I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 155

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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 155

Of course, not everyone welcomed this kiss scene.

Seon-woo and Min-hee had no choice but to freeze up the moment they received this script.

As actors, kissing and even more intimate scenes are often part of the job, but pretending it was nothing was too difficult since their relationship had already become too close.

If they weren’t close or were just distant acquaintances, they could think of it as just work, but with their current relationship, it wasn’t easy to brush it off like that.

“…You have to nail it in one take without any NGs.”

“You too, senior.”

“Of course I won’t NG! But did you tell Cheongseong about this? You didn’t, right?”

“Of course I didn’t.”

Seon-woo sighed as if already dreading the aftermath.

“It’s obvious what Hye-seong hyung will say. How can I tell him?”

“…Right, let’s hold out as long as possible.”

“But what about when it airs? They’ll probably want to watch it together again.”

“Then… it’s the final episode anyway. I’ll say we’re watching it with the [Red Zone] people. Actually, I think everyone will gather for a wrap party then.”

“…They’ll definitely call, won’t they?”

“I’m even considering blocking them temporarily.”

“That actually sounds like a good idea.”

Even if not blocking, not looking at their phones for about a week might be good too.

That’s how much both of them already feared Cheongseong’s reaction. What nonsense would those crazy people spout this time…

“But we should at least practice the blocking.”

“Right. Are you going to grab me?”

“No. I’ll just freeze up.”

“Doesn’t that feel too passive?”

“…Hmm, maybe it does. Should I just move my fingers a little? Like I want to grab you but I’m desperately holding back.”

“That would be good. But instead of fingers… maybe reflexively trying to hug then stopping would work too.”

It was the realistic production process of a kiss scene.

Calculating emotions one by one and carving out reactions.

Some might be disappointed that it lacked romance, but Seon-woo and Min-hee were more serious than ever at this moment.

The rather long journey of [Red Zone] was already heading toward its end.

They would never meet Yoon-seo and So-hee again.

That’s why they wanted to give them the most brilliant finale. And above all…

“Senior.”

“Yeah.”

“Yoon-seo and So-hee will eventually be forgotten someday, right?”

They hoped they would be forgotten as late as possible.

Even if they couldn’t remain in memory forever, they hoped they would be unforgettable beings.

Min-hee shrugged at Seon-woo’s question.

“To some extent. Why? Are you still thinking about wanting to do that unforgettable acting?”

“I was at first. But now it’s different. Maybe it’s because it’s time for me to part with Yoon-seo too…”

Seon-woo sighed briefly.

The final scene of Yoon-seo and So-hee made Seon-woo’s heart complicated in many ways. He suddenly realized it. That soon, acting as Yoon-seo would also end.

It wasn’t just that people wouldn’t be able to see Yoon-seo again.

Eventually, Seon-woo wouldn’t be able to become Yoon-seo again either.

This person who had become part of his daily life, who had colored his world so beautifully… would eventually be erased from his life.

That couldn’t be helped, but…

“At least I don’t want to forget.”

Min-hee looked at Seon-woo silently.

Thinking that this guy had a talent for saying cheesy things in such a casual tone. But she didn’t dislike it. Thanks to that, acting with Seon-woo always felt more sparkling.

Acting that even the actor himself can’t forget.

Actually, Min-hee didn’t know how to do such acting. She had never done that kind of acting either.

“Fine. Just trust me. I’ll make it happen for you.”

Nevertheless, Min-hee spoke boldly.

She was the senior. She couldn’t say she didn’t know just because she didn’t know. She had the duty to create paths that didn’t exist and lead him somehow.

“Make your expression a little more stupid.”

“Like this?”

“No, you still look too smart. Make it look like you have an IQ of about 70.”

“…Is this better?”

Honestly, she didn’t know which direction to walk.

But let’s try walking first.

“A little more stupid!”

A path would appear as they walked!

* * *

That night, as Seon-woo and Min-hee prepared for the finale, episodes 6 and 7 of [Red Zone] were released.

Episode 6 begins with Lee Hyeok’s return to the emergency room.

What did Lee Hyeok do during episodes 4 and 5?

He went to the countryside, specifically to his father’s hometown, for recovery.

Perhaps he had run away. Lee Hyeok was already too exhausted from being forced to choose in a situation where he could neither insist on nor give up on patients.

However, the Village Elder scolded such Lee Hyeok like this.

—You know what’s worse than failing? It’s giving up out of fear before even trying. What farmer doesn’t plant seeds just because it might not rain?

—A doctor might not be able to save everyone. What doctor saves every single person? But you can’t give up. A doctor who gives up on people isn’t a doctor.

—You were your father’s pride. That doesn’t change just because you didn’t take emergency patients that day. But if you give up here, then it’ll really change. He’ll think ‘I failed to raise my son properly,’ and that man… even in death, it’ll be his regret.

Of course, those words didn’t awaken Lee Hyeok.

It was when the Village Elder, who had been scolding yet caring for Lee Hyeok, collapsed that Lee Hyeok awakened.

Lee Hyeok, who boarded the ambulance together, waited and waited but no hospital would accept them, so he eventually had to perform emergency surgery inside the ambulance. He barely managed to keep the Village Elder alive and finally got him into an emergency room that would accept him. And he realized that just because he turned away didn’t mean this country’s poor medical system would improve.

And that it would ultimately be impossible for him to turn away from this forever.

So Lee Hyeok returned to Hanul Hospital.

Naturally, the protesters were delighted.

But Lee Hyeok’s reaction to seeing the celebrating protesters was unexpected in many ways.

—Get out, all of you.

—P-Professor! We were here because we wanted you to come back…

—Do you know that patients can’t even enter properly because of you people? What do you think you’re doing in front of the emergency room right now?

—No, this was all for your sake, Professor…

—I said get out!

He suddenly yelled at those who had been calling for his return.

As the intimidated protesters finally dispersed, Lee Hyeok declared to the emergency room that Hanul Hospital Emergency Room would once again operate according to the principles from when Lee Hyeok was there.

When the emergency room became crowded with an unreasonable number of patients, they would push themselves to save them.

And so he appeared on broadcasts and parliamentary audits, slowly reforming Korea’s emergency room structure.

And naturally, Yoon-seo welcomed such Lee Hyeok.

After all, Yoon-seo had missed Lee Hyeok the most at Hanul Hospital Emergency Room. But soon Yoon-seo would face an incident so big she couldn’t worry about Lee Hyeok.

—Do you like me?

So-hee had finally discovered Yoon-seo’s feelings.

It wasn’t simply because she had blocked the coffee thrown by protesters. The way Yoon-seo looked at So-hee all this time was clearly that of someone in love, even to strangers.

Rather, it seemed So-hee had been pretending not to know all along.

—You’re right. I don’t want to admit it either, and it’s annoying that I have to say this is true, but… you’re right. I like you.

And Yoon-seo acknowledged her feelings.

The problem was that their relationship didn’t change much after that. Even though her feelings were discovered, Yoon-seo didn’t ask So-hee to date her or anything like that, and So-hee didn’t press her further about it either.

It couldn’t be called a romantic relationship, and it was hard to describe their ambiguous relationship.

Viewers watching the two fumble around in this neither-here-nor-there relationship…

ppobbo: Nooo, just say it! Ask her to date you, tell her you can’t live without her so please be your girlfriend!

anxiousPing: But if she says it, So-hee would probably reject her right away…

Ppoppo: Then I’d rather get rejected instead ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

meteor: But knowing So-hee’s personality, if she was going to reject her, she would have said so already. The fact that she’s not saying much suggests she’s interested too, right?

Tteutdol Village Complex 5: Agreed ㅇㅇ From the beginning, Sohee’s expression only changes when she looks at Yunseo

eyesonyou: (Photo) (Photo) This is her expression when she first fought with Yoon-seo in episode 1 versus when they were bickering in episode 6. Anyone who sees this difference and still thinks So-hee has no feelings?

JongMin: Looking at it this way, the difference is really huge

AEIOU: WOW!

DK: It went from winter to almost spring

MacaronJustOneBite: …No, just date already!

And so they exploded.

The viewers felt more restless and impatient than the characters on screen. How did they manage to capture that fidgety feeling before dating so perfectly?

The problem was the preview for episode 8.

—I got an acceptance email from Johns Hopkins.

—Huh?

—I’m going to study abroad. To America.

So-hee suddenly saying she would leave for America.

It was a very short scene, but it was enough to shatter the mentality of viewers watching.

anxiousPing: …

Cali: Is this for real

ppobbo: No… Writer…

Gahyun: Who the hell brings up studying abroad in America at a time like this ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ At least wait until after we’re dating to bring that up!

GreenKimchi: Ugh, it’s all ruined

AEIOU: wow…

Study abroad in America.

For a relationship that hadn’t even started yet, it was practically a death sentence.

If the two had been building their emotions with good feelings, there might be a sense of promising to meet again later… but how could anyone spin a hope circuit when there was nothing to work with?

Thanks to this, there wasn’t a single [Red Zone] related thread without wailing.

In a way, it meant viewers were rooting that much for Yoon-seo and So-hee’s relationship.

It was proof that the chemistry created by these two characters was attractive enough to make everyone over-immerse themselves.

‘I have to do well.’

Thanks to this, Seon-woo couldn’t help but feel an even greater sense of responsibility.

He had to act properly. So that their expectations and love wouldn’t be in vain, he had to portray a very beautiful and lovely farewell.

That would be the only way to repay the viewers’ love as an actor.

However,

“…”

“…The weather is nice.”

“It’s raining?”

“I originally like rain.”

“Even if you like rain, you don’t usually call rainy weather ‘nice weather.'”

“Senior.”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s just move on.”

“Sorry.”

That was that, and this was this.

Seon-woo, who had come to Incheon Airport for filming, cleared his throat awkwardly. Soon he would have to film the scene of sending So-hee away.

To put it differently, it meant he had to kiss her.

That was the reason for starting this random chatter.

If he didn’t do this, the upcoming filming might feel a bit awkward.

Watching Seon-woo and Min-hee like this, Yu Eun-jeong laughed softly.

“Hehehehehe.”

“Hehehehehe.”

“Don’t those two look so good together?”

“Exactly. The picture is cute. Seon-woo’s face definitely comes alive when he does romance.”

“Right, right! That’s why I was so happy when writing this scene! …But.”

Yu Eun-jeong, who had been nodding with a goofy smile, looked to the side with a somewhat displeased expression.

A large, muscular man, Park Du-ho, was standing next to her wearing sunglasses and chuckling softly.

“Why are you here, CEO?”

“Where the needle goes, the thread follows. What’s wrong with that?”

“Who’s the needle and who’s the thread?”

“Seon-woo is the needle and I’m the thread.”

“CEO, you don’t seem to have any connection to things as thin as threads or needles….”

“Oh my, that’s a misunderstanding. I may look like this, but my heart is so tender.”

Don’t people usually not say such things about themselves?

Yu Eun-jeong was about to retort but stopped and turned her attention back to Seon-woo and Min-hee.

Filming had already begun.

Were these really the same people who had been awkwardly bickering just moments ago? Both had completely immersed themselves in their roles.

Especially Seon-woo, whose eyes were gradually becoming more subdued, looking as sorrowful as someone who was truly about to send away their beloved.

It made sense.

At this moment, Seon-woo was more deeply colored by Yoon-seo than ever before.

‘…I still don’t really understand what love is.’

But that wasn’t a problem.

The reason was simple.

Yoon-seo also didn’t really know what love was.

Perhaps love wasn’t something you understood from the beginning. If love were an emotion that could be easily understood and judged, people wouldn’t praise love so much.

A feeling that couldn’t be known or understood.

That was about all Seon-woo understood of love.

Just as it’s difficult to explain why flowers blooming in a field are beautiful, the same goes for why love captivates people.

Seon-woo looked at Min-hee.

Yoon-seo looked at So-hee.

In a world that had once again become a flower garden, she stood wrapped in thorny vines as always.

When he first saw those vines, he had thought:

So-hee really seems to dislike people.

Not giving people space to approach, not approaching others herself… it seemed like she had no affection for people at all.

That thought changed the moment he saw So-hee crying while desperately trying to save someone.

All the branches surrounding her stretched out to embrace the patient, and while she was being stained and torn in real-time by the colors of death flowing from the patient, he realized:

Just as Yoon-seo had frozen in front of patients, she too had simply been protecting herself.

And that was because she truly cared about the patients.

From that perspective, Yoon-seo falling in love with So-hee… might have been falling in love with himself.

Because So-hee definitely had some part of Yoon-seo dwelling within her.

Love that transcended simple romantic love between men and women, love between people… love on a more essential level.

That was the kind of love Seon-woo had to express.

How should such love be expressed?

“You’re using your first time off in weeks just for this? Are you stupid?”

Seon-woo had tried various styles.

He had tried constructing his acting detail by detail like Yeon-woo, and had also tried to subtly copy the emotional line from a famous movie scene.

But after trying every method, what Seon-woo and Min-hee had agreed on was exactly this performance.

“I guess so.”

Let it flow.

The desire to perform a proper scene, the desire to be remembered in everyone’s minds, all of it.

Only one feeling remained.

There isn’t much time left.

Even during that short time, I want to keep this person in my eyes for as long as possible.

Two years.

If unlucky, a face he might not see for even longer than that.

He didn’t think realistic thoughts like how an unfulfilled love would probably wither away in just a few months.

There was no room for such thoughts.

At this moment, his heart was commanding only one thing.

Look at this person just a little longer.

Of course, that wasn’t all his heart was saying. It also added all sorts of useless words like “embrace her,” “hold onto her.”

“Take care.”

But that was all Yoon-seo could say.

However, that was just what his mouth said.

His eyes spoke the words his mouth couldn’t express.

I support your choice.

You can do it.

I’ll keep missing you after you’re gone.

I’ll want to see you.

It was a strange feeling.

Seon-woo felt that So-hee was just like… Yoon-seo.

Young, fragile, and lacking—she resembled him so much.

All the words he wanted to say to her felt like words he actually wanted to say to himself.

That must be why.

His gaze toward her could hold such endless respect and encouragement.

Because that was exactly the feeling he most wanted to express to himself.

Flowers bloom.

One by one, one by one… the flowers that filled the surroundings were now spreading with so many colors. Lee Hyeok’s, Sang-a’s, and the colors of all the medical staff and patients he had encountered.

There were many flowers with withered leaves, and some that had wilted completely… but even so, each flower turned toward So-hee with all their might.

Sometimes storms, sometimes droughts would torment them… but as if they would survive any trial and ultimately bloom no matter what.

And at that moment,

‘…’

Min-hee felt, even if just for an instant, as if a strange scene was seeping into her mind.

She wasn’t sure exactly what kind of scene it was. But it seemed like a landscape that was somehow very pitiful yet beautiful.

At the same time, it seemed like a very grateful and lovely scene.

That must be why.

When she grabbed Seon-woo’s… Yoon-seo’s gown, when she pulled him close and kissed him, she didn’t feel as much awkwardness or embarrassment as expected.

Because So-hee did it.

At this moment, So-hee didn’t hesitate at all with that kiss.

And that was the moment.

Min-hee burst into laughter. Or maybe it was So-hee.

She couldn’t help it.

That dazed face, broken as if he couldn’t understand this situation at all… looked ridiculously stupid.

She just thought.

Ah.

A face like this… she might never forget it for the rest of her life.

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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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