The Face Genius Actor

Episode 025

While Si-joon and Director Kang Han-sung were deeply engaged in conversation.

Ji Jung-hyun stood in front of the sink in the men’s restroom, lost in thought.

‘Lee Si-joon…’

After meticulously washing his hands for a while, Ji Jung-hyun dried them with a hand towel and stepped outside.

“Senior Jung-hyun.”

Just then, Han Mi-rae called out to Ji Jung-hyun as she came out of the women’s restroom.

“Did you drink a lot?”

Ji Jung-hyun briefly examined Han Mi-rae’s face and nodded.

“A little. It’s a happy day. How about you?”

“I drank quite a bit too. Is this what wrap-up parties are usually like? It’s really fun!”

“It depends on how well the drama does. But a successful drama doesn’t always guarantee a good atmosphere.”

“Then I guess I got lucky. A wrap-up party with such a great atmosphere from the start. By the way…”

As Han Mi-rae trailed off, Ji Jung-hyun tilted his head and asked.

“What is it?”

“I saw you sitting with Si-joon earlier.”

“So what?”

“How was it? You said you wanted to meet Si-joon so badly on set.”

Hearing Han Mi-rae’s words, Ji Jung-hyun responded with a flustered expression.

“…Did I say that?”

“You praised his acting skills, saying they were unlike a rookie’s. Enough to make his co-stars jealous.”

Ji Jung-hyun was indeed deeply impressed by Si-joon’s acting.

Despite the age difference, he couldn’t help but pay attention as they shared the role of Shin Han-jae.

That’s why he had asked Director Kang Han-sung separately for the recordings of parts 1-3.

The first thing he noticed through those recordings was An Myung-hyun’s acting.

No, it was barely even ‘gesturing,’ too embarrassing to call acting.

To be honest, Ji Jung-hyun didn’t think An Myung-hyun would continue acting.

It wasn’t because An Myung-hyun came from a boy idol group.

It was just obvious that he had grown tired of acting itself.

‘Not even worth watching further. It’s a huge relief that this guy left the show.’

With that, Ji Jung-hyun stopped watching An Myung-hyun’s footage before finishing part 1.

He then immediately played the re-shot scenes featuring Si-joon’s acting.

After all, this was the main part, with Si-joon taking over the role of high school student Shin Han-jae.

‘Hmm. First, his face… Pass.’

Ji Jung-hyun nodded without hesitation upon seeing Si-joon’s face.

It was that perfect of an appearance.

Honestly, it seemed like he wouldn’t lose even compared to Ji Jung-hyun’s prime years.

No, Si-joon was definitely better.

‘No wonder they found an actor so quickly. Was it a looks-based casting? This might not be worth watching either… Huh?’

Ji Jung-hyun, who had been calmly evaluating, couldn’t help but be surprised when Si-joon’s actual acting began.

At the same time, he admitted that his initial assessment had been a bit hasty.

Si-joon’s acting far exceeded the level he had expected.

‘……’

Moreover, it wasn’t a fluke.

From part 1 through parts 2 and 3.

Si-joon’s acting consistently surpassed a certain level.

It was excellent acting that couldn’t possibly be attributed to a rookie.

Even without considering his looks, the acting alone would have earned the evaluation of ‘an outstanding actor.’

‘There are certainly some aspects that lack experience. A sense of roughness, you could say.’

But it didn’t feel amateurish.

It just gave the impression of not being seasoned, nothing more.

‘Perfect looks and excellent acting skills… How was I at the same age?’

Ji Jung-hyun momentarily forgot his position as a top actor in Korea and felt jealous of Si-joon.

But he soon shook his head and examined Si-joon’s acting once more.

Ji Jung-hyun wasn’t naive enough to miss the essence due to jealousy.

Through this, he seemed to understand how Si-joon had interpreted the role of high school student Shin Han-jae.

‘Ah… So a good interpretation was the foundation for good acting skills?’

From Ji Jung-hyun’s perspective, Si-joon seemed to have approached the role of high school student Shin Han-jae as ‘melancholy amidst diverse changes.’

The terminology might differ, but he clearly acted with a similar atmosphere.

‘There’s depth to it. The character analysis is even more impressive than the acting itself.’

Ji Jung-hyun rewatched Si-joon’s acting several times.

Thanks to this, he was able to get a sense of how to portray the adult Shin Han-jae who had overcome times of hardship.

On the other hand, he also developed a deep fondness for Si-joon, whom he hadn’t met yet.

‘I ended up saying things I shouldn’t have to Han Mi-rae, who attends the same academy.’

And that was why Han Mi-rae was now bringing up the topic of Si-joon.

After a moment of contemplation, Ji Jung-hyun honestly shared his thoughts.

“Seeing him in person was even more impressive.”

“Right? He’s even more handsome than on screen, isn’t he?”

“Speechlessly so. But what’s more amazing is his humble personality. I was quite arrogant at that age.”

Han Mi-rae barely resisted saying, ‘Aren’t you still like that, senior?’ and brought up something else.

“You were like that, senior? That’s surprising.”

“I was young and reckless. Anyway, he’s an amazing junior. At the same time, I had this thought.”

Curious about what he would say next, Han Mi-rae asked.

“What kind of thought?”

“This person will soon be standing shoulder to shoulder with me.”

Han Mi-rae’s eyes widened at the unexpected statement.

“Really? You actually thought that?”

Ji Jung-hyun nodded without hesitation.

“Yes. But don’t worry. I won’t just quietly give up my position either.”

In the end, Ji Jung-hyun left one last comment true to his character.

* * *

I recalled that writer Kim Hee-soo’s work to be aired next year was titled “I Will Cast Love”.

But even if I hadn’t remembered, it wouldn’t have mattered.

Just the fact that I could be part of Kim Hee-soo’s work was meaningful enough.

‘If writer Jung Su-min earned the title of queen of crime dramas through “Arrest”…’

Kim Hee-soo was already a figure with a similar title.

Master of everyday comedy dramas.

This was the nickname already well-known to viewers for writer Kim Hee-soo.

She was very famous for writing excellent everyday comedy dramas.

Of course, this didn’t mean there were no drawbacks.

As they were everyday comedy dramas, the viewership ratings weren’t particularly high.

After all, everyday dramas tend to be an acquired taste.

‘But it’s not like the ratings drop below 5%.’

Kim Hee-soo had shown consistency from her debut work, ending with ratings around 8%.

Subsequent works also maintained around 8% ratings, performing well.

The only regret was that her most recently ended work barely missed breaking the 10% barrier.

‘In fact, this has always been Kim Hee-soo’s Achilles’ heel.’

The writer who’s 2% short.

Regardless of viewers’ nicknames, this was how the broadcasting industry secretly referred to Kim Hee-soo.

It was a subtle criticism of her always falling short of 10% ratings.

However, after “I Will Cast Love”, no one would be able to call Kim Hee-soo that way anymore.

As mentioned earlier, “I Will Cast Love” ended with ratings in the 15% range.

‘If I could be part of “I Will Cast Love”…’

It would be like standing at the center of a new history.

For this reason, I couldn’t help but be interested in Director Kang Han-sung’s proposal.

But Director Kang seemed to have interpreted my silence as ‘lack of interest’.

“That’s right. As actor Lee Si-joon might already predict, you won’t get a lead role in ‘I Will Cast Love’.”

It was somewhat expected.

It didn’t make sense for a rookie actor who had just finished one project to get a lead role in Kim Hee-soo’s work.

This rarely happened even before the 2000s when street casting was frequent.

But I asked Director Kang, feigning nonchalance.

“Then what role could I take?”

“You’ll be taking the role of the third male lead. The female lead’s brother.”

The third male lead role.

I was too surprised to speak.

Not because it was a bad role.

On the contrary, I was surprised because I remembered this role was very popular with viewers.

‘I’m not sure why Director Kang is being so humble, but…’

It was the most substantial role among all the offers I had received so far.

At least from my perspective, knowing the behind-the-scenes details.

“The third male lead. I guess the part is too small, right? Well, you’ve probably received lead role offers from several dramas, so it’s understandable.”

Director Kang continued in a dejected voice, unable to read my true feelings.

My shocked expression seemed to have misled Director Kang.

At the same time, I could understand why Director Kang was being so humble.

‘He thinks I’ve received lead role offers from several dramas.’

Indeed, among the scripts forwarded by Festa Entertainment, there were lead roles in dramas.

As Director Kang thought, quite a few had made such offers.

But among those works, hardly any caught my interest.

Some weren’t bad, and I was actually considering a few of them positively.

But there wasn’t a work that made me think, “This is it.”

They all felt slightly lacking in some way.

‘Rather, I was considering supporting roles.’

Seo Myung-hee also suggested that it would be good for me to take on one or two more supporting roles.

Unless an truly excellent work came along in the meantime.

This was advice that diligently building my filmography and honing my acting skills in this way would benefit my future acting career.

For me, who was considering taking supporting roles, “I Will Cast Love” was the perfect work.

The third male lead role was the best opportunity to build my filmography while improving my acting skills.

“It’s a shame. Not just me, but writer Kim Hee-soo was also looking forward to working with you, actor Lee Si-joon… She said she was very impressed after watching ‘Arrest’.”

By now, Director Kang was concluding the conversation, seemingly certain of my rejection.

He even went a step further, asking while sullenly poking at the side dishes:

“So, which project are you planning to join, actor Lee Si-joon? Have you decided on a work?”

For some reason, Director Kang was now performing a monologue.

Writer Jung Su-min seemed to find the scene amusing, sipping her beer with a smirk beside us.

Unlike Director Kang, she seemed to have a good grasp of my intentions.

‘Did she hear from the Master?’

Thinking this, I decided to clarify the situation before it was too late.

“The work I’m considering next is…”

“…Yes?”

“‘I Will Cast Love’.”

“What?”

“If it’s not too late, please cast me as the third male lead, Director.”