Chapter 11
Chapter 11
As she stepped into the classroom, a girl from her class called out to Baek Seunghee.
“Class president.”
“What is it?”
“Homeroom teacher wants you in the faculty office for a bit.”
“Got it.”
At the girl’s words, Baek Seunghee’s expression darkened slightly.
She already knew why the homeroom teacher had called her.
“Ha……”
Arriving in front of the faculty office, Baek Seunghee took a deep breath and composed her expression.
She had steeled herself like a general heading into battle.
Slide—
After finishing her mental preparation, she stepped inside and approached a middle-aged woman.
It was her homeroom teacher.
“Teacher, you called me?”
“Yes, Seunghee. I wanted to have a quick talk. Sit here.”
Baek Seunghee sat across from her, and the counseling began.
“Seunghee, have you thought about going to college?”
It was about university entrance.
For a third-year high school student who had just started a new semester, it was an inevitable topic.
“Yes.”
“Still no change in your thoughts?”
“Yes, I’m planning to get a job right away.”
“……”
At Baek Seunghee’s calm reply, the teacher felt nothing but frustration.
And that was because it was Baek Seunghee.
She ranked at the top of the entire school and had been class president for all three years, giving her an excellent record.
Yet she had declared she wouldn’t go to college.
“Seunghee, if it’s about tuition, you don’t have to worry. With your grades, you could get a full scholarship, even a living stipend. So how about thinking it over again?”
Knowing some of her circumstances, the teacher tried to persuade her sincerely.
It pained her too much to see a beloved student give up college because of family issues.
But despite her efforts, Baek Seunghee’s response remained cold.
“Teacher, even if I get a full scholarship, I can’t start earning money right away. The reason I want to get a job is to make money.”
“……”
Faced with her firm gaze, the teacher couldn’t continue.
Her attitude was resolute and unwavering.
“……Alright, I understand.”
A moment of silence passed before the teacher finally nodded.
“Then I’ll get going.”
Baek Seunghee greeted her and stood up.
“Seunghee.”
Just as she was about to leave, the teacher called out again.
“Time is equal for everyone, and there are things you can only do at your age.”
“……”
For the first time, Baek Seunghee’s steady eyes wavered.
Though it was only for a fleeting moment.
“So think about it a little more. You still have time.”
“Yes, teacher.”
Baek Seunghee bowed politely and left the faculty office.
As she walked down the hallway, she let out a deep sigh.
“Ha……”
Unlike in the classroom, her expression was dark.
The teacher’s sincere words, along with what her older brother Baek Seungchan had said yesterday, had shaken the feelings she had been holding tightly for so long.
In truth, Baek Seunghee also wanted to go to college.
She desperately wanted to properly learn music again, the thing she had been forced to give up.
Because she had a dream.
Not to be an idol, but to become a popular female singer like Iel, a singer-songwriter.
She also wanted to gift a song she composed to Nam Siwoo, the singer she admired.
But thinking of her parents who left for work early every dawn, and her older brother who gave up college, completed his military service, and worked nonstop without rest, she couldn’t bring herself to hold onto such dreams.
“Baek Seunghee, don’t be greedy……”
Clenching her fists tightly, she muttered softly to herself.
She resolved that once her family’s debts were fully paid off and things became stable, she would start music again as a hobby, something she had once loved.
With that, she steadied her wavering heart once more.
Baek Seungchan’s acting was so outstanding it seemed almost possessed, and with Nam Siwoo’s acting improving further through their synergy, the atmosphere on set was more lively than ever.
“Cut! Both of you were great!”
Director Park Taeho’s voice rang out energetically, clearly in a good mood.
The assistant director checked the time and spoke.
“Director, it’s about time. Should we break for lunch?”
“Is it already that time?”
Surprised, Park Taeho widened his eyes.
He had lost track of time due to how smoothly things were going.
“Alright, everyone, let’s have lunch!”
With that, lunch break began, and Baek Seungchan picked up his prepared lunchbox and took a seat in one corner of the classroom.
Before long, Nam Siwoo approached and asked carefully.
“Hyung, can I eat with you?”
Baek Seungchan smiled.
“Why are you asking? It’s not like I reserved the place.”
Relieved, Nam Siwoo nodded and sat beside him.
Perhaps because they had grown closer after eating together the previous day, his expression looked much brighter.
“Still, you might not like it.”
“But don’t you usually not eat lunchboxes?”
Baek Seungchan had never seen Nam Siwoo eat one during filming.
“Ah, it’s not that I don’t eat lunchboxes. I just didn’t eat much. I was so nervous that I couldn’t digest well.”
“That makes sense.”
It was understandable.
Even though he seemed much more relaxed now, just a few days ago, Nam Siwoo hadn’t been able to shake off his tension.
“Then, I’ll eat well.”
The two sat side by side and began eating.
After a while, Nam Siwoo cautiously asked.
“Hyung, do you have something on your mind?”
Baek Seungchan had stopped eating, unable to take his eyes off his smartphone.
Only then did he snap out of it and lower the phone.
“Ah, it’s nothing much. I’m just looking for something I can do on my days off.”
Baek Seungchan was earning 2 million won per episode.
Since The Real Legend was scheduled in two 15-minute parts, he effectively earned 4 million won.
Considering it was a web drama, it wasn’t a bad amount.
Especially since filming would wrap up in just two weeks, it was a significant income in a short time.
But it still wasn’t enough for him.
It wasn’t enough to persuade Baek Seunghee.
So he was looking for work with higher daily pay.
It would be nice if he could consistently get minor roles, but those weren’t as easy to come by as one might think.
“You’re looking for something to do on your days off?”
“Yeah, I need money.”
At his honest answer, Nam Siwoo nodded in understanding.
Having struggled himself before his first settlement as a rookie singer, he knew better than anyone how unknown actors suffered financially.
As the mood grew heavy, Baek Seungchan changed the flow with a compliment.
“By the way, your acting’s gotten a lot better. Your emotional delivery is much smoother now.”
“It’s all thanks to you, hyung. Your advice yesterday really helped.”
Smiling at the praise, Nam Siwoo responded warmly.
“That’s good then. But during that line earlier, you could ease up a bit.”
Baek Seungchan pointed out a small flaw in his acting.
Though such feedback could feel offensive to a fellow actor, Nam Siwoo didn’t look displeased at all.
“Which scene?”
Instead, he eagerly pulled out his script and asked.
The night before, he had even asked Baek Seungchan to point out any shortcomings anytime.
“Here. In this part, your character is still supposed to be timid, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then that should come through in your tone too. But earlier, that feeling was a bit lacking.”
Nam Siwoo immediately understood and nodded.
“You’re right. I got too excited and overdid it.”
Seeing his attitude, Baek Seungchan smiled with satisfaction.
He’s not stubborn, and his comprehension isn’t bad.
Even if Nam Siwoo wasn’t a genius, he was clearly the type who fully grasped what he was taught.
Something about him reminded Baek Seungchan of Seoksam from his past life, and it even made teaching enjoyable.
After filming ended, Nam Siwoo sat in the car, deep in thought.
“What’s got you thinking so hard?”
His manager asked from the driver’s seat.
Nam Siwoo smiled slightly.
“I was just wondering if there’s a way I can help Seungchan hyung.”
The conversation they had at lunch kept lingering in his mind.
Since he could feel his acting improving thanks to Baek Seungchan, he wanted to help him even more.
“In what way?”
The manager asked curiously.
“He seems to need money.”
At that, the manager’s expression turned concerned.
“You’re not thinking of lending him money, are you?”
“Of course not!”
Nam Siwoo shook his head firmly.
“Do you take me for a fool?”
After becoming successful, he had financially helped acquaintances a few times, and it hadn’t ended well.
So he had no intention of helping through money directly.
He was trying to think of another way, but nothing came to mind, which frustrated him.
Then the manager spoke casually.
“But why are you overthinking it? There’s an easy way.”
“An easy way?”
“Yeah. Why don’t you just take acting lessons from him?”
The moment he heard that, Nam Siwoo felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.
“Oh! Why didn’t I think of that?”
Was there a more ideal solution?
Baek Seungchan had outstanding acting skills and was also excellent at teaching.
“You’re already taking lessons from mediocre instructors. It’s much better to learn from him. Your skills are improving noticeably every day.”
“That’s true.”
The manager was right.
In the past, the company had arranged many acting lessons for him, knowing his dream was to become an actor.
But back then, he hadn’t improved much.
These days, however, his acting was improving rapidly.
“Hyung, wait a moment before we leave.”
Nam Siwoo immediately called Baek Seungchan.
As Baek Seungchan was leaving the school after changing clothes, his phone rang. It was Nam Siwoo.
“Hey, Siwoo. What’s up?”
“Hyung, where are you right now?”
“Me? I’m just about to leave the school.”
“Oh, that’s good. Could you wait there for a moment?”
“Sure.”
After hanging up, Baek Seungchan tilted his head.
“What does he want to say?”
Nam Siwoo’s voice had sounded urgent.
As if he had something important to say.
But nothing came to mind.
Just then, he heard someone calling him from afar.
“Seungchan hyung!”
It was Nam Siwoo, running across the field toward him.
Seeing him wave as he ran reminded Baek Seungchan of Seoksam from his past life.
“That guy… isn’t he really Seoksam?”
After all, Baek Seungchan himself had experienced reincarnation.
So it wasn’t entirely impossible.
“If you’ve been reborn, then this time, live happier than anyone else.”
He muttered while looking up at the full moon in the night sky.
For a moment, he gazed at the evening sky.
It was a sincere wish for Seoksam, who had died at the hands of demonic cultists while staying by his side in his previous life.
“Haah, haah.”
Lost in thought, Nam Siwoo had already reached him, breathing heavily.
“I’m not going anywhere, so catch your breath first.”
“Okay.”
Nam Siwoo steadied his breathing, then lifted his head.
“So what was so urgent that you ran all the way here?”
“Ah, well… would you be willing to give me acting lessons?”
“Acting lessons? Aren’t I already doing that?”
Baek Seungchan tilted his head.
He had already been giving him feedback whenever they had time.
“Well, yes, but I mean proper lessons that I pay for.”
Nam Siwoo shook his head as he explained.
“Ah, right. That’s a thing.”
Baek Seungchan looked like he had just realized something.
Having been far removed from the arts world, he hadn’t even considered it.
“Can you do it?”
“I can, but are you sure?”
“About what?”
“I’m just a supporting actor.”
And someone who had only recently started acting.
It did feel a bit odd.
“What does that matter? From what I’ve seen, you’re the best at acting. You’ll do it, right?”
“Alright.”
Baek Seungchan accepted the offer.
He had already been giving free feedback anyway, so there was no reason to refuse being paid for it.
“But how will the lessons work? I’m not really familiar with this.”
Nam Siwoo nodded and explained.
“Usually, you set a schedule weekly, but considering filming, that might be hard. So maybe you can just guide me whenever we’re filming, like now.”
“Sounds good.”
Baek Seungchan nodded.
It meant continuing as they had been.
“So how much will it cost?”
Baek Seungchan asked, trying to hide his anticipation.
Even though he wasn’t familiar with the arts, he knew lessons weren’t cheap thanks to Baek Seunghee preparing to become an idol.
“Well, for now…”
“That much?”
Hearing the amount Nam Siwoo suggested, Baek Seungchan asked in shock.