Chapter 44
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: I'll Finish the Script!
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Then Ill finish the script and come back. Siu, how about thinking it over again after you see it?
Han, Writer Han...?
Cha Ilnam turned to her in shock at Han Yujus sudden declaration.
She looked like shed already made up her mind and spoke confidently.
Cast Nam Yeonsu or whoever for the meantime, Senior. Its me, Han Yuju. Dont you trust me?
Unlike Cha Ilnam, who was on the verge of giving up, Han Yuju was burning with determination.
I stared at her, eyes wide at her bold words.
No, no, no. Youre saying casting wont be done until the full scripts ready? What about script readings and the other schedules...!
Youll figure something out, Cha PD. You saw my script, right? This dramas dead without Siu. You admitted that yourself.
Oh ho, so thats how it was.
Theyd both been even more impressed by RUN than I thought.
Cha Ilnam groaned and pondered for a long while before finally nodding.
Fine! Whatever.
Senior!
Whoa, Cha PD, you sure? Youre not gonna get fired over this?
Even Kim Sangcheol gaped at his bold decision.
Ignoring him, Cha Ilnam racked his brain before speaking gravely.
Pull the first schedule approval for now... and readjust the casting and preliminary shooting dates.
Thank you. Ill hurry and write the rest of the script.
Han Yuju nodded vigorously, as if shed been saved from doom.
But moments later, Cha Ilnams shoulders slumped.
Sigh... The station heads gonna chew me out again.
Im counting on you, Senior.
Weve got four episodes so far... How long for the rest?
Fifty days.
Shorten it. One month.
Han Yujus eyes widened at his words as if to say that was impossible, then she slowly nodded.
She had no choice right now.
Okay.
Watching their exchange was entertaining enough on its own.
My mom and I exchanged glances after observing them.
It seemed like... the discussion had wrapped up, more or less.
Theyd gone this far, so itd only be polite to offer some encouraging words.
Alright, Ill be waiting. Let me know when the full scripts ready.
I hopped down from the sofa, took my moms hand, and headed out of the theater owners office.
See you next time, everyoneand Theater Owner.
I didnt forget to greet Kim Sangcheol too, then closed the door behind me.
...Click. After Han Siu and his mom left,
Cha Ilnam let out a long sigh and sprawled on the sofa.
No way that kids really six, right? This is my first time meeting with a child actor like this.
Tell me about it. Felt like negotiating with an adult actor.
Kim Sangcheol gave the drained Cha Ilnam and Han Yuju a knowing smile, as if hed expected as much.
I told you he wasnt ordinary.
...Ill get the script done quick. Thanks for today, Theater Owner. Ill come watch a show next time.
Dont push yourself too hard, Writer. Feel free to drop by once its finished.
Han Yuju took Kim Sangcheols words to heart and bolted from her seat.
Cha Ilnam showed no signs of getting up after his junior left.
You not going?
...Buy me a meal, hyung.
Kim Sangcheol chuckled at Cha Ilnam, who looked pale after just a few hours, and jerked his chin toward the door.
Yeah, lets go.
So he moves super fast in this scene?
Yeah. Why, you had that lightning-fast back-and-forth with old lady Bella in RUN.
Oh, like that. Sounds fun.
Right?
What about this scene?
I was meeting Kang Yonghwi in an empty practice room.
After leaving the theater office, Mom had headed to Dads chicken shop since Uncle was at Emergency Iron 777.
Later, either Uncle would take me home, or Mom would swing by the theater again.
We had the Five Teachers, One Student script spread out, heads together.
As the writer and director himself, he answered my every question without hesitation.
When do you plan to stage it?
I looked up at Kang Yonghwi with eyes full of anticipation.
You... You sure you can really do this play?
But instead of answering, he shot me a surprised look.
What was this now?
Id come to Emergency Iron 777 today specifically to talk about this show with him.
I jumped up and replied.
Youre not doing it?!
No, if you can do it, Siu, Id stage it right after the current one ends.
Right away!
I excitedly recalled the schedule for the ongoing production.
Itd been over a month since it startedone week, two...
Its almost done, right?
Yeah. So Five Teachers, One Student could go up as early as late March... Hold on, Siu, didnt you just meet with the theater owner and the TV folks?
Yeah.
Word traveled fast.
Figuring Kim Sangcheol mustve told him, I nodded readily.
But theyre not casting you?
Kang Yonghwi frowned, unable to believe it, and asked seriously.
What on earth was he talking about... Then it hit me.
Oh, did Kang Yonghwi think Id skip this play for the drama too?
Nope, Im not doing it.
What? Why?
The scripts only this much done. I said I couldnt decide yet, so the writer promised to finish it.
I held up my thumb and index finger to show him just how little there was.
The front part was decently fun, which made it a shame.
But that story seemed like the back half was crucialhow could I commit without seeing it?
At least if theyd written while watching actors rehearse, thatd make sense.
But no matter how I thought about it, that didnt seem to be the case.
Huh... The drama script? Kid, dramas usually start shooting without a full ending.
Yeah, I heard.
And they said theyd write the whole thing? Them?
Yes.
Thats what happened.
I nodded impatiently at Kang Yonghwi, who kept veering off-topic instead of talking script.
He mustve been really curious.
But I had other questions.
Forget the unfinished dramaI wanted to know whod play the cast in this show.
I had a hunch about two of the five teachers, but who for the other three?
No one at Emergency Iron 777 seemed like a perfect fit, no matter how I racked my brain.
Whoa... They must really not wanna lose you, Siu. Bet that deflated their egos a bit.
Contrary to my hopes, Kang Yonghwi stopped looking at the script.
He whistled in amazement.
Was it that big a deal?
Id done one big show, and now I was apparently too popular.
Being popular was tough.
Sigh, looks like it.
What? Looks like it? Haha! Youre something else, kid.
Thanks.
Thats not praise, man.
Kang Yonghwi ruffled my hair like it was the funniest thing.
Here we go again.
I let it slide and tapped the script.
Anyway, Director. This onewhos doing this role?
Oh, I already talked to the Byeolnim Theater folks. Got two in mind from there, and for the last one...
Kang Yonghwi listed off his planned casting.
One I vaguely knew, the other two complete strangers.
But I wasnt worried.
This was Kang Yonghwi, the first person in this era to recognize my talent.
Hed picked well, no doubt.
Oh, speaking of casting...
Director, do you know Nam Yeonsu?
Nam Yeonsu? Oh, that child actor. Yeah, I know her. What about her?
Nam Yeonsu.
Second time Id heard the name from someone else.
First was Seong Ji-hoon muttering, Not even Nam Yeonsu... Today it was from Han Yuju.
Cha Ilnam PD was told to cast Nam Yeonsu properly.
Curious who she was, I asked Kang Yonghwiand he knew her too.
Was she really that famous?
Shes famous?
Yeah, been on TV acting since she was little. Pretty good, from what I saw. Not sure about her real skills since it wasnt live, but top among kids.
Hoo.
That impressive, huh.
Kang Yonghwis endorsement piqued my interest.
What, Siu? Finally got a rival?
Hm? No.
Rival? Please.
Sure, my body was a kid now, but inside was a 29-year-old soul.
No real kid could compete.
I scoffed, and Kang Yonghwi chuckled.
Why, shes already done a bunch of dramas and even a movie. Blew up with that creepy performancepossessed by a demon or ghost or something, right? Way more experience and older than you, sunbae.
Hm.
Mightve been in something I watched.
Id seen tons of dramas, so a name I didnt recognize was weird.
Man, Siu, rivals already. Youre all grown up.
I was always grown up!
Yeah, sure.
Its true!
Inside, I was beyond grownpractically an ajusshi!
Back in my day, by 29 Id have five kids in a row and managed a whole territory no sweat!
I huffed in righteous indignation.
Kang Yonghwi found it hilarious and soothed me.
Having a rivals good. Means someone to grow with.
Grow?
Yeah, its lucky to have someone on your level nearby. Look at meno young actor matches my skill...
I tuned out his self-praise and pondered.
Rival, huh... A rival...
Someone on my exact level? That could be fun.
Ah! Time flies. Siu, gotta head to rehearsal.
Yeah, Im sticking around for tonights show too.
Good, good. See you later.
Yep.
After Kang Yonghwi left, I stayed in the practice room, reading the script to kill time.
Then my cellphone buzzed, and I shot up, rushing outside.
Time to greet the guests.
Jessica!
I stepped out front of Emergency Iron 777 and called her loudly.
Jessica, standing next to Joisu, turned at my voice and beamed.
Siu!
Youre early.
Wouldnt wanna get lost.
College Streets been a while for me toogot turned around.
Standing in the middle of the road chatting in English drew stares.
Me fluently conversing with the obvious foreigner Jessica.
Yeah, thisd turn heads.
I hurried toward the theater entrance.
Shall we finish inside?
Sure.
Oh!
I paused mid-step down the stairs.
Then spun around with a bright smile for them both.
Welcome to Emergency Iron 777!