Chapter 10

Sure, here is the translation:

---

Of course, that was it. That (2)

After the relentless shooting ended, I came down from the set.

Everything was over. And it seemed to have ended quite well.

Between satisfaction and regret, I washed away all the lingering anxiety.

Indeed, it was a good decision to come back!

With a smile on my face, I approached PD Yoo Jong-won.

He was on the phone, holding his mobile.

"Shouldn't you rest a bit after finishing the writing? Well... if you really must, I understand. Then, I'll leave the wrap-up to you and head straight to the broadcasting station to discuss the footage."

The next moment, PD Yoo Jong-won put down his phone and noticed me.

He greeted me warmly and opened up about the call.

"Writer Seo is really curious. He wants to see today's footage and is waiting at the broadcasting station."

"I hope he likes it."

"He'll do more than just like it. He'll probably cheer as if the broadcasting station is floating away. And, this."

PD Yoo Jong-won handed me my script. My eyes naturally fell to it.

"I took a look at Seungkyul's script."

"My script?"

"Can you even hold back your curiosity? I wanted to see how you prepared to act like that, hahaha."

As I slowly picked it up, PD Yoo Jong-won added:

"But it seems like you memorized the entire script..."

"Ah, yes. It helps me focus on acting."

"Sure. It must be easier for acting. It was good from the audience's perspective too. But don't keep doing it. You can be that intense for one episode, but our drama is 70 episodes. Even just the three episodes you took would be tough, right?"

I nodded at his words, swallowing the fact that I had already memorized all three episodes.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Good. And... Actor Choi, hasn't she left yet?"

PD Yoo Jong-won, who was about to add something, turned his head to ask the approaching woman.

Regardless, she approached me without hesitation.

Long, flowing hair and delicate features.

I know who she is. Actor Choi Ji-yeon, who had just finished filming at the adjacent set. She's so young-looking, just one year younger than me, but she's playing a much younger sister role.

"Your acting was insane... No, really, it was amazing. I only planned to watch one scene, but I ended up watching all of it, mesmerized."

"Thank you."

As I awkwardly greeted her with the sudden praise, she continued in a friendly manner.

"Finally found my big brother, and I really like it. I understand why PD kept you so secret. But are you a newcomer?"

A... newcomer?

I am a newcomer, but a secondhand newcomer, so to speak, after not being used for 13 years and then discovered by chance.

Feeling flustered, I turned to PD Yoo Jong-won, who was standing next to me, for help.

Seeing my pleading eyes, PD Yoo Jong-won clicked his tongue and muttered:

"I need to update the family tree... "

---

The grueling schedule continues.

Not only the lead, Choi Ji-yeon, but also other actors have scenes with me.

Each moment of syncing with them feels like a dream to me.

Of course, things got a bit awkward with Choi Ji-yeon.

Ever since she found out I was Haebi and started calling me "senior."

I asked her to treat me like a newcomer, but she said it would be even more awkward and firmly stated:

"...So, it's a bit burdensome to have conversations. I keep calling you 'senior' at the end of every sentence."

While stirring warm milk, I looked at Hyuntae.

He drained his dark iced coffee in one go, recharging his caffeine. His lips curled up, and he looked at me with a pleased expression.

I've been talking a lot again.

"Ahem. How are you, Hyuntae?"

"What's important about me? You're changing so much."

"Stop being creepy."

With a serious face, Hyuntae crunched the ice and said:

"This time, it's about the old man who only drinks instant coffee. Let's check if he's still drinking it. What a joke."

"I know that old man. It would be interesting, right? People would definitely be interested."

"No matter what, it's too hard to find a better subject than you. Oh, did you know the views have already surpassed 2 million?"

"I heard from the drama assistant writer. I couldn't check for a while."

"They keep checking too? Well, it's a measure of your popularity. Anyway, the reactions have been consistently good even after a while. There are comments saying they want to see you as an actor again."

Hyuntae, who had been talking cheerfully, looked around and then lowered his voice.

"If they find out you're making a comeback in this drama, there'll be chaos."

There will be... chaos. Or rather, it will be me.

Suddenly, the faces of the production staff who looked at me after the first scene came to mind.

Thinking about the surprise and expectation in their eyes still gives me goosebumps, but in a good way.

I smiled, and Hyuntae slapped the table.

"Hey, hey. Your smile is different now."

"Is it?"

"Your complexion is much better. I thought your skin was naturally pale, but now I see it was just pale from lack of color."

I held back another smile, knowing he would make a fuss if I kept smiling.

Still, I couldn't deny his words. I don't know about my complexion, but this is true.

I didn't realize I was so stiff until I started acting, and now it feels like a weight has been lifted.

"Before, I just did the tasks given to me, and each day felt like it was just passing by. Now, I'm enjoying it. Time goes by faster, but it leaves a much stronger impression. And it's a happy one."

"If I had known this, I would have cast you earlier."

"Back then, I wouldn't have come."

Hyuntae, who had been taken aback by my sudden response, suddenly understood.

I pretended to be a bad actor, which even Hyuntae didn't know, but he knew what kind of person my father was.

It was a predictable scenario that my father would come looking for me the moment I appeared on TV.

For a moment, the face I had buried in a box came to mind, and I frowned slightly.

Thinking he had said something wrong, Hyuntae cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject.

"Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. The drama will do well."

"It will."

I answered his words and smiled, recalling the feeling I had when I first read the script.

"It was fun."

---

After dinner, the actors, each holding a cup of coffee, gathered in front of the field monitor.

Lee Kang-hyun, who plays the male lead, a third-generation tycoon, tapped his stomach and started the conversation.

"When is the first broadcast again?"

"You still can't remember that? July 12th."

Choi Ji-yeon, who is the same age and has worked with him in several dramas, clicked her tongue.

Embarrassed, Lee Kang-hyun changed the subject.

"By the way, who is Ahn Juyeon? We haven't even had a scene together."

A middle-aged actor, who was discussing his character with writer Seo Eun-young, joked:

"Get married to Ahn Bo-ra. Then you'll see her. She'll be your brother-in-law."

"Then the drama will be over."

Watching Lee Kang-hyun grumble, Choi Ji-yeon called out to writer Seo Eun-young with a playful face.

"Writer, can't we just say Choi Ji-yeon lived well without a man? I don't like this character."

"What's wrong with me? In a daily drama, I'm Lee Min-ho and Shin Seung-chan, you know?"

Mentioning the names of the most famous actors in the current drama scene, writer Seo Eun-young joined in.

"Wow, I cast such a big name. I'm so honored. I can't work with them because I'm so nervous. What should I do with Ji-yeon's character, remove it?"

"Maybe she dies. By a serial killer."

Lee Kang-hyun, who had been making a silly face, quickly objected.

"Are you crazy? All of a sudden? This is a family drama."

"Let's make it a family thriller. I recently filmed a similar movie, and it wasn't bad."

"Really?"

"Writer, writer, I'm really trying hard... "

Everyone joined in teasing the always-on Lee Kang-hyun.

Then, a middle-aged actor, who also had no scenes with Ahn Juyeon, said:

"Anyway, I want to see her soon. They say her acting is insane. Her past works don't even come to mind."

"Past works? What are you talking about, senior? Do you know who she is?"

"Of course I do."

"Of course? Shouldn't you not know? PD, there's a spy in here?"

"I heard it from PD."

"···!"

Lee Kang-hyun looked at PD Yoo Jong-won with a wronged expression.

PD Yoo Jong-won, who was monitoring, scratched his nose and tried to explain.

"Well, you don't have any scenes together yet."

"That's the same for the senior. No, that's not the problem. So, who is she?"

A heavy silence fell.

PD Yoo Jong-won fixed his gaze on the field monitor again, and writer Seo Eun-young held her coffee without drinking it.

The other actors tried to suppress their laughter while skimming their scripts.

"Wow, what's this reaction? Did I get cast as a mouthy character? Was it that bad?"

"Seems like it~."

Lee Kang-hyun, seeing Choi Ji-yeon's smirking face, burst with anger.

PD Yoo Jong-won, who had been chuckling, checked his watch and straightened up.

"Alright, Kang-hyun, you'll find out who Ahn Juyeon is in the first broadcast. Let's start shooting again. We'll finish before dawn."

The staff moved in unison at his words.

In no time, they were ready for the next scene, and the actors stepped in.

They wiped away their smiles and put on their acting faces.

Even Lee Kang-hyun, who had been whining like a child just moments ago, displayed the beauty of a daily drama prince as he continued his acting.

PD Yoo Jong-won, watching this, suddenly smiled.

'I wonder what expression he'll have when they meet.'

Lee Kang-hyun had said he found "Haebi" very entertaining, and even multiple times.

He even said that watching "Haebi" made him want to become an actor for the first time.

So, how surprised will he be to find out that Baek Seungkyul is such a hidden character?

'And the same goes for the viewers.'

PD Yoo Jong-won's expectations were high.

It was a long-running daily drama.

To avoid making a flat soda by opening the lid too early, he had completely hidden Baek Seungkyul's existence.

Not just to create a buzz, but to surprise people properly in the first broadcast.

Of course, a drama can't rely solely on such gimmicks.

He focused on maximizing the chemistry between the leads, Choi Ji-yeon and Lee Kang-hyun, and carefully crafted each scene to ensure clear and meaningful delivery.

The shooting continued every day.

At the same time, the editing team had to process all the footage from each day.

To successfully complete the 70-episode drama, there was no other way.

The drama department's publicity team worked tirelessly day and night.

They publicized the shooting location and distributed photos of the actors leaving the set to journalists.

However, there were clear limits.

Most viewers of a daily drama watch it at that specific time.

Even a week before the broadcast, there weren't many people who were particularly interested or excited about the drama.

The production team was aware of this. Still, they just did their best.

Thus, the first broadcast of "The Youngest Daughter of the Noble Family" quietly approached, with more effort than expectation.