By the time the sun rose the next morning, Minjae's name was already the talk of the town.
News articles, entertainment blogs, and online forums were flooded with discussions about his performance in The Only Way.
[Rookie Actor Nam Minjae Delivers Breathtaking Performance in Episode 5 of The Only Way!]
[Who is Nam Minjae? The Rising Star Who Stole the Show]
[Viewers Demand More Screen Time for Nam Minjae After His Jaw-Dropping Performance]
On social media, fans were dissecting every detail of Minjae's scene. From his subtle expressions to the way his voice cracked at just the right moment, everything was being analyzed.
- This guy is a MONSTER actor. Where did he come from?!
- If he can deliver this kind of acting as a minor character, imagine him in a lead role??
- I heard he's being trained right now.
- What agency is he under?
- Flex Entertainment
-Woah! That guy got a jackpot. Imagine having one of the top agency as your starting agency.
- I'm telling you guys, Flex Entertainment should use their resources wisely for this guy. He's gonna get big.
- I just KNOW every big studio is fighting to cast him right now.
And they were just right.
In multiple production studios across Seoul, meetings were being held with only one name on everyone's lips.
Nam Minjae.
- - -
Inside the grand conference room of Red Moon, the atmosphere was filled with both relief and excitement.
CEO Park Hyunseok, a sharp-eyed man in his late 40s, was scrolling through his phone, checking the trending topics surrounding Minjae. Every entertainment blog, every fan forum, and every social media post was talking about his performance.
His lips curled into a satisfied smirk.
"Hah… This kid… He's got it."
The senior producer sitting beside him chuckled.
"We're lucky we signed his debuting drama. If we had waited any longer, he'd be snatched up by now."
"Sir, we should lock him in for more projects after this. If his debut drama does well, which I'm sure it will, every studio will want a piece of him." A junior producer across the table leaned forward eagerly.
CEO Hyunseok nodded, his fingers tapping against the wooden table.
"That's a smart idea. Let's reach out to Flex Entertainment and discuss a potential long-term collaboration. If we play our cards right, we can make Minjae one of Red Moon's household names."
"I'll handle the call. But we need to move fast. We're not the only ones interested." The senior producer smirked.
- - -
At Neo Entertainment, one of the biggest drama production company in South Korea, a meeting was held to discuss potential casting choices for their next project.
They want a new face since the drama they plan to release in the second quarter of next year will be teenage romance.
Director Lee Sanghoon, known for producing some of Korea's highest-rated dramas, had been watching Minjae's scene on repeat.
The large monitor at the center of the meeting room played Minjae's final breakdown scene from The Only Way.
"No… No… I'm so sorry…"
The room was dead silent as the scene finished.
Then, one of the casting directors finally spoke.
"Director Sanghoon, are we considering that guy for the lead role in The Prince of Innocence?"
"Yup. Get me in touch with Nam Minjae's team immediately. I want him as the lead for our next project. No auditions necessary." Lee Sanghoon snapped his fingers at his subordinates.
The assistant director hesitated.
"Sir, but our lead role was supposed to go to—"
"Forget that." Sanghoon waved his hand dismissively. "Minjae is exactly what we need. Did you see that raw emotion? Trust me. That kid's got it."
A production executive in his 50s sighed, rubbing his temples.
"We'll have to renegotiate contracts if we replace the original lead."
Sanhoon leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed.
"And? It's worth it." He smirked.
"I want Minjae. Make it happen."
- - -
At Silverlight Studios, another director sat in his private screening room, watching Minjae's scene for the third time that morning.
Director Jung Taejin, a filmmaker known for his gritty and emotional movies, was deeply impressed. He had seen dozens of new actors over the years, but he felt as if Minjae was different.
Unlike most newbies, Minjae looked like an established actor already with what he showed so far.
The scene played again, and Jung Taejin studied every second of it.
The way Minjae's breathing became slow, how his fingers trembled, how his eyes showed the conflict between guilt and despair.
It was the epitome of perfection.
"Director, should we reach out to his agency?" His assistant shifted nervously.
Jung Taejin leaned forward. He rubbed his chin and shook his head.
"Not just yet." His voice was calm but calculating at the same time.
The assistant director raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?" he asked, confused by it.
It was obvious that Taejin was interested in Minjae.
"A talent like this? I bet every studio in Seoul is already fighting over him." Taejin smirked as e said the words in a hinting manner.
"That's true, director." The assistant director nodded, though he became more confused. "Isn't that the reason why we have to move even faster?" his forehead creased.
"No," However, Taejin shook his head before picking up his phone to open his list of top-tier screenwriters.
"We won't just offer him any project. We'll create one specifically for him." He scrolled through a few names before landing on a familiar one.
"Contact Writer Kim Hyeseon. Tell her I want a new script centered around Nam Minjae's acting style."
The assistant director's eyes widened. "Wait, you want to build a whole movie… just for him?"
"Exactly. We'll make him an offer he can't refuse." Taejin grinned.
- - -
Back at Flex Entertainment, the phone lines were blowing up for the Talent Management Department.
Emails, calls, and meeting requests were pouring in from studios, directors, and brands. All of them wanted to secure Minjae for their upcoming projects.
Director Lee sat in his office, skimming through the latest proposals.
"Tsk." He let out a small laugh. "This kid barely debuted, and they're already treating him like a veteran."
His secretary stood beside him, holding a thick stack of casting offers.
"Sir, should we start filtering these?"
"Not yet," Director Lee smirked. "Let them fight a little longer. The higher the demand, the better the deal we'll negotiate."
"I understated, Sir."
As the secretary left, Director Lee leaned back in his chair.
"Nam Minjae… I knew you'd be big, but even I didn't expect it to happen this fast." Director Lee chuckled in amusement.
"Well then, let's see which studio makes the best offer."
Just like that, Minjae, who had once struggled to find a place in the industry, was now the most sought-after rookie in South Korea.
And he had no idea just how big things were about to get.