Chapter 6

Chapter 6: An Unfamiliar Name

[Role: Seoyun]

[Candidate Actor: Lee Dogyeom]

[Compatibility: 94 points]

Geonwoo stared at the number floating before his eyes and was speechless for a moment.

Ninety-four.

For a second, he thought he'd seen it wrong.

It was the highest score among all the candidates he'd seen so far.

No, calling it the highest wasn't enough.

It was overwhelming.

Ninety-four...?

Geonwoo slowly looked at Dogyeom.

Dogyeom had no idea how highly he'd just been evaluated. He simply held the script tightly in both hands.

His fingertips had gone white from nervousness.

His voice was quiet.

The ends of his lines were slightly unclear.

He didn't look experienced in front of a camera either.

Objectively speaking, Dogyeom wasn't the most skilled child actor they'd seen.

And yet he had received the highest score.

Why?

Geonwoo thought back to Dogyeom's performance.

What was different from the other kids...?

His eyes narrowed.

Dogyeom hadn't tried too hard to look sad.

He hadn't tried to deliver the line impressively either.

"Noona. If this neighborhood disappears, our house disappears too, right?"

He had simply asked as if he genuinely wanted to know.

What did it mean for a home to disappear?

What did it mean to never be able to return?

He had looked like a child who didn't fully understand those things yet.

That's it.

Only then did Geonwoo feel like he understood the meaning behind the score.

Seoyun isn't simply a sad child.

Seoyun wasn't a child who sensed his own death approaching.

He was simply a child who wanted to hold onto something that was disappearing.

A child who didn't even know the name of loss yet.

Dogyeom's eyes matched that feeling perfectly.

That was why his compatibility score had reached ninety-four.

He still lacks technique as an actor.

Geonwoo quickly examined Dogyeom's hands, gaze, and posture.

But he expressed the character better than anyone else. They said he only recently started acting... Is he instinctively understanding the character's emotions and expressing them?

Then a strange question crossed Geonwoo's mind.

Lee Dogyeom.

It was an unfamiliar name.

He had never heard it in his previous life.

Even after losing his sight, Geonwoo had continued listening to movies and dramas.

He remembered actors' names, voices, and works.

But he'd never once heard the name of a child actor called Lee Dogyeom.

I'm sure I've never heard this voice before. If a kid this good at expressing emotion had debuted, there's no way I wouldn't know him.

Then there was only one possibility.

Dogyeom had never debuted as an actor in Geonwoo's previous life.

Geonwoo's fingertips stiffened slightly.

Was his talent buried...? Or did my regression somehow give him his first real chance?

Either way, it didn't matter.

What mattered was now.

Beside him, Hyeonsu asked carefully.

"Hyung?"

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Sorry. I was thinking about something."

"What do you think of him?"

Hyeonsu glanced at Dogyeom and lowered his voice.

"His eyes are good, but honestly, isn't he a little risky? His line delivery is weak, and his hands are awkward. You can tell immediately that he doesn't have much acting experience."

Hyeonsu wasn't wrong.

"You're right. He's lacking technically."

Geonwoo turned toward Dogyeom.

"But I think his emotional expression is the best."

"Dogyeom."

"Yes."

"Let's try it one more time."

Dogyeom looked up in surprise.

"Again?"

"Yeah. What you just did was really good. But this time, let's change it a little."

"How...?"

Dogyeom asked while gripping the script.

His voice was quiet.

His nervousness was obvious.

Geonwoo deliberately softened his tone.

"Don't make it complicated."

"Okay."

"What you did just now was good. But in front of a camera, it needs to be a little more controlled."

Dogyeom nodded.

But he didn't look like he completely understood.

That was natural.

Terms like emotional arc and camera rhythm were too difficult for a child who had only recently begun acting.

So Geonwoo changed his explanation.

"I'll make it simple."

"Okay."

"Don't say the line immediately."

"Don't say it immediately?"

"Right. First, look at your noona."

Dogyeom tilted his head.

"My noona?"

"Imagine she's sitting in front of you. If you call her, she'll look at you, right?"

"Yes."

"Then wait just a little until she looks at you."

Dogyeom looked down at the script.

"How long?"

"Not too long. Just until you feel like she's ready to listen to you. And after saying 'Noona,' don't immediately continue."

"Pause?"

"Yeah. Just a little."

"Okay."

"Then pause again after saying, 'If this neighborhood disappears.'"

"There too? Why?"

"Because that's something you don't really want to say."

"Something I don't want to say..."

Dogyeom slowly nodded.

"I think I understand."

His eyes became slightly calmer.

Geonwoo didn't miss the change.

Just as I thought. He has good instincts.

His technique was lacking.

But he learned quickly.

"And your voice doesn't need to be loud. In the scene, it's just you and your noona in the room. Speak only loudly enough for her to hear you."

"Okay."

"And don't force your hands to stay still. Imagine you're holding the camcorder."

Dogyeom looked down at his own hands.

"The camcorder Seoyun always carries?"

"Right. Hold it tightly, and when you say 'our house,' put just a little more strength into your fingers."

Dogyeom pressed the edge of the script slightly.

"Like this?"

"Yeah. That's enough. Your emotion was already really good, so keep that exactly the same."

"Okay."

Dogyeom didn't immediately say the line.

First, he looked forward.

There was no one there, but Dogyeom stared as though his older sister really was sitting in front of him.

After waiting for a moment, he carefully opened his mouth.

"Noona."

A short silence.

"If this neighborhood disappears..."

His fingers tightened slightly.

"Our house disappears too, right?"

His voice was still quiet.

But it was clearer than before.

It sounded like something carefully offered to another person.

Geonwoo smiled.

"Dogyeom. Do you want to play Seoyun?"

Dogyeom's eyes widened.

"Me? Can I really do it?"

"Yeah. I want you to play him."

Dogyeom couldn't answer immediately.

His lips moved without sound.

He looked happy.

And scared at the same time.

Hyeonsu raised a hand beside them.

"Wait. Hyung, we need his guardian's permission first."

"I know."

Dogyeom's expression stiffened a little.

"My mom... might say no."

Geonwoo looked at him.

"Does your mother oppose you acting?"

Dogyeom nodded slightly.

"Yes."

"Then how did you come today?"

"I told her I really wanted to."

Dogyeom fidgeted with his fingers.

"She told me I could try once. Since I might not pass anyway."

Geonwoo fell silent for a moment.

So that's why.

Perhaps that was why Geonwoo had never heard this child's name in his previous life.

Maybe it wasn't because Dogyeom lacked talent.

Maybe he simply never received an opportunity.

Maybe no one recognized him.

Or maybe he gave up too early.

I can't let someone this talented give up acting.

Geonwoo picked up the script.

"Dogyeom. You want this role too, right?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then let's go together."

Dogyeom looked surprised.

"Where?"

"Where else? We're going to meet your mother and get her permission. If I want to cast you, her approval is absolutely necessary."

Dogyeom's expression became tense again.

Geonwoo deliberately spoke calmly.

"Don't worry. I'm the director. I'll convince her."

Dogyeom's mother was sitting on a chair in the hallway outside the practice room.

A small bag rested on her lap, and she was holding the strap with both hands.

When Geonwoo approached, she stood.

"Hello. I'm Baek Geonwoo, the director of this film."

Geonwoo bowed politely.

Dogyeom's mother bowed back.

But her expression was stiff.

"Have you already decided the result?"

Geonwoo answered immediately.

"Yes. We'd like to cast Dogyeom as Seoyun."

Dogyeom's mother looked at him.

Dogyeom had lowered his head deeply.

He looked happy, but also as though he felt he shouldn't show it.

"Did Dogyeom... do well?"

"Yes."

Geonwoo continued honestly.

"However, technically, there are still areas where he needs improvement."

Dogyeom's shoulders twitched.

His mother's expression stiffened slightly too.

Geonwoo immediately continued.

"But those are things I can help him with. Dialogue, eye lines, blocking, those can improve through practice."

Then he looked directly at her.

"But the subtle emotions Dogyeom can express are not something that can easily be taught. I truly want to make this movie with him."

Dogyeom's mother didn't immediately answer.

Instead, she spoke carefully.

"To be honest, I don't really support Dogyeom acting. He's still young, and he needs to study too. I've also heard film sets can be very difficult. And because this is an independent film, I'm even more worried."

"Yes. I completely understand."

"I only let him come today because he begged me to let him try once. Just because someone auditions doesn't mean they'll get the part."

Dogyeom said nothing.

Geonwoo took the script from his bag.

He had already marked the scenes in which Dogyeom appeared.

"Ma'am, rather than explaining everything verbally, I'd like you to read the script first."

She looked slightly surprised.

"I don't know much about scripts."

"That's okay. You only need to read it."

Geonwoo handed it to her.

"I marked Dogyeom's scenes."

She carefully accepted the script.

At first, she seemed to intend to only check his scenes.

She opened the marked page and skimmed several lines.

Then her hands stopped.

Geonwoo didn't say anything.

Hyeonsu remained quiet too.

Only Dogyeom watched his mother's face.

One page.

Then another.

Dogyeom's mother went past the marked section and continued into the next scene.

"Mom...?"

"Wait a moment."

She didn't take her eyes off the script.

A little later, Dogyeom's mother let out a quiet breath.

"I'm not someone who knows much about this."

Geonwoo waited silently.

"I only watch movies occasionally. I really can't judge whether a script is good or bad."

"Yes."

"But..."

She looked down at the script once more, then back at Geonwoo.

"This is interesting."

Dogyeom's eyes widened.

"I only meant to read Dogyeom's scenes, but I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened next."

She smiled slightly, looking embarrassed.

"I started wondering why this child went outside, what happens to his sister later, what this friend is hiding... I wanted to know."

Geonwoo quietly inhaled.

It worked.

Dogyeom's mother looked at her son.

"And honestly, if I stop him from doing this, I think Dogyeom might regret it later."

Dogyeom's lips parted slightly.

"Mom..."

"But there are several things I want to confirm with you, Director."

She looked back at Geonwoo.

"How much filming will he have to do?"

"Seoyun doesn't have a large amount of screen time."

"Will there be night shoots?"

"There are alley scenes set before dawn, so there may be some late filming. But we'll keep it as short as possible, and only with a guardian present. We'll also arrange the schedule to interfere with school as little as possible."

"Can I stay on set with him?"

"Of course."

Finally, she asked,

"If he gets tired, can he rest immediately?"

Geonwoo didn't hesitate.

"Yes. If he gets tired, we'll stop and let him rest immediately."

Dogyeom's mother looked at him for a long time.

She was trying to decide whether she could trust him.

Geonwoo didn't avoid her gaze.

He wanted to cast Dogyeom.

But he had no intention of pushing the child beyond his limits.

That was something he should never do as a director.

After thinking for a moment, Dogyeom's mother turned toward her son.

"Dogyeom."

"Yeah."

"Do you really want to do this?"

Dogyeom nodded very slightly.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I think it'll be fun."

He paused.

"And I think I understand Seoyun's feelings a little."

The moment Geonwoo saw his eyes, he became certain.

Dogyeom already felt the character called Seoyun.

Then Dogyeom's mother slowly nodded.

"Then try it."

Dogyeom's head shot up.

"Really?"

"But if it becomes too hard, you have to tell me immediately."

"Okay!"

"And listen carefully to the director."

"Of course!"

A small smile spread across Dogyeom's face.

Watching that smile, Geonwoo quietly thought,

This didn't happen in my previous life.

Perhaps this child had originally never been able to stand in front of a camera.

But now things were different.

In this life, Dogyeom would become Seoyun in this film.

What Geonwoo didn't know yet was that this small choice would create a much bigger moment than expected at the upcoming table read.