Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 367:

The kids looked nervous as the audition time approached.

The number of kids entering the waiting room also decreased.

Kim Han-seok, who was looking at the script, whispered to Seo-jun.

“Hyung. It’s almost time to start. Do you think everyone’s here?”

“Seems like it.”

Just then, the door opened.

“…Huh?”

Seo-jun and Kim Han-seok turned their heads unconsciously and saw a familiar face.

They thought all the kids from their school had different times, but apparently not.

“Hi. Haun.”

Kim Haun, who had entered the waiting room without much thought, turned his head at the familiar voice.

He saw the boy who was next to Kim Han-seok, the first-year student who became famous against his will in the second semester.

It was Seo-jun.

“Oh, hi. Seo…”

Kim Haun was surprised to see Seo-jun in the waiting room and reflexively tried to say his name as he did at school, but Kim Han-seok flinched next to him.

Oops.

Kim Haun quickly changed his words.

“Seo, Seo… Seoul is so busy. I almost missed it.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

Although Seo-jun was born and raised in Seoul and it wasn’t a strange place for him, he spoke as if it was his first time experiencing it.

Kim Haun and Kim Han-seok looked like they were enjoying their efforts to avoid being caught.

Seo-jun smiled quietly and sat down.

“Was your audition today?”

“Yeah. It seems like the others had different times.”

Kim Haun nodded at Seo-jun’s words and leaned back on the chair.

“You’re not going to see it separately… I don’t know why I always end up with you.”

“I know. It’s a strange fate.”

Yeoul Arts High School practical exam number 274 Lee Seo-jun and 275 Kim Haun.

Mirinae High School practical exam number 541 Kim Haun and 542 Lee Seo-jun.

Seo-jun and Kim Haun had been right next to each other in every practical exam they took and became classmates this year.

“…You’re not in front of me, are you?”

Kim Haun, who had failed after taking the practical exam right behind Seo-jun, asked with a bit of worry.

“What’s your number? I’m the last one.”

“Hmm. That’s a relief, I guess…”

Seo-jun looked at Kim Haun’s expression and checked his number tag.

He widened his eyes in surprise.

Amazingly, Kim Haun was right before Seo-jun.

“I don’t know why it’s always this order when it seems random.”

“I know.”

Kim Haun agreed with Seo-jun’s words.

***

“We’ll start the audition now.”

No one came in after Kim Haun and soon the audition began.

The first child actor who was called received all the attention of the other kids as he left the waiting room.

The kids who were in the waiting room went to the audition hall one by one.

“Actor Kim Han-seok.”

“Yes!”

Kim Han-seok, who jumped up at the call of the staff Lee Yoon-ju, waved his hand to Seo-jun and Kim Haun and headed to the audition hall with a slightly nervous step.

The tension in the waiting room became heavier as the kids who were sitting there went out to audition one by one. Kim Haun’s eyes turned to the side.

‘As expected…’

He works hard.

Seo-jun’s script had various analyses written on it, but there were no traces of corrections and it was neatly written.

Kim Haun knew that it was a new script that he printed out instead of the one that was messy with various analyses.

It was Seo-jun’s effort that he didn’t know when they weren’t in the same school.

‘At first, I thought he didn’t need to work hard with his skills…’

Seo-jun, who took classes with him, did not settle for his current skills and worked hard for a better and more impressive acting.

And he enjoyed that effort. Kim Haun found it amazing and admirable that he liked acting so much.

He felt a sharp gaze on him and Seo-jun turned his head to look at Kim Haun.

He seemed to ask why.

Kim Haun shook his head.

Seo-jun shrugged his shoulders at his friend’s awkwardness and looked at the script again.

His eyes sparkled like stars as he savored every line.

***

[Kim Haun]

The paper with his name, age, and titles of the works he appeared in had various marks on it with a pen.

Director Min Hee-kyung, who looked over Kim Haun’s application form for the last time, raised her head.

“I guess that’s it.”

The casting director, the cinematographer, and the art director, who were watching the audition, lightly turned their shoulders or necks and started stretching.

Their whole body was stiff from sitting and watching for a long time.

“The kids from Mirinae High School yesterday were good, and the ones who came today are good too.”

“Right? They really stand out. They look like they’ll do well on screen too.”

The cinematographer nodded at the casting director’s words.

Director Min Hee-kyung and the art director also looked at the pictures of the child actors and exchanged stories.

It looked like the audition was completely over.

The planning team leader, who occupied one seat of the judges, quickly opened his mouth.

“Director. Wait a minute. There’s one more person left.”

“Oh, really?”

“I put his application form separately… I’ll get it right away.”

The planning team leader got up from his seat to get the application form that he had stored separately in the office.

Director Min Hee-kyung and the other directors blinked their eyes at the sight of the planning team leader heading toward the door.

The planning team leader opened the door wide.

“Huh?!”

And he was startled by the two people in front of the door.

“Uh… Team leader?”

Lee Yoon-ju, who was about to knock on the door, flinched at the door opening wide.

Seo-jun, who was about to take off his hat, also widened his eyes at the sight of the inside.

“…Did we come too early?”

Lee Yoon-ju asked with a sheepish smile.

“No, it’s okay.”

The planning team leader smiled brightly at Seo-jun.

“It’s been a while. This actor.”

“Yes. How have you been, team leader?”

Seo-jun also smiled widely at the planning team leader he hadn’t seen since [Rebellion] shooting.

***

“Huh!?”

Director Min Hee-kyung, who was talking to the cinematographer, turned her head at the planning team leader’s voice.

There was someone standing in front of the planning team leader who looked excited.

He was touching the brim of his hat as if he was about to take it off and lowered his hand. Director Min Hee-kyung’s eyes were drawn to one place.

It was a black hat.

Her heart pounded.

“Who is it?”

“Isn’t there only one person who the team leader would bring?”

“Oh, right.”

The directors’ conversation did not reach Min Hee-kyung’s ears.

Min Hee-kyung got up from her seat as if she was bewitched and headed towards the door.

A familiar silhouette with a black hat.

The figure she had imagined several times in her script.

“I’ll go in first and greet the directors…”

“Huh? You!”

Min Hee-kyung’s shout cut off the team leader’s words.

The directors who were sitting, the staff of Dahong, and the team leader stopped their movements at the loud voice of Min Hee-kyung, which they had never heard before.

Seo-jun smiled brightly and greeted Min Hee-kyung.

“Hello, director.”

Director.

She could not forget this voice that said so.

Min Hee-kyung opened her mouth with a flushed face.

“How did you get here? I didn’t see you on the application… Oh, did you come with a friend, not for the audition? Did you see my script? You probably didn’t. I want to show you my script, do you have time?”

She was so happy that she talked a lot. She felt like the boy would disappear like a mirage if she stopped talking for a moment.

“Oh, right. Is it okay to watch the audition now? Team leader, can we watch the audition now?”

The directors, the staff of Dahong, and the team leader had dozens of question marks floating over their heads, but Min Hee-kyung, who was so happy to see the boy she thought she would never meet again, did not notice.

“I was worried what if I couldn’t meet you. I didn’t know your name, your phone number, or your school. I thought you might not come because I fixed the script too quickly. Lee Seo-jun is also auditioning, but you’ll do well. Oh, the script! You haven’t seen the script!”

She repeated what she had said in a daze. Min Hee-kyung brought the script that was on the table with an excited face.

“I’ll give you some time to read this and then let’s audition. I’m not saying I’ll put you in as I please, it’s just an audition, so it should be okay… It’s okay, right, team leader?”

At Min Hee-kyung’s words, the team leader nodded his head without knowing.

He nodded his head, but he had no idea what was going on.

‘So director Min and this actor know each other…’

But it seemed like director Min didn’t know actor Lee Seo-jun at all from what she said.

They know each other but they don’t?

‘…Is that possible?’

???

There were question marks everywhere, but only Min Hee-kyung, who met the boy she thought she would never meet again, was happy.

The cinematographer who doubted his eyesight and wondered if he should do something else if there was something wrong with his eyesight whispered to the casting director.

“That’s right? Seo-jun?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

It was Lee Seo-jun whether they looked from the right or from the left.

“Oh, right! I have to get your name and phone number this time. What’s your name?”

Min Hee-kyung asked with a bright smile.

Seo-jun blinked his eyes at her rapid speech and couldn’t find a gap to interrupt.

Director Min seemed like a type who had great skills but lacked common sense.

Seo-jun took off his black hat and smoothed his slightly flattened hair.

Then he looked at Min Hee-kyung.

And he smiled brightly with a dazzling aura.

“I’m Lee Seo-jun.”

“…?”

Min Hee-kyung had stopped breathing since Seo-jun started to take off his hat.

It felt like his blurry impression became clear.

Min Hee-kyung’s eyes and mouth widened as much as they could as she saw the boy’s face.

There was a familiar face there.

Min Hee-kyung dropped the script she was holding onto the floor like when they first met at Han River.

How could she not have known until now? She couldn’t understand at all.

The superstar Lee Seo-jun who showed his presence with his whole body smiled brightly.

“Hello. Director Min Hee-kyung. I’m actor Lee Seo-jun.”

“…??”

Min Hee-kyung could only raise question marks over her head at the situation that didn’t register in her mind.

***

“Ahh…”

Min Hee-kyung buried her face in her palms and made a strange noise.

She couldn’t kick away the nonexistent blanket, so she just covered her face.

Her ears that were not covered by her hands were red.

“Seo-jun. What happened?”

The cinematographer who filmed [Rebellion] with him greeted Seo-jun warmly and asked about the situation. Seo-jun scratched his cheek and said.

“I tried to act like a student as much as possible when there were a lot of people. So I guess you didn’t know.”

“Really?”

They still didn’t seem convinced by Seo-jun’s answer.

No matter how much he acted like a student, he was still Lee Seo-jun even if they saw him on the KTX.

“I thought you would know since we talked and looked at each other a few times.”

They had made eye contact several times while talking.

Feeling the gazes of the people looking at her, Min Hee-kyung said in a muffled voice with her face buried in her palms.

“N-no. Who would think that the kid I met by chance at Han River was actor Lee Seo-jun? There was no manager and if he was a celebrity, people would flock to him, but the people nearby didn’t seem to care at all.”

So she thought he was an ordinary person.

She changed the blanket in her mind several times and overcame the embarrassment.

Min Hee-kyung finally removed her palms that were covering her face. But her face was still red.

“He looked like a good student who picked up paper. He was ordinary too. I didn’t think of Lee Seo-jun’s ears at all. Besides, I had him stuck in my head as a nobody like me, in the same situation as me, so I talked comfortably without thinking of anything else.”

“A nobody?”

“Ahh…”

Bang!

At the words she spat out herself, Min Hee-kyung finally hit her forehead on the desk.

The kids looked nervous as the audition time approached.

The number of kids entering the waiting room also decreased.

Kim Han-seok, who was looking at the script, whispered to Seo-jun.

“Hyung. It’s almost time to start. Do you think everyone’s here?”

“Seems like it.”

Just then, the door opened.

“…Huh?”

Seo-jun and Kim Han-seok turned their heads unconsciously and saw a familiar face.

They thought all the kids from their school had different times, but apparently not.

Seo-jun smiled brightly and opened his mouth at the sight of his friend.

“Hi. Haun.”

Kim Haun, who had entered the waiting room without much thought, turned his head at the familiar voice.

He saw the boy who was next to Kim Han-seok, the first-year student who became famous against his will in the second semester.

It was Seo-jun.

“Oh, hi. Seo…”

Kim Haun was surprised to see Seo-jun in the waiting room and reflexively tried to say his name as he did at school, but Kim Han-seok flinched next to him.

Oops.

Kim Haun quickly changed his words.

“Seo, Seo… Seoul is so busy. I almost missed it.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

Although Seo-jun was born and raised in Seoul and it wasn’t a strange place for him, he spoke as if it was his first time experiencing it.

Kim Haun and Kim Han-seok looked like they were enjoying their efforts to avoid being caught.

Seo-jun smiled quietly and sat down.

“Was your audition today?”

“Yeah. It seems like the others had different times.”

Kim Haun nodded at Seo-jun’s words and leaned back on the chair.

“You’re not going to see it separately… I don’t know why I always end up with you.”

“I know. It’s a strange fate.”

Yeoul Arts High School practical exam number 274 Lee Seo-jun and 275 Kim Haun.

Mirinae High School practical exam number 541 Kim Haun and 542 Lee Seo-jun.

Seo-jun and Kim Haun had been right next to each other in every practical exam they took and became classmates this year.

“…You’re not in front of me, are you?”

Kim Haun, who had failed after taking the practical exam right behind Seo-jun, asked with a bit of worry.

“What’s your number? I’m the last one.”

“Hmm. That’s a relief, I guess…”

Seo-jun looked at Kim Haun’s expression and checked his number tag.

He widened his eyes in surprise.

Amazingly, Kim Haun was right before Seo-jun.

“I don’t know why it’s always this order when it seems random.”

“I know.”

Kim Haun agreed with Seo-jun’s words.

***

“We’ll start the audition now.”

No one came in after Kim Haun and soon the audition began.

The first child actor who was called received all the attention of the other kids as he left the waiting room.

The kids who were in the waiting room went to the audition hall one by one.

“Actor Kim Han-seok.”

“Yes!”

Kim Han-seok, who jumped up at the call of the staff Lee Yoon-ju, waved his hand to Seo-jun and Kim Haun and headed to the audition hall with a slightly nervous step.

The tension in the waiting room became heavier as the kids who were sitting there went out to audition one by one. Kim Haun’s eyes turned to the side.

‘As expected…’

He works hard.

Seo-jun’s script had various analyses written on it, but there were no traces of corrections and it was neatly written.

Kim Haun knew that it was a new script that he printed out instead of the one that was messy with various analyses.

It was Seo-jun’s effort that he didn’t know when they weren’t in the same school.

‘At first, I thought he didn’t need to work hard with his skills…’

Seo-jun, who took classes with him, did not settle for his current skills and worked hard for a better and more impressive acting.

And he enjoyed that effort. Kim Haun found it amazing and admirable that he liked acting so much.

He felt a sharp gaze on him and Seo-jun turned his head to look at Kim Haun.

He seemed to ask why.

Kim Haun shook his head.

Seo-jun shrugged his shoulders at his friend’s awkwardness and looked at the script again.

His eyes sparkled like stars as he savored every line.

***

[Kim Haun]

The paper with his name, age, and titles of the works he appeared in had various marks on it with a pen.

Director Min Hee-kyung, who looked over Kim Haun’s application form for the last time, raised her head.

“I guess that’s it.”

The casting director, the cinematographer, and the art director, who were watching the audition, lightly turned their shoulders or necks and started stretching.

Their whole body was stiff from sitting and watching for a long time.

“The kids from Mirinae High School yesterday were good, and the ones who came today are good too.”

“Right? They really stand out. They look like they’ll do well on screen too.”

The cinematographer nodded at the casting director’s words.

Director Min Hee-kyung and the art director also looked at the pictures of the child actors and exchanged stories.

It looked like the audition was completely over.

The planning team leader, who occupied one seat of the judges, quickly opened his mouth.

“Director. Wait a minute. There’s one more person left.”

“Oh, really?”

“I put his application form separately… I’ll get it right away.”

The planning team leader got up from his seat to get the application form that he had stored separately in the office.

Director Min Hee-kyung and the other directors blinked their eyes at the sight of the planning team leader heading toward the door.

The planning team leader opened the door wide.

“Huh?!”

And he was startled by the two people in front of the door.

“Uh… Team leader?”

Lee Yoon-ju, who was about to knock on the door, flinched at the door opening wide.

Seo-jun, who was about to take off his hat, also widened his eyes at the sight of the inside.

“…Did we come too early?”

Lee Yoon-ju asked with a sheepish smile.

“No, it’s okay.”

The planning team leader smiled brightly at Seo-jun.

“It’s been a while. This actor.”

“Yes. How have you been, team leader?”

Seo-jun also smiled widely at the planning team leader he hadn’t seen since [Rebellion] shooting.

***

“Huh!?”

Director Min Hee-kyung, who was talking to the cinematographer, turned her head at the planning team leader’s voice.

There was someone standing in front of the planning team leader who looked excited.

He was touching the brim of his hat as if he was about to take it off and lowered his hand. Director Min Hee-kyung’s eyes were drawn to one place.

It was a black hat.

Her heart pounded.

“Who is it?”

“Isn’t there only one person who the team leader would bring?”

“Oh, right.”

The directors’ conversation did not reach Min Hee-kyung’s ears.

Min Hee-kyung got up from her seat as if she was bewitched and headed towards the door.

A familiar silhouette with a black hat.

The figure she had imagined several times in her script.

“I’ll go in first and greet the directors…”

“Huh? You!”

Min Hee-kyung’s shout cut off the team leader’s words.

The directors who were sitting, the staff of Dahong, and the team leader stopped their movements at the loud voice of Min Hee-kyung, which they had never heard before.

Seo-jun smiled brightly and greeted Min Hee-kyung.

“Hello, director.”

Director.

She could not forget this voice that said so.

Min Hee-kyung opened her mouth with a flushed face.

“How did you get here? I didn’t see you on the application… Oh, did you come with a friend, not for the audition? Did you see my script? You probably didn’t. I want to show you my script, do you have time?”

She was so happy that she talked a lot. She felt like the boy would disappear like a mirage if she stopped talking for a moment.

“Oh, right. Is it okay to watch the audition now? Team leader, can we watch the audition now?”

The directors, the staff of Dahong, and the team leader had dozens of question marks floating over their heads, but Min Hee-kyung, who was so happy to see the boy she thought she would never meet again, did not notice.

“I was worried what if I couldn’t meet you. I didn’t know your name, your phone number, or your school. I thought you might not come because I fixed the script too quickly. Lee Seo-jun is also auditioning, but you’ll do well. Oh, the script! You haven’t seen the script!”

She repeated what she had said in a daze. Min Hee-kyung brought the script that was on the table with an excited face.

“I’ll give you some time to read this and then let’s audition. I’m not saying I’ll put you in as I please, it’s just an audition, so it should be okay… It’s okay, right, team leader?”

At Min Hee-kyung’s words, the team leader nodded his head without knowing.

He nodded his head, but he had no idea what was going on.

‘So director Min and this actor know each other…’

But it seemed like director Min didn’t know actor Lee Seo-jun at all from what she said.

They know each other but they don’t?

‘…Is that possible?’

???

There were question marks everywhere, but only Min Hee-kyung, who met the boy she thought she would never meet again, was happy.

The cinematographer who doubted his eyesight and wondered if he should do something else if there was something wrong with his eyesight whispered to the casting director.

“That’s right? Seo-jun?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

It was Lee Seo-jun whether they looked from the right or from the left.

“Oh, right! I have to get your name and phone number this time. What’s your name?”

Min Hee-kyung asked with a bright smile.

Seo-jun blinked his eyes at her rapid speech and couldn’t find a gap to interrupt.

Director Min seemed like a type who had great skills but lacked common sense.

Seo-jun took off his black hat and smoothed his slightly flattened hair.

Then he looked at Min Hee-kyung.

And he smiled brightly with a dazzling aura.

“I’m Lee Seo-jun.”

“…?”

Min Hee-kyung had stopped breathing since Seo-jun started to take off his hat.

It felt like his blurry impression became clear.

Min Hee-kyung’s eyes and mouth widened as much as they could as she saw the boy’s face.

There was a familiar face there.

Min Hee-kyung dropped the script she was holding onto the floor like when they first met at Han River.

How could she not have known until now? She couldn’t understand at all.

The superstar Lee Seo-jun who showed his presence with his whole body smiled brightly.

“Hello. Director Min Hee-kyung. I’m actor Lee Seo-jun.”

“…??”

Min Hee-kyung could only raise question marks over her head at the situation that didn’t register in her mind.

***

“Ahh…”

Min Hee-kyung buried her face in her palms and made a strange noise.

She couldn’t kick away the nonexistent blanket, so she just covered her face.

Her ears that were not covered by her hands were red.

“Seo-jun. What happened?”

The cinematographer who filmed [Rebellion] with him greeted Seo-jun warmly and asked about the situation. Seo-jun scratched his cheek and said.

“I tried to act like a student as much as possible when there were a lot of people. So I guess you didn’t know.”

“Really?”

They still didn’t seem convinced by Seo-jun’s answer.

No matter how much he acted like a student, he was still Lee Seo-jun even if they saw him on the KTX.

“I thought you would know since we talked and looked at each other a few times.”

They had made eye contact several times while talking.

Feeling the gazes of the people looking at her, Min Hee-kyung said in a muffled voice with her face buried in her palms.

“N-no. Who would think that the kid I met by chance at Han River was actor Lee Seo-jun? There was no manager and if he was a celebrity, people would flock to him, but the people nearby didn’t seem to care at all.”

So she thought he was an ordinary person.

She changed the blanket in her mind several times and overcame the embarrassment.

Min Hee-kyung finally removed her palms that were covering her face. But her face was still red.

“He looked like a good student who picked up paper. He was ordinary too. I didn’t think of Lee Seo-jun’s ears at all. Besides, I had him stuck in my head as a nobody like me, in the same situation as me, so I talked comfortably without thinking of anything else.”

“A nobody?”

“Ahh…”

Bang!

At the words she spat out herself, Min Hee-kyung finally hit her forehead on the desk.