Top Star by Luck

Chapter 101

He seriously contemplated.

‘What makes a great runway?’

A runway is essentially walking calmly down the stage, showcasing an impressive image, and returning.

The time given to a model is merely 20 to 30 seconds.

How can one exude “style” in such a short amount of time?

This was the task originally given to Lee Min Ki.

‘It’s difficult.’

It was hard.

It had been difficult back when he once dreamed of becoming a fashion model, and now it was still challenging as he stood on the runway as an actor.

He tried to find someone who could help him, but it wasn’t easy.

He wondered if he needed a different type of walking since he couldn’t compete with professional models in physicality.

He even asked Director Hwang Ui Seong indirectly.

[“I have an idea in mind, but first, I’ll leave it up to your interpretation.”]

The director told Lee Min Ki that he would give him the first move.

It was as though he had given him freedom to test his creativity, like saying he would wait to see what he came up with.

It was a painful kind of freedom.

So, he walked and walked until his feet blistered as he thought.

How could he overcome his physical limitations and show a runway that rivaled professional models?

What could he do?

After thinking and thinking.

After analyzing and analyzing.

‘This is it.’

Lee Min Ki found his answer in the runway of a Southeast Asian model.

It might not be the perfect answer, but it was the best solution he could derive.

“……!”

“……!”

The moment Lee Min Ki appeared on the runway, the atmosphere in the studio shifted.

On stage.

A single vibrant flower had bloomed brilliantly there.

No, the word “flower” was far too insufficient to describe the sight before them.

‘It’s a garden.’

It was a garden.

With each step Lee Min Ki took, a flower turned into a bouquet, the bouquet into a flower bed, and the flower bed into a garden.

As if the flowers in the garden were each showcasing their own diverse beauty, Lee Min Ki was radiating a profound elegance.

‘Is he really going to turn there like that?’

The staff collectively gasped in admiration.

Step, step.

Lee Min Ki walked calmly, one step at a time.

Each step seemed to leave a trail of blooming flowers.

His expression was refreshing yet gentle.

The flowing line from his shoulders to his pelvis and down to his toes felt almost sensuous.

‘This is the complete opposite of Heo Soo Oh’s runway.’

It wasn’t the emotionless walking that resembled a mannequin.

What should one call this instead?

‘A face of a thousand emotions.’

It was a runway that consistently radiated countless vivid emotions through his entire body.

‘This is the answer I found.’

Lee Min Ki—what kind of character was [Lee Jong Ho] supposed to be?

Ordinary in daily life.

But when placed on the runway, he was meant to reveal a near-demonic level of talent.

At first, he had imagined a bland character performing a perfectly sharp and flawless runway.

A model that completely erased their individuality and became a mannequin for the clothes.

You could call that the epitome of high fashion.

That’s the kind of runway the public usually pictures when they think of a model.

But there was one calculation missing from this.

‘Do I really have to do the runway like everyone else?’

Exactly.

‘Yes, that’s it. A genius doesn’t have to be like everyone else!’

The character [Lee Jong Ho] didn’t need to present a textbook runway.

Why? Because he was the protagonist.

And this work wasn’t reality—it was a fictional creation.

‘That feels closer to a commercial model, though.’

‘Wow, even with all that expression acting, the clothes still stand out.’

Lee Min Ki’s runway wasn’t that of a high-fashion model.

It was so distinct that it stood out even among commercial models, where individuality is often celebrated.

But Lee Min Ki didn’t think his judgment was wrong.

‘The runway of Southeast Asian models was different.’

It shone brighter.

As if they had no intention of hiding themselves, they showcased their emotions flamboyantly.

Even with their smaller builds, the energy they exuded was enough to overwhelm the audience.

‘Is there any reason I shouldn’t do that?’

He was an actor.

An actor’s strength lies in emotions.

Why throw away something he was good at?

If you’re good at either side, there’s always a way to use it effectively.

Lee Min Ki resolved to embrace his strengths as an actor—his ability to express emotions.

One more thing.

He even added a layer of character interpretation.

‘Lee Jong Ho has a bland and emotionless personality, so he should become vibrant on the runway to bring out that twist.’

That’s right.

Someone who is already expected to do well doing well isn’t a twist.

At least, they need to excel in a different direction for it to feel like a reversal.

This, too, was someone’s intention.

‘He’s done well.’

Director Hwang Ui Seong smiled faintly.

‘This isn’t the answer I had in mind, but if that’s a possible solution, there’s nothing wrong with it.’

Director Hwang Ui Seong had imagined a completely different kind of walking for Lee Min Ki.

He had thought the best solution would be for him to walk normally and let the direction elevate it to perfection.

‘I thought that was the best approach, but now it’s become the second-best.’

Watching Lee Min Ki’s walking, he realized.

This was the right answer.

Director Hwang Ui Seong couldn’t help but smile.

Of course, within the studio, his smile was so faint that only a few people barely noticed it.

Even those few privileged ones would need to get within three meters of him to discern it.

In other words, to everyone else, his face still appeared stiff.

‘Wow, even after all that effort, he doesn’t look satisfied.’

‘Actor Lee Min Ki is pitiful too.’

‘Does Director Hwang have blue blood flowing under his skin?’

Some were satisfied, and some were amazed.

Overall, the atmosphere brightened.

But amid all that, there was also someone seething with rage.

“…… Grr!”

It was Heo Soo Oh, the man who had performed on the runway one turn before Lee Min Ki.

‘What’s he trying to achieve with such crude gimmicks?’

He had performed a runway fitting for his career as a high-fashion model.

A runway where he erased himself and became a mannequin.

But Lee Min Ki had gone in the complete opposite direction.

The expression that settled over his mask was incomparably radiant, and his light steps seemed as graceful as if he were dancing.

‘That’s supposed to be a runway?’

As a traditional model, it was enough to make Heo Soo Oh grit his teeth.

No, well, it was understandable since it was Lee Min Ki.

He wasn’t a proper model to begin with, so there was no reason to expect anything.

At best, he had been a fitting model for mass-market shopping malls.

However.

“Wow, did you see that?”

“That’s so cool.”

“I actually want to buy that outfit.”

“Is this why people go to see runway shows?”

The production crew openly admired Lee Min Ki, which was something Heo Soo Oh found difficult to accept.

Not that his inability to accept it would change anything.

‘Is this really the level of the film industry?’

Crunch.

Heo Soo Oh clenched his molars hard.

“Phew.”

One scene ended.

Surprisingly, it was done in one take.

A brief break followed in the studio.

The lavishly funded studio featured a lounge-style rest area inside the studio cube, and Lee Min Ki was sitting on a bench there, catching his breath.

“Great work, Actor.”

Someone struck up a conversation.

Lee Min Ki turned his head toward the voice he’d now grown familiar with.

“Oh, Director.”

Standing there was Director Kim.

On set, he was often called “Director Kim,” “Kim Gam,” or affectionately, “Kkingkkang.”

Since Director Hwang Ui Seong was referred to as “the director,” Director Kim had conveniently become “Kim Gam,” not quite the full title of “director.”

“Phew, tea.”

Sitting down next to Lee Min Ki, Kim Gam unwrapped a sandwich and spoke.

“To be honest, I was surprised watching your acting.”

“Excuse me?”

“The level of polish was different. Honestly, within the industry, you’re already famous. People say you’re exceptionally good for a rookie. But now I think we can drop the word ‘rookie.’”

Having unwrapped the sandwich, Kim Gam took a big bite, chewed, swallowed, and continued speaking.

“For a rookie—let’s just throw that away. You’re simply good now.”

“Haha, that’s a kind thing to say. But I still have a long way to go.”

Lee Min Ki scratched the back of his head, both embarrassed and pleased.

He was happy.

Receiving good reviews from the public was gratifying, but being acknowledged by someone in the same industry brought a special kind of joy.

The two were slightly different.

How should one put it?

It’s like an employee at a company developing electronic products being recognized internally versus having the product acknowledged by customers—it’s not quite the same.

Lee Min Ki felt that difference as he opened his mouth.

“I was surprised too. Especially during this runway shoot.”

“Hm? What part surprised you?”

When Kim Gam pressed him, Lee Min Ki coughed lightly and said.

“I was really nervous, but the shoot ended in one take.”

That’s right.

The runway scene had ended in a single take just moments ago.

As though there was no point in shooting any further, Director Hwang Ui Seong had called it off.

“That was unexpected. Forgive me, but what I’d heard about Director Hwang Ui Seong was completely different.”

“You’ve heard something?”

At the director’s question, Lee Min Ki let out a small groan and answered.

“Well, that’s because Director Hwang Ui Seong is famously a perfectionist. He’s known to shoot even a single scene dozens of times.”

There was a famous anecdote circulating online.

Once, during a collaboration with a Japanese actor, they shot a single scene repeatedly from morning until evening.

The exhausted actor had apparently said this:

[Do Koreans not know moderation?]

It was meant as a joke.

It was a story from when Director Na Hong Jin had shot a scene repeatedly because the angle of the light didn’t sit right with him.

“Among the so-called ‘Big 3 Korean Directors,’ Director Hwang Ui Seong is often said to be the most perfectionist. I was terrified we’d have to shoot dozens of times.”

“Ah, let me explain that.”

At those words, Kim Gam chuckled and said.

“That’s a misunderstanding about Director Hwang Ui Seong. He’s not like that at all.”

“Excuse me?”

“The word ‘perfectionist’ can also mean that if something is shot perfectly, there’s no need to shoot it again.”

“Oh.”

It made sense.

Did that mean the scene he had just acted in was perfect?

As Lee Min Ki wondered about it, he felt too embarrassed to say it himself, so he held back.

“That means your acting was good enough that there was no need for another take.”

Kim Gam confirmed it for him.

“In Director Hwang’s mind, there’s always a clear image. He repeats shooting until he achieves that image. If it’s achieved in one take? Then there’s no need for further shooting.”

That made sense.

Finally understanding Director Hwang Ui Seong’s intentions, Lee Min Ki nodded and spoke.

“The rumors were a little exaggerated, then. Like the one where a director makes an actor repeat a single scene all day long and sends them home after just one day.”

“Ah, but that actually did happen.”

“……?”

Why was there a rebuttal here?

Lee Min Ki tilted his head in confusion, and Kim Gam paused, as though recalling an event from the past.

“Let’s see. There was a time when we started shooting, and after two days of filming a single scene, he still didn’t like the result and sent the actor home.”

“…… A minor role?”

“No.”

“Then a supporting role?”

“The lead role.”

At the horrific revelation, Lee Min Ki was left speechless.

Still, a lead actor would have been chosen carefully after an arduous audition process, so sending them home because they didn’t fit the director’s vision seemed incomprehensible.

Kim Gam continued.

“Actor, have you seen ‘Please Wear a Mask Indoors’?”

“Oh, yes, the pandemic movie.”

He’d seen it about ten times.

He remembered the male lead’s acting as being phenomenal.

Kim Gam said nonchalantly.

“That actor was Kim Do Ha. The one who went home after two days.”

“Gasp.”

“They sent him back because his acting was ‘too gentle.’”

Lee Min Ki was stunned.

Sent Kim Do Ha home?

Sure, his reputation had been tarnished by his attitude, but purely based on acting, he was considered one of the top three among young male actors.

What about the contract?

‘Well, if it’s Director Hwang Ui Seong, people would let it slide. Anywhere else, this would’ve been a huge scandal.’

The industry was harsh.

And who would even believe such stories if you told them?

“Actor Kim Do Ha…… or rather, even that trash respected Director Hwang Ui Seong’s intentions, so things ended well. If not, the production itself could have been shaken from its foundation.”

“……Then I could also be kicked out if things go wrong?”

Lee Min Ki began to sweat nervously, but Kim Gam laughed heartily and patted his back as he spoke.

“Of course not. Director Hwang really likes you, so that won’t happen. Even now, he keeps laughing while watching the filming.”

“The director? He laughed?”

“Yes, quite often.”

Was there such a thing?

Lee Min Ki’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Director Hwang Ui Seong always wore a stern face on set.

His voice was the same.

From the moment they met in the Cube Studio at dawn, it had been like that.

He had even warned him outright, saying, ‘I’ll watch to see how well you do.’

‘No, does he even know how to make a different expression other than that face?’

Nothing came to mind.

It was like trying to imagine a taste you had never experienced before.

A person who had never felt the citrus scent in Thai food—how could they possibly imagine the taste of Tom Yum Soup?

‘He wouldn’t believe this.’

Kim Gam had expected this much.

As the assistant director who worked closely with the main director, it was simply something he picked up.

He also knew that reading Director Hwang Ui Seong’s expressions was quite a unique skill.

So, he chuckled softly and said,

“You can believe me. You’re doing well. If you keep going like this, everything will proceed smoothly without any major problems.”

“……Thank you.”

It was meaningless.

The awkward consolation didn’t reach Lee Min Ki, who had already planted the possibility of being replaced in his mind if he made any mistakes.

‘I need to practice more.’

Practice.

Now wasn’t the time to feel relieved just because he had been chosen as the lead actor. He needed to practice harder, as if he could be sent home at any moment.

Lee Min Ki resolved himself firmly at that moment.

“Ah, I was wondering where you’d gone, and here you are.”

A man appeared before him.

A very tall man with a handsome face.

The kind of person who would make you turn your head for a second glance anywhere on the street.

‘Model Heo Soo Oh?’

Heo Soo Oh.

The man who had not exchanged a single word with him since the runway shoot earlier appeared in front of Lee Min Ki.

Or rather, more precisely, in front of both Lee Min Ki and Kim Gam.

“Huff.”

As if he had something to say, Heo Soo Oh took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

“I can’t accept that scene from earlier.”

“…….”

What are you going to do if you can’t accept it?

A completely absurd thought passed through Lee Min Ki’s mind.