Heavenly Yuah’s cameo appearance aside, the拍摄 is proceeding without any significant issues.
About up to the fifth episode of the drama.
And my shooting volume has been completed up to the fourth episode.
The slight delay in my shooting schedule was due to the writer’s whims.
After reviewing the footage of the first episode’s filming, Writer Min had instructed us to wait momentarily.
Speaking of the first episode’s filming—it was the moment when Heavenly Demon was watching my performance.
At that moment, Heavenly Demon was watching, and my acting was on the verge of reaching a divine level, so I wasn’t particularly worried.
Humans, after all, have a tendency to fully unlock their potential in extreme situations.
Director Yoo also seemed quite satisfied, so it was clear this wasn’t an issue on my end. Thus, I was waiting peacefully.
Anyway, with my shooting volume, it was a level where I could shoot 2 to 3 weeks’ worth in just a day, so Director Yoo didn’t seem overly anxious either.
“To be honest, I was a bit surprised. No matter what happens, you’re a young rookie actor, Mr. Siwoo, right?”
“Yes.”
“I never expected that you’d display such acting in front of Seo-eun. I wouldn’t have thought the romance would completely not come into play.”
“Ah, about that.”
What Director Yoo was most satisfied with was my eye-acting.
He entrusted me the role, acknowledging my acting skills, but when it came to the actual performance, he worried that the acting might not meet his expectations.
I was a 20s male rookie actor dressed in strange special makeup, and the opponent was a super-popular idol who had made the K-pop scene a sea of fire.
He was worried that some personal feelings might unintentionally mix into the acting.
The personal feelings I’m talking about aren’t anything special.
Things like fannish admiration or the natural liking one might feel for an attractive person are normal, everyday emotions.
Since the role I was playing was of a person in their 70s who doubted whether the protagonist was really his granddaughter, if even the slightest of these emotions leaked into the acting, the atmosphere could’ve turned weird.
If my character was portraying a negative emotion towards the other party, that wouldn’t matter much.
However, the emotion I was supposed to express was warm and tender—what, under a different light, could feel closest to affection.
Emotional acting, after all, has a blurry boundary, so even a slight misstep could alter the vibe.
Yet, when a 20s actor was presenting such flawless acting in front of a supernova idol without showing even the slightest personal bias, Director Yoo was naturally startled.
“Admittedly, Miss Seo-eun is quite beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Indeed. I thought you were an old hand since there wasn’t even a trace of the natural excitement that any young man should feel, in your eyes.”
“So, is that a problem?”
“No, it made you even more believable as someone in their 70s. Very satisfying. Writer Min was satisfied as well.”
“Well, then, I guess that’s all that matters.”
Director Yoo truly marveled—I didn’t think it was surprising from my perspective.
After all, my age is like that already.
My mental age must be close to 70.
I might as well say that Ji Seo-eun is almost granddaughter-age to me.
My granddaughter, who was beloved by my father-in-law, was about her age.
So no matter how attractive Ji Seo-eun gets, I can view her with a purely paternal gaze.
From the very beginning, she’s not someone I consider as a romantic interest.
Of course, it’s shocking that such a Ji Seo-eun is barely a year younger than me, but that’s just how my current situation is.
“…Could this be a problem more than I thought?”
I hadn’t really thought about it at first, but as I talked with Director Yoo, I began to feel a bit strange.
It doesn’t seem to be as trivial an issue as it looks.
If I can’t feel any emotion towards someone as beautiful as Ji Seo-eun, it means that I see everyone my age as if they’re granddaughters, doesn’t it?
If that’s the case, can I even fall in love?
Hmm. I don’t know. Such troubles, I’ll let my future self handle.
“More importantly, has anyone been in contact with you? For instance, from a management company.”
“Hah, would that happen? Considering my age, even if I were a management company, I wouldn’t accept a 70s rookie actor, I reckon.”
“Ugh, that’s what I thought too.”
“While there are places that need veteran actors, you, Mr. White Siu, don’t exactly give off that vibe, do you?”
“Exactly. It looks like I’ll need some more time.”
Putting aside the issues I don’t want to think about, I asked about something truly important.
The reason I wanted to be part of the drama in such a role was to showcase my skills in front of industry professionals.
But, due to my age, it doesn’t seem like any bites are coming in.
Given that I’m a senior rookie, it’s doubtful whether I can even properly continue activities in the entertainment industry, so no one is contacting me just yet.
It seems the company will need to reconsider after the drama is finished.
“Oh, there was a place that did contact you.”
“Where?”
“Miss Heavenly Yuah. For some unknown reason, she inquired about your contact details, but knowing nothing else, I turned it down immediately…”
“Ahh, Miss Heavenly Yuah.”
“Since I don’t know who you really are, it doesn’t seem like it’s for some random event. Preferably after we know more about your true identity…”
“No, I’d prefer if you continued to cut off all communication from her.”
“…Why? It’s Miss Heavenly Yuah, you know…”
“What reason could Miss Heavenly Yuah have to contact me? Anyway, please continue doing that until I settle with a company.”
“That might be possible… but Heavenly Yuah? Even I get a little nervous dealing with her.”
“I don’t think it will take long. My acting is alright, so once my age is revealed, industry people will definitely get in touch with me.”
“I don’t know what’s going on. But if that’s what you want, I can do it.”
Goodness.
Why did Heavenly Demon from this world inquire about my contact details?
I’m getting goosebumps, just from this.
But Director Yoo can’t keep my contact information sealed forever.
Even if the director has authority, someone like Heavenly Yuah is a tough opponent for any producer.
So, it’s good enough if Director Yoo protects my contact information until I’m firmly settled in a company.
For some reason, if Heavenly Yuah and I get in touch, I feel as if I might be dragged into an extremely shady organization like New Religion.
Of course, such a super black company doesn’t probably exist in this world, but the feeling isn’t pleasant.
“Ah, by the way, concerning your age, they plan to lay breadcrumbs to pull around episodes 6 through 8. You’ll just have to be careful until then.”
“That? Hmm…lately, I’ve been feeling that people have been paying attention to my side too. I’ll be careful until the end anyway.”
Lately, I’ve often felt someone following me.
It’s probably the reporters.
Given the drama’s strong issues, reporters often appear on the set, and if some of them noticed me getting into and out of the assistant director’s car, it is understandable they’d find it suspicious.
After all, reporters have the habit of digging into anything out of the ordinary.
Although I’ve been working hard to shake them off, it’s quite bothersome.
Though, with my experience, I think I can keep going until about the 8th episode is aired.
“Well, anyway, the first broadcast is coming up soon, so you don’t have to wait long.”
Reporters or not, once everything’s revealed and interviews are over, they won’t pay attention to me anymore.
By that time, I should’ve secured a decent agency.
So, it seems I can just focus on the acting and wait for time to pass.
At the time, I still believed everything was going according to my plan.
*
When the shooting progress approached the 5th episode, there was a press conference for “Brilliant Copywriter, Yoon Seo-eun.”
It was an event created merely two days before the first broadcast, seemingly to ride the wave of the press conference buzz.
Of course, I didn’t attend.
Not only was my part not significant enough for me to attend, but also to shine all the spotlight on the young three main leads.
Ultimately, the leads of the drama that would drive its popularity were the young leading trio, so it was essential to favor them.
– Lion × Seo-en × Yoo-shin. A Fantastic Visual Harmony.
– 2023’s Greatest Anticipated Work, “Brilliant Copywriter, Yoon Seo-eun,” causing a stir even before the first broadcast.
– Yoo × Min duo, continuing the ratings blockbuster myth?
The press conference proceeded quite boisterously.
No need to explain the recognition and popularity of the three lead actors. Pushed by the channel, their power was considerable.
From the press conference until the first episode aired, our drama took up a significant portion of the entertainment industry’s focus.
Is this what a hit drama’s push looks like?
Considering the actors’ acting skills as well, it was unimaginable for the drama to flop.
After the press conference, two days later.
The glorious first broadcast was just around the corner.
And at the moment of the first broadcast, I was embarrassingly watching with my family gathered in front of the TV waiting for the drama to air.
“Watching this? All of us together?”
“Why? What’s the problem with me, a future super idol, watching a drama where Senior Seo-eun appears?”
“Ugh, you’re really…”
“Son, since our daughter has come home early after such a long time, why not let her watch what she likes?”
“Well… if Father puts it that way…”
“Exactly, while we’re all here, why don’t you come over too? It’s been a while since we all gathered like this.”
“Yes, let’s.”
Today, by coincidence, it was my father’s store regular holiday, and younger sister’s practice ended early.
Younger sister, who would usually rush off to a part-time job right after practice, came home early because of my warning and quit the part-time job.
Thus, we ended up having a family gathering as the younger sister turned on the TV.
Here she was, calling herself an idol trainee, committed to watching a drama featuring senior idol Ji Seo-eun live!
Though I never mentioned I was part of this drama, somehow, my family has gathered to watch the live broadcast of my debut drama.
“Are you not on a diet?”
“Pfft. I can have a bit more, thanks to Dad’s Qigong, I haven’t gained any weight.”
“…Qigong?”
“Ah, that. Actually, it’s something our young master taught me. Since it’s good, I taught it to our daughter as well.”
“It’s a bit difficult for us to do. It requires quite a bit of space. Luckily, Hayoung can do it at the practice room.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Seeing my mother and the younger daughter devouring the shrimp tempura made specially by Father, I criticized her for not dieting, to which she responded that she didn’t need to diet.
Apparently, she’s in great shape lately.
But if the reason is the Qi exercise I introduced to Father, it made me feel the blood rise to my head.
Though Father and Mother aren’t reaping its benefits, she dared?
I felt quite upset, but decided this could be useful too, to persuade them.
“You can tell from her slim figure that this exercise works. So, Mother and Father, please try it if possible. Even 20 to 30 minutes a day would do wonders.”
“Hmm, if the effects are good, we wouldn’t mind doing it.”
“Exactly, let’s give it a try, then?”
Thanks to the younger daughter serving as a practical teaching aid, both had at least some interest.
Now that both are at an age where they should start worrying about their health, it was a perfect timing.
Of course, for them train properly, we should probably consider moving to a bigger place…
“Oh, it’s starting.”
Just as the two showed positive reactions to the Qi exercise, the drama began.
