Chapter 17

A skyscraper in Gangnam, Seoul.

Two men sat in a conference room on the top floor of an elegant building.

One was wearing an expensive suit made by a world-renowned master, and the other was wearing tattered sweatpants.

Despite their very different outfits, they seemed to have no reservations about interacting with each other, probably due to their close friendship.

“I’m glad you came to your senses, Jinsu. Will you finish the rest of your research in Korea?”

“Well, since you can do your research in Korea anyway. “I have to go back to the U.S. to get my Ph.D.”

Jinsu Park. He is the man who received his mother’s letters and bank book from Jinseok in the past.

After receiving his mother’s letter and bank book, he decided to complete his unfinished research. It was the release of a burden that had been in his heart for a long time.

He immediately contacted friends he had studied with in the past, and they all welcomed him.

Among them was Oh Haneul, Park Jinsu’s closest friend.

“Yes, your mother would like that too. If you need anything for your research, please let me know. “I am a bigger person than you thought.”

“Thank you. Ah, more than that, the reason I asked to meet you today...”

Park Jinsu took out his cell phone. He searched for ‘The Talk Show Kang Jinseok’ on his phone and showed it to Oh Haneul.

“Please take a good look at this actor. “I was really blessed.”

Oh Haneul looked closely at Park Jinsu’s cell phone. Then he expressed his surprise.

“Jinsu, who was just a student, was also interested in celebrities? “He’s more dignified than that?”

“Don’t ask for details. “This guy is a really good friend.”

Oh Haneul thought for a moment, then shrugged and said it was no problem at all.

“Of course. Because I can do that much. “Anything else besides that?”

“That’s all. “I’ll finish the research myself.”

“I thought you were asking me for a really big favor when you said let’s meet separately, but it turned out to be bland.”

“It’s okay; just take care of your friend.”

“Don’t worry. “You know that once I touch something, I’m the kind of person who takes responsibility until the end.”

Oh Haneul thumped his chest as if to tell people to trust him, then checked the time and said.

“It’s almost noon. Shall we get something to eat?”

“Uh, okay. I will buy the food. “Is there anything delicious nearby?”

“Our company cafeteria is delicious. And executives and employees eat for free. No matter how much you are the CEO, you have to take advantage of the company perks. Besides, the coffee is free, so let’s go eat and drink.”

Oh Haneul said with a broad smile. Park Jinsu shook his head and gave Oh Haneul a sharp rebuke.

“A guy with a lot of money went bald because he likes free stuff so much.”

***

When Lee Yuna entered the studio, Seo Yeonsoo’s sigh deepened.

“Ha—.”

There is no room to fit in.

Seo Yeonsoo wanted to help Jinseok. More precisely, ‘I wanted to impress Jinseok’ would be the correct expression.

Seo Yeonsoo liked Jinseok. Not because he was handsome, but because of his personality and demeanor.

He learned a lot from him because he lived hard and never gave up. Even though he failed dozens and hundreds of auditions, Seo Yeonsoo fell in love with his passion for acting until the end.

When Jinseok told her that he was applying to Seoguk University, she was very happy. She thought she could get closer to Jinseok by helping him with the entrance exam.

But... Jinseok’s oppa changed a lot without me knowing it.

It’s not that Jinseok has changed. It means that his environment has changed.

He became a great actor in just a few weeks.

It’s been a while since he was cast by a famous producer, and he was immediately chosen to play an important supporting role in a famous writer’s new work.

In addition, although he has not yet appeared in television or movies, his skills have been recognized enough to be mentioned by mid-level actors in entertainment shows.

Also, the staff seems to be very fond of having an older brother?

Jinseok called Eom Hyeryeong a ‘scary person’, but Seo Yeonsoo felt that Eom Hyeryeong cared for Jinseok.

She didn’t know that these people might also know the true side of Jinseok that she thought only she knew.

While thinking about this, Seo Yeonsoo looked at writer Lee Yuna.

I can’t believe that a writer even showed up to edit it.

Seo Yeonsoo was a little depressed that something was not as helpful as she thought.

But just for a moment.

Close!

There are a lot of things I can help with besides this shooting. There is a practical test coming up. Seo Yeonsoo, let’s do well then.

Seo Yeonsoo clenched his fist and looked at Jinseok.

***

“Do you want me to watch the performance?”

“Huh!

“Can’t I ask the teacher at the Academy to come and watch? “Dad, I’m a little tired...”

Kim Yeonmi was wearing a school uniform. She seems to be around the middle school level, as she is preparing to take the entrance exam for a high school for the arts.

This time too, she asked her father to watch her performance, but her father did not see her performance.

——

“Daddy! I got into Seoguk University in the first round! “Dad, you know, don’t you?”

“Huh? Uh, I know. “You sent me a picture.”

“Oh, that’s right. Since I got into the first round, should I take advantage of the father of the Seoguk University professor? “How can I be a good actor and have good grades?”

“Yeonmi. No matter how much of a daughter you are, you still have to be fair... “I can’t watch the acting.”

——

Kim Yeonmi is still bright and happy. Kim Yeonmi is now a high school student. She is just like the one I saw in my dream.

This time she asked her father to come and watch her perform one more time. But her father refused again.

I don’t know the details, but at that point it seemed like her father was deliberately trying to avoid seeing Kim Yeonmi’s performance.

——

“Wow... honey. Our daughter... She is old enough to go to college now. “She is so beautiful, just like you.”

Dad?

“She really likes acting, maybe because she looks like you. Is she good at that? I have no idea if she is. “I can’t stand watching my daughter acting.”

“You always appear on top of each other when Yeonmi laughs, cries, or gets angry. “If I see Yeonmi acting like this, I will cry for sure.”

“Just as I promised you when you died, I will never show weakness in front of Yeonmi. “May you always grow up to be as bright and self-confident as you are right now.

“Please help me. “I won’t cry when Yeonmi acts as a student before me...”

——

Kim Yeonmi looked at her father through the crack in the door. Her father was crying and holding a framed photo of her mother.

It was only when Kim Yeonmi saw her father crying that she realized.

The reason why his father didn’t watch his acting.

Is it over now?

——

“Daughter! Daughter! It’s me, dad! “Wake up!”

“—.”

“Yeonmi! Wake up! I told you that I will see you today, today! Yeonmi is acting!”

“—.”

“Now I finally have the courage to see my daughter acting! Why in the world!!!”

——

Yeonmi was lying on the ground in the street. Her vision was blurred and her eyes were red. And most of all, her whole body was in pain.

In the distance, though faint, a banner could be seen that read, ‘Seoguk University Theatre Department Practical Test Center’.

Outside Seoguk University... Could it be that this is where she died?

Kim Yeonmi, who was on the ground helplessly, had her father’s arms around her.

Her consciousness gradually faded away. Then, the moment when even the last thread-like sensation was about to vanish.

Woe!

My vision returned to the studio.

It was a scene that passed in an instant. It was like a fast-forward video.

But even in the fast-moving scenes, I was able to see something.

In that split second, Kim Yeonmi was trying to somehow make her father smile through ‘acting’, even in such a painful moment.

So Yeonmi wanted to act in front of her father.

I always felt this, but it wasn’t easy to accept the history and emotions of a dead person. But that makes me want to act.

I closed my eyes for a moment. I sorted out my emotions.

I want to show it to you. Yeonmi’s intention was to show her father and the performance of Yeonmi, who had been on the run from her father all his life.

In order to do this, I had to make the perfect video right now. First of all, I have to pass the first test before I can do it in front of Yeonmi’s father.

Make it good. Kang Jinseok.

He regained his composure. He called out confidently.

“Hello! I am Kang Jinseok and I am applying to the drama department of Seoguk University! jin! three! no see! The reason why I started acting...!”

I felt a bit sad. But I began to introduce myself in a more cheerful manner than anyone else.

Just as Yeonmi Kim did her best to put a smile on her father’s face before her death.