Chapter 294
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 294
Chapter Title: Behind the Scenes
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On a Saturday afternoon, the same week episode 4 of 'Spring Has Come Back' aired.
Glued to his computer, Kang Taeyoung nervously tapped his foot, his eyes darting between the computer and his phone screen.
He gripped the mouse, running through simulations in his head. The website seemed to be slowing down, and he had a feeling it wasn't just his imagination.
"Spring Has Come Back is hitting number one on the Plus+ charts in other countries too, so we'll have a lot of overseas schedules starting next week... Kang Taeyoung. Are you listening?"
"Uh-huh."
"...Doesn't sound like you're listening at all."
Today was the day tickets went on sale for actor Lee Seojun's fan meeting.
Recalling how Kang Taeyoung had been acting—praying to every god in existence yesterday, leaving out a bowl of pure water at dawn today—Jooyong Jin muttered under his breath.
"Maybe I should just schedule something on the day of the fan meeting."
"No way!"
"...You hear that part just fine."
"Hyung, hyung. Help me out."
At Kang Taeyoung's desperate gaze, Jooyong Jin sighed but nodded.
***
A few days ago, filming for 'Spring Has Come Back' had wrapped up.
Seojun, who had enjoyed his days watching the modern-day scenes being filmed on weekdays and shooting the past scenes on weekends, felt a sense of emptiness now that it was all over.
"I want to film more."
"Should I bring you the scripts for the projects that came in, starting next week?"
Seojun shook his head at An Daho's question.
"Mmm, no. After the fan meeting. And I have midterms in May."
Though his voice was full of longing, Seojun was holding a script. It wasn't for a new project, but for the play 'The Mirror'.
"But didn't you already memorize all the lines for 'The Mirror'?"
"I have, but... a play feels different every time you perform it. What if I make a mistake on stage because I didn't even look at the script, just because I've done it once before?"
Seojun grinned sheepishly.
"I only want to show my best side to the fans."
He wanted to present the most magnificent performance to the fans who adored him.
"Oh, I'm planning to practice with my friends after midterms. Right up until the fan meeting."
An Daho nodded at Seojun's words.
"Got it. What about the location? Where are you planning to do it?"
"Can I use the company's practice room?"
"Of course. I'll let the staff know."
Seojun quickly sent a message to his friends. The thought that they might see Brown Black, White, or Red Crown since they'd be practicing at Cocoa Entertainment seemed to excite his friends, who sent back enthusiastic messages.
'...Who's even at the company?'
Seojun's eyes darted around.
The Brown Black hyungs were on a break, so they weren't coming to the company. The White hyungs were busy with individual activities and rarely came by. The Red Crown nunas were on an overseas tour and weren't even in Korea.
>Yang Joohee: ...Talk about bad timing, haha.
>Park Siyoung: I'm a Red Crown fan, so I already knew, hehe.
Watching Seojun exchange messages with his friends, An Daho glanced at the clock and spoke.
"Speaking of which, ticketing is about to start."
"Really?"
"Yeah. 5 o'clock sharp. I hope the site doesn't crash..."
And at 5 o'clock.
The ticket sales site for actor Lee Seojun's fan meeting opened.
Fortunately, thanks to the thorough preparations by the ticketing company, the site didn't crash. It just sold out the instant it opened.
"Sold out already?"
"That's what they say."
It felt like just a moment ago that he had glanced at the clock and thought, *Oh, it's 5 o'clock*. Seojun was stunned by the news from Cocoa Entertainment.
>Yang Joohee: Whoa. It's sold out. There are already articles about it.
>Kang Jaehan: Wow... So many people are going to see our play?
>Park Siyoung: We'd better practice hard, hehe.
Just then, a new message notification popped up on his phone. Seojun, who had been messaging his friends, opened a message filled with tearful emojis.
>Kang Taeyoung: I got a ticket ㅠㅠ
>Kang Taeyoung: Not me, Jooyong Jin hyung did ㅠㅠ
>Kang Taeyoung: This is why they say fans never get lucky ㅠㅠ
Seojun was about to reply when he paused. Messages from Kang Taeyoung were flooding in before he could even type.
'Taeyoung hyung. He types really fast.'
>Kang Taeyoung: Jooyong Jin hyung is giving me the ticket!
>Kang Taeyoung: See you at the fan meeting!! Seojun!!
>Kang Taeyoung: (Puppy waving a light stick emoji)
Seojun burst out laughing at Kang Taeyoung's palpable joy, which came through even in the text messages.
***
[Actor Lee Seojun's May Fan Meeting Sells Out Instantly!]
["This Seat Is Already Taken," The Dreaded Message Strikes Again!]
[Lee Seojun, All Fan Meeting Seats Sold Out!]
-It was a bloodbath again...
=Did you get one?
=Nope ㅠㅠ
-It said sold out the moment I logged in... How do people even succeed at this?
-I want to go so bad ㅠㅠㅠ
-I got oneeee!!!
=So jealous ㅠㅠ
=Seriously, how do you do it?
-Since I can't go to the fan meeting... I'll just have to watch the drama.
=Same. I guess I'm stuck watching him on TV too ㅠㅠ
=At least we have 'Spring Has Come Back'ㅠ
=But 'Spring Has Come Back' ends the week after next.
=ㅠㅠㅠ
The weekend buzzed with news of Lee Seojun's fan meeting ticketing, and then Monday arrived.
Since the four-episode drama 'Tomorrow' had already concluded, a special episode, 'Tomorrow Special,' was broadcast, featuring exclusive footage.
It confirmed some of the interpretations that had been circulating online and also explained foreshadowing that viewers had missed.
After the 'Tomorrow Special' ended, a commercial for writer Oh Youngchul's new rom-com drama aired.
-It's been a while since I watched such a good drama.
-Looks like MBS is finally getting its act together.
=Same. If it's an Oh Youngchul drama, it should be good.
=Even if it just inherits the ratings from 'Tomorrow' and 'Spring Has Come Back', it'll be a decent hit, haha.
-I wish tomorrow would come faster! I want to watch 'Spring Has Come Back'!
And then, Tuesday.
Episode 5 of 'Spring Has Come Back' aired.
The commercial shoot for the major corporation spanned several days. Around the midpoint of the shoot, Team Leader Lee Hyunsung gathered the staff and Director Choi Yuwon with a grave expression.
"A DUI?"
It was as if they were cursed.
The last model was the victim of a car accident; this one was the perpetrator of a drunk driving incident.
Kim Seoyeon pressed a hand to her forehead. The other staff members' faces also grew grim.
This was different from last time, when they had been able to switch models. That commercial had focused mainly on the 'product', so replacing the model, who was essentially part of the background, had been possible.
But this time, the model was a fairly famous idol. It was a situation that naturally drew sighs.
The gazes of Director Choi Yuwon and Team Leader Lee Hyunsung turned to Kim Seoyeon. They both remembered her turning pale from a similar incident not long ago.
However, contrary to their worried glances, Kim Seoyeon didn't fall into a panic like she had before.
"Should I contact the client right away, Team Leader?"
"Director Choi. If we find a new model, how long will it take to reshoot?"
Far from panicking, Kim Seoyeon was already trying to resolve the situation. Director Choi Yuwon and Team Leader Lee Hyunsung found themselves smiling unconsciously before they caught each other's eye and narrowed their gazes.
Oblivious to the silent battle between the two men, Kim Seoyeon tackled the work just like the bright, eighteen-year-old version of herself.
Contacting the client, holding meetings with the other staff, rescheduling the shoot, and casting a new model.
Episode 5 ended with Team Leader Lee Hyunsung and Director Choi Yuwon watching Kim Seoyeon, who seemed to sparkle despite being busy.
-Doesn't Kim Seoyeon seem a lot brighter than she was in episode 1?
=Same. Honestly, she had zero vitality on the bus in episode 1.
=And the panic scene in episode 2. I know what that feels like, so it was even more heartbreaking. It's like everything you've been holding in just explodes.
=Isn't it like that during exams? You get so nervous your mind goes blank. Then you remember everything after it's over, which is even more frustrating.
=Yeah, there are times I really want to cry during an exam, haha.
-I think I know why Kim Seoyeon has brightened up. Reality is so harsh and difficult, but she's healing through the memories of Yoo Sungjin that occasionally surface.
=Same. I get it. I get through my work days by thinking about past trips.
=For me, it's dramas, haha.
-Doesn't it feel like Kim Seoyeon is finding her original personality again?
=Same. If you watch the past scenes, the original Kim Seoyeon was a really cheerful person. It seems like the grind of society changed her.
=I wasn't always like this either, haha.
=Me neither. I had quite the personality back in school, haha.
"Episode 5 of 'Spring Has Come Back' hit 28% ratings!"
Cheers erupted in the MBS drama department, which had been monitoring the ratings in real time.
"We really should have extended it to 24 episodes!"
The department head's regretful words made CP Kim Jinmyung and PD Gong Heechan laugh.
"We wouldn't have gotten these ratings if we had."
"The drama is good, but the real buzz is because of actor Lee Seojun."
Remembering the issue with PD Park Gyumin, the department head nodded with a look of disappointment.
"The 'Spring Has Come Back' special. Are the preparations for the broadcast going well?"
"There are so many good scenes, we're having trouble deciding what to cut."
After a moment of thought, the department head replied to PD Gong Heechan.
"Then should we extend it and air it in two parts? We could probably pack it with commercials."
"...We don't have that much footage."
"Oh, really?"
Seeing the department head's genuine disappointment, CP Kim Jinmyung and PD Gong Heechan could only offer an awkward laugh.
***
Monday of the sixth week, 10 PM.
The [Spring Has Come Back Special] aired.
Viewers were amazed by Seojun's performance at the script reading.
<Yes. I watched Dohun hyung's and Taeyoung hyung's previous works, but their characters were so different, it was difficult. So I was observing them during the script reading. Hmm. I guess it showed on my face without me realizing.>
He was so focused on observing that he hadn't noticed.
Everyone blinked as Seojun smiled shyly.
-Copying their expressions is so cute!
-His smile is so adorable... but he's saying something incredible so casually.
<Hmm. To put it simply, it's like vocal or celebrity impressions.>
<With impressions, you analyze a person's songs and catchphrases and practice mimicking them, right? Things like vocalization, tone, timing when singing, and controlling the dynamics. The really good ones can fool you if you're just listening without seeing their face.>
<Everything except the voice was the same. After all, I'm not playing Dohun hyung's Lee Hyunsung himself, but Lee Hyunsung's younger self.>
<No. I can do Choi Yuwon too, but I'm still studying him... For Lee Hyunsung, I still need more practice with lines other than this one.>
-So this is why everyone's always talking about Lee Seojun. He really pulls it off with practice.
-Is this the secret to his acting? I couldn't copy it even if I wanted to.
-He's just a child actor, but he works this hard.
-...Is this really the same as celebrity impressions and vocal mimicry?
=Nah, he's just explaining it in simple terms.
-But the singers whose styles we can distinguish are famous and we're used to hearing them, right? It's not like Lee Hyunsung and Choi Yuwon are that ingrained in our minds.
=That's what makes Lee Seojun so amazing. He does the impossible, haha.
=As expected of Lee Seojun...!
Next, a scene from the filming set was shown.
The set for the past scenes.
The camera showed the heartwarming scene of Seojun and Jung Boram filming, surrounded by large cameras, dazzling lights, microphones for recording, and numerous staff members.
-So this is what it's like on set. Can they even concentrate?
-No matter how many times I see it, actors who can perform in these conditions are truly amazing.
<Cut, okay!>
The moment PD Gong Heechan finished speaking, the pink, lovey-dovey atmosphere vanished, making viewers rub their eyes in amazement. The sweet scene from just a second ago felt like a mirage.
-So this is what they call business...!
-Haha, the on/off switch is so drastic, haha.
=They seem like friends, but it's hilarious how professional they are, haha.
=They're classmates, apparently, haha.
-I knew about Seojun's on/off switch, but Jung Boram is great at it too.
Next was the set for the modern-day scenes.
Even though it wasn't a past scene, viewers tilted their heads in confusion seeing Seojun and Jung Boram on camera. As if to answer their unspoken question, Park Dohun spoke to the camera.
<Both actors come to watch every shoot so they can act similarly to their adult counterparts. They're studying to better portray their roles.>
The camera focused on Lee Seojun and Jung Boram, who were sitting in chairs, watching Kang Taeyoung and Yoon Hyein film. Though the two young actors still had a youthful air about them, their gazes were as intense as any adult's.
<Who else would study this much just to play a child role with limited screen time, all to prevent viewers from feeling a sense of disconnect? Their acting skills are one thing, but their dedication is truly remarkable.>
Hearing the pride in Park Dohun's voice, the viewers also nodded in admiration.