An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 143

143. #27 – Year-End Temperature (1)

On a heavily congested road in the heart of Seoul.

The sun was slowly setting, painting the distant sky with a red glow.

*Bbang-bbang-.*

The cacophony of car horns blared, each driver vying for the lead.

Unlike them, I casually rested my left arm on the car door frame.

My right hand remained firmly on the steering wheel.

Music pulsed from the car’s speakers.

“Haa, this car is really nice.”

I signaled and smoothly changed lanes.

I’d postponed moving to a new house because of the exorbitant prices.

Instead, I decided to treat myself by upgrading my car.

I’d hesitated initially, as I already owned a perfectly functional vehicle.

Nevertheless, I wanted to reward myself for my hard work.

A car, a gift for myself, who had been working tirelessly.

And a symbol of motivation to continue striving even harder in the future.

Once I decided to make the change, I devoured car-related videos and photos whenever I had a spare moment.

Should I go for a foreign model this time?

Perhaps one with a sunroof?

I indulged in fantasies of driving it, spending countless hours researching various options with growing excitement.

But if I bought a convertible, would I even use it properly?

I worried about actually opening the roof and driving it amidst the Seoul traffic.

In the end, I struck a balance between my desires and practicality.

A car that harmonized design and functionality.

After much deliberation, I settled on the car I was currently driving.

An electric car.

*Ddik-.*

When I pressed the music stop button, the car became so quiet that I questioned whether it was even moving.

This tranquility brought a smile to my face.

“This is an electric car!”

I grinned and tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

Seeing the road gradually clearing, I pressed down on the accelerator.

*Jiiiing.*

My phone rang at that moment.

I answered immediately, the call connecting via Bluetooth.

“Hello?”

-“Oh, Heeseong. Did you get the car alright?”

Team Leader Kim asked, his voice brimming with anticipation.

“Yeah, I picked it up and I’m heading home now.”

-“Ooh, how is it?”

“It’s incredibly quiet and drives like a dream! But Seoul traffic is so bad, I can’t really open it up. Haha.”

-“Wow, we have to do a test drive soon. I haven’t been in an electric car that many times.”

“Hey, so you *have* been in one.”

Team Leader Kim gasped dramatically.

-“No. It’s different from the electric car I rode in. I really wanted to ride in *that* one. I haven’t been in a *foreign* electric car.”

“Really? Well… they’re all electric cars, you know.”

-“It’s completely different. Anyway, let’s meet tomorrow so you can show me the car.”

“Okay. I’m almost home. See you at the company tomorrow, *hyung* [older brother/male friend].”

-“Okay, drive safe.”

*Kkiiik.*

After ending the call with Team Leader Kim, I parked in the parking lot at home.

I got out of the car, a smile playing on my lips.

Then, I opened the back door to retrieve my luggage.

*Seureureuk-.*

I chuckled, thinking about Team Leader Kim’s excitement, which seemed to surpass my own.

It’s just the same electric car….

However, if there was anything special… it was that the rear doors opened upwards, like gull wings.

With shopping bags in both hands, I hurried to the elevator.

The elevator, ascending from the basement, stopped on the first floor.

*Ding-dong.*

The doors opened, and a woman stepped inside.

She had short hair, and her eyes widened in surprise, her mouth slightly agape.

She blinked at me repeatedly.

I recognized her instantly.

“Oh? You’re actress Kim Hana, right?”

Kim Hana.

An actress from WG Entertainment, just like me, and my new next-door neighbor.

Kim Hana bowed her head slightly.

“Yes, hello.”

“I heard you moved in next door, but this is the first time I’ve seen you.”

She smiled.

“I know, right? I heard it from my manager, but I haven’t seen you at the company either….”

Kim Hana clapped her hands together.

“Ah, I really enjoyed your drama this time. The project you did with Choi Seobin *sunbae* [senior colleague] was a huge hit.”

I smiled and bowed my head in acknowledgment.

“Haha, thank you. I’ve been enjoying Hana-ssi’s work too.”

“Wow, really?”

“Yes, I’m always cheering you on.”

With those words, I raised both hands, making a fist to show my support.

She smiled shyly.

“I’ll cheer you on too. Thank you.”

*Ding-dong.*

The elevator stopped.

We exited at the same time.

We walked to our respective doors, and I offered a friendly greeting.

“Let’s grab coffee sometime if you’re free. We live so close. Haha.”

She glanced between her door and mine, then laughed.

“That’s right. We couldn’t be closer.”

She smiled warmly.

“Let’s definitely have coffee next time.”

“Yes, go in carefully.”

***

“Wow, seeing the doors open upwards in person is something else.”

Team Leader Kim shook his head, his mouth agape as he stared at the car doors.

“Haha, *hyung*. You’re going to wear out the car door.”

Even as I said that, he continued to open and close the door, expressing his admiration.

“Wow… the feeling of getting out of the car must be amazing too?”

“Hey, what getting-out-of-the-car feeling? I’ve never gotten out in crowded places. You know I only go to the company and home, company, home.”

Team Leader Kim wrinkled his nose and shook his head.

“That’s true.”

I crossed my arms and rubbed my arms.

“The weather is really cold. *Hyung*, let’s go inside.”

“Heeseong, go up first. I have to go get a document for a moment.”

“Okay. Take your time.”

I went up to the practice room at WG Entertainment, leaned back in a chair, and pulled out my phone.

Then, I instinctively went online and searched for ‘Jin Heeseong’, my name.

It had been a few weeks since the drama ended.

There were no new projects or schedules lined up yet.

But this was a habit I’d developed long ago.

Searching my name to see what articles were out there.

A habit of searching and reading comments and stories about me.

At first, I was simply amazed and overjoyed to see my photo appear when I searched my name.

But as I searched every day, I became more focused on assessing my position as an actor, rather than just being amazed.

When I was actively working, I felt a surge of pride watching new articles being published.

But from the moment a project ended, the articles and public interest seemed to vanish as if nothing had happened.

Seeing that, I felt an even stronger urge to keep working on new projects.

Even though actors are constantly practicing and doing advertisements or other activities, they become invisible to the public.

Because they tend to be forgotten if they’re out of sight.

As soon as I searched my name, articles and posts appeared.

The moment I saw them, a smile spread across my face.

Even though the drama had ended weeks ago, there were still plenty of posts and articles being uploaded.

The internet was filled with posts from people who were still caught up in the afterglow of the drama.

Speculation about future projects.

Fans debating and expressing curiosity about my private life.

I could see that mentions of me had increased dramatically compared to a few months ago.

Even without anyone telling me, I could feel my popularity growing, and the corners of my mouth turned upwards.

At that moment, I was staring at my phone with a happy expression.

“Heeseong, did you wait long?”

Team Leader Kim opened the door and entered, panting.

“No. Are you done with your business?”

“Yeah, Heeseong, look at this.”

He quickly pulled out a chair in front of me, sat down, and handed me his planner.

Then, he swallowed hard, trying to catch his breath, and bit his lip.

Team Leader Kim’s planner was densely filled with writing.

I frowned and tilted my head, confused.

Team Leader Kim swallowed again and said.

“We got a project.”

“Really?”

Always welcome news.

It meant I had received a project offer.

That they had chosen me from among many actors.

Seeing my smile, Team Leader Kim wiggled his lips with a knowing grin.

I raised my eyebrows and asked cautiously.

“Why are you hesitating?”

At my question, Team Leader Kim laughed heartily.

“The projects that came in… are not just one or two.”

At his words, I froze, my mouth hanging open for a moment.

Then, breaking the silence, I carefully asked Team Leader Kim.

“Are there any leading roles among the offers this time?”

Before working with Choi Seobin on the last drama.

After playing the lead role in the adultery drama, I hadn’t received any offers for lead roles.

Because I kept getting offers for supporting roles.

I asked him with a slightly anxious heart.

Team Leader Kim shook his head emphatically.

“No, they’re *all* leading roles.”

My heart swelled with those words.

Finally, the position I had been hoping for.

Was it possible to be in a position to choose, instead of accepting every offer that came my way?

Of course, that didn’t mean I had reached the top tier of actors.

I was still far from being complacent or satisfied.

That level was only attainable by reaching Choi Seobin’s status.

Still, I could choose a project.

So, while I wasn’t at the top, my heart pounded at the thought that I had risen to the A-list.

“*Hyung*, what are the projects like?”

“I’m receiving the scripts and everything now, so I’ll show them to you as soon as they arrive. First of all, the drama that came in yesterday….”

Team Leader Kim began to describe the project to me.

After explaining for about thirty minutes, Team Leader Kim closed his planner and said.

“Let’s talk in detail when the script comes.”

“Okay.”

He drank the water in front of him and leaned back in his chair.

I suddenly remembered something and slapped the table.

“That’s right, *hyung*!”

At my outburst, Team Leader Kim jumped.

“You scared me. What is it?”

“What’s he doing these days?”

Team Leader Kim tilted his head, confused.

I raised my eyebrows and spoke again.

“…Park Minjoon.”

At my words, Team Leader Kim sighed.

“Park Minjoon, I heard he’s doing a web drama these days?”

“Ah….”

He clicked his tongue and muttered softly.

“I don’t mean to disparage web dramas… but that industry is a bit tough.”

At Team Leader Kim’s words, I nodded silently.

The web drama market has grown, but it’s still very different from the TV drama industry.

Since Park Minjoon didn’t start with web dramas in the first place, it would be even harder to bear the weight.

“It will take a while for Park Minjoon to return to terrestrial mini-series, right?”

“Well, it’s not easy to move from web dramas to terrestrial television.”

“That’s right. I don’t know if there will be a day when he can come back….”

I nodded at Team Leader Kim’s words and didn’t ask any further questions.

I was just curious about what Park Minjoon was doing now.

I had no intention of paying attention to him or keeping tabs on him anymore.

No, Park Minjoon was no longer someone I considered a rival.

A person I would simply acknowledge if someone mentioned his name.

At that moment.

*Jiiiing.*

The text message notification sounded on my phone.

With just that one message, the story of Park Minjoon vanished into thin air.

I immediately looked at my phone.

It was a text from Seo Inwoo.

-Heeseong *sunbae*, what are you doing tonight? How about a drink?

***

Seo Inwoo and I exchanged brief updates without even saying hello, and then started drinking.

He sighed deeply, as if something was troubling him.

“What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

At my question, Seo Inwoo smiled bitterly.

“*Sunbae*, I broke up with Minyoung.”

“Why?”

Seo Inwoo, who had looked dejected moments before, shrugged with a relieved expression.

“Just. She talks too much about people behind their backs….”

While he was talking about Shin Minyoung.

“Excuse me… are you actor Jin Heeseong?”

A woman approached shyly and asked.

I smiled at her, acknowledging her recognition.

“Ah, yes.”

At that moment, a group standing nearby clapped and exclaimed.

“That’s right! Oh my, this is actor Seo Inwoo, right?”

The friends, who were all attractive, stood next to us.

Seo Inwoo smiled brightly and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. Thank you for recognizing me. Haha.”

Seeing their hesitant demeanor, it seemed they wanted to take a picture with us.

The woman holding the phone took a step towards me.

I smoothed my hair and adjusted my posture.

“I’ll take a picture….”

The moment I was about to speak.

The woman next to her, tucking her hair behind her ear, spoke up.

“Can we join you?”

“…Yes?”