Chapter 21: The Hardest Kind of Acting
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 21: The Hardest Kind of Acting
“The final masterpiece I, Lee Sung-hyun, poured my soul into creating and leaving behind for this world. My daughter, my future, my very life.”
“Dad, please stop…”
“The supreme dignity of the Lee family, created by burning my own future. Come here, let me give you a hug. Just once? It’s been so long, hasn’t it?”
“No, you may not. Absolutely not.”
My dad is just an ordinary father of this era—loyal to his company for the sake of his home and full of love for his family—he just happens to have a slightly peculiar, free-spirited way of thinking.
If only he could do something about those exaggerated emotional outbursts he can’t seem to hide in front of me, I might treat him at least as well as I treat Mom.
But for a seventeen-year-old to affectionately dive into her father’s arms? As a man, that is no easy feat.
Even my younger brother is the same way.
‘This red carpet, this throne… Dad definitely prepared these. Yu-seok doesn’t have the money for this.’
Slap!
Mom’s stinging back-smash landed squarely on Dad’s back.
“In all my life, I have never seen a ‘daughter-fool’ like you! It’s like you spend every waking moment brainstorming creative ways to be an idiot for your daughter!”
“Exactly! If Dad had put even a fraction of the energy he spends fangirling over Sis into something else, he would’ve won a Nobel Prize by now!”
“What Nobel Prize is a franchise hamburger distribution system manager going to win? Give me a break.”
“So, I’m asking how you actually got to Korea at this hour. What about the company?”
“I just came in for a bit to handle some business at the domestic headquarters. I have to head back out in about a week.”
So he didn’t just up and quit. That’s a relief.
“But don’t you think Yu-jin needs an agency? Because she didn’t have a sturdy fence around her, some ugly loser twelve years older than her felt bold enough to hit on her.”
“An agency? Don’t you dare tell me you’re quitting your job to start one for Yu-jin. I’m already looking into reliable, professional agencies myself.”
“No, but still, who can you trust in this world more than family…?”
“Exactly, Mom! If I had been by her side as her road manager, would a guy like Kim Ho-jin have even dared to speak to her?”
“Yu-seok, you don’t even have a license!”
Dad spends about half the year in the US because of work. He rotates, working three months in Korea and three months in the States.
“Yu-jin, my most beautiful and beloved daughter.”
“…Yes.”
I answered, suppressing the sense of shame that was unfairly forced upon me alone.
“Have you finally decided to walk the path of an actress?”
“Well…”
“From now on, Dad will use every ounce of his power to make sure our pretty daughter becomes the world’s greatest superstar. Just trust your old man.”
“Where do you have that kind of power? You should’ve just said you’d cheer for her. Why are you discouraging our Yu-jin with such unnecessarily solemn support?”
“I’m not discouraged. I just thought, ‘Here he goes again’…”
“It’s a relief Yu-jin took after my genes and has a strong mental game.”
Dad awkwardly scratched his wide, receding hairline.
He’s clearly in his forties, but his hair makes him look over fifty.
‘I remember getting tested for the hair loss gene after Dad was diagnosed.’
At the time, both of them were incredibly serious until the results came back. They were overjoyed when it turned out I didn't have the gene at all.
“Daughter, honey. Shall we go out for dinner? It’s been a while.”
“Eating out? All of a sudden?”
“Once our daughter’s drama airs, we won’t be able to eat out in the neighborhood comfortably like we used to. This might be the last time the four of us can eat together in this neighborhood.”
Since Dad has to go back to the US in a few days, he wasn't necessarily wrong.
Mom nodded as well.
“Alright. Let’s go then. The usual galbi place is fine, right?”
“I’d love that.”
“Dad? Mom? Why is no one asking for my opinion?”
“Daughter, handle it.”
“I’m having beef galbi. Yu-seok, were you planning on eating something else?”
“No, no! Me too! I’ll have galbi too!”
*
Across from the apartment complex was the main branch of a large franchise beef galbi restaurant.
The restaurant occupied the entire first, second, and third floors of a twenty-story commercial building, and the owner of the restaurant was reportedly the owner of the building itself.
Thanks to that, the rent wasn't factored into the meal prices, making it excellent value for the money.
It also served as the franchise headquarters.
They partnered with numerous farms to ensure a stable meat supply and even operated their own slaughterhouse to maintain a nationwide frozen distribution network.
Whenever the owner, a regular acquaintance, saw me, he would always brag.
“One-tenth of the entire nation eats meat distributed by my company.”
“That’s always impressive. The price is low and the taste is great. I wish more restaurants like this would pop up.”
“Yu-jin, if you marry into our family, you can eat delicious food every single day. What do you think? If there’s one of my sons you’re interested in…”
“They’re in elementary and middle school.”
The matchmaking flirting from the long-time owner was something I could just laugh off.
Our family took a seat by the corner window.
The owner’s eldest son, a burly middle schooler, came scurrying over to take our order.
“Noona, you’re here. I’ll take your order.”
“It’s a weekday, but you’re helping out at the shop. How admirable. Bring us eight servings of beef galbi to start.”
“I-I’m the one who’s going to inherit this place, so of course I have to work hard and help out from a young age!”
He looked a bit dull, but he was always full of spirit.
I wish my brother was exactly like that.
“Noona? What are you talking about? He’s just pretending to help out whenever you show up so he can see your face.”
“What?”
“On days you don’t come, he obviously doesn’t show up at the shop. You didn't know that yet?”
“…”
“Just watch. He’ll keep hovering around our table and stealing glances at your face. He won’t go near any other tables.”
It was exactly as my brother said.
Sigh. Kids these days, starting so young.
Just as my brother predicted, I felt eyes on me throughout the entire meal, which was quite uncomfortable. I almost wished I could go back to when I didn't know.
“Why are you only telling me this now?”
“You’re debuting as an actress soon, so you need to be aware of these things. If you act as carefree as a civilian, it’ll be a disaster for your branding.”
“Yes, Yu-seok is right. Yu-jin, from now on, you have to be mindful of your conduct even in your daily life.”
“Yu-jin, but when does it air? I can watch it in America too, right?”
“It’s a Netscreen platform work, so as long as you have a phone, you can watch it anywhere in the world…”
I decided not to mention that I’d be wearing a cotton veil or a mask the entire time. They might get indigestion if I told them while they were eating.
Clang!
The owner’s eldest son came running over.
“Noona, do you need something?”
“Uh… could you bring us a new pair of tongs?”
“Got it!”
If he saw the tongs drop, he could have just brought them, but the fact that he came over specifically to ask made his intentions transparent.
A moment later, he brought the tongs, but he didn't leave immediately. He lingered, looking as if he had something to say.
“What? Do you have something to say?”
“Um, Noona… are you filming a drama by any chance?”
My heart skipped a beat for a second, but thanks to my acting practice, I didn't let it show on my face.
“What are you talking about? Why would I be in a drama?”
“Oh, no… it’s just, you know how Kim Ho-jin got cancelled recently? The rookie actress appearing there looks a lot like you. Her eyes and… a lot of things…”
What is the ideal relationship between a regular restaurant and its customer?
The restaurant provides the best service possible, and the customer pays for what they received.
A light exchange of “Please come again” and “The food was great” at the register.
Is it because he’s still young?
He doesn't seem to know that he shouldn't be the one to cross that line first. Even if the owner does it.
“I don’t know. I’ve been busy adjusting to my new school, so I’m not sure. You can go now.”
“Ah, yes. If you need anything, just call me.”
I guess I won’t be able to come to this regular spot comfortably anymore.
Maybe today is the last time.
“Our daughter, once you debut, you won’t be able to come here anymore. It was nice because it’s tasty and clean, though.”
“This might be the last week we can all eat together like this in a normal restaurant.”
*
I felt the way my classmates looked at me change subtly.
They still didn't approach me recklessly, and casual attempts were being filtered out by Jang Ji-hye, but…
“Jang Ji-hye, do you think the kids know?”
“I think they’ve mostly figured it out.”
“But I was wearing a cotton veil in the photos.”
“It was such high quality that your eyes were very visible. And you suddenly dyed your eyebrows black again after the entrance ceremony, right? Things like that overlapped.”
“But they’re surprisingly not asking me directly.”
“You have an aura that makes you quite difficult to approach. Plus, I’m doing a good job of cutting them off.”
On the way home, Mom came to pick us up for filming. During the drive, I spoke up.
“Jang Ji-hye, my younger brother might be acting as a sort of errand boy. I’m telling you in advance.”
“A road manager? But if he’s your brother, isn't he a middle schooler? He can’t drive.”
“Mom will do the driving. I’m just going to have him do small errands.”
My parents had reached an agreement during the family dinner yesterday.
They figured if I had been traveling with my brother, a man like Kim Ho-jin wouldn't have even dreamed of trying anything.
My brother is only in middle school, but he’s already 185cm tall with a body like a suit of muscle armor. He has the kind of physique that makes you fear your bones might crumble if you so much as brush against him.
“So, starting today?”
“No, only on weekends. He has to study on weekdays.”
“I’m looking forward to it. What does your brother look like? How tall is he, exactly?”
“He’s in his third year of middle school and he’s about 185cm now.”
Jang Ji-hye’s eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands.
“Amazing, amazing. Like sister, like brother. He must have a total handsome model vibe. I want to meet him soon.”
Ignoring Mom’s silent struggle to hold back laughter, I turned my gaze out the car window.
A handsome model?
A muscle-armored grizzly bear would be a more fitting description.
I’ll soon get to see Jang Ji-hye’s face fall in shock once she sees him in person.
*
After Kim Ho-jin, who had shown interest in Lee Yu-jin, hit rock bottom, the atmosphere on set was gloomy for a while.
However, as the victim, Lee Yu-jin, acted as if nothing had happened, things gradually recovered.
The two child actors, who had been intimidated, also brightened up as Lee Yu-jin took good care of their mental state.
And today was the day when all the interest on set was amplified and focused.
It was the day of Lee Yu-jin’s action scene.
There was particular anticipation because it was a one-on-one duel with her nemesis (the male lead’s bodyguard warrior).
“Park Seong-gu is a veteran action actor who has formally trained in various martial arts for over ten years. His choreography with Yu-jin should go well, right?”
“Even the ten-year veterans of Hwang Tae-jin’s Action School were helpless in front of Yu-jin. Won’t Park Seong-gu be the one getting pushed back instead?”
“The winner is decided by the script anyway. Why are you guys acting like you’re predicting a UFC fight?”
Meanwhile, PD Jang Hyun-soo held onto Lee Yu-jin, who was dressed in her masked martial attire, and gave her earnest directions.
“This is the scene where the maid-warrior Yeon Si-ho suffers her first loss by decision. Keep in mind that it’s not because of a lack of skill, but a momentary tactical disadvantage that surfaced after situational disadvantages piled up. Reflect that in your emotional acting.”
Lee Yu-jin didn't really understand what he was saying, so she just let it go in one ear and out the other.
In cases like this, once they try filming it, the PD’s acting requirements usually become more concretely condensed.
“First, you fight with the Haeju Sword and get pushed back. That’s when you lose your sword. You grab a nearby iron spear and charge again, but without the Haeju Sword, you’re defeated even more helplessly…”
“Wait a minute. I lose to an opponent with a sword while I have a sword, then I charge with a spear, and I’m supposed to lose more helplessly?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“In a one-on-one situation between people of equal skill, how does a sword beat a spear?”
‘So he’s saying I have to act out losing twice in a row?’
Losing with a sword, fine, let’s grant that.
But I have to lose again with a spear, and even more helplessly?
‘How do I lose to make it look natural? I can’t even imagine the movements.’
For now, she stood before the camera.
Her opponent was a veteran action actor with a sturdy build, standing over 180cm tall.
He wore a mask like Lee Yu-jin and held a sword.
“Ready, action!”
The two charged at each other with swords.
However…
‘O-Openings! There are too many openings! Argh!’
Lee Yu-jin barely suppressed the urge to stab through every single one of them. Matching the opponent’s sword as it came toward her blind spot, she intentionally struck it hard and let the strength drain from her hand.
Lee Yu-jin’s sword spun through the air…
‘Wait, why is that actor’s sword flying away too?’
In fact, it flew even further.
“Cut!”
Jang Hyun-soo signaled for her to come over with a grim expression, and Lee Yu-jin went to monitor the footage.
The movements on screen looked awkward even to her, like a jointed doll.
“It’s too obvious that you’re losing on purpose.”
“…I’ve never tried to lose on purpose before, so I guess my body is reacting awkwardly.”
Where in the world would you find a shock trooper trying to lose on purpose on a battlefield?
After that, Lee Yu-jin caused several more NGs.
There was no problem with the connection of the movements themselves, but that characteristic awkwardness just wouldn't go away.
Thinking she might be discouraged by the repeated NGs, everyone hurried to offer words of comfort.
“There are days like this. Don’t take it to heart.”
“They say losing to an inferior opponent without getting caught is the hardest thing. The bigger the skill gap, the harder it gets.”
“Hey, no matter how true that is, saying that is rude to Park Seong-gu senior… Senior Park Seong-gu?”
Park Seong-gu shrugged his shoulders.
“What can I do if my skills are lacking? I can’t even see Yu-jin’s sword when she swings it, so I keep flinching.”
“…”
“I’m telling you, my wrists scream every time our swords clash.”