episode_0025

“…Whew.”

I’m nervous.

Seo Eisu sighed softly.

In truth, he always felt excited when leaving Yuhee.

Since coming to Earth and starting acting at the same time, it had become even more so.

“Leaving Yuhee, who awakens my original self. If I weren’t a dragon with a limited lifespan, it would be a perfect madness.”

Yuhee for dragons was a temporary respite to ease the deteriorating spirit in eternity.

The spirit of a dragon was like an inflated balloon, fragile and easily burst by even minor stimuli.

Exposure to intense mortal emotions could result in a severe blow.

Therefore, no dragon, unless they wanted to go crazy like Seo Eisu, left Yuhee with a clear mind.

Because Seo Eisu was a dragon with a limited lifespan.

And because he was destined to die before going mad.

No dragon, like Seo Eisu, had ever experienced Yuhee.

Seo Eisu was the first and only one.

And so, when Yuhee left with a clear mind.

The emotions that were accepted with a fully awakened mind felt like a flash of mortality.

“Haah….”

It immersed him in a sensation as if his brain was melting.

That’s why.

“Let’s go this time too.”

Seo Eisu murmured with longing.

Hoping that the upcoming Yuhee to leave and the role to act, like in , would be intense and captivating.

Seo Eisu began the acting.

***

tells the story of three young men and women.

Minseo and Minjun, siblings who are natives of the island.

And Sangjin, who came down from Seoul for recuperation.

The drama unfolding between these young men and women in their early twenties could be considered the main content of this movie.

During the meeting with the director, Seo Eisu, the audition scene to act was in Chapter 12-3.

It was the part where Sangjin arrives at the fictional island of Gabido and meets for the first time.

In this scene.

Sangjin, who had spent his whole life in the hospital, falls in love at first sight with Minseo’s innocent and delicate beauty.

It was an important scene within the work.

Seo Eisu, acting as Minseo, had to convince not only Sangjin but also all the audience watching the movie.

That she was so pure and beautiful that any man would fall in love at first sight.

Seo Eisu really had to act Minseo in a charming way.

If she lost credibility in this part, all the subsequent stories would lose their meaning.

Director Hankyungjin had a reason for choosing this scene for the audition out of the 90-minute feature film.

In this situation.

Seo Eisu started acting.

Wearing the mask of .

Immersed in the memories, emotions, and desires of the character Minseo.

When she opened her eyes, a fantasy unfolded.

The fictional island of Gabido, the background of .

A space that was dilapidated yet somewhat fairy-tale-like landscape unfolded before her eyes.

In the fantasy.

Whoosh–

heard the sound of the waves crashing.

#Chapter 12.

– Breakwater

Whoosh–

When the waves hit, a sense of longing and melancholy would come over me.

As if someone was leaving.

But at the same time, as if someone was coming.

A contradictory feeling would arise.

It was the same now.

I heard the sound of the waves.

If I looked far away, I could see a sturdy ship approaching from a distance.

It wasn’t the usual chubby boat seen in the neighborhood.

It was an expensive ship used to transport outsiders from the mainland.

A guest was arriving.

“….”

It was noon, and the sunlight was high.

The sea was shimmering in the wind, mostly blue and occasionally sparkling silver.

Parting the currents.

The ship docked at the harbor.

I, on the island, sat on the breakwater with my backside against it.

I watched as the stranger approached my world.

Splish-splash.

The boat swayed unsteadily as the two figures descended from it.

It was a middle-aged woman and a young man.

They looked somewhat alike.

Maybe it was the hat.

The woman exchanged a few words with the young man before stepping away momentarily.

She seemed to be handling some business on the phone.

Approaching the young man left alone, I greeted him.

“Hello?”

As I greeted him, the young man’s eyes widened in recognition of my presence.

His face was flushed, and even his breathing seemed rough.

I smiled faintly.

I spoke to him.

“Long time no see. Where are you from? Mokpo? Busan? Or… Seoul?”

Having lived on an island all my life, I asked this stranger where he was from.

I listed names of mainland places I had never visited.

“Uh, uh?”

And.

This young man, who seemed immune to women, only made blunt responses to my questions, his face pale and his fingers long as if he knew nothing about the sea.

Each of these seemingly insignificant details made me feel like this boy was from a different world.

Watching him.

I deliberately smiled innocently.

Extending the laughter, I asked again.

“Seoul. You’re from Seoul, right?”

He nodded in agreement.

“Really? Lucky you. I want to go to Seoul too. Sinchon? Have you been to Sinchon? Myeongdong?”

I asked several questions.

Boys at this age are creatures swayed by vanity.

As I played along with a few words, he pulled his chin up and began to pick up words.

“Myeongdong? I used to go there every week. Sinchon? It’s a bit noisy for me, so I don’t go often.”

With a frivolous face.

Creating a facade of innocence.

He spoke as if he didn’t know that his lies were so obvious.

“Is that so? I see. Impressive.”

Here was the sea, the harbor.

The sound of the chubby boat bouncing on the water echoed constantly.

Occasionally, the sound of waves hitting the breakwater could be heard.

The salty sun mixed with the sunlight above our heads.

Honestly, I didn’t like the unique sunlight of this harbor.

I had lived my whole life under this sun.

As familiar as it was, the sun felt uncomfortably comforting, making it even more tiresome.

“You’re going to live here for a while? Well… we’ll see each other often then.”

I smiled, wrinkling my nose.

***

“Um….”

Even after the audition scene was over.

Hankyungjin remained silent for a moment.

He was pondering over Seo Isu’s acting.

“Perhaps….”

Hankyungjin cautiously spoke up.

“Did the script… get leaked?”

Seo Isu’s portrayal of was so true to the character that it seemed like Minseo straight from the script.

He had not yet publicly released the complete script of .

Except for key production personnel, the rest had only seen a portion of the synopsis and some excerpts for public consumption.

However, Seo Isu’s acting seemed to encompass everything about that Hankyungjin had written.

It felt as if he had acted to make the twist at the end of the play convincing.

So he asked.

If he had seen the entire script in advance.

“No. Of course not.”

Shin Ji-hoo denied, shaking her head.

Even if it were true, she would have denied it, but since it was not true, she could assert her innocence even more strongly.

“Well, of course. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked such a pointless question.”

Hankyungjin was not really suspicious of a script leak.

He was just surprised at how well Seo Isu’s acting matched the character of Minseo in .

In fact, the complete script of written by Hankyungjin was also recorded in the Akashic Records, and Seo Isu had built Minseo’s personality based on that complete record.

But neither of the two men knew about this surreal situation.

“Director, is there any problem?”

“No, I disagree. I actually liked it more than I thought.”

“I see. That’s good to hear.”

Listening to Shin Ji-hoo’s words with one ear, Han Kyung-jin falls into deep thought.

His words about liking it more than expected were sincere.

“Watching ‘My Manager’ made me realize… It feels like the acting is so real, as if it’s not acting at all.”

As an actor, Seo Yi-soo possesses many talents, but if we were to pick out the most outstanding ones, it would be two things.

The realistic portrayal that seems to bring the script to life.

And the unique ability to convey emotions.

That’s what in ‘My Manager’ did.

And just now, the way Seo Yi-soo portrayed was the same.

“She perfectly expressed the freshness demanded in the scenes.”

Seo Yi-soo’s expressive acting shone brightly.

It was an audition.

A one-man show where she spoke and acted alone without a scene partner.

Yet, watching her act, one could feel the moment of experiencing first love that the scene depicted, full of youthful and fresh emotions.

But it didn’t end there.

“Moreover, she convincingly showed Minseo’s dual nature.”

In the play, Minseo was a character with dual characteristics.

While her innocent charm as an island girl stood out,

She also had to convey a sense of unease that seemed out of place.

Seo Yi-soo portrayed such a dual character with delicate and realistic acting.

“This… It feels like I’m watching a real person, not a character from the script.”

It felt like he was seeing a real person, not just a character from the script.

As a novice director, working with such an actor for the first time was a new experience for Han Kyung-jin.

“Perhaps Seo Yi-soo. This actress might be the first genius I’ve collaborated with.”

Such thoughts naturally crossed his mind.

His heart was moved.

He wanted to capture Seo Yi-soo portraying Minseo on camera right away.

That eager desire began to dominate Han Kyung-jin.

And Shin Ji-hoo watched him closely.

“Hmm.”

Internally, he swallowed a meaningful laugh.

“He’s crossed over. Completely.”

Shin Ji-hoo knew.

Han Kyung-jin didn’t truly feel satisfied with Seo Yi-soo’s casting.

A novice director like him.

Daring to cast my actor?

He had such a thought, but he held it back and waited.

“I was confident. Once he sees Seo Yi-soo’s actual acting, the game will be over.”

He believed in Seo Yi-soo’s acting.

He was convinced that her brilliance would captivate Han Kyung-jin as well.

And now.

It happened just as he expected.

Shin Ji-hoo turned his gaze to Seo Yi-soo.

As she finished her acting and took a deep breath, she noticed his gaze and asked with just the movement of her lips, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Seo Yi-soo’s lips moved again.

“Was my acting okay?”

She asked, smiling as she looked at herself.

Shin Ji-hoo thought she looked truly naive.

She seemed far from being smart.

It seemed like she would live without any complex thoughts.

“You, that’s enough.”

Seo Yi-soo was satisfied with that.

She was a shining star, and with her acting just now, she fulfilled her duty.

Now, it was time for me to do my part.

“Director, me?”

“Yes?”

Shin Ji-hoo asked Han Kyung-jin in a subtle voice.

“How did you like our actress’s acting?”

“Oh, uh, yes. Of course! I really want to work with her.”

“Haha. I see. But about the contract terms. You know, after ‘My Manager,’ there are more places looking for our actress.”

“Oh… I see.”

Shin Ji-hoo began to use all sorts of words to coax and persuade Han Kyung-jin.

“It’s a low-budget film, but I can’t have my actress working for peanuts.”

He knew that Seo Yi-soo had a somewhat unconventional side when it came to worldly matters.

But sometimes, stars need more money and resources just to shine brighter.

The more money, the better.

If Seo Isu lacks in that aspect, then as the manager, I should fill in for him.

“Even if it’s a low budget, will you cut it to the bone? I’ll tear it apart to the very bottom.”

Of course, if I had welcomed Seo Isu’s participation from the beginning, I wouldn’t have been so harsh.

As much as casting rookie Seo Isu as the lead, I must have shown some sincerity.

But the opportunity to receive the service had already passed.

So.

I’ll be harsh.

I’ll work selfishly.

For my actress.

“You should at least do this much, so we have something to say to the company. You criticize major works and go into the director’s works. Isn’t that right?”

“W-well, that’s true….”

“You say the budget is lacking? There’s a running guarantee, isn’t there?”

“T-that….”

“I think this much is reasonable. What do you think, director?”

“….”

Shin Jihoo aims for the maximum fee that Seo Isu can receive.

Having grown up in the elite course in a chaebol family, Shin Jihoo was excessively worn out to deal with rookie director Han Kyungjin.

“I-I’ll call the production PD. Please don’t do this to me….”

Han Kyungjin couldn’t hold out for even a moment and declared surrender.