Chapter 4: Tears on the Stage

‘Huh?’  

And Myungwoo tilted his head inwardly.  

Does she not like me?  

Yoo Hee was strangely looking at him with disapproving eyes.  

Of course, Myungwoo didn’t show it and just smiled.  

“You’re not very nervous, but you seem extremely surprised? Your reaction earlier was quite impressive.”  

“Haha…….”  

Myungwoo made an embarrassed expression.  

The situation right before seeing Yoo Hee floated in his mind.  

“Myungwoo ya, do you have time now?”  

Around the end of academy classes, the director called Myungwoo.  

“Yes?”  

Myungwoo walked to the director with a face full of questions.  

Could Yoo Hee already be here? No way she’d come this fast?  

Inwardly thinking ‘no way?’, but outwardly acting without showing it.  

“It’s nothing else, but one of my friends wants to see Myungwoo. If you don’t have other plans, is it okay?”  

If it’s a friend of the director who wants to see me, it must be Yoo Hee.  

“Yes, it’s okay.”  

Thinking that, Myungwoo still didn’t show it outwardly.  

Goal achievement was near, but outwardly, he had to know nothing.  

Following the director’s guidance, he entered a room on one side of the academy,  

“Hi?”  

As expected, Myungwoo faced Yoo Hee.  

…..Huh?”  

Myungwoo acted as surprised as possible with all his effort.  

The woman in front of him was a top actress, so even the slightest gap in acting would inevitably raise suspicion.  

Yoo Hee stared at Myungwoo like that.  

That was brief; Yoo Hee’s eyes widened, then she burst into laughter.  

“Ahaha, look at that kid’s expression. He must be really shocked.”  

“Yoo Hee ya, the kid’s scared. Calm him down first.”  

“Ahaha! No, but it’s too funny! I love it when kids make that face seeing me.”  

The director lightly scolded Yoo Hee, but Yoo Hee kept laughing, holding her belly.  

Park Hyoyeon found Yoo Hee absurd.  

Earlier she didn’t like it, now what’s with the prank?  

But well, that’s Yoo Hee’s personality.  

Not liking is not liking, pranks are pranks.  

From the start, she had no expectations for acting skills, so probably thinking to get at least this small fun.  

Well, that thought will shatter soon.  

The more Yoo Hee acts like that, the greater the satisfaction she’ll get later.  

“Sigh, you too.”  

Park Hyoyeon thought that and roughly played along with Yoo Hee.  

Myungwoo, still with a dazed surprised expression, thought inwardly looking at Yoo Hee.  

Same personality as before.  

Yoo Hee’s personality was unchanged whether seen as Kang Myungwoo or as ‘Han Minwoo.’  

Consistent, or something.  

Reminds me of old times.  

A strangely stinging feeling at the tip of his nose.  

Suddenly remembering having fun with her in previous life.  

In previous life, matched in several works, personalities fit well, so quite close with Yoo Hee.  

Even in top actress position, famous for treating well regardless of lead or supporting if acting skills are there.  

After filming, at drinking parties, conversations flowed well, had quite fun.  

Seeing her, old memories welled up freshly.  

Anyway, it’s good for both, so I’ll use a bit, Yoo Hee ya.  

Not planning something grand by using, just to step on a solid path as actor faster with her help.  

And this was good for Yoo Hee too.  

From the moment she spots, running toward top actor position faster than anyone.  

That was one of Yoo Hee’s greatest joys.  

Discovering good actors and watching them grow well was one of her biggest happinesses.  

That’s why a top actress like her bothers to do this repeatedly.  

In the end, even if using, it’s win-win benefiting her too.  

For now, focus on solidifying position as actor.  

Of course, the important thing hasn’t even started.  

Myungwoo vowed that and looked at Yoo Hee.  

“Yeah, shall we get to the point now?”  

And now.  

Finishing light talk, Yoo Hee smiled brightly and spoke to him.  

“Myungwoo gun, why do you think I’m here?”  

“I don’t know.”  

Myungwoo obediently answered he didn’t know.  

Yoo Hee said with a serious face unlike before.  

..Still with a hint of not liking.  

“I came here because I heard from my friend that Myungwoo gun’s acting is very outstanding.”  

“Yes?”  

Myungwoo blinked and looked at the director.  

The director smiled brightly and opened her mouth.  

“Right, student Myungwoo. I told Yoo Hee about you. That you act too well.”  

Myungwoo made a shy expression.  

No matter how well he acts, hearing that in front of Yoo Hee, naturally react like this.  

“Only ten years old and started acting 3 days ago, but vocalization, pronunciation, emotion expression—not one lacking, a genius.”  

Ah.  

The strange disapproving look earlier was because she heard he started acting 3 days ago.  

In Yoo Hee’s sky-high standards, Myungwoo is just a beginner with only 3 days.  

Acting skills don’t proportionally follow experience, but that’s after some time.  

From Yoo Hee’s position now, Myungwoo’s skills must seem below chick level.  

“Th-that much…….”  

Knowing the reason made him more at ease.  

Myungwoo acted slightly embarrassed with a relaxed mind and glanced at Yoo Hee again.  

“Oh my, Myungwoo gun. Are you saying my friend is lying right now?”  

Yoo Hee returned to a playful expression and teased Myungwoo.  

Is even the prank acting?  

Doesn’t seem so.  

Regardless of not liking the situation, wants to prank?  

Mischievous personality same as old times.  

Thinking that inwardly, Myungwoo smoothly continued.  

“Huh? No, not that…….”  

“Ahaha! What to do with him. Really fun to tease.”  

“You too…….”  

The director looked at Yoo Hee, laughed, and sighed briefly.  

CLAP!  

“Now.”  

The atmosphere about to get chaotic again was settled by Yoo Hee’s clap.  

“Stop the nonsense, I want to see Myungwoo gun’s acting.”  

Yoo Hee looked at Myungwoo with serious eyes and a slight smile.  

Thinking how well a kid who just started can do, but eyes mixed with faint expectation.  

“Then Myungwoo gun, will you show me your acting?”  

At Yoo Hee’s words, Myungwoo glanced at the director.  

The director also smiling handed Myungwoo one script page.  

Completely unlike Yoo Hee’s vibe, the director seemed excited.  

Was this her personality?  

He could guess why the director was like that.  

Wants to tease her friend.  

Using an out-of-spec existence who can act this well despite only 3 days to show that.  

“Here, script. Show your best acting.”  

Myungwoo quietly took the script from the director.  

At this point, laughter almost leaked from his mouth, but he forced the corners down.  

The situation was going exactly as he wanted.  

Moreover, he could surprise Yoo Hee beyond expectations.  

Exciting.  

Myungwoo cleared his throat small and read the script.  

First-time script, but short lines could be memorized quickly.  

His experience was what.  

Naturally, he read the script in an instant.  

Reading and putting down the script in short time, Yoo Hee’s eyes deepened more.  

What, a kid who doesn’t even read the script properly acts that well?  

Interpreting the script when acting and extracting the role’s characteristics is a very important step.  

How to interpret and digest the assigned role divides an actor’s capability.  

The script given to Myungwoo now was a conversation between a teacher persuading Siyoon who has no talent in soccer, and student Siyoon who still wants to continue soccer.  

Containing the climax.  

Thus, content needing thick emotions.  

Yet skipping that part so quickly…….  

Disappointment filled Yoo Hee’s heart more.  

But she was a pro actor.  

Hiding that mind smoothly, she opened her mouth.  

“Already done reading?”  

“Yes.”  

“Hmm, then shall we try? I’ll do the counterpart.”  

Yoo Hee smiled brightly and urged.  

Anyway, won’t meet standards, clearly wanting to see quick and end.  

Of course, visible only to Myungwoo’s sharp eyes with 30 years seeing acting, or her best friend Park Hyoyeon.  

At this point, even stubbornness rises.  

Must show outstanding acting somehow.  

To the point Yoo Hee is shocked and falls over.  

Myungwoo took a small deep breath and nodded.  

And the moment he closed and opened his eyes, Myungwoo’s atmosphere changed.  

Yoo Hee, catching that keenly, her eyes changed too.  

Eyes are decent……??  

Good.  

Yoo Hee’s ‘good’ was like a signal acknowledging already good acting.  

“But, Siyoon ah. No matter how much you want to play soccer, in your current state…….”  

Unshaken by that, Yoo Hee’s smooth acting.  

Rather than exploding acting skills, like gauging Myungwoo’s acting.  

“Teacher.”  

And Myungwoo’s acting matching it.  

From the first line, the heavy emotion in voice and expression, Yoo Hee inwardly swallowed empty breath.  

Wait, really only 3 days since starting?  

Density different.  

Like not 3 days but 3 years, no, 30 years level.  

Actually Myungwoo was an actor over 30 years, but Yoo Hee couldn’t know.  

All she could do was surprise and admiration.  

In such short time, catching that much emotion.  

Moreover at ten years old.  

Yeah, if older, understandable.  

This was truly nonsense.  

“Yeah, Siyoon ah.”  

Of course admiration is admiration, acting is acting.  

Yoo Hee continued acting with skills not shaming top actress title.  

Instantly becoming kind teacher dealing with stubborn student, Myungwoo inwardly smiled too.  

All.  

Skills improved already. As expected……..  

Of course Myungwoo admired too but focused on acting.  

Had to make her shock and flip.  

“No matter what you say, no matter how hard, I…….!  

Choking voice, desperate emotion line as student looking at teacher.  

At that thick density, Yoo Hee blankly stared at Siyoon’s eyes.  

What, eyes…….  

Expressing emotions that poignantly?  

This, skills of a kid who only acted 3 days?  

..Nonsense?  

Regardless of Yoo Hee’s thoughts, Myungwoo’s acting headed to climax.  

Gradually rising, acting like vomiting suppressed as Siyoon.  

Eyes gradually moistening.  

And soon,  

DROP-  

A tear from Myungwoo’s eye.  

“I want to…… continue soccer.”  

And the following sentence.  

Declaration that absolutely won’t break his determination.  

Choking acting, instantly dropping tears.  

Moreover, crying wasn’t in the script.  

Thus, the final tear acting was additionally done according to Myungwoo’s character interpretation.  

Actor’s voluntary interpretation, but most fitting for the character.  

“Huh.”  

Seeing Myungwoo’s appearance, Yoo Hee couldn’t hide surprise, shock, admiration face.  

What is this, nonsense……..  

Yoo Hee now threw away the smooth expression as actress, eyes wide, mouth open.  

Actually now she couldn’t care how she looked.  

Because witnessed acting far beyond her common sense.  

“Myungwoo ya, no, Myungwoo gun……..”  

So shocked, momentarily omitted honorific.  

“Really just started acting not long ago?”  

Voice slightly trembling too.  

In front of her eyes stood Myungwoo, no, acting monster composing emotions.