First Script Reading
"Kyaaah! This is the best!"
Samgyeopsal and beer!
It had been so long since he'd tasted this bliss that Oh-seok's eyes watered with joy.
It was the last week of February—just before the new semester began.
Instead of the smell of sweat, the practice room was filled with the aroma of grilled meat.
"This is so good, seriously!""Here, try this one too.""Do we have more lettuce and perilla leaves?""Stop eating and help grill, you glutton!"
A graduation feast, as people would call it.
It was the farewell party for Oh-seok and his students, who had spent all their high-school years together.
Of course, there was some good news to liven up the atmosphere.
"Alright, everyone. Raise your glasses.""Sir, that's your third already.""Wow, Mr. Oh-seok's a real party drinker.""Quiet! There's a special flavor that cola just can't capture. Hurry and lift your glasses!"
Oh-seok raised his beer while the students raised their sodas.
Maybe it was the portable gas burner's heat, or maybe the alcohol, but his face was as red as a beet.
"You all worked hard, and I'm grateful you trusted and followed me—and I'm glad you all got into college—!"
"And also because Bora and Mooyoung passed their auditions?"
Junho quickly cut him off. After hearing that toast three times already, everyone had it memorized. He grinned and placed a slice of perfectly grilled pork on Bora's plate.
Clack.
Bora, who had only been nibbling, set her chopsticks down sharply as if to say enough already.
Everyone glanced her way but didn't stop eating.
"Why are you even here?""Me? I brought the meat. The director said since I was coming anyway, I should eat with you guys."
His shameless answer made Bora whip her head toward Oh-seok.
"I thought you were paying, teacher.""Do I look like I have that kind of money?""Ha Mooyoung, tell your friend to leave. He's driving me nuts."
But Mooyoung just smiled sheepishly."Sorry. Want to switch seats?""We already switched once!"
If that guy left, the meat would leave with him. That would be a problem—it was just getting started!
No one in the room was on Bora's side. Even Yuchan was too busy eating to notice.
"So, when do you two start filming?"
Junho placed another piece of pork on Bora's plate as he changed the subject. Mooyoung quickly answered,
"We're doing the script reading first. It's scheduled for this weekend, then we'll start filming right after. It might overlap with the start of the semester."
"Oh really? You're gonna be busy. The lead's Envin, right?""Yeah. I didn't realize at first, but I recognized his songs.""...Mooyoung, you're probably the only person here who didn't know Envin."
Envin—the center of the famous idol group ZeroTerm, who had also succeeded as a solo artist. One of the hottest celebrities these days, even serving as Seoul's PR ambassador.
"Tell us later what he's like in person—if he looks the same as on screen.""Sure. I saw photos, and he's really handsome. I've never seen a guy that pretty before."
Mooyoung's genuine admiration made his friends' faces freeze for a split second.
Traitor…?What's he even saying?Is he joking?
Sure, celebrities were supposed to be stylish and good-looking—it was their job—but it wasn't easy for an ordinary guy to call another man pretty.
Their throats burned with the urge to say something, but they shoved it down with another bite of pork.
"What about you, Bora?""...Mine's later. Around mid-March. And can you please stop giving me meat?""You barely ate any.""I had plenty."
Bora's role was also a small supporting one—a coworker at the female lead's part-time job.
She didn't have many scenes, but she'd appear whenever the main couple's chemistry peaked.
"Meat doesn't make you fat.""Then you eat more. I gain weight."
She'd started a diet.
Feeling sorry for her, Mooyoung stuffed another mouthful of pork into his own mouth.
He'd skipped meals before, but dieting was a foreign concept to him.
"Anyway!"
Oh-seok gulped down his beer and banged his spoon against the table again.
"Don't forget your teacher when you go off to college!"
"Oh no, poor Mr. Oh-seok. Once we leave, your wallet's doomed."
Hyungju pretended to wipe tears as he fed him kimchi.
This class had been the academy's backbone.If they were adults, they'd have moved on to the advanced course—but now they were all heading to college.
"Enough, enough! Leaving at the right time is the coolest way. And hey, don't just give me kimchi—wrap it with meat! Tch."
He laughed heartily and waved his hand.
Following his cue, Mooyoung wrapped kimchi and meat in a lettuce leaf and handed it to him.
"I'll come visit when I can."
He'd be busier now, but unlike the others, he wasn't majoring in acting, so he wouldn't be tied down by school projects.
Besides, he still had much to learn—he'd only been studying acting for about three months.
"And if anyone asks on set, I'll tell them I learned from you, sir.""Oh, come on. Who'd ask that? Agencies maybe, or your—""The team leader asked, actually. Where I'd been learning acting."
Mooyoung's innocent reply made Hyungju freeze mid-bite. Yuchan clicked his tongue and refilled his soda glass.
You brought that on yourself, Hyungju.
"So? What did you tell them?"
Oh-seok's eyes gleamed with interest. Mooyoung grinned brightly.
"I told them I study at BV Academy.""Good! Well done, my boy! Bora, you say it too—be proud to be from BV, got it?""Yeah, yeah. Got it, teacher—"
"Alright! Then everyone, raise your glasses again—""Stop already! Teacher, please!"
A short winter evening.
It was only six o'clock, but outside it was as dark as night.
When was the last time they'd eaten so heartily, laughing so loudly together?
Mooyoung raised his glass, savoring the warmth and happiness of the moment.
Weekend.
When Mooyoung arrived in front of Square Film Company, he realized something strange.
'It's… really quiet around here.'
Then it hit him—it was the weekend.
He might be a half-unemployed student, but these were working adults. Why would they schedule a script reading on a day off?
Creak.
"Hello.""Yes, welcome. What brings you here?""I'm here for the script reading—""Ah, right. This way, please."
The lobby was narrow. Mooyoung followed the employee upstairs to a conference room.
Inside were a few familiar staff members and the team leader.
"Hello.""Oh! You're here?"
And two others—a woman around thirty, and a middle-aged man.
He guessed they weren't employees because of the name tags they wore:
[Episode 2 – Marriage-Age Customer][Episode 3 – Family Man Customer]
It looked like they'd be reading the next episodes after his.
The team leader tapped his watch lightly and said,
"Envin's only free this afternoon, so we'll read up to episode three today. Since it's an omnibus, Mooyoung, you can head out once your part's done. Sit over there, rookie."
"Nice to meet you. I'll do my best."
Mooyoung greeted them warmly and took a seat beside the others.
Everyone must've been nervous — they returned his greeting with stiff, awkward smiles.The staff member, referred to as the junior, placed a folded nameplate in front of Mooyoung.
[Episode 1 – High School Student Customer]
It was nothing fancy — just folded A4 paper — but Mooyoung thought it looked nice.Probably because everything was new to him.
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
He sat quietly, watching the clock hands move.They were about to start, yet there was still no sign of the lead actor.The staff, too, waited in silence, the air subdued and heavy.
Creak.
"Apologies for the delay."
It was the team leader who opened the door, followed by CEO Jo Miyoung.To the supporting actors, she appeared to be just another company executive.
"Envin says he'll be a little late.""Ah, I see.""Would you like some more tea while you wait?""No, we're fine."
No one dared complain. They were just supporting cast — one-time roles at that — hardly in a position to demand punctuality.
In the meantime, the middle-aged man fidgeted uneasily with his phone.
"Excuse me," said Mooyoung, noticing."Yes?"
All eyes turned toward them. The man flushed red and stammered,"Oh, it's… it's nothing. I just have to pick up my daughter after this. But it's fine. Really."
Afraid he'd come off as unprofessional, he scrambled to explain.After all, this was his dream — an acting career, even if late in life.
The staff whispered among themselves, and the man grew more flustered.
'Why'd he have to say something now...'
Just as frustration crept up on him, Mooyoung smiled softly.
"Then, would you like to switch places with me?""Switch… places?""Since it's an omnibus series, the order shouldn't matter, right?"
He turned to the team leader for confirmation — calm, polite, but daring.
Normally, a rookie would never speak so boldly. They'd sit still, heads down, too afraid to say a word.
But this kid—
'He really only cares about the acting itself, huh?'
What a curious one. Ever since he'd first seen him, the team leader thought he was peculiar — in a good way.He nodded. "As long as Envin's fine with it."
"Oh, th-thank you so much!"
The man's tension melted away, and he shot Mooyoung a quiet, grateful glance.
Watching this, CEO Jo Miyoung's eyes glimmered.
'So that's him?'
The one the team leader couldn't stop raving about.He'd said Mooyoung was exactly like the high school student from Episode 1 come to life.
Physically, he looked the part — but just sitting there, she couldn't yet tell.
'I want to see it. I want to see what kind of acting made them all talk about him like that.'
What kind of performance could make employees gossip in awe?
She checked her watch and clicked her tongue.'I need to see him before I leave for my next meeting.'
That was why she'd come today — to see the rookie's debut reading —but if things kept dragging, she might miss it.
"Hyung, seriously, can you handle this better?""I said I'm sorry. They just wouldn't leave me alone.""They're insane! Just sue them!""I'll talk to the agency. But they're fans—""Fans? Stalkers aren't fans!"
At that moment, commotion broke out in the hallway.
The voices were familiar — and Mooyoung immediately recognized the tone.When Envin sang, his voice was lower and smoother.
The door burst open, and Envin appeared, looking slightly disheveled.
Finally!
"Sorry for being late."
He ran a hand through his hair and sat down. His apology was robotic —because he didn't even glance at the supporting cast or staff.
"Did everything get resolved?""Hmm? Oh, yeah. It's fine."
Whatever it was, it clearly hadn't been pleasant.Mooyoung studied Envin's face carefully, curious.
He'd have to give Junho a detailed play-by-play later.Still — it was surreal, seeing in person someone he'd only ever seen on screen.
"Let's start right away, shall we? We're behind schedule.""Sure. Director!"
The director and writer, who'd been having refreshments in the next room, hurried in.Both were from Square Film's in-house team.
Yet even as they entered, Envin didn't lift his head. He just kept sighing.His mood was clearly sour.
"I'm Director Kim Hangmok.""And I'm Writer Cha Yejin.""Envin. Nice to meet you."
They exchanged brief, perfunctory introductions. Envin opened his script—
"Ah, about the order," said Mooyoung."Yes?""Would it be possible to start with Episode 3? This gentleman has to pick up his daughter later."
His tone was innocent, his expression guileless — eyes wide and bright, utterly pure.
Envin blinked, momentarily at a loss.
"Since things got delayed…"
Mooyoung had phrased it politely, but the implication was clear.
The delay was because of him.
Envin let out a short, incredulous laugh — but surprisingly, he didn't protest.
"Go ahead, then.""Thank you!"
"Alright, Episode 3 first. Director and writer, could you give us the setup?"
Everyone was busy, so the briefing moved quickly — the concept, the intended tone, and the emotional direction.
"Okay, shall we start the lines?""Yes, starting now."
Envin began his first line in a flat, detached voice.
Instantly, the room froze.
Especially CEO Jo Miyoung — she almost screamed in horror.
"Ah. Another. Morning. Has. Come."
It was pure development-stage acting — the kind you'd expect from a malfunctioning robot.