novellhall 20, CJ Actors Department
20, CJ Actors Department
Lee Kyung-sung pressed his ear against the phone screen, listening to Lim Yoon-a's soft breathing. A pang of guilt washed over him. He had only intended to test the activation of the interception system and take a picture of Lim Yoon-a, hoping to create more opportunities to interact with her and flirt with her again, as he was doing now.
But now he clearly sensed that things seemed to be going beyond his expectations.
Suddenly, a soft laugh came from the other end of the phone, crisp and with a hint of smugness, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, or as if she was confident. "What's wrong? Are you scared? I'm not as fragile as you think."
"Ani, I just thought giving you the photos would be enough. Although I don't know the full story now, I can sense that this has affected you a lot. I'm sorry, Yoona..." Lee Kyung-sung admitted his mistake and apologized sincerely.
Im Yoona paused, then softened her voice further, "It's okay. I was too naive at the time. I thought I could just keep quiet about it and pay some money to resolve it myself. I didn't expect that person was after me!"
Finally, like a tiny feather, it gently tickled Lim Yoona's heart. She instantly recalled the unexpected kiss that morning; Lee Kyung-sung carried a faint scent of cedar, mixed with the clean smell of sunshine, and a subtle hint of mint, lingering around her nose.
"I know Lee Seung-gi a bit. He's concerned about his image and likes to show off. If things really escalate, he'll be the first to panic. He won't really put himself in a desperate situation of hiring thugs to fight. It would be not only him who would lose face, but also the goodwill he has built up over the years."
Upon hearing this, Li Jingcheng felt a slight sense of relief, but he still couldn't help asking, "But what if he goes all out? If the police really press him, and he panics and says something inappropriate, it could have a huge impact on you."
Yoona chuckled softly, her tone revealing a hint of clarity, "That's why I said, if it really comes to that, I'll publicly announce that you're my ideal type."
She deliberately dragged out her words, with a hint of teasing, "Then the public opinion will change. It won't be that Lee Seung-gi is jealous of me, but that I favor you and he's just unwilling to accept it. In this way, I won't be labeled as a femme fatale. Instead, I can take advantage of this wave of popularity to generate some buzz and also ride on your popularity as the nation's male god."
At this point, Yoona's tone became a bit more serious, "Of course, things haven't escalated to that point yet. I will communicate with the company and ask them to prepare a public relations plan in advance and contact Lee Seung-gi's company to suppress any potential public opinion."
'
Li Jingcheng breathed a sigh of relief. "I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful. I thought you were planning to announce it to me directly."
"Official announcement is fine, but you haven't caught up with me yet." Lim Yoona chuckled a few times, her voice returning to its usual gentleness, but with a touch of determination. "Don't worry, don't blame yourself too much. This wasn't your fault in the first place. It was Lee Seung-gi who was too stupid."
"Yoona, I feel like I love you even more now, what should I do?" Now that the problem had been solved, Lee Kyung-sung couldn't resist being ambiguous again.
Lim Yoona on the other end of the phone was clearly stunned for a moment, her cheeks instantly flushed, and then a soft, slightly shy laugh came through. The teasing in her tone faded a bit, replaced by a girlish coquettishness, "Hey, Lee Kyung-sung, why do you always say things that make people embarrassed?"
Her voice softened further, "Don't always say 'I love you,' I won't believe it easily." The last syllable rose slightly, hiding a hint of weakness, "Unless you can really show me your true feelings, love isn't just something you say casually."
Hearing her soft, slightly coquettish and reserved tone, Li Jingcheng's smile instantly spread across his lips, his eyes filled with tenderness. The shame he had felt earlier was long gone, replaced by a surge of excitement in his heart. His voice lowered and deepened, shrouded in an undeniable ambiguity, "I didn't just say that offhand, Yoon-ah. Love can't just be spoken. I'll give you the sincerity you want, little by little, day by day, so you can savor it slowly."
Yoona's cheeks flushed even more. She gently bit her lower lip, her voice soft and slightly pouty, yet brimming with barely concealed laughter: "Oh, how can you say such things? I don't even know how to reply to you, it's so cheesy!"
"How many girlfriends have you had in America?" Yoona asked, her tone shifting abruptly as if she'd suddenly remembered something, a half-smile playing on her lips.
"Nonsense, I've never been in a relationship. My aesthetic sense is all Asian. Besides, I started school early. And at USC, you need credits and a portfolio to graduate. Otherwise, how could I have graduated at 20?"
"Daebak, you're from the University of Southern California?" Yoona completely forgot the earlier flirtation, her voice filled with surprise and envy, rising several decibels in her reply.
Hearing the envy in her voice, tinged with a hint of smugness, and a touch of ambiguity, Li Jingcheng said, "Yeah, and my acting is pretty good too. Oppa will take you to new heights, don't worry. Just now, several TV programs interviewed me, and I specifically mentioned that I came back to Korea after graduation wanting to pursue an acting career. But I don't know which companies are good right now. By the way, does Yoona have any recommendations?"
Upon hearing this, Lim Yoona suppressed her envious expression and began to think seriously, her tone becoming more professional. "You've just returned to Korea, so you might not be very familiar with Korean entertainment companies. Based on my own experience and understanding of the industry, if you want to focus on being an actress, don't consider companies that primarily focus on idols. They don't have many acting resources, which could limit your development. Your first choice should be a company that specializes in actor management, such as KEYEAST and BH Entertainment. KEYEAST was founded by Bae Yong-joon and is a pure actor management company with many talented actors under its umbrella. Its resources are all geared towards dramas and movies, which is especially friendly to someone like you with formal training. However, some actors' roles overlap with yours, so you'll need to build up your experience and look for opportunities. BH Entertainment, on the other hand, focuses on high-quality acting. Its clients include artists like Han Suk-kyu and Kim Go-eun who rely on their acting skills. The scripts they can access are of very high quality, but the entry requirements are extremely strict, demanding a very high level of professional ability from you."
She added, "Although YG Entertainment used to focus on idols, it has been making great strides in the acting field in recent years. They have even spun off an acting department, so actors are generally not allowed to participate in idol-related activities. They have good resources, a professional production team, and strict vetting processes, making them suitable for actors who want to pursue a career in acting while also having some exposure. Namoo Actors is also a good option. They specialize in actor management, and their artists are all focused on acting skills. They have stable script resources, and the company pays great attention to artist development and won't rush to burn through their artists. They are also very friendly to newcomers like you who have just returned to Korea."
In closing, Yoona added a touch of gentle advice, her tone revealing her sincerity: "You have formal training and are very good-looking, so you don't need to rush into choosing a company. It's best to audition at several companies and see which one's development plan aligns with yours. Besides, you have an overseas study background and a high level of education, which gives you a significant advantage. As long as you choose the right company, you're sure to have a great future."
"My Yoona is still the most reliable." Lee Kyung-sung listened attentively, but before he could say anything more, he suddenly noticed a text message popping up on his phone.
"Yoona, you know CJ Entertainment's acting department, right?"