Shin Jeonga said, 

“Thank you for this opportunity, Director.”

“Not at all. I should be thanking you. I thought you might decline since the role isn’t particularly substantial.”

Jeonga shook her head. 

“No, I’ve actually been desperate for a role. I’ve been struggling to change my image, but suitable roles haven’t been coming my way. This project is important to me. I’ll work hard.”

Shin Jeonga was known for her quintessential innocent image. She had tried to change her image through other projects, but they all failed. Jinwook smiled and said, 

“I believe in you as an actress, Shin Jeonga. I can definitely see the character Hwaja in you. I’ll help bring that out.”

Hwaja was the name of the role Jeonga would be playing. Jeonga responded to Jinwook’s words with a composed smile. It probably wouldn’t be easy. Even she herself had grown accustomed to the innocent Shin Jeonga. But this was a challenge. If she didn’t take it now, she might never break free from her established image. She said, “I’ll trust you.”

“Leave your worries at home. Just trust me.”

Jeonga smiled with determination.

The production team and directing staff entered, and the audition began. Jinwook sat down and looked toward the door with expectant eyes.

The first applicant was Song Woobum. When he entered, everyone looked at him with anticipation. He seemed to know Hajun from previous work and nodded respectfully to him. He appeared somewhat nervous. Woobum said, 

“I’m Song Woobum. It’s an honor to audition for Director Kim Jinwook’s project.”

Jinwook spoke softly into the microphone, 

“Thank you for participating in our audition. I believe in your abilities and your gaze. Show us your true self, not a performance. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Woobum was momentarily confused by Jinwook’s instruction not to act, but it was only for an instant. Like the veteran he was, he held the script paper he’d received outside, closed his eyes briefly, then opened them. In that moment, he had already transformed from actor Song Woobum into his character.

※※※

Soyu checked the clock while working in her room and stepped outside. The morning’s heavy rain had subsided to a drizzle. As she approached her mother who was doing something in the kitchen, Soyu was startled.

“What is that?”

Jeongeun turned around with a distressed expression. “Why did this turn into porridge… I’m sure I measured the water correctly…”

In the large bowl was something that couldn’t possibly be considered dough for hand-pulled noodles. When she lifted it with a spoon, the dough dripped down. It looked more like pancake batter. Soyu laughed. This was so typical of her mother.

“Let me try.”

“I’ll go out and buy some. This is inedible.”

“There’s no such thing as inedible. You worked hard on this, Mom.”

After her mother moved aside, Soyu thought for a moment, then found flour and added it to the bowl of dough. Jeongeun was shocked.

“What if you make it worse?”

“It’s just flour dough, how much worse could it get?”

With her anxious mother beside her, Soyu first mixed the flour with a spatula, and once it began to clump together, she added more flour bit by bit and started kneading with her hands. After some time, Jeongeun cheered.

“That’s it! That’s right!”

“Is this correct? Isn’t it too firm?”

“That’s how it should be so you can pull it apart by hand. This is right. I remember now.”

Soyu laughed. “Now you remember?”

“Yes. I must have forgotten since I haven’t made it for so long. This is the right consistency. How do you get it just right? You don’t seem like my daughter.”

“I don’t take after you, that’s true.”

Jeongeun flinched at her daughter’s words and glared at her while muttering, “You don’t take after your father either.”

“That’s true. Then who do I take after?”

“You take after your grandfather. He was so cold even after I got married. But after getting to know him, he turned out to be warm-hearted. You really take after my father. Your intelligence too.”

Soyu, standing as she kneaded, asked, “Should I keep going?”

“You need to knead it for quite a while. That makes it chewy. Give it here. I’ll do it.”

“No, Mom, go check on Yeoul. He went to his room and hasn’t come out.”

As Jeongeun went to Yeoul’s room, Soyu sat on the floor and continued kneading the dough. Since this was her first time, her wrists were quite sore.

‘Then make it for me next time. I just want to eat at your place when I’m not working. Ah, I miss it! I want to go home too!’

Recalling Jinwook’s words, she smirked. You thought I couldn’t do this? Just wait. I need to practice to impress Jinwook. Just then, she heard her son’s voice.

“Wow! Is Mom making this? Amazing!”

Soyu, with flour on her nose, turned her head and was startled.

“Jang Yeoul!”

Yeoul stood there with a bright smile, his face and clothes covered in paint. Jeongeun followed behind, holding a stained rag.

“He must have been using paint. His room is quite a sight.”

“Jang Yeoul!”

Despite the scolding from his mother and grandmother, Yeoul remained confident.

“Mom! Grandma! The beginning is always difficult! But I squeezed the paint and colored all by myself! I did well, right?”

Soyu laughed helplessly. Why did she see Kim Jinwook in that expression? They were exactly alike. Her prediction was correct. From now on, she would have to deal with two Kim Jinwooks. She suddenly missed her obedient, well-behaved son.

※※※

The audition applicants were diverse — from experienced actors to complete rookies. There were also those who had lost confidence after years of playing minor roles. But what they all had in common was desperation. Jinwook didn’t miss anything from the moment an actor entered the door — their footsteps, gaze, habits, even the smallest details.

What he wanted wasn’t acting based on the text, but the energy emanating from the actor themselves. Some matched the roles he had in mind, while others were completely off the mark. But Jinwook gave everyone the same opportunity, hoping to discover something within them.

The morning passed, and lunchtime arrived. Warm boxed meals were delivered from the production company, provided not only to the judging panel but also to actors auditioning in the afternoon. After quickly finishing his meal, Jinwook discreetly tried to leave with his phone when Hajun asked with a smile, 

“Where are you going?”

Jinwook smiled and replied, 

“Going to call my girlfriend.”

Hajun and everyone else in the audition room were surprised.

“You have a girlfriend?”

In response to Hajun’s question, Jinwook left only a meaningful smile before exiting the audition room. Hajun asked Team Leader Ahn, 

“Is Director Kim dating someone?”

“I’m not sure… This is the first I’ve heard of it…”

Just then, the production team’s youngest staff member approached Team Leader Ahn with a panicked expression and whispered something in his ear.

“What!”

Seeing the startled Team Leader Ahn take the junior staff member to a corner, Kim Giho asked Shin Jeonga, 

“Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

“I don’t know.”

Shin Jeonga looked somewhat prim. At that moment, Team Leader Ahn, who had been whispering with the junior staff in the corner, hurriedly left the audition room carrying a tablet.

Jinwook was crouched on the emergency staircase, his expression and voice sweet.

“So you actually made it?”

[Yes. It’s delicious.]

“Heh. Jang Soyu making hand-pulled noodles. I really want to try it.”

[Look forward to it. I’ll make it for you next time.]

“It’s a promise.”

[Yes. How’s the audition going?]

“We’re just getting started. Fortunately, many good actors showed up, so that’s a relief.”

[Did you eat?]

“Just finished and came out.”

[Did you go out in the rain?]

“No, they prepared boxed meals. I need to rest a bit and start again. What’s Yeoul doing?”

[He was showing me his drawing. Said he finished it.]

“Did you see it? He’s good, right? I was really surprised. That’s my son for you.”

[Should you be saying things like that? Are you alone?]

“Yes. I’m in the emergency stairwell.”

[Earlier he covered his room and himself with paint and laughed. Said he was practicing to surprise you.]

“Oh, really? How cute. He must be happy being at home with Mom, right?”

[Yes. I didn’t know before. Whether he liked being with me.]

“What if he tells you to stop working?”

[I asked him about that.]

“You asked? What did he say?”

[He asked how we would eat if I didn’t work. Said he’s still too young to earn money. He’s more worried that I might stop working.]

Jinwook laughed loudly.

“Aww, he’s so cute I could bite him. I wish I were there. Tell Yeoul to wait just a few days. I’m coming.”

[You’re going straight to location scouting after the audition, right? They say the rain will stop tomorrow.]

“I want to go home. Seriously.”

Soyu’s laughter came through the phone.

[Finish quickly and come back. I’ll make you hand-pulled noodles.]

“Ooh. You must be confident?”

[Of course.]

“Yu-ya…”

Jinwook called her with an affectionate voice.

“I miss you… Why does it feel like I haven’t seen you in days?”

Soyu’s fake cough was heard, followed by her brusque voice.

[Just do your work. I’m hanging up.]

“Ah! Why! Let’s talk more!”

Just then, the emergency exit door opened, and Team Leader Ahn poked his head in.

“Director!”

Before Jinwook could ask what was happening, Team Leader Ahn exclaimed, “Your dating news just broke!”

Jinwook was shocked, and so was Soyu, who heard this through the phone.