An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 306

306. #56 – Hidden Truth (1)

After filming for the movie ‘Undercover’ wrapped up, I took a long break.

Having spent so much time filming in the countryside, my own house in Seoul felt foreign. I spent my days leisurely, cleaning and doing laundry in my long-abandoned home, and eating all the foods I had to avoid while filming.

Even so, I was already thinking about my next project. Although nothing was decided yet, and I didn’t know what kind of role I would take on, I dedicated myself to exercising and practicing acting every day in preparation.

The reason I was so dedicated to acting practice wasn’t just for my next project.

Headaches.

I was having a hard time with the constant torment they caused, so acting practice was the only way for me to escape the pain.

Acting with Song Yuna… All the moments when I wasn’t with her or completely lost in acting felt like torment.

Today, as always, I was reading a script in my study, trying to overcome the pain. Then, suddenly, I thought of Choi Seo-bin and reached for my cell phone.

Before calling Choi Seo-bin, I searched for his name online. We were close enough that I could call him anytime, but I figured he might be filming.

As soon as I searched for Choi Seo-bin’s name, numerous articles appeared. The article at the very top immediately caught my eye:

[‘Choi Seo-bin,’ Who Advanced into Hollywood, Successfully Finishes Filming. When Will the Movie Be Released?]

As soon as I saw the article announcing his successful completion of filming, a smile spread across my face.

“Wow, Seo-bin must have done well with the filming.”

Then, without hesitation, I sent him a text message:

-Senior, did the filming go well? When are you coming back to Korea?

I didn’t feel even a hint of envy or jealousy at the news that Choi Seo-bin had successfully finished filming in Hollywood. Rather, I was genuinely happy about his success, as if it were my own.

*Is it because my relationship with Choi Seo-bin is so close, or is it because I’m finally in a place where I can sincerely congratulate someone else’s success?*

As I reflected on this and was lost in thought…

Buzz.

[Sender: Senior Choi Seo-bin]

I received a call from Choi Seo-bin. My eyes widened at the call, instead of a text reply, and I quickly answered.

“Senior!”

-Oh, Hee-sung. Are you free to talk?

“Of course. Aren’t you busy?”

-Yeah, I finished filming a few days ago, and I’m working hard to rest in LA. I was going to contact you anyway, but when I got your text, I called you right away.

“I see. I contacted you as soon as I saw the article that you had finished filming, Senior.”

-Thank you.

“You worked hard.”

-Hey, it’s nothing.

“When are you coming to Korea?”

-I’ve booked a flight for next week. Are you filming anything right now?

“No. I’m also resting at home these days after finishing up.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Choi Seo-bin replied, his voice bright with a smile.

-That’s great. Then, when I go to Korea next week, let’s grab a drink.

“Sounds good.”

-I received a lot of expensive alcohol as gifts in the United States, so I can bring some and we can drink it together, Hee-sung.

“Oh, that sounds great, Senior!”

-Okay, I’ll contact you when I get to Korea. When is your movie coming out?

“It’s coming out soon. The movie teaser is just starting to be released.”

-Really? That’s fast. I should watch the teaser.

“Yes, it came out today, so please watch it.”

-I will. It’s almost dawn in Korea now, so get some sleep. I’ll contact you when I arrive.

“Yes, Senior. Rest well in the United States and come back safely.”

-Okay.

As soon as I hung up the phone with Choi Seo-bin, I copied and sent him the movie teaser link.

The teaser for the movie ‘Undercover’ was released this morning, and the reaction has been quite positive since then.

And now that it’s night, numerous comments were piling up on the teaser in real time.

-The action in this movie is insane!

-At Jin Hee-sung’s fan meeting, I thought he was injured and would have all the action scenes done by a stuntman, but it seems he did them himself.

┕That’s right. There was an article that Jin Hee-sung practiced a lot so he wouldn’t need a stuntman.

-Wow, the action is great, but… isn’t his acting crazy? He really seems like someone who has done drugs.

-Awesome. Could he have actually done drugs to that extent? Why is he so good at acting? It’s scary.

-When is the release date? I’m getting dizzy waiting ㅠㅠ [Korean slang for crying].

-Jin Hee-sung’s acting is legendary.

-Isn’t this Jin Hee-sung’s best performance ever? It’s really crazy….

-I have to go see it as soon as it’s released. His acting is overwhelming with just his eyes, amazing.

-Jin Hee-sung really needs to be protected by the state. I think I have to watch that acting for the rest of my life.

Comments filled with anticipation and praise poured in after people watched the teaser. I couldn’t hide the smile that spread across my face as I read them.

I felt like I was being compensated for the difficult times with such a hot response. I replayed the teaser and couldn’t help but smile as I watched my own acting.

“I did a good job, even if I do say so myself.”

I burst into laughter and stroked my chin.

“If this is released… I’m really looking forward to the results.”

* * *

Early morning.

Waiting for Song Yuna as she came out of the salon was her manager, Chief Choi.

“Yuna, here!”

Chief Choi parked the car at the entrance of the salon so that Song Yuna could get in easily, and opened the car door as she emerged.

“You worked hard.”

Chief Choi said, looking at Song Yuna as she got into the car. She nodded and leaned back in the back seat.

“*Oppa* [Korean term for older brother, used by females to address older males], today we have an interview, then a commercial meeting, and then a script reading, right?”

Song Yuna closed her eyes and recited her schedule. But as soon as she finished speaking, Chief Choi hesitated to answer, watching Song Yuna’s expression.

“Uh… today, you just have the interview and the script reading.”

At Chief Choi’s answer, Song Yuna opened her eyes and asked him.

“What do you mean? Was today’s commercial meeting canceled?”

“That’s… it’s been put on hold, but I’ll check the date again later and tell you.”

It was common for dates to change. It wasn’t the date of the commercial shoot, but the date of the meeting that was being revised. It wasn’t the first time Song Yuna had experienced this.

But the reason she frowned, unlike usual, was different. Song Yuna sat up and leaned forward towards Chief Choi, opening her mouth.

“Don’t tell me… are they changing the commercial model?”

As if he had expected her question, Chief Choi hurriedly shook his head.

“No. There hasn’t been any talk about that yet.”

“…Not yet?”

Song Yuna bit her lip and continued.

“Is it Seo Gyuri again?”

Chief Choi couldn’t say anything.

Song Yuna sighed, looking at the back of Chief Choi’s head.

“*Oppa*, I know that CEO Park gave the soju [Korean distilled beverage] commercial to Seo Gyuri.”

“That’s….”

“Well, it’s okay to give one or two commercials to Seo Gyuri. But I hope you don’t cross the line any further. Do you know what I mean?”

Song Yuna’s tone was a cold warning. Chief Choi nodded, fully understanding her words, and replied.

“Of course. I’ll check it carefully.”

“Haa… I understand. Don’t talk to me now, I need to practice the script.”

“Okay.”

Song Yuna leaned back in her chair again and took out the script she always studied. At that moment, Chief Choi urgently called her.

“Ah, Yuna!”

“What, again?”

“That… about the script….”

As he spoke, watching Song Yuna’s expression through the rearview mirror, Song Yuna sighed, sensing something suspicious.

“What is it?”

“I got a call today, and Yuna’s script has been slightly revised in this movie.”

“Tell me straight. Is it *just* revised?”

Because they had been together for a long time, she could tell just by Chief Choi’s tone and shifting eyes that he wasn’t being completely honest with her.

“It’s okay, just tell me.”

“The proportion of your scenes has decreased… a lot.”

“Just decreased? Or….”

“Seo Gyuri’s proportion… has increased.”

As soon as Chief Choi finished speaking, Song Yuna closed her eyes tightly. It was a common occurrence in the entertainment industry.

WG Entertainment, where Song Yuna was signed, often tried to promote Seo Gyuri, another entertainer in the agency, by leveraging Song Yuna’s fame. It happened so often that Song Yuna usually quietly overlooked it, letting it go as long as it didn’t directly harm her.

But this time, she felt it had gone too far, and she couldn’t ignore it any longer.

“Seo Gyuri again?”

At Song Yuna’s cold expression and tone, Chief Choi opened his mouth in a soft voice to appease her.

“Yuna, you know… Because you’re doing so well, the company is trying to give Seo Gyuri a little boost….”

Before he could finish speaking, she frowned and interrupted him, her voice rising.

“I don’t have much time left on my contract, so you’re going to use me to raise Seo Gyuri in the meantime, is that it?”

“I’ll talk to the company.”

“No, I already told the company to do it moderately. What’s the point of talking about it now!”

Song Yuna raised her voice. Chief Choi looked at her and hurriedly stopped the car on the side of the road.

“Yuna, calm down….”

“Am I in a situation to calm down right now? You should have been moderating A and B-list talents. Who are you selling me out against to keep doing that?”

She shouted, her tone increasingly agitated, and Chief Choi continued to try and calm her down.

“I know. You shouldn’t be treated like this, Yuna, but the company….”

Even with his continued attempts to placate her, Song Yuna was suppressing her anger, her face flushed. Then, she stared at Chief Choi and asked.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“…Huh?”

“Aren’t you being too much to me?”

“……”

“I told you. I won’t stand still if you cross the line.”

Chief Choi closed his mouth tightly at her words. When Song Yuna was deprived of the commercial by Seo Gyuri, and when she was being used to put Seo Gyuri in projects… She had kept holding back, passing it over, and warning the company.

But Chief Choi couldn’t offer any further explanation for WG Entertainment’s relentless actions.

“Tell the CEO.”

Song Yuna’s eyes turned ferocious, and she continued without blinking, her brow furrowed.

“If you don’t return it to the original state, I’ll overturn everything.”

Only then did Chief Choi feel the seriousness of the situation again and nodded.

“…Okay.”

* * *

“How is it, are you feeling better now that you’ve rested a bit?”

As soon as CEO Kim saw me arriving at the company, he looked me up and down and asked. The headache still hadn’t stopped, but I couldn’t tell him about the 10,000 years of life, so I couldn’t bring up the story about the headache.

“Yeah, I’m fine after resting well.”

I answered him evasively and immediately got to the point.

“So, what’s the story for today?”

“Ah, as we talked about on the phone earlier, it’s about overseas….”

CEO Kim gestured for me to sit down and continued.

“They say they’re interested in you overseas.”

“So, are they going to move forward with me?”

He wrinkled his nose at my words and replied.

“They’re interested, but it seems they’re trying to make a move after seeing the results of this project.”

I nodded at CEO Kim’s words.

“They’re testing the waters.”

“I think so. Anyway, they have to cast us.”

I raised my eyebrows at his words and asked.

“That means they’re in a position of power?”

“I guess so, because the board is such a big player.”

“Hmm… well, I understand testing the waters, but I don’t really like it.”

CEO Kim smiled faintly, as if he felt the same way as me, and nodded.

“That’s right. Still, it’s a good thing that our name came up.”

“Well, I think this movie will do well, *Hyung* [Korean term for older brother, used by males to address older males]. Did you see the teaser reaction?”

At my words, he smiled brightly and replied.

“Oh, the reaction was crazy. It’s all thanks to your acting skills, Hee-sung.”

He gave me a thumbs up, and I responded with a smile.

“Take a good rest until the release. You’ll be at home this weekend too, right?”

I shook my head at his words.

“No, I’m going to have a proper date with Yuna this weekend for the first time in a while.”

“Are you going out instead of staying home?”

“Yeah, we decided to go on a trip to Gangwon-do [province in South Korea].”

As soon as I finished speaking, CEO Kim was startled and replied.

“If you go to Gangwon-do, there will be a lot of people watching… and it’s dangerous before the release.”

“I’ll just be at the *pension* [Korean-style lodging].”

“There will be people there too.”

I waved my hand and replied.

“So, I rented the whole pension, and it’s in a secluded area.”

Only then did CEO Kim say with relief.

“Then it’s okay.”

“Is it okay for me to go?”

“Yeah, don’t wander around, be careful, and have fun. It’s been a long time since you’ve been on a date.”

CEO Kim smiled and said to me, then looked at his cell phone.

“That’s right. It’s been a long time….”

Then, as if he was listening to my words, he erased his smile and muttered with a stiff face.

“Hee-sung… this….”

“Did something happen?”

“Uh….”

CEO Kim handed me the cell phone he was looking at with trembling eyes.

[Song Yuna, Emergency Arrest on Suspicion of Drug Use….]