An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 54

54 #12 – Maybe What You See Isn’t Everything (3)

Knock knock.

“We’ll get you ready to get off now.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kim, the manager, slightly opened the window and responded to the fan signing event staff.

I straightened my posture, closed my eyes tightly, and took deep, even breaths.

The fan signing event would be held inside, but I had to get out at the entrance and walk past all those fans.

I tried to calm myself, to act as naturally as possible, given the hospitality I was experiencing for the first time.

“Hyung, do I have to get out soon?”

When I asked Kim, the manager, he pointed with his chin towards the car in front and answered.

“They’re entering in order from the front.”

Following his gaze, I looked at the cars lined up ahead.

And then the cheers erupted.

“Kyaa!”

“Oppa [Korean term for ‘older brother’ used by females, also used to refer to male celebrities]!”

“Please look here!”

“You’re so handsome!”

The cheers from afar penetrated the tightly closed car.

I was momentarily startled by the tremendous noise.

My gaze was fixed on the person getting out of the car.

The first to appear was Kang Chan-sung.

As soon as the car door opened, Kang Chan-sung waved with a bright smile.

He raised one hand, showing the palm to the fans, a smile I had never seen on set.

Looking at that expression, my tense heart instantly relaxed.

“Look at Kang Chan-sung being so fake.”

Kim, the manager, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, chuckled, as if he had the same thought as me.

“I know.”

A sigh escaped me at his pathetic display.

Kim, the manager, turned and looked at me at the sound of my sigh.

“Hee-sung, you have to do that when you get out too. Got it?”

At his words, I raised one corner of my mouth.

“Hyung, I think my expression will be sincere?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Kim, the manager, burst into laughter at my words.

Then, Kim, the manager, snapped his fingers and chuckled again.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a celebrity personally commenting on every single question on the fan cafe?”

At his words, my face turned red.

As I started filming the drama, my face naturally became more recognizable.

I searched my name on the internet about once a day.

Then one day, I searched for ‘Jin Hee-sung’ on social media.

I discovered a Jin Hee-sung fan page that I didn’t even know existed.

I didn’t know what to do with myself as I looked at the social media page, which was filled with my photos and stories about me.

It wasn’t that there were countless fan pages.

But even if there was only one made for me, it was amazing and grateful enough.

Since then, I went to the fan page whenever I had time.

And whenever there were questions or inquiries about me, I answered them one by one whenever I saw them.

Because I thought that was the proper etiquette and an expression of gratitude for the fans.

Feeling awkward at Kim, the manager’s words, I opened my mouth.

“Hyung, it’s not a fan cafe, it’s a fan page, to be exact. Haha.”

“Oh, right. It was a fan page.”

“I even remember the name of the person who created the fan page. Soon-hee, Park Soon-hee!”

Kim, the manager, exclaimed at my words.

“Wow! You even remember the name?”

“Of course, she’s someone who likes me so much.”

He raised his eyebrows at my words.

“If that person comes when you sign autographs later, be sure to tell them. I think they’ll be very happy?”

“But I don’t think she’ll come today….”

I said the words, but I started observing the people outside the window, just in case.

Would she have come?

***

Inside a large auditorium.

The fan signing event began with the MC’s loud voice.

“Now, the stars of ‘The Supporting Actor in the Entertainment Industry.’ Please welcome them with a big round of applause!”

Cheers and applause erupted.

We went up the stairs one by one from behind the stage.

Looking at the audience from the stage, there were so many people sitting there that there were no empty seats.

I calmed myself to shake off the tension and came up.

But I couldn’t hide my overwhelming and trembling heart.

It was a very different feeling from when I went on stage to act or audition.

I swallowed hard at the pouring cheers.

“I’m MC Chae Chae, who will be hosting the glorious fan signing event for ‘The Supporting Actor in the Entertainment Industry’ today. Nice to meet you!”

The cheers grew even louder.

The MC hurriedly brought her index finger to her mouth.

“Everyone, shh!”

The scene became quiet as if by magic at her words.

She hurriedly opened her mouth.

“I will introduce today’s main characters. Shin Seol-hee, who played Park Ji-yeon, who is at the end!”

At her introduction, Shin Seol-hee grabbed the microphone.

“Hello. I’m Shin Seol-hee.”

Once again, the auditorium was filled with cheers at Shin Seol-hee’s short greeting.

“Shin Seol-hee! Shin Seol-hee!”

The picket signs with Shin Seol-hee’s name on them waved in the audience like waves.

After a few actors greeted, it was finally my turn.

I cleared my throat before putting the microphone to my mouth.

And after taking a long breath, I opened my mouth.

“Hello. I’m Jin Hee-sung. Thank you so much for coming!”

“Waaaaa-.”

“Oppa!”

“You’re so handsome!”

“I’m more grateful that you came!”

The sound of shouting made the auditorium seem like it was about to collapse.

My lips naturally turned up at the sound.

They were constantly shouting my name.

My heart started beating like it was about to explode.

The MC stretched out both hands to calm the audience.

“Everyone, it seems like you’ve been waiting a long time for Hee-sung. The cheers are amazing, aren’t they?”

“Yes!”

The cheers that poured out on me were so loud that the actress next to me flinched in surprise.

I bent over towards the audience.

“Thank you, everyone.”

“Kyaaa!”

And then it was Kang Chan-sung’s turn.

“Hello, I’m Kang Chan-sung. Nice to meet you.”

Kang Chan-sung, who was standing next to me, smiled so much that his eyes disappeared.

The cheers of the audience echoed.

It was so different from the cheers I received.

I see.

Main characters are different.

I clapped my hands at his greeting.

After that, introductions of Director Lim and the writer followed.

Only after all the introductions were over were we able to sit down in the prepared chairs.

The next part prepared before the autograph session was communication with the fans.

“The fans wrote down questions they were curious about in advance.”

MC Chae Chae came out with a large wooden board with numerous post-it notes attached.

The papers were densely packed.

“These are the questions that the fans wrote down themselves at the entrance.”

I fixed my gaze on the wooden board.

I opened my mouth wide at the dense collection of notes.

Chae Chae tore off the first post-it note and read the words.

“The first question is for actor Kang Chan-sung?”

At her words, Kang Chan-sung picked up the microphone.

“Haha, the first question is a personal one. Actor Kang Chan-sung’s ideal type, just three things!”

Kang Chan-sung smiled and brought the microphone to his mouth.

“I guess you’re curious about my ideal type. I don’t look at the external things. The first is the heart, the second is….”

Although she randomly picked several question papers, questions related to Kang Chan-sung poured out.

It seemed that many of his fans, being the main character, had come.

At that time, while listening to Kang Chan-sung’s answer.

Chae Chae tore off the next post-it note and opened her mouth.

“Oh, the next question is for both actor Kang Chan-sung and actor Jin Hee-sung.”

At her words, Kang Chan-sung and I looked at each other for a moment.

“I’ll read the question. This is a question for Jin Hee-sung.”

“Yes.”

“Your chemistry with Kang Chan-sung is very good, how often do you meet in private?”

As soon as her question was over, cheers erupted from the audience.

Among them, picket signs about the chemistry between Kang Chan-sung and me were shaking violently.

Everyone was looking at my mouth with sparkling eyes as if they were curious.

For a moment, I was lost in thought about what to answer.

Should I tell the truth?

Or should I give a false answer that meets their expectations?

I couldn’t bring myself to be evasive with lies because of my personality.

When I hesitated to answer for a moment, Chae Chae asked the question again.

“Or Hee-sung, do you usually contact each other often?”

At her question, I raised one corner of my mouth.

“No.”

At my answer, she tilted her head and continued to speak.

“I was going to do that originally, but he said that we should focus only on the work rather than contacting each other privately. I still don’t have his number.”

“Oooooh.”

“No!”

The fans’ cries poured out.

The sound seemed to be an expression of regret that Kang Chan-sung and I were not close.

Kang Chan-sung’s expression turned subtly uncomfortable.

His face hardened subtly, but I could see him raising his eyebrows to try to manage his expression.

Of course, that expression was only visible to me, who was close to him.

In the audience, voices of regret continued.

Chae Chae raised the corners of her lips and said to us.

“You two, I think you should exchange numbers soon?”

Then Kang Chan-sung quickly brought the microphone to his mouth.

“Of course.”

He raised his eyebrows and spoke to me in a soft voice.

“The work is over, so now I have to get close to Hee-sung too.”

At Kang Chan-sung’s words, the fans screamed.

“Kyaaa!”

“Oppa, you’re so cool!”

I also smiled at him.

But inside, a sigh burst out.

That fake smile and the pretentious way he treats me.

The way he scolded me when I asked him for his number before overlapped.

“Haha, that’s great. Then shall we exchange numbers here?”

As soon as Kang Chan-sung finished her words, he shouted.

“I’ll do it when I go out on stage.”

“Do it now! Do it now!”

At his words, the fans started shouting like a chorus.

Chae Chae got up from her seat and opened her mouth.

“Then how about doing it here according to the fans’ opinions? What do you think, actor Chan-sung, actor Hee-sung?”

At her words, we nodded.

Kang Chan-sung and I exchanged cell phones and typed in the numbers.

I hurriedly saved the number.

I just wanted the questions related to him and me to be over soon.

As soon as I pressed the save button, Chae Chae snatched my cell phone away.

“Huh?”

She held not only my cell phone but also Kang Chan-sung’s cell phone right next to me at the same time.

“The two of you are famous for having good chemistry!”

She smiled and held two cell phones in her arms.

“You’re curious about what you saved each other as, right?”

“Yes!”

“Please tell us!”

The fans were cheering even more.

She fixed her gaze on the cell phone she had taken away and opened her mouth.

“Actor Hee-sung saved actor Chan-sung as ‘Kang Chan-sung Sunbae [Korean term for ‘senior’ or ‘elder’, used to show respect in professional settings].’”

“Kyaa, Sunbae!”

Kang Chan-sung swallowed hard and rolled his eyes quickly.

What did he save my name as that he looks like he’s looking at me?

“Actor Chan-sung saved it as ‘JHS’… only with initials.”

I burst out laughing when I heard that he had saved my name.

It was as if he didn’t want to save it no matter what.

Well.

We inevitably save each other, but we would never contact each other privately.

But the audience was filled with cheers, not sighs.

“Chan-sung oppa, you’re so chic!”

Rather, the fans were falling for Kang Chan-sung’s appearance.

“Hey, actor Chan-sung. Please save it a little more affectionately.”

At her words, Kang Chan-sung nodded, forcing the corners of his lips up.

“Yes, I have to. I’m going to try to get closer to Hee-sung as you all said.”

Kang Chan-sung turned his head and looked at me, raising the corners of his lips.

***

I smiled and hurriedly rubbed my wrist under the table.

My fingers and wrists were numb from the constant autographs.

“Kyaa!”

A fan shouting at me from afar.

“Hello.”

I immediately put my hand on the table and greeted her.

She cheered at my greeting and took a seat in front of me with a flushed face.

“Oppa, I’m a real fan of oppa!”

“Thank you. Are you a high school student?”

When I asked, looking at her wearing a navy blue uniform, she nodded vigorously.

“Yes, that’s right! How did you know?”

She covered her wide open mouth with her hands and asked.

I raised the corners of my lips and pointed to her uniform with my hand.

“That’s right. Hehe.”

She handed over the paper with a shy face.

“Please write me a message to encourage me to go to a good university. I really want to be a PD [Production Director].”

“Wow, that’s a great dream.”

I nodded and pulled the paper over.

“Oh, my name is Soon-hee, Park Soon-hee.”

“Huh?”

Wait a minute.

The same name as the person who created my fan page.

I looked up and looked at her.

“By any chance, fan page…?”

“Kyaa!”

She screamed, startled, and jumped up from her seat.

“That’s right. How did you know that?”

“Of course I know. You’re the one who created my fan page, how can I forget your name?”

Her eyes quickly filled with tears at my words.

I smiled and wrote my autograph on the paper.

‘Study hard and go to a good university, and I’ll see you at the broadcasting station next time. You have to cast me when you become a PD, Soon-hee PD!’

“Like me a little bit more and study hard.”

At my smile, she shook her head and sobbed.

“No. I like oppa too, and I’ll study hard.”

She swallowed and continued to speak.

“And even if I’m not SungSungz [likely a reference to a popular ship name or pairing], I’ve liked Hee-sung oppa since before that!”

“Wow, really?”

“Of course. Oppa, you’re so cool and you act so well. Please don’t get sick and do a lot of activities.”

“I will. Thank you.”

She hugged my autograph and bowed her head.

***

“Oppa, goodbye!”

“Hee-sung-ah!”

The fans cheered me on until the end as I got into the car.

Before getting into the car, I stood in front of the door and bent over towards them.

And I waved my hand and shouted loudly.

“Thank you so much for coming today. Go home safely, everyone!”

“Kyaaaa!”

I got into the car while receiving their welcome.

The car became quiet in an instant.

Kim, the manager, handed me water and said.

“Hee-sung-ah, you worked hard.”

“It’s okay.”

I gulped down the water he gave me and loosened my neck as if I was stretching.

“Wow, a fan signing event is hard.”

“Of course. You have to keep signing autographs and communicating, so you don’t have any energy.”

I leaned my tired body against the chair.

The fan signing event ended without any special dinner.

The car headed straight to Seoul.

The car was running for a while.

Kim, the manager, looked at me through the rearview mirror.

“Hee-sung-ah, we have to start preparing for the movie now.”

“Yeah, where is the filming location?”

“Guro.”

I tilted my head at the answer.

“Was there a set in Guro?”

“No. They said they rented an office that a small and medium-sized company actually used in Guro Digital Complex.”

I had only been to places that were designated as sets or filming locations.

At those words, I raised my body with an interested expression.

“Wow! Then is it a place that went out of business?”

“That’s right. They said they rented a place that went out of business on purpose to capture the sense of reality of office workers.”

I raised my eyebrows and asked Kim, the manager.

“But the movie isn’t about digital stuff.”

“Yeah, it’s not, but the company itself is a space that was actually used, so I think it would be good for ordinary employees to sympathize with.”

I leaned back in my chair again and fell into thought.

A movie with Director Jang and Choi Seo-bin….

My heart started to flutter.

What kind of filming will unfold this time?

“Hyung, did you say that the crank-in [start of filming] is in two weeks?”

“That’s right. Let’s do well in this filming too.”

“Yeah, I have to do well.”

I nodded and clenched my fist.