Chapter 10: When Jealousy Meets Genius

“Inha ya, how can you say that.”    

The girl, Jung Inha’s side, someone seeming her manager stopped her.  

“What? No, did I say wrong?”  

“Inha ya, this is the set. Quiet a bit…….”  

“Why did writer nim increase only his weight because he’s so great!”  

Jung Inha’s shout ended, set momentarily silent.  

Nearby people all looking at Jung Inha, but the child, eyes teary with grievance, grumbling.  

“Inha ya……!”  

Manager belatedly covered Jung Inha’s mouth, but everyone already heard.  

As kids that age usually, not minding image, instead manager bowed repeatedly apologizing around.  

“Sorry. Today Inha had other bad thing.”  

“Uh uh, what.”  

“Kids can be like that. Comfort well.”  

People awkwardly smiled throwing few words.  

Jung Inha still glaring at Kang Myungwoo grumbling.  

And Myungwoo blankly looked at such Jung Inha.  

Obviously pretty.  

Acting skills don’t know yet, but roughly can tell.  

Heard the male child actor vacancy that allowed him here was because of Yoo Hee’s eye.  

Yoo Hee changed male but not female child actor, so that kid satisfied Yoo Hee’s eye.  

Pretty appearance with outstanding acting.  

Kid similar age to him.  

Probably grew thinking world’s best.  

Strange if not high-nosed.  

Myungwoo saw countless child actors living as ‘Han Minwoo’ in previous life.  

And among them many like that.  

Acting aside, pretty face plus pride in acting, living in own greatness.  

Illusion breaks in few years.  

Myungwoo thought that and tried to turn head.  

Then, Jung Inha shook off manager’s hand and strode to Myungwoo.  

Manager anxiously chased from behind but couldn’t stop.  

“Hey, you!”  

Angry voice stabbed Myungwoo’s ear.  

“Huh? Me?”  

Myungwoo blinked tilting head.  

Jung Inha ignored and shouted.  

“How great are you that writer nim said increase your weight?!”  

“Ah, that…… Writer nim saw me favorably.”  

Myungwoo made flustered expression at peer suddenly angry, while embarrassed.  

Humble attitude anyone sees as trying to soothe the kid in front.  

Completely different from Jung Inha, people’s eyes around changed a bit.  

“Ha! Writer nim saw you favorably? Why you not me? What are you!”  

Tears welled in Jung Inha’s eyes again.  

Myungwoo anxiously carefully put hand on Jung Inha’s shoulder patting gently.  

Of course to soothe, but  

SMACK-  

“What?! Remove hand!”  

Jung Inha rather more angry face slapped Myungwoo’s hand away.  

“I acted more than you. Even good, I better! But what are you? What are you getting such special treatment!”  

Now outright tears dropping Jung Inha.  

Pretty kid crying sadly, atmosphere sank.  

Even if good at acting, I better.  

Doesn’t seem so at all.  

First kid crying, Myungwoo continued soothing actions.  

To crying of kid younger than his previous life’s child level, Myungwoo’s heart uneasy.  

“Uh, first calm…….”  

Unlike Jung Inha swayed by emotions, Myungwoo maintained calm throughout.  

That more disliked perhaps.  

Jung Inha tears dropping shouted and ran away.  

“What, pretending mature?! Hate you!”  

“Inha ya!”  

Manager pale throughout their talk, Jung Inha bolted, quickly followed.  

Myungwoo looked at Jung Inha bursting cry in manager’s arms with eyes not knowing what to do.  

Thinks pushed back?  

From words, pride in own acting quite strong.  

No, actually heard quite good.  

Didn’t bother Yoo Hee’s eye, others said various about her.  

Acting one top among female child actors.  

Anyway, now not important.  

How to soothe.  

Myungwoo no kids in previous life, no experience with children, terrible at this.  

Just anxiously standing all he could.  

“Aigoo, why atmosphere like this?”  

“Now, now, Inha ya. Stop!”  

Eventually director stepped in to settle.  

At this point could scold the kid, but even director not, so.  

Either type scolding doesn’t work, or really good acting so not touch.  

One of two.  

“Aigoo, why Inha suddenly like that.”  

“Must be hurt a lot. Hears acts well every day, pride high self-esteem.”  

“Originally not like that, Myungwoo you acted too well so jealous. Understand a bit?”  

“Ah, yes.”  

Set people flustered wrapped Myungwoo.  

Roughly smiling responding, Myungwoo thought.  

Really good at acting side. And from words, originally not like that.  

Then, well, can pass as child’s pride.  

And anyway if sees his acting, will shut mouth somehow.  

..No, get noisier?  

Don’t know.  

Knows acting but nothing about this Myungwoo.  

Just eye greeting once to Yang Seunghyun shooting same scene with Jung Inha this time.  

“Huh? Candy uncle!”  

 ***

Street sunset, ‘Nam Younghyun’ runs to a man.  

“Yeah, yes. Younghyun ah.”  

Man called candy uncle smiles kindly fiddling pocket.  

Kind impression smile, knife hidden in pocket.  

Unaware, chattering Nam Younghyun.  

“You know, today at school what happened~”  

Endlessly babbling holding man’s hand walking excitedly Nam Younghyun.  

Hand now holds candy from man.  

Other hand her precious teddy doll.  

“Did that?”  

Smoothly answering naturally leading Nam Younghyun to alley man.  

They soon disappeared into alley.  

Soon sun set.  

CUT!  

First shooting ended, immediately next.  

Honestly this unexpected.  

I don’t know, thought Jung Inha normal kid would rest a bit.  

Hard to proceed next without kid’s consent, looked at Jung Inha different eyes.  

All.  

All.  

Thought just whining kid, but seems sincere about acting a bit.  

Then Jung Inha anxiously shouted.  

“Quick, director nim. Time will pass like this!”  

“Aigoo, understood, actor Jung Inha nim.”  

Still somewhat immature tone, but words minding scene time on screen.  

Famous for reason.  

Certainly child sincere about acting.  

But next scene requires quite outstanding acting for kid.  

How will handle this part.  

Previous scene acting quite good, but not standout acting scene.  

I focused watching Jung Inha.  

And next shooting continued right away.  

“Huh? Uncle, this not way to my house?”  

As if just recognizing surroundings, puzzled expression looking at man ‘Nam Younghyun’.  

“Uh, yes, no.”  

Somehow awkwardly man’s words.  

Nam Younghyun puzzled eyes look up at man flinch.  

Man’s expression completely different from kind uncle seen until now.  

“Ah, uncle, I want go home. Take me.”  

“Younghyun ah.”  

Ominously low man’s voice.  

Man’s face no longer ordinary person’s.  

Already he wore murderer’s skin.  

“Ah, uncle, uncle weird. I, I go……!”  

“Shh!”  

“……!”  

Roughly covering Nam Younghyun’s mouth man’s hand.  

Nam Younghyun poured tears from surprised eyes.  

“Good child, must be quiet?”  

Man smiled somehow eerie bright smile.  

And soon,  

SWISH-  

Man put hand in pocket, soon pulled silver something out quickly toward Nam Younghyun  

THUD-  

CUT!  

Cute sound for something touching, next shooting ended too.  

“OK, good!”  

Fortunately this scene also no NG, one take.  

And I slightly nodded.  

Certainly good.  

That level outstanding for child actor.  

Can’t say amazing, but no superfluous acting.  

Worth passing Yoo Hee’s eye, worth that pride.  

As if when was whimpering, Jung Inha blotchy face made prim expression.  

Her manager hurried to her wiping face with wet towel.  

After cleanup, Jung Inha and Myungwoo’s eyes met exactly.  

Different from crying shouting earlier, confident eyes.  

Ho?  

Young but can make such expression.  

Myungwoo eyes shone looking at Jung Inha.  

From current state, if grows well, level enough to aim big star actor.  

Still young but can show that acting, plus pretty face.  

But if similar age kid shows acting far better than self.  

Could despair, or burn more.  

Former ends there, latter promising.  

But if the kid, not former but latter.  

If I show good acting…….  

Quite interesting situation would unfold.  

Perhaps another genius born here.  

Myungwoo thought that inwardly smiled.  

Happens next Myungwoo’s acting scene.  

Moreover, newly added scene this time.  

Plus content optimal to show his acting skills.  

“Now! Next scene shooting~”  

Staff voice heard, Myungwoo smiling stepped to designated playground.  

This scene ‘Yoo Dongha’ hears from detective who received teddy, ‘Nam Younghyun’ died and sobs.  

Said inspired seeing ‘Yoo Dongha’ in love with ‘Nam Younghyun’ additionally thought scene.  

Thus shooting started.  

‘……Yes?’  

Playground facing rookie detective ‘Choi Seohyun’ ‘Yoo Dongha.  

Face stiff as if heard shouldn’t.  

Watching that, Jung Inha’s face also stiff.  

Of course, not acting but real.  

“Mm, as said, Dongha ya.”  

Choi Seohyun said carefully with troubled face.  

“Nuna, what are you saying? Younghyun die?”  

Yoo Dongha shook head as if nonsense.  

“Dongha ya, understand wanting deny reality but..”  

“Deny reality? No, no. What reality. Can’t be.”  

Choi Seohyun looked pitifully at kid keep shaking head babbling.  

But what to do.  

Fact they already confirmed.  

The kid Yoo Dongha had crush on, Younghyun died. 

She, died.