A New Beginning
Chapter 2:
Minho sat on the edge of the bed, his hands trembling as he stared at the reflection in the cracked mirror. He touched his new face again, half-expecting it to be some elaborate prank or nightmare, but the man staring back at him wasn't Jung Minho.
"Who… who am I?"
A ding echoed in his head, startling him.
[User Identity Synced]
Name: Kang Hyunjae
Age: 25
Occupation: Amateur Actor
Status: Struggling
The words hovered before him, crisp and clear.
"Struggling? No kidding," Minho muttered as he looked around the room. It was worse than his old apartment: peeling wallpaper, a single flickering light bulb, and a faint musty smell that hinted at years of neglect. A pile of crumpled scripts lay on the desk beside an empty cup of instant ramen.
He picked up one of the scripts and scanned the title: "Love on the Rooftop"—a low-budget melodrama he vaguely remembered hearing about years ago.
Before he could dwell on it, the voice spoke again.
"To reclaim your life, you must become the world's most famous actor. Every action you take will contribute to or detract from your progress. Opportunities, skills, and rewards will be provided based on your choices."
Minho frowned. "And what if I fail?"
The system was silent for a moment before it responded. "Failure is not an option. This is your only chance to rewrite your destiny."
Minho's stomach twisted. He had no idea what this "system" was or why it had chosen him, but he couldn't afford to waste time questioning it. If this was real, it was his only shot.
"Your first task: Attend Kang Hyunjae's scheduled audition."
The system provided him with details: time, place, and even a reminder that he had to leave immediately to make it. Without thinking, Minho grabbed a worn denim jacket and a bag lying on the floor. The moment he stepped out of the apartment, he felt the weight of the world pressing down on him.
The streets were busy, filled with the familiar chaos of Seoul. It was strange, almost comforting, to see the city again, but everything felt slightly off. He was a nobody now—just another face in the crowd.
As he boarded a crowded bus to the audition, his mind raced. He'd never acted a day in his life. Sure, he'd filmed music videos and variety show skits as an idol, but that was different. He didn't know the first thing about becoming an actor.
"Calm yourself, User," the system interrupted, its voice cool and precise. "As part of your mission, you will be granted skills and knowledge to assist you. However, you must earn them."
"Earn them? How?"
"Through experience and successful completion of tasks. For now, your body retains Kang Hyunjae's basic skills. Your first goal is to pass the audition. Good luck."
The audition was being held in a run-down office building. Minho walked into the cramped waiting room, where a dozen other hopefuls sat clutching scripts, rehearsing lines under their breath. Some glanced at him, their expressions a mix of disinterest and mild curiosity.
He felt a pang of self-consciousness as he took a seat. He could feel the sweat on his palms and the nervous energy in the room.
"Hyunjae, you're up!" a staff member called out, holding a clipboard.
Minho's heart pounded as he stood. This was it. His first test.
The audition room was bare except for a table where three judges sat, their expressions unreadable. One of them—a stern-looking man with glasses—gestured for Minho to stand on the taped X in the middle of the room.
"Name?"
"Kang Hyunjae," Minho answered, his voice steadier than he expected.
The man nodded. "We're going to read a scene from Love on the Rooftop. You'll be playing the male lead, a struggling artist confessing his love. Do you have any questions?"
"No," Minho said quickly, even though his mind was screaming, I have a million questions.
The female assistant stood opposite him, holding the script. She began to read:
"You're always here, staring at the skyline. Don't you think it's time to face reality?"
Minho hesitated, the words in the script blurring in his mind. The system's voice echoed in his head:
"Initiating Skill: Basic Acting Synchronization."
Suddenly, it was like a switch flipped. The lines snapped into focus, and he felt a strange clarity wash over him. He met the assistant's gaze, his expression softening as he stepped into the character.
"I come here because it's the only place that feels real," he said, his voice low and trembling with emotion. "When I'm here, I can dream. But when I'm out there… it's just disappointment after disappointment."
The assistant's eyes widened slightly, and one of the judges leaned forward.
"You can't keep running away," the assistant continued.
Minho took a shaky step forward, his hand reaching out as if to grasp something just out of reach. "I'm not running. I'm fighting—fighting for one reason. You."
The room was silent. Minho's heart raced as he waited for their reactions.
The man in glasses scribbled something on his clipboard and looked up. "You have potential. But potential isn't enough. We'll call you if you make the cut."
It wasn't exactly glowing praise, but Minho felt a flicker of hope. As he left the audition room, the system chimed in.
[Task Complete: First Audition]
Performance Rating: C+
Reward Unlocked: Beginner Acting Skill Level 1
Minho exhaled, his chest tightening. This was only the beginning, but it was enough to remind him why he couldn't give up.
If he was going to rewrite his story, he'd have to fight harder than he ever had before.