Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Child Role Audition
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♪ Pa-pa pam-pam-pam, pa-pa-ra-ba-ba, pa-pa-ra-ba-ba, pa-pa-pa, pa-pa-ba-bam ♪
"Ugh..."
A sound so familiar yet utterly loathsome.
The number one song despised by men from my past life in Korea—something you had no choice but to endure.
But thanks to it, the alarm's wake-up effect was undeniably top-notch. Hearing that sound, I slowly rose from bed.
Current time: 6:30 a.m.
Considering my usual wake-up time, it was quite early. Even so, I had to get up now.
Today was a very important day.
It might even be the most important day of my life.
"Ugh..."
As I sat up in bed, a soft whimper reached my ears.
It reminded me of a puppy whining because it didn't want to get up—adorable and utterly lovable. Smiling faintly at the source of the sound lying beside me,
Even in sleep, those delicate, fern-like hands clung tightly to my body.
Chae Seon-hwa, the future world star who had just turned seven this year.
For the record, she took my surname instead of her father's.
Partly because I'd been a man in my past life, but mostly because I had no desire to carry traces of her late father in her name.
"Awake already, my Seon-hwa?"
The little girl wriggling right next to me.
Seeing my good daughter—who'd been an angel without a hint of trouble since she was a baby—I spoke with all the tenderness of a mother.
"Yeah... Seon-hwa's still sleeping..."
"Oh? Snoring away?"
"Yeah... snoring away..."
As she said that, my princess rubbed her face against my bare chest, where my undergarments had slipped off.
Honestly, if this had happened with my ultimate bias from my past life, I might've died of a heart attack beyond mere shock or joy.
But seven years after reincarnating, this level of contact was just everyday mother-daughter normalcy.
Well... last night, she'd groped and suckled my breast in her sleep, so the skinship felt a tad excessive. But since it was a habit from her early childhood, I didn't see it as a big issue.
Besides, even I thought my breasts were impressively large and splendid.
When you see a fluffy blanket, you just want to flop onto it. So, having these right in front of you, wanting to touch them was only natural.
Especially since it was my daughter, who'd been legally latching onto them since infancy. This was probably just par for the course... right?
Plus, in my past life, she'd grown up lonely without parents. So this clinginess filled me with maternal pride.
But.
"Hee-hee, sorry, my princess. But we really need to get up now. Like I said yesterday, today's a big day."
"Ugh..."
I gently stroked her head while slowly prying her face from my breast.
She yielded without resistance to my firm tug and pulled away.
"Come on, up you get. Wash up and have breakfast."
"Yaaawn... Okay, Mom."
At my gentle but unyielding words, my daughter finally gave in.
Rubbing her eyes, she climbed out of bed. Smiling, I slipped on fresh undergarments—feeling them oddly snugger again—and got up myself.
Today's major event.
For the debut of the future world star.
*
"Those here for the Tears of the Queen Consort child role audition, please follow me this way."
A neatly dressed woman in a suit with a crisp demeanor.
At her guidance, the crowd in the ZTVC lobby surged forward.
"Over there—hurry!"
"Mom... I need the bathroom..."
"Don't forget your lines. Stay sharp and do your best."
"I'm sleepy... I wanna go home..."
"Argh, what's with you? Just stay put."
About forty people gathered here.
Including me and my daughter, it was a group of mothers each with a young child in tow, all united by one goal.
A fusion historical drama from the small over-the-air broadcaster ZTVC.
The child actress audition for the supporting role in Tears of the Queen Consort.
The role itself wasn't particularly prominent—a minor part.
And the drama wasn't anything groundbreaking in my past or present lives.
The audition notice had been poorly promoted too, so most participants were just testing the waters, hoping their kid might get a shot at showbiz.
If not for my past-life memories, even I might not have known about it.
Among my vivid entertainment industry recollections—which stood out more than others—this was barely a blip, only recalled because a junior actress had landed a supporting role here.
Still, despite it being a run-of-the-mill audition, I'd been hawk-eyed for months, waiting for this chance for my daughter. The moment the notice dropped, I applied and came straight here.
It wasn't about launching her full entertainment career.
This event-style audition wasn't ideal for real growth anyway.
What I was after was résumé credit.
Unlike child actors who could start as young as four or five, idols typically began formal training in upper elementary school at the earliest.
Singing was best learned after the voice matured.
Yet I'd brought her here today for one reason alone.
To smooth her future path as an entertainer.
With over twenty years in the industry from my past life, I knew its inner workings all too well.
The hierarchy lingered, less rigid than before but still strict.
Debut timing was especially unforgiving, tied to strict senior-junior generational lines.
Unless there was a huge age gap, even massive popularity differences meant juniors bowed to seniors first.
Child acting wasn't always counted as a debut, but most respected it as prior experience, giving leeway on generational hierarchy.
This was both a title grab and valuable experience for her future stardom.
Feeling the stares drawn our way—likely to my pretty daughter—I gripped her hand tighter, especially clingy today.
"Mom. Seon-hwa will do great. Watch me."
"Hee-hee, I will. No pressure, okay?"
My daughter clenched her tiny fist, eyes sparkling with resolve.
It seemed determined, but to me, my seven-year-old was just irresistibly cute—I wanted to nibble her.
Regardless of her determination, I wasn't worried.
I'd seen her acting talent firsthand in my past life.
And through recent practices, despite her young age, her gift shone clear.
Even her looks outclassed the others—enough to spark wary glances.
Not empty words: if she performed as practiced, I was certain she'd pass.
But then.
"Pardon?... N-no, what do you mean all of a sudden..."
"?"
In the corner of the studio.
The suited woman who'd guided us suddenly looked flustered.
Sensing something off, a question stirred in me.
*
"What do you mean? She can't come?"
"She got into an accident on the way... Fortunately, it's not serious, but she said she needs to go to the hospital."
"Haa..."
Seo Ji-tae, PD for ZTVC's drama team. He couldn't help frowning at the bolt-from-the-blue news.
A sudden car accident involving the actress en route to the audition.
The audition itself was more event than essential—a broadcaster initiative to nurture child actors.
But with drama ratings slumping and recent scandals souring the station's mood,
This mishap plunged his already foul mood to rock bottom.
"What's up? Why the funeral face?"
"Haa..."
A familiar voice suddenly rang out.
His entry and current supervisor—head of the second drama department.
Lee Dong-cheol PD.
In the studio on other business, he eyed his subordinate—but off-duty friend—Seo Ji-tae with concern.
"Well, you see..."
To his worried friend's question—and since he'd have to report it anyway—Seo Ji-tae spilled the details.
"Jeez, everything's going wrong lately. First the cafeteria food poisoning laid out half the cast. Now a car crash?"
"We need to scramble someone ASAP, but no one's available..."
"Yeah, most are shooting, and the rest are hospitalized."
"This sucks... Haa. Can't delay for shooting schedule. Should we just cancel?"
For adults, maybe, but child actors—still immature—almost always needed an adult counterpart.
Plus, though event-like, it was a real role. Checking chemistry beforehand was key.
As they floundered, the observing suited woman—the youngest writer, Lee Ha-neui—spoke cautiously.
"Um... if it's that bad, why not ask the guardians over there?"
"Huh?"
"What're you saying?"
The two PDs perked up slightly.
Lee Ha-neui proposed what she saw as the best option.
"We can't postpone, and canceling outright feels risky, right? Why not explain honestly and have them act with their kids for selection?"
"True... the scene's just the Queen Consort talking to the young princess anyway."
"But chemistry with the actress..."
"Can't nitpick now. Better than backlash and apologies later. We'll figure acting out later."
Seo Ji-tae PD was reluctant, but under supervisor Lee Dong-cheol PD's directive, they adopted the junior writer's idea.
Rooted in the unforeseen accident, they still needed to show "we tried" to quash rumors.
Especially with pushy stage moms involved.
Decision made, Lee Ha-neui and Seo Ji-tae explained the situation to the crowd, apologizing and seeking understanding.
Meanwhile, as department head, Lee Dong-cheol decided to observe and scanned the participants.
Given the venue, most kids and moms had decent looks.
But as a drama PD, none truly caught his eye.
'Looks matter, but aura's even more crucial.'
Being pretty differed from commanding attention. For actors needing to captivate, aura trumped mere beauty.
No matter the face or talent, without that "pull," stardom was tough.
He figured most here wouldn't cut it as actors.
'Short on talent for the new project, but no one's usable here.'
Then.
'Hm?'
Casually surveying, one figure caught his eye late.
Black hair, mysterious violet eyes.
A refined beauty that belied motherhood.
Toward the back, so spotted late.
Yet she eclipsed everyone around her, locking his gaze.
The moment he saw her, Lee Dong-cheol's eyes instinctively gleamed.