I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 57

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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 57

 

‘This is the opposite of when I played the mute.’

 

When playing the mute, he had to act using every means except his voice, but now he had to act using only his voice.

 

The problem was the character ‘Kim Seon-woo.’

 

A character with an utterly dreary gray mental image. Even if he painted this character’s color thickly… would people be able to feel any charm from him?

 

‘I’m not sure.’

 

Seon-woo wasn’t confident about this part either.

 

A gray mental image without saturation, unable to give his heart to anything.

 

Depression had become so natural that he couldn’t even think to examine himself anymore—complete helplessness.

 

In reality, people wouldn’t even bother to look at him, and even if they did, they would quickly lose interest.

 

This was exactly the part where Seon-woo felt the problem.

 

Even if he acted this dreary character earnestly, would the audience be able to feel any charm?

 

‘At least I don’t feel it.’

 

That was the problem.

 

Until now, Seon-woo had felt charm in every character he encountered… even in the ‘mute’ that everyone else avoided, but ironically, this ‘Kim Seon-woo’ modeled after himself was the only one he couldn’t feel attached to.

 

Should he say he had no idea what this character’s charm was supposed to be?

 

He couldn’t get a sense of which aspects to emphasize in his expression.

 

Seon-woo pondered. What should he do?

 

How could he convey this Kim Seon-woo… in the most vivid way possible?

 

The answer Seon-woo came up with was… to think in reverse.

 

‘Focus on the most disgusting parts.’

 

Seon-woo couldn’t understand what was charming about Kim Seon-woo. He couldn’t explain why viewers should pay attention to him either.

 

But he could talk about what was frustrating.

 

What was disgusting to look at.

 

‘Let’s emphasize Kim Seon-woo’s helpless attitude.’

 

Actually, he felt a bit embarrassed about it.

 

Sometimes, glimpses of his old self could be seen in Kim Seon-woo. His appearance from before he encountered acting, when he was just living by inertia.

 

It wasn’t that he had thoughts of suicide or anything like that, but it would be a lie to say he had never once had immature thoughts like… not knowing why he should live.

 

That’s what made it even more uncomfortable.

 

He didn’t want to admit it, but this human being called Kim Seon-woo definitely seemed to resemble Seon-woo… his most pathetic aspects.

 

“Are you really thinking of quitting?”

 

But he had to act.

 

A low voice echoed.

 

Seon-woo looked ahead.

 

Perhaps in his fifties. A supporting actor with a stubborn expression was holding a script and staring intently at Seon-woo.

 

He was Kim Seon-woo’s boss.

 

His entire body was wrapped in a sharp silver imagery like a blade.

 

“Yes, that’s what I’m planning to do.”

 

Seon-woo answered quietly.

 

Then, like cigarette smoke, murky gray smoke flowed from his mouth.

 

Slowly, but gradually beginning to fill the room.

 

“Well, they say not to hold back someone who’s leaving… but you’ve been doing well all this time. Your performance has been good too, Seon-woo, and at this rate, promotion is guaranteed next year. Is there something wrong with your health perhaps?”

 

“No. I just want to rest a little. That’s all.”

 

Emotions become maximized the more you try to hide them.

 

Then how… could helplessness be hidden?

 

The answer Seon-woo came up with was composure.

 

Acting as if nothing was wrong, as if there wasn’t anything special happening, as if his heart wasn’t tired.

 

Acting out that somewhat clumsy ordinariness was… the way to better bring out Kim Seon-woo’s color.

 

Of course, not everyone present understood Seon-woo’s attention to detail.

 

Some actually had impressions like ‘Hmm, just ordinary.’

 

Thinking it was understandable since the character itself didn’t have any particularly unique aspects.

 

But a few eyes did sparkle, and among them were the scene partner who was acting opposite Seon-woo and…

 

“….”

 

Park Myeong-jin.

 

More precisely, rather than his eyes sparkling, it felt like his gaze had deepened as if he had discovered something.

 

Seon-woo was focused on the script and didn’t see Park Myeong-jin like that.

 

However, Im Yeong-do didn’t miss that, so he poked Park Myeong-jin’s side with his elbow.

 

When Park Myeong-jin turned around, he mouthed ‘How is it?’ asking with his lips.

 

Instead of answering, Park Myeong-jin frowned and turned his gaze back to Seon-woo.

 

“If you want to rest, you might as well take a leave of absence.”

 

“…It’s because I want to rest much more, for much longer than that.”

 

Kim Seon-woo resigns like that.

 

Kim Seon-woo’s actions after that are somehow ordinary yet strange.

 

He goes home, prepares dinner with the last remaining ingredients, cleans up, throws out the trash, and then… leaves the house just like that.

 

The place Kim Seon-woo headed to was Mapo Bridge.

 

Standing in front of the railing, Kim Seon-woo makes one last phone call.

 

The target of his call is 119.

 

To the emergency operator asking what the matter is, Kim Seon-woo briefly opens his mouth.

 

“Hello. Um, I’m sorry. I… I’m about to jump from Mapo Bridge right now, and I thought it would be troublesome for the paramedics. I’m calling to apologize in advance.”

 

Even at this moment, an ashen voice like cigarette smoke was flowing from Seon-woo’s mouth.

 

Whether talking about resignation or talking about death, his voice was equally calm and monotone without much difference.

 

Seon-woo looked at the color his voice created and thought to himself.

 

…Good.

 

This was a voice befitting ‘Kim Seon-woo’ who had shaken off all attachment and emotion toward life.

 

How much effort had he put in to produce this voice? Even the slightest tremor in pitch or change in expression would easily crumble this ‘ashen’ color.

 

It couldn’t be helped.

 

Ash was a color without saturation.

 

It was the color of someone whose heart had already died.

 

“Yes, yes? Sir. You’re saying you’re at Mapo Bridge right now? Um, wait… could you please talk with me for just a moment?”

 

“Ah, I’m sorry. That seems difficult. You always work so hard. I’ll hang up now.”

 

“Wa- wait a moment. Sir. Sir…!”

 

After giving such a brief response to the emergency operator who was trying to keep the call going somehow, Kim Seon-woo jumps from the bridge.

 

And with this, Seon-woo’s lines for this script reading session are finished.

 

The content that follows after this is as follows.

 

When Kim Seon-woo, who had attempted suicide by throwing himself from the bridge, regained consciousness, he was lying on a bed in a small one room that had nothing but a bed and a bathroom.

 

Somehow managing to open the door of the one room and step out, what awaited him were other figures who had shown their faces before Kim Seon-woo.

 

What the hell is this situation?

 

Did you bring me to this place?

 

Amidst all sorts of shouting and chaos, Seon-woo slowly and quietly observed everything… and as an announcement from the speaker in the common area echoed, asking them to select who would die today, Episode 1 came to an end.

 

With that, the script reading was also finished.

 

“Wow, great work everyone!”

 

“You all worked so hard!”

 

“That young fellow acts really well.”

 

Applause and various compliments were exchanged here and there.

 

The atmosphere flowed warmly with everyone cheering each other on, as befitting a script reading.

 

And watching those actors, Seon-woo slowly caught his breath.

 

It seemed like he hadn’t been this nervous since he started acting… Was it because this was his first time acting without the power of color orbs? His heart was still pounding.

 

It wasn’t even proper acting, just reading lines at most… yet the tension wouldn’t seem to fade.

 

‘I did… well enough, right?’

 

He knew it was hard to say he did amazingly well.

 

But he thought he had done a decent job. At least he had shown the gray-colored acting that ‘Kim Seon-woo’ possessed.

 

Of course, that level might have been a bit faint… but wasn’t the direction at least correct?

 

It was the moment he turned to look at Park Myeong-jin while having such thoughts.

 

Seon-woo froze in place.

 

And for good reason…

 

“….”

 

Park Myeong-jin was staring directly at him through his rimless glasses.

 

It was an unreadable expression. But one thing was certain… it didn’t look like a satisfied expression.

 

And then,

 

“Everyone did well. However… I’d like to leave a few comments.”

 

Park Myeong-jin soon brought the microphone to his mouth.

 

His gaze was still directed toward Seon-woo.

 

“First, Seon-woo. Let me ask you something.”

 

And naturally, the first person he targeted was Seon-woo.

 

Everyone looked back and forth between the two with somewhat surprised expressions. Seon-woo’s acting didn’t seem strange… but had something bothered Park Myeong-jin’s eyes?

 

Even Seon-woo was inwardly puzzled.

 

He thought that while he hadn’t shown great acting, he hadn’t shown bad acting either.

 

But…

 

“Kim Seon-woo, you dislike him, don’t you?”

 

“….”

 

The moment he heard those words, Seon-woo couldn’t help but realize immediately.

 

Why exactly Park Myeong-jin had pointed him out.

 

“…Honestly, I don’t think I like him that much.”

 

“Yes. That’s what it seems like. Actually, when I look at your other acting performances, Seon-woo, I got that feeling. Ah, this person really likes his characters. He knows how to stand in their position somehow and find aspects that make them shine…”

 

Park Myeong-jin looked at Seon-woo with calm eyes.

 

“But in this performance, it wasn’t like that. Instead, I felt it. That you fundamentally don’t like that character, Seon-woo. Maybe that’s why… it also felt like you and the character were playing separately.”

 

Playing separately.

 

At that moment, Seon-woo felt his heart sink.

 

In reality, Seon-woo hadn’t been able to burst Kim Seon-woo’s Color Orb. And that meant he wasn’t being colored by Kim Seon-woo’s mindscape.

 

It meant he wasn’t immersing himself enough.

 

…Park Myeong-jin’s eyes probably saw that.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Seon-woo immediately bowed his head.

 

Watching Seon-woo like that, Park Myeong-jin shook his head.

 

“Next time… I hope you’ll be closer friends with your role.”

 

Become friends with your role.

 

That was the last comment Park Myeong-jin left for Seon-woo.

 

Seon-woo realized anew that Park Myeong-jin was no ordinary PD.

 

He had an exceptional eye for seeing into the essence of acting, better than most actors.

 

‘…I see.’

 

Seon-woo finally realized.

 

What it means to work with a star PD.

 

Only top stars would have always been around him. Naturally, his expectations for actors wouldn’t be ordinary.

 

To satisfy someone like this… naturally, he couldn’t get away with mediocre acting either.

 

Seon-woo clenched his fist.

 

He wanted to satisfy Park Myeong-jin.

 

‘…I want to make him admire me.’

 

It was the moment a goal was born.

 

* * *

 

“Did you really dislike Kim Seon-woo’s acting that much?”

 

After the script reading ended, Im Yeong-do quietly approached Park Myeong-jin and asked.

 

He was curious. Well, it did feel a bit weaker than usual… but considering it was a script reading, he thought it was understandable acting.

 

But instead of answering that question immediately, Park Myeong-jin glared at Im Yeong-do as if he were pathetic.

 

And he let out a sigh.

 

“I didn’t dislike it. I found it disappointing.”

 

“…Isn’t that the same thing?”

 

“It’s different.”

 

“How?”

 

“Disappointing means you can see it.”

 

“See what?”

 

“Just a little…”

 

Park Myeong-jin raised his hand.

 

As if adjusting an invisible small gear, frowning while subtly twisting his wrist, he muttered in a low voice.

 

“Just a little touch, and something would come out.”

 

In a voice that sounded disappointed, yet somehow… excited.

 

“Something proper.”

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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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