If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 77

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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 77

Bae Seo-nyeok. 28 years old.

10 years since debut.

Potential 4 stars, Destiny 4 stars.

He debuted at nineteen in Director Haemun’s “Blue Momentum” in ’94, and immediately upon debut caused seismic shifts in the film industry, joining South Korea’s top-tier actors.

He currently has a filmography of about 8 films, and excluding 2 supporting roles that were friendship appearances and his debut work, all have been nominated for film festivals and he has already won three times.

At the age of twenty-three, he claimed the Blue Dragon Best Actor trophy, making him the youngest winner in Chungmuro history.

Moving appropriately between method acting and technical acting, he has always received critical acclaim since his debut and is regarded among colleagues as an exemplary actor.

But…

‘How embarrassing to freeze up at one look from a kid’s eyes.’

Bae Seo-nyeok smiled bitterly as he flicked his cigarette ash.

“It’s still the beginning. I’m not saying your interpretation is wrong, Seo-nyeok, but your eyes shouldn’t waver at every single word Sel says from the start. Lemon may seem weak in front of Sel, but he’s still the father. Whatever their emotions, there’s ultimately a hierarchy. You’re not an innocent victim or completely powerless. Do you understand what I mean?”

“I’m sorry, Director. I was somewhat confused.”

“Right. This is your first time acting with someone you’re close to, isn’t it?”

Haemun, who was smoking alongside him, clicked his tongue and asked.

“You don’t have a single actor friend. King of your own world. You don’t do entertainment. You don’t manage connections. Where else in the world is there a bastard who does celebrity life as comfortably as you? You think actors are beneath you because you’re a natural young master, you think I don’t know?”

“You’re exaggerating again.”

“Exaggerating! If I hadn’t forcibly dragged you back from Japan that time, you would never have set foot near a theater in your life.”

Haemun poked his chest repeatedly with sarcasm.

…This director is really eccentric. Bae Seo-nyeok swallowed a sigh and irritably swatted his hand away.

“Anyway, the only people you’re close to are all directors, so this must be your first time working with someone you’re friendly with like Ssing-ssing-i. So you got flustered? This bastard, who told you to socialize? How dare you on my set.”

“…”

Bae Seo-nyeok was perplexed.

He hadn’t intended to become this close to Seosing-a either.

At first, he simply thought they had finally found a kid who met Haemun’s demanding aesthetic standards.

Since it took so long to find her, Bae Seo-nyeok had put in considerable effort too.

“Family History” was a film with deep meaning for him in many ways.

Munlemon with Ripley syndrome is a character who changes identities like a chameleon.

He had many things in common with Bae Seo-nyeok, who had lived abroad since childhood. Because Bae Seo-nyeok had once lived that way too.

Killing and reviving his identity to suit people’s moods, changing it, living miserably and pathetically. Like Lemon.

‘Maybe I’m still living that way even now…’

Anyway, Bae Seo-nyeok coveted this character as if to vent his frustrations, which is why he had devoted his heart and soul to the project.

Becoming this close to someone he had approached with a purpose was clearly beyond Bae Seo-nyeok’s calculations.

But this kid Seosing-a was so…

Didn’t she fit perfectly into his preferences like a matching puzzle piece?

She was gentle, precocious, and clever, yet hatefully innocent.

If she had been too naive like other kids her age, he would have gotten bored, and if she had been overly calculating, he would have felt disgusted.

But Seosing-a was both genius and foolish.

That contradiction repeatedly made Bae Seo-nyeok accept the child called Seosing-a.

Moreover, the child spoke sweetly and acted warmly.

When she naturally hugged him and wrapped her soft arms around him, even Bae Seo-nyeok’s heart, which he had always prided himself on being cold, became powerless.

Young children are truly harmless and lovable beings.

Over the past few years, Bae Seo-nyeok had properly learned that fact through Seosing-a.

Making him realize moment by moment that he too was an adult with infinite tolerance and understanding…

“But Ssing-ssing-i is doing better than expected. Look at how she finds camera angles. She’s killing it. She’s almost a veteran~ How is this her first shoot? She’s a natural. Born to be an actor. Anyone would think she rehearsed alone hundreds of times before coming.”

Haemun chatters away.

Bae Seo-nyeok startled awake from his thoughts.

“Her Italian too. Did you see? She must have practiced so much, she’s practically Meryl Streep. A pure Korean but better than you who lived abroad. I tell you, studying abroad is all useless?”

The more he thought about it, the more of a treasure she was. Excited Haemun babbled on and on.

“Ham Gyeong-seok, that bastard definitely tricked me, right? Saying she’s camera-shy, has phobias, scaring me, the bastard wants to die.”

“It probably wasn’t a lie. You saw the camera test video too, Director.”

“Then what, kids these days grow courage as they grow up? She’s a new millennium child, right?”

Break time was almost over.

Time to move soon.

Haemun, who had stubbed out his cigarette butt, finished with a warning.

“Anyway, Actor Bae. That’s not Seosing-a, that’s Sel.”

“…”

“You need to clearly separate work from personal matters, right? We’re professionals. Look at her as Sel, not Seosing-a.”

“…No, Director.”

Bae Seo-nyeok rubbed his brow as if troubled.

“I got confused because I was thinking of her as Sel.”

The problem was that ‘Lemon’ and Bae Seo-nyeok had too much in common.

Bae Seo-nyeok thought the method acting technique of identifying oneself with the character was a very miserable approach.

So he usually put effort into training to create an ‘exit button’ to escape from the character at any time, but this time he was struggling somewhat.

In the end, the impact of Seosing-a boldly cutting her hair was significant.

Without any adjustment period, suddenly seeing Sel come alive and breathing before his eyes, Lemon couldn’t help but be flustered.

“But… you’re right. I shouldn’t interpret him as only weak either.”

For ‘Lemon’, his daughter ‘Sel’ is his only family.

She’s his one and only anchor as he drifts like duckweed.

The more Lemon submits to Sel, the more stable he feels.

With his chaotic sense of self, he establishes his roots by serving as his daughter’s tool, performing the role his daughter demands.

He was truly a weak and pathetic man who found stability only within the web of a daughter who whipped, scolded, controlled, and soothed her father.

But this is a movie and a two-top production.

No matter how much Lemon wants to submit, they need to clash tensely for the audience to enjoy watching.

Let’s adjust the appropriate level.

He’s not Lemon, and Seosing-a isn’t Sel either.

‘I shouldn’t feel attachment either.’

Moderately. Appropriately.

Repeating this to himself, Bae Seo-nyeok ended his cigarette break and returned to the filming location.

On one side, he could see the local coach who accompanied them as a language consultant excitedly asking Seosing-a if she had ever lived in Italy.

Seosing-a smiled halfheartedly.

She didn’t smile shyly while covering her mouth as usual, nor did she fan herself saying it was hot like others.

Even in this heat and commotion, she alone remained neat and tidy, just like Sel.

“…Isn’t she doing too well?”

“Huh? Nyeok hyung. What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Bae Seo-nyeok gave a short answer and unconsciously sighed.

She’s too strong, way too strong.

Sel is a dominator. The stronger the predator becomes, the weaker the prey must become.

‘…I should avoid characters with too many similarities from now on.’

It’s too embarrassing to beg a much junior colleague to go easy on him.

With this belated realization, Bae Seo-nyeok turned around and took out another cigarette.

Because otherwise, he felt like he might immediately snap at that fat Italian to get away from his daughter.

♧

“Ssing-ssing! Seosing-a, what’s wrong with you? Why did you go from an Italian with butter on your tongue to a Korean with a strong gochujang vibe? What’s with your pronunciation?! Do it like before! Like before!!!”

“…”

‘The skill cooldown came… damn it.’

Haemun was jumping around excitedly at my suddenly native-sounding pronunciation, but strangely enough, Bae Seo-nyeok let out a sigh of relief.

Don’t tell me he’s being competitive? Hmph.

I grimaced as I felt an overload coming on, bringing a stabbing headache.

‘Come back, Meryl Streep…!’

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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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