An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 183

183. The Maker of Good Deeds (1)

27%.

The drama ‘Doctor’ concluded with an incredible viewership rating.

As a result, an enormous number of advertisement offers started pouring in.

Offers were flooding in from variety shows, radio programs, and even educational broadcasts.

The drama was a huge success.

My recognition was incomparable to what it used to be.

When I walked down the street or went to a restaurant, it was harder to find someone who *didn’t* recognize me.

“Hyung, so this is what happens when you get a 27% viewership rating.”

I was amazed by how many people recognized me.

Manager Kim replied with a pleased smile.

“Of course. These days, a 27% viewership rating for a drama is almost like a 70% rating in the old days. The drama is broadcast on reruns and OTT [Over-the-Top, meaning streaming] platforms, and there are many clips circulating online.”

“Yeah, it’s really amazing.”

I marveled at the newfound popularity and continued.

“Yesterday, an elderly grandmother recognized me at a restaurant, you know?”

“Yes, when older people recognize you, that’s a true measure of popularity.”

“Keu, Jin Hee-sung, you’ve really made it.”

We burst into laughter in the car at my jest.

“We received a lot of variety show offers again today.”

“So, I’m not doing any variety shows at all?”

Since the drama started, many programs had sent offers.

But I hadn’t appeared on a single one yet.

It wasn’t my refusal, but the company’s.

It was already too late to go on shows for drama promotion.

The viewership ratings were good enough without promotion.

My image on variety shows was different from the one in the drama.

Of course, I received a lot of love for that unexpected image.

However, there was an opinion that if such a funny image was imprinted on viewers, the characters I would play in the future might be fixed with that image.

The company decided to refrain from variety shows for now.

Manager Kim slowly nodded in response to my question.

“Yes, they said it would be better to try out various characters in dramas first before going on variety shows.”

“Oh, I don’t mind.”

I didn’t particularly prefer going on variety shows.

But that didn’t mean I unconditionally avoided them.

Dramas are always filmed according to a set script and practice.

In contrast, variety shows require ad-libs and situational judgment to create laughter, which wasn’t easy for me.

It was most difficult to find the middle ground between maintaining a certain image as an actor and providing laughter.

In the past, the production team requested my appearance for promotion.

But now that I didn’t need to go out of my way to appear on shows, I had no intention of doing so.

I was simply accepting the company’s opinion.

At that moment.

Vibration.

The phone vibrated.

I stopped talking to Manager Kim and looked at my phone.

[Sender: Kim Min-gyu]

It was a call from Kim Min-gyu, a minor actor who had worked with me on the drama ‘Doctor.’

I quickly clicked the receive button with a happy heart.

“Hello?”

-Sunbae-nim [senior colleague], it’s Min-gyu.

“I know, Min-gyu.”

-Is it a good time to talk?

“Yeah, sure. Have you eaten?”

Kim Min-gyu replied politely.

-Yes, I ate a little while ago. Have you had your meal, Sunbae-nim?

“Yeah, I just finished eating and I’m on my way out.”

-Ah, are you doing well?

“The drama wrapped up well, and I’m relaxing. What have you been up to, Min-gyu?”

We had only exchanged occasional text messages since the production presentation.

It had been several months since I had seen his face.

-Sunbae-nim, I was actually calling about that.

His somewhat excited voice made me laugh before I even heard the news.

It was clearly good news.

“What is it?”

-I got cast on ‘Talk Star’ this time.

“The variety show Talk Star?”

-Yes!

As soon as I heard Kim Min-gyu’s words, my eyes widened and I repeatedly hit my thigh with the hand that wasn’t holding the phone.

“Wow, Min-gyu-ya. That’s amazing.”

The variety show Talk Star.

It was one of the longest-running programs, with many celebrities appearing as guests every week to talk about various topics.

Since it was a guest-oriented broadcast, the guests who appeared would immediately dominate the internet and news articles.

The fact that Kim Min-gyu, a minor actor, had been cast on such a talk show made me unable to hide my joy.

Expressing my happiness as if it were my own, Kim Min-gyu seemed touched.

-That’s right. It’s all thanks to you, Sunbae-nim.

“What do you mean it’s thanks to me? You got cast because you did well.”

-Isn’t it because Sunbae-nim worked so hard that our drama was a hit? That’s why I even got cast on a variety show, thanks to you.

“Oh, don’t say that. It’s all because you did well.”

-It seems like I got cast because it’s a special featuring rookies this time.

“That’s really great. Don’t be nervous, and practice your episodes and things to say. If you get nervous, words might come out however they want.”

He seriously opened his mouth at my advice.

-Yes, I will practice hard and go. And I heard that the minor actors who filmed together in this drama are also getting offers from the next project.

“That’s really good.”

-Yes, Sunbae-nim, I miss you. Cheol-min and Seong-jin also met yesterday and said they wanted to see you.

“Really? I’d love to. Let’s set a date soon and see each other.”

-Really?

“Yeah, pick a convenient date for the three of you and let me know.”

-Yes, I understand, Sunbae-nim.

“Do well on the variety show. Contact me again if anything happens.”

After hanging up with Kim Min-gyu.

I kept laughing.

One of the good things about the drama being a hit was this.

Even the minor actors became scene stealers.

Including Kim Min-gyu, who just called, many actors are getting cast in various projects such as dramas and movies.

And the calls from variety shows and other programs are endless.

Sometimes when I receive calls like this, it feels like my own work is going smoothly, and I feel so proud and pleased.

A smile spread across my face as I thought of them.

***

It had already been a month since the drama ended.

Today, I was in the meeting room again to find my next project.

I had dozens of scripts laid out on the table, and I was flipping through them with Manager Kim.

“We need to decide on a project soon.”

Manager Kim raised his eyebrows and replied.

“There’s no need to rush.”

“That’s true, but….”

Despite his words, I bit my lip and quickly flipped through the scripts one by one.

I couldn’t find a script that particularly caught my attention, so I sighed deeply.

“I guess it’s not easy to choose the next project because the previous one was such a big hit.”

“That’s right. The next project has to be as good as the previous one, so it’s a lot of pressure.”

I nodded at Manager Kim’s words.

People would have expectations of me now.

To meet those expectations, the viewership ratings had to be at least similar to the previous work.

Finding such a project was not an easy task.

Yesterday and today, I was swimming in new scripts every day.

Seeing my worried face, Manager Kim smiled and said to me.

“Hee-sung-ah, you don’t have to find it in a hurry.”

“I know, but my mind doesn’t feel at ease easily.”

Then, Manager Kim sighed and looked at the calendar.

“Why don’t you clear your head and choose a project after the awards ceremony?”

Looking at the calendar, it was already approaching the end of the year.

“Yeah, it’s already the end of the year.”

“Yes, the year-end awards ceremony invitations will be coming soon.”

At Manager Kim’s words, I mixed my worries and concerns into a sigh and replied.

“…Okay, let’s take our time.”

“Yeah, it’s time to be careful with each and every filmography.”

“I will.”

At that time, an alarm rang on Manager Kim’s phone.

He raised his eyebrows and said to me.

“Oh? Hee-sung-ah, an article about you suddenly came out?”

“An article about me?”

I hadn’t done any SNS or programs recently, so I tilted my head at the news that an article had come out.

I quickly checked the article that Manager Kim and I found.

[‘Talk Star’ Kim Min-gyu, “Jin Hee-sung is more precious to me than my father….”]

[‘Talk Star’ Rising Star, Kim Min-gyu. Every time he opens his mouth, it’s ‘Hee-sung Sunbae,’ what’s the story…?]

***

“Now, next is Kim Min-gyu’s question.”

Talk Star’s MC [Master of Ceremonies] Yoo Min-ho looked at Kim Min-gyu and asked.

“Min-gyu-ssi, you appeared as a minor actor in the recently filmed drama ‘Doctor,’ but you played the role of a scene stealer. I heard there was an incredible episode during the drama filming?”

At his words, Kim Min-gyu swallowed nervously and opened his mouth.

“Yes, there was.”

“Is it something related to actress Song Yu-na?”

Kim Min-gyu nodded and replied.

“But it’s not something I’m directly involved in, it’s something between Song Yu-na Sunbae-nim and Jin Hee-sung Sunbae-nim.”

When the two main actors, Song Yu-na and Jin Hee-sung, were mentioned, the studio buzzed and focused on Kim Min-gyu.

“What happened?”

“There was an accident during filming.”

“Oh, an accident?”

“Yes, while Yu-na Sunbae-nim and Hee-sung Sunbae-nim were filming together, there was an accident where a light fell….”

Kim Min-gyu urgently explained what happened during the filming.

At his words, all the guests in the studio, as well as the MC, focused on the story with tense faces.

“At that moment, Hee-sung Sunbae-nim was like a superman! He covered Yu-na Sunbae-nim and blocked the light instead….”

Before his words could even finish, comedian Hong Mi-na, who was sitting next to him, covered her mouth and shouted.

“Oh my! What about Hee-sung-ssi?”

“The light was so big and fell from a high place, so Hee-sung Sunbae-nim went straight to the hospital. Fortunately, he wasn’t seriously injured. But even in that situation, I can’t forget how Sunbae-nim supported Yu-na Sunbae-nim’s head with his hand as he fell.”

When Kim Min-gyu’s words ended, people applauded.

“Wow, Hee-sung-ssi is really cool.”

“I know. Throwing yourself to save someone is not as easy as it sounds.”

Kim Min-gyu smiled with a proud face.

As he spoke about Jin Hee-sung, the tension disappeared.

“And Min-gyu-ssi, I heard you have another thing you’re grateful to Hee-sung-ssi for?”

Yoo Min-ho looked at the script and asked him.

Then, Kim Min-gyu nodded vigorously and opened his mouth.

“That’s right. I had a hard time in the beginning while filming the Doctor drama. There was a time when my role was almost cut.”

At Kim Min-gyu’s words, the panelists opened their mouths wide and shouted.

“Why?”

“I had too many NGs [No Good, meaning mistakes] at that time, and there were many mistakes, so the lines disappeared in an instant. Of course, it was entirely my fault. But at that time, Hee-sung Sunbae-nim threw an ad-lib at me.”

“I watched all of Doctor, what scene is it?”

Kim Min-gyu raised the corners of his mouth and replied.

“It’s a scene that came out in episode 2, where I was an intern….”

Kim Min-gyu reenacted the scene with an excited face.

After pouring out all the episodes, he said with a relieved face.

“So, while filming this project, I came to like Jin Hee-sung Sunbae-nim more than my father. Haha.”

The studio became a sea of laughter.

Hong Mi-na raised her eyebrows and asked him.

“Then, do Min-gyu-ssi and Hee-sung-ssi meet often even after filming is over?”

“Um… Actually, I called him a few days ago to tell him that I was on Talk Star.”

“Wow! I’m a real fan of Jin Hee-sung-ssi.”

Hong Mi-na shouted, clasping her hands together.

Kim Min-gyu replied with an awkward smile.

“But actually, I want to contact him often and see him often. But because Sunbae-nim is so busy and famous, I can’t contact him often because I’m worried he’ll be burdened.”

He shrugged his shoulders and continued.

“Because Sunbae-nim takes such good care of his juniors. When I contact him, and when other minor actors around me contact him. He has never not answered, and he listened to all our concerns during breaks on set.”

When Kim Min-gyu’s words ended, Hong Mi-na said with sparkling eyes.

“Hee-sung-ssi is a much more amazing person than I thought?”

“That’s right. He’s more handsome in person than he appears on TV. He’s my role model in the entertainment industry, no, he’s my role model in life.”

Kim Min-gyu looked at the camera and conveyed his feelings to Jin Hee-sung.