I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 267

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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 267
“Wouldn’t it be good for Noeul to participate as well, senior?”
…….
When the invitation to appear in the Drama Competition first came to Noeul, Moon Jeong-gil had not welcomed it enthusiastically.
He worried that people who had spent their whole lives on stage would be consumed like mere variety show material.
Yet the reason he ultimately decided to participate was…… because he could feel that the vitality of the theater world was gradually fading.
Young actors were nearly all leaving for broadcasting now, and theater was openly being treated as a stepping stone.
It was regarded as little more than a practice ground for building skills before moving into broadcasting.
It was a reality that would make anyone furious, but there was nothing Moon Jeong-gil could do about it.
All he could do was use this as an opportunity to remind the world of theater’s charm once more.
Noeul had prepared earnestly.
At least that’s what Moon Jeong-gil believed.
They had not tried to be funny.
They had not deliberately sought to provoke.
Instead, they had focused on what they could do best.
Breathing.
Silence.
The space between lines.
Those subtle yet beautiful things—the emotions that resound even more loudly when the actor speaks not at all……
Some might call it dated.
But Moon Jeong-gil wanted to believe. That there were still people out there who would recognize such a stage.
Yet Moon Jeong-gil’s modest hope ultimately came to nothing.
Final viewer count: 9,781.
This was the meager result that Noeul had to face.
Considering that nearly thirty thousand viewers had been present at the start, they had ultimately failed to retain even half their audience.
There were excuses to be made.
Perhaps they had chosen a work that wasn’t particularly popular. It wasn’t the light, sensational story that the masses wanted.
And yet,
ㅇㅇ: Lol Noeul really seems trapped in their own world, kind of funny.
Wooden Chopstick: I get that they’re good, but there’s no fun in it. I had to stop watching.
Drama Amateur: Am I just lacking in comprehension? I didn’t understand what they were trying to say.
Early Quitter: Too heavy for watching after work. They don’t explain anything—just expect you to get it yourself.
When Moon Jeong-gil happened to discover those malicious comments, his heart felt as though it had dropped into an abyss.
Of course, not everyone had left only malicious comments. There were many saying it was beautiful, moving—the kind remarks far outnumbered the cruel ones.
But as the saying goes, one harsh word lingers longer in memory than a thousand kind ones.
Particularly Moon Jeong-gil, who had stubbornly devoted himself solely to theater and had built no broadcasting career, had far less tolerance for malicious comments than other actors did.
He knew. Malicious comments were just malicious comments.
Being swayed by others’ voices was foolish.
And yet, words like “trapped in their own world” and “no fun” kept jabbing at the pride he had guarded his entire life.
……What allowed Moon Jeong-gil to regain his composure was perhaps, after all, thanks to the National Theater Company.
Or more precisely, thanks to Han Ki-joo.
People had recognized Han Ki-joo’s acting.
When an elderly man with dementia lost his way inside a room,
when Han Ki-joo showed the process of a human being broken down through a single hand movement, a single glance, a single twisted breath……people trembled and called it magnificent.
After witnessing that response, Moon Jeong-gil could finally take a breath.
That’s right.
There are still people who understand.
They haven’t forgotten entirely.
They haven’t forgotten what good acting truly is.
Theater wasn’t wrong.
Theater was right. It was only Noeul—and himself—who had failed to deliver a strong stage.
Thinking that way, his heart certainly felt easier.
Rather than hearing that this world he had devoted his life to was wrong, it was far better to admit his own shortcomings.
But then the National Theater Company lost, and Cheongseong took first place.
That perfect performance Han Ki-joo had delivered…… wasn’t in first place.
Moon Jeong-gil found that utterly unbearable.
* * *
“What kind of drama competition is this!”
The moment Moon Jeong-gil’s words fell, the studio went utterly silent.
It was a broadcast incident. To openly object to the results of the competition like this. The actors’ faces stiffened, and so did all the staff members’.
Even the seasoned MC was no exception.
No one could have anticipated this.
One could certainly express disappointment with the results.
But no one had expected someone to openly reject the judging outcome like this. And certainly not someone of Moon Jeong-gil’s standing, a veteran.
Moon Jeong-gil did not stop.
“I’m not saying Cheongseong did poorly. They were good. Clever, got a great response, drew people in. I’ll acknowledge that.”
Moon Jeong-gil turned to Cheongseong and nodded.
Then he turned to face the production team with cold eyes.
“That’s exactly why I want to ask.”
Seon-woo watched him.
Anger, hurt, defeatism, regret…….
All of these were mingled in Moon Jeong-gil’s voice.
A thought suddenly crossed Seon-woo’s mind.
Perhaps Moon Jeong-gil wasn’t truly blaming the production team at all. Perhaps he was raging against this world itself.
“Is this program genuinely reviving theater? Or is it reshaping theater into a form that broadcasting finds palatable?”
“Saengnim…….”
The MC tried to gently intervene, but Moon Jeong-gil continued.
“Han Ki-joo’s stage was flawless.”
His gaze turned toward the National Theater Company.
“That stage was beyond reproach. The actor’s breathing, the silence, the density, the very time built up across the entire stage. If one sees such a performance and still says it isn’t first place, then what exactly are the criteria for this competition?”
His words were logical.
But at the same time, something was subtly off about them.
Even the Cheongseong actors could sense it.
Moon Jeong-gil was saying he wasn’t criticizing Cheongseong, yet at the same time, he could not fully accept their victory.
Hye-seong pressed his lips together, and Ye-chan lowered his head, sensing the tension.
Yu-ran’s expression lost its smile, while Min-hee gazed steadily at Moon Jeong-gil.
Yang So-ra looked as though she might cry.
Watching his fellow troupe members, Seon-woo’s gaze naturally grew dim.
There was a slight sense of unfairness in it.
They too had done their best to revive the art of theater. Yet it seemed Moon Jeong-gil could not see them as true theater artists.
Perhaps it was because so many actors had moved into broadcasting.
To Moon Jeong-gil, Cheongseong might appear like a theater troupe contaminated by the broadcast industry.
But Seon-woo could also understand where Moon Jeong-gil was coming from.
Seon-woo had seen Noeul’s stage.
He had witnessed Moon Jeong-gil’s monologue.
He remembered the face of that aging actor delivering his lines to an empty audience hall until the very end.
And so he could understand.
Moon Jeong-gil was acting this way because he loved theater too much.
Because he feared what he loved might disappear.
Because he feared what he loved might become a laughingstock.
Because he feared what he loved might be renamed into something else…….
That was why he was so angry.
But Seon-woo doubted that displaying anger like this would lead to a good outcome.
It was in that moment of such thoughts.
“Junior Moon.”
Han Ki-joo’s gentle voice crossed the studio.
Moon Jeong-gil turned slowly to face Han Ki-joo.
“……Senior.”
Han Ki-joo smiled quietly and shook his head.
“I’m grateful for your concern for me.”
Moon Jeong-gil’s eyes trembled ever so slightly.
“But I lost. Cheongseong won.”
“Senior…….”
“Didn’t the audience itself love Cheongseong’s stage more?”
“However…….”
“Junior.”
Han Ki-joo’s voice became firm.
“Theater isn’t for us. It’s for the audience.”
…….
In that moment, Moon Jeong-gil’s expression, which had been about to protest, went blank.
Not for the actor, but for the audience.
It was an obvious truth, yet somehow, he had ceased to think of it at some point.
In a way, he had come to believe that theater ultimately belonged to the performers.
“The audience loved Cheongseong’s stage. Through Cheongseong, they rediscovered the charm of theater itself.”
His gaze touched Seon-woo for a moment, then returned to Moon Jeong-gil.
“We cannot lightly dismiss that.”
Moon Jeong-gil fell silent. There was nothing to say.
Especially since his words hadn’t stemmed from genuine criticism of Cheongseong in the first place.
Han Ki-joo, having patted Moon Jeong-gil’s back, then looked toward Im Yeong-do.
“Producer.
“Yes, sir.”
Im Yeong-do responded immediately.
“Our junior got a bit carried away in his support for his senior.”
Moon Jeong-gil turned to look at Han Ki-joo.
Han Ki-joo spoke carefully.
“If possible, I’d prefer this scene…… not be aired.”
He was asking for it to be edited out.
For the protection of those involved, editing was standard. Of course, if Im Yeong-do had been a more unscrupulous producer, he might not have wanted to miss such a sensational moment for ratings…… but.
“Yes, don’t worry about that.”
Im Yeong-do was not that kind of producer.
He too loved theater as much as anyone else present.
The filming resumed after a brief break to regroup.
“And now…… we will announce the eliminated troupe.”
Next came the announcement of eliminations.
Naturally, every troupe was on edge. Noeul was no exception. Their final score had not been particularly strong.
But,
“The troupe eliminated in this competition is…… Hongryeon. Hongryeon actors, thank you for your hard work.”
The eliminated one was not Noeul.
Hongryeon. They had been the troupe with the least presence, perhaps. But that didn’t mean they were poor.
‘It was a good performance.’
Seon-woo remembered their work.
Overall their impact had been slightly lacking, yet their stage clearly showed they had prepared diligently.
But as with all things, working hard alone is not enough.

The Hongryeon actors all wore dejected expressions.
From those covering their faces and weeping, to those embracing and comforting one another…… that tangled emotion was palpable even to watch.
It was unavoidable.
This is a competition. Someone must ultimately be eliminated. And because of that, those who survive must keep remembering that this opportunity was something someone desperately wanted…… and perform their best on that stage.
The remaining filming proceeded quietly without major incident.
Everyone applauded as though the earlier disturbance had never happened, laughed, and exchanged greetings.
Yet the wave Moon Jeong-gil had stirred and the tears the Hongryeon actors had shed did not fade easily.
Everyone pretended it was nothing, but all of it seemed to settle like dust somewhere in the film set.
That was probably why the Cheongseong actors could not simply celebrate when filming ended.
Something felt vaguely uneasy.
But if there was one advantage to the Cheongsong people,
“Let’s go greet them.”
it was their tendency not to leave discomfort sitting.
They all approached the Noeul actors together. The moment Moon Jeong-gil showed some discomfort at the sight of them, they bowed in unison.
“We will take your words to heart and show you even better stages going forward. Senior. We apologize if there was anything lacking in our performance.”
…….
The Noeul actors looked somewhat at a loss, glancing toward Moon Jeong-gil.
One of them even jabbed him lightly with an elbow.
“Moon, what are you doing? The kids are greeting you—hurry and accept it.”
“…… Mm. Right. Don’t take it too hard. It’s not that I dislike you being in first place. It’s just…….”
Moon Jeong-gil paused for a moment.
“Whatever I say will just dig my own grave, won’t it. I’m sorry. You’ve seen my ugly side.”
“Not at all!”
“It was a fine stage. Thank you…… for loving theater.”
Moon Jeong-gil bowed in return.
It was a much milder response than one might have expected.
Watching Moon Jeong-gil, Seon-woo reflected once more.
In the end, he had acted that way only because he too loved theater.
Love was such a curious thing.
It could make a person shine brilliantly one moment, then render them utterly pathetic the next. He had felt it while performing Seon-jun as well. Love was truly a burdensome, exhausting emotion.
And yet, the reason Moon Jeong-gil did not appear wholly contemptible to him was…… that despite everything, humans seemed destined to grow weak before the emotion of love.
This performance had taught Seon-woo much.
Especially about love.
Thanks to that, he had found confidence.
It was that night.
When Seon-woo arrived home, he knocked on Seon-jun’s door. The door opened, and Seon-jun appeared with his usual sullen expression.
“What?”
“Hyung.”
And Seon-woo said,
“Give me the way to kill a wife.”
“…… Are you insane?”
“I think I can do it now.”
Certainty had taken root in his eyes.
“No, I can do it.”

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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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