Aura of a Genius Actor Chapter 105: Then We’ll Enter the Competition Too

Fairytaleacting.

twasanexerciseRyuShinhadpracticedhimselfasachildwhilebuildingthefoundationsofhisacting.

Storiesetchedclearlyintomoryfromanearlyage.

Characterswhosemoralitywasplainlydividedintogoodandevil.

heactingitselfwassimple,butthatdidn'tmakeiteasy.

ruthfullyexpressingtheemotionsofarchetypalcharacterswassurprisinglydifficult.

Andbesides—

PeterPan.

hepieceSuYeonhadchosentodaywasparticularlytricky.

PeterPanmightbeafairytale,butitcontainedasurprisinglytangledcastofcharacters.

herewasCaptainook,amanpracticallysufferingfromPSD.

AndtherewasPeterPanhimself.

Asachild,RyuShinhadsimplyseenhimasaheroicboywhonevergrewup.

Readingthestoryagainasanadult,however,revealedadeeplyself-centeredcharacterwithaseveremothercomplex.

Foramont,herecalledthestoryandbegandiggingintoPeterPan'semotions.

hewisheveryonehasatleastonce—

oremainachildforeverandlivehappilyeverafter.

Buttherewasalsothedeep-rootedsenseofbetrayalhefeltafterdecidingtoreturnhobecausehemissedhismother,onlytofindthatshehadforgottenhimandwasnowholdinganewbornyoungerbrother.

AndhowwouldPeterfeelwhenWendy'sparentssaid,

"Becoourchildandlivewithus."

Arealisticresignation.

fevenhisownmotherhadforgottenhim,couldsooneelse'smothertrulylovehim?

Andafterspendinghisentirelifeasachild,therewasalsothefearofbecominganadult—thedesiretorunawayfromit.

Yethehidthoseinsecuritiesbehindtheattitudeofatoughneighborhoodleader.

Behindacheerfulvoice.

Behindasmile.

AsaninnocentgrinblossodacrossRyuShin'sbeautifulface,SuYeonflinched.

''veneverseenthatexpressionbefore...'

onewashisusualmatureandseriousdeanor.

ookinglikeachildfromheadtotoe,hebeganactingasPeterPan.

"Wendy,'mleaving.akecare!"

Startledbytheexpressiononhisface,SuYeonreactedabeattoolatewithhercue.

ShewasreadingWendy'smother'slines.

"You'rePeterPan,aren'tyou?Wouldn'tyouliketolivewithustoo?"

"hen'dhavetogotoschool,wouldn't?"

"fcourse."

"hen'dhavetogetajobsoday,right?"

"fcourseyouwould."

"Andthen'dbecoanadult?"

"fcourse."

Feargraduallycreptintohisvoiceasheaskedeachquestion.

ewastryinghardtosoundbrave.

Yetbeneathitlaytheterrorofachildthrowingatantrumbecausehedidn'twanttogotothedentist.

"don'twanttobecoanadult.Wakingupinthemorningandtouchingmyfaceonlytofinditcoveredinabeard?neverwanttobecothatkindofadult!"

"Don'tsaythat.Colivewithus."

hestubbornboyfellsilentforamontatWendy'smother'sgentlewords.

nesecond.

nthatbriefinstant,unmistakablehesitationcrossedhisface.

Perhapsbecauseitwasafairytale,everyemotionappearedinvividprimarycolors.

henheabruptlyturnedhisheadawayandrepliedinastubbornvoice.

"o.likebeingachildforever."

heperformanceended.

hedifferencehitfarharderthananyexplanationcould.

Castingasideyourordinaryselfandbecomingsoonecompletelydifferent.

Forthefirstti,SuYeontrulyunderstoodthatthiswaswhatactingant.

"aa..."

Adeepsighescapedher.

nceagain,shewasforcedtoconfrontthefactthatherownactingwasstillbarelyat❖оvеl𝚒ght❖(xclusiveonоvеl𝚒ght)thecrawlingstage.

"onestly,PeterPanisdifficult.t'sfairlycomplexforafairytale.wasonlydemonstratinganapproach,souseitasareference.omorrow,preparesothingsimpler."

"Yes,Senior."

ervoiceshrankagain.

Shereallywantedtoimprove.

otonlybecausesheherselfdesperatelywantedtosucceedasanactor.

ShealsowantedtoshowYuMyeong—thepersonwhohadreachedoutahandtoher—thatshewasmakinganingfulprogress.

But...

heroadaheadseedimpossiblylong.

hatday,YuMyeongwasetingwithYuSeok.

"ello,C."

"ey.njoyingyourbreak,YuMyeong?Startingnextweekthere'llbesomoviepromotionscheduleshereandthere.'llspacethemoutsotheydon'tinterferewithyourrest."

Asalways,YuSeokwasconsiderate.

WhichonlymadeYuMyeongfeelworseaboutwhathewasabouttoask.

"Actually,C..."

AsYuMyeongexplained,YuSeok'sexpressionbecaincreasinglyincredulous.

"You'vebeenrentingapracticeroomwithyourownmoneythiswholeti?"

"Ah...thepeople'mpracticingwitharen'tpartofourcompany..."

"Whyareyoupayingforthatyourself?o,forgetthat—howdidyoualreadyfindanotherthingtododuringyourbreak?"

"...Sorry."

WhenYuMyeonglaughedawkwardly,YuSeokclickedhistonguebeforefinallygivingup.

"Fine.fyouenjoyworkingthatmuch,whatamsupposedtodo?We'vegotplentyofscriptscomingin.Whydon'tyouatleastreadthroughsoofthem?"

"'dbegratefultoreadthem,but...haveafavortoask."

"Whatisit?"

Foramont,YuSeok'seyessparkled.

Atlast,sothinghecouldactuallyhelpwith.

henheheardtherequest.

"Aplay?"

"Yes.herearesopeople'dliketoperformwith.tprobablywon'tmakemuchmoney,but...woulditbedifficult?"

"o,that'snottheproblem."

YuMyeonghadassudYuSeokdislikedtheideabecausearisingactorchoosingtheaterduringhisbusiestperiodseedimpractical.

heactualcomplaintwasentirelydifferent.

"Whywon'tyougiveanywork?"

"...What?"

"an,wasgoingtofindyouagreatscript!fthere'saprojectyouwant,canbringitin!'mconfidentcouldnegotiatethebestpossibletermstoo!Whydoyoukeepleavingyourmanagerunemployed?"

"..."

hatwasn'tremotelytheobjectionhehadexpected.

"...Ahem.Anyway."

"Yes,C."

"Doit.fit'ssothingyouwanttodo,youshoulddoit.Whoarethesepeopleyouwanttoperformwith?"

"neisanunsignedactressnadSeolSuYeon.heotherismyseniorfromschool,RyuShin."

"Ah,RyuShin.heforrchildactor,right?isagencyapprovedit?"

"Yes.Apparentlyhehasfamilyconnectionsthere,soit'sfine.e'swithDreamnter."

"see.hen'llneedtocoordinatewiththeiragency."

YuSeoknodded.

"Andifyou'reperforminginDaehakro,you'llneedstaff,maybesupportingactors...twouldprobablybebesttoinvolveatheatercompany."

"Yes.hat'sactuallyanotherfavorwantedtoask.ncebringitupandgetapproval,'dlikethemanagentteamtohandlethedetailednegotiations."

"Youalreadyhaveaplaceinmind,don'tyou?"

"Yes..."

Amorysurfaced.

fyoueverbecointerestedintheatersoday,makesureyoucotofirst,Senior.

YuMyeongremberedapromisehehadmadelongago.

BaekYiShinwasmakingacupofMaximMochaoldinthetheatercompany'soffice.

Despitehisusualtemperant,hishandstirredthecoffeewithobviousnervousness.

AnewtenantwasscheduledtoarriveatheaterCompanyJulytoday.

"Aretheyhereyet?"

"otyet,Director."

heartisticdirectorwasapparentlyjustaseager.

ehadalreadypokedhisheadintotheofficeseveraltisbeforetheappointedti.

BaekYiShinstillremberedlantingduringamanagentetingtwoyearsearlierafterdiscoveringYuMyeongduringtheBlueSkyproduction.

Agreatactorslippedthroughourfingers.

hen,afterseeingRyuShininanAudiusperformancethatautumn,hehadrepeatedthesacomplaint.

Whatkindofactorsarethey?

Ah...bothofthemwillbefamouswithinayearortwo.t'sbeenalongtisince'veseenactorsthatsatisfymystandards.Whatawaste.

hedirectorunderstoodthecomntaboutRyuShin.

hemanhadbeenfamoussincechildhood.

Buttheotheractor?

ehadwonderedwhatcouldpossiblybesospecialabouthim.

hen,asiftoproveBaekYiShin'seyefortalent,thatactorexplodedontothesceneandbecaoneofthemosttalked-aboutrookiesoftheyear.

Strangelyenough,heaterCompanyJulyhadbeenlackingayoungactorcapableofcarryinganentireproduction.

herewerepromisingnewcors.

Butnonewhocouldtrulyserveasthefaceofthecompany.

PerhapsthatwaswhyeverytiYuMyeongappearedontelevision,BaekYiShinlookedlikehewassuffering.

Ah...foundhimfirst...

etitgoalready.ewasneverours.

t'snottoolate.epromisedhe'dcontactfirstifheeverwantedtodotheater.

ispricetagisprobablythroughtheroofbynow.Asifhe'dcobacktotheater.hefilmanddramaoffersmustbepouringin.

hestagehasanaddictivequalityallitsown.

hat'strue,butactorsattheheightoftheirrisearebusymakingmoney.heydon'tstartthinkingabouttheateruntilthey'reintheirthirtiesandhavealreadymadetheirfortune.

ivenhowattachedhestillwas,itwasnosurprisethatBaekYiShinnearlyjumpedforjoywhenYuMyeongcalledafewdaysearlier.

"Aperformance?AtJuly?"

"Yes.t'llonlybealimitedspecialperformanceearlynextyear,soitmaybeaninconvenience..."

"otatall.hankyouforrembering."

venifitwasonlyashort-termspecialperformance,itwasstillYuMyeong—thehottestrookieactorintheindustry—andRyuShin.

uaranteedticketsales.

xcellentpublicityforJuly.

BaekYiShinimdiatelyreportedthemattertotheartisticdirectorandarrangedetingswithbothoodnterandDreamnter.

Andtoday—

heywerescheduledtomoveintooneofJuly'srehearsalrooms.

"Soone'shere."

Atlast,thecallcafromsecurity.

BaekYiShinandtheartisticdirectorhurrieddownstairs.

hentheysawthem.

hreeactorswhoimdiatelyradiatedstarquality.

"Welco!hisway,please."

egreetedthemwithabrilliantsmile.

YoonJungun,aneighth-yearactoratheaterCompanyJuly,wasventinghisfrustrationtohisteammates.

"asthedirectorgonesenile?Whatkindofnonsenseisthis—givingaperformanceslottoabunchofrookies?"

Julystagedthreeproductionseverysixmonths.

AndthankstoBaekYiShin'sstrongrecomndation,acompetitiveselectionsystemhadbeenintroducedtwoyearsearlier.

hemainspringproductiondirectedbythecompany'sleaddirectorwasfixed.

heremainingtwoslotswereawardedthroughinternalcompetitionamongprojectteamsfordbycompanymbers.

Sincethen,theatmosphereatJulyhadbecoconsiderablymorecutthroat.

Performingantgettingpaid.

talsoantopportunitiesforfilmandtelevisionwork.

Foryoungeractorsstilltryingtoestablishthemselves,thosetwoopportunitieswereinvaluable.

"fthey'vegottenfamouson,theyshouldstaythere.Whatdothoseamateursknowaboutacting?owthey'rerollinginhereandpushingoutthepeoplewho'veactuallybeenhereallalong."

Butnowthenumberofavailableslotshaddroppedfromtwotoone.

hecompanyhaddecidedtoreserveaslotforthecelebrityguestteam.

YoonJungunhadspenttheentireautumnpreparingforthespringcompetitionafterlosingthepreviousround.

eedlesstosay,hewasfurious.

isteammate,sixth-yearactressChuSeMi,spokecalmly.

"Senior.aveyoueveractuallyseenYuMyeongact?"

"uh?o.don'twatchdramas.hey'retoocringeworthy."

"Whataboutmovies?Ballerinaigh?"

"Didn'tseemlikemykindofthing..."

Asshecontinueddismantlinghisarguntwithfacts,YoonJungungraduallylostmontum.

"e'sgood.Settingasidehowmuchpost-productionhelpshim,orwhetherhisscreen-actingstyleworksonstage,objectivelyspeakinghe'sagoodactor.AndRyuShinhasbeenfamoussincehewasachild."

"Really?Soyou'resayingweshouldjusthandoverourslot?"

"'mnotsayingthat."

eranswerwasimdiate.

fthefourteamspreparingforthespringcompetition,onewasessentiallyguaranteedaslot.

neofJuly'smostsuccessfulveteranactorshadannouncedaprojecthewantedtostage,attractingmanyofthecompany'sstrongestperforrs.

ButChuSeMiwantedthefemaleleadrole.

hatwaswhyshehadjoinedJungun'steam.

Amongtheremainingthreeteams,theirswasthestrongestcontender.

Whichanttheyhadthemosttolose.

heycouldn'tsimplysitbackandwatch.

"Senior.et'sgo."

"uh?owhere?"

"ocomplain."

"What?What'sthatsupposedtoaccomplish?"

"hecompanywon'tchangeitsdecision.Soweneedtomakethosekidsgetemotionalenoughtoenterthecompetitionthemselves."

"...R-Right."

YoonJungun,ChuSeMi,andseveralmbersofeamBheadedtowardYuMyeong'srehearsalroom.

Bang!

"ello."

"...ello."

wofamiliaryoungn.

Andawomansobeautifulshenearlymadetheireyesspin.

YoonJungunflinched.

ChuSeMi,however,wentstraightontheoffensive.

"'mChuSeMi.Sixth-yearactoratJuly."

"And'mYoonJungun!"

nlythendidJungunstepforward,wideninghiseyes.

heothereamBmbersfoldedtheirarmsbehindthem.

herewasnowayYuMyeongfailedtonoticetheconfrontationalatmosphere.

Yetheremainedperfectlycalm.

"Yes,hello.stheresothingyouneeded?"

"YouknowJuly'sproductionsarenormallydecidedthroughcompetition,right?"

"'veheard."

"Andnowanoutsideteamsuddenlyappearsandoneoftheslotsdisappears?"

"hatwasadecisionmadebythecompany.fyouhaveobjections,believetheyshouldbedirectedthere."

ewasright.

isresponsewassoreasonablethatcoldsweatbegantoformonChuSeMi'sback.

Buttheycouldn'tleavenow.

otaftercomingthisfar.

venifshehadtoforcetheissue.

"Don'tyouthinkit'salittleshalesstojustwalkinandtakeaslotforfree?rareyounotconfidentinyourabilities?"

"henwe'llenterthecompetitiontoo.hat'swhatyouwant,isn'tit?"

"...Yes."

heanswercasoeasilythatitalmostfeltanticlimactic.

Yetevenafterhearingexactlywhatshewanted,ChuSeMifeltstrangelyuneasy.

herewasn'ttheslightesthintofangerinYuMyeong'sexpression.

Still.

Shehaddonewhatshecatodo.

owallthatremainedwastoshowthemwhatheaterCompanyJuly—andactorswhohadspentyearssurvivinginthetheaterworld—werecapableof.

"Whenthecompetitioncos,we'relookingforwardtoseeingyourstageacting."

"We'llbelookingforwardtoyoursaswell."

Sothingabouthisreplylingeredintheair.

Andsoanothertwoweekspassed.

arlyDecember.

hedayofJuly'sinternalcompetitionforthespringperformanceslotsfinallyarrived.