Go-eun’s voice, suddenly spilling out, shattered the cafe’s quiet atmosphere.

“Those nasty bitches.”

My eyes flew open.

Director Kim Jun-su, across from her, opened his mouth.

In the meantime, the corner of Choi Go-eun’s mouth twisted.

“If I just died, would that be revenge on them?”

---

Watching Choi Go-eun act, I clicked my tongue in amazement.

‘She’s good.’

I already knew Choi Go-eun’s acting was exceptional.

But today…

it genuinely had an edge to it.

The emotional arc of Choi Ji-seon, a bullied high schooler from a multicultural family, spilled over in every line.

In that moment, the goosebumps running up my forearm turned into a full shiver.

‘She really came prepared.’

I slowly turned my gaze to look at Director Kim Jun-su.

Mouth hanging open, Director Kim Jun-su was watching Choi Go-eun’s performance in a daze.

A pleased, disbelieving laugh escaped my mouth.

Having finished Choi Ji-seon’s monologue, Choi Go-eun stared blankly at me.

“Choi Go-eun-ssi, let’s do a bit more of the reading.”

“Which scene?”

“Let’s see… this time, scene #7. Play Choi Ji-seon feeding the triplets in her mom’s place while she’s at work.”

Choi Go-eun nodded and started reading again.

Director Kim Jun-su’s gaze fixed on Choi Go-eun again.

How much time passed like that?

Director Kim Jun-su finally let out a groan of admiration.

“You’re really good at this?”

“!”

“I mean… are you really a rookie? How can you act like this… Wow.”

That was the reaction I’d been waiting for.

My body leaned forward.

“Sounds like you really like Choi Go-eun’s acting, Director?”

“Yes, yes… No, it’s not just that I like it… Is it even right for me to cast an actor like this in my project? She’d easily pass auditions for other great projects…”

“Choi Go-eun-ssi is acting like this because it’s your project, Director. The script’s just that good.”

Having plated our Director Kim Jun-su’s face in gold, I smoothly moved the conversation forward.

“So, can we lock in Choi Go-eun’s casting as is, Director?”

“O, of course, Chief!”

“!”

“Honestly, I’d been really worried…! Now I feel terrible for it! Thank you so much! For giving me the chance to work with an actor like her!”

The corner of my mouth curled up.

Once our Director Kim Jun-su got hooked, his answers came out nice and clear.

I laughed to myself and kept the meeting going.

Thanks to Director Kim Jun-su, completely smitten with Choi Go-eun, the rest of the meeting went ahead in a very warm mood.

We lost track of time talking about the project, and once it was about time to head back to the office, we wrapped things up.

We agreed to set up another meeting on a different day to discuss the details of production and casting the minor roles, then left the cafe.

“Um, Go-eun-ssi… this is the Multicultural bible, in case it helps with your acting…”

Director Kim Jun-su, his face red as a carrot, was handing Choi Go-eun a stack of various documents. I watched the sight with satisfaction and muttered.

‘I’m getting a good feeling about this.’

They say actors get a feeling for a good script even before filming starts.

That feeling had come to me too, right now.

Director Kim Jun-su, overflowing with drive.

Choi Go-eun’s razor-sharp acting.

More than I’d expected… it felt like the short film Multicultural could do better than I’d thought.

In that moment, I found myself thinking.

‘Should I actually go ahead and invest?’

My mind was leaning that way.

Of course, if I did invest, there was a lot I’d need to look into.

After all, I’d be investing in a project I’d placed my own actor into.

But given the Busan International Film Festival’s schedule, investing myself would be more efficient than hunting down a small investment firm.

In the middle of that, a daydream crossed my mind.

‘What if… a script I’d found.’

An actor I’d backed, a project I’d invested in, if it hit big, how would that feel?

I couldn’t quite picture it.

Cases like that weren’t exactly common.

But one thing was clear.

If that future became reality…

it would be thrilling beyond words.

I let out a breath, hot with excitement, and muttered.

‘This is fun. Producing Multicultural.’

Just then, having finished talking with Director Kim Jun-su, Choi Go-eun came over.

Just as I belatedly tried to manage my expression, Choi Go-eun started snapping at me.

“Chief. Are you really going to invest in the movie?”

“What?”

“If you’re investing because of me, don’t. What are you going to do if you lose money over it?”

I blinked, dumbfounded.

“Are you worried about me right now?”

Choi Go-eun’s face scrunched up hard.

“It’s because it makes me uncomfortable, okay?”

“Hmm…”

“I, I mean it!”

“Yeah, okay, fine. But you know what?”

“Know what?”

“I’m not investing because of you, Choi Go-eun-ssi.”

“?”

Choi Go-eun blurted out, flustered.

“T, then why are you investing?”

“Because the script’s good?”

“…You’re really investing just because of that?”

“Yeah. And…”

I trailed off and grinned.

“Seeing your acting today, I got hooked. You were amazing today.”

At my praise, Choi Go-eun’s eyes went wide.

She stared at me blankly like that for a long while before dropping her head low.

“Is this just how you are?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just praising people and putting pressure on them like that… getting people all excited.”

Had I done that?

I tilted my head, and Choi Go-eun looked at me with eyes different from a moment ago.

“…Still, don’t invest. I’m really worried about it.”

Her face dripped with both pressure and worry.

At that heartfelt look, I sensed it.

Choi Go-eun had finally opened up to me a little. (+) ^[1] TLN: I’m sorry but I want to let this out. Somehow, this line reminded me of Persona series when you finished a Social Event and the Social Link went up, usually this type of line will appear lmao

Maybe that’s why.

I, too, opened up to her honestly for the first time.

“Don’t worry, and just focus on your acting, Choi Go-eun-ssi.”

The corner of my mouth quietly lifted.

“This kind of thing is grown-up business… Yeah. You don’t need to worry about it yet.”

Choi Go-eun stared blankly at my face again.

Her expression had gone slack and dopey again.

Looking at her like this, she had a bit of a spacey side.

I shrugged and suggested.

“Should we go grab something to eat? What do you feel like?”

One step closer. And I meant to get even closer, going forward.

With an actor named Choi Go-eun.

---

The meeting with Director Kim went smoothly.

With the Multicultural situation sorted out, I could finally focus on The Priest in Black.

-[Exclusive!] Next May, Korea’s first blockbuster occult film in 10 years sweeps in for the summer! “The Priest in Black” draws red-hot attention…!

In the meantime, with The Priest in Black’s reading now right around the corner, movie fans,

especially occult fans, grew red-hot with interest.

-Excited about this as an occult fan…

-Man! How long has it been since a domestic occult film?

-With Director Park Jun-seo as the director, this is a safe bet lol

-They’ll probably drop some stills or behind-the-scenes footage from the reading, right?

-The lead lineup is insane. How did they land Lee Ha-eun?

-Even the supporting cast is next level…lol

-I want to see it already, how am I supposed to wait until next year?

Occult was a minor genre, sure, but it had a solid core fanbase.

Among those diehard occult fans, The Priest in Black’s presence was growing bigger by the day.

‘Visibility, momentum, interest. All of it looking great.’

If this momentum kept going and the actors’ performances at the reading held up too… it would be the best possible start.

‘The problem’s the druggie, though.’

I’d asked Reporter Seo to dig around, but there was no word at all.

I mean, even the police kept a sharp eye on anything drug-related.

Even so, they often struck out, unable to easily pin down drug offenders.

Even someone like Reporter Seo wouldn’t find it easy to catch a druggie’s tail.

‘Reporter Seo on their end, me on mine, we’ll both need to keep tightening the net.’

Looking at it this way, this reading was…

genuinely something I was looking forward to, in more ways than one.

The Priest in Black’s cast, and their acting.

And the druggie hiding somewhere among them.

I was at the head office, waiting for that day where anticipation and worry coexisted, when it happened.

Having finished lunch, I was drinking coffee at a cafe near the office when I spotted Manager Jeon Hyeong-woo, someone I rarely saw, at the cafe entrance.

My eyes went a little wide.

‘What’s Road Jeon Hyeong-woo doing here at this hour?’

Wasn’t Lee Ha-eun’s schedule running on the minute right now?

As my heart suddenly started pounding faster, Seok-du hyung shouted.

“Hyeong-woo! What are you doing showing up at the office?”

At Seok-du hyung’s shout, Road Jeon Hyeong-woo’s eyes shot up, and he ran over.

“Hello, Team Leader. Oh? Chief’s here too.”

“Want a coffee?”

“You’re buying?”

“This punk. Still love free stuff, huh?”

Road Jeon Hyeong-woo, having ordered an iced americano, came back to the table and let out a heavy sigh.

“Wow… never thought I’d live to see the day coming into the office felt like a vacation.”

Pretending not to notice the tension welling up in me, I asked.

“Guess you’re really busy because of Lee Ha-eun?”

“Ugh! Don’t even get me started, Chief! Honestly, if it were just running around the country, I’d be fine with it. But since she’s a top star, apparently even her schedule has to go global. Last week I was in Japan, the week before that China… after this reading I’ve got to go to Europe too.”

Seok-du hyung, next to him, tilted his head.

“For all that… you actually look like you’re managing okay?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I mean, everyone who’s ever managed Lee Ha-eun didn’t just complain they were dying, they actually looked like they were dying.”

“…”

“But you’re not dead, just saying you feel like you’re dying. Guess it’s manageable, huh?”

Road Jeon Hyeong-woo shrugged.

“It’s a bit complicated, but… looking after Lee Ha-eun is honestly manageable enough.”

“Really? That Lee Ha-eun?”

“Yeah. I mean, to begin with, Lee Ha-eun-ssi doesn’t pay any attention to me.”

“…No attention? That’s odd.”

Seok-du hyung glanced over at me.

“Chief Kwon here got chewed out like a rat almost every other day… Maybe it’s because she’s on a project now?”

“Ugh… if she chewed me out on top of this schedule, I couldn’t take it, Team Leader.”

Watching for a chance to jump into the conversation, I suddenly asked.

“How’s Lee Ha-eun doing, anyway?”

“Huh? Lee Ha-eun?”

“The reading’s coming up soon, right. Anything unusual about her condition lately?”

At my question, Road Jeon Hyeong-woo fell into thought.

“Anything unusual about Lee Ha-eun, huh…”

Watching him, my throat bobbed.

I’d been trying hard to ignore it, but… yeah.

Honestly, I was dying of curiosity.

Lee Ha-eun, who hadn’t contacted me since that dinner.

What on earth was she up to?

What was keeping her so busy that she hadn’t reached out at all?

And now I was about to hear that secret straight from Road Jeon Hyeong-woo’s mouth!

Just then, Road Jeon Hyeong-woo tilted his head.

“She has picked up a bit of a weird hobby.”

My eyes went wide.

“A hobby?”

“Yeah. Lately all she watches is Animal Kingdom on NutTube.”

“?”

My mouth hung open, dumbfounded.

“A, Animal Kingdom?”

“Yeah, Animal Kingdom. Like, ‘6 Ways Tigers and Lions Mark Their Territory!’ or ‘How a Lioness Drives Off Hyenas!’ That kind of NutTube stuff.”

“…”

Road Jeon Hyeong-woo shrugged.

“She’s been watching stuff like that on the road lately. Was Lee Ha-eun always this into animals, Chief?”

My expression soured.

…Lee Ha-eun, who couldn’t even stand other people, was watching animal videos on NutTube?

• 1. TLN: I’m sorry but I want to let this out. Somehow, this line reminded me of Persona series when you finished a Social Event and the Social Link went up, usually this type of line will appear lmao