An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 230

230. #40 – Their Intentions (8)

Evelyn left the lounge just like that.

I picked up the card from the table and stared at it intently.

‘1702’

“What is this…”

Holding the card, I examined it from side to side, then frowned.

“This is a hotel key card?”

The card Evelyn gave me was clearly a key card to her room.

We were supposed to stay on one floor; we didn’t rent out the entire hotel.

I was on the 17th floor as well.

I couldn’t know for sure why she gave me her room key card.

But I could guess.

That her intentions weren’t just to have a simple conversation….

Evelyn’s lingering gaze.

Her meaningful tone and expression.

Moreover, she had asked what I was going to do when I went up to my room.

The reason she gave me her room key card—to invite me to her room—must be to express that she had feelings for me.

I stared at the ‘1702’ key card in my hand and murmured.

“Is this American seduction…?”

And after taking a sip of my drink.

I put the key card deep into my pocket.

Even though I took the key card, I had no intention of going to her room.

Even if she had feelings for me, I didn’t want to meet her like this.

Moreover, I didn’t have even a sliver of romantic feelings for Evelyn.

Of course, I couldn’t know for sure if she was harboring romantic feelings for me.

I don’t know if she did this because she had feelings for me.

Or if it was just for a one-night stand.

But it was clear that neither the former nor the latter appealed to me at all.

Going to her room.

And getting closer to her—none of it appealed to me.

I smirked, raising one corner of my mouth, and brought the glass to my lips again.

“I’ve lived for 10,000 years… there’s no way I’d fall for this physical attraction….”

It hasn’t been long since I started living as Jinhee Seong.

But my life was already nearing its 10,000-year mark.

And I don’t waver because of this physical attraction.

No, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that physical attraction itself doesn’t even register.

I have less than a year left, so there’s no way I’d be interested in this.

I shook my head and clicked my tongue.

I immediately jumped up from my seat.

I had to take a long flight for another premiere tomorrow, and this drinking party was no longer enjoyable.

Heading to my hotel room, I clenched the card in my pocket.

And after leaving the lounge, I took the elevator to the 17th floor.

1701.

1702.

Standing in front of Evelyn’s room, 1702, I stared intently at the door.

My eyes were fixed on the door, and my hand was fiddling with the key card in my pocket.

I sighed and walked past the room to my room, 1711.

***

Early morning.

Rubbing my eyes, I checked out and left the hotel.

I got into the car prepared in front of the hotel.

“Good morning.”

I got into the car with a bright smile and waved to the staff and other actors.

“Hee Seong, good morning!”

“Did you sleep well?”

They also greeted me with bright smiles.

Except for one person.

Evelyn, she was raising the corners of her mouth with an awkward smile.

Then, she glanced at me as I passed by her.

Last night.

I wondered what to do with her key card.

If I left the key card at the hotel lounge bar, I thought there was a risk that someone else might pick it up and go to her room.

So I couldn’t leave the key card there.

The key card was safely tucked away in my pocket.

It was strange to take it to my room and check out like that.

I hesitated in front of her room to return the key card to her, but it was also something I couldn’t do—to meet her in that situation and return the key card.

In the end, late at night.

I went to the lobby and left the key card there, saying I had picked it up.

And now, I faced Evelyn.

She looked at me with a face that seemed to have a lot to say.

I pretended to be nonchalant and passed her to take my seat.

The car carrying us in such uncomfortable company was leaving the hotel.

The private jet awaited for the next premiere.

When I came to India from Korea, I bought a plane ticket and rode it.

From now on, I decided to continue traveling on a private jet with Director Jeffrey, the staff, and the actors.

As soon as Kim and I sat down and fastened our seat belts, we opened our mouths wide.

“Wow, the Hollywood scale is real….”

As Manager Kim shook his head and quickly looked around the private jet,

I laughed at his appearance and murmured softly.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], aren’t we tired of talking about the Hollywood scale now?”

“That’s right. Everything is really amazing. I can’t predict anything. It was amazing that it was a worldwide premiere, but a premiere traveling on a private jet.”

I nodded and replied.

“I know. It’s like I’ve become a world-famous actor.”

At my words, he tapped me on the shoulder and raised the corners of his mouth.

“It’s coming soon. Once this movie comes out, it’s only a matter of time before you become a world star.”

It was Korean that no one could understand, but I hurriedly shouted as if to stop him from speaking.

“Ah, hyung. Someone might laugh if they hear you.”

At my playfully thrown words, he raised his eyebrows with a serious face.

“Hey, I’m serious?”

“What?”

“This work is really a stepping stone to Hollywood. I’m also preparing to get busier and studying English hard. Because there will be more opportunities to use English in the future.”

Manager Kim smiled and said to me.

I eventually burst out laughing at his attitude.

“Okay. As much as hyung is studying English hard, I’ll try to act harder so that I can use that English.”

He clenched his fist and stretched it into the air and said.

“Okay, Hee Seong. Make me a world star manager.”

“Haha, okay.”

The private jet began to take off.

The private jet soared high into the sky.

I closed my eyes tightly with my headphones on.

Then Manager Kim tapped my arm and got up from his seat.

“Hee Seong, I’m going to go check the schedule for a while.”

He pointed to the staff sitting far away and said to me.

“Okay, go ahead.”

Manager Kim nodded and moved his feet.

Just as I was about to close my eyes again.

The person who hits my body again.

I opened my mouth with my headphones on.

“Why?”

Tuk tuk- [onomatopoeia for tapping sound].

Instead of answering my words, the person patted my body.

In the end, I stopped the music coming out of the headphones and opened my eyes.

Evelyn was standing in front of me, not Manager Kim.

“Hee Seong, can we talk for a moment….”

At her words, I was startled and took off the headphones I was wearing.

Evelyn glanced around and sat next to me.

Seeing that she came as soon as Manager Kim left, it seemed like she was waiting for Manager Kim to move from his seat.

If I were to talk to her about what happened last night, I wondered what I should do.

I hadn’t found a good answer.

But I had already ended up having a private meeting with her.

Swallowing dry saliva, I turned my head to her.

Evelyn stared at me intently and opened her mouth.

“How’s your condition?”

“Well, not bad. How about you, Evelyn?”

At my words, she shrugged her shoulders and said.

“I’m not very good.”

“Why?”

“I was tired of waiting last night and fell asleep.”

She finally opened the conversation about the situation yesterday.

I bit my lip and showed my anxiety.

Evelyn didn’t care about my expression and immediately got to the point.

“Hee Seong.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you come yesterday?”

Evelyn looked at me intently and asked.

I hesitated to answer, avoiding her gaze.

Then she asked me again.

“Hee Seong, you don’t have a girlfriend, do you?”

“No, I don’t have a girlfriend.”

At my answer, Evelyn frowned and tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand even more.

“But why…. Then do you happen to have someone you like?”

I shook my head and answered.

“No.”

“What, then what is it?”

“…….”

How can I explain it so that she doesn’t feel bad?

I didn’t want to become cold with her because of this.

The worldwide premiere tour that has just begun.

Seeing her, eating, and drinking every day.

I didn’t want to become awkward with her because I had to work and laugh together.

However, I didn’t want to give her any room.

Because there will be countless situations in the future where she can give me the key card again.

A way to reject her heart at once without hurting her.

How should I tell the story…?

I hesitated to answer, making a *sseup* [sound of hesitation] sound.

Evelyn frowned, drooping her lips down.

“Am I not Hee Seong’s style?”

That moment.

A thought flashed through my head.

I immediately cheered in my heart.

But I didn’t show it at all on the outside.

I looked around with my lips rolled in as if I was in trouble.

It was a gesture that no one should hear my story.

At that sight, Evelyn also peeked out her head and looked around.

I carefully approached her body and carefully opened my mouth.

“Evelyn, can you keep the story I’m about to tell you… a secret for life?”

At my words, she swallowed dry saliva as if nervous.

She blinked her large eyes and nodded.

“Of course. What is it?”

“I… I don’t like women.”

As soon as I finished speaking, she just stared at me with a blank expression.

You could tell that she was startled, but it felt like she was trying not to show it.

Then she opened her mouth and nodded.

“…I understand what you mean.”

Evelyn still had a blank face, took a short breath, brought her index finger to her mouth, and continued.

“I will definitely keep Hee Seong’s secret until I die.”

“Thank you. Let’s remain good friends.”

At my words, she smiled and got up from her seat.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I looked at her back.

An indirect excuse to Evelyn.

That I don’t like women.

I thought there was no better way to reject her heart without hurting her.

And as expected, she seemed to respect and support me, let alone hurt me.

I said that I don’t like women, but I didn’t say that I like men.

Anyway… it wasn’t a lie.

Her figure returning to her seat in the distance.

At that moment, I made eye contact with her, and she smiled brightly and looked at me.

I also responded to her with a smile.

***

The tight worldwide premiere and stage greetings for several days were coming to an end.

The last schedule in Korea.

“Kyaa!”

The premiere theater could not be compared to any other country in terms of cheers.

“Hee Seong oppa [term used by younger women to address older brothers or male friends]!”

The fans shouting at me.

And the fans of Director Jeffrey, Liam, Evelyn, and other actors.

It wasn’t just me who was surprised by this place full of cheers.

Director Jeffrey and several actors seemed unable to hide their surprise and joy at the cheers of Korean movie fans.

Unlike when I was touring the country and giving stage greetings.

I couldn’t stop laughing at this peaceful feeling as if I had come home.

“Everyone, our movie is a movie about a heartbreaking event. But along with the sadness inside….”

I took the lead in explaining this stage greeting.

The fans cheered at every word I said.

“Yes!”

“Oppa, I’m going to watch it 10 times when it’s released!”

I smiled at the fans’ voices and shouted.

“Thank you. It’s a movie that we worked hard on, so I hope you enjoy watching it.”

The actors and Director Jeffrey, including me, bowed and waved their hands.

As soon as I got out of the theater, I took a long breath with a pounding heart.

At the same time as the long premiere schedule ended.

The movie was finally about to be released.

Now… it’s really starting.