* * *

“Wait, this is strange. Why am I putting up with this?”

I blinked. What is this guy talking about?

“It must hurt quite a bit, right?”

It’s just a little blood.

“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt, hyung.”

“Oh, why?”

“Let me go.”

You should let go so I can go to Deok-soo to get some medicine, right?

‘Oh, come to think of it, he might be worried.’

Honestly, more than the injury itself, the worry it causes others is a bigger problem.

‘Surely, he won’t cry, right?’

While I was thinking about this and that, Ki Cho-woon spoke.

“You…”

Oh no, not again! Why!

“Do you think I won’t even treat your wound?”

Huh?

‘What are you talking about?’

And why are you speaking like that?

“I’m not someone who just watches a kid bleed!”

No one’s blaming you.

“What does this kid think of me! Manager, get some medicine! This kid is bleeding!”

Hey, over there! Hey!

‘Don’t shout so loudly!’

This is serious!

“A child actor is hurt?”

Then, a huge figure, who was not in sight, came running like a buffalo.

‘Damn it.’

I knew this would happen. Deok-soo immediately pulled my hand out of Ki Cho-woon’s grasp.

“Are you hurt!”

His deep voice had an overwhelming resonance.

“Ah, just a little!”

Deok-soo seriously checked my hand.

“Isn’t it bleeding!”

“It’ll stop soon!”

“Blood on such a small palm!”

Deok-soo bit his lip to hold back tears. Because of that, his expression looked even more fierce.

‘Don’t cry, Deok-soo.’

I reassured Deok-soo once again.

“It’s really just a little bit!”

“First, let’s treat it.”

“Okay.”

I sighed deeply and looked around. It wasn’t just Deok-soo.

The staff and assistant director had gathered too.

“I’m fine!”

“Oh, but you have to say something if you get hurt, kid.”

“It makes me sad to see blood on such a tiny hand.”

Everyone was very worried. Deok-soo carried me with big strides.

Staff members, I appreciate your concern. The atmosphere on set is nice. But honestly…

‘It’s a hassle.’

That’s why I wanted to quietly get treated. I let out a deep sigh. It was all because of Ki Cho-woon.

* * *

The next scene was with Ki Cho-woon.

‘He looks downcast.’

The character Ki Cho-woon played, ‘Yiyoung,’ finds the child by chance and comforts him.

‘When asked who his father is, he answers that he doesn’t know. It’s a sad scene.’

The viewers all knew that the two were father and son. But the characters in the drama did not.

‘It’s a classic but heartbreaking scene.’

And finally, it was a chance to showcase my acting skills. The assistant director spoke.

“Kongja, sit here.”

Hmm, a rock. I sat down as instructed. It seemed important, as PD Son Youngjae approached me.

“Kongja, you were great today.”

“Yes!”

PD Son Youngjae bent his knees to meet my eyes.

“The other staff said you did really well too.”

I smiled shyly. Thank you for the compliment, director.

‘But it’s nothing much.’

You haven’t seen my true acting yet. PD Son Youngjae spoke.

“Kongja, you memorized the script, right?”

“Yes!”

“I thought so. You did so well. But since this is an important scene, let’s run through your lines quickly.”

I immediately started with Ki Cho-woon’s lines.

“Kid, why are you here?”

I blinked. In the drama, Yiyoon’s eyes would be filled with tears.

‘Though the script only says to look sad.’

No need to cry now. I spoke my lines.

“I was waiting for it to dry.”

I poked my chest.

“For what’s here.”

I was about to say my next line when PD Son Youngjae spoke.

“Oh, you’re good.”

“Right? The kid has a good voice.”

Heh. Please praise me more.

‘I’ve worked so hard.’

While doing crunches.

“Kongja, where did you learn this?”

In my past life.

‘But I can’t say that.’

I knew the perfect answer.

“From mom!”

“Ah, Ma Soo-jung.”

“That makes sense. Early education is important.”

Of course, they believe it easily.

The assistant director patted my head and said,

“Kongja, your voice is really good.”

Another staff member spoke.

“Honestly, many actors have terrible voice control, but this kid is amazing.”

“Right now his voice is clear, but I’m curious how it will change after his voice breaks.”

“Well, I’d be a bit sad if it changes.”

PD Son Youngjae stood up with a smile.

“As expected, Kongja is Yiyoon.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“Even if I say it’s not just for publicity, people don’t believe me.”

“Sorry, director.”

Ah, so there were rumors like that. I figured there were some going around.

PD Son Youngjae patted my head once and returned to his place. I sat on the flat rock and checked the camera position again.

‘Should I cry a bit in the actual shoot?’

Being a child without a father. It was easy to get into character.

‘I have many sad memories.’

I didn’t have a father in my previous life either.

And it’s the same in this life.
But still, in this life, I didn’t feel that void as much.

At that moment, Ki Cho-woon came up to me.

“You seem to be pretty good, though we’ll have to see.”

You’re just realizing this now.

“By the way, is your hand okay?”

I opened my palm to show him. A big bandage was stuck on it.

Ki Cho-woon stared at it for a while and muttered,

“Your hand is really small.”

Of course, I’m a kid.

“You’re at least five, right? Then why are you so small?”

Huh.

I blinked.

‘Aren’t I three years old right now?’

Maybe closer to four, but still.

“You need to eat a lot to grow tall, kid. Being tall is good.”

Well, that’s true.

‘Out of the blue.’

What’s up with this guy?

“Is there anything you want to eat? Should I buy you something?”

Suddenly? What’s going on?

‘Could it be an apple?’

When I tilted my head, Ki Cheo-woon cleared his throat.

“Ahem, it’s not because I feel bad. I just feel embarrassed for being too harsh on a five-year-old. No, that’s not it either. I mean, we’ll be acting together, and it would be a problem if you were scared of me.”

“I’m not scared.”

“Oh, really? That’s a relief, I guess. Anyway, tell me what you want to eat. I’ll sneak it for you from that scary guy.”

The scary guy must be Deok-soo.

“But who is that person? Your manager?”

He’s my nanny, you idiot.

“No. He’s my teacher.”

“What? Teacher? What does he teach?”

He taught me reading.
Thinking about it sent a chill down my spine. I never wanted to go through that again.

“Hurry up and tell me. Snacks? Ice cream?”

“I’m fine! I have plenty of snacks!”

There’s even a fridge in the van.

“Still, just tell me. It’s not because I feel bad, but buying you something would make me feel better.”

So he does feel bad.

“See, kid, my acting depends a lot on who I’m working with.”

Aha.

‘That’s right.’

Ki Cheo-woon wasn’t a bad actor. He was actually quite good.

‘But he had a weakness.’

He was greatly influenced by his co-actors.

“So I need to work with good actors. I was worried because I thought you might be bad.”

I blinked.

‘Right, he had a lot of retakes because his co-actor was bad back then.’

He cried after about seven takes, saying:

‘Hyung, I’m in big trouble.’

Some things never change.

‘In that sense, he’s still the same person…’

But picking on a kid is too much.

‘Unless he properly apologizes.’

Ki Cheo-woon hesitated.

“I really wanted to do my best in this scene. It’s a heart-wrenching scene. I wanted to do well, get popular, and maybe land a commercial.”

I get the first part, but what’s with the second?

“See, I’m not that handsome, so I have to try really hard.”

Huh.

“You’re handsome!”

“Oh, thanks. You’ve got a good eye for people. But naturally, I’m not.”

What is he talking about?

* * *