Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Famous Director's Visit
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“To Kim Seonwoo’s successful debut…!”
The night after Seonwoo’s first performance ended, there was a modest afterparty celebrating his debut.
Eunseok grinned as he placed a hand on Seonwoo’s shoulder.
“So, how was it? What are your impressions from stepping onto the stage for the first time?”
“Uh… it was good.”
“Eh, that’s too boring. Drink up.”
“This?”
Seonwoo stared incredulously at the bubble tea in his hand.
It was called an afterparty, but they hadn’t gone to a bar. There was a show tomorrow, after all.
So everyone had gathered at a café instead.
One of the troupe members looked at Seonwoo and spoke in a sincere tone.
“But you really nailed it today. I’ve never seen anyone get this much applause at curtain call on their debut night.”
“…Thank you.”
“Oh, Seonwoo’s embarrassed.”
“Hey, hey, leave him alone. He can be shy!”
The troupe members giggled as they watched Seonwoo’s ears turn red.
Considering how most of them had been displeased with him at first, it was a pretty striking moment.
Before long, they were treating him like family.
“Seonwoo, do you drink?”
“Yeah, moderately.”
“What’s your limit?”
“No idea. I’ve never gotten drunk.”
“Whoa, this guy’s got some bravado!”
“It’s not bravado…”
The troupe members cackled as they teased Seonwoo mercilessly.
Eunseok watched them with an inward smile.
Now they all acknowledge him.
Honestly, Seonwoo was the kind of guy it was impossible not to acknowledge.
He’s a madman.
Eunseok gazed at Seonwoo.
When he’d first laid eyes on him, Eunseok’s only expectation had been one thing.
Don’t get in the way of the stage. He hadn’t dared hope for more. It would be greedy to expect anything from someone just starting out with acting.
But look at the results.
Eunseok recalled the final scene where Seonwoo had appeared just moments ago.
Covered in blood, facing the Priest as he confessed, I’m broken.
The goosebumps from that moment… he’d probably never forget them.
Eunseok was certain.
It was just a fleeting instant, but… every single audience member’s eyes had been fixed solely on Seonwoo.
…In some ways, it felt like he outdid even me.
Eunseok wore a pleased expression.
He felt a twinge of regret that Seonwoo had slightly stolen his character’s thunder.
But more than that, he felt relieved. He’d felt so guilty about burdening Cheongsong with his movie gig… but with such a great Seungdo stepping up, he could leave without worry.
Eunseok subtly glanced at Doyoung with just his eyes.
He wasn’t the type to show up for these afterparties, yet here he was today.
Probably because he was that impressed with Seonwoo, Eunseok thought.
“Park Eunseok.”
Doyoung suddenly called his name.
Eunseok jumped in surprise.
“…Yeah? Yeah?”
“Congrats.”
Doyoung muttered.
“You’ll do great. You’re a good actor.”
“…”
Eunseok just gaped, speechless.
Doyoung hadn’t spoken to him privately at all since he’d announced the movie.
He’d been agonizing over how to make amends…
“I get why you’re leaving. I don’t want to blame you.”
“…Doyoung.”
“I was just sad. We’ve been together at Cheongsong since day one.”
Doyoung downed his Americano.
Watching him, Eunseok hesitated before speaking up.
“Doyoung, you can’t stay here forever…”
“Stop there. I don’t want to fight.”
Doyoung cut him off, as if he knew exactly what was coming.
He turned to Eunseok with a serious look.
“I have to protect Cheongsong.”
Eunseok wanted to ask if it had to be like this.
But he held his tongue.
Just as Doyoung said, pushing further would only lead to pointless arguing.
And besides, even without his nagging, the world would eventually come calling for Doyoung.
He was like a thorn in a pocket.
Sooner or later, he’d burst out.
Eunseok chuckled and changed the subject.
“Anyway, didn’t I leave you a great successor?”
“…Seonwoo?”
“Yeah.”
Eunseok turned to look at Seonwoo.
Chatting animatedly with the other troupe members.
Doyoung nodded.
“…He’s impressive.”
“How was it facing him on stage?”
“Hm…”
Doyoung thought for a moment.
“It got me curious. If he’s already acting like this… what will he be like in a year or two?”
“He’s got a promising future, right?”
“Yeah.”
Doyoung nodded.
“I’d like to keep watching him as long as possible.”
“…Is that a dig at me leaving?”
“Busted?”
“…Sorry, man.”
“It’s fine.”
Doyoung gave a faint smile.
Truth be told, he’d gotten over it long ago. He’d already sensed Eunseok doing his duty to Cheongsong right up to the end.
“Just drop by whenever. Whether you miss the plays, want to act, or just need someone to talk to.”
Doyoung added it like a promise.
“I’ll always be at Cheongsong.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “It’s reassuring knowing you’re here.”
As the afterparty wrapped up, Eunseok slung an arm around Seonwoo’s shoulders and grinned.
“I really think I can leave without any worries now.”
“…You sound like you’re leaving for good.”
“I’ll visit sometimes, but with filming… honestly, it’ll be at least half a year before I can come back.”
“It feels kinda off with you going, senior.”
Seonwoo was honest.
“I don’t think I’d have adapted this well without you.”
“You would’ve been fine without me.”
Eunseok laughed.
“You’re the type who’ll make it, in my eyes.”
“…Senior.”
“Ugh, enough with the ‘senior’ already. Why keep saying that cringey word when you’ve got ‘bro’?”
“Senior just rolls off the tongue better.”
“Quiet. Call me bro from now on.”
Eunseok kept up the act right to the end.
“Bro’s out. See ya.”
“…Yeah, bro.”
Once Eunseok was gone, Seonwoo felt an inexplicable emptiness.
The theater felt hollow, even packed full. He’d spent the most time with him, so it was unavoidable.
But humans are adaptable creatures, it seems.
Without Eunseok, Seonwoo slowly melted into Cheongsong in his own way.
He grew closer to the initially awkward folks, and the stage—which had felt so foreign at first—grew more comfortable with every climb.
Still, one thing he couldn’t get used to:
“Kyaaaaah!”
“Whheeee—!”
Curtain call.
Hundreds of eyes locked solely on him.
The cheers, like shouts of gratitude for the great acting and wonderful time…
Was it too much to say just hearing them filled his belly?
Of course, compared to Doyoung, he still had a long way to go.
If Seonwoo got 1 unit of cheers, Doyoung pulled in 10… no, 50.
Partly because he was the lead, but mostly the sheer impact of his performance.
No matter how much they clapped and cheered, it couldn’t fully express their awe.
Every time Seonwoo watched Doyoung, he thought:
Can I ever act like that someday?
Right now, it felt impossibly distant.
Seonwoo focused on the task at hand.
Give his all in every performance. Ensure Cheongsong’s audiences left satisfied, never disappointed.
Fortunately, he seemed to be doing well there.
So well that…
“A-an autograph?”
“Yes. Is it possible…?”
…he was suddenly giving autographs left and right.
Seonwoo stared blankly at the woman before him.
She fidgeted bashfully but held out what looked like a pen she’d brought from home… clearly here with autograph plans.
“I-I don’t have a signature yet… Is it okay if I just write my name?”
“Yes! That’s fine!”
“What’s your name…?”
“Min Dasol.”
“Okay, Dasol…”
Seonwoo awkwardly scrawled his name on the paper, adding, “Thanks for coming, Dasol!”
Dasol took it with a tense expression.
“Thank you!”
“…If you come again, I’ll have a proper signature ready by then.”
“G-gasp… Th-thank you. I’ll come lots more! And… not sure if I should say this.”
“Oh, sure. Go ahead.”
“You’re… really handsome!”
Dasol blurted it out and bolted.
All that remained were the snickering troupe members and the stunned Seonwoo.
“Whoa, a real die-hard fan. Seonwoo’s a star now?”
“Ahem, don’t tease.”
Seonwoo blushed but thought to himself:
He’d need to make a signature soon.
It felt a bit like celebrity syndrome already… but handing out these sloppy ones felt too embarrassing.
Better to just take the flak for it.
Days passed like that, and before long, Confession’s run was nearing its end.
A few more shows, and it would wrap.
To end on a high note, on a day like any other—building his emotions backstage—
“…Who came?”
“Crazy, jackpot! For real? He’s actually here?”
“Where? Where is he!”
The troupe suddenly buzzed with excitement.
Wondering what was up, Seonwoo stood—then Yechun appeared, wide-eyed and dazed.
“H-hyungg! You hear?”
“No? What’s going on?”
“Director Yoo Chanwoo’s here!”
“…What?”
Then Seonwoo finally understood why everyone was losing it.
Director Yoo Chanwoo.
The filmmaker who’d swept Cannes and the Oscars, riding high not just in Korea but worldwide.
Arguably Korea’s most renowned director.
Cheongsong had seen famous guests before, sure… but this carried a whole different weight.
For an actor, who could be bigger than Director Yoo Chanwoo?
But why would someone like that come here…?
“Probably for Doyoung hyung?”
“Yeah, makes sense.”
It was the most plausible guess.
Or maybe just to watch the play.
But Korea’s top director wouldn’t move that easily.
And…
“He came with screenwriter Han Heejung too. This is 100% scouting!”
“…Yeah, definitely.”
Han Heejung.
She was a renowned screenwriter as well. She’d penned University Hospital, the one where Seonwoo had gone head-to-head with Seo Jinwook.
Anyway, a director-writer duo at the theater.
The odds of them just enjoying the show were slim.
There had to be a purpose.
And high chance that purpose was Doyoung.
Doyoung senior really is something else.
To draw in Yoo Chanwoo, no less.
As Seonwoo marveled anew, Yechun fixed him with a serious gaze.
“Hyung, grind your teeth for today’s show.”
“…Huh?”
“You never know. They might like your acting and scout you!”
“That’s…”
It was a stretch.
Seonwoo trailed off, about to say so—but paused.
Thinking it over, it wasn’t impossible.
Even if they came for Doyoung, if they liked his acting… no reason not to take interest.
…Is this a bigger opportunity than I thought?
Seonwoo swallowed hard.
He’d tried not to waver over stuff like this… but the thought crept in anyway.
Maybe today could be the turning point in his life.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance.