Chapter 248
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 248
Chapter Title: A Simple Misunderstanding
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A few days before the articles broke.
An acting academy near Yeoul Arts Middle School.
An instructor wrote the names of the characters from the second story of the hard-to-find novel, [Mirror], on a large whiteboard. The students from Yeoul Arts Middle School watched with sparkling eyes.
“Is Lee Seojun scheduled to play this role?”
“Yes.”
As the instructor and the Yeoul Arts students began their character analysis, students from other schools looked on. A group of elementary schoolers who had just finished another class asked the middle schoolers.
“Are those hyungs and nunas getting a special lecture?”
“No.”
If it were just any special lecture, they would have joined in immediately instead of just watching, but this time was different. The middle schoolers gazed at the Yeoul Arts students with envy.
“Lee Seojun is doing the graduation performance for Yeoul Arts this year.”
“Really?!”
At the middle schoolers’ words, the elementary schoolers’ eyes lit up.
As kids who had made Yeoul Arts Middle School their top choice, they knew a great deal about it.
Even though they wouldn't be able to attend school with Lee Seojun even if they got in, just being a student at the middle school he graduated from would be an impressive title to have.
“What’s the production?”
The elementary schoolers listed off the graduation performances from Yeoul Arts that were uploaded to N-tube. The middle schoolers shook their heads and pointed a finger at the whiteboard. The elementary schoolers all turned to look.
“It’s based on a novel. I heard Lee Seojun adapted it himself.”
“Though I’m sure all the writers and directors he knows helped him out.”
The admiring elementary schoolers saw the whiteboard densely packed with text and the Yeoul Arts students taking notes with serious expressions.
* * *
-My friend’s younger sibling’s friend’s friend goes to an acting academy with a lot of Yeoul Arts kids, and they said Lee Seojun’s next project is a play.
A rumor that started with a single comment quickly swept across the internet.
-Whoa. A play? A PLAY?!
-Is this for real?
-But the way it's spreading makes it seem fake.
=Nah, I heard it's true.
-It probably hasn't opened yet, right?
-If it's just his voice like in 'Spring,' it could be running right now.
-What is this? I'm gonna look it up.
Saturday evening.
The news also caught the eyes of reporters who roamed the internet day and night, searching for their next story.
“A play…”
Unlike visual media like movies or dramas, which could be seen by many, plays had a limited audience, meaning actors’ fans had to fight to get tickets.
“Plus, there’s the appeal of experiencing the actors’ performances right before your eyes.”
For an actor like Lee Seojun, who hadn't done a play since the children's play 'Spring,' and who had now been recognized with an Oscar, the interest would be even greater than for other actors.
He was an actor who could make not just fans, but even the general public with no interest in theater, think, "Maybe I should go see it just once."
The reporters, having found their prey, scoured the internet with gleaming eyes.
-I heard it's based on a novel.
=A novel?
-Aren't there a few plays based on novels?
“Based on a novel?”
Another clue emerged.
The reporters began searching for plays based on novels. From bestsellers to children's stories, they combed through everything, including voice-only roles or unusual parts, knowing the actor Lee Seojun was unpredictable.
“This one?”
Then, a familiar name caught the reporters’ eyes.
[Experience the Novel 'The Jurors' as a Play!]
<One of the must-reads for young adults, Song Munseok's novel 'The Jurors,' is being adapted for the stage. Scheduled to open this November… (omitted)... Actor Kim Jongho is set to play the role of Park Wonkyung’s father… (omitted)>
He was part of what was known as Lee Seojun's circle.
“…Kim Jongho?”
The entertainment reporter's eyes flashed.
It was the actor, Kim Jongho.
* * *
Articles began to pop up starting Sunday morning.
[Actor Lee Seojun to Star in the Play 'The Jurors'!]
[Actors Lee Seojun and Kim Jongho Take the Stage!]
[Lee Seojun's Second Play!]
[A Look into the Young Adult Must-Read, 'The Jurors'!]
[Was It Premeditated Murder? Or an Accident? The Judgment Is Up to You, the Reader!]
-OMG! Seojun's doing a play!
-What play is it!! I have to go see it T_T
-Buying tickets!!
=Same here, buying ticke... oh, they're not on sale yet. Hurry up and sell them!!
=...This is going to be a bloodbath for tickets ;;;
-He's doing it with Kim Jongho? This is gonna be good!!
-Isn't this Kim Jongho's first play in like 10 years?
=It's been 8 years for Seojun too!
=I have to see it T_T Who knows when he'll do another one T_T
-Wow. If you're a fan of both Kim Jongho and Lee Seojun... this is insane.
-The Jurors? What's it about?
=The main character is a juror. You make judgments based on what the prosecutor and defense attorney say, so it feels like you're a real juror.
=I recommend reading the book!
=Oh. But what role is Seojun playing?
=...No idea?
* * *
“What on earth is going on?”
Seo Eunchan got out of his car, his face pale.
His wife, Kim Sooryun, was on a two-day trip with her friends, and his daughter, Eunsu, was planning to sleep over at Seojun’s house. He had woken up late, planning to laze around, only to find the entire world buzzing about his actor’s casting in a project he knew nothing about.
After checking the mountain of messages and missed calls, he had rushed over to Cocoa Entertainment, only to find it in an uproar as well.
Team Leader An Daho, who had been called in urgently, and the staff of Team 2, Lee Seojun’s dedicated team, were all busy fielding a flood of confirmation calls from reporters.
“What in the world is this situation?”
Seo Eunchan asked An Daho, needing to grasp the situation first.
“It seems reporters heard about Seojun’s play, but they published the articles without confirming with the company.”
“Why would they run a story without checking first…”
Seo Eunchan ground his teeth at the mention of the reporters. He sighed and asked again.
“But why haven't we issued a correction?”
“That’s because we aren’t sure either…”
“What do you mean?”
Team 2, Lee Seojun’s dedicated team, and his manager, An Daho, weren’t sure about his role? Seo Eunchan frowned, and An Daho, his face clouded, held out his phone.
“This was the first article that came out. The rest seem to have been copied from this one.”
Seo Eunchan looked at the article An Daho showed him.
[Will Actor Lee Seojun Grace the Stage for 'The Jurors'?]
The most likely candidate is the play adaptation of Song Munseok's novel 'The Jurors,' set to open this November. Actor Kim Jongho has already confirmed his role in 'The Jurors,' and given his close friendship with Lee Seojun, the possibility of a special appearance is high… (omitted)>
It was true that he was preparing for a play, true that it was based on a novel, and true that Seojun and Kim Jongho were close, but the rest was pure speculation by the reporter. This speculative article was the cause of the entire situation.
Seo Eunchan, unable to understand why a matter that could have been resolved with a quick correction had blown up to this extent, opened his mouth.
“But Seojun didn't say anything, did he? Team Leader An, you didn't hear anything either, right?”
If Seojun were making a special appearance, he would have said so. His manager, An Daho, and his dedicated team, Team 2, would have known in advance.
“That’s true, but…”
An Daho and the Team 2 staff members slumped their shoulders. Unlike their usual vibrant selves, except during extremely busy times, the atmosphere in Team 2 was somber. Seo Eunchan blinked.
“Seojun’s contract renewal is coming up, isn't it?”
“…It is?”
It was until the end of this year, so about three months were left.
‘I should probably get his sister and brother-in-law’s signatures soon…’
Since Seojun was still a minor, he needed a guardian’s signature. As Seo Eunchan briefly considered going to get the signature today, An Daho’s voice reached him.
“What if he plans to sign with another agency and that’s why he didn’t tell us?”
“…Excuse me?”
‘What in the world is he talking about?’
At An Daho's words, Seo Eunchan stared blankly at him and the Team 2 staff. Taking his reaction as confirmation of their fears, the Team 2 members spoke up with gloomy faces.
“Seojun hasn't said anything either…”
“And you haven't brought up the renewal, CEO.”
“Don't you think Seojun is in talks with another agency?”
“Or maybe he’s starting his own one-man agency.”
At the mention of a one-man agency, An Daho’s face grew even more melancholic.
As the second semester of Seojun’s third year began, Team 2 had started discussing his contract renewal more frequently.
The main points of discussion were that even if he was his uncle, Seojun couldn't be completely without complaints; that his contract was signed when he was a child and his thoughts might have changed; and that another agency might have offered him better terms.
Seo Eunchan looked at the Team 2 staff, dumbfounded.
“Why didn’t you think he would renew?”
“We thought you would have mentioned it sooner if he was.”
The renewal date was approaching, yet neither the actor, Seojun, nor the CEO, Seo Eunchan, had said a word.
It’s said that you can fathom the depths of ten rivers but not the heart of one man. Watching the two decision-makers, An Daho and his staff were the only ones on pins and needles.
Even though Seo Eunchan and Seojun acted as they always did, it somehow felt cold to them.
Day by day, they worried, ‘What if Seojun goes to another company?’, ‘Will I have to move to another team?’ Then, an article about their actor that they ‘knew nothing about’ was published.
When they first saw the ‘The Jurors casting’ article, it felt like proof that the renewal was off the table, and the hearts of An Daho and Team 2 had sunk.
The reason they hadn't issued a correction yet was that they were worried it might be a role Seojun had taken without telling them.
“If casting and correction articles keep coming out, rumors of discord will spread, and that would tarnish Seojun’s image.”
At An Daho’s words, Seo Eunchan’s mouth opened and closed before he finally managed to utter a single name—the one person who could dispel all this worry and anxiety.
“…Where’s Seojun?”
“He’s not answering his phone.”
An Daho replied with a dejected look, and the Team 2 staff members quietly stared at their monitors, their spirits low. In a situation like this, the fact that he wasn't even answering his phone, as if he were truly avoiding them, only made An Daho and Team 2 more anxious.
At An Daho's words, Seo Eunchan bolted from the Team 2 office and got into his car parked in the garage.
“Seojun!!”
Seo Eunchan had been 100% certain of the renewal, so he hadn't even brought up the topic. But now that things had come to this, he had no choice but to head straight to Seojun’s house.
* * *
“Eunsu broke it.”
“Hehehe.”
When Seo Eunchan asked why he hadn't answered his phone, Seojun held out a smartphone with a shattered screen. Peeking out from behind Seojun, Eunsu smiled and looked at her father, who had practically collapsed in the doorway.
“My daughter…!”
Hearing that the reason for the radio silence was his own daughter, Seo Eunsu, who had fallen asleep while playing at Seojun’s house last night, Seo Eunchan instinctively grabbed the back of his neck.
* * *
After leaving Eunsu with Seo Eunhye, Seojun headed to Cocoa Entertainment in Seo Eunchan’s car. As Seo Eunchan rambled on, Seojun’s eyes widened.
“Wait, what are you talking about?”
“They were so afraid you were leaving for another company that they couldn't even call your sister and brother-in-law. They just waited for me to show up. Why didn't you call to say your phone was broken? The articles kept coming out.”
“I just assumed they’d issue a correction on their own. Besides, it’s Sunday today.”
He had thought the correction was just delayed because of the weekend.
“I had no idea they were worrying for a reason like that.”
Seojun let out a light sigh.
The decision-makers, actor Lee Seojun and CEO Seo Eunchan, had thought about it too lightly, while An Daho and Team 2 had thought about it too seriously.
Arriving at Cocoa Entertainment, Seojun walked into the Team 2 office.
Spotting Seojun, An Daho rose awkwardly from his chair, and the Team 2 staff looked at Seojun in surprise. It seemed their worries in that short time had taken a toll, as their faces looked a little worn out.
Looking at An Daho and the Team 2 staff, with whom he had spent the last eight years, Seojun smiled more brightly than ever and said.
“I’m not going anywhere else.”
They had no idea how long they had been waiting to hear those words.
An Daho and the Team 2 staff looked at Seojun with teary eyes. Seeing them on the verge of crying, Seojun continued with a playful expression.
“Even if I did go somewhere else, I’d have to take Daho-hyung and all of Team 2 with me. Sorry, Samchon.”
“Lee Seojun!”
“Ahahaha.”
At Seojun’s hearty laugh, An Daho and the Team 2 staff let go of their worries and broke into bright smiles.
[Actor Lee Seojun Has No Plans to Appear in the Play 'The Jurors'!]
[Lee Seojun Scheduled for Yeoul Arts Middle School Graduation Performance!]
[A Student-Led Production for Yeoul Arts Middle School's Graduation!]
[How to See the Yeoul Arts Middle School Graduation Performance in Person!?]
[The Novel Chosen by Actor Lee Seojun, 'Mirror']
-Ah. So it wasn't true...
-A graduation performance T_T I probably can't see it.
=They said it'll be on N-tube.
-I wanted to see it in person T_T
-But reporters are really just throwing articles out there without checking.
-Wasn't the correction article a bit late this time?
=Right? What's up with Cocoa Entertainment?
=Maybe 'cause it's Sunday?
-Mirror? I should read it.
=But the book isn't available.
=??
=The book is gone!
#