Ch.59Don’t casually talk to me like it’s nothing!

Why are you appearing here?

I wanted to ask that right away, but I couldn’t.

Immersion is only about experiencing the life of a character in the script.

I can’t control or manipulate it at will.

So despite my shocked state of mind.

“I’m watching you because I like you.”

The direct tone just spills out of my mouth.

“…How can you say such things so carelessly.”

Sujin with her reproachful expression was truly beautiful.

Especially since they were filming a historical drama, the hanbok she was wearing suited her elegantly.

As if she needed to speak her mind despite being embarrassed.

I could see her still-present baby fat turning bright red.

Is the tingling in my fingertips just my imagination or because of my feelings?

I wanted to take you, without caring about any procedures-

‘No, what am I saying right now.’

Judging that the situation was heading in a strange direction,

I immediately broke out of the immersion.

“…What the hell is going on here.”

This has never happened before.

How can a character in the script be replaced with a real person’s face?

That question didn’t last long.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

A message from Sims – Real Life quickly arrived to provide an answer.

-[Current script has been identified as romance, not just a simple story]

-[For deeper immersion, we’ve added a feature that replaces]

-[fictional characters with real people who match the roles]

-[If you don’t want this feature, you can turn off ‘Romance Mode’]

-[The method to turn it off is the same as exiting immersion, and can be toggled ON/OFF anytime]

“…Why don’t they tell me about these things beforehand.”

Of course, everything so far had proceeded without explanation.

But this case was different.

‘Romance Mode off.’

Of all the abilities I’d gained, this was the one with the most noticeable effect.

Fortunately, even with the face change, nothing beyond the movements written in the script was possible.

‘No, why am I thinking that’s fortunate? Why am I even thinking like this?’

Something I’d never properly thought about before,

my 15-year-old pubescent body was beginning to react in earnest.

They say it’s an age when boys are very interested in sex.

A time when secondary sexual characteristics are actively developing.

Funny as it sounds, for the first time, I was beginning to ‘notice’ the opposite sex.

Having been discriminated against for my ugly appearance,

I naturally never experienced any romance in my previous life.

And of course, that had become a habit in this life too,

to the point where I didn’t even pay attention to it.

But the current situation naturally reminded me that I too could date.

Breaking free from the inferiority complex and sense of inadequacy

from my previous life that still affected me.

One trivial trigger.

Thump-thump-thump.

‘Am I going crazy? What’s wrong with my body?’

It was making my heart race like mad.

And then all the moments I’d ignored until now flashed through my mind.

The winter classroom where I reunited with Sujin,

The moment Jaerin suddenly rushed out of the waiting room and called me affectionately,

When Yerim was so startled she lost strength in her waist and wet herself,

‘Why is my mind only thinking about these things?’

I suddenly recalled the intense first meetings with the girls around me.

Amid all this confusion, one thing was certain.

‘I can’t look at the script today.’

Right now, I just wanted to get some deep sleep.

+++++

<Swordsman Baek Dong-soo> was showing daily increases in ratings after a decent start.

At the center of it all was, naturally, Kim Donghu’s spectacular action.

ㄴIs this kid from some special forces unit? He’s literally flying around

ㄴFrom what I know, Kim Donghu never used stunt doubles from the beginning?

ㄴIs he fearless at such a young age or does he really have that much confidence

ㄴMust be confidence, he’s clearly in a different league from everyone else

To put it in perspective, it was like preparing for a marathon while others were just learning to walk.

Even without trying to express that Jaun was superior to his peers,

Jaun, played by Kim Donghu, appeared more exceptional than anyone else.

Especially when acting out swordsmanship, it was at a level that drew admiration.

ㄴHe really looks like he’s been trained in practical swordsmanship somewhere

ㄴAt that level, he must have trained, he’s not even outmatched by Cha Minsik

ㄴIt’s not like he’s acting as a genius, it’s like a real genius swinging a sword

ㄴA story about a sword genius played by a face genius, this is truly a feast

Episode 3 ratings: a whopping 20%.

Not just peak ratings, but average ratings of 20%.

In this situation, SKS Drama Director Jung Doseon wore a calm smile.

“The fierce battle of Monday-Tuesday dramas will end here.”

I will stand in the Monday-Tuesday drama slot.

As if to continue Jung Doseon’s calmly recited momentum,

Episode 4 ratings rose to 22%.

Adding strength to this, Episode 5 ratings reached 24%.

The ratings seemed almost like child’s play.

Just when it seemed like they would soon break through the 30% barrier,

an unexpected variable that no one predicted blocked <Swordsman Baek Dong-soo>’s path.

“Episode 6 ratings 22%…?”

The ratings suddenly dropped.

And by a whole 2%.

“What’s the problem?”

“W-we’re still trying to identify the issue and investigating quickly.”

“No, don’t investigate among yourselves.”

That’s the theory of losers… check public opinion first, the answer lies there.

Under Director Jung’s guidance, the cause of the ratings drop was quickly found.

In a way, it was a very simple matter.

The only case that was expected if there were to be a drop.

“Because Kim Donghu’s screen time ended?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

It was an anxiety he had only been thinking about.

But he didn’t think it would be a major problem.

‘That’s natural, isn’t it?’

When the child actor’s story ends, the adult’s story begins.

This natural flow had been a drama cliché for a long time.

But,

‘I missed one thing.’

There was one thing Jung Doseon hadn’t predicted,

and that was Kim Donghu’s appearance.

Not just ending with the word handsome.

Or perhaps Kim Donghu, who was like the pronoun for the word handsome.

Could there be someone who could inherit such looks?

Of course not.

Because Kim Donghu’s appearance was beyond that level, outside the norm.

Plus, his skill with swordsmanship played a part too.

Even if we set aside appearance, swordsmanship should improve from childhood to adulthood.

But with that aspect lacking as well, people were bound to comment.

“What in the world.”

Jung Doseon rarely showed confusion as he let out a hollow laugh.

And this served as meaningful data not just for SKS Broadcasting but elsewhere too.

“Hooh… So you’re saying Kim Donghu cannot be replaced.”

“P-pardon?”

“It’s nothing. You should rest comfortably, haven’t you been unable to sleep properly these past few days?”

“Th-thank you! Director.”

This gave MNC, which was about to film Eclipse, a sense of caution,

ㄴSo Kim Donghu was hiding this much power

ㄴYou really can’t be replaced by anyone

ㄴA mere child actor has this much influence?

It showed the online community just how much entertainment Kim Donghu provided,

And finally.

“So if there’s a suitable script, it can be done?”

“What?”

“A story with Kim Donghu as the lead.”

“…That’s not something to decide so easily.”

It gave everyone a new perspective on what impact Kim Donghu might have as a lead actor,

and currently, Kim Donghu himself was:

“…Maybe turning on Romance Mode once wouldn’t be so bad?”

But wait, if Sujin appears, that means she’ll pass the audition.

Did I just get spoiled?

“Why is this driving me crazy!”

I still couldn’t easily escape thoughts of Romance Mode.

++++++

Time flew quickly to September.

A time when second-half dramas were preparing to be released.

“Yay!”

Kim Sujin couldn’t hide her excitement and immediately shouted.

“Goodness, I almost lost my ear.”

“Sorry, sorry, but I’m just so~ happy!”

“Are you that happy about acting with Donghu?”

“W-who said that’s what makes me happy?! I-I’m just saying I’m happy to film a historical drama!”

Looking at her daughter whose face had turned bright red, Kim Yuryen chuckled.

Knowing why her daughter had prepared for the audition more diligently than usual,

she watched as her daughter glanced at her while chatting with someone.

“Rather than doing that, wouldn’t it be better to just call him?”

“Who makes calls late at night? It would burden Donghu.”

“Were you texting with Donghu?”

“Oh mom, really!”

Kim Sujin shouted and ran straight to her room.

“But if she’s like this already, how will she act when they meet to perform?”

Despite her worried words, Kim Yuryen still had a smile as she opened the <Eclipse> script.

A script with considerable difficulty requiring passionate love acting from the child actor stage.

If perfectly executed, it showed nothing but a future blockbuster story.

The problem was that in her daughter’s case, ‘love acting’ wasn’t possible.

‘My daughter is already in her first love.’

To ‘act’ like she loves Kim Donghu, or rather Kim Donghu’s character?

How could that be as easy as it sounds?

In reality, Kim Yuryen’s worry came true.

Thump-thump.

‘What should I do? I can’t look at his face properly.’

On the day of the <Eclipse> filming.

Kim Sujin found herself unable to properly look at Kim Donghu’s face.

Thump-thump-thump.

She could feel her tactless heart beating toward Kim Donghu.

Please stop pounding so hard!

Kim Sujin resented her heart for being too honest with emotions at this moment.

Actually, what she resented most was.

“Sujin, are you sick? Your cheeks are really red.”

Kim Donghu who approached and spoke to her without any hesitation.

Kim Donghu!

‘Don’t talk to me so casually!’

Of course, Sujin didn’t have the courage to say this out loud.