Chapter 23
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 023
Chapter Title: Ending (2)
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Under the oppression of imperial Japan, a desperate struggle for survival.
Drama Flame.
Its beginning had been somewhat romantic.
A beautiful young lady from a noble yangban family, and her fiancé, the young master from a pro-Japanese clan.
Neither knew they were on the same side.
One fought with a gun, the other with a pen.
Misunderstanding each other, they battled from their respective positions.
But their secrets couldn't last forever.
As time passed, the small puzzle pieces began to fit together one by one. Their crossed fates realigned.
Before they knew it, the flame—not a flower—and the ember—not ashes—faced each other.
As the drama's end drew near, those two fires burned ever brighter.
Enough to change all their destinies.
And that was the finale.
We already knew. At this story's end, their deepest wishes wouldn't come true.
Yet at the end of crumbling despair, hope always lingers.
In the end, one met death with a radiant smile.
Another faced a painful demise.
And those who survived pressed on without stopping.
Viewers, witnessing the conclusion through their screens, shed tears. And smiled.
Thus ended the protagonists' tale. An ending no one could deny.
And with the OST signaling the end...
The screen faded to black.
"Yeah. This... this is what a drama is."
"As expected from Cheon Ji-hee. A writer you can always trust..."
Everyone sighed in relief, savoring the finale. Nothing but praise for how gripping it had been.
But just as they thought every story had truly wrapped up...
"Huh? It's not over yet?"
"Oh...?"
From the darkened screen came the murmur of a crowd.
"Ugh! Ack! M-Master! I was wrong! Please, please spare me...!"
Soon, a child's desperate cry echoed.
The screen brightened again.
As if their story hadn't ended yet.
"Filthy Joseon dog! How dare you dirty my shoe?!"
A child was being dragged by a Japanese man.
What to say... Anyone who'd watched Flame would feel a sense of familiarity.
The protagonist always rushed to save such a child without hesitation. The rescued kid would then tag along as an errand boy.
And then.
The camera panned to someone.
A boy in school uniform.
As if it were the most natural thing, the boy charged with his friends to rescue the child.
Thud! As they rushed, the boy deliberately collided with the Japanese man.
"Oops. Sorry! We were in a hurry!"
The boy ditched the man and kept running.
Flashing a bright smile, he kicked off the ground, boasting his swift feet.
And at that boy's smile, people couldn't help but think of one child.
"Huh...?"
"That kid, no way."
Even though it was the first appearance of this face in the drama, and he'd grown so much it should have been unrecognizable.
Even before any flashback scenes.
"Dong-ho...?"
"That's right! It's obviously Dong-ho...?!"
"Whoa. It's really Dong-ho...! Hasn't he grown too perfectly?!"
It was strange.
Yet people were convinced this boy was that same child the protagonist had saved back then. If he'd grown up, this is exactly how he'd look.
Soon.
"Dong-ho, you here?"
"He-y, Dong-ho. You're later than usual?"
His friends called his name.
"You're safe now."
The boy met the rescued child's eyes.
"And today, head straight home."
The boy kept his smile. He stroked the child's head and said,
"Today's the day we fight."
With that, the boy headed to the plaza with his friends.
Striding powerfully, he thought of one person.
[It's okay. Everything's okay now.]
[We're still fighting.]
[Look. Even if the flame flickers in the wind, isn't it still burning?]
The boy's belated flashback.
But people watched that past as if it were obvious.
In their eyes, the boy was already Dong-ho.
No sense of disconnect despite the changed face.
They simply thought that frail little child from back then had grown splendidly.
"Master."
The camera focused on the boy again, and his inner thoughts flowed calmly.
"We're not stopping either. We're still burning."
People clenched their fists.
"Even if it's just a tiny candle flame."
Those words stirred their hearts.
A chill ran through them when the Taegeukgi emerged from the boy's embrace.
All the more because the story they'd watched was continuing through this boy.
"Daehan..."
Soon, a shout echoed through the plaza.
- March 1st.
The subtitle revealed the moment.
"Manse for independence!"
They gripped the Taegeukgi and cried out before guns and blades.
"Manse for Daehan independence!"
"Daehan... independence manse...!"
Those in front of their TVs felt as if they stood in that plaza.
They couldn't even breathe properly, eyes fixed on the boy.
Not for a single instant.
"Daehan! Independence manse!"
Tears streamed as the boy watched his friends fall, but he never forgot to raise his voice.
Bang!
Finally, a gunshot rang out, and the screen went black.
But.
"Daehan."
The boy didn't stop.
"Independence manse."
He shouted for Daehan's independence to the end.
And normally, this would have been the drama's end.
A perfect open ending.
The writer didn't want to decide the fate of those marching toward independence.
However, the writer revised the ending once more.
Seeing Dong-ho collapse like that, she couldn't bear to end it there. A bit of writerly indulgence.
In the end, the camera captured countless people waving Taegeukgi flags in the plaza.
Everyone's eyes widened at the scene that refused to end.
"...!"
Those gripping their hearts while watching TV stared. W-Wait, is Dong-ho coming back?
At least, please don't say he died. Their pleas turned desperate without realizing.
And amid the uncertainty of whether the boy lived or died.
A figure who had led the crowd from the plaza's center was briefly supported by others.
"Huh...?!"
A fleeting shot, but everyone spotted the boy.
"D-Dong-ho! It's Dong-ho!"
"He didn't die! He's there!"
A moment of pure joy.
Despite his limping leg, the boy pressed forward endlessly.
As if the embers still burned.
Thus, hope lingered.
...Soon, the familiar OST announced the drama's true close.
A satisfying end for viewers and writer alike.
The screen now rolled credits for those who made the drama.
But even as the song faded...
No one could change the channel easily.
Lost in the lingering afterglow, they stared blankly at the TV.
"Insane. Truly insane."
"Dong-ho... he lived! He didn't die!"
"What an ending. Wow..."
Thoughts of how captivating and moving the drama had been from start to finish.
They replayed that final scene over and over. The boy was unforgettable.
"But the actor who played Dong-ho..."
"Who is he...? Total newbie for me. Every time he appeared, chills down my spine... Wow."
"Who the hell is he? No way this is his debut with that acting? Makes no sense."
Only after the drama ended did it hit them that the actor's face was completely new.
They didn't know how to process this fresh shock.
All they felt was gratitude for witnessing it.
And the people in the chicken joint where Shin Yi-han worked felt the same.
Heads whipped around in shock.
The four female customers had been frozen solid for ages.
"This ending... it's insane, right?"
"Wow. Tears. It ended so well, but why am I crying...?"
"B-But, guys."
The customers' stunned faces at Flame's perfect ending didn't last.
"I... I kept thinking he looked familiar the whole time... Now I see, it's the grown-up Dong-ho actor."
"Doesn't he look familiar? Why's this handsome guy so recognizable...?"
A strange déjà vu, eyes meeting.
"N-No. Not just familiar."
"He's... right next to us."
"...?!"
"What the?!"
Heads snapped to Shin Yi-han. Eyes wide, mouths agape.
Especially the Ryu Gi-on fan, most shocked.
Honestly, she'd forgotten about Ryu Gi-on long ago while watching.
And.
Steal a role? Ch-Check his face first?
No way?!
"With acting like this, of course they'd recast...!"
It could've been disastrous if they hadn't! Ack!
The Ryu Gi-on fan was horrified.
She wanted to smack her own head for those idiotic fan-girl thoughts.
"And he's right in front of us! Insane!"
This can't be real?!
She worried if he'd overheard her calling him a no-name actor earlier.
In the end, she could only stare at Shin Yi-han with chaotic eyes, tearing at her hair.
Of course, the female customers weren't the only confused ones.
His own family was just as stunned.
"Uh..."
"Huh...?"
Deeply immersed parents, sighing over the ending OST.
"Ugh! As expected of Writer Cheon Ji-hee! Nailing the ending like this. My heart aches."
"Oh my, oh my! Exactly! Gotta rewatch this. When's the rerun?"
Spouting satisfied reviews.
"Oh. But honey, doesn't that boy actor look like our son?"
"Huh? Yeah? I was too focused earlier, but yeah, he really does."
They'd chattered excitedly without recognizing their son's face on TV.
"Son! You saw it, right? It's totally you! Amazing!"
The son responded to their joking remark.
"Yeah, it was me."
"...?"
Parents froze in bewilderment.
"Y-Yeah...?"
"Yi-han? What?"
At their clear reaction, Shin Yi-han grinned and pointed at the TV.
"Look. My name's coming up."
Mom and Dad turned.
- Boy Dong-ho *Special Appearance: Shin Yi-han
Their son's name blazed on screen, jaws dropping.
They glanced at their son's face.
"Huh...?"
Then at the behind-the-scenes photo on TV.
"Wh-What?!"
Back to the real son.
"Wh-Wh-What?!"
Now it was obvious. Same person, no doubt.
They were shocked far more than anyone else could be.
Who'd expect their son to suddenly appear on TV like that?
The same son just starting acting classes.
Impossible!
"For real?! What?! Shin Yi-han?!"
"Son?! You, you're the one?!"
Eyes bulging like they might pop out.
Excitement refused to settle.
"Yeah. Surprise."
Shin Yi-han grinned playfully, flashing a peace sign.
"...?!"
"...!"
Pfft. Shin Yi-han laughed.
A perfectly satisfying reaction, worth the secrecy.
"Y-You proud son of a—?!"
Slap! Slap!
"Impressive, but! Why tell us now?!"
"One more surprise like this and my heart'll give out!"
Ouch.
A slight side effect, but still.
Shin Yi-han couldn't stop smiling. His lips kept curving up.
The parental shock from the surprise didn't last long.
"No! Why call this late at night?! Did you watch Flame today or not?"
"Bo-ri's mom! It's our son! Yeah! I'm telling you!"
Suddenly, parents were on the phone, bragging.
Shin Yi-han laughed at their pride. Honestly, he was thrilled.
Their booming laughter filled the shop—it was wonderful.
Especially compared to...
"Yi-han, please open the door. Just a little... okay?"
"Mom doesn't care if you do nothing, stay in your room forever. But son, at least eat properly. That's all. Please..."
That pleading voice at his door back then.
This was so different.
"Whew! Yeah! Dong-ho! Dong-ho's our son!"
"Looks just like me, strutting so tall and handsome on TV! Haha!"
If he'd known they'd be this happy, he would've told them sooner.
Relieved that dark past wouldn't repeat, Shin Yi-han truly relaxed.
Lucky only he remembered those days.
Though their bragging dragged on, forcing him to handle the customers' bills too.
"I-It is you... right?! Yeah!"
"I watched with my mouth hanging open!"
And the shop customers recognized him instantly.
"Thank you."
Shin Yi-han smiled brightly. Nice attention.
"As expected...!"
"Insane!"
"I'm a total fan now!"
Customers buzzed excitedly, thumbs up even as they handed cards.
"You're gonna make it big!"
"Totally! No doubt!"
"Real-life looks this killer? Guaranteed!"
Shin Yi-han chuckled softly at their hype.
But his gaze inevitably drifted to the Ryu Gi-on fan.
"..."
She'd been silent amid the chatter.
Recalling her earlier words—'If I don't check that punk's face, I'll be too frustrated to sleep...!'—Shin Yi-han tensed a bit.
Oh no. Is she gonna lash out over his face?
She even bowed her head and inched closer.
Uh...
Really mad?
"C-Could I get an autograph?!"
Not anger. A trembling request for a signature.
She'd just been digging in her bag for paper and pen.
"And... if you heard... sorry for the rude comment earlier! But I became a real fan after seeing Dong-ho!"
The Ryu Gi-on fan apologized loudly.
"If it's okay, one autograph please!"
Shin Yi-han nodded with a smile.
His first autograph as an actor, not a writer.
"Me too!"
"No fair, only you!"
"Us too, please!"
Her friends rummaged frantically too.
And that night.
[Drama Flame 'Dong-ho' Real-Life Review!!!!! Met him by chance today...! Wow... insane.]
Real-life is 100x, 1000x handsomer.
Looks like a kid in the drama, total adult in reality. Next level.
His smile is insane. Super kind too ㅠㅠㅠ
Voice is amazing too ㅠㅠㅠ
Posts about spotting Shin Yi-han in real life and autograph proofs popped up modestly.
Ryu Gi-on fans were in chaos. The community split into two camps.
[Shin Yi-han vs Ryu Gi-on]
One side insisted you couldn't deny his acting after seeing it.
The other stubbornly defended Ryu Gi-on, trash-talking Shin Yi-han.
Still, he stole the role! And honestly, Ryu Gi-on would've been better!
For real? You really think that?
......
Honestly, Ryu Gi-on's acting... it's just okay.
But those who'd seen Flame overwhelmingly sided with the former.
Consensus: Disaster if Shin Yi-han hadn't taken the role.
Hardcore Ryu Gi-on fans, however, hadn't watched yet.
No, wake up? How can Ryu Gi-on fans act like this?! That no-name stole his role!
Hmm. But he's not a no-name anymore?
Agreed. I'm in film circles—Shin Yi-han's casting buzz is starting subtly.
Driving me crazy. So what?! That trash actor messed with Ryu Gi-on?!
Dude. You haven't seen Flame yet... right? Trash who?
The internet warzone vibe was brutal, like a battlefield.
But minutes later.
The two factions had no choice but to unite.
[Famous Idol Ryu Something, DUI Followed by Hit-and-Run?!]
An incident broke.
The kind fans pray never involves their idol—social news.
G-Guys? Wait. No way this is...
Nah. Can't be Gi-on.
Our Gi-on would never...
Initial denial crumbled inevitably.
[It Was Him. Ryu Something is Idol Ryu Gi-on.]
[Caught DUI, then fled police and hit someone...]
What?! Must be a misunderstanding...!
Y-Yeah! DUI? Gi-on can't handle a drop of alcohol?
Blind defense at first.
But silence fell gradually.
This was blood on fresh wounds.
Bad news on Ryu Gi-on updated relentlessly.
[Ryu Gi-on's Rampage on Flame Set Too? Is This Okay? *Video First Release!]
[Refusing to Accept Recast, Ugly Behavior to the End...]
What now.
Undeniable footage: Ryu Gi-on grabbing Shin Yi-han's collar, storming off set in a rage.
Even secretly filmed staff clips leaked.
That's our Gi-on...?
L-Lies!
Events shattered fans' hearts to dust.
[Manager Daily Abused by Ryu Gi-on?!]
[Not Just Abuse, Assault Too...]
[Me Too. Scalded by Hot Coffee...]
[Hit-and-Run to Personality Controversy. Can Ryu Gi-on Survive?]
????
What is this now.
Even unforgivable facts.
[Breaking! Idol Ryu Gi-on's Girlfriend Appears?]
[Passenger During DUI Revealed as Ryu Gi-on's GF...]
......WTF?
The moment fans turned en masse.