Free Web NovelThe classroom remained noisy even after the professor left.
“Wow. I never thought such words would come from Professor Lee Jae Pil, who’s known for being unemotional.”
“But it was really amazing. I couldn’t breathe halfway through.”
“Group 1’s grade is already decided. I thought Ryu Shin would carry it, but a new face...”
The student who said this glanced nervously at Ryu Shin, who was silently removing his wig and makeup.
Another student beside him spoke up.
“Your team really put on a legendary performance. Even though your part was small, you did really well too. The chemistry with Freddie was just...”
Whether it was praise or consolation, Ryu Shin nodded quietly. Then he approached Yoomyeong.
“You were brilliant. I learned a lot.”
Offering a word of congratulations to Yoomyeong was the last of his pride.
But that was the limit.
He turned away, gritting his teeth as if they might break.
He had debuted as a child actor at the age of seven.
Even at that age, he had been a spirited child who burned with the determination to one day surpass the famous actors on set.
After appearing in more than ten productions, he halted his activities at the age of fifteen.
‘If you don’t properly build the foundation of your acting, it will collapse someday.’
It was an unusually reflective thought for a child.
Ten years had passed since then.
From acting academies to classes led by renowned acting teachers, to being the president of his high school drama club, and later part of Gwanak University’s Oedipus theater club—he had encountered many peers, but none matched his passion or skill.
Everyone praised him as a genius, but he knew.
His skills were not a natural gift, but the result of painstakingly chiseling and polishing a rough stone.
But today, for the first time in a long while, he felt as though he had returned to the child he was ten years ago.
A difference in class that seemed impossible to overcome, no matter how hard he tried. A ‘genius’ who surpassed him effortlessly, making all the time he had devoted solely to acting seem meaningless.
With envy and resentment in his heart, his fingernails dug so deeply into his palms it felt as if they might bleed. However...
‘His acting was incredible. If that’s what a genius is, I’ll surpass it with even more effort...!’
If he lacked the perseverance to endure being trampled, he would have given up long ago.
Ryu Shin’s eyes burned fiercely.
He received a call from Minhee.
Her designer friend was launching a personal brand and shooting an F/W lineup, and they needed a male model.
“I’ve been having daily theater practice lately.”
{Don’t you have any free time next week? It’ll only take a few hours.}
“I have midterms next week.”
{Oh, then it won’t work.}
“No, I can make time.”
Fortunately, there was no theater practice during midterm week.
As for the exams? It was fine as long as he didn’t get an F. He had no intention of finding a job after graduation anyway.
“But my face shouldn’t be shown.”
{Huh? Why?}
“Because I’m an actor.”
{Then wouldn’t it be better to let your face be known?}
“I don’t want to be labeled as a former model turned actor.”
{...Got it. It’s a women’s brand anyway, and the male model will just be used like a prop in the photos, so I’ll ask them to keep your face out of it.}
Minhee was slightly impressed.
‘He seems easygoing when he talks, but he has a serious side too.’
Thus, they scheduled it for Thursday, a day without exams. When the day arrived, Yoomyeong was waiting for Minhee in front of the school.
A small blue compact car that looked like a mini-car approached from a distance. A Tico. It was a domestic model discontinued in 2010.
Thump—
As Yoomyeong got into the car, Minhee was sitting in the driver’s seat wearing sunglasses.
“Oh~ An owner driver. What about the store?”
“I closed it to come here. It’s my best friend’s business.”
It seemed Minhee was very close to this designer.
“But why didn’t they use a professional model?”
“They don’t have the budget. They invested all their planned funds into good fabric. Even the female model is an unknown newcomer chosen from the lowest-priced pool, you know?”
“Wow. Will I get paid for this part-time job?”
“They can’t give you much, just 100,000 won.”
Yoomyeong nodded.
It was cheap as a modeling fee, but considering the current minimum wage was 2,275 won per hour, it wasn’t bad for half a day’s work.
Besides, he had already spent all his allowance on clothes before.
The shooting location was a studio in Gangseo-gu. The designer and photographer were already there, setting up the background and outfits.
A petite woman spotted them and ran over with a half-smile.
“Is that him?”
She approached and carefully scanned him from head to toe with an intense, almost devouring gaze.
“The pants should be a size 32, just slightly tightened at the waist, and the legs... they’re perfect. Great proportions. How tall are you? 178 cm?”
“That’s correct.”
“Okay. Let’s do a good job today, Mr. Yoomyeong. I’m Anz, the designer.”
She held out her hand for a handshake.
She seemed cheerful, and her passion for her work was palpable.
“Where’s the female model?”
“She’s almost here. I got a call from her manager.”
“Manager? A novice model already has a manager?”
“She’s not a model, but a novice actress. Our brand concept is princess-themed clothing, so we needed someone pretty behind the mask.”
“I see. She’s pretty, but her fee is low?”
“Her appearance is excellent, but she lacks confidence, so she doesn’t get many offers. We chose her because I really liked her face, but I’m a bit worried.”
While they were talking, the studio door opened.
It felt as if a bright light had poured in.
Good heavens—
Yoomyeong was startled when he saw who had entered.
The lead actress from the drama <Doom> he had been filming just before his regression.
Seol Soo Yeon, one of Korea’s top actresses, stood there with a youthful face.
Snow-white skin. A beautiful forehead.
Large almond-shaped eyes set beneath delicate brows.
A slender nose and a slim jawline that made her profile captivating.
The beauty of her youth—who would later be called Korea’s Olivia Hussey—was breathtaking even to Yoomyeong, who had seen countless actors in person.
“Ah... hello....”
Hesitant.
Even in her greeting, her lack of confidence was evident.
It was strange—at odds with what Yoomyeong knew of her future.
‘I heard she had a very haughty and assertive personality.’
After a brief conversation with Anz, Soo Yeon’s manager left, and Anz brought Soo Yeon over.
“Let’s introduce ourselves~ I’m Anz, the designer behind the brand <Rococo>, launching this year.”
“I’m Kang Min Gyo, a famous photographer who postponed his busy schedule to shoot for my cousin.”
Min Gyo, who greeted them playfully with his hand resting on Anz’s head, was soon met with an elbow to the stomach and began coughing. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
“Hello. I’m Shin Yoomyeong, a student at Gwanak University.”
“Is that all? Don’t you have an agency or something?”
“I’m just a college student.”
At his reply, Min Gyo shot Anz a look.
Anz laughed awkwardly and explained that the main model was over there and that he was just a prop for the shoot.
“Ah, I’m Seol Soo Yeon. I’m affiliated with Gaon Agency and am an aspiring... actress.”
Min Gyo framed Soo Yeon with his thumb and forefinger, then let out a sharp whistle.
“This one will be fun to shoot. We don’t have much time, so let’s get ready quickly.”
“Yes!”
Min Gyo let out a deep sigh. An hour had passed, and he was struggling.
At first glance, he had thought—no matter how lacking she might be, how could someone with such a face not become popular?
Yet she couldn’t even look directly at the camera.
‘On the contrary...’
That guy who claimed to be just a regular college student was better.
First of all, his posture was excellent, and his poses were strangely captivating. His face might appear ordinary, but the expressions captured through the lens were rich.
So much so that it felt like a waste not to be able to capture his face.
And the surprising thing was... freewebnovёl.ƈom
‘He deliberately chooses positions where his face won’t be seen...’
When Anz had asked him to keep his face hidden, Min Gyo had been annoyed, questioning why she brought someone like that.
But look at him now. Like a skilled model, he was considering the camera position, angles, and height differences with the actress, creating poses that didn’t compromise the shoot even without showing his face.
In contrast...
Phew—
The aspiring actress was all awkward poses and unconfident expressions.
Despite taking over a thousand shots in an hour, there was nothing worth keeping.
Min Gyo’s frustration was growing.
He was a professional and expected professionalism from others. If it hadn’t been for his cousin Anz’s request, he would have stopped the shoot long ago.
“Soo Yeon, snap out of it.”
Eventually, a sharp reprimand slipped out.
“Let’s take a ten-minute break. Soo Yeon, pull yourself together. If this continues, we’ll waste the entire day!”
He let out a heavy sigh and dragged Anz outside with him.
.
.
.
Trickle—
Tears began to roll down Soo Yeon’s face.
Even her crying looked like a scene from a drama.
As Yoomyeong handed her a tissue, she lowered her head toward him and turned away shyly, wiping her tears. She seemed extremely bashful.
Yoomyeong was displeased. The Soo Yeon of the future was a remarkable actress—one he admired as a fellow actor.
He had watched all the movies and dramas she appeared in. She had the image of an actress who shone with passion for acting, even possessing a distinct aura.
‘I even looked up her interviews...’
At that moment, a memory surfaced.
It was something Soo Yeon had said in an interview.
‘If it’s that...!’
Yoomyeong rushed outside.
Excerpt from an interview with Seol Soo Yeon, lead actress in director Ki Do’s blockbuster “The Devil”.
[Many fans assume you have a rich life experience because of your wide acting range. Is that true?]
[Do you know at what age I first tasted cola?]
[At what age?]
[At twenty-two (laughs).]
[Oh my, why is that?]
[My mother was strict. Instant food, carbonated drinks, cartoons—everything children usually enjoy was forbidden. Even playing outside with friends after school was unimaginable.]
[...You were raised very strictly.]
[I spent a lot of time imagining things. When I became an actress, those imaginations turned into reality. It was so enjoyable that I couldn’t help but immerse myself.]
[I see. Director Ki Do also praised your ability to immerse yourself quickly and deeply.]
[Thank you. Speaking of cola, do you want to hear something funny? I get drunk when I drink cola (laughs).]
[Really?]
[It’s more like my tension gets released rather than actually getting drunk. It’s like a symbol of breaking away for me.]
“Drink it.”
Soo Yeon’s eyes wavered.
According to the interview, the 21-year-old woman would have never drunk cola. Her hand holding the can trembled slightly with hesitation.
She carefully wiped the condensation from the cold can and opened it with a pop.
She shut her eyes tightly and brought it to her lips as if swallowing bitter medicine.
Gulp— gulp—
The dark deviation slid down her throat.
A moment later, she opened her eyes wide in surprise.
A refreshing sensation tickled her throat, and a sweet, addictive flavor spread across her tongue.
As the tension within her senses loosened, her gaze softened as well.
“This... has an interesting taste.”
“Right?”
He was a strange man.
He responded as if it ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) were only natural that she was tasting cola for the first time.
She looked down at the can and took another sip, gathering her courage.
“Thank you... and I’m sorry for delaying the shoot because of me...”
“Do you like acting, Soo Yeon?”
“Huh?”
“Can you close your eyes for a moment?”
