Chapter 180: A Few Days Later
Yuchan returned home late in the evening, dragging his exhausted body. His family had already finished dinner and were gathered together in the living room.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome home. Did you eat?”
“Not yet.”
“You’ve been working without eating until this hour?”
Yuchan’s mother clicked her tongue and stood up.
However, as if she had expected it, a simple dinner was set on the table. His father also smiled and took Yuchan’s bag.
“You must be tired.”
Yuchan awkwardly smiled and went into the bathroom to wash his hands. It was already last year. The wandering Yuchan had left home and settled in Hadong Theater.
There, he discovered a new taste for acting, enjoyed meeting the audience, and was able to reconnect with Muyoung.
Whoosh—
He looked a bit tired in the mirror.
After doing one more play after
“Is the soybean paste stew okay?”
“Yeah. But Dad, you closed the shop early today?”
“Don’t even mention it. It’s because of <Blade’s Path>.”
His self-employed parents sat in the living room, chatting with their son. On the television, commercials were playing just before the broadcast of <Blade’s Path>.
“……Is it good?”
“I live for watching it.”
“Muyoung is so good at acting—”
“Honey. Ah.”
Dad covered Mom’s mouth with an apple.
The two already knew that Yuchan and Muyoung were academy classmates.
And that one of the reasons Yuchan had wandered was because of comparisons with his friends.
Not just Muyoung. There was also Bora, and many of his classmates were already active.
Yuchan smiled faintly and ate.
“Honestly, I have to admit Muyoung’s acting.”
“Huh? It’s starting.”
The three fixed their eyes on the television. Yuchan still hadn’t told his parents about the <Blade’s Path> audition.
He was tired of sharing his unsuccessful challenges.
He had remained silent for the past few years to his curious parents, saying he would tell them when there were results. At first, the two had urged him, but now they seemed to have accepted the wait.
That didn’t mean they weren’t curious.
“Oh my! Oh my! That Jo Gwang-jo guy must be crazy!”
“He’s as stiff as a bamboo stick. Tsk.”
His parents soon became engrossed in the drama. They kept criticizing and sympathizing with the characters.
Zziiing—
“Huh?”
Then, a message came to Yuchan’s phone, which was on the table. Yuchan, eating without much thought, checked it and suddenly froze, unable to swallow the food in his mouth.
“……Mom, Dad.”
“Yeah?”
The two answered without taking their eyes off the television.
“What if I were in that drama?”
Only then did his parents turn around. Wondering what the boy, who usually didn’t say a word about his acting activities, was suddenly talking about. Yuchan put down his spoon and covered his face with both hands.
“Yuchan, what’s wrong? What happened?”
“It’s okay. You’ll meet a good project someday.”
“Why did you make him watch the drama and upset him?”
“Oh my, look at what you’re saying. Who closed the shop early to watch this?”
The two started arguing with Yuchan in the middle.
Listening to their voices, Yuchan couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“I think I’ll be in that drama.”
At those words, everyone froze as if time had stopped.
Yuchan, tears welling up, rested his forehead on the table.
“I got a call from Muyoung a while ago and auditioned. They said I’m a new character in the additional episodes. I just got a call from the PD. They asked if I could start shooting the day after tomorrow.”
“Y, Yuchan. What—”
“Wowwww! Oh my! My son! You did it!”
“Oh my goodness! Oh my!”
His parents jumped up and down in the narrow kitchen, hugging each other. A side dish container fell, but no one cared.
“You did it. Oh, you did it. My baby!”
Finally, he could say it.
“I’m going to debut.”
“Yeah. You did it.”
“I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“What worry! You’re just starting!”
Yuchan, his eyes red, hugged his parents. On the unseen television, King Jungjong’s voice flowed out.
-Chief State Councilor. Opportunity is for those who seize it.
-Indeed, Your Majesty.
-They say heaven helps those who help themselves, so let’s help each other. That’s what a king and his subjects should do for the people.
“Whoaaa!”
As soon as Muyoung saw Yuchan, he ran over and grabbed his hand. Then, like a spinning top, he twirled around, jumping up and down.
Seeing Yuchan on set, it felt like a dream.
“You did great! You did great!”
“Thanks, Muyoung. But this is……”
There was still a slight resistance to the new character, a remnant of the atmosphere after Kihyeon-ho. Moreover, the fact that the replacement was a rookie actor who hadn’t even debuted.
When Yuchan arrived on set, no one welcomed him. Honestly, they were just busy with their own work, not even knowing if he was an actor.
“Muyoung, who’s that?”
“He’s Hong’s brother this time!”
“Oh. Are you friends?”
“We went to the same acting academy. Yuchan, say hello. This is the camera director, lighting director, sound director……”
Muyoung took him around, introducing him to the staff.
“Hello, I’m Ki Yuchan! I’ll do my best!”
“He’s got good energy, being Muyoung’s friend.”
“Let’s do well.”
Thanks to Muyoung, Yuchan was able to naturally make an impression on them.
While Yuchan was touring the set, he noticed the PD arriving. The PD called the two over and waved lightly.
“Good morning.”
“Hello, PD-nim.”
“Hello! I’ll do my best!”
“Hahaha. I could only hear Yuchan’s voice from far away. Let me see the script for a moment.”
It was a very urgent filming set.
Time passed as the actor was replaced and the filmed footage was discarded. There were disruptions to the plan for a relaxed broadcast.
“On page 3, second line. The writer said we could delete that line. She was hesitant, but decided to fix it since we’re already redoing it.”
“Oh. I thought the line felt a bit out of place.”
“That’s the only issue. Please do well today.”
The PD patted Yuchan’s shoulder.
It was true that he was a bit worried since Yuchan had a background in theater. Acting in front of a camera was completely different from being on stage.
‘But that academy is amazing.’
From Muyoung to Bora, and now Yuchan.
Everyone from that academy was a monster. The PD, who had confidently said he would only watch for 10 minutes, was literally mesmerized by Yuchan’s acting.
Moreover, with the urgent need to start filming.
Muyoung had assured him that the chemistry with Yuchan was so good they didn’t need to rehearse, leaving no choice but to use Yuchan.
“How’s the makeup for you two?”
“Yuchan is done, and I just need a few touches.”
“Let’s get started quickly. Get ready.”
“Yes!”
The PD left those words and disappeared among the staff.
Muyoung, surrendering to the coordinators’ hands, checked the script with Yuchan.
“Have you memorized the lines?”
It was Muyoung’s second shoot, but not Yuchan’s.
Moreover, having received the script just two days ago, there was very little time to memorize it. But it was better to read even one more line than to talk about it.
“Yeah, almost.”
“Should I run the lines with you? Starting from the first scene.”
“Let’s go over it before we go in.”
The two leaned in and ran through the lines.
Unaware that the coordinators’ hands paused behind them, Muyoung and Yuchan made the most of their standby time.
“……Muyoung.”
“Yeah?”
Yuchan, reciting the lines, called him softly.
Muyoung raised an eyebrow, as if asking what was wrong.
Yuchan smiled faintly and gazed into the air for a moment, as if recalling a point in the past. Muyoung soon realized it was about
“You were right.”
Honestly, it still didn’t feel real.
Just two days ago, he was a student running between part-time jobs. The change brought about by a mere 48 hours was astonishing.
From an aspiring actor to a clumsy but real actor.
“You said it back then. That just because now is hard doesn’t mean the future will be too.”
“You remember?”
“Of course. Living through it, this day has finally come. I’ll admit it, Muyoung. You were right.”
Those words were a testament to how happy he was now.
Muyoung grinned, swaying his body left and right.
“If you’re grateful, buy me dinner.”
“I’ll buy you two.”
“Yay!”
“Muyoung-ssi! Ki Yuchan-ssi! We’re going on standby!”
At the staff’s call, the two moved to the set. Standing on stage as the dignified King Jungjong and Hong’s brother.
The two held onto the script until the end, heightening their tension. The staff whispered as they watched the pair.
“They said he’s Muyoung’s friend?”
“Really? He’s debuting with this?”
“That’s amazing. Which rookie actor debuts with a drama that has over 30% viewership? He’s got a good friend.”
“The PD said to be careful about that. It could cause trouble.”
“Right. Muyoung only gave him the audition, no involvement otherwise.”
“They said they’ve been friends since Muyoung started acting, so their chemistry is good. Let’s get this shoot moving!”
“Otherwise, it’s an all-nighter.”
“Ugh. Just thinking about it……”
They were already exhausted. Repeating the same scenes in the same set was quite unproductive.
“Let’s go, everyone!”
“Focus, please!”
“Ready—!”
The PD’s voice was even louder.
Like runners preparing to sprint, Muyoung and Yuchan took a light breath and glared at each other. Emotions surged in that brief moment.
“Action!”
In an instant, Yuchan’s eyes glistened like a snake’s.
The staff’s brows furrowed at the sinister aura emanating from his expression. Unconsciously, everyone was focused.
“Your Majesty.”
“It’s been a while, Seung Hu-gwan.”
Muyoung was the same. As Hong’s brother, he was essentially Jungjong’s brother-in-law.
However, in the storm of power, such a shallow relationship was like a mere twig. Jungjong had already abandoned his first wife upon ascending the throne.
“Many memorials have been submitted to the Office of Inspectors lately?”
“You’re well-informed. I was away for a few days, so where did you hear that?”
“Since Her Highness worries about Your Majesty’s well-being, it must have reached her brother’s ears.”
Each line was carefully stacked.
On the surface, they seemed calm, but inside, they were pointing blades at each other. A smile hung on Yuchan’s lips. His gentle appearance exuded a deep cunning.
“Your Majesty seems troubled?”
It was a casual, offhand remark.
But Jungjong knew it was both a lure and an enemy’s handshake.
Do you want to get rid of Jo Gwang-jo? To uproot his deeply embedded presence, the help of the Hungu faction is essential.
“I’m inadequate, but if I can ease Your Majesty’s burdens, I’ll do anything. Please share your worries.”
Jungjong answered by sipping his wine.
There was no need to show his hardened expression due to the other’s aura. At that moment, the PD raised a hand to signal. The lighting slowly dimmed, and the lanterns outside the door lit up one by one.
Swooosh—
Yuchan raised his bowed head.
Shadows slowly danced across his face, and his clear, gleaming eyes were dangerous.
Jungjong did not remove the wine cup from his lips. There was no need to show his stiffened face due to the other’s momentum.
“Huh? When did you come in?”
A staff member, observing the set, turned at the sound. It was Cha Eun-seong. He stood with his arms crossed, watching the scene.
“Just now.”
“They’re really good, aren’t they?”
Their chemistry was seamless, pulling each other along. It wasn’t explosively passionate, but the emotional undertow beneath the surface was vivid.
“Hmm.”
“As expected, Muyoung is much better than the first time. But the real surprise is this guy. He doesn’t seem like a beginner.”
“Among the Ki’s I’ve seen, he’s somewhat decent.”
Cha Eun-seong nodded vaguely in response.
It was praise a rookie could receive on set.