Suddenly, I Became Crazy Handsome, and the World Became Easy
Chapter 43.2: Villain (5)

Monday morning, the 17th.

The location was a rented conference room near the public broadcaster SBC. It was fairly large, with a ㄷ-shaped table placed in the center. Several people were busily moving about inside.

“There aren’t enough chairs here!”

“Yes! I’ll bring more!!”

"Where is the PD now??"

"I was told they're almost here!"

It was the 'Rental Lover' team. Since it was a one-act drama, the number of staff was fewer compared to a large-scale production, but their movements while setting up appeared extremely busy.

A few minutes later.

People began entering the once-empty conference room. Key staff members of 'Rental Lover' started taking their seats in the folding chairs arranged around the ㄷ-shaped table. Soon, the actors began to arrive as well.

“Oh oh! Long time no see!”

“Haha, how have you been??”

The arriving actors exchanged greetings with the key staff or chatted briefly among themselves. The number steadily increased. There were quite a few actors regarded as B-grade in the industry, faces familiar to the public but with names often unknown.

Typically referred to as supporting actors.

Of course, higher-grade male actors soon arrived as well.

“Hello!”

“Oh oh, Jun-sung ssi, you’re here??”

They were A-grade actors quite beloved by the public. Not quite top-tier, so solo leading roles were tough, but they were capable of carrying lead-level roles. These actors were both PD Jung Soo-ryeong’s personal connections and set to play the ‘lover’ roles in 'Rental Lover'.

The reason so many people had gathered was simple.

Today was the full cast pre-meeting for 'Rental Lover'. Before the actual script reading, this was an opportunity for unfamiliar actors to get to know each other and build rapport. For reference, the script reading venue, which was just around the corner, was also this room.

Before long, the conference room bustled.

With more than a dozen actors including leads and supporting roles, and the key staff combined, the number exceeded twenty. Just then.

-Slide.

A woman entered, noticeable with her long straight hair under a cap and a beauty mark beside her nose. She was top actress Choi Rina. Wearing loose jeans, she bowed politely to everyone.

"Why did everyone arrive so early?? Hello-"

All attention focused on her in an instant. A top actress of her stature was rarely seen in one-act dramas, which made her presence even more striking. After exchanging greetings in a flurry, Choi Rina.

‘Is this my seat?’

Checked the role name placed on the front seat. Sitting down, she glanced at the role name opposite her.

-'Lover No. 4'

The 'Lover No. 4' role whose casting had yet to be revealed. Soon, the male actor seated immediately to Choi Rina’s right spoke to her. He was playing ‘Lover No. 1’.

“Sunbae-nim, have you heard who’s playing ‘Lover No. 4’??”

“Nope. Not yet.”

“Really? I have a feeling it’s a rookie, but the secrecy just makes it more intriguing.”

Choi Rina felt the same. In fact, no one present knew who had been cast as ‘Lover No. 4’. As a result, the question marks only grew larger, and several dozen minutes later, when everyone had taken their designated seats, conversations somehow heated up around 'Produce That 100!'

“Oh! You watch ‘Produce That 100!’ too?”

“Of course, who in the industry isn’t watching it these days?”

“Did you see Episode 5? Episode 5? No. 1 totally slayed it.”

“The scene with No. 66 getting served! I seriously thought I was watching a drama. Who knew you could feel catharsis from an audition variety show?”

“Is everyone here a No. 1 fan??”

“Eh- he’s kind of a cheat character, so let’s set him aside. Personally, I found No. 58 really cute.”

Meanwhile, Choi Rina didn’t bother joining the conversation, but reacted inwardly.

‘Still, No. 1 is the best!’

Regardless, the actors and key staff all babbled like experts.

“Every time I see No. 1, I’m jealous of his visuals.”

“Haha, honestly, as an actor, I’m super envious.”

“Don’t you think he’ll appear in this field pretty soon?”

One actor turned to Choi Rina and asked,

“Sunbae-nim, don’t you watch ‘Produce That 100!’?”

Choi Rina gave a faint smile.

“I’m not particularly interested in idols. I don’t really have the time, either.”

It was a lie. One of Choi Rina’s biggest interests these days was 'Produce That 100!' But for the sake of her image, there was no choice. The other actors nodded in understanding.

“Well, yeah, sunbae-nim probably doesn’t even have time to watch TV.”

Maintaining an awkward smile, Choi Rina quickly changed the subject. Her gaze shifted to the key staff.

“By the way, has anyone seen the writer of ‘Rental Lover’??”

Just then.

“Whew- everyone’s here? I’m a bit late, the traffic right out front wasn’t moving.”

At the entrance of the conference room, PD Jung Soo-ryeong appeared, waving with her frizzy hair tied up. As the director of 'Rental Lover' entered, the seated actors and staff stood up and greeted her. Choi Rina did the same.

“What’s this, PD-nim? You’re ten minutes late!”

“Sorry, sorry.”

The amusing part was the strange man standing just behind PD Jung Soo-ryeong. He wore a cap and a mask. The actors who noticed him tilted their heads.

“But who’s the person in the back?”

Choi Rina already knew who he was.

‘It’s the writer. What, is he going for the mysterious concept again? She said he wouldn’t.’

PD Jung Soo-ryeong let out a crooked smile as she stepped forward and closed the conference room door. Then, pointing to the man beside her, she began speaking.

“This is Writer Kang Chul-soo, the one who wrote ‘Rental Lover.’”

There were reactions like “Ohhhh”, and a nearby actor asked immediately.

“Ah- but why is writer-nim so completely covered up?”

When PD Jung Soo-ryeong gave him a look, the man introduced as Writer Kang Chul-soo took off his cap. Black hair was revealed. Then he removed his mask as well. With his face now fully exposed, Kang Chul-soo ran a hand through his black hair as if tidying up and greeted them. His voice was calm.

“Hello. I’m Writer Kang Chul-soo.”

The peculiar thing was that even after Kang Chul-soo greeted them, the conference room remained.

“......”

“......”

Silent.

Moreover, all the actors and key staff had wide eyes or furrowed brows with expressions of disbelief. Most notably, top actress Choi Rina’s face was the most worth seeing.

She looked as if her soul had left her body.

She was the first to break the silence. Staring at Kang Chul-soo, she unconsciously murmured,

“......No, No. 1?”

*****

For 30 or more extra chapters, you can check out my Patreon here --> /dreamscribe