* * *

“I’ve had some work done. It’s a masterpiece by a great doctor. Turns out it wasn’t the head doctor but a nurse assistant’s work.”

Hey.

‘Don’t say that in front of a kid.’

I don’t know how to react.

‘Let’s just pretend I didn’t understand.’

I blinked and tilted my head.

“They even featured it in a documentary. It was a bit scary. But the assistant did a good job. It’s truly a masterpiece.”

Oh, really.

‘I’ve heard him say that before.’

He complained to me when he was drunk.

“Maybe that’s why. I don’t like naturally handsome people. Especially to kids like you. However, you! With this face, you’ll be something when you grow up. You’re really born with a good face.”

True enough.

“Your features are perfect. Anyway, I’m dedicated to acting. But I was worried you might mess up, so I was too harsh.”

Oh, okay.

“So just tell me. What do you want to eat?”

I sighed deeply.

“Hyung.”

“Huh?”

“Just say sorry.”

No need for long explanations.

“What?”

“Is it hard to say sorry?”

He went silent.

“Ah, well. You see, ahaha!”

He was restless.

“Okay, hyung. I’ll wait.”

I made a V sign with my fingers.

“Until the day after tomorrow.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I’ll tell.”

“What?”

I smiled brightly.

“I’ll tell mom!”

His jaw dropped. I kept smiling and swung my legs.

“No, you can’t!”

Why not?

“I have a movie coming up with Soo-jung sunbae!”

So?

“It’s an action movie. I need to train after this drama.”

Good luck with that.

“She’ll beat me up as my co-star.”

“My mom doesn’t hit people!”

I think.

“Even in acting, it hurts. It’s terrifying.”

Not my problem.

“Please, spare me.”

“Then say sorry.”

“Damn.”

Ki Cheo-woon grabbed my clothes.

“Well, um.”

His lips trembled. I sighed.

‘Is it that hard?’

If it were me, I’d just apologize without all this fuss.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Ki Cheo-woon bowed his head deeply.

‘Well, he did it.’

I patted his hand.

“Hyung.”

“Huh?”

“You did well.”

Don’t ever do that again. Picking on a kid, seriously.

He looked up, suddenly gasping for breath.

What’s wrong with him now?

“So, you’re Kongja, right?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for accepting my apology.”

“What?”

Ki Cheo-woon asked cautiously.

“I’m so grateful.”

“Yes?”

“Can I hug you? You’re so cute. Honestly, I thought a doll walked in when I first saw you.”

What’s up with this guy?

“Can I hug you? Kim Eun-joo hugged you earlier.”

Are you Kim Eun-joo?

‘Well, since he apologized.’

I smiled brightly.

“No.”

“Why? Come on, just one hug, Kongja. No? Then can I touch your cheek at least? Wow, it’s so soft, like a rice cake.”

Hey, don’t reach out your hand!

“No way!”

“Why not? Come on, just let me.”

I find it disgusting. The touch of a man.

Just as Ki Cheo-woon was about to touch my cheek, the staff called out.

“Stand by, everyone.”

“Ah, geez.”

Ki Cheo-woon got into position for the scene, but he seemed nervous, fidgeting with his fingers.

“Hyung.”

“Uh, yes?”

“Trust me.”

Alright, I’ll work with you.

“Uh, yes? O-okay.”

“Yes.”

I took a deep breath.

‘Focus. I am Yiyoon, and right now, I am deeply sad.’

Sorrowful, huh.

I recalled a memory from long ago. The time when, for no reason, a teacher slapped me just because I was an orphan.

‘Well, I don’t need to think of such a memory to pull this off.’

Even now, thinking about that teacher makes me furious.

The staff shouted.

“Stand by, cue!”

I blinked, and tears began to well up in my eyes.

Ki Cheo-woon spoke.

“Kid, why are you sitting here like this?”

I looked up at Ki Cheo-woon.

“I was waiting for it to dry.”

“What do you mean, dry? You’re not even wet.”

I pointed at my chest.

“It’s here.”

Ki Cheo-woon’s expression changed. He was focusing. He bowed his head deeply.

“Is that your sorrow?”

“It’s not that big of a deal. It’s just…”

I made a face like I was about to cry.

“If I bring my sadness home, Mom will worry.”

In the scene, Yiyoon had to hold back his tears here. So I bit my lip.

“I see. But it’s not good for a child to hold it in like that. Why don’t you ask your father to comfort you?”

Tears welled up in my eyes. I shook my head.

“My father isn’t here.”

I rubbed my eyes. Yiyoon is a strong kid, so he doesn’t want to show his tears.

“Mom says she will meet Father again someday, but I…”

Ki Cheo-woon knelt down to the child’s level.

“Alright, I understand.”

I caught my breath. Holding back tears can make it hard to speak clearly, so I needed to control my breathing.

“By the way, who are you, sir?”

“I am just a passerby. Kid, it’s late. Let me take you home.”

The viewers are probably hoping for this scene.

‘The protagonist will go home and reunite with the heroine.’

But the two are tragically fated to keep missing each other.

“Thank you, sir.”

This was the last line of the scene.

“Okay! Cut!”

PD Son Youngjae’s voice came through, mixed with laughter.

“The emotion was great!”

I wiped the tears from my eyes and stood up.

‘That was my last scene for today.’

Others would likely continue filming, but for me, it meant I was done for the day.

‘I get to go home now!’

Director Son Youngjae was scratching his chin while watching the monitor. Then, suddenly, Ki Cheo-woon grabbed my shoulder.

Smack-

What’s this?

When I turned around, Ki Cheo-woon was rubbing his face in disbelief.

“Hyung?”

“Oh, you.”

He muttered quietly.

“When you said to trust you, I wondered what you meant…”

What now?

‘Was there something wrong with my acting?’

I thought it was fine. We got the okay right away.

“Damn. You, you’re really something. I’m so shocked I can’t even speak.”

You’re speaking just fine.

“Hey, kid. No, Kongja. Are you a veteran actor?”

What’s he saying? Is he sick?

“Hyung, are you okay?”

“No, I mean, your acting is seriously like those of senior actors? Really, really good ones.”

Oh boy.

‘This guy’s surprisingly perceptive.’

How did he figure it out?

“How can a five-year-old act so well? Your delivery and everything. Your performance is so natural.”

Well, it’s because this is my second life.

“Kongja, you’re not really five, are you?”

“Yes!”

I smiled brightly and said.

“I’m only three!”

“What?”

“Hmm, but I might be four!”

Honestly, considering my growth, I’m probably well over four.

“Wait. Three? Did I just admire the acting of a three-year-old?”

Got a problem with that, buddy?

“No, three is way too young. Like a puppy with its eyes barely open!”

I could be four, you know.

“You look more like you’re five.”

Leaving the confused Ki Cheo-woon behind, I went to find Deok-soo.

No, I didn’t have to look for him; he approached with his usual stern expression.

“Shooting’s over. Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

“I don’t know much about acting, but you did very well. Let’s get you changed and head home.”

Deok-soo lifted me and stood up.

‘Ah, I am a bit tired.’

Maybe because I’m in a child’s body.

Just then, Ki Cheo-woon grabbed Deok-soo’s shoulder.

“Excuse me. So, are you Kongja’s manager?”

“I’m not the manager.”

“What? Then who are you? A bodyguard?”

Deok-soo shook his head.

“I’m the nanny.”

* * *