I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 245

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 245
Best Supporting Actor Award.
He’d won the Best Supporting Actor Award.
‘Me?’
Seon-woo rose to his feet, his expression dazed.
Just moments ago, he’d been disappointed about not receiving the Best Newcomer Award. But what if the reason he hadn’t gotten the newcomer award was precisely so he could receive the Best Supporting Actor Award instead?
He felt grateful and joyful, yet utterly bewildered.
He’d never even thought to expect the Best Supporting Actor Award.
He’d believed he still lacked too much to edge out such accomplished seniors for that recognition.
But he couldn’t stand here frozen like this.
Seon-woo moved forward. Min-hee and Seo Ryeong embraced him in congratulation, while Seong Do-won seized his arm so tightly it almost hurt, then released it. ……He’d probably just squeezed with all the strength of his joy.
And Director Han Jeong-hun was beaming, patting Seon-woo’s back affectionately.
Feeling the congratulations from each of them in their own way, Seon-woo climbed toward the podium.
……He’d thought just fifteen minutes earlier, watching Min-hee, that perhaps not receiving an award would’ve been a relief. But here he was.
Applause echoed from every direction.
Gazes and smiles turned toward him.
The goodwill contained in them was so genuine that Seon-woo’s heart couldn’t help but race. He’d thought he’d experienced plenty of situations like this and that while acting, but this was an entirely different breed of experience from anything he’d known before.
“Congratulations.”
“……Thank you so much!”
The actor serving as MC for the OBC Acting Award handed him the trophy with a warm smile.
Seon-woo accepted it.
The chrome trophy was larger than he’d anticipated, and heavier too.
His feelings were peculiar.
Because in one sense, it was just a meaningless lump of metal, and yet for others, it represented a goal worth dedicating a lifetime to pursue.
Which was it for Seon-woo?
If he were being honest, it leaned toward the former.
He’d never harbored much ambition for awards like this. But standing here now, holding this trophy…… he felt it.
The significance contained in those five letters: Best Supporting Actor Award.
That was why.
In that moment, the acceptance speech he’d hastily prepared vanished in an instant. Words far more honest and alive than anything rehearsed were now circling in his chest.
“Hello, I’m Kim Seon-woo.”
His voice trembled slightly. He couldn’t help it. Even before the voice, his hand holding the trophy was trembling subtly.
But this wasn’t from nervousness.
A kind of elation he’d never felt before accompanied Seon-woo.
“First, I want to say…… I’m truly grateful for this award.”
Seon-woo was inwardly surprised.
He hadn’t known he could feel such elation over receiving an award. But in this moment, the satisfaction Seon-woo felt…… was comparable to what he felt after a truly good performance.
Why was that?
“Honestly, I’m still a bit…… well, quite dumbfounded. I never imagined I’d actually receive the Best Supporting Actor Award.”
Perhaps it was because Seon-woo had always been uncertain.
Everyone told him he was doing well, but despite that, what Seon-woo felt was always a sense of inadequacy.
It was probably something every actor felt.
Because the evaluation of acting could only ever be subjective.
And that’s precisely what makes this award meaningful.
Seon-woo thought.
What should he say?
What words could truly express this gratitude?
And as he looked at the countless eyes watching him, Seon-woo found the answer naturally.
“When I was younger, watching seniors step up to these podiums, I used to think things like this. I was envious. How radiant must their worlds be?”
Seon-woo slowly surveyed the entire scene spread before him.
From the actors and production team, camera directors, and staff members to the audience…… everyone.
“But now that I’m up here, I think I understand. More than the view from on stage, the landscape I see from here…… the way you all look from here shines brighter. That’s what I realized.”
It was something Seon-woo had never considered before.
He’d only thought the actors he’d watched were radiant, but he’d never imagined what ordinary people looked like through their eyes.
But now the audience visible to Seon-woo…… looked utterly beautiful.
The actors in their suits and dresses, and all the ordinary people sitting in the audience seats far away.
If he could, in this moment he’d like to etch everything his eyes could see into memory like a photograph.
It was remarkable.
He’d always thought it was those on the Red Carpet who shone brightest, but from their eyes…… the audience actually glowed more radiantly.
“I’ve talked for too long. I’m Kim Seon-woo. Thank you.”
As he spoke, he wondered if he’d said something a bit embarrassing.
Seon-woo hastily wrapped up his speech and descended from the podium as if fleeing. And watching him, the audience……
“That was lovely.”
“Right. He speaks so gracefully.”
“He seemed completely frozen, but he still said what he needed to say.”
“The Red Zone actors definitely have a certain charm—Na Min-hee earlier too.”
They chuckled and nodded.
Seon-woo’s words seemed in some sense slightly intoxicated by emotion, but it didn’t come across as excessive.
It was because the sincerity in his expression was so pure.
You could feel him genuinely moved, expressing his heart with total honesty.
Sincerity, by nature, can never be cloying no matter how much you lean into it.
Seon-woo had told them they shone.
They’d shared the same feeling. That young man, that actor telling them they sparkled……
“He shines.”
Yes, truly lovely.
* * *
“So you really didn’t think you’d win the Best Supporting Actor Award? You spoke like flowing water the moment your name was called.”
“……I really didn’t know. I heard the Newcomer Award was in the running, but there was no mention of the Supporting Actor Award…… ”
“OBC must’ve wanted to capture your genuine reaction.”
Seo Ryeong chuckled.
Seon-woo’s reaction truly was priceless. His name being called but looking around, then belatedly realizing he’d won and freezing——that expression had been something.
Min-hee too, and Seon-woo as well—today they’d been flooding Seo Ryeong’s dopamine reserves.
Of course, if she herself could receive an award too, that would be the cherry on top…….
‘……Could I possibly win one?’
The Red Zone had already taken both the Newcomer Award and the Supporting Actor Award. Taking the Best Actress Award on top of that wouldn’t be easy.
And with Seong Do-won also nominated for Best Actor, the odds were even slimmer.
And indeed,
“The recipient of the Best Actress Award is…… Oh Yun-seo from Halligalli!”
The Best Actress Award went to someone else.
Though disappointed, Seo Ryeong applauded and gracefully accepted the loss. While Oh Yun-seo received her award, she offered her congratulations through applause and cheers.
But at this moment, there was someone who couldn’t be as cool about it as Seo Ryeong.
That was Seon-woo and Min-hee.
They knew just how hard Seo Ryeong had worked, having trained alongside her.
Of course, the same could be said for actor Oh Yun-seo…… but they couldn’t help feeling genuinely disappointed.
And Seon-woo felt it anew.
‘……Come to think of it, this place isn’t just a seat of glory.’
Where there are winners, there must inevitably be losers.
And in fact, this place had far more of the latter than the former. For some, this could simply be a place of regret and longing.
It was a perspective he’d never considered before.
Of course. All the while he’d watched the acting awards, Seon-woo’s focus had been entirely on the winners. As a viewer, there was no reason to think about those who didn’t win.
But now that he was an actor standing here, he could feel in his bones what this ceremony truly was.
You could sense the dreams and passion, ambition all entangled together.
Especially since there was still the possibility of Seong Do-won winning.
Seon-woo recalled Seong Do-won’s performance. The way he’d seemed to become Lee Hyeok himself…… that acting filled with rage and sorrow, with anguish, was so compelling even now in memory it raised goosebumps.
Seon-woo glanced back at Seong Do-won.
Seong Do-won maintained a calm, composed expression, but Seon-woo could see his fingers fidgeting anxiously.
Surely Seong Do-won desperately wanted the Best Actor Award.
Watching him, Seon-woo felt his own tension rise.
Seong Do-won’s anxiety and longing transmitted to him. He hoped Do-won would win the Best Actor Award.
But,
—”Well, this year’s eagerly-awaited Best Actor Award goes to…… an actor I really admire. Seok Jin-myeong!”
……Unfortunately, that hope went unfulfilled.
The tension that had been wound tightly through Seong Do-won’s entire body released all at once. In its place came an inevitable deflation and hollow emptiness.
The moment Seon-woo saw bitterness frost over Seong Do-won’s eyes, he felt as if he himself had missed out on the award.
Just a lump of metal.
You could call it just an award.
But the value of everything ultimately depends on what meaning you assign to it. Seon-woo knew how much Seong Do-won had wanted this.
And he knew how hard he’d acted.
‘……It’s such a shame.’
Yes, it was a shame.
It couldn’t be helped. It’s impossible for everyone to win. Because not everyone gets what they want no matter how hard they try, perhaps that’s precisely what makes awards valuable.
‘If I’d acted a little better…… would something have changed?’
Seon-woo shook his head.
That thought was overstepping. It was true that in acting, the quality of your performance changes depending on who your scene partner is.
He’d learned that painfully well in Yeokjeok itself.
But Seon-woo had given his best, and Seong Do-won had given his best too.
If that best fell short, then that was simply how it was.
To harbor what-ifs about it felt almost disrespectful to the time they’d spent together.
That was when it happened.
Seong Do-won glanced at Seon-woo, then slightly furrowed his brow.
“Why do you look more disappointed than I do?”
“……Do I look like that?”
“Yeah. Really badly.”
Seon-woo laughed awkwardly.
He hadn’t meant to show his disappointment, but it had slipped through.
Seong Do-won sighed as he watched him.
“Don’t look at me like that. Awards ceremonies are just like this. You can’t win every time.”
“……That’s true.”
“I can get an award next year.”
Seong Do-won flexed his clenched fist, his eyes gleaming.
“If I lacked something, I’ll just work harder. So don’t make that face. I’m fine.”
“……Okay.”
“No, seriously. I’m fine.”
“Yes…… I understand.”
I mean, stop looking at me like I’m pitiful!

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