Lee Yoon, the Heroine’s Son
Lee Yoon.
The child who connected the heroine and the male lead, you could say.
Inyen was a fusion historical drama, a sorrowful love story between a general and a heroine who disguised herself as a man.
The action was incredible, but the story was heartbreaking too.
In Inyen, the two leads kept missing each other, as if every force in the world existed to keep them apart.
You could say everything was working against them.
But there was one thing that brought them together.
That was Lee Yoon.
Their child was the one who kept making the pair meet again and again, and in the end, it was thanks to Lee Yoon that they found each other once more and their bond was restored.
It was an important role.
Me?
I blinked at PD Seonwoo Yeongjae.
You chose well.
How did you know I’d be perfect for it?
The PD gave me the words I’d been waiting for.
“You’re seriously perfect for Lee Yoon.”
Ha.
It felt like taking a sip of a cold beer. I grinned, my face creasing with delight.
“Oh my. How adorable.”
“I could just keep filming that face forever. And he’s bigger than I expected.”
“Gongza. I heard from that movie guy that Gongza acts well.”
Oh.
That movie guy—was he talking about Director Lee Jin-hwan?
I hadn’t known the two of them were acquainted.
“He talked about you for two hours. Anyway, I still want to see for myself.”
Ah. So this was something like an audition.
Give me anything you want.
I’d do whatever he asked.
PD Seonwoo Yeongjae said, “Your mother’s here too, so this should be easy. Gongza, how about you run over there and call out to your mom? ‘Mom! The flowers are pretty!’”
It was an easy enough scene. I trotted off at once.
I won’t fall over anymore, so this is a relief.
I ran to my mother from a distance, then caught my breath for a moment and braced my stomach.
“Mom! The flowers are pretty!”
My mother’s eyes went wide in surprise. For a second, I thought, Oops.
Come to think of it, is this the first time I’ve projected my voice like this?
I’d practiced steadily in front of Deok-su, but still.
I was watching my mother’s face a little nervously when I heard applause.
Clap, clap, clap—
PD Seonwoo Yeongjae laughed as he clapped.
“Wow, he’s good. Seriously, he’s a genius. The movie guy was right. Wow, Ma Soo-jung.”
The PD turned and said to my mother,
“Your son is amazing.”
My mother gave an awkward smile.
“Well, Gongza is unusual, but even I’m seeing this for the first time.”
There it was.
I clenched my fists.
It is a little strange to suddenly project like that.
This time, they’d definitely suspect something.
What should I do?
I waited anxiously for my mother’s response, but what came out instead was something I hadn’t expected at all.
“He says ‘Mom’!”
Huh?
“He’s always called me Mama.”
Oh. That.
My mother picked me up.
“Gongza, say ‘Mom.’”
That was easy enough.
“Mom!”
“Oh, my little angel!”
My mother squeezed me tight and planted kisses on my cheeks. I laughed, delighted, my whole body wriggling with happiness.
“Our Gongza really does seem like a genius.”
“Yes. Your son is outstanding.”
“What good deed did I do in a past life to receive such a treasure?”
No, Mother.
I’m the lucky one here.
To think she’d be this pleased over something so small.
I’ll do even better.
I’ll be a filial son!
Then PD Seonwoo Yeongyea said, “Soo-jung, I’d really like to cast Gongza in this drama.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’m sure a lot of PDs and directors make requests like this.”
“That’s true. But…”
My mother smiled bitterly.
“There are very few people who think about child actors. I’m sure you understand the set better than I do, PD-nim.”
PD Seonwoo Yeongyea nodded.
“That’s right.”
“I didn’t bring Gongza here because of fame or money. And I know people never believe me when I say this, but I’d really prefer not to put Gongza out there too much. He has a rather extraordinary face.”
Ah, so that was it.
“And yet you’re still letting him act for this reason, right? Gongza, do you want to do this project?”
I nodded.
“Yesh! I want to do it!”
“I see.”
My mother looked at the PD and said, “Gongza says he wants to do it.”
“Ah, so that’s what this was.”
“Isn’t it strange? Asking the child’s opinion.”
PD Seonwoo Yeongyea shook his head.
“No, well. In general, it would be odd, but somehow it seems to suit this child better.”
My mother smiled a little.
“Yes. I thought the same, so I asked him. Of course, I was leaning that way already.”
She set me down on the sofa.
“Please take good care of him once production starts.”
“We will.”
“Please send over the detailed schedule later.”
“Of course. Then, Gongza, see you later.”
PD Seonwoo Yeongyea turned away. My mother stroked my hair.
She doesn’t ask me anything.
She probably had plenty she wanted to ask.
“Ah, he’s gone. All done! It’s all done! Gongza, let’s play with Mom today.”
I grinned. Truly, I loved my mother far too much.
* * *
The premiere of When the Wind Touches wasn’t just one screening.
The film was shown in theaters all over the country, and there were plenty of audience Q&A sessions too.
Of course, since I’m a kid, I only go once.
Honestly, it was disappointing.
I like premieres.
Though there were quite a few unexpected incidents.
I wanted to go a few more times, but that wouldn’t happen, would it?
Deok-su, unaware of my feelings, was seriously choosing what clothes I should wear to the premiere.
“Hmm, this is a difficult decision.”
Hey.
Let’s keep this simple.
Why are you taking this so seriously?
“A shirt has to be from the children’s brand Nini, of course. But should I choose the bow tie with the bear in the middle, or the ribbon? This is very difficult.”
Deok-su rested a hand on his chin and agonized for a long time. I couldn’t help it. I reached out and grabbed the bow tie with the bear in the middle.
“This one!”
“Ah, then this one it is.”
Deok-su tied the bow tie for me, then picked up the bag he’d packed ahead of time and took my hand.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
We were just crossing the living room when the aunt called out, “Deok-su, I packed some fruit for you! Eat it on the way. The oranges were really good.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Gongza is all dressed up and ready to go too.”
I smiled brightly.
“I’ll be back!”
“All right. Do well!”
Deok-su bowed his head politely in thanks.
Hmm. So he really has been accepted.
The first time Deok-su came here, it had been like walking on thin ice.
Maybe that was why.
I think I get it.
The corners of the mouth of the man who barely showed any expression were lifting, just barely.
Looks like he’s happy.
What a person, so unlike his appearance.
Deok-su muttered softly, “This is truly a wonderful place.”
Ah, he’s embarrassed.
His face had gone a little red.
I turned away. Deok-su was a good person, but I didn’t need to see that part of him too.
* * *
The moment we entered the waiting room, Han Woo-jin came right over.
“Gongza! You missed hyung, didn’t you? Hyung missed Gongza so much!”
No, not really.
But I can’t say that.
I smiled brightly and said, “Yes!”
“You’ve grown a lot in just a few months.”
“Hyung! You know what!”
The moment I was set on the floor, I ran toward Han Woo-jin. Back then I’d trip every ten steps or so, but now even running felt stable.
“Gongza, you run now!”
“Kh-heh. Right.”
Han Woo-jin was wiping at the corners of his eyes when the makeup artist scolded him.
“You’ll smear it!”
“Ah, sorry. He’s just too adorable. I couldn’t help myself.”
People laughed as they looked at me. Deok-su picked me up and carried me to the sofa, saying, “You can get jostled in places with too many people.”
“Yes!”
“The premiere starts in twenty minutes, so let’s have a snack.”
“Yes!”
Deok-su took out barley tea and baby snacks. I was just chewing on a snack when someone else entered the waiting room.
“Gongza!”
It was Ms. Yoon Jung-hyun. I bowed my head politely.
“Hello!”
“Long time no see. Goodness, you’ve really grown.”
“Right? Gongza has grown, hasn’t he? I was surprised when I saw him too.”
“They really do change day by day at that age. But Gongza’s face…”
Ms. Yoon Jung-hyun sat down beside me and said,
“Our Gongza is truly beautiful, isn’t he?”
Of course. You only figured that out now?
“Usually, with a face like that, the balance can be a little off and it might not photograph well, but Gongza isn’t like that.”
“The camera director said that just having Gongza in frame gives the film more story.”
“Ah, our movie was like that too. Gongza was just standing there in the breeze, and wow.”
“At this rate, I think I should just follow Gongza around for the next while.”
“You again. Haven’t you been beaten enough?”
Ms. Yoon Jung-hyun stood and walked toward Han Woo-jin. I blinked as I chewed on my baby snack.
Huh?
The teacher had slightly lost her balance.
Why?
The shoes she’d worn for the premiere didn’t look comfortable.
Is that why?
I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Han Woo-jin hurried over to support her and asked, “Teacher, is your ankle bothering you?”
“Ah, you caught me. It’s nothing serious. I twisted it a little yesterday.”
“Where? It’s swollen.”
“At home. I tripped on flat ground. Oh, is it swollen? I put some ice on it, but it still looks like this.”
Han Woo-jin quickly helped her back into her seat.
“You really should get that treated.”
“Hmm, will I have time?”
“That’s the thing. Our premiere schedule’s pretty tight. I’ll tell the director.”
“Oh, no, don’t. It’s nothing, and it’d be awkward to miss the event over something like this.”
Oh no.
You should go to the hospital.
Even if it wasn’t serious.
She really is the type who never goes for this sort of thing.
The teacher always put work first.
I looked at her ankle. It was visibly swollen.
There’s no helping it.
I muttered inwardly, Coin Activation! Tell me how many coins it will cost to heal Ms. Yoon Jung-hyun’s ankle and pay the price!
To determine the cost, 50 coins will be consumed.
To heal veteran actress Yoon Jung-hyun’s ankle, 2,322 coins are required.
As the price, you will fall asleep 4 hours and 20 minutes later.
That was a slightly awkward time.
The movie runtime was two and a half hours, right?
Premieres usually lasted a little over an hour.
Should be enough. Execute!
It will be executed in 3 seconds.
Just then, a staff member opened the door and came in.
“You’re here. Please get ready.”
“Yes.”
Han Woo-jin quickly picked me up, while supporting the teacher at the same time.
“Oh dear, aren’t you exhausted?”
“I trained for this exact moment.”
“Woo-jin, you too…”
I quietly looked at Han Woo-jin’s arms.
They’re shaking…
He wouldn’t drop me, would he?
You should probably work out more.
He could just hold my hand, honestly.
I watched him carefully. The nation’s most famous handsome man was sweating quite a lot.
This is worrying.
Still, somehow, he managed not to lose his grip.
* * *
“We’re beginning the premiere of When the Wind Touches. Wow, Director Lee. The pre-release evaluations were excellent.”
Director Lee Jin-hwan brought the microphone to his mouth and said,
“Ah, yes, that’s a huge relief. I’m glad the audience response was good.”
“I heard funding for When the Wind Touches was difficult in the beginning. Is that true?”
The audience murmured softly. I wiggled my fingers.
Honestly, it was uncomfortable.
Hey, Han Woo-jin.
What are you doing?
Han Woo-jin kept fiddling with my hand. I let out a quiet sigh.
I could just sit in a chair, you know.
Why are you carrying me in your arms!
It’s stifling!