LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 48
Three hours before the reenactment of “The Moon That Hid the Sun,” Episode 8 began.
Park Jung-woo had arrived, and the staff was busy with shooting.
“Joo Seo-yeon.”
Lee Ji-yeon handed a hanbok to Seo-yeon.
It was the hanbok of the ‘Yeonhwa’ Princess that the staff had given this morning.
“Put it on.”
Seo-yeon looked at the hanbok with a slightly awkward expression.
For a multitude of complex reasons.
Back in middle school, almost facing a dangerous fame as Yeonhwa.
This role was given to Lee Ji-yeon, not herself.
And she worried: Could this affect the play?
All those reasons made Seo-yeon hesitate.
“Ji-yeon, I…”
“I know what you’re thinking.”
Ji-yeon spoke to Seo-yeon.
They had been together for ten years.
In the past, it was hard to read Seo-yeon’s impassive face, but not anymore.
Sometimes she wouldn’t know, but in this situation, it was clear.
“There must be many reasons. Most importantly, it’s a great opportunity for me.”
An opportunity to shoot with Park Jung-woo, a young actor close to top star status.
If it were an actor of her age, they’d definitely light up with desire to seize it.
Lackluster ratings?
Park Jung-woo’s fame would fill that gap.
Even without a boost from variety shows, his recognition would surge just from internet articles.
She knew it all.
“Yeah, I know you want to do something with the play.”
She must have plans.
However, Seo-yeon didn’t like the thought of her first comeback stage being an ordinary play.
Her first stage after returning.
Throwing away a once-in-a-lifetime premium chance felt wrong.
“You said you’d become a top actor.”
Ji-yeon thought.
If she didn’t like the ordinary stage, she could make it extraordinary.
This variety show was a great opportunity for that.
“This is your chance. You know it.”
Since the moment she received the role of Yeonhwa.
Ji-yeon had imagined this scenario countless times.
Yeonhwa belonged to Seo-yeon.
Long ago.
Since the day she saw her on TV.
When she witnessed that starlight, her feelings never changed.
“……”
Seo-yeon quietly looked at Ji-yeon.
Silently.
After a moment passed, Seo-yeon slowly nodded.
“Okay.”
She made her decision.
Ji-yeon was right.
Seo-yeon’s participation in ‘Eyes Closed’ was a stepping stone for her next move.
But there was no harm in making that stepping stone more special.
Hesitating would be an offense to Ji-yeon, who spoke of giving up the opportunity given to her.
“I’ll do it.”
With Seo-yeon’s firm response, the change room began.
The makeup artist Ji-yeon had directly called and her manager assisted.
Everything proceeded swiftly.
It was all thanks to Ji-yeon’s preparations.
The makeup artist.
The manager helping with the outfit change.
With their help, Seo-yeon let herself go and started with the makeup.
Princess Yeonhwa Lee Hye-wol.
To become her after 10 years.
“Okay, raise your arms please.”
Wearing several layers of the hanbok’s voluminous skirt.
Putting on the upper garment.
“Seo-yeon, please lift your head.”
Tying her long black hair back.
Reflecting on the mirror, she carefully did her makeup.
The mirror reflected Yeonhwa.
The beautiful grown-up face of young Hye-wol appeared in the mirror.
“Lee Ji-yeon? What on earth…?”
And just then, the PD Jung Min-jae, called by Ji-yeon, arrived.
His face went pale as he froze.
‘Lee Ji-yeon?’
He rubbed his eyes.
He had seen Ji-yeon’s pictures several times before this shoot.
But who was this woman before him?
Long black hair, piercing eyes.
A graceful figure and a calm aura.
A literal incarnation of the Yeonhwa Princess.
It was as if he was looking at what the young Hye-wol would look like grown up.
“Huh?”
Jung Min-jae hurriedly pulled out his phone and searched for the child actor who played the Yeonhwa Princess a decade ago.
Joo Seo-yeon.
Yes, that was definitely her name.
And when the picture came up, he was shocked.
“Huh, uh? Wait, wait a moment. Ji-yeon? No, it can’t be Ji-yeon?”
The flustered Jung Min-jae didn’t notice that Ji-yeon was standing right next to ‘Yeonhwa’.
He knew someone was there, but his gaze was fixed on Seo-yeon’s face.
“Yes, PD-nim.”
Seo-yeon smiled calmly.
“I’m Joo Seo-yeon.”
Thud
The moment he heard that name, Jung Min-jae accidentally dropped his smartphone on the floor.
*
In that instant, those in the auditorium couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
At first, they thought it was just acting.
The high school student streamer Song Yong-ho, filming with his phone, thought the same.
It felt like an ordinary play at first.
Yes, it was more like a play than a drama.
But there wasn’t much to see really.
Especially since it started with a focus on the students, it felt even more tedious.
– Chew Haha, now I see why this flopped.
– I haven’t slept well these days… Watching this already makes me sleepy…
– I’d rather just play a game at home, that’d be a hundred times more fun.
And sure enough, the chat was similar to Yong-ho’s thoughts.
Of course, watching a live variety show without editing could give that effect.
Then the vibe flipped the moment Park Jung-woo appeared.
As he stepped out in his hanbok, screams echoed throughout the auditorium.
– Is that a dinosaur hairstyle???
– I nearly fell asleep but, damn, I’m wide awake now!
– Please, please, 3 centimeters—please, 3 centimeters, I beg you!
With Jung-woo’s appearance, the chat began to zip past.
The viewer count, once around 200, surged to 500.
Yong-ho smiled joyfully, shifting his gaze to the ongoing variety shoot.
‘Surely, he’s a real actor.’
That thought crossed his mind.
Just by appearing, the boundary between ‘student’ and ‘actor’ became starkly clear.
Jung-woo’s acting was something to watch.
But that was pretty much it.
Viewers didn’t tune in to watch a single actor performing alone, right?
– Wake me up when it ends…
– Even Jung-woo can’t save this…
– Hmm…
Just as everyone started yawning.
Numerous students burst in, creating a crowd.
They seemed to be trying to depict a ‘market’, each selling items with unique flair.
And amidst that, Park Jung-woo quietly walked.
‘It’s almost over now.’
It was about two-thirds into the material.
Yong-ho watched the dwindling viewer count, concern flashing across his face when…
“Uh?”
“What is it?”
Jung-woo’s pace quickened.
Is he acting?
If so, it was a truly immersive performance.
Like someone entranced, Jung-woo walked after someone.
And at the end of his gaze stood a woman wrapped in a long robe.
Princess Yeonhwa.
Everyone thought so.
But.
「Seo-il」
When a clear voice rang through the mic and filled the speakers.
Yong-ho felt goosebumps.
Slowly lowering her robe and gently smiling was the girl.
– ???????
– What is this?
– That’s not Lee Ji-yeon, right?
– Who’s the Yeonhwa actress??? She’s stunning!!!!
– It feels… like I’ve seen her somewhere… Is that the child actress for Yeonhwa?
– Dude… make sense!
– That’s definitely Joo Seo-yeon, the child actress who played Yeonhwa!
– Seriously???
– Does that even make sense????
Yong-ho couldn’t even dare to glance at the flood of messages in the chat.
“Insane…”
In that moment, he was completely immersed in the play.
‘Isn’t she that Joo Seo-yeon from Class 4?’
‘Was she in the drama club?’
‘No, more importantly…’
“The Moon That Hid the Sun” was a rather unfamiliar drama for students.
I mean, it aired a decade ago.
They were only seven years old then.
No matter how famous the drama was, even if its child actor created a big stir, remembering that name was something else.
“What? Seo-yeon was that Joo Seo-yeon?”
“I thought she looked like her, but…”
“Wait. It’s still not definite.”
Then the teachers stood up.
They remembered the young Yeonhwa vividly.
Even after ten years had passed.
But they never considered that the pretty student could be ‘Actress Joo Seo-yeon.’
‘Nothing unusual like that was noted in her school record???’
Seo-yeon had stopped acting before entering elementary school.
Naturally, there was no mention of that.
But.
Their questions were answered by Park Jung-woo’s reaction.
Frozen,
he was proving right in front of his eyes that Seo-yeon was that ‘child actress Joo Seo-yeon.’
“……”
With eyes wide open, Jung-woo froze.
Slowly approaching Seo-yeon, it was as if he’d forgotten to breathe.
His mouth opened and closed, expressing sincere astonishment.
In Jung-woo’s memories remained that small child.
Yet the girl before him was a beautifully grown woman.
With playful red eyes and gently curved lips.
Her expression was more affectionate and dazzling than before.
「Seo-il?」
He couldn’t act.
“You! You!!”
Grabbing Seo-yeon’s arms, flustered, he stumbled over his words while confusion clouded her eyes.
“The lines are wrong?”
“Right now, no, is it really the time to say that? Are you really Joo Seo-yeon?”
Where the heck did Lee Ji-yeon go? Why was the real Yeonhwa here?
Jung-woo unconsciously held both of Seo-yeon’s arms, wanting to say this.
“…Ah.”
And then he realized, belatedly, that the auditorium had gone dead silent.
What must he look like right now?
Jung-woo squeezed his eyes shut.
*
For a moment, she was startled.
Jung-woo suddenly grabbing her arms and shaking them.
Was this part of the scene?
Naturally, there wasn’t such a scene.
“Let’s take a break for a moment!”
The shoot paused, and the camera captured both Seo-yeon and Jung-woo.
It seemed they intended to capture all of this on screen.
Seo-yeon thought that as she opened her mouth.
“I just messed up the NG.”
“You…”
Jung-woo rubbed his head.
Headache prickled.
The fatigue he’d felt just moments ago vanished in an instant.
“Why are you here?”
“That’s obvious. I’m in the high school I attend.”
“Hah, does this even make sense?”
His shocked heart continued to race.
He momentarily turned to look at Seo-yeon, but soon turned away.
Something felt off.
Awkward, you could say.
Everything felt strange in different ways.
“…You’re making a comeback?”
Jung-woo’s quiet words.
The camera caught his voice.
Naturally, all eyes in the auditorium turned to them.
And the attention of the watching students and teachers concentrated on the two.
Seo-yeon felt it.
Right now was the moment.
“Yes.”
“Have you secured a piece? If not, I can…”
“I already have. It’s a play.”
“A play?”
That was a surprise to Jung-woo.
Why on earth had Seo-yeon chosen a play for her comeback?
“What’s the title?”
“That is…”
Seo-yeon’s mouth twitched.
And those words were firmly implanted in everyone’s ears.
The name of the comeback piece of Joo Seo-yeon, who stirred things up as Yeonhwa ten years ago.
“But right now, this acting is what matters!”
All the students in the auditorium turned their eyes.
Seo-yeon looked at them, then shifted her gaze to Jung-woo.
And then.
The atmosphere changed.
Seo-yeon’s relatively calm tone morphed into the playful Yeonhwa.
Still graceful and elegant.
In the form of the Yeonhwa Princess.
Forget that it was a simple TV variety show.
Everyone became fully engrossed in the play, watching it.
「Seo-il」
The grown-up Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol.
The reunion scene with grown-up Yoon Seoil.
For ten long years, fans of The Moon That Hid the Sun had awaited.
A legendary scene as young Hye-wol and young Seoil grew up together.
「Have you waited long?」
To her words, Jung-woo chuckled lightly.
「Yes, Your Highness.」
Thus, the reenactment of Episode 8 after ten years commenced.
<The child star who returned after ten years, Joo Seo-yeon’s comeback>
<‘Past, A Glimpse of Memories’ Unexpected Twist! Ratings skyrocketing?!>
<What is the play chosen by the child star, ‘Eyes Closed’?>
<‘Eyes Closed’ sold out in just 30 minutes. Unprecedented results>
It unleashed an enormous wave of impact.