An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 77

#16 – The Person Riding the Wave and the Person Swept Away by the Wave (5)

“Did you see it?”

“Of course. The internet is flooded, and there are petitions going up. It’s a mess.”

As I approached the staff, they were engrossed in their conversation, not even noticing me.

The topic of their conversation was the drama ‘Red Flower.’

Specifically, it was about the cancellation of the drama Park Min-joon starred in.

“What are they going to do now?”

“Since the controversy is so big, I think the production team will make an announcement.”

“What will they say…”

They looked at each other and continued, as if engaged in a debate.

“They’ll probably say it’s not historical distortion, that there was a misunderstanding in the scene, something like that, right?”

“It hasn’t been long since the first episode of the drama aired, but the initial viewership ratings will plummet.”

“Sigh, I know.”

He shook his head.

At that moment, our eyes met.

“Oh?”

The staff member’s eyes widened as he greeted me.

“Hee-sung, you’re here?”

“Yes, I saw you were talking…”

“Did you see the article, Hee-sung?”

“Yes, I saw it on the internet on my way here.”

“It’s a real disaster.”

“I know. It seems like it will have a huge impact since it’s a drama that’s already airing.”

“That’s right.”

They sighed repeatedly, looking serious, as if it were their own problem.

I had come to say hello, so I gave them a look.

“I’m going to go practice a bit.”

“Okay, see you later.”

On the way back to the car, passing by them.

Every staff member, actor, and manager was talking about the drama ‘Red Flower.’

And the related topic was the lead actor, ‘Park Min-joon.’

It was as if the drama was a major national incident.

Everyone was saying the same thing.

Of course, it was obvious.

This was the industry scene, after all.

Most people were feeling sorry, but there were some who weren’t.

I knew it.

It was a drama that had been faltering from the start.

Something hadn’t been working out since the first day of filming, like a jinx.

They whispered these kinds of stories, chatting incessantly as if to relieve their boredom.

And questions about Park Min-joon were also directed at me.

“Hee-sung, didn’t you film a drama with Park Min-joon?”

The assistant director raised his eyebrows and asked me.

I nodded without saying anything.

“What did he say? Did you contact him?”

I finally opened my mouth to the assistant director, who asked again.

“I don’t have a personal relationship with Park Min-joon.”

Contrary to my expectation that he would look surprised at my words,

He looked relieved.

I was the one who was surprised by his attitude.

“Really?”

The assistant director smirked.

“Park Min-joon might be taking a long break after this project.”

“Ah…”

I sighed at his words.

Because he took on a controversial project, the aftermath would continue even after the drama ended.

Well.

Once you get caught up in gossip in the entertainment industry, it’s easy to be plagued by it afterward.

The assistant director spoke to me seriously, as if giving advice.

“And if Park Min-joon’s name comes up on his SNS [Social Networking Service] or in interviews, don’t say anything to defend him.”

I nodded at his words.

The assistant director patted me on the shoulder and continued.

“I’m saying there’s no need to get involved. There’s nothing good about getting caught up in it in this industry.”

“…Yes, thank you for the advice.”

He walked towards the set.

All day long, I heard stories about Park Min-joon and articles about the drama ‘Red Flower.’

I thought of Park Min-joon, who must be out of his mind right now.

The first emotion I felt at the words of those around me that he would fall into ruin was a sense of satisfaction.

My lips turned up when I thought of Park Min-joon.

But I quickly erased the smile.

And I let out a long sigh of relief.

What if I had accepted the lead role in that drama?

I would be in his place now, frustrated and regretting it.

I quickly shook my head and erased the thought.

The feeling was dizzying just imagining it.

I gently placed my hand on my pounding heart.

“That’s… really a relief.”

***

For days, the internet and social media were dominated by stories about the drama ‘Red Flower’ and Park Min-joon.

There were opinions that Park Min-joon was just doing his job as the lead, so what’s the problem?

But in any case, it was Park Min-joon’s choice to film a drama that distorted history.

So the actors who appeared in it are also at fault.

These opinions were overwhelming.

And so, people began to criticize Park Min-joon.

It was really instantaneous.

He began to fall into ruin after the first episode of the drama aired.

The commercials that had been coming in for Park Min-joon, the lead actor, even before the broadcast,

Now, they were all announcing contract cancellations.

[‘Red Flower’ Ad Withdrawals Amid Historical Distortion Controversy.]

[Food and beverage industry expected a lot from Park Min-joon, who took on his first lead role. Are they hurriedly cutting ties with the historical distortion drama…]

[How did Park Min-joon lose advertisers who were flocking to him?]

Park Min-joon’s image was falling further and further.

“Oh, Hee-sung…”

I was lost in thought, looking at my cell phone, when.

Manager Kim approached me with an urgent voice.

“What’s wrong?”

What he handed me was none other than an article that had just been posted.

[‘Red Flower’ Finally Canceled! Historical Distortion Is Unacceptable. The People Did It…]

[Park Min-joon, the lead actor of the hot potato ‘Red Flower,’ says, “It’s not my fault.”]

The drama was eventually banned from airing due to endless national petitions.

And the article said that the broadcast was suspended after last week’s broadcast.

I expected the drama’s viewership ratings to plummet due to the controversy.

But I couldn’t hide my surprise at the fact that the drama itself had disappeared due to a more serious matter than I had thought.

And at the center of it, of course, was the lead actor, Park Min-joon.

I burst out laughing as I read the articles about him trying to get out of the drama as quickly as possible.

A few weeks ago, when I ran into him at the shop.

Park Min-joon looked down on me for *not* being the lead role.

He boasted that the drama would be a success and shouted at me.

But the result was the opposite.

I shook my head, thinking of Park Min-joon at that time.

“He made such a big noise, but in the end, he hit rock bottom.”

Manager Kim raised his eyebrows at my words.

“What do you mean?”

“Ah, nothing.”

He nodded casually.

He looked down at his cell phone and clicked his tongue.

“Oh my, look at Park Min-joon’s personality. In the meantime, he’s desperately doing a lot of interviews to save himself.”

“I know.”

“It’s better to be quiet. This will only make his image worse. He must have been very impatient.”

Several photos of Park Min-joon with sunken eyes and a bowed head were posted in the article.

That image and the face he made at me in the shop overlapped.

I felt a sense of satisfaction at Park Min-joon’s always arrogant appearance.

At the same time, I thought of the people other than Park Min-joon.

“But I feel so bad for the drama’s production team.”

Manager Kim nodded in agreement and lowered his eyebrows.

“I know, the director and writer there were amazing.”

“Yeah, the writer-director lineup was the best, but it’s a shame that it turned out like this with that lineup. No matter what, they shouldn’t have distorted history.”

“Of course not.”

“Anyway, it’s a shame that they worked so hard to film it.”

Manager Kim sighed deeply and looked at me.

“Hee-sung, I told you to keep doing this drama back then.”

It was the drama that I was cast in as the first lead role, so Manager Kim was the most sorry that I turned it down.

And he tried to persuade me again.

“You must have a really good eye for projects. If I had just pushed my own idea back then, we… Ugh, I don’t even want to imagine it.”

Manager Kim curled his lips as if he was sorry.

“I almost felt too sorry.”

I smiled at him with a reassuring face.

“No, you were thinking of me.”

“Well, that’s true…”

“It was because you were sorry that I got cast as the lead role. It’s really okay.”

Only then did he let out a sigh of relief and raise the corners of his mouth.

“Let’s choose more carefully in the future. Only good projects that will keep rising!”

“Let’s do that.”

***

“Cut, okay!”

Director Yoo’s energetic voice came from beyond the megaphone.

He raised the corners of his mouth long, as if satisfied.

I quickly greeted the staff and approached Director Yoo.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Hee-sung, your acting was so good just now.”

I smiled at his words and opened my mouth.

“Haha, thank you. I think my acting came out well because you filmed it so well, Director.”

“Oh my, our Hee-sung is so good at talking too, you know?”

I leaned towards his ear and replied.

“Director, I’m serious.”

“Hahaha.”

He laughed heartily and patted me on the shoulder.

“Hee-sung, you should eat?”

I looked at Director Yoo, who asked, raising his eyebrows, and I nodded vigorously.

“Yes, let’s go.”

I had dinner with Director Yoo during the first filming.

Unlike back then, when I was surprised and nervous, I was gradually getting used to it through several meals since then.

I mean, having a private meeting with the director.

“Eat quickly.”

“Yes, enjoy your meal.”

I opened my mouth, looking at the table full of food.

He nodded and picked up his spoon.

“The food truck is delicious, but it’s even more delicious when I come out and eat with Hee-sung like this, right?”

“Haha, I love coming out with you too, Director.”

One by one, the side dishes were emptied.

When I was full.

Director Yoo’s chopsticks were spinning in the air.

Like someone who has something to say.

I opened my mouth, watching his chopsticks moving in my line of sight.

“Um… Director.”

“Huh?”

He answered with a startled face at my call.

“Do you have something to say…”

Director Yoo suddenly avoided my gaze.

I could be sure as I watched his constantly blinking eyes.

That he definitely had something to say to me.

Furthermore, it was a difficult thing to say.

If it was a light word, he wouldn’t have avoided my eyes.

“Our drama is about a month away from airing.”

I put down the spoon I was holding at his words.

“Yes, I know.”

“The drama viewership ratings are so low these days, so I’m a little worried.”

He made a *tsk* sound and drank water.

Instead, I looked at him with eyes burning with determination.

“I will film even harder.”

“Oh, Hee-sung is already doing well.”

“The dramas in our time slot are also very strong…”

He trailed off.

I blinked at him, looking at him.

What is he trying to say by going around in circles like this?

And Director Yoo swallowed hard.

He raised his head as if he had made up his mind.

“So, what I’m saying is.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Are you… available for variety shows…”

Director Yoo asked, trailing off without finishing his sentence.

In a small voice, I asked him again.

“Pardon?”

“I was wondering if you’re not doing any variety shows these days.”

He scratched his head awkwardly.

Appearing on variety shows.

What Director Yoo was trying to say to me, going around in circles like that.

It was a request for me, the lead actor, to appear on a variety show for publicity.

I’ve been on a variety show once before.

It was a good start for the first time, but I didn’t appear on any more shows after that because I was worried that I would become a variety show character.

But Director Yoo’s request….

He must have thought about it a lot before talking to me.

I could see his expression clearly.

When I didn’t open my mouth right away, Director Yoo tried to raise the corners of his mouth and said.

“I was just asking if it was possible, but it’s okay if you’re uncomfortable.”

He immediately withdrew his request, thinking about me.

I also wanted to do my best because it was the first drama I was playing the lead role in.

Just like Director Yoo, who was making his debut with this drama.

After taking a deep breath, I looked straight at Director Yoo.

That time didn’t even take a few seconds.

“I’ll do it.”

“Huh?”