I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 261

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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 261
‘My life…… has succeeded!’
That was Da-sol’s thought the moment she obtained a ticket to Cheongseong’s stage performance.
She had pierced through competition with odds of several hundred to one, and was officially registered as an Audience Rating Panel member for the Theater Festival.
And as a panelist for Cheongseong, no less.
‘Seon-woo on stage…… is definitely different from when he broadcasts.’
In fact, it was during a stage performance that Da-sol had first fallen for Seon-woo.
In the way he breathed directly with the audience, Seon-woo possessed a charm entirely unlike what he showed on screen.
Da-sol also knows that Seon-woo has grown considerably as an actor since then.
Yet when asked to recall his most impressive performance, Confession still comes to mind—such was the magnitude of the shock that stage Seon-woo had given her.
And today, she would experience that shock one more time.
This time, from an even more developed Seon-woo.
‘……I’m so excited.’
Da-sol hadn’t had a drop of water for the past two hours.
She wanted to avoid any chance of needing the bathroom halfway through. If she were to miss Seon-woo’s performance like that, she felt certain she would regret it for the rest of her life.
In any case, Seon-woo’s acting today would be seen by tens of thousands of people.
When she thought about the live broadcast that would air later, even more people would see it. Ultimately, perhaps millions would witness Seon-woo’s performance.
Just thinking about it made Da-sol’s heart race.
But for now, she needed to focus on the stage.
Can We Break Up? was a play that Da-sol knew well.
Cheongseong had performed it several times before.
Knowing the story beforehand might have seemed unfortunate in some ways, but it didn’t feel that way to her.
Rather, because she already knew what would happen, she could anticipate which scenes to look forward to from Seon-woo.
‘First, the introduction.’
Like many theater pieces, Can We Break Up? placed considerable weight on its introduction.
To be precise, the script itself wasn’t particularly special.
But Da-sol remembered how the atmosphere the protagonist brought to the opening—the unique mood of it—was extraordinary.
‘……I suppose you’d call it a weight pressing down.’
There are no significant lines in the introduction.
Joon-seo simply gazes at the audience with hollow eyes. That’s all. Yet through that brief connection…… the audience feels a profound ache stirring within.
Because the emotional line of the character Joon-seo is wholly contained within that silence.
Naturally, a scene so dependent on the actor’s ability delivers a completely different feeling depending on who performs it.
But there was nothing to worry about.
It was Seon-woo, after all. There was no way Seon-woo couldn’t handle a mere scene like this.
So while waiting for the curtain to rise, Da-sol felt no anxiety whatsoever.
By now, as a longtime fan of Seon-woo’s, she had learned that worrying about him was about as useful as anything could be.
And then,
“……!”
Not long after, she knew she was right.
The curtain rose, and Seon-woo appeared.
It had been ages since seeing Seon-woo this close. In the midst of that surge of emotion—even as she clasped her hands together—Da-sol found herself unable to fully savor her excitement as a fan before she was confronted with an enormous pressure as an audience member.
‘……Ah.’
It was different.
Different from every other actor she’d seen play Joon-seo, and from…… the old Seon-woo she remembered.
The Seon-woo before her now was like watching a finely honed blade.
So sharp, so keenly edged, that merely beholding him created an inexplicable tension.
Perhaps that’s why.
As only Seon-woo’s breathing flowed quietly through the microphone, Da-sol found herself holding her breath.
She had grown tense.
Because of that sharp, somehow volatile sensitivity radiating from Seon-woo.
‘He’s really…… changed.’
As someone who had witnessed Seon-woo’s Seung-do, Da-sol could say with certainty:
The Seon-woo before her now had become an entirely different person from what she remembered. That somewhat awkward, rough emotional arc from back then was nowhere to be felt.
Instead, what was evident was an admirable density of detail woven throughout.
While the emotions themselves weren’t excessive or gratuitous, the vitality flowing from the character operated on a different plane entirely.
‘He seems more alive than real people.’
That, of course, was only natural.
Only by delivering a performance more vivid than reality could the audience truly realize they were witnessing something special.
That’s why people watch theater.
Because watching actors burn themselves completely on stage, pouring everything into their performance, allows us to rediscover what color life truly holds.
It was a strange thing.
Da-sol’s mind, which had been churning with countless thoughts until the moment Seon-woo appeared, now grew calm.
Her eyes held only Seon-woo.
There was no longer any need for her to think. She simply watched and felt what Seon-woo expressed.
Seon-woo—Joon-seo—gazes toward the audience seats.
Eyes that seem to pierce the fourth wall, genuinely seeing them.
Though not a single word is spoken, it’s precisely because of this silence that the audience felt the greater unease in this moment.
It was unavoidable.
Joon-seo’s face was one of someone waiting to be judged, having laid everything bare.
As if they themselves—not just audience members, but judges of Joon-seo and In-hee’s parting—had become the arbiters.
And then it happened.
“What, you’re here already?”
Yu-ran, In-hee, entered.
In her hands were bags full of beer and groceries as she stepped into the living room. Joon-seo takes them from her, responding curtly.
“A party?”
“A party, yeah. Besides, it’s been ages since the whole gang’s been together like this.”
“……Right.”
Joon-seo, as if unhappy with this situation, contrasts sharply with the composed In-hee.
In-hee, in fact, even strokes Joon-seo’s hair with concern.
“What’s wrong? You’ve got that face you make when you’re sick.”
“It’s fine.”
“Here, vitamins. At least eat this. Whenever you get sick, it’s always the nutrition that’s the problem.”
Their relationship, at first glance, seemed quite sweet.
The physical affection was natural, and on the surface they didn’t look like a couple contemplating a breakup.
But the words In-hee speaks tell a different story.
“Who should tell them? Should I? Or you?”
“…….”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Just. This situation feels unfamiliar.”
“I suppose it would.”
In-hee smiles slightly.
And speaks.
“It’s not every day you have a breakup consultation.”
“…….”
Joon-seo falls silent again.
A character starkly contrasting with the outgoing, vivacious In-hee—one whose words never seem to stop.
Yet in this moment, everyone in the audience couldn’t tear their eyes from Joon-seo.
It wasn’t because of Kim Seon-woo’s fame.
“Ah…….”
Someone let out a gasp without thinking, then quickly covered their mouth.
For good reason. In the figure of Joon-seo that Yu-ran watched, there was a whirlwind of emotion impossible to articulate.
Rage. Helplessness. Gloom. Sorrow. Frustration.
All these feelings churned within him, unspoken, like a vortex.
It was visible in his fists, repeatedly clenching and unclenching.
It was visible in the way he couldn’t quite look directly at In-hee.
Even the camera director…….
‘……I want to zoom in.’
His fingers itched to do so, but he had to refrain.
He wanted to capture Seon-woo’s facial expression perfectly, to see and show just how many emotions dwelt within that face.
But it couldn’t be helped.
Im Yeong-do had given strict instructions.
In order to preserve the feeling of actually watching a play, the camera angle would never change.
Though regrettable…… the camera director thought he understood why Im Yeong-do had issued such an order.
Even from this distance…… the actors’ performances conveyed their emotions with remarkable clarity.
It felt like watching a dance performance.
There wasn’t a single movement without intention.
Even a mere step or the rhythm of breathing became a means of expressing emotion…….
‘……It’s artistic.’
In this moment, the camera director found himself thinking such a thing.
Of everything he’d ever captured through a lens, this moment seemed the most artistic image he’d ever recorded.
“Joon-seo.”
In-hee speaks.
“Yeah.”
“Don’t run away today.”
“I’m not running away.”
“You’re running away right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Going quiet every time you need to answer.”
“…….”
“That’s running away too.”
It was cold.
You could feel it. That their relationship was already cracked, on the verge of breaking.
Yet strangely…… there was no trace of animosity in the way they looked at each other.
Rather, there was a kind of comradeship that comes from walking together for a long time—a genuine concern and care for one another.
A contradictory emotional arc.
Faced with that uncomfortable, yet somehow familiar emotional dynamic that anyone might have experienced once, the audience found themselves drawn deeper into the stage without realizing it.
And then it happened.
“What’s with the mood?”
Do-young entered.
And with his entrance, the sound of drawn breath rippled through the audience seats. They had anticipated it, but seeing Do-young’s face in person left them astonished nonetheless.
No wonder he was called a next-generation leading man. In this moment, Do-young simply by standing there illuminated the stage.
Such surreal, gleaming visuals.
But before they could properly appreciate those looks, people began streaming in rapidly.
“Hey, what do you have to say that you’re gathering everyone like this? Is this an engagement announcement? Are you finally passing out engagement cards?”
“Hehe, these two are finally ready to get married.”
“That’s why we bought a cake too!”
Min-jae and Ga-hyeon, portrayed by Hye-seong and Min-hee, entered.
Followed by Jong-seok and Se-mi, smiling and trailing after.
“We brought champagne!”
“Two bottles, no less!”
Watching their friends deliver their lines with playful energy, Joon-seo and In-hee exchange glances.
It was In-hee who spoke first, assessing the situation.
“Why don’t you all sit down for a moment?”
“What, why so serious? Is something really wrong?”
“Are you getting married?”
“Who proposed? Don’t tell me you haven’t yet?”
“Come on, Joon-seo wouldn’t forget to…… wait, actually, knowing Joon-seo, he might not do it. The guy has no sense for this stuff.”
“Agreed.”
Just from this brief exchange, you could tell what kind of friends they were.
Their breathing was so alive in the acting. And because of it, the audience shared in their suspense.
They already knew what this gathering was for.
After all, wasn’t the title of the play itself telling them?
Can We Break Up?
“I called you because there’s something I need to ask you.”
“The wedding date? We don’t have plans. You decide first.”
“Or maybe an MC? We can definitely do that.”
“I can even sing a congratulatory song!”
“Just get married and I’ll buy you a refrigerator!”
It was curious.
Why did the breakup of just one couple seem so momentous, why did the topic create such tension?
But Da-sol thought she understood the answer.
It was because other people cherished their relationship so much.
Simply by imagining their marriage, everyone could be so delighted…… it suggested what a beautiful couple they were.
This play seemed to reveal something anew.
That no matter how trivial or small something might be, if you give it your heart, it eventually gains value.
“Can we…… break up?”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
That’s why this silence felt so heavy now.
Because the expectations they’d placed on the couple Joon-seo and In-hee, the excitement and happiness they’d received from them, collapsed in this single moment—there was something almost cruel about it.
Of course, the acting of Joon-seo and In-hee played a part in this.
Watching In-hee, who spoke with such composure as if none of this mattered, and Joon-seo, whose face was filled with emotions he couldn’t quite voice…… one couldn’t help but feel both moved to wonder at the fascination of a stranger’s breakup and yet sit up in rapt attention.
Da-sol unconsciously bit her lip.
She felt it anew. That when good actors take the stage, even a mere breakup consultation could send shivers through you.
Da-sol sensed it.
In fact, she thought everyone watching this in the audience sensed it too.
This play, this moment…….
Would surely stay with them for a lifetime.

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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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