Chapter 28: A Glimmer of Recognition

“If there’s anything you gained from watching our acting, it’s because you did well. Not because of us.”

“So, there’s no need to thank us. If you really feel grateful, just become an even better actor later.”

“…..Yes.”

“Hoho, but judging from the rumors I’ve heard, I’m not sure if there’s room for improvement.”

At Go Yoonjung’s playful remark, Myungwoo burst into a bright smile as well.

The two laughed for a while, locking eyes.

Some indefinable emotion passed between them.

Something like a silent conversation seemed to hang in the air, making Yoo Chaeyoung tilt her head from the side.

‘Sunbae acting like this… it’s the first time I’ve seen it.’

“Then, we’ll be going.”

That atmosphere was broken when Myungwoo bowed once more.

“Yes. Hurry inside. The sun will set soon.”

“Yes. Fighting for your shoot, both of you.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you, Myungwoo!”

After finishing the conversation with the two, Myungwoo returned to where his manager was.

“It took longer than I thought? You had a lot to talk about?”

“Ah, yes. It just happened that way. Let’s go quickly. Mom will worry.”

“Yes, let’s hurry.”

Myungwoo walked toward the car without looking back.

A refreshed smile lingered on his lips.

‘Meeting her might have been a good thing instead.’

At first, he was flustered, then curious, and finally relieved.

Perhaps God sent her to help him sort out the emotions he couldn’t fully resolve in his previous life.

Anyway, it turned out well. 

Thanks to that, his passion for acting was boiling up again.

Myungwoo thought this as he climbed into the car.

Tak-

The car carrying Myungwoo started moving, and Go Yoonjung, who had been staring in that direction the whole time, opened her mouth.

“That kid.”

“Yes?”

“The one who just left. The kid named Myungwoo.”

“Ah? Yes. Did something happen?”

At Go Yoonjung’s sudden words, Yoo Chaeyoung tilted her head and asked.

“Do you know how old he is?”

“Yes? Um, probably ten years old.”

“Ten years old…”

If he’s that age, he was born after Han Minwoo died.

He wouldn’t have had much chance to see his acting.

Yet why does he give off such a similar vibe?

Go Yoonjung recalled the person among all the actors she’d seen who was most sincere about acting, and spoke.

“That child…….”

“Yes?”

“I want to see him act one more time.”

“Yes??”

Yoo Chaeyoung was truly surprised by Go Yoonjung’s following words.

Who is Go Yoonjung? 

She’s a living legend, a great actress who made her name young and has never left the screen even now in her 50s.

As such, her standards are high, and the actors she takes interest in can be counted on one hand.

It had been years since she even liked Yoo Chaeyoung herself.

Yet this great actress is paying attention to a ten-year-old child actor with only one drama in his filmography.

“Is there something about that kid that makes Go Yoonjung say that?”

“Hm?”

“No, of course I’ve heard he acts really well.”

“…….”

How should she explain this? 

Go Yoonjung blinked with a troubled expression.

“Just…….”

“Just?”

“I want to see him one more time.”

” ..?”

Yoo Chaeyoung tilted her head even more at Go Yoonjung’s incomprehensible attitude.

She was sure Go Yoonjung had told her why she liked her.

But well, that could be.

She doesn’t have to explain her feelings to Yoo Chaeyoung.

Thinking that, Yoo Chaeyoung smiled brightly and said.

“If Yoonjung thinks that way, should I try getting close to that kid?”

“Huh? You?”

“Yes! It’s been a while since you’ve been interested in a kid. You even came here for a cameo because of me, so I should at least do this!”

“Hmm, I’d be really grateful if you did…….”

“Ayy, don’t feel burdened! You know I’m great at making friends with people!”

“Fufu, of course I know. Our Chaeyoung has amazing affinity.”

“Eeek, that’s mean. Just affinity?”

“Hoho, and you’re cheeky too.”

“Aigoo, you know that’s not why I’m saying this!”

Go Yoonjung smiled gently at the cute whining of the child-like Yoo Chaeyoung and played along.

Even as she did, in one corner of her heart, Kang Myungwoo lingered.

‘If I see him one more time, if I properly watch that child’s acting, maybe this inexplicable sense of déjà vu will be explained…’

Go Yoonjung thought this as she slowly closed and opened her eyes.

***

Since the child actor filming for <Alley Childhood Friends> had ended last time, Myungwoo returned to his daily life, going to school and the academy.

The star treatment at school and the academy was gradually becoming familiar.

People recognizing him or turning to look as he walked, the gifts piling up every break time—no longer surprised him after experiencing it continuously.

Of course, he was still grateful.

While spending such peaceful days, he suddenly got a call from his manager.

“A wrap party to celebrate the end of filming?”

[Yeah. They said the child actors are important parts of our drama too, so we should definitely attend. Ah, of course, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. What do you think?]

His schedule was empty, so when the sudden contact came, he thought it might be an ad, but a wrap party out of nowhere.

“I’ll go. It’s a chance to see the sunbaes.”

But there was no reason to refuse. Myungwoo nodded lightly and expressed his intent to attend.

[Okay? Got it. I’ll tell them you’re coming.]

“Yes. But when is it?”

[They said it starts at 4 PM the day after tomorrow.]

“The day after tomorrow…

That’s Friday.”

Friday, huh—they must be determined to party hard.

Myungwoo swallowed a laugh inwardly.

[Yeah, that’s right. I’ll pick you up on time then.]

“Yes. Goodbye.”

After hanging up, Myungwoo explained the situation to his mom, No Yeonhee.

“A wrap party? Then you should go. Our Myungwoo needs to meet the senior actors too. Oh my, ni ni.”

“Haha, you’re right, Mom.”

“When our son suddenly said he wanted to act, I was so shocked, but you really had talent. Look, you’re nailing shoots and ads.”

“Haha, no. It’s all thanks to everyone seeing me favorably.”

“This kid, a ten-year-old can be a little less humble. It’s something to be proud of.”

At Myungwoo’s humble attitude, No Yeonhee pretended to scold him lightly and stroked his head.

“Son.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“You know Mom is always cheering for you, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good, that’s all that matters. Aigoo, our mature son.”

With that, No Yeonhee pulled Myungwoo into a hug.

Even with the sudden embrace, Myungwoo didn’t panic and nestled into her arms.

“Always do your best, and if it’s hard, tell Mom anytime. It’s okay to quit, okay?”

“Yes, thanks for worrying.”

“Good, our son.”

Myungwoo wouldn’t quit acting, but to ease his mom’s heart, he said that.

At Myungwoo’s words, No Yeonhee smiled with a much more relieved face.

“By the way, filming must be completely over? When does it air?”

“I think not much longer. You’ll watch the live broadcast again?”

“Of course! It’s only natural. It’s what our Myungwoo is in.”

“Haha, great. Let’s watch together, Mom.”

Myungwoo smiled brightly and hugged No Yeonhee tightly once more.

No Yeonhee smiled radiantly and hugged him back.

‘Ah, this is healing.’

He hadn’t experienced a proper family before, but in this life, receiving so much love, he felt like he understood what healing was.

Myungwoo thought this as he burrowed deeper into No Yeonhee’s embrace.

Two days later, the day of the wrap party.

***

Myungwoo arrived early at the wrap party venue again and greeted the others.

“Hello.”

“Oh, our genius child actor is here?”

“Wow, our child actor face rep, Kang Myungwoo!”

“What face rep? He’s handsome and acts well.”

“Uhaha, is that so?”

Just Myungwoo’s appearance made the atmosphere even livelier.

People knew this too, so everyone treated Myungwoo even more kindly.

“Oppa!”

“Ah, Inha.”

“Hey, you’re here?”

“Seungha hyung.”

Jung Inha and Jo Seungha arrived there soon after as well. Myungwoo greeted them warmly.

“Alright, everyone’s here, so let’s eat first!”

Once everyone arrived, the director shouted in a loud voice.

Myungwoo smiled and followed the others inside, sitting with Jung Inha and Jo Seungha.

Teolsseok-

“Hello! Our child actors?”

As the three sat and talked, a familiar-faced actor came and sat diagonally across from Myungwoo, next to Jo Seungha.

“Ah, Yoo Chaeyoung-nim.”

“Hello.”

“Ah, hello.”

“Ahaha, hello, kids! Nice to see you. We only saw each other briefly last time, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Nice to meet you, Yoo Chaeyoung.”

“This kid! What’s with the formal Yoo Chaeyoung, call me Chaeyoung sunbae.”

“Haha, then I will. Chaeyoung sunbae-nim.”

At Myungwoo’s smiling reply, Yoo Chaeyoung grinned widely and ruffled his hair.

“Aah, I really wanted to get close to our child actor friends!”

“Haha, really?”

“When I got the list saying our child actors were decided, everyone has super handsome and pretty faces, and rumors say you all act amazingly.”

“Ay, no. Everyone just saw us favorably.”

“No way! Those who know, know? Look at this, a mere ten-year-old being humble~?”

“Ahaha…….”

“Our Inha is famous for acting well, and Seungha’s acting skills have improved a ton lately? I was thinking how great it is that child actors like you are playing our childhoods.”

“Thank you, Chaeyoung sunbae.”

..Thank you, sunbae.”

Yoo Chaeyoung, sitting there, scattered her signature lively vibe while praising Myungwoo, Jung Inha, and Jo Seungha.

‘It doesn’t seem like that’s all.’

Wanting to get close isn’t a lie, and she does seem naturally sociable, but to Myungwoo, Yoo Chaeyoung’s actions seemed to have another reason.

‘Why is Yoo Chaeyoung acting like this?’

Unable to guess the reason at all, Myungwoo smiled and chatted while turning it over in his mind.

“Thank you, sunbae, you’re really pretty too.”

“Oh my, even what a pretty girl says is pretty!”

While Myungwoo was pondering, Jung Inha and Yoo Chaeyoung had somehow become friendly and created a warm atmosphere.

Jo Seungha looked deadpan, unaccustomed to this vibe and especially Jung Inha’s behavior.

“Ah right right, by the way, there’s something I want to ask our child actors.”

“Yes?”

“What is it, sunbae?”

“Ah, do you kids happen to know much about Go Yoonjung sunbae?”

‘……This was it.’

When mentioning Go Yoonjung, Yoo Chaeyoung’s voice became awkward for a split second, and Myungwoo caught it quickly.

“Sunbae? Of course we know. She’s still incredibly active as an actress even now, Go Yoonjung is a great actress.”

While saying that, Myungwoo smoothly gave his answer with feigned nonchalance.

“Ahaha, right. But Myungwoo knows well even though he’s young?”

“How can you call yourself an actor if you don’t know Go Yoonjung.”

“Hmm, that’s true too.”

At Myungwoo’s answer, Yoo Chaeyoung smiled and nodded.

“Anyway, that sunbae wants to see you kids once. So, are you busy or anything?”

‘……Yes?”

At the surprising news that Go Yoonjung suddenly wanted to see them, Myungwoo’s eyes widened.