Lee Jiseok walked with his manager, Yoon Seongoh, toward the meeting room where the script reading for the palace drama would take place.
In the empty corridor, Yoon Seongoh checked the time.
"Brother, didn't we come too early?"
"Since I have nothing else to do, and Seo Jun said he would come early too. It's the first reading, so it's better to have someone familiar around."
Yoon Seongoh laughed at Lee Jiseok's words. It seemed that this was the first time he had seen Lee Jiseok so excited since they started working together. Lee Jiseok abruptly opened the door to the meeting room.
"I'm the first one here, oh? Brother Jongsu?"
It seemed the production team had already prepared the meeting room, with name plates for each character and actor placed on the table.
Kim Jongsu, whose name was called, flinched and turned around. Kim Jongsu was holding two name plates.
[Role: Heo Yuseon, Lee Jiseok]
[Role: Taejong, Kim Jongsu]
Lee Jiseok tilted his head at the large letters. Kim Jongsu cleared his throat and placed the two name plates on the table. He then went to his seat and opened the script.
"Brother, aren't you coming in?"
"Ah, yeah."
Lee Jiseok, who had been tilting his head at Yoon Seongoh's words, sat down at his seat.
What's going on? While Yoon Seongoh greeted Kim Jongsu and took out the script and barley tea from his bag, Lee Jiseok crossed his arms and looked at Kim Jongsu.
"Brother Jongsu, do you have something to hide?"
"W-What, what do you mean?"
"Brother, you're reading the script even though you're not in the first episode."
"Well, I can read it even if I'm not in it."
Kim Jongsu cleared his throat and closed the script.
'Why did this guy come so early when there's still time before the reading?'
A quiet silence fell between Kim Jongsu and Lee Jiseok, who sighed inwardly. Just then, the meeting room door opened.
"You're already here?"
It was PD Choi Minseong and writer So Eunjin. Behind them was another person.
"Hello!"
It was Seo Jun. This was his first script reading, so he was excited and came early with his senior, Da Ho. He met the PD and writer on the way and received some snacks, then came to the meeting room together.
Hehe. It had been a year since his last filming, so even though it was just a script reading, he was very happy.
"Hello, Seo Jun."
"It's been a while."
Lee Jiseok and Yoon Seongoh greeted Seo Jun warmly. Seo Jun waved and smiled at them, and PD Choi Minseong showed him his seat.
"Your name is on the seat, right? Just sit there."
"Okay!"
Seo Jun walked to his seat, which was next to Kim Jongsu. He bowed.
"Hello! I'm Seo Jun, nice to meet you, Mr. Kim Jongsu."
Seo Jun and Kim Jongsu had an age difference of over 30 years.
Kim Jongsu was a veteran actor who was indispensable in historical dramas. When he wore a traditional robe and had a beard, he looked like a real nobleman from the Joseon era.
His rugged face and deep voice suited the role of a powerful villain, and he often played such roles.
Because of this, the public often assumed that if Kim Jongsu appeared, he was likely to be a villain.
'Is this your first time playing a king?'
While reading the script for the palace drama, Seo Jun thought that Kim Jongsu was very suitable for the role of Taejong.
"Do you know me?"
"Of course! I've seen the historical dramas you've been in!"
"Really? Ah, sit down."
"Okay!"
Kim Jongsu, who listened to Seo Jun with a smile, seemed like a great 'teacher.' Seo Jun enthusiastically talked about the historical dramas and dramas Kim Jongsu had been in.
Despite being on the opposite side of the table, Lee Jiseok felt left out and had a displeased look on his face.
PD Choi and writer So, who were looking for cushions and snacks to give to Seo Jun, tilted their heads and muttered.
"Didn't I tell you to sit next to Jiseok?"
"Is that so? Did I forget?"
"Huh?"
Lee Jiseok's mind raced when he heard the two of them. Kim Jongsu, who usually came late, was holding name plates and had changed seats.
"Brother Jongsu, is this my seat?!"
"W-What, what are you talking about?"
Kim Jongsu's flustered reaction seemed to confirm it. Seo Jun, who received yuzu tea from Da Ho, watched as Kim Jongsu and Lee Jiseok argued.
The teacher-like demeanor Kim Jongsu had shown to Seo Jun was gone, and his true personality came out.
"Brother, sit in your own seat!"
"I want to talk to Seo Jun too. It's too far over there! You've been in ghost movies and remakes, and you've been in touch, so just let me have this one day."
Kim Jongsu, who was about to yell, lowered his voice, aware of Seo Jun.
Lee Jiseok remembered that Kim Jongsu had asked him to teach him how to vote for the WTV Film Festival. He had said he was giving a vote to a talented young actor, but it seemed Seo Jun was a fan.
"Is there a bad relationship between Brother Jiseok and Mr. Kim Jongsu?"
"No, not bad. We're actually very close. We were in the same drama when Jiseok debuted. We're so close that we joke around a lot. He even did a special appearance in the remake when we were filming."
"Oh, I see. You appeared because of Brother Jiseok."
Seo Jun nodded. Is he like Uncle Chan to me? In the end, Lee Jiseok gave up his seat and grumbled at Kim Jongsu.
"Then you sit over here too!"
"I'm not as cheap as you, brother."
Just as the second round of arguments between Kim Jongsu and Lee Jiseok was about to start, the meeting room door opened. A staff member came in with bottles of water for the actors.
Looking at the clock, it was almost time for the reading. After that, actors and managers entered the meeting room. Everyone had the same reaction.
They entered the meeting room without much thought, only to be startled by the sight of senior Kim Jongsu and Lee Jiseok already seated.
They greeted them and carefully observed the atmosphere in the meeting room. They were surprised to see Seo Jun talking affectionately with Kim Jongsu.
"Mr. Kim Jongsu, didn't you say you didn't like junior actors? I heard you didn't even talk to the actors in the last drama you were in together."
"I don't like actors who can't act. That guy was a parachutist and his acting was terrible. If a parachutist can act well, I would like them."
"Still, this is the first time I've seen you so kind."
While everyone was whispering, Kim Jongsu and Seo Jun became closer.
"Is this your first drama script reading?"
"Yes!"
"Since we don't have lines in the first episode, ask if you have any questions."
"Thank you."
Seo Jun answered with sparkling eyes.
The agreed time was approaching. Fortunately, all the actors who said they would attend arrived on time.
Seo Jun looked around at the actors sitting at the table and those sitting in the back.
Taejong, Queen Wonkyung, Yangnyeong, Hyoryeong, Chungnyeong, and the court physicians.
Although the script reading was only for the first episode, everyone who wanted to see each other and those without lines also attended.
With actors, managers, production staff, and publicists, the meeting room was bustling.
"Let's start the script reading for the palace drama."
Everyone sat in their seats, and PD Choi Minseong announced the start of the script reading. Although this was Lee Jiseok's first historical drama, he delivered his lines naturally.
Kim Jongsu, known for his acting perfectionism, grumbled but was impressed by the younger actor's excellent acting skills.
It was just a meeting room and a script reading, but Lee Jiseok delivered his lines as if he were on set. His gestures and expressions changed, and it felt like he had been transported to the Joseon era just by listening to his voice.
Seo Jun compared the modern and historical drama speech styles, finding it more interesting because of the archaic language.
The script reading for the palace drama passed quickly. The first episode was about Heo Yuseon building his reputation as a physician to enter the palace.
Neither Taejong, the prince, nor the palace where Heo Yuseon would work, which was responsible for the health of the royal family, appeared.
As a result, Taejong, Queen Wonkyung, and the princes had to awkwardly watch Lee Jiseok and the other actors deliver their lines.
No, they had to cover their mouths to avoid laughing at Seo Jun, who was diligently taking notes and nodding.
PD Choi Minseong and writer So Eunjin were already leaning on their chins, watching Seo Jun with eyes that seemed to be dripping honey. Kim Jongsu was peeking at what Seo Jun was writing.
[Strongly? Weakly?]
[Take a break]
[Brother Jiseok is doing great!]
Despite being distracted, the reading continued thanks to Kim Jongsu.
Kim Jongsu was not that kind to actors who couldn't act. He had even spoken harshly to a junior who sought advice.
Although Kim Jongsu was known for his bad temper, actors who were close to him didn't think badly of him.
Unlike the common belief that Kim Jongsu liked actors who were good at acting, he actually liked actors who loved acting.
Even if they were new and not very good, if they loved acting, Kim Jongsu would open up to them.
Of course, this was when they knew their limits and took on roles that suited them. If they took on roles that were beyond their abilities, he would turn his back on them.
Extras were not allowed. They had to build experience gradually, line by line. Kim Jongsu himself had learned acting this way.
But nowadays, people who couldn't even do the basics were easily taking lead and supporting roles just because they had ticket power.
'There are actors like Seo Jun who are good from the start, but they are very few.'
Kim Jongsu smiled as he watched Seo Jun taking notes diligently. As Lee Jiseok said, he could feel Seo Jun's love for acting even though he was still young. His hardworking attitude, despite being so good, was very impressive.
Seeing the affectionate interaction between Seo Jun and Kim Jongsu, Lee Jiseok felt proud.
Kim Jongsu, who loved acting and actors who loved acting, also had a talent for teaching.
He had taught good juniors who became stars.
But the end was not always good. Some of his juniors, who once loved acting, became actors who only enjoyed their fame.
With such experiences, Kim Jongsu's already bad temper worsened, and he rarely taught anyone. It took a few years for Lee Jiseok to receive short advice from him.
But something unexpected happened.
When an actor was puzzled by a line, Kim Jongsu would speak softly, still looking at Seo Jun.
"You need to speak faster and more desperately there. You're trying to save your dying mother, right?"
"Okay, okay!"
When the actor delivered the line again, Seo Jun nodded and wrote down Kim Jongsu's advice in the script.
[Fast and desperate]
Kim Jongsu smiled. He didn't plan to give advice to other actors; he just hoped this talented boy would learn as much as possible indirectly.
The actors in the first episode, who rarely got advice from an actor like Kim Jongsu, worked hard to continue the script reading to get as much advice as possible.
Seeing the two of them, Lee Jiseok felt proud for a moment, but he shivered and stumbled over his lines at the sound of Kim Jongsu's unusually gentle voice.
Seo Jun, who was taking notes, Kim Jongsu, who was teaching his junior, and the actors who were participating enthusiastically.
With topics popping up everywhere, the publicist smiled and focused the camera lens.
"Great job!"
The script reading for the first episode was over. When Seo Jun closed his script, everyone else did the same with a look of regret.
Managers gathered their actors' belongings, and Da Ho, who was standing behind Seo Jun, started to gather his things.
Feeling frustrated, Kim Jongsu wanted to talk to this talented actor who loved acting, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
What do elementary school students like these days? What should I talk about? While he was thinking, Lee Jiseok interrupted.
"Seo Jun, Brother Jongsu really likes you. He even voted for you in the film festival. Since it's a bit awkward to call him 'brother,' you can call him 'uncle.'"
"Um... Can I call you 'Uncle Jongsu'?"
"Of course! Anytime!"
"Hehehe."
A brave person joined the warm conversation of the three actors. Queen Wonkyung, Lee Ji-hye, smiled and said,
"Seo Jun, can you give me a signature? My name is Lee Ji-hye."
"I know! I've seen your movies. You were in a movie with Da Jin."
Seo Jun signed the white paper Lee Ji-hye gave him. Lee Ji-hye smiled as she held the signed paper.
"Da Jin also said you're doing great."
"Hehe."
As Seo Jun smiled, people started to gather with paper in hand, forming a line in front of him, even avoiding the cold gaze of Da Ho.
Kim Jongsu, who didn't show it, also wanted Seo Jun's signature. Lee Jiseok, noticing this, teased him.
"Seo Jun, give Brother Jongsu a signature too. He seems to really want it."
"Okay!"
It would have been better not to say that. Both Kim Jongsu and Seo Jun thought the same thing.
A small signing session started in the meeting room. With so many people, they decided to give signatures to those who would be in the same shooting later.
Kim Jongsu, who was disappointed, received Seo Jun's phone number.
* * *
The script reading video for KBC's new drama, "The Royal Physician," was uploaded to the internet.
KBC seemed to have planned it, uploading the video in three versions: the reading version, the Seo Jun version, and the actors' version.
Especially the Seo Jun version had cute yellow subtitles and a delicate soundtrack, making it feel like a variety show.
-So cute! He's fidgeting. 😭
-Honey is dripping from Kim Jongsu's eyes. But his face looks a bit scary when you look at it like that. 😂
-Whenever Seo Jun hesitates, Kim Jongsu teaches him. 😂