Chapter 286
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 286
Chapter Title: The Boy Under the Yellow Umbrella
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Everyone realized what Seojun had been explaining.
Lee Seojun grows up to become Park Dohun.
Of course, it was a difficult feat in reality, but with the character of 'Lee Hyunseong' acting as a bridge, it wasn't impossible.
“But how is that even possible?”
Yoon Hyein asked, unable to hide her surprise.
“Well, to put it simply, it’s like vocal mimicry or impersonation.”
At Seojun's words, everyone wore expressions of vague understanding.
“With vocal mimicry or impersonations, you analyze and practice a person’s songs and catchphrases to copy them, right? Things like their vocalization, voice, timing when singing, and control over dynamics. And the really good ones can fool you if you listen without seeing their face.”
Everyone nodded at Seojun’s explanation.
Come to think of it, a variety show that started a few weeks ago had a similar concept. It was a show where they hid a real singer among ordinary people who were impersonating them, and the goal was to find the actual artist.
“But your voice was different, wasn’t it?”
“Everything except the voice was the same. After all, I’m not supposed to be playing Dohun-hyung’s Lee Hyunseong exactly, but a younger version of him.”
“Can you only do it for Lee Hyunseong?”
“No. I can do it for Choi Yowon too, but I’m still studying him… For Lee Hyunseong, I also need more practice on lines other than this one.”
Everyone was in awe as Seojun smiled, scratching his cheek.
Even though it was only a six-episode series with a debut writer and a debut PD, and he was just a child actor with limited screen time, Lee Seojun didn't treat his role lightly. It was clear this was why he could deliver such magnificent performances.
After Seojun’s performance, which had stunned everyone, the reading resumed. His delivery, admittedly still a work in progress, had less impact than before, but the faint essence of Lee Hyunseong within it made everyone nod instinctively.
“Alright, that concludes the script reading. Great work, everyone.”
At PD Gong Heechan’s words, applause filled the conference room.
“Wow. My shoulders are so stiff.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this tense during a reading.”
Everyone relaxed and started stretching.
With Seojun, the core of the drama, acting with such intensity, no one could let their guard down for a moment after the reading resumed.
“Good work.”
The cameras were turned off, and people began to get up and leave the conference room one by one.
As Seojun was organizing his script, Jung Boram, who was sitting next to him, asked.
“Can you teach me how to do that child actor performance?”
At Jung Boram’s question, those who hadn’t left yet also leaned in to hear Seojun’s answer. After a moment of thought, Seojun began to speak.
“The way I do it takes a bit of time, so I’ll teach you another method.”
Seojun’s method involved capturing the entire aura and performance of the ‘actor playing the character’ and internalizing it, a process that would take a considerable amount of time for most actors.
‘It would take too long for Boram… and there’s no guarantee it would even work.’
When it came to acting, Seojun was more discerning than anyone, and he thought of another way.
“Another method?”
“You create a shared habit between the adult and child roles. Like always starting to walk with the right foot, or covering your mouth when you laugh. Or maybe clapping while you laugh. It could even be picking up your favorite side dish first. Of course, the foundation for all of it must be an action that the character, ‘Kim Seoyeon,’ would plausibly do.”
Jung Boram tilted her head.
“Would something so subtle even be noticeable?”
“That’s why you have to think of a habit that’s natural yet still catches the viewers’ eyes.”
“…That sounds difficult.”
Seojun nodded at Jung Boram’s words.
“It is. Even with the same habit, it feels different depending on the person. For instance, with a habit of touching one’s hair, some might sweep it back quickly, while others might do it slowly, two or three times.”
It was so detailed it was admirable. It seemed that this level of observation was necessary to create the ‘perfect Lee Hyunseong Junior’ they had just witnessed.
After a moment of thought, Yoon Hyein looked at Jung Boram.
“Should we give it a try?”
“Huh?”
“He’s planning on delivering such an amazing performance over there; we can’t just let ourselves be overshadowed. We have to try something, right?”
At Yoon Hyein’s words, Jung Boram beamed.
“Yes!”
“Then let’s start analyzing the character right away. Writer Yoo! Would it be alright if we ask you questions later?”
“Of course, it’s fine! Ask as many as you like.”
Writer Yoo Cheonga smiled brightly at Yoon Hyein’s words and nodded repeatedly. There was no reason not to help actors who were working so hard for the project.
* * *
On their way out of the conference room and down to the first-floor lobby, Park Dohun asked Seojun.
“Seojun. Want to grab a bite to eat?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Kang Taeyoung looked back and forth between Park Dohun and Seojun with envious eyes. Seeing that pitiful gaze, Park Dohun couldn’t help but laugh.
“Taeyoung-ssi, would you like to join us?”
“Thank you! Ah, please speak comfortably with me!”
“Alright. Taeyoung, you can just call me Hyung.”
“Yes! Hyung!”
Seeing Kang Taeyoung answer so energetically with sparkling eyes, Seojun and Park Dohun burst out laughing.
* * *
[MBS Special Project ‘Spring Has Returned,’ Script Reading!]
[MBS Script Reading Interview Compilation!]
[‘Spring Has Returned’ Main Cast! Where is Kang Taeyoung?]
[MBS Script Reading Footage to be Aired as a Making-of Film!]
-They did the script reading!
-But where did Kang Taeyoung go?
=22 Did he not come?
=Nah, he came too early. Arrived before the reporters, so he couldn’t do an interview lol
-I get Kang Taeyoung lol
=Why?
=Kang Taeyoung is a Sprout. A true Sprout haha
=He’s been a Sprout since elementary school. There are even posts he made on the fan cafe.
-lol Is he a successful fan? lol
=Right? How did they end up meeting like this?
-No way, did he go early because he was too excited?
=I get it. If it were me, I would have been waiting since the day before.
=222 Waiting in a tent haha
-A making-of film! That’ll be fun!
=I’m curious how Seojun does his script readings.
=The making-of film for Naeuiwon was super cute haha. I should go watch it again.
-I wonder if he’ll be cute this time too.
=He’s got experience now, so he’ll probably be cool.
=22 Isn't Seojun the most experienced one there, aside from a few people?
=333 He’s been acting longer than Kang Taeyoung.
* * *
Filming for ‘Spring Has Returned’ had begun.
Inside the studio set, staff members bustled about, preparing for the shoot. Kang Taeyoung, who had just entered the set, spotted Seojun sitting a short distance away. His face lit up, and he immediately rushed over to Seojun.
“Hey, Seojun!”
“Hello, Hyung.”
Seojun greeted Kang Taeyoung with a smile.
“Taeyoung-hyung, don’t you have the day off today?”
“Still, it’s PD Gong’s first shoot, so I had to come see. He seemed really nervous, so I brought him some calming pills. How about you, Seojun? Is practice going well?”
“Watching you practice helped me improve a lot. But the performance during the actual filming is what matters most, so I plan to come and watch every day from now on.”
“Really?”
Kang Taeyoung beamed at the thought of being able to see Seojun every filming day. His joy was so evident on his face that Seojun couldn't help but laugh.
“Then, want to get dinner together after the shoot?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“You’re both here early?”
A familiar voice made Seojun and Kang Taeyoung turn their heads. It was Park Dohun, who was scheduled to film today.
“Welcome, Dohun-hyung.”
“Have a seat here.”
Park Dohun smiled and sat down next to Seojun.
“What were you guys talking about?”
“Seojun says he’s going to come watch us act throughout the entire shoot.”
“Really? That makes me pretty nervous.”
Seojun and Kang Taeyoung burst into laughter at Park Dohun’s playful exaggeration.
As they were chatting, Park Dohun’s gaze fell upon Yoon Hyein and Jung Boram, who were talking to each other.
“Looks like they’re having a tough time.”
“I’d imagine so. If they focus on the habit, the emotional acting will suffer, and if they get lost in the emotion, it’ll be hard to perform the habit correctly.”
“It’s convenient for me and Dohun-hyung since Seojun is taking care of it for us… but it’s a bit of a shame.”
Park Dohun agreed with Kang Taeyoung. Creating a character alongside a child actor was a type of performance he wanted to try at least once as an actor.
“But it can’t be helped.”
Seojun was blending ‘Lee Hyunseong’ and ‘Choi Yowon’ in his performance; if Park Dohun and Kang Taeyoung awkwardly inserted themselves, it would turn into a mess.
“I’ll have to give it a try next time I have a role with a child actor.”
“I agree. It would be difficult, but I think it would result in a great performance.”
Seojun smiled at Park Dohun and Kang Taeyoung’s words.
He liked people who tried hard.
And if they were actors, Seojun liked them even more.
“Alright, let’s begin filming!”
At Assistant Director Choi Hyunwoo’s words, the set once again began to bustle with activity.
* * *
And so, filming for the modern-day parts of ‘Spring Has Returned’ continued,
and finally, the day of Seojun’s first shoot arrived.
Seojun’s first filming location was a bus stop, one specifically chosen in a quiet area. Staff members hurried around, setting up cameras. In the distance, a bus approached.
After checking the bus number, Assistant Director Kim Danbi shouted.
“The bus is here!”
“Setting up the lights!”
“Camera!”
The bus stopped in front of the station, and staff members boarded to prepare for the interior shots. Watching the crew move swiftly, the eyes of PD Gong Heechan and Writer Yoo Cheonga grew busy as well.
“There can’t be any flaws. There’s already a huge buzz about the contract with Plus+, you know.”
“Even if something gets filmed, can’t you just edit it out?”
At Writer Yoo Cheonga’s question, PD Gong Heechan gave a bitter smile.
“Things you don’t notice now are hard to spot during editing, too. We have to stay vigilant even when we’re monitoring it later.”
“I see.”
Writer Yoo Cheonga’s eyes glinted as she scanned the set. This was her debut work, a project destined for an international audience through Plus+. She wanted to make this drama, which would remain on her resume for life, flawless.
“The water truck is here!”
Kim Danbi’s shout was heard.
The lighting director scratched his head and asked Assistant Director Choi Hyunwoo, who was standing next to him.
“I heard she doesn’t talk about having good or bad feelings anymore?”
“Yes. She got burned badly once—no, about three times.”
Losing the project to PD Park Gyumin was the first time, the news of Lee Seojun’s casting was the second, and nearly losing it to PD Park Gyumin again was the third.
“Ahh. Park Gyumin?”
“...How did you know?”
Choi Hyunwoo’s eyes widened at the lighting director’s words. He thought that hadn't gotten out.
“You know that thriller Park Gyumin directed, ‘Tomorrow’? Everyone on that team who’s in the know knows about it. Well, it’s not that many people, but those who are sensitive to rumors all know.”
“Wow… this industry is really small.”
It seemed the story Park Gyumin had told his acquaintances had spread.
‘Well, he’s the type to talk so openly in a stairwell.’
“Good for her. It wasn’t her fault, but if she kept talking like that, you can’t help but start to resent her. When that lighting equipment fell last time, I thought my heart was going to stop.”
“Ah, actor Kang Taeyoung was almost hit, right?”
The lighting director shuddered at Choi Hyunwoo’s words.
“If an actor who just had a massive hit got injured while filming his next project, all hell would have broken loose. It’s a good thing PD Gong saved him. PD Gong got a little hurt then, didn’t he?”
“Yes, but he recovered quickly.”
“I was so grateful for that, I introduced him to Writer Yoo….”
The lighting director looked over at where the actors were gathered.
The female leads, Yoon Hyein and Jung Boram. The male leads, Park Dohun and Kang Taeyoung.
“Who knew it would turn into such a blockbuster.”
And there, among them, was Hollywood star Lee Seojun.
* * *
“Filming will now begin!”
At Assistant Director Choi Hyunwoo’s voice, the staff and actors moved into position.
The extras stood with nervous expressions, while Seojun, now changed into a school uniform, tightened his grip on his umbrella. Yoon Hyein, sitting on the bus, immersed herself in the emotions of ‘Kim Seoyeon’.
“Ready,”
PD Gong Heechan’s voice trembled. The unusual strain in it was no illusion. He seemed even more nervous than he had been on the first day of shooting.
Writer Yoo Cheonga, along with the rest of the staff, held their breath, waiting for filming to start. Though they often grew desensitized to watching actors perform day in and day out, today was different.
At the word “Ready,” the water truck started. Artificial rain began to fall from the sky. The bus and the bus stop started to get drenched.
“Action!”
On a rainy day.
Kim Seoyeon was on a bus.
Having to work on a weekend. Normally, she would have called a friend to complain about her boss, but now, even getting angry felt like too much effort.
On such a listless day, the rain only deepened her gloom.
Sitting by the window facing the sidewalk, Kim Seoyeon stared outside with lifeless eyes. The people passing by with umbrellas all looked monochrome.
Her ears felt muffled, as if submerged in darkness.
It was the kind of moment where even the sound of the rain faded away, making her want to just close her eyes and disappear.
The bus Kim Seoyeon was on pulled up to a stop.
A boy and a girl were standing at the bus stop. The bus doors opened, and only the girl, folding her umbrella, got on. She looked young, probably a student.
The female student looked out the window and waved.
Outside, the male student under an umbrella moved along with the girl as she walked toward the back of the bus to find an empty seat. His eyes never left her as he walked in the direction of where Kim Seoyeon was sitting.
The girl sat down in the seat in front of Kim Seoyeon. Whatever was so happy and fun, smiles never left the two students’ faces. They waved goodbye, as if reluctant to part.
With the movement, the boy’s bright yellow umbrella swayed in front of Kim Seoyeon’s eyes.
In that instant, a yellow light began to spread from the tip of the umbrella, bleeding into the monochrome world.
The wind blew.
To block the sideways rain, the boy tilted his umbrella. The angled umbrella completely obscured him from Kim Seoyeon’s view.
Why was it?
Kim Seoyeon couldn’t take her eyes off the umbrella.
The yellow umbrella that had hidden the boy began to slowly lift toward Kim Seoyeon. Centered on the umbrella, color started to return to the monochrome world.
The boy’s clothes, which had been casual weekend wear, had changed into a school uniform.
Kim Seoyeon recognized the uniform from somewhere.
Slowly, the umbrella was raised.
The arm holding the yellow umbrella came into view.
The sound of raindrops, drop by drop, began to seep into her muffled ears.
The shoulder carrying a backpack appeared.
Raindrops streaked down the bus window. Without realizing it, Kim Seoyeon leaned forward.
The yellow umbrella slowly tilted up.
A smooth jawline.
Gently upturned lips.
Flushed cheeks.
A sharp nose.
And then, eyes warmer than sunshine came into view.
Beneath the yellow umbrella.
A boy in love was smiling brightly, like a freshly bloomed flower.
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