An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 119

119 #23 – Between Trash and Masterpiece (2)

Thud-!

As soon as I opened my eyes, I started touching both of my cheeks with my hands.

The feeling I had felt so vividly in my dream.

I was definitely Yoon Seol-ha, a woman.

It was the first time my gender had changed in a dream….

Moreover, it was also the first time I had experienced dreaming from two different perspectives.

First, Choi Seok-hyun, a married man.

The emotions I felt when I was in his perspective and when I was in Yoon Seol-ha’s perspective were very clear.

When I looked through Choi Seok-hyun’s eyes.

The strange but somehow thrilling feelings I felt as a married man being seduced by Yoon Seol-ha.

At the same time, I couldn’t forget the feeling of guilt.

Even now, immoral thoughts about feeling those emotions were swirling in my head.

Nevertheless, the brief encounter with Yoon Seol-ha vividly flashed before my eyes.

Things I hadn’t seen in the dream were quickly imprinted on my mind like a film reel.

That’s right.

In the end, I was a married man, but I had an affair with her.

And that affair could never be called clean.

Even thinking about it now, no matter the reason, an affair is something that cannot be justified.

But Yoon Seol-ha’s face kept appearing.

I frowned and shook my head.

Then, I got out of bed and rummaged through the scripts in the study.

The script I had brought home a few days ago.

‘The Mistress’s Seduction.’

It was very similar to what I had read there.

It was literally the story of a married man who fell for the mistress’s seduction.

No man could resist her mesmerizing charm.

College students, office workers, even me, who was married.

My heart pounded as if I had committed a crime.

But these were things that happened in the dream.

And it was the content of the script in front of me.

Then, Yoon Seol-ha’s image from the dream came to mind.

Throughout the dream, I was Choi Seok-hyun.

But at some point, when I opened my eyes, I saw Choi Seok-hyun, not Yoon Seol-ha.

So, I was Yoon Seol-ha.

When I dreamed as Yoon Seol-ha, I vividly remembered the thrill of seducing the other person.

The lustful gaze of the other person looking at me, Yoon Seol-ha.

Even Choi Seok-hyun’s face as he spoke to me with a trembling voice.

In the dream, I, Yoon Seol-ha, tried to grasp everything about Choi Seok-hyun in order to make him mine.

I knew he was married, but still, Choi Seok-hyun shook my heart.

It was my first time having such a dream.

My mind was filled with confusion.

I knew I had the dream after seeing the ‘The Mistress’s Seduction’ script.

But it was the first time I had experienced two people’s bodies like this.

I didn’t know what this dream meant.

Whether it was telling me to hold onto this script tightly, or if it had another meaning.

It was a dream whose meaning I couldn’t figure out.

But I could be sure of only one thing.

The vividly trembling heart and even the touch of our hands.

All the sensations were clear, and even now, my heart was pounding when I thought about it.

This dream was the most intense one I’ve ever had.

This drama… I’m drawn to it?

***

Creak.

The door opened and a person came in.

It was Director Cha Hyun-jong.

“Oh, you’re already here?”

He entered the room with a solid build and a round, gentle impression.

Choi Seo-bin, who was sitting in the room, jumped up from her seat.

“Director Cha, you’ve arrived?”

“Seo-bin, you’ve been well, right?”

Director Cha asked for a handshake from Choi Seo-bin.

“Of course. Have you been well too, Director?”

“Of course. What could happen to a mere director? Haha.”

Choi Seo-bin shook his hand and quickly introduced Im Ha-joon, who was next to her.

“Director, this is the actor Im Ha-joon, who I mentioned on the phone.”

At Choi Seo-bin’s words, Im Ha-joon smiled brightly and bowed deeply.

“Hello, Director. I’m Im Ha-joon. It’s an honor to meet you!”

His booming voice echoed in the large room.

At his words, Director Cha laughed heartily and shook his hand.

“Hahaha, this young friend is full of spirit. It’s been a while.”

At his words, Im Ha-joon widened his eyes and asked.

“Uh… do you know me?”

“Of course. Is there anyone who doesn’t know actor Im Ha-joon?”

Director Cha raised his eyebrows and continued.

“There wasn’t a place you didn’t appear on back then.”

He was the one who had made the entertainment industry and the news noisy with his propofol addiction [Propofol is a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent used in the induction and maintenance of anesthesia or sedation].

There was no way Director Cha wouldn’t know him.

But instead of looking serious or disgusted by the issue.

Im Ha-joon raised the corners of his mouth and replied to Director Cha’s nonchalant tone.

“Ah, that’s right. I’ve come to my senses now, and I want to make a comeback with a good project.”

He lowered his posture as much as possible and carefully watched Director Cha’s expression as he continued.

“For example, if I were to make a comeback with a project by the great Director Cha, I would have no regrets.”

At Im Ha-joon’s smooth-talking tone, Director Cha burst into laughter.

“Ha-joon, you have a great personality, don’t you?”

“Ah, Director. Please speak comfortably.”

Choi Seo-bin looked at them with a pleased expression and quickly opened her mouth.

“Let’s sit down first and talk about the project slowly, Director.”

“Let’s do that.”

As time passed and the atmosphere became more ripe.

The main course of the 고급 (gogeup) [high-class] Japanese restaurant, sashimi, was placed on the table.

A large boat shape made of wood.

Various thinly sliced sashimi were lined up on it.

Leaving that behind, Im Ha-joon poured sake for Director Cha.

“Director, the main course is out now, so please have a drink.”

“Shall I?”

Before he knew it, Director Cha was speaking comfortably to Im Ha-joon.

Clink-.

After the glasses clinked.

The three of them emptied their glasses at once.

Having become so close, they finally got to the main point, the story of the project.

“So, have you read the Blackman script all the way through?”

Director Cha’s gaze was directed at Im Ha-joon.

He straightened his posture and nodded vigorously at him.

“Yes, I liked the character, and especially the script was so good.”

“Hmm… I was wondering who to put in one of the lead roles.”

Director Cha turned his gaze to Choi Seo-bin and continued.

“Since this drama is going with Seo-bin as the lead, I had high expectations because Seo-bin recommended you.”

“Ha-joon is really good at acting, Director.”

At Choi Seo-bin’s words, Director Cha nodded slightly.

“Yeah, I thought he was a friend who was good at acting while watching his previous works.”

As soon as his words ended, Im Ha-joon lowered his head so that it touched the table.

“Thank you for seeing me in a good light!”

“But this time, Seo-bin even recommended you for the role, so how could I refuse? Haha.”

Director Cha laughed heartily and drank his alcohol.

“Thank you for trusting my judgment.”

“Of course. Seo-bin’s dramas have never failed. Of course, it’s also because she’s so good at acting, but it’s because she has good judgment.”

Choi Seo-bin smiled brightly and replied to him.

“That’s right. So, I chose this Blackman, right? Haha.”

His words made the room even more amicable.

Director Cha looked at Im Ha-joon and opened his mouth again.

“This drama… has to be a success no matter what.”

“Yes, I will work really hard.”

Then, Director Cha made a meaningful expression and fixed his gaze on Im Ha-joon.

“I also have a clear reason why this drama has to succeed, but Ha-joon, your reason for needing to make a big hit with your comeback work is clearer than mine, isn’t it?”

A comeback work after a period of self-reflection.

Im Ha-joon was the one who needed the drama’s viewership ratings to be a huge success.

Depending on the success of his comeback work, his future acting career would be determined.

Im Ha-joon bit his lip and glared.

Then, he shouted at Director Cha with a firm face.

“If you trust me and leave it to me, I will work hard with all my might.”

Director Cha raised his eyebrows and recited to him.

“You have to do it like crazy. After all, the word ‘comeback work’ will be on people’s lips.”

He straightened his back and sat down, pouring alcohol for Choi Seo-bin and Im Ha-joon, and said.

“Let’s make a really good project this time!”

“Yes, Director!”

Im Ha-joon shouted immediately.

Choi Seo-bin nodded and raised one corner of her mouth in a smirk.

“Cheers!”

Their glasses clinked in the air like that.

For different reasons, glasses filled with the wish for success overflowed high above their heads.

Choi Seo-bin, who had swallowed the alcohol, opened her mouth towards Director Cha.

“Director, then is the drama’s schedule set?”

“Yeah, it’s going to be a Wednesday-Thursday drama.”

“That’s good. Then the crank-in [first day of filming] is….”

Their conversation didn’t even know that the night was getting late.

They were falling deeper into the story of the project.

***

Thud-.

Team Leader Kim frowned as he looked at the script I had put down.

“Why this script again?”

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], I think I have to do this.”

Soon, Team Leader Kim distorted his face.

Then, he pushed the script I had put down away with his hand.

The script with ‘The Mistress’s Seduction’ written on it came back to me again.

I looked at Team Leader Kim, not the script.

“Hyung….”

“Hee-sung, I don’t think this is it.”

“Hyung, please read this script all the way through just once. It’s really immersive….”

Team Leader Kim opened his mouth before I could even finish my words.

“When you said you wanted to do it back then, I read it all right away. I also find it interesting. It’s a very stimulating and captivating subject matter.”

“Yeah, so that’s a big hit.”

He shook his head.

“That’s why it won’t work. This is 막장 (makjang) [over-the-top drama]. You know. Hee-sung, you have a good image right now, do you really think you need to do this drama?”

Team Leader Kim argued one by one, hoping that I wouldn’t do this project.

But even with his words, my determined heart didn’t waver even a little.

“Hyung, I don’t want to grow up only doing projects with a good image. I want to try digesting anything, whether it’s adultery, crime, or a villain.”

Then, Team Leader Kim avoided my gaze.

He just kept listening while staring intently at the script.

“Especially this drama script is legendary. There’s really no reason not to do it.”

Before I knew it, my voice had risen.

As I appealed with a red neck, he finally asked me.

“Do you really want to do this project…?”

At Team Leader Kim’s words, I opened my mouth without a moment’s hesitation.

“Yeah, it’s a project I really want to do.”

“Haa….”

He hesitated to answer as if he was in deep thought.

“I know why hyung is stopping me from doing this drama.”

“But why do you want to do this drama so much….”

The reason Team Leader Kim is against it is not because of himself or because of the affair that Kim Han-na committed.

I know too well that it’s just for my future.

I didn’t want to ignore his words and do whatever I wanted.

But I also didn’t want to give up this drama following his opposition.

Rather, I wanted to persuade Team Leader Kim, who was on my side.

About why I chose this project and why I thought it would be successful.

So I opened my mouth towards him.

“Hyung, then at least let me have a meeting.”

At my words, Team Leader Kim finally looked at me.

“I want to talk to writer Kim Han-na. I’ll decide after the meeting.”

Then, Team Leader Kim, who had been opposing unconditionally, showed a troubled expression for the first time.

I continued to speak to him.

“I’ll just have a meeting. If it’s not, I won’t do this project either. Meeting… set it up.”

Team Leader Kim’s eyes met mine in the air.

After a few seconds of silence.

Team Leader Kim shrugged his shoulders and slowly opened his mouth.

“…Okay. I’ll set up a meeting date first.”

At his words, I finally raised the corners of my mouth.