Chapter 84
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Teacher and Director's Simultaneous Visit
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Huh Ji-woong Teacher and Jang Jun-ho Director showing up at the same time.
What kind of situation is this?
In this unexpected turn, I couldn't quite grasp what was happening.
As I stood there buffering like an idiot for a while, Mother stepped forward from beside me.
"Oh my, Teacher—!"
Huh Ji-woong Teacher was the first to receive a greeting in return.
Mother welcomed him with a beaming smile.
It made sense, since he was my homeroom teacher and they were already acquainted.
During the semester, Mother had visited the school for parent-teacher conferences, where they had met.
"Oh dear. You're Do-hyun's teacher?"
Father also greeted Ji-woong warmly upon hearing he was my teacher.
"Yes, yes. Hello. Nice to meet you."
Ji-woong looked visibly awkward, clearly not used to such a warm reception.
Still, he greeted them as brightly as he could since they were parents.
"But who is this...?"
Only then did Father turn his gaze to the man standing next to Ji-woong.
I quickly stepped forward and introduced Jang Jun-ho.
"Ah, this is Director Jang Jun-ho, who just agreed to direct the musical. Director, these are my parents."
I had been momentarily stunned by the sudden situation.
Snapping out of it, I introduced my parents and Jang Jun-ho.
"Hello. I'm Jang Jun-ho. Ah, no wonder Do-hyun turned out so handsome—I see he takes after his mother completely."
Jang Jun-ho greeted them with the smooth, unflappable charm of someone deep in the industry.
Ah, should I introduce Ji-woong Teacher and Director Jang to each other?
As I pondered that,
"I didn't expect to run into you here... Jang Jun-ho."
"Yes. No need for introductions—I know you well, Director Jang."
It turned out there was no need.
Jang Jun-ho and Ji-woong seemed to know each other already.
Of course, even though Ji-woong wasn't an active actor anymore, he'd been in the musical scene for a long time, so it wasn't surprising if their paths had crossed.
The awkward tension between them suggested they weren't exactly close, though.
"Director. So what brings me here... Do you have something to say?"
Ji-woong could greet my parents as my homeroom teacher, but why was Jang Jun-ho here?
I decided to deal with Jang Jun-ho first.
My parents had already been waiting at the entrance for a while while I was removing my makeup.
"Ah, this doesn't seem like the place to talk... More importantly, Huh Actor is Do-hyun's homeroom teacher...?"
Instead of a direct answer, Jang Jun-ho looked at Ji-woong and asked.
For some reason, he seemed slightly surprised to learn that Ji-woong was my homeroom teacher.
Calling him "Huh Actor" suggested they had met in the industry...
"Haha. What Huh Actor? Yes, that's right."
"Then, could I get your number, by any chance?"
"My number...?"
Ji-woong was caught off guard by Jang Jun-ho's abrupt request.
It was the first time I'd seen Ji-woong Teacher that flustered.
Director Jang Jun-ho, indeed.
Not your average person.
"Ah, I have something to discuss about Do-hyun. With your parents here today, I'll contact you later."
"Yes... sure."
The two exchanged numbers, leaving Ji-woong looking dazed.
No, with me and my parents right here, what are these two grown men doing?
The situation felt absurd and stifling, but there was nothing I could do.
They had sorted it out between themselves, so I couldn't exactly butt in and ask.
What about me, anyway? Why?
The mood wasn't exactly light, so I stayed quiet and didn't intrude.
"I'll head in now, ma'am, sir!"
After exchanging numbers with Ji-woong, Jang Jun-ho bowed to my parents and left.
Once the boisterous Jang Jun-ho was gone, a brief silence fell.
"Oh my, Teacher. Is Do-hyun doing well in school?"
Father was the one who broke the tension.
Son-obsessed, simple-minded Dad—thank you very much.
I'll help you wash the car this weekend.
"Yes, of course."
Ji-woong replied with a faint smile.
Of course, my mentor teacher would take good care of me.
It was still just wishful thinking for now, but it would become reality soon enough.
"He's my one and only prized pupil. Do-hyun is."
Huh?
What did he just say?
I looked at Ji-woong in surprise at his follow-up words.
Huh?
Ji-woong avoided my eyes and cleared his throat unnecessarily.
It seemed like he said it because my parents were there, but it still felt pretty good.
"Prized pupil? Oh ho ho! Prized pupil! I see!"
And Father liked it even more than I did.
It was only natural, coming from a teacher at Cheongyeom Arts High.
Father had already been proud of my top rank this semester, and now his shoulders seemed to reach the sky.
"Our son brags about you all the time, Teacher. 'The best teacher at school, my life's mentor,' and all that. Ha ha. As the saying goes, 'like master, like disciple.'"
No, Dad. When did I ever say it that extremely...?
I had praised the teacher to ease worries about school life, but...
This time, Ji-woong glanced at me with a subtle expression.
I averted my gaze.
So this is what it feels like.
"Ahem. Dad. Mom. Teacher probably needs to head back now."
Embarrassed to my toes, I cleared my throat and quickly changed the subject.
"Oh, right. We've kept you out here too long. Sorry about that."
"No, no. Well, I'll be going then."
"Yes. Take care."
"Thank you always—!"
Ji-woong left amid Father's lively farewell.
"Son! What do you want to eat? Anything. Mom and Dad will buy it all today."
My parents waited eagerly for my answer with sparkling eyes that felt burdensome.
What do I want to eat?
Ever since regressing, my top choice never changed.
"Mom's cooking."
Mom's home-cooked meal.
Nothing beat that, so nothing else came to mind.
"Oh my! You rascal. On a day like today, let's eat out. Mom's too lazy."
Her expression suggested she meant it.
Well, there should be days when we eat what Mom and Dad want, not just me.
I racked my brain for their favorites.
"Then... bulgogi?"
"Yeah, yeah. Bulgogi sounds good."
"Bulgogi? I know an amazing place. Let's go!"
Father beamed with laughter as we headed to the parking lot, chatting cheerfully.
My first tryout at the Dream Korean Art Hall with the pros after regressing ended on a high note.
***
"Hello, Teacher."
A few days after the tryout, I visited the school, still on break.
After arriving, I headed straight to Ji-woong's lesson room as usual.
"You're here."
Ji-woong, who had arrived early, raised one hand casually.
And today didn't end there.
"Hello, Director."
I also bowed slightly to the other man sitting beside him: Jang Jun-ho.
"Long time no see, Do-hyun."
Director Jang Jun-ho was there welcoming me alongside Ji-woong.
These were the two who had exchanged numbers right in front of me a few days ago.
They must have gotten in touch since then, and now they had set up this meeting and contacted me.
I had been meaning to ask Ji-woong about practice details anyway, so I rushed to school.
"Has it been that long?"
"We saw each other every day, and it's only been a few days—didn't you miss me?"
Not really, but I couldn't say that.
"Ha ha. Ha ha."
A laugh was the best response in times like these.
"So, how do you two know each other?"
I jumped straight to the question I'd been curious about last time but hadn't asked.
"Well, he's just so famous."
Jang Jun-ho looked at Huh Ji-woong with sincere eyes as he spoke.
"Famous? Come on... You're way more famous than me, Director Jang."
What are these two doing with me just sitting here?
At any rate, it was clear they weren't close personal acquaintances.
They didn't seem eager to elaborate, so I let it slide.
"So, why did you call me here today?"
A big-shot director like Jang Jun-ho coming all the way to school.
And for a 17-year-old who only played a supporting role in the tryout?
That was rare.
"Have you seen this?"
Jang Jun-ho showed me a YouTube video.
The title was: "Musical Pyeongchang-dong 777 Director Jang Jun-ho! Interview Sparks Age Controversy."
What now?
The video featured footage from the Pyeongchang-dong 777 tryout.
Specifically, an edited clip focusing on Do-hyun and Woo-hyuk's scenes.
As interest in these actors grew daily, the controversy exploded when Jang Jun-ho revealed their ages.
"What do you think about all the debate over whether you're a senior actor?"
Do-hyun and Ji-woong huddled together to scan the comments Jang Jun-ho showed them.
-Director lies when will they end
-If that's 17 I'm 7
-First time empathizing with Lee Hyun-woo
-Lee Hyun-woo's face is insane
Views were over 40,000, with more than 1,000 comments.
In 16 years, it might seem modest, but this was 2015.
It was undeniably massive attention.
And that "if he's 17 then I'm 7" line.
I'm 33 with this face, buddy.
I muttered to the anonymous netizen without thinking.
The comment count was impressively high relative to views.
They were packed with debates about the actors' real ages.
Moon Woo-hyuk's Lee Hyun-woo role was flooded with praise for his looks.
But the 'Choi Mok-su' character? Nothing but age controversy.
This was getting a bit annoying.
"Pfft."
Even Ji-woong, who rarely laughed at biting comments, let out a "pfft."
"Is this what you call a controversy?"
I had worked hard on the acting.
And the makeup was well done.
Plus, I nailed the details.
It was a grandpa role, so I adjusted my vocal technique accordingly...!
"But still, calling you a senior actor is a bit much, isn't it?"
Of course, no one actually thought I was a real senior actor.
It was a compliment on how good the acting was.
Still, the dominant reaction was shock at "at least 17."
I appreciated the praise for skill, but it didn't feel entirely good.
I'd already come back as a ridiculous 17-year-old.
Now I wasn't turning 33 into 60, was I?
"You came here just to show me this? To tease me?"
After watching the video, I asked Jang Jun-ho with a sense of deflation.
I'd heard "baby face" a few times before regressing, after all.
It felt good and bad at the same time, like getting insulted.
At least it was the makeup, not that I look old. Silver lining.
"Haha. As if. I just showed it because it's funny."
Jang Jun-ho pocketed his phone and laughed heartily.
Seeing him enjoy it so much, I felt half-right.
"Hmm."
Then, suddenly serious, he glanced at Ji-woong before fixing his gaze on me.
I sneaked a peek at Ji-woong—no change from his usual expression.
Why the theatrics for whatever he's about to say?
"Do-hyun, any interest in directing? I think you have serious talent as a director."
Ah, so that's what this was about.