Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 91

91

The TV speaker blared with an uncharacteristically fervent voice for an announcer.

[Yong Do-guk, one of the co-CEOs of 3Y, is at the center of a major controversy for allegedly luring victims overseas under the guise of offering them a debut, only to subject them to what was essentially slave labor.]

It was as they said.

3Y, Kim Do-ha’s agency, was reported to have repeatedly committed similar offenses.

‘He tried so hard to erase the evidence, but he still got caught in the end.’

Lee Min-ki marveled quietly.

Even with various pieces of evidence provided, not all involved were apprehended.

Some cases stalled due to the lack of decisive ‘material evidence.’

But it seemed another informant had emerged.

That person was probably another victim like Bae Da-young.

“Wow, how can that kind of scum breathe and live? Ugh.”

Trainer Kim Ah-sung exclaimed.

“Even if that trash goes to jail, he’ll probably eat well, right? My taxes are wasted.”

Kim Tak, who probably hadn’t paid his income tax yet, also exclaimed.

With a voice filled with more anger than anyone else.

“It’s a relief he got caught, even if it’s now,”

Lee Min-ki breathed a small sigh of relief.

‘Is this what they call karma?’

The only thing that can conceal a person hideously covered in misdeeds is when their actions are hidden in the shadows of society.

They cannot wield power in the light, where many eyes are watching.

Because the misdeeds covering them are revealed with horrifying clarity.

‘Enjoy your prison food.’

Lee Min-ki was savoring the moment when Yoo Seon-ah nudged him.

“Hmm, now that I think about it, didn’t you stop Min-ki from going to that 3Y audition?”

Lee Min-ki coughed repeatedly, flustered.

“Cough! Cough! Ah, yes, cough! I did. I gave Seon-ah some advice, didn’t I?”

“I think you said 3Y had some shady dealings back then, but seeing what’s happening now… did you actually know all along?”

“…Ehh, no way. There’s no way.”

Lee Min-ki chuckled awkwardly.

Of course, he knew.

That 3Y was a garbage group.

That they had been committing crimes from the start.

He had been careful not to reveal that he knew the truth, even in front of Yoo Seon-ah, because it shouldn’t be known to outsiders.

As Lee Min-ki continued to deflect, Yoo Seon-ah, amused, said,

“Min-ki, I thought you were a good actor, but maybe not so much.”

“…That’s because it’s not acting.”

“Hmm.”

Yoo Seon-ah smiled faintly and continued,

“If I had gone to that audition, I might have ended up like that? The news said they were practically exporting trainees to China.”

“Um, uh-huh. Right?”

“Then is Min-ki my savior? Thank you. How should I repay you?”

Yoo Seon-ah was muttering excitedly when Kim Tak, after exclaiming once, joined in.

“Whoa, as expected, a top actor hears a lot. Min-ki! You’re always trying to monopolize all the information. You can’t do that! Are we not that close?”

What does ‘that close’ even mean,

You old geezer.

Lee Min-ki swallowed the words that had risen to his throat and turned to the side.

There, trainer Kim Ah-sung was holding back laughter, as if about to burst into hysterics.

“That’s right, Min-ki is in the wrong. You should have told Seon-ah more specifically.”

Even that person joined in.

Even someone who knew the situation well was acting like this.

He had no allies.

As Lee Min-ki was about to slump over, consumed by a lonely feeling, Yoo Seon-ah, who had stopped laughing, opened her mouth.

“Just kidding. I’m really thankful. I lived thanks to Min-ki. I’ll repay you for a long time to come.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ll keep repaying you little by little until I quit acting.”

He could instinctively tell.

That within those exaggerated words was a pure sincerity that was incomparable to a thousand thank-you’s.

Feeling that completely, Lee Min-ki smiled warmly like a spring breeze and said,

“Then Seon-ah is paying for dinner today.”

“…Even if I’m still a trainee, buying Korean beef is a bit much.”

* * *

A few days later.

A large studio located in Ansan City.

Along the white hallway, dozens of men stood in lines.

A space filled with palpable tension.

There, a man shouted loudly.

“Contestant number 32, please come in.”

It was the voice of an audition staff member calling out a contestant.

At the same time, someone stood up.

“Yes!”

It was the man who was currently enjoying the highest popularity.

‘Wait, isn’t that Lee Min-ki?’

It was Lee Min-ki.

As he stood up from his seat and revealed himself, whispering voices spread in all directions almost simultaneously.

“Crazy.”

“Why is Lee Min-ki here?”

“He’s been here since earlier.”

“Are we all going to fail?”

The people gathered here were all established actors.

But even among them, Lee Min-ki’s recognition was particularly outstanding.

Unusually for a rookie actor, he had scored consecutive hits.

Recently, there had been an incident that had further improved Lee Min-ki’s image.

[Kim Do-ha Scandal, Lee Min-ki Rather Protected the Victim.]

He had shown kindness to the victim, or so it was said.

In fact, it wasn’t that much.

He just put a band-aid on her, that’s all.

But such details weren’t very important to the public.

[I really misunderstood Lee Min-ki]

[Kind to the bone]

[Truly kind]

[Who goes to a club with a band-aid these days lololol]

[‘Me.’]

If bad rumors spread quickly even without specific details, the opposite was also true.

It was a good rumor.

After all, even if a good rumor was slightly distorted, it was still a good rumor.

Lee Min-ki’s simple act of kindness had been amplified even further, and he had risen to the position of one of the few celebrities who protected the victim.

[There’s always one person in every class who can’t help but help others. That’s like Lee Min-ki.]

[A personality straight out of a comic book]

[Even when the photo was spread, he didn’t recklessly sue until the situation was understood, just in case?]

[Isn’t JC working?]

[I heard it was at the actor’s request]

Kindness might not be a particularly special virtue, but in an era as selfish as today, it becomes a unique trait.

Especially when a dark incident like the Kim Do-ha scandal broke out.

In a night sky spread out like a black canvas, one star shining white appears infinitely large.

Lee Min-ki was also like that.

Anyway, Lee Min-ki had come to participate in an audition for a new project today.

The name of that project was.

[Fashion & Fashion].

It was a project that Director Hwang Ui-sung was planning to film.

‘Once the Kim Do-ha scandal is over, I’ll definitely film it.’

He had gritted his teeth and resolved to do so.

However, despite JC’s efforts, the participation process wasn’t smooth.

Normally, a rookie with Lee Min-ki’s value would be exempt from auditions and immediately start filming.

[Please come to the audition.]

Director Hwang Ui-sung’s side refused outright, saying that there would be no exceptions and that he would have to audition under the same conditions as other participants.

But he wasn’t particularly hurt.

‘Even better.’

Wasn’t that just like Hwang Ui-sung?

He was going to choose based solely on acting ability.

Not choosing him based on his name meant that he wouldn’t choose other actors based on their names either.

As proof, some well-known actors were noticeable in the audition room.

“Contestant number 32.”

“Yes!”

Lee Min-ki shouted loudly and entered the door.

And.

Just 5 seconds later.

The sight that entered Lee Min-ki’s eyes as he entered the audition room was somewhat absurd.

The judges’ seats.

In the center, Director Hwang Ui-sung was sitting with his eyes wide open.

And next to him.

‘CEO Yoo Gyu-eon?’

Yoo Gyu-eon.

The CEO of a shopping mall he often collaborated with regarding fashion was sitting there.

Yoo Gyu-eon, who had treated him well since his aspiring actor days and with whom he had continued to collaborate.

“……”

Why was that person here?

As Lee Min-ki blankly tried to twitch his eyes, he made an awkward expression.

Then, in an instant, he turned his head.

As if to say, ‘I don’t know anything about this.’

* * *

[Fashion & Fashion] Audition Room.

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon, sitting next to Director Hwang Ui-seok in the judges’ seats, smiled bitterly.

Only in his heart.

He couldn’t show his personal feelings outwardly.

‘I never thought things would turn out like this.’

Just 15 meters in front of him, a handsome man was standing with a bewildered expression.

His head was small.

Not alien-like small, but just small enough to look good.

But the important thing wasn’t the size, but the shape.

Lee Min-ki’s head shape was attractive and beautiful no matter what style it was styled in.

Add to that his broad shoulders, which far exceeded the average, his inverted triangle waist, and his long arms and legs.

Also, his correct posture.

He had a body that could be said to have been born to wear clothes.

That’s right.

‘I thought Min-ki might be interested in a project like this someday, but.’

Lee Min-ki had applied for [Fashion & Fashion], a project for which he was in charge of consulting and art collaboration.

It was truly a coincidence, but it was no coincidence that Director Hwang Ui-sung had asked CEO Yoo Gyu-eon for advice.

[I heard you handle the most trendy clothes.]

He had decided after seeing his clothes.

At that time, CEO Yoo Gyu-eon’s shopping mall [YU] was at its peak, thanks to Lee Min-ki’s promotion.

In recent years, inquiries about investment and collaboration had been pouring in from all over the place.

It wasn’t strange for a studio trying to make a movie with fashion to request cooperation.

Of course, if that was Director Hwang Ui-sung, the story would be a little different.

‘But I can’t just do it haphazardly.’

CEO Yoo Gyu-eon glared.

It was welcome that Lee Min-ki had applied for [Fashion & Fashion], but he had no intention of reflecting his personal feelings.

His role in this audition was one.

[The CEO should see if the person can dress well.]

To review how well the participant could dress.

Director Hwang Ui-sung had decided to focus on observing the character and acting ability.

Another person was to look at the overall acting quality.

Like this, three people.

Lee Min-ki would only be qualified to participate as the lead in [Fashion & Fashion] if he scored high marks across the board from the evaluations of these three people.

‘Min-ki, I’m grateful for your dedication to our shopping mall, but as it’s an audition, I’ll judge fairly.’

While CEO Yoo Gyu-eon braced himself, there was one person who was similarly determined.

‘I’m glad to meet CEO Yoo Gyu-eon here, but I hope he doesn’t give biased reviews.’

It was Lee Min-ki.

He had come to this place solely to be evaluated directly by Director Hwang Ui-sung.

If mediocre favoritism was reflected in the judging, it would be disappointing in itself.

“You can start acting now. Show us your free acting first.”

“Yes.”

“I won’t give you a separate signal, so start as soon as you’re ready.”

At the words of the third judge, Lee Min-ki took a breath.

This free acting.

He had worried a lot about what kind of acting would stand out in the movie [Fashion & Fashion].

Should he do stable acting?

Director Hwang Ui-sung was famous as a cinephile [a film enthusiast], so should he choose one of the works he had declared he liked?

Should he do provocative acting?

Since he was an art director, would it be good to show something avant-garde [experimental or unconventional]?

He had a lot of worries.

He had endlessly analyzed the characters that the director would prefer.

‘Director Hwang Ui-sung likes characters with flaws.’

Was it because he liked art?

He didn’t like perfect characters.

Rather, he preferred characters with flaws, characters who deserved to be hated socially.

Loan sharks.

Bicycle thieves.

Pimps.

Gambling addicts.

Abruptly throwing out characters who were socially hated, and ultimately immersing the audience in those characters within the running time.

This was the characteristic of the person called Hwang Ui-sung.

[Do I look like a jerk to you? You look more like a jerk to me. You don’t buy my stuff. Why do you only think about yourself? It’s disgusting.]

It was a line that ran through his works.

From the beginning, he took a different perspective on illuminating the world from the usual clichés.

From here, Lee Min-ki came up with a character.

That is.

‘One, two, three.’

A human without emotions.

No, a mannequin.

“……!”

Lee Min-ki began to change poses in turn.

At a very fast pace.