YDCF 18

Chapter – 18

Saei had a feeling from the moment she delivered her first line while looking into Byun Seo-jun’s eyes. This scene was definitely going to result in an NG.

Sure enough.

“Mind your own business! Mom manages just fine ignoring things—why are you the only one making a fuss?”
“Do-yeon, that’s…”

It was a scene meant to highlight the brother’s kind, protective side.

This scene would later appear as a flashback whenever Do-yeon felt guilty thinking about his deceased older brother, so the actor playing it would need to give it serious attention.

But Byun Seo-jun didn’t even deliver his line. Whether he forgot it or there was another reason, Saei didn’t know.

“……”

She looked up at him silently. Even after the director called “Cut,” he just stood there, dazed.

It wasn’t until someone told him to take a deep breath that a spark returned to his eyes.

Byun Seo-jun slapped his own cheek and started reciting his lines, but he still couldn’t finish them.

‘That’s strange… was Seo-jun ever the type to stutter like this?’

In her previous life, she had occasionally watched dramas he appeared in.

He had been an idol-turned-actor, one of the few second-generation idols to successfully transition to acting.

As far as she knew, the group he debuted in wasn’t commercially successful. He was their face, their only main member.

So much so that she couldn’t recall any other name from that group besides Byun Seo-jun.

His diction and projection weren’t bad, and he had a basic fandom, so he often played supporting roles at first.

After gaining acting experience, he eventually landed a lead role in a webtoon-based romance drama and succeeded.

‘He’s definitely not the type to come unprepared.’

No matter how talented, an unprofessional person would fade away—especially under a strict writer or director.

Yet, he consistently got offers for supporting roles and eventually led a drama, which meant he had to be diligent. There was no way he would constantly mess up because he didn’t memorize his lines.

‘And Seo-jun… he’s actually a practice fiend.’

She had seen behind-the-scenes footage of him on other sets, never letting go of his script, worn and dog-eared from constant study. She had even thought, “Wow, I need to analyze my lines like that too.”

So if someone like him couldn’t even speak his lines, something was definitely wrong.

There was another person who found Byun Seo-jun’s stuttering unusual.

“Seo-jun, can I have a word?”

It was Seong Hye-sim, who had met him twice on variety shows and once on a drama set.

Byun Seo-jun might not have been the most talented actor, but he was a diligent junior who tried to fulfill his role.

A reliable newcomer who rarely made mistakes despite slow progress.

Hye-sim, who had seen countless actors on set, immediately noticed something was off with him.

At first, she thought it was just nerves, but he was taking deep breaths calmly, so it didn’t seem like that.

‘If it’s not nerves…’

She had a suspicion. From the script reading, the newcomer who had overwhelmed Seo-jun was none other than the rookie she had discovered: Ju Saei.

Seo-jun must have been frustrated. After working so hard to rise, he was overshadowed by a complete rookie.

The feeling of being overshadowed by a genius—Hye-sim had felt it long ago herself, so she could understand Seo-jun’s mixed emotions.

But if he just sulked from feeling crushed, he wouldn’t grow.

“Ah, Seo-jun, you still have a long way to go.”

Hye-sim let out a sigh and looked at Ju Saei. Being the youngest on set, Saei glanced at Byun Seo-jun while taking cues from the staff.

‘She probably has no idea it’s because of her.’

Her worried, deep eyes sparkled in Saei’s view.

If Saei realized that the senior actor had been tongue-tied because of her, she’d likely blame herself—which could hurt both Seo-jun and Saei.

This shoot was Ju Saei’s very first acting scene. Hye-sim couldn’t just stand by and watch it get ruined.

‘Here’s what I’ll do.’

After a moment’s thought, Hye-sim decided to intervene. With her experienced judgment, she signaled Director Woo.

After some discussion, the production team quietly chose a scene that didn’t require Seo-jun or Saei and prepared to shoot it.

‘It’ll be a little delayed, but… this should help Seo-jun get back on track.’

Hye-sim watched Seo-jun with worried eyes. He seemed tense, thinking the schedule change was his fault, his hands trembling.

When she placed a hand on his shoulder, Seo-jun jumped.

“Se-senior… because of me, the schedule…?”
“You know better than anyone that you’re not in the right state to act.”
“Ah, that’s….”

Hye-sim continued calmly, seeing that he just lowered his head and bit his lip.

“I have a way to fix this.”
“……!”
“Do you want to swallow your pride and solve it, or keep struggling alone?”
“What do you mean…?”
“I think highly of you, Seo-jun. I hope you choose the first option.”

She glanced at him; seeing him tense up, it seemed he was leaning toward swallowing his pride.

“If you’re ready, follow me.”

She led the way confidently. Their destination: the rookie she had discovered, the source of this situation, Ju Saei.

“You want me to… coach your acting?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Uh, I… how could I…?”

She couldn’t even finish her sentence.

It made sense. Hye-sim had brought Seo-jun over to her while Saei was waiting due to the schedule change, then suddenly handed him to her for coaching.

‘Did Seo-jun even agree to this?’

His expression betrayed his embarrassment—this seemed to be Hye-sim’s unilateral decision.

“Se-senior, wouldn’t it be better to just let Saei rest…?”
“Seo-jun, just wait.”
“Y-yes……”

Even as he protested, Hye-sim exuded the aura of a senior and immediately shut him up.

Seo-jun, rendered speechless, folded his large frame and quietly kept his mouth shut.

“Why not? Saei practiced with Do-hun too.”
“Wait… practiced with Yeon Do-hun? Saei?”

Seo-jun, who had been quiet, suddenly asked in alarm.

“She practiced a bit. Not all of it…”
“Why? Why Yeon Do-hun and not just adult roles?”
“Ah, Hye-sim teacher assigned it as homework before…”

Normally, she would refer to Hye-sim as “the actress,” but in moments like this, “senior” or “teacher” felt more appropriate.

The moment she called her “teacher,” Hye-sim’s eyes sparkled.

…Did she like that title?

“Seo-jun, you noticed it too, right? Saei’s acting quality.”
“……Yes.”
“Saei isn’t just good at the usual stuff. She can also handle Yeon Do-hun.”
“So that’s why I’m coaching her…”
“Opportunities like this are rare. Even if you paid, you wouldn’t easily get coaching from a genius like Saei.”

Hye-sim continued praising Saei to Seo-jun.

“You feel overwhelmed in front of her, right? You’re not the only one.”
“Then who else…?”
“Even I was floored for a moment. When I first met her, I tried her on Yeon Do-hun’s role. Her voice changed from normal speaking—it was… terrifying.”
“You…?”
“Yes. So I boldly delivered my lines. Saei smoothed it over with ad-libs, but on a real set, it would’ve been embarrassing.”

Ah, please. Even if it’s true, aren’t you hyping me up too much…?

Even so, coaching an industry senior like Byun Seo-jun wasn’t easy.

Hye-sim surely knew that.

“Try syncing up while coaching. It’ll definitely help.”
“I…”

Please refuse. He looks like he’s about to, judging by his dark expression. Please don’t burden me… I don’t want to be remembered as the junior who coached a senior on set…

Just as she silently hoped this,

“I’ve decided.”

Seo-jun spoke with a grand voice.