Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 134

Former Hero is a Top Actor – Episode 134

Cannes International Film Festival (1)

* * *

Allianz Riviera.

A multi-purpose stadium located in Nice, France, also the home ground of OGC Nice.

Waaahhhhhhㅡ

Inside the dome packed with spectators, a league match between the home team and the visiting team was in full swing.

The home team is OGC Nice in black and red striped uniforms,

and the visiting team is FC Nantes in white tops and green bottoms.

‘It feels like it’s my first time at a soccer stadium, except when I was with my father when I was young.’

Geon looked down below.

They were located in the middle of the stands.

Down there, on both sides of the goalposts, the supporters of both teams were cheering at the top of their lungs. It’s not quite as big as the top 4 leagues, but it’s the historic French Ligue 1.

Moreover, with Nice vs. Nantes, a clash of popular teams currently on a 7-game winning streak, the support from the crowd was naturally immense.

“Woaaaaah!”

“······.”

And next to him, there was one fan who was more passionate about soccer than anyone else.

Geon blankly stared at his younger brother, who was wearing a Nice uniform and shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Let’s go, Ji Jang-hyuk! Let’s go, Ji Jang-hyuk!”

He shouted the words “let’s go” mixing Korean, English, and French all together.

It was the result of forgetting that Park Sun had been a soccer fan who had explored not only domestic but also overseas leagues since he was young.

‘…So that’s why we came early.’

Time rewinds to yesterday.

After stepping onto Nice Airport, the ‘Black Priest’ team got into a limousine.

It was thanks to CEO Tae Jong-beom arranging a local limousine taxi in advance.

“Wow, it’s the first time I’ve ever been so happy to see reporters. How many were there?”

Lee Jang-mi asked, half collapsed in her seat, and Park Sun pondered intently.

“About… seven? Hyung [older brother or male friend], do you remember?”

“There were eight.”

“Wow, that’s a lot. In a foreign country so far away! Plus, there was even a foreign press, so let’s not be too disappointed, okay?”

“I’m sorry, but I think the CEO is the most disappointed.”

CEO Tae Jong-beom, who had been enthusiastically trying to liven up the atmosphere, shrunk back with an ‘oops’ expression.

The members were simple, if anything.

Production company CEO Tae Jong-beom, director Kim Ryul, actors Park Geon and Lee Jang-mi, and manager Park Sun.

Lee Jang-mi was also an actress who was being pushed by her agency to some extent, but she said she preferred being alone and left her manager behind.

“Okay, let’s look at the dates. Our schedule is…”

“The opening is in three days. The accommodation is located slightly on the outskirts, so we’ll have to move a little early on the day of the film festival to have enough time,”

Kim Ryul, who had already memorized the schedule, briefed. Even after a long time, his hands-on approach to solving everything himself was still the same.

“As expected of Director Kim!” CEO Tae Jong-beom clapped his hands, then scratched his head.

“Wait, but why did we come so early? There are still three days left?”

Lee Jang-mi replied indifferently.

“These people here have only ever worked and never traveled abroad. Their schedules are all open, so I made plans with Suni oppa [older brother or male friend – term used by females] in advance. I told them to clear their heads and relax a bit since we came all the way to the film festival.”

“Keuheu, as expected of Jang-mi ssi [Ms. Jang-mi]! Wait, but what about the accommodation? If we deliberately went to a place with no people…”

“Ah, the hotels on Croisette Street are already fully booked. Especially the suites, they say you can’t even book them unless you’re a top star. I looked into Carlton, Majestic… even Martinez.”

That’s why the results of this Cannes are even more important. Even though everyone is a well-known actor in Korea, there is still a long way to go to become a global star.

In the subdued atmosphere, Park Geon said calmly.

“Where are we eating lunch?”

“…Oppa [older brother or male friend – term used by females], I’m glad you’re always the same.”

Like that, the group who unpacked their luggage at the accommodation all left to take care of their own business.

Lee Jang-mi said she was going sightseeing alone, and director Kim Ryul and CEO Tae Jong-beom also said they were going to meet a friend living in France and went somewhere.

‘Everyone is so enthusiastic.’

For a returnee who has been sightseeing for decades, new countries or cities are not impressive.

Just as he was about to lie down on the bed, Park Sun, who was rummaging through his carrier, shouted.

“Great. Let’s go too!”

“Where to?”

“Of course, sightseeing! Eating, playing, and watching soccer, I even brought my uniform.”

“Uniform…?”

…That’s how, after being dragged around all day, they ended up entering this dome-shaped stadium around sunset.

Was it said that it was the beginning of the league schedule? Coincidentally, there was even a game featuring Ji Jang-hyuk, an overseas player and national team midfielder who had advanced to the home team, Nice.

“Woaaaaah!”

When an Asian player, nearly 190 centimeters tall, appeared on the ground, a thunderous roar erupted.

It’s Ji Jang-hyuk, the midfielder of OGC Nice.

According to the information Park Sun told him, his nicknames are Jijang Bosal [Bodhisattva], Jjanghyuk, Hyukchi, etc.

He has been consistently performing well even in the ruthless world of professional sports, and is currently the most successful soccer player among the big leaguers.

“Hyung, look here. I need to take a story photo.”

Whether he saw the story that Park Sun took with a fuss, DMs [direct messages] came in from everywhere.

JI_YoU: [Oppa, do you like K-League [Korean Professional Football League] too? When you return to Korea, let’s go watch an FC Seoul home game together?]

Byeon.99: [Wow, you used and dumped me as a guide ㅡㅡ You went to see Ji Jang-hyuk]

Jin Ji-yu, who had returned to her old self… and fellow actors, including Byun Hwi-seung, whom he had been indebted to during Paris Fashion Week, sent generous encouragement.

Was it thanks to that?

“Oh, that’s us! There on the electronic display board!”

During halftime, they were caught on the relay camera,

“Goal, goal! He really scored!”

The home team also won a 3:0 victory thanks to Ji Jang-hyuk’s outstanding performance with 1 goal and 1 assist.

The game, which had been filled with heat, was so loud that his eardrums were buzzing. It was when they were watching the Nice players doing fan service near the stands.

“Wow, Park Geon hyung!”

A thunderous voice was heard. When he turned around, Ji Jang-hyuk, who had been signing autographs for fans, was walking over.

Park Sun grabbed him, surprised as if he was about to pass out.

“Did he just call you hyung? Do you know each other?”

“No, it’s my first time meeting him.”

It was the first time he had been called Park Geon hyung, not Geon hyung or Park Geon ssi [Mr. Park Geon]. Moreover, his voice was so loud that even the fans and club officials who were receiving autographs were looking at them.

Geon soon stood face to face with Ji Jang-hyuk. This side was also not an ordinary actor’s physique, but the active soccer player from overseas was indeed taller.

Ji Jang-hyuk smiled and spoke casually.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? If you had told me in advance, I would have gotten you the best tickets.”

“How could I tell you when I don’t know you?”

“Ah, look at my mind. Was it our first time meeting?”

“······?”

It was truly insane friendliness.

Park Sun, who was listening, looked like he was dizzy, but Ji Jang-hyuk didn’t care and offered a handshake.

“Anyway, I’m a fan. I heard about the Cannes invitation this time, but I didn’t know you’d come to the stadium.”

He wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t for his younger brother. Geon responded with appropriate good words.

“I enjoyed the game too. Your performance was amazing.”

“I guess it was because Park Geon hyung came. My body felt light from before the game today.”

Next to Ji Jang-hyuk, who was joking around, a man who appeared to be a club official came and said something.

It seemed like it was time to go. Ji Jang-hyuk, who also shook hands with Park Sun, waved his hand.

“The next game is also at home, so I’ll send you a DM later! Let’s have a meal nearby!”

Of course, he thought it was just a passing remark, but less than an hour later, a DM was sent to Geon’s account.

geejangbosal: [Chimaek [chicken and beer] for lunch tomorrow?]

The next day, Ji Jang-hyuk sent the coordinates of a restaurant near the accommodation.

July in Nice is sunny. When they went to the restaurant that the national team player had reserved, a large man wearing sunglasses was sitting there.

“Hello, Ji seonsu [player]!”

“Oh, you’re here?”

Even though it was during the season, it seemed that he was free except for the scheduled training time the day after the game.

The meeting place was also a pub with a terrace, and Ji Jang-hyuk greeted the fans who recognized him as if he came here often.

Park Sun, who had received autographs on his uniform, hat, and even a poster, sparkled his eyes.

“Are they fans?”

“Yes, I introduced them too. They’re the two brothers who will devour Cannes soon.”

“Not sure if we’ll devour it yet…”

In front of Park Sun, who was looking at Geon, a huge pitcher of beer was placed on the table. It seemed to be a craft beer that is considered a local specialty.

“Okay, let’s talk while eating. Please understand that I’m drinking non-alcoholic because of my body.”

Ji Jang-hyuk was a simple and fun person. He was famous not only for his fan service inside and outside the stadium, but also for the bizarre dance ceremony he performed when he scored a goal.

The dance where his upper body and lower body move separately was Ji Jang-hyuk’s trademark since his K-League days. When Park Sun cautiously asked why he danced that dance, Ji Jang-hyuk burst into laughter as if he was about to pass out.

“Why do I do it? Because it’s funny.”

“Did you learn the dance separately?”

“No, why would I need to do that? The best ceremony is when the fans like it and the opposing team gets angry. If I dance well there, it’ll be too cheesy.”

Even though there were local fans, it’s always nice to meet a fellow countryman in a foreign country.

While they were having a great conversation, the topic shifted to the Cannes Film Festival.

“How is it? Can you break all the other competing works?”

Like a sportsman, he has no hesitation in asking about the game. Instead of his brother who was hesitating, Geon answered.

“There’s a possibility. Although it’s rare.”

“Then you have to go for it even if you can’t eat it. We people only need 1 percent, right?”

“I think it’ll be higher than that.”

“Of course. Plus, it’s Park Geon hyung’s first movie, so Cannes or wherever, it’s definitely worth a try.”

“Yes, but…”

Ji Jang-hyuk, who was dissecting the French-style chicken dish, raised his head. Geon told him an important fact.

“Ji seonsu [player] is one year older than me. You called me hyung.”

“Ah, is that what it was? I was wondering what it was.”

Ji Jang-hyuk, who was chuckling, suddenly became serious and said.

“I learned this when I started playing soccer, if you’re handsome and good at fighting, you’re a hyung.”

How to play soccer well, tips for choosing sports entertainment, know-how on martial arts training….

The lunch with the national team player and big leaguer star, filled with all sorts of stories, ended amicably.

Ji Jang-hyuk said that he had to take a plane again after the home game, so he was sorry that he couldn’t see the film festival, but he would cheer hard.

“I’m going to bombard Instagram. This time, I’m going to think of Cannes as our league and make my colleagues promote it tightly.”

“Wouldn’t the club hate it?”

“Eh, no way.”

While turning the sunglasses he had hung on the back of his neck, Ji Jang-hyuk winked playfully.

“I’ve been here for two years, and the front office has given up. They say they can’t stop me.”

The next day, in the afternoon, on Île Saint-Honorat.

The two brothers sat facing each other in a restaurant on a cliff where the sunset was setting into the sea.

“Do you need anything else?”

“No, I’m fine.”

The approaching employee smiled and returned at Geon’s fluent French.

Even in Europe, the service in French restaurants is notoriously unfriendly, but language and appearance work anywhere, east or west.

Soon the food arrived.

A delicious grilled fish and salad, delicious Mediterranean cuisine, and rare wine brewed in the monastery.

In addition, there was even Provençal-style anchoïade, which is anchovy puree baked on bread, so the table was not enough.

“I took all the pictures, let’s eat quickly.”

Park Sun, who quickly took pictures for SNS [social networking service], took a bite and widened his eyes.

“Wow, this is the best thing I’ve eaten here! Hyung, try it too!”

Geon took a sip of wine and replied.

“Eat a lot. I’ve eaten this cuisine to my heart’s content.”

“Huh? Hyung, didn’t you say you’ve never been to Europe?”

“I saw it on YouTube. Vicarious satisfaction.”

“Eh, what’s that.”

The specialties of tourist destinations are also delicious, but it feels different from the feast that the nobles ate in the royal castle of the Iron Kingdom.

He also took a bite of the fish.

‘Still… I rested well for three days.’

If he watched a soccer game on the first day and had a meal with a player on the second day, he spent the third day shopping and eating.

He borrowed a public bicycle and rode around the harbor, took a walk on Coco Beach, and bought a few gifts in the luxury shopping district, and it’s already this time.

“It’s already tomorrow.”

“I know, aren’t you nervous, hyung?”

Geon shook his head lightly.

“What’s there to be nervous about? It’s good if we receive it, and even if we don’t, it’s meaningful that we were invited.”

“Still… if the results are good here, your overseas expansion will be much faster. Offers are coming in from here and there even now.”

That’s right. Given his characteristics that he needs to advance to the global market, whether it’s movies or OTT [over-the-top media service], rather than domestically, there is no better stage to make a mark than Cannes.

Park Sun was also remembering that he needed results.

“If it doesn’t work this time, there’s next time. You always put in a lot of effort.”

Park Sun also had a look of emotion somewhere.

In the past, they used to spend a lot of time alone, but these days it’s difficult to even make time for brothers to have a meal together.

“Well, I’m doing it because I like it. I’ve completely adapted to this job and it’s fun.”

“Are things going well with Ahee ssi [Ms. Ahee] too?”

“Uh… uh?”

The bread with plenty of puree fell. Park Sun was only gasping for air like a fish out of water.

“What are you talking about… no, how did hyung know…”

“I saw you in front of your house last time. Weren’t you taking a walk in the parking lot wearing a mask?”

“Aaaagh, I only came out for a while!”

“It’s okay. I barely saw you too, so you probably didn’t get caught by other people.”

While comforting his screaming younger brother, Geon held back his laughter.

Im Ahee, the current leader of ‘Four Queens’. It seemed that they became close after exchanging contact information several times after the Jin Ji-yu incident last time.

“That’s… we’re not really together yet, we only ate a meal once… no, twice together. Ahee is also releasing a single soon and I’m busy too…”

“You’re already talking informally.”

“It’s because we’re the same age!”

“Okay, do well. Jin Ji-yu ssi [Ms. Jin Ji-yu] seems to have noticed roughly.”

No matter how hard you try to hide it, it’s difficult to avoid the eyes of those close to you. Park Sun muttered in vain.

“…I’m doomed, if Jin baeunim [actress] finds out, she’ll tease me all year long, I told her to never find out.”

“Oh, already worried about your potential girlfriend?”

“Don’t tease me, hyung…”

Romance blooms in the midst of war.

While putting food on Park Sun’s plate, Geon turned his gaze to the horizon that had swallowed the sun.

‘It’s tomorrow now.’

The Cannes Film Festival.