I Don’t Want to Play Villains Anymore - Chapter 20
It was about time to feel the popularity.
At the moment when the future great actor reached dreamland.
Haneul’s actions were causing an unexpected butterfly effect.
“Writer Shuh Soo-min, about this scene… I hope you could revise it…”
“…Sure, why not.”
Yoon Seok-won, the director, looked at writer Shuh Soo-min with wide eyes, seemingly surprised.
Who is writer Shuh Soo-min?
A genius writer known in the entertainment industry as “a monster that overturns the game with just one script.”
In broadcasting, they say his scripts are “an opportunity and a test.”
The opportunity lies in the fact that his scripts gather attention almost without exception.
The test is in the immense pressure that the director or actors take on to bring that script to life.
Shuh Soo-min’s scripts are not flashy.
Even without pouring out grand emotions, the silence between two characters brings the scene to life.
He does not write emotions but ‘interprets’ them.
The dialogue is colder than icy restraint, but that subtlety holds a delicate temperature.
Only those who can read that temperature can truly understand the real ‘Shuh Soo-min phenomenon.’
He does not explain his emotional expressions.
He speaks only through his characters’ actions.
Thus, his scripts always leave actors in deep thought.
“Am I acting well?”
“Is Na-rae saying this right now?”
“Is this emotion correct?”
At the end of all the questions comes the same sentence.
“But the script is really good.”
Hence, there are almost no actors who refuse Shuh Soo-min’s scripts.
But there are also no actors who answer easily.
His scripts are closer to a form of interpretative art than simple acting.
Director Yoon Seok-won has respected him for this.
A genius. At the same time, a fierce perfectionist.
Whenever he raises an emotion, he needs to convince at least three people about it,
and even for the smallest change in setting, he demands a written reason.
And today, Shuh Soo-min for some reason… nodded his head.
“Sure, why not.”
His tone was indifferent, and he seemed tired—
but Yoon Seok-won felt a different current within that.
“Writer… something happened, didn’t it?”
“Soon?”
“You seem different than usual.”
Shuh Soo-min narrowed his eyes.
He stared out at the giant billboards passing by outside, murmuring.
There was a freshly released teaser video being advertised.
“Even if we lose the light, us — Teaser video release I-2”
And in the center, Baek Ha-neul.
“…That kid is a good actor.”
Yoon Seok-won’s eyes widened.
“I feel like I’ve never heard you say that before, writer.”
“True. I was a bit surprised. I could only watch that kid for a while.”
Shuh Soo-min took a sip of lukewarm coffee and continued quietly.
“Typically, kids that age struggle to even memorize the script, but that kid… seemed to ‘understand’ it.”
“Maybe it just looked like he understood.”
“Wrong.”
Shuh Soo-min shook his head.
“This is different. I can tell by the eyes of the actors reading the script.”
Yoon Seok-won nodded.
“Has there been an actor that you truly liked, writer?”
“None.”
“What about Haneul?”
Shuh Soo-min silently gazed back at the billboard.
At the bottom, small letters read: ‘Baek Ha-neul Appearance’
“…We’ll have to keep an eye on it.”
His tone was slow, but within those words, curiosity and expectation mixed clearly.
“That kid feels more like a real actor than a child actor.”
Shuh Soo-min stood up.
“See you at the press conference, Director.”
He quietly left the room without even checking the time.
Yoon Seok-won slightly smiled.
“…How cute.”
That remark was directed towards Shuh Soo-min, not Baek Ha-neul.
Of course, it’s not like a man nearing forty would genuinely find a thirty-something writer adorable.
Yoon Seok-won realized that it was the first time he had seen that usually stoic writer’s heart ‘waver’ for someone.
And that someone is a five-year-old child.
The pure innocence that Haneul unknowingly slept through.
The breeze brought by the little actor named Haneul was cracking open the world of Shuh Soo-min, the ‘calm genius.’
Perhaps that was the start of the premonition that this drama would not just end with commercial success.
And the thing that turned that premonition into ‘certainty’ was.
The very next day.
The press conference.
.
.
.
.
A movie theater in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
It wasn’t the premiere of a renowned overseas director’s latest film, nor was it a Marvel production gracing the poster.
Yet today, the area in front of the main entrance was buzzing.
A small red carpet and a temporary photo wall had been set up, and somewhere, an awkwardly put together banner read a rather large message.
[Even if we lose the light, us] Teaser Press Conference
‘…Is it usual for a drama press conference to cover a cinema, huh?’
I was sitting in the waiting room, looking anything but like a child actor.
My hand holding the snack was steady, yet my heart was quite fluttering.
After all…
Today was the “first press conference” in the life of Buram named Baek Ha-neul.
“…Mom. Is it okay to eat the snack?”
“Of course. Haneul! Do you prefer a caramel flavored one, or—”
“The original.”
I nodded seriously as I grabbed the snack container.
On days like this, the basics are indeed the best.
Caramel makes your hands sticky, and the scent is too strong.
So, the original—clean and simple salty taste.
A flavor that suits a neat little actor like me.
‘Already done shooting a drama and moving on to the press conference.’
Even if I can achieve perfect emotions, my body is still a bit uncontrollable, and my lips twitch.
It’s tough to hide emotions at five years old.
“The preparations are done already. Haneul has arrived.”
“Oh, okay.”
The waiting room was filled with buzzing reporters, and the audience was whispering, “This drama’s lead actress and actor have such good faces…”
“They look good together.”
I remembered that we even got married in our previous life.
Today, I would play the role of a supporting actor, so I decided not to draw attention by spoiling our past life.
“Haneul, the PD just said you need to head out now.”
I looked up in surprise.
My coordinator aunt held up a kindly hand mirror, helping me check my appearance.
‘Of course. No problem. Perfect.’
My face had already been polished by the makeup artist, looking adorable with sharp features.
A peach-colored dress with a ribbon-adorned hairpin. It may be small, but it absolutely exudes a ‘star vibe’.
“Alright. Let’s go in.”
I could faintly hear director Yoon Seok-won’s cheerful words as we stepped out of the waiting room.
As the door opened, the lights flashed on.
It was blinding for a moment.
I almost squinted, but I’ve seen such stages dozens of times before.
Dozens of cameras aligned like billboards and the aura of the audience fixating on us all at once.
Now, familiar little cheers and the sounds of camera shutters along with the red lights of the broadcast equipment.
As I climbed up the stairs under the lights, a strange lightness rose from my feet.
Director Yoon Seok-won, Kang Soo-won, Choi Woo-a, and… me.
Having my name lined up with those three felt slightly surreal.
‘Really… I’ve come this far.’
It’s not something I can simply say, just auditioning, filming a few scenes, and reciting a few lines.
Backstage, I would have to pump up emotions every day, practice the diligence of an adult, and maintain perfect concentration.
Now, all those days have passed, and here I stand as ‘actor Baek Ha-neul.’
The light peach dress sparkles softly under the lights.
Today, I even added a ribbon to my partially dried hair for this occasion.
“How cute…”
“Oh my. That hair color is unique.”
“Is she mixed?”
I can hear someone murmuring.
Well, what can you do?
After all, my appearance is that of a five-year-old.
Still, the acting and emotions contained within me were heavier and more serious than anyone else’s.
‘Jae-hyun…’
I turned my head for a moment to look at the empty seat.
Na Jae-hyeon, who was supposed to be standing here with me today, was absent due to a conflicting filming schedule.
At first, I said it was okay, but now that I’m here, it feels a bit lonely.
‘The next time we meet might be years from now.’
The world of child actors changes swiftly,
and the friend who held hands and smiled today could become a new rival in other projects a few months later.
But I don’t think Jae-hyun would be like that.
Even if we meet again, he’d probably still call me ‘Deum-bae’ and laugh.
‘He really is a silly guy.’
While I was thinking this, I stepped onto the stage, and for no reason at all, the corners of my lips slightly curled up.
In front of the stage was a huge poster for the film.
In sunlight fading to dusk,
there was Nam Ji-hyeok holding a basketball and walking far away, and Yoon Na-rae watching him under a streetlamp.
Of course, it was a grown-up version.
Yet, there is still a long way to go before that can be featured on the main poster.
“Baek Ha-neul, this way, please.”
A staff member cautiously gestured me over.
I slowly nodded and moved forward.
Bang!
The flash went off again.
Right at this moment—
the world is officially ‘recording’ me as a real actor for the first time.
“Thank you everyone for coming to the press conference for ‘Even If We Lose the Light, Us,’ shortened to ‘Bichuri.’”
Director Yoon Seok-won, looking particularly handsome today, introduced the background of Bichuri.
It was said to capture the nostalgia, excitement, and freshness of the 90s.
Honestly, no one came today just to hear that, so I’ll omit it.
Now it was time for Choi Woo-a and Kang Soo-won, who played the lead roles, to speak.
As for me, I was too young to express anything profound anyway.
So, as long as nothing unexpected happens, I probably wouldn’t need to speak.
“Choi Woo-a, what are your impressions of this work…”
“Sorry, could I interrupt? Today’s kids are insane. Yes, really. Especially this Haneul. Wow. I really got goosebumps! Expect it. The biggest beneficiary of this work will be Baek Ha-neul.”
…Huh?