The Face Genius Actor

Episode 059

The production company accepted Cindy’s proposal, and soon the casting news for “Let’s Live Together, Princess” was released.

[First half’s anticipated work ‘Let’s Live Together, Princess’ casting confirmed! Is Lee Si-joon Cindy’s partner?]

[Lee Si-joon joins ‘Let’s Live Together, Princess’ as male lead! Overwhelming visuals!]

[Kim Won-young is back! ‘Let’s Live Together, Princess’ casts Lee Si-joon as male lead!]

[Already exciting! ‘Let’s Live Together, Princess’ creating buzz with Cindy-Lee Si-joon lineup…]

[That guy from the music video is the male lead? Who is Lee Si-joon joining ‘Let’s Live Together, Princess’?]

When Cindy’s casting confirmation news came out, the concept of “Let’s Live Together, Princess” was also revealed.

Because of this, “Let’s Live Together, Princess” was already classified as a highly anticipated work for the first half of the year.

People seemed to evaluate my joining positively, fortunately.

I was worried about hearing that I was too inferior compared to Cindy, but.

Almost everyone thought my joining wasn’t bad.

Of course, that doesn’t mean the comments were completely clean.

‘Still, this level of response means I did pretty well.’

The difference in name value between Cindy and me was that big.

It was inevitable.

As I was organizing my thoughts while looking at the casting news, suddenly.

My phone started vibrating.

Buzz- Buzz-

Checking the screen, it was a call from my father.

I hurriedly answered the phone.

“Yes, Father.”

-Son! Congratulations! I saw the drama casting news!

“Ah. Thank you. But why a call instead of a message…”

-Ah. I don’t have time to write a message right now. We’re hanging a banner in Mangwon Market.

“What banner? Are you promoting the chicken restaurant?”

-Why would I promote the chicken restaurant? People are already lining up.

“Then what promotion… No way? It’s not a congratulatory banner for the drama casting, is it?”

-No. It is. We prepared a really big one. You’ll be surprised when you see it later.

I hurriedly put on a hat and mask and went outside.

I couldn’t understand at all.

How could a banner be completed when only a few hours had passed since the casting news broke?

‘This must have been prepared in advance… Ah!’

That was it.

It seems this had been prepared since people gathered at my father’s restaurant.

They were thorough in their preparation.

I rushed to Mangwon Market before the banner was completely hung.

The casting news breaking was something I had to deal with as a celebrity.

But the banner was different.

Above all, I didn’t think my father and his friends would hang a banner with ordinary content.

Sure enough.

A banner was already hung at the main entrance of Mangwon Market, and.

I couldn’t help but put my hand to my forehead at its content.

-Congratulations on Cindy’s appearance in “Let’s Live Together, Princess”!-

Up to here, there was no problem at all.

The problem was the phrase written in small letters below.

-Son of Mangwon, Lee Si-joon! Co-casting!-

To be called the ‘Son of Mangwon’ but in such small letters.

I felt a strange mix of disappointment and embarrassment.

* * *

A few days later.

After successfully completing the public script reading for “Let’s Live Together, Princess”, at the after-party.

The gathering held at Director Yoo Sung-hyo’s regular indoor pojangmacha had a very good atmosphere.

Cindy also seemed to be in a good mood, staying at her seat throughout and conversing with many people.

“Si-joon. Today’s script reading was so good. Hearing your voice acting gave a whole different feeling. I’m already looking forward to filming the week after next!”

Cindy said this while holding a soju bottle with her face printed on it.

I too was looking forward to filming the week after next.

It wasn’t just Cindy who was impressed by the acting.

Cindy flew around the script reading scene as if she was possessed by Lee Young.

I felt glad anew that I could work with such a skilled actor.

After finishing the public script reading, finally on the day of filming.

As expected, there was no problem with the chemistry between Cindy and me.

Part 1, Scene 58.

Although she’s been discharged from the hospital, Lee Young still doesn’t remember me.

“Is this your home?”

It seems she’s lost more than just her memories.

Her formal way of speaking, elegant gait, dignified expression.

Every single thing is strange.

Even her personality is completely different from the Lee Young I know.

To crash someone else’s affair scene that she doesn’t even know and give a sudden lecture, even if it’s morally right…

The Lee Young I knew wasn’t originally this kind of person…

Despite the confusion, I’ve brought Lee Young home to take care of her.

There’s no other choice since we don’t know what she might do at a hotel.

Lee Young, after carefully looking around the house, sits gently on the living room sofa and asks me.

“Very well. I would like to have a five-grain latte. Could you bring one out?”

“…I have black bean soy milk. Should I give you that instead?”

“Black bean soy milk, is it. As a guest, I shouldn’t be picky about drinks. Bring it out.”

Everything is confusing and chaotic, but what I find hardest to adapt to is Lee Young’s way of speaking.

It’s disorienting to hear her constantly speak in a style that sounds like it belongs to a Confucian scholar from Cheonghakdong.

But I don’t point this out.

Right now, Lee Young has just lost her memories.

Once her memories return, everything I find strange will be resolved at once.

With this belief, I decide to willingly comply with Lee Young’s request.

“Okay. Then you don’t need anything else, right?”

“I’m fine.”

As I’m about to bring a tray with black bean soy milk and a few cookies.

I’m shocked to see Lee Young’s appearance belatedly.

Unable to wait even for a moment, Lee Young has entered into meditation, sitting cross-legged.

“What… are you doing?”

“I always keep meditation close and enjoy contemplation. Don’t worry too much about it.”

“Ah… Meditation… Contemplation… Right. Now that you’re thinking, is there anything you remember?”

“I see the imperial palace. I was the princess there, but it doesn’t feel particularly happy.”

“You still don’t remember anything. You keep talking about dreams.”

As I mutter this while nodding, Lee Young quietly looks in my direction.

What is it? Is there something on my face?

While I’m a bit flustered by the sound of my pounding heart, Lee Young opens her mouth.

“You, and that doctor too. You absolutely don’t believe what I’m saying. You said this place is the Republic of Korea, right?”

“Yes. But you kept looking for the Korean Empire.”

“Because that’s where I came from. I don’t know how this happened either. So you’ll have to accept it too. That what you’re looking for isn’t in me.”

That tone of voice doesn’t sound at all like someone who’s lost their memory.

Because of this, a whirlwind of confusion sweeps through my mind once again.

Is this person really not the Lee Young I’m looking for?

Just as my thoughts reach this point.

A phone call comes in.

It’s the hospital.

“Oh, hyung.”

-Yeah, Ji-hoon. About what you asked me to look into.

“Yeah. Did you find out?”

-I did as you said, but there’s one strange thing.

“A strange thing?”

-It’s about Lee Young. Her DNA doesn’t match the existing one.

Surprised by the doctor’s words, I look at Lee Young.

Even in this situation, Lee Young is looking up at me with a relaxed expression.

She’s really not Lee Young?

* * *

“Cut! Okay!”

The filming ended with Director Yoo Sung-hyo’s okay sign.

Since there was still time before the drama aired, the filming was proceeding leisurely.

The fact that they had been shooting Part 1 for over a week was evidence of this.

Not only that, but Director Yoo Sung-hyo had a habit of always showing the filmed work to the actors for confirmation.

Because of this, the filming time inevitably got pushed back little by little.

But since the results weren’t bad, no one complained.

The on-site staff also seemed satisfied with Director Yoo Sung-hyo’s filming style.

It was natural since he didn’t rush like other directors.

Director Yoo Sung-hyo himself seemed to prefer working without being pressed for time.

It was the same now.

“We’ll start filming Part 2 after finishing the preliminary edit of Part 1. I’ll contact you when the filming schedule is set, so everyone get plenty of rest until then.”

It was a completely different style from Director Kang Han-sung, who pushed forward with filming while being a bit pressed for time.

But I didn’t think badly of Director Yoo Sung-hyo’s style.

Rather, I knew that this approach was in line with recent trends.

Certainly, if there was time to spare, it wasn’t bad to pause and resume filming.

There was the disadvantage of increased production costs, but it could save the energy of actors and staff.

Anyway, recent drama filming sites were gradually changing to comply with the 52-hour workweek system.

“Then I’ll look forward to the preliminary edit of Part 1.”

After greeting all the actors and staff on site, I got in the car.

Yeo Kyung-chan, seeming to be in a good mood, spoke with a smile on his face.

“You saw it again today, right? How people gather whenever you act?”

It was as Yeo Kyung-chan said.

For some reason, the set felt bustling whenever I acted.

I thought it was just my imagination, but seeing Yeo Kyung-chan mention it, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

“There were quite a lot of people… Why is that?”

“Why? Of course, they’re gathering to see your acting. You’re perfectly embodying your role this time too. I heard your acting has improved even more?”

“Who said that?”

“The actors who worked with you in previous projects.”

“Ah.”

It seemed that supporting actors often overlapped in projects.

Because of this, many actors from “Arrest” or “I Will Cast Love” were also appearing in this work.

Yeo Kyung-chan’s praise seemed to originate from these actors.

‘Certainly, it feels easier to portray the role in this project compared to before.’

It was probably all thanks to the Method Mask, which could now be used on set as well.

There were times when the acting needed to change according to the director’s demands upon arriving at the filming location.

Director Kang Han-sung didn’t have many such demands, but whenever it happened, I felt troubled.

I always felt unsatisfied with how I handled these parts.

But being able to use the Method Mask on set made it easier to deal with sudden directions.

It was even more helpful in the case of Director Yoo Sung-hyo, who tended to have many such demands.

It seemed that other actors thought my acting had improved because of this.

While I could only deliver pre-prepared acting before, now it felt like I could deliver even unprepared acting.

“On top of that, people can’t seem to leave because of your incredible looks. I heard some staff say they come to work just to see your face.”

I just smiled without responding to Yeo Kyung-chan’s sudden praise of my appearance.

It would have been better if people gathered just because of good acting.

But as a celebrity, receiving people’s attention wasn’t a bad thing.

* * *

While I was resting and preparing for the filming of Part 2 of “Let’s Live Together, Princess”,

The preliminary edit of Part 1 arrived from Director Yoo Sung-hyo.

And as I checked it, I couldn’t help but nod.

‘As expected…. This was the problem….’