GalaxyTL
"Since Seokho has agreed to take action, we won’t have to worry much about money."
Unless it’s for a major theater production,
a project of this size could easily have our agency as the primary backer.
"It’s a good chance to raise the agency’s profile, too."
For now, it’s just Yerim and me in this small agency,
but soon it’ll become a powerhouse, an elite agency.
"I’ll make sure of that."
Setting this matter aside,
I stood quietly in the auditorium, enjoying the entrance ceremony.
"No wonder this school holds its top ranking."
The performances—dance, band, and even classical ballet—
were dazzling and far beyond what one would expect from high school students.
Even the chairman, Edward Park, had a polished, international air,
and his speech was refreshingly free of any authoritarian tone.
"Hello, everyone. It’s a pleasure to meet you all. Each of you here is a jewel I handpicked one by one! So, keep polishing yourselves, strive to shine brighter than anyone else! That’s it."
Skipping the usual preamble, he dove straight to the heart of his speech, delivering both message and conclusion in one go.
There was so much to see at this entrance ceremony; it was truly a feast for the eyes.
“Oh, and once the ceremony ends, don’t head straight to class. I recommend taking a look around the gallery. There are some fantastic photos and paintings on display.”
With that, the entrance ceremony wrapped up cleanly.
"Got a bit of free time; maybe I should check out the gallery."
I decided to take a leisurely tour of the school before heading to class—
just as I reached that conclusion, a familiar voice called out behind me.
"Kim Donghu, are you crazy? If you’ve joined Daejong High, shouldn’t you greet your elder sister first?"
I turned around to see a very familiar face.
"Sujin-ah!"
"Sujin? I’m a year above you, remember?"
The Daejong High uniform was well-known for being stylish,
and it was honestly cute enough to be impressive.
The way her hime cut suited her face so perfectly,
paired with the fresh look of the uniform, was…
how should I put it?
It was like she was posing for a solo uniform photoshoot.
She truly was the daughter of Kim Yuryeon, the queen of the screen.
‘She’s got a different kind of aura.’
Even standing behind her, I could feel the attention shifting in our direction the moment Sujin and I started talking.
"That’s only because you’re a fast-track student."
"Anyway, I’m still older! Call me ‘noona’!"
At her insistence, I shrugged my shoulders.
"Why would I? You cry at the drop of a hat. How does that make you a noona?"
"W-when did I ever cry?"
"I’m heading to the gallery now. Are you coming along?"
"Oh, is this an invitation to a date now that you’re in high school?"
I laughed openly at her words,
and Sujin stared at my face as if there was something on it.
She had been talking confidently just moments before—what happened?
"This guy seriously needs to start covering his face in public."
"Huh? What was that?"
"Nothing."
What was she mumbling about?
Anyway,
“To the gallery I go.”
Sensing that lingering here would only draw more attention, I began moving.
"Oh, hello, unnie! I’m Shin Yerim, Donghu’s best friend since middle school."
Yerim appeared.
‘I figured we’d hang out separately since we’re in different programs, but she came right over.’
I hadn’t planned on looking for her, but here she was.
Do I even need to worry about making new friends?
While I pondered this, Sujin and Yerim’s conversation flowed quicker than I expected.
"Oh, really? I’m Donghu’s childhood friend. Nice to meet you. And feel free to speak casually. I’m technically your age since I’m a fast-track student."
"But still, you’re a year above me. I should call you unnie."
"Senior? Nah, we’re in different departments, so we won’t see each other much. You can speak casually."
I didn’t catch all the details of their conversation,
but it seemed like they were bonding nicely, laughing together.
‘They say kids grow up this way, right?’
Well, in any case, them getting along is probably a good thing.
After all, they’re both destined to become top stars in the future.
‘Moments like this make for good memories.’
Leaving the two of them to chat, I headed toward the gallery.
It felt like stepping into a gallery in the Arts Center,
but soon I directed my steps toward the theater club.
‘Sparking, was it?’
It was time to secure the contact of the writer behind that A-grade script.
++++++
Bong Jinwoo couldn’t believe everything that had happened today.
"...Is this a dream?"
It wasn’t enough that the actor known as the “Nation’s Crown Prince” liked his script—
after the entrance ceremony, he’d come straight to him, asking for his contact info and suggesting they collaborate.
And it wasn’t just any collaboration.
"He said he could even bring in investment through his agency."
With that one sentence, the low-budget label was gone in an instant.
A problem that had seemed permanently glued to him was suddenly erased.
Not only that, arranging to rent a theater also became incredibly easy.
What normally would’ve required begging for a spot happened seamlessly the moment Kim Donghu got involved.
‘Is this really okay?’
It felt like his life’s difficulty level had dropped significantly.
Jinwoo touched his face, frozen in disbelief at the surreal turn of events.
‘Is Kim Donghu my benefactor?’
The thought crossed his mind.
At the same time, Jinwoo glanced at the little bundle tucked away in his room.
Two boxes he’d kept aside, planning to open them properly once he had the funds.
Maybe it was finally time to let them go.
A tiny, cramped dorm room barely two square meters.
A four-hour round trip commute.
Was this life finally coming to an end?
The conversation with Kim Donghu filled him with such hope.
He’d been so shocked at the suggestion.
Jinwoo couldn’t help but feel a little foolish.
Only then did Jinwoo fully realize what it meant to work on a project with Kim Donghu.
And just what an amazing opportunity he’d been given.
Clutch.
Jinwoo gripped The Story of Stars and Moon script tightly.
It was a story he’d envisioned since he was young.
In the orphanage.
Kids grew up quickly there, and they naturally came to understand a simple truth.
Ah, for us, cultural experiences are a luxury.
Jinwoo despised that reality.
So he made a promise.
To create a script no one could ignore,
to reignite the forgotten dreams of those kids.
That was what this play was for and the stubborn dream he wouldn’t abandon.
For dreams and hope.
As childish as it sounded, Jinwoo made that his personal motto.
+++++
Meanwhile.
‘I did say we could hold auditions together.’
I was contemplating how to handle the audition process.
Jinwoo was quite inexperienced with these things,
so I figured it would be best if I, with the agency’s backing, took the lead.
How could we gather people most effectively,
and make The Story of Stars and Moon a success?
While pondering that—
Donghu, how’s it going?
A message from actor Han Taegon arrived.
‘What’s this?’
Why now?
++++++
‘How long will our junior’s break last, I wonder?’
Han Taegon, who had played the lead, Kim Suha, in The Endless Battlefield,
was an actor particularly interested in Kim Donghu.
It wasn’t just because of Donghu’s undeniable talent.
There was something about him that just seemed destined for greatness.
‘I’d love for us to grow together, discussing our deep thoughts on acting.’
Besides, Taegon didn’t have many friends.
In the entertainment world, relationships changed naturally,
and one’s social circle often shrank.
So he reached out to Donghu.
Mostly out of boredom, and to chat with someone on the same path to success.
But then—
Hello, sunbae. I’m actually preparing for an audition right now.
He heard something intriguing.
‘An audition? Donghu’s doing an audition?’
A top-rated actor, a four-time Mise-en-scène winner, who hits 30% viewership with every appearance and once hit a peak of 41%,
was going to an audition?
How passionate must this writer be to insist on auditioning someone like Donghu?
Taegon’s curiosity piqued.
<What’s the audition for? Is it your next project?>
<Oh, actually, I’m preparing for a play. I’ll be taking the lead, but we haven’t cast all the roles yet.>
A play? He was doing a play?
As he continued texting Donghu, Taegon’s mind raced with possibilities.
<A play? A theater audition? Where’s it happening? At school? Mind if I drop by?>
<Ah, it’ll probably be near Daehangno. Or maybe Hyehwa… it’s an external performance.>
<So you’ll be doing this play publicly, with you as the lead, but you haven’t cast the other roles yet?>
<Yes, that’s right.>
<Ha, really? Got it.>
<Huh? Sunbae, what do you mean by that?>
<Nothing. I just understand what you’re aiming for.>
After sending that, Han Taegon immediately called his manager.
“Hey, do you know my schedule for the coming days?”