I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 4
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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 4
“Yeah. Good thinking.”
Seon-jun’s face showed no particular surprise.
Thanks to that, Seon-woo, who had spoken with such gravity, felt unnecessarily embarrassed.
“…You knew this would happen?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“What do you mean how? You make that wistful expression every time we talk about acting. How could I not know?”
…Had he been making such expressions?
While Seon-woo awkwardly scratched his head, Seon-jun opened his mouth.
“When you say you want to try acting, you mean you want to become a movie actor, right?”
“Movies or dramas, it doesn’t matter. I just want to be able to act.”
“You know it’s a difficult path, right?”
Seon-jun looked at Seon-woo with deep eyes.
“I called you a genius, but… that doesn’t mean you’re already a complete actor. You’ll need to work hard and gain a lot of experience going forward.”
“I know. I don’t want to act because I think I’ll succeed right away. I just want to do it because I love acting.”
“Even if you spend several years as an unknown?”
“…”
That was a bit difficult to answer.
In his heart, he wanted to say, “I don’t care if I’m unknown for life! I love acting!” but… honestly, that would be an answer that doesn’t consider reality too much.
“I should at least try challenging it first, shouldn’t I?”
“Well, that’s right. I was just telling you to keep it in mind. There are quite a few people around me who wasted their youth like that.”
“…But wait, you’re the one who recommended I try acting. Why do you keep trying to scare me?”
“I need to give you a warning in advance. Well… I think I’ve scared you enough, so should I give you some courage too?”
“Hurry up and give it. Before I lose my energy.”
“I don’t know how long it will take, but… you’ll make it eventually.”
It was a voice strangely filled with conviction.
“The Emotional Line you express… is something that can’t be obtained through effort alone. You could say you’re starting from a different starting line.”
That did seem to make sense.
Color Bubbles were truly a power like actual superpowers.
In essence, Color Bubbles were an ability that transplanted the soul of a character into him. It wasn’t hard to understand why Seon-jun called him a genius.
But he couldn’t rely on this alone.
Acting wasn’t something that could be accomplished with just an Emotional Line.
Indeed, Seon-jun pointed out exactly that part.
“Still, you’ll need to learn some basic things like Breathing, Voice Projection, Script Reading…”
“Where should I learn that?”
“Well, I can’t tell you to enroll in University again at this point… There are two remaining options. An Academy, or a Theater Troupe.”
“What do you recommend, hyung?”
“Theater Troupe.”
It was almost an immediate answer.
Instead of responding, Seon-woo just quietly looked at Seon-jun. Wondering why he so firmly recommended a Theater Troupe.
“A Theater Troupe won’t give you separate education. But I think the best education an actor can receive is… ultimately watching good Acting. And in Theater Troupes… there are really many unknown monsters.”
“You’re saying to watch and learn?”
“Yeah. If you want, I can introduce you to a Theater Troupe. There’s one run by a hyung I know, and it’s pretty good. What do you think? Want to go?”
There was no need to think about it.
Theater Troupe life didn’t seem like it would be easy. The competition and various other difficulties would be tough.
But he had just jumped into a new path.
“Yeah. I’ll give it a try.”
He never intended to take the easy and comfortable route from the beginning.
* * *
Life really is unpredictable.
Just a few days ago, he was wearing a suit and going from one Interview Room to another, and now he was suddenly in the Daehangno Theater Scene.
Seon-woo was now at the Theater Troupe that Seon-jun had introduced him to.
Cheongsong Theater Troupe.
Seon-jun had simply described it as ‘pretty good,’ but from what he had researched beforehand, it wasn’t just at that level.
It was said to be the hottest place among domestic Theater Troupes these days.
First of all, the cast was incredibly young.
The oldest actor was in their thirties, wasn’t it?
Accordingly, most of the screenplays they handled were trendy ones targeting young audiences.
On top of that, they even had a theater directly operated by the troupe.
At first, I thought all theater troupes had theaters, but it turns out such places aren’t that common.
Thanks to that, joining the troupe wasn’t something you could just do casually.
You had to take a test and pass it.
So I had prepared acting for the test too…
“Hello. You’re Seon-jun’s younger brother, right?”
“Hello.”
There was a problem.
Seon-woo bowed his head in greeting and then remained silent.
A skinny middle-aged man with curly short hair hanging down was looking at him.
Park Ji-hwan, the director of Cheongseong.
But what was the problem?
“I got a call from Seon-jun. He said you want to try acting properly?”
It was that Ji-hwan clearly didn’t seem to like Seon-woo very much.
His gaze that couldn’t look at him directly and kept darting to the side, the sighing sounds that came out whenever his shoulders slightly rose and fell, the way his head tilted subtly at an angle…
These were gestures he’d often seen in Interview Rooms.
Just like the interviewers.
‘What is it?’
What was so displeasing to him already?
We had just met for the first time. Moreover, Seon-woo had come through Seon-jun’s introduction. He hadn’t expected such a reaction.
‘…Don’t tell me that bastard Kim Seon-jun said something weird?’
I don’t know.
It felt uncomfortable to open his mouth to say anything, so as he sat quietly, Ji-hwan spoke without even looking at his face.
“What’s your acting experience like?”
“I have it once.”
“…Once?”
Ji-hwan’s expression hardened.
And soon he let out a sigh.
“Let’s start with your acting. Try some Free Acting first. I’ll judge based on that.”
Seon-woo could easily read Ji-hwan’s feelings.
That he didn’t like him, and that he just wanted to end this session quickly.
That’s exactly why his mind snapped to attention.
‘…I can’t keep freezing up.’
I have to show him.
I need to change the atmosphere.
I’ve prepared for the acting.
This is my first time acting in front of someone other than Seon-jun, so my stomach is churning a bit… but I’ll forget it.
I’ll forget everything.
I hypnotize myself into believing they’re not there.
Ji-hwan’s indifferent expression,
the pressure of this situation,
the worries about how to walk the path of acting in the future—all of it.
I’ll only think about the character and world in the Script.
The emotions and feelings the role would experience.
And… this.
Seon-woo looked ahead.
There, a Rose-colored Bubble was floating.
It was the Color Bubble for the role he’d prepared for this audition.
There’s no more reliable ally than this.
Seon-woo burst the Color Bubble.
“Why is your depression my fault?”
And the Color Bubble dyed him.
In rose color.
* * *
Did Ji-hwan really dislike Seon-woo?
The answer was ‘yes.’
But that wasn’t entirely Seon-woo’s fault.
The problem started with Seon-jun’s initial contact.
Cheongseong isn’t a place you can just enter because you want to. Usually, they select people through regular tests.
But Seon-jun suddenly contacted him and said to slot Seon-woo in.
It wasn’t even a request.
My brother’s a genius. He’s going to make it big later, so don’t regret it and take him while you have the chance to raise him. I’m sure it’ll help the theater troupe too?
Seon-jun was being provocative.
It wasn’t even asking if there was a spot available… Take him and raise him if you don’t want to regret it?
‘Crazy bastard…’
But it was definitely an effective provocation.
Those shameless words stimulated Ji-hwan’s curiosity.
Seon-jun might talk nonsense, but he didn’t lie.
Especially when it came to movies.
That guy was talking about a genius.
That was hard to ignore.
So he thought he’d at least take a look at his face… but honestly, the moment Ji-hwan first saw Seon-woo, he felt his expectations completely deflate.
‘How bland.’
He was handsome, but somehow felt like he had no color.
This was a more important issue than expected. For an actor, having color meant their talent and worth.
“What’s your acting experience like?”
“I have it once.”
“…Once?”
Hearing that, Ji-hwan just felt completely deflated.
He sent a kid who’s only acted once, calling him a genius?
Kim Seon-jun, that crazy bastard…
That was the moment when even his last bit of curiosity about Seon-woo disappeared.
The reason he still asked to see his acting was because he had to maintain basic courtesy…
“Why is your depression my fault?”
“…!”
The moment Seon-woo delivered that line, Ji-hwan’s eyes couldn’t help but change instantly.
‘What?’
It’s like he suddenly became a different person.
Just moments ago, Seon-woo had this boring, even gloomy atmosphere… but in an instant, it’s like he transformed into the material of a summer night youth drama.
‘He really has no acting experience?’
What Seon-woo was acting right now was the character named Jeong-dae.
A boyfriend who was always gentle and kind.
He was someone who always treated his girlfriend with a soft smile, but the part Seon-woo was acting now was when he finally explodes from having to constantly accommodate in their relationship.
How does he know it so well?
Well, this was a work that Cheongseong had created and even performed.
“Answer me. Why do I always have to take responsibility for your moods? Because I’m your boyfriend? Is that what a boyfriend is to you?”
Actually, this scene was one where reactions varied drastically depending on the actor.
It wasn’t easy to express that sorrow and desperation of someone who still loves their partner but can’t help exploding because they can’t bear it anymore.
And now, Ji-hwan thought.
“Then I’ll quit. Being your boyfriend.”
At Cheongseong… who could act Jeong-dae more flavorfully than this?
‘…Interesting.’
The corners of Ji-hwan’s mouth pulled up as if excited.
It’s a presence that makes you involuntarily swallow your saliva.
It doesn’t feel like watching acting, but like really seeing a boyfriend whose heart has crumbled.
How can someone who’s never properly acted before do this?
It doesn’t make sense.
…But that’s probably what makes him a genius.
Yes, a genius.
I think I understand why Seon-jun made such a big fuss.
“…Seon-woo.”
Ji-hwan caught his breath and called out to Seon-woo.
Seon-woo slowly turned to look at Ji-hwan.
“Yes.”
“When can you start coming out?”
“Um… I could start from today.”
“Good.”
Ji-hwan extended his hand.
The bland first impression Seon-woo had given him was already erased from his mind.
“Please take care of me from now on.”
A pumpkin had rolled in, vine and all.
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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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Onefallenleaf
Ooh theater script from modern times huh? Interesting