If I Don’t Earn 1 Trillion Won, My Regression Ends - Chapter 89

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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 89

It was Rampa Lim I was meeting after two years.

Fifteen-year-old Rampa Lim.

Having entered the explosive growth phase of puberty, Rampa Lim’s frame and height had grown to adult levels. He looked to be easily in the mid-170cm range.

Combined with that naturally relaxed atmosphere he carried—something his peers could never imitate—he felt even more unapproachable than before.

Simply put, it felt very unfamiliar and awkward.

“Why do you keep stealing glances?”

“When did I ever…”

“Don’t steal glances, look openly. It’s hard enough being born this handsome—how disappointed would the Creator be if you only looked casually?”

But his cheeky words and gentle smile instantly closed the distance.

Relieved, I found myself looking at Rampa Lim with unconscious dependence.

No matter how close we were, if it had been anyone else, I would never have opened the door to a member of the opposite sex in such an embarrassing situation… but I don’t know.

Rampa Lim was just different.

He had probably been different ever since that Christmas of 1996 in the mountain forest.

Rampa Lim was also calm.

He didn’t startle when I flung the door wide open, nor did he ask any particular questions or say anything.

He just looked at me sitting there dazed and foolish for a moment, then without hesitation took off his clothes and put them on me.

A mesh track top jersey.

It had a red and black color scheme design, and when I put it on, it came down to my thighs.

“…”

I quietly looked down at Rampa Lim crouching in front of me, zipping it up.

Having given me his clothes, Rampa Lim was left with only the thin athletic shirt that athletes usually wear. The slim-fitting cut revealed the muscle contours of the still-growing boy.

Rampa Lim suddenly burst into laughter.

“What…? Why are you suddenly laughing?”

“No, I tried to hold it in but… What’s with your hair? Who did this to you? Bring them here right now.”

“…Annoying.”

When I kicked at his shoe, Rampa Lim laughed out loud.

He’s going to die laughing. I glared at him, feeling even more displeased.

“I became an actor. It’s natural for hairstyles to change with each project, you know?”

“So you get prettier in different ways every time? This won’t do. Let’s quit. You’re so cute, I’m scared someone might steal you away—how can a person live like this?”

“Get lost! Stop teasing me!”

“I’m not teasing, I’m serious.”

Rampa Lim’s thumb, filled with laughter, rubbed my cheek. As if wiping away tear stains.

Rampa Lim, who had been quietly wiping, asked softly.

“Did you cry when I wasn’t here too? You’re all swollen. Making your oppa sad.”

“Cheong-song…”

“I know. She’s outside. She was waiting here to meet you, but she saw someone else’s back and thought it was you, so she chased after them. I found you before it was too late. Don’t worry.”

“Yeah… thank you.”

“Why are you crying again? Missing your little sister? Should I call her?”

“No, I want to go out…”

“Good. Let’s go out and cry. My crybaby.”

Large, calloused hands cupped both my cheeks, playfully wiping away tears as if washing my face.

As if I had really become a crybaby as he said, tears wouldn’t stop flowing down my cheeks.

Rampa Lim turned around and offered his back.

He didn’t ask questions like whether I could walk or if I wanted a piggyback ride.

Just as if this was natural and normal.

I also didn’t add any unnecessary words and obediently climbed on his back.

As I wrapped my arms around Rampa Lim’s neck, the faint smell of sweat and fresh soap scent from his jersey wafted over gently.

Rampa Lim didn’t even use the common shower cologne.

Body scent and soap fragrance. Even the smell from his body was as relaxed and clean as his personality.

♧

“They’re still not back? Everyone’s late.”

As the sun set, the temperature became lukewarm too.

Geum Ju-ran, wearing a thin cardigan over her shoulders, sighed as she entered the living room.

The accommodation where the movie “Family History” team was staying for 2 nights and 3 days consisted of guesthouses located in the Capri Town Alley.

They rented several adjacent guesthouses, with the director, production company CEO, and main actors staying in the largest accommodation that served as the base.

It was currently approaching 9 PM.

The sky had turned deep navy blue, but the resort was still bustling. The liveliness reached all the way to this accommodation, which wasn’t far from the plaza.

Perhaps intoxicated by it, the impromptu drinking session that had started was also getting longer.

When Geum Ju-ran sat back down after briefly going to the restroom, Haemun complained.

“Why else~ They don’t want to see us~ Just because I was a bit cold to Ssing-ssing-i, is it okay to ostracize people like this? I’m so hurt I can’t even direct properly!”

At least he knows he did wrong.

“Why did you act like that today? I know the director is someone who can seriously fight with middle schoolers. I saw it before, but I didn’t know you’d lower the range to elementary schoolers. How low does that go?”

When Geum Ju-ran sarcastically asked if he’d be fighting with kindergarteners next time, CEO Noh Man-yeong beside her also chimed in.

“Right, you punk. Fight in your weight class. That way we can at least try some media play when you completely fail later.”

“Thanks. Thanks for the kind words. Hey! A director can scold his actors! What does age matter? We’re all the same professionals, not amateurs. If they want to be treated like children, tell them to go to school.”

Haemun spoke harshly. Yet his eyes kept glancing toward the door.

Geum Ju-ran inwardly chuckled.

‘Then why are you sitting here in this nice place without even going out?’

She might not know his character as a person, but she knew his character as a director.

Geum Ju-ran had never seen a director who loved actors as much as Haemun did.

He was a very rare type in this industry full of directors who naturally treated actors like parts or machines that produced acting at the push of a button.

“…But isn’t it a bit too late even for being late?”

Finally running out of patience, Haemun threw down the trump cards he was holding.

“Tomorrow’s filming starts at 7 AM! Does she realize she’s a growing child? Where did she sell her professional spirit?”

“First cold treatment, then scolding, then worrying. Which tune exactly should we dance to, Director?”

“CEO Noh. Got nothing to do? Go out and look for her.”

“Look for what?”

“My female lead! Go find her right now! Tell her even if she’s sulking, she should sulk in front of me!”

Oh my. Geum Ju-ran shook her head.

“Acting like this. If she’s precious, then cherish her properly. You need to use different methods for each actor. Would it work to treat her like you treat Bae Seo-nyeok? The poor thing was so scared her face turned pale. As you know, there are few kids who can do this much in their debut work.”

“You don’t understand. I’m being harsh because I cherish her.”

“What?”

At Geum Ju-ran’s puzzled response, Haemun scratched his unshaven chin.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“I think like this… An actor is 50 points for acting ability, 30 for eyes, and 20 for face. Fill up 100 points like that and you’ll succeed pretty much anywhere.”

His expression became serious.

Geum Ju-ran and Noh Man-yeong sat up straight and listened.

“But the key here—these 50 points for acting ability—isn’t a score for how well they act. It’s how identically an actor can reproduce the picture I, as the director, conceived in my head. How well they can implement it according to and in line with the director’s orders. It’s 50 points referring to that execution ability.”

“…”

“So when a director says ‘perfect,’ that’s also 50 points.”

But.

“Sometimes strange people appear in this industry. They transcend beyond the picture the director drew, beyond the calculations planned, doing not 50 but 60, 70 points. They leap over the wall beyond ‘perfection.'”

And we call such people renowned actors.

Or eminent actors.

Legendary actors.

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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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