NOVEL WEB Chapter 21
Chapter 21
I’m bored.
Perhaps it was because I had been so busy with drama filming and other things for a while.
After coming back from kindergarten, I spent most of my time just lounging around.
Acting was strictly off-limits for now.
Well, to be precise, I was having multiple discussions with my mom about it.
“Of all things, I had to hurt my hand…”
I had sustained injuries from acting, and during the shoots, droplets of blood even fell.
It must’ve been very upsetting for my mom to see me like that.
So, she made this insistence to me:
“No intense emotional acting for a while. No practicing either.”
She meant for me to wait until I grew a bit more.
After all, as a child actor, they wouldn’t demand that much from me, and I was already doing quite well with what I had performed so far.
“Hmmmm…”
I sank into my newly acquired giant Pinnieping doll, feeling like a smushed marshmallow.
If we’re talking about the perks of being a kid, it’s that I could ride this enormous doll and shake my body about without looking ridiculous.
If it were my previous life, it would’ve been a horrific and bizarre sight, but now, I was okay with it.
At seven years old, Joo Seo-yeon was undeniably adorable!
So, there was no hint of shame whatsoever.
Anyway…
Should I learn to act a bit more properly?
Truth be told, there were a lot of things I wanted to do.
From this drama shoot, I realized that I still had a lot to learn.
Everyone applauded me, and I nearly forgot, but my technical skills were pointed out as lacking repeatedly.
The reason it didn’t show too much back then was mainly because Lee Hye-wol’s role was that of a princess, which didn’t require much variation in acting.
If it were the daily dramas that threw various situations at actors, my shortcomings would’ve been glaring.
“And my voice…”
As I mulled over that, I suddenly thought of Lee Ji-yeon.
Lee Ji-yeon belonged to Galaxy Entertainment.
I couldn’t recall exactly, but that agency had been involved in quite a bit of controversy.
While it claimed to be an entertainment agency, it was more of an agency in practice.
Of course, just because it was an agency didn’t mean it was bad.
In fact, there were some conveniences to it.
Their main job was connecting actors with various dramas and commercials and providing care.
Usually, actors or child actors belong to professional agencies…
However, child actors sometimes lean towards agencies rather than specialized firms.
Since they’re still young, there could be changes in their paths as they grow, which might lead to disputes with their agency if they decided to cease activities.
So it’s a convenient agency, but it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
There are bad apples everywhere, after all.
Perhaps embezzlement?
That was the issue with Galaxy Entertainment.
They recalled actors’ fees from commercials and CFs, then vanished without paying them… or at least that’s what I remembered.
To be clear, I wasn’t entirely accurate.
The key takeaway was that while Galaxy Entertainment might be operational now, it wouldn’t be long before they siphoned off the actors’ earnings and vanished again.
The reason this popped into my thoughts about voice was that this scandal began when they employed child actors for the voiceovers of a certain theater version of an animation.
They were kid actors, not professional voice actors. It stirred up some controversy.
And as if that wasn’t enough, they didn’t even pay the child actors for their work, leading to a real uproar online.
Controversies about insult to voice actors, exploitation of child actors, and unpaid fees.
In the storm of scandal, Galaxy Entertainment disappeared without a trace.
“Hmm…”
But employing child actors as voice actors?
How many child actors does Galaxy Entertainment even have besides Lee Ji-yeon?
I figured it couldn’t be many.
And I doubted there were any children keen on taking every role that came their way.
“Could it be…?”
Lee Ji-yeon, were you one of the controversy’s subjects?
*
“My pretty daughter! There was a call from PD Ha…”
Soo-ah, after hearing the news over the phone, opened the door to Se-yeon’s room, where she was likely spending time at leisure.
There, she found Se-yeon sprawled atop her Pinnieping doll, looking like a sloth.
This was rarely the 모습 of her usually busy daughter.
Wait, considering she’s only seven, was it fair to call this lazy?
“Why, mom?”
“Oh, yes. PD Ha called me.”
Anyway, since this matter wasn’t even about acting, Soo-ah shared the message she received that day without hesitation.
It was about…
“Promoting the drama…?”
“Yes, yes! You know, the making footage made quite a stir, right?”
It wasn’t just a minor buzz; it had nearly doubled the viewership ratings for the entertainment live broadcast.
Thanks to that, Se-yeon’s recognition among child actors had notably increased.
Of course, compared with kids like Joo Seo-hee, it was still nothing, but Soo-ah felt it was just a matter of time.
“You know, the highlights from episodes 2 and 3 were exceptionally well done, right?”
“Yes, even I could tell that, not knowing much about acting.”
“Exactly! And with Se-yeon’s looks, it would be perfect for promotion.”
So they planned to do a little groundwork beforehand.
The drama itself was shooting around halfway through.
It was set to air approximately three months later.
So they had to secure a promotional schedule ahead of time.
PD Ha shared the details with Soo-ah.
“I really hope Se-yeon attends.”
“Is it a must?”
“Yes. I believe Se-yeon is going to be quite significant in this drama, especially in episode 3.”
PD Ha recalled the footage he had seen a few days prior.
Two scenes.
Se-yeon, striking two emotions that were starkly opposite.
The intensity left a lasting impression on him.
“That child isn’t just talented.”
Later, Jung Eun-sun would say that her performance was not merely based on talent.
Looking at her hand injuries, it was clear that she had practiced a lot to embody that scene.
“If a genius puts in effort, what will happen?”
Even though such thoughts sprang to mind, PD Ha couldn’t help but smile brightly.
After all, that genius was our genius. How reassuring!
“Oh, and the promotion isn’t anything grand. It’s more like a pre-teaser event for the drama shown to the public.”
Of course, he wasn’t trying to pressure them.
It was all based on whether Se-yeon was willing to participate.
That was saying it lightly, though.
Ha Tae-o gently pressed Soo-ah to encourage Se-yeon to join.
And as a result…
Soo-ah was passing on PD Ha’s words to Se-yeon.
“Is it a pre-teaser event…?”
“Yes, yes! I hear the actress Hae-ye Seo, who plays the ‘grown-up Lee Hye-wol’ role, will also attend!”
Hae-ye Seo. Having the significant role of the grown-up Lee Hye-wol.
She was stunningly beautiful and had a sweet, innocent appearance that was her trademark.
“Hae-ye Seo and Kang Seong-chan, playing the grown-up Yoon Seo-il.”
On top of that, there would be a couple of supporting actors and, of course, Se-yeon at the event.
The venue will be in front of Vega Box at COEX.
“But why me?”
If they wanted to promote with a child actor, wouldn’t it be better to stick with Park Jung-woo instead of Se-yeon?
While I had such questions, I figured they must have their reasons.
And to be honest…
“Up until episode 3, my acting was better.”
Se-yeon crossed her arms and nodded with a “hm,” matter-of-factly.
Yes, that’s a straightforward fact.
The performances in episodes 2 and 3 of “Tae-sum-dal” were undeniably dominated by Se-yeon.
Yup, that’s how it was.
“By the way, if I participate in that event, will there be any fees or anything?”
“Hmm? Oh, yeah. They said they’d make sure it’s satisfying.”
“Then I’ll do it.”
When her daughter readily accepted at the mention of money, Soo-ah felt a strange mix of emotions.
Did this mean her daughter felt poor enough to think about money?
Or was she just trying to keep up with others who all glittered, falling in line with them?
Anyway, it was a complicated situation for a novice mom.
“Also, Mom.”
“Yes?”
“Um, I have one favor to ask you…”
But as Se-yeon proposed that, she fidgeted as though uncertain whether she should say it.
This was a completely unfamiliar sight for Soo-ah!
Her daughter, who had seemed mature since childhood, rarely asked for anything from her, and when she did, it was usually trivial.
She had mentioned a few things regarding her acting, but nothing that could be called an actual request.
In the past, most of the time, Soo-ah just stood by and watched.
“Sure, Se-yeon! I’ll help you!”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
So, Soo-ah eagerly responded, brimming with enthusiasm, completely unaware of what request her daughter would make.
*
“Wow, look at all these people.”
“Well, with Kang Seong-chan and Hae-ye Seo coming for the event, this is something else!”
Entertainment reporter Lee Byung-hoon murmured while fiddling with his camera.
There were so many people that he feared bumping into someone and ruining the shot.
“The reporters are very interested as well. Just take a look at the crowd—not just the people, the reporters are buzzing around like bees.”
“Getting an interview with actor Kang Seong-chan will be nearly impossible.”
Most of the reporters present were probably gathered to interview the lead actors, Kang Seong-chan or Hae-ye Seo.
Though the making footage was thrilling to see, it had been a while since the lead actors had actively promoted it.
This was the first time.
Securing interviews with the leads was the most important thing for reporters.
As he was chatting with someone, a shrill scream erupted, creating just enough space for a few people to pass.
“Oh, here they come! Wow! They really pull off their outfits; the hanbok looks incredible…”
Kang Seong-chan, playing Yoon Seo-il.
His charming face and refreshing smile combined with those intelligent eyes fit perfectly for the role of Yoon Seo-il.
And what about Hae-ye Seo in the role of Lee Hye-wol?
Her pure and enchanting looks made her the quintessential heavenly princess.
Being the protagonist of “Tae-sum-dal,” the success of the drama relied heavily on her acting.
“Now, let’s see who else is here…”
As Lee Byung-hoon pondered, he scanned the list of actors attending the event.
If he failed to get interviews with the leads, he might as well aim for a supporting actor.
“But, this isn’t looking promising.”
There didn’t seem to be anything worthwhile around.
Just then, he spotted a little girl holding hands with the actress playing Hye-wol’s caretaker walking towards him.
The rising star that had made waves with the making film: Joo Seo-yeon.
“That kid’s here too?”
Lee Byung-hoon grabbed his camera and quickly snapped a photo of the approaching Seo-yeon.
He had been keeping an eye on her for some time now.
“Oh?”
Then he suddenly realized that he was probably the only one who had taken a picture of Seo-yeon that day.
While the other journalists were busy snapping away at Kang Seong-chan and Hae-ye Seo, the reporters had rushed late to take their shots.
But compared to Seong-chan and Hae-ye Seo, there was a glaring difference.
It was hardly surprising.
Seo-yeon wasn’t particularly a well-known child actor, and she was only scheduled to appear in episode 3.
At present, Seo-yeon was a somewhat interesting, ordinary child actor.
And as of now, that was all she had claimed to be known.