Chapter: 23
The next morning, the studio buzzed with its usual rhythm, but the conversations were different.
Minho arrived early, dressed in his character's simple wardrobe, but as he stepped onto the set, he could feel it—eyes trailing him, whispers following like a shadow.
"Did you see yesterday's scene?"
"He was crying for real. That wasn't just acting."
"Chills. Actual chills."
"Is he method acting or…?"
Minho tried to ignore them, offering polite nods as he passed by crew members. His expression remained calm, but inside, a knot had formed deep in his chest. The praise wasn't what bothered him—it was the curiosity. The doubt. The questions.
He had spent years under scrutiny as an idol, trained to smile through gossip and speculation. But back then, he had been surrounded by a team, a company, an image. Now? He was just a rookie actor with no defense.
[New Trait Unlocked: Media Awareness – Level 1]
You are now more perceptive of public and industry perception. Small shifts in opinion will now be visible to you.]
Minho blinked. "Visible?"
Just then, a translucent meter flickered into view beside a few nearby staff members' heads. Faint—barely readable.
• [Interest: High]
• [Suspicion: Low → Rising]
• [Admiration: Stable]
"Oh," Minho muttered. "Great."
Meanwhile, in the makeup room…
"So, what's your read on him?" one of the junior stylists whispered, brushing powder onto the cheek of another actor.
"Minho?" the head stylist replied, lowering her voice. "I've been working in this industry for over ten years. I've seen idols-turned-actors struggle with even the most basic lines. That kid? He walks in here like he's lived five lives already."
The younger stylist frowned. "You think he's faking something?"
"No, I think he's hiding something. There's a difference."
The makeup artist across the room chimed in, laughing lightly. "I don't care what he's hiding. If he keeps acting like this, he's going to be big. Really big."
"Or he's going to burn out," the head stylist muttered, watching Minho pass by the open door.
Today's scene was less emotionally charged—a quiet rooftop conversation between Minho's character and a grieving father. Still heavy, but not as raw as yesterday's breakdown. Minho was relieved.
Until he saw who he was acting with.
Jung Seok-woo. Veteran actor. Nationally respected. The kind of presence that could devour a weaker performance in a heartbeat.
Minho stood stiffly next to him, script in hand.
"You nervous?" Seok-woo asked suddenly, his deep voice calm.
Minho looked up. "A little."
The older man smiled. "Good. Means you're not a robot."
Minho let out a breath of laughter.
"But don't let it shake you," Seok-woo added, his eyes narrowing with a subtle, almost probing intensity. "I watched your scene yesterday. That wasn't normal."
Minho's stomach dropped.
Seok-woo chuckled softly. "That's a compliment, kid. Most actors can't touch the kind of pain you pulled out. It made me wonder—"
"Wonder what?"
"What you've lived through."
Minho said nothing. He simply bowed slightly and turned away, pretending to study the rooftop setup. Seok-woo didn't press further.
But that question hung in the air.
Later That Day
Hana sat across from Yeji at the cafeteria, poking at her rice with her chopsticks. "He's weird today."
"Minho?" Yeji asked.
"Yeah. He's usually focused, but today it's like he's trying not to feel anything."
Yeji thought for a moment. "You said he broke down in that crying scene, right? Maybe it got to him more than he expected."
"I asked if he was okay." Hana chewed her lip. "He said yes, but it didn't feel like the truth."
Yeji looked toward the far end of the cafeteria, where Minho sat alone, hunched over a script, headphones in. "Maybe he's just tired. Newcomers don't get much rest once they stand out."
"I guess." But Hana didn't look convinced. "Still… I wonder what his story is."
That night in Minho's apartment.
He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.
The performance today had gone smoothly. Seok-woo even complimented him after the scene, clapping him on the shoulder with an approving nod. But that question had lingered: What have you lived through?
Minho turned his head, eyes catching the blinking notification from the system.
[Quest Update – Become a Top Actor (23.5%)]
[Unlocked: Side Quest – Echoes of the Past]
> Opportunity: You may face a role related to your past life. High emotional risk. High reward.
> Reward: +5% toward Main Quest progress
> Penalty for refusal: None. This quest is optional.
Minho stared at the screen.
A role… related to his idol past?
His breath caught.
He wasn't ready.
But if he wanted to make it back—if he wanted to rewrite his story, to fix what had been taken from him—he'd have to face it eventually.
"Not yet," he whispered. "Not until I'm stronger."
The system quietly accepted his decision, the notification fading.
Minho turned off the lights and closed his eyes, letting darkness take him.