I Don’t Want to Play Villains Anymore - Chapter 14

Is Deumbae not here anymore? (No)

“Haneul, um… are we going the right way?”

“Yes. You’re looking at the navigation, Mom.”

Mom flinched at my answer and turned the steering wheel back onto the road.

Because the road was unfamiliar, her fingers were trembling slightly as she gripped the wheel.

To me, Mom’s anxious driving seemed more dangerous than the driving itself.

I could be called stupid.

Even if we lose light, it became our first airing day.

I had been looking forward to and preparing for this day for months, but oddly, my heart felt heavier the closer we got to the studio.

The reason was that the previous work I had participated in, “The Story of Quiet Friends,” and “Even if We Lose Light,” had an awkward scheduling conflict.

Of course, “The Story of Quiet Friends” was a drama produced by a small broadcasting company.

Excluding the fact that it barely cast Jang Hyun-seong, who was recognized for their looks and acting, the chances of it attracting much public interest and passing quietly were high.

But the idea that a drama treated like that would rise to be the most popular work of the year was something only I, who remembered my past life, would know.

In sharp contrast, “Even if We Lose Light,” was an ambitious project with a luxurious casting chosen carefully by TBC, one of the three major broadcasting companies in the Republic of Korea.

The production staff was also a golden combination of a star director and genius writer, Shin Soo-min.

In terms of investment scale, it couldn’t even be compared to “The Story of Quiet Friends.”

Therefore, from the viewpoint of the broadcasting company, they wouldn’t care at all about “The Story of Quiet Friends,” and there would be no reason to avoid a scheduling conflict.

But the problem was that both dramas I was in were competing against each other.

“This means that dramas I appeared in are competing with each other…”

It was a first for me, including my past life, to have two works I was in airing at the same time.

It’s very uncommon for an actor to appear in competing dramas on different channels simultaneously.

If one of the dramas fails, part of the responsibility might fall on the actor.

Of course, as a child actor, my responsibility wouldn’t be huge, but still, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

And above all…

“If both of us do well, the two dramas might eat each other’s popularity.”

No matter how I looked at it, it was an unwelcoming situation.

“Haneul, I’m so nervous. This is my first big sh**t…”

Seeing Mom muttering while continuously gripping the wheel next to me made me feel worried.

“Mom, can we just stop the car for a moment?”

At my words, Mom slowly shook her head.

“No, it’s okay. I want to see our Haneul acting beautifully on screen as soon as possible.”

Feeling the tremor in her voice made my heart feel slightly heavy.

Now that I think about it, it’s my first time showing my acting to Mom since the audition.

“Mom, don’t worry too much. I can do it. I’m your daughter, after all.”

I said it intentionally cheerfully, even though I felt a bit awkward, and Mom smiled slightly.

“Right, that’s true. Our Haneul will do well.”

Mom pressed on the accelerator again with renewed strength.

Soon, the studio came into view.

I could already see the familiar busy workers moving around.

“…There are so many of them.”

It definitely was on a different scale than the previous work I’d participated in.

“To be seen well here means I can get a role in a good project later.”

I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts.

Even if “The Story of Quiet Friends” and “Even if We Lose Light” had become competing dramas, what I could do was focus on acting well.

I couldn’t control how the results of the projects would turn out.

But at least if I gave my all to the role I was assigned, I wouldn’t have any regrets.

I silently promised myself.

“I’ll approach this with gratitude for being given another chance.”

“Haneul, we’ve arrived.”

I snapped back to attention at Mom’s voice, got out of the car, and took a deep breath.

“Alright. It’s time to start anew.”

I was ready to live as Yoon Na-rae.

—

“A kid who filmed a drama just once is taking on the role of Yoon Na-rae?”

Na Jae-hyeon asked calmly while reading the script.

“Oh, yeah. Isn’t it interesting? And they haven’t even aired yet.”

“Sure, as long as the acting is good, it doesn’t matter.”

It was quite remarkable how an emotionally detached kid could display such explosive emotions on screen, thought manager Joo Hae-jun.

“Yeah. If you say so.”

His calm words made Joo Hae-jun feel a sense of urgency.

Na Jae-hyeon always acted this way.

While he was hotter than anyone when performing, he didn’t show any emotions outside the camera.

He didn’t laugh, cry, or even get annoyed.

For a kid just seven years old, he was extraordinarily mature.

“Right. They say you did really well during the audition. Director Yoon Seok-won was totally impressed.”

“Baek Ha-neul… I haven’t heard the name before.”

Jae-hyeon tilted his head slightly.

With an indifferent look, he stared out the car window, unable to read any emotions from his side profile.

Hae-jun sighed softly inside.

‘It’s really hard to understand him.’

His attitude was too mature for a child and sometimes even came off as arrogant.

But when it came to acting, he always delivered with a chilling level of skill.

With explosive emotions and vivid performances, he truly was a “genius,” and that was no exaggeration.

“I’m curious about what kind of kid she is.”

“You might be surprised if you meet her. They say she’s really pretty. Mixed race, so her looks are unique too.”

“…I’m not interested in the looks.”

Saying this, there was a slight sparkle in Jae-hyeon’s eyes.

Just a fleeting moment, almost unnoticeable.

Hae-jun chuckled to himself.

‘Seems like he’s still a kid under ten, after all.’

Jae-hyeon might think he was hiding his emotions, but unlike his indifferent persona, his body often reacted first.

“Are you worried about Baek Ha-neul? With your acting skills, you should be able to overwhelm her.”

“It’s not worry, I’m just curious.”

“Curious? What do you find so interesting?”

Jae-hyeon didn’t answer and turned his gaze back out the window.

Silently staring closely at his reflection in the glass.

Hae-jun shrugged and said, “Well, anyway, since you have a lot of scenes together, it’d be good to get along.”

However, Jae-hyeon flatly dismissed it with a simple comment.

“I don’t see a reason to get along. I just need to act well.”

Hae-jun sighed again. He really was an inscrutable kid.

Somehow, we arrived at the studio.

“Alright, we’ve arrived. Step out.”

Hae-jun opened the car door for him, and Jae-hyeon stepped out without any emotion.

In the center of the busy filming location, Jae-hyeon slowly looked around with his hands in his pockets.

In the distance, a girl with shiny silver hair and bright eyes was slowly walking towards him, holding her mother’s hand.

Even from afar, her overwhelming visuals stood out among the other workers.

“…Is that Baek Ha-neul?”

Jae-hyeon muttered indifferently.

But his sparkling eyes betrayed an obvious reaction.

Hae-jun watched Jae-hyeon’s side profile and chuckled to himself.

‘He pretends to be uninterested but he’s clearly curious.’

Kids under ten, after all, are all about appearances.

But he decided against saying it out loud.

Instead, he lightly tapped Jae-hyeon’s shoulder and said, “Why don’t you go say hi?”

“…I’ll handle it.”

Jae-hyeon replied dryly and stepped towards Haneul.

Haneul’s blue eyes widened in surprise as they met Na Jae-hyeon’s gaze.

‘…Does this kid know me?’

Feeling slightly flustered, Jae-hyeon smiled just a bit and extended his hand.

“Hello. I’m Na Jae-hyeon. I play the younger version of Nam Ji-hyeok.”

Haneul hesitated for a moment, looking at his hand.

“…Oh, hello. I’m Baek Ha-neul.”

Haneul slowly extended her hand and took his.

Her cold and smooth hand shook slightly.

Haneul seemed a bit flustered.

Jae-hyeon observed her response with an indifferent expression. Yet, inside, he found it somewhat amusing.

Usually, kids meeting Jae-hyeon for the first time would either be overly excited or show signs of wariness, but this kid showed no such signs.

‘More composed than I expected.’

The corners of his mouth slightly lifted before returning to his usual neutrality.

“This is your second airing, right? Are you feeling nervous?”

Jae-hyeon asked in a nonchalant tone.

“Oh, I’m fine. Just a little flustered…”

Haneul responded honestly.

Then, after a brief pause, she cautiously spoke again.

“…Um, do you… no, should I call you Deumbae-nim?”

At her words, Jae-hyeon’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

‘Deumbae?’

A very minor change, yet it made him instinctively alert. For someone who rarely shows emotions, the term ‘Deumbae’ felt unfamiliar and awkward.

“…Just call me whatever is comfortable.”

“Really? But you’re older than me…”

“I’m two years older.”

Jae-hyeon corrected her indifferently.

“…Oh.”

Haneul nodded awkwardly, smiling a little.

At that moment, Jae-hyeon wondered if he had been overly blunt.

But he didn’t bother to correct himself.

They’d get used to it soon enough.

A short silence stretched between the two.

Haneul glanced around while Jae-hyeon continued to look at her with an emotionless face.

“I heard about your audition yesterday.”

“Ah… yes.”

“Director Yoon Seok-won seemed to really like you.”

Jae-hyeon added with an emotionless tone.

“I was lucky. It seems the director viewed me favorably.”

Jae-hyeon tilted his head slightly.

“There aren’t many cases where luck gets you cast. You must be talented.”

“…Thank you.”

Haneul’s voice trembled a little. Jae-hyeon took an interest in her response.

‘Interesting.’

It was a first-time meeting.

There were no exaggerated compliments or competitive attitudes, nor any forced attempts to bond.

Just a kid honestly reacting to herself while feeling flustered and awkward.

Jae-hyeon’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“I look forward to your performance later. Let’s do well.”

Jae-hyeon said and slowly turned to walk away.

“Really? Ah, yes. I also look forward to working with you.”

Haneul said hurriedly, lowering her head.

As Jae-hyeon walked away, Haneul suddenly showed a cold silence she hadn’t displayed before.

Despair.

Grinding her teeth as she clenched her fists.

“That punk is so full of himself…”

In a past life, Jae-hyeon was Haneul’s junior.

“Are you giving me acting tips?”

Haneul said, brushing her bangs up in disbelief.

“Today is going to be a bit tough, I guess.”

In order to knock that arrogant kid down a notch.