Legendary Superstar-Chapter 138: Final Auditions (1)

The atmosphere inside the room became more serious the moment the door opened again.

This time, it wasn't just another staff who want them to pick some random numbers.

"Thank you for waiting," she said, her voice was clear and professional. She was one of the managing directors in the studio.

"We will now begin the callback auditions."

Everyone nodded at the announcement.

"Mr. Kang Jaehyun, please follow me." The staff called the person who got the number 1.

Everyone's eyes turned to Jaehyun as he briefly smiled and nodded. He looked relaxed and composed as he stood up as if he wasn't pressured to do anything.

Kang Jaehyung was effortlessly stylish. His hair was neatly swept back, and his face was calm and unreadable. There was also nothing rushed in his movements. He looked like someone who had done this a hundred times before.

He followed the staff out of the room, the doors gently closing behind him with a soft click.

The waiting room fell into silence again.

The rest of them sat quietly.

Lee Hyunwoo leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes as he mouthed the lines under his breath. Cha Seungmin, who was across the room, was tapping a pen lightly on the armrest, while his script rested on his lap. Sooyun, on the other hand, was now busy fidgeting on his phone, signaling that he was already confident enough.

On the other hand, Minjae was sitting quietly in the corner. His hands were clasped together and his elbows were resting on his knees. His copy of the script was already closed. He wasn't reviewing anymore. He had read it enough.

Now, he was just breathing and conditioning his mind more.

Minutes passed and then more.

Almost thirty minutes had gone by since Kang Jaehyun was called, but everyone remained quiet. When the door finally opened again, everyone instinctively looked up.

"Mr. Lee Hyunwoo, please follow me."

Hyunwoo opened his eyes and stood up with ease. He didn't say anything, just gave a polite nod before following the staff out, his expression was also cool and composed. The doors clicked shut behind him, and silence returned to the room again.

Another half hour crawled by before the door opened again.

"Mr. Cha Seungmin, please follow me."

'So he chose number 5' Minjae uttered to himself.

Seungmin stood up, stretching his shoulders slightly before flashing a quick smile toward the room. It wasn't directed at anyone in particular but just a habit. His steps were light and almost too casual for the moment, but that was who he was.

He was confident and relaxed even in tense situations.

Thirty more minutes passed.

Now, only two remained in the room. It was Sooyun and Minjae.

The air between them was thick and awkward. Neither looked at the other. Sooyun was staring forward, his expression was unreadable, while Minjae sat still, focused only on himself.

Then finally.

"Mr. Minjae, we're ready for you."

"Alright."

'Finally…' Minjae stood up as he let out a deep breath. He didn't know what to expect since the others didn't return to the room anymore.

Minjae gave Sooyun one last glance before walking away. That's when he noticed that Sooyun was glaring at him from a distance.

It wasn't subtle. His sharp eyes were fixed on Minjae, and his expression was cold and intense like he was sizing him up or warning him off.

Minjae shook his head and sighed. He wasn't sure what that was about, but he had no time to dwell on it.

Minjae turned away and followed the staff without a word.

The hallway outside was quiet, the sound of their footsteps echoing against the polished floors. The staff walked ahead of him with a calm and practiced pace while Minjae stayed close behind.

Eventually, they reached the end of the corridor, where a pair of tall double doors stood closed. It was a different room from where the first auditions were held. It seemed like this audition was well-prepared by the studios.

The staff pushed them open gently.

"This way please."

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Minjae stepped in at the room and stopped.

The audition hall was much bigger than he had imagined.

The space was grand, with high ceilings and rows of studio lights hanging from above. A few cameras were set up near the front, along with several chairs and a long table for the judges. It looked more like a small studio set than a rehearsal room.

But what caught his attention the most was the people who were seated at a table at the end of the room.

The others were here.

Kang Jaehyun, Lee Hyunwoo, and Cha Seungmin were all seated off to the side, each in their own chair. They weren't saying anything. Just watching.

'Huh? They didn't leave after their turn?' Minjae frowned.

His steps slowed as he took it all in, his gaze flicked to the judges' table at the front. In there, Director Kang, Writer Mirae, and Lee Jimin were already seated, waiting quietly with their notes in hand.

"Mr. Minjae, please stand in the center."

Minjae silently nodded as he walked forward as calmly as he could. Every step echoed through the open space.

He could feel eyes on him from every direction.

"Good afternoon, Minjae," Director Kang spoke first. "Thank you for waiting."

"Good afternoon. Thank you for having me." Minjae gave a small bow.

Writer Mirae offered a faint smile while scribbling something on her clipboard. "We know the wait has been long. We appreciate your patience."

"It's alright. I'm grateful for the opportunity."

Minjae nodded again, keeping his posture respectful yet relaxed. Lee Jimin leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. "Before we begin, there's something you should know."

Minjae looked up at them, attentive.

"This final round is a little different," Director Kang explained. "Not only will we be judging your performance, but the other participants" he gestured toward the side of the room where the actors sat, "—will be observing as well."

Minjae turned his head slightly, glancing at the three familiar faces seated a few meters away. All of them were watching him calmly.

"They will also be asked to give their evaluation later," Director Kang continued. "Just as you will do for them after this."

"I'll be evaluating them?" Minjae blinked.

"Yes," Writer Mirae confirmed, setting her pen down.

"We've recorded their performances earlier. Once the last person is done, you'll be taken to a separate room to watch the footage and give your feedback."

Minjae didn't know how to respond at first. He wasn't expecting this. Not at all.

Still, he took a quiet breath and nodded.

"Understood."