I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 145

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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 145

“Wow, everyone worked so hard!”

“Great work everyone!”

“Red Zone fighting!”

It goes without saying, but the production team was no exception when it came to watching [Red Zone] live at this time.

The moment the broadcast started, all the filming crew and actors gathered together to watch it.

What was interesting was the place where they watched [Red Zone].

They didn’t rent out a cinema, nor did they set up a screen at the film set…

“Watching it at a barbecue restaurant like this feels really strange.”

It was a barbecue restaurant.

On the table, there were plenty of half-grilled pork belly and bottles of alcohol lined up.

Looking at Seon-woo like that, Na-sae hiccupped and opened his mouth.

“Hehe… Originally, *hiccup*, live viewing is supposed to be done at a barbecue restaurant.”

“Why a barbecue restaurant of all places?”

“There’s a TV. You can sit on the floor and sprawl out. There’s lots of alcohol and food…! Where else could be more perfect than here?”

It seemed like alcohol was probably the most important thing.

Anyway, it seemed like you had to acknowledge that people in this industry loved their drinks.

Still, maybe it was thanks to choosing a barbecue restaurant with a big TV.

It wasn’t too difficult to get immersed in the drama. Once the broadcast actually started, almost everyone was watching with bated breath.

Seon-woo stared blankly at the TV.

He didn’t know how the past 3 hours had flowed by. This wasn’t his first time seeing his acting confirmed on screen like this, but no matter how much he experienced it, it was hard to get used to.

The picture created by all the various colored lights that each actor on screen emitted coming together… there was no way to express it other than truly wondrous.

Among them, what caught Seon-woo’s eye the most had to be his own acting.

‘It’s unfamiliar.’

Yoon-seo was definitely a different person from Seon-woo in many ways.

Seon-woo basically didn’t think of himself as someone as pure or clear as Yoon-seo. No, actually, someone like Yoon-seo would be hard to find anywhere in the world.

A person like Peter Pan, who still maintained the innocence that naturally gets lost as one ages.

The acting he had done was beautiful.

If one could really live with such sentiments, the world would surely be different.

Thinking like that, it was almost regrettable that there were only a few weeks left of [Red Zone] filming.

The end of [Red Zone] meant he would have to part ways with Yoon-seo too.

‘…What kind of work will I do next.’

What kind of colorful character would he meet, what kind of picture would he draw.

Seon-woo decided not to think about it right now. It was too early to think about it now. More than anything, when he tried to gauge that… it felt like his farewell with Yoon-seo would come a little sooner too.

“Seon-woo, Seon-woo~.”

While he was having such thoughts, Seo Ryeong approached with a beer bottle in one hand. His face was slightly flushed as if he was a bit drunk.

“Wow~ You and Min-hee looked so good together? At this rate, you two might even get dating rumors.”

“To become a real couple… we’re not even a couple in [Red Zone] right now?”

“That’s right, you two… I wonder if you’ll actually end up together?”

Seo Ryeong looked back and forth between Min-hee and Seon-woo.

The ending for Yoon-seo and So-hee hadn’t been decided yet. Because Yu Eun-jeong was still worrying about that part, writing and erasing it.

But it wasn’t incomprehensible.

Either way seemed like it would be beautiful.

“But our Seon-woo is prettier when he’s having unrequited love.”

“What about me?”

“Min-hee? Our Min-hee is pretty when she’s being loved!”

“…Hehe.”

At Seo Ryeong’s words, Min-hee’s nostrils flared. It seemed to be an answer she liked.

Seo Ryeong chuckled looking at Min-hee like that. At first, he had been quite uncomfortable with her… but now it seemed like he could even ask such questions.

Well, it seemed like he was borrowing the power of alcohol though.

‘Right now, if I told her to call me sister, she probably would?’

Looking at Min-hee’s face that had turned redder than expected, Seo Ryeong’s eyes narrowed. Then he casually sat down on the floor and wrapped his arm around Min-hee’s shoulders.

“What about sister?”

“…Sister is always pretty! She’s pretty regardless of time and place. I’m really jealous.”

“Hehehehehehe.”

Success!

Should I keep getting this kid drunk from now on? Seo Ryeong smiled with satisfaction, then soon looked back at Seon-woo.

“From what I can see, you guys are going to get tons of fans soon. It might not be long before you really become stars?”

“Come on, but being a star… is still quite far away.”

Seon-woo shook his head.

A star. If he worked hard at acting, maybe someday that word would feel natural, but… for now, it was a word that didn’t feel real at all.

He had just debuted.

Star or whatever, it wasn’t time to have such things in his sights yet.

But Seo Ryeong shook his head.

“No? This has to get a reaction. Your two characters are so pretty that I feel like you’ll get quite a lot of character fandom alone? Seon-woo, you have social media, right?”

“Ah, yes. I made one recently.”

“Check it.”

Seo Ryeong looked at Seon-woo with confident eyes.

What exactly was he supposed to check. But Seon-woo took out his phone for now. However,

‘Is my phone broken?’

It was hot.

The phone was boiling hot as if it had been left under the sun for a long time. Seon-woo was flustered. I only replaced this two years ago…

“…Huh?”

But Seon-woo’s expression soon became strange.

He realized it. That the phone heating up right now wasn’t because it was broken.

Messages. And notification windows were constantly popping up.

Along with notifications that someone had followed him, messages and comments began pouring in continuously.

Why all of a sudden… why?

Seon-woo first checked his follower count.

He needed to confirm just how many people were visiting his account right now for this to be happening.

And a moment later, Seon-woo’s mouth slowly fell open.

“Two hundred… thousand?”

* * *

The first broadcast of [Red Zone] could only be described as truly successful.

Kim Quokka: Honestly, I didn’t know they’d make it this well

└Apgujeong Knife Handler: I had expectations from the start because of the Han Jeong-hun and Yu Eun-jeong combination… They’re both masters of comfort food. I thought we’d get a life-changing comfort meal

└Kim Quokka: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ And Seong Do-won and Chae Seo-ryeong are actually one-trick ponies too. They just act in that familiar way that viewers expect from them

└ApgujeongKnifeMaster: Totally agree, the acting isn’t overwhelming and just brings out that perfect chewy flavor, so good

└Not A Critic: PD Han Jeong-hun once said something like that. That he’s a PD with outdated sensibilities. So he can’t do new things, only work harder and pay more attention to what everyone else does. But seeing this work, I get it. It feels familiar yet so good.

└Apgujeong Knife Handler: It’s Michelin-level comfort food

That was the overall reaction.

That everything they expected was delivered beyond expectations.

Of course, people didn’t only praise the PD and writer.

Last Tissue One Sheet: But how does Seong Do-won’s acting seem to improve with every project? I thought the gangster acting from his last work was his life performance… but this time it’s been updated again?

└Junho: Is it that good? I found this one a bit weak in terms of impact

└Last Tissue One Sheet: It might differ by taste. But this time Seong Do-won’s narrative is just absolutely delicious. A doctor obsessed with saving lives to punish himself. It’s already interesting.

└Gonyak: Yeah, and they even express it well

└Last Tissue One Sheet: I’d like to see a movie with Seong Do-won carrying it.

└Gonyak: No, I want to keep seeing him in dramas. Movies are too short.

└LastToiletPaperSquare: I agree with that

Cali: Lee Hyuk ㅠㅠㅠㅠ I really hope there’s a happy ending

└Anxiety Ping: But quitting being a doctor is already quite ominous… I can’t picture a happy ending

└Gugu Flavor Star: I’ve seen protagonists get kicked out of hospitals, but this is the first time I’ve seen one completely quit being a doctor

└Cali: But maybe Yoon-seo’s happy virus will work something out!?

BlueB: Am I the only one uncomfortable with the romance? Sudden romance, and it’s the supporting characters having romance, which feels weird

└sj97: It didn’t feel like sudden romance though? And the male actor’s acting was so good it was fine. Was it Yoon-seo?

└1일3식: ㅇㅇㅇㅇ But Yoon-seo was really good though. The character is likeable and the actor’s performance is so clean too. I think they’re going to make it big soon

└sj97: Just the fact that he’s not completely overshadowed by Seongdowon is ridiculous lol. I heard he’s from an audition show. But apparently he didn’t even win. Came in 3rd or something?

└3 Meals A Day: What about the winner from there? What kind of monster are they?

└eyesonyou: I watched all the live broadcasts and they are a monster…

Ppuppo: But So-hee also felt really good? I really cried during that CPR scene

└eyesonyou: Agreed, she acts so well and is so pretty, totally my unnie

└meteor: hahahaha Na Min-hee’s acting skills have been recognized since her early days as an actress, she’s totally solid/reliable

└Apgujeong Knife Handler: This place is like a comfort food buffet…

└AEIOU: Nice~

Freshwater Snail: Ah but I am looking forward to the Yoon-seo and So-hee love line. First time seeing actors this good at melodrama acting.

└MinChoSongi: That’s what I’m saying ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Directors, please cast this actor in a romance drama ASAP!!! Very urgent

└Good Comment Fairy: Hmm… is it that good?

└다슬기: Yeah, that’s about right

That was the atmosphere.

While there were a few people expressing concerns about Yoon-seo and So-hee’s love line, other than that it was overwhelmingly positive.

And the person most relieved by this fact was…

“Phew, thank goodness…”

Yun Bin.

Naturally, before the broadcast, Yun Bin was one of the most nervous people.

Since she thought she was the weak link in this drama, it was inevitable. But the reaction to Yun Bin’s acting was better than expected.

Well, it wasn’t like there were no harsh reviews.

But…

Mozart14: Yun Bin doesn’t seem that bad

└wyuq931: Of course. Honestly, I thought it would be a complete disaster…

└CosmicChick: It does seem like they really gritted their teeth and came prepared lol but compared to all the other idols who came on and created cringe moments, they’re really angels

└Mozart14: But that doesn’t mean we should say she did well. You’re still lacking! Stay alert!

It was about this level.

The kind of harsh comments Yun Bin had imagined – ‘I can’t watch because she breaks immersion’ – weren’t posted.

Seon-woo smiled watching Yun Bin like this.

“You did well.”

“…It’s all thanks to you, hyung. If it weren’t for you, I would have gotten twice as much hate.”

Seon-woo didn’t bother to say no.

There was quite a high probability that things would have gone as Yun Bin said.

But either way, as if satisfied with this level of results, Yun Bin clenched her fist with a happy expression.

“I have a goal now.”

“What kind of goal?”

“To receive at least one comment saying ‘Yun Bin acts well!’ before the drama ends.”

“…Should I write one for you?”

“Ah, hyung! That’s not it! I’m going to earn it fair and square!”

If that wasn’t possible in the first place, there would be no point in continuing to act.

Yun Bin looked at Seon-woo with a determined expression.

“I’m going to hear those words from you too, hyung.”

“…What words?”

“That my acting was really good just now. Words like that.”

“Haven’t I said things like that?”

“Hyung, you’ve never told me my acting was good. You only said things like ‘it was okay’ or ‘good work.'”

…Had he really?

Seon-woo opened his mouth. He thought about saying it now. But… somehow his lips wouldn’t part easily.

And only then did he realize.

Ah, it’s not easy to say empty words like that.

Perhaps sensing Seon-woo’s internal conflict.

Yun Bin’s eyes became slightly dejected, but soon her eyes blazed with motivation again as she spoke.

“Well, anyway, that’s my goal! The work is going well, so I should work harder and do even better!”

“Fighting. You can do it.”

“…Yes, I’ll try my best!”

Watching Yun Bin shout “Wooryah!” with fighting spirit, Seon-woo chuckled.

Well, while her current acting was a bit lacking, honestly Seon-woo wasn’t too worried about Yun Bin. He thought that someone who lived with this kind of mindset could accomplish anything.

‘Let me do my part properly first.’

If Yun Bin wanted recognition from Seon-woo, then the person Seon-woo wanted recognition from was none other than Do-won.

From the beginning until now, he had consistently been telling Seon-woo to ‘do it properly.’

Of course, he had received praise a few times saying he ‘did it properly’… but what Seon-woo wanted was more than that.

Well done. Excellent.

That was good acting.

He wanted to hear words like that.

Well, even if he really acted that well, there was no guarantee those words would come from Do-won’s mouth. Still, if he could show acting that he himself could be satisfied with, wouldn’t he at least be able to console himself?

There was one condition for that.

Even if it was just one scene, Seon-woo would take the brush proactively… and paint a beautiful picture that anyone would have to admire.

Fortunately, there was a scene prepared soon where Yoon-seo could run wild like that.

The problem was whether Seon-woo could seize the brush… the initiative against Do-won.

“Seon-woo?”

“Ah, yes. Assistant Director.”

At the assistant director’s sudden call, Seon-woo looked up. The assistant director looked at Seon-woo with a slightly troubled expression.

“It’s nothing major, but we have a live broadcast scheduled in a little while… I was wondering if you could appear on it.”

“Live?”

“Yes. Originally it was just for the lead actors, but you and Min-hee have been getting such good reactions… They requested it. Asked if you two could show your faces briefly too. Normally we’d discuss this with your company, but since you don’t have one yet…”

So they asked him directly.

Seon-woo nodded readily.

“Yes. I’m fine with it.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. But is there anything I should be careful about?”

“Hmm… Nothing special, but if a reporter’s question seems difficult to answer, just smile.”

“What? Smile?”

“Sometimes they ask mischievous questions.”

The assistant director shrugged as if it was no big deal.

“When that happens, just smile and brush it off.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Seon-woo nodded.

Though it wasn’t exactly the same, Seon-woo had plenty of similar experience through 【I Am an Actor】.

He was confident he wouldn’t be flustered by most questions.

…He was confident, but,

“Well, this is quite coincidental… I heard Do-won was originally a candidate for the lead role in Director Yu Chan-woo’s film? But the actor Cha Do-young, who took that role and even won the Best New Actor award at Cannes, is from the same theater troupe as you, Seon-woo… Seon-woo, let’s be honest.”

A little later, sitting in front of the reporter, Seon-woo finally understood what those ‘mischievous questions’ were like.

“How are the two of them different?”

…The entertainment industry isn’t easy.

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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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