"Hey, isn''t that actor Sim Cheong-seok?"

    At a bar in Daehangno, Seoul, where Sim Cheong-seok was leisurely having a drink with fellow actors, a voice called out.

    "I heard you''re trying to put out a fire in the play that''s burning up right now? What''s it called again, ''Eyes Closed,'' right?"

    Turning his head, Sim Cheong-seok saw a man with a decent appearance.

    ''Ah, this guy.''

    Sim Cheong-seok shook his head. A fellow who graduated from a well-known university drama department in Seoul and was currently working as an actor. He had been gaining some recognition recently, with rumors about him possibly appearing in a drama.

    ''I think his name was Kang Se-hyun.''

    Incidentally, Sim Cheong-seok had only worked with him in a play once. That was the extent of their connection.

    "A~mazing Sim Cheong-seok, you''ll do well. It''s a reenactment of ''Eyes Closed,'' right? The script is pretty good too..."

    "If you have something to say, just get to the point."

    Sim Cheong-seok''s curt words made Kang Se-hyun frown.

    "That arrogant attitude of yours hasn''t changed."

    "Huh, I’d like to ask who started with the sarcasm first."

    Sim Cheong-seok’s chuckle made Kang Se-hyun''s lips twitch.

    "Since you insist, I’ll get to the point."

    "Go ahead."

    "When ''Eyes Closed'' is performed, our play''s performance dates coincide perfectly."

    Sim Cheong-seok looked at him, wondering what he was getting at.

    "What? Didn''t you know? Haven''t you heard of ''Under Snitch''?"

    "Yeah."

    He had heard of it. ''Under Snitch.'' A play popular overseas being remade and performed in a large theater with over 800 seats. It definitely qualified as a ''promoted play.''

    "The actors involved are well-known too. Actor Hong Tae-baek is leading, and actress Seong Si-ha is also starring."

    Both were highly recognized in the theater world. Seong Si-ha, in particular, had transitioned from being an idol and found success in theater, frequently participating in recent performances. She was likely considering appearing in musicals in the future.

    Both actors had remarkable audience-drawing power.

    "But."

    "Yeah."

    "Why are you telling me this? Coming all the way to my drinking spot."

    At Sim Cheong-seok''s question, Kang Se-hyun leaned on his shoulder.

    "Well, just to give you some consolation. You’ve come out of your way to help, and it looks like it''s going to flop."

    Despite his words, Kang Se-hyun looked very pleased. Since their previous play together, Kang Se-hyun had always been antagonistic towards Sim Cheong-seok. Despite having more experience, he resented being outshone in acting skills.

    "Good luck. Let me know if you need any help."

    As Kang Se-hyun walked away, patting him on the shoulder, Sim Cheong-seok let out a derisive laugh. Help? He wouldn''t even answer the phone if called.

    "What a guy."

    "Don’t let it bother you, Cheong-seok. A play’s success isn''t just about the actors."

    Though his fellow actors tried to comfort him, Sim Cheong-seok honestly didn’t care.

    ‘Audience-drawing power, huh.’

    A certain girl came to his mind.

    ‘Speaking of which, there was supposed to be some filming at the school.’

    As he thought about it, Sim Cheong-seok poured himself another drink.

    "Cheong-seok, are you okay?"

    "Ah, yes. I’m fine. It''s just that..."

    He had a feeling he was about to witness the true power of audience attraction.@@@@

    "Park Jeong-woo!!"

    "Please look over here!"

    "Look at that face! It''s the size of my fist, my fist!!!"

    Screams of excitement echoed through Yeonhwa High School. Park Jeong-woo waved to the students with a smile, but inwardly he was already exhausted.

    ‘I’m already tired.’

    Though he disliked the hassle, Park Jeong-woo was known for his excellent fan service. Thanks to his father''s teachings from a young age, he knew that without fans, there would be no actor.

    ‘Always be grateful for the crowd’s cheers.’

    That was his father''s teaching, and Park Jeong-woo followed it faithfully.

    Just like that, if fan service brought even one more audience member to the theater, it was worth it.

    "Where are the staff?"

    "They''re preparing over there. Hey, over here!"

    At the manager’s shout, staff members ran to assist Park Jeong-woo as he got out of the van. Teachers, including the student affairs officer, were controlling the line to ensure that the students didn’t rush in.

    Although there were security guards, they were clearly struggling with the number of students. As Park Jeong-woo entered the filming location,

    "The drama club advisor is supposed to be here... Ah! This way!"

    PD Jeong Min-jae smiled widely as he saw Song Dayeon, the drama club advisor, rushing over.

    "Are you Ms. Song Dayeon from the drama club? Are all the students prepared for the broadcast?"

    Oh, they’re really filming.Can’t you hold the camera higher?If you hold it higher, won’t they notice and take it away?Just stick to games.Who’s Lee Ji-yeon?Watch some TV occasionally...Typical nerd: gets excited when something they know comes up.There’s a minor actress from a cable drama. She’s pretty.As long as she’s pretty.

    Privately? That wasn’t a difficult request, but should a PD handle this?

    Was this one of those MG or MZ things he had heard about?

    "She said it might not be good if she gets caught while moving separately."

    "Goodness."

    What was she up to?

    "Alright. Let’s go."

    PD Jeong Min-jae nodded. He resolved to give a stern warning if it turned out to be nothing serious.

    Wearing the costume after so long felt strange. Park Jeong-woo looked down at the hanbok he was wearing and sighed. A historical drama. The last historical drama he appeared in was The Moon That Hid the Sun. He hadn''t felt compelled to appear in another since then.

    ‘Grown-up Yun Seo-il, huh.’

    Looking in the mirror, he saw glimpses of the young Yun Seo-il. After reciting the lines in his head, he slowly stepped outside.

    "Wow, you look just like the grown-up Yun Seo-il we imagined."

    A staff member gave him a thumbs-up as soon as he came out, and Park Jeong-woo chuckled.

    "It’s been ten years. Do you still remember?"

    "Of course. It’s my favorite drama."

    Favorite drama, huh. Maybe it was similar for Park Jeong-woo too. Despite having worked on many projects, none had left such a lasting impression.

    "What about PD Jeong?"

    "Oh, he’s with the actress playing Princess Yeonhwa. He told us to start without him."

    It seemed PD Jeong had disappeared, leaving the proceedings to the junior PD. He could somewhat guess why this variety show was struggling.

    "Wow! You look amazing in hanbok too."

    A makeshift set in the auditorium, with paper boards hastily set up. As Park Jeong-woo arrived, the students chattered excitedly.

    There was a buzz of conversation. The auditorium was filled with students.

    The voices of the staff.

    ‘I’m tired.’

    Muttering words he’d said countless times today, the shoot began.

    "Come this way, my lord!"

    "Are you going to the palace again today?"

    The students'' acting was decent but still couldn''t compare to professional actors. It was watchable at best. Still, it was the best among all the episodes of Looking at the Past, Memories so far.

    The staff thought so too.

    "It’s almost time for Princess Yeonhwa to appear..."

    "She’s still not here? What’s PD Jeong doing?"

    The students portraying the market scene crowded around, creating a bustling atmosphere. They weren’t really acting, just mimicking a market scene.

    Yun Seo-il walked through the scene, reminiscing about the past.

    ‘The market I walked through with Princess Yeonhwa ten years ago.’

    Princess Yeonhwa, surprised by even small snacks. Young Joo Seoyeon. That image briefly surfaced in Park Jeong-woo’s mind and then disappeared.

    ‘Now, Princess Yeonhwa should be here.’

    If not, it would be an NG take.

    Thinking about retakes made him even more tired. His negative impression of Lee Ji-yeon was about to solidify.

    Amidst the market crowd, a graceful figure appeared. Although her appearance was concealed by a long traditional Korean coat, anyone could tell she was Princess Yeonhwa.

    ‘There she is...’

    Relieved, Park Jeong-woo followed ''Princess Yeonhwa.'' The students chattered noisily in their roles.

    And there stood Princess Yeonhwa.

    Despite wearing the traditional coat, something was different. Her posture and aura were unlike the other students.

    The moment Park Jeong-woo realized this, his pace quickened.

    Maybe.

    He thought it wasn’t acting.

    Park Jeong-woo, and Yun Seo-il, moved instinctively. Pushing through the crowd. Knowing she wouldn’t run, he reached out hastily.

    When he grasped the small shoulder, a faint laugh was heard. Familiar. Clear.

    "Seo-il."

    A woman''s hand moved, slowly pulling down the traditional coat’s hood.

    The sight entered his view slowly, like in slow motion.

    First, he saw the long, neatly tied black hair. White skin.

    "I’m a bit late."

    The cute face from childhood had grown beautifully. Princess Yeonhwa, Lee Hye-wol.

    "...But."

    Her star-like presence was etched into Park Jeong-woo''s, no, Yun Seo-il''s eyes.

    "I’m back."

    The red-tinted eyes. The playful smile on her lips.

    Park Jeong-woo’s mind went blank.