Chapter 4

The manager remained silent during the drive back after filming ended.

Of course, I stayed quiet too.

If I said the wrong thing, it would only create misunderstandings and make this complicated situation even worse.

Besides, the trip was only about ten minutes long.

From the moment I got into the car, I had been busy organizing my thoughts.

From now on, I needed to be much more careful about what I said.

First, calmly figure out Han Seo-jun’s situation and the people around him.

Then decide what path I should take.

That was the right answer.

“Ha…”

I let out a short breath and looked out the window.

The car had already entered the officetel parking garage.

The manager parked in a corner and finally spoke.

“What happened?”

His tone was cold.

“…What do you mean?”

“You didn’t have to hide it from me too.”

He frowned and stared directly at me.

“…I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

I deliberately acted confused.

But it was obvious what he meant.

Still, staying cautious was the smartest option for now.

“Was it because of your resentment? Because your parents always treated you differently?”

“…!”

The unexpected words came naturally from his mouth.

“No, that can’t be it. If you’d been holding a grudge, you would’ve acted like that a long time ago.”

He tilted his head and muttered to himself.

As expected.

Hwang Dong-jun had managed Han Seo-jun for years.

He probably knew him better than anyone.

“Well, your father is the president of a major corporation, and he’s always opposed your acting career… so maybe you thought he pressured the director somehow. I guess I can understand why you’d suspect that. But still, would he really do that to his own son?”

His eyes wavered slightly.

As if even he wasn’t completely convinced otherwise.

Wow.

This was a terrible situation right from the start.

On the surface, Han Seo-jun looked like the youngest son of a wealthy family with everything.

Even if he couldn’t act, he could live comfortably forever.

But how badly must he have been treated by his parents for his own manager to say things like this?

Looks like this guy’s life was a mess too.

These days, rich families usually support their children’s entertainment careers.

I’d seen plenty of celebrity children receiving help from their powerful parents.

“Your mother’s birthday is next week. Don’t go to your family home and start any trouble. The whole family will be there.”

“…!”

A family gathering.

As if waking up in someone else’s body wasn’t confusing enough.

Now I had to deal with someone else’s family issues too.

“But your acting today… was incredible.”

His voice suddenly softened.

He stared at me.

“Seriously, Han Seo-jun. I’m really disappointed.”

The disappointment showed clearly on his face.

“I’ve managed you for two years. You know I gave up managing Go Sang-won to take care of you, right? Even when the CEO and department head wanted to drop you, I was the one who stopped them. I kept saying you were a late bloomer and needed more time.”

He continued speaking.

“So why did you hide your acting skills from me all this time? Is it because I said I might stop managing you? Did you think there was no reason to hide it anymore? Did you dislike me that much?”

“N-No, hyung.”

“Then what?”

He shut off the engine.

Crossing his arms, he leaned back in his seat and stared at me.

It was obvious he wasn’t letting this go.

“…I-I thought you were really disappointed in me. So I just tried my best. If even you stopped managing me, how would I survive? I felt like I had to show you something, so I desperately…”

I let my voice trail off.

Then lightly bit my lower lip.

Lowered my head.

And slipped into acting.

A carefully calculated expression.

The kind that triggered sympathy and protective instincts.

I filled my face with hopelessness and despair.

The corners of my lips trembled slightly.

“…Sigh.”

After watching me for a moment, he let out a long sigh.

Then he nodded.

“Fine. But why are you making a face like you’ve lost everything?”

Good.

It worked.

For now, I needed to keep Hwang Dong-jun close.

He knew Han Seo-jun better than anyone.

Understanding Han Seo-jun’s life would be much easier with him around.

“Seriously though, your acting was unbelievable. I thought you’d been possessed. How did you pull off that thug-like, cold-blooded vibe that wasn’t even in the script? Everyone’s jaws dropped when you instantly changed your acting style exactly the way the director wanted. It was amazing.”

His eyes sparkled with excitement.

His mood had clearly improved.

“And that truck accident scene too. Did you learn action or martial arts before becoming an actor?”

“Ah, yes. I learned a little.”

Back when I was training to become an idol, I even attended ballet classes.

I spent far longer in practice rooms than anyone else.

Since I wasn’t as handsome as the other members, I desperately wanted to attract attention through dancing.

Still, being handsome was everything.

Even though I was the main vocalist, I only stood in the center for a few seconds while handling the difficult high notes.

Most of the time, I stood near the edges of the stage like a shadow.

After years of being nothing more than a “high-note machine,” I wanted to become an actor who received solo shots.

I loved singing.

But I also wanted to know what it felt like to lead a story for hours.

After my group disbanded and I became an actor, I prepared for every possible role.

Kendo.

Boxing.

Horseback riding.

Water skiing.

Anything.

I constantly recorded performances by great actors and compared them to my own work.

That was basic training for me.

“What an asshole.”

The curse suddenly came from Hwang Dong-jun.

“What kind of nonsense is this? Making you play a completely different character in front of everyone? Seriously.”

Still, there was no helping it.

I needed to get rid of the “terrible actor” label as soon as possible.

The only way was to prove myself.

Once I became a popular actor with a huge fanbase, even directors would think twice before messing with me.

I unbuckled my seatbelt.

The manager immediately looked at me.

“When are you coming to the agency?”

Right.

I needed to visit the company too.

Just thinking about it made my heart race.

What actors were signed there?

What project would I get next?

I was curious.

And excited.

I checked the time on my phone.

11:34 AM.

“I’ll come by around three.”

“Then I’ll pick you up at two-thirty. Oh, and…”

He reached into the back seat.

Then handed me a small paper bag.

“It’s nothing special. Since today was your last day of filming, I got you a little gift.”

“…!”

Usually actors gave gifts to their managers after a project ended.

That’s what I used to do.

I always prepared something for my managers.

“Thank you. Actually, I bought something for you too… but I can’t remember where I put it. I’ll find it and give it to you later.”

“…Really?”

He looked genuinely shocked.

“Of course.”

Judging from his reaction, Han Seo-jun had never given him a gift before.

Before he picked me up later, I’d have to buy something nearby.

“Oh, what’s that?”

A document envelope beneath the paper bag caught my attention.

For some reason, I felt like it contained a script.

“That?”

The manager glanced at it.

“Is it a drama script?”

“It is, but it has nothing to do with you. It’s a mini-series about idols. Actress Jang Mi-ran received an offer to play the lead character’s biological mother. She’s reviewing it.”

“An idol drama?”

My lips immediately curved upward.

The manager frowned.

“Apparently all five members of the boy group are cast except one. Two active idols and two actor-idols have already been confirmed. Jino from Bestiz and… what’s that other guy’s name? Anyway, they’re all well-known.”

Bestiz.

Slayers.

Very famous idol groups.

In fact, they had performed at the same concert as Shin Yeon-ho last night.

While they stood under the spotlight receiving cheers from thousands of fans, I hid backstage in a small studio, lending someone else my voice.

Back then, I only envied them.

But things were different now.

I was twenty-three years old.

And this body was incredibly handsome.

If things had turned out this way, then why not stand in the center of the stage myself?

“Can I at least read a few pages?”

The manager shook his head.

“They’re only casting people who can handle choreography and vocals. Didn’t you say you were terrible at dancing?”

Even while saying that, he eventually handed me the envelope.

My heart pounded as I accepted it.

I pulled out the script.

The title was written clearly on the cover.

I Possessed My Failed Idol Friend

“Its original source is a web novel. Netflix is adapting it into a drama. K-pop is huge worldwide these days. Even that K-Pop Demon Slayers animation became a global hit. Director Kang So-hee picked the perfect timing. She wanted to make an idol-themed mini-series and apparently loved this web novel. So they approved a 12-episode production.”

“Wow. That’s impressive.”

I opened the first page.

Just as expected.

A blue hologram appeared above the script.

A headline floated in the air.

[I Possessed My Failed Idol Friend Captivates K-Pop Fans Worldwide]

“…Haah…!”

A gasp escaped my lips.

“What?”

Hwang Dong-jun looked at me curiously.

Even I knew reacting dramatically after reading one page looked strange.

But how could I help it?

The headline alone confirmed the drama would be successful.

“The opening scene is just so bold. The protagonist lives in a luxury residence in New York…”

“I thought it was something serious.”

He laughed and looked at his phone.

The moment his attention shifted, I touched the hologram.

A full article appeared.

*

(OSUN Reporter Yoon Eun-hye)

Korean idol stories have once again captured viewers around the world.

The Netflix original series I Possessed My Failed Idol Friend (written by Ham Woo-jin, directed by Kang So-hee) debuted at No.1 in Korea and No.3 in Netflix’s Global Top 10 rankings.

It later reached No.1 among non-English-language series and remained in the Global Top 5 for ten consecutive weeks.

The series is a 12-episode adaptation of a popular web novel.

Its soundtrack song Light It Up became an immediate hit among K-pop fans worldwide and climbed to No.8 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 chart.

*

But that wasn’t all.

A sentence appeared at the bottom of the hologram.

What was this?

[Would you like to participate in the audition for the protagonist role? (Y/N)]

The letter Y blinked.

I touched it.

A new message appeared.

[Achievement points will be awarded upon success.]

[Accumulated achievement points can later be used to unlock skills or improve abilities.]

“…!”

A chill ran down my spine.

At the same time, my heart pounded wildly.

This wasn’t just an opportunity.

It was clearly a privilege meant only for me.

I have to get this role.

My heart beat faster.

Hadn’t the manager just said one idol member spot was still empty?

That role belonged to me.

Who could possibly fit it better?

Was I lacking in looks?

No.

Could I not sing?

No.

I was confident I could match any active idol in dancing.

And acting?

Just let me do it.

I’d dominate the role.

Only a fool would pass up this chance.

“I want to audition for this.”

I held up the script.

The manager’s expression twisted strangely.

“I told you there’s no role here for you. What are you going to play? A random passerby?”

“No. I want to audition for the remaining idol member role.”

“…What?”

His eyes widened.

He stared at me as though I’d lost my mind.

I couldn’t help smiling.

Soon enough, he wouldn’t be making that face anymore.

***

Sigma Entertainment

Shin Yeon-ho lay sprawled across a sofa with an irritated expression.

“Ah, fuck!”

He cursed angrily.

Do Hyun-woo had been missing for five days.

After being scolded by the CEO and himself, the man had simply vanished.

Following the concert, the company’s PR team released a statement.

They claimed Shin Yeon-ho had suffered health problems.

According to their story, despite doctors strongly advising against live performances, he had gone on stage to avoid disappointing fans.

As a result, lip-syncing had been unavoidable.

Instead, he had focused on energetic choreography.

It was a carefully crafted excuse.

Shin Yeon-ho wanted nothing more than to drag Do Hyun-woo back and force him to kneel.

But for now, he needed him.

To join the Netflix idol drama, he still needed Do Hyun-woo’s vocals.

They had already agreed that Yeon-ho wouldn’t attend the audition personally because of his “health condition.”

All that remained was recording the required songs and passing the evaluation.

Then Shin Yeon-ho could secure the role of the center member of the drama’s idol group.

Yet at the most important moment, Do Hyun-woo had disappeared.

They had even used police connections to search for him.

Still, there was no trace of his whereabouts.

Bang!

The door opened.

A team leader and a large-built manager entered.

Hope briefly appeared in Shin Yeon-ho’s eyes.

But they didn’t bring good news.

The team leader sat down on the sofa with a grim face.

The manager collapsed beside him.

“Ah, damn it!”

The manager pulled out a cigarette pack.

It was empty.

“Damn!”

He crumpled it and threw it away.

“What happened?”

At Shin Yeon-ho’s question, the team leader rubbed his forehead.

The manager chewed his lower lip.

Then turned toward the team leader.

“Does this even make sense? How does a person just disappear?”

“Damn…”

The team leader covered his face.

Growing frustrated, Shin Yeon-ho pressed again.

“So what happened?”

The manager answered.

“We checked every CCTV camera around the stadium. We confirmed that he appeared near the intersection by Mapo District Office.”

“And?”

“He didn’t cross the street. He walked toward the back area. But the next CCTV camera never recorded him.”

“What?”

“It was just a parking lot. No parked cars. Nothing. Then he simply vanished.”

“Couldn’t he have entered a building?”

The manager laughed.

“You know what’s there? An empty parking lot.”

“So you’re saying he disappeared like a ghost?”

The team leader slowly nodded.

Shin Yeon-ho stared at him in disbelief.

“Then what am I supposed to do? I need that bastard if I’m going to join Director Kang So-hee’s project.”

“Just wait. Wherever he is, he’ll run out of money and come crawling back.”

“If I’d told him about this project earlier and promised him a huge payday, he never would’ve run away.”

The team leader groaned.

“We should’ve responded sooner when they asked whether we’d use live vocals or a recorded track. We kept delaying and ended up like this.”

The manager nodded.

“Exactly. We need the recording finished and delivered in a couple of days. Without Hyun-woo, it’s impossible. The vocals are completely different.”

“You think we can find someone who sings as well as him?”

At those words, Shin Yeon-ho gritted his teeth.

“That bastard… when I find him…”

His eyes flashed.

Both fists clenched tightly.