I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 107

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 107

Meanwhile, the moment first place was announced… it goes without saying that the chat room went absolutely wild.

Pyapi: Shout it out, Goddess Yeon-woo

Jeong Jun-ho: Wow, Yeon-woo noona actually won this

Gahyun: Totally unexpected development lol

Goguma Star: Queen Yeon-woo casually taking first place in an acting competition she entered for fun…

meteor: I didn’t think Hye-seong would lose though

Kim Quokka: But Yeon-woo really unleashed her potential this episode

Ppuppo: Yeon-woo’s acting is just unique and interesting

It’s not that Yeon-woo’s victory was incomprehensible.

Both Yeon-woo and Hye-seong had shown acting that would make either one winning unsurprising.

It’s just that considering Yeon-woo’s background, the fact that she claimed the victory cup was incredibly surprising.

White Mouse: This wasn’t the time to make a fuss about Seon-woo being a genius…

So such messages were bound to appear.

—It was a fierce competition.

Lee Mu-beom said with a quiet smile.

—Actually, the judges’ scores were tied for both. However… Yeon-woo received 10 points from the audience, a perfect score that was 1 point ahead. That’s where the match was decided.

The judges’ scores were tied.

But whether this would be any consolation to Hye-seong was uncertain.

Positively interpreted, it meant the quality of acting wasn’t inferior, but negatively, it could mean he lost in terms of popular appeal.

However…

meteor: lololololol look at Jung Hyesung’s face

Tteutdol Village Complex 3: He has that “you talk, I’ll enjoy” expression lol

eyesonyou: Anyone watching would think she’s the one who got accepted, why is she so cheerful like that ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The chat room people burst into laughter seeing Hye-seong’s expression.

He had just been eliminated, but there was no sign of disappointment or depression at all.

Rather, he was looking at Yeon-woo with a satisfied expression and applauding… like a dad watching his daughter who got into university.

Even Yeon-woo looked at such Hye-seong with a bewildered expression.

He was happier than herself who had won, so she couldn’t help but feel dazed.

In the midst of this, Yu Mi-yeon chuckled and spoke up.

—I’m really curious about what kind of actor Yeon-woo will become… There’s been talk lately about a drought of actresses in their twenties, and I think there are already quite a few directors with sparkling eyes.

—Thank you! I’ll… become a good actor.

—Yes, I believe you will. And, Hye-seong.

—Yes!

—What’s making you so happy that you’ve been smiling? You just missed victory right before your eyes.

—Uh… well, not winning is disappointing, but… today still feels like a very joyful day for me.

Hye-seong scratched his head as if embarrassed.

—I’m happy that a fellow actor I like won, I’m happy that I made it this far, and being judged by respected seniors in a place like this… there’s nothing that isn’t joyful.

Hye-seong’s eyes sparkled.

And for a moment, the chat room scroll stopped.

—Someone might say I lost today, but even today’s defeat… is like a dream come true for me.

AEIOU: Wow…

meteor: Hyesung hyung ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

Jung Junho: No, why is this hyung so heartbreaking ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ He’s really such a sad hyung

eyesonyou: I can’t help it, I’ll have to make this oppa my new favorite

meteor: @eyesonyou Welcome

Freshwater Snail: He really feels like a harmless person…

And as much as it had stopped, the chat messages began pouring out all at once.

It was a moment that couldn’t help but be endearing. And that’s when it happened. The camera captured Jin-wook and Seon-woo’s faces in succession.

Jin-wook was smiling slightly. And Seon-woo was…

meteor: What’s with Seon-woo’s expression again

Daseulgi: It’s really sparkling hahahaha

White rat: It looks like a fan meeting a star lol

Ppuppo: But the Cheongseong kids are nice. You can really feel that they care for each other

He looked happy. That would probably be the most appropriate way to describe it.

A face that looked somehow satisfied, as if seeing Hye-seong like that was itself comfort and joy for him.

In the midst of this, Yu Mi-yeon spoke with a smile.

—Hye-seong. Do you know something?

—Yes!

—I’m not curious at all about what will happen to you in the future.

At the somewhat sudden words, question marks appeared in Hye-seong’s eyes.

Looking at such Hye-seong, Yu Mi-yeon smiled quietly.

—I can already see it. What kind of actor Hye-seong will become. What roles you’ll play, how you’ll be remembered by the public. So I’m neither curious nor worried.

—…

Hye-seong’s smile cracked.

It felt like it became difficult to maintain his poker face. His lips were trembling, and just when it seemed like he might cry…

Pumpkin Sweet Potato: What’s this

Tteutdol Village Complex 3: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Are you bowing right now?

Hye-seong prostrated himself flat on the stage.

He pressed his forehead down and gave a deep bow toward the audience and camera. Even the camera director seemed not to have expected this, as the screen shook while hurriedly lowering the angle.

In the midst of this, Hye-seong shouted in a resounding voice.

—Thank you so much for looking favorably upon this lacking person and caring for me! I will work hard at acting from now on!

Tacky.

Ridiculous, absurd, and embarrassing.

But cool.

At least in this moment, Hye-seong was showing a side of himself that was more true to who he was than anyone else.

Because that was just like him.

Fairy: …He’s shining.

Everyone couldn’t help but agree with those words.

* * *

“That was cool.”

After filming ended, Seon-woo went to greet Hye-seong and Yeon-woo.

Hye-seong smiled somewhat awkwardly.

“Really? I was worried I might have overdone it.”

“It was a stylish kind of over-the-top.”

It was Yeon-woo who answered. She smiled brightly and clapped.

“It was just like a scene from a movie, wasn’t it?”

“…Exactly, you’re not supposed to film a movie during a variety show.”

Hye-seong seemed to be regretting his earlier action belatedly.

Watching Hye-seong like this, Jin-wook spoke up in his blunt tone.

“What’s wrong with that? If you want to do it, you do it.”

“…Jin-wook, are you actually trying to comfort me right now?”

“…I’m just saying. Just talking.”

“Wow, when did this kid become so thoughtful?”

“Ah, no… Don’t do it! I said don’t!”

When Hye-seong tried to pinch both of Jin-wook’s cheeks, Jin-wook fled in horror.

Seon-woo watched this scene with giggles, then turned to look at Yeon-woo.

“Congratulations, Yeon-woo.”

“Were you rooting for me?”

“No, I was rooting for Hye-seong hyung.”

At his honest answer, Yeon-woo looked at Seon-woo with an incredulous expression.

“…Normally people would just lie and say they were rooting for you, wouldn’t they?”

“You’re not interested in acting, Yeon-woo. You’re interested in the 200 million won.”

Seon-woo casually shrugged his shoulders.

“Anyone who hears that story would have no choice but to root for Hye-seong hyung more, right?”

“…I can’t argue with that.”

“Do you still feel the same way about that?”

“What do you mean? About acting for the 200 million won?”

“Yes.”

Seon-woo actually thought that part was quite sad.

She had achieved results that any aspiring actor would dream of. But if the value of this victory to her was just 200 million won (though it was a large sum, still), that would be truly regrettable and wasteful.

The fortunate thing was that Yeon-woo couldn’t readily answer this question.

“…Well, honestly it’s a bit difficult to answer.”

“In what way?”

“I told you before, didn’t I? Acting was… essentially my life.”

Seon-woo nodded.

She had lived her entire life acting. Even if her attitude toward acting might be different, she would have contemplated acting more than anyone else.

That contemplation had led her to victory.

“I actually hated acting. I sometimes wondered if I couldn’t just act according to my own personality. Having to always calculate and move accordingly… was kind of annoying. But this time, while acting in [One Room]… it’s strange, isn’t it? Even while I was acting, I didn’t feel like I was acting.”

Probably because Lee Yeon-woo in [One Room] was showing colors not much different from the original Lee Yeon-woo.

She, who could never be herself even once in daily life, could legally be herself only while acting in works.

“It was fun.”

Yeon-woo smiled.

And at that moment, Seon-woo unconsciously opened his lips.

The sky-blue aura that had always surrounded her as if it were natural… had disappeared. Right now, in this moment, she wasn’t acting.

It was strange.

When not acting, Yeon-woo was honestly a creepy person.

It felt like looking at someone whose humanity had been deleted. Like someone you shouldn’t carelessly approach.

But now, Yeon-woo was…

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because you’re pretty.”

“What?”

She was pretty.

Her sparkling eyes, and the corners of her mouth that seemed truly intoxicated with joy.

Seon-woo smiled.

For some reason, he felt relieved. Though Yeon-woo herself didn’t seem to know, Seon-woo could feel it. He could tell.

That she, too, had come to love acting.

Because if that weren’t the case, she couldn’t have smiled like that.

However,

“…You know Seon-woo is really crazy, right?”

He hadn’t expected to suddenly hear such criticism.

Seon-woo looked at Yeon-woo with a bewildered expression. Seeing his questioning gaze, Yeon-woo let out a sigh.

“Whatever, just give me your number.”

“My number?”

“Yeah, I’ll contact you from time to time when I have questions about acting. Like crazy acting and stuff.”

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you about that?”

“No, you shouldn’t. So give me your number.”

He could give her his number, but…

Why on earth would she want to learn crazy acting from him? Seon-woo’s expression grew puzzled as he couldn’t understand it at all.

Jin-wook and Hye-seong returned.

Having apparently given up resistance, Jin-wook appeared with a face that resented the world, letting Hye-seong’s hands cup both his cheeks.

Even Yeon-woo was shocked enough to gasp.

“…What is this horrible scene?”

“I know, so please be quiet.”

“Wow, now that you’re not getting coaching from me anymore, you’re immediately talking so rudely? You have no loyalty. Total loser.”

“I’m not a loser…!”

“Oh, now you’re getting angry? Then you really are a loser.”

“…I’m not angry, I was trying to explain.”

“Explain what? That even though my cheeks are being toyed with right now, this scene isn’t horrible at all. That I’m a real man and you should respect me?”

“…”

In the end, Jin-wook chose to remain silent.

Hye-seong peeked his head out from behind Jin-wook and looked back at Seon-woo.

“What were you two talking about?”

“…Well, nothing much. Just about what we’ll do going forward, stuff like that?”

“Oh, right. Seon-woo, what are you going to do from now on? Do you have any plans?”

“Me? Well… I don’t really have any particular plans.”

Seon-woo scratched his head.

Honestly, just focusing on filming [One Room] had been overwhelming enough. Planning what came after was beyond his capabilities.

But he definitely needed to start thinking about his future schedule now. An actor who just sits around is basically unemployed.

“What about an agency? You must have gotten offers from here and there.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Seon-woo nodded.

Indeed, while filming 【I Am an Actor】, especially during the [One Room] filming, quite a few agencies had contacted him.

However they managed to get his number, there were over ten messages in his inbox from agencies requesting meetings.

“Which ones contacted you?”

“Well…”

Seon-woo took out his phone and showed them the messages from agencies.

A moment later, Hye-seong, who had been reacting with “oh” to each agency, suddenly raised his eyebrows in great shock.

“KS? You got an offer from there too?”

“Yeah. I was pretty surprised by that one too.”

Seon-woo nodded.

It was definitely a bit unexpected when they reached out. And for good reason…

“That’s an idol agency, isn’t it?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————