Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 123

Former Hero is a Million-Dollar Actor – Episode 123 (123/199)

Rising Rockets (5)

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Just past noon,

At the main house in Dongjak District. Sunlight streaming through the open window warmly heats the room.

Gun murmured, activating the ceiling air conditioner, recalling a term Gu Shin-seung had taught him… In martial arts novels, wasn’t it called ‘immune to heat and cold’ [a state of being unaffected by temperature extremes achieved through internal energy cultivation]?

“I never used to be bothered by the heat.”

It’s a rare leisurely day.

The lead actor’s schedule is more packed than others, but today, Wednesday, is light.

Last night, the Monday-Tuesday drama ‘Forgotten Idol’ once again broke its viewership record. As soon as the episode ended, Director Na Jong-mo called.

‘Gun, it went up again! At this rate, we’ll easily hit 30% next week. You’ve worked so hard moving from project to project, so don’t come to the set tomorrow and get some rest.’

‘It’s alright. We need to get ahead with the dawn shoots while we have sponsorships.’

‘No, really, you don’t have to…’

‘I have nothing to do after eating with my family anyway. I’ll come after dinner.’

A diligent lead, reassuring the director as much as the generous production budget. Director Na repeatedly urged him to be careful of burnout, even while saying he’d see him later.

‘You need to rest well. Play a little, okay? I know your mental is diamond-hard, but we need to be even more careful not to crack it. That’s the secret to a long run.’

Even hearing those words, someone who doesn’t know how to play doesn’t know what to do. Gun found his smartphone under the pillow and sat on the edge of the bed.

“I don’t think I have anyone to meet.”

What does a top star do in their leisure time?

It varies from person to person, but he usually replaces most hobbies with his smartphone.

First, the messenger.

Although his typing speed has increased, the number of contacts he receives is dozens of times more than before, so replying is also a chore.

Checking the group chat with the movie people, replying to fellow actors… If he sends messages to his alumni, he’s sure to get a call from at least one of them.

Today, it’s Bae Young-ho, a classmate prosecutor who had been lamenting being swamped with overtime for the past few days.

-Oh, Gun. Are you off today?

“Yeah. The shoot is scheduled for after dinner.”

His voice, laden with fatigue, clicked his tongue as if disappointed.

-It has to be a weekday. Later, let’s get together, the three of us, when you’re free. We’ve been too busy to have a year-end party or a New Year’s party.

“I’m fine anytime. Why don’t we have lunch since we’re talking about it? I’ll go near the prosecutor’s office.”

-…No, no. That won’t work. I’m keeping it a secret from everyone around me. If they see me with you, the hyenas will come [referring to reporters or those seeking favors].

There are many people who try to benefit from having a celebrity friend, but he’s a public official, so the management is thorough.

As he admired his classmate’s self-discipline, Bae Young-ho cleared his throat and asked in a subtle voice.

-So, I was wondering, can I visit your company? Excluding Seo Seung-ah. Preferably at a time when Jin Ji-yu or other actors are there…

…Everyone is sincere about their ‘favorite’ [referring to their celebrity crush]. Ending the call appropriately, Gun checked the new notifications.

[Eun’s Thugs]

[Choi Phillip]: Guys

[Choi Phillip]: What are you doing not working?

[Gu Shin-seung]: (Picture of the ceiling of his house)

[Gu Shin-seung]: (Picture of delivered food)

[Gu Shin-seung]: lol; hehe…!

[Choi Phillip]: Wow, only I’m shooting under the scorching sun ㅡㅡ So relaxing

[Choi Phillip]: Park Gun doesn’t even read the messages, how much fun is he having

[Park Gun]: (Picture of the ceiling of his house)

[Choi Phillip]: ?

The three leads of ‘Forgotten Idol’.

A group chat room for the Roman’s trio has also been created.

Gu Shin-seung forcibly created the group chat, saying that the three brothers had to gather, like herding sheep.

Thanks to this, they became closer to their company colleagues, sharing shooting updates, talking about work and finance, and sniping at Baek Ha-ni.

‘It’s important for those two to rest well too.’

Of course, this doesn’t apply to the former hero, the current iron man. He’s seen all the scripts… and uploaded as much of the past stories as he could remember to the fan cafe.

The so-called faction disguised as fiction [referring to his personal stories shared as fiction].

He started using it to check his memories, but the response was surprisingly good, so he enjoyed serializing it.

Writing it like a novel allows him to experience the mind of a writer rather than an actor. Seeing fans immersed in ‘God’ rather than Park Gun gives him a strange sense of accomplishment.

‘Father said he has a lecture, and Mother must have gone to the store?’

Park Yeol-ho and Han Young-joo are also busier these days than their sons.

Lectures requests exploded for his father after the documentary aired, and his mother is having a hectic day every day because of the new flower shop she opened.

Jin Ji-yu, Seo Hee-do, Byun Hwi-seung… His long fingers quickly scrolled through the contacts. Actors he’s somewhat close to are busy with summer schedules, and he feels sorry for suddenly calling Jin Ji-yu because she owes him a lot.

Going to the living room, Gun stopped his hand above the name written as [Baek Ha-ni].

He heard from Manager Yoo Joon-il that this person is also a free spirit when he doesn’t have any projects.

If he suggests going shopping for summer clothes for the family and ‘Forgotten Idol’ wrap-up gifts after a long time…

At that moment, the door lock sound was heard.

His younger brother, carrying his military backpack and a load of luggage, beamed when he saw Gun.

“Oh, hyung! You’re still here?”

“I’m going out in a bit. You changed your profile music?”

Park Seon cheerfully waved his smartphone.

“Yeah. A new song came out from Jin Ji-yu’s old group, Four Queens? Our company’s idols are good too… but this song and concept are really amazing.”

“When you become a manager-level or higher, take charge of idols too. You were greedy for producing, weren’t you?”

“Eh… how can I do that? You need to have the ability to regress like our Vice President Eun Han-seom, or really see the future.”

Like the wish of a regressor [someone who has returned from the future], ‘Forgotten Idol’ is going strong in both drama and reality.

In particular, the story in the drama is really intense.

The recently filmed car chase and fight scene with rampaging wearable robots were posted on the fan cafe’s popular posts under the name ‘Relapsed Destruction Instinct’.

Destroying a Benz, destroying robots, and destroying bad groups, calling him a god of destruction.

The highlight was the scene of taking down the old monsters of the political world, and the veteran actors who made a cameo appearance at Seok Pil-ho’s request showed tremendous enthusiasm.

“This is coming to an end too. Even though it was extended by 2 episodes, it’s said to end next month.”

Park Seon said with a reminiscing look.

“This project?”

“Yeah. We talked about it last year, hyung. How the project would turn out, what viewership rating we’d like to get.”

“We did. It went better than expected most of the time.”

The brotherly love is still the same now as it was then. The size of the drama has grown and the house has gotten bigger, but the essence doesn’t change.

“These days, the female writer’s form is really terrifying… At this rate, we can really aim for 40% easily. Even if we count the lowest, 35%?”

“Team Leader Gong said that too. We have to try our best.”

The higher, the better (高高益善) [a Chinese proverb meaning the higher the better],

The higher the viewership, the better.

CVN has become a founding contributor, but JNBC needs to show a clear impact to sweep this year’s awards, surpassing other works.

“Ah, but hyung. How is it here?”

Park Seon touched his head, and quickly changed his words as if something was wrong with his appearance.

“I mean, the memories! The memories you said you lost.”

“Not bad. Feels good too.”

“Ah… that’s really a relief. I was a little worried going into this project. A simple audition? Anyway, you got it without a camera test.”

To be exact, there was no need to see it. Instead of giving an explanation that he wouldn’t understand, Gun just smiled.

“Sometimes there are scenarios like that. A project where you get a strong feeling even without acting, Forgotten Idol was like that.”

“Right, right. I also thought it was a style that hyung would like after reading it.”

Park Seon nodded diligently and suddenly asked.

“Ah, but that. Was the novel you’re writing on the fan cafe inspired by Writer Son?”

“Novel? The Iron Kingdom story?”

“Yeah, that! I read it for the first time yesterday and stayed up all night. Everyone around me is going crazy, telling you to quickly finish Forgotten Idol and have hyung serialize it.”

Sometimes the truth is more absurd than a lie. Gun walked to the water purifier and replied.

“That’s a true story. My experience.”

“No way, a lie!”

“It’s true. I’ll tell you later.”

*

That night, at Gu Shin-seung’s house.

The manager came to pick up the actor who had an evening schedule.

There’s still time to spare. Team Leader Yang asked Gu Shin-seung, who was looking at an iPad on the sofa.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“Articles that newly appeared about the Cannes Film Festival.”

“Ah, the Black Priest got invited this time?”

Gu Shin-seung nodded without turning around. His features, like a typical nobleman, and long eyelashes rose and fell gracefully.

“There were a lot of talks when it was released, and Director Kim Ryul finally caused an accident [meaning he achieved something significant]. A genre film is in competition, not out of competition. And it’s an occult film.”

“I told you then. That it would work out.”

At the nonchalant words, Team Leader Yang Soo-yeon’s expression changed subtly.

Gu Shin-seung is the most complex type among the celebrities in this world.

Those who see him for the first time know him as a diligent nobleman.

People who get a little closer think of him as the mood maker on set.

Those who have watched him for a long time have questions.

‘What on earth is that human thinking?’

It’s not a one-dimensional change of wearing a mask in front of the public and throwing it away behind the scenes.

Method acting that imitates the characters in the work… Only a few executives at Roman and Team Leader Yang know that it’s not acting practice or a hobby.

Just as few people know the behind-the-scenes story before the contracts of Jin Ji-yu, Baek Ha-ni, and Park Gun.

‘Yang Soo-yeon, please pay attention. If it’s not you, there’s no one to help that friend.’

Even when CEO Noh Joong-man called her directly and gave her instructions at the beginning of her joining the company, she didn’t know what he meant.

Now she knows more than enough. Now, after watching the actor Gu Shin-seung for over 5 years.

‘…I didn’t understand why the managers were running away so much back then.’

It’s easier to deal with Choi Phillip, who is cynical about everything, and Baek Ha-ni, who is consistently terrible but doesn’t touch the road at all.

Wasn’t Gu Shin-seung the eccentric who used to call a substitute for every schedule, saying that he didn’t need a manager or team leader before working with Yang Soo-yeon?

‘That’s a similar feeling to Park Gun.’

Yang Soo-yeon, who was smiling secretly, asked.

“But, why were you trying to get the Eun Han-seom role for this project? You hate playing the youngest role.”

“I was planning to entrust it to Park Gun from the beginning. I just pretended to compete because of Phillip.”

“…I knew it. There’s no way that stubborn Gu Shin-seung would give up his role.”

Only then did Yang Soo-yeon’s bobbed hair move up and down as if she understood.

“Come to think of it, Shin-seung, you and Choi, you all really like Park Gun. Is it because those brothers are good people?”

“Benefactor.”

“Huh?”

Gu Shin-seung said abruptly.

“Last spring, I had my fortune told. They said that a benefactor of Cancer would appear.”

His actor was skilled in fortune-telling. He mixes astrology, tarot, numerology, and all sorts of things to tell his fortune in his own way, and it’s surprisingly accurate, surprising the people around him.

Team Leader Yang narrowed her brows.

“Don’t tell me, Park Gun is…”

“I asked him and he was right. Cancer with the hour of the Rabbit (卯時) [5-7 AM], the eldest of the two brothers, Yang Metal (陽金) [one of the five elements] among the five elements.”

“I don’t know much about horoscopes. So, did you go to the CEO? Because Park Gun’s compatibility matches our side, so you told him to grab him no matter what?”

“CEO Noh was going to do that anyway. As long as he doesn’t try to go somewhere else.”

It was said that Gu Shin-seung visited CEO Noh Joong-man during Park Gun’s contract renewal season a few months ago.

He’s originally a human with frequent eccentricities, so she thought that was the case, but it seemed that he went to recommend a fellow agency member who he didn’t even have a close relationship with, not to talk about his own work.

“Well, Park Gun has become an irreplaceable talent. Everything he touches blows up…”

Team Leader Yang, who was muttering, asked.

“Ah, but what card did Park Gun get? Strange pictures always come out in your tarot.”

“Card?”

“Yeah, Baek Ha-ni got an upside-down queen… Ji-yu got a lily or a rose tied in chains.”

The nine cards he created himself, called the ‘Nines Tarot’, boast an amazing synchronization rate with the person who is having their fortune told.

CEO Noh Joong-man got a bloody count… Choi Phillip got an expressionless gypsy, and there was a rumor that they both liked their cards.

Gu Shin-seung’s eyes drifted away as if reminiscing about the past. His lips, which are hard to see when they are alone, and which rarely smile, slowly rose.

“A hero with a holy sword.”

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