Chapter 32: Childhood’s End (1)
Chapter 32: Childhood’s End (1)
The Moon That Hides the Sun!>
Taesumdal Soars, Action King Faces a Crisis with 13% Ratings.>
<The Golden Age of Child Actors: Is the 'Boring' Child Arc a Thing of the Past?>
<Who is Ju Seo-yeon, the Child Actor Who Made Mothers Cry? The Unexpected Success of the Soy Milk CF!>
Episode 3 of The Moon That Hides the Sun.
It was the episode that signaled the end of the childhood years for the young Lee Hye-wol and Yoon Seo-il.
In a sense, this was where the real story of The Moon That Hides the Sun began—the tale of the grown-up Lee Hye-wol and Yoon Seo-il reuniting.
However...
Online sentiment was actually filled with regret that the childhood portion had ended so quickly.
That was how massive the impact of Episode 3 had been.
Since this was an unprecedented phenomenon, the entertainment industry was in an uproar.
Particularly...
“Ju Seo-yeon! Does anyone have photos of Ju Seo-yeon?”
“Did anyone go to the preview screening or the teaser event last time?”
“Dammit, I don’t have a single photo to put in the article!”
The reporters were the most desperate.
They resorted to using screenshots from the drama for their images, but it lacked the right feel. Since every other outlet was doing the same, their articles didn't stand out.
“Whoa, Byeong-hun. When did you take this photo?”
“At the teaser event, obviously. And didn’t I attend the preview screening as well?”
There were plenty of group shots from the preview and teaser events. However, few had captured solo shots like Reporter Lee Byeong-hun.
“Do you have any decent ones to spare? I need something for my article.”
“Sorry. I don’t really have anything suitable.”
Lee Byeong-hun replied with a smile, but he clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘That’s what you get for only focusing your lens on Ha Ye-seo.’
Well, once the next episode aired, it would be Ha Ye-seo’s era again anyway. The Moon That Hides the Sun was already a guaranteed mega-hit.
“I’ve been an entertainment reporter for a long time, but I’ve never seen ratings like this during a childhood arc.”
“I know, right? How is this even possible?”
“I watched it with my wife, and it’s definitely something else. Who was that guy in Action King? The idol?”
“Oh, Se-bin? But didn’t he do pretty well for an idol?”
At the reporter’s question, the man shook his head.
“Yeah, he was good for an idol. But he’s not as good as these kids. And this Ju Seo-yeon girl—I heard this is her first drama?”
“What? Her first?”
“Man, what kind of reporter is so behind on the news?”
Listening to their conversation, Lee Byeong-hun continued writing his article. His only regret was not securing a solo interview during the teaser event.
‘But something felt strange yesterday.’
Ju Seo-yeon’s performance as Princess Yeonhwa in yesterday’s episode was flawless, yet Lee Byeong-hun felt a strange sense of unease.
It felt as if she were truly leaving.
Not just Princess Yeonhwa, but Ju Seo-yeon, the girl playing the role.
‘Nah, no way.’
Who would suddenly quit after gaining this much popularity?
‘Right, that must be it.’
This child had a brilliance to her. She would surely grow up to be a legendary actress. Lee Byeong-hun was certain of it.
*
“PD Ha. Did I hear that correctly?”
「Of course.」
“Wow, this is unbelievable.”
The lead of The Moon That Hides the Sun, Kang Seong-chan—who played the adult Yoon Seo-il—shook his head in disbelief.
“An average of 30% is already ridiculous. But a peak rating of... what? 36%?”
Even half of that would be a massive hit. If a drama hit 15% in its first three episodes, it was usually on the path to becoming a masterpiece. But for it to surpass 36%, even if only for a moment, made Kang Seong-chan let out a hollow laugh.
“You remember that historical drama I did a while back? It was a huge hit, and even that only hit 41% in its final episode.”
「I know. It was a total sensation back then.」
“Exactly. So what do you think 36% in the third episode means?”
He could hear PD Ha Tae-oh laughing over the phone. Of course he knew. Dramas that gathered this much momentum early on could be counted on one hand. It was almost hard to believe that this was the result of two child actors.
“Even with the original source material, and even if the ratings are higher than other dramas...”
He trailed off and sighed.
“If we don’t deliver from here on out, we’re going to get absolutely slaughtered by the viewers. Especially Actress Ha Ye-seo—the pressure on her must be immense.”
He was fine. Park Jung-woo, the son of the great actor Park Sun-woong, had been a famous genius child actor for a long time.
But Ju Seo-yeon was different.
She was a complete unknown. This was her very first drama. And now, Ha Ye-seo was in a position where she would be compared to her.
What if an actress known for her skill was outperformed by a seven-year-old?
‘Of course, she’ll obviously be better.’
Kang Seong-chan didn't think Ha Ye-seo’s acting was inferior to Seo-yeon’s. But ‘obviously better’ wasn't enough. If she only matched her, she’d gain nothing; if she fell short, it would be the most bitter experience of her career.
“So, what is our little superstar doing now? Given the situation, I doubt she can even step outside. Oh, by the way, has her next project been decided?”
He was already looking forward to Seo-yeon’s next performance. He even entertained the thought of trying to get cast alongside her if the opportunity arose.
However, Kang Seong-chan’s expectations were completely shattered by Ha Tae-oh’s next words.
“What? Is that true? A hiatus?”
It was the news that a young child actor, currently at the height of her popularity, was entering an indefinite hiatus.
*
Episode 3 of The Moon That Hides the Sun.
Thanks to the phenomenal peak rating of 36%, Seo-yeon had literally become a local superstar. She couldn't even dream of going to kindergarten, even though a week had passed since the episode aired.
“Ju Seo-yeon, all the kids are asking what you’re up to.”
Lee Ji-yeon, who had come to Seo-yeon’s house, spoke up. She looked down at Seo-yeon, who was sprawled out on the floor.
“Mmmgh... you can see what I’m doing.”
Seo-yeon replied, her face buried in a plush doll. Honestly, it was a feeling Seo-yeon found hard to describe. She had heard stories about lives changing overnight, but she never thought she’d be the one it happened to.
“It’s such a waste.”
“Huh?”
“Are you really going to rest?”
Lee Ji-yeon seemed more upset about it than Seo-yeon herself. Then, as if something had occurred to her, she asked cautiously.
“You’re not... moving away, are you?”
Sudden fame for child actors didn't always bring good things. There was a child actor who had gained national popularity through a sitcom years ago, only to be bullied at school because of that fame. They moved several times, but nothing changed, eventually leading to the child refusing to go to school altogether. Naturally, they retired from acting. It was only after more than a decade that they appeared on TV briefly to give an update.
“If I move, how am I supposed to go to the voice acting academy with you?”
“Oh, right. That makes sense.”
Only then did Lee Ji-yeon smile in relief. Seo-yeon realized once again that Ji-yeon cared about her a lot.
‘Come to think of it, maybe I’m okay because of Lee Ji-yeon?’
The tyrant of the kindergarten. There was a high probability that Ji-yeon’s presence was acting as a deterrent.
“And I’m going to learn acting properly.”
“...You? Why?”
“Because I still have a lot to learn, obviously.”
Ji-yeon couldn't understand Seo-yeon’s words at all. When she had watched Episode 3 with her mother a few days ago, she had been genuinely shocked. She couldn't believe that was the acting of a child her own age. Seo-yeon was far better than the older kids she had seen at the agency or the acting academy. There was no comparison.
‘And she’s going to learn acting?’
Ji-yeon thought to herself. If Seo-yeon showed up at an acting academy, everyone would probably freeze in intimidation.
‘Hmm.’
But if Seo-yeon said so, she must have her reasons. Being a child herself, Ji-yeon simply accepted it.
“Seo-yeon.”
Just then, the door opened and Sua walked in.
“Ji-yeon, here’s some juice. I sliced some fruit too, do you want some?”
“Yes, please.”
“Okay, and...”
Sua hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“PD Ha Tae-oh asked if you’d like to do an interview.”
“An interview?”
“Oh, it’s not just any interview. It’s for Entertainment Live Broadcast.”
Entertainment Live Broadcast. It was a variety show that covered celebrity gossip. It had a segment that interviewed stars who were currently trending.
“Apparently, this is only the third time they’ve featured a child actor.”
A variety show. Honestly, Seo-yeon wasn't particularly interested. There were so many things she wanted to learn right now, and she felt that continuing to show her face would only leave her with lingering attachments.
‘But maybe one last interview...’
Vanishing into thin air had its own charm, but perhaps it was better to say a proper goodbye. Seo-yeon nodded her head.
“Okay, I’ll do it.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Sua’s eyes widened, seemingly surprised that Seo-yeon had agreed. Knowing Seo-yeon’s personality, she thought her daughter would walk away without a second thought once she made a decision. She especially thought Seo-yeon disliked things like variety shows.
Contrary to Sua’s thoughts, however, Seo-yeon didn't particularly hate or dislike variety shows.
‘I might be able to learn some broadcasting know-how if I go on a variety show.’
Hmm. Seo-yeon crossed her arms.
Being a VTuber was ultimately a battle of content. In that sense, it shared similarities with variety shows. But as she had told herself, staying connected to the industry would only create lingering feelings, so she had resolved to give it up.
‘I can always do variety shows later anyway.’
By then, there would be much more she could do compared to now. Seo-yeon counted the things she needed to do on her fingers.
Acting, singing, voice acting techniques. And even self-defense, just in case.
‘Being a VTuber or an actress... neither is easy.’
She had a feeling she was going to be very busy from now on.
*
“What? She said yes?”
Ha Tae-oh beamed at the message from Sua. He had thought Seo-yeon might reject the offer outright, given her personality. But the answer was positive.
The moment Seo-yeon’s first variety show appearance was confirmed.
“You’re lucky. You know this is Seo-yeon’s first variety show and likely her last as a child, right?”
“Haha, of course! Thank you so much! You know I really love you, PD Ha!”
Shin Jae-woon, a PD in the KMB variety department, trembled with joy. To think that helping out with the making-of film for The Moon That Hides the Sun would pay off like this. Even back then, the viewership for the clip had doubled. But now?
‘We’re staying on air for another year!’
This was the final chance for Entertainment Live Broadcast, which had been facing rumors of cancellation. Shin Jae-woon had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.