I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 140

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 140

Ye-chan: No way, Do-young hyung has really become world-class…

Hye-seong: Everyone congratulated Do-young, right?

Ye-chan: Of course! I got a reply too hehe

Ye-chan: I want to see the movie soon too. I’ve been thinking since way back that it would be great to see Do-young hyung’s acting in a cinema…

Ye-chan: How is everyone doing? I miss you all~

Jaewon: lol me too

Min-hee: Ye-chan’s aegyo has really improved

Ye-chan: I’m the complete youngest on set right now, so my aegyo is improving more than my acting every day… I have to act cute to survive

Hye-seong: Isn’t that no different from when you were at Cheongseong?

Ye-chan: I’m depressed…

Seon-woo: Let’s all go watch [Ladder to Eden] together when it’s released! It would be even better if we go as Cheongseong members

Ye-chan: I’m in!

Jaewon: Hahaha deal

Hye-seong: Good, let’s coordinate our schedules!

Hye-seong: Jin-wook, you’re coming too, right?

Jin-wook: Me too?

Hye-seong: Wow.

Jin-wook: ..Yes

Seon-woo quietly smiled as he looked at the group chat.

Do-young’s award news had naturally turned Cheongseong upside down. The theater troupe was apparently in a half-festival mood right now.

Do-young had always been like the pride of Cheongseong.

Not only was he cast as the lead in Director Yu Chan-woo’s film, but he also won an award at a film festival with global authority… As a member of Cheongseong, it was natural to feel proud.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

Seon-woo imagined it.

Do-young had such tremendous stage presence even on Cheongseong’s small stage.

What would it feel like when he filled the cinema screen…

It would definitely be extraordinary.

That’s why they gave him an award at Cannes right away.

Meanwhile, he was a bit worried about Eun-seok.

He knew their release dates were almost overlapping, so in this case… the ticket power would inevitably be pushed back.

‘No, this isn’t the time for me to worry about Eun-seok hyung.’

[Red Zone] also needed to be on high alert right now.

People’s time spent on video media is limited. Although the target audiences for movies and dramas don’t completely overlap, wasn’t the public’s focus already concentrated on [Ladder to Eden]?

To regain that level of buzz, they would need to create an equally good work.

‘I need to grow more too.’

Seon-woo’s eyes became serious.

When he met Do-young later, he wanted to confidently show him his works. To say that he had done his absolute best and delivered truly wonderful acting.

‘There are three main types of acting I need to do right now.’

The first was the romance with Min-hee.

The second was the mentor-student relationship with Do-won.

Finally, the third was his attitude as a doctor treating patients.

It was interesting.

Depending on who he was dealing with, the personality that Yoon-seo displayed would change.

In front of Min-hee, he becomes a man; in front of Do-young, a clumsy intern; in front of patients, a doctor who saves lives.

Only by capturing these differences well could Yoon-seo remain a three-dimensional character rather than a flat one.

‘What kind of picture should I paint?’

Yoon-seo’s screen time isn’t that large.

The scenes where Yoon-seo appears in one episode add up to less than 10 minutes. Trying to express too many facets within that time could actually be harmful.

Rather than three-dimensional, it might give an inconsistent feeling.

“Oh right, that’s why I don’t act three-dimensionally.”

Yun-seob nodded at this concern.

“I tried acting three-dimensionally once before… The director just cursed me out terribly then. Asked me who I thought I was.”

“…That must have been heartbreaking.”

“But well, Yoon-seo has been given many different roles right now… so there is a need to be somewhat three-dimensional. Maybe not full 3D, but about 2.5D?”

2.5D.

That was definitely an appropriate expression.

As Seon-woo was nodding, Ye-ji made a puzzled expression.

“But Seon-woo seems to be doing well right now. Isn’t there nothing more to work on?”

“Hmm. But I still feel like something’s lacking somewhere.”

“Your ambition has no end. Well, that’s good though.”

“But it makes sense that Seon-woo would be worried. Looking at the comment reactions, there were many saying they’re glad there’s no romance…”

Na-sae smiled mischievously.

“But Seon-woo has to do romance, doesn’t he?”

“…Actually, that’s also a concern.”

Seon-woo had long since thoroughly read through all the teaser comments.

As such, he was aware that there was quite a lot of public opinion like ‘It’s nice that there’s no melodrama~’.

But what would the public say if Seon-woo did clumsy romance there?

Why are you doing romance when you’re not even the lead? They would probably react like that.

There was only one way to avoid hearing such words.

To do acting that’s interesting, pleasant to watch, and beautiful.

To make even viewers who hated watching romance react with ‘Wow, this level deserves recognition.’

“Think about it more seriously. Loving me isn’t such an easy task.”

…When Min-hee teased him like this, his resolve would sometimes waver, but he’d have to endure it.

And it wasn’t just Seon-woo who was steeling himself with greater determination.

All the other actors too, especially Do-won, felt like their acting had become much sharper than before.

‘Should I say the texture of the color has become more luxurious.’

Silk.

When crimson waves flowed from Do-won, Seon-woo would think it looked like silk fabric.

But now the very luster of that fabric had changed. The way it gleamed and shone felt like looking at premium silk that was far better maintained than before.

It meant Do-won’s acting had deepened that much.

And it also meant it had become more difficult to act opposite Do-won.

Floor, walls, ceiling… Lee Hyeok’s emotions covering the world from every direction the eye could see were overwhelmingly difficult to resist.

With slight exaggeration, it felt like facing a tsunami dozens of meters in size rushing toward him.

How should Yoon-seo respond in front of that.

The answer was no different from before. Yoon-seo doesn’t respond. He just endures. As his flower garden is roughly dug up and becomes desolate, he only protects the last remaining flower.

That flower represented Yoon-seo’s goodwill.

Yoon-seo’s belief that wouldn’t break under any circumstances.

He absolutely couldn’t let that flower be broken.

Acting with such feelings, something interesting began to happen at some point.

The more he acted, the more flowers began to remain than Seon-woo had thought.

A flower with stamens tinged reddish, as if containing his romantic feelings for So-hee.

A flower bearing Lee Hyeok’s color, who would constantly scold him but still say “You did well though.”

A flower dyed in Sang-a’s color, who had handed him tissues when he collapsed crying with weak legs in front of a patient he had barely saved…

The colors of various characters were gradually revealing themselves through Yoon-seo’s flowers.

It was something that could be glimpsed during [One Room] too. At some point, stains of all the characters had remained in ‘Kim Seon-woo’s’ emotions.

In Yoon-seo’s case, it would manifest as changes in the flowers.

He could feel it. That the colors of various characters dyeing Yoon-seo’s flowers were becoming his strength. That they were making him stronger.

When he wanted to collapse, when he would get scared and back down, even…

“You’re right.”

Even when confessing his feelings like this.

“I don’t want to admit it either, it’s annoying that I have to say this is right, but… you’re right.”

Seon-woo looked at Min-hee.

No, Yoon-seo looked at So-hee.

At some point. The woman whose even frowning face looked pretty to him.

“I like you.”

A flower garden appears before his eyes.

Various colors are dyeing his flowers, but the most visible among them is So-hee’s color. His heart had become filled with petals dyed in ivory.

It meant his heart had become filled with So-hee.

…Perhaps it wasn’t just liking, but love.

Even without intending it, his emotions naturally led Seon-woo.

His lips trembled, his eyes grew hot. Clumsy pride and pathetic pure love seemed to fight and tear at his heart. Yet the strange sense of liberation felt when finally confessing this romantic feeling…

“———Cut!”

It was the first time.

Feeling such regret when the acting ended.

But it seemed only Seon-woo felt regret.

Some strange heat was circling around Han Jeong-hun’s eyes. He seemed quite pleased with the scene that had just occurred.

Even Yu Eun-jeong and Chae Seo-ryeong beside him were covering their mouths but visibly grinning, so Seon-woo had apparently acted properly.

Seon-woo looked back at Min-hee. Some belated embarrassment finally came rushing in.

If it had been another actor it might have been different, but since his partner was Min-hee, it felt more awkward. It was probably because they had become too close now.

But,

“Senior. Good work.”

“…Wait, wait a minute.”

“Yes? What?”

“No, I’m enjoying the afterglow so don’t interrupt! It’s been so long since I received a confession.”

What kind of situation was this.

Seon-woo looked at Min-hee with a displeased expression.

“I was the one who made that confession.”

“No? Our Yoon-seo did it for me?”

“I’m your Seon-woo though?”

“It’s not like that… Ah, tsk, it’s all ruined. Really Kim Seon-woo… I don’t like you today.”

Min-hee sighed and glared at Seon-woo.

That gaze, voice, expression just now… it was a confession most people wouldn’t experience in their lifetime.

…Well, even though it was So-hee who received that confession, not Min-hee, she could still feel vicarious excitement, couldn’t she.

‘It was nice for once.’

But it was actually good.

The fact that she was excited meant viewers would be excited too.

Her heart still ached. It was frustrating to receive such feelings from Seon-woo, but her heart felt like it would burst from pounding.

Min-hee looked at Seon-woo with fresh eyes.

This wasn’t the first time she had experienced Seon-woo’s confession. When acting as Ye-bin in [When I Was Four], Seon-woo had confessed to her too.

But the excitement she felt now was incomparable to that time.

It was because Seon-woo as an actor had become a completely different person.

He had grown several levels. Even while filming this program.

‘The reaction should really be good at this level.’

Min-hee was inwardly convinced.

Unless the editing was done strangely, it was acting that would inevitably receive a good audience response.

And she wouldn’t have to wait long to confirm that reaction.

About three months had already passed since they started filming. What they were filming now was the ending part of episode 6.

In just a few days, the first episode of [Red Zone] would air.

Viewers would have to wait another two weeks to reach this scene, episode 6… but she wasn’t worried about that either.

Watching Seon-woo’s, no, Yoon-seo’s gaze gradually deepen during that process would surely be charming too.

At least it had been quite an enjoyable experience for her.

Min-hee quietly sparkled her eyes.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous, but her excitement was greater than that.

What kind of reaction would the public show to their work?

She could be certain of at least one thing.

They would surely be excited too.

* * *

Wednesday, 10 PM.

Inside Cheongsong Theater.

The Cheongsong troupe members were huddled together in the audience seats.

The reason they gathered was naturally to watch [Red Zone] live.

“…It’s really amazing. To think we’d see you two on screen like this.”

It was Ye-chan who muttered that.

Ji-hwan looked back at Ye-chan with an incredulous face.

“You talk as if you never did that. You appeared on 【I Am an Actor】 too.”

“Hey, it feels different somehow. I didn’t make it to [One Room] at least…”

“Oh, right. You got eliminated.”

“…That hurts, Director.”

“But you’re filming a drama now. Do you have time to come here?”

“Well, my screen time is smaller than I thought… I hardly get any calls.”

“…Sorry. Want some beer?”

“Yes.”

Ye-chan accepted the beer Ji-hwan handed him.

Then he took a sip, frowned with a “kya,” and opened his mouth.

“But I really feel like Cheongsong has changed a lot lately. Do-young hyung’s Cannes award and all… It seems like there are a lot more newcomers too.”

“That’s true. The troupe needed some fresh blood, and many good kids applied.”

Ji-hwan said with a proud expression.

After 【I Am an Actor】, Cheongsong never lacked applicants. Even when they weren’t officially accepting applications, so many audition inquiries came in that they now accept applications constantly.

Of course, they could reject all the audition inquiries, but the reason they changed the system was simple.

Who knows if there might be another person like Seon-woo among those who applied.

‘This is right for Cheongsong now.’

At first, Ji-hwan had been conflicted too.

Sending troupe members to shows like 【I Am an Actor】 would inevitably lead to a short-term decrease in members.

Well, they said in words that they could still come to the troupe occasionally after entering the broadcasting industry… but he knew realistically how difficult that was.

Nevertheless, the reason he sent them was simple.

He couldn’t use the troupe members’ futures as kindling for Cheongsong.

He had to let them go. When they could spread their wings, he had to push their backs so they could soar. That would surely be an adult’s virtue.

What he hadn’t expected was that Cheongsong’s reputation would rise through 【I Am an Actor】… and that so many people would seek them out like now.

Whether actors or audiences, the footsteps crossing Cheongsong’s threshold only increased day by day.

The newcomer now talking to Ye-chan was just such a case.

“Excuse me. You’re Senior Ye-chan, right?”

“Se, Senior?”

“Aren’t you a senior?”

“Ri, right. Yeah yeah. I’m Senior Ye-chan. Why? What’s up?”

Was she about twenty years old?

A young girl who still had baby fat was talking to Ye-chan.

A new troupe member who recently joined Cheongsong.

Ye-chan nodded, barely restraining his nostrils from flaring at hearing “senior” for the first time in his life at Cheongsong.

“Well, Senior, you’ve acted with the seniors who appear in [Red Zone]. So I was curious about what it was like when you actually acted together.”

“Hmm…”

Ye-chan’s expression became serious.

“First, Min-hee noona is clean. I’d say she’s the epitome of acting without unnecessary elements. The feeling that she can digest any role without wavering? Honestly, she was the most reliable senior when we were on stage together.”

“Oh, is she really pretty in person too?”

“Yeah. She’s even prettier in person. She was Cheongsong’s representative visual.”

“Wow… I really want to meet her once.”

“If you stay at Cheongsong, you’ll see her often. Min-hee noona has special affection for Cheongsong too… Same with Seon-woo hyung.”

“Well, I heard rumors about Senior Kim Seon-woo.”

The newcomer’s eyes sparkled.

“That he’s a genius.”

“Yeah. He’s a genius.”

“Other seniors said that too. That they’ve never seen anyone so naturally gifted at acting except… Senior Cha Do-young. They said he hasn’t even been acting for a year?”

“Mm-hmm. I watched Seon-woo hyung act right beside him, and he’s definitely not an ordinary person. It was the first time I saw someone improve at acting that quickly. But… the reason we call Seon-woo hyung a genius isn’t simply because his acting improved quickly.”

“…Then what’s the reason?”

“That’s…”

Ye-chan thought for a moment.

Then, soon wearing a mysterious smile, he pointed at the screen with a leisurely air.

“Think about it while watching directly. You’ll understand once you see it.”

Why that person is called a genius.

“Seon-woo hyung… really does acting like a painting.”

Acting like a painting?

Newcomer inwardly tilted her head in confusion.

Actually, since she had also watched [One Room], it wasn’t like she was completely unfamiliar with Seon-woo’s acting. It was definitely charming acting. Should I say the depth was different? It had a charm that captured one’s gaze.

But what exactly did “like a painting” mean?

‘Will I understand if I keep watching?’

Newcomer looked at the screen.

Just then, [Red Zone] was about to begin.

Acting like a painting. Acting like a painting… Just hearing the words doesn’t give me a clear sense, but I should be able to understand after watching this.

Newcomer’s eyes calmly settled.

And finally, the first episode of [Red Zone] raised its curtain.

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