Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: How Can I Hold Back?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
How can I hold back?
What must the heart of a mother who has lost her child be like?
Drawing out that sentiment wasn't all that difficult, surprisingly.
As someone with a daughter, I knew all too well how precious children are.
Imagining what it would feel like if something happened to this child was entirely possible.
However,
separate from conjuring that emotion,
acting it out was no easy task for me.
Not because of the acting itself,
but because of the aftermath it brought.
"...Mommy, are you crying?"
"...Uh... Yeah? Ah... No. Mommy's not crying."
"Don't cry, Mommy. Wipe."
"...Thank you."
Our sweet daughter, wiping the tears from my eyes with her tiny, fern-like hand.
I forced a smile and tried my best to calm the emotions,
while recalling the moment that scene on the screen was being filmed.
'Acting that scene was pretty tough...'
The memory I recalled to create that sentiment at the time
was the death of our precious daughter.
The indirect pain of a parent losing a child that I felt through it was far more agonizing than I had imagined.
Thanks to that, I delivered acting so realistic... acting that even hurts my heart to watch now.
But right after filming that scene, my condition had deteriorated so much that I had to go straight home that day.
The scene, completed while fully experiencing the side effects of method acting.
It was an experience I truly never wanted to have again, but the result even moved something deep in my own heart.
I'm a mom with a 5-year-old daughter. Don't get sick, sweetie. Mommy loves you.
At least the hard work paid off—the viewers' reactions were pretty good.
The desperate emotion of a mother who lost her child resonated strongly, especially with parents.
For me, who still had some lingering concerns about Han-seo's coming out(?), this was a huge relief.
Feeling that inner peace,
I tightly hugged my daughter's body, sitting beside me just like the 'Queen Dowager' on screen embracing her son.
At that moment.
Ring ring ring—
"Yes? Oh, PD Seo. Dinner tomorrow? Yes, I'd love to. Alright, see you then."
PD Seo's call, planning another dinner to celebrate updating to 18% ratings.
With ad shoots done and nothing urgent, I gladly accepted.
Of course, less for the meal itself and more to build connections for my daughter.
As always, holding my daughter's hand tightly, we arrived at the restaurant together.
But.
"...Me? Who?"
"Yes. For our upcoming drama, we'd love Actress Chae Soo-jeong to take the lead role."
"Ah..."
PD Seo's request, laced with earnest desperation.
Seeing the youngest PD's eyes sparkling behind him and PD Lee Dong-cheol's intense gaze, I felt quite awkward.
'The lead role... and consecutively, no less...'
Honestly, for this drama, I chalked it up to good luck.
A product that maximized my sole strength—20 years of acting experience as a rookie—through the element of 'twist.'
'Plus, my appearance stands out way more than in my past life...'
Not to brag, but as Plea Goddess's mom, it'd be weirder if I didn't stand out looks-wise.
Anyway, this success was due to these factors aligning perfectly; my acting wasn't that exceptional, by my own cold self-assessment.
Without that major advantage, I had little confidence in nailing the lead again...
"I'm all for it."
"Yu-ra...?"
Ha Yu-ra, speaking with a serious expression.
Perhaps learning from last time, she seemed sober and composed, moderating her drinks.
"This drama firmly imprinted Teacher's presence on the public. We should keep riding this momentum if possible."
"No... that's... um..."
Ha Yu-ra actively pushing me for the lead.
I had a lot to say, but couldn't voice it easily.
In my past life, this drama, The Queen Dowager, Sovereign of Deception, marked PD Lee Dong-cheol's full entry into ZTVC's drama era.
And at the center of that era was Ha Yu-ra, right in front of me.
From unwittingly taking her Queen Dowager role, she went on to shine as the face of the Lee Dong-cheol crew.
Her rise after a hiatus and slump was thanks to that connection.
But here, I snatched the first button,
and now she was pushing me for the next lead too.
If this continued, the future would become increasingly unpredictable.
It wasn't just about a changed future—Ha Yu-ra's career as an actress could derail entirely.
'Me, with my lacking skills, keep stealing Yu-ra's spot? That's no good... I should decline here...'
Yu-ra was still inexperienced and rough around the edges, but her talent was incomparable to my past life's.
To let that flower bloom properly, stepping back felt right.
"Thank you for the high praise. But..."
But then.
"Then... can I be on TV with Mommy again?"
"Of course! Everyone's raving about Actress Seon-hwa's acting too. Oh, and there's a girl part in the next drama's OST—want to try it, Actress Seon-hwa? I heard you sing pretty well before..."
"Yes! I wanna!"
"..."
The exchange between the youngest writer and Seon-hwa.
Hearing it, I made my decision instantly.
"Ahem... Well, I'll review the script first and consider it as positively as possible."
"Thank you. We'll compile and send it ASAP."
PD Seo and the youngest writer beaming.
I'd vaguely deferred with the script talk, but I'd already leaned toward accepting.
Sorry to Yu-ra.
Ah, but my daughter said she'd sing the OST.
How can I hold back?
So, purely for my daughter's future, I decided to give my all despite my shortcomings.
Absolutely not because I wanted to hear my ultimate bias sing.
No way.
But...
"Huh?"
"Wh-what?"
"That person... no way?"
Suddenly, the restaurant grew noisy.
Our group's eyes turned to the entrance where the commotion started.
Then, one person entered my view.
'...Huh?'
Recognizing the face, I was instantly gripped by surprise.
'That's definitely...'
"Ah! Here it is, Lee Sung-min!"
PD Lee Dong-cheol waving happily.
The man, drawing all eyes upon entering, slowly approached us.
Neat black hair, sharp-featured pretty boy.
Last year's acting award winner,
the crown prince of dramas.
Actor Lee Sung-min.
Maintaining his signature cool yet serene expression, he greeted PD Lee Dong-cheol.
"Long time no see, PD."
"It's been a while for you too, Sung-min. How's your father... I mean, the professor?"
"All good. He said to pass on his regards when I saw you."
Unlike the upbeat PD Lee Dong-cheol, Actor Lee Sung-min replied calmly.
The conversation was utterly mundane, yet his thick presence made even this feel extraordinary.
"What could this be about? Why is he here..."
"Who knows... Looks like he knows the PD."
"Didn't you know? The PD's college professor is Lee Sung-min's dad."
"Ah... that's why."
"Even so, showing up to a dinner like this? What for..."
The sudden appearance of someone totally unrelated to this drama.
His aura as a top actor, breathing effortlessly, sparked intense curiosity.
However, apart from that,
I couldn't tear my eyes from him for a slightly different reason.
A memory I couldn't share with others,
locked solely in my mind.
Not of the worshipped superstar Lee Sung-min,
but a past-life memory of 'human Lee Sung-min.'
One sentence surfaced in my head regarding that.
Not pleasant.
But unavoidable when thinking of 'Lee Sung-min'—tied to one incident.
'He's still alive... for now.'
At that moment.
"...!?"
"..."
Suddenly turning his head, Actor Lee Sung-min fixed his gaze on me.
Not someone else—clearly me—as he slowly approached, leaving me a bit flustered.
But...
"Chae Soo-jeong, right?"
"Ah... Yes. That's me."
His somewhat overly serious tone made me reply with mild discomfort.
"First time meeting. I'm Lee Sung-min. I've been watching your acting closely. Meeting you like this is truly..."
"Mommy, who's this uncle?"
"!?"
That instant, our daughter swooped in with a surprise attack.
The ambush on Korea's flower boy superstar, unknown to none, left even Lee Sung-min speechless for a moment.