Chapter 11

“Seoyeon Joo, when will the audition results be out?”

As soon as we got to kindergarten, Jiyeon Lee grabbed my arm and asked.

By the way, this question has not been missed a single day since the audition ended a week ago.

What kind of determination is this?

If nothing else, I can’t help but acknowledge Jiyeon’s persistence.

‘But, the results are supposed to come out soon…’

They clearly said it would be announced within a week.

However, mom hasn’t received any contact yet, and neither my email nor mailbox has any replies.

‘If I fail, will I not receive anything at all?’

When I think about it, I’ve never failed an audition before.

If failing means getting no reply, I might be a bit shocked.

“Jiyeon.”

“Why?”

“If you fail, do you not get any contact?”

“Why are you asking me?”

As Jiyeon narrowed her eyes and asked, I averted my gaze.

I couldn’t bring myself to add the part about often failing.

Of course, separate from often failing, I have no doubt that Jiyeon will become a great actress someday.

“Seoyeon!”

At that moment, the Blossom Class teacher urgently called out for me.

The way she beckoned me was so rushed that even the tension was palpable.

‘Is something the matter?’

I instantly thought this.

Because in a place like this kindergarten, it’s rare for a teacher to call out so urgently.

An accident? Or maybe some dangerous event happened?

“Phew, Teacher Hyun-young, if you call like that, Seoyeon will get scared.”

“Ah, Ah! Sorry, I panicked.”

The Sunshine Class teacher’s words caused Teacher Hyun-young to realize the situation and apologize to me.

“I’m sorry, Seoyeon. Did I scare you?”

“No, it’s okay.”

While I was startled, I was more curious about what was going on.

Teacher Hyun-young from the Blossom Class is usually very calm and composed.

For her to call me out so anxiously is extremely rare.

“Come over here. The other teachers are watching, too.”

“Watching?”

Confused by her words, I quietly followed her.

Behind me, Jiyeon stealthily joined without invitation.

After glancing at Hyun-young’s back for a second, Jiyeon whispered quietly in my ear,

“Could this be related to the audition?”

“No way.”

Does she only connect everything to that?

‘If it were related to the audition, they would’ve contacted home instead of the kindergarten.’

Even if the news were good, my dad, Young-bin, or my mom, Sua, wouldn’t rush to the kindergarten for such an event—they don’t want to disturb the teachers.

“Seoyeon, look over there.”

At the place we rushed to, there was a small TV.

The teachers were gathered around the TV, watching intently.

Not only the teachers, several children were seated nearby, watching the television.

“Special!! KMB’s ambitious making film for *The Moon That Hid the Sun*! The First Part!”

On the upper-right corner of the screen, those words were displayed.

I blinked several times, confirming the letters.

“Wow, Seoyeon can act so well…”

One of the teachers muttered with amazement.

By her words, I turned my gaze toward the screen.

There, a familiar scene unfolded.

It was none other than the audition held sometime ago to decide the roles of young Yoon Seoil and young Lee Hye-wol.

There I was, performing in front of numerous child actors and judges.

Of course, some parts were cut out due to the potential spoilers of the drama.

However, my silent, introspective performance and the improvisations not present in the original script played out as they were.

In the video, tears streamed down the face of the child actor who was close-up, reacting to my lines.

At the same time, the serious face of Seohui Jo was intercut with my calm expression.

“Wow, kid’s acting is no joke. Can’t underestimate it.”

“Who do you think will get the role of Hye-wol, Han teacher? Isn’t it our Blossom Class’s Seoyeon?”

“But judging by the skills alone, that kid Seohui Jo seems no ordinary actress…”

“I think I’ve seen her before, and she’s already praised a lot in daily dramas.”

Three kindergarten teachers debated who would take on the role of Hye-wol after watching the performances they had just seen.

Frankly, though I was flattered to be part of their discussion, I felt a touch of embarrassment.

‘Could they be announcing the audition results through the making film?’

It felt like a plausible guess.

That would also explain why the results haven’t come out yet.

Just when everyone was breathlessly waiting to hear who got the role of Lee Hye-wol…

“Indeed, who will play Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol? Stay tuned for the second part of the making film!”

With that, those words thundered across the screen.

Instantly.

Everyone watching lost their words.

And then…

“#$!$%$#!!!”

“Ah! What a terrible broadcast. Aren’t these making films supposed to be drama teasers?”

“Exactly, why do teasers have teasers!”

“I’ll leave a comment on the broadcasting company’s website.”

Immediately after the clip ended, the teachers’ complaints erupted.

Against that backdrop, Teacher Hyun-young, who brought me here, whispered in my ear.

“Seoyeon, so who got the role of Hye-wol?”

“…”

Teacher.

I want to know that too.

***

Generally, drama making films aren’t aired on television.

They’re usually released online as a teaser.

However, the making film for *The Moon That Hid the Sun* was exceptionally broadcast on *Celebrity Live*, a show covering entertainment news, just like a special segment.

It was like one part of a variety show, and it would be divided into three episodes, showcasing how serious KMB was about this drama.

“Celebrity Live’s viewing rate just went over 10%!”

Naturally, the PDs and executives of KMB were all smiles with wide, delighted grins.

Given the amount of money invested, it was a drama that couldn’t afford to fail.

And yet, they were already getting such results with the making film.

“The average viewing rate for Celebrity Live is usually around 4-5%, right? Almost double the usual now?”

KMB’s variety PD, Kim Jung-hoon, was left speechless by these impressive numbers.

Part of this success was due to the highly competitive nature of the child actor auditions, plus the quality of the film itself.

“Park Jung-woo, the two child actresses for young Hye-wol.”

Jo Seohui and Joo Sooyeon.

Comparing careers, Joo Sooyeon doesn’t even come close to Jo Seohui.

However, if we just focus on the acting in this audition, did Sooyeon perform worse than Park Jung-woo or Jo Seohui?

“Absolutely not.”

People naturally tend to root for the underdog.

Joo Sooyeon was the underdog.

At first, she seemed like an unappealing candidate, but she flipped public opinion with her outstanding acting.

Currently, Sooyeon, despite her incredible acting skills, doesn’t have a proper agency, so she hasn’t been able to build her career properly, making her a pitiable child actor.

“Director Jo Bang-woo’s reputation has risen too.”

Director Jo Bang-woo, who discovered Sooyeon, was also mentioned.

Of course, this wasn’t widely known to the public, but there wasn’t a single person within broadcasting circles who didn’t know about this fact.

“We need to have the child actor appear on a variety show while they’re popular.”

“Exactly. Child actors who are this popular often fade away quickly.”

From KMB’s perspective, they wanted to ride this wave while it was hot.

As time passes and the child grows, situations can change.

Demands for acting will evolve, and there’s the possibility of a change in potential.

Even if they’re lovely now, there’s no way to know if their face will still be as perfect when they grow up.

“I’ll have to talk to them about this at some point.”

Thus, Kim Jung-hoon felt confident in grabbing this opportunity quickly.

***

Joo Sooyeon is still six years old.

With just a few months left before I turn seven, a great trial came my way.

“Seoyeon, so who got the role of Hye-wol?”

“Did Seoyeon win?”

“How’s Jo Seohui doing at the filming set? Is she bullying anyone?”

Perhaps I underestimated the impact of a public broadcast drama.

I’m barely drawing attention from the making film alone, but I can’t even fathom how Jo Seohui and others are handling this level of attention.

“I don’t really know.”

“Hey, you’re lying…”

“Phew, Mom Park. Didn’t you hear? Usually, they’re not supposed to talk about this kind of stuff. It’s all in the contract.”

“Ah, I see. Sorry, Seoyeon.”

Several mothers were apologizing, greeting, and asking questions, turning the scene into total chaos.

Given my usually mild temperament, I somehow managed through it, but a normal child would’ve been under quite a lot of stress.

“But today the rest of the video will be revealed, right?”

Mom tried her best to maintain a calm tone, but her face was pale, as if she might pass out at any moment.

It’s clearly an intense day since this is the airing of the second part of the making film.

‘In the second episode, the scenes of my performance with Park Jung-woo will surely come up.’

By the time the first act was announced, ‘Young Yoon Seoil’ was unofficially settled on Park Jung-woo.

Though, of course, it wasn’t officially announced in that portion, everyone would have easily guessed.

So, from that point on, Seohui and I performed our auditions with Park Jung-woo.

This must surely be something that didn’t happen in my previous life.

‘It was certainly… a bit different.’

As expected from someone heralded as the son of a grand actor, Park Jung-woo felt distinct from other child actors.

I even questioned for a second if this was truly a child’s acting.

“Seoyeon, oh, oh come here! Let’s watch together, mom’s so tense.”

If dad was here, he might’ve stayed up for the live broadcast, but unfortunately, he’s still not yet off work, so only mom and I are left waiting.

“Special!! KMB’s ambitious making film for *The Moon That Hid the Sun*! The Second Part!”

A new segment arranged on *Celebrity Live*.

Everyone was waiting to see who got the role of ‘Young Hye-wol’.

It was the moment this would be revealed.

I couldn’t have imagined at that time,

During the scene when I and Seohui were acting with Young Yoon Seoil.

The temporary viewing rate of *Celebrity Live* surged to an incredible 15%.

And then…

“…Seoyeon.”

When the acting ended, the role of Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol, was announced.

It surely was an unexpected turn of events.

Even my mom, Sua, was staring at me blankly.

Shattering the leading role held by Jo Seohui, who starred in the daily continuous drama as the princess.

The young girl who grasped the main lead’s qualifications.

That was me.

Yes.

It was me.

---