NOVEL WEB Chapter 7: If you're going to do it, do it right
༺ If you’re going to do it, do it right ༻
[03-03-10, 12:58] <Method Acting> Group 1 Script
[03-03-12, 20:42] <Method Acting> Group 1 Casting
Professor Lee Jae Pil checked the two emails that had arrived in his inbox.
The students of this semester were exceptionally passionate, especially those from Group 1. Forming the fastest group, they submitted their script and casting results faster than any other group.
Click—
He first opened the script email that had arrived two days earlier.
It was sent by that kid named Shin Yoomyeong, whose name had unintentionally engraved itself into Jae Pil’s mind.
The content was succinct.
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[We have completed Group 1’s script and are sending it to you. If there are any changes during rehearsals, we will send it again.]
[Attached File: Group 1_Love of His Life.hwp]
───────────────────────────
The mouse pointer moved over the attached file. He barely repressed the urge to apply pressure with his forefinger.
As a critic, Lee Jae Pil had an iron rule.
— Do not read the script or the original work before seeing the performance.
The reason why most fans who read the original novel before watching a movie or drama end up disappointed was due to prejudice. The conflict between the character imagined in their head and the actual character reduces the enjoyment.
While this might be slightly less of an issue with a script, for experts like Jae Pil, it becomes even more prominent.
This was because his ideas for the best-suited actors, performances, and direction for the roles in the script would instantly emerge from the dense database.
‘I’m really curious about this group’s script.’
Suppressing his curiosity, Jae Pil hit the backspace button and opened the casting email this time.
The person who had sent the email was an unexpected figure. It was neither the proposer, Shin Yoomyeong, nor ‘that’ Seo Ryu Shin, but a student named Lee Pil-Sung from the class of ’99.
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[Hello, Professor!
This is Lee Pil-Sung, majoring in Film and Theater, class of ’99. I will be directing Group 1, so I will be in contact with you from now on. Here are our finalized casting results and roles for the group members!
– Freddie Mercury: Shin Yoomyeong.
– Mary Austin: Seo Ryu Shin.
– Jim Hutton: Ban Hye-Seon.
– Director: Lee Pil-Sung.
– Sound & Narration: Kang Kyu-Min.
– Costume & Props: Han Seo-Won.
– Script: Shin Yoomyeong.]
───────────────────────────
‘Hmm?’
Jae Pil thought that there must have been a mistake.
He clicked reply and sent a brief response.
[The ‘Born Different’ limitation applies only to the main characters. Please check and send it again.]
They must have been online because a reply quickly came back.
[We are aware! But the supporting characters said that they also wanted to try it out. We’ll do our best!]
Jae Pil frowned.
When the setting went this far, it tended to turn into a comedy. But he couldn’t stop them when they were this enthusiastic….
Moreover, the lead was a second-year business student.
‘What on earth are they trying to create….?’
*
These days, the business school buzzed with talk of a trending individual.
“Wow. I just saw someone I hadn’t seen in this building before.”
“Ah, that person. He’s a senior from the business department.”
“What? That stylish guy is from our department? It’s my first time seeing him.”
“Yeah, that seems to be the case. He served in the military for two years and returned this semester. But do you know the bigger news?”
“What, what is it?”
“Apparently, he was just an ordinary freshman. He changed in two years.”
“Really? Did he develop that sense of style in the military? Did he serve in some fashion division or what?”
As the two female students’ excitement increased, a nearby male student chimed in.
“Isn’t that a bit much?”
“What is he saying now?”
“Even Hyun-Wook or Chun-Hee is more handsome than that senior.”
“We’re not talking about his face, but his style. Style! Has there ever been a guy in our business department who dresses like that?”
“Even his face is a hundred times better than yours.”
Faced with a joint attack from the female students, the male student raised both of his hands in surrender.
*
After a long time, Yoomyeong joined the lunch meeting. He had been busy with acting practices and group meetings.
The lunch members’ eyes widened when they saw Yoomyeong.
As they were seniors and did not have overlapping classes with Yoomyeong, this was their first time seeing his changed appearance.
“Wow, Shin Yoomyeong, what… what have you done?”
Direct and straightforward, Shinhee immediately expressed her curiosity, and Bora’s face turned red as she blankly stared at Yoomyeong.
Sang Jin, who had been subtly interested in Bora, felt upset.
“Aren’t your clothes too flashy? They don’t really suit you.”
“Hey, Oh Sang Jin. Are you jealous? It suits him perfectly.”
“Yoomyeong… you look really good!”
Bora shyly complimented Yoomyeong and Sang Jin’s expression soured even more.
“Don’t you know men’s fashion? That style isn’t trendy right now, and the pattern is too flashy. Would an ordinary person, not a celebrity, usually wear such clothes? It’s unmasculine…”
Yoomyeong spoke quietly.
“A stylist who worked for WARM picked this out for me…”
“What? How do you know such a person? Can you also….”
As Sang Jin immediately changed his words to ask for a favor, the female students looked at him in disbelief, and Yoomyeong quietly ignored him.
Annoyed, Sang Jin abruptly stood up, but Bora and Shinhee didn’t even flinch.
“We agreed to eat lunch quickly and work on our assignments, didn’t we~”
“We’ll manage on our own, so you can go ahead.”
“Yoomyeong, that color really suits you.”
Seeing the female students who were no longer paying him any attention and only stared at Yoomyeong, Sang Jin gritted his teeth.
‘Just you wait until this week’s MT…!’
*
Saturday morning, Cheongnyangni Station.
The old and dilapidated station was so packed with university students heading to the MT that there was no room to step.
‘Wow, this was before Cheongnyangni Station was renovated.’
Yoomyeong was also there.
Once the Changcheon casting was over next week, there would be no free evenings or weekends until the performance.
He was considering what to do on his last holiday when Sang Jin contacted him and begged him to join the MT.
‘I’m not sure why he’s suddenly acting friendly. Does he have some hidden motive…?’
It wouldn’t be bad to enjoy his youth for a change. Yoomyeong decided to return to his college life for two days and recharge his youthful energy.
“Ah! That looks like senior Yoomyeong.”
“Yoomyeong~ over here, over here!”
The business department students huddled in a corner of the station turned their gaze towards Yoomyeong, who was walking over from the other side.
Today, Yoomyeong was wearing comfortable slacks and a white shirt under sky-blue knitwear. The sight of a handsome man with a strong spring vibe striding towards them had the female students unable to take their eyes off him.
And Sang Jin couldn’t take his eyes off those female students.
“Alright, those who have arrived, let’s move to the platform. We won’t wait for the latecomers~”
With a loud voice that drew attention away from Yoomyeong, Sang Jin started leading the students, and Yoomyeong followed from the back.
.
.
A pension in Daeseong-ri.
After amicably sharing well-cooked rice and grilled meat, Yoomyeong had become quite friendly with the people from the department.
After dinner, it was recreation time.
They were divided into several groups and light warm-up games ensued.
“Kung-kung Ddari kung-kung Dda~”
“Bunny Bunny, Bunny Bunny! Carrot, carrot!”
The noise that quieted down the lively crowd was the sound of a ladle hitting a pot.
At the sound, everyone grimaced and looked ahead, where Sang Jin, who was in charge of hosting this MT, was standing.
“Hello~”
“Hello!”
The kids responded with a loud greeting.
“Oh, the ’03 class is so energetic. So spirited!”
“Class of ’03!”
“Yes. In a bit, there will be drinking games divided by group, and it wouldn’t be fun if everyone just drank normal alcohol and had normal side dishes, right? So, we have a business~ talent show~ with prizes up for grabs.”
“Woaaaah!”
Yoomyeong was watching the spectacle from a third-party perspective. Given his mental age of 38, It was natural for this culture to feel new to him.
“Now, we will draw the talent show missions at random. Du-du Du-du Du-du—“
The sound of the kids drumming on the floor filled the room.
“Now, Group 1, male students dance following the choreography of BoA’s No.1!”
“Oh no~ our eyes will rot!”
“Group 2… let’s see, human pyramid!”
“Wow! We’re going to die!”
“Group 3… ‘Oldest Student’ will dress up as a girl and do a fashion show!”
At that, all the group members turned their gaze to Yoomyeong. Yoomyeong, who had been blankly watching the spectacle, only then realized.
“Eh…? Me?”
*
Upon seeing Yoomyeong’s flustered expression, Sang Jin couldn’t help but laugh.
In fact, the note he was holding said ‘Everyone dance to Crayon Shin-chan’. Originally, Group 4 would have been selected for the drag fashion show. However, Sang Jin changed the content and announced it, and even added the nonexistent ‘Oldest Student’ option.
It was clear that he was targeting Yoomyeong.
‘That guy is so dorky. He’s still out of fashion and his face is just plain. If he dresses up in weird clothes and puts on makeup, everyone will fall for the new Yoomyeong, hehe.’
However, Yoomyeong, whom he thought to be flustered, stood up from his seat and boldly spoke with a sly grin.
“The oldest students should make a fool of themselves to liven up the mood~ I want to share this joy with my beloved classmate Sang Jin!”
Whoaaa—
The atmosphere soared at Yoomyeong’s manly comment, showing off his willingness to make a fool of himself along with Sang Jin without backing down at all.
“But, there is only one set of women’s clothes we’ve prepared…”
“We’ll share. The ladies will sponsor whatever we lack, right?”
“Yes!”
In the end, it was decided that Sang Jin would also participate, and soon the 30-minute talent show preparation time began.
“Hey, why are you using a water ghost strategy!”
“Hey, you’re the one who included the drag show to liven up the atmosphere. Don’t you see how it’s totally working now? Think of it as a sacrifice for the juniors~”
Seeing Yoomyeong pat his own shoulder and walk away, Sang Jin was at a loss for words.
‘Was his personality always like this…?’
“Hey, I’m tall and big, I can’t wear stuff like this!”
The prepared outfit consisted of a miniskirt with sparkles and a sleeveless top with straps. It seemed to be prepared in a large size, but it definitely looked too much for Sang Jin to wear. Yoomyeong picked up those clothes.
“Then I’ll wear this. The girls will help you.”
“Hey! There are no clothes that fit me—“
Before he could finish, Sang Jin was dragged away by the girls and taken into the girls’ room.
Yoomyeong also moved to another room with a few girls who were going to help him.
“Wow. Why is your skin so good, brother?”
A second-year female student marveled at his fair skin without a single, visible pore.
Yoomyeong recalled what Miho had said.
— Your good skin is also due to your lack of vitality. In teenagers, the overflowing energy and heat explode into acne, but you had so little vitality that it was surprising that you were even alive, tsk tsk.
‘There was at least one good thing about lacking vitality…’
The female student dabbed powder on his face, saying there was no need for skin correction. The way she drew his eyebrows like bows and applied thick mascara to his eyelashes was professional.
“Wow. You’re really beautiful, brother…”
After finishing the makeup and putting on a wig, the female student was lost for words as she stared at Yoomyeong. His face, which had a simple and fresh feeling like a watercolor painting, was transformed into a glamorous look like another person after makeup.
“Would you like to step out while I put on the clothes?”
At Yoomyeong’s request, the female students, their faces turning red, stepped outside the room. Sounds of excitement like ‘It’s amazing—‘ or ‘I’m going to faint when he comes out—‘ were heard from the people outside the door.
He didn’t feel awkward.
He had 15 years of acting experience. There’s no way he wouldn’t have any cross-dressing experience.
‘If I’m going to do it, I might as well do it properly.’
Yoomyeong slowly undressed and picked up the distasteful clothes.
*
“Now, it’s the turn of group 3.”
“Wow~”
The second-year student who took over as the MC instead of Sang Jin announced the start of the fashion show with exciting music playing in the background.
The sound of applause mixed with the booming beat.
“First, the King of the Business Department! He’s a very manly man, but he’s afraid of the military! The man who said he transitioned into a woman because of that, Oh~Sang~Jin~”
Hahahaha!
The kids burst into laughter at the introduction of the MC with a great sense of humor.
Listening to the introduction from behind the door, Sang Jin felt his insides boil. However, if he lost his temper here, he would become a serious old man in their eyes.
Staggering—
Hahahaha!
Everyone collapsed in a fit of laughter as they saw Sang Jin walk out awkwardly.
A large female student had donated a hooded tee and flare skirt. The clothes themselves were ordinary, but they couldn’t look any more perverted when they were paired with Sang Jin’s thick thighs and fully gripped calves.
“Bro, oh bro~ hehehe.”
The short yellow wig, sponsored by the sticker photo shop in front of the school, reminded people of Hulk Hogan due to Sang Jin’s physique. His face was smeared with red blusher, lipstick, and blue eyeshadow.
The students rolled around, clutching their stomachs. The reaction was incomparable to the previous groups.
Sang Jin gritted his teeth and nervously threw off his yellow wig after barely making one round on the runway set up in a circle through the crowd.
Whew, whew—
Ragged breaths seeped out.
Sang Jin managed to suppress his rage, looking forward to Yoomyeong’s turn.
‘I’m naturally good-looking, so it’s fine. Now, everyone can see just how pitiful Shin Yoomyeong is.’
As soon as his turn ended, the MC raised his voice again.
“There’s never been a twist like this before! This time the twist is cross-dressing?! The man who is the hot topic these days, Shin~Yoo~myeong~”
The door to the other room slowly opened.
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