An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 144

144. #27 – The Temperature of the Year-End (2)

“Excuse me, would you mind if we joined you?”

“…Pardon?”

The word ‘joined’ took me by surprise, and I stammered.

The bar was structured with partitioned booths, so not everyone could see what was happening.

I glanced around self-consciously, twitching my lips.

Regardless of who they were, I had no intention of sharing our table.

As I hesitated, wondering how to politely decline, Seo In-woo leaned closer and spoke in a very low voice.

“Sunbae [term of respect for a senior colleague or mentor], both of them are pretty good-looking, right?”

“What?”

My eyes widened as I questioned Seo In-woo.

He slightly raised the corners of his lips and said.

“Since you’re single and I’ve broken up…”

Before Seo In-woo could finish, I turned my head.

Looking at the women standing before me, I politely clasped my hands together and said.

“I don’t think that would work… We were in the middle of a serious conversation. I’m really sorry.”

After saying that, I bowed my head.

Fortunately, they turned around with awkward smiles and returned to their table.

Once again, we were the only two left at the table.

Seo In-woo stared at me with a bewildered expression.

“Seriously, Sunbae, why did you just let them go? They were really decent!”

“Hey, aside from that, they’re complete strangers. How can we suddenly ask them to join us?”

He shrugged, as if he couldn’t understand, and replied.

“What’s wrong with that? You get to know each other, and maybe it could develop into something.”

I waved my hand vigorously and said.

“Nah, I’m not comfortable with that. It’s partly because we’re celebrities, but it’s also my personality.”

“Sunbae, you’re not shy at all, and you have a great personality.”

“Maybe if I were an ENFP like you, but it’s difficult and uncomfortable for me.” [ENFP: Extraversion, Intuition, Feeling, Perception – one of the 16 personality types from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)]

At my words, Seo In-woo burst into hearty laughter.

“Well, I guess my MBTI [Myers-Briggs Type Indicator] being ENFP makes me a bit outgoing? Haha.”

Seo In-woo had a way of making everyone feel comfortable.

He was always cheerful and got along well with people.

That’s why, from the moment we first met, he approached me without hesitation and we became close.

I smiled, met his gaze, and then raised my eyebrows and said.

“And if something like this happens again, always be careful. We’re in a profession where rumors can easily spread.”

“…True.”

“Well, not every encounter is like that, but it’s never bad to be cautious.”

Seo In-woo nodded at my words.

“Sorry, I guess it’s because it hasn’t been long since I broke up.”

“No need to apologize.”

I looked at him, raised the corners of my lips, and lifted my glass.

Clink-.

Our glasses collided sharply in the air.

As soon as I downed the drink, I asked him.

“Ah, so tell me the rest of the story. Why did you break up with Min-young?”

At my words, he made a ‘tss’ sound and replied.

“You know, Sunbae. She talked badly about everyone around her, not just you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s one thing to empathize and listen for a day or two. But eventually, it became too hard to listen to those stories.”

I silently refilled his empty glass.

“Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. Anyway, I didn’t think it was a relationship that would last, so I broke up with her.”

“Yeah, just think of it as not meant to be.”

Seo In-woo smiled nonchalantly, took the bottle, and refilled my glass.

Then, with his lips pursed, he averted his gaze and cautiously opened his mouth.

“Anyway, I couldn’t contact you because of her, and I felt like I was walking on eggshells… I was really sorry about that.”

While maintaining a romantic relationship with Shin Min-young, Seo In-woo and I didn’t keep in touch.

No, I couldn’t.

She had demanded that Seo In-woo cut off his relationship with me.

And I knew that, so I felt uncomfortable contacting Seo In-woo rashly.

But now it’s all in the past, and I had no desire to get angry or blame him for it.

“It’s okay. But you broke up, and you’re doing fine?”

At my question, Seo In-woo chuckled and replied.

“Of course. I was the one who broke up with her, so I’m fine!”

“That’s good then.”

I clinked my full glass against his.

Then, Seo In-woo put down his glass, tilted his head, and asked me.

“But Sunbae, aren’t you going to get a girlfriend?”

At his words, I burst into laughter and replied.

“Ugh, you too with that question?”

“Why, has someone else asked you about a girlfriend?”

I nodded and said.

“Yeah, people have been asking me a lot lately.”

“It’s probably because your work is going well, and you’re always so busy. They’re probably telling you to take a break and relax.”

“Maybe?”

Seo In-woo stared at me intently and asked.

“Sunbae, so what’s your ideal type?”

At his words, I shook my head.

Seo In-woo tapped the table with his hand and repeated.

“Come on, tell me at least roughly. You never know, I might know someone like that around me.”

“Um…”

I stroked my chin and rolled my eyes.

“If it’s difficult, cat-like or dog-like. Which style do you prefer?”

“I… dog-like.”

At my words, Seo In-woo smiled and nodded.

“So, you prefer a cute and affectionate style over a chic and aloof one.”

“If I had to choose a style… that would be it.”

“Then, of course, you prefer a pure and kind image over a cold city woman style?”

At Seo In-woo’s words, I chuckled and nodded.

“I guess so.”

He rested his chin on his hand, rolled his eyes quickly, and seemed lost in thought.

“Um… looking around…”

Soon, Seo In-woo snapped his fingers as if something had come to mind and exclaimed.

“Wow, Sunbae!”

“Yeah?”

“I can’t think of your ideal type right away, but I can think of the person who is furthest from your ideal type.”

“Someone who is the complete opposite of my ideal type?”

At my words, Seo In-woo nodded vigorously and replied.

“Yeah, someone who is completely the opposite of your ideal type. It’s definitely Song Yu-na.”

At his words, I frowned and pictured Song Yu-na in my mind.

A prickly personality, a sophisticated and cold style.

And she has sharp, cat-like eyes.

I shook my head, thinking of Song Yu-na’s face.

“…I guess so?”

Seo In-woo chuckled and said to me.

“She’s the complete opposite of your style, but Yu-na is also incredibly beautiful.”

He leaned in and looked at me, saying.

“Should I find your style and introduce you?”

At Seo In-woo’s words, I shook my head and replied.

“No, it’s okay. I prefer meeting people naturally.”

“Come on, who pursues natural encounters these days?”

“I want to meet someone naturally, not through introductions.”

“Of course, that’s better, but it’s difficult. Let me introduce you.”

I waved my hands and said.

“No, really, it’s okay. I’m just going to work for the time being. If I need it, I’ll definitely tell you.”

“Alright. Tell me anytime.”

Seo In-woo and I clinked our glasses again.

***

As I got out of the car, pure white snowflakes quickly fell onto my shoulders.

The whole world was covered in white snow.

The surroundings were filled with red and green decorations, as if waiting for Christmas to come soon.

♪♬.

Each store played different carols, asserting their presence.

Those songs were not noisy, but enough to make the hearts of passersby flutter.

My whole body was shivering, but I was also excited by this year-end atmosphere.

The sub-zero temperature froze people stiff.

But this thrilling feeling of the year-end was warmly melting my heart.

It wasn’t that I was waiting for Christmas.

Nor was it that I was looking forward to the end of the year because I wanted to get a year older.

But the unique year-end atmosphere made people anticipate and get excited.

I rubbed my frozen hands and headed to WG Entertainment.

I brushed the snow off my shoulders and head and went inside.

“Hee-sung, you’re here?”

“Yeah, it’s incredibly cold outside.”

“Is it snowing a lot?”

Manager Kim handed me a hot pack and asked.

“Thanks. It’s snowing quite a bit outside.”

“Sit down and rest for a bit.”

Scripts were piled up on the table.

I warmed my hands with the hot pack and asked.

“Should I look at these scripts?”

“Yeah, rest for a bit and then look at them slowly. I’ll organize some documents and get some coffee.”

He immediately left the practice room.

I quickly picked up the first script and soon focused on it.

I quickly flipped through the scripts and looked at the third one.

But still, none of the scripts were drawing me in.

Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve had any dreams lately.

Of course, I haven’t decided to take on any projects yet.

And I haven’t seriously looked at any scripts yet.

But I usually have dreams related to projects around this time….

…Is something big about to happen?

I shook my head, brushed away my thoughts, and quickly flipped through the scripts.

“Isn’t there a good project that really grabs me?”

At that moment.

The door opened, and Manager Kim came in with two cups of steaming coffee.

“How is it? Are there any good scripts?”

At his words, I raised my eyebrows and shook my head.

Manager Kim handed me the coffee and took a seat opposite me.

“Hee-sung, what kind of project do you want to do next?”

“Um… I’m thinking about movies for now.”

“Not doing dramas?”

I chewed my lip and replied.

“I did two dramas back-to-back with live-shoot scripts this time, and I was completely exhausted.”

“Yeah, you ran almost like a live broadcast for both projects and couldn’t even rest in between.”

Manager Kim nodded and continued.

“Yeah, it would be better to do a movie with a more relaxed filming schedule this time.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m planning.”

Suddenly.

Manager Kim clapped his hands sharply and shouted.

“That’s right. We got a Hollywood audition this time!”

“Hollywood?”

My eyes widened as I asked.

He swallowed hard and said with an expectant look.

“Yeah, they’re trying to cast one Korean actor.”

Manager Kim began to explain the movie to me.

“The setting itself isn’t Korean, just Korean-American…”

After he explained for a long time, I chewed my lip and shook my head.

“But I don’t think I’m good enough to go to Hollywood yet.”

Manager Kim looked at me with a surprised expression.

But I smiled and opened my mouth again.

“I want to focus on domestic projects for now. When I get a little bigger, I want to try it then.”

At my words, he nodded with an understanding look.

“Yeah, let’s do that. It’s not too late to grow more and do it after that.”

At that moment.

Manager Kim’s cell phone rang, and after checking the message, he jumped up from his seat.

“Hee-sung, just a moment. The head manager is calling me.”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

As if it was urgent, Manager Kim hurriedly left the practice room.

I picked up the script in front of me again.

As I was focusing on the script for several tens of minutes.

Buzz.

I put down the script at the alarm on my cell phone.

[Sender: Senior Choi Seo-bin]

“Hello?”

-Hee-sung, are you busy?

“No, I’m at the company looking at scripts.”

-You’ve already started looking at scripts?

“Yes, not urgently, but I’m trying to look at projects slowly.”

-So, is there any project you might want to do?

“There isn’t a project that particularly attracts me yet. Are you resting more, Sunbae?”

-I haven’t decided… Ah, let me know when you decide what you’re going to do.”

“I will. Please let me know when you decide on a good project too, Sunbae.”

-Of course. It would be even better if we could do it together.”

I leaned back in my chair, smiling as I talked on the phone.

Bang-.

For some reason, Manager Kim came running in and slammed the practice room door open.

“Hee-sung!”

His appearance was so urgent that I had a feeling something had happened.

I quickly said to Choi Seo-bin.

“Sunbae, I’m sorry, but I’ll call you back.”

-Okay, I understand. Go take care of your work.”

I immediately hung up the phone and looked at Manager Kim and asked.

“Hyung [term used by a younger male to address an older male he is close to], what’s going on?”

Manager Kim took a deep breath and shouted at me in an excited voice.

“You’ve been invited to the awards ceremony!”

“…What?”

The corners of his lips were stretched as if they would reach his ears.

He grabbed my shoulders and shouted.

“We got an invitation to this year’s year-end awards ceremony.”

With my mouth agape, I blankly stared at him.

Barely suppressing my jumping heart, I carefully asked Manager Kim.

“Which broadcasting station invited us, PBC? Or MBS?”

I licked my lips with a nervous feeling and swallowed hard.

Manager Kim raised his eyebrows and said to me.

“PBC, MBS… both.”