Chapter 93

The excuses that only caused more trouble eventually ended in silence.

Fortunately, thanks to the director of [The Sunshine], Kwon Jae-hyuk, who came to meet Baek Tae-hoon and Ha-eun, they quickly escaped the frustrating silence.

“It’s been a while, Ha-eun.”

“Ah, it’s been a while, Director.”

Unlike Baek Tae-hoon, who was meeting Ha-eun for the first time today, Kwon Jae-hyuk had already met Kim Jeong-hyun related to the role two months ago during a meeting.

With his kind appearance and generally smiling face, he was someone easy to talk to.

Anyway, Ha-eun was here solely to observe the child actor audition.

She followed Kwon Jae-hyuk as he led her to the seat arranged inside the audition room.

The problem was that the seat with Baek Tae-hoon’s name was right next to hers.

Regardless, Baek Tae-hoon and Ha-eun were the lead characters in [The Sunshine].

It might have been natural for their seats to be placed together, but…

“It feels suffocating…”

Due to the ice-breaking that had turned into a major failure, Baek Tae-hoon was inevitably still awkward around Ha-eun.

She couldn’t help but be conscious of his strong presence right next to her.

Decisively, Baek Tae-hoon was Ha-eun’s ‘senior actor.’

He had been walking a solid path as an actor for several years, even before Ha-eun debuted as Jiji in [The Neighbor Uncle].

His youthful face made it hard to feel the age difference between them.

“I know he’s not a stuffy person, but…”

It was difficult. In many ways.

She couldn’t even easily bring up light conversations, which were just casual talk.

Maybe that’s why.

“Ha-eun. Ha-eun-ya. What should I call you?”

When Baek Tae-hoon, who had been sitting silently, suddenly asked how to address her, Ha-eun was taken aback.

She hadn’t expected Baek Tae-hoon to speak first.

“I think it’d be better if you called me whatever you’re most comfortable with.”

“Ah… then just call me by my name, please.”

Baek Tae-hoon was older than Ha-eun, both by age and acting experience.

It seemed unnecessary for him to continue to be overly formal, especially since his naturally serious demeanor made him difficult to approach.

She understood that the respect others showed her was meant to honor her, but right now she felt that closing the distance with Baek Tae-hoon was more important.

It was after this that she received evaluation-like papers from Baek Tae-hoon.

He then added that Ha-eun’s opinions might be somewhat referenced in this audition for [The Sunshine].

“Right now, you’re the only one from when we acted as kids.”

“Well, that’s true… Is it really okay?”

“It’s just for ‘reference,’ so keep it simple and take notes as you watch.”

Kwon Jae-hyuk turned his gaze toward the entrance of the audition room, saying it looked like it would start soon.

The thin pen in Baek Tae-hoon’s hand was ready to evaluate the child actors’ performances.

However.

“…I feel like I should mention something before issues arise.”

Due to the participation of child actors whom Ha-eun had assisted in audition preparations, she was worried about potential complaints regarding her opinions being reflected in the audition results, so she spoke up again.

“There are kids I helped among the applicants. What if the others later complain that it’s unfair…?”

She expressed her concerns to Baek Tae-hoon right next to her.

Participating in an audition as a non-applicant for a role was new to her, and there was more she didn’t know than what she did.

What followed was a brief silence.

Then.

“Is there unfairness in acting? Is there such a thing as a fair performance?”

His answer implied that Ha-eun was worrying about something strange.

He also discussed what really mattered.

“If points are given for something other than acting, then there would be a problem. So I’ll ask, are you thinking of favoritism at all?”

“Ah, no. Not at all.”

In Ha-eun’s memory, [The Sunshine] was undoubtedly a major drama.

She had no intention of ruining such a production with personal relationships.

In fact, she only learned that her opinions would be reflected in the final results after arriving at the audition.

Therefore.

“Please come into the waiting number 4~.”

With a staff member’s high-pitched voice, the audition for [The Sunshine] finally began.

She focused solely on the acting unfolding before her eyes.

“The audition scene is from the early part of episode 1. I clearly remember it being an emotional piece.”

This audition is meant to cast the child actor who will portray the childhood of the male protagonist, Park Ju-ho.

The scene being presented in the audition was one showing just how tragic Park Ju-ho’s childhood was.

“This scene, in a way… could it be an abuse scene?”

In the story, the young Park Ju-ho is a servant.

A lowly servant living in the noble household where the female protagonist, Kim Jeong-hyun, resides as the ‘beloved granddaughter.’

The gap in status between the young Park Ju-ho and Kim Jeong-hyun was enormous, to the point where he was not even allowed to gaze upon her.

Thus, when the young Park Ju-ho inadvertently caused a superficial cut on Kim Jeong-hyun’s hand…

– “You! Lowly thing! How dare you touch someone’s hand—!!”

Even after nearly being beaten to death, he was not forgiven.

Park Ju-ho’s two parents were also dragged over and began to be harshly punished in front of his eyes.

Eventually, the horrific scene that the young Park Ju-ho had to witness, as his beloved ones were reduced to wrecks.

Unable to overcome the rising despair, the young Park Ju-ho ran to the young Kim Jeong-hyun, begging for his parents’ lives to be spared.

The scene that would be the focus of the audition was indeed the one where the young Park Ju-ho pleads with the young Kim Jeong-hyun.

When Ha-eun had previously assisted child actors, the emotions she often expressed were also those of young Kim Jeong-hyun.

Perhaps that’s why.

“Why, why is my parents’ lives worth less than your scratch!!”

She was able to immerse herself more in the performance of the child actor who was kneeling on the audition room floor and screaming.

The desperate gaze and voice were definitely directed toward ‘Kim Jeong-hyun.’

Soon after, she began to write her impressions on the white evaluation sheet.

She noted down how she felt about the child actor’s performance in a short memo format.

Baek Tae-hoon, who was right next to her, also scribbled down brief evaluations like “focus on details,” “good vocalization,” “gaze a bit shaky” on the evaluation sheet he was holding.

Then, not long after that, he watched the child actor who had just finished performing as they headed to the exit of the audition room.

The child actor, caught off guard by Baek Tae-hoon’s intense focus, halted their steps after making eye contact.

– Bow.

They bent at almost a 90-degree angle and greeted him politely.

In response to the child actor’s greeting, Baek Tae-hoon also offered a brief encouragement.

What was unexpected was that in that moment, Baek Tae-hoon’s elbow lightly nudged Ha-eun a couple of times.

– Tap, tap.

“…?”

Momentarily taken aback with question marks in her eyes due to Baek Tae-hoon’s sudden touch, she realized its meaning only after making eye contact with the child actor standing right in front of her.

“Ah, good job. Keep fighting….”

She encouraged the child actor, albeit shortly.

The last “thank you” in the child’s young voice reached Ha-eun just after that.

After that, thanks to Baek Tae-hoon continuing to make eye contact with the child actors who had finished their auditions, they ended up greeting him one after the other without exception.

Ha-eun, who was sitting right beside Baek Tae-hoon, also inadvertently ended up greeting all the child actors.

As time passed by.

When this [The Sunshine] child audition was completely over.

“Um, Senior. I have a question.”

“?”

Curious about why Baek Tae-hoon took the trouble to greet so many child actors, Ha-eun approached him and spoke up.

Soon, she heard Baek Tae-hoon’s voice explain that even a momentary eye contact and brief encouragement could serve as ample motivation.

“Just 10 seconds. No, even 5 seconds is fine. Some memories are unforgettable until we die.”

Right after that, he added that the reason for inviting Ha-eun to this audition was also to motivate the child actors.

Knowing how talented Ha-eun was as an actor, Baek Tae-hoon believed that her encouragement would be a great help to the child actors.

“While an actor’s own performance is important, nurturing the younger generation is also crucial. After all, this is how it all continues.”

“…Have I already reached an age to nurture the younger generation?”

“You’re indeed a veteran. You’re also in a position where you can encourage others.”

It was after Baek Tae-hoon shared that it was better to start developing a sense of ‘responsibility’ that Ha-eun could finally part ways with him.

However, it was her first time hearing remarks about Lee Ha-eun’s ‘position.’

“Well….”

Even after getting into the van with Ju Jung-yun, who had come to pick her up as usual, her mind was a bit messy.

Eventually, she ended up asking Ju Jung-yun about her position.

“Um, Unni. Am I famous?”

“…? You’re asking that because you don’t know? You’ve completely dominated the internet with your kissing scene—”

“Ah, no! Not that kind of fame!”

As a result, she learned only the things she didn’t want to know.

Ju Jung-yun cleverly teased her by showing her a screenshot from the kissing scene of [The Moon Split by Clouds], completely knocking Ha-eun out.

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