NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor

Min-soo jotted down the working title of the scenario Yeon-woo had mentioned, nodding in agreement. Then, Min-soo reached out to the headquarters and headed to Chungmuro for business.

Thinking it was essential to schedule a meeting as quickly as possible before the casting was finalized, he successfully secured a meeting for the very next day. The next day, Min-soo’s car headed to Chungmuro, carrying Yeon-woo and Team Leader Jung.

In this industry, Team Leader Jung Hyuk had the best connections concerning casting. LN Entertainment’s reliable backup, he was accompanying Yeon-woo as the responsible party for his casting today.

“So, Actor Ryu Yeon-woo’s top priority is the role of ‘Pierre Choi’, correct?”

“Yes, Team Leader. I’d be grateful for any role, but I’d prefer the role of ‘Pierre Choi’.”

Team Leader Jung stroked his chin as he nodded.

“We’ll give it a try, but Director Park Chan-hong is a well-known star director with strong opinions. This movie is also a significant project.”

Yeon-woo nodded at Team Leader Jung’s words.

“I’ll need to leave a strong impression. Just give me the opportunity, and I’ll work hard.”

Seeing Yeon-woo’s youthful enthusiasm, Team Leader Jung smiled as if reminiscing about his younger days.

“Okay, let’s give it our best shot.”

They finally arrived at a film production company in Chungmuro. While Min-soo was parking the car, Yeon-woo and Team Leader Jung went inside.

“Ah, long time no see, Director Park, CEO Han.”

“Heh, heh. Nice to see you, Team Leader Jung.”

As soon as they entered, Team Leader Jung greeted them warmly and shook hands with both. Truly a person well-known for his extensive network in the industry. Following him, Ryu Yeon-woo also greeted the attendees.

“Hello, I’m rookie actor Ryu Yeon-woo.”

The production company’s CEO seemed immediately intrigued by Yeon-woo’s striking appearance.

“Nice to meet you. Please have a seat.”

CEO Han Yoon-soo offered seats to Team Leader Jung and Yeon-woo. As soon as Yeon-woo sat down, Director Park Chan-hong spoke up.

“I don’t know you well, but our casting director suggested we meet, so you were invited today.”

The atmosphere quickly turned chilly due to his less than welcoming opening remarks. Ignoring the mood, Yeon-woo stood up slightly from his seat, bowed, and opened his mouth.

“Thank you, Director. I’ve been a fan of yours and, after reading your current script, I was so motivated that I pestered my company about it.”

Director Park seemed slightly interested in the young actor who wasn’t discouraged by his cold words.

“Hahaha, the passion is quite good, isn’t it? It reminds me of Chungmuro from twenty or thirty years ago, our younger days.”

Team leader Jung timely assisted Yeon-woo.

Upon hearing his words, the stakeholders briefly reminisced about their energetic youth.

“It’s been so long since we had the movie meal. Hehehe.”

The company CEO, Han, lightened the mood with a gentle response.

“Hmm. So, you got greedy after reading my script?”

Director Park looked at Yeon-woo with a low voice.

“Yes. Director, I’m confident I can portray the role of ‘Pierre Choi’ better than anyone else.”

“Oh?”

Upon seeing Yeon-woo pinpoint the leading role in his movie, a glint of interest appeared in Director Park’s eyes.

The casting director mentioned that Yeon-woo was an emerging talent, but Director Park had no intention of entrusting a lead role in his movie to a newbie who’d only done one drama. However, seeing such a passionate challenge from a youngster, he thought it wouldn’t hurt to meet him.

If he’s impressed with the acting, he could consider him for a different role. If Yeon-woo rejects a minor role, then that’s the end of their relationship. No loss.

“Well, can I see it? If you’re confident, you’d have prepared.”

Caught off-guard by Director Park’s comment, Team leader Jung panicked. He hadn’t expected an on-the-spot acting request during their first meeting. The script had been with the company for about a week, but it was only handed over to Yeon-woo yesterday. He didn’t expect Yeon-woo to be prepared and quickly interjected.

“Well, Director, the script was given to the actor only yesterday, so if you could give us more time……”

Yeon-woo gently stopped the hastily speaking Team leader Jung.

“I’ve prepared diligently. If it’s okay, I’d like to show you.”

At Yeon-woo’s words, Director Park nodded.

Leaving the anxious-looking Team leader Jung behind, Yeon-woo stood in an empty space next to the sofa. A movie company employee distributed scripts to the stakeholders, while Yeon-woo waited with his own, already heavily annotated, copy.

“Let’s look at Scene 17.”

On Director Park’s cue, everyone turned their script pages.

‘It’s the first appearance scene.’

It’s the first scene where ‘Pierre Choi’, after tricking the Italian mafia, escapes naturally from his seat. Yeon-woo checked the instructions, then took a stool from the side and sat on it.

“I will start with Scene Number 17.”

Yeon-woo began acting after placing the script on the floor beside him. With a gentle but slightly arrogant smile, he gazed at the imaginary mafia in front of him and then stood up.

“Devo andare in bagno, scusate.”

Natural Italian flowed from Yeon-woo’s lips.

Except for Director Park, everyone else glanced back at their scripts upon hearing Yeon-woo.

The script had “(In Italian) Excuse me for a moment, I have urgent business,” written in Korean.

Yeon-woo stood up from his chair, took a confident lap around the room, and then pulled a smartphone from his pants pocket.

The soft smile that had been on his face all along slowly turned into a mischievous grin as the phone approached his ear.

“Ah, President Kim. What could be the problem? Fooling these idiots? Easy as pie. Or should I say easy as pasta? Both sound unappealing.”

Suddenly, Yeon-woo’s expression dramatically changed.

This time his mischievous smile turned devilish, raising only one corner of his mouth menacingly.

“So, make sure to prepare what you promised. Or you’ll see hell.”

With a voice that grew increasingly fervent, Yeon-woo continued his lines chillingly.

“I take all that I can get. And I only accept interesting assignments. It would be nice if the next one isn’t from President Kim.”

The stakeholders, who had been watching his performance, felt an unapproachable aura surrounding Yeon-woo as he recited his lines.

After finishing all his lines, Yeon-woo quickly returned to his usual lively self and picked up the script, bowing his head.

“Thank you for watching my performance.”

CEO Han quietly clapped and looked at Team Leader Jung.

“…You brought an amazing guy, huh?”

“Ha ha ha.”

In fact, it was also the first time Team Leader Jung had seen Yeon-woo’s acting on site, so he scratched the back of his head and laughed.

CEO Han then threw a question at Yeon-woo.

“Did you prepare the Italian lines in advance?”

“I can speak Italian, so I improvised on the spot.”

Oh.

A small exclamation broke out among the stakeholders.

Director Park, who had been observing Yeon-woo’s performance with unemotional eyes from the beginning, opened his mouth.

“I felt something from your acting, what kind of thought did you put into analyzing the character?”

After contemplating for a moment, Yeon-woo organized his thoughts and answered.

“When I read your script, Director, it strongly reminded me of the classic caper movie ‘Roi Hill’. So, I thought ‘Pierre Choi’ is a character walking the fine line between a con man and a tycoon.”

Caper movies are a genre of crime films that depict romanticized criminal activities.

Director Park opened his mouth as if his guess was correct.

“You mean like Condor and Ronin?”

He immediately mentioned the characters from ‘Roi Hill’.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

After a few seconds of contemplation, Director Park seemed to make up his mind.

“I didn’t expect to see Condor and Ronin in the eyes of a young actor, it seems like this role is your destiny.”

“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”

At the word ‘destiny,’ Yeon-woo cheerfully bowed.

The eyes of the staff and Team Leader Jung widened at Director Park Chan-hong’s words.

Soon after, Team Leader Jung regained his composure and spoke lightly.

“Wow, I think this movie will do really well. Such praise from the great Director Park is quite something.”

“That’s true. He’s usually so stoic and sparing with his expressions.”

Even the CEO Han, who had worked with him for a long time, was surprised.

First by Yeon-woo’s acting skills and then by Director Park’s expression.

Team Leader Jung told Yeon-woo to leave the practical matters to him and to head out first.

He thought he would have to extend the meeting into a drinking session.

If he had managed to win over the stubborn Director Park Chan-hong, the scales of the contract seemed to tip in favor of Team Leader Jung.

Team Leader Jung, a veteran in this industry, was skilled at these contract negotiations and had full authority from the company, so he had nothing to fear.

Yeon-woo quietly asked Team Leader Jung to take good care of him, greeted Director Park and the other staff, created a good atmosphere with a handshake, and left the film company.

Min-soo, who had been waiting outside the door to not ruin the atmosphere, opened the door and asked,

“How did it go, Yeon-woo?”

Yeon-woo smiled broadly at Min-soo.

“I told you I was confident about the audition. I got it. I’m Pierre Choi.”

“Wow, as expected from our actor!”

Both got into the car, happy as if it was their own achievement.

Team Leader Jung successfully secured the contract under favorable conditions, and since the casting is not yet complete, the start date for filming is still undecided.

Other than one magazine interview conducted during the week, he didn’t have any significant schedules, so he attended school as much as possible by traveling between Daejeon and Seoul until the winter vacation began.

On days when Son Jin-hyuk was not filming, Yeon-woo often visited Jin-hyuk’s house, analyzing the screenplay of Director Park Chan-hong’s movie and practicing.

Then, Director Kim Han-soo called.

“Yes, Director.”

[Hmm, Yeon-woo. It’s late, but congratulations on your good SAT results. I read about it in the articles.]

Yeon-woo smiled at the warm contact from Director Kim Han-soo.

“Thank you, Director. Thanks to your good energy, I got good results.”

[Haha, Yeon-woo, you’re also good at speaking so politely.]

Director Kim Han-soo cleared his throat before continuing.

[The reason I contacted you is not for anything else but to tell you that the post-production for the film ‘Spring Lovers’, in which you helped with an important cameo, is nearly finished, and we will soon hold a production presentation.]