Chapter 97
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Audition Participant Number 1: Jin Sun-hu
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Audition participant number 1: Jin Sun-hu
"Jin-woo, do you remember that time?"
"That time when?"
"You know, we came here together before."
Of course I remember.
But I pretended not to know.
I didn't want her to catch on that I was still thinking about Seon-ah.
Acting cool, acting aloof.
But sweet when I needed to be endlessly sweet.
That was me—Hwang Jin-woo—when I was with Seon-ah.
"That time was my first kiss. For women, the first man is unforgettable, but for men, he's just another girl who passed by. Is that really true?"
"Seon-ah."
Seon-ah's lonely expression tugged at my heart.
I didn't want to make her look like that.
What if Seon-ah still... felt something for me?
I grabbed both of Seon-ah's arms.
"Can't we start over? It might be too late, but I'm still..."
"Stop it, Jin-woo. You know it won't work. Or are you saying you'd throw everything away and come to me?"
Throw everything away.
My wife, my daughter, my parents, my company.
She was telling me to abandon it all.
Could I do that?
Could I give up everything and choose Seon-ah?
I pulled Seon-ah into a tight embrace.
I didn't want to face reality.
I didn't want Seon-ah to see me choosing reality over her.
"You can't do it. You can't, so why act like this? Why pretend you love me?"
Seon-ah's eyes, pushing me away, overflowed with a mix of love and hate.
"I really hate men like you."
Despite her accusatory words,
Seon-ah kissed me.
That sweet, heartbreaking kiss,
before it could even remind me of our first,
pulled away from me.
"This is the end for us. Goodbye."
Tears streaming down her face, Seon-ah turned away,
and I couldn't hold her back.
Thud.
"There was no kiss in the script!"
"Oh. Sorry, Senior Su-ah. I was testing if you could handle ad-libs."
Actress Shin Ji-hye brushed off Su-ah's protest with a laugh.
An ad-lib, huh. That explained it.
It was so natural I thought I'd misread the script.
"No need to apologize to me... but still."
Su-ah looked to Mom—actress Im Shin-hye—with eyes pleading for backup.
But Mom just watched me quietly.
With a hint of sadness, a hint of pride.
"Ahem."
I cleared my throat awkwardly to hide my fluster.
A rookie who was too unfazed might lose points.
The sudden kiss scene was embarrassing, but I acted like I was trying to conceal it.
"Um, is there anyone else who'd like to give it a try?"
This time, a young woman raised her hand.
She didn't seem like an actress.
"I'm Lee Yeon-soo from the PR team. I get that Mr. Jin Sun-hu has no issues with his acting. But compared to the other actors we're considering, is he outstandingly superior? That's the question."
Her doubt spoke for everyone in the room.
Just proving he could act competently wasn't enough to take a risk on a total newbie.
It was harsh, but objective.
"Do you have any other unique selling points?"
That was the question I'd been waiting for.
Now, I channeled my inner orator.
"Yes. Actually, I'm not the biological son of actress Im Shin-hye. I'm adopted."
A fact so obvious to me.
But to others, the story of an adoptee was still unfamiliar.
Surprisingly, even some fellow actors and crew didn't know.
Su-ah looked shocked, like it was news to her too.
"I came from a child protection center for abuse victims and was adopted by my current mother, actress Im Shin-hye. My biological parents went to prison for child abuse. If you look it up, you can still find news articles or documentaries about me."
"Ah."
A few glanced at Mom as memories clicked.
They vaguely knew she'd adopted a child, but not that it was me.
Mom just kept her gaze on me.
"Having endured ongoing abuse from my biological parents in early childhood, I was delayed in intellectual development and had language issues when I was adopted. As you can see, I've improved to where it's barely noticeable now. But getting this far took my mother, actress Im Shin-hye, and her devoted efforts."
Someone like Hwang Su-ah, who didn't know my past self, probably couldn't believe it.
They wouldn't even grasp what the disability was.
Crying and screaming at random times...
Looking back, I'm just grateful I wasn't returned.
"Actress Im Shin-hye, who became my mother, started script rehearsals with me to treat my disability. During The Witch's Temptation."
"The Witch's Temptation? That was early in her comeback. You won Best Supporting Actress then, right?"
"Yes. Mom balanced acting and parenting, excelling at both. In acting, she won Best Supporting Actress; in parenting, she raised me—the boy who was intellectually disabled—into a proper actor."
At some point, cameras were rolling in the room.
Good. Film this properly.
And spread the word about how great my mom is.
Even 48 hours of airtime wouldn't cover it all.
"...Even amid her busy shooting schedule, Mom never skimped on time for our script practice.
She carved out sleep and skipped meals to raise me right.
Even as a child, I thought to myself,
I have to repay even a fraction of her devotion.
And someday, if I could become an actor and share the stage with her...
With that dream, I read scripts and practiced acting."
I clenched my fist and scanned the room.
Everyone was hanging on my every word, holding their breath.
This surging emotion wasn't just mine.
"And now, as an adult, I'm here.
This drama Mom prepared for so long.
In its crisis, I thought,
This could be a crisis—but also an opportunity—for the drama and for me.
The lead actor's scandal could be buried under a new actor's heartwarming story,
and for me, it could be the ultimate chance to act alongside Mom.
Respected actors, crew, and everyone involved in this drama.
I'm still immature and lacking. However.
If this flawed me can help Mom even a little, and this drama she's prepared,
I promise to pour out more than my abilities allow.
No one will take this role more seriously than me.
No one will focus on this drama more than me.
I say this with full confidence.
Thank you."
I bowed deeply.
Forgetting to let my voice tremble at the end.
Su-ah wiped tears and clapped.
Actress Shin Ji-hye smiled warmly, applauding.
Everyone else—actors, staff—joined in.
The PR woman who questioned me was sobbing openly while clapping.
And Mom.
Mom couldn't even clap, tears overflowing.
Her makeup would smudge.
I was a bit worried.
Amid the applause, I kept my head bowed for a long time.
A moment later,
as the applause died down, the director spoke up as representative.
"Whoa, this turned into a real audition out of nowhere. We need to discuss after the meeting, so Mr. Jin Sun-hu, step out for now. We'll call you back when we're done."
"Director! What don't you like about my son?!"
"No, no, Shin-hye, that's not it. We have to deliberate properly."
The director fidgeted under Mom's tearful accusation.
Even a director couldn't stand up to Mom.
The room watched warmly.
"Thank you!"
I bowed once more and left the meeting room.
A hot thrill pounded in my chest.
Once out of the meeting room, the tension finally eased.
Whew.
Did I act properly?
I'd never done a real audition, so I was anxious.
But life is all live broadcasts anyway.
I was seasoned in improv.
All that was left was waiting for the results.
Someone like actress Shin Ji-hye might object, though.
Actors and sponsors push their agency folks or connections.
The director and writer seemed pleased, at least.
Wonder how it'll go. I'll probably get it, right?
If I pour my heart out like that and fail... hmm.
Eh. Worrying won't change the outcome.
It'll work out somehow.
"Ah. Soo-jung—no, Seung-hee."
Pondering where to wait, I spotted Seung-hee.
She was in Mom's arms, sniffling with bunny eyes.
"Daddy!"
Seung-hee spotted me and jumped down, running over.
Awkward. I'm not her dad.
"Up you go."
I scooped up the charging Seung-hee high.
She clung to my neck like a koala.
"Thanks, Seung-hee. You really helped Uncle."
"Yeah..."
Seung-hee switched back to shy mode.
After that fierce acting earlier.
Watching her, I was reminded again how natural child actors are.
Even so tiny, she had an actress's aura.
In ten years, Na Seung-hee would probably be a top actress like Hwang Su-ah.
"Thanks to you too, Seung-hee's mom. If I get it, it's all thanks to Seung-hee."
"No. You earned it, Sun-hu."
"Being able to improv like Seung-hee is truly amazing. I want to learn from her. You must have taught her well."
"Yes... thank you."
Seung-hee's mom bowed shyly too.
But Seung-hee's acting was genuinely incredible.
Praise wasn't enough.
"Seung-hee, want anything? Uncle will buy it."
"No need!"
"I want to do something. Kids deserve rewards for good work. You were amazing this time."
Kids need praise for doing well.
And rewards for exceptional work.
Nothing was too good for Seung-hee.
"Hmm~ Hmm~ Then, Happy Meal set!"
"Happy Meal? The one with toys?"
"Yeah!"
"Seung-hee, we said no too many burgers."
"But!"
"Seung-hee's mom, please just this once. For my sake."
"...If you insist that much... Seung-hee, just this one time."
"Yeah!"
Fortunately, Mom approved.
"Shall we go now? It's early, but we can call it lunch. Oh, can I leave yet?"
"Now! Now! Daddy!"
To Seung-hee, I was fully 'Daddy' now.
Her real dad might get jealous.
"We'll be quick. It's right nearby anyway."
With Seung-hee's mom's decision, we headed straight to the burger joint in front of the station.
A burger as thanks felt cheap, but kids don't think expensive is always best.
"Here."
My random toy was a lame mushroom doll.
At least Seung-hee got her targeted princess doll.
"Seung-hee's is the prettiest."
Seung-hee's mom got a turtle.
This was too shabby as thanks.
Maybe send a separate gift.
"Want Daddy's toy, Seung-hee?"
"Yeah."
I decided to just go with 'Daddy'.
Not because I disliked 'Uncle'!
If I get the role, I'll be Dad anyway.
If I fail after this... well, can't be helped.
"I'll give mine to Daddy."
"Huh? You're giving it?"
Seung-hee offered the toy she'd pulled.
She was thrilled with the princess, yet giving it to me.
How could she be so sweet?
"Yeah, Daddy. Treasure it. It's our first gift swap."
"Thanks, Seung-hee. I'll cherish it forever."
It was just a small toy I bought, but it made me happy.
To kids, this is a big gift.
Forever might be a stretch, but I'll keep it safe.
The piano feels empty since Sildi died; maybe put it there.
As we ate our burgers in high spirits, my phone buzzed.
A message from Su-ah.
『Hwang Su-ah: Congrats, Sun-hu! Unanimous pass! Let's work hard together!』
I clenched my fist under the table.