Ha Eun’s acting is still difficult to gauge how it felt to the people beyond the cinema screen.
However, she could confidently say that she did her best in portraying Jiji.
And she thought that alone was enough.
The purpose of Ha Eun filming the uncle next door was for the ‘movie shooting experience,’ not to gain tremendous fame or popularity.
As a result, the uncle next door recorded higher box office results than Ha Eun remembered.
Of course, she was pleased.
There was no clearer indicator of a film’s quality than the number of audience members.
A comforting realization that her best efforts had not been in vain.
For Ha Eun, who had never taken a proper acting class, that sense of relief was honestly sufficient.
Yes, she surely hadn’t expected anything more than that.
She had thought it was greedy to expect anything more from her unrefined acting.
“Hey, Ha Eun. Have you prepared your acceptance speech for the Korean Film Awards?”
As if it were a given that Ha Eun would win an award.
As if it were obvious that she would surpass several nominated actors.
“…It’s not even confirmed yet.”
“What do you mean? You’re dressed like someone who’s already going to win an award.”
Then, Kang Seon-woo’s voice added that today was the first time he was impressed by a child actor’s looks.
Even Ha Eun thought she looked the most beautiful she ever had in her life.
Still, the situation of riding in the same limousine as Kang Seon-woo to the awards ceremony felt strange.
It felt like going to an uninvited party.
Of course, from an objective standpoint, it was not strange at all for Ha Eun to be invited to the awards ceremony.
Given that the highest-grossing movie of the year was [The Uncle Next Door], the lead role of which was Ha Eun, she definitely had more than enough qualifications to participate in the ceremony.
However, receiving an award as an actor was another matter.
Even at this moment, she could not be sure that she was an excellent enough actor to deserve an award.
Most of her past performances stemmed from memories of a previous life.
To act as Jiji, who suffered even at the hands of her only blood relative, her mother, Ha Eun had forcibly extracted nothing but painful memories.
If Jiji had been even slightly happier.
If she had been a little brighter, could she have received the same evaluation as she did now?
No, could she have even been cast as Jiji in the first place?
No matter how much she thought about it, Ha Eun felt she was just lucky.
Yes, she had been incredibly fortunate to have already experienced countless moments similar to Jiji’s.
She thought that it was simply because of that that she could portray Jiji well.
Naturally, other child actors like Min Da-yeon probably had not experienced what Jiji had gone through.
“Okay, hold the uncle’s hand. Get down slowly.”
Up until the moment she cautiously grabbed Kang Seon-woo’s outstretched hand for the escort.
Even as she walked down the long red carpet in step with Kang Seon-woo, entering the ceremony hall, she could not be confident that she was an excellent enough actor to receive an award over other formidable candidates.
She thought it was just luck, as if by chance, coinciding unexpectedly to find herself here.
To give people joy.
Or, unlike other actors who entered the field because they enjoyed acting itself, she had acted merely because she had no choice but to live.
It was just a forced performance shaped by the image imposed by her parents in her past life.
Could such a faulty start to her acting truly deserve an award?
‘Even if it makes me dizzy, I have to smile.’
‘Even if it’s hard to breathe, I must keep my voice calm.’
The forced whispers to herself, curled up in the dark corner of a hospital room.
Everything, from one to ten, was strange and lacking in beauty.
“Oh, Ha Eun. Are you sick?”
“No, it’s just… there are only shining people everywhere I look. I think I might have become a little timid without realizing it.”
She believed her acting was different from the dazzling performances of actors who naturally caught people’s attention, like splendid starlight.
Her acting, born from a deep and dark swamp where wonderful starlight could not be found.
Only evoking pity and concern in those who faced her.
“You shine enough, Ha Eun. Be confident.”
“Thank you for at least saying that.”
“Even if it’s sincere.”
Therefore, she thought the multiple adult actresses nominated alongside her for the same award could not be judged on the same level as Ha Eun.
She believed her performances, which merely reproduced bitter memories, should only convey what misfortune is.
Moreover, it was precisely ‘Jiji’ who should be acknowledged and applauded by people.
Not ‘Child Actor Lee Ha-eun.’
Even though she had received the love that could truly be called parental for seven years.
The evaluation of the ‘self’ hidden deep below for such a long time was excessively harsh.
After all, she had been regarded as worthless her entire life.
She had lived thinking of herself as someone’s burden, shackle, obstacle, and hindrance.
Someone whose existence was a nuisance to others.
The dry perception of herself that had been firmly rooted by her flawed parents still held onto Ha Eun’s ankles.
However, not long after that.
“Now, the next award is for Best New Actress. There are truly beautiful candidates…”
The opposite evaluation of Ha Eun’s thoughts.
“…The winner of the Best New Actress award at the 8th Korean Film Awards is—Congratulations. It’s Lee Ha-eun from [The Uncle Next Door]!”
“Best New Actress: [The Uncle Next Door] Lee Ha-eun”
With the high-pitched voice of the famous actress hosting the ceremony, the moment her name appeared on the giant screen in the ceremony hall.
-Heart thump.
The numerous lights of the ceremony hall slowly turned towards Ha Eun.
It made someone who had long since concluded that they would never shine finally shine.
“Go on, Ha Eun. Don’t be timid. Be confident.”
With encouragement from a person who shone more brightly than anyone she had ever seen, Ha Eun was left with no choice but to step onto the stage.
This marked the beginning of an unreal moment where numerous stars, including Kang Seon-woo, were looking solely at Ha Eun.
In front of a scene reminiscent of the Milky Way in the night sky, Ha Eun said.
“I will become a person worthy of this award you have given me.”
She barely managed to spit out a single sentence squeezed out from the depths of the swamp.
It wasn’t entirely because she hadn’t prepared a speech in advance.
The emotions she felt now were types of emotions Ha Eun had never felt before.
Things she would have never dared to even imagine would belong to her in her dreary past life.
Above all, this dreamlike scene was something Ha Eun had never experienced even once.
It left Ha Eun unsure of what expression to make.
After all, those in her memories had never taught her the expressions one should wear when happy.
They had never forced or instilled them in her.
-Drip.
-Drop, drop.
Thus, the tears that had started to flow down her cheeks from some point were.
Ha Eun’s first genuine emotion, shown without any intention.
Pure feelings, entirely untainted by the oppression of others.
That which Ha Eun herself hadn’t even realized ceased only when the somewhat flustered host called her name.
“Okay, Ha Eun. Take a deep breath and feel free to say anything you’d like to add.”
Once she had collected her slightly unsteady breath.
As she locked eyes with Kang Seon-woo, who was looking at her with his usual warm smile, she finally opened her mouth.
“To those who are going through hard times for their own reasons… I hope a reliable uncle like Jin Kang-sik will appear. …Thank you.”
Words she had wanted to say to her past self.
At the same time, she spoke what her past self had wanted to hear out loud.
And once again, thunderous applause poured down.
Even after she stepped down from the podium with the golden trophy held tightly in her hands, the applause did not cease.
As expected, the emotional turmoil she felt remained.
It was undoubtedly a new, strange, awkward, and perplexing sensation.
Yet, she somehow understood that it was a sensation she didn’t need to endure or suppress.
“Hey, Seon-woo… no, Uncle Seon-woo. There’s something I’d like you to advise me on.”
For the first time, she sought someone’s help for a newly budding dream.
The conversation filled with sincerity continued for quite a long time.
Even after time passed and the ceremony completely ended.
When they moved to a late-night fast-food restaurant, the conversation concluded with.
“If you want to learn, then learn. If you want to do both, then do both. It’s not like you’re causing anyone any harm, right?”
A relatively short and straightforward remark ended their conversation after such a lengthy discussion.
Still, confidence filled Ha Eun’s heart.
At last, in the moment she was bidding farewell to Kang Seon-woo.
“Um, Uncle Seon-woo.”
Ha Eun paused to ask someone who, according to her memory, would not appear in front of a screen for quite a while from now.
In the future, how will you live?
Kang Seon-woo, who was pondering for a moment with a serious expression, replied.
“Well… I plan to go on that trip I’ve postponed and read the books I wanted to read. I think I’ll just live doing what I want…”
It was a response that suited the Kang Seon-woo she knew exactly.
Yet, she felt a sense of regret that she wouldn’t be able to see that shining person again.
“I hope you keep acting.”
“I didn’t say I’d retire.”
“Still. You never know.”
Unexpectedly, they linked their pinkies and made a promise.
That one day, they would meet again in front of a camera.
Thus, after a promise made without any coercion had been vaguely established.
Time, which had never stopped even once, began once again to fly by in a rush.
However, the casting requests pouring in literally for Ha Eun, who had won an award for her debut film.
“Thank you for your kind offer. However, Ha Eun’s will is quite firm…”
Almost all requests, other than for CFs and public advertisements with relatively shorter filming periods compared to movies or dramas, were rejected outright.
It was because she felt she was not adequately prepared yet and wanted to enjoy her ordinary school life a bit longer.
So, three years and half a year passed since Ha Eun first acknowledged her worth.
The place she was heading to early in the morning had changed from a kindergarten to an elementary school.
Ha Eun’s daily life, which had previously consisted solely of singing lessons with Daulby, underwent many changes.
Among them, particularly occupying a large portion was.
‘Hmm, with an actor like this, we probably don’t need to take acting classes, right?’
‘Thank you for the compliment. However, I am still quite lacking.’
Acting classes at an acting academy under Luna Entertainment, where she signed an exclusive contract.
For some reason, she could not get close to the other child actors from Luna Entertainment who were already taking acting classes.
Yet, as long as she could learn acting, Ha Eun didn’t really mind.
As a result, these days, Ha Eun was living quite a busy life.
Still, since it was a busy life based on her own will, it didn’t bother her much.
However, there was one single element among the many factors that made up Ha Eun’s daily life that was entirely unrelated to her will.
“Hey, Lee Ha-eun. Are you also going to audition for [You Who Came from the Stars] this time?”
“…Yeah.”
No, just one person.
“Weren’t you rejecting casting offers because you weren’t prepared? Why all of a sudden?”
“I thought I’d check how prepared I really am…”
“What? Check? You’re going to use this audition, which others are desperate for, just to confirm your own readiness?”
It was enough for Ha Eun’s daily life to be just busy, but now it had become even busier and noisier.
“…I will do my best.”
“Good grief. Why are you making such a serious face for something so obvious?”
She felt a mix of complicated feelings.
Yet it was hard to ignore Min Da-yeon, especially since there were a few things that were weighing on her heart.
Since the day they accidentally ran into each other in the hallway up until now.
She had been hanging around Min Da-yeon, who was literally eager to gobble her up.
Well, for what it’s worth, she was the only kid in Ha Eun’s elementary school with whom she could share her entertainment industry life.
“Anyway, I’m going to the [You Who Came from the Stars] audition, so you shouldn’t go. Just focus on your own preparations.”
“Hmmm… are you afraid of being left behind again?”
“Wha- what?! Who said I’m afraid?!”
Every time she provocatively teased Min Da-yeon like this, the reactions she elicited were somewhat.
No, it was honestly quite amusing.
A friend.
Or, a rival.
Regardless of what name their relationship was defined by, it seemed better for it to continue rather than end.
Though it seemed Min Da-yeon didn’t think so.
![[TS] Surviving in a Yuri Visual Novel](https://i0.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1740775735-6552-TS-Surviving-in-a-Yuri-Visual-Novel.png?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "[TS] Surviving in a Yuri Visual Novel")
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")