An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 200

200. #35 – Turning Crisis into Opportunity (3)

I wasn’t overcoming jet lag with willpower anymore.

I had completely adapted to Korean time and life.

Like the adaptable animal I am, I woke up as soon as the sun rose and went to the office every day.

Before going to Hollywood.

A very busy schedule awaited me.

None of which were official schedules.

I had pushed back all entertainment show interviews, advertisements, and even small interviews for internet articles.

It was just acting practice, English conversation study, and the company gym for physical training.

Since I was playing a righteous character who struggled to survive inside the building during the terror attack and ran around diligently.

A solid physique was essential along with physical fitness.

As always, I finished my morning workout at the gym as soon as I got to work and arrived at the practice room for acting practice.

After chugging down a protein drink.

I quickly immersed myself in the role.

Even if it was acting, even if it was a script in English.

I had to act, not just read the lines.

I quickly immersed myself in the role and concentrated.

Before I knew it, the role became me, and I became one with the role, performing the acting.

While passionately acting and staring into empty space.

Knock knock.

Someone was knocking on the practice room door.

The knock made me stop practicing abruptly.

Chief Kim wouldn’t come to the practice room and stop me unless it was urgent.

Wondering what urgent matter it could be, I quickly got up and opened the door.

“Hyung [older brother or male friend], what’s wro….”

As I opened the door and naturally called out for Chief Kim, I was speechless at the unexpected person standing in front of the door.

“Oh? Why is Yoona here….”

The person standing in front of me was none other than Song Yoona.

Surprised to see her, I couldn’t continue my words, and Song Yoona shrugged and said to me.

“What’s with the reaction? It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”

She spoke bluntly in a cold tone.

I could count on my fingers the number of times I ran into her at the company.

She rarely came to the company.

Even when she did come, it was rare for me to run into her by chance.

Moreover, the last time I saw her was after the awards ceremony.

We saw each other every day when we were working on a project together.

But after she received the Grand Acting Award at the awards ceremony and we had a big company dinner, I didn’t see her.

Of course, I was happy to see her after a long time.

But I was more surprised than anything.

“I’m glad to see you, but I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Ah… I just stopped by the company and heard you were here, so I came.”

Her words made me tilt my head again.

She heard I was in the practice room and came all the way here…?

I tapped my chest with my hand and asked her.

“Did you… come to see me?”

At my words, she frowned and shouted.

“No!”

“Yes? Then why did you come to me?”

Song Yoona cleared her throat and avoided my eyes.

“I came to ask you to buy me coffee.”

“Coffee?”

“Yes, I didn’t bring my wallet, but I wanted to drink coffee… I heard Jinhee was here, so I was going to ask him to buy me some coffee.”

“…….”

Watching her explain the reason why she came to me in a hurry, I could only nod blankly.

That’s right.

Song Yoona wouldn’t come to cheer me on because she heard I was practicing.

I raised my eyebrows as I looked at her.

“Let’s go. I’ll buy you coffee.”

The company cafe where she and I arrived.

I ordered coffee for Song Yoona and myself and sat down.

She pulled the coffee towards her with a sulky expression and tone.

“I’ll enjoy it.”

“Yes.”

For Song Yoona, saying she would enjoy it was no different from saying thank you.

She usually didn’t express herself much.

No, to be exact, she didn’t express her gratitude.

We just drank coffee, and there was a moment of silence.

Song Yoona put down her coffee and cleared her throat.

“Ahem….”

At her sound, I looked at her.

The moment our eyes met in the air, she blinked and hurriedly opened her mouth.

“So… I heard you’re going to Hollywood?”

“Yes, I think I’ll be going to film soon.”

“Is the preparation going well?”

It wasn’t a friendly tone.

If Song Yoona suddenly asked in a warm tone, that would be more surprising.

However, it didn’t seem like she was asking me questions out of jealousy or envy.

It just seemed like she was curious about Hollywood.

I slowly nodded and replied.

“I’m working hard. Just because it’s Hollywood doesn’t mean the preparation is special. I’m just looking at the script and practicing acting the same way I do in Korea.”

“Not everything is the same, is it?”

At her words, I gave a faint smile.

“That’s right. It’s just that Hollywood is definitely bigger in scale, and the actors I’m working with are foreigners, I guess?”

At my words, Song Yoona let out a laugh as if she was dumbfounded.

But she quickly erased the smile and asked me.

“So, have the cast members been decided?”

I rolled my eyes and opened my mouth.

“Yes, Bruno and….”

Before I could finish, she opened her eyes wide and shouted.

“헐… [a Korean expression of disbelief or shock] crazy. Bruno?”

I was more surprised by her words.

Her rough words that she blurted out in surprise.

I was curious about the actor Bruno, who she seemed to be welcoming so enthusiastically, so I asked her back.

“Yes, do you know Bruno?”

At my question, she blankly shook her head and replied.

“No… I’m a fan of Bruno.”

At her answer, I burst out laughing.

She was shouting so happily.

I thought Song Yoona and Bruno were in a special relationship, but she was just shouting because she was a fan.

Seeing me laugh, Song Yoona blinked repeatedly and shouted as if making excuses.

“It’s just that… I’m a fan as an actor. It’s not like I like Bruno as a man or anything.”

“I see. But I didn’t say anything.”

Looking at her flustered, I smiled brightly.

Song Yoona cleared her throat and hurriedly changed the subject, asking me.

“Who else is there besides Bruno?”

“Liam is the lead actor.”

At my words, she opened her mouth in amazement.

“Are you talking about that actor Liam in his 40s?”

“Yes, that actor.”

“Wow… the lineup is really amazing.”

Song Yoona then started drinking the coffee in front of her again.

I raised my eyebrows as I looked at Song Yoona.

“Yoona, come visit me in Hollywood sometime.”

At my words, she quickly took the coffee out of her mouth and shouted.

“Why would I?”

Surprised by her shout, I blinked and said.

“I heard you’re a Bruno fan. I was going to tell you to go sightseeing in Hollywood and say hello to Bruno.”

Taken aback by my answer, Song Yoona avoided my gaze.

Soon, she looked straight at me and asked urgently.

“But if I go, will you really let me meet Bruno?”

I shrugged and replied.

“Of course. I’ll try to get close to him.”

“Okay. I’m a real Bruno fan, so get close to Bruno.”

“I will.”

She slightly raised the corners of her mouth at the thought of actor Bruno.

***

Soon, Song Yoona hurriedly put down her coffee and left her seat due to her manager’s call.

I had also been drinking coffee while talking to her.

There was still plenty of coffee in my mug.

“I should drink some coffee and rest before going back up.”

Before going back up to the practice room, I enjoyed the leisure alone in the cafe.

How many tens of minutes had passed?

While looking at my phone and drinking coffee.

“Oh? Hee-sung.”

The person who found me and approached me.

It was Choi Seobin.

As soon as I saw him, I jumped up from my seat with a happy heart and greeted him.

“Sunbaenim [senior colleague/mentor]!”

I was even happier because I ran into him so coincidentally.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came down to have some coffee. What about you, Sunbaenim?”

“I came to the company to do some work, but I saw you passing by.”

Choi Seobin and Song Yoona, who are usually difficult to run into at the company.

To run into them on the same day.

A smile naturally came to my face at the thought of how amazing it was.

Moreover, I was about to leave for Hollywood to film.

I couldn’t be happier about this chance encounter with Choi Seobin.

“If you’re okay with it, would you like to have coffee together before you go?”

At my question, he readily nodded.

“Sure.”

After a while, coffee was placed in front of Choi Seobin.

“Congratulations on going to Hollywood.”

“Thank you. You contacted me last time too.”

Choi Seobin was one of the people who contacted me as soon as my article came out.

“But I wanted to congratulate you in person again.”

I smiled at his words.

“So, you’re going to Hollywood soon?”

“Yes, it’s not long now.”

Choi Seobin then said to me with a serious face.

“Living in America won’t be as easy as you think.”

Choi Seobin had also advanced to Hollywood.

A work did come out, but it wasn’t a big hit.

So, it was difficult to see Choi Seobin’s first step in Hollywood as a success.

To be exact, it should be seen as close to a failure.

Choi Seobin, who had failed to advance to Hollywood in the past, continued to advise me more seriously than anyone else.

“It’s not like this meeting where you come for a few days or weeks….”

I listened to his advice and took it to heart.

As soon as Choi Seobin finished the story, he bit his lip and said.

“And the most important thing.”

“What is it?”

He sighed briefly and replied.

“Be careful of people.”

“What kind of people?”

He pursed his lips and seemed to be reminiscing about the time.

“If you go to America, it’s okay if you don’t like the taste or culture. But people are the most… uncomfortable and scary.”

I could immediately understand his intention from his words and expression.

And I carefully asked Choi Seobin.

“Is it because I’m Asian?”

At my words, Choi Seobin sighed and nodded.

“Racism isn’t just for young children. Be careful.”

Since I was going as an Asian, it wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about racism.

However, it wasn’t something I was seriously worried about.

I thought they were adults with thoughts.

Moreover, since they were colleagues running together for the same work, I thought such a thing wouldn’t happen.

But at the time, Choi Seobin seemed to have experienced racism.

I held back a sigh at the sight of him still shuddering at the thought.

Choi Seobin, who saw my expression, gave me advice.

“Never stand up against racism. It means there’s no point in stepping up. Keep that in mind.”

His expression and tone were so sincere.

I nodded vigorously as if to keep it in mind.

“Deal with it flexibly and smartly.”

“How should I deal with it?”

At my question, he shrugged.

“That’s your job. I couldn’t overcome it, so I came back to Korea.”

“Ah….”

“Don’t stand up against it, act wisely. There’s a lot of injustice in the movie industry, but the world is aiming for justice.”

Choi Seobin stared at me and continued.

“Use that.”

I don’t know yet how to solve it wisely.

I understood Choi Seobin’s words exactly and engraved them deeply in my heart.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you, Sunbaenim.”

“Okay, take care of yourself.”

“Yes.”