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<Lee Ha-eun · Yuseongjae 'Moonlight Cutting Through Clouds' Breaks Highest Viewer Rating Again Before Ending>

<KBC 'Moonlight Cutting Through Clouds' Records 33.7% Viewer Rating for Final Episode>

<KBC 'Moonlight Cutting Through Clouds' Explosive Success Leaves MBS 'Full Moon Lovers' with 8.1% for a Lonely Exit>

“Success… I guess.”

I couldn’t exactly say it was not, though.

No matter what kind of excuses I tried to make afterward, I couldn’t deny the success of my first leading role drama.

It felt like a good result.

In fact, it was indeed a good one.

However, upon realizing it was a good result, for some reason, I began to feel things beyond just happiness.

– Creak─.

I stood up from the broadcast chair and headed outside the soundproof booth.

What I faced was undeniably a woman’s room.

The room was predominantly white, exuding a feminine atmosphere.

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly how to describe it, but it was certainly more like a woman’s space than a man’s.

The clothes neatly hung in the wardrobe were all women’s clothing from start to finish.

The only somewhat unisex outfit was the training clothes worn for exercise.

I could choose what I wanted to wear without any notable discomfort and had some understanding of what’s known as ‘a put-together outfit.’

Thinking back, I realized I had never really felt discomfort in such matters.

But, that was more due to ignorance than a matter of preference.

During the time when wearing women’s blouses felt awkward, the only clothing I could put on was drab hospital gowns.

At that time, I couldn’t even tell what clothing was awkward for me and what suited me well.

That might have been the reason I had no real confusion about my gender identity.

Even though living as a woman felt awkward, I didn’t dislike it or find it repugnant.

However, defining everything with just the four letters of “woman’s life” made my life quite complicated and busy.

“Actress, singer, entertainer, famous person…”

Silently reciting the words that could describe me, I slowly walked towards the full-length mirror beyond.

What I faced was a famous person standing silently in the long mirror.

Now I had more familiar faces than strangers.

I tested out various expressions on a whim.

Displaying various emotions, each distinct in traits and feelings.

Then, a multitude of characters reflected briefly in the mirror before vanishing in an instant.

Thus, as I showcased every type of atmosphere I could exhibit.

Only then did I completely erase ‘acting’ from myself, realizing there was no new look left to create.

“……So this is my face.”

A blurred gaze.

An empty look.

An expression closer to a doll than a human.

I felt nothing.

I could feel nothing.

The appearance devoid of even the most basic emotions was, simply put, unpleasant.

It didn’t feel like I was alive.

Yet, for some reason.

The more I gazed at this non-human-like visage, the more reassured I felt.

It was as if the complicated thoughts in my head were gradually sorting themselves out.

“……I think I can do it.”

Before long, the actor Lee Ha-eun slowly began to emerge in the long mirror.

The person who was currently receiving attention from various fronts looked at me with her usual calm expression.

As expected, it was not difficult in any way.

It was skilled.

It was familiar.

It was effortless.

The unpleasant doll just a while ago transformed into a celebrity with impressive ease.

Despite everything that had happened, the technique to completely kill ‘me’ hadn’t changed.

Thus, even more so.

“……I succeeded, didn’t I? Enough.”

I had to acknowledge that I had succeeded with my own acting.

I had to accept that, as Baek Tae-hoon told me a few days ago, my position had reached a certain trajectory.

Also, I had to recognize that I was able to do more now than when I wasn’t famous.

I became a celebrity because I kept being noticed.

And I could continue to be noticed because I was a celebrity.

Being noticed doesn’t simply mean being known by many people.

It bestows weight to words, empowers will and intention, and draws attention towards me.

Ultimately, it allows for becoming even more famous.

Having already gotten onto the track once, the possibility of soaring towards greater heights emerged.

“……In the end, it’s only me. Only me. I have to… save.”

I realized I could reach those who had lost everything.

I felt a certainty that I could confront those who had caused such losses.

Only then did I confront what I had been unconsciously avoiding.

It was about time to decide what to do with the version of me from my past life that had not died yet.

Hence, it wouldn’t simply be about saving just that life.

To save the life that follows as well.

-♪

-♪

-♪

-♪…Click.

[Hello? What’s up, Ha-eun?]

“I’ll enter the music festival.”

[Oh? Really?]

“Yes.”

I began climbing the stairs to become a more ‘reliable person.’

A resting place, a spot to catch my breath, was already provided.

I knew where I needed to return after wrapping everything up.

So, I had to rise to the top by any means possible.

I had to reach a complete end with those annoying memories.

No other path existed.

*

“Um… Ha-eun, do you really want to go on time?”

“Yes.”

In the second-year teacher’s office at Narae High School.

More precisely, in the small meeting room within the office.

“I’ll be honest, Ha-eun. At your level, you could even get an alternative admission offer. You don’t have to study for college entrance exams.”

“There are people who have issues with alternative admissions.”

“What others think doesn’t matter.”

“For me, they’re important people. First, I have to make sure the university’s name looks good.”

‘…Is she marrying into a wealthy family?’

Currently, Ha-eun was discussing her future path with her homeroom teacher.

To be precise, it was more like Ha-eun was unilaterally trying to persuade her.

“Teacher, you know our Ha-eun is good at studying. But… managing both acting and academics might be tough, don’t you think?”

“It’s okay. I’m definitely not overdoing it.”

Ha-eun’s thoughts, which had not changed at all afterward.

And so, her homeroom teacher ended the career consultation with a reluctant understanding.

Approximately ten minutes later, Ha-eun’s midterm report card was retrieved from the drawer.

Ha-eun’s report card, showcasing her diligent study, caused a mixture of emotions on her homeroom teacher’s face.

It was inevitable since her homeroom teacher had handled numerous students to date.

Everyone knew that Ha-eun’s desire to manage both school and her entertainment work was greedy.

However, the report card she held proved that Ha-eun was sincere.

‘They say the new drama starts filming right after the fall festival. Will she really be okay…?’

As a result, her homeroom teacher could neither strongly dissuade nor strongly support her.

The class president, Gong Hye-yeon, was summoned to the teacher’s office because of that.

Since Gong Hye-yeon had been sticking close to Ha-eun for the practice of <Shall We Fall Together?>.

I thought she could provide a clearer insight into Ha-eun’s current condition.

But.

“Ha-eun… is really scary.”

“Uh, what? Why?”

The stories I heard from Gong Hye-yeon were beyond my expectations, one by one.

“Ever since a few days ago, she suddenly changed. If she makes a mistake, she literally lectures for 30 minutes. But she doesn’t get mad and speaks gently, so it’s kind of awkward to say anything. Oh, during the ending practice with Joo Do-yoon, she said we had to look like we’re really kissing in front of the audience and revised the angle of her head hundreds of times…”

In the end, all I could confirm was that Ha-eun had transformed into an even more proactive person than before.

Later, with some concern, I asked if Ha-eun looked tired at all.

“Among our classmates… No, she’s the most vibrant person in the entire school, teacher.”

I had to send Gong Hye-yeon back to the classroom, as even pondering my question briefly didn’t seem to happen for her.

For some reason, it felt like any worry I had would be meaningless.

Thus, time flowed.

As it turned out, when there were less than 10 minutes left until the performance of <Shall We Fall Together?>, Ha-eun’s homeroom teacher entered the waiting room.

“Okay, everyone, don’t be nervous. Keep your mind relaxed. Enjoy it!”

Cheering each of the anxious second-year kids, she fulfilled her duty as a homeroom teacher.

Of course, she also approached Ha-eun, patted her shoulder, and whispered encouragement.

Until that moment, I had found no noteworthy peculiarity in Ha-eun.

She merely nodded with a calm expression as usual, expressing her determination to place first and go to Japan.

The only puzzling aspect was her muttering something that didn’t seem right about <Japan trip stories>.

However.

“Alright, next up is the 2nd-grade’s <Shall We Fall Together!>!”

Finally, after the 2nd-grade musical performance began.

More precisely,

“Everything is my fault. The whole country is my fault. So, as a sinner… I should perish.”

Standing precariously center stage, capturing the atmosphere of the performance as the aria queen swayed, I thought:

‘I knew it, but… this is different, definitely…’

I was certain that Ha-eun should not be judged by the same standards and measures as other students.

It felt strange. In every way.