Chapter 35: And Spring (2)
Chapter 35: And Spring (2)
Time flowed on.
The Moon That Hides the Sun, which had garnered immense buzz even before its premiere, concluded its run successfully, recording a staggering 45% viewership rating for its final episode.
On the other hand, Action King, which had been predicted to be its rival, met a different fate.
Plagued by a school bullying controversy involving one of its idol actors midway through, it ended with a meager 4.5% rating for its finale.
"Oh, you mean Seo-yeon on set?"
In an interview conducted after the drama concluded, actress Shin Yeon-mi, who played Princess Yeonhwa’s nanny, spoke about the child actress.
"She was a very diligent child. People call her a genius, but she’s someone who puts in more effort than anyone else."
She spoke of the lengths Seo-yeon went to for the sake of the much-discussed second and third episodes.
"To film those scenes, we actually moved her schedule up. Unlike most children, she had incredible stamina and managed to pull it all off. Honestly, I thought I was the one who was going to die," she joked, drawing laughter from those around her.
They likely took it as a mere jest.
"It was the most grueling shoot of my life," said Ha Ye-seo, who played the adult Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol, with a smile.
"To be honest, my heart sank when the ratings dipped slightly in episode four. Still, I worked hard to portray Princess Yeonhwa properly until the very end. I’m just incredibly relieved that episode three didn't end up being the peak of the show. It was a valuable opportunity that taught me for the first time how demanding it can be when a child actor is too good."
Though Ha Ye-seo had appeared slightly shaken in the beginning, perhaps due to the pressure, she performed brilliantly in the subsequent episodes. As if proving that her reputation as a talented, pure-hearted actress was no lie, she demonstrated her true strength in the final episode.
Following Ha Ye-seo, the last person to speak was Ha Tae-oh, the producer of Taesumdal.
"Seo-yeon isn't retiring. As actress Shin Yeon-mi said earlier, she’s a very ambitious child."
Looking into the camera, Ha Tae-oh continued.
"She said she wants to learn more. She mentioned that while filming this drama, she realized there were too many areas where she was lacking."
Method acting and emotional mimicry were the primary reasons, but Ha Tae-oh didn't bother mentioning them.
It was a realm that was difficult for most to understand anyway.
"Seo-yeon will definitely return," PD Ha Tae-oh said firmly, his voice laced with conviction.
"That child was born to be an actress."
*
Though she had announced a period of rest, she couldn't literally stop working immediately.
At the very least, she had to remain as the child actress Ju Seo-yeon until the end of the year, while The Moon That Hides the Sun was still fresh in everyone's minds.
The reason?
The year-end awards ceremonies.
"Wow, she’s truly beautiful."
Seo-yeon was so lovely that the makeup artist styling her couldn't help but let the words slip out.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Seo-yeon herself was inwardly impressed.
I think I look even better than I did in the drama.
In a way, it was only natural. A modern awards ceremony allowed for much more diverse and elaborate makeup than a historical drama ever could.
"Even though she's so young, her eyelashes are so long..."
They were far too long to be considered a child's.
I wonder how beautiful she’ll be when she grows up.
The makeup artist had met many child actors in her career, but she had never seen one as beautiful as Seo-yeon.
It’s such a shame a child like this is taking a break.
She felt a deep sense of regret, especially as someone who had thoroughly enjoyed The Moon That Hides the Sun. The performance the girl had given was still vivid in her mind.
"Are you all ready?"
Just then, someone came to find Seo-yeon as she finished her preparations.
It was a man dressed in a sharp suit—the lead of The Moon That Hides the Sun who played the adult Yoon Seo-il.
"Oh, Seo-yeon. You look absolutely lovely."
Actor Kang Seong-chan smiled as he spoke.
In place of Sua, who couldn't attend the ceremony, Kang Seong-chan had agreed to look after Seo-yeon. Since the entire cast and crew of Taesumdal were to be seated together anyway, it wasn't a difficult task.
"You're here?"
As they slowly arrived at the venue, Park Jung-woo, who was already there, spoke to her.
In the past, he wouldn't have even acknowledged her presence, but his attitude had changed since episode three of Taesumdal, which Seo-yeon found somewhat uncomfortable.
"Yes, Sunbae-nim."
"..."
Unable to bring herself to call him anything else, Seo-yeon consistently addressed Jung-woo as 'Sunbae.'
Of course, Park Jung-woo was dissatisfied with her stiff tone, but he couldn't exactly point it out. It was a fact that Seo-yeon was younger than him and his junior in the industry.
"Now, Seo-yeon, you sit here next to Ha Ye-seo... By the way, have you thought about what you're going to say today?"
"What I'm going to say?"
Seo-yeon looked puzzled at Kang Seong-chan's sudden question. Was there something she needed to say today?
"Ah, did the word not get to her? Usually, the nominees are given a heads-up."
"Pardon?"
"I got the word," Park Jung-woo answered in Seo-yeon's stead.
When Seo-yeon’s gaze turned toward him in confusion, Jung-woo gave a short smirk.
"The Best Youth Actor Award."
"...?"
For a moment, Seo-yeon almost asked what that was. However, judging by the name, it was clearly an award given to child actors.
"Since Taesumdal swept everything this year, it’s almost a certainty."
Kang Seong-chan seemed excited as he spoke. Taesumdal had ended with a 45% rating. As one of its leads, it would be stranger if he wasn't expectant. Even Ha Ye-seo’s face was flushed with anticipation.
"You're definitely going to get it," Park Jung-woo chimed in. "Whether you look at the buzz or the acting itself."
Was that a compliment?
Seo-yeon tilted her head, feeling uncertain. At that, Park Jung-woo clicked his tongue and turned his head away. To Seo-yeon, he was a boy who remained utterly incomprehensible.
"Tonight is another night where the stars are shining brilliantly. Standing here, I feel almost blinded by the light."
As they conversed, some of the lights in the hall dimmed, and a spotlight illuminated the stage. The two actors serving as hosts exchanged banter while scanning the audience.
It was a place filled with countless 'stars.'
Seo-yeon realized anew that she was truly standing in such a place.
"Now then, let us begin the KMB Drama Awards."
With a loud announcement, the KMB Drama Awards commenced.
Seo-yeon, who had been sitting there without much thought, belatedly realized that this was a world apart. She hadn't felt it before because it had seemed so surreal.
Looking around, there were actors everywhere. People she had only ever seen on TV were gathered in droves.
"First, the Popularity Award."
On the large screen at the front, clips of dramas aired this year began to play. Among the many KMB dramas from the past year, the most prominent was undoubtedly The Moon That Hides the Sun.
The number of actors listed alongside the nominee descriptions was vast. Among them, only a select few held trophies and gave acceptance speeches. Some actors even shed tears over minor awards.
As the ceremony continued in that fashion...
"And next is this category."
What was originally called the Child Actor Award.
"It’s the Best Youth Actor Award!"
With the host's announcement, the nominees for the male and female youth actor awards appeared on the screen.
There was a child who had gained popularity through a daily soap opera, and another whose lines in a drama had become the biggest catchphrase of the year. Most of them were children who had started acting a year or two before Seo-yeon.
At seven years old, Seo-yeon was exceptionally young even in this group.
Have you thought about what you're going to say today?
Suddenly, Kang Seong-chan's words came back to her. Those words, which she hadn't taken seriously because of the lack of reality, began to swirl in her head.
This is...
Generally speaking, Seo-yeon was fearless. It was likely an influence from her past life. Because she didn't quite know where to feel fear or tension, that trait remained even after her reincarnation, leaving her largely unfazed by most things.
Nervousness.
Seo-yeon clutched her chest. Just as she was struggling to steady her trembling hands...
"Seo-yeon."
Someone grasped her hand.
"Take a deep breath."
It was actress Jung Eun-seon, who had played Queen Dowager Eunhye. She looked at Seo-yeon with her characteristically sharp eyes.
Was she going to say something to her again?
As Seo-yeon looked at her with that thought, Jung Eun-seon spoke.
"...To be honest."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"In the past, I would have said your decision was the right one."
"Pardon?"
"Of course, even now... I don't think your choice is wrong. It’s just that a part of me feels regret, wondering if there might have been another way."
Jung Eun-seon paused, chewing over her words as if contemplating how to phrase them.
"Before, I thought you wouldn't be able to handle your own emotions."
That was why she had told her to stop emotional acting. She had even received a warning from Director Gong Jeong-tae for it, but at the time, she believed it was necessary.
"But my mind changed as I watched you."
Jung Eun-seon had realized many things while watching Taesumdal. She realized that a child actor wasn't just someone to be coddled—they were an actor in their own right.
"You are a strong child, Seo-yeon."
Twice.
She had poured out every emotion in her performance. Once right in front of Jung Eun-seon’s eyes, and once from a bit further away.
The effort Seo-yeon had put into that acting was almost palpable. Having practiced method acting for a long time herself, Jung Eun-seon couldn't help but recognize it.
"An old actress failed to see that out of mere overprotectiveness."
"Oh, no..."
"So."
Cutting off Seo-yeon’s flustered response, Jung Eun-seon spoke again.
"There is no need to be nervous."
As she spoke, a familiar face appeared on the screen.
It was Ju Seo-yeon.
Herself.
The Best Youth Actor Award.
Park Jung-woo’s face appeared for the male category, and Seo-yeon’s for the female category.
Applause broke out. A thunderous, ear-ringing ovation.
A spotlight found Seo-yeon, and Jung Eun-seon gently nudged her back.
"Go up there with pride, as a fellow actor."
Until the very end.
Only then was Seo-yeon able to move her feet. Her racing heart had calmed before she knew it. Feeling her heart return to its usual stillness, Seo-yeon took a step forward.
"Seo-yeon."
As she walked toward the stage, she heard Jung Eun-seon’s voice behind her.
"I’m sorry for before."
Leaving those words behind, Seo-yeon stepped onto the stage.
Just as Jung Eun-seon had said.
As an actor.
"Hello, I am Ju Seo-yeon, and I played the young Princess Yeonhwa in The Moon That Hides the Sun."
She gave a polite, formal bow to everyone, just as she always did.
She looked out at the countless stars before her. The sight was so dazzling that Seo-yeon didn't even know what she was saying. She rambled through the words she had prepared in her head, but honestly, she couldn't tell if she was doing a good job.
"Seo-yeon, are you crying?"
The host asked, sounding a bit flustered. Only then did Seo-yeon wipe her eyes with her fingers.
Tears.
Ah, so you can cry even when your emotions are overwhelmed, even when you're happy.
It was a bit different from the tears she had shed while acting. As expected, this was something she didn't know well either.
The 'her' of her past life had known so little.
"Lastly..."
If it had been sadness back then, it was something more complex now. Seo-yeon took a deep breath and spoke calmly.
"I will work hard so that I can stand here again. So..."
She exhaled and gave a bright smile.
"I will definitely come back."
Those were Seo-yeon’s final words.
Seven-year-old Ju Seo-yeon.
The end of her time as a young child actor.
The end of her early childhood.
And so.
Just like that.
Time flowed on.
Several springs passed.
Several winters went by.
And then, spring returned once more.
The spring that signaled a new beginning.
"Ju Seo-yeon."
Lee Ji-yeon, dressed in a school uniform, narrowed her eyes and turned her gaze.
There stood a girl staring blankly at the sky.
"What are you doing? Aren't you coming? We're going to be late if you don't hurry."
A girl with long, black hair, wearing the same uniform.
Seventeen-year-old Ju Seo-yeon.
"Yeah."
With the same calm face as in the past.
"I'm coming."
A small smile played on her lips.