YDCFGD 20

Chapter 20

Finally, it was time to leave work.

Only then did Aunt Jeonghee, who had been at the filming set, quietly come up beside me.

“You were really good. Even if you still look like a rookie when the camera’s off.”
“…I thought you’d already left.”
“I said I was just watching. I was in the corner, and I thought I’d lose my mind there.”

Honestly, I had looked around the staff and didn’t see her, so I thought she had left and felt relieved.

“I usually hate corners no matter where I go, but I held back. Because of someone.”
“Because of me?”
“Do you think I’d let someone your age running around get away with spitting in your face?”

…So that’s what she meant. I had just thought she was tired and resting in the corner.

When I looked at her with eyes softened by emotion, she avoided my gaze, pretending to be annoyed.

‘Does she like me?’

Looking more closely, it seemed less like annoyance and more like she was pretending to be annoyed.

“Thank you.”
“What, why are you thanking me for that?”
“Hehe…”

When I subtly moved closer, she pushed me away at first but then quietly accepted it.

It was like a cat that dislikes being touched but secretly enjoys the hand of its owner.

“Ugh, get off me!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I said get off, why are you going so far? Come closer!”
“Okay.”

Because of my uncle, I had always assumed the adults in the Joo family were terrifying—but they weren’t.

‘Aunt may seem picky on the outside, but she’s actually kind-hearted.’

Come to think of it, she had been like that from the beginning.

If she hadn’t appeared when Secretary Park Cheolwon blocked my path on my uncle’s orders, I wouldn’t have received my grandfather’s support.

Now that I think about it, when did Secretary Park turn away from my uncle…?

I think it was before I became an adult.

‘Should I try to recruit him for my side?’

Secretary Park is competent. The fact that my uncle kept him by his side despite his temperament proves that.

‘Plus, he’s sensible enough to have turned away after seeing my uncle’s tyranny.’

Having someone like that serve a tyrant uncle is a huge loss.

I should either recruit him for my side or get my grandfather to win him over and bring him into the Joo family’s “treasure chest”… I’ll have to act soon.

Shaking off my thoughts, I quickly took the seat beside Aunt Jeonghee with her permission.

“Wasn’t that Byun Seojoon? The one you fought with.”
“Ah, yes!”
“After your big fight, he improved a lot. His pace is good, too, so he’ll probably land a lead role soon.”

In my previous life, Byun Seojoon only became a hit after I became an adult, getting a lead in a romance drama that everyone else had refused.

If Aunt’s judgment, trusted even by Actress Seong Hyeshim, is right, that might happen sooner. I felt unexpectedly happy.

“I wasn’t sure at first, but it really is Jeonghee-unnie! Sai came to watch?”

They say when you talk about a tiger, it appears. As soon as I thought of her, Actress Seong Hyeshim recognized Aunt and ran over to us.

“Do you have more schedules today, Hyeshim?”
“Hmm, that’s all for today.”

Actress Seong Hyeshim confirmed the schedule at Aunt’s question.

“Good. Let’s ride in your car, unnie.”
“I’ll send the manager ahead first. Wait for me, unnie.”

Suddenly, Seong Hyeshim would also be riding with us.

Watching them, I could see why they were close. The actress seemed to easily go along with Aunt’s impulsiveness.

Once we got in the car and waited a moment, Seong Hyeshim got into the passenger seat.

“Perfect combination,” Aunt murmured, starting the engine while humming.

Soon, Seong Hyeshim, having caught her breath, looked at me and spoke.

“How was your first shoot?”
“Don’t even mention it. I felt like it wasn’t my first shoot at all. I went all out to face the senior.”

As I recalled my first filming, Aunt interrupted my answer.

“Facing the senior? Oh, Byun Seojoon?”
“I saw how you pushed him to it.”
“Thanks to Sai, Byun Seojoon got a good experience.”
“I think that kid owes my niece a few meals. Absolutely at a restaurant in our department store’s luxury floor.”

…That’s just good for Aunt’s sales, isn’t it?

Noticing it was Aunt’s kind of joke, Seong Hyeshim laughed lightly and then looked back at me, wanting my response.

“My first shoot…”

The first real acting, something I had both eagerly anticipated and anxiously worried about day and night.

It was more eventful than I expected, but it was a valuable experience. I met great seniors and received a lot of praise.

Most of all, it finally felt real that the camera was capturing my acting.

‘I was always just watching others on TV before.’

Now there were people to watch my acting.

The thought that one day I could introduce Doyeon to the public through television made me extremely happy…

I couldn’t even put this feeling into words.

“My acting… is really… enjoyable.”

That’s all I could say.

“I’m so glad I decided to become an actor. That’s all I could think about…”

I knew my sincerity would come through in those few words.

Seong Hyeshim, waiting for Joo Sai’s impression, froze upon hearing my answer.

Countless thoughts must have passed through her little head as she pondered my response—the events at the set, the atmosphere.

‘I was the same.’

There was a time when young Hyeshim’s heart would race just remembering the set.

After her first real shoot, her acting mentor had asked the same question.

Back then, Hyeshim had spent a long time thinking and barely said one sentence:

‘I really love acting, sir.’

Exactly the same as my answer.

Seong Hyeshim stared at me, amazed. Despite the fatigue, my body showed no weakness, and my expression was lively. And…

‘My eyes are sparkling.’

Joo Sai’s eyes shone like stars as she spoke of how much she loved acting and how glad she was to have started this work.

So this is how a dreamer’s eyes shine. Hyeshim marveled.

‘I wonder if my mentor saw me sparkle like Sai back then…’

Suddenly, she missed her mentor, who was resting due to age.

Thinking that she would one day introduce this girl to her mentor, Seong Hyeshim quietly wiped her moist eyes with her sleeve.

Perhaps because the tension had eased.

After giving my answer to Seong Hyeshim, I fell asleep soundly, using the conversation between Aunt and the actress as background music.

It wasn’t until we arrived at the actress’s home that I came fully to my senses. I hurriedly greeted her, and she responded with a gentle smile.

“Sai, get some more sleep. You worked hard today, even scolding Byun Seojoon during the shoot.”
“Before I go, just a moment.”

Aunt stopped the actress as she was about to leave after my greeting.

“Why have you been calling her ‘Sai’ all this time? I called her ‘unnie.’ Isn’t that funny?”
“Y-Yes! You can speak casually!”

I was just about to say something myself, but Aunt beat me to it. I quickly followed her lead.

After a brief hesitation, Seong Hyeshim slowly spoke.

“Then… can I ask for one thing?”

What could she want to ask?

Even knowing she wouldn’t ask something difficult, I was nervous.

“The title ‘senior’ is too common…”
“…”
“You called me ‘teacher’ to Byun Seojoon earlier, right?”

No way.

“From now on, could you call me ‘teacher’?”

I almost gasped and covered my mouth.

In my previous life and this one, I could now call the great actress who recognized my worth “teacher.”

It felt almost too much for me, yet I knew if I didn’t do it now, the chance would be gone.

“…Thank you, teacher.”

I decided to accept her request before backing down.

Seong Hyeshim, or rather… Teacher, looked satisfied with my answer and got out of the car. I watched her figure move away for a long time.

Aunt, seeing that, snorted.

“Neck must be stiff. If you like her so much, why don’t you make Hyeshim your niece?”
“I like being your niece, Aunt.”
“You think that would work?”

I thought it would with Aunt.

“…Take this allowance later.”

It worked.

Feeling embarrassed herself, Aunt quickly changed the topic to allowance.

“Hmm, does your uncle give you allowance properly?”
“I don’t spend much…”
“Totally different from Suyeon! If you go to Youngpoong High, the kids won’t even know you’re my niece, you know.”

Wait.

“What did you just say…?”
“Huh? Youngpoong High…”

…Right, my transfer school.

I start school soon!