An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 134

134. #25 – A Crisis for Some, An Opportunity for Others (3)

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], if they can’t find a replacement, can I do it?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Chief Kim shouted with all his might.

-Yah, Jin Hee-sung!

After shouting, he took a deep breath and continued.

-Are you kidding me? Why would you do that?

“Hyung, don’t just think negatively, listen calmly.”

-No, there’s nothing to listen to. No way.

Chief Kim’s tone was firm.

It wasn’t the first time I’d heard it, but it was the first time he’d cut me off so decisively.

Even during the ‘Temptation of the Other Woman’ drama, he at least listened to my reasons for wanting to do it.

However, I had no intention of giving up either.

“Don’t just think like that….”

-Hee-sung, that drama is really not going to work. You know that too.

A conversation that couldn’t be narrowed down.

I swallowed hard and said to him.

“Hyung, are you at the company?”

-Yeah, why?

“Then I’ll go to the company now. Don’t be like this, let’s meet and talk.”

-Okay. That would be better.

As soon as I hung up, I started preparing hastily.

And hurried to the company.

***

As soon as I arrived at the company, I saw Chief Kim waiting for me at the entrance.

He stood there with an expression that showed no sign of welcoming me.

“You came?”

“Yeah, were you waiting, Hyung?”

“Of course. Let’s go in quickly.”

Chief Kim gestured to me with his chin, holding coffee in both hands.

“Conference room?”

“No, all the rooms are in use right now. Let’s go to the terrace.”

“Okay.”

I took the coffee from him and headed to the terrace.

When I arrived at the terrace, there was no one else there besides us.

I put the coffee down on one of the tables and sat down.

But before I could even take a sip of coffee, Chief Kim looked at me and opened his mouth.

“Hee-sung, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go in as a replacement, no matter how I think about it.”

Chief Kim went straight to the point, without even asking how I was doing.

I put down my coffee and replied.

“Hyung, ‘Blackman’ has good viewership ratings. You know from the script, the story is solid.”

“I know the story is solid. That’s why the viewership ratings were good. But that was before Im Ha-joon dropped out. Now the situation has changed.”

“I know, but the drama isn’t being canceled. Someone is being found to replace him and resume it.”

Chief Kim sighed and said.

“But that replacement can’t be you. No, it shouldn’t be you.”

“Why not?”

“Hee-sung… you know. There’s nothing to gain from going in.”

I knew very well that he was saying this sincerely for my sake.

But I didn’t agree with everything he said.

“We can’t be sure that it will be a loss, can we?”

We were in a tense standoff.

Neither of us had any intention of backing down.

A moment of silence fell.

We calmly sipped our coffee and organized our thoughts.

Then Chief Kim shrugged his shoulders and spoke first.

“Originally, it’s an unspoken rule that Im Ha-joon’s agency is responsible for finding a replacement. It’s not mandatory, but that’s the rule of this world.”

Chief Kim’s words.

So, it meant that Im Ha-joon’s agency, not our company WG Entertainment where Choi Seo-bin belongs, should find the replacement.

But the fact that they haven’t found a replacement until now means.

That Im Ha-joon’s agency can’t find a suitable person to put in the drama either.

That’s why the drama shooting hasn’t resumed.

So, there’s no need for our company, that is, for me to go in, but.

I thought differently.

Instead of waiting indefinitely for Im Ha-joon’s company to find someone.

I could just go in as the replacement.

Our opinions clashed again.

I looked at Chief Kim and said.

“Hyung, what about Seo-bin sunbae [senior colleague]?”

“Why are you worrying about that?”

“You know, Seo-bin sunbae has always been at the top.”

He nodded slightly at my words.

“But her recent movie didn’t do so well. So there was a lot of talk in the entertainment industry, and she’s finally getting back on track….”

He reached out and stopped me from speaking.

“I understand your feelings. But Hee-sung.”

“Yeah?”

“Think carefully.”

Chief Kim bit his lip and continued.

“Your recent drama ‘Temptation of the Other Woman’ did incredibly well.”

I nodded.

Chief Kim said as if he was pouring out his heart.

“The viewership ratings exceeded 20%, and it ended well. So you have a chance to go to the Acting Awards for the first time.”

“Hyung, that’s….”

“No, not just going? You might even receive an award. The chances are very high.”

At his words, I raised my eyebrows and replied.

“It’s not decided yet.”

“It’s almost a foregone conclusion. Really. But if you go into that ruined ‘Blackman’ as a replacement….”

Chief Kim took a deep breath and opened his mouth again.

“No, no one can recover the viewership ratings there.”

“…….”

I couldn’t easily refute his words.

I couldn’t be sure that it would turn out well either.

“But the public only looks at the numbers. If the viewership ratings are cut in half after you’re 투입 [put in/invested], then you’ll never get the award.”

“That’s right. But Hyung, the award isn’t confirmed, and if you’re stopping me from being a replacement because of the award, then let’s think about it.”

Chief Kim shook his head.

“Yes, even if we put the award aside, Hee-sung, your career is the problem.”

I just closed my mouth and listened to his sincere advice.

“Even now, there’s a problem with what kind of characters you’ll receive in the future because you did a 막장 [makjang – over-the-top, absurd] drama.”

There was nothing wrong with what Chief Kim said.

I just didn’t want to admit it.

The theme of the last drama itself was adultery, a 치정 [chijeong – romantic entanglement] melodrama.

The viewership ratings were good because of the sensational material, and it received a lot of praise for its solid story.

Naturally, the fandom increased.

But what Chief Kim was worried about wasn’t the viewership ratings.

The viewership ratings and my career are separate issues.

It would be great if my acting career would be smooth sailing just because I did a well-loved drama.

But due to the nature of the acting profession, there was anxiety about my character being fixed.

To the public, I now have a strong label of being an adulterer, a 바람남 [baramnam – 바람 means wind, but in this context, it means cheating. So, baramnam is a cheating man or womanizer].

And because that character is set, it will be difficult for the next drama to cast me easily.

What if a role with a similar character comes to me?

I, including Chief Kim and the company, will reject that offer.

Because if I take on such a role twice in a row, I will really become that character.

However, even casting me in an innocent role, a pure role, would be a concern for the director.

The fact that the 막장 [makjang] drama had high viewership ratings means that many people watched it.

In the eyes of all those people, I will already remain as an impure character.

Chief Kim, as well as myself, knew that the next project was really important to reverse my character.

That’s why Chief Kim is stopping me from being a replacement for ‘Blackman’ until the end.

I also know his heart.

But I had the same thoughts as Chief Kim.

And after much deliberation, I came to the conclusion to do this drama.

To convey my heart to him, I looked at Chief Kim and opened my mouth.

“Hyung, but I really want to do this drama.”

“Hee-sung, this isn’t right. You know I’m not just blocking you unreasonably.”

“I know. I also know that you’re saying this for my sake.”

He shook his head and replied.

“There’s nothing you can gain, so why do you want to do it?”

His appearance showed no sign of wavering.

Looking at Chief Kim’s firm face, I said.

“Hyung, then can I talk to Seo-bin sunbae once?”

Chief Kim sighed deeply and replied.

“Talking to Seo-bin won’t change anything….”

At that moment.

“What are you talking about with me?”

At the voice coming from behind us.

Chief Kim and I were startled and opened our mouths wide.

Choi Seo-bin frowned and shrugged her shoulders as she looked at me.

“What is it, what do you need to do with me?”

Choi Seo-bin, standing behind Chief Kim, asked me again as if she was curious.

I swallowed my surprise and forced a smile as I asked him a question.

“Sunbaenim [honorific title for senior colleague], have you found a replacement for Im Ha-joon’s spot in ‘Blackman’?”

At my words, Choi Seo-bin answered immediately.

“Not yet.”

“Then….”

The moment I was about to open my mouth to Choi Seo-bin.

Chief Kim, who was sitting in front of me, frowned at me with a desperate look on his face.

Then, with his lips tightly closed, he shook his head quickly.

Choi Seo-bin, who was standing, couldn’t see that gesture, of course.

I couldn’t finish my sentence after all.

I couldn’t just say that I would be a replacement to Choi Seo-bin.

No matter how much I wanted to do it, I had a manager who took care of me and was in charge.

It was more important to talk to him and come to a conclusion first.

I couldn’t openly refuse the manager’s words.

Choi Seo-bin tilted her head as she looked at me, who was slurring my words.

“What?”

At that time, Choi Seo-bin’s cell phone rang.

“Ah, just a moment.”

“Yes, Sunbaenim.”

“Hello? Oh, you’re here. I’ll go up now.”

At the phone call he received, Choi Seo-bin smiled at me and said.

“Let’s talk again later. I have to go up urgently.”

“Yes, Sunbaenim. I’ll be waiting.”

Choi Seo-bin immediately left the terrace.

Again, only Chief Kim and I were left here.

He turned around, confirmed that Choi Seo-bin had left, and then looked at me and opened his mouth.

“Hee-sung, let’s really not do it.”

However, seeing Choi Seo-bin’s tired face, I made up my mind again as if I was convinced.

“Hyung, but I think I can really do well. Just trust me once.”

Chief Kim narrowed his eyes and asked cautiously.

“Hee-sung, by any chance… did Seo-bin ask you separately?”

His eyes widened at his words.

“Is that why?”

Looking at Chief Kim asking again, I burst into laughter.

“Ah, Hyung. Do you think I’m just being stubborn because I listened to my senior?”

“Then why else?”

I shrugged my shoulders and let out a short sigh.

“Just. I’ve received a lot of grace from Seo-bin sunbae. So I want to repay her this time.”

“If it’s because of that….”

Before Chief Kim could finish speaking, I opened my mouth again.

“This isn’t simply an area of work, but a story of man to man.”

At my words, he nodded and listened attentively.

“You know, when I was having a hard time, Seo-bin sunbae brought me here from HS Entertainment.”

“I know that.”

“I have to repay that grace at least once, right?”

When I finished speaking, Chief Kim finally turned his head.

And he looked at the empty air, took a long breath, and seemed to be deep in thought.

Chief Kim is the one who knows better than anyone that I had a hard time when I went to court with HS Entertainment over the termination of my contract.

And it was Choi Seo-bin who rescued me from that.

Because of that, Chief Kim even came to WG Entertainment.

Knowing the events of that time so well, Chief Kim seemed to be slowly chewing over my words.

Chief Kim and I were lost in our own thoughts.

After a few minutes.

Chief Kim let out a sigh as if he was spitting out his breath.

“…Hyung.”

Chief Kim, who turned his head at my call, nodded and said.

“If you say so much… wait. I’ll talk to the head of the headquarters and come back.”

Chief Kim got up from his seat with a stiff face.