Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Alumnus's Testimony
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After the first episode aired, he'd gotten a few messages from his old college classmates.
They'd all sounded pretty shocked.
How the hell did he suddenly end up acting?
Why hadn't he mentioned anything all this time?
And so on...
Some of them had even said things like:
— Hey, I can't stand watching those idiots talk shit without knowing anything... Want me to write something up for you? [The message text] It seemed like it was hard for them to watch, too.
Seonwoo understood where they were coming from.
Career concealment.
That was the misunderstanding he was dealing with, but the malicious comments piling up went way beyond that—far too extreme.
What the hell were these people so angry and frustrated about? It was baffling.
But Seonwoo had replied to his friends, telling them not to bother.
There was Im Youngdo's request, and honestly, those comments... they didn't hurt him much at all.
He just felt like, worrying that much will only make your own life harder.
But apparently, it was tougher for his friends to handle.
A post about Seonwoo popped up on a college student community board.
📰 College Community Post Title: I'm Kim Seonwoo's College Classmate, and It's True He Has No Acting Experience Pratapratacha│Seoul National University Hey, I'm Kim Seonwoo's college classmate lololol I've seen a ton of posts saying he lied about having six months of acting experience, but from someone who knows him... it's total bullshit. The guy never had time for acting in college. Why? He was always studying. And not just studying—he dominated. All through senior year, he took top of the department, so no one even bothered competing. Ask anyone in our major; they'll all say the same. More acting experience? The Seonwoo I knew was glued to the library studying. No time for that shit lol. He'd turn down drinking with classmates saying he had to hit the books. So when we heard he was acting this time, everyone was shocked. Seonwoo was super low-key at school... No one thought he'd become an actor. I get why people are saying his experience doesn't add up. But I'm vouching for it: Kim Seonwoo has zero acting background. Just had to clear up the misunderstandings! Seonwoo's a good guy! Not the type to scam with fake experience! '...Who is that?'
Seonwoo stared at the post, puzzled.
The writer seemed to know him pretty well... but he couldn't place who it was.
Maybe one of the classmates who'd asked if he needed them to clear things up?
No idea.
And there was no time to puzzle out the culprit anyway. He had to deal with the people around him first—the ones staring at him with mouths agape.
Why the gaping?
Because...
"S-Seoul National?!"
"...Seonwoo, you really went to Seoul National?"
That was why.
Hyeseong and Minhee were staring at him in horror, faces full of what looked like betrayal.
Seonwoo nodded awkwardly.
"Yeah."
"What the hell? Why didn't you say anything?"
"You never asked..."
Truth be told, Seonwoo avoided bringing up his college first.
His school's reputation made any mention sound like bragging. People often got weird about it.
So he'd never told the Cheongsong crew... Now that he thought about it, yeah, they had a right to feel slighted.
After all this time together, not knowing something so basic.
Seonwoo bowed his head sheepishly.
"Sorry. I just don't like bringing up college first..."
"Yeah, I get why, but..."
"Ah, whatever. Oppa, you're not even my boyfriend—why get all sulky over this? Kinda surprising, though. I didn't peg Seonwoo as the study-only type. What was your major?"
"English Lit."
"...You speak English well?"
"Nah, I'm bad at it."
"What?"
Minhee burst out laughing.
And that's when a long-haired guy with a headband clapped and jumped in.
"Oh, Seonwoo hyung! English major?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Great! We can talk in English then, hyung!"
Awkward Korean accent.
Justin. The Korean-American who'd flown in from the US. One of the TOP 10 members with them this time.
Minhee frowned at him.
"Shut it. Don't even think about using English in front of me."
"Ah, noona! You're too strict. Loosen up a bit."
"...Can't even tell a Korean-American not to mix languages."
Minhee sighed.
Hyungbin watched them, then turned back to Seonwoo.
"But anyway, that guy seems like he really is your classmate?"
"Yeah. Same school, and from what he said, he knows me a bit."
"Huh. Kinda surprising..."
"The school?"
"No, not that. The introverted part."
Hyungbin shook his head.
"You don't strike me as someone who only studied."
"...Yeah, I was never good at focusing on just one thing."
Guess that's how he ended up at Seoul National.
Hyungbin looked at Seonwoo anew, suddenly understanding the source of that sharp analytical insight he showed when acting. Maybe he'd mastered studying, so he grasped acting principles faster, too.
Netizens were reacting much the same way.
💬 Netizen Reactions — Anonymous Whoa, top of the department at Seoul National? Total study bug ㄷㄷ Acting that well is the real mystery — Anonymous2 Wow... Top at Seoul National means he's a real talent monster;; But that face, that acting, AND good at studying? Total balance breaker — Alum Verified Same school here, post is legit. Seonwoo was quiet af. Wouldn't say a word at drinks and dipped early lol — Fact Checker Those "6 months experience" posts were nonsense lol Don't drag people down for no reason ⭐ Top Comment — Dalsugi Our Seonwoo couldn't act cuz he was studying and STILL a genius—world knows it now ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Born a star on stage✨ — Anonymous4 ↳ Reply Already claiming our Seonwoo? — Lurker ↳ Reply Yeah don't slime on our Seonwoo — Memory Storage Lol for real, saw him in the library like an NPC every day — Goguma Star No experience confirmed. Seoul Nat'l topper is proof lol — Reality Check Rumors are scary;; Distorts lives so easily — New Fan Not a Seonwoo fan but suddenly like him more... Feels wholesome somehow Public opinion had flipped completely, absurdly so.
Seonwoo was honestly a bit dumbfounded.
He hadn't even provided a solid timeline proving the six months—yet "Seoul National" alone silenced everything.
He suddenly recalled his interview with Im Youngdo.
The moment he heard about Seoul National, Im had clapped and said:
"Perfect. I was worried how to prove your experience without backlash... This puts my mind at ease." "...Because of my school?"
"Yes. Your education answers all these controversies."
At the time, it hadn't made sense.
Acting and academics unrelated, right? How could school background resolve an experience issue?
'It really happened just like he said.'
Seonwoo chuckled wryly.
People hearing "Seoul National" and instantly buying "no experience? Yeah, checks out." Absurd.
On the flip side, it was bittersweet.
Showed how bad credentialism was here.
Seonwoo hadn't suffered from it, but still—didn't feel healthy.
'...Not the time to fret over societal issues.'
He had his own mess to fix first.
"Seonwoo-ssi, time for your interview!"
"Ah, yeah. Coming now."
And right on cue, an interview request came in.
Perfect timing—probably because of this post.
"Hi, Seonwoo-ssi."
"Hello, PD-nim."
"You've seen the internet reactions... right?"
"Yeah. Seems the controversy's dying down fast."
Seonwoo nodded with a faint smile.
Then he noticed something off. Im Youngdo's expression wasn't great—not bad, exactly, but worried.
What was there to worry about?
"...Is it because the controversy ended too soon?"
"No! No, that's no problem at all! It's great, actually. I was worried the hate was stressing you out..."
"But your face looks off..."
"Oh, d-does it?"
Im Youngdo smiled awkwardly.
But he couldn't help it. Just yesterday... he'd overheard something from Writer Ryu he couldn't ignore.
"Normally, this level of hate shuts down activities, even life itself... Amazing he handles it." Severe depression patient.
That was Ryu's diagnosis.
He could've brushed it off—Ryu wasn't a psychiatrist.
But what flashed in Im's mind was Seonwoo nodding without hesitation when asked to endure the hate a bit.
'...Was that depression?'
He knew depressed people often neglected self-care.
But he'd never imagined it for Seonwoo. The guy seemed so passionate.
Yet after Ryu's words, it all clicked.
Seonwoo has depression.
Depression, yet...
"Seonwoo-ssi."
"Yes."
"You... okay mentally?"
"Huh? Oh, the hate? Don't worry, really. Just concerned about my family—otherwise, no big deal."
"R-really?"
His response was so healthy, Im wasn't sure.
Too normal for depression.
But just in case.
Im Youngdo spoke seriously.
"Seonwoo-ssi, if anything personal gets tough—even small stuff—tell me, okay? Promise?"
"...Huh? Oh, sure."
"Promise! Pinky swear!"
Im even got a pinky promise.
Seonwoo was baffled. Why the sudden intense worry? No clue.
'He's more concerned now than when the hate first hit...?'
Something happen?
Heading back to the dorm after the interview, Seonwoo kept pondering what could make Im so worried.
But the moment he arrived, Im Youngdo was forgotten.
Couldn't think about him anymore.
"Oh, Seonwoo! You're back!"
"Senior, is that...?"
"Yep. Character sheets!"
Hyeseong grinned and nodded.
He held a thick stack of papers.
"Got yours too. Here!"
"Thanks...!"
Seonwoo's heart raced as he took his sheet.
This was the part he'd been most excited for.
His role. Made for him, by him.
A character tailored to him as an actor. Had to be curious.
Seonwoo read the sheet slowly, savoring every word.
Properly appreciating it.
What kind of person his first role would be.
What hue it would carry.
But moments later, after finishing, Seonwoo could only grimace at the color orb floating before him.
"......Isn't this too much?"
His color was gray.