Chapter 46: BORN VS. MADE
AN BAEKYA remembered the time that Yun Yuhyun was criticized after the public found out that he was the son of the veteran actor Yun Dujun.
Of course, people credited Yun Yuhyun’s success as an actor to his father.
’Nepo Baby.’
That became Yun Yuhyun’s title overnight.
And the brat’s response?
"Yeah, I’m a nepo baby— but I’m a talented nepo baby, so you can’t say I owe all my success to my father. I do acknowledge my privilege. It was my father who opened doors of opportunities for me, after all. But it’s my talent and hard work that helped me stay in this industry. I wouldn’t say that I worked as hard as my fellow actors who didn’t have the same starting line as I did. Having said that, I’m confident to say that I was never lazy when it comes to acting."
Yun Yuhyun’s statement back then divided the public.
It actually broke the internet.
Both domestic and global fans expressed their strong opinions online.
Many people found Yun Yuhyun arrogant, but some found him admirable for acknowledging his privilege.
So, it sparked a war.
And the winner?
Yun Yuhyun.
Just half a year after Yun Yuhyun dropped that bomb-like statement, Yun Yuhyun won Best Leading Actor in a prestigious television industry acting award-giving body after his excellent performance in the hit Korean drama that reached #1 globally.
That was just the beginning of the brat’s rise as an international star.
After that, Yun Yuhyun became the first Korean actor to star in a hit Hollywood film. Later, the brat won the Best Actor award from the most prestigious award-giving body in the world— becoming Korea’s national pride instantly.
So, all the people who criticized him for being a nepo baby were silenced.
After all, Yun Dujun didn’t have any influence in Hollywood. The veteran actor hadn’t bothered about going global during his prime.
Anyway, the ’nepo baby’ allegations ended when Yun Yuhyun became a Hollywood star.
Yeah, Yun Yuhyun was that successful as an actor.
Tsk.
"Are we done here?"
An Baekya returned to the present when he heard Yun Yuhyun’s bored question.
It’s annoying how easy everything is for this brat, especially when it comes to acting.
"Yun Yuhyun, is acting really that easy for you?"
"Yeah," Yun Yuhyun said casually. "I watch Daddy when he practices his lines at home. Then I copy what he does. It only gets hard when Daddy speaks English. That’s why I’m going to take English lessons soon."
Tsk.
An Baekya was annoyed because it was obvious that Yun Yuhyun wasn’t being arrogant— the punk was just stating a fact.
That acting is as natural as breathing to him.
And he couldn’t accept that.
I believe that being an actor is something you develop over time, but Yun Yuhyun makes it look like being an actor comes from his genes.
Yun Yuhyun was the very definition of ’born an actor.’
This brat has innate talent and the right family background.
But An Baekya refused to acknowledge that.
Actors are made— and I’m going to prove that in this timeline.
Training and education.
Experience.
Emotional intelligence.
I have them all.
And those were the weapons that An Baekya would use against Yun Yuhyun.
"I’m going to win this time."
An Baekya only realized that he said that out loud when Yun Yuhyun responded.
"Win what? Are we competing?"
"Yes," An Baekya said, and then he turned his back on Yun Yuhyun. "Wash your face, brat— you have snot."
"Yah!" Yun Yuhyun complained. "I do not have snot!"
***
WONYOUNG let out a sigh of relief when they finally returned to the penthouse suite.
It wasn’t like he didn’t enjoy his time with Yun Dujun.
We almost got mobbed because of the people who wanted to hit on Dujun Sunbae-nim.
So, he only got to breathe properly when they were finally back at the hotel.
"Welcome back, sirs."
Han Myung greeted them politely.
Yun Dujun just nodded in acknowledgement.
Wonyoung greeted back Han Myung properly before asking: "Where are the kids, Myung-ssi?"
"Young Master Yuhyun-nim is in the room while playing in his computer tablet, and An Baekya is reading a book in a lounge chair in the pool area, Wonyoung-ssi. Don’t worry— I was keeping an eye on him before you arrived, and An Baekya promised he won’t get near the pool while I was away."
Whew.
That was a relief.
Children shouldn’t be left unsupervised near the pool.
Wonyoung was still worried, though.
"Did the kids fight?"
"I’m not sure," Han Myung answered awkwardly. "The kids were reading lines in the room earlier. Then An Baekya suddenly walked out, and then the young master locked himself up in the room."
Aigoo.
They fought again.
"Sunbae-nim, check on Yuhyun," Wonyoung said, glancing at Yun Dujun who was already removing his wig. "I’ll just check on An Baekya."
Yun Dujun burrowed his brows. "Shouldn’t you check on our son first?"
Oh.
Uhm, Sunbae-nim has a point.
But...
"Later," Wonyoung said, avoiding Yun Dujun’s judging gaze. "I have something I need to ask An Baekya."
***
WONYOUNG sat quietly in the chair lounge next to An Baekya.
He didn’t want to disturb the child who was engrossed in the book that he was reading.
It’s a novel that has been adapted into a movie in the past.
"Welcome back, Appa."
Oh.
"Did I interrupt your reading?"
"No, sir. I can’t concentrate anyway," An Baekya said, and then he lifted his head to look at Wonyoung. "Appa, do you think a star is born or made?"
Oho?
That sounded like a random question at first.
But this is An Baekya we’re talking about here.
"Did something happen?"
An Baekya nodded. "I was reminded that you and Yun Dujun-ssi created a monster actor, Appa."
Wonyoung panicked at first.
But he remembered that no one was within earshot since Han Myung had already left the suite, while Yun Dujun and Yun Yuhyun were in the bedroom.
"People from our world said that Yun Yuhyun was born a star— but I refuse to accept that," An Baekya said firmly, his eyes burning with passion. "A star is made, and I want to be the living proof of that. But seeing Yun Yuhyun’s natural acting prowess discouraged me."
Ah.
’Is a star born or made?’
It was a question that most actors had asked themselves at least once in their lives.
And for Wonyoung...
"Isn’t it a mix of both?"
***
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