An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 285

285. Episode 51 – Consideration for Whom (3)

Director Kim was just as puzzled.

“I thought you messed up the meeting and lost interest in the project, so I assumed you were going to do something else. But that wasn’t the case?”

He was dumbfounded that Director Park had chosen me for the lead role.

But the most dumbfounded person right now must be Director Kim.

Clearly, I was the one who said I wouldn’t do Director Park’s project.

“That’s what I thought…”

The only reason I didn’t want to do the project was because of Song Yuna.

It wasn’t that I was angry because of her and didn’t want to do the project, but it was for Song Yuna’s sake.

I didn’t want to be the lead in this project, using her next project as an excuse.

And I couldn’t tolerate the thought of her being held back because of it.

Director Kim, unaware of this, opened his mouth as if to persuade me.

“But Director Park wants you, Hee-sung, as the lead, right now.”

“…….”

“What’s there to think about?”

Director Kim tilted his head and asked me.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], I’m not going to do this project.”

“Why not? The director, writer, investors, and script are all perfect.”

Despite his words, I shook my head.

“I just don’t think this project is right for me.”

“You said you were drawn to this project, Hee-sung. You said you had a good feeling about it. You gave up because the meeting didn’t go well. If you’re cast, isn’t that a jackpot?”

I hesitated to answer his words.

Then, Director Kim continued, looking as if he couldn’t understand me at all.

“Director Park likes you, Hee-sung. What’s the problem? Did something happen?”

At Director Kim’s words, I bit my lip.

If Director Park liked me for the lead role, as he said, there would be no problem now.

However, the reason I received the script reading contact now… must be Song Yuna.

That meant she hadn’t told Director Park.

I had conveyed my intentions to her, even raising my voice like that.

In the end, Song Yuna hadn’t dropped her proposal to Director Park.

I felt like I was getting angry, not just disappointed, at the way things had turned out.

Did she ignore what I said?

Did she think I could continue this acting knowing that Song Yuna’s next project was on the line?

I was even upset by her lack of consideration for me.

As I thought of Song Yuna and didn’t answer Director Kim, he spoke again.

“Hee-sung…?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“Did something really happen?”

I had always told Director Kim the truth about work without any lies.

But I didn’t want to talk about this story, for my sake and for Song Yuna’s sake.

Moreover, there was no way I would do this project because of Song Yuna.

Then there was no need to tell him about this situation.

I forced a smile and shook my head.

“No. Hyung, I’m sorry, but I need to make a quick call.”

“Okay.”

As I got up from my seat with my cell phone, Director Kim jumped up.

“No. Take the call here. I’ll go see to some office work.”

“Thanks.”

As soon as Director Kim closed the door and left, I called Song Yuna.

I thought it was better to ask her first before asking Director Park about the facts.

I had conveyed my refusal to Song Yuna, not Director Park.

Nevertheless, I took a deep breath to calm myself down, so as not to reveal my anger about this situation to her.

I didn’t want to raise my voice with Song Yuna like the last call and get emotional.

It would only hurt each other, and it wouldn’t benefit us as a couple.

The signal rang only a few times before I heard her voice.

-Hello.

Her tone was still cold.

It seemed that her feelings from the last incident hadn’t completely resolved.

Indeed, we hadn’t had a deep conversation about it since that incident.

We were too busy avoiding each other.

Whenever that topic came up, we became awkward.

But in the end, this topic reignited our conversation.

“Yuna.”

-Yeah.

“I told you to tell Director Park.”

I spoke to her in the softest tone possible, and she retorted sharply to my words.

-So, what?

“Not ‘so, what.’ I told you to do it, why didn’t you? We talked so honestly about my feelings back then.”

-I know. That’s why I said I understood.

“Then why didn’t you tell Director Park? I know what you’re trying to do for me. Still, how can I do this project with you on the line?”

Song Yuna sighed at my words.

-Haa… What are you talking about? I told you that I didn’t like it even after I told you that. So I said I understood what you meant, even if I didn’t understand.

“Yeah, but why didn’t you tell Director Park?”

-Seriously, what are you talking about? I called Director Park right away that day.”

“What?”

-I called!

“Really?”

-Yeah, are you saying I’m hiding this from you too, out of consideration for you?

Song Yuna snapped at me in an angry voice.

She asked as if she was dumbfounded, but I was just as dumbfounded.

If she hadn’t told Director Park, I would have been cast.

“That’s not it? Yuna, this isn’t consideration.”

-I’m speechless. I told you I called. What, should I send you my call history?

“But why am I doing the script reading? You didn’t tell him….”

Before I could finish speaking, Song Yuna shouted over the receiver.

-I don’t know. If you’re not going to believe me like that, you can call the director and ask him yourself!

Song Yuna expressed her resentment to me in a sharp voice.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s that I’m asking if you didn’t tell him on purpose because you’re thinking of me again.”

-That’s it. I really hate you.

She hung up the phone in a very sulky voice.

She said she called Director Park.

But I didn’t believe those words as they were.

No, I couldn’t believe it.

I judged that she had called Director Park, but she hadn’t exactly withdrawn the proposal to cast me as the lead.

“Haa… Okay. Instead of doing this with Yuna anymore, it’s better to talk to Director Park.”

In the end, I called Director Park instead of Song Yuna.

* * *

Weekend afternoon.

She was lying in bed, tossing and turning, scrolling through her cell phone.

Park Soon-hee searched for Jin Hee-sung without fail today as well.

“Our Hee-sung oppa [term of endearment for an older brother or male celebrity], there’s no news since the turntable incident.”

Now, when you search for Jin Hee-sung, the articles that come up are not about his work, but about his dating rumors with Song Yuna.

“Ugh, those two aren’t wearing couple items, it’s the clothes Hee-sung oppa has been wearing since his debut. They keep writing articles with Song Yuna about something that’s not even a big deal.”

Park Soon-hee stared intently at the official photo of Song Yuna and Jin Hee-sung with a sulky face.

“Dating Song Yuna… Well, our oppa is human, so he has to date…. He’s old enough, I guess I’ll support him.”

Unlike her words, Park Soon-hee continued to sigh.

“Haa… I keep seeing only Song Yuna, not oppa, so my fan spirit isn’t the same as before….”

Now, even when she looked at Jin Hee-sung’s photos, she noticed that she didn’t smile like before.

She turned off the internet and called her friend to relieve her uneasy feelings.

-Hello.

“What are you doing?”

-I’m busy.

“Ah, why? You said you were home today.”

-Yeah, my sister is busy watching our Twins right now.

“Twins?”

-Oh, you don’t know the Twins who debuted this time?

“Are they singers?”

-Haa… Our Soon-hee, you’re so obsessed with Jin Hee-sung that you haven’t watched music shows in a while…. I’m sorry for you.

“Ah, what is it? I want to watch too.”

-Yeah, your Hee-sung oppa is dating too. Now switch to Twins. They’re really cute. I’m already buying the album for the nth time.

“Twins… Okay. Hang up, I want to watch too.”

-Yeah, please hang up quickly. I have to go watch our Twins’ music show.

“Okay, hang up.”

As soon as she hung up the phone, Park Soon-hee jumped out of bed and went to her laptop.

And she immediately searched for the singer Twins and focused on their stage videos.

“Well… they’re cute.”

As two of Twins’ videos were coming to an end.

Park Soon-hee’s mouse clicked on Jin Hee-sung’s acting video instead of the next Twins video.

Jin Hee-sung’s face filled the screen.

At the sight, Park Soon-hee moved closer as if she would be sucked into the monitor.

And she unknowingly exclaimed.

“Wow… I think I’ve seen this video more than 100 times already, but it’s still exciting even if I watch it again….”

Park Soon-hee watched Jin Hee-sung’s videos for hours in the same spot.

She shook her head, reflecting on her own appearance.

“I can’t help it. How can I escape Hee-sung oppa?”

Park Soon-hee clicked on Jin Hee-sung’s fan cafe ‘Jin Hee-sung Peak Season’ again and started uploading his photos.

“Our oppa, he’s so handsome.”

One photo caught her eye while she was uploading photos to the cafe.

It was a photo of Jin Hee-sung and Choi Seo-bin together.

“That’s right, Choi Seo-bin is said to be meeting with overseas entertainment agencies, is he going to Hollywood now?”

She also knew everything about Choi Seo-bin, who was usually close to Jin Hee-sung.

“I liked that our oppa was close to Choi Seo-bin… but he doesn’t seem to meet Choi Seo-bin often since he started dating. If he goes to Hollywood this time, won’t they get even further apart?”

Park Soon-hee bit her lip at the sudden thought of Song Yuna’s existence.

“Yeah, it’s just dating. Well… it won’t go as far as marriage. He’s not really going to get married, is he?”

* * *

After talking to Director Park, I headed straight to the meeting place.

I had to finish talking to him as soon as possible before the script reading date approached.

However, I couldn’t just have this conversation over the phone, so I urgently arranged a meeting with Director Park.

“Director, hello.”

“Yes, Hee-sung. The script reading date is not far away, so I was surprised that you asked to see me today.”

At his words, I cut to the chase without having to beat around the bush.

There was no point in spending time talking about the project and then saying that I would drop out of the project.

“Ah… I received the script reading date from my manager today, and I thought I should tell you right away, so I contacted you urgently.”

He nodded and raised his eyebrows.

“Yes, I’ve already discussed the date with your manager, but is there any problem with the date….”

“No. I’m sorry to tell you this right before the script reading, but I wanted to see you about the project casting.”

Director Park had a face that he didn’t know what was going on at all, and I carefully opened my mouth to him.

“I heard that the reason you cast me was because of Yuna. If that’s the case, I’m grateful for your consideration, but I won’t be appearing….”

Director Park reached out and stopped me before I could finish speaking.

“Oh, didn’t you hear that from Yuna yet?”

“Yes?”

Instead of being surprised at my words, Director Park started talking as if I didn’t know.

“I already received a call from Yuna. She said she would withdraw her proposal, that is, her request to cast Hee-sung as the lead. She told me not to do that.”

At his words, I frowned and blinked repeatedly.

What….

Was it true that Song Yuna had already called?

Then what the hell….

Clearly, there was no reason to use me as the lead anymore.

“Then, why is the script reading date….”

I asked Director Park about the incomprehensible flow.

He raised the corners of his mouth and answered me.

“That’s a separate matter. We looked at this and that, and Hee-sung is the best for this role.”

“…Yes?”

“Regardless of Yuna, I’m casting Hee-sung.”