TRGCF 13

Chapter 13

“‘Minseo’ is a character created to make ‘Do Jae-hyun’ and ‘Ha Min-jun’ clash. So instead of thinking, ‘Why is Minseo acting like this?’ I thought it made more sense to consider, ‘Why did the writer write it this way?’ and act accordingly.”

If a character is clearly created with a specific intention by the writer, then bringing out that intention is what makes for good acting. So I created several versions of the character and performed according to the version that the PD and writer chose.

Sometimes, a character becomes more vivid when the actor adds their interpretation, but expecting that from a child actor would be unreasonable.

Kiseong-hee smiled, seemingly satisfied that I wasn’t trying to force anything unnecessary.

“But didn’t you feel it was a shame to make all that effort for the character? If you had made it more multi-dimensional, it could have been an even more impressive character.”

“I heard from the former PD that ‘Minseo’ only appears for about thirty minutes across five episodes. If the screen time had been longer, the multi-dimensional aspects would have been more appealing, but with so little time, I thought showing Minseo as she is now was enough.”

Besides, this approach likely improves the overall completeness of the drama. After all, they’re not real people—how could every character be multi-dimensional?

Kiseong-hee, wearing a warm smile, sipped plum tea served for dessert.

“You even consider things like that… I really have nothing to teach you.”

“No way. I actually want to learn a lot from you, senior.”

I meant it. It had been a long time since I acted in sync with someone like this. Thanks to it, I learned a lot.

Especially, it made me want to perform longer with actors like Kiseong-hee, who are so attuned to their co-actors’ emotions and pacing.

Kiseong-hee seemed to like what I said and pondered for a moment before asking,

“If you were given a role that required depth and had enough screen time, do you think you could handle it?”

“Me? I’m only ten years old now.”

It wasn’t that I couldn’t act; it was just that no writer would give such a role to a ten-year-old. It’s not about ability. Creating a multi-dimensional, lengthy, appealing character for a child is rare.

But the fact that he asked meant that such a character exists somewhere, right?

I gave him a look that said, I have no idea~, and Kiseong-hee shrugged.

“You never know what might happen when your episodes air.”

He said “never know,” but his tone sounded decisive, as if it was bound to happen. Of course, I hoped for the same. I was already working to make it happen.

Part of that effort was carefully building rapport with Kiseong-hee. A famous actor showing interest in a child actor—wouldn’t that spark curiosity among the public and entertainment industry insiders?

“You should start looking for an agency soon. You never know who might contact you.”

It would be even better if Kiseong-hee personally recommended me. With a recommendation from an actor of his caliber, there would hardly be an agency that wouldn’t accept me.

…I didn’t expect things to go this well. It’s almost scary how smoothly everything is falling into place.

Anyway, maybe I should start preparing for the agency.

“Mom, don’t leave me….”

“Wow…”

Sniff, sniff. Yoo Ha-jin was both amazed and sniffling at ‘Minseo’ filling the large screen.

The child she had met while filming a YouTube video had now become an actor! And to get cast by a TV PD at the very first meeting—it was incredible.

The kid is bright and articulate; I guess anything she does will go well.

Ha-jin blew her nose with a tissue. Seeing Minseo crying and clinging to her mother made her want to rush to Lin, who was sleeping in her room, and shower her with kisses.

Lee Su-ah’s acting was so compelling that even Ha-jin, who usually couldn’t focus on dramas and kept changing the channel, got absorbed. Especially, the Su-ah she had met in person and the Minseo on the screen looked like completely different people, aside from sharing the same face.

The contract copy she showed me before was also clean… I hope she continues to do well as an actor.

When she first heard that Su-ah was officially filming a drama, she had been overjoyed. Through Su-ah, she had met good friends and was preparing to return to work, so she wanted to help Su-ah. That was why she suggested uploading the video they filmed that day. Publicizing her good deed before her debut would help her image.

Unexpectedly, Su-ah objected.

“Uploading the video is fine, but please don’t reveal my name or face. It’s too soon.”

“Hmm, your voice is enough for now.”

Was a ten-year-old even supposed to know the term “too soon”? Still, Ha-jin complied and posted the video with a notice about suspending the channel. Su-ah’s face was, of course, blurred. The post carried a tinge of regret, as the video had been uploaded to help her, yet her face couldn’t be shown.

At first, Ha-jin wondered if it was worth it. But soon after Su-ah appeared in the drama, comments started appearing.

• Isn’t this Minseo?? Voice is exactly hers

It was shortly after Episode 13, where Su-ah officially appeared. From that comment onward, the video slowly spread, gaining more views and comments with each episode aired. Even the suspended channel gained subscribers. Ha-jin still marveled at how people found it despite having posted it over a month earlier.

• Her voice is clear, definitely Minseo

└2222

└333 Her voice broke through the blur, confirming it’s her lol

└44444 Still want to see her faceㅠ Won’t show itㅠ

• When a kid cries, mom should hug herㅠㅠㅠ Aunt is crying, Minseo…

• She’s clever. You can tell just by hearing her speak.

• No profile… how did they find it, did she attach something? hehe

└ Totally fake lol so obvious

└ It’s the algorithm, I swear

└ Check the upload date, it’s before filming

└└ What does it matter?

└└└ If it’s a video uploaded during airing, fake suspicion is valid, but making it about a pre-filming video is just ugly

└└└└ Really ugly, what are you doing to a kid?

└ Don’t fight on a normal channel~~ If you want a meetup at the police station, I won’t stop you^^

At first, people were skeptical, but now it’s basically confirmed. Occasionally, someone questions viral marketing, but with the face hidden, content unrelated to the drama, and a small parenting channel with only 50k subscribers, most agree it’s not viral marketing.

Ha-jin, initially tense due to the unusually chaotic comment section, relaxed seeing the calm atmosphere. If she hadn’t followed Su-ah’s instructions, it would have been even worse.

The community post she was about to make had been discussed with Su-ah, Su-ah’s mom, and the drama PD, so there would be no issues. Ha-jin posted it to coincide with the drama’s end time.

[Community] Long time no see!

Hello! This is Lin’s mom from the channel with Lin and Mom^^

This is the first post since the channel suspension notice, right? I’ve been busy preparing to return to work…

…

I couldn’t check the channel for a while, but I noticed many comments on the notice video. I wondered if I could share, and with her permission, here it is:

The friend in the notice video is indeed Lee Su-ah, who plays ‘Minseo’ in the drama [Master’s Medical Records]^^ I was surprised watching her on TV too.

In the drama, she mostly appears crying or expressionless, but in real life, she’s such a pretty, smiling girl. It would be great to see this side of her more on TV~

The post also included a photo of Lin and Su-ah smiling brightly.

The response was immediate:

• OMG Minseo is smiling!!!

• Minseoㅠㅠㅠ The kids are so cuteㅠㅠㅠ

• Her name is Lee Su-ah? I’ve never met her, but how can she act so well

└ She must have learned, not a raw newbie

└└ The parents wouldn’t just let a kid like that grow up normallyㅋㅋ Will she become an idol later?

└└└ Everyone says they’ll be idolsㅋ Just wait, in five years it’ll happen

└└└└ Even for elementary school kids, really lol

└└└└ Next jealousy incident

• To think a kid can smile like thatㅠㅠ Ha Min-jun, you trash!!!

• Please grow up safely…

└ Please, auntie

The post quickly spread across multiple communities. The drama was already popular, and viewers were impressed by the child actor’s performance, so reactions popped up everywhere.

With the attention from drama fans and netizens, reporters rushed to write articles:

• [“Smiling Minseo spotted!” She can do this face too~]

• [The story behind why Minseo quit YouTube?]

• [The rising child actor, who plays Minseo, Lee Su-ah, is who?]

• [Record-breaking ratings! What choice will Ha Min-jun make in Master’s Medical Records?]

This buzz naturally carried over into Episode 16.