Chapter 13. Cha Woo-ju's Emotions

"Why did you do that? Why didn't you abandon me even though you knew the truth?"

"What are you talking about?"

Cha Woo-ju's quiet question made the chairman raise his head to look at Woo-ju standing there.

"Why didn't you abandon me, knowing I wasn't your biological son, and knowing I was the illegitimate child of your unfaithful wife? My body doesn't have your blood in it!"

"......"

The chairman, who was quietly looking out the window, remained silent.

"Why did you have Jae-il keep an eye on me when I left home? Why don't you hate me?"

"Why would I hate you? You said your body doesn't have my blood in it."

Cha Woo-ju was silent at his father's words.

"Even if my blood doesn't flow in you, the sight of you laughing happily on the bicycle I was pushing didn't disappear. On the day your mother died, when you cried your heart out, my heart tore apart and I realized that you are my son, no matter whose blood flows in you."

Cha Woo-ju's heart was overwhelmed with complex emotions at the chairman's words.

His love for Yeon.

His longing and anger towards his mother.

His sorrow and pity towards his father.

All these emotions surged, and his face, which changed from moment to moment, showed each one clearly, eventually leading to a frown and then a flood of tears.

And a scream.

"Why didn't you ever tell me the truth, even when I was rebelling and going astray? If you had, I wouldn't have felt so... so sorry, so sorry!"

Yeon shouted, tears streaming down his face, pouring out all his emotions. The intense performance made even his co-star, Lee Sang-jung, choke up with tears in his eyes.

The father, who had risen from his seat and hugged Cha Woo-ju, patted his back.

"No father wants to hurt his child."

Cha Woo-ju sobbed in his father's arms.

"I wanted to pass everything on to you before the truth was revealed and you were threatened by the family as a successor. That's why I opposed it. I always liked hearing from Jae-il about your modeling work and your laughter and chatter with your friends."

Aah!

Though his body was now larger than his father's, Cha Woo-ju cried like a child who had fallen off a bicycle.

The father simply patted him.

"Cut! Great job!"

Wow!

The entire crew erupted in cheers and applause at the intense performance that left everyone breathless.

"Wow, did you see how his facial expressions changed every second? I could feel all those complex emotions."

The camera director, who was filming, marveled at every second.

"Man, I suddenly miss my son."

"You're not even married."

"Exactly, that's why I miss him."

Yeon's performance made even those without sons feel the urge to see their children.

"He's really a prodigy. He's smart, and with that face and acting ability."

Han So-hyun, who was still trying to regain her composure, shook her head.

"His height seems to have grown since he first joined the drama. He must have grown about 3 centimeters."

Son Jin-wook, who is 184 centimeters tall, estimated his height compared to Yeon.

"I want to learn acting from him now."

An Jun-ho, who was wondering if he could express such changing emotions as clearly, shook his head.

"Alright, that's the end of the morning shoot. It was done in one take. Great job, everyone."

"Great job, everyone."

With that, the morning shoot concluded, and Yeon, who had regained his composure, headed to the accommodation provided by LN Entertainment for the duration of the shoot.

Upon arriving at the accommodation, Yeon looked up the press conference and teasers that had been uploaded to NaverTube.

The fact that he could find himself by searching the internet was both surprising and made him feel like he was living a new life.

"I hope there aren't already negative comments."

Yeon felt a bit anxious as he looked for reactions in the comments.

With his emotions easier to express and his personality brighter than before, Yeon felt his heart had become softer.

- I think he's a plastic surgery case. Or not.

└ No, he's natural. Our Lord Ryu is natural.

- What's a 'Lord Ryu'? Not a 'Lord Yu'.

- But he doesn't seem to be a plastic surgery case? The video is short, but his face looks natural.

- Watch the press conference. Our Yeon appears longer than in the teaser. <Link>

- First comment. Young people like you are making society sick.

There wasn't much public interest yet due to the limited number of videos, and the few negative comments that appeared were quickly buried.

Yeon, who had never thought he would search for his name dozens of times a day as an entertainer, resolved to be more restrained for a long career.

After resting for a while at the accommodation, Yeon decided to visit the afternoon shoot to thank the seniors who had come to support him in the morning.

"Hmm, I don't have a shooting schedule. I should go alone."

Not wanting to cause trouble for LN Entertainment, which had yet to sign him officially, he decided to take the subway.

Although he now lived in Daejeon, Yeon, who had been a lifelong Seoul resident for over 40 years, left without much thought.

Thinking it wouldn't take long to get from the accommodation to Sangam, where the set was located, Yeon felt a bit uncomfortable from the moment he stepped onto the subway platform.

"Isn't that person... the one from the drama teaser that looked interesting?"

"Really? That face isn't common. It could be him."

Yeon hadn't expected anyone to recognize him just from the teaser.

If he had known, he would have worn a cap or a mask.

While a group was murmuring, a high school girl in a uniform approached to ask for an autograph.

"Bro, are you Ryu Yeon?"

"Ah, hello."

Caught off guard by the girl fan who asked for his name, Yeon, feeling grateful, signed her phone with his hand.

'Autographs are done digitally these days.'

After one person received an autograph, a few more hesitant fans approached.

Before the first episode had even aired, a mini-autograph session had formed, and he had missed two subway trains while taking photos and signing autographs.

Fortunately, he had prepared autographs in advance as advised by Jeong Cheol-min; otherwise, he might have had to use the clumsy signature he used for payments in his previous life.

After the incident, Yeon boarded the subway and felt the curious gazes of the other passengers as he arrived at Sangam Station.

Just then, he received a call from Jeong Cheol-min.

"Yes, teacher. Ah, we shot that scene. Haha. No, we didn't."

The morning scene was one he had been practicing consistently since receiving the latter part of the script with Jeong Cheol-min.

While he couldn't practice the emotions every time, the training in expressing various emotions at different moments helped him deliver a powerful performance on set.

Jeong Cheol-min was the main contributor.

"Yes, I'm on my way to the set. Seniors came to support me this morning, even though I didn't have a shoot. Yes, I'll call you again."

After hanging up, Yeon entered the set.

The staff immediately recognized Yeon as he entered.

"Hey! What's up, Yeon? You're back?"

"Yes, Director Jeong. I was getting too bored at the accommodation."

Yeon, who had become close with most of the staff, including the sound director.

"Everyone, Yeon is back."

Wow! Clap, clap, clap!

The staff on set applauded at Director Jeong's announcement.

"I didn't say much earlier because I wanted you to calm down, but you were amazing, Yeon!"

"Yeah, that's right. You were the best, Yeon!"

Some staff members who had been discussing the morning shoot in small groups praised Yeon.

The staff, who saw Yeon as a cute and young presence, felt his performance of a deep emotional scene was even more dramatic.

Yeon, overwhelmed by the praise, scratched the back of his head and bowed in all directions.

"Thank you!"

'I can't just stand here.'

"I'll be back in a bit!"

Yeon went to a nearby café to buy coffee to encourage the ongoing shoot.

Thanks to his father, Ryu Cheol-woong, who had put half of his acting fee into Yeon's account, he had no financial worries.

His parents, who promised to give him the other half when he turned 18, were reassured by Yeon's offer to give them half of his future earnings.

Despite their initial refusal, citing their sufficient income, Yeon insisted they accept his filial piety to live comfortably without financial worries.

His parents, who had seen him as a troubled and bullied child, were teary-eyed at how much he had grown.

Yeon also gave pocket money to So-hyun, who had been shaking his arms, demanding why he didn't get any.

His younger sister, who was excited to buy a trendy backpack.

Yeon was grateful for the happiness he felt from such small daily moments with his family, as well as his growth as an actor.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Yeon distributed the coffee to the other staff and waited on set, then approached the actors and director after the "OK" sign.

"Hey, what's up? Why are you back, Woo-ju? You came to see your sister, didn't you?"

"Of course. Haha."

"Hey, stop smiling like that. I can't let a minor steal my heart."

So-hyun, who knew there was a ten-year age gap, felt a slight flutter at his gentle smile and eye contact.

"Yeon, don't make So-hyun a criminal. I'll enjoy the coffee."

"Sure, hyung."

Son Jin-wook, shaking the coffee Yeon gave him, smiled.

"I'll enjoy it too, Yeon. How's the acting? Is it fun?"

As expected, Director Kim Han-su, who addressed Yeon with formal respect despite their age difference, asked.

"Yes, Director, it's very enjoyable. Our set has a great atmosphere, doesn't it? I feel lucky to debut in such a positive environment."

"Indeed, the chemistry among everyone is so good that the set is more harmonious than usual. Haha."

Director Kim Han-su nodded and looked at the lead actors.

"Since everyone is here, I have something to announce."