Chapter 7

It's at the end of this road (1)

After the meeting with Baek Seunggyul, the production team of "The Youngest Daughter of the Noble Family" gathered in one place.

"How was Baek Seunggyul's acting?"

The assistant director, who had first contacted Baek Seunggyul, asked Seo Eun-young while opening a bottle of water for her.

Seo Eun-young, who was about to take a sip, put the bottle down. She seemed to think that even the time to drink water was precious.

"Great, great. I wanted that somewhat poignant feeling I saw on YouTube, but he surpassed it. And that was even before analyzing the script! It fits him perfectly. There's a reason I was drawn to him."

"Thank goodness..."

"Huh? What do you mean, 'thank goodness'?"

"Just a feeling that I want to cheer for him. That guy."

Seo Eun-young snapped her fingers at her words.

"You felt it too? That's why I chose him. A character that makes the audience cheer!"

The team members' interest grew with her more dramatic reaction than expected. The more interested they became, the more questions arose.

Then why is the PD acting like that?

The assistant director voiced everyone's question.

"How was the PD?"

Naturally, everyone's attention focused on him.

Yu Jong-won PD, who had been looking a bit strange since the meeting, finally spoke after smoothing his lips.

"Me? I'm fine."

He began slowly, but the words that came out were completely different from his expression.

"Better than expected. I didn't have high expectations, but even if I had, I would have been equally surprised."

"Then it's good, right? Why so serious?"

"Haha, did I look that way? My head is a bit complicated right now."

"..."

Yu Jong-won PD added, seeing the team members getting more and more puzzled.

"At first, I was just surprised. Now..."

His expression became meaningful.

"How to make the audience as surprised as I was. I'm thinking about that."

#

—How was it?

"He said he'll contact us."

—That's a given. How about you? Did you do well? Everyone is curious and in a frenzy.

"Everyone?"

When I pressed, Hyun-tae, on the other end of the phone, laughed and said,

—Our staff. They can't focus on their work. When will the PD's meeting end? Is it over? I hope he gets it. What does 'get it' even mean? It's not like an exam.

I smiled at his good-natured grumbling.

—Everyone seems to have a good impression of you.

"Thank you."

—I'll pass it on. Now, tell me how it went. How was it?

How was it?

Sitting in the back seat of the shaking bus, I slowly recalled what happened at the broadcasting station.

It was definitely bigger and cleaner than Yoido, the employees' gazes were a bit burdensome, Yu Jong-won PD was cheerful yet indifferent, and Seo Eun-young seemed pleased with me, always wearing a contented expression. Then I received the script...

I started to recount the memories to Hyun-tae. The story went from reading the script to the reactions of the two people, and then to my thoughts on the work.

After talking for a while, I stopped at the sound of Hyun-tae's low laughter from the other side.

"Why?"

—It's the first time I've seen you so enthusiastic about something.

Is it?

...Yeah. I don't even remember the last time I talked so passionately to someone.

And I still feel like it's not enough.

—Anyway, it feels good?

"Yeah, it felt good. The characters aren't overly light, and especially the situation descriptions are vivid..."

—No, no, not the drama. You. It seems like you'll get cast. You're still immersed in the script, aren't you?

Ah? It wasn't about the script?

"Getting cast... It would be good if I do."

—You're talking as if it's okay even if you don't?

Hyun-tae's offhand comment hit the mark.

My heart thumped heavily. It felt like a heavily loaded truck had roughly crossed a large speed bump.

Without realizing it, my tone became stiff.

"No, it wouldn't be okay at all."

—Ha. You talk as if you have no ambitions?

"I don't have ambitions. I'm overflowing with them."

—Not that. It seems like you're finally within the normal range. Usually, I thought there was no one as unambitious as you. So innocent. I always worry that someone might take advantage of you.

"I'm not innocent. Hyun-tae, you've been fooled by me."

—Fooled? Who are you fooling?

I grimaced at Hyun-tae's decisive response.

You've been fooled, buddy.

'Choice? What choice does a kid have? And child actors can have ups and downs.'

I feel guilty when I think about how Hyun-tae always gets upset as if it's his own problem whenever the topic of my child actor days comes up. He would be quite surprised if he knew the truth.

I don't know if that day will come.

It would be funny to say now, 'Actually, I was pretending to be a bad actor.'

After hanging up with Hyun-tae, I turned my head to look out the window.

The sweet aftertaste of the call, I think, is due to the encouragement from him and the staff.

That's why I'm now overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

The familiar arrows of criticism still feel familiar, yet I'm enjoying these things.

Is it okay to laugh freely?

Those encouragements...

'Baek Seunggyul! What's wrong with you! Do better! I trusted you and expanded my business, and if you do this, how will you pay back the debt!'

Will they turn into complaints and criticism again?

...The scenery outside the window, passing by quickly, changes with time.

In the meantime, the long-awaited call came.

The news that I would join "The Youngest Daughter of the Noble Family."

#

After quitting the delivery company I had worked at for nearly three years since becoming an adult, I kept my future plans secret. The production team had sternly instructed me not to tell anyone about the casting news.

A few days later, I visited KNS Broadcasting Station again.

After a slightly longer meeting than last time, I finally held the script for the first three episodes in my hands.

I don't remember being this excited when I received new textbooks for a new grade and semester as a child.

"Read it carefully at home. If you have any questions, contact us through the assistant director."

Yu Jong-won PD was still cheerful and kind.

But I could sense a distinctly different atmosphere from when I first came here.

Perhaps there's an expectation in his eyes when he looks at me.

By the way, I had one question...

Ah, right.

"When is the script reading?"

Instead of answering, Yu Jong-won PD turned to Seo Eun-young. She, too, looked at him. What's going on?

After a moment, Yu Jong-won PD, looking at me again, spoke slowly.

"Ah, that... Probably around mid-May. I'll let you know when the detailed schedule is set."

"Understood."

It seemed like there was something, but he didn't intend to tell me now, so I let it go.

I thanked everyone in the production team and quickly left the broadcasting station.

I was a bit in a hurry. I wanted to read what I had in my hands as soon as possible.

I returned home, changed my clothes, and sat on the bed.

I pulled the sofa table, which doubles as a desk, over and placed the script on it, opening the first page.

Rustle—

It was the part we read during the first meeting. My character, An Juyeon, doesn't appear.

But I didn't skip it. I started reading it out loud, one character at a time.

Just like when I first received the script for "Haebi" and came home.

"Mom, I thought you were talking to yourself in your room, but you were reading the script?"

I nodded when I saw my mother open the door.

"Mom, let's read it together when you finish the dishes."

"But, it's hard to wait..."

My mother smiled and came over, kneeling down and patting my head.

"Is reading the script fun?"

"Very!"

"Do you understand the content while reading?"

"Yes!"

My confident answer made my mother tilt her head, wondering, "You usually don't read much, so how is this?"

"Anyway, it's a relief. Why don't you read it with me? You know you have to memorize it, right?"

"Yes. The director said I have to memorize it and will be tested next time we meet."

"Right. Let's work hard together to get a perfect score. I'll underline the parts you need to memorize with a highlighter."

"Hey, Mom."

"Yes?"

"Already memorized?"

My mother, who had been looking at me with wide eyes, smiled and turned the script towards me.

"Got it. Why don't you recite the part you've memorized? I'll check it."

I looked down at the script for a moment. Instead of taking it, I raised my eyes to meet my mother's.

"Haebi walks down a road filled with forsythia and heads home. The old gate is half open. When she pushes it open, a strange voice is heard."

"..."

"Grandma, the land wasn't given to your family by my father. It's next to the great-grandfather's grave. He lent it to you to live and farm in exchange for maintaining the grave. But my father is gone, and I need money. So, will you leave the house, or not?"

"..."

My mother, with her mouth open, took the script back. She flipped through the pages to the first page.

Meanwhile, I had already moved past the first page.

I continued reciting. The next page, and the next.

My mother's eyes, which had been moving left and right, now focused on me.

"Seunggyul."

"Yes?"

"Where did you... no, how much have you memorized?"

"How much?"

I finally realized something was off.

"I just said I memorized it all..."

...I pushed away the intrusive memory.

I saw a familiar face and felt happy, but at the same time, a sense of guilt followed.

I felt sorry for doing the acting that had destroyed my family again.

Sigh.

I calmed my mind and continued reading the script.

I carefully stored all the content in my head, turning the pages.

Before long, there were no more pages to turn.

It was over. All the scripts I had received.

Feeling a bit nostalgic, I went back a few pages and read to the end again. Four or five times...

Then I closed the cover and lay down on the bed.

I stared at the ceiling for a while and slowly closed my eyes.

As my vision faded, the people trapped in the script began to run wild in my mind.