Chapter 168
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: The Entrance Ceremony
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“Good work, everyone!”
Seojun, finished with his filming for the day, said his goodbyes to the staff and actors. The people preparing for the next scene smiled and replied.
“See you, Seojun!”
“Good luck with your entrance ceremony tomorrow!”
“Yes! Thank you.”
Answering with a bright smile, Seojun headed to the parking lot with An Daho. Once in the car, An Daho quickly turned on the heater. As the car slowly warmed up, Seojun's expression softened into a relaxed one.
“If we leave now, we should arrive before three.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you all ready for the entrance ceremony?”
Seojun's car pulled away. Leaning back against the seat, Seojun spoke in a drowsy voice.
“Yep. I have my uniform, my bag, and I packed my writing utensils.”
“What about your textbooks?”
“They said they'll give them out after the ceremony.”
“A middle schooler already.”
An Daho felt a mix of joy and disbelief. Seojun, who he thought would stay young forever, was now a middle schooler. In three years, he'd be in high school, and three years after that, an adult.
‘Seojun as an adult...’
Glancing at the half-asleep Seojun in the rearview mirror, An Daho pictured him as a grown-up and couldn't help but smile. He had a feeling the adult Seojun would be even more wonderful than he could imagine.
The car was warm and quiet.
The sound of a violin flowing from the speakers was like a lullaby. Listening with his eyes half-closed, Seojun soon recognized the violinist.
“Daho hyung. This violin piece, is it Jayden?”
An Daho smiled at how quickly Seojun had recognized it.
“Yeah. It hasn't been released yet. He said he sent it right after recording it. He wanted to keep it a secret from you and get your thoughts on it. But you figured it out right away.”
“How could I not recognize Jayden's violin?”
The signature touch of the sparkling violin fairy was unmistakable. Seojun closed his eyes and savored the music. The calm melody seemed to soothe his very heartbeat.
“What's the title?”
“In a Dream. Professor Benjamin composed it, and Jayden Moore performed it.”
“I see.”
[In A Dream].
Just as expected from two renowned musicians, it was a truly beautiful piece. The soft, fluffy violin melody felt like it could carry you into a dream, just as the title suggested.
“It would be perfect as a lullaby.”
Seojun's voice trailed off slowly. His half-closed eyelids grew heavier. Just as his blinking eyes were about to shut completely,
*B-Talk!*
Seojun's phone chimed. The sound jolted him awake. He rubbed his eyes and took out his phone. It was his friends.
>Jiyoon: The entrance ceremony is already tomorrow!
>Mina: I know. It feels so weird to be wearing a uniform.
>Jio: My mom told me to please wear it nicely lol. She said the uniform is expensive.
>Jihu: You should wear it nicely. And wear your gym clothes when you play sports.
>Jio: Got it.
>Mina: Is Seojun filming?
Holding the phone that kept chiming with notifications, Seojun sent a message to his friends. The drowsiness that had been creeping up on him had vanished.
>Jihu: It's still daytime. You finished early?
It seemed like they were finishing ahead of schedule more often these days. Seojun and Lee Jiseok, for their part, often practiced together whenever they had free time, so their chemistry was excellent.
‘Park Unyeol is great as always, and Hoyoung samchon has improved even more.’
Seojun could feel that the other actors were also getting into their roles faster.
‘Why is that?’
Seojun tilted his head in thought.
He didn't realize that his and Lee Jiseok's acting was causing the other actors to become even more immersed in their own roles.
Watching the actors perform so fiercely, like true loyal subjects and traitors, he simply thought, *Everyone's such a good actor!* his eyes sparkling.
>Jiyoon: I'm excited for the movie.
>Mina: I think everyone is. There are still a lot of articles coming out.
>Jihu: I've seen a lot of TV stations talking about King Danjong, too.
Seojun smiled at Jihu's message.
Unlike the KBC drama *Naeuiwon*, the movie wasn't limited to one broadcast station, so programs related to King Danjong were popping up everywhere.
>Mina: I saw a travel show feature King Danjong's place of exile.
>Jiyoon: I saw that too! It was so sad T_T They said he was 17 when he died. That's only three years older than us T_T
>Jihu: They also talked about King Sejong. They said he gave duties to the grand princes, who were his relatives, and their influence lasted until King Danjong's time.
>Mina: There was also the opinion that King Sejong had no choice but to entrust duties to the grand princes because of his poor health.
>Jiyoon: If King Sejong and King Munjong had properly kept Grand Prince Suyang in check, King Danjong wouldn't have died T_T
>Jio: What. Did everyone watch this but me?
>Jihu: You were at soccer practice then. And you played games during the rerun, saying it was boring.
>Jio: Ah.
The kids burst out laughing. Seojun also smiled as he typed his message. They chattered on about whether their new schools were close, how many classes there were, and if there was anything unique about them, before Jio sent another message.
>Jio: When does filming end? Let's hang out.
“Daho hyung. Our filming schedule goes until April, right?”
At Seojun's question, An Daho, holding the steering wheel, nodded.
“The original plan was until April, but... the assistant director said everyone is doing so much better than expected that it might be shortened a bit.”
“True. We have been finishing early these days.”
They had already finished filming the scenes that were postponed due to the fire incident.
After that, whenever they finished early, they filmed any scenes they could with the available props and actors at the same location, which allowed them to shoot more than expected. This created gaps in the schedule, and the production company, Danhwa, was scrambling to adjust.
An Daho said.
“They're busy trying to see if they can move up the reservation for the outdoor set. They said it's likely possible since there aren't many historical dramas being filmed right now. They were amazed, saying that while filming schedules often get extended, this is the first time they've seen one get shorter.”
Nodding, Seojun looked at his phone.
>Jio: Then should we hang out as soon as it's over?
>Mina: Let's do it. Where should we go?
>Jihu: What, aren't we just going to the usual places, like the karaoke or the movie theater?
>Jiyoon: Let's go to an escape room cafe!
>Jio: Ooh. That sounds fun.
Seojun chuckled and continued messaging his friends.
* * *
March 4th.
The day of most middle school entrance ceremonies. One school, in particular, was buzzing with excitement. Although there was still time before the ceremony, new students and their parents were already gathering at Yeoul Arts Middle School.
A child who had just run back from checking the class assignment list shouted, their cheeks flushed with excitement.
“Mom! Lee Seojun is in Class 1! I'm in the same class!”
“Really!? That's great!”
The child's parents, beaming with joy, led them towards the classroom. Another parent, watching the family practically float towards the classroom, also started moving.
“I hope our son is in the same class as Lee Seojun! The list is over there. I'll go check.”
“I'll go check. You stay here.”
“Class 1. Please be Class 1!”
For every student in Class 1 with Seojun, there was another in Class 2. Half of the children who checked the list returned with disappointed faces.
“Aw, I'm in Class 2. A different class from Lee Seojun.”
A parent comforted their disappointed child.
“Yeoul Arts only has two classes, so you'll be able to get to know him even if you're in a different one.”
“Still... unless it's a group class, we'll rarely get to act together.”
“If not in the first year, you can be in the same class in the second or third year.”
While the new students headed to their classrooms with tense, nervous expressions, the parents heading to the auditorium were all excited.
A group of parents, who had become quite friendly after their children attended the same acting academy and got accepted together, were chatting.
“I heard not many parents usually go to middle school entrance ceremonies. We weren't planning on coming either... but when else would we get to see Lee Seojun if not at the ceremony?”
“I know, right? Our relatives wanted to come too... but the notice said only family members were allowed.”
“It would be chaos if relatives came. Even distant in-laws would show up.”
The parents nodded, recalling the relatives who had asked if they could come to the entrance ceremony upon hearing their son or daughter was accepted into Yeoul Arts.
* * *
Yeoul Arts Middle School, Year 1, Class 1.
As the door slid open, the eyes of the students sitting in the classroom turned towards it. But upon realizing the person who entered wasn't their target, they let out a sigh mixed with disappointment and anticipation.
Kim Jukyung flinched under the sudden attention and sat down at the desk with her name on it. After setting down her bag and looking around the classroom, she saw that there were more students than she'd expected.
‘I thought I came really early...?’
Last night, Jukyung had been too nervous about starting school to sleep properly.
*Will I be able to make friends? Will the teachers be nice? What will the school be like? Will I be able to keep up in class?* She tossed and turned with all sorts of worries before giving up on sleep and just getting up.
‘Mom and Dad were the same.’
Jukyung's parents hadn't been able to sleep well either, excited at the thought of seeing Seojun in person. They had always been disappointed that she went with her acting coach for the public service announcement filming. Since the whole family was up early, they got ready early and arrived at the school early.
‘So I thought there'd be one or two people here at most...’
Out of the 20 students in the class, almost half were already in the classroom.
Lost in thought, Jukyung was brought back to her senses by the stares. From the snippets of conversation she overheard, it seemed they had just realized she was 'that Kim Jukyung' from *One Step*.
“Hi!”
The girl sitting next to her greeted her. Jukyung smiled and greeted her back.
“Hi!”
“I'm Yang Juhee. You're Kim Jukyung from *One Step*, right?”
“Yeah, that's me.”
Yang Juhee looked at Jukyung with admiration. Unlike Juhee, who had only appeared in print ads and short plays, Kim Jukyung was a truly famous child actress. On top of that, she had acted alongside *the* Lee Seojun.
“I think I'd be too nervous to act if I were with Lee Seojun. You're really amazing.”
“Honestly, I was too. I was so nervous.”
“What's Lee Seojun's acting like in person? Is it different?”
Just as Jukyung was about to answer, the door opened. The students, thinking it wouldn't be him this time either, couldn't stop their heads from reflexively turning. At the sight of the boy who entered, Jukyung's and the other students' eyes widened.
“Seojun!”
It was really,
the Hollywood star, Lee Seojun.
Hearing his name, Seojun spotted Jukyung. He broke into a wide smile.
“Hey, Jukyung! We're in the same class?”
*Wow...*
The students who were seeing Seojun in person for the first time stared at him, their mouths agape. It was because Seojun, wanting to get along with his new classmates, was radiating an aura.
A pleasant, positive energy, like warm sunlight, was creating a sparkling glow.
Someone whispered.
“...I think I can see a halo.”
“Is that a celebrity aura?”
“Oh my god... he's so handsome.”
Seojun scratched his cheek at the students' reactions. In elementary school, everyone had been together since the first grade, so they were all used to it. The expressions on these students' faces, looking at him more like a celebrity than a fellow first-year, felt a little awkward.
‘Well, I'll get used to this soon enough.’
Shrugging, Seojun asked Jukyung.
“You're here early?”
“I was too nervous to sleep well last night. It's the middle school entrance ceremony, after all. And at the same school as you, Seojun. My parents were so excited to see you, they were up getting ready since the crack of dawn.”
“You came with your parents?”
“I went with my teacher during the filming. My mom and dad really wanted to see you, so they came without even opening their store.”
“Their store?”
“Yeah. They were bragging all day yesterday. That you and I go to the same school. That they might get to see you at the entrance ceremony. Their customers were so jealous. I think their main purpose was seeing you, not my entrance ceremony.”
Seojun burst out laughing at Jukyung's words.
The other students watched Seojun and Jukyung with sparkling eyes. Superstar Seojun was one thing, but Kim Jukyung, who was chatting so cheerfully with *the* Lee Seojun, seemed amazing too.
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