Chapter 65
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Don't Go, Hyung
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Yeonsu hyung. Dont like spicy stew?
Huh? Oh Im not really into stews like this. I heard top actors have to avoid high-sodium foods.
My nerves were getting to me, so I spoke up first.
Nam Yeonsu had just been picking at his plain rice when he mumbled a response to my question.
Hmm. I didnt know if he was a top actor or whatever, but yeah, kids might not go for a hearty, spicy stew like this.
I grabbed some more braised beef and pancakes from the next table over and pushed them toward Nam Yeonsu.
This is good. Eat more.
Thanks, Siu.
No problem.
But doing that only made me more anxious.
Where the hell was Nam Yeonsus manager?
Shouldnt he be keeping an eye on the kid while he eats?
I glanced around, and there he was, Cha Ilnam, glued to his side and too busy drinking to notice.
Guess thats part of the job too.
Siu, youre good at acting, and you make friends with everyone so easily. Thats impressive. I heard thats important for becoming a top actor too.
Huh? Oh, really?
It was just a habit left over from rolling around with the Oscar Theater Troupe.
Theyd drilled into me how important teamwork was, hazing me left and so right.
Was it that old habit sticking around?
Or maybe because Nam Yeonsus age group was just me right now?
Either way, I couldnt leave him hanging by himself.
That scene last week with you and Soojeong sunbae. It was really good.
Nam Yeonsu picked up the braised beef Id pushed over and suddenly complimented me out of the blue.
The more I watched him, the more he seemed like a good kid.
Right? Your monologue scene in the room was pretty solid too, hyung.
Really? You think it felt okay?
At my praise, Nam Yeonsus cheeks flushed pink.
Id watched him the whole time during filming, and he always got flustered at compliments or anything like it.
Was he just bad at receiving praise?
Oh! I heard your name at the RUN show too, Yeonsu hyung. Seong Jihoondo you know him?
Oh, Jihoon hyung. Yeah, I know him.
You guys are friends, right?
Jihoon hyung called me his friend?
Yeah. He told me.
No wonder he hated that Id jumped ahead of his friend to snag the lead role.
I decided not to bring that up.
He was lighting up so much just from hearing Jihoon had called him a friend.
Yeah, thats right. Were friends.
Judging by that reaction, I had to wonder if Jihoons claim held water.
Nah. Given what Id seen of Jihoon, he probably did respect Nam Yeonsus skills enough to call him a friend.
But why didnt you audition for RUN, Yeonsu hyung? Jihoon hyung was bummed you werent there with him. Jessica mentioned your name too.
At my words, Nam Yeonsus eyes went wide in shock, and he asked loudly.
For real?! Jessica knew about me?
Huh? Yeah.
He looked so thrilled, so why hadnt he auditioned?
Nam Yeonsus face fell, turning gloomy right after.
Huh? You didnt want to audition?
Now I was genuinely curious.
His reactions didnt scream no way at all.
Nam Yeonsu scratched his head and said.
Dad didnt tell me. Hes the one who schedules everything for me.
Oh, your dad?
No wonder Nam Yeonsu had overlapped with Lee Hyein during that reading class last time.
Both of them just followed their parents orders.
Did he even like acting to begin with?
I started worrying he might be doing it against his will.
If that was the case, itd be such a waste of his shining talent.
I hesitated for a moment.
Should I let it slide or say something?
As I pondered, I watched Nam Yeonsu poke at his food with that dejected face and let out a sigh.
Nope, couldnt do it.
Memories of my past life as the loyal youngest son of a duke kept bubbling up, making it impossible to leave him alone.
Aw, hell. Its not that hard.
Might as well step in.
The next day dawned bright and clear, as if the downpour from yesterday had been a lie.
Today happened to be one where Nam Yeonsu and I were shooting alone, both morning and afternoon.
While preparations bustled on set, the two of us waited side by side in the shade of a tree.
As always, Nam Yeonsu had his script open, staring into it like he was getting sucked in. I observed him.
Id already memorized mine inside outno need to look anymore.
Second Kang Soojeong, basically.
It was just the two of us shooting today, but any chance to talk shop before rolling seemed dead again.
He chatted fine over meals, but on set? Just a greeting, then glued to that damn script.
No opening to talk, so I mulled things over while scanning him for anything unusual.
The drama was doing well at the box office, and my greed for it was growing.
A filmography is an actors face.
Whats better for an actor than their projects hitting big?
Like how RUNs success brought Cha Ilnam knocking.
If this drama blew up even more, better gigs would come flooding in.
To make that happen, I needed to show off my skills here
But building chemistry with my scene partner? Tough when he was like this.
I wanted to brainstorm with Nam Yeonsu, but the kid was trapped in his script, not trying anything extra.
I could tell from our shoots so far.
By the book.
Script only.
No additions, no risks.
Sure, nailing the script as-is wasnt easy, but he wasnt the most exciting partner to sync with.
Kang Soojeong stuck to the script too, but once we got talking, we traded takes on emotions and interpretations, making every take thrilling.
Jeez.
So obsessed with following the script to the letter.
If he was that rigid, hed never even considered interpretive freedom.
Man, my old pal Shakespeare wouldve wept and beat the ground.
Talent there, but no drive to unleash it.
Still, Nam Yeonsu was just a kid.
Not hopeless.
First things first: figure out exactly how he approached acting.
Wooju.
Ji Haeseong (Nam Yeonsu) wanders the big house looking for his little brother.
His new mom, Han Jihye, remarried his dad, Ji Hyunwoo, so now they all live together.
And Ji Haeseong has a new little brother: Kang Wooju (Han Siu).
Shocked by Woojus words at their first meetingYoure not my brother or anythingJi Haeseong still tries to get along for his dads sake, who sighs heavily every night.
But Wooju wont open up.
A few attempts fail, and eventually, when the adults are away, the two have a big fight.
Haeseongs older, stronger, and bigger, so Wooju gets hurt worse.
Their parents come home, see the state of them, and are speechless.
Han Jihye and Ji Hyunwoo exchange looks, scold their respective kids, try to make peace.
But nothing changesthe rift between Ji Haeseong and Kang Wooju shows no sign of healing.
They thought remarriage would bring happiness, but why was it so far away?
Seeing his dad sigh more and more, Ji Haeseong makes a decision.
Hell go stay with his grandma in Seoul.
Hell come back when Woojus older and understands him better.
Haeseong gets it, being the older one.
His own mom died when he was little, but Woojus real dad abandoned them for another woman.
No ones told the too-young Wooju properly.
From Woojus viewfirmly believing dad will returnhe cant accept Ji Haeseong or his new dad, Ji Hyunwoo.
Ji Hyunwoo refuses several times, but Haeseongs resolve is set.
Hes even called grandma in secret.
After days of agonizing, Ji Hyunwoo relents.
Han Jihye hugs her new son Ji Haeseong tight, tears in her eyes.
Days pass, bags are packed and sent ahead. Todays the day Ji Haeseong leaves for grandmas.
Wooju, you here?
Since theyre blending two families, Han Jihye and Ji Hyunwoo moved to a big house.
Plenty of room for each kids bedroom.
Ji Haeseong roams the wide halls and cracks open the door to the playroom.
There sits Kang Wooju, back to the door, reading alone.
Wooju.
Wooju doesnt turn at Ji Haeseongs call.
With a deep sigh, Ji Haeseong gives up and mutters softly.
Im going, Wooju. Take care.
He quietly closes the door and turnsthen hears quick footsteps from behind.
Thud.
Where you going, you!
Ugh.
Ji Haeseong staggers from the sudden impact.
He turns to find Wooju clinging to his waist, face shocked.
The books tossed far awayhe mustve rushed over.
Uh, um Im gonna stay at grandmas for a bit.
Why?
Uh, well We fight all the time. Makes things hard for Mom and Dad.
You leaving cause of me? You?
Ji Haeseong cant say no and clams up.
He quietly pries Woojus hands off his waist and heads for the door.
Thats when it happens.
Normally, Id wait here and deliver the final line.
But not today.
Time for watching and waiting is over.
I took a deep breath and threw out my prepared ad-lib.
Since the shoot with Kang Soojeong, Cha Ilnam had given me some leeway on ad-libs.
Dont go, hyung.
Huh?
Nam Yeonsu froze.
Script had me delivering after reaching the door, but this hit earlier.
What did you say?
Oh ho.
Nam Yeonsu looked stunned as he asked back.
Not bad reaction.
Head down, gauging his response, I spoke with teary eyes.
Ad-lib time for real now.
Hy, hyung Youre my hyung now. So where you going?
Youve never called me hyung once
Whoa, almost threw me.
A line nowhere in the script.
But Nam Yeonsu caught it and fired back a new one instantly.
Complete with a confused expression.
Acting? Or just his real shock showing?
Sorry.
!
Im sorry, hyung. Okay? Ill call you hyung from now on, properly.
One step.
I closed in on Nam Yeonsu, pleading pitifully.
Kang Woojus desperationnot wanting to lose more family.
The shrewdness of a kid who doesnt want to see Mom sad again because of him.
No. Dont.
Ji Haeseong steps back hesitantly, fighting tears, rushing toward the door.
Scripts planned final blocking.
Confirming Nam Yeonsu retreating there, I hit the scripts last line.
If hyung leaves too Ill really be all alone! Waaah!
The one guy in the same boat as him: Ji Haeseong.
No blood, but brother and comrade.
Hed ignored him daily, said he wasnt a brotherbut theyd been becoming family bit by bit.
Kang Wooju breaks down harder than expected at Haeseong turning away, wailing.
Ji Haeseong, at the door to leave, cant hold back and bursts into tears too.
The big house fills with tangled sobswhos is whose?
My head was tangled too.
If he could handle an ad-lib this well, why the hell was he so glued to the script?
Nam Yeonsu, you little
Stirring my curiosity like this? First time in six years of this Han Siu life.