The Chaebol Family’s Youngest Daughter Doesn’t Hide Her Acting Skills - Chapter 18
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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 18
***
From the moment Sae-i first delivered her lines and met Byeon Seo-jun’s eyes, she felt it. This scene would definitely be an NG.
Sure enough.
“Mind your own business! Mom lives just fine without caring, so why are you the only one acting like this?”
“Doyeon, that’s…”
A scene highlighting the older brother’s gentle, protective nature.
Since this would appear as a flashback scene whenever Doyeon felt guilt remembering her deceased brother, any actor playing this role should put effort into it.
Far from putting in effort, Byeon Seo-jun didn’t deliver his lines. Whether he forgot his lines or had some other reason, I couldn’t tell.
“…”
I silently looked up at Byeon Seo-jun. Even after the director called cut, his face looked dazed.
Only after being told to take a moment to breathe did the light return to his eyes.
Byeon Seo-jun belatedly slapped his own cheek and recited his lines in succession. However, he still couldn’t deliver his lines to the end.
‘Strange… Was Byeon Seo-jun the type to stumble like this?’
Byeon Seo-jun was an actor who frequently appeared in dramas I watched in my previous life.
You could say he was the most successful case among second-generation idols who transitioned from singer to actor.
As far as I knew, the group he debuted with wasn’t a team that achieved great success commercially. He was the face of the team and their only breadwinner.
So much so that even I couldn’t think of any other names from that group besides Byeon Seo-jun.
Byeon Seo-jun had decent diction and vocalization, and with his basic fanbase, I knew he often took supporting roles in the beginning.
Having accumulated acting experience that way, he eventually achieved success with a male lead role in a webtoon-based romance drama.
‘At least he doesn’t seem like someone who wouldn’t memorize his lines.’
Insincere people get buried no matter how good their skills are. Especially under demanding writers or directors.
In that situation, if he consistently received offers for supporting roles and eventually landed leading roles, he must have been diligent. He wouldn’t make repeated mistakes from not memorizing his lines.
‘And Byeon Seo-jun is… actually a practice maniac.’
In some drama behind-the-scenes content I looked up out of curiosity about filming set atmospheres, I had seen him never letting go of his script.
Seeing his worn-out script, I even thought ‘Wow, I should analyze scripts like that too.’
If someone like him couldn’t even deliver his lines, there was definitely a problem somewhere.
***
There was one more person who found Byeon Seo-jun’s stumbling strange.
“Seo Jun, can I see you for a moment?”
It was Seong Hye-sim, who had encountered him twice on variety shows and once more in a drama.
Byeon Seo-jun might not be an outstanding actor, but he was an impressive junior who tried to do his part.
A sincere newcomer whose development was slow compared to his efforts, but who didn’t make big mistakes.
The Byeon Seo-jun she knew would never forget his lines.
“Um, now we should resume filming…”
“You know better than anyone that you’re not in a state to film, don’t you?”
“Ah, well…”
Having seen countless actors on sets, she immediately recognized that Seo Jun’s condition was far from good.
She thought he might be nervous and waited to see, but the way he calmly did his breathing exercises suggested it wasn’t that kind of problem.
‘If it’s not nervousness…’
There was one thing she could guess.
The newcomer who had overwhelmed Byeon Seo-jun from the script reading, Ju Sae-i. To think this sincere actor was shrinking because of the child she had discovered.
He must have been deeply hurt. He had worked desperately to climb up, only to be overwhelmed by a novice.
The feeling of being crushed by genius. Since Hye-sim had felt this emotion in the distant past, she could understand Byeon Seo-jun’s complicated feelings.
However, if he remained crushed and just fumed with resentment, Byeon Seo-jun couldn’t grow.
“Oh my, Seo Jun still has a long way to go.”
Seong Hye-sim sighed and looked at Ju Sae-i. Like the youngest on the filming set, Sae-i was glancing at Byeon Seo-jun while reading the staff’s mood.
‘She probably has no idea it’s because of her.’
Worried, deep eyes sparkled in her field of vision.
What kind of reaction would that child show if she found out that her senior couldn’t even open his mouth because he was pushed back by her?
She would definitely blame herself. Then it would clearly be poison to both Byeon Seo-jun and Ju Sae-i.
This filming was the first shoot in the acting career of Ju Sae-i, whom she was nurturing. She couldn’t just stand by and watch it get ruined.
‘Let’s do this.’
After deliberation, Seong Hye-sim decided to intervene in the situation. Having made her decision skillfully, she sent a signal to Director Woo.
After consultation, the production team tactfully prepared to film scenes that didn’t require Byeon Seo-jun and Ju Sae-i.
‘There’ll be a slight delay, but… this should make Seo Jun come to his senses.’
Seong Hye-sim watched Byeon Seo-jun with concerned eyes. Seemingly consumed by the thought that the filming order had changed because of him, he was trembling.
When she placed her hand on his shoulder, Seo Jun was startled.
“Um, senior. Right now things got messed up because of me…”
“Seo Jun, your acting isn’t working out right now.”
“…”
Byeon Seo-jun hung his head low. When he didn’t respond and bit his lips, Hye-sim continued what she had to say as if she had expected that reaction.
“I know one way to break through this.”
“…!”
“Will you swallow your pride and solve this, or will you just keep struggling alone?”
“What do you mean…”
“I think highly of you, Seo Jun. So I hope you choose the former.”
Hye-sim glanced at the flinching Byeon Seo-jun. Seeing how tense his body became, it seemed his mind was leaning toward swallowing his pride.
“If you’re ready, follow me.”
She confidently took the lead. The destination was the newcomer she was nurturing and the source of this problem, Ju Sae-i.
***
“You want me to coach my senior’s acting?”
“Would that not work?”
“No, how could I…”
I couldn’t even close my mouth and trailed off.
Of course I would!
Seong Hye-sim brought Byeon Seo-jun to me while I was waiting due to the changed filming order. Then she suddenly pushed Byeon Seo-jun toward me and assigned me to coach his acting.
‘Did Byeon Seo-jun agree to this too?’
His expression, which I discreetly checked, was also full of bewilderment. It seemed to be Seong Hye-sim’s unilateral decision.
“Um, senior. It would be better to just let Sae-i rest…”
“Seo Jun, just stay quiet.”
“Yes, yes…”
Even when the person who was dragged here tried to dissuade her, Seong Hye-sim exuded senior authority and immediately made him shut up.
Silenced, Byeon Seo-jun meekly hunched his large frame and kept his mouth tightly shut.
“Why not? Sae-i, you even practiced Dohun.”
“Wait, you practiced Yeon Do-hun? Sae-i did?”
Byeon Seo-jun, who I thought would stay quiet, asked urgently.
“I practiced a little. Not everything…”
“No, why? Not adult Yeon Doyeon, but why Yeon Do-hun?”
“Ah, Teacher Seong Hye-sim gave it as an assignment before…”
Usually I call her an actress because her great actor image is so strong, but in times like this, it would be better to call her senior or teacher.
As soon as I called her teacher, Seong Hye-sim, who had been watching Byeon Seo-jun and me, lit up.
…Does she like this title?
“You felt it too, didn’t you, Seo Jun? Sae-i’s acting quality.”
“…Yes.”
“Our Sae-i doesn’t just do Yeon Doyeon well. She can handle Yeon Do-hun too.”
“So you want her to coach me…”
“You won’t get many opportunities like this. It’s not easy to get coaching from a genius like Sae-i even if you pay for it.”
Seong Hye-sim began listing my praises to Byeon Seo-jun.
“You feel intimidated acting in front of Sae-i, right? You’re not the only one who feels that way, Seo Jun.”
“Then who else…?”
“I was genuinely startled too. When I first met him, I had Yeon Do-hun try some acting. His voice tone changed completely from when he was just talking, and wow, it was actually scary.”
“You mean sunbae-nim…?”
“Yeah. So I completely flubbed my lines. Sae-i covered for me with some ad-libbing, but honestly, if it had been on the filming set, it would’ve been embarrassing.”
Oh, please. Even if it’s true, aren’t you praising me a bit too much…?
No matter what, teaching an industry senior like Byeon Seo-jun wasn’t going to be easy for me.
Actress Seong Hye-sim must know this too!
“Try coaching together and work on your chemistry. It’ll definitely help.”
“I am…”
Please refuse. From how dark his expression looks, he’ll probably refuse. Please don’t burden me… I don’t want to be remembered as the junior who taught a senior on the filming set…
Just as I was desperately hoping for that.
“I’ve decided.”
Byeon Seo-jun opened his mouth with a solemn voice.
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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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