Life is Easier If You’re Handsome

It’s been a week since the founding of Theater Flame.

So much has happened during this time.

The most significant change?

“…Donghu, why are we at the Arts Center?”

“Well, I’ve heard that Chairman Edward Park pulled some strings… I don’t really know the details.”

The stage moved from Daehangno to the Arts Center.

They even declared that there would be no venue fees.

On top of that, they announced that they would support shuttle buses for children.

Moreover…

“It’s been a while since we fought for ratings with a documentary. If it hits big, there’s a bonus, and if it flops, it’s cherry pie…!”

“Don’t be reckless, focus on the task at hand. Our documentary team just needs to stand above the three networks with our skills.”

“Documentary special forces! We make our grand entrance here! Perfectly executing Director Park’s mission! Choooyooo!!!”

Nearby, staff members from the three networks were preparing to film the documentary.

Sponsorship boxes were continuously piling up in the storage room in real time.

‘This is way too big.’

This was beyond the pale.

Even though Sims had given some hints through future letters,

-[Theater Flame Illuminates the World]

-[The Good Influence, Theater Flame Achieved It.]

There were only two vague messages, making it very difficult to guess the scale.

‘But I didn’t expect it to be this large.’

As things unfolded this way, what worried me the most was senior Bong Jinwoo.

The current actors of Theater Flame, including me, were adapting pretty well to this situation.

But Bong Jinwoo, who had directed plays at school until now, was currently…

“Director! It’s the art team! Is there anything you want to add or modify here?”

“Huh? Oh… Uh, I think the tree should be a bit bigger and more majestic.”

“It’s the costume team! Do you have any costume approvals? Please confirm the design!”

“Wow, make the prince’s outfit the most extravagant. After all, the person wearing it is handsome, so everyone’s attention will naturally go to his face…”

He was going crazy trying to coordinate everything.

Still, surely those who were meant to shine had a different aura from the start.

Even though it was a first-time situation, he was handling everything like a pro.

It would take about three months for Theater Flame to show its face to the public.

By then, we had to start the stage and complete the acting and the script.

‘The script is nearly finished, right?’

So all that was left was the stage and the acting.

Originally, the promotional period should have been included,

But since ‘Theater Flame’ was still trending in real-time search rankings,

We didn’t need to do any additional promotions ourselves.

After all, the first performance was solely for the children.

While I was lost in thought…

“This is really too tough. I feel like I’m going to faint.”

Senior Bong Jinwoo approached me after managing the schedule.

“Phew, I was so scattered since this morning that I forgot to pass this on.”

“Pass on what?”

“Yeah, the script… I just finished it early this morning.”

Swipe.

The finalized script of [The Story of the Stars and the Moon].

The last version was just a rough outline of the Young Prince’s story.

‘This is the real deal.’

Now, let me check the whole story.

“Thank you, senior. I’ll do my best.”

I said that and headed straight to my private waiting room.

‘Immersion.’

I dove into the script.

++++++

At the same time.

Sujin Kim, who received the script through her mother, was.

“…Is this for real?”

After quickly reading to the end of the script, she couldn’t stop her eyes from trembling.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Ugh, the latter part… the Rose and the Young Prince…”

“Huh? What about them?”

“They, they kiss.”

Upon hearing her daughter’s words, Yu-ryun Kim hurriedly flipped back through the script.

‘Is there really a scene like that?’

Yu-ryun was currently checking her own lines, so she hadn’t read the part where the Rose appears.

The moment she hurriedly checked the script.

“Daughter, that’s not a kiss, it’s just an implication!”

She felt that it was tense for nothing.

< The Young Prince deeply embraces the Rose and feels warmth. >

To think that she interpreted that as a kiss!

Yu-ryun chuckled mischievously and cautiously asked her daughter.

“If you thought that was a kiss, does that mean our daughter has a crush on Donghu…?”

“No! No way! Don’t make me look like a pervert! Mom!”

“Wanting a kiss isn’t perverted. I want to kiss Dad every day. Does that make me a pervert?”

“That’s because you’re in love!”

Yu-ryun smiled happily at her daughter’s response.

“Does that not include crushes?”

“Mom!”

“Got it. Wow, our daughter raises her voice during these times. You were so gentle in front of Donghu.”

“Oh, anyway…! So they’re going to hug! Don’t I need to go on a diet?”

“Diet? Our daughter is the prettiest just as she is right now.”

Yu-ryun playfully pinched Sujin’s cheeks.

How did our cute and lovely daughter start to fall in love?

‘No, when it comes to Kim Donghu, “how did” is probably not the right expression.’

First of all, he starts with looks, giving a perfect score.

But his solid character is beyond words.

Is it right to say he’s a good person?

Even if forced to live a certain way, it would be hard.

But Kim Donghu was genuinely living straightforwardly.

Often, people get lured in by appearances and turn away when they see personality.

‘But Kim Donghu lays a trap with his irresistible looks and then captures hearts with his character?’

While Yu-ryun was happily imagining her future son-in-law(?),

Sujin hurriedly walked toward the waiting room where Donghu was.

Knock knock.

A polite knock.

Bang!

The door swung open to reveal Donghu leisurely reading the script and munching on snacks.

‘He has no sense of urgency!’

But if he’s reading the script, he should know that we’re supposed to hug.

Isn’t it too relaxed?

‘You should have also come to look for me in a hurry!’

Donghu, so infuriating.

“Donghu, you idiot!”

Even as I said that, Sujin sat right next to Donghu.

“Did you come? Have some snacks. These are really good.”

“Snacks? Are you seriously eating snacks right now, even after reading the script?”

“Isn’t it super touching? You can totally understand why it’s called The Story of the Stars and the Moon.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Sujin blinked at Donghu’s words.

It was indeed a touching story.

If I had read it alone at night, I might have shed a tear.

But aside from that, hugging was a whole different issue.

‘A kiss isn’t a kiss…’

Really! Truly! I solemnly swear to speak only the truth!

‘…Thank goodness.’

But regardless of that, how can you be so calm doing this?

“Did you really properly see the last scene?”

“Oh, that feeling of warmth? I asked because it was abstract, but they said a hug would do. If it’s too much, just pretend to hug.”

“No, pretending is not an option! Isn’t love such an important value, even for children? Just pretending is…”

Having said that, Sujin hurriedly shut her mouth.

Realizing only then what nonsense she was spilling out.

Sujin paused for a moment and started popping the snacks into her mouth.

Munch munch.

“Right, but hugging is really… not easy.”

That’s something I didn’t even do during [Sun and Moon].

Of course, at that time, there weren’t really any moments to do it, so it wasn’t necessary.

“So that’s why you’re here? Because you think you can’t hug?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“You don’t want to pretend, and you’re not really keen on hugging either, right?”

“Wait, why does it sound like that?”

Tap.

Sujin covered Donghu’s mouth with her hand.

Sure, it was a situation where such a misunderstanding could happen,

And she was the one who created the source of it,

‘But that doesn’t mean I should think you’re like this.’

This guy with no blood or tears!

Is it always NO or YES? Can’t there be a middle ground?

“It’s not that. I just thought if it felt awkward to hug during rehearsals or matching our acting, it wouldn’t be good, so I came over to prepare.”

Tap tap.

Donghu smiled and lightly tapped the back of Sujin’s hand.

A soft expression that was asking her to move her hand away because he wanted to respond.

Swoosh.

As soon as her hand dropped, Donghu quickly followed up.

“Oh, so you came to practice hugging? Like us hugging?”

Pak!

And I got hit!

He’s so good at turning his words around, but why is he so direct at times like this?

Sujin touched her flushed face.

Even without a mirror, she knew how hot her face was.

Thump, thump.

Hearing the word “hug,” her heart pounded louder.

But I still had to answer.

“Y-yeah, I came to do that. I mean, I have to be able to do it later without it feeling awkward!”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t her first hug.

In [Sun and Moon], Donghu had once hugged her when she got really into emotional acting.

So, this could be considered the second time.

But.

‘That was just a brief moment.’

The hug in [The Story of the Stars and the Moon] would need to be repeated several times.

So, of course, it was necessary to practice to adapt.

“Then shall we do a reading together?”

“Huh?”

“The latter part, just the two of us, I thought it would be good to get used to it by reading together.”

“W-what? R-reading? Right now?”

“Yeah, just wait a moment. I have something ready.”

Donghu said this while wrapping the prince’s cape draped over the coat rack around himself.

And then, without anyone knowing when,

He naturally placed a harmony rose behind Sujin’s left ear.

“Alright, I think we’re all set.”

Rustle.

His thick fingers brushed through her hair, past her ear, and touched her cheek.

Sujin couldn’t adapt to the sudden unfolding of the moment.

But Donghu started his lines with a seriousness like no one else.

“Rose, my beloved, my only Rose.”

At his words, like a confession,

“Ugh, ugh… hic!”

Sujin started hiccupping instead of reciting her lines.