Chapter 5

In fact, from the moment Kim Min-jun expressed his intent to participate in the CF, the protagonist was supposed to be Kim Min-jun rather than Ha Eun.

Even though it had recently become a hot topic, it couldn’t overshadow the presence of the national representative.

By chance, the composition altered slightly from what Kang Eun-tae had initially planned.

However, since the overall framework of the project had not changed, it seemed better to rely on the stature of Kim Min-jun, the athletic national representative, rather than placing all expectations on Ha Eun’s unusual vibe for a child.

The goal was to ensure that this advertisement did not lose its identity as a children’s nutritional supplement ad.

Yes, the role that was expected of Ha Eun in this CF was probably just that.

“I heard she has never taken acting classes; was that a lie?”

From the very first take, she produced footage that left Kang Eun-tae speechless in admiration.

The cinematographer was equally astonished by Ha Eun’s commanding presence on screen.

“…The atmosphere is something else, isn’t it? Is it because it’s in black and white?”

Perhaps to emphasize a serious tone, they shot in black and white, which gave the footage a liveliness that surpassed standard color shots.

It felt as if a sketch-style CF storyboard had been brought to life.

However, it wasn’t merely about recreating the scenes in the storyboard.

Ha Eun’s unique atmosphere was also emphasized by the static shooting technique.

Most importantly, the fact that she ran in almost the same posture as Kim Min-jun, who had just passed the baton to her, created a sense of déjà vu.

Utilizing that familiarity, the transition on screen from the relatively famous Kim Min-jun to Ha Eun captured the audience’s focus that could have been lost.

It made it hard to believe that she had never taken a proper acting class.

Everything Ha Eun portrayed on camera belonged to the realm of skills, didn’t it?

Supposing that even tripping over by accident was part of her intention,

Then, if her weighty expression during the close-up shot, as she fell onto the track, had indeed been calculated to seize complete control of the CF, that meant she was not merely a gem but a monster.

No longer could Ha Eun be judged through the narrow lens of being just a child.

Even if all of this was coincidence, nobody could deny that Ha Eun was born with star qualities.

“It would be great if you could share your thoughts in more detail, Director.”

“In more detail, what do you mean?”

“I feel that just running won’t be enough. I want to know what kind of feelings you want me to convey while running.”

Moreover, the fact that she understood the director Kang Eun-tae’s thoughts and executed them flawlessly in front of the camera made him let out a subtle laugh.

How many actors can truly offer model answers to such a personal and abstract concept as someone else’s thoughts?

Typically, if an incident occurs during a CF shoot where a child actor gets even slightly injured, the shooting schedule is postponed, but this time, there was no need to delay.

The first take itself captured the image and atmosphere Kang Eun-tae desired from Ha Eun perfectly.

Although it seemed odd to say in exchange, some of the advertisement lines that were originally Kim Min-jun’s responsibility were allocated to Ha Eun.

It felt certain that adding Ha Eun’s voice, in addition to the continuous playback of Kim Min-jun’s voice, would be more effective.

***

“I’m sorry, ma’am. We should have been more careful.”

Initially directed to update the situation, the scapegoat and assistant director, Hong Yeong-tae, continued to bow his head apologetically towards Ha Eun’s mother.

This stemmed from PTSD due to a similar incident that occurred a few months ago with child actor Seua Song.

“Are you going to be responsible if my child ends up with a scar on her face? Will you take responsibility?”

He still vividly remembered Seua Song’s mother, who had unleashed a lion’s roar as if out of a Hong Kong martial arts movie.

Even then, it was an accident caused purely by the child’s mistake, but such things typically didn’t garner much concern.

In filming, the usual roles are that the production team, led by the director, are the “superior,” while the cast are considered the “inferior.” However, the peculiar nature of child models can sometimes flip this hierarchy on its head.

Thus, it was even more essential for Hong Yeong-tae to keep Ha Eun and her mother calm throughout the proceedings.

Fortunately, neither showed any notable emotions yet, but he needed to remember that they were still in a state of latent tension.

“For now, please continue to rest in the break room. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask at any time.”

Afterward, Hong Yeong-tae stepped outside the break room to find out what decision director Kang Eun-tae had made during his absence.

The moment Song Nayeon opened her mouth while silently gazing at the band-aids stuck to her daughter’s knees was right after that.

“…Did it hurt a lot?”

“Other than a bit of a sting, it was fine. There wasn’t an NG sign either.”

Ha Eun’s voice was slightly too calm.

It was a stark contrast to the active image that Song Nayeon had grown accustomed to, one that enjoyed singing lullabies and partaking in various minor sports.

Could the CF shoot have placed a significant psychological burden on Ha Eun?

When she had taken her daughter’s hand to leave the house for the advertisement meeting, and just a few days later when they went to meet Kim Min-jun, the silent yet weighty expression and atmosphere that were now on her daughter caused Song Nayeon to ponder deeply.

Despite that, she ultimately couldn’t voice her preference for Ha Eun not to do the CF.

The conviction that regardless of whatever she said, she couldn’t persuade Ha Eun weighed heavily on her.

When she received Kang Eun-tae’s business card in the past, her heart raced even more than Ha Eun’s did.

She had never expected that Ha Eun would gain public attention due to a pitch during a baseball game and that it would be featured prominently in the newspapers the next day.

Her child might truly become a star.

As Ha Eun’s success moved from the realm of vague imagination to the domain of possibility, Song Nayeon, who cherished her daughter deeply, could only become more cautious.

The thought that her concerns might ruin Ha Eun’s path loomed large in her mind.

Worries surged that making a judgment swayed by fleeting emotions could end up putting Ha Eun in a tougher position.

Furthermore, she was also aware that the title of “star” wasn’t something one was handed effortlessly.

She understood that it wouldn’t be possible to only witness her daughter continuously enjoying herself and being happy.

“Hey, Ha Eun, aren’t you hungry? Should I ask the staff uncle to bring some snacks?”

Trying to restrain the genuine questions she wanted to ask Ha Eun, she made an effort to steady her heart.

If she showed anxiety, Ha Eun might be influenced by it as well.

For now, she hoped her daughter was not simply enduring any hardship.

A little while later, Hong Yeong-tae returned to the break room.

However, was it that the story he heard afterward was slightly different from what Song Nayeon had expected?

“They said we don’t need to reshoot? But earlier you clearly said…”

“The first take came out so well that they believe if we reshoot, we won’t be able to replicate it.”

Initially, she mistakenly thought they were concluding with the first shot out of necessity.

It was nearly impossible to postpone the filming schedule until Ha Eun’s knee injury healed.

This CF could not simply be reduced to Ha Eun’s individual performance, especially since national representative Kim Min-jun was also participating in the shoot.

Still, the nagging feeling that something was off stemmed from what she had heard from Handong Pharmaceutical’s advertising team leader, Han Min-a, about Kang Eun-tae.

“The director can be somewhat particular. He might cause unnecessary hardships for Ha Eun, so it might be best for you, ma’am, to mediate to ensure Ha Eun is comfortable.”

That the meticulous director would say there was no need for a reshoot despite a mishap during the shoot felt hard to believe.

The fact that Ha Eun was now splitting the advertisement lines that were originally all Kim Min-jun’s also seemed difficult to comprehend.

But, wary as she was, she also disliked the thought of seeing Ha Eun force herself to run on the track despite her knee injury.

“Well then, I will send you a text separately with the dates for recording the advertisement lines. Also, please do contact us if there’s anything unusual with Ha Eun’s knee.”

Towards Kang Eun-tae, who expressed a mix of regret and awkwardness about Ha Eun’s injury while thanking him for today’s efforts, she could only return the sentiment in kind.

Time passed.

The day of the first airing of the CF Ha Eun filmed coincided with the day just before her first day at kindergarten.

“Everyone falls down sometimes and struggles with the trials before them.”

Finally, the CF began to play, recorded onto a pre-prepared videotape.

Alongside the advertisement lines spoken in Ha Eun’s voice was the image of her running forward calmly, putting a momentary pain behind her.

“But I won’t give up, no matter what.”

“If I keep moving forward slowly, I will reach the place I aimed for someday.”

The advertisement lines, which sounded as if they were an interview with Ha Eun’s aspirations, caused Song Nayeon’s eyes to gradually redden.

In reality, the person who had recorded those touching lines, Ha Eun, was…

-Thunk, thunk!

-Flap, flap─!

In a delayed rush of embarrassment, she was alone on her bed, kicking her blanket.

She knew it was just an advertisement line, yet she simply couldn’t help but feel her hands and feet curling up in mortification.

---