3 hours before the reenactment of Episode 8 of The Moon Embracing the Sun began.
It was around the time Park Jung-woo had arrived and the staff were in the middle of filming.
"Joo Seo-yeon."
Lee Ji-yeon held out a hanbok towards Seo-yeon.
It was the hanbok for 'Princess Yeon-hwa' given by the staff that morning.
"Wear it."
Seo-yeon looked at the hanbok with a troubled expression.
The reasons for that were very complex.
The dangerous situations she almost faced in middle school when she was known as Princess Yeon-hwa.
The fact that this role was given to Lee Ji-yeon, not herself.
The worry that it might somehow harm the play.
Those various reasons made Seo-yeon hesitate.
"Lee Ji-yeon, I..."
"I know what you're thinking."
Ji-yeon said to Seo-yeon.
They had been stuck together for 10 years.
In the past, it was hard to read her thoughts from that expressionless face, but not anymore.
Sometimes she still didn't know, but in a situation like this, it was completely obvious.
"There must be various reasons. Above all, it's too good of an opportunity for me."
It's a chance to film with Park Jung-woo, a young actor close to top star status.
It was an opportunity that any peer actor would be desperate to get their hands on.
Lacking viewership?
Park Jung-woo provides the name recognition to fill that.
No, even if the variety show doesn't hit big, name recognition would rise significantly just from internet articles.
I know.
Everything.
"I know you want to do something with the play."
There must be some plan.
However, she didn't like the fact that Seo-yeon's first comeback stage was an ordinary play.
The first stage after returning.
It felt like throwing away a one-time premium chance.
"You said you were going to become a top actor."
Ji-yeon thought.
If she didn't like an ordinary stage, she just had to make it a special one.
This variety show was a good opportunity for that.
"This is an opportunity. You know it too."
From the very beginning, since she received the role of Princess Yeon-hwa.
Ji-yeon had imagined this situation countless times.
Princess Yeon-hwa belongs to Seo-yeon.
A long time ago.
When she saw her on TV.
Since she witnessed that starlight, this feeling has not changed.
"……."
Seo-yeon quietly looked at Ji-yeon.
Quietly.
And calmly.
When a little time had passed, Seo-yeon slowly nodded.
"Alright."
She made her decision.
Ji-yeon was right.
Seo-yeon's participation in "With Eyes Closed" was a stepping stone for the next step.
However, there was nothing wrong with making that stepping stone even more special.
Hesitating would be rude to Ji-yeon, who was even giving up the opportunity given to her.
"I'll do it."
With Seo-yeon's firm answer, the changing of clothes began.
The makeup artist Ji-yeon had personally brought, and the manager helped with the work.
Everything proceeded without a hitch.
Thanks to Ji-yeon having prepared everything already.
Makeup artist.
Manager to help with changing.
With their help, Seo-yeon entrusted her body and began her makeup.
Princess Yeon-hwa, Lee Hye-wol.
To become her for the first time in 10 years.
"Now, please raise your arms."
Wearing the multi-layered Mujigi skirt.
Draping the jeogori.
"Seo-yeon, lift your head."
Tying up her long black hair.
Reflecting her face in the mirror, applying makeup delicately and decorating.
Princess Yeon-hwa reflected in the mirror.
The beautiful appearance of the young Hye-wol grown up was reflected in the mirror.
"Lee Ji-yeon? What in the world..."
And finally, PD Jung Min-jae, called by Ji-yeon, arrived.
With a sour expression, as soon as he arrived, he froze dumbly.
'Lee Ji-yeon?'
He rubbed his eyes.
He had seen Ji-yeon's photos several times before this shoot.
But, who was the woman in front of his eyes right now?
Black hair, sharply raised eyes.
A woman with an elegant posture and a tranquil atmosphere.
She was literally the incarnation of Princess Yeon-hwa.
Just like how the young Hye-wol from 10 years ago would look if she had grown up...
"Huh?"
PD Jung Min-jae hurriedly took out his phone and searched for the child actress who played Princess Yeon-hwa 10 years ago.
Joo Seo-yeon.
Yes, that was definitely the name.
And when the photo appeared.
"Uh, uhhhh? Huh? Wait, wait a minute. Ji-yeon? No, you're not Ji-yeon, right?"
Flustered Min-jae didn't even notice Ji-yeon standing right next to 'Princess Yeon-hwa'.
He knew someone was there, but his gaze was fixed on Seo-yeon's face.
"Yes. PD-nim."
Seo-yeon smiled calmly.
"I am Joo Seo-yeon."
Thud.
The moment he heard that name, Min-jae ended up dropping his smartphone on the floor.
***
For a moment, the people in the auditorium didn't understand what had happened.
At first, they thought it was just acting.
It was the same for Song Yong-ho, a high school student streamer who was holding his smartphone, zooming in to record the video.
At first, an ordinary play.
Yes, it felt more like a play than a drama.
But something without much to see.
Especially since the story unfolded mainly around the students at first, it was even more boring.
- Shit kekeke I can see why this flopped
- I haven't been able to sleep lately... but looking at this, I'm already getting sleepy....
- Just playing one game at home would be dozens of times more fun
Sure enough, the chat was similar to Yong-ho's thoughts.
Of course, watching a variety show live without any editing could be even more so.
And that initial feeling was reversed after Park Jung-woo appeared.
When he revealed himself wearing a hanbok, a scream-like cheer filled the auditorium.
- No, is that Lee Hwon???
- I was about to fall asleep, fuck, now I'm fully awake
- Please 3cm dick please 3cm dick 3cm please 3cm please 3cm
With Park Jung-woo's entrance, the chats started to rise rapidly.
The viewer count, which was around 200, increased to 500.
Song Yong-ho smiled with joy and turned his gaze back to the variety show being filmed.
'An actor is definitely an actor.'
He thought so.
Just from his entrance alone, the boundary between 'student' and 'actor' was clearly visible.
The scenes of Park Jung-woo acting were worth watching.
But that was it.
A variety show isn't meant to just watch an actor performing passionately alone, is it?
- Wake me up when it's over...
- Even Park Jung-woo can't save this
- Hmm...
It was around the time everyone was losing interest.
Numerous students jumped out and formed a crowd.
It seemed they were trying to depict a 'market', as each of them chimed in selling their goods.
In the midst of it, the sight of Park Jung-woo walking quietly.
'It's almost over.'
It was now roughly two-thirds of the way through the content.
When Yong-ho was looking sorrowfully at the gradually decreasing viewer count.
"Huh?"
"What?"
Park Jung-woo's footsteps quickened.
Was it acting?
If so, it was truly realistic acting.
Park Jung-woo walking as if chasing someone, like he was bewitched.
And at the end of his gaze stood a woman hiding her appearance in a long jang-ot.
Princess Yeon-hwa.
Everyone thought so.
But.
"Seo-il."
When the clear voice rang through the speakers, carried by the microphone.
Yong-ho felt goosebumps.
The girl slowly lowering the jang-ot that covered her head, smiling softly.
- ????????
- What?
- That's not Lee Ji-yeon?
- Who's the actress for Princess Yeon-hwa??? Her visuals are insane????
- Something... I feel like I've seen her before... isn't she the child actress for Princess Yeon-hwa?
- Boomer... please make sense.
- That's definitely Joo Seo-yeon, the child actress who played the young Princess Yeon-hwa, for sure
- For real???
- Does that even make sense????
Yong-ho couldn't even dare to look at the chat window full of bait.
"Crazy..."
Because to that extent, he was instantly immersed in this play.
'She's definitely... Joo Seo-yeon from Class 4, right?'
'Was she in the drama club?'
'No, more than that...'
The Moon Embracing the Sun was a very unfamiliar drama to the students.
Because it was 10 years ago.
It was a drama aired when they were only 7 years old.
No matter how famous the drama was, even if the child actress gathered a lot of buzz, it was hard to remember that name. To remember.
"Seo-yeon was, that Joo Seo-yeon?"
"No, I thought she looked like her, but..."
"Wait. It's not certain yet."
The teachers, right away.
They clearly remembered the young Princess Yeon-hwa.
Even though 10 years had passed.
However, they never imagined that that pretty female student would be 'Actress Joo Seo-yeon'.
'There was no such special mention in her student record either??'
Seo-yeon stopped her acting career before entering elementary school.
Naturally, there was no mention of it.
However.
What resolved their doubts was Park Jung-woo's reaction.
Him, frozen solid.
Proved that Seo-yeon in front of him was that 'child actress Joo Seo-yeon'.
"……."
Park Jung-woo, frozen with his eyes wide open.
Slowly approaching Seo-yeon, as if even forgetting to breathe.
His mouth gaping open felt truly genuine.
What remained in Park Jung-woo's memory was a small child.
But the girl in front of him was a beautifully grown woman.
Playful red eyes, and softly curved lips.
That expression was more friendly and dazzling than the past.
"Seo-il?"
He couldn't even act in time.
"You, you!!"
Grabbing Seo-yeon's arm and speaking in panic, a questioning look appeared in her eyes.
"That's not the line?"
"Now, no, is this the time to say that? The real Joo Seo-yeon. You're Joo Seo-yeon, right..."
Why are you here.
No, where the hell did Lee Ji-yeon go, and why is the real Princess Yeon-hwa here.
Park Jung-woo unknowingly grabbed Seo-yeon's both arms and tried to spit out those words.
"……Ah."
And belatedly, he realized the auditorium had gone dead silent.
How must he have looked right now.
Park Jung-woo squeezed his eyes shut.
***
She was a little surprised.
That Park Jung-woo would suddenly grab her arm and shake it tremblingly.
Was there a scene like this?
She thought, but of course there wasn't.
"Let's take a short break and then proceed!"
The filming reached a lull for a moment, and the camera caught her and Park Jung-woo.
It seemed they intended to capture all of this on screen too.
Seo-yeon thought so and opened her mouth.
"You caused an NG."
"You... see."
Jung-woo grabbed his head.
His head throbbed.
It felt like the fatigue he had been feeling until just now had vanished in an instant.
"……Why the hell are you here?"
"Because this is obviously the high school I attend."
"Ha, does that really make sense."
His startled heart was still pounding.
He gave Seo-yeon a brief glance before turning his head away.
It was hard to look at her properly.
Perhaps it was awkward.
It felt strange in many ways.
"……Are you making a comeback?"
Jung-woo's quiet words.
The camera captured his voice.
And naturally, the gaze of everyone in the auditorium.
And the gaze of the students being filmed and the teachers watching focused on the two of them.
Seo-yeon felt it.
Right now.
"Yes."
"Did you get a project? If not, I..."
"I already got one. A play."
"A play?"
That was a very unexpected remark to Park Jung-woo.
Why on earth would Seo-yeon choose a play as her comeback project.
"What's the title?"
"That's..."
Seo-yeon's lips parted.
And those words clearly embedded in everyone's ears.
The name of the comeback project of Joo Seo-yeon, who gained attention as Princess Yeon-hwa 10 years ago.
"But isn't this acting important right now?"
The gazes of the students in the auditorium gathered.
Seo-yeon looked at that, then soon turned her gaze to Jung-woo.
And.
The atmosphere changed.
Seo-yeon's relatively calm atmosphere changed into the playful Lee Hye-wol.
Yet still feeling elegant and graceful.
Into the appearance of Princess Yeon-hwa.
Forgetting even that it was a simple TV variety show.
Everyone, immersed in the play, watched it.
"Seo-il."
Princess Yeon-hwa, Lee Hye-wol.
The reunion scene with the grown Yoon Seo-il.
What the fans of The Moon Embracing the Sun had wished for for 10 years.
The masterpiece filmed with the young Hye-wol and young Seo-il all grown up.
"Have you waited long?"
At her words, Jung-woo let out a small laugh.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Thus, the reenactment of Episode 8 that began after 10 years.
Brought about a tremendous impact.