Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: The Academy Director's Sunglasses
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“You’re Actor Lee Jun-seo, right? Hello. I’m Kim A-hyun, the director and instructor at this acting academy.”
The identity of the suspicious woman was none other than the academy’s director.
A slender hand extended naturally.
I stared blankly at the director.
The strange sunglasses gave off an incredibly intense first impression. Why was she wearing those inside the building?
“Um… Actor Lee Jun-seo?”
Snapping back to my senses, I quickly took her hand before she could feel awkward.
Then I bowed deeply.
“Ah, hello. Yu-na didn’t cause any trouble when she came to the academy with Ha-yul today, did she? First off, I’m sorry…”
“No need to bow. She didn’t cause any trouble at all.”
“…Really?”
“And she had a great time.”
I slowly straightened up and looked her straight in the face.
I couldn’t see her eyes because of the sunglasses, but her lips curved into a natural smile.
And her soft voice.
She must have really enjoyed it.
“Why don’t we go inside instead of standing here? Yu-na and Ha-yul are in the practice room right now.”
“Yes, please lead the way.”
“Please follow me this way.”
After following her for about five steps, she suddenly stopped and turned around, her eyebrows twitching.
“Do you have time to leisurely sightsee?”
“Huh? Are you talking to me?”
Stammering in confusion, she stammered back just as flustered.
“Ah, no. Not you, Actor Lee Jun-seo. The students still lingering behind.”
With those weird sunglasses, I had no idea where she was looking.
Still…
They were still behind us?
Turning around, I made eye contact with the male students. They awkwardly lifted the corners of their mouths and scratched their cheeks.
“Watching Actor Lee Jun-seo up close might teach us something…”
“Yeah. Can we follow along?”
“Sigh… Hey. The audition is just days away, isn’t it? Do you have time for this? If you keep this up, you’re giving opportunities to the other students.”
The students’ faces turned deathly pale.
“Ah… Sorry!”
“We’ll go practice acting!”
The boys rushed past us into the back.
“Audition opportunities…”
If you use casting sites like I did from the start, it’s easy to snag auditions, but honestly, it’s not the best method and I don’t recommend it.
Most projects posted there struggle to take off.
There are exceptions, though.
“High School 2022, the one I found.”
If a scheduled actor flakes out suddenly, they might post an urgent notice on the site, like with the project I landed.
I just got lucky.
Anyway.
Casting for roles usually connects through acting academies and related casting directors.
They get help that way.
Otherwise…
Join an agency, audition, and climb the trainee ranks.
The method I recommend most is learning acting at an academy while waiting for opportunities.
It costs a lot in tuition, sure.
But it’s the best way.
“…Actor Lee Jun-seo? Actor Lee Jun-seo!”
I snapped out of it and looked at the director.
“I called you five times with no response… Did our students do something rude, by any chance?”
Clearing my throat with a cough, I gave an awkward smile.
“Ah… Those male students earlier. What audition are they prepping for? Their faces went white when you mentioned handing opportunities to others.”
“Oh, that caught your interest. They got selected from last week’s test.”
I tilted my head.
That didn’t answer my question.
She grinned and pointed to the bulletin board on the right. Amid the stack of notices was a flashy poster.
“That’s the audition those boys are up for. I think… it’s your next project, Actor Lee Jun-seo? We got lucky, and my students got a shot too.”
“…Ah!”
I couldn’t help but be shocked.
The poster on the board featured my own burdensome face.
Below it, small text.
[‘Viper’ Rural Student Role – 1 Person]
To lighten the mood, go for a fun student vibe… (details omitted) Even if ignored, play the cheerful desk mate who chatters alone. Prepare a 2-minute script.
This was a fairly substantial role…
My desk mate.
Step. Step.
As I followed her, some students recognized me and gasped.
“It’s really Actor Lee Jun-seo.”
“He looks even cooler in person?”
“Right… Glad I came to the academy today. Seeing Actor Lee Jun-seo in the flesh. Wonder if I can get an autograph later? I really want one…”
“I want some acting feedback…”
Students looking at me expectantly. Students staring blankly. Students showering me with embarrassing praise… Their gazes stung.
“Here we are. Ha-yul and your daughter are talking inside the practice room right now.”
“They’re in there?”
“Yes. Want to peek in?”
I nodded and quietly turned the doorknob without a sound.
Then I poked my head in.
A small practice room about the size of one room.
In the back, Yu-na and Ha-yul had their heads together in a heated debate.
“Right here. It says, ‘Dad must not know… It’s my birthday.’”
“Sometimes you tweak it for the scene? Like ‘Dad must not know… It’s my birthday today.’ It flows cleaner that way. Since it’s about waiting sadly for Dad, we need to make it sadder.”
“Last time we practiced with my dad, we did it the same, and he said it was fine. So Yu-na’s right.”
“Argh! So frustrating!”
I let out a small chuckle at Ha-yul and Yu-na’s somewhat mature conversation.
Oh, can’t let them catch me.
I clamped my hand over my mouth.
Luckily, they hadn’t noticed yet.
If I showed up now…
“They’d hit me with that loaded question, right?”
I could see it coming.
I wanted to side with Yu-na honestly, but I totally agreed with Ha-yul.
To show lonely waiting for Dad, I’d stretch the line like she suggested.
Slowly.
I carefully closed the door.
“Heh heh. Such pure kids. But doesn’t Yu-na know how to analyze scripts yet?”
“I haven’t taught her properly. Just helped a little from the side.”
That’s right.
I hadn’t taught Yu-na anything yet. Just like I told the director, only assisted occasionally.
She’s still too young to learn my real techniques…
And Yu-na hasn’t shown genuine interest in acting. Those were the reasons.
I’d teach her seriously once she gets serious about it.
It wouldn’t be too late then.
“…Really? Why? I’ve never seen a kid so overflowing with acting talent. Doesn’t it make you greedy?”
“Greedy… Sure, a bit. But I’ll respect Yu-na’s choice.”
“…I see.”
“Ah! One thing’s been bugging me. Those sunglasses…”
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, she took off the weird sunglasses and pocketed them.
She smiled calmly, as if nothing happened.
“Yeah? What sunglasses? Were there any?”
Her sharp eyes crinkled in a smile, making me flinch.
Better let this slide…
“Nothing. By the way, that old building to the right with the faded sign—what’s that?”
“Oh, that’s our acting academy’s always-open practice room. Looks shabby, but it’s pretty popular. We always have sweet snacks ready.”
Always snacks…
Can’t tell Yu-na.
She might want to join just for the snacks.
Figuring Yu-na and Ha-yul’s argument was over, I opened the door.
“Yu-na, Daddy’s here!”
“Daddy! Ha-yul kept saying Yu-na was wrong and got mad!”
“Uncle! Yu-na keeps insisting she’s right!”
What? They were still fighting?
It had been about 30 minutes since they started bickering verbally.
Not something to drag out…
I gently pried Yu-na and Ha-yul off my legs.
Then I checked on Yu-na first.
“…Yu-na?”
“…….”
Yu-na’s face, bundled up in grievance, was pretty funny, fresh, and amusing.
She glared at Ha-yul with furrowed brows. Ha-yul kept her head down, ears red.
Silence settled over the practice room.
Knock! Knock!
The knock broke the quiet.
“Actor Lee Jun-seo? Please answer your daughter and Ha-yul’s questions quickly.”
The director stood at the door, lips curved like she was enjoying the show.
And behind her.
Students.
“Uncle? You change lines during script analysis too, right?”
“Daddy’s scripts were always clean! He didn’t change anything! Right, Daddy? Yu-na’s right? Yeah?”
Yu-na thought that because my scripts stayed pristine.
No helping it.
With the academy director and young students watching, I couldn’t lie to take Yu-na’s side.
I looked at them both, sighed deeply, and spoke.
“…Yu-na? Actually, Ha-yul’s right. Daddy does it too. We analyze scripts and tweak lines for acting.”
Joy and sorrow crossed Ha-yul and Yu-na’s faces. Ha-yul smirked victoriously and shrugged her little shoulders.
Yu-na, meanwhile, widened her eyes and dropped her jaw.
But only for a moment.
Shake shake!
Vigorously shaking her head, Yu-na mouthed at me.
“B-but then why was Daddy’s script always clean? Ha-yul’s is all messy!”
Yu-na pointed cutely at the paper, covered in scribbles. Wait, looking closer, it was full of barely legible writing.
“Did she print the script?”
Ha-yul’s handwriting is terrible…
I skimmed Ha-yul’s analyzed script and smiled.
“Can’t say the analysis is great, but I see effort in understanding the character. Impressive?”
Praising Ha-yul briefly, I scooped up Yu-na and answered.
“Daddy does this: When I get a script, I memorize all the lines right away. Then I edit them in my head. That’s why the script stays clean.”
Right then.
“R-really, Uncle?”
Ha-yul’s eyes went wide as she asked me. The quietly watching director… and the students all looked shocked.
‘Ah, maybe I shouldn’t have said the truth?’
Eh, it’ll be fine…