Chapter 24

The main background of the drama [My Love from the Star] is modern, but the narrative of the two main characters begins several hundred years ago during the Joseon Dynasty.

At first glance, it might seem like a confusing scenario that would make someone tilt their head in puzzlement. However, the writer of [My Love from the Star], Seo Eun-mi, added compelling elements to the scenario.

The main male character, Park Do-jun, is given the setup of immortality. The female protagonist, Han Yu-hwa, has the premise of having died young for certain reasons long ago and then reincarnating in the modern era.

However, in Seo Eun-mi’s script, both the first meeting between the young Park Do-jun and Han Yu-hwa several hundred years ago and their reunion after her reincarnation in current times happen when Han Yu-hwa is still a young girl.

Thus, child actors were needed to portray both the young Han Yu-hwa from the Joseon era and the young Han Yu-hwa from modern times simultaneously. In other words, it was necessary to find a child actor who could perform in both traditional hanbok and ordinary modern clothing, looking like Han Yu-hwa in either case.

The PD of [My Love from the Star], Hwang Min-soo, was aware that finding such a child actor wouldn’t be easy. Nevertheless, they had no choice but to find a child actor who matched Han Yu-hwa, regardless of the era.

“Well, it should come out eventually if we keep looking. There are not just one or two applicants,” he said.

“Phew… Searching for a needle in a haystack would be easier than this,” he sighed.

Determined to think positively, he began reviewing the nearly hundred casting applications with casting director Jeon Sang-hyeok.

After filtering through numerous applications, they finally called in child actors with appearances and acting skills worthy of judgment to the audition.

By this point, the process wasn’t much different from when filming other dramas. The child actors qualified to perform as Han Yu-hwa in front of Hwang Min-soo were all impressive.

However, the actress Yu Seong-a, who learned of the child actor audition through some channels, piped up.

“Excuse me, Seong-a, are you going to keep wearing those sunglasses?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“Not that it’s a problem, but…”

It bothered him that Yu Seong-a, as a top actress, was sitting right next to Hwang Min-soo, enough to intimidate the still-young child actors.

The young actors could not possibly outperform on their best days facing a famous actress like her.

Even if they were capable child actors, they would still have to concede at least a position or two against Yu Seong-a.

Therefore, he worried that the presence of Yu Seong-a would suppress the child actors’ performances.

Yet, they couldn’t kick her out forcefully as the audition was about casting a child actor to portray the younger version of Han Yu-hwa, who was concurrently performed by Yu Seong-a.

Strictly speaking, Han Yu-hwa and Yu Seong-a were not identical in every way, but they could be seen as somewhat similar in terms of personality and values.

“Director Hwang, it’s said that one knows oneself better than anyone else,” she stated.

“That’s true…”

In the end, they began the audition without finding a valid excuse to dismiss Yu Seong-a.

As soon as they opened the doors to the audition room, the child actors were startled by the sight of Yu Seong-a.

Of course, they didn’t directly meet her gaze because she was wearing dark sunglasses. Nevertheless, her aura was powerful enough to make them instinctively feel small.

“I-I’m sorry. Let me do it again—”

“No, you don’t need to do it again. Han Yu-hwa isn’t a timid child like Yoon-min.”

Yu Seong-a’s attitude towards making no allowances for even the slightest mistake during the audition reinforced the notion that she was tough.

Hwang Min-soo saw that one of the child actors didn’t match Han Yu-hwa well, so he didn’t raise any objections, even if he acknowledged the harshness.

After all, it didn’t matter how high the score was on the applications; if they were weak in practice, there wasn’t much to be done.

They couldn’t ignore the opinions of a prominent lead actress like Yu Seong-a.

Consequently, her stringent evaluations continued, and after filtering through a few child actors who performed quite decently in her eyes, the audition came to an end.

“Indeed, all four of them are child actors with lead experience, which sets them apart from the other candidates in terms of acting skills.”

Two child actors who impressively performed a falling scene on the flat audition stage without any props received compliments afterward.

It was somewhat strange that their performances appeared similar, but ultimately, they needed to conduct another final audition for the final decision.

They selected one highlight scene close to the climax among the various scenes from [My Love from the Star] to proceed with the final auditions.

“Long time no see, Director Hwang.”

“Hm, why does it seem like Yoon-seong gets younger every time I see him? Is he really immortal?”

“Haha, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Finally, on the day of the final audition, they called in Ha Yoon-seong, who would play Park Do-jun.

The reason was that the child actor who would play the younger Han Yu-hwa was expected to act best with Ha Yoon-seong’s performance.

Soon after, Ha Yoon-seong’s outfit changed to a Joseon scholar style, and the costumes of the child actors, who would perform with him, transformed into those of noblewomen from a Joseon family.

“…This time, Lee Ha-eun, you go first.”

“Uh? Why?”

“Well, if I go first again, you’ll just copy me… I mean, it’s only fair this way.”

He witnessed the two child actors, who were favorites among the four finalists in the final audition, whispering to each other.

Is this what they mean by “birds of a feather flock together”?

Both were stunning in appearance, resembling real-life noblewomen from the Joseon era as they chatted away.

At the same time, he briefly felt assured that the two could present an aura similar to Yu Seong-a’s in front of the camera.

Soon after, as they were about to finish preparing for the final audition, Lee Ha-eun spoke up.

“Um, Director Hwang Min-soo, can I audition first…?”

Just as Hwang Min-soo had overheard earlier, Ha Eun indeed wanted to go first.

Although it was Hwang Min-soo who suggested that those who prepared first should audition first, it was generally understandable that auditioning first in a competitive setting is intimidating.

Nonetheless, taking the initiative to audition first means having enough confidence or being willing to dive in headfirst regardless of the outcome.

Hwang Min-soo personally hoped for the former and placed Ha Eun right in front of Ha Yoon-seong.

He then asked both Ha Eun and Ha Yoon-seong if they were ready.

“Hmm, since both of you seem to be ready, let’s go. 3, 2, 1… Action!”

He prompted them to begin acting in a scene that best showcased Han Yu-hwa’s distinctive characteristics.

Almost simultaneously, Ha Yoon-seong’s, or rather Park Do-jun’s, soft voice was directed toward Ha Eun.

“Miss, what could you be so intently staring at?”

Today, Han Yu-hwa’s eyes widen for a moment at the sudden appearance of Park Do-jun, who appeared without any previous sign.

However, having gradually become accustomed to such unexpected appearances during her days spent with Park Do-jun, she slowly turned her head towards him.

With a voice that mixed slight joy with a hint of anxiety, she replied, “Those will soon not be flowers, my lord.”

Currently, Han Yu-hwa is slated for a politically motivated marriage to the old Kim Pan-seo.

At the age where she has just begun to discover the vast world, she unfortunately is destined to be trapped in the narrow world of Kim Pan-seo.

“What is it, that easily trampled and extinguished being, why has it bloomed… I do not understand, sir.”

She lamented her gloomy situation while crushing a poor flower beneath her foot.

After that, a bittersweet smile blossomed on her youthful face as she gazed at Park Do-jun.

“You said, my lord, that memories remain because there were moments. However, all that remains beneath my feet are… crushed petals.”

The time spent with Park Do-jun had undoubtedly been happy moments for Han Yu-hwa.

However, as she reflected on Park Do-jun’s words that subtly hinted at their separation and her own fate of becoming the wife of a man old enough to be her father, she couldn’t shake the thought that all the joy from their past was in vain.

“What are memories? What are reminiscences? What on earth is…?”

She deliberately revealed reddening eyes directed at Park Do-jun.

After all, she was still a young girl unaccustomed to adversity.

If anything, it was childishness.

If one thing, it was resentment.

Yet, as he spoke to her in his calming voice,

“If you so detest marrying into a powerful family, why not walk a different path with me? Of course, it may not align well with your beautiful flower shoes…”

For Han Yu-hwa, this was a future she could never have imagined.

Simultaneously, the flowers that had once been trampled under her feet were now being revived through an unknown force from Park Do-jun.

“It would be better than scattering regrets and lingering attachments along the path you’ve walked so far.”

Tears began to glisten in Han Yu-hwa’s eyes, starting to waver.

Finally, Park Do-jun slowly extended his hand towards Han Yu-hwa.

“I will tell you time and again, dear, why foolish flowers continue to bloom.”

Han Yu-hwa’s small fingers gently intertwined with the tips of Park Do-jun’s fingers.

Only after their differently sized hands finally clasped fully did the scene conclude.

“Cut! Wow, this could be used as is!”

Hwang Min-soo’s satisfied voice filled the wide audition room.

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