Peninsula: I can steal the luck of disgraced celebrities

KBS Annex, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

The script reading for "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" was scheduled for 10 a.m., and Lim Pak-ji arrived half an hour early.

The study room is on the fourth floor, at the end of the corridor.

Lin Puzhi pushed open the door and sat down in Wen Zaixin's seat.

I took out my phone and started playing Tetris.

Ten minutes later, a second person entered the study room.

White shirt, black casual suit, and hair meticulously styled.

With delicate features, a sharp jawline, and an aura of "I'm very famous" when he walks.

Park Yoochun.

Former member of TVXQ, current member of JYJ.

In April, Park Yoochun was already confirmed to play the male lead in "Sungkyunkwan Scandal".

The casting for the other roles only began in May.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this drama was made specifically for Park Yoochun.

"Oh, you're here so early?"

"Hello there."

Lin Puzhi did not get up, but gave a curt reply.

Park Yoochun nodded, then glanced around the room before sitting down in the male lead's seat.

He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and sat as relaxed as if he were in his own living room.

There were only two people in the study room.

Park Yoochun, perhaps a little bored, struck up a conversation with Lim Pak-ji:

"You must be Lin Puzhi, right? I've been seeing you trending on social media a lot lately."

Lin Puzhi knew what the other party was referring to—Han Jiaren's divorce scandal.

Last week's farce boosted the ratings of "Bad Man" to nearly 25%, but it also inexplicably dragged this newcomer actor into a media storm involving the "third party."

"Actors are here to entertain the audience; as long as the audience is happy, that's all that matters," Lin Puzhi said with a smile, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

Park Yoochun raised an eyebrow, seemingly somewhat surprised by his reaction.

At this point, the other actors arrived one after another.

Park Min-young plays the female lead Kim Yoon-hee, Seo Hyo-rin plays the second female lead Ha Hyo-eun, and several supporting actors play classmates from Sungkyunkwan University.

Director Kim Won-seok and screenwriter Kim Tae-hee took their seats last, and the study session officially began.

The script reading process involves each actor reading their lines in turn, while the director and screenwriter record and make adjustments.

Park Yoochun, who plays the male lead Lee Sun-joon, has the most screen time and the most lines.

His performance was fairly consistent.

After all, he has acted in musicals, so his delivery of lines is not bad.

Lin Puzhi could tell that Park Yoochun was deliberately adding a sense of aloofness, like a "young nobleman," to the character of Lee Sun-joon, making every line sound like it was spoken through a layer of glass.

But this actually differs somewhat from Lee Sun-joon's character.

Lee Sun-joon, the son of a prime minister in the script, who harbors reform ideals, shouldn't have this affected, aloof demeanor.

Director Kim Won-seok frowned, but did not interrupt.

When it was Lin Puzhi's turn, he only read a few lines, yet his acting skills were enough for the others to see.

"You crowned beasts, do you even know where a scholar's sword should be pointed?"

His voice was deep, with a slight upward inflection at the end, carrying an intense, suppressed anger.

The entire study room fell silent for a moment.

Screenwriter Kim Tae-hee looked up and gave Lin Puzhi a serious look.

She had seen this young man's performances in "Will It Snow for Christmas?" and "Bad Guy" before, but hearing the original audio live was a completely different experience.

The sense of power emanating from his chest perfectly matches the character of Moon Jae-shin.

Park Yoochun's smile faded slightly.

After the study session, director Kim Won-seok asked the actors to get to know each other first, while he and the screenwriter went next door to confirm the revisions.

Once everyone left, the previously tense atmosphere in the room immediately relaxed considerably.

Park Min-young took the initiative to approach and talk to Lim Pak-ji:

"When I watched 'Bad Guy' before, I felt that the role of Moon Jae-shin was very suitable for you. I didn't expect to be in the same production team as you. Please take care of me."

Her tone was sincere, her smile gentle, and she had the kind of personality that easily won people's hearts.

Lin Puzhi responded politely with a few words.

But just as the two were talking, a voice interrupted from the side.

"Min-young, you worked with screenwriter Jung Sung-hee last year, right? The ratings for that drama, 'Princess Ja-myung Go,' seemed to be just so-so."

Park Yoochun walked over with a cup of coffee, his tone casual as if he were just chatting, but the content was quite sarcastic.

To say to a female actress that her previous work had poor ratings is beyond just being outspoken.

Park Min-young's smile froze.

"Yoochun, I think—" Seo Hyo-rin tried to smooth things over, but Park Yoochun interrupted her before she could finish.

"I'm just telling the truth, Min-young, you don't mind, do you?" Park Yoo-chun smiled at Park Min-young.

Park Min-young took a deep breath and forced a smile: "No, thank you for your concern, Yoochun."

Lin Puzhi saw this but remained silent.

That's just how this circle is.

Status, seniority, and the resources of the company behind you—each of these factors determines whether a person can "turn against" you.

Although Park Min-young has been in the industry for many years, two of her works had flopped before "Sungkyunkwan Scandal," so it was already quite an achievement for her to get the lead role this time. She really didn't have the resources to compete head-on with Park Yoo-chun.

"Lin Puzhi, I heard that when you were filming a kissing scene with Han Ga-in, her husband came to the set?"

Park Yoochun suddenly turned his attention to him, speaking in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone present to hear.

The air froze instantly.

Xu Xiaolin pursed her lips and lowered her head, pretending to organize the script.

Park Min-young's gaze darted back and forth between Lim Pak-ji and Park Yoo-chun.

The malice in this statement is almost undisguised.

It implies both that Lin Puzhi and Han Jiaren are having an affair, and that Yeon Jung-hoon personally went to the film set to "catch them in the act" after discovering it.

No matter how Lin Puzhi answers, it will confirm the rumors of him being a "third party".

Silence? That's more like tacit agreement.

Park Yoochun held his coffee, watching Lin Puzhi with a leisurely air, as if waiting for a good show.

Lin Puzhi smiled.

Looking at this "child who hasn't grown up" spoiled by his fans, he answered directly:

"none of your business."

Park Yoochun's smile vanished completely.

He put his coffee cup on the table, took a step forward, and the distance between them was reduced to less than a meter.

This distance has exceeded the normal social safety range and carries a distinct sense of oppression.

Do you know who I am?

Lin Puzhi looked into his eyes without backing down.

"I know, former member of TVXQ, current member of JYJ." He recited the other person's resume word by word, then tilted his head slightly. "And do you know who I am?"

This attitude angered Park Yoochun.

Why is a newcomer who has only acted in two dramas acting so arrogant in front of him?

Park Yoochun is a top star who can still carry viewership ratings even after going solo; he was personally invited by KBS to be the male lead.

"You think you're special?" Park Yoochun sneered.

"You think you're a good actor? What good is being a good actor anyway!"

"In the Korean entertainment industry, it's all about who has the most fans and the biggest online following!"

"Believe me or not, you'll have to get out of this production crew if I say the word."