Rebirth: King to Superstar

*MEANWHILE AT JADE MOUNTAINS*

Hea-Jung looked at her phone for a second before keeping it back in her bag next to her. She glanced to the side and saw a young woman a few years older than her looking at her with a book in her hands and said. 

"Sister Han, I told him and he will be here on the first train tomorrow morning. Please pick him up at the train station tomorrow and bring him here. Tomorrow I might have to act and won't be able to meet him as soon as he arrives, so I should depend on you to tell him about everything."

Sister Han, who continued to look at her with a worried face, said, "Hea-Jung, will it really be ok? This is your first film, and you made a wager against the director himself that your recommendation is on point and that your junior would be better than who he chose. It might lead to problems in the future for you. People might talk bad about you. You should consider this once again and, if possible, apologize to the director once." Sister Han or Han Ju was Hea-Jung's assistant and took care of her. She was really worried about the present situation. 

Hea-Jung looked at her assistant with a slight smile and said, "Don't worry too much about it Sister Han. Have I ever made a wrong judgment? You have been with me for a long time. Well, let's forget about me requesting it. Do you think he doesn't have a chance for the role? I mean, you saw his acting the past month. He is good enough for the small role right now. If it wasn't for the sudden vacancy because the actor got sick or something and coincidentally we are also low in time, I wouldn't have thought about it." 

"And also, do you really think that director would allow me to bring him up if he doesn't believe Joon-won would be able to fill in the role? I mean, you also heard him praise Joon-won a few times when I showed him Joon-won's acting. He is just playing hard to get. You know how the director is. Anyway, I think the shoot is going to begin again. I need to go." 

As Hea-Jung stood up and was about to make her way towards the shooting area, Han Ju once again asked, "Will this all really be ok?" Hea-Jung just waved her hand and walked towards the set. Han Ju sighed looking at her and thought about how this all started during lunchtime. 

The director asked everyone to leave for lunch after a successful shoot and as Hea-Jung was about to have lunch with her, both of them heard the director shout. They turned around to see and hear him shouting at the assistant director, saying, "What? He isn't well? What happened to him suddenly? I thought he was fine and ready to act only a few days ago." 

Both of them looked at each other and Han Ju asked a worker next to them, "What is going on again? Why is the director going off again?" 

The worker, startled, looked at her and then at Hea-Jung before saying, "Ah, yes assistant Han. It seems like the actor which has to play the role tomorrow is sick and can not continue. So the director must be stressed about that." 

Hea-Jung then asked, "What was the role again? It was an important role which appears two or three times right?" 

The worker nodded and said, "It's the role of the shopkeeper who witnessed the kidnapping scene. Tomorrow would be his first appearance in the film." making Hea-Jung nod. 

The film they were making was a crime/thriller. Her role was also a fellow detective along with the hero, and the heroine was a forensic scientist. The scene they had to shoot tomorrow was almost in the middle of the film and she would be the one interrogating the shopkeeper if he knew anything. So, the role itself was minor, as the actor would only have 2 or 3 appearances at max. 

Hea-Jung just shrugged it off and walked off. Han Ju thanked the worker and quickly followed behind her. As both of them were eating, Hea-Jung looked dazed as if she was thinking about something and wasn't eating much of her food. Han Ju noticed this and nudged her a little as the shoot would continue soon after the small break. 

Hea-Jung didn't mind Han Ju and murmured, "If that actor is not going to come then that means the role is open and the crew needs to fill it. What If Joon-won played that role? He would be perfect for the minor role now? What do you think, sister Han? Joon-won would be perfect for it." She turned towards Han Ju and asked. 

Han Ju dropped the chopsticks she had in her hand and looked at Hea-Jung. She didn't understand what the girl was getting on about. 

"Hea-Jung, what are you saying? Joon-won? That junior of yours who acts at Roses? Why are you suddenly bringing him into this? It has nothing to do with us. The production crew would just have someone play that role. Don't worry about it."

"No no, listen to me, Sister Han. That guy is now ready to act in movies. I mean, you saw him acting right. He is ready now. He has so much talent and a small role like this is perfect for him to start in movies and get used to the set and other stuff. Plus, I will be here to answer any problems he might have as his senior. So, come let's go and show the director the latest drama in which he acted." And started to make her way towards the director's tent at mid-lunch. 

Han Ju's mouth was wide open as she saw her walk towards the director's tent. She looked at her food for a second before suppressing her hunger and making her way towards the director's tent to control Hea-Jung. 

When she reached the tent she could already hear Hea-Jung trying to convince the director.

"Director, this guy is perfect for a minor role like this. This will solve the problem we are facing. I mean see watch this drama, here he is the actor I am talking about. He is very talented, as you can see. He is my junior and as you can see he acts well. Give that role to him, Director." Han Ju entered the tent and saw the director, his assistants, and producers sitting while Hea-Jung had her phone in her hand while pointing at it. The director had a calm face as he watched the drama playing on the phone and after a few minutes of watching it, he pushed aside the phone and said. 

"Miss.Choi, you know how important the role is right. This guy seems like has no experience in movies until now. How can you expect me to trust a newbie like him? Also, we don't have much time at all and we need to get this shot done by tomorrow night. How are you sure that he will be here and be ready to act in the role within one day. If he doesn't act well, it will only result in time loss for us."

Even after hearing the director's concerns, Hea-Jung wasn't the type to back down and directly said, "Director, how about we make a small bet then. I am confident in this junior of mine. If you agree he will be here tomorrow first thing in the morning and is ready to act immediately. He won't even take much time to get the lines and roles. If you do not seem to like his acting and we waste time, you can cut half of my remaining remuneration. How about that? I heard the crew is running low on a budget right now. So, think about it, half of my budget." 

The director looked at the excited Hea-Jung for a second and said, "alright, give me some time. I will tell you by tonight after seeing some more of his acting. Now go get ready for the next shoot." Hea-Jung thanked the director and walked out with Han Ju. 

As soon as they got back, Han Ju asked, "What did you just say there, Hea-Jung? You will accept a pay cut for a junior if he does any mistake? This is abnormal. Think about it for a second at least. Hiaz, you are so rash." she sighed. She couldn't believe how rash the girl could get any more. Hea-Jung was the type to get what she wants by any means.

Hea-Jung, on the other hand, didn't hear her complaints and just continued to eat her food. Later that night, one of the assistant directors came to them and said that the director said it was ok to call Joon-won and that the bet was on. 

Han Ju just hoped that Joon-won would not disappoint them both and make Hea-Jung lose face at her first movie.