Chapter 121: Casting Is My Decision (5)
When they ordered piles of pizza and chicken, the orphanage kids gathered in the dining hall and ate together happily.
Of course, the director worried about eating so late being bad for their health, but seeing the children’s joyful faces melted those concerns away.
“Tasty?”
“Yes!”
Kim Si-woo smiled watching Lee Ok-ja vigorously tearing into a chicken leg beside him.
But he didn’t forget what needed to be done.
“Um… Director.”
Kim Si-woo cautiously approached the orphanage director.
“What is it?”
“It’s about Ok-ja—she wants to change her name. And since she’ll be acting in the future, a stage name would probably be better.”
“Does Ok-ja agree?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s fine to change it. I named her arbitrarily anyway.”
“Ah… Thank you for permitting it.”
The director agreed more easily than expected.
“I got permission.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So eat lots of chicken.”
“Yes!”
Relieved at the prospect of a new name, Lee Ok-ja attacked the chicken leg even more enthusiastically.
As time passed and the kids gradually got full and stopped eating, Kim Si-woo stood up to prepare to leave.
“Then we’ll be going.”
Kim Si-woo bowed to the director and headed out of the orphanage—when Lee Ok-ja hurried after him on her short legs.
“Are you leaving?”
“Have to.”
“When will you come again?”
“Do you go to school?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll pick you up next weekend.”
“Really?”
Lee Ok-ja looked up at Kim Si-woo anxiously.
“Yeah. I don’t lie about stuff like this. Go to school diligently. Study hard too.”
Kim Si-woo ruffled her hair and continued walking.
This time, Choi Do-hyun called out to him.
“Hyungnim, leaving already?”
“It’s not ‘already.’ And why do you keep acting familiar?”
“Come on, what’s the harm? Anyway, please take good care of Ok-ja.”
“Take care? You just live well yourself. Don’t do unnecessary things. I won’t say anything if you come back to this side now.”
“Well… I don’t think I’ll return. But if I find another good actor, I’ll contact you. And next time, let’s definitely have a drink.”
“Whatever.”
After Kim Si-woo left, Lee Ok-ja lingered at the orphanage entrance for a long while, missing the feel of his hand.
***
Monday morning.
Lee Ok-ja headed to school excited about the new name she’d get this weekend.
“Hehe, I’m getting a pretty name too now.”
At school, she bragged to her friends about yesterday.
“Yesterday, a super handsome oppa bought me tons of chicken and pizza, stroked my hair, and everything!”
“What? Really? But besides Choi Do-hyun oppa, is there another at the orphanage?”
“No, there’s Kim Si-woo oppa besides Uncle Choi Do-hyun. He’s a writer—super super famous. And I’m debuting as a movie actress now. What was it… <Peerless Joseon>?”
Bang!
The moment Lee Ok-ja finished, loud thuds echoed from both sides.
“What did you just say? <Peerless Joseon>?”
“What did you just say? Kim Si-woo?”
“What the—Park So-yul, Hong Soo-hyuk. Why are you two suddenly like this?”
Park So-yul was the child actress Kim Si-woo had recently selected in the child actor audition, and Hong Soo-hyuk was Hong Soo-yeon’s younger brother.
Coincidentally, all three were in the same school and same class.
“How do you know our Si-woo hyung!”
“Our Si-woo hyung? Why is Si-woo oppa your hyung!”
“He said he’s marrying my noona!”
“What? Your noona?”
“Yeah! My noona! She’s great at acting, super popular, and pretty—so Si-woo hyung really likes her!”
“What?”
While Hong Soo-hyuk and Lee Ok-ja argued, Park So-yul stood dazed on the side, muttering.
“No way… her too? But… I didn’t see her at the audition?”
Park So-yul soon jumped between Hong Soo-hyuk and Lee Ok-ja.
“Hey, did you go to the audition?”
“Audition? No. I just did what Do-hyun ajusshi told me to?”
“Then you know writer-nim’s phone number?”
“Huh? Uh… yeah? Why?”
“Call him.”
“Now?”
“Hey! Park So-yul. Why are you suddenly butting in and ordering people around!”
“You’re the one who doesn’t know when to butt in or not.”
“What?”
The atmosphere quickly turned hostile.
“What do you mean ‘what’? It’s the teacher. Why are you all gathered? Sit down quickly.”
The brief commotion was quelled by the homeroom teacher’s arrival.
They could only talk again after class ended.
“Hey!”
Park So-yul called out to Lee Ok-ja, who was slinging her bag over her shoulder.
“Me?”
“Yeah, you. Is there anyone else here I’d call?”
“Why?”
When Lee Ok-ja answered as if clueless, Park So-yul’s voice rose.
“Why? You need to prove what you said earlier is true.”
“You mean about Si-woo oppa?”
“Yeah, you said you know Writer Kim Si-woo’s number. Call him now.”
“Park So-yul, you’re still bullying Lee Ok-ja?”
“Stay out of it, Hong Soo-hyuk. You’re not even related to Writer Kim Si-woo.”
“No! I’m closer!”
Somehow it turned into an argument between Park So-yul and Hong Soo-hyuk, and Lee Ok-ja spoke tiredly.
“I’ll call. That’s fine, right?”
Lee Ok-ja dialed the saved number for Kim Si-woo on her smartphone.
Ring… ring…
At the small ringtone, the three shut their mouths and stared quietly at the phone.
But even after a long ring, Kim Si-woo didn’t answer.
“What? He’s not picking up? Isn’t your story made up?”
“It’s not!”
“Then why isn’t he answering!”
“He must be busy.”
“Liar!”
“It’s not a lie!”
Park So-yul couldn’t believe Lee Ok-ja—who hadn’t appeared at the audition—had gotten cast, and Lee Ok-ja had no way to prove her words since Kim Si-woo wasn’t answering.
“Then follow me.”
“Why? To show me writer-nim or something?”
“Yeah!”
“Fine. Let’s see. Hong Soo-hyuk, you come too. You’re the witness.”
“Okay.”
The three elementary students headed to the Siwoo Film office to settle it.
But there was one problem.
Park So-yul stood blankly inside the bus.
“Kiddo, no money?”
“Huh?”
At the driver’s words, Park So-yul hurriedly checked her pockets—but not even 10 won came out.
In fact, Park So-yul had never ridden a bus before.
She always rode in her mom’s car, so she’d never taken a bus or taxi.
She hadn’t even imagined riding a bus today.
“What? No bus card either? Ah… really annoying. Uncle, two more.”
Hong Soo-hyuk grumbled but paid Park So-yul’s fare for her.
“Pay me back later. With banana milk.”
“Th… thanks.”
They rode the bus for about 40 minutes and arrived near the Siwoo Film office.
“Whew… Almost there.”
“Is this the place?”
Park So-yul—who had lied to her mom about playing with friends—was starting to worry a bit now.
At that moment, Lee Ok-ja—who was leading—stopped.
“Here!”
Finally arriving in front of the Siwoo Film office, Lee Ok-ja pointed at the building entrance.
“Then let’s go in?”
“Uh? Uh…”
Lee Ok-ja’s confidence actually made Park So-yul flustered as she answered, and they entered the building in order: Lee Ok-ja, Hong Soo-hyuk, Park So-yul.
Passing the first floor and going up to the second, familiar faces appeared.
The people who had welcomed her last time.
But unlike before, they looked extremely busy now.
“Hello.”
“Huh? You’re… the little kid from last time, right? What brings you here today? We’re a bit busy…”
“I came to see Si-woo oppa.”
“Ah… Writer-nim? Wait a second…”
The Siwoo Film team member paused their work and led the children to a nearby desk.
“Wait here with some snacks and drinks.”
“Yes!”
Hong Soo-hyuk, Lee Ok-ja, and Park So-yul, still dazed, each picked up a snack and put it in their mouths.
Meanwhile, the team member knocked on Kim Si-woo’s office door.
Knock knock knock.
-Come in.
At Kim Si-woo’s response, they entered. Inside, a meeting was in progress—Park Se-yong, Lee Yoo-jin, and others turned to look.
“What’s up?”
“Um… Writer-nim. That kid Ok-ja from last time and her friends are here?”
“What? Sigh…”
Kim Si-woo scratched his head and sighed.
“Director, can we continue the meeting tomorrow?”
“Sure. Looks like unexpected guests arrived.”
“She’s a child actor appearing in this film… If it’s okay, would you like to meet them together?”
“That wouldn’t be bad. Getting familiar with the child actors early would make filming smoother.”
“Then we’ll head out.”
“Yes, good work.”
Once everyone except Kim Si-woo, Park Se-yong, and Lee Yoo-jin left the office, the team member standing nearby spoke.
“Shall I bring them in?”
“Yeah. Could you?”
“Yes, writer-nim.”
A moment later, three little kids filed in behind the team member.
“Ok-ja… Huh? Kiddo, why are you here too?”
Kim Si-woo opened his mouth seeing Lee Ok-ja but grew even more flustered spotting the familiar child behind her.
“Hyung! No, listen—these guys don’t believe I’m close to you!”
“Wait, and next to you is Park So-yul kid? How are the three of you here together?”
Kim Si-woo then heard the full story from Lee Ok-ja.
By coincidence, all three were in the same class. Lee Ok-ja had bragged at school, mentioning <Peerless Joseon> and Kim Si-woo. When he didn’t answer the phone, it led to the three kids coming here.
“Sigh… So-yul, did you tell your mom?”
“Huh? Uh… no…”
“Hong Soo-hyuk, did you tell your grandma?”
“No.”
“You answer so confidently? You need to tell your noona.”
“Hyung!!! No, not noona.”
Hong Soo-hyuk desperately grabbed Kim Si-woo’s arm.
The only person Hong Soo-hyuk truly feared was Hong Soo-yeon.
Of course, Kim Si-woo ignored it.
He figured it was time to set the kids straight.
“If you’re going to visit, tell the adults properly first. And this isn’t a playground—it’s a workplace. Always ask if it’s okay to come. Got it?”
“Sorry.”
The kids bowed their heads at Kim Si-woo’s words.
“Sigh… So what were you curious about?”
“Did Ok-ja really get cast without an audition?”
“Yeah. I cast her personally.”
“Ah…”
“Then how do you know this kid?”
Park So-yul pointed at Hong Soo-hyuk.
“Kiddo? He’s the younger brother of Soo-yeon, one of our Siwoo Film actors—that’s how I know him.”
“Th-that… Isn’t Soo-yeon the Hong Soo-yeon from <Idol>?”
“Yeah?”
Park So-yul couldn’t believe this idiot was Hong Soo-yeon’s brother.
“This dummy is the brother of that Hong Soo-yeon actress? Unbelievable.”
“Why am I a dummy! You’re the dummy—you can’t even ride a bus.”
“Stop fighting. All your questions answered now?”
Park So-yul thought for a moment before asking an unexpected question.
“Ah… right. But are you marrying Hong Soo-yeon actress?”
“Pfft. Cough. What kind of question is that?”
Kim Si-woo spat out the water he was drinking at Park So-yul’s words.
“No, this kid said so?”
Park So-yul pointed at Hong Soo-hyuk, who was pretending not to hear.
“Kiddo, you’re staying a bit longer. I need to tell your noona to pick you up.”
“Ah… no.”
“And So-yul. This ajusshi doesn’t even have a girlfriend yet. All questions done now?”
“Yes!”
Afterward, Kim Si-woo called Park So-yul’s mother to send her home first, then drove Lee Ok-ja back to the orphanage.
And Hong Soo-hyuk.
He waited in Kim Si-woo’s office, chatting until Hong Soo-yeon finished her schedule and arrived.
“Soo-hyuk? Explain why you’re here.”
“N-noona.”
“Soo-yeon, sit down for a second.”
“Ah! Yes, oppa.”
At Kim Si-woo’s words, Hong Soo-yeon’s angry face instantly turned to the most peaceful expression in the world.
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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 55 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 47 advance chapters, updated at 7 chapters per week.
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