An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 291

291. #52 – When True Worth Shines (4)

After the fan meeting date was set,

I immediately started preparing for it.

A fan meeting is, of course, about meeting fans.

But it’s not just about looking at each other and chatting.

Singers usually meet their fans and perform their songs.

Well, some might call that a concert rather than a fan meeting.

But actors don’t have as much to *show* fans at a fan meeting.

They can’t really re-enact scenes, nor can they easily showcase their acting talents in a live setting.

So, actors often sing or dance at fan meetings.

Fans enjoy seeing their favorite actors and having special interactions with them.

That’s why actors tend to prepare things they haven’t shown on TV or in other media.

I hadn’t been on many variety shows or radio programs.

So, I rarely showed myself to fans outside of dramas or movies.

That’s why I wanted to prepare a special performance for the fans.

Something they hadn’t seen me do before.

“Hyung, should I sing at the fan meeting?”

He nodded immediately.

“Of course. Hee-sung, you sing well. Singing is a must.”

“Eh, I’m not *that* good, but singing is the best thing I can do.”

“No, you’re really good. Let’s pick out some songs and start practicing.”

“I guess we should.”

And soon, I was deep in thought.

The fan meeting wasn’t just going to be a few minutes long, so I wanted to give the fans, who were spending their money and time to come see me, something special.

“Hmm… I’ll prepare one or two ballad songs. And should I do a dance song?”

Kim’s manager’s eyes widened, and he asked.

“A dance song means you have to *dance*, right?”

“Of course.”

“Hee-sung, you’re going to dance too?”

“Yep!”

As soon as I said that, Kim’s manager burst out laughing.

“Really? Haha.”

I laughed at his reaction, but I glared at him and said.

“Hyung, I can dance a little, you know.”

Kim’s manager frowned.

“…You?”

“Why, what….”

“Yeah, you should show the fans. That Hee-sung, not good at everything.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head.

“No. I can dance well if I practice. I’m definitely doing a dance song.”

“Okay, let’s try everything you want to do first. The fans might like it.”

I moved my arms like I was doing a wave while sitting down and muttered.

“My dance… isn’t *that* bad, right?”

Kim’s manager raised his eyebrows and replied.

“Okay. Let’s do everything our Hee-sung wants to do.”

“And besides the performances, what should we prepare to interact with the fans….”

Kim’s manager and I continued to discuss the fan meeting for a long time.

* * *

“Haa… haa….”

Two hours had passed since I started dancing to the music.

And I was sweating like crazy.

“Hee-sung, you’re doing well. But when you move from that part, you need to lean your upper body back a little more.”

“Ah… like this, teacher?”

“Yes, but a little more than that.”

The dance academy director leaned my body back and showed me, and I nodded.

“I understand what you mean. Then I’ll practice this part a few more times.”

“Are you going to practice more today?”

“Yes, I want to perfect this move before I leave.”

He looked surprised and said.

“You’ll be exhausted if you do this for so long. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m okay. The fan meeting isn’t far away, so I’m going to give it my all.”

“Okay. If there’s anything you don’t understand, please tell me. And I’ll let you know if I see anything you need to correct.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The music started again immediately.

I recalled what I had learned and moved my body.

Then, Kim’s manager burst into the practice room.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw me in the mirror and his lips twitched.

Then he finally burst into laughter and came over to me.

“Pfft… cough.”

“Ah, Hyung!”

I frowned and glared at him.

Kim’s manager shook his hand, trying not to laugh.

“Sorry, sorry. I tried to hold it in, but I couldn’t.”

Because we were so close, Kim’s manager didn’t just praise me.

We were like real friends or brothers.

I wasn’t really upset about his reaction.

“Ah, seriously!”

“Haha, but you’re practicing hard. Look at all that sweat.”

“Of course. I’ve been working hard. Right, teacher?”

The academy director, who was sitting in front of us, approached and shook his head.

“Of course. Hee-sung has been practicing for hours without a break. And he’s improving quickly, so I think he’ll be great for the fan meeting.”

Encouraged by his words, I glared at Kim’s manager and said.

“See? Don’t be surprised when you see it at the fan meeting.”

“Okay. I hope you get better by then.”

I gritted my teeth at his teasing and said.

“So, why are you here?”

“Ah, I came to see you practicing. Here’s coffee, teacher. Have a cup.”

“Thank you.”

Kim’s manager handed coffee to me and the director.

“Did you come to see how bad I am at dancing?”

He chuckled and replied.

“No. I was out on business and came to help you practice after I was done.”

“That’s right. How did the meeting go?”

Kim’s manager put down his coffee and replied.

“Oh, Jang Han-min from IBH Investment, who you mentioned before, was there.”

“Yeah, he was the IBH employee who came to the script reading.”

He nodded and looked at me.

“I heard that the reason they’re investing in our company is because of you?”

“Really?”

I tilted my head.

Of course, Jang Han-min apologized for underestimating my skills at the script reading.

But since I knew that IBH preferred lead actors with a lot of experience from the beginning,

I didn’t think he would contact Kim’s manager to invest because of me alone.

“So, what happened was….”

* * *

Several hours ago.

Kim’s manager sat facing the IBH employees.

“Thank you for coming all this way.”

Kim’s manager waved his hand at Jang Han-min’s words and replied.

“No. I’m grateful that you contacted me first. Does the distance matter? Haha.”

“Thank you for thinking that way.”

They didn’t drag out the conversation and immediately got to the point.

“The reason we contacted you to invest is, of course, because of actor Jin Hee-sung.”

Kim’s manager nodded.

Jang Han-min thought back to Jin Hee-sung and continued.

“Actually… I was surprised by Hee-sung’s acting at the script reading.”

Kim’s manager’s lips curled up at the praise.

“He’s our actor, so it might sound like I’m bragging, but I don’t think there’s any actor who can match Hee-sung’s acting.”

“I know that Jin Hee-sung is famous and valuable, but I have a slightly different opinion.”

Kim’s manager raised his eyebrows and focused on Jang Han-min’s words.

“Different in what way….”

“After seeing his acting at the script reading, I think Jin Hee-sung’s prime hasn’t come yet. In other words, his potential hasn’t fully exploded.”

He admired Jin Hee-sung’s acting.

“The acting he showed in the script reading room was better than any actor I’ve ever seen on any set. I was about to give him a standing ovation.”

Kim’s manager’s lips curled up happily, but he barely managed to control it.

“I found out that Jin Hee-sung’s company is new, so how could our investment company *not* invest?”

“I’m just grateful that you feel that way.”

“We at IBH only invest in sure things. We’re an investment company that has never failed. So IBH wants to invest in the company where actor Jin Hee-sung is.”

* * *

WG Entertainment, CEO’s office.

Director Han stood in front of CEO Park with a file full of data.

“CEO, I found one of the items you mentioned.”

“A substitute for Song Yu-na?”

CEO Park asked, looking up.

Director Han nodded and handed over the data.

“Yes, Seo Gyu-ri. I think she’s the best.”

CEO Park received the data and muttered.

“Seo Gyu-ri…?”

“Yes, the former center of the girl group ‘Ping Pong’.”

“I know that. What happened to the group?”

Director Han opened the file and pointed to the photo on the first page.

“Last year, Ping Pong’s youngest member had a school violence scandal and left. These two had small fandoms from the start, so there’s no chance of promoting them. And this one next to her also left.”

CEO Park nodded and pointed to the remaining two.

“And these ones?”

“One of them is being pushed into variety shows these days, and she’s doing pretty well. And the other one is Seo Gyu-ri, who I mentioned.”

“Hmm… that’s right. Seo Gyu-ri has the best face out of these five.”

“Yes, I think she has a look that will make it easy for her to transition into acting.”

CEO Park nodded with satisfaction.

Seeing that, Director Han carefully asked.

“Then how should we proceed now….”

At Director Han’s question, CEO Park raised his eyebrows and replied.

“Pass on everything Song Yu-na has to Seo Gyu-ri, one by one.”

Director Han’s eyes widened and he asked.

“I don’t think Song Yu-na will take that lying down… and she’ll notice, too.”

CEO Park didn’t care about his worries and smirked.

“No, she’ll have no choice but to sit still.”

Then he let out an evil laugh.

“I’ve caught one of Song Yu-na’s weaknesses.”

“What kind of weakness…?”

CEO Park opened a locked drawer, took out an envelope, and handed it to him.

“Do you know what this is?”

A black object in a transparent envelope.

Director Han narrowed his eyes and looked at the envelope.

After confirming what was inside, he got goosebumps.

“…Isn’t that hair?”

“Oh, that’s right. Song Yu-na’s hair.”

CEO Park’s eyes darkened as he handed the envelope to Director Han.

“Song Yu-na did drugs. If you get this tested, it’ll come back positive. Keep it a secret and get it tested right away.”