Chapter 26
Who would’ve thought I’d win tickets to the premiere?
Han Seon-ah, a female student majoring in Broadcasting at S University in Seoul, felt her heart race as she received her ticket at the entrance of the Vega Box where the premiere was being held.
This was her first time applying for a premiere, and it was also the first time she won.
As she held the ticket in her hand, reality began to sink in.
Is there always this many people at a premiere?
Having never attended a drama premiere, she had no way of knowing.
Among the crowd, she spotted what looked like journalists, but most seemed to be regular viewers.
That teaser video was really good…
With her fluttering heart, Seon-ah entered the main theater for the premiere.
She heard that the competition for this drama’s premiere was quite fierce.
That simply meant it was a highly anticipated work and that the impact of the teaser was substantial.
“Didn’t they say only child actors appear in episodes 1 and 2?”
“Really? Kang Seong-chan isn’t appearing?”
Upfront, a lucky person was chatting with a friend, probably because they both won tickets.
They seemed to be fans of actor Kang Seong-chan.
You don’t know anything!
Although she wanted to shout that, shy Seon-ah just kept quiet.
Just watching the teaser, she thought her Seo-yeon acted the best.
Suddenly, a lively male voice crackled through the speakers, breaking her thoughts.
As she waited for the premiere to start, she saw a man in a suit holding a microphone, looking over the audience.
“Wow, so many people have come to the premiere today! It seems so many are eager for this show, ‘The Sun Hiding Behind the Moon,’ and I’m really pleased.”
The host then briefly explained how the premiere would proceed.
First, the director and the actors would come up to greet everyone, followed by a small gift presentation and the opportunity to take photos with the cast.
Once that was all wrapped up, the screening of the drama would begin.
“Now, shall we call out the main characters of our drama?”
With the host’s words, a cheer erupted from the audience.
The doors opened, revealing director Gong Jeong-tae and the actors.
There were a total of seven of them.
It was a sight that included two more actors compared to the teaser event.
“Wow, they’re all so handsome.”
“They’ve picked the cast perfectly. The lead actress Hae-yeo is just right!”
“The kids look adorable too!”
Whispers filled the air as the audience assessed the actors.
Flashes went off as people took pictures.
Most were far too busy snapping photos of the leads, Kang Seong-chan and Hae-yeo, to bother with supporting characters or child actors like Park Jeong-woo and Joo Seo-yeon.
“I heard this drama is a first for everyone…”
“It was fine in the teaser, right?”
“Come on, they wouldn’t show the bad parts in the teaser. They only revealed the best bits.”
The sounds of journalists echoed in the background.
In the midst of all this, director Gong Jeong-tae expressed his aspirations for “The Sun Hiding Behind the Moon” before the leading actor, Kang Seong-chan, took the microphone.
“As mentioned before, this drama has been a learning experience for me. Especially the performances of the young actors were exceptional. I really worked hard not to embarrass myself.”
As Seong-chan said this with a smile, laughter erupted from the audience.
They must’ve thought it was a joke.
Following Seong-chan, Hae-yeo spoke, and then the microphone was passed to the supporting actors.
As his turn approached, Park Jeong-woo gazed at Seo-yeon with a look of fascination.
It’s quite burdensome to speak while being watched by so many people.
Yet, Seo-yeon remained calm and composed as always.
“You’re not nervous at all. Is this really your first time?”
“Yes.”
Seo-yeon casually responded as she glanced at the audience.
Had she not experienced a kindergarten performance, she might have felt a bit tense.
But in terms of numbers and scale, this was far busier than a kindergarten play.
How could Park Jeong-woo understand the intense gaze of parents fixated on him, trying to steal the spotlight from their kids?
“Have you ever been to kindergarten?”
Park Jeong-woo was taken aback by Seo-yeon’s sudden question.
He had been too busy with acting since childhood to have attended kindergarten.
“? …No?”
But why was that even important?
Seeing the question in his eyes, Seo-yeon turned her head with a slightly smug look on her face.
No, if you’ve spoken up, you ought to respond properly!
He wanted to say something, but before he could, the microphone was already in his hand.
The kids’ interviews that followed were quite ordinary.
They simply introduced themselves: “I’m young Yoon-seo, I’m playing the role of young Yeon-hwa, Park Jeong-woo, and Joo Seo-yeon.”
It was expected that hardly anyone would pay attention to the child actors.
The events that followed were similar.
Most wished to take pictures with Kang Seong-chan and Hae-yeo while the supporting characters and children were relatively ignored.
Only one person wanted a picture with Seo-yeon.
“I’d like to take a picture with Seo-yeon!”
Only a woman identifying herself as Han Seon-ah.
“I’m a fan! Seo-yeon, can you give me your autograph, please?”
A fan.
Hearing that made Seo-yeon freeze with the name pen in her hand.
My first fan.
She had seen many fans online before.
But being approached by a fan at a premiere felt entirely different.
Even the audience viewed Han Seon-ah as an oddball for wanting Seo-yeon’s autograph.
While Park Jeong-woo had already garnered some fans through her work, Seo-yeon was just a budding star in “The Sun Hiding Behind the Moon.”
“Um, unnie.”
“Yes, yes?”
Seo-yeon gave her autograph on Han Seon-ah’s white outfit.
In truth, Seo-yeon had never made or practiced a signature yet.
She had never imagined she’d actually need one.
If I had known, I would’ve practiced a bit!
With that thought, she carefully scrawled ‘Joo Seo-yeon.’
“Can you wait a long time until my next project?”
Seo-yeon impulsively asked.
Seon-ah’s eyes widened, then she began nodding rapidly.
“Of course!”
“Really?”
With her words, a smile unintentionally appeared on Seo-yeon’s face.
She started to think maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.
*
Once all the prepared events were finished, the screening officially began.
This was the first time Seo-yeon was watching the fully edited video.
Will it be okay?
Worries crept in.
She had appeared in ads before, but this was her first experience in a drama.
Did I really perform well?
As the first episode of “The Sun Hiding Behind the Moon” began, her thoughts were swarming.
I hope it’s not boring since only kids are in this part.
To be honest, having kids around in episode three is kind of…
Typically, child roles are short and brief in the first episode.
It was rare for a series like “The Sun Hiding Behind the Moon” to take up until episode three for a main childhood arc.
So, everyone felt a mix of skepticism.
Not many had a positive outlook before seeing young Yi Hye-wol appear on screen.
“Abu, mama~!”
The child version of Yi Hye-wol was bright and adorable.
It was easy to tell she was a princess, loved and cared for since childhood.
Is that Yi Hye-wol from earlier?
That’s completely different!
The actors sat at the front and watched the video.
Audience members glanced back covertly at Seo-yeon in the front row.
Her acting in the teaser had been impressive.
However, the first episode and the teaser were completely different stories.
Even ordinary viewers shared this feeling, making the journalists’ surprise even greater.
Now I understand why actor Kang Seong-chan urged us to take a lot of pictures during the teaser event.
The kids’ acting seems this natural? Their vocalization is completely different!
Children’s performances often feel awkward due to their high-pitched voices.
Even if they express emotions, if the delivery isn’t clear, it’s bound to feel odd.
Yet, despite being only seven, that awkwardness seemed entirely absent from Seo-yeon.
So adorable!
For Han Seon-ah, it was a genuine spark of emotion.
Seeing the cute Yeon-hwa princess, she discreetly wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
The first episode showcased the meeting of young Yi Hye-wol and young Yoon-seo.
Many expected the second episode to follow this light-hearted tone.
Yet from the second episode, the atmosphere began to shift.
Jo Yeong-dae made his grand entrance, creating an air of tension as if something was about to erupt.
Soon, Jo Yeong-dae, who had incited the rebellion, dashed toward the queen’s chamber to seek help.
“I have betrayed you. Both humanity and the grace of the royal family.”
As the dialogue of the crazed Jo Yeong-dae rung out, everyone held their breath.
The young Yeon-hwa princess simply hung her head low.
“What shall I do? Will you go out yourself, or shall I take you myself?”
Tension filled the air, accompanied by a gripping background score.
Jo Yeong-dae’s face was close, his glistening eyes revealing his feelings toward the Yeon-hwa princess.
Seconds later, the screen transitioned to focus on the Yeon-hwa princess.
The previously dim surroundings, illuminated only by lanterns, were now enveloped in darkness.
It mirrored her emotional state.
The Yeon-hwa princess, who had been maintaining her silence, lifted her head.
“…!!”
In that instant, the audience collectively gasped.
A close-up of the Yeon-hwa princess’s face. Her eyes.
Were those red eyes reflecting the lantern light? Or was it too natural to be CG?
Those bright red eyes shone ominously in the darkness.
It was as if they were emitting the Yeon-hwa princess’s fury.
With that, the lone Yeon-hwa princess exited, leaving Jo Yeong-dae laughing behind.
Thud, the sound of the door closing signified the end of the second episode as it concluded the premiere.
“Wow…”
Someone glanced at their watch.
Each episode of the drama lasts for an hour.
So the second episode ran for a full two hours, the same length as an average movie.
But it felt like time flew by in an instant.
Jo Yeong-dae’s performance was phenomenal, but…
It was a shame that actor Yoon Jong-hyuk, who portrayed Jo Yeong-dae, wasn’t at today’s premiere.
He probably skipped due to potential spoilers.
“Is it common for child actors to be this good these days?”
“Check my arm. I got goosebumps!”
“I should’ve taken some photos earlier!”
The audience buzzed with excitement.
Meanwhile, the journalists wore solemn expressions.
“Oh, I have no pictures to include in my article.”
“Shall we try to catch some after this?”
“We can’t. They’re kids! That’d be a disaster.”
It was a moment filled with contrast in emotions.
Some even cast sidelong glances at Han Seon-ah, who had taken a picture with Seo-yeon earlier.
As if to say, How did you see this coming?
…This is epic.
But Han Seon-ah was just trembling, lost in the lingering effects of the drama.
Thus, after concluding positively, the premiere wrapped up.
– Just watched the “The Sun Hiding Behind the Moon” premiere, and it was epic.
– If you want to go viral, you better think smart!
– Wait, why are you badmouthing? I genuinely enjoyed it;;
– I know people around who have seen it; it’s honestly not bad!
– How can it be interesting if only kids are in it?
Online, reviews about the premiere began to spread.
Among those mentions, the performance of the Yeon-hwa princess was highly noted.
Everyone who attended the premiere praised the child actors’ performances, especially praising the final scene of the second episode.
What could be so great about it?
Are they just making a fuss?
With those questions hanging, time passed.
A month later.
When episode one of “The Sun Hiding Behind the Moon” aired amid everyone’s attention, even Seo-yeon, who knew the original viewership rates, was astonished.
The viewership for episode one reached a whopping 25%.
That was a staggering 8% higher than the previous records held by “The Sun Hiding Behind the Moon.”
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