Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: Yu-na's Acting Academy
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Murmurs.
The surroundings grew noisy.
"Was what he just said true?"
"Nah, he's probably exaggerating. How could anyone memorize that many lines and rewrite them all in their head?"
"Right?"
Everyone brushed it off lightly, treating it like a joke, just as I'd hoped.
"They must have a separate script for analysis."
"Or maybe they jot it down in another notebook and tweak it bit by bit?"
"Ahaha! Yeah, that makes sense."
"Sure."
Right then.
"Do you all have time to gawk? Get back inside the practice room now!"
At the director's words, the spectating students scattered quickly.
Finally, things quieted down.
Tug! Tug!
I felt a pull on my clothes.
Looking down, I saw Yu-na tugging at my hem.
"Daddy, Yu-na wants to come here with Ha-yul too. Is that okay?"
"You want to attend an acting academy?"
Nod. Nod.
Yu-na stared up at me steadily.
Not a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
"...Alright. Then, one promise. No giving up easily. Got it?"
"Yes! I won't give up."
"Good. Okay."
"Yay! Daddy, put me down now."
I smiled and gently set Yu-na down on the floor.
Once on the ground, Yu-na bolted back to her seat.
Dash!
Ha-yul glanced around cautiously before following Yu-na to her spot.
The two of them, brimming with enthusiasm.
The rustle of pages filled the practice room. On top of that, their soft recitation of short lines.
Impressive focus speed.
I exchanged a glance with the director, then quietly stepped outside.
"...Director?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"Could you tell me more about this academy? Since it's where Yu-na will be attending, I feel like I should know."
"Of course. Let me show you to the reception room."
The academy was fairly systematic.
They separated classes for hobby acting from those aiming to become professional actors, which made the education vastly different.
*This is really appealing...*
The next part worried me most.
Unlike classes focused on building confidence, the director said the professional-track classes were stricter than anywhere else.
*I wonder if Yu-na can handle it?*
The director smiled and slid a sheet of paper toward me.
"This will make it clearer. The first session starts with a two-person scene..."
While she explained, I slowly scanned the paper.
*'Two-person scenes every first session.'*
It noted that the director personally provided detailed feedback on every deficiency, from one to ten.
Next...
Breathing and vocal exercises.
How to handle movements and eye lines in front of a camera.
And more.
"I used to act myself. So don't worry about the professional aspects."
Did I hear that right?
I doubted my ears.
My eyes widened as I asked again.
"...Pardon? You've acted before? Did you use a stage name, Director?"
She shook her head.
"I performed under my real name, Kim A-hyun, for quite a while. Have you heard of me?"
"No, I haven't..."
The name rang no bells.
That meant either her active period didn't overlap with mine...
Or...
She hadn't achieved any success.
"When was that?"
"About twenty years ago? I acted for around ten years before quietly fading away..."
Twenty years ago for ten years.
That slightly overlapped with my acting career in my past life.
*No wonder I don't know her.*
Still.
To fade away that quietly...
Did that mean she lacked talent?
"I see..."
"Don't worry. I just didn't have the talent for acting... But I do for teaching."
"Pardon?"
"I've trained actors that even you, Actor Lee Jun-seo, would know..."
Her tone suddenly grew urgent.
She must have sensed I was doubting and thought I wouldn't enroll Yu-na.
Well, honestly...
I couldn't deny the concern.
*'A failed actor.'*
If Yu-na picked up bad habits from someone like that, it'd be troubling.
What should I do?
Maybe persuade Yu-na and look for another academy?
That's when she spoke.
"W-Well... I should get back to teaching now. Would you like to watch and judge for yourself, Actor Lee Jun-seo?"
"Hmm..."
No harm in observing.
I nodded.
"Sure."
Practice Room 1, at the end of the hallway we followed the director through.
Whoosh!
As we opened the door, the female students' eyes widened, darting between me and the director.
"T-Teacher? Who's that behind you...?"
"It's Actor Lee Jun-seo, right? Wooow!"
The director blocked two girls trying to rush over, crossing her arms to assert her authority.
"...How's the practice for the agency audition in two days?"
"Oh, yes! Going well!"
"All set perfectly!"
"Then show me right here."
The two girls glanced at me.
For a moment.
They hurriedly straightened the chairs and took positions, then faced each other.
How would the students perform?
I stood quietly behind the director, eyes fixed on them, anticipation building.
Their scene began.
"Do you really think I did that?"
"Ha! Trying to weasel out? You swapped the sheet music to sabotage me."
A smile that screamed guilt.
But it was so overdone it felt awkward. That girl still seemed clumsy with emotional acting.
They said it was perfectly prepared...
Is that their idea of perfect?
"It's your fault for not managing it properly. Why blame me?"
"Hold on, stop there."
The director halted the scene and glared at the one who'd overacted.
"Han Song-i? Didn't you say you were perfectly prepared? That's too much emotion. For a proper villain, you need to hide the malice more slyly."
Spot on.
She did say she had a knack for teaching. It was true...
The director continued.
"And Park Hyo-jeong? Betrayed by a close friend, and all you do is bicker verbally? Loosen up your movements."
I nodded.
Just as she said, zero movement—utterly boring.
The voice tone was the same.
"Not just movement, the voice tone too..."
Right then.
All eyes turned to me.
*Did I just say that out loud?*
I gave an awkward smile and repeated it.
"The voice tone could be pitched higher too."
"......"
Park Hyo-jeong, called out by me, gaped, then bowed her head.
"Th-Thank you for the advice!"
"What about me? Hey, what about me?"
"Yes, yes. That's enough."
"Ah, Teacher! I want advice from Actor Lee Jun-seo too!"
"No time. Next."
I moved with the director to the next practice room, leaving the girl behind.
One by one.
She pointed out flaws and gave constructive advice, proving her talent as an instructor, just as she'd claimed.
*'Especially sharp eyes...*
When she caught something even I missed, I couldn't help nodding.
Look at her now.
"Where were you looking just now? I said eyes straight on your partner. What's with glancing away?"
She nailed the part I'd been iffy on, critiquing the student's acting.
"Sorry!"
"Have a bit more confidence."
"Yes!"
The director spun around, met my eyes, and smiled.
"All done now. Shall we head back to the reception room?"
"...Yes, let's."
With that, we left the last practice room and returned to the reception area.
Still.
Why did my body feel so heavy?
Sinking into the soft sofa drained all my energy, sleep crashing over me endlessly.
Eyes growing heavy.
I forced them open to fight the drowsiness.
"...Was my teaching that bad?"
The director's weary voice came from across me. Meeting her worried gaze, I relaxed my eyes and waved it off.
"Ah, no, not at all. You teach so well. I'm just tired right now."
"I must have kept a tired person here without noticing."
"Ahaha..."
"...If you're sleepy, rest here a bit. Class ends in thirty minutes. I'll wake you."
"Then... if it's not too much trouble."
Hearing her, I surrendered to the overwhelming sleep.
"Jun-seo? Time to wake up."
"......"
"Jun-seo."
Her familiar, coaxing voice opened my eyes. I slowly sat up.
My body still felt like lead.
A short nap wasn't enough for the accumulated fatigue. Driving like this could be dangerous...
"Jun-seo. Have this to wake up."
Something appeared before me.
"...Thank you."
"It's hot, so be careful."
Still half-asleep, I sipped the warm drink—then my eyes snapped wide.
"Cough! Cough!"
What I'd sipped slowly was espresso, boasting hellish bitterness.
Why give me this?
I'd barely started the caffeinated drink when I looked ahead. Yoon Si-won had handed it to me.
"Feeling more awake now?"
"...Yes. Wide awake."
"Then time to pick up Yu-na and Ha-yul and head home."
"Right. But first, I'd like to register for the academy. Director?"
I turned to the director, who was covering her mouth, smiling.
"Fill in your details on that form up there, and deposit 500,000 won monthly into the account below."
"Okay, one moment."
Once a week. Thursdays.
Four sessions a month?
Pricier than expected...
But Yu-na wants it.
This much is fine.
As instructed, I filled the form and paid the tuition via transfer.
"Is this good?"
"Yes. I'll teach her thoroughly since you trusted us."
"Yes, please take good care of her."
With Yu-na's enrollment complete, I headed back to her practice room with Yoon Si-won.
The two huddled close, whispering.
Wonder what they're talking about?
"Soon... Yeah. Daddy's birth..."
"Then... I'll..."
"Hehehe. That's good."
Yu-na and Ha-yul in the corner were too far for clear hearing.
"What are they saying?"
I shook my head at Yoon Si-won's question.
"No idea. Can't hear well."
"Shall we go closer?"
"Sure."
Step. Step.
Right then.
Ha-yul and Yu-na spotted us and flinched. They exchanged glances, then raised their voices.
"Hey! You can't just change everything!"
"B-But this is how it's done!"
"Idiot! That's not it."
"Then what is?"
"No! You have to change it to fit the analyzed character! Changing everything randomly is just rewriting it!"
"N-No! I didn't change everything!"
"This? Where's the original line? Huh? Speak up."
They started bickering so awkwardly. Yoon Si-won and I tilted our heads in unison.
...What?