Chapter 3

3. You didn't give birth to a baby.

Sujin's road manager returned to the scene with dozens of cups of coffee to share with the staff.

He parked the car in the parking lot and, with coffee in both hands, quickly made his way to Sujin's position.

There was still plenty of coffee left in the car.

How many more trips would it take to move it all...

Thud! Thud!

The coffee in his hands fell to the ground.

It was Sujin.

Playing with a baby.

The road manager, having dropped the coffee, was in shock, blinking his eyes.

"Try holding it! Here, this is how you hold it!"

Siwoo, with his soft hands, tightly gripped Sujin's pinky finger.

Sujin, oblivious to the shock of the road manager and the chief manager, burst into a happy laugh and fell backward.

"Want to try being a mom? I'll be the mom today. Mom! Ma!"

"Oma?"

"Adorable! You just called me mom!"

No, anyone would have heard it as "Oma."

Sujin's team members couldn't tell if they were the ones who were crazy or if she was.

Even after years of working together, this was the first time they had seen such a scene.

It felt as if a different soul had entered her body.

Without the cameras rolling, could she really laugh like that in her everyday life?

Hyejun, unsure of how to react to Sujin's sudden change, sat awkwardly.

Siwoo, who had been taken out of the baby carrier, was now on Hyejun's lap, playing happily with the new "Mom" Sujin.

'Should I have just let her dislike it?'

It's already hard enough to play with her mom and dad at home, let alone outside...

'No, I'm a pro. Life 100 times. Baby life 100 times.'

Siwoo resolved to change his attitude.

If a grown adult can wear a costume at an amusement park and act cute for kids, why can't a 6-month-old baby act cute for adults?

Yes, there are days like this.

Today is an on-location shoot.

"Siwoo! Try saying 'Papa'! Look at that uncle and say, 'Papa~'!"

Sujin pointed at the chief manager and said.

Siwoo, with his small lips, mumbled and then shouted loudly.

"Papa~!"

"Ah! So cute! Wow, if you're this cute, it's cheating. But, Siwoo's mom?"

Sujin called out to Hyejun.

"Yes?"

"Why isn't he crying? Does he usually not cry?"

"...He doesn't usually cry. He used to cry occasionally before his 100th day, but after that, he only cries when he's hungry or needs a diaper change. Otherwise, he's usually quiet."

"Does he not cry for attention at night?"

"If he's sleepy, he'll whine a bit to be put in his bed, but once he's in, he'll sleep on his own."

The chief manager, listening to the conversation between Sujin and Hyejun, recalled his nephew's tantrums and couldn't help but be amazed.

"You're blessed. Putting my nephew to sleep was like hell. He'd stretch out and scream."

At that moment, the director appeared behind Hyejun and Heeju.

"The atmosphere is better than expected. Alright, let's get ready for the shoot. We need to wrap up quickly."

"Yes."

Sujin, who had answered the director, also greeted Siwoo.

"See you in a bit. I'll get ready and come back. It's cold, so stay under the blanket."

"Wow, I've never seen our Sujin talk so affectionately."

The chief manager said.

With envious eyes, the chief manager watched Siwoo as Sujin went to check her appearance and outfit with the stylists.

She read through the script a few more times to prepare emotionally for the shoot.

Now was the time for Sujin to transform from the actor she was into the character she had been playing for months, Yeonsu.

And it was also time to say goodbye to Yeonsu.

The final scene was always special for Sujin, a veteran actor with ten years of experience.

It was a bittersweet moment.

She would miss Yeonsu for a while, but it was a part of her job.

She was an actor, after all.

* * *

Siwoo was watching Sujin's expression and eyes change from a distance.

'Amazing. The atmosphere around her has completely changed.'

Siwoo had also acted with a theater troupe in the past.

It wasn't as serious as this, and it was more about gathering a few beginners to travel around the kingdom's villages, earning a little money and having fun with the audience.

'It was quite fun.'

The preparations for the shoot were complete.

Sujin, now wearing much thinner clothes, approached Siwoo.

The shoot was in November, but since the drama was set in autumn, Sujin couldn't wear a thick coat.

"Siwoo, let's go."

Shivering from the cold wind, Sujin picked up Siwoo as she had been taught by Hyejun.

"...Good luck."

Hyejun, who had been cold to Sujin during their first meeting, felt a bit of her fan heart revive as she saw Sujin seriously take the baby in thin clothes.

She was incredibly beautiful and impressive.

"Yes, thank you."

Sujin, with a brief response, turned and held Siwoo.

"Our Siwoo, just relax in Mom's arms. Don't cry. Understand? If Mom starts crying, don't be scared."

Sujin was worried that Siwoo might cry if she cried.

It was also the biggest concern for the director and the staff.

If a baby is suddenly held by an unfamiliar woman and starts crying, it would be terrifying for the baby.

It would be a horror scene.

"Siwoo, if you want to cry, try to cry quietly. Mom can handle that. But if you scream and thrash, Mom's head will hurt and she'll hear ringing in her ears. Please, understand? Even if Mom can't understand you... Who am I talking to now?"

"Voo voo voo..."

"Huh? You understand? We'll see if you really understand. If you don't cry and finish, Mom will buy you lots of presents. Please don't scream."

"Bububu..."

Sujin stood in front of the empty playground with Siwoo in her arms.

The scene itself was simple.

She had to walk to the bench, say a few lines, sit down, and cry as heartbreakingly as possible.

That was it.

However, she needed to bring out the right emotions.

She couldn't just burst into tears or suppress her tears; she had to find the right balance.

These emotions would be the climax of a drama with a 40% rating.

She needed to make everyone cry.

...Except for Siwoo.

"Ready, action!"

The director's call rang out.

Sujin, holding Siwoo tightly, slowly walked to the playground bench.

Suddenly, everything around her became quiet, and the only sound was the wind.

The microphone followed her from above.

She spoke a few lines to Siwoo, familiar words a mother would use to comfort a child.

Finally, she sat down on the bench.

The camera moved close, capturing both Sujin and Siwoo's faces.

Sujin, having found her emotions, began to shed tears as she looked at Siwoo.

At first, she wasn't sobbing.

She had the leisure to smile faintly.

"It's okay... It's okay... My baby..."

As Sujin gently stroked Siwoo and smiled, the sadness in her eyes deepened.

Siwoo was surprised.

He was a bit shocked.

It was amazing how a person could transform so completely by their own will.

The Sujin who had been giggling in front of him a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, there was a "Mom" who was sobbing and looking at him with a determined gaze, promising to protect him no matter what.

'Is this acting? Acting is incredible.'

Watching Sujin's intense performance up close, Siwoo suddenly felt the urge to do something.

He couldn't explain it, but he didn't want to just lie there and watch her cry so painfully.

'What should I do?'

Sujin was now fully expressing her emotions, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Everyone held their breath, watching her performance.

It was incredibly captivating.

What had made Sujin the best was her acting ability, which surpassed her peers.

Perhaps because it was the final scene, everyone on set felt that Sujin's performance was extraordinary.

The staff, captivated by the aura of her performance, hoped that the baby wouldn't suddenly start crying.

Even Hyejun, who knew nothing about acting, clasped her hands and prayed that Siwoo wouldn't ruin this excellent performance.

Just as everyone was hoping that Siwoo would do nothing, Siwoo, who was in Sujin's arms, broke the silence and spoke.

"Oma..."

"...Yes. I'm your mom. Your mom."

The staff were worried that the flow would be broken, but Sujin naturally continued her performance, adding some improvisation.

Then,

"Mom..."

Siwoo, calling out more clearly, raised his small, beautiful hands and touched the tears streaming down Sujin's face.

Siwoo's warm hands on her face made Sujin suddenly feel a surge of even more intense emotions.

And Sujin's life-changing performance, which would make the nation's living rooms a sea of tears, began.

* * *

"Sniff."

The director took off his glasses and wiped away his tears.

To be crying while shooting a drama at his age...

Taking a deep breath, the director chuckled and said,

"If Sujin doesn't win the acting award at the end of the year, I'll flip the table. I didn't expect the first take to be this good. The baby played a huge role! Wow, impressive. Instead of crying, he matched his breathing with the acting. Where did you find such a baby? Double his fee."

The staff, wiping away their tears, joined in the director's banter.

"Let's call Sujin to monitor the footage, and if there are no issues, let's wrap up. Early wrap-up! Everyone, thank the baby actor for his excellent performance!"

The director's satisfaction was evident in his voice.

The staff showered the baby actor, who had delivered a perfect take, with praise.

Meanwhile, as everyone was celebrating,

There was someone who couldn't join in the festivities.

"How can you do this! How can you do this! How can you call a drama mom 'mom' for the first time in your life! This is wrong!"

Sister Heeju placed her hand on Hyejun's shoulder and said,

"Hyejun, you didn't give birth to a baby."

"...So?"

"You gave birth to an actor."

"What? Quickly... Quickly turn back time! I want to hear the 'mom' call! I came to the shoot for nothing! What is this!"

* * *

– It's been a long time since a legend. The script, direction, and acting were all amazing!

– I've seen many dramas that start strong and end weak, but this is the first time I've seen one that starts weak and ends strong. I thought the production costs would be lost due to the initial poor ratings, but it suddenly skyrocketed after the parents' generation left and Sujin appeared.

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