Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Lead Actor Bails
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I wondered how it felt the last time I wrapped up my performance in my previous life. Settling back into my seat among the students, those memories resurfaced.
The sneers and looks of disappointment—or utter indifference, like staring at some lifeless object—that had flickered through my mind right before sleep. I glanced around. Now... their eyes were much gentler.
Did I overdo it a bit?
Maybe my young body was affecting my mind too. I'd probably gone overboard because of Ham Na-rae. Still, it felt good to get it off my chest.
In my past life, I'd only wallowed in regrets over what I should have done differently with events long gone. This time, I'd actually put those fantasies into action.
Big deal, though. The students might be impressed, but it's only semi-pro level at best.
It might wow the freshmen, but I'd rolled as a reenactment actor for thirty years, after all.
I'd barely snagged a drama role through some once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck and hadn't even won a rookie award. I was never cut out to make it big as a pro.
Pros have talent like that falling out of the sky—in spades.
I could interpret the professor's follow-up feedback in that light too.
"I liked how you each interpreted the situation and added your own details. It was natural immersion in a short scene, without any excessive exaggeration."
Being the first class, he kept the feedback gentle and positive.
"Acting 1: Improvisation and Expression Techniques will proceed with fun, easy exercises like today's. Since it was the first day, I did most of the evaluating, but next time, student feedback and discussions will take center stage. That's it for today."
"Thank you."
"Great job, everyone~!"
After class ended, I helped the freshmen roll up the mats with everyone else. It was a physical class, and with the heaters blasting, most of us had broken a sweat.
Ham Na-rae, still in shock, hung her head and hurried out of the classroom first.
"Isn't that senior...?"
"Choi Min-jun's just kinda average... but no way does that Yoo Ha-jin look like some dead-last from XX class??"
They were whispering about me, but I ignored it and left the room.
"Yoo Ha-jin!"
Choi Min-jun came up from behind and threw an arm around my shoulders.
"You saved my ass! Forget your spot-on fortune-telling— what the hell's with that acting?! Did you spend two years at some acting boot camp instead of the military!?"
Well, I had gone somewhere, but it wasn't two years—it was thirty.
I shrugged off his arm.
"No next class?"
Even with my lukewarm reaction, Choi Min-jun grinned.
"Lunch?"
I checked my phone. It was just shy of 11.
"Kinda early, but I've got a free slot too. Sure."
"No way!?"
"What now."
"Y-You're actually coming to eat with me?"
"You asked..."
"No, back in first year, you always ate alone at the cafeteria. Even during meals, you'd mumble lines from scripts or your phone. I wasn't expecting anything when I asked—holy crap??"
Damn... I must've been a real sight. Hearing it from someone else made it hit home. I let out a bit of honest feeling.
"How's anyone supposed to stay solo forever."
I thought it was some profound insight from my past life, but Choi Min-jun didn't seem fazed.
"Anyway, where to?"
"Cafeteria. It's right there in the arts building."
"Cafeteria's kinda... you don't get sick of it?"
"Cheap. Plus, it just hit me—college cafeteria food was the best."
"Makes sense after military life. Though you talk like you've been gone decades."
"Getting back here felt longer for me than most."
Choi Min-jun had a sharper side than expected. I brushed it off vaguely and kept walking.
Geumsol Hall's first-floor student cafeteria in the arts building. J University had four campus eateries, but this one was the most popular—even drawing crowds from other departments.
A group of fine arts students in black hoodies, hoods pulled tight over their faces. Music majors with instrument cases slung over their shoulders. Not just arts—humanities, engineering, sports science kids too.
The buzz of talented college students buzzed against my skin. I thought of the sterile hospital room smell right before death, when no one came to visit. I breathed in deeply, lungs filling. This second chance... it felt profoundly precious.
"Missed this air."
Choi Min-jun, buying his meal ticket at the kiosk, replied flatly.
"Military that rough? Why'd you come back with such an old soul? You sound like my grandpa."
Sharp as ever, this guy.
He got spicy noodles; I ordered spicy soft tofu stew. With kimchi, fish cakes, dried shredded squid, perilla leaf pickles. Dessert yogurt. All for 5,000 won. Generous portions too.
Where else do you get a spread like this for five bucks? No wonder Choi Min-jun's gotten picky.
Students with colorful trays loaded with international dishes glanced our way—no discrimination by gender.
"Film Department, right?"
"Damn, both total pros."
Ignoring them, the guy eating like he didn't care spoke up.
"What about staff work? Not joining a senior's grad project or some female classmate's?"
The Film Department had graduation requirements like any major—not TOEIC scores, but 'performances' like screenings or stage shows. And 'staff' credits for lights, sound, setup, etc.
Acting majors weren't exempt. The idea was hands-on production experience improved collaboration as an actor.
Staff, huh. I bit into a fish cake, chewed, and swallowed.
"Got one in mind."
"Oh, which?"
"You coming if I tell you?"
"Maybe?"
"My sister's directing a grad project Team A. Figured I'd help her out."
"They post a notice?"
Choi Min-jun pulled out his phone and scrolled.
"It's up in the Film Department group chat."
I checked too.
[Hi everyone, I'm Yoo Ha-eun, director for XX class grad project~! Looking for staff to join our production~! Genre: Short film (about 25-30 min). Shooting schedule...]
The notice from my normally dry-as-desert sister at home was bubbly like everyone else's. I tapped the profile pic. Full makeup, full outfit. A far cry from her current disheveled grad-prep self.
Hope no lambs fall for this look...
Choi Min-jun's face lit up.
"Yoo Ha-eun? Your sister!? She's gorgeous! Not an acting major?"
Lamb number one secured.
"You two are close. Little bro helping sis's grad film. Blood's thicker than water, huh? Only child here, so I wouldn't know."
"Well, yeah, but also..."
I was worried.
I gave her a heads-up, but I should check if things are going okay.
I propped my chin and cracked open the yogurt. The sweet-tartness eased the spicy aftertaste and my concerns a bit.
The Film Department lounge in J University's Geumsol Hall was lined with trophy shelves from inter-college sports, script stacks, and bookshelves of lecture materials. Cozy space with scattered theater props and a ping-pong table for free periods.
But right now, a storm raged—targeted squarely at one team, unleashing a downpour. A tall, handsome guy pressed his hands together in apology.
"Sorry~. Sorry~. But what can I do... got a big role in a commercial film."
In the wide lounge, even playing oblivious drew eyes to the scene.
"Even so, this is too much! We're at script readings—shooting starts any day! So irresponsible!"
Raising her voice was Yoo Ha-jin’s sister, Yoo Ha-eun. The lead for her grad film, Bang Tae-hyuk, veins bulging in his neck too.
"Then should I ditch the film!? It's a career-making chance!"
Other team members couldn't stand it anymore and chimed in.
"That's too selfish!"
"What about our careers!? Grad films don't count as real films!?"
But persuasion failed. Bang Tae-hyuk ruffled his hair roughly.
"Ugh, screw it. I don't even care about graduating. You were looking for a backup anyway. I'll try to find someone good—cut me some slack."
"No, the backup was just in case..."
"Sorry again. I apologized."
Clunk. Ring.
Before Yoo Ha-eun finished, Bang Tae-hyuk bolted from the lounge.
"Ha-eun... what now??"
"That Bang Tae-hyuk prick... I won't work anywhere he's involved, even off-campus."
"Can we even get off-campus with this mess, oppa??"
March now. Grad submissions due June. Pre-production—casting, script—done.
But production: one-week shoot. Post-production editing: another 2-3 months. Tight as hell— toes tingling with anxiety.
And now, delivering the death blow to their shaky morale:
"You were jumping for joy when Bang Tae-hyuk joined. What now? Heh."
Lee Jong-myeong. Top name in J University Film directing alongside Yoo Ha-eun.
She despised him as a nepotism kid strutting on daddy's name. He felt oddly inferior to her self-made talent without connections.
Enemies who couldn't stand each other. Different years but same age. Her leave + his military deferral aligned them for competing grad projects this time.
As he appeared, Yoo Ha-eun feigned nonchalance.
"Not really? We can handle it."
"Come on, I saw the whole thing. Why the bravado?"
"Mixing breaths into lines for emphasis—you should act, senior."
"Directors need acting knowledge for direction. Whatever. Pointless saying it—you'll bomb your grad film, bawl your eyes out, and quit the scene. Obvious."
Grind.
Yoo Ha-eun gritted her teeth but kept her cool.
"You give up on every curveball? Makes sense—no solo successes."
"What?"
The mood turned ugly.
Juniors glanced nervously and slipped out. Her team pulled her back; his did the same for him.
"Hey, easy. She's always like that."
Even as they held back, tension crackled between the teams.
"Their grad film flopped too. Cut her slack."
Yoo Ha-eun flashed a grin at them.
"Ours hasn't flopped yet? We'll show you at the screening—or film fest."
But inside:
What do I do. What do I do. What do I do. What do I do.
Even finding a lead now was tight. No practice with other actors regardless. Quality output? Near impossible. Honestly, the obstacles blurred her vision with despair. No path forward in sight.