An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 222

222. #39 – Memories with Her (7)

[Breaking News] Jin Heesung♥Song Yoona Dating Rumors, Affectionately Gazing at Each Other……]

Clutching Kim’s manager’s phone tightly, I headed to Liam’s villa room.

After closing the door firmly, I spoke.

“Suddenly, dating rumors?”

He was still breathing heavily as he replied, “Yeah, read the article.”

I frowned and started reading.

The article featured a photo from the hotel where Song Yoona had stayed the day before.

It was a picture of her and me eating at the hotel restaurant.

I was speechless looking at it. The photo wasn’t fabricated, but I was amazed it had been taken.

Not in a famous restaurant in the heart of LA, but a meal with Song Yoona in a restaurant *inside* the hotel.

That scene couldn’t have been captured unless someone was deliberately trying to.

I’m sure there weren’t any fans or Koreans in the restaurant who recognized Song Yoona or me….

I sighed deeply. “I understand why Yoona can’t do anything during her breaks other than work.”

Kim’s manager nodded. “I know. Is this what a star’s life is really like? I don’t know if it’s paparazzi following you or Yoona. As soon as the article was posted in Korea, it’s been chaos.”

“Haa….”

I quickly started reading the comments:

-Wow, Song Yoona has had so many scandals, but isn’t this the first time a photo like this has been released?

-They’re in the same company. Aren’t they just close?

└Having an intimate dinner in LA, not even in Korea, with someone you’re just close with means they’re a couple, lol.

-Look at their eyes. Hearts are pouring out.

-Are you crazy? Date carefullyㅡㅡ. I’m leaving the Jin Heesung fan club.

-Please say it’s not true.

-What, are they really dating? Isn’t WG Entertainment going to release a statement?

-Heesung said he was going to Hollywood to act. Why is he dating thereㅠㅠ.

-Acting and dating in Hollywood. I envy his life.

-Let’s call them the Jin (Heesung) Song (Yoona) couple, JinSong couple!

-With a photo like that, try denying it, lol.

-Isn’t it too obvious?

-I think they’ve been dating since their last drama….

The comments already assumed Yoona and I were dating. Being together in a restaurant in faraway America, not even in Korea, would inevitably lead to misunderstandings.

As I read the comments with a serious face, Kim’s manager carefully asked, “Heesung, you have to tell me the truth.”

“About what?”

I turned to look at him.

Kim’s manager looked me straight in the eye and repeated, “Are you two really seeing each other? I need to know properly so I can figure out how to handle this.”

There wasn’t a hint of playfulness in his question. He was seriously asking if I was dating Song Yoona.

I looked at Kim’s manager and burst into laughter. “What, *hyung* [older brother/male friend]?”

The seriousness I had while reading the article vanished at Kim’s manager’s words.

He asked with a bewildered expression, “Really not?”

“Of course not. You’re with me every day, how *could* you ask that?”

“Well… I naturally know it’s not true, but I wondered if you were hiding it even from me.”

I shook my head vigorously. “How could I deceive you, *hyung*? It’s really not true.”

Only then did Kim’s manager let out a sigh of relief. “Haa… I was surprised, thinking you were secretly dating.”

“But, *hyung*, you know. We just had a meal.”

“Yeah.”

I held out his phone. “Quickly release an official statement saying it’s not true.”

As soon as I finished, he took the phone. “Okay. I’ll contact the company right away and release a clarification.”

“I’ll also post a clarification on SNS to match. That would be better, right?”

He nodded. “Yeah, even if the company releases an article, many people won’t believe it, so it’s better to post a clarification yourself.”

“I will.”

I raised the corners of my lips and shook my head. “But it’s amazing how a scandal can break out like this….”

***

I posted a message on SNS along with everyday photos taken while filming in Hollywood.

-Hello, this is Jin Heesung.

I am writing to you today because an unfounded article has been published.

There have been dating rumors with actress Song Yoona, with whom I have worked on several projects in the past.

First of all, to tell you the conclusion, it is not true.

I thought it was my duty to tell the fans directly, so I am posting this.

Song Yoona and I talk about our work and share friendship while working together.

We are just friends, nothing more, nothing less.

I hope you will not misunderstand, as we are friends who support each other’s future.

I am doing well while working on a project in Hollywood.

I will be on screen soon with a good image, so please pay a lot of attention.

Thank you for reading the long post.

Ding-dong.

As soon as the post was uploaded, comments started pouring in, increasing exponentially.

I was refreshing and reading them when…

Vibration.

The phone rang.

[Sender: Song Yoona]

It was a call from Song Yoona in Korea.

I quickly pressed the receive button. “Hello?”

-Heesung!

Song Yoona’s voice shouted so loud my ears rang. She continued in a high decibel. -Did you see the article? What are you going to do?

She seemed to have called in surprise after seeing the dating rumor article.

Unlike her, I opened my mouth in a calm voice. -I released an article saying we’re friends. My manager is talking to the company, so the article will be up soon. I just posted a clarification on SNS.”

-Already?

“Yes, I’ve talked to the company, so Yoona doesn’t have to talk to them separately.”

Still worried, she sighed. -But even if you clarify that you’re friends, it will be noisy for a while. People don’t really believe that word, friends.”

“But we’re really not like that, so they’ll realize it soon and it’ll die down. Don’t worry too much.”

-Haa… Do you think so?

At her serious voice, I opened my mouth playfully. “I posted on SNS that we’re just friends, right?”

-Yes.

“Do you know what the comments said?”

At my words, Song Yoona raised her tone, curious. -What did they say?

I said with laughter in my voice, “It’s obvious that being friends with Song Yoona is a lie. Where does Song Yoona have friends?”

-What?

She shouted into the receiver, very loud.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I thought it was a comment from a fan who knows Yoona well.”

She took a deep breath. -Hoo… When I collapsed in LA, I should have just left you….”

“Still, how could you leave me? Haha.”

-No. Should I have bought a gun in America?

“Haha, I’m sorry. You know I’m kidding, right?”

-Okay. I don’t know.

I wanted to let her know the situation wasn’t serious and reassure her.

She seemed to have calmed down a bit at my joke.

“Still, this dating rumor controversy won’t die down soon, right? Because it’s unfounded.”

-Unfounded… Right. Well, unfounded….”

Somehow regretful… or rather, a gloomy voice.

I wondered if I was feeling it wrong.

Song Yoona repeated the word ‘unfounded’ faintly.

I quickly said, “I’m going back to Korea as soon as filming is over. Let’s have a meal when I go to Korea.”

She replied, startled. -Are you trying to cause another scandal?”

“Then should we take a picture of us meeting and upload it first?”

-Pardon?

“Then at least there won’t be a scandal. If we confidently post on SNS that friends are eating together, who would doubt it.”

-I guess… Okay. Then see you when you come to Korea.”

***

Two days of rest. No, two days spent entirely clarifying the scandal that broke out in Korea ended.

Back to the set for filming.

“Hello.”

I arrived and greeted the staff and actors.

Then Evelyn, who received my greeting, narrowed her eyes and approached. “Heesung, you’re here?”

“Yes, you came early?”

She nodded, then pointed to one side. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure.”

I followed her, tilting my head. It was the first time she’d asked to talk alone.

What is she trying to talk about?

A few days ago, there was a party for the actors at Liam’s villa.

That day, Evelyn said something meaningful. She had met many men, but not a Korean man, and she wanted to meet one.

It seemed like there was more to the story, but our conversation was interrupted by the sudden scandal.

Does she want to continue it? But it seemed like a meaningless conversation we had while drinking.

I followed her without any idea.

We took a seat in one corner.

Evelyn looked around and asked, “Heesung, I heard you had a scandal?”

My eyes widened. “How did Evelyn know that?”

It is clear that I have become close to them.

It was definitely different from the actors I filmed with in Korea. At the time, they also heard all the entertainment articles and news.

But this is Hollywood, America. They don’t know what articles are coming out about me in Korea. They don’t know how the public is sharing my story.

They wouldn’t bother to look up Korean entertainment articles. Furthermore, even if she saw the post I put on my SNS, it was only written in Korean, so she couldn’t read it unless she translated it.

Evelyn raised her eyebrows and answered instead of answering. “You posted on SNS. And I heard it was noisy in Korea.”

I opened my mouth again. That means she really translated and read the post.

“Ah… Did you translate and read it?”

Evelyn closed her eyes tightly and shook her head, asking a question instead. “More than that… So is that actress your girlfriend?”

What she was curious about wasn’t my article or SNS post. She seemed curious about whether Song Yoona was really my girlfriend or not.

I don’t know the exact reason, but she seemed to have a lot of curiosity.

I smiled. “No. It’s just a scandal, that’s all.”

Only then did Evelyn raise one corner of her lips. “Really?”

“Yes.”

She turned her eyes, which had been narrowed. Leaning against the wall, she asked, “By the way, what have you been up to in LA these days?”

“It’s always the same. I go to the dorm and practice acting. There’s nothing special to do.”

She twitched her lips, then looked at me. “If you have nothing to do, would you like to go golfing with me?”

“No. I appreciate the thought, but I don’t know how to play golf.”

“Um… Really?”

At my refusal, she quickly sent another answer. “Then how about tennis?”

I had only done health [gym workouts] in Korea as exercise.

I could only scratch my head with an awkward smile at her list of exercises.

“Um… I’ve never done that either.”

Even at my repeated refusal, Evelyn raised her eyebrows with a relaxed face. “I can teach you, how about it?”

At her suggestion, I put my hands together as if praying and bowed my head. “Thank you for telling me that. But I think it’s better to rest these days. You were the first to suggest exercising together, I’m sorry.”

As soon as I finished, Evelyn tilted her head diagonally and stared at me. Then she sent a mysterious smile and recited, “Just resting at home… is good.”

I swallowed hard at Evelyn’s incomprehensible conversation and tilted my head.

‘What does she want from me?’