The Face Genius Actor

Episode 080

Kim Yoon-ah approached me, but I didn’t think much of it.

I thought she was just coming over for a simple goodbye.

After all, I had just exchanged farewells with Baek Joo-sung, South Korea’s greatest soccer legend of all time.

It was a meaningless conversation about seeing each other again if the opportunity arose.

Personally, I was a fan of Baek Joo-sung and wanted to talk longer, but I couldn’t keep a busy person unnecessarily.

I knew well how much public figures like Baek Joo-sung were pestered by people around them, so I was even more cautious.

‘If I’m lucky, our paths will cross again.’

For this reason, I reluctantly said goodbye to Baek Joo-sung with these thoughts.

I naturally assumed it would be the same with Kim Yoon-ah.

“Ah, yes. Yoon-ah. Are you leaving?”

“Yes, I’m about to. But before that, I have a favor to ask…”

That’s why I couldn’t help but be surprised by Kim Yoon-ah’s additional words.

Kim Yoon-ah was a world-renowned figure skating legend known to every South Korean citizen.

It would be strange not to be surprised that such a person had a favor to ask of me.

I cautiously asked back.

“…A favor?”

“Actually, I’ve been really enjoying watching lately.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. So I was wondering if it would be okay to take a picture together?”

Of course, it was okay.

In fact, I wanted to take pictures with everyone I met here.

Every single one of them was an amazing person worthy of such a gesture.

But for the same reason I had reluctantly said goodbye to Baek Joo-sung, I couldn’t do that.

In this situation, for Kim Yoon-ah to take the initiative like this…

It was rather a joyous occasion from my perspective.

“Of course. Give me your phone. I’ll take it.”

I took Kim Yoon-ah’s phone and extended my arm.

Though not as much as a selfie stick, the ad set was adequately captured in the camera lens as a background for the photo.

“Yoon-ah, I think you can go a little further back.”

“Ah, okay. Then I won’t hold back.”

So Kim Yoon-ah stood in the back to make her face look smaller, and I took the picture.

Click. Click. Click.

I naturally assumed she would use the default camera app given her outstanding beauty, but Kim Yoon-ah favored filter apps.

She even had several types of camera apps installed on her phone.

After taking several photos, Kim Yoon-ah murmured while examining the photo gallery with a serious expression:

“Si-joon is so pretty, it makes for an unfavorable comparison.”

Hearing those words, I felt embarrassed and scratched my head.

“Should we take more?”

“No, it’s fine. The results won’t be much different anyway… Is there a photo you like, Si-joon? I’ll send it to you.”

“Ah, then. Please send me this one and the one we took with the snowflake app earlier.”

So I received the photos from Kim Yoon-ah.

“Well then, thank you for your hard work today.”

“You too, Si-joon. Thanks for the photos. I’ll definitely return the favor later.”

“I look forward to it. I’ll be waiting for your contact then.”

Though it was a short time, I felt like I had become closer to Kim Yoon-ah while taking photos together.

‘To think that Kim Yoon-ah is a fan of …’

I felt I should do well in the remaining shoots to live up to her expectations.

* * *

had aired up to episode 12 by then.

Thanks to its steady rise, the viewership for episode 12 was 12.59%.

At this rate, it seemed possible to surpass 15% before the finale.

It was an overwhelming result just to imagine.

To achieve such results in the first drama where I became the main lead.

I could hardly believe it.

It was even more so because I had to taste a big failure with my first leading role drama before the regression.

Above all, was the first drama where I stood on my own without Seo Myung-hee’s help.

‘I gained more than I expected through .’

It wasn’t just the joy of high ratings.

Thanks to appearing in , I was able to overcome a long-standing trauma to some extent.

I was also able to gain great confidence as an actor.

As a result, I had a strong desire to finish as perfectly as possible.

This feeling was even stronger because I was considering a movie for my next project.

Although the future was hard to predict, if I expanded into movies this time, I wanted to focus on that direction for a while.

‘I’ll do my best.’

Currently, had finished filming up to episode 14.

All that remained was filming episodes 15 and 16.

However, practically all the important scenes were in episode 15.

Episode 16 was planned to focus on the reunion of the Han Ji-hoon – Lee Young couple and resolving the conflicts of the sub-couples.

Episode 15 dealt with the second separation of Han Ji-hoon and Lee Young.

This time, they weren’t separating due to emotional conflicts.

The two had already confirmed their true feelings for each other during the process of Kim Jung-heon’s death in episode 14.

Han Ji-hoon had now decided to completely bury his first love in his heart and love the Lee Young in front of him.

Lee Young had a change of heart after confirming Han Ji-hoon’s sincerity through his actions of caring for her even in life-threatening situations.

At first glance, it seemed there were no more obstacles for the two.

But that wasn’t the case.

Through Kim Jung-heon, Lee Young had found a way to return to the Korean Empire.

A situation where they didn’t know if they could return once they left.

Several questions arose in both their minds.

But the two decided to focus on spending a happy moment together, burying all questions…

“What emotions do you think the two characters are feeling?”

We all gathered on set for the first shoot of episode 15.

And Cindy asked this question.

It was the first question.

Cindy had never asked a question like this during all the previous shoots.

She always actively shared opinions about the scenes to be shot that day.

It was natural.

After all, Cindy and I were heavily involved in the direction of .

But this was the first time she had asked a question as if she really didn’t know the answer regarding the acting.

That’s why I couldn’t help but be interested in Cindy’s question.

I thought for a moment about how I had analyzed Han Ji-hoon’s emotions.

Then I answered.

“To conclude, I think both of them believe they can’t avoid parting.”

“It seems that way, doesn’t it? The flow of the script for episode 15 suggests that too.”

“Yes. But I think their reasons are different. First, Han Ji-hoon seems to think he shouldn’t hold Lee Young back.”

“Why is that?”

“No matter how much he loves her, Lee Young doesn’t belong in this world.”

“Aren’t there cases, though rare, where people give up their home country for international marriages?”

“But they can always return to their home country if they want. Compared to that, Lee Young might never have another chance to return to the Korean Empire if not now.”

“So Han Ji-hoon thinks it would be selfish to ask Lee Young not to leave.”

“That’s why he makes a choice.”

“To let her go. Right?”

“That’s right. But Lee Young doesn’t want that.”

“For the same reason as Han Ji-hoon. Because asking Han Ji-hoon to live with her in the Korean Empire would be selfish.”

“Yes. That’s how the two face their separation.”

“It’s so complicated. Sometimes love can be selfish too.”

“I feel that’s a bit lacking too. I don’t think the current script fully expresses that aspect.”

“It would be nice if it could be expressed through narration at the very end… Ah!”

Cindy, who had been deep in conversation, exclaimed.

I watched her and asked back.

“Yes? What is it?”

“Instead of just leaving it like this, why don’t we talk to the writer?”

“About what? You don’t mean the narration?”

“Yes. Actually, after hearing Si-joon’s explanation, I felt like the emotions of the two characters, which I hadn’t fully understood before, became clear.”

“Really? I’m grateful you say that, but… I’m a bit worried. I wonder if it’s okay to request a script revision from the writer.”

Revising a completed script was rare.

We could discuss various things at the planning stage, but now all 16 episodes’ scripts were already out.

This kind of revision request could be interpreted as infringing on the writer’s rights, depending on the writer.

Especially with a veteran writer like Jung Su-jin, it was safe to say that script revisions almost never happened.

It might be different with a rookie writer.

“Then let’s talk to the director. To see if it’s okay to request a revision from the writer.”

So Cindy and I went to Director Yoo Hyo-sung and talked about the narration.

Director Yoo thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Actually, I’ve been wondering how to handle that part too. I even asked Writer Jung Su-jin, but she didn’t give a clear answer.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It seemed like even Writer Jung Su-jin didn’t have a perfect interpretation of this scene. So I think it would be okay to bring up the narration idea.”

The three of us agreed to ask Writer Jung Su-jin if she could add narration.

And shortly after.

The filming of the last scene of episode 15 began.

* * *

Being with Lee Young makes me happy.

So much that my heart aches.

But I also know.

That this is because of the impending farewell.

I want to tell her not to go.

I want to ask her to stay with me.

But Lee Young is the princess of the Korean Empire.

And she has duties to fulfill as a princess.

Even if she weren’t a princess, it would be the same.

I don’t know if it’s right to hold Lee Young back, asking her to stay with me.

Can I say that’s not just my selfish desire?

I don’t want to send Lee Young off with a selfish appearance.

Knowing I have to let her go, I want to show my best side, even if just a little.

Or…

“What if I go with you?”

The door wide open.

Lee Young looks up at me in front of it.

If she passes through this door, Lee Young will never be able to return.

As that moment approaches, I make up my mind.

I want to be with Lee Young even if it means giving up this world.

So I asked if I could go with her, but Lee Young quietly shakes her head.

“You have things to do here. Just as I do beyond this door.”

“What if I could give up everything? If I want to follow you even if it means giving up everything?”

I ask this as if making a last desperate attempt.

But Lee Young just looks at me quietly and slowly shakes her head.

Then, with sad eyes, she adds one more thing.

“Don’t make me a selfish person. I’ll definitely come back.”

At the same time, I remember Lee Young’s always strong appearance.

When she first fell into this new world.

When she had to adapt to a strange world.

When she had her final confrontation with Kim Jung-heon.

And now, right before crossing this door.

“Why are you… so strong even at this moment…”

Tears flow from my eyes.

“Because I know… that we’ll meet again… for sure…”

Tears flow from Lee Young’s eyes too.

Who tried to comfort whom first?

We kiss.

And so, leaving warmth in South Korea,

Lee Young departed for the Korean Empire.

-I wondered for a long time if we could have been together if I had been a little more selfish then…

-And I realized a little late that love can sometimes be a bit selfish.

-It was too late.