The Chaebol Family’s Youngest Daughter Doesn’t Hide Her Acting Skills - Chapter 13

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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 13

“To live…”

From the granddaughter’s mouth, who had been hesitating for a long time, came an unexpected answer.

“To live, because I want to.”

She wanted to live.

With desperate eyes, the child only repeated that she chose acting because she wanted to live.

Like mother, like daughter, they say.

Sometime, decades ago, he remembered Joo Jeongwol pleading desperately.

‘There are Sudeok and Jeonghui as successors too, Father! Please, can’t you let me do what I want to do…?’

‘You’re Dongwoo’s eldest daughter. You must inherit the family business. There’s nothing to reconsider, so go on now.’

‘…If I keep living like this, I’ll suffocate and die.’

‘A person’s life doesn’t end that easily.’

The daughter who said she wanted to walk the path of an actor, that she would suffocate and die if not for this path.

The child that daughter left behind was saying the same words as her mother.

Ju Taeback, who moistened his throat with saliva, slowly moved his lips.

“The women of the Joo family are all exactly the same…”

Ju Taeback didn’t trust people.

Even if they were family, humans could abandon and turn their backs at any time when faced with money and power.

Even those who groveled before him would swarm like piranhas, baring their teeth when they found a spot to bite.

The business world was such a place. Just looking at Chairman Ryu, his close friend, he had ruthlessly purged his own relatives.

So when Ju Sae-i showed her face again, he had thought that. Perhaps that child too had some ulterior motive.

But.

‘…She’s so exactly like Jeongwol, what am I to do.’

That child who came after staying away for a while might also have something she’s after.

Her sincere attitude toward acting, her resemblance to her mother, might all be fake.

Nevertheless, at this moment, Ju Taeback…

“Yes, people must live and see.”

“…!”

“Go ahead and do all the acting you want to do.”

He wanted to willingly be deceived by Sae-i’s bright smile.

***

A while later, at a reading room near KDS’s building.

Sae-i’s gaze turned to the A4 paper attached to the door.

[Drama 【Your Blue Name】]

[Script Reading Site]

Today was the day of the first script reading for the so-called ‘Your Blue Name.’

A site where actors gathered to greet each other and read scripts to synchronize their performances.

‘They said it’s good to come early, so I came…’

Sae-i walked around the still empty reading room. Rolling her eyes faster than her feet, she memorized the name plates placed at each seat.

She had even finished searching online for actors she would frequently encounter on set.

‘Adult Doyeon is played by actress Park Yeonhui.’

Perhaps because it was a star writer’s work, there were many famous actors.

Having finished moving her things, just as she was about to sit in her assigned seat.

“I wondered if there was an actor who came before me, and it was Sae-i?”

Seong Hye-sim’s voice came from behind.

“Seeing you here gives a different feeling, right?”

“Yes, it’s fascinating.”

“Oh my, so fresh~”

She responded lightly and brought her palm to her mouth as if to share a secret.

When Sae-i leaned in to listen, she whispered in a tickling voice.

“Did you analyze the script well? I haven’t been able to take care of you lately.”

“Ah, yes! I brought it separately.”

“How admirable.”

Seong Hye-sim hummed a tune and took her seat.

Once all the empty seats were filled, the waiting director and writer sat in the center. It was a good spot to oversee the script reading site at a glance.

“The cameras are still being set up, so greet each other first.”

“Eek…!”

When Writer Choi Gi-jeong, holding a microphone, looked around and spoke, someone who made eye contact with her made a frightened sound.

‘I heard her reputation is formidable.’

Sae-i had also heard through Seong Hye-sim. That Writer Choi Gi-jeong’s nickname was ‘Devil of Retakes.’

Other writers tolerate actors going easy during script readings, but Writer Choi earned that nickname by endlessly saying ‘Please do it again.’

‘Of course, since every work she produces has incredible results, no actor dares to challenge her.’

Perhaps that’s why. Starting with the frightened sound, the reading room instantly froze.

“…Oh my, I’m nervous! Writer Choi, please go easy on us today, okay?”

An actor playing a supporting role broke the atmosphere with a coquettish voice.

Only then did people sitting nearby start greeting each other.

Sae-i glanced sideways at the child actor for ‘Hajin’ sitting next to her.

‘It’s Dojehyeon!’

Dojehyeon. He was a year younger than Sae-i, but had made his mark as a child actor since elementary school.

Sae-i could recognize him at once. He was the epitome of child actors, having conquered everything from historical dramas with over 50% ratings to ten-million-viewer movies.

Moreover, a model student! He consistently did volunteer work, and after becoming an adult, it was revealed he had been steadily donating to children’s centers.

He was truly an actor born to portray the childhood of the male protagonist ‘Hajin’ in 【Your Blue Name】.

‘First, I should greet him…’

Sae-i, who had been hesitating and reading the mood, took the opportunity when her eyes met Dojehyeon’s to bow her head.

“Um, I’ll be working together as the protagonist’s child actor…”

“Ju Sae-i.”

“Huh?”

“I know your name. If you have time to chat, why don’t you read the script more? Unless you want to be compared today.”

That was the end of the conversation.

Sae-i, who hadn’t fully grasped the situation yet, turned her head with a blank expression.

‘Why is he speaking informally? Even if he’s a senior in the entertainment industry…’

Moreover, telling her to read the script more unless she wanted to be compared today. That was a statement looking down on Sae-i.

‘Was Dojehyeon this kind of personality?’

Whatever reason he had for saying that didn’t matter. She just had to prove herself with her skills.

‘…I’ll show him.’

It was the moment Sae-i’s competitive spirit was immediately ignited.

***

Dojehyeon was very dissatisfied with the casting of 【Your Blue Summer】.

This was his third time taking on a child role in a work written by Writer Choi Gi-jeong.

The protagonist couple must have a convincing past narrative. This was Writer Choi Gi-jeong’s belief.

Therefore, even child actors belonging to the ‘Choi Gi-jeong group’ were customarily cast after going through at least two or three confirmation procedures.

‘I also auditioned four times for this role.’

Since the child narrative was extremely important in this work, Writer Choi Gi-jeong had tested Jehyeon through four auditions.

But he had vaguely heard such rumors.

‘I heard Seong Hye-sim made a deal for the female protagonist’s child role. The audition was over after just once, right?’

That there was a newcomer who secured that hard-to-get position through Senior Seong Hye-sim’s recommendation.

Her name was Ju Sae-i. No acting experience.

She was such a newcomer that there was no other information available.

‘Ju Sae-i, Ju Sae-i…’

While waiting for the day to see that newcomer’s face, Dojehyeon read the script thousands of times out of spite.

And now.

“Um, this time I’ll be working together as the child protagonist…”

Ju Sae-i was next to me. It was absurd how she dared to speak first when she’d gotten in through connections.

When I openly showed my reluctance to talk and cut her off sharply, Ju Sae-i pressed her lips shut. She seemed quite dejected in her silence.

“…Ahem.”

Though it bothered me a little, Dojehyeon deliberately kept his eyes fixed on the script.

Before long, the camera setup and crew introductions were finished, and now it was time for the actors to formally introduce themselves.

The senior actors playing the leads and Dojehyeon had finished their introductions. Now it was Ju Sae-i’s turn, who was playing young Yeon Doyeon, to speak.

‘She’ll probably give a listless greeting like before. It’s obvious without even looking.’

Introducing herself in a crawling voice because she lacked confidence in her skills and felt intimidated. That’s how nepotism hires always were.

Dojehyeon let out a shallow snort and turned his head toward her.

And then.

“Hello! I’m Ju! Sae! I! playing young Doyeon. This is my first time doing professional acting, but I’ll work hard to watch and learn!”

With a more spirited tone than expected, Ju Sae-i introduced herself.

Having delivered her greeting in the cheerful atmosphere, Ju Sae-i looked directly at Dojehyeon and smiled lightly.

“…!”

Dojehyeon’s shoulders suddenly tensed up. Seeing her smile like this, she looked exactly like…

‘…Yeon Doyeon?’

A refreshing smile like facing a fan’s breeze while soaked in rain during the monsoon season. Eyes that curved delicately like ripples on a stream. Light and gentle laughter like leaves swaying in a summer breeze.

Every aspect that Ju Sae-i had just shown felt to Dojehyeon like the smile of Yeon Doyeon, Hajin’s first love.

With his heart feeling like it had stopped, Jehyeon bit his lip.

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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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