The Gentle Giant's Panic
Mom was surprised, knowing the name from a completely different context than I did.
“Kwon Du-il? Isn’t he a boxing champion?”
“Well… he was. He retired four years ago, but once a fighter, always a fighter!”
PD Chu politely smoothed over Mom’s misunderstanding.
The news of retired boxer Kwon Du-il’s transition into acting had caused a massive stir at the time. Mom and I simply hadn’t been in a position to hear about it back then.
Before Mom could grow too flustered, I set the script down with a firm thud.
“This script is really fun! When does filming start?”
At my clear intention to sign on, PD Chu’s face brightened. That glow faded quickly once Mom and I spent nearly two hours poring over the contract and demanding revisions.
“The table read is already next week… Su-a, are you sure this is all right? Isn’t the schedule too tight?”
“We don’t have much choice. The project itself is excellent. Since they couldn’t provide copies on such short notice, let’s go over it as thoroughly as possible right here.”
“Good. Mom will show you exactly how much she’s studied.”
Whenever PD Chu tried to interrupt, we silenced him by pretending to be deep in conversation.
Mom added with a genuinely apologetic expression.
“PD-nim, I’ll be on set as much as I can, but if my schedule conflicts, another guardian may come instead. Would that be all right? You needn’t worry about security. She’s a lawyer, so she’s quite knowledgeable about those matters.”
“Ah, yes…”
Thanks to her, we smoothly added clauses guaranteeing rest and safety, plus a provision holding the at-fault party responsible for any problems. As expected from my mother.
It might have seemed excessive, but it served as a kind of safety net. If anything went wrong on set, PD Chu would remember this clause first.
On the way home after finalizing the contract, Mom grumbled softly.
“Why stuff so many tricks into one contract… If it weren’t for our Su-a, I would have missed several points. We need to secure an agency soon. Let your guard down in this industry and they’ll steal the nose off your face while you’re watching.”
Hmm. She had deliberately been extra strict to keep the PD in check. It really hadn’t been the worst contract imaginable.
It seemed she had raised her standards for reviewing contracts sky-high.
Sharp, slit eyes, a two-block haircut, and a fierce expression. Even four years after retirement, Kwon Du-il had not neglected his self-care and still maintained his muscular build. He climbed into the van his manager was driving.
Thud—
The vehicle rocked heavily as the massive figure—over 190 centimeters tall and nearly 100 kilograms—settled inside. The manager steadied it with practiced ease and greeted him.
“You’ve arrived, hyung-nim. Looking especially sharp today.”
Kwon Du-il broke into a wide grin, teeth flashing. It was the same ferocious smile that had earned him the literal nickname “killer smile” during his boxing days.
“Right? My wife fixed my hair because I’ve got that script reading today. She said since all the actors and staff will be there, I had to look nice and really dolled me up. What do you think? Better than if I’d gone to a salon, huh? But don’t tell Yeon-seon. She’ll get jealous.”
“Everyone knows how talented sis-in-law is. I’d say she could work as a stylist herself.”
“Right? Right?!”
Watching Kwon Du-il boast about his wife like an idiot despite his intimidating appearance, the manager could only offer an awkward chuckle.
He really is a good person, but he looks terrifying…
Still, that unexpected quality worked perfectly for his on-screen persona, and his acting was decent enough that solid supporting roles kept coming his way. His name recognition as Kwon Du-il helped too.
More than anything, Kwon Du-il had an excellent eye for scripts. Every project he called interesting ended up at least a moderate hit. Actors from the same agency would even quietly ask him to review their scripts.
But he had one fatal flaw…
“Look, Won-seok. It’s not that I don’t trust your judgment, but… Do you honestly think a character like ‘Yoo-seok’ suits me? The script itself was genuinely fun, but ‘Yoo-seok’ feels kind of… quirky and sloppy. I’m nothing like that, so won’t viewers find it awkward?”
He was extremely picky about roles.
There was nothing wrong with an actor being passionate about strong characters, but…
With that body, how on earth could he play a terminally ill church oppa who plays guitar!
His tastes were the complete opposite of his appearance, so choosing a script always turned into a lengthy battle.
If he possessed the acting skill to pull off mismatched roles it might have been different, but Kwon Du-il’s ability wasn’t at that level yet. He had only been seriously studying acting for a few years.
Manager Lee Won-seok coaxed him gently.
“Come on now. Have I ever brought you anything that would hurt you? Besides, you promised me. For this next project, you’d pick from the scripts I brought. You’re not the type to go back on your word, are you?”
“No, of course not. Who said I wouldn’t do it? I’ll do it, but I’m worried the fans might be disappointed.”
Seeing Kwon Du-il’s lips start to pout, Lee Won-seok pulled out his trump card.
“What did sis-in-law say after reading the script?”
Kwon Du-il opened and closed his mouth, speechless.
“You sneaky little…”
“Hehehe, what did she say?”
“…She laughed. Said it was really funny.”
“If even sis-in-law—your biggest fan—thought it was fun, are you really going to pass?”
“I’ll do it…”
Kwon Du-il was a devoted husband who had married his first love after ten years of dating; they had met when he was twelve and had been together for twenty years now.
He was so utterly devoted that even though he could have continued boxing longer, his wife’s plea that she could no longer bear watching him get hit had convinced him to retire.
After that, a chance special appearance in a drama became a success, and he had been living quite happily as an actor ever since. He trusted his wife’s words like scripture.
“Still, I’m not sure the filming will go smoothly. Most of my scenes are with the child actor…”
“Mm, that part is certainly…”
They had moved past the character complaint, but this was one issue even Lee Won-seok couldn’t fix. The only child who had never burst into tears at the sight of Kwon Du-il’s fearsome face was his own ten-year-old son.
But there was still hope.
“You never know. Remember that child actor who blew up on Go Jin-gi? I heard she’s playing ‘Da-hee.’”
“‘Min-seo’?! Wow, I want her autograph. That kid is an incredible actor. When ‘Min-seo’ cried, my wife and I cried right along with her. Just thinking about it again is making my eyes water. How can a child act that well?”
“She’s not exactly a little kid. She’s the same age as Jin-ho, isn’t she?”
“Ten years old? She looked even younger. But acting skill and courage are two different things. If ‘Min-seo’ starts crying when she sees me, I might end up crying too. What do I do…”
Well. There was actually something else to worry about… Having heard a few details about the child actor from PD Chu Won-woo earlier, Lee Won-seok was more concerned for Kwon Du-il himself.
But he kept silent and focused on driving.
Which was why Kwon Du-il only realized the truth after stepping into the broadcasting station’s conference room where the script reading would be held.
“Hello! I’m rookie actor Lee Su-a.”
The child actor who had played ‘Min-seo’ looked young because she was smaller than others her age, and he had absolutely no immunity to the sight of such a tiny child smiling and walking toward him.
Kwon Du-il’s face drained of all color.
“D-don’t come near me! You’ll get hurt!”
To that small, fragile life, he was far too dangerous a presence!
Kwon Du-il stumbled backward without even managing to return Su-a’s greeting.
Before the regression, I remembered the first words Kwon Du-il had said upon seeing me.
“You’re so tiny!”
No matter how advanced the camera lenses became, some distortion in the captured image was unavoidable.
That was why people looked noticeably different on television compared to real life.
Of course, Kwon Du-il hadn’t said it with that understanding. He had simply been shocked that I was much smaller than his son, who was the same age.
He sometimes forgot that both he and Jin-ho were abnormally large.
Even when I was in elementary school I had been slightly smaller than my peers, but not to the extent that it would make someone nearly faint.
Meeting two years earlier than in the previous timeline seemed to have intensified his reaction.
As Kwon Du-il pressed himself against the wall, cold sweat beading on his forehead the moment he saw me, the assistant director preparing for the reading asked cautiously.
“Um… Mr. Kwon Du-il? Are you feeling unwell?”
“Oh dear, no, not at all. It’s just that this is the first time I’ve met a child who doesn’t cry at the sight of me—other than my own son…! Usually they cry, or run away, or cry and run away, or get carried off by their mother, so I never get close enough to meet them. But having one this near, what if I move and accidentally bump her? What if my size makes the reading room feel cramped? What if my voice scares her…”
This uncle is seriously overdoing it…
Seeing how badly flustered the assistant director had become, it looked like I would have to step in.
“Uncle!”
I ran toward Kwon Du-il with bouncy, cheerful steps.