Yejun's fascination with Sarang did not start when they met when they were fifteen. He was 12 when he watched the movie "Beneath the Willow Moon." It was the movie where Sarang starred in as the main character. The story revolved around a jolly girl who is struggling to stay alive due to her illness. Watching the movie for the first time, 12-year-old Yejun was faced with mixed feelings.
As a young boy, the deep story might have been too much but at the same time he was in awe at how good Sarang was portraying a child who is both happy and sad. Right then and there, Yejun was inspired to become an actor as well.
He begged his parents to pay for acting school where he trained for two and a half years. Luckily for Yejun at the age of fifteen, he was able to pass an audition with a company who is run by a famous actor. He continued to train within the company under the direct wing of the company's president/owner who is one of the most awarded actors of his generation.
Yejun persevered with Sarang as his inspiration to do better in acting. With his hard work and young passion, Yejun was able to bag side roles even with only months officially training in his company. The company president has always bragged that Yejun could surpass him one day as an actor which made Yejun become more confident in his skills and talent.
If all that luck wasn't enough, just seven months after Yejun joined the company, fifteen-year-old Sarang signed an exclusive contract with Moon Actors—the same agency Yejun had joined!
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It was revealed that Sarang joined the company because Sarang worked with the company president, Cho Jin Woo in Beneath the Willow Moon. He acted as her father on that movie. Sarang made the choice to move to the actor's company despite its small size because he and his family treated Sarang like family. They protected Sarang from her mother's abuse when Sarang's father was not there to protect her on set.
Cho Jin Woo's wife, Cho Mina was the writer for the movie and saw how Sarang was made like a product by her mother. Without her and Cho Jin Woo, Sarang might have been preyed on by predators because of her mother's ignorance and greed to the entertainment industry.
Mina and Jin Woo saw how Sarang's mother has almost sold Sarang to disgusting figures the industry. She would force Sarang to entertain big bosses by acting cute or pretty so "Sarang could get more roles" in the future. She would dress Sarang in a way that the perverted bosses liked. To the ignorant mother, she thinks she is doing this to help Sarang's career, but she was feeding the predators what they want. Mina is a no-nonsense woman, the moment she realized what Sarang's mother was doing, she confronted her and threatened to call social service on her if she doesn't stop.
If Mina was not on set, Jin Woo would step up to look out for Sarang. He knows there are old rich men who want to sponsor movies with a motive in mind. But both Mina and Jin Woo blocked all those disgusting people to protect the minors they are working with in the movie, most especially Sarang.
Sarang's mother was of course not happy with what happened because in her eyes, that was the best way to make Sarang a top star without even considering the consequences of her actions. But since that day, she considered them a nuisance to her plans. And she was not happy when Sarang and her father decided to sign into Moon Actors behind her back.
Changing agencies has been a breath of fresh air to Sarang. They limited Sarang's mother on her work involvement and blocked and offers coming sketchy sponsors and producers. Sarang's mother thinks that this is blocking Sarang from more opportunities for her, but Sarang's father think otherwise. Sarang's father was happy at how comfortable Sarang is in her new company. She was protected and was happily thriving in her career.
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Before going to sleep, Yejun ended up reminiscing how he met Sarang for the first time.
Yejun, the night where the news broke out that Sarang signed to his agency, could not sleep due to his excitement. He still could not believe that the girl who inspired him to act is on the same company as him.
The next morning, all trainees and newbie actors and actress were gathered at the training room. To their surprise, they were to greet the new member of the company.
Beside the company president is none other than Sarang. The moment Sarang entered the room, Yejun could not take his eyes of her. He was in awe with her long wavy hair, light brown eyes, the bow in her hair that made her look like a fairy and her flowy yellow sundress that hits her knees. Sarang seemed a little shy but her aura as an experienced actress is undeniable.
Sarang was smiling while looking around the trainees.
"Hello, may name is Sarang. I hope we can be good co-workers in the future." Greeted Sarang politely while giving a respective bow to the people around.
"Welcome Sarang." Greeted back by the trainees collectively.
"Sarang let me introduce you one by one." Said Jin Woo the president gently.
"Yes Mr. President. Thank you." Sarang is still looking around until she saw Yejun. Yejun got caught off guard and thought he got caught looking too much because now, Sarang is staring back at him.
"I hope she doesn't notice my red face." Thought Yejun to himself.
Jin Woo noticed Sarang's interest in Yejun and immediately grabbed Sarang to introduce him.
Now Sarang and Yejun is face to face. "Sarang this is Yejun, he debuted a few months ago with a commercial which is quite popular now. He is steadily becoming viral with his ads. He is actually the same age as you. I hope you two can become friends."
"Yes Mr. President, I thought he looked somewhat familiar. I see him all the time in social media. Hello Yejun, I hope we get along well." Sarang gave Yejun her sweetest smile while holding out her hand.
Yejun in a fit of panic and excitement burst out something he shouldn't have.
"I-I LIKE YOU! I LIKE YOU SO MUCH! YOU ARE REASON I AM HERE RIGHT NOW! I REALLY REALLY LIKE YOU!"
The whole training area went silent with Yejun's sudden confession.
"Y-yejun?" Even Jin Woo was too stunned to speak and just face palmed his secondhand embarrassment.
Yejun, coming to his senses blushed so hard he can feel his ears getting hotter. He wanted to run but immediately thought to fess up. He looked at Sarang's surprised face and gathered courage again.
"I like you Sarang, you are the reason I wanted to become an actor. I worked so hard to be a great actor like you. Please don't feel uncomfortable around me. I just got flustered seeing you in person. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
"O-oh I see, so you just see me as an inspiration. Thank you, Yejun."
Jin Woo who was worried let out a sigh of relief that the misunderstanding is cleared immediately and wanted to commend Yejun for being mature for his age to clear out misunderstandings but…
Yejun though for another ten second and decided to drop another bomb.
"Yes and no." Yejun said.
"Yes, and what? What do you mean Yejun?" asked Sarang.
"Yes, I do admire you and you are my inspiration for acting but it does not end there."
"Yejun wai---" Jin Woo tried to stop Yejun, but Yejun cut him off immediately.
"I really like you as a person. I know we are still young, and I am not yet on your level. So Sarang please wait for me, when we get older and I am on your level, I will confess to you again and I hope you consider dating me in the future. I like you!"
"WHOOOOOOH!" Cheered the people on the training room. They clapped at Yejun's heartfelt confession while the company president was so embarrassed he can't even look at Sarang.
Sarang on the other hand was again too stunned to speak at this boy's confession.