YDCF 20

Chapter – 20

Finally, it was time to finish work.

Only then did Aunt Jeong-hee, who had been on set, quietly come over to my side.

“You really did well. Even if you still look like a rookie when the cameras are off.”

“…I thought you’d already left.”

“I told you I was watching. I was in the corner, and I thought my hair was going to fall out from just standing there.”

Honestly, I hadn’t seen her among the crew and had assumed she’d gone, so I’d relaxed.

“I usually hate being stuck in corners, but I held back. Because of someone.”

“Because of me?”

“Do you think I’d just let someone your age run around, spitting on your face?”

…So that’s what it meant. I had thought Aunt was just tired and resting in the corner.

When I looked at her with teary, touched eyes, she deliberately avoided my gaze.

‘Does she like me?’

Looking closer, it seemed she wasn’t avoiding me out of disgust—just pretending.

“Thank you.”

“Eh, what’s there to thank me for!”

“Heheh…”

When I lightly leaned in, she initially pushed me away but quickly let me stay. It was like a cat enjoying a butler’s touch.

“Ugh, get off!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You go so far just because I told you to move? Stay close!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I had thought all the elders of the Joo family were terrifying because of my uncle, but not at all.

‘Aunt seems strict on the outside, but she’s actually kind.’

Thinking about it, she had always been that way.

If she hadn’t appeared when Secretary Park Cheol-won blocked me on my uncle’s orders, I probably wouldn’t have even had Grandpa’s support.

Now that I think about it… when did Secretary Park turn away from my uncle? It must have been before I became an adult.

‘Should I try to recruit him?’

Secretary Park is talented. The fact that my uncle kept him by his side despite his temperament proves that.

‘He’s also smart enough to know when to turn away from my uncle’s tyranny.’

Letting someone like that serve a scoundrel uncle is too much of a loss. I should act soon—either bring him to my side or impress Grandpa so he ends up in the Joo Chairman’s treasure box…

Shaking off these thoughts, I quickly took the seat Aunt allowed me to have.

“Byun Seo-jun, right? The guy you fought with?”

“Ah, yes!”

“He’s improved a lot after that big fight. He has the right face for it, so he’ll probably land a lead role soon.”

In my previous life, Byun Seo-jun only got his big break after I became an adult, landing the male lead in a romance drama that everyone else had passed on.

If Aunt Jeong-hee trusts his talent, the timing could come sooner. It made me unexpectedly happy.

“I was unsure, but it really is you, Jeong-hee! So you came to watch Sae-i?”

Speak of the devil. As soon as I thought of her, actress Sung Hye-sim ran over to our side.

“Does Hye-sim have more schedule today?”

“Hmm, this is it for today.”

After checking her schedule at Aunt’s request, Hye-sim replied.

“Great. Let’s ride in the car, then.”

“I’ll send the manager and come back. Wait for me, unnie.”

Suddenly, Sung Hye-sim would ride with us.

Looking at them, I could see why they were close. Hye-sim seemed to easily accept Aunt Jeong-hee’s impulsive nature.

I got in first and waited for a moment, then Hye-sim took the passenger seat.

The combination was perfect. Aunt muttered softly and hummed as she started the engine.

Soon, Sung Hye-sim, finally catching her breath, looked toward me.

“How was your first shoot?”

“Don’t even get me started. I didn’t even feel like it was my first shoot. I almost had to fight a senior.”

While I reminisced about the set, Aunt interrupted.

“Fight a senior? Oh, Byun Seo-jun?”

“I saw you dragging him along too.”

“Thanks to you, Sae-i, Byun Seo-jun got a good experience.”

“I think that guy owes my niece several meals. Definitely at a restaurant in our department store’s luxury floor.”

…That’s just a good business boost for Aunt.

Noticing it was her joke, Hye-sim chuckled lightly, then looked back at me, as if waiting to hear my answer.

“My first shoot…”

The first real acting experience, the one I’d both anticipated and worried about day and night.

It had been more eventful than expected, but invaluable. I met great seniors and received a lot of praise.

Most importantly, I felt it—cameras were capturing my acting.

‘I used to just watch others on TV.’

Now, there were people to see my acting.

The thought that one day I could introduce Doyeon to the public through television filled me with joy…

I couldn’t even put this feeling into words.

“My acting… was really good.”

That’s all I could say.

“I’ve kept thinking that it was good to decide to become an actor… That’s all I could think about.”

The sincerity in those few words would surely be conveyed.

Sung Hye-sim, waiting for Joo Sae-i’s impression, froze at my answer.

Countless thoughts must have passed through her small head while considering the answer: the events of the set, the atmosphere, everything.

‘I felt the same way.’

Even young Hye-sim’s heart used to race thinking about the set.

The first shoot, the first real acting experience—her senior at the time asked the same question.

Back then, Hye-sim thought long and hard before finally saying:

“I really love acting, teacher.”

The same answer as mine.

Hye-sim looked at me, astonished. Despite being tired, my energy and lively expression, and…

‘My eyes are sparkling.’

Sae-i’s eyes shone brighter than stars, saying she loved acting and was glad to start this path.

‘I wonder if my eyes looked like that to my teacher back then…’

She suddenly missed the elderly teacher who was now resting due to old age.

Thinking she should introduce this girl to her teacher next time, Sung Hye-sim secretly wiped her moist eyes with her sleeve.

Perhaps because the tension had eased, after answering Hye-sim, I fell asleep soundly with Aunt and the actress chatting in the background.

It wasn’t until we arrived at Hye-sim’s house that I snapped back to reality. I hurriedly greeted her, and she responded with a warm smile.

“Sae-i, get some rest. You worked hard today, even scolding Byun Seo-jun.”

“Before I go, just a moment.”

As she was about to get off, Aunt held her back.

“Why are you still calling her ‘Sae-i’? I’ve been calling you unnie this whole time. Isn’t that funny?”

“Y-Yes! You can speak comfortably!”

I had also been about to bring it up, but Aunt beat me to it, and I quickly joined in.

After a brief hesitation, Hye-sim slowly spoke.

“Then… may I make a request?”

What could she possibly ask?

Even though I knew it wouldn’t be something difficult, I felt nervous.

“‘Senior’ is too common a title…”

“…….”

“You… called me ‘teacher’ to Byun Seo-jun just now.”

Could it be…

“From now on, could you call me teacher?”

I almost gasped and covered my mouth.

To be allowed to call the great actress who recognized my worth ‘teacher’—in both my previous and current life…

It felt too much, yet I thought this might be the only chance.

“…Thank you, teacher.”

I decided to accept before hesitation could take over.

Sung Hye-sim, or rather… teacher, seemed satisfied with my answer and got out of the car. I watched her departure for a long time.

Seeing me so pleased, Aunt scoffed.

“Neck’s gonna hurt! If you liked her that much, why not make Hye-sim your niece?”

“I like being your niece, Aunt.”

“You think that line will work?”

It seemed to.

“…I’ll give you some allowance later.”

It worked. Embarrassed herself, Aunt quickly changed the topic to allowance.

“Hmm, does your uncle give you enough allowance?”

“I don’t spend much…”

“That’s different from Su-yeon! If you go to Yeongpoong High, no one will even realize you’re my niece.”

Wait.

“What did you just say…?”

“Huh? You’re going to Yeongpoong High…”

…Right, my new school.

I’m starting school soon!