Chapter 153: The Gyeongseong Lady (2)
Chapter 153: The Gyeongseong Lady (2)
'I see some faces I recognize from the general programming channels.'
Opening her eyes slightly, Ji-yeon first scanned those who caught her attention.
They were actors who, like Ji-yeon, had appeared in dramas on cable networks. They seemed to recognize her as well, as she felt them give slight, subtle nods. It was that feeling of having passed each other once or twice in passing.
'Of course, to them, I probably still seem like a child.'
At least, that was true considering her age.
The characters in Gyeongseong Lady were set to be in their late teens or early twenties. Because of that, the scenes weren't overly intense or explicit. What mattered most was handling the emotional lines with density, which required a high level of acting skill.
Naturally, the production favored actors in their twenties. Teenage acting was often unstable, and while those in their twenties could be hit-or-miss, they were generally better than teenagers.
'Unless the setting is a school, audiences usually perceive the roles as being at least in their twenties anyway.'
Unless an actor possessed something overwhelming like Jo Seo-hee or Ju Seo-yeon, roles for teenage actors were scarce. This audition was likely no different. Being the same age as the character was more of a penalty than an advantage.
"Up to number 10, please come in."
Ji-yeon’s turn was nearly thirtieth. She was at the very end of the line.
When she was younger, this waiting time was simply boring. Once she started overthinking, it became nerve-wracking. Now, she wasn't quite sure how she felt.
'Just do it like we practiced.'
The practice she had done with Jo Seo-hee and Seo-yeon. She wondered if she could really perform as she had then. Just as a restless tension began to gnaw at her heart...
'Huh?'
Someone caught Ji-yeon’s eye.
A figure was moving awkwardly among the staff. Wearing a hat, sunglasses, and even a mask, they looked incredibly suspicious. Yet, no one stopped them. On the contrary, some of the audition staff even greeted the person warmly.
'...No way?'
The figure looked around restlessly. After scanning the people waiting for the audition, the person paused briefly upon seeing Ji-yeon. Then, they slunk away, their movements reminding her of a certain someone.
'...'
Well, it wasn't strange for her to be here. She was a person of interest in the project, after all. Though it was oddly distracting, Ji-yeon decided to put it out of her mind.
Still.
'I think I've relaxed a bit.'
She could feel a presence watching her from a hiding spot. At the very least, Ji-yeon could sense it. It was a bit ridiculous, but thanks to that, she felt her racing heart begin to settle.
*
Today was Lee Ji-yeon’s audition.
To be honest, Seo-yeon hadn't really intended to come here. But then, this morning...
[Are you coming?]
She had received that KakaoTalk message from Jo Seo-hee. Seo-hee was clearly trying to create any opportunity she could to meet Seo-yeon. It was transparent, and Seo-yeon had stared blankly at the message for a while.
[You should watch your friend act with me.]
Though it sounded like she was asking for attention herself, it was true that Jo Seo-hee was the partner for Ji-yeon’s audition today.
Jo Seo-hee had a way of acting that was as peculiar as her personality, but even Seo-yeon had to acknowledge her talent. Having clashed with her since they were children, Seo-yeon was subconsciously mindful of her.
In truth, Jo Seo-hee’s acting was exceptional. No, "formidable" would be a better word. Even as a child actor, she had shown very stable performances, and as she grew older, she became capable of infusing those performances with much deeper emotions.
In some ways, it was similar to Seo-yeon’s emotional mimicry. Jo Seo-hee wasn't exactly a method actor; rather, she was the type to faithfully reproduce what she had learned.
[The audition scene is a romantic one, so it’ll be fun to watch. Besides, you’re involved in the project too.]
Seo-yeon’s eyes narrowed at Jo Seo-hee’s words.
A romantic scene.
Well, that made sense. Seo-yeon herself had helped Ji-yeon practice. She hadn't thought much of it then, but the idea of Jo Seo-hee and Lee Ji-yeon performing a romantic scene together gave her a feeling that was hard to describe. It was, after all, a romantic scene between her friend and her "friend-wannabe."
She understood now why people said it was hard to watch movies featuring their acquaintances, yet she was undeniably curious. And worried. She wondered if Ji-yeon could hold her own against Jo Seo-hee.
After a moment of deliberation, Seo-yeon sent a reply.
[I'll be there.]
And so, here she was.
Seo-yeon was hiding in a corner of the audition hall, watching the proceedings. She had locked eyes with Ji-yeon on her way in, but surely Ji-yeon hadn't realized it was her.
'More importantly...'
Seo-yeon observed the acting of the candidates currently auditioning. Those outside probably had no idea what was happening inside.
'It’s a bit... brutal.'
Jo Seo-hee acted all sweet toward Seo-yeon over KakaoTalk, but in reality, she had the aura of a true villainess. To top it off, she was even holding a folding fan in the audition room today.
The role Jo Seo-hee had been cast in was a young lady from a prestigious family. Since she was a perfect fit for the "villainess" image, she seemed to be leaning into that concept.
'Director Baek Min wanted to cast Jo Seo-hee from the very beginning.'
She could see why. It was as if the role of Cha Seo-ah had been tailor-made for her.
The role of the noble lady in the story was "Amanabi Michiko." As the name suggested, she was Japanese, a character that could only exist because the story was set during the Japanese colonial period. According to the script, she would travel to Japan with the protagonist after the ending.
And the current audition was to find that protagonist, "Yeon Seon-ye."
"..."
As her thoughts reached that point, a realization suddenly struck Seo-yeon.
'Wait, I'm playing a Japanese person too?'
For the record, the role Seo-yeon had taken was Kasugayama Yuina. Realizing this anew, she froze.
'There will be... Japanese lines, right?'
She had suddenly hit a major obstacle. It wasn't that she couldn't understand Japanese. She had watched so many VTubers—no, anyway, she had plenty of exposure through anime and games.
But speaking it was a different story. Especially the pronunciation.
'...What should I do?'
Apparently, people in Japan were even looking forward to meeting her regarding Dream Future. It felt like she really needed to learn it properly.
'Hmm.'
Seo-yeon soon regained her composure. She had time, after all. And she had just thought of someone she could ask for help.
For now, Ji-yeon’s audition was more important.
"Next."
At Jo Seo-hee’s words, spoken with a stiff expression, the actress who had just finished her audition withdrew with a haggard face. There were many actresses who seemed quite strong-willed, but they all fell like autumn leaves whenever Jo Seo-hee flicked her fan.
'The scene used for the audition takes place after Michiko develops a deep interest in Yeon Seon-ye.'
In other words, she has developed feelings but hasn't realized them yet. And Yeon Seon-ye doesn't have those feelings yet. She is merely a noble lady to her.
Furthermore, the reason Yeon Seon-ye became Michiko’s maid was to take her life. However, contrary to her intentions, her heart was gradually leaning toward Michiko. She tried to look away because Michiko was her target, yet she was drawn to Michiko’s beauty. She felt pity for the situation Michiko was in and empathy for her loneliness.
Those were the emotions Yeon Seon-ye was supposed to feel toward Michiko. The scene they were filming didn't have difficult dialogue, but the emotional subtext was vital. That was why it was the perfect scene for an audition.
Snap!
"Next."
Another actress’s head metaphorically rolled under Jo Seo-hee’s fan. The actress who retreated with her head hung low looked like she knew exactly how disastrous her performance had been. She had stumbled over her lines, and her movements were lacking in many ways.
This wasn't just her problem. Most of the rookies who came to the audition today were similar. If even experienced actors were shaken, there was no way a rookie would be fine.
'Though I’m technically a rookie too.'
She had appeared in several works recently, but Seo-yeon was indeed a rookie. It was just that her debut date went all the way back to her childhood, making her career start incredibly early.
"We’re almost at the end. Up to number 30, please come in."
Unlike the lethal Jo Seo-hee, Director Baek Min spoke with a gentle smile. His words were kind, but the papers in front of him were covered in dense notes.
'Now...'
And the last number called was 30. It was Lee Ji-yeon’s turn.
*
Jo Seo-hee watched the actresses entering the room with a calm, steady gaze. Four of them had experience. One was a complete rookie.
'Lee Ji-yeon.'
Though she didn't show it, she saw Lee Ji-yeon among them. First of all, Lee Ji-yeon felt like she both fit and didn't fit the role. Because her features were so sharp, she was quite far removed from the character of "Yeon Seon-ye," who was supposed to have a relatively soft image. Her acting tone was strong, too.
Honestly, if she stayed like that, she was in danger.
'If you don't do this right, you'll fail.'
Jo Seo-hee had helped Ji-yeon quite a bit during their practice. She had critiqued her acting, but she hadn't given her any specific inside information about this audition. Giving her an edge would have been a great discourtesy to the other actors. Jo Seo-hee had focused on giving feedback on Ji-yeon’s personal acting rather than advice on the character of "Yeon Seon-ye."
After all, she was Ju Seo-yeon’s close friend, so she didn't want to leave a bad impression. But if she was bad, she had to fail.
'So, please, do well.'
Jo Seo-hee could feel Seo-yeon’s gaze hiding in the shadows. Without even looking far, she knew Seo-yeon was the one peeking out from a hiding spot. She didn't know why she had come in disguise, but it was cute, so it was fine.
"We'll start right away. The script?"
"I've memorized it all."
"Good. Let's begin."
Jo Seo-hee nodded at the bold claim from Candidate 26 that she had memorized everything. And just five minutes later...
"I think it would have been better if you had just held the script."
"...Yes."
The candidate left, looking dejected. She had fumbled her lines in the middle, which was a point deduction. Usually, filming doesn't end in a single take, so messing up lines can be forgiven, but her other aspects were also severely lacking. In other words, her acting was only watchable if she at least got the lines right. That was Jo Seo-hee’s evaluation.
"Number 30."
Finally, it was Lee Ji-yeon’s turn. The way she stood calmly before her was already better than the other candidates. Well, she was the type who didn't feel much pressure from her to begin with.
"We'll start right away. The script?"
"I've memorized it all."
Of course she had. Jo Seo-hee nodded. She had known for a while that Ji-yeon had memorized the lines. Besides, since the script had been provided in advance, most people had memorized it.
"Then, let's begin."
Jo Seo-hee glanced at Director Baek Min and then looked back at Ji-yeon. Then, she snapped her fan open, covering her mouth. Her eyes narrowed. They weren't red like Seo-yeon’s, but there was a definite power in her gaze.
A heavy silence. The pressure Jo Seo-hee exerted was so immense that it was hard to even utter the first word. She felt completely different from the Jo Seo-hee she had seen during practice.
And then.
"My Lady, you haven't looked well lately. Why don't you take a little rest?"
The acting began with Ji-yeon’s—Seon-ye’s—quiet voice.
The clock ticked. The young lady, who had been quietly watching Seon-ye behind her fan, looked at her. Michiko’s gaze was as if she were trying to devour the other person, digging into Seon-ye’s very soul.
A surge of emotion could be felt. Seon-ye read that emotion, if only slightly. But she turned her head away indifferently.
"No."
The fan lowered slightly, revealing the line of her mouth. A twisted smile was directed at Seon-ye.
"Seon-ye, fetch my shawl. I'm holding an auction today as well."
Those eyes were the eyes of someone looking at a very precious treasure. They were thick with obsession, the same way others looked at her in the auction house. Michiko was looking at her maid with those very eyes, though she herself didn't fully realize it yet.
"Then, shouldn't I look my most beautiful?"
Pressing the fan lightly against Seon-ye’s shoulder, Michiko spoke. It was a sort of whim. Make me beautiful. Just as you wish. Michiko’s words carried that intent.
At those words, Seon-ye looked away in fluster and bit her lower lip briefly.
'Emotion.'
Jo Seo-hee felt a faint emotional line coming from Ji-yeon. It felt thinner than before, as if the color had faded a bit. That wasn't a bad thing. Rather, it was a color that suited Seon-ye. It was a pale hue that allowed other strong colors to blend in easily. Had Ju Seo-yeon taught her this?
"You must do your makeup first, My Lady. You shouldn't be looking for your shawl first."
Seon-ye spoke with her head bowed. It was as if she were rejecting Michiko’s approach. Her voice was calm and innocent, like a child who knew nothing.
The aura had changed. No, the tone of the acting had changed.
'Maternal affection.'
Ah, yes. That was it.
As mentioned, Lee Ji-yeon’s features were quite sharp. Thus, there were many parts of her that didn't fit the character of Yeon Seon-ye. However, as her "color" faded, the direction of her acting changed as well.
The way she looked at Michiko, her gestures. Her natural smile held a tenderness, like a mother looking at her daughter. But the fundamental emotion hidden behind that maternal affection was pity. The maternal instinct born of pity stood in Michiko’s way. Thus, her actions were perfectly natural.
'How did her vibe change so much in such a short time?'
Wait, is this really Seon-ye?
Jo Seo-hee continued to watch Ji-yeon’s performance. Ji-yeon naturally parried Michiko’s sharp words. Then, she began to tidy Michiko’s hair and face, talking about various things. Her voice was very elegant, quite different from Ji-yeon’s usual impression. It felt like someone experienced, like someone who had dealt with many difficult people.
The tone of her voice. The tone of her acting. That color belonged to someone other than Lee Ji-yeon or Seon-ye. It was clearly acting based on someone else.
'Could it be?'
Jo Seo-hee looked at Lee Ji-yeon—at Seon-ye’s face. Only then did she realize where Lee Ji-yeon had drawn this acting from. Once she realized that, Jo Seo-hee—Michiko—couldn't help but smile playfully.
"Do you think I am beautiful?"
"My Lady, you are more beautiful than any precious gem."
"I know."
"You will shine the brightest at today’s gathering."
At those words, the corners of Michiko’s mouth twisted further. Pity hidden behind maternal affection. Though she didn't know the full truth, she knew this maid pitied her. To Michiko, that was something she craved desperately, yet it also stung her pride.
"I hope those words are sincere."
Slowly, Michiko’s fan traveled up Seon-ye’s shoulder, grazed her collarbone, and reached her chin. Her face leaned in close enough for their breaths to touch, and she pressed her fan firmly against Seon-ye’s lips. The same tip of the fan that had pressed against her own lips earlier was now on Seon-ye’s.
"Because I hate lies more than anything."
With that line, the scene came to an end. It was so natural.
The judges watching were inwardly astonished. Director Baek Min had an expression that was hard to describe.
And Seo-yeon, watching the performance from the corner...
"..."
She stood there with both hands over her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. Wait, I thought the romantic scene wasn't that intense?
'And...'
At the same time, she felt her insides beginning to boil. It was only natural, as the foundation of the acting Ji-yeon was displaying was something Seo-yeon cherished so deeply. Seo-yeon was literally trembling with indignation.
Sensing Seo-yeon’s gaze, Jo Seo-hee thought,
'Why... why is she acting like that?'
She couldn't help but be a bit bewildered. After all, in her opinion, Ji-yeon’s audition had been a massive success.