The Chaebol Family’s Youngest Daughter Doesn’t Hide Her Acting Skills - Chapter 64

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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 64

 

It might sound conceited, but Woon Seong-ha had never once in his life thought of himself as inadequate.

 

It was only natural. Objectively speaking, he was exceptional.

 

A tall, striking height that towered over his peers. Distinctly sculpted features as if carved by hand. A brilliant mind that never missed achieving excellent grades until he had to give up studying to make a living.

 

He was like a white heron shining alone and proudly even in the muddy waters of poverty.

 

When he was young, walking through the marketplace in shabby clothes while holding his grandmother and grandfather’s rough hands, adults would invariably shower him with admiration.

 

‘Oh my, look at that family’s grandson. He’s so handsome it’s almost blinding!’

 

‘Little one, you’ll never starve to death even if you just sit quietly anywhere when you grow up.’

 

‘Yes, that face will feed you well.’

 

At such times, young Seong-ha would simply bow his head calmly.

 

Of course, Seong-ha’s temperament wasn’t one to lie under a persimmon tree with his mouth open waiting for fruit to fall.

 

Rather than staying still, constantly moving fiercely to earn his own keep suited him better.

 

However, the fact that he wouldn’t be outdone anywhere was a premise as natural as breathing to him.

 

But lately, Woon Seong-ha thought for the first time in his life that he was truly pathetic.

 

There was only one reason. It was because of Dojehyeon.

 

On his phone screen, Dojehyeon holding Sae-i in the rain.

 

And this morning, Ju Sae-i surrounded by classmates in the classroom talking about Dojehyeon.

 

Wasn’t this already their second project together? The fact that they had become acting partners exchanging passionate gazes turned Seong-ha’s insides upside down.

 

‘…So pathetic, really.’

 

Seong-ha bit his lips.

 

In his head, the scene from earlier when he curtly responded to Sae-i’s attempt at conversation kept replaying.

 

‘How was it? I think I came out pretty well?’

 

‘Honey was dripping from yours and Jehyeon’s eyes. It looked like you two were in your own world. You matched well together.’

 

Sae-i’s face blinking in confusion at his sarcastic tone, as if she couldn’t understand why.

 

When those clear eyes came to mind, his stomach twisted painfully. Guilt and embarrassment crashed over him like a tsunami.

 

A memory from the past suddenly flashed by.

 

Countless female students who had confessed to him, enchanted by his appearance, only to be flatly rejected and hurt.

 

Among them were some who, wounded in their pride, would pass by him making snide remarks or showing irritation for no reason.

 

At the time, he couldn’t understand it at all.

 

Why are they acting like that? They’re the ones who confessed aggressively, so why are they taking their anger out on me? That’s exactly how he felt.

 

But now he finally understood those irrational and childish behaviors to his very bones.

 

It was jealousy.

 

The resentment of not being looked at by me. And the disappointment toward the person who looks at someone else instead of me. The most foolish spite in the world, born from that mixture.

 

Maybe that’s why Ju Suyeon made my life miserable too.

 

Thinking that way made him regret his actions even more. I… I did the same thing to Sae-i that Ju Suyeon did to me.

 

‘…I must never act snide again.’

 

Seong-ha sighed deeply and buried his head in the script on his desk. He stared at it as if trying to bore holes through the paper.

 

Dojehyeon or whatever, he wished that spot next to her on screen was his.

 

He wanted to stand beside Sae-i soon. He wanted to become the co-star who received Ju Sae-i’s complete attention.

 

To do that…

 

‘I need to work harder.’

 

Woon Seong-ha’s hand gripping the script dense with text turned white with the force he applied.

 

The boy’s competitive spirit, and his first love, were catching fire.

 

***

 

Sae-i was bothered by Woon Seong-ha’s cold attitude the entire time. Pretending to take notes while looking at the blackboard, she quietly tore off a corner of her notebook.

 

Seong-ha was still staring at his script as if he wanted to devour it.

 

Swish. Sae-i held out a neatly folded note to him.

 

[Are you free after school?]

 

Seong-ha’s eyes turned to the note. He frowned briefly, then picked up his mechanical pencil and wrote a crooked reply.

 

[Why?]

 

Such a short answer. He must still be annoyed. Sae-i didn’t give up and wrote again.

 

[Today’s your lesson day with Teacher Seong Hye-sim]

 

[I want to watch too]

 

Seong-ha’s hand stopped abruptly after checking the note. His pencil lead spun uselessly on the paper.

 

She expected a quick reply, but he seemed to be pondering for quite a while with his lips pressed tight.

 

‘…Is it really that awkward?’

 

Showing the process of learning acting to others could be embarrassing. Besides, he seemed particularly sensitive today.

 

Meanwhile, Seong-ha’s feelings were complicated.

 

He was afraid his skills would look pathetic.

 

How shabby would he look just taking lessons in front of Sae-i, who had already worked with Dojehyeon on set?

 

‘After seeing Dojehyeon and then seeing me… she’ll be disappointed.’

 

As his hesitation dragged on, Sae-i carefully retrieved the note and added a few more words.

 

[It’s okay to say no if it’s too difficult ㅜ.ㅠ]

 

[Sorry if I made you uncomfortable!!!]

 

The moment he saw the apology, Seong-ha’s heart sank.

 

Sae-i’s shoulders seemed drooped when he glanced at her sideways.

 

Actually, she was just leaning on her desk, but to the infatuated boy’s eyes, she looked devastated as if her world had collapsed.

 

‘No…’

 

The guilt of making Sae-i feel dejected instantly devoured his sense of inferiority.

 

Disappointment or whatever, first he had to straighten those drooped shoulders.

 

His heart racing with urgency, Seong-ha unconsciously shot up straight and opened his mouth.

 

“No, no! Let’s go quickly! We absolutely have to go!”

 

Are you crazy, Seong-ha…

 

Go quickly where? We’re going after school, and it’s only first period right now…

 

“…?”

 

The silence that followed.

 

All his classmates’ gazes turned toward Seong-ha and Sae-i at once.

 

Only then did Seong-ha realize his mistake. It was class time, and he had unconsciously shouted out loud while exchanging written notes.

 

Seong-ha, belatedly realizing what he had done, hung his head low. His face turned as red as a ripe tomato.

 

“…Woon Seong-ha, Ju Sae-i. What are you two doing over there!”

 

The teacher’s chalk flew precisely onto Seong-ha’s desk.

 

“Both of you go stand in the back!”

 

***

 

Due to Seong-ha’s mistake, we ended up being kicked to the back of the classroom together.

 

Seong-ha kept his mouth tightly shut with his ears burning red, while I had to bite my lips to hold back laughter.

 

Standing and listening to class was boring.

 

I naturally leaned toward the script Seong-ha had spread out.

 

“What part are you looking at?”

 

“…Here.”

 

Seong-ha hesitantly pushed the script toward me. I skimmed through the script and nodded inwardly.

 

‘Earlier he was obviously showing he didn’t like it, but when I said let’s go, he jumped up and shouted again.’

 

These back-and-forth emotional ups and downs. No matter how I looked at it, there was only one diagnosis.

 

It’s puberty, puberty.

 

Huh? The period of storm and stress, they say.

 

Boys are definitely sensitive around this time. Ryu Dokyung and Dojehyeon are also quite snappy.

 

Let me, with my generous heart, be patient with him. I smiled good-naturedly and stole glances at his now-gentle profile.

 

Meanwhile, Seong-ha’s mind had no room for the script.

 

‘…Isn’t this too close?’

 

Ju Sae-i’s presence right next to him was overwhelming. Sharing one standing desk meant their shoulders were close enough to brush. It was because of his size.

 

If he turned his head just a little, he could see the top of Ju Sae-i’s head.

 

Sae-i was infinitely small compared to me, who was well over 180cm tall. Her thin, white hand was placed next to my large hand.

 

Standing side by side, I could clearly feel the difference between Sae-i and myself.

 

Ju Sae-i was small, thin, white…

 

‘…A nice scent.’

 

A subtle soap-like smell wafted from the collar of her school uniform shirt.

 

Woon Seong-ha swallowed hard. He was so scared that the sound of his pounding heart might be heard by the person next to him.

 

“Seong-ha, this script analysis here is good.”

 

Sae-i pointed to the memo written in the corner of the script and looked up at him. The moment their eyes met her transparent, clear pupils.

 

“Wh-what did you say?”

 

“I said it’s good, this.”

 

“Oh, oh…”

 

Woon Seong-ha hastily turned his gaze to the ceiling. His face felt like it was going to explode.

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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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