Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 14

Episode 14

Trainer Kim Ah-sung spoke with genuine regret.

“Yeah, even someone as great as me can’t just mess with the process.”

“…….”

He really thinks highly of himself.

Every word is a testament to his self-love.

But right now, I needed to hear Trainer Kim Ah-sung’s voice.

Because the bait is JC.

“What kind of process is it?”

At Lee Min-ki’s question, Kim Ah-sung chuckled as if he had been waiting for those words.

“Originally, JC is a company that’s all size and no guts, so they’re very careful when hiring someone.”

It was a well-known characteristic of JC.

Compared to its size, the number of celebrities affiliated with it was quite small.

Not as extreme as Daon’s small elite group, but it meant they meticulously ensured the quality of each individual to a comparable degree.

“So, a mere trainer can’t just bring in a trainee and force them to sign a contract. That would definitely cause a stir behind the scenes. And…”

Kim Ah-sung, who had been muttering for a while, glanced at Lee Min-ki and said.

“That wouldn’t be good for Min-ki either. You wouldn’t want to be a parachute hire [someone hired due to connections, not merit], would you?”

“Well, I guess not.”

To be honest, being a parachute hire sounds pretty good.

But it wasn’t the right time to argue.

Kim Ah-sung smiled contentedly and said.

“It’s all for your sake, Min-ki. Anyway.”

He blinked and said.

“In a little while, JC judges will be coming to this academy to hold a private audition.”

A private audition.

It was a privilege that some academies received irregularly.

Lee Min-ki finally grasped how the situation was unfolding and asked.

“You want me to audition there.”

“That’s right. Usually, these auditions aren’t open to just any student at the academy, but are conducted through recommendations, and I’m going to recommend you.”

“Me?”

As Lee Min-ki added a slightly surprised interjection, Kim Ah-sung raised a finger and said.

“Of course, keep in mind that you can’t just coast through it because I’m not the only judge. The other judges will be watching too.”

“That means.”

Lee Min-ki didn’t answer immediately, seeming to ponder for a moment before saying quietly.

“I have to convince the other judges with my skills.”

“Looks like you’re finally catching on.”

Trainer Kim Ah-sung took a sip of his coffee and said.

“Of course, just because I directly taught you doesn’t mean they’ll blindly give you a good evaluation. An audition is an audition. It has to be fair, or else the other students would feel unfairly treated.”

It was a statement that he wouldn’t show favoritism and would evaluate purely based on skill.

It might sound disappointing to some.

But for Lee Min-ki.

“That’s even better.”

He was grateful for that attitude.

At the refreshing answer, Trainer Kim Ah-sung smiled in surprise and asked.

“Are you okay with failing, Min-ki?”

“If someone deserves to fail due to lack of skill, then they should fail.”

That’s the right answer.

Trainer Kim Ah-sung burst into laughter inwardly at Lee Min-ki’s answer.

Passing an audition is just passing an audition. If an actor’s life is a novel, then the audition is just a few pages of the prologue.

‘This guy is interesting.’

It was even more so because it was clear that his words weren’t just empty bravado but genuine.

Well, people end up where their skills take them anyway.

Those who obtain positions beyond their capabilities through connections eventually fall at the hands of the public.

Knowing that fact better than anyone, Trainer Kim Ah-sung stood up and said.

“Then keep that in mind, and let’s work hard in practice again starting today.”

“Yes!”

He felt happy again.

It was when he returned to the practice room with Kim Ah-sung.

“Ah! Min-ki!”

Kim Tak widened his eyes and looked at him with a resentful expression.

“My coffee!”

“…….”

Come to think of it, I forgot to buy the coffee.

For a moment, he thought about going out again.

‘What about the money?’

It was getting to the point where his living expenses were getting tight.

Should I increase my part-time job?

Should I give up the gym?

Should I buy a lottery ticket?

Going to a new audition is one thing, but he was at a crossroads regarding his living expenses.

Being a trainee was always a hungry time.

The bright dream was temporary, and it was time to think about reality a little.

* * *

Kwon Joon-yong, the director.

The director of [Neighborhood Gym] near Lee Min-ki’s house, and a monster with an impressive career.

Contrary to his benevolent face, his body was as threatening as a huge beast.

Recently, a smile had not left his face.

“Hmm, hmm hmm, hmm hmm, hmm hmm.”

Enough to hum an out-of-place song while on the treadmill.

At his appearance, the members whispered.

“Isn’t Director Kwon a bit strange these days? He’s always smiling, is he going senile or something?”

“Yeah, I guess he’s getting to the age where he might get dementia.”

“Oh my, he’s still a vigorous man, what should we do about this?”

They were elderly people who happened to gather in the neighborhood.

Their bodies were burly, but their ages were unmistakably old.

They sensed a sense of incongruity in Director Kwon Joon-yong’s change.

“Huh, what should we do about this?”

It’s surprising that people are so surprised that someone is happy.

But they were people who usually had nothing to do, and they had a lot of time and energy left over.

So they could talk about such trivial things for months.

“Ah.”

Then one old man came up with a brilliant deduction.

“Isn’t it because of that young man? You know, the one who comes often these days.”

It was Lee Min-ki.

“That friend who’s just bones?”

“Yeah, that friend who looks like he’ll break if you poke him.”

Strictly speaking, Lee Min-ki wasn’t that bad.

He was just slightly thinner than the average person.

But he was an aspiring actor, so you could say he was at a healthy weight, and his natural frame was gradually gaining muscle, making him look good.

“I don’t know if he’s eating properly.”

Such circumstances were not important to the elderly.

Because muscle hypertrophy [muscle growth] and muscle mass were their top priorities.

Being thin was a problem, and having a lot of fat was also a problem.

For them, only muscle was justice and goodness.

“If he has that body at his age, tsk tsk, what’s he going to use it for?”

“Men are strength.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“He’s a handsome guy, but he looks like he won’t even produce bone marrow.”

In that way, the topic shifted to Lee Min-ki’s body.

It didn’t take long for their opinions to converge.

“Still, things have gotten a lot better since that friend came, right?”

Lee Min-ki’s appearance was gradually bringing positive changes to the gym.

“That’s right, the number of new people coming these days has also increased. Although most of them just consult and leave.”

“That woman came three times before. And got a refund.”

“It’s because he’s handsome. They come for a while to see his face.”

“It’s a celebration, a celebration.”

Lee Min-ki comes often.

Young members really started showing their faces occasionally.

Maybe a change has really come. Maybe it’s a coincidence.

But the truth didn’t matter to them.

Whatever the process, isn’t it enough that Director Kwon Joon-yong’s face has brightened?

“It would be good to keep him from quitting soon.”

“That’s right.”

“Is there anything we can do? That friend doesn’t seem to have any money.”

“Well, if he had enough, he wouldn’t be eating domestic supplements.”

“Oh my, his body will be damaged. Director Kwon said before that he works part-time at a convenience store at night, right?”

The story flowed on without any real substance.

Lee Min-ki is an essential figure in this gym, but he is living a pitiful life.

Of course, the person himself was quite satisfied with his life.

Rather, he was overjoyed that his luck had improved.

But originally, the person’s opinion was not very important in such stories.

“Poor thing.”

“How pitiful.”

“A young man is pathetic.”

“If I could just do one thing for him, my heart would be relieved.”

That’s how the story flowed for a long time.

“Wait, I have a great idea.”

One member said, shining his eyes fiercely.

“My son runs a shopping mall.”

* * *

Several days had passed since the Daon audition results were announced.

Originally, any difficult exam is only serious when you’re preparing for it, and after it’s over, it’s just so-so, so there was no change in Lee Min-ki’s daily life.

‘It’s surprisingly just so-so.’

In the morning, he runs to the academy.

He arrives early and has self-study time with Yoo Seon-ah and Kim Tak from the morning.

In the afternoon, he takes classes, and in the evening, he works a night shift at a convenience store.

At the same time, he watched movies and accumulated input.

But that’s over now.

Gradually, cracks were growing in his peaceful daily life.

What is that?

‘……The money I’ve been saving is starting to run out.’

It was his bank balance.

Lee Min-ki stood in front of the ATM, holding his bankbook and shocked as if he couldn’t believe it.

‘When did all this money disappear?’

Of course, tuition at acting academies is expensive.

In the first place, the average assets of aspiring actors were born with a silver spoon [born into wealth].

For someone like Lee Min-ki, who was starting from scratch with nothing, even spending each day like others was burdensome.

Here, his expenses have increased significantly since he recently started going to the gym.

‘My parents are just waiting for me to quit acting, so I can’t rely on them. Is there anywhere I can borrow money? Loan sharks are dangerous.’

He closed his eyes tightly and thought about it, but no suitable solution came to mind.

‘Should I go back to the factory like before?’

That’s also difficult.

He was spending the most important time of his life right now.

Because he was taking one-on-one lessons from Trainer Kim Ah-sung.

Even if you prepared a bundle of money, there was rarely an opportunity to take lessons from him.

‘No, honestly, I could just go with a bundle [bribe].’

Lee Min-ki revised his assessment of Trainer Kim Ah-sung, who usually got coffee without hesitation.

Anyway, it’s really dangerous now.

It wasn’t a time when he could cover it with a convenience store part-time job.

‘Should I quit the gym?’

That’s the only thing that comes to mind right now.

But isn’t the gym also necessary if you want to do acting?

‘Is there really no other option but a loan?’

That’s how he couldn’t do either and was in a semi-panic state, walking around the park in front of his house about 12 times.

Beep boop.

His phone rang.

At that moment, Lee Min-ki frowned.

‘Ugh.’

Usually, he didn’t welcome contact.

As a result of cleanly giving up human relationships, saying he would live only for acting, he had no one to contact properly.

A man who receives 8 out of 10 contacts as advertising texts, that was Lee Min-ki.

And twice it was contact from Director Kwon Joon-yong.

That contact asking him to send a picture of today’s meal menu.

‘If I say I didn’t take a picture, he’ll say something again.’

Still, he picked up his phone thinking that he might not know.

“As expected.”

Lee Min-ki closed his eyes without realizing it.

Phone screen.

The person who contacted him there was the same person he thought it was.

[Director Kwon: Min-ki]

It was contact from Kwon Joon-yong, the director of [Neighborhood Gym].

Lee Min-ki sighed at his contact, who usually tried to inject diet and exercise knowledge tenaciously.

Because if he contacted him, the repertoire was set.

But.

[Director Kwon: There’s something I want to ask Min-ki]

Today, things seemed a little different.

[Director Kwon: I heard that young people these days also do model part-time jobs]

[Director Kwon: That announcer also paid for tuition with model work when she was unknown]

At the end of a flood of somewhat unusual texts, one unexpected proposal was written.

[Director Kwon: I was wondering if Min-ki would like to try a model part-time job]