Chapter 42
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Casting Offer
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The long, long performance finally ended, and just like that, overnight I was out of a job.
I had originally planned to head straight to Emergency Iron 777 the very next day after the show wrapped.
But the day after the performance ended.
I snapped my eyes open to find the sun high in the sky.
Startled, I bolted upright and toddled into the living room.
Mommy! Why didnt you wake me up!
Huh? Siu, you dont have to go to the practice room anymore.
I was supposed to go to the troupe with Uncle.
Just in case, I hurried to the small room, but Uncle had already left for the troupe.
Not all the actors headed out early, but Uncle, who played minor roles, always arrived ahead of everyone else to tidy up the practice room, do some cleaning, and wait for the others to show.
Hed practice on his own to his hearts content, too.
It had been a while since Id watched Uncle act, and Id wanted to see how much hed improved, but Id ruined all my plans.
After confirming the empty small room, I trudged back to the living room with a dejected look on my face.
Mom spotted me and said with a smile,
I told them not to wake you on purpose. Youve been working non-stop these past few months. Its okay to sleep in for a day.
Dunno.
I stuck out my lower lip and plopped my chin on the table.
I had no appetite.
Want me to make some soup?
Mmm.
I nodded faintly.
Of all things.
It just had to be my favorite breakfast menu lately.
Mom smiled as if shed known it all along and started preparing the corn soup.
I like that you work so hard, Siu, but I also want you to go out and play like other kids. Catch up on your dramas, sleep lots...
Muuung?
I slurped the warm soup Mom had ladled into a bowl with a clink.
I glanced up at Moms gentle murmur as she sat across from me.
You havent watched TV lately, have you? You could watch it all day
.
I quietly lifted the bowl and drained the soup.
Then I dashed to the sofa, grabbed the remote, and plopped down.
Mom sat beside me with a smile.
I wanna watch this.
Go ahead.
Phew, Mom knows me too well. Thats worrying.
Before I knew it, Id completely forgotten about heading to the troupe and was engrossed in my backlog of dramas.
This little body of mine must have been more worn out from the past few months schedule than Id realized.
With the tension gone, fatigue I hadnt even noticed came crashing in.
Mom had a point, so I decided to take this chance to rest properly.
Body management is life for an actor, after all.
It was a week completely different from the past few months.
When my eyes got dry after binge-watching dramas for hours, Id go grocery shopping with Mom for a walk, then take a long nap when we got back.
In the evenings, Id go see a late-night movie with Dad after he got home from work, or sleep late and wake up late in leisurely fashion.
Mmm, yummy.
Yeah? Should I bring two tomorrow?
With my mouth full of Dads fried chicken, I nodded.
After days of eat-sleep-eat, my cheeks felt even puffier.
Siu! Look what Uncle brought!
After fully resting for a week like that, Uncle came back from the troupe and handed me a gift.
It was none other than Kang Yonghwis new script.
Wow!
Director Kang asked me to bring it to you.
Thanks, Uncle!
I started to hop off the table mid-chicken bite.
I clutched Kang Yonghwis script tightly in my hand.
Siu, Dad brought chicken. You have to eat this.
Um.
But I froze at Moms low, steady voice.
I want to read it so bad.
Right now.
What character had Kang Yonghwi created this time? What story?
What wild tale was packed into that thick stack of paper?
I was dying of curiosity.
But ignoring Moms stern tone felt like itd get me in big trouble.
I meekly set the script aside and munched on the chicken obediently.
Read it starting tomorrow morning? Its too late tonight.
Eek, no way!
Siu, if you keep this up, you wont grow tall? Didnt you say you wanted to be as tall as Mr. Moon Heesung?
Urgh.
I agonized over Moms follow-up words.
Every time we met, Moon Heesungs height made my neck ache just looking up.
Whenever I came back from his house, Id say Id grow taller from it, so Mom always poked at me like this to motivate me.
Sure enough, a decent height was crucial for landing lead roles later on.
With a serious face, I wrestled with it, then squeezed my eyes shut and nodded.
Good boy, my Siu.
Mmm.
I replied glumly and finished my chicken.
Even in the midst of this, Dads chicken was delicious as ever.
Dad said his chicken shop had become famous as a hot spot after the World Cup, and business was booming.
Thats why hed been coming home late lately, and I hardly saw him while doing the show.
By the time I crashed from practice exhaustion, hed get home.
Argh, fine.
I havent spent much time with family lately anyway!
I changed my mind and chowed down on the chicken.
The script wasnt going anywhere; Id read it tomorrow.
Siu, want some cola?
No! I want milk!
Oh? Alright.
Dad poured me milk with a surprised look.
Mom rarely let me have cola except with chicken, so I always paired it that way.
But today, with Mom on about height, it was on my mind.
To grow tall, milks the way, obviously.
I stuffed myself with chicken and chugged a big glass of milk.
Kaaah!
Haha, Siu. You drink like its beer.
Uncle, eating chicken across from me, laughed.
Im gonna grow taller than you, Uncle.
Ugh, why poke at my sore spot. Even youre calling me short?
Uncle replied with a gloomy face.
Yeah, go big or go home with goals.
My target physique: Moon Heesung!
Hmm-hmm, hum!
I hummed a tune as I headed to the living room.
Id been sleeping in lately, but today I woke early, washed up quick.
One hand held Kang Yonghwis script, the other a cushion, and I settled on the living room floor.
Heave-ho.
I laid the cushion on my belly, flopped prone, and opened Kang Yonghwis script.
Five Teachers, One Student
The title was weird right off the bat.
Eager to see what story hed spun this time, I flipped open the cover.
Oh, ooh.
I flipped pages excitedly, kicking my legs.
Kang Yonghwi, as expected.
The script was super fun.
The play starts with a new student arriving at a rundown elementary school on the brink of closure.
Its about the five teachers who stuck it out till the end and the unexpected first-grader who shows up.
Ooh, fun.
I could tell at a glance.
Kang Yonghwi wrote this script for me.
A story about a kid just starting elementary school, of all placesit was like he was asking me to act in it.
And I was hooked the moment I saw it.
As the title suggests, the new student is the lead.
Everything revolves around them, so tons of lines and a hefty role to chew through.
I could already picture how Kang Yonghwi would direct certain scenes and how Id respond.
Great, great.
Twenty years solo writing and acting plays.
Even Oscar Pitt acknowledged me, Noah Battenberg, and this had brilliant ideas, structure, story.
The only shame was the budget limits keeping the scale small.
On the flip side, crafting peak synergy in those constraints made Kang Yonghwi seem even more impressive.
I finished the script in a flash and nodded to myself.
This script is seriously appealing.
Oh yeah, Kim Sangcheol said someone was coming today and to head to Emergency Iron 777.
Perfect timing. Id chat with Kang Yonghwi while Im there.
Mommy! When we going?
Hmm, Mommy in ten minutes.
Moms slow.
Lets head out already.
Hello.
I went into the directors office with Mom and sat on the sofa.
Come in, come in. Long time no see, Sius mom.
Yes, its been a while.
Chamomile for Siu today, too?
Yes.
I nodded at Kim Sangcheols words, then tilted my head at the pair opposite me.
While Kim Sangcheol clinked around preparing my tea and Moms coffee, I eyed the man and woman across.
Not people Id seen around the troupe.
Id greeted famous actors and directors in Daehangno, but these were total strangers.
Hmm, no clue who they are, but I just wanna drink my tea and go.
I needed to talk to Kang Yonghwi about the script Id just read.
Here, this is yours, Siu.
Thanks.
I took the tea quick.
And the reason I called you today is to introduce these folks.
Mmuung?
Id been blowing on my hot tea when I looked up at Kim Sangcheols words.
Hello, Im from KMB Broadcasting. Cha Ilnam PD.
Im writer Han Yuju. Same station.
Heres my card. For your mom.
Ah, sure.
KMB Broadcasting?
Mom and Uncle once said its where they make and air the dramas I like.
Moon Heesung heads there for shoots, too.
You make dramas?
I couldnt hold back my curiosity and asked first.
Oh, you know about dramas? Right, yes. My latest was Nice Psycho. Wonder if you saw it.
Oh, you made that? I know it.
Cha Ilnams smash hit Nice Psycho had ended less than a year ago.
Mom nodded like she knew it too.
Cha Ilnam beamed, as if hed expected that.
Meanwhile, I lost a bit of interest since I hadnt seen it.
I couldnt watch much TV during People in the Attic House rehearsals, and plus, Mom had nixed it as too sensational.
But I havent seen that one. KMB does If Living, Like Dew, Meow Teacher, and Five Daughters, right?
I hadnt seen that one, but I watch plenty of dramas usually.
Lately, Id been at Gwanghwamun Cultural Center all day, so less TV, but still.
I vowed to sneak-watch Nice Psycho when Mom wasnt around.
Ooh, Siu watches a lot of dramas, huh? Spot on. Were from the station that made those.
And Meow Teacher was by PD Cha Ilnam, too.
They lit up at my words and replied fast.
Han Yuju eagerly pointed him out.
Oh, got it.
Id been meh, but now a spark of interest.
PD seemed like director, like Kang Yonghwi.
Wow, really? I loved that one.
Haha, glad to hear it.
Glad? Why glad?
I stared at them with clear eyes.
The beaming pair exchanged glances, then fell silent.
Han Yuju put on a grave face and spoke up.
Truth is, we came today because we want to cast you, Siu.