Chapter 258


    Chapter 258


    Out of the 40 students in the third year of acting at Yeoul Arts Middle School, 21 passed the entrance exam for Mirinae High School.


    The teachers at Yeoul Arts Middle School were surprised by the high number of successful applicants.


    Its amazing, even though they didnt get any extra points for being in the same foundation.


    Besides, some of them changed their career paths to regular high schools or to production instead of acting.


    There were various reasons for each student.


    Among those who did not apply for Mirinae High School, some were afraid of Seo-juns and other students talents and left, and some became interested in music or art classes and changed their career paths.


    If we exclude those students, the acceptance rate would be even higher.


    The ones who failed are not bad either


    It must mean that there were a lot of talented third graders who applied.


    The teachers nodded their heads.


    Simply put, out of the top 40 child actors in the country, 21 were from Yeoul Arts Middle School.


    ***


    Ju Kyung, Jae Han, Ji Ho, and Ju Hee also passed. Seong Min and Si Yeong, who are preparing for the graduation performance with me, also passed.


    Really? Thats great.


    Now that the music and art students have finished their exams, we can start preparing for real. Ugh. Its going to be so much fun!


    How long can you rent the school practice room?


    Seo-jun and his parents were eating apples and chatting in the living room.


    Today, Kim Jong Hos talk show that he filmed to promote the play Juror was going to be aired.


    Its starting.


    Kim Jong Ho, who played the father role, Choi Chan Young, who played Park Kyung Won, and the actors who played the lawyer and prosecutor roles were sitting side by side on the stage.


    The MC, who was asking and talking about the play Juror, its casting process, and rehearsal situation, opened his mouth.


    There is an interesting statistic.


    The MC smiled as he flipped through the cue cards.


    Do you know that the reading population has increased significantly in the second half of this year? Especially, the sales of Juror and Mirror have exploded. The online novel Waiting for a Star is also selling a lot of e-books.


    Kim Jong Ho and the actors, and Seo-jun and his parents who were watching on television, laughed as if they knew why.


    [Reading population increases suddenly! What is the reason?]


    [Buy Mirror and Juror along with other books!]


    [From neighborhood bookstores to large bookstores! Bookstore outing!]


    [Publishers and bookstores are busy! Lets find out this months events!]


    -I read some books this year thanks to Seo-jun.


    =22 I went to bookstores a lot last year when I never went before.


    -Buying other books while buying Mirror lol


    -Juror was interesting.


    =Waiting for a Star was not bad either?


    =22 It was childish but I cried a lot when I read it at night lol lol


    =What about Mirror?


    =No one would have read it. They said they would read it after watching the play lol lol


    =Its really amazing lol lol Why cant they read it after buying it!


    -I havent bought Mirror yet. I think Ill read it if I buy it because Im curious.


    =22 Me too.


    =There seem to be quite a few people like that. But shouldnt we buy it by December? Wont it be sold out all at once when the graduation performance gets closer?


    =The publisher must be prepared too.


    -We dont need a reading promotion policy. Just let Seo-jun upload a two-minute video once a month.


    =lol No other promotion needed lol lol


    -Anyway, publishers and bookstores are enjoying Seo-juns special effects until the end of the year lol lol


    ***


    In mid-November, when Yeoul Arts Middle Schools Mirror team was practicing hard,


    the play Juror opened at Eunha-su Center.


    The first day of the play Juror was scheduled for the friends and acquaintances of the actors and staff, as well as general audiences.


    The entrance for the invited seats is this way.


    The staffs voice directed the friends and acquaintances of the actors and staff to move their steps.


    Seo-jun, Lee Ji Seok, and Park Do Hoon, who received invitations from Kim Jong Ho, also headed to the theater. The managers of the three actors followed them.


    Seo-jun. Did you buy flowers?


    Theyre in the car. Ill bring them after the play. What about you, Do Hoon hyung?


    Me too. Theyre in the car. Its uncomfortable to watch the play with them.


    Park Do Hoon nodded his head at Seo-juns words and stepped into the theater.


    Lee Ji Seok, who was following Seo-jun and Park Do Hoon, tilted his head.


    Seo-jun. Why dont you ask me?


    I thought you wouldnt buy them, Ji Seok hyung. Right, Do Hoon hyung?


    "Yeah. Hyung buying flowers for Jong Ho uncle "


    Seo-jun and Park Do Hoon laughed at the unimaginable scene. Lee Ji Seok wondered if he should go and buy some now.


    Seo-jun, who was laughing softly, looked at the audience seats and tilted his head.


    Huh?


    When he entered the theater, he saw that the first three rows of seats near the stage were blocked and no one could sit there, and the next few rows were invited seats, and behind them were general audiences.


    Lee Ji Seok also tilted his head at the strange situation.


    Seo-jun quickly took out his invitation and checked his seat.


    The first floor stage was a past reenactment.


    It could have been a confusing structure, but with appropriate adaptation and brilliant acting by the actors, it made everyone wonder about the truth of the case.


    Seo-juns eyes turned to the jurors.


    They were the most important role in the book, but they became the least important role because the audience members became the jurors themselves. But the actors who played the jurors were working hard.


    Park Won-kyung answered all the questions obediently as in the novel. Both unfavorable and favorable ones.


    The prosecutor and defense attorney gave their final arguments.


    The defendant committed a premeditated murder!


    This case was nothing but an unfortunate accident!


    Their loud voices echoed throughout the theater.


    The audience members also nodded along with either the prosecutor or defense attorneys opinions.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    The jurors opinions were delivered and the judge opened his mouth.


    The judge sided with the defense.


    The contrast between the angry prosecutor and the happy defense was striking.


    After the trial ended, Park Kyung-won, who was about to leave through a door prepared next to the defenses seat, looked at the audience seats and said,


    Why are you crying?


    In that sentence, there was a cold satisfaction that his plan had ended successfully.


    He sneered at the people who were fooled by his plan.


    The audience members spat out a sigh of disgust at Park Kyung-wons appearance, realizing that the prosecutor was right.


    Hmm.


    It seemed that either the director or the actor interpreted him as a smart and crazy person like Joo-hee.


    It was different from his interpretation, but it was a great work, so Seo-jun clapped his hands with all his might.


    Clap! Clap! Clap!


    The audience members couldnt take their eyes off the fight and the past reenactments that were different from the prosecutor and defense attorney.


    They gave a big applause to the actors who showed their best performances.


    Lee Ji-seok and Park Do-hoon also smiled satisfiedly and clapped their hands.


    It was fun. They did a good job adapting it.


    Yes. It had a different charm from the book.


    Then lets go give Uncle Jong-ho a bouquet of flowers!


    At Seo-juns words, Lee Ji-seok and Park Do-hoon laughed and got up from their seats.


    ***


    Song Mun-seok, the author of the novel The Jury, sat at a small table set up next to the lobby of the Milky Way Center.


    He had come to watch the play The Jury.


    A publishing company employee who came with him asked.


    Mr. Song, how was it?


    It was fun. They kept the important parts well and the stage direction was good too. The actors were beyond words.


    Right? Especially Kim Jong-ho and Choi Chan-young did well. I got goosebumps at the last line.


    Ah, the last line.


    Song Mun-seoks face clouded over with satisfaction.


    Maybe because of the false report that Lee Seo-jun was cast, but there was a sold-out line and even inquiries for extension performances. Maybe it will be made into a movie. Oh, Mr. Song, Ill be back after taking a call.


    Okay.


    The publishing company employee who was excited by the unexpected success left, and Song Mun-seok took out a coin from his pocket and put it in the vending machine.


    He wanted to drink something cold to ease his stuffy chest.


    He took out a can of soda and sat down on a chair.


    Thats when it happened.


    The last line?


    Yeah. I think its a bit different from my interpretation.


    Really? Whats your interpretation?


    Song Mun-seoks hand stopped as he was about to drink soda.


    He listened to the voice.


    Hmm. A crazy person without emotions? I think Park Kyung-won doesnt understand peoples feelings at all.


    Song Mun-seok trembled at the interpretation that seemed to look into his mind.


    He doesnt understand why people cry or laugh, so he answers all the questions from the prosecutor honestly, no matter if they are unfavorable or favorable to him. He doesnt care what verdict is given either. The last line is also him asking why they are crying because he really doesnt understand.


    Song Mun-seok got up from his seat. Soda full of carbonation spilled over the table.


    The publishing company employee who came back after taking a phone call ran over in surprise.


    He grabbed Song Mun-seok who was looking for the owner of the voice.


    Mr. Song! Your clothes!


    Just, just a moment.


    First, wipe this with this Mr. Song?!


    Song Mun-seok ran towards where the voice came from, but there were many people in the lobby after the play ended.


    Men and women, children and adults. Song Mun-seok looked around the lobby quickly.


    The publishing company employee followed Song Mun-seok with a bewildered expression.


    Whats wrong? Mr. Song?


    No, nothing. Its nothing.


    Oh, I just got a call from the publishing company. They said they want to produce your work into a drama


    The publishing company employees voice faded away.


    Song Mun-seok looked around the lobby with a longing look in his eyes.