Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Two-Year Deadline
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'He's a genius, after all.'
Seonjun slowly began to clap as well.
Even though he was just an understudy, when he'd heard Seonwoo was taking the lead role, Seonjun had figured his brother must have grown a lot more than expected.
But Seonwoo's actual performance far exceeded even his imagination.
At this level... he thought the kid could easily handle a main role, understudy or not.
The play came to an end.
Murmurs erupted here and there from people who had been holding back their words throughout the nearly two-hour runtime.
"Insane... that actor was amazing."
"I was worried when the lead suddenly changed... but as expected from the Cheongsong Troupe."
"Isn't that the guy from back then? The one in Confession who said he'd kill that priest."
"Yeah, yeah. I thought he was good even then... but today he was flying."
Jeonghee's ears twitched.
With praises for Seonwoo coming from all around, it was impossible not to pay attention.
No, this isn't the time for that.
She couldn't just bask in the joy of her son being praised.
Jeonghee turned to Seonjun.
"...Explain yourself now. What the hell is going on?"
"Seonwoo started acting. I encouraged him to."
"You encouraged him?"
"Yeah. He has the talent, no matter how I look at it."
"Haa..."
A headache was coming on.
Jeonghee pressed her temple.
They'd already been worried enough about Seonjun making films. He was doing okay for now... but the future was unstable.
At least Seonwoo had been steadily walking the elite path, which eased their minds. Acting? What kind of bolt from the blue was this?
Seonjun easily read Jeonghee's concerns.
He looked at her with a serious expression.
"How long do you think Seonwoo's been acting?"
"Don't tell me it's been a while? Like a few years already?"
It was acting skill worthy of that assumption.
You couldn't build that level of performance in just a day or two.
But Seonjun shook his head.
"About four months now."
"...Four months?"
Unbelief clouded Jeonghee's face.
She didn't know much about acting, but she could tell that kind of skill didn't come in four months.
Seeing her like that, Seonjun straightened his shoulders even more confidently.
"I told you. Seonwoo has talent."
"...So you're saying Seonwoo's some kind of genius?"
This time, it was Youngsik asking.
Unlike Jeonghee, his eyes weren't filled with pure confusion. Maybe Seonwoo's acting had left a strong impression. His gaze seemed to sparkle a bit.
Seonjun's eyes lit up, sensing an opening.
"Yes. A genius. On par with any actor I've seen so far."
Maybe even surpassing them.
But he didn't voice that. Too much hype might backfire and hurt his credibility.
Luckily, his calculation seemed to work.
Youngsik put an arm around Jeonghee's shoulders.
"Well, we shouldn't blame Seonjun... Let's talk to Seonwoo first."
"...What about?"
"If they planned this surprise, they must have something to say, right?"
Jeonghee sighed.
She already knew what it was.
Her head ached already, but she had to hear it out.
That's what being a parent meant.
"...Where's Seonwoo right now?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ His heart hurt.
No need to explain how tense Seonwoo had been before going on stage.
It was his first lead performance... and his parents were in the audience.
But the moment he stepped on stage, that tension vanished like a mirage.
The instant Heejae's color dyed him, all he could think about was expressing that color.
Of course, after the curtain fell, the forgotten worries resurfaced.
Was it a good performance? What did his parents think?
The curtain call answered that.
Cheers and applause so loud they hurt his ears.
Facing that intense praise he'd never experienced before... the first thing Seonwoo saw was his parents' hands.
Clapping for him just like everyone else.
Did they... accept it?
Peeking into his mother's eyes with that hopeful thought, Seonwoo flinched in surprise.
...Eyes burning fiercely.
The same look she always had before scolding him.
And sure enough,
"What the hell are you thinking?"
That night, waiting for him was a family meeting after a long time.
Seonwoo looked at his parents sheepishly.
"You were pretty shocked, huh?"
"Of course. You've never given us grief since you were little... Why this all of a sudden? Did your brother rub off on you?"
"Mom, why am I coming up now?"
"You shut up!"
Jeonghee glared at Seonjun.
Seonjun clamped his mouth shut, startled, and Seonwoo broke into a sweat.
He'd thought the applause at curtain call might soften them... but things weren't going that smoothly.
"Mom, I'm sorry."
"Sorry isn't the point right now. What do you plan to do?"
"...I want to act."
"Do you know how starving that world is?"
"I do."
Seonwoo nodded.
Of course, success meant no starving.
And he had some confidence. If he kept going, he'd shine someday.
But now wasn't the time for vague optimism.
"Just give me a little time."
"And then?"
"I'll become an actor you won't have to worry about."
"..."
Jeonghee just stared at him silently instead of answering.
Seonwoo met her gaze without a word. There was nothing more he could say.
With no results yet, all he could promise was hard work.
And then,
Youngsik, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"Seonwoo."
"Yes."
"You were good. Maybe I'm biased as your dad, but you didn't seem outmatched by those actors on TV."
Seonwoo's chest tightened at those words.
He hadn't expected that from his father.
But Youngsik wasn't just praising him.
"Still, you need a Plan B. If things go smoothly like you say, great... but life's not always like that, from what I've seen."
Youngsik looked at Seonwoo.
"I like the challenging spirit. But make it have some end in sight. How about setting your own deadline?"
"Deadline..."
"Yeah. How much time do you need?"
Seonwoo thought for a moment.
Then answered.
"Two years."
"...Two years enough?"
"Yes."
Seonwoo nodded.
"It'll be."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Bro, great job!"
"Y-yo, Seonwoo! You killed it yesterday!"
"Seriously, you could lead now."
The day after his first substitute lead, the Cheongsong crew welcomed him boisterously.
He hadn't been able to properly celebrate after the show, dragged off by his parents.
And among those greeting him was Jaewon.
"Good work. Thanks to you, I got a breather..."
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah, thanks. I think I can go back on stage next show..."
Jaewon read Seonwoo's face and grinned mischievously.
"You look like you wish I'd stayed sick longer?"
"...N-no way."
Busted.
Seonwoo quickly schooled his expression.
Hyeseong chuckled at him.
"You left early yesterday because of your parents—how'd the talk go?"
"Yeah, you hadn't told them about acting yet."
"...I told them. They even supported me."
"Whoa, lucky. Getting family backing in this field is rare... Your parents are pretty open-minded."
Seonwoo told the troupe straight.
He'd gotten permission in exchange for promising to establish himself in two years.
The troupe's faces fell at that.
"Two years is... tight. Why say two?"
"Well, actually..."
Seonwoo scratched his head.
It'd be great to say he was confident in succeeding in two... but the truth wasn't that cool.
"Felt like they'd say no if I asked for three or more."
"...Fair. But two is really tough. You'll have to hustle with portfolios now. Auditions, shoots, airings to build recognition—and everything has to go perfectly."
"Hyeseong-senior's right. In this industry, grabbing opportunities is harder than acting well."
Seonwoo nodded solemnly.
Then Minhee tossed out casually,
"What about troupe life?"
Silence fell.
It was the topic everyone had skirted.
Focusing on outside auditions meant slacking on troupe duties.
A top reason members quit.
But Seonwoo had thought it through.
"If it's okay with everyone... I want to come and go."
"Come and go?"
"Yeah. Do broadcasts and troupe work... I love acting here."
No empty words.
Even if he became famous later, he'd return to Cheongsong's stage. Sharing breaths with the audience... something cameras couldn't replicate.
Doyoung planned to return someday too.
Sharing the stage with him would be fun.
Minhee shrugged understandingly.
"Well, no worries about not seeing your face then."
"Plenty do like Seonwoo. How many here don't shop film auditions?"
"True. But him... feels like he'll make it quick on that side."
"Yeah, kinda."
"...You're too kind."
He hadn't expected this gold-plating ambush.
Seonwoo's face heated with embarrassment. Minhee giggled.
"Don't get too cocky. You chase auditions and end up with nothing, stuck here in two years."
"...That'd be depressing."
"So grab chances. Keep eyes wide open. You never know when or where they'll come."
True.
Couldn't just grin about acting being fun anymore. Had to think where and how to act next.
So that day, he hit the photo studio for headshots.
Essential for portfolios.
But even with portfolio ready... finding auditions wasn't easy.
He scoured sites, but no fitting roles.
Supporting roles were all private auditions... even bit parts scarce.
So he hunted image bit roles.
Image bits? Like upgraded extras. E.g., one cop in a swarm, backdrop with cop vibe.
Even that was tough.
Needed distinct looks: rugged, sleazy, etc.
Seonwoo didn't fit.
Heard "handsome" often... but "handsome image bit" gigs were rare.
One chance: crime drama club dancer bit.
Got it.
But nothing.
Just danced with model extras till wrap.
Barely acting.
"Good work!"
Still, could be an opportunity.
Seonwoo bowed diligently to every staffer.
Nothing happened.
Hoped for recognition... but they barely glanced.
Female staff complimented his looks... that was it.
But he didn't get down.
No chances? Hustle harder.
Except practice, he hunted audition info nonstop.
Proper roles still elusive. Mostly supporting gigs.
Hard to show real acting... but he gave his best anyway.
Even as restaurant patron extra, maximally natural.
He had hopes too.
—Your posture today was great. Fancy a supporting role?
Or,
—Our actor dropped out. Anyone for a stand-in?
...Lucky breaks like that.
But those were novel stuff. Crew eyes skipped extras.
That's when Seonwoo felt real urgency.
...Can I make it in two years like this?
Seniors' words echoed.
Harder to grab chances than act well.
Spot on. Need to show, but no chances visible?
Eunseok left for films, Doyoung scouted by Chanwoo... Chungmuro felt close then.
No.
Now in the field, the walls looked sky-high.
But what to do.
Couldn't turn back.
Beyond those walls: the world he wanted.
So climb.
By any means.
And opportunity came in a totally unexpected form.
End of quarter.
Cheongsong prepping new season... Jiwan called everyone.
Troupe gathered in theater, tilting heads at the stranger beside him: middle-aged man.
Jiwan cleared his throat.
"Ahem, gathered you to introduce someone. This is my school senior... YBS PD Im Youngdo. Senior, want to explain?"
"Sure. I'm here scouting for my new program."
"...What program, if I may ask?"
Actors' eyes sparkled.
Maybe drama casting?
But not.
"Yes. Planning an actor audition show. Normally video submissions, document screening, prelims... but Cheongsong members are vetted, so straight to prelims."
"YBS doing an actor audition program?"
"Auditions for actors too?"
"...Skipping documents?"
Murmurs rose.
Too sudden; confusion.
But Seonwoo's eyes lit up.
Didn't know details, but one thing clear.
...This is it.
Couldn't miss this chance.
Had to grab it.