Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Method Acting's Shadow
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"This is..."
Im Youngdo was at a loss for words.
Up until he'd come looking for Park Myungjin, Im Youngdo's intentions had been crystal clear.
Guide Seonwoo toward minimizing his use of method acting as much as possible.
Those were words that he—not Im Youngdo—needed to deliver.
Im Youngdo was a variety show PD in the end, not in any position to comment on Seonwoo's actual performance.
But after hearing him out, Park Myungjin just smirked and asked,
"You haven't seen Seonwoo act yet, have you?"
"In the one-room? Not yet."
"Watch it first."
He didn't think it'd change his mind.
But Park Myungjin seemed so damn sure of himself that Im Youngdo ended up monitoring Seonwoo's scene alongside him.
And that's when he finally understood why Park Myungjin was so confident.
'...What the hell is this?'
What Im Youngdo saw was the private room scene.
Kim Seonwoo, who'd jumped off Mapo Bridge and lost consciousness, coming to in the one-room's private quarters and taking in his surroundings.
It was a shoot with difficulty cranked up to eleven.
A guy who should've been dead was alive.
In some weird room that wasn't a hospital, wearing strange clothes.
And when he stepped out? Others just as panicked as him waiting there.
Disappointment at not dying, exhaustion from having to keep on living, confusion over the whole mess... Seonwoo had to convey a whirlwind of emotions.
All without a single line of dialogue, no less.
Even for Seonwoo, who'd pulled off top-tier silent acting as the mute, it was no easy feat.
But,
—...
The moment filming started, Im Youngdo froze solid just looking at Seonwoo's face.
Eerie.
Like staring at something inhuman wearing a human mask—an indescribable sense of wrongness.
His expression gazing down at his own body, his eyes peering into the mirror... nothing felt human.
Just like beholding a living corpse.
'...My breath.'
His breath caught in his throat.
He could feel it just from watching.
The suffocating weight on Kim Seonwoo, that unwanted life dragging him down.
"—Okay, cut!"
"...Hah."
Only after Park Myungjin's cut did Im Youngdo finally breathe easy.
Park Myungjin smirked at him catching his breath.
"Still not changed your mind?"
"......"
"I thought the same at first—no experience, just messing around with method acting. But no."
Park Myungjin clenched his fist, eyes gleaming with thrill.
"Kim Seonwoo needs to do method. Born with that immersion? You can't tell him to stop. I couldn't. No plans to."
"......"
Im Youngdo couldn't bring himself to speak.
Before seeing that acting, his stance had been set: stop the method acting somehow.
Seonwoo's condition looked too rough.
No matter how great the acting, it couldn't come before the person, right?
But...
'Tough.'
Yeah.
It was tough.
Not Seonwoo's intent, but his acting had convinced Im Youngdo in an instant.
Ah, so that's it.
This was why he'd immersed himself so deeply, sinking into depression.
But,
"...You think it'll be okay?"
Im Youngdo still couldn't shake his worry.
Park Myungjin's eyes narrowed at him.
"What."
"I get the acting's great. But emotions that intense... can he even pull out of it later?"
"......"
Park Myungjin didn't answer.
This wasn't his call.
Just like they couldn't guarantee no car accidents today.
Still,
"You... doing this because of that time?"
He knew why Im Youngdo was like this.
Instead of answering, Im Youngdo gritted his teeth.
—Thank you, PD-nim.
A voice flashed in his mind.
A face he couldn't help recalling.
How could anyone be that beautiful,
—What? Im Juha died? Suicide?
—That crazy bitch... Ditching before the project's even done? Irresponsible bullshit!
Even on her way out, utterly trampled.
"At least in my shows, that shit never happens."
Still hung up on that old wound.
Park Myungjin sighed. He got it.
He still remembered Im Youngdo's pathetic, tear-streaked face at her funeral.
In the end, all Park Myungjin could say was,
"...Idiot."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Seonwoo's scene entering the game was reshot several more times after that.
Not due to any NG.
As a key moment kicking off the One Room game, they experimented with camera angles, compositions, lighting setups—chasing the perfect take through tweaks.
But that didn't mean the actors could relax.
When Seonwoo stepped into the common area, they had to be there already, sniping suspicions at each other.
"Where... where is this place?"
"No idea! Ph-phone! Anyone got a phone?"
"Sigh, fuck, mister over there. Think a bit, yeah? The bastards stripped us naked and redressed us—they'd leave phones?"
"N-no, I just..."
The second Seonwoo appeared, lines flew from everywhere, interactions sparking.
Nothing too hard, really.
No close-ups on them; they were just background in that moment.
One unexpected snag, though:
'...Fucking distracting.'
Seonwoo himself.
Even Jinwook had to fight his eyes drifting naturally when Seonwoo showed up.
Hard to pretend he wasn't there and keep interacting among themselves... Seonwoo's presence dominated too much.
Ridiculous.
No special lines for Seonwoo—just stepping into the common space—yet he owned the room.
'Feels familiar.'
Jinwook's eyes narrowed.
Anyone from Cheongsong Troupe would know the sensation.
This presence... anyone who'd acted with Doyoung had felt it.
But then Jinwook let out a hollow chuckle.
He didn't like Doyoung, but his acting? No arguments there.
Seonwoo wasn't at Doyoung's level yet.
Still, at this rate... he'd reach him someday.
That chosen realm no amount of effort alone could touch.
'Fucking annoying.'
Jinwook raised his phone.
📱 Poll: Who Will Win? 1st. Kim Seonwoo 21.5% 2nd. Jeong Hyeseong 14.3% 3rd. Na Minhee 10.1% 4th. Lee Yeonwoo 8.9% ... 11th. Seo Jinwook 3.2% 35,131 votes 'Fuck.'
Jinwook's vote share was laughably low.
Made surviving the top 10 feel hollow—bare rankings didn't even crack it.
Among survivors, only Yoo Jieun and Justin ranked lower.
Even Hyungbin outdid him.
Of course, it didn't purely reflect skill.
Otherwise, Hyeseong would've topped Seonwoo.
Popularity factored in.
Even so... Jinwook's spot was lower than imagined.
Meant his acting hadn't impressed that much.
Presence incomparable to Seonwoo's.
He knew.
Seonwoo was like Cha Doyoung... a genius.
But he couldn't just roll over.
Accept his lot, bow out?
'No.'
Couldn't.
He hadn't started acting to whimper.
He wanted to become something.
Something... greater than now.
But how?
"......"
Jinwook stared at Seonwoo with sunken eyes.
He'd put in the work.
His lag wasn't from slacking.
So what then?
How to...
'Catch that bastard.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ When filming wrapped, the first thing Seonwoo faced was Im Youngdo's worried gaze.
"Seonwoo. Got a minute to talk?"
"Ah, the interview?"
"No."
Im Youngdo shook his head.
"Not an interview. A real talk."
"? Sure."
Rare occurrence.
Im Youngdo had never sought casual chats without the interview pretext.
'What's up?'
Not acting-related.
That'd be Park Myungjin.
Why would Im Youngdo seek him out? Nothing came to mind...
"Seonwoo, need psychological counseling?"
"Pardon...? What's this about?"
"No need to hide. Be honest."
Didn't make sense.
Seonwoo masked his confusion, meeting Im Youngdo's eyes.
Last time, he'd worried over his mental state too.
Fair enough—tons of hate comments back then.
But now? All quiet.
No cause for concern.
"PD-nim... Did I do something worrying?"
"Not something you did, more like..."
Im Youngdo sighed.
That dour face acting all 'Everything okay?'
Did he even realize his own expression?
"Heard from the writer about you."
"What about?"
"Said you're in a mental state not far from severe depression."
"......"
Seonwoo went speechless.
Severe depression? Him?
He could guess why.
That questionnaire he'd filled out.
Dodging with "I don't know"s—probably sparked misunderstanding.
'Not total misunderstanding, though?'
Lately, revisiting those emotions, he realized how bad it'd been.
Back then, the gloom and apathy felt normal, unnoticed.
Now? How'd he endure it?
Maybe he really had depression then.
"Seonwoo. Shows and acting are great, but... I don't think they're worth more than people. So if it's tough, just say so."
"...Thanks for thinking of me."
Seonwoo bowed his head.
A bit touching. He'd liked Im Youngdo, but PDs had that heartless rep—guarded a tad. Felt bad now.
Forcing honesty in return.
"Well, saying I'm not mentally drained'd be a lie."
"...I see. Don't worry. I looked into counseling. So..."
"Nah, think I'm good."
Seonwoo shook his head.
Im Youngdo fixed him with a stern look, like Don't be stubborn. Seonwoo held his gaze.
"It's tough, yeah. The 'Kim Seonwoo' character's so dark right now. Revisiting it drains you, gets you down."
"Then counseling..."
"But this depression feels good even."
Depression feels good?
Illogical—Im Youngdo's face twisted.
Seonwoo continued calmly.
"It'll let me act better. Get closer to 'Kim Seonwoo', make better work. If it enables that... I don't hate this gloom anymore."
"Seonwoo..."
"Don't worry too much. Embarrassing to say, but..."
Seonwoo smiled.
And in that instant, Im Youngdo lost his words.
That smile blooming on his depression-soaked face...
"I'm... happy right now."
Beautiful beyond reason.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Yeonwoo's eyes widened round.
"What?"
"Help me."
"...Me, Jinwook?"
"Yes."
Jinwook looked at Yeonwoo with resolve.
Yeonwoo tilted his head.
"Why me?"