His face, full of mischief, had disappeared somewhere, and I peeked at Jun, who was absorbed in his work like a genuine director. He was flicking the pen and looking only at the profile picture. At that moment, a staff member who came in with a hurried pace said urgently,
“The actor scheduled to audition today has a tight schedule right after the audition. I’m sorry, but he wishes to audition first. If it’s okay, can we move his turn a bit earlier? What should we do? If possible, we’d like to have him audition first.”
A moment of confusion filled the eyes of the judges, including me. If this audition is also essential, the actor’s attitude of setting a tight schedule right after this audition is enough to be a minus point.
In the midst of the awkward atmosphere, Jun was the first to speak.
“Well, shall we start with him? Some of the actors have irregular incomes and have other main jobs. For that reason, it would be appropriate for us to consider that.”
Jun calmly expressed this, as if gently coaxing the minds of the judges from a different perspective. Fortunately, the air softened with his coaxing, and the other judges responded with an agreeing answer.
Soon, the actor who had just been assigned the number 1 entered through the open door. He was a handsome actor who could make you turn around if he happened to pass by on the street, wondering if this wasn’t the audition venue.
Moreover, he looked as if he had just come from a salon, well-groomed and put together, adding a unique aura to his already handsome appearance.
“Please, have a seat.”
Before Jun’s words could even finish, he was already seated.
“Mr. Kim Se-jun, because I really like your attractive mask…”
“As you may have heard, I have a photoshoot scheduled right after this audition. I can’t allocate much time, so I apologize.”
Kang PD’s words weren’t even finished yet.
“…Ah, it’s alright. Well, let’s start with a brief self-introduction…”
“No.”
Jun’s firm voice cut across the conference room.
“There’s no need for that. You don’t need to spare your valuable time for us. From now on, you can use your time generously for Mr. Se-jun. Thank you for your hard work.”
“What?”
“I mean, I suggested it for you to see.”
Se-jun’s face subtly distorted.
“I didn’t mean I can’t see the audition…”
“I meant you won’t be able to see it. We’re also busy with schedules ahead. Even though it might be a hectic schedule, let’s finish it here. You can go in right away.”
Jun had already casually skipped Se-jun’s profile picture and started browsing the profile of the next actor. It seemed there was nothing more to see here.
Se-jun, who had been trying to control his distorted expression, eventually gave a light bow and quickly left the audition room. It was as if he had quickly finished the audition according to his own wishes. Except for the fact that no one saw his acting, it was so.
“Director Kim, sharp.”
Jin CEO commented, casually flipping through the profile picture of the second actor. It seemed that he quite appreciated Jun’s decisive handling, which was somewhat different from his usual personality. Looking at Jun’s indifferent attitude, it seemed there was nothing more to see here.
“Ah, but the mask is really… Too bad. If these kinds of guys just give a sweet comment once, it would be perfect for future movie promotions.”
Kang PD seemed to have a slightly different opinion. Even in front of Kang PD, Se-jun maintained a mild tone and a seemingly understanding attitude, and now I finally understood the reason behind brushing off the impolite words spat out behind that attitude.
“I’ve heard that there’s a rookie actor whose name is getting recognized these days. Personally, I don’t have any expectations for the acting skills he’ll show me with that face. Perhaps because I’ve already seen the character inside that face.”
Jun spoke casually, not giving Kang PD a glance, and continued with his work. At first, Kang PD, who seemed about to respond, quietly pressed his lips after hearing Jun’s remarks.
Kang PD, by now, would well know the fact that there was no room to pry into Jun’s stubbornness of that level, based on his experience.
Then, as if their eyes met in passing, Jun and I exchanged glances. Jun smiled gently at me, as if comforting me, saying it’s not sad that the first audition and the first actor turned out like this. I responded with a bright smile, using it as my answer.
The profile picture of the second actor looked familiar. It was the actor Jun had briefly noted, saying, “Why wear glasses? Take them off and act.” There were several profile pictures of him consistently wearing glasses.
Whether he was the type whose tension spread through his face or not, he entered with a rugged military cap covering his head with both hands. Moreover, the actor whom Jun had hoped wouldn’t wear glasses came in wearing large, horn-rimmed glasses.
I felt sorry, wondering if the sound of a sharp inhale for a moment had reached him.
Jun glanced at him once and spoke again, comparing the profile picture spread out on the desk.
“Mr. Kim Sun-ho, oh, you came wearing glasses again today.”
Jun’s friendly tone concealed the frustration he felt. It was Jun who had noted in the margin of his self-introduction, ‘Why wear glasses?’
He tilted his head to scrutinize Jun’s expression. In this situation, it was hard to imagine what words Director Jun, in the context of a movie, would put forward first.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
