When You Grow Up

Gwon Du-il made no effort to hide how pleased he was, but he still put his finger on the part that worried him most.

"Ye ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Na-ri's camp is going to be quite unhappy about this."

"Writer Lee Ok-dan is going to go persuade them in person. It wasn't a problem with the actress — it was a choice for a better picture. We'll have to hope they understand."

Even if they didn't, no actress in that position could raise a fuss after the writer herself had gone to talk them around. The ending, for all intents and purposes, was as good as changed.

"It's only the ending that's changing, so nobody else's screen time is being cut, and there are parts we'll look after separately. You don't need to worry."

"That's a relief, then."

Ye Na-ri had been unfailingly deferential toward Lee Su-a at the table read, but Gwon Du-il had no interest in the set turning sour over a sequel that might never even happen. All they could do was hope Writer Lee Ok-dan would succeed in persuading Ye Na-ri and her agency.

Gwon Du-il looked at Lee Su-a and smiled.

"'Cheon-yeong' gets to live. That's a relief, isn't it, Su-a?"

"Mm......"

Unexpectedly, Lee Su-a's expression had clouded over.

"Is there no way to save 'Ji-sook' too?"

"Given the way the story flows, that would be difficult."

"If 'Ji-sook' isn't there, why does 'Cheon-yeong' get to live?"

The voice was blunt, but it carried an unidentifiable sorrow. Everyone startled at the strangely sharp remark. Seeing their reactions, Lee Su-a flinched, then added in a dejected little voice,

"'Ji-sook' is 'Cheon-yeong's' only guardian. I don't think I could go on living if I lost my mom......"

"Oh dear. 'Cheon-yeong' is a strong child, so she'll be all right. 'Yang Ho-gun' and 'Kang Geon-bok' will take good care of her."

Hong Il-beom soothed the child with a clumsiness that didn't suit him. It seemed Su-a had come to regard "Cheon-yeong" as a friend her own age.

Even if she separates the "character" from herself well, problems like this can still arise. I'll need to be mindful of that.

For all her sharp personality and monstrous acting, she was still just a child. Fortunately, Lee Su-a accepted it quickly.

"I really hope that's how it goes. Anyway, I'll prepare hard with the revised script too."

"If things go well, we'll shoot a sequel, so I'm counting on you."

"You're already preparing a sequel?"

"That's right. We plan to make it a series."

"Wow. I'll be cheering you on!"

Lee Su-a reacted as if it were someone else's business entirely. She seemed to think that no matter how many sequels came out, they had nothing to do with her.

This kid. Even with the ending changed, she hasn't considered for a second that she might appear in the sequel.

Hong Il-beom felt as though he were lifting the lid of a gift box in front of a child who had been staring at it with utter indifference.

"What?"

"A Joseon Secret Royal Inspector series starring Jo Yong-jin. And then the follow-up series starring Lee Su-a. Wouldn't that be fun?"

"Me?"

Just as he'd expected. Lee Su-a asked it back, looking thoroughly dubious. Hong Il-beom nodded with firm conviction, though his tone turned stern.

"Of course, that's assuming you continue to be a good actress. No scandals, no slacking on your acting practice, and you have to keep loving the work. Brace yourself. It's not as easy as you might think."

Lee Su-a's eyes went round, as if the words had been the last thing she'd expected. Hong Il-beom was just about to savor that adorable expression when the child's gaze clouded over with a bitterness that had no discernible cause.

It looked almost like regret for the past, or perhaps grief for a bond already gone.

But that emotion, whose roots they could not know, vanished before Hong Il-beom could interpret it, and a small smile rose in its place. Over a smile that neither Hong Il-beom nor Gwon Du-il had ever seen before, a familiar joy was layered on.

"Wow! So when I grow up, I get to be the lead in your movie, Director?"

"You didn't forget what I just said, did you?"

"Hehe. I'm really, really good at that."

"What. The acting?"

She was certainly good at that. Hong Il-beom was thinking as much when the answer that followed felt like a blow to the back of the head.

"Loving acting. And never giving up."

Lee Su-a said it as if it were nothing. As if she didn't know what it meant. But her slightly sunken eyes seemed to know the weight of those words all too well.

"I'll do well."

Still, it was a far better reaction than treating the whole thing like someone else's affair, as she had a moment ago. Hong Il-beom looked at Lee Su-a and smiled back.

Director Hong Il-beom said he would send the revised script without delay, and left. Gwon Du-il and Lee Su-a headed back to the gym for the day's workout.

Lee Su-a, who'd claimed she'd never played before, had picked up dribbling in no time and was cutting this way and that, trying to break past Gwon Du-il on defense. Watching that careful face, Gwon Du-il found himself thinking back to the expression he'd seen earlier.

Was that earlier one her real smiling face?

Gwon Du-il had spent a considerable amount of time with Lee Su-a over the past few ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠weeks. Ever since hearing about the family situation from Lee Ga-hee, he'd tried not to let Su-a out of his sight if he could help it. He'd been watching her steadily, checking for any sign that the film was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stressing her out or wearing her down.

She smiles like usual no matter where we go, so I figured she was fine......

But thinking about it, that didn't make sense. Even if Su-a wasn't an ordinary child, she treated everyone with the same smile? Without distinction? That was less about trying to get close to everyone and more like drawing a line with everyone.

"Hup."

"Wha—?!"

While Gwon Du-il's mind had wandered, Lee Su-a slipped the ball between his legs and blew past him. He spun around in a hurry, but she was already at the basket.

Swish!

Shot with textbook form, the ball dropped cleanly through the net.

"Zoning out right in front of me."

Lee Su-a tossed him the ball with a playful scolding. Gwon Du-il laughed, helpless.

"I've gone and raised a tiger. A tiger. You sure this is your first time playing basketball? How are you this good?"

"That's thanks to how well you taught me."

"Honestly. Good with words, good at basketball, good at acting...... Our Su-a's got it all."

Lee Su-a giggled. It was the same smile as always.

So she's drawing a line with me too, is that it? If that's not a smile because she's enjoying herself, but one she puts on out of courtesy, then when does that kid ever actually have fun? Jin-ho cackles if I so much as poke him...... This is hard.

No. At least one thing. He knew at least one thing about when Su-a was happy.

When she could act.

The way she'd smiled like usual so quickly — that had probably been a smile that slipped out unconsciously.

Su-a really does love acting with all her heart......

Then he had to do everything he could to help her keep acting, safely and joyfully. Just as Gwon Du-il was freshly steeling his resolve—

"Hup."

"Wha—?!"

Lee Su-a flicked the basketball right out of Gwon Du-il's dribble. The child who darted in and claimed the ball that had bounced away behind him giggled.

"Zoning out again~"

Gwon Du-il shook his head.

"Aigoo, you little pest."

Still, well...... he thought that perhaps the person closest to that thoroughly drawn line was himself.

The crank-in for Joseon Secret Royal Inspector was approaching. Director Hong Il-beom put on quite an elaborate blessing ceremony. A great offering table was piled with every kind of food and fruit, rice cakes, and a pig's head.

"Su-a, you don't have to do this if it scares you."

"It's okay. I want to."

I tucked bills into the pig's head, offered liquor and incense, made my bows, and came back, and the adults gazed at me as if I'd done something to be proud of.

All that, over something like this.

Even the reporters who'd come to take photos were invited by Hong Il-beom to offer their bows, after which everyone shared the food together. The reporters circulated conducting interviews, and some of them threw questions my way as well.

"Actress Lee Su-a, a word of determination, if you would."

"I'll be learning a great deal from the director and my seniors!"

"This is your first time in a film — how does it feel?"

"I'm really nervous and tense, but I'm excited too. I think it's going to be fun."

"Want a cup of makgeolli?"

"Yes! Wait...... what?"

A veteran reporter held up a cup of makgeolli and laughed heartily. Before something like it's fine to drink if an adult gives it to you could come out of his mouth, Gwon Du-il stepped in.

"Aigoo, I'll drink that in our actress's place! Her black knight!"

"Whoa, looking cool, CEO!"

Gwon Du-il downed the fairly large bowl of makgeolli in one shot and smiled at the veteran reporter. Seeing that thick forearm swipe across his mouth, the reporter smiled awkwardly and backed away.

In the distance, Ha Ji-hyun from the PR team could be seen approaching that same reporter.

Gwon Du-il shakes off the reporter; Ha Ji-hyun soothes the reporter.

Hangil Entertainment's handling of the press was quite something. Maybe even better than in my previous life. Was that thanks to Ha Ji-hyun entering the picture?

I looked at the makgeolli cup with real regret, then quickly averted my gaze.

Makgeolli...... it'll be ten years before I can drink that.

I like alcohol. I used to hold it well, too. I'd left Korea in my teens and never gone back, so I'd never had the chance to try makgeolli.

I was curious, but I'd promised Director Hong Il-beom I wouldn't cause any incidents, so I planned to wait quietly until I was a legal adult.

Well...... alcohol isn't the only thing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I need to be careful about.