Chapter 1456: Testing (1) |
Inside a certain taxi driving toward a certain hotel…
“I couldn’t understand a single thing they said! Not a thing!”
Choi Yeon-Ha loudly grumbled, her face full of cranky irritation.
Han Eun-Sol sighed. “Noona… I’m telling you, you did well in the audition.”
“Argh, whatever! I didn’t like it, okay?!”
“…”
As befitting a consummate professional, Choi Yeon-Ha experienced no issues during the script reading. She spent the whole night preparing for it, after all. Although it was impossible for her to evaluate how good her pronunciation was, she still could proudly say she had succinctly captured the emotions and the essence of the scene.
But the problem came after that.
Han Eun-Sol sighed again. “But I did say there would be improvisations afterward, though.”
Choi Yeon-Ha pouted unhappily. Why couldn’t her manager accompany her during the audition? That made no bloody sense!
Such a thing was unthinkable back in Korea. Who would dare tell the one and only Choi Yeon-Ha to leave her manager outside, after all!
However, when in Rome, one must follow Rome’s laws.
In this country, Choi Yeon-Ha wasn’t South Korea’s top star, but yet another actor auditioning for a role. Of course she was aware of her status and did as told without complaining once.
“Still, I couldn’t even bring an interpreter with me?! Don’t you think that’s just too unfair?”
Han Eun-Sol helplessly shrugged. “I guess they wanted to see if you can communicate with them on your own?”
“I can do that perfectly well with an interpreter, so why bother?!”
“Well, sure, you can. But…”
Han Eun-Sol smiled wryly.
Whenever Choi Yeon-Ha went to an audition, she’d always walk away sulking and complaining like this. All because… She couldn’t bring out the perfect performance she had in mind. The ensuing crankiness would lead to her picking faults with just about everything that caught her eye!
Well, it’s a good thing, no?
Han Eun-Sol usually wanted to stay as far away from Choi Yeon-Ha in her cranky mode, but not when she was cranky for this reason.
Just how many so-called actors thought all they had to do was rock up to the set and read some lines off the script so the directors could give them the all-clear sign? Such performers would never improve their craft. Even if they boasted above-average looks, they would instantly get pushed out of the limelight once the public got sick and tired of them.
However, Choi Yeon-Ha was different. Despite being South Korea’s top actor, she still humbled herself and auditioned for roles. She even stressed herself out with anxiety over how good her performance was during those auditions.
Here was the reason why no one would ever criticize her for being a rubbish actor.
No, wait. That’s not quite right, is it?
Han Eun-Sol suddenly had a thought. Wasn’t Choi Yeon-Ha more like the top representative of all the actors who had never been appreciated for their acting chops? No matter how convincing she was on screen, her looks always took the spotlight away from her acting, didn’t they?
Without a doubt, she would’ve been called a brilliant actor, a once-in-a-generation talent, wherever she went, had her looks not been so distractingly eye-catching.
Since Han Eun-Sol knew that her drive to constantly improve herself was behind her acting ability, he had no problem with handling the side effects of her drive, namely her hysteria. Even he didn’t want to be a manager of someone who had a pretty face but couldn’t act to save herself, after all!
“Argh, whatever! It’s all over, anyway!”
Choi Yeon-Ha puffed her cheeks.
“I should’ve been more strict with my preparations. Yeah, it’s my fault for underestimating this whole thing. Right, I should have been more professional with my approach!”
She gritted her teeth, then glanced at her manager.
“Eun-Sol?”
“Yes, noona?”
“When we go home, find me a good English tutor.”
Han Eun-Sol tilted his head. “You want to learn English? Even though we haven’t heard back from the casting agents yet?”
“That’s that, and this is something else, okay! If I don’t prepare myself just because I failed this one time, I’ll fail again in the future, too!”
“Y-yeah, that’s true.”
“So, I better get myself ready just in case, since opportunities can happen at any moment, right? No one knows what the future holds, after all!”
Han Eun-Sol was genuinely impressed by what Choi Yeon-Ha said. In moments like this, it was as if he was talking to a different person altogether.
Yes, it was almost not an exaggeration to say Choi Yeon-Ha the actor was a totally distinct lifeform from Choi Yeon-Ha the person! If only the two existences could merge as one and find a stable middle lane, though! Then Han Eun-Sol would have nothing to wish for.
No, hang on? Choi Yeon-Ha the actor will most likely lose out if that happens, so let’s not do that.
It seemed he was not getting his wish fulfilled anytime soon!
“Chief Han?” Choi Yeon-Ha icily addressed her manager.
“Yes, noona?”
“Stop daydreaming, okay? Focus on finding me a good English tutor when we get home instead!”
“Uh… Mm, yes, ma’am. I’ll try my best.”
“Huh? What is up with that reply? Finding an English tutor can’t be that hard, right?”
“No, it should be easy. Speaking passable English is a skill everyone is expected to possess in today’s Korea, after all. Yup, I can guarantee you that finding an excellent tutor will be easier than taking candy from a baby.”
“So? What’s the problem?”
“However, when you add the extra condition of Choi Yeon-Ha being the learner, you instantly turn this task into Mission: Impossible.”
“…”
Choi Yeon-Ha’s cheeks twitched ominously.
Even though Han Eun-Sol knew she’d react this way, this situation forced him to be upfront about it against his better judgment.
She shot back sourly at him. “Why is it my fault?!”
“The first hurdle is finding someone who’s patient enough to endure your personality, noona. And the second hurdle is finding someone who won’t blab their mouth after they quit in disgust at your tantrums. If you’re serious about finding the suitable tutor, we might as well hold personality and aptitude tests first.”
“…”
“Yes, I know you draw a clear distinction between private and business matters. But this issue is a mixture of both, which means I gotta keep my guard up, just in case.”
“…”
Choi Yeon-Ha was about to argue back, only for her lips to clamp shut again. She eventually gave up and pouted in silence instead. Of course she knew her personality was a bit… particular. How could she not?
“…Wouldn’t that problem go away if we pay them a lot of money?”
“Sure. Money can solve most problems.”
“Also, I’ve been thinking about this, and… Do we have to find someone who can keep secrets? I mean, the whole country already knows I have a crappy personality, anyway.”
“…”
Choi Yeon-Ha had a point there.
The clip of her blowing her top in front of the reporters had spread all over the internet by now, which had turned her into the butt of many jokes. But, result-wise, her image had improved overall, which was a remarkable achievement, all things considered.
Even though the improved public image was something to be happy about, with that clip still circulating online, it’d be impossible for her to pretend to be a nice person anymore.
Even back then, her haters were busy gloating about her real personality finally being revealed to the world, after all. Although, they were still doing that even now, so…
“Since that’s the case, we don’t have to find someone super discreet anymore, am I right? Right? It shouldn’t be a problem for me to, you know, openly throw a tantrum, I think?”
“…Noona?”
Choi Yeon-Ha frowned deeply. “What now?”
“Do you even hear yourself? Don’t you see what’s wrong with that mindset?”
“Huh? What did I say that’s so bad, anyway?”
Han Eun-Sol sighed deeply enough to rock the taxi they were traveling in.
“The normal thing to say in this case is… You should’ve said you’re not gonna throw tantrums anymore. It should definitely not be, Oh, I can openly cause a scene now! Okay?”
“Oh…” Choi Yeon-Ha stumbled as if she was slightly panicking just then. “W-wait. Listen, I’m not saying I’ll definitely cause a scene or anything like that.”
“Even you don’t trust yourself, so how do you expect me to trust you? A person should have morals, you know! Morals, I say!”
Choi Yeon-Ha sheepishly turned her head and looked outside the window. “Wow. I didn’t know neon signs in America all look the same.”
“Urgh…” Han Eun-Sol spat out yet another groan. “Don’t worry. I’ll look for an English tutor as soon as we get home.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Han Eun-Sol sneakily glanced at Choi Yeon-Ha sitting next to him.
I think she has a decent shot at making it, though.
Choi Yeon-Ha kept saying she had messed up the improvisation bit of the audition, but Han Eun-Sol didn’t think that was the case. With her acting chops, even if she somehow messed up a scene, most people would still be happy with the end result.
That should be enough in this case. Because Choi Yeon-Ha had a not-so-secret weapon that could ignore racial boundaries: her looks. Even if the casting agents had no clue what real acting was, they would still never miss Choi Yeon-Ha’s biggest asset.
In a way, it wouldn’t have mattered even if she flunked the audition.
No casting director worth their salt would entrust a role requiring top-notch acting ability to an unproven “new” actress in town, after all. As a matter of fact, filmmakers should already have the actors they want for those roles, anyway.
So, as a newbie in town, the best Choi Yeon-Ha could hope for was a minor role. Maybe even a cameo. And when performing in such a role, hiring a performer with eye-catching looks could be a better bet than an accomplished actor for the filmmakers.
“Let’s not get too anxious about this and wait for their reply, noona.”
“Yeah. I’m not expecting anything, anyway. I only did it to get some experience, after all,” said Choi Yeon-Ha.
Han Eun-Sol chuckled wryly. Really? Because you look seriously anxious, noona.
“Are we there yet?” Choi Yeon-Ha glanced outside the taxi’s window. “I can’t tell where our hotel is in this place. Everywhere looks the same to me.”
“I think we’re almost there, though?” Han Eun-Sol also looked outside before spotting their hotel. “Look, over there. We’ve arrived.”
“Geez, that was such a long ride. Riding in taxis is even more tiring, isn’t it? Next time, let’s rent a car or something.”
“I didn’t know we’d be going to auditions, you know?”
Choi Yeon-Ha tutted. “I wasn’t trying to blame you, Eun-Sol. I’m just saying that’s what we should do next time. Urgh… I'm so tired. I think I’m gonna go to bed early today.”
“That’s a good idea.”
For some reason, their taxi stopped some distance away from the hotel’s entrance. Han Eun-Sol wondered why they stopped here when the hotel’s driveway was empty, but wasn’t sure if he should ask the taxi driver about it. This wasn’t South Korea, after all. Maybe the taxi drivers did things differently here?
Han Eun-Sol took out his wallet. “How much is it?”
The taxi driver replied in a somewhat gruff tone. Han Eun-Sol nodded, then began rummaging through the banknotes in his wallet. That was when the taxi driver, who was looking at his passengers through the rearview mirror, said something to Han Eun-Sol. He sounded a little strange just then.
Han Eun-Sol’s expression stiffened instantly.
Choi Yeon-Ha noticed that and asked her manager. “What did he say?”
“I-it’s nothing important, noona. Don’t worry about it. Let’s get out of here.”
“Really?”
That was when the taxi driver turned around in his seat to stare straight at Choi Yeon-Ha, causing her to stiffen a little.
Even if one couldn’t understand the language, sometimes one only needed to look at the other party’s expression to guess their intentions. The taxi driver’s leering gaze swept all over Choi Yeon-Ha, and that began riling her up.
Her near non-existent grasp of English meant she could only catch a few words coming out of the taxi driver’s mouth.
Did he say dollars? Escort?
Choi Yeon-Ha turned her stiff face toward Han Eun-Sol and asked again. “What did this guy say, Eun-Sol?”
“…”
“You better be honest with me, okay? What did this ugly bastard say just now?”
“It’s really nothing, noona. I’m telling you! This guy is just trying to rip us off. I’ll take care of this, so can you exit the taxi first? Please?”
“Really? You’re not lying?”
“Yes, I’m not lying.”
Choi Yeon-Ha’s suspicious gaze stabbed into Han Eun-Sol’s face, but she still grabbed the taxi’s door and opened it. After swinging one leg outside, she glanced back at her manager. “I’m getting out, okay?”
“Yes, noona. I’ll deal with this.”
Choi Yeon-Ha stared at Han Eun-Sol one more time, still unconvinced. But she eventually slipped outside the taxi. However, that was when her hearing caught what the taxi driver said next. And she didn’t need to have a good grasp of English to understand one particular word leaving his mouth.
“…? Did he say f*ck?” Choi Yeon-Ha’s head snapped back toward the taxi’s interior. “This ugly bastard just swore at us, didn’t he?”
“N-no, that’s not…”
“My English might be crappy, but I can still understand that much, okay?! This as*hole just swore at us!”
Choi Yeon-Ha climbed back into the taxi again.
Han Eun-Sol grew even more flustered. “Noona, why are you getting back inside the…”
“I want you to tell me exactly what this bastard said to you!”
Even as the flustered Han Eun-Sol tried to find the right words to say, the taxi driver’s leering gaze remained glued to Choi Yeon-Ha. While making a creepy smirk, the taxi driver said something else. Despite the acrylic panel separating the rear passenger seats from the driver’s, something unheard of in Korean taxis, Choi Yeon-Ha still tried to listen as closely as possible.
“Two hundred? One time? Bucks? Hey, Eun-Sol! What’s this ‘bucks’ thing? What is it?”
“…”
“I said, what is ‘bucks’?! You better tell me before I google it!”
Han Eun-Sol sighed deeply. “Bucks means dollars.”
“Ng?”
“Two hundred dollars, noona.”
“Two hundred dollars? One time?”
Choi Yeon-Ha’s expression grew hard as stone just then. It was easy enough to figure out what the taxi driver meant by combining his lecherous expression and the translation of some of the words he said.
Her complexion paled instantly before growing red just as quickly. Her brows shot up in fury.
“Why, you…!”
She began trembling in indignity as flames began erupting out from her eyes.
“You stinking bastard! You wanna mess with me?!”
Bang!
Choi Yeon-Ha suddenly kicked the acrylic panel with considerable force.
“Yu… mader pucker! Ai keel yu! Teon… take…Eiii, bloody hell! Get out of the car, now! Imma pull out all of your hair right now, you stinking bastard!”[1]
The taxi driver’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the sight of Choi Yeon-Ha angrily kicking the acrylic.
“Get out of the car, you bastard!”
Bang!
Han Eun-Sol jumped up in fright. “N-noona! Please calm down!”
“Yu son ov beech! You piece of sh*t…! Argh, what the hell! Eun-Sol! What other insults are there in English?! This bastard must be insane! Sexually harassing his passenger?! What was that, one time? Two hundred dollars for one time?! Fine! Imma make sure today’s your funeral! Get out of the car, you goddamn son of a b*tch!”
Choi Yeon-Ha continued to roar at the top of her lungs even as the alarmed hotel attendants rushed toward the taxi.
1. The italicised bits were in Konglish in the raw. ☜