Chapter 878: You’ve waited a long time, haven’t you? (7)

Kim Deoksun—a name as beautiful as it sounded.

Kim Deoksun—whose beauty matched her name.

The most beautiful woman in the world.

Of course, in the film, she would only appear for about five minutes.

But still—

“Even if it’s short, Kim Deoksun is Kim Deoksun. We can’t waste that.”

So I searched for actresses who most closely matched photos of my grandmother in her middle years.

My top choice was Oh Hyunsook.

She was famously one of the original beauties, and her eyelashes and sharp nose reminded me so much of [N O V E L I G H T] our Kim Deoksun.

“Hyung.”

I showed the two photos to Seokhwan.

“What do you think? Doesn’t she really resemble how Grandma looked when she was younger? Elegant, beautiful, intelligent...”

“Y-yeah.”

“She’s perfect for the role of Kim Deoksun.”

Just imagining my grandmother’s youthful beauty being recreated on screen made my heart race.

The staff in the TF team office chuckled as I went on praising her looks.

Right then—

“Hold on.”

Seokhwan, who had just received a call, spun his chair around.

After finishing the call, he rolled back toward me.

“It’s Oh Hyunsook’s agency.”

“How is it? Did she accept?”

“Yeah.”

I clenched my fist.

My first choice had agreed.

“They said a cameo is totally doable. Apparently, since it’s your request, Wooju, they couldn’t refuse. She said she owes you from that fishing show.”

Oh Hyunsook was a regular on Honey, Let’s Fish.

I smiled and nodded at the suggestion of inviting her again sometime.

“That’s a good idea.”

“You going again?”

“I’ll send the others this time. Jung Hyun and I already went—now it’s the other three’s turn.”

The so-called “frail boat.”

Just imagining sending the weaker members made it sound fun.

“Imagine the waves crashing once...”

A wave slams onto the deck.

The cameraman struggles to keep balance—

“Wait... Ri Hyuk?”

“PD! Ri Hyuk disappeared!”

“Hyung?!”

The image froze in black and white in my mind.

“...Well, it’ll probably be fine.”

“What exactly did you just imagine?”

“Nothing.”

While casually planning to offer my group members as tribute to the fishing show—

Seokhwan handed me an envelope.

“And here’s what you asked for.”

“Thanks.”

It was the profiles of actors who had applied.

The stack was as thick as a dictionary.

As soon as news broke that Lee Gyeonwoo had joined, applications had exploded.

Among known actors, the competition was around several-to-one or ten-to-one.

But including newcomers—

Hundreds to one.

“I didn’t realize there were this many aspiring actors in Korea.”

“There are tons. You just don’t notice because it’s not your field. Probably more than idol trainees nationwide.”

But not all of them could audition.

They would first filter through submitted videos, then invite selected candidates for in-person auditions.

Because of that, the Sound of Sun team was already staying up all night reviewing tapes.

Seokhwan joked,

“While you’re at it, why not ask Jung Hyun to pick someone with good vibes?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“You laugh, but with this much money involved, even superstition matters. The CEO’s been going to fortune tellers every day.”

I laughed.

“For these people, this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It feels wrong to take that away over superstition.”

Seokhwan showed me an article.

—Actor Kwon Jaemin embroiled in drug scandal 7 days before release... Production company: “We finished filming, what now?”

“....”

He spoke grimly.

“A 30 billion won film. Can’t release it now.”

“....”

“I heard the director collapsed from stress. He had a bad feeling but the producers pushed ahead, saying a rookie wouldn’t cause trouble.”

“....”

I nodded.

“...I’ll definitely talk to Jung Hyun.”

We both nodded solemnly.

After that, it was nonstop meetings.

Profiles scattered across the table.

Bloodshot eyes.

Instant coffee.

“I like this actor’s energy in the video.”

“They’re a musical actor... not sure how that translates to screen.”

“This one has attitude issues on set. I don’t care how famous they are—I won’t tolerate that.”

As we narrowed down domestic candidates—

One familiar face caught my eye.

“...Huh?”

I pulled the file closer.

A sharp nose, like a classic film actor.

Name:

Roni Lucas.

Roni Lucas.

A face I knew well.

He had played Dracula in that escape room variety show last year.

His real name was Lucas Ronson.

I remembered helping him come up with a stage name.

“Use something you see around you—like macaroni.”

“Macaroni... Roni Lucas. Not bad.”

The last time I saw him, I had introduced him to Chris Kyle, a famous actor and Hailey Blue’s husband.

“Wooju?”

Director Kim Bora approached.

“Do you know him?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, interesting. He’s a newcomer.”

I explained, and she laughed.

“He’s one of the actors we’re considering reaching out to. Though it’ll be difficult.”

“Why?”

“He’s getting a major push right now. Hollywood’s lacking handsome male actors lately, and he’s both talented and good-looking.”

Apparently, his indie film had blown up.

It even won top honors at Sundance in January.

His value was skyrocketing daily.

“Big directors are already calling him.”

“That’s amazing.”

From amusement park part-timer to rising star in under a year.

The industry really was unpredictable.

“Ah.”

That reminded me.

“Director, do you know Cold Brown?”

“Oh? Yes.”

“He said he’d do a cameo. If there’s a jazz musician role, it might be worth considering.”

“Wooju!”

She grabbed my hand excitedly.

The staff all smiled in satisfaction.

“Alright.”

After the meeting—

“Let’s begin auditions.”

One by one, actors came in.

Some familiar.

Mostly newcomers.

And among them—

The most competitive role was my mother’s.

A central character alongside my father.

Why was it even more competitive?

Soon, I got my answer.

“It’s rare to get a role that drives the narrative like this.”

Actresses wanted to prove their acting.

That’s why the pool was so strong.

And then—

“Hello.”

She walked in.

“My name is Yeo Eunseon. Nice to meet you.”

A rising star from last year’s film Uprising.

We had briefly met at an awards ceremony.

Director Kim Bora studied her.

“...Hmm.”

She didn’t look exactly like my mother.

Where my mother had glamorous features, she had a pure, delicate beauty.

Like a fairy in a forest.

“Let’s see your acting.”

She began.

“Ms. Myeongeun!”

Her face lit up.

Bright. lively.

Warm.

Lovable.

“What is it? What?”

A betting scene about chart rankings.

She sees the number.

[17th place]

Her eyes narrow.

She scolds her husband rapidly.

Then—

“People should dream big.”

She changes it.

17 → 1.

“Not 17. We’re number 1.”

“...Number 1.”

In reality, both were right.

He predicted 17.

She made it 1.

“...That’s all.”

Applause followed.

She met my eyes briefly.

It felt like I had just seen my mother.

“Excellent preparation,” said the director.

“How did you interpret the character?”

“I imagined a tree.”

“A tree with deep roots. One that doesn’t fall in any storm. One that gives shade to the weary and shares love like fruit.”

“...Wow.”

Everyone nodded.

That was it.

She was the one.

“Shall we talk further?”

“Yes.”

The role was decided.

Then she asked—

“Do I need to prepare singing?”

“Yes.”

“But what kind of songs?”

“....”

I paused.

“...We’ll let you know later.”

There wasn’t one.

No song centered on my mother.

“Plenty of songs,” I said later.

“But none where Mom is the lead.”

“None?”

“There are songs about her. But not from her perspective.”

Ri Hyuk nodded.

“She’s the subject, not the narrator.”

“Exactly.”

So—

“Let’s make one.”

“....”

I looked at her photos.

Memories surfaced.

Her laughter.

Her warmth.

Her love.

A tree.

A girl in a dark forest.

Playing a cello.

Turning fear into light.

I opened my laptop.

[Here I Am]

A song about standing strong.

Smiling through hardship.

“I’ll add some jazz elements...”

Then—

“Huh?”

“...Did you call me?”

“No.”

Ri Hyuk finished organizing.

“Done. Clean, right?”

“Thanks.”

“So what were you doing?”

“....”

I hesitated.

“...Sorry. I already wrote the song.”

“....”

“...I didn’t mean to.”

“....”

Silence.

Ah.

This might be a problem.