NOVEL NEXT Chapter 60
Even though there was a trigger for recognizing rationality,
Kim Donghu casually woke up the next day as if nothing had happened.
In fact, this might be more natural in some ways.
His body was definitely at an age where puberty was in full swing, but
since his mind was adult-like, he wasn’t consumed by momentary emotions.
Moreover,
“I still don’t quite get it.”
His unfortunate past life had once again caught him by the ankle here.
He had lost everything before even receiving his parents’ love back then.
Back when he thought that if you weren’t good-looking, at least your personality should be nice,
his memories from that time, which had only elicited a light chuckle,
wouldn’t simply be resolved by flicking on “romance mode.”
The moment he hesitated whether to turn it on or off seemed laughable.
Kim Donghu confidently switched on the romance mode.
Not for some deeper relationship with Kim Sujin, but
purely because he thought, “It might help when I act.”
There was one more secret hidden here.
First of all, Kim Donghu didn’t really have a type.
He had no preferred appearance,
and what mattered most to him was emotional connection.
There was no other way around it.
Having been treated that way based on his looks in his past life,
was he supposed to suddenly categorize people based on appearance just because he was handsome overnight?
“What a funny thing.”
Kim Donghu didn’t want that shameless life.
He wouldn’t impose it on others,
but he vowed that he wouldn’t hold any biases or preconceptions about people based on looks.
“It’s true that being good-looking is nice, though.”
However, that doesn’t mean he intended to wield it as a weapon.
Because that would mean ignoring “the past me.”
He had done his best to overcome his appearance,
and he didn’t want to erase that version of himself.
Thus, the exciting moment ended up being just a brief incident.
Of course, it wasn’t completely gone.
One day,
when Kim Donghu was perfectly ready to be loved,
he would wait for the moment to grip his heart,
providing that thrilling sensation.
Therefore, unlike Kim Sujin, who would get flustered just seeing him,
“Hey Sujin, are you okay? Your cheeks are super red.”
Kim Donghu treated her no differently than usual.
After all, being an adult who had properly experienced the storms of society,
he quickly calmed down after a moment of surprise, thinking, “It’s just a script anyway.”
When filming a romance, romantic feelings naturally arise, and you fall in love.
But that kind of story was still a long and rugged path for Kim Donghu.
“Of course.”
“…Ah, it’s nothing! Just a bit chilly, that’s all.”
For Kim Sujin, even that ordinary moment was toxic.
“We’ve finished all the setup!”
As the two were feeling all fluttery, the filming preparations were complete.
“Aren’t you supposed to head out first?”
“Yeah, see you later, Sujin.”
“R-Right, see you later…”
With hearts pounding in completely opposite directions, the shoot began.
+++++
‘Definitely different, huh.’
Writer Yeo Sujeong of [Eclipse] couldn’t help but admire Kim Donghu’s acting.
When the cheering from the surroundings reached her ears, it didn’t quite register.
But in just one glance, she understood why everyone was singing praises.
‘We’ll be shooting for quite a while, and if he’s already like this, everyone will start getting anxious!’
When filming with Kim Donghu, the atmosphere became tense.
She used to think that was just a joke, but experiencing it made everything clear.
Like animals struggling to survive under a rampaging tiger,
the actors sensed a crisis in Kim Donghu’s performance,
which meant everyone had to prepare even harder.
‘Ah, this is sweet.’
As Kim Donghu tried to sneak across the wall to play hooky,
he inadvertently caught Kim Sujin’s attention in the act.
Like a fierce first impression, the two became intricately tangled.
Despite not knowing exactly who each other was, the reason they couldn’t stop meeting was
based on one extremely simple cause.
‘It’s all about looks.’
Being handsome or pretty is the ultimate, electrifying, never-tiring deal.
Yeo Sujeong mumbled this to herself while seriously scrutinizing the faces of Kim Donghu and Kim Sujin.
‘First, Donghu…’
There was no competition.
A face genius through and through.
If there were any awards to be given for looks, he would be guaranteed a top spot.
Having seen various celebrities,
Yeo Sujeong had never seen anyone more handsome than Kim Donghu.
‘Then, Sujin is…’
The daughter of the queen of television, Kim Yu-ryun, Kim Sujin.
She clearly inherited that genetic charm, unmistakably graceful.
Should I say she embodies the traditional Korean beauty?
There was an air of elegance, a serious demeanor typical of an actress, and a strong presence.
With that kind of looks dressed in a hanbok, the beauty boost was off the charts.
One could wonder if there was any child actor prettier than Kim Sujin.
In the moment she donned the hanbok, she was beyond comparison with any of her peers.
‘They said they’ve known each other since childhood, right?’
They met since their days at kindergarten, and…
The parents were practically childhood friends if they got along well.
But are those two really going to film a romance and stick together for at least 60 days?
Is it really possible for no feelings to develop at all?
‘Am I possibly becoming the bridge maker here?’
It wasn’t just Yeo Sujeong who thought this way.
Most of the people on set were harboring the same thought.
Because it’s not the first time you’ve seen celebrities get tangled up with each other in situations like this.
If that actually happens…
‘Is a first-ever child star couple about to be born?’
However, it didn’t take long to realize how unrealistic such expectations were.
“How can you roam around the palace as you please?”
“Then who are you, young master, to treat me this way?”
Kim Donghu and Kim Sujin gazed deeply into each other’s eyes as they acted.
Since it was still the moment before love started, their eyes were too early to be filled with affection.
But…
‘Hmm?’
It was noticeable that Kim Sujin’s eyes were slightly trembling.
It was a forced gaze, hard to hold but unavoidable, revealing a girl’s resolve to overcome her shyness.
If she had perfectly executed the acting of falling in love at first sight, it would be understandable.
But if that wasn’t the case…
‘…Enough, playing around like this is silly, especially as an adult.’
With many thoughts racing, Yeo Sujeong quickly erased them.
When fun goes too far, it becomes violence.
But in reality, Yeo Sujeong’s suspicion hit the nail on the head.
“Cut! Good, but Sujin, dial down the emotion in that gaze just a bit.”
“Yes, director.”
Kim Sujin, who was pointed out for her detailed directing, was doing her best to calm her racing heart.
If she hadn’t learned acting since she was young…
‘Maybe I would have just pulled him in for a hug and kissed him.’
Acting as characters destined to love each other,
How could there be a harsher fate than this?
Kim Sujin prayed and prayed for her heart to hold out.
++++++
Time sped by to October.
As [The Swordsman Baek Dong-su] was approaching its end…
“Bwahahaha! Do you think getting over 30% is easy? Just because we did it once doesn’t mean we can do it again!”
“…You don’t need to brag like that. You sound like a scared dog barking.”
Jeong Dosun frowned at the laughter coming from the cherry pie monster next door.
[The Swordsman Baek Dong-su] hadn’t crossed the 30% mark even once yet.
E.
Sadly, we can’t really say I’m in the prime time drama slot.
– It’s not that I don’t get it; prime time dramas aren’t exactly a walk in the park. Hitting 30% ratings during the weekdays is no joke!
“The theory of the losers, I’m cutting this off.”
Clip.
SKS drama director Jeong Dosun repeatedly washed his face in despair.
“I can’t exactly call Kim Donghu back now.”
How on earth am I supposed to bring back a child actor from years past?
And even if I could, where would I put him?
I know there’s no answer to that.
I understand how hard the current actors are working.
But you can’t beat the real deal.
At that same moment, over at KBC.
Drama director Kim Cheoldo was bursting into hearty laughter.
“Indeed, we are the kings of prime time dramas! Zuha hahahaha!”
“That’s right.”
Kim Youngmo PD casually agreed.
“Wow, he’s really enjoying this.”
It makes sense.
He’s always singing the praises of wanting to work with Kim Donghu again,
So how dazzling would it be to see Kim Donghu break the 30% viewership barrier?
Just as he thought to himself while smiling, Kim Youngmo PD was shocked when he checked his KakaoTalk.
“Oh, oh?! Is this… for real?!”
He was so surprised, he blurted out his thoughts.
The commotion made Kim Cheoldo stop laughing.
“What? What’s going on?”
“The Challenge Golden Bell.”
“Huh? Why is that?”
Challenge! Golden Bell.
It’s a quiz show targeted at high school students that’s extremely popular because it accepts participants regardless of grade or region.
“Remember when we had that brief meeting together and talked about doing a special episode for middle school prodigies? Well…”
“Uh-huh, so what are you getting at?”
“Kim Donghu is supposed to be on it!”
“What? What do you mean? Why would Kim Donghu suddenly show up there?”
Kim Cheoldo couldn’t comprehend it, and Kim Youngmo’s face was equally perplexed.
“So, it’s like a Golden Bell to select the top 1 student from middle school, and apparently, Kim Donghu’s name is on that list.”
“…Kim Donghu does well in school?”
“Looks like it.”
Is that kid some kind of cheat character?
Director Kim Cheoldo bit his tongue to hold back his comments at that point.