Chapter: 34
Time flowed on.
Prior to its airing, The Sun Hidden by the Moon became a hot topic, and it managed to wrap up successfully with a viewership rating of an incredible 45%.
On the flip side, its rival, dubbed “Action King,” faced a scandal regarding school bullying among idols, ending its final episode with a dismal 4.5% rating.
“Ah, Seoyeon on set?”
In an interview conducted after the drama wrapped up, Shin Yeon-mi, who played Princess Yeonhwa’s nurse, spoke about the child actor.
“She was such a diligent kid. They call her a genius child actor, but she’s the one who worked harder than anyone else.”
She continued explaining what efforts Seoyeon had made for those acclaimed episodes two and three.
“To film that scene, we had to shoot earlier than planned. She has the stamina of a marathon runner, managing it all perfectly. Honestly, I thought I was the one who was going to pass out!”
Shin Yeon-mi’s playful tone caused laughter around her, as everyone assumed she was just joking.
“That was the most exhausting shoot of my life,”
smiled Ha Ye-seo, who played the grown-up Yeonhwa.
“Honestly, I was heart-stopped when the ratings dropped in episode four. But I made sure to give my all to portray ‘Princess Yeonhwa’ until the end. Luckily, it didn’t end with episode three’s peak ratings, so I was immensely relieved. It was an invaluable opportunity to discover that even if a child actor performs brilliantly, it can still be tough!”
At first, Ha Ye-seo showed signs of nervousness due to the pressure, but she nailed her performance in subsequent episodes, proving her reputation as a skilled young actress was no exaggeration.
After Ha Ye-seo, the final speaker was the producer of The Sun Hidden by the Moon, Ha Tae-oh.
“Seoyeon is not retiring. As Shin Yeon-mi mentioned earlier, she’s quite ambitious.”
Looking into the camera, Ha Tae-oh continued, “She said she wants to learn a lot. While filming this drama, she realized there were many areas she needs to improve on.”
It was primarily due to method acting and emotional expression, but Ha Tae-oh didn’t delve into that, knowing it was an area that could be hard to grasp for others.
“Without a doubt, Seoyeon will be back.”
PD Ha Tae-oh spoke with a tone full of conviction. “That child was born to be an actress.”
*
Although she talked about taking a break, that didn’t quite mean she could rest immediately.
She had to remain in the spotlight as child actor Joo Seoyeon until the end of this year, primarily because of the year-end awards ceremony.
“Wow, she’s really beautiful!”
The makeup artist casually remarked, and indeed, Seoyeon was stunning.
Seeing her reflection in the mirror, Seoyeon couldn’t help but think,
‘Honestly, I think I look prettier than I did in the drama.’
Such thoughts were somewhat expected, given that award ceremonies allow for more creative makeup than a historical drama typically would.
“Even for a child, those eyelashes are ridiculously long…”
Those lashes were definitely not the type you’d typically see on a child.
‘Just imagine how beautiful she’ll be when she grows up!’
Having met many child actors as a makeup artist, she had never encountered a child as pretty as Seoyeon.
‘It’s such a shame that she’s taking a break.’
Especially since she had enjoyed The Sun Hidden by the Moon so much.
Even now, Seoyeon’s performances were vivid in her memory.
“Are you ready?”
At that moment, someone approached Seoyeon after she had completed her preparations.
A man in a crisp suit,
the lead from The Sun Hidden by the Moon, playing the grown-up Yoon Seo-il.
“Oh, Seoyeon! You look really beautiful!”
Kang Sung-chan commented with a smile.
He was taking Seoyeon’s place for Sua, who couldn’t attend the awards ceremony.
Since all the cast and crew who worked on The Sun Hidden by the Moon were together, it was hardly inconvenient.
“Have you arrived?”
As they slowly made their way to the ceremony venue, Park Jung-woo, who had already arrived, called out to them.
His previous indifference transformed into awkwardness after episode three of The Sun Hidden by the Moon.
“Yes, senior.”
“……”
Seoyeon could hardly call him anything else but ‘senior.’
Though Park Jung-woo found Seoyeon’s formal speech somewhat rigid, he had nothing to critique.
After all, Seoyeon was indeed younger and less experienced than him.
“Come on, Seoyeon. You can sit next to Ha Ye-seo. And have you thought of anything to say today?”
“What to say?”
Seoyeon blinked in confusion at Kang Sung-chan’s unexpected question,
Wondering if there was something she was supposed to say today.
“Oh, did I not convey it? Usually, nominees receive a heads-up.”
“Y-Yeah?”
“I’m here.”
Park Jung-woo replied, stepping in on Seoyeon’s behalf.
His response made Seoyeon’s gaze shift to him, causing him to smile lightly.
“We’re talking about the Youth Actor Award.”
“……?”
For a moment, Seoyeon almost asked what that was.
However, just hearing the name suggested it was an award for child actors.
“This year, The Sun Hidden by the Moon swept practically everything, so it’s almost guaranteed.”
Kang Sung-chan’s excitement was infectious.
With a staggering 45% viewership rating, how could he not be excited?
Even Ha Ye-seo looked enthused.
“You are going to win for sure.”
Then, Park Jung-woo chimed in,
“Considering both the buzz and your performance.”
Was that a compliment?
Seoyeon tilted her head in confusion.
At that, Park Jung-woo clicked his tongue and turned away.
To Seoyeon, he seemed like an enigma she couldn’t quite grasp.
“Tonight, the stars seem brilliantly bright. I feel as though I might go blind just standing here.”
While they were chatting, the lights in the ceremony venue dimmed, illuminating the stage.
Two male and female actors took to the stage as hosts and scanned the audience.
A venue filled with countless stars.
Seoyeon suddenly realized she was part of this phenomenal place.
“Now, let’s kick off the KMB Acting Awards.”
With a loud declaration, the KMB Acting Awards commenced.
Seoyeon, who had been sitting there with hardly any thoughts, finally felt the starlit atmosphere for the first time.
She had been so engulfed in her drama world that she hadn’t quite felt the weight of reality until now.
Casting her gaze around, she saw one actor here and another there.
People she had only previously seen on TV were all around her.
“First up, we have the Popularity Award.”
Looking ahead, a giant screen displayed the dramas aired this year.
Amongst the many KMB dramas of the year, The Sun Hidden by the Moon naturally stood out.
The number of actors listed during the nominees’ descriptions was overwhelming,
but only a select few had the honor of receiving awards and sharing their acceptance speeches.
Some actors even cried over small awards.
Then, as the award ceremony continued.
“And next, we have the Youth Actor Award!”
Once called the Child Actor Award.
“With that, we have the nominees for the Youth Actor Award!”
With the host’s announcement, the screen showed the nominees for both male and female youth actors.
Kids who gained attention for starring in daily dramas.
Kids who startled audiences with the most popular lines from their dramas this year.
Most of them had started their acting careers a year or two earlier than Seoyeon.
At seven years old, Seoyeon felt somewhat like the youngest at the venue.
‘What was it that Kang Sung-chan said? Did I have anything to say today?’
The words seemed to swirl in her mind, initially dismissed as insignificant.
‘This is…’
Seoyeon was not a fearful child, probably influenced by her past life.
She couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was that made her anxious or tense.
That characteristic still lingered in this reborn life, as she found little to surprise her in everyday happenings.
‘Nervous.’
Seoyeon tightened her chest,
When her trembling hands felt uncontrollable.
“Seoyeon.”
Someone grasped Seoyeon’s hand.
“Take a deep breath.”
It was Jeong Eun-sun, who played Dowager Queen Eun-hye.
She looked at Seoyeon with focused eyes, as sharp as a knife.
What could she possibly want to say to her?
Seoyeon gazed expectantly at her; instead, Eun-sun sighed and said,
“Honestly.”
She hesitated a moment before continuing.
“If it were before, I would have said your decision was right.”
“Y-Yeah?”
“Sure, even now, I don’t think your choice was wrong. I just wonder if there could have been another way.”
Having said that, Jeong Eun-sun pondered her words for a moment, as if considering how to phrase her thoughts.
“Previously, I thought you were struggling to handle your emotions.”
That’s why she advised her to stop emotional acting, which led to a reprimand from Director Gong. However, at that time, Seoyeon believed it was the necessary choice.
“But watching you now has changed my mind.”
Jeong Eun-sun realized many things while observing The Sun Hidden by the Moon.
Not every child actor should be coddled like a baby; they are, after all, actors in their own right.
“You’re a strong child.”
She saw Seoyeon pour all her feelings into her acting twice.
Once right before her eyes,
And another time from a distance,
It was almost tangible how hard Seoyeon worked for that performance.
Having done method acting herself for years, Eun-sun understood.
“An older actress, an unnecessary worry…. I failed to see that.”
“Ah, no…”
“Therefore.”
Cutting off Seoyeon’s awkward response, Jeong Eun-sun continued,
“You have nothing to be anxious about.”
As she spoke, a familiar face appeared on the screen.
It was none other than Joo Seoyeon.
The nominees for the Youth Actor Award showed Seoyeon’s face for the female category,
while Park Jung-woo’s appeared for the male.
Loud applause erupted,
thundering applause that echoed in her ears.
The light shone upon Seoyeon,
and Jeong Eun-sun gently nudged her forward.
“Go and represent yourself confidently as an actress.”
It was only at that moment that Seoyeon could finally move her feet.
The racing heart had calmed down by now.
Feeling the calmness settle in her chest as usual, Seoyeon took her first step.
“Seoyeon.”
Behind her, just as she began walking to the stage, she heard Jeong Eun-sun’s voice.
“I’m sorry for what I said before.”
Leaving those words behind, she stepped onto the stage.
As if following Eun-sun’s advice,
she embraced her identity as an actress.
“Hello, I’m Joo Seoyeon, who played the young Princess Yeonhwa in The Sun Hidden by the Moon.”
Offering the customary bow to everyone present, she gazed at the multitude of stars before her.
The dazzling sight was so bright that Seoyeon could hardly comprehend what she was saying.
She stammered through the thoughts she had prepared, unsure if she was expressing them well.
“Seoyeon, are you crying?”
At that moment, the host seemed taken aback.
It was then that Seoyeon realized she had wiped her eyes with her fingers.
Tears.
Ah, it seems you can cry both in joy and sorrow.
It felt different from the tears shed while acting.
Such uncertainties still lingered.
Her past self had been naive, unaware of so much.
“Finally.”
While tears felt like sadness before, now they bore a more complex meaning.
Taking a deep breath, Seoyeon calmly opened her mouth.
“I will strive to stand here again in the future. So…”
Exhaling and wearing a bright smile,
“I’ll definitely come back.”
That was Seoyeon’s final message.
Seven-year-old Joo Seoyeon.
And the finale of her child acting era.
The closing chapter of her childhood.
And so, time flowed on.
A few springs passed,
and then a few winters as well.
Finally, spring returned again,
the kind that heralds new beginnings.
“Joo Seoyeon.”
Lee Ji-yeon, clad in a school uniform, squinted her eyes and turned away.
There was a girl lost in thought, gazing up at the sky.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you leaving? If you don’t hurry, you’ll be late!”
There stood a girl in a matching school uniform, with long black hair,
the seventeen-year-old Joo Seoyeon.
“Yeah.”
With a face just as calm as before,
“I’m coming.”
She wore a small smile.
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