Chapter 29

29. Master of Historical Dramas

Director Lee Honggyun quietly met Siwoo's gaze, who was looking at him with bright eyes.

The child...

He was even more lovable in person than in the videos.

It wasn't just that he was cute or pretty.

There was something special about him.

Director Lee Honggyun, who had lived a long life interacting with many people, felt an indescribable charm from Siwoo.

"I... I've watched all the videos of the child that Director Lee Hansu filmed, including the ones that didn't make it into the movie. I want to... take him on as the young lead in the drama."

Dojin almost immediately accepted, shouting "It's an honor," but managed to hold back.

Since it wasn't his own matter but Siwoo's, he needed to think deeply about it.

After exchanging glances with Hyunju, Dojin asked very cautiously.

"First of all... we sincerely thank you for looking at our child so carefully. About the project... to be honest, we didn't really plan to raise our child as a child actor... He just enjoys filming as if it's playtime..."

In front of the master director Lee Honggyun, Dojin couldn't bring himself to say that he didn't want to do it.

He conveyed his thoughts only through nuance.

The word "historical drama" gave a sense of weight, and he was worried that it might be a difficult role.

Of course, when a child appears in a historical drama, it's usually just a brief appearance in a mother's arms or walking around the palace a couple of times.

But in the historical dramas he had seen, there were scenes where children were present in the palace's intense power struggles, where adults were shouting, or in heavy atmospheres like funerals or poisonings.

He didn't quite like that idea.

Director Lee Honggyun nodded at Dojin's words and slowly spoke.

He felt it was necessary to give a brief description of the project.

"The shooting schedule for the first episode, where the baby will appear, is in May next year. The weather will be warm."

May would be when Siwoo turned 24 months old, his second birthday.

Director Lee Honggyun continued.

"The lead role will be played by Song Junyoung... and the young lead will be played by Ryu Seunghyun. We plan to transition from child to young boy, and from young boy to adult..."

Dojin and Hyunju were taken aback.

Song Junyoung was currently the top male actor representing South Korea.

He was a top star domestically and almost a god in China and Japan.

Ryu Seunghyun, on the other hand, was an exceptionally promising young actor who already had a large fan base despite his young age.

Thinking about the beauty of these two actors, they could understand the significance of Siwoo being cast in the role of their baby.

Director Lee Honggyun was looking for the cutest and most adorable child, with a near-perfect appearance.

Moreover, the child had to exude an irresistible charm.

While searching for such a child, Director Lee Honggyun was recommended Siwoo by Director Lee Hansu.

After taking a sip of coffee, Director Lee Honggyun continued.

"I really hope we can work together. I've seen over a hundred children so far... but none of them caught my eye... Since the child will create the first impression of the lead character for the audience, I can't just settle for someone mediocre..."

Director Lee Honggyun spoke slowly and gently.

Hyunju, who was holding Siwoo and listening intently, gently asked.

"Is there anything that might be difficult for the baby during filming?"

Hyunju asked more specifically.

Director Lee Honggyun brushed his white hair back, looked at Siwoo, who was about the same age as his grandson, and answered.

"I can be a bit stubborn... and I might seem like a strict old man, but I don't ask babies to do difficult acting or force them to take risks for good scenes."

Director Lee Hansu, sitting beside him, added with a smile.

"Senior, he has his own standards. He adjusts everything for children under middle school age. If he thinks the children are struggling, he modifies the scenes to make it easier for them. That's why I recommended Siwoo to him."

"Ah..."

Dojin and Hyunju felt a bit more at ease.

Director Lee Honggyun said.

"Yes... but now... Ryu Seunghyun is in the first year of middle school."

Director Lee Hansu slapped his knee.

"Oh, if he were just a couple of years younger. He's just the right age."

"He needs to be developed as an actor now."

Listening, Siwoo sent a silent word of encouragement to Ryu Seunghyun, the young actor he didn't know.

Although the director seemed slow and deliberate, Siwoo, who had watched National Geographic, knew that sloths could be quite scary when angry.

Director Lee Honggyun asked Dojin and Hyunju again.

"The baby's role won't be very large. There won't be many shooting days. But the role needs to have a strong impact... I think he can do it well based on the videos I've seen. I'd like to work with him. You don't have to answer right away... just think about it."

Just as Dojin and Hyunju were about to respond, Siwoo, who was in his mother's arms, answered first.

"Umm~ Good~"

The serious atmosphere suddenly burst into laughter.

After laughing for a while, Director Lee Hansu said.

"Siwoo, do you like your mom? Or do you want to do the drama?"

Siwoo puffed out his cheeks and then let out a breath, saying briefly.

"Both~"

The cute and clever look made Director Lee Honggyun chuckle.

Indeed, this child was to his liking.

At Christmas, the whole family went out to eat together.

At the restaurant Dojin had reserved, Hyunju ate pasta, and Siwoo ate baby food that his mother had brought.

"...Going out to eat and having baby food. Going out to eat and having baby food-!"

"Yum yum."

Siwoo, who wanted to try the spaghetti alle vongole or rosé pasta, gave up and happily ate the baby food his father fed him.

After finishing his meal, Siwoo went out onto the street, watched people, listened to carols, and enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere.

It was a quite enjoyable day.

When Siwoo returned home, he played with his toys, which he believed he received from Santa, and then fell asleep with Bokshil and Nero.

The next day.

After lunch, Siwoo and his mother went to the neighborhood mart to do some shopping.

After organizing the groceries they bought, they sat on the sofa together.

"Me~ Me~"

When Hyunju picked up the remote, Siwoo reached out and called out.

Hyunju handed the remote to Siwoo.

Click-

When Siwoo pressed the remote, the TV turned on.

"Our Siwoo is so smart. How did you know which button to press? Did you watch Mom and Dad?"

"TV~"

"Yes. The TV is on. Let's watch TV together, Mom."

Hyunju chose a popular romance historical drama to show Siwoo.

She wanted to see if he would be interested.

The previous episode ended with the male and female leads reuniting.

The atmosphere was intense from the start.

The crown prince pulled the female lead by the waist.

And their faces were getting closer and closer-

"Ah! What? Why is this happening right at the start!"

Hyunju quickly covered Siwoo's eyes.

Feeling around the sofa for the remote, Hyunju hurriedly turned off the VOD.

"Let's watch something else..."

While Hyunju was looking for another historical drama, Siwoo focused on stretching his cramped limbs.

"...Mom, please turn on a drama with more action. I just want to watch some martial arts."

Siwoo sat on his mother's lap and watched another historical drama.

To his disappointment, this one was also a sweet youth historical drama.

These days, such genres were quite popular compared to heavy traditional historical dramas.

"Siwoo, how is it? Is it fun? The older brother and sister are wearing interesting clothes, right? Do you remember wearing similar clothes during the holidays?"

"Clothes~"

Siwoo instinctively knew that his reaction here could influence his next role.

If he showed disinterest or dislike, his parents might reject Director Lee Honggyun's offer.

If he showed interest and enjoyment, they would consider it positively.

"Umm~"

Siwoo looked at the older brother and sister on the screen and then walked up to the TV.

Pointing at the TV, Siwoo turned to his mother and said.

"Like~ Good~"

Song Junyoung-Ryu Seunghyun-Yoon Siwoo.

This was the moment a legendary lineup of beauty, later celebrated by fans, was born.

* * *

On the last day of December, as the year was coming to an end.

Dojin came home from work.

He was smiling from ear to ear as soon as he opened the front door.

"Daddy~!"

Siwoo ran over.

"Our son! How are you? I brought a gift."

"Gift?"

Siwoo looked at his father with eager eyes at the word "gift."

Hyunju also came over and asked.

"What kind of gift?"

Dojin pulled something out of his padded jacket pocket.

"Ta-da!"

Dojin showed a ticket to Hyunju and Siwoo.

"Huh? It's a ticket to a sledding park? Where did you get it?"

"I received it as an end-of-year gift."

"Wow, that's great. It's valid from January 7th to 14th. Where is it?"

Hyunju, who was about to search on her phone, was told by Dojin.

"They said it just opened. Let's go there next month with Siwoo."

"Sure. Siwoo will be so excited. He's not afraid of sledding, right?"

Siwoo, hanging on his father's leg, thought to himself.

"I can ride the Neverland T-Express too..."

Of course, the rules would prevent him.

Dojin said.

"Let's go on January 8th. It's my day off."

"Got it. Siwoo, do you want to go sledding? Whoosh! Sledding! It's much faster than a slide!"

Siwoo laughed and shouted.

"Slide~! Good~!"

Hyunju, holding Siwoo, who was jumping up and down, smiled broadly.

After listening to the New Year's Eve bell ringing on TV with his parents, Bokshil, and Nero, a year filled with movies and commercials passed, and a new year began.

Siwoo turned three.

At one year old, he was Mr. Moonlight.

At two years old, he was in "Too Scary a Wife for Me."

At three years old, he was set to appear in a historical drama directed by Lee Honggyun.

Despite being only three, Siwoo was living a very fulfilling life.

Except for a photo shoot as a baby model at a studio in Seoul at the beginning of the year, Siwoo's daily routine remained unchanged in the new year.

Waking up, playing with Bokshil and Nero, eating, spending a little free time in the evening, practicing, and sleeping.

It was a happy and fulfilling but somewhat monotonous and boring routine.

Siwoo was looking forward to January 8th.

Outing, outing, outing-!

Going out was the only way to break the routine of his daily life.

"Are you ready?"

Hyunju asked Dojin.

Finally, it was January 8th.

While dressing Siwoo, Dojin answered.

"We just need to put on the gloves. Should we put them on when we get there?"

"Sure. Take Siwoo to the car first. I'll bring his things."

"Got it."

Due to the sudden drop in temperature compared to the previous day, Dojin and Hyunju were extra careful with their clothing.

They made sure Siwoo was well bundled up to keep him warm.

The car arrived at the newly opened sledding park after a 30-minute drive.

As they parked, they saw a family getting out of the car next to them.

Dojin and Hyunju waited until the family from the next car had all gotten out.

Hyunju, who was about to get out with Siwoo, said to Dojin.

"Brother, the kids in that family are really cute."

Dojin followed Hyunju's gaze and saw the family getting out of the car next to them.

It was a family of four.

The father and mother were carrying a boy about Siwoo's age toward the ticket booth.

A girl who looked to be in middle school followed behind.

While the boy wasn't as cute as Siwoo, he was quite adorable.

And the girl, who was following her parents with headphones in her ears, had...

an incredibly beautiful appearance.

Oh.