章 52: Party

[Well, let's first start with the upcoming audition. Based on the movies you've seen and the acting of that Heavenly King, Dongbang Jea, you're far from being the best at acting even after your past life. Especially now, because you haven't even regained your former touch in acting. You only managed to shine in that drama today because of the small role and the rest of the actors being horrible.]

Hearing its suggestion, Joon-won couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Most of it was true—he shone mainly because of the small role and the other students' terrible acting. He felt his acting was normal again, but the system suggested otherwise.

"So, you're saying this audition is going to be tough for me?"

[Yes, there's a good chance they might reject you. Think about it. You've only acted in dramas or live plays and never heard of movies until recently. Even if you perform your best in the audition, they might not choose you over an A-list actor in a 20-million-dollar movie. It will be tough.]

[But don't be discouraged by my speculation. My predictions aren't always accurate. Humans are unpredictable, so who knows? You might get selected. This audition is also a good measurement scale for you. You'll get a grasp of industry standards and can improve from there.]

Joon-won nodded as he absorbed the explanation. Even though he was confident in his acting, it didn't mean others would find it good enough, especially against an established movie star.

"Well, let's do our best and see how things turn out." Concluding the conversation with the system, he felt hungry.

As he stood up, his phone rang. It was the supermarket's owner, Gim Da. Answering the call, he heard the enthusiastic voice of his boss.

"Joon-won, your acting was fantastic today. Did you pass the test?"

"Yes, manager, I did pass. How do you know about my acting? Did you come to the exam?"

"Yes, we did. Me, Seonu, Gah Soo, and even Eum Kyung came. We wanted to see how good you are. We were all surprised by your acting. Anyway, let's have a party to celebrate. Don't worry, it's on me. Come to the store in 10 minutes." The call ended abruptly. Joon-won stared at his phone for a moment before heading to his room to change clothes.

Two minutes later, he stepped out of his house in a hoodie and shorts. He quickly made his way to the supermarket, where a few people were already waiting. Seonu was the first to notice him, waving eagerly. The high school kid couldn't wait to eat out.

"Ah, you're finally here. We were getting bored waiting for you."

"Your acting was fun; I enjoyed it."

"Senior, your university is so big. Too bad I'm not into arts."

The first to speak was Gah Soo, followed by Eum Kyung and Seonu Hwan. Joon-won nodded and gave brief replies before turning to Gim Da, who was hosting the party.

"Well, now that you're here, let's go have dinner. There's a good barbecue place nearby. We can have some beer and meat. No beer for you, Seonu," Gim Da said, shutting down the high schooler's enthusiasm as they started walking.

As they walked, Joon-won received a text. It was a notification of 25,000 Kros credited to his bank account. He knew it was from Jung-hwa. He had expected it after she returned to town, but she completed it early.

He sent her a quick thank you text before putting his phone away and turned to Gim Da.

"Boss, why don't I pay for the party tonight? I have money on me."

Gim Da didn't even turn his head. He waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. I already decided to throw this party to celebrate your acting. Save your money. You can throw a party when you land a role."

Joon-won gave up after a couple more tries. They finally reached a small restaurant, and Gim Da turned around.

"This is the place I've been talking about. Don't judge it by its looks. I've been eating here since middle school. It's a family-run business, going on for three generations. The owner is a friend from my school days." He led the way inside.

The rest looked at each other, shrugged, and followed him in. The boss was paying, and he vouched for the place, so they trusted him at least a little.

The restaurant was small, with a few tables and chairs. Gim Da was already at the counter, ordering beef while chatting with another middle-aged man wearing an apron.

The man behind the counter looked up, smiled, and waved them over. "Gim Da, you brought friends today! Take a seat, and I'll get your order started."