Chapter 120: Casting Is My Decision (4)
Unable to treat even a young child coldly, Kim Si-woo first brought Lee Ok-ja into his office.
“Yoo-jin, come in too.”
“Yes, writer-nim.”
Once inside, Kim Si-woo gave Lee Ok-ja some simple snacks and a drink.
He found it a bit amusing that the child’s name was Lee Ok-ja.
“So, Ok-ja. Choi Do-hyun-ssi sent you?”
“Yes!”
Lee Ok-ja answered cutely with cookies in her mouth.
“You don’t know why he told you to come?”
“He… said to say it’s because of acting.”
“Acting?”
“Yes!”
“Uh… okay. Did your parents not come with you?”
“No.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t have any. I live in an orphanage.”
“Ah…”
Kim Si-woo suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if he’d unintentionally hurt her feelings.
‘I heard he went back to theater… But what’s his intention pulling something like this now?’
Kim Si-woo considered calling Choi Do-hyun but felt more reluctance to hear his voice than curiosity about the situation.
“Sigh… This is tricky.”
It didn’t seem coincidental that Lee Ok-ja showed up on child actor audition day.
Lost in thought for a moment, Kim Si-woo looked at Lee Ok-ja happily munching snacks and drinks before speaking slowly.
“Ok-ja, do you want to act?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“When I act, I don’t have to think about hard things, and… I don’t have to use the name Ok-ja.”
Lee Ok-ja explained her reason for wanting to act.
“Huh?”
“When I act, I become someone else, not Ok-ja. The name Ok-ja is too old-fashioned.”
“Pfft.”
Lee Yoo-jin, listening beside them, burst into laughter.
It was the first time she’d heard “I don’t like my name” as a reason for wanting to act.
“Writer-nim. How about visiting the orphanage and talking to the director?”
“Yeah, that’s probably best.”
“Ok-ja, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Kim Si-woo took Lee Ok-ja and Lee Yoo-jin to the orphanage she mentioned.
By the time they arrived, the sun was setting in the evening.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes, it is.”
The Happy Orphanage where Lee Ok-ja lived looked like a dilapidated building on the verge of collapse.
“1930?”
The building had been constructed during the Japanese colonial era.
“It’s more impressive it hasn’t fallen yet… Let’s go in. Where’s the director’s office?”
“Follow me.”
Lee Ok-ja led Kim Si-woo and Lee Yoo-jin to the director’s office as naturally as if proving she lived there.
Knock knock knock.
Arriving at the office, Lee Ok-ja firmly knocked with her small hand.
“Director teacher. Visitors are here.”
-What?
Surprised by the word “visitors,” a flustered voice came from inside, and a man opened the door.
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
The man who emerged looked familiar.
“I didn’t expect you to come…”
“Choi Do-hyun?”
The person who came out of the director’s office was none other than Choi Do-hyun.
“You’re the director here?”
“Ah… no. I just volunteer here often. The director is this way…”
Choi Do-hyun stepped aside to point at an elderly person inside.
“Ah…”
“Come in first. I know I’m not welcome. I’m truly sorry about the past.”
As Choi Do-hyun kept apologizing sincerely, Kim Si-woo felt oddly embarrassed.
‘This is why I didn’t want to see him…’
It felt too harsh to keep hating someone who was apologizing so earnestly.
Kim Si-woo eventually passed Choi Do-hyun and entered the inner office to greet the director.
“Hello. I’m Kim Si-woo. Director.”
“Hello. I’m the orphanage director, Choi Chil-goo. I’ve heard a lot about you, writer-nim. They say you’re remarkable…”
“I just have enough skill to make a living. Anyway, about Ok-ja…”
“If it’s about that, you’d get answers faster from Do-hyun here than an old man like me.”
“Ah… understood. Then let’s talk together.”
Kim Si-woo glared at Choi Do-hyun and started.
“So, what’s the reason for sending a young child alone to the office without notice? What if something happened?”
The moment the conversation shifted from the director to Choi Do-hyun, Kim Si-woo’s tone turned aggressive.
Choi Do-hyun, aware of his past mistakes, hesitated and answered.
“Ah… I actually brought her to the front of the office. I figured Siwoo Film people wouldn’t turn a child away… Also, seeing you say that—did you perhaps not get the note from Ok-ja?”
At the mention of a note, Kim Si-woo looked at Lee Ok-ja, who scratched the back of her head.
“Ahaha… Right. I forgot. The unnies and oppas gave me snacks, so I forgot.”
Lee Ok-ja awkwardly walked over and handed Kim Si-woo a note.
It was handwritten by Choi Do-hyun, explaining how and why Lee Ok-ja had come to Siwoo Film.
[Hello, writer-nim. This is Choi Do-hyun. This child’s name is Lee Ok-ja. She grew up in an orphanage and seems to have acting talent, so I thought she’d fit as a child actor in your upcoming film and sent her. If you’re doubtful, feel free to test her. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied. I’m truly sorry about the old matters.]
“Sigh…”
“And I gave Ok-ja a smartphone too, told her to call when done.”
“So what’s the real thing you want to say?”
“Huh? Real thing?”
“There must be a real reason for sending Ok-ja.”
“There isn’t? I just hoped Ok-ja could debut well…”
Kim Si-woo somehow felt like he was becoming the bad guy.
“Then couldn’t you have brought her yourself? I heard you’re making a name in theater.”
“But… ugh. I’m already swamped teaching the troupe kids. And Ok-ja said she prefers film or drama over theater? Because more people can see it.”
“…”
“Alright, alright… Writer-nim, how about watching Ok-ja’s acting first and then talking?”
Lee Yoo-jin hurriedly changed the subject to ease the awkward atmosphere.
“Yeah, let’s.”
“Ok-ja, you prepared something, right? The Kongjwi scene.”
[TL Note: Kongjwi (or Kongji) refers to the virtuous, hardworking heroine of a popular Korean folktale, often called “Kongjwi and Patjwi,” which is Korea’s version of the Cinderella story.]
“Yes!”
Choi Do-hyun spoke to Lee Ok-ja in a much softer voice.
‘When did he change like this? Totally different from before.’
Kim Si-woo was surprised to see the viciousness he remembered gone from Choi Do-hyun.
A moment later, Lee Ok-ja gathered her emotions and performed the prepared Kongjwi scene with Choi Do-hyun.
Getting scolded by the stepmother, expressing gratitude to the cow and toad—her acting was surprisingly detailed.
“Writer-nim, she’s pretty good, right?”
“Yeah.”
Compared to Park So-yul from the audition, she wasn’t lacking at all.
After the performance, Choi Do-hyun spoke to Kim Si-woo with a tense face.
He was worried the child might suffer backlash because of him.
“This level is exceptional for her age… What do you think?”
“Yeah.”
Kim Si-woo had to admit what needed admitting.
Lee Ok-ja’s good acting and his dislike of Choi Do-hyun were separate matters.
“Then let’s sign the contract. You be the guardian.”
“Huh? Ah… yes!”
“The fee will go into the child’s account.”
“Yes, yes! Hyungnim.”
“Who’s your hyungnim.”
“Sorry.”
Choi Do-hyun had sneakily tried calling him hyungnim and got caught.
“By the way, is this building safe?”
“Well… I call people to repair it bit by bit.”
“Impressive.”
“Then want to join, hyung?”
“No. I’m busy enough. And I don’t know this orphanage well—helping rashly wouldn’t be right.”
“Ah… If that’s the concern, don’t worry. I cleaned house on day one. There are always those who bully even in places like this.”
Kim Si-woo thought Choi Do-hyun was still a madman, seeing his wicked smile.
Afterward, almost against his will, Kim Si-woo was forced to listen to Choi Do-hyun’s stories.
How he grew up, what mindset led him into entertainment, what he thought seeing and hearing about Kim Si-woo, realizing too late he’d hurt too many people—so he quit film and drama for theater.
And now, on days off, he volunteers at the orphanage.
“You’re impressive too.”
“Thank you. Since you’re here, would you like a tour?”
“Isn’t it the kids’ meal and rest time? No need to bother.”
“Come on, look around while you’re here. The kids will love it.”
“Yeah, writer-nim. We’re dropping Ok-ja off anyway—let’s go together.”
With Lee Yoo-jin joining in, Kim Si-woo had no choice but to head inside the orphanage—when Lee Ok-ja suddenly grabbed his hand.
“Oh… Hyungnim. Looks like Ok-ja really likes you.”
“What?”
“Ok-ja never holds hands with people she doesn’t like. She doesn’t even hold mine.”
Kim Si-woo couldn’t understand it for a moment.
She disliked Choi Do-hyun—who was taller and more handsome than him?
It was hard to believe realistically.
“Follow me. I’ll show you my room.”
“Uh… okay.”
Kim Si-woo couldn’t bring himself to shake off the small child’s hand.
Led by her hand, he entered a room where three other children around Ok-ja’s age were visible.
“Hello.”
The kids greeted Choi Do-hyun brightly more than Kim Si-woo or Lee Yoo-jin.
“You all behaved and didn’t fight?”
“Yes!”
“And greet these people too?”
“Hello.”
At Choi Do-hyun’s words, the children greeted Kim Si-woo and Lee Yoo-jin.
Though with faces full of distrust…
“Quite distrustful eyes.”
“Well… the atmosphere here is like that from the start. They probably think all adults except the director and teachers are bad.”
“What about you?”
When Kim Si-woo asked why they followed him, Choi Do-hyun answered awkwardly.
“It’s my face, I guess.”
It made sense—the kids followed him because he was handsome.
“But why is her name Ok-ja? Isn’t that an old-fashioned name?”
“The director named her.”
“Ah…”
Thinking of the orphanage director with more white hair than black, Kim Si-woo nodded automatically.
“She’ll probably need to change it if she becomes an actress later.”
“Right?”
Lee Yoo-jin was already discussing Lee Ok-ja’s name with her.
Then suddenly Lee Ok-ja approached Kim Si-woo and tugged his sleeve.
“Now. Change it now.”
“Huh?”
Having overheard the name talk, Lee Ok-ja begged to change it immediately.
“Interesting… Ok-ja is rarely this proactive. It took me a long time to get close to her.”
Choi Do-hyun looked at her with curious eyes, while Lee Ok-ja stared intently at Kim Si-woo.
Kim Si-woo found her gaze burdensome.
“Can I name you?”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s get permission from the director first.”
“Yes!”
Lee Ok-ja was thrilled at the hope of changing her name.
“By the way, Ok-ja.”
“Yes?”
“Do you like chicken?”
“Yes! Pizza too.”
Kim Si-woo felt like giving a gift to a child who liked him.
“Yoo-jin, order chicken and pizza enough for all the kids here. Enough so they can reheat leftovers tomorrow in the microwave.”
“Yes, writer-nim.”
Lee Yoo-jin smiled and ordered the food, while Lee Ok-ja clung to Kim Si-woo’s leg, showing no sign of letting go.
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TL Note:
This novel is now translated and finished at Chapter 176
If you’d like to continue right away, the remaining 56 chapters are available on My Patreon Premium tier, along with extra chapters from my other 5 ongoing translated novels.
There’s also a Plus tier with 46 advance chapters, updated at 7 chapters per week.
Link: https://www.patreon.com/cw/Vritratls
For this novel specifically, check the collection under “Genius Writer”
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