Chapter 20

A tree that will grow strong is recognized by its sprouts.

This was the phrase that Kang Seon-woo, fresh out of his teenage years and nervously completing his first talent audition in Seoul, heard from the interviewer.

Now, as Kang Seon-woo has indeed become one of the greatest actors in South Korea.

“So, is good acting the kind that feels comfortable even after countless repetitions, one that you feel you can do again and again?”

Despite the calculated question from the reporter, Ha Eun did not show even a hint of distress, responding only with her calm voice. In that moment, Kang Seon-woo fully understood the feelings of that interviewer from back then.

Of course, he already knew that Ha Eun was an extraordinary child in many ways. Over the past few months, while filming the neighbor uncle, he had caught himself admiring her high-level performance more than once.

However, that was still only within the realm of the camera. There certainly exist child actors who are comparable, if not to Ha Eun’s level, at least somewhat.

During the times Kang Seon-woo worked on various dramas and movies, he had met many beautiful children born with striking looks. Children who have already learned how to express emotions. Kids who effortlessly exude an aura that draws the gaze of others.

Yet, having met such children, he could confidently state that.

“You shouldn’t categorize Ha Eun with those children. This is a different kind of talent entirely.”

“And so, I believe I’m fortunate to be able to portray the role of Kim Ji-a as a challenge.”

A steady gaze. The choice of words that completely eliminates any possibility of misunderstanding.

Above all, there was that relaxed smile that seemed to pierce right through the reporter’s shallow schemes. A scene that turned the trapper into the trapped, using Ha Eun’s brilliance to their advantage.

‘…Seriously, how is that a 7-year-old?’

This sensation made Kang Seon-woo feel as if he were facing a thousand-year-old serpent. After all, the ability to manipulate others according to one’s own whims is not a gift given to just anyone.

Regardless, Ha Eun was still merely a sprout of a 7-year-old. This meant that it would still take over ten years before she could grow into a proper tree.

Thinking about the kind of form she might take as an adult, this already prodigious child sparked his expectations, making the term genius feel well-placed.

“Great job, Ha Eun.”

“…Thank you, Kang Seon-woo sunbaenim.”

However, for some reason, immediately after the press conference, to be precise, from the moment they returned to the waiting room, she began to address him with a tone of respect that made her shy around him.

“Just call me Seon-woo oppa. At the very least, you can call me Kang sunbaenim,” he said, but Ha Eun remained firm in her stance, leaving him curious as he spoke to Nayeon Song.

“Excuse me, Ha Eun’s mom. Did I perhaps mess up with Ha Eun in some way?”

“Well… I’m not sure? I’ve only heard good things about Kang Seon-woo.”

Neither Kang Seon-woo nor Nayeon Song realized that the truth was that it wasn’t so much Kang Seon-woo himself, but rather, it was the burden of his enormous popularity that made Ha Eun feel uneasy.

As such, Kang Seon-woo could do nothing but feel a sense of disappointment at Ha Eun’s sudden distancing from him. He thought they had gotten quite close over the past few months while filming the neighbor uncle together.

Well, anyway. Thanks to Ha Eun, the press conference, which had been riddled with several reporters’ manipulations, ended successfully, and he would not have the chance to meet her anytime soon.

“Then, I think it’s about time for dinner. Let’s go out for a meal, Ha Eun.”

“Really? A meal…?”

“Yep, a meal. After wrapping up events like this press conference, we all go out to eat something delicious.”

Taking Ha Eun, who hadn’t had much of a meal aside from a slice of cake in the waiting room, he led her to a traditional Korean restaurant he had made a reservation at. Naturally, Nayeon Song, Ha Eun’s mother, accompanied them.

In fact, he had already contacted the other cast members and several filming staff who were not Ha Eun, so it wasn’t long before familiar faces appeared at the restaurant.

Regardless, this gathering was also to celebrate the completion of all production processes for the neighbor uncle.

The reason he continued to ponder whether to invite Ha Eun to the gathering, despite her significant role in making the neighbor uncle, was simply because of one thought.

“Well, they might like the grilled short ribs, at least.”

This restaurant, chosen for the gathering, served hardly any food that children Ha Eun’s age would enjoy. Not even the common pork cutlet; it strictly served high-end traditional Korean cuisine.

Even if he thought a gathering without the leading role of the neighbor uncle, Ha Eun, was unacceptable, there were hardly any items on the menu that were suitable for her apart from the mini short ribs.

“All right, everyone, thank you for your hard work~!”

“““Thank you!”””

Afterwards, as all the ordered dishes came out and the sounds of spoon and chopstick clinks began to fill the air, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Ha Eun, wondering if he had forced her into a situation that didn’t suit her.

Then, not long after, Kang Seon-woo came to a surprising realization.

“Um, do I have to pay extra for side dishes or something?”

“Huh? No, if you ask, they’ll bring more.”

For Ha Eun, the concept of being picky about side dishes simply didn’t exist. Her chopsticks moved toward the so-called “healthy-tasting” foods, leaving the neatly arranged short ribs untouched.

From pickled perilla leaves to spinach, cucumber kimchi, lotus root, and braised carrots. Even the eggplant salad!

“Uh, Ha Eun, if you’re forcing yourself to eat those…?”

“?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just eat plenty.”

He cautiously asked if Ha Eun was forcing herself to swallow food that didn’t suit her taste, but no matter how he looked at her expression, it didn’t read as someone eating unpleasant food.

She continued to eat with a tranquil expression, never once grimacing at the taste. In fact, once was not enough; she went for seconds and thirds to enjoy more.

This was a scene that undeniably shattered Kang Seon-woo’s preconceptions that children wouldn’t eat such things.

He briefly considered that Ha Eun’s actions might be an act, but there was no reason for anyone to go so far as to eat things they didn’t like while maintaining a poker face.

By this point, Ha Eun was starting to seem intimidating. Was she really a 7-year-old child demonstrating such remarkable dexterity with chopsticks alongside various spring greens?

‘…Is that talent? Can it be considered a talent? Really?’

After finishing dinner, which turned out to be somewhat different from what Kang Seon-woo had envisioned, when it was time to part ways with Ha Eun—since the second destination, the pub, was a restricted area for minors.

She continued to linger in his mind.

‘Wow… the abalone is fresh. It seems like it was just caught a few minutes ago.’

Ha Eun’s image, skillfully eating even the abalone steamed dish, which could look quite disgusting to other children, stuck in his mind. He never imagined that his previous evaluation of her as an extraordinary child would extend to this extent.

***

-Click.

-Click click.

“Hmm…”

About two months had passed since the release date of the neighbor uncle. Just as during the last music video, Ha Eun was currently searching to see what kind of reviews her acting was getting from the public.

However, as it would still take over a decade until Ha Eun would be of age to watch the neighbor uncle without any issues,

Despite reading through numerous comments and blog posts online, she could not discern what kind of impression her acting gave to others.

From her mother, who had watched the film on opening day, to the kindergarten teachers who had taken time over the weekend to see the neighbor uncle, all she had heard was abstract praise about Ha Eun’s outstanding acting ability.

She wished to know in detail what emotion was felt at which scene, but honestly felt a bit uncomfortable probing that deeply.

[「Neighbor Uncle」 Ranked No. 1 for Five Consecutive Weeks!]

[「Neighbor Uncle」 Audience Numbers Exceed 5 Million!]

‘…Thank goodness.’

Through articles discussing the neighbor uncle, she gathered the growing success of the film, which was beginning to align with what she had known.

There had been moments of worry that Ha Eun might not perform as well since she took over the role of Kim Ji-a from Min Da-yeon, who was originally cast, but in reality, things hadn’t changed much.

Moreover, since the neighbor uncle was an affair that had already slipped from Ha Eun’s hands,

“Mom, I’ll just go out for a moment with Jung-yun unnie.”

This was still something that hadn’t yet slipped from Ha Eun’s grasp. In other words, it meant heading toward the open area near her home for the upcoming kindergarten’s “Autumn Sports Day,” scheduled for a few days later.

After all, having engaged in various small sports activities regularly and systematically for quite some time, Ha Eun was the ace of the Dal-nim class. She had more than one role to assume in the Autumn Sports Day.

“Get set… go!!”

Following the signal from Ju Jung-yun, who had prepared a stopwatch to measure Ha Eun’s running time, she dashed across the open area in a straight line.

While she didn’t run precisely 50 meters without any errors, the approximate distance she ran resulted in a time of 9.11 seconds.

Considering that the time for fifth and sixth-grade boys in elementary school ranges in the high 9-second range for 50 meters, this was an exceptionally quick time.

Ha Eun herself thought her performance felt slower than she expected; after a few more runs, she only stopped when she finally registered a time in the 8-second range.

“You said Ha Eun is the last runner in the relay, right?”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t fall behind by a full lap, then Ha Eun’s team will win.”

Jung-yun’s praise was something she thought was merely casual flattery. Perhaps because, in her past life, she had struggled with even standard jogging, it was hard for Ha Eun to objectively evaluate her own physical abilities.

Still, she intended to give it her all. For the sake of her classmates who trusted her to be the last runner in the relay, she had no intention of taking it easy.

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