If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 67

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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 67

Main Theater of the Arts Center.

This cluster of red brick buildings surrounding Marronnier Park is the representative symbol of Daehak-ro.

Each stacked brick contained the aspirations and pride of aspiring artists who dreamed of art, and therefore this main theater could rightfully be called the heart of modern theater.

Being the most prestigious stage in the Korean theater world, Yewon selected only the best students they could showcase and put them on stage.

Yewon Performing Arts School regular theater festival.

Twice a year.

It was a large-scale performance held like a settlement at the end of the educational curriculum in the first and second halves of the year.

Elementary, middle school, high school, and adult divisions all participated without exception, and the audience included not only parents but also quite a few external visitors who came after hearing about Yewon’s reputation.

From theater veterans and agency officials to industry people, to the so-called ‘ghosts’ – the veteran audiences of Daehak-ro.

A named critic from the Theater and Film Community on Hitel PC Communication with the nickname ‘Staingry’ was one of them.

[“Staing hyung, you’re at the main theater now? Yewon Festival tickets are hard to get, how did you manage it!”]

“I used some connections. It’s the day Sim Hae-ryeon’s daughter first takes the stage. Hey, if she’s even half as good as Sim Hae-ryeon, it’ll be the start of a legend, right? You’ll regret it if you miss it.”

Staingry was a veteran who frequented Chungmuro and Daehak-ro all day except for meal times.

He made it his life’s pleasure to post critical reviews on bulletin boards or share information and receive praise from people.

These days, as the community flow was shifting to Daum cafes, he was also dabbling in DC Inside.

In the distant future, he was destined to become a named elder who would camp out 24/7 on the Extreme Movie site.

And veterans like Staingry had a classic hobby…

Discovering promising talents.

Finding gems faster than anyone else?

Once you taste that thrill and pride, you can’t forget it!

And if that gem becomes a jewel?

The omnipotent feeling that your eye wasn’t wrong gets added, and your brain slowly melts with dopamine.

So at such mega events where the industry’s top academy, Yewon Performing Arts School, unleashes promising talents en masse, few veterans wouldn’t drool.

[“Damn, I’m jealous. Make sure to post a review. I heard rumors that Bae Seo-nyeok’s niece is also appearing, not just Namihee.”]

“Really? I need to check the pamphlet first. Hanging up.”

Staingry hurriedly moved his steps.

As he entered the lobby, the faces passing by were glamorous.

‘Look at these people. All familiar faces!’

Since Yewon Performing Arts School’s history was so deep, the principal’s connections were also abundant.

When passing a man armed with a baseball cap and mask, Staingry unconsciously turned around. A celebrity?

‘It can’t be Bae Seo-nyeok, right?’

He’s famous for being crazy about his niece, so you never know.

But when he saw the flower basket in the man’s hands, his excitement deflated.

“What, it was just a flower delivery.”

‘What unique taste. Giving lilies instead of roses.’

Planning to suffocate someone to death?

Staingry clicked his tongue. Well, Bae Seo-nyeok was currently busy filming a period movie at the Hapcheon Set in Gyeongnam.

It was a leading role and he was working with senior veterans, so unless he was crazy, would he make a 6-hour round trip? Just to watch one niece’s play?

‘A pro wouldn’t do that.’

Staingry, well-versed in industry information, had heard about Bae Seo-nyeok’s professional character more than once or twice. Few young male actors managed themselves as strictly as Bae Seo-nyeok.

“Oh, quite thick~.”

Dismissing the thought, Staingry picked up the pamphlet.

As expected. As he’d heard, Namihee was listed in the Middle School Division.

‘Indeed, the promising talent I had my eye on. To skip a grade at that Yewon.’

“Huh?”

Staingry’s hand, which had been flipping through the pamphlet carelessly, paused. This time the Middle School Division was doing a joint performance with the High School Division, in a format where actors changed with each act.

But the next performer right after Namihee in Act 1 was-

“Seosing-a?”

‘I’ve heard that name somewhere…’

“Wait, she’s even younger than Namihee?”

♧

Inside the dressing room.

Bae Tae-ak was nervously shaking his leg.

The elementary division’s children’s song musical gala show that started at 2 PM had already ended.

Now it was the first intermission for changing stage sets, and in 20 minutes it would be their turn.

That meant his first Yewon Festival stage was about to begin.

Bae Tae-ak was inwardly dying.

While he had been on stage a few times within the academy or at small theaters, today was his first leading role in such a large performance hall.

‘I usually don’t get this nervous… Shit.’

Where was there a rule to do your first leading performance this big, and at the Yewon Festival no less?

It was common knowledge that the May Yewon Festival was tougher than the December one.

Unlike winter when entrance exam students all leave to take tests, in spring kids desperate to gain stage experience engage in cutthroat competition.

So when instructor Kim Yeo-yeong first brought up the idea, Bae Tae-ak had scoffed asking if she was crazy, and Seosing-a was no different.

Right! We definitely said we wouldn’t do it!

Why did she suddenly change her mind?

What drove Bae Tae-ak even crazier was that as soon as Seosing-a changed her mind and said she’d do it, Kim Yeo-yeong immediately gave the okay as if she’d been waiting.

‘Was entering the Yewon Festival this easy? Was giving up spots this simple!’

The script crumpled in his hands. Bae Tae-ak kept glancing sideways at the face reflected in the mirror across from him.

He couldn’t glare or pick a fight like usual.

He had some sense, after all.

‘What did she eat wrong? Why is her atmosphere so different?’

Seosing-a, having finished her makeup, was silently reading a book.

Her posture seemed languid yet upright without any slovenliness.

It wasn’t the script. It was really a book.

Anton Chekhov’s 《The Seagull》.

It was also the original work of the play they were performing today.

A story dealing with the crossed love and artistic conflicts of four men and women, it was like the bible of auditions, an essential gateway that any aspiring actor must pass through.

Since the content was somewhat heavy for the Middle School Division alone, the Middle School Division handled Acts 1-2 of the childhood years, while the High School Division led the highlight of Acts 3-4.

As it was an academy performance, to showcase as many students as possible, the cast assigned to each act also changed in format.

What Bae Tae-ak and Seosing-a were assigned was Act 2.

It was famous for the scene where the countryside girl ‘Nina’, who yearns for the life of a glamorous actress, appeals her aspirations to the famous writer ‘Trigorin’ who came from the city.

“Why do you keep glancing over?”

“No, you… Hey. You’re somehow different today? What’s wrong?”

“So is that strange?”

“Not really, but…”

“Then that’s fine.”

While responding, Seosing-a didn’t even lift her eyes from the book she was reading.

With her doll-like long and lush eyelashes lowered, she looked like a classical masterpiece painting.

The costume probably had no small influence.

‘Nina’, the daughter of a provincial landowner, dressed conservatively, and today Seosing-a’s costume was also a pure white classic Russian-style chiffon dress.

Since she looked too young, they had dressed her up to look more mature… Right. That might be why she seemed unfamiliar.

Bae Tae-ak, having convinced himself, paced around the dressing room.

Since Seosing-a paid no attention to this side, he didn’t want to care more either. Caring would mean losing!

So a little later, when there was a knock and they received a flower delivery, he was as happy as if he’d met a savior.

“Ugh, shit. It’s heavy. Who sent such an ridiculously big-“

Bae Tae-ak, who had frowned at the strong fragrance, paused.

“…Hey. Seosing-a! This came for you?”

“Huh?”

Seosing-a had just raised her head, overwhelmed by the fragrance that dominated the air in the dressing room.

It was a bouquet made of dozens of white lilies.

All the stamens had been removed, making it clean without pollen, but was it just her imagination? It felt somehow eerie.

Lilies are flowers with such intense fragrance that they easily cause headaches or oxygen deficiency.

It’s proper etiquette not to give them to someone you don’t know well, and it’s even more taboo if the receiving location is a cramped space like a dressing room.

‘What is this?’

“Is there a card? Who sent it?”

“There isn’t one.”

“…There isn’t?”

“Yeah.”

Now Bae Tae-ak felt uneasy too.

Bae Tae-ak, with a darkened expression, waved the card he held between his fingers.

“[Seosing-a, congratulations on your beautiful first performance.] That’s all it says. Sender unknown. What the hell? Fucking pervert? What’s beautiful about a ten-year-old kid?”

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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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