An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 312

312. #56 – Hidden Truth (7)

“Here’s your coffee.”

Song Yuna handed me the coffee with a bright smile.

“Thanks.”

She came over and sat beside me, looking out the window.

“It’s even more charming when it rains.”

The living room window was all glass.

I nodded, watching the raindrops clinging to it.

“Yeah, it’s nice to watch the rain from inside.”

Song Yuna agreed, “Me too! Let’s not go out today and just relax here at the pension all day!”

“Sounds good. We bought a lot of groceries yesterday, so let’s make something delicious. We can watch movies and play games too.”

I pointed to the board games on the shelf, and Song Yuna clapped her hands, delighted, like a child.

“Okay. Teach me; I want to try.”

“Let’s do that.”

Just then, a phone rang, breaking our tender moment.

Song Yuna picked up the phone she had tossed on the sofa and answered it.

“It’s Director Choi calling. Just a moment.”

“Yeah, take your time.”

Last night, after hearing my story, Song Yuna had apparently texted Director Choi.

Song Yuna stayed beside me during the call, and Director Choi’s voice was clearly audible.

-Oh, so Yuna’s part is still the same… No, honestly, I added a little more.

“Really?”

-Of course, but you have to do really well in return.

“Of course, Director.”

-I made a fuss because I really wanted to work with Yuna.

Director Choi’s words seemed to imply a lot. He had given up not just Seo Gyuri, but also Na Hyunwoo, a male actor who was difficult to cast, and the connection with WG Entertainment.

Song Yuna, who knew all the circumstances, nodded vigorously and replied, “Thank you for trusting me, Director Choi.”

-No, let’s work hard on filming in the future.

“Yes, I will work really hard.”

-Okay. Then get some rest, and I’ll let you know the schedule next week….

The call continued in a warm atmosphere. Song Yuna kept a constant smile on her face.

Suddenly,

“Ugh….”

I quickly shut my mouth to keep Song Yuna from noticing the sudden throbbing in my head.

How long had it been since I’d enjoyed such leisure with Song Yuna? I didn’t want to ruin this happiness with a sudden headache.

I frowned, trying to ignore the throbbing.

‘My head keeps hurting even when I’m with Yuna….’

Two months ago, when I saw Song Yuna’s past in a dream, I started experiencing intermittent headaches.

But whenever I was engrossed in practicing acting, or when I was with Song Yuna, the headache would disappear as if it had been washed away.

I endured the headache with deep breaths.

At that moment,

“Oppa, are you okay?” she asked, noticing my frown after hanging up the phone.

Then, as if I had never been in pain, the pain vanished.

“Oh, I’m fine. Did the call go well?”

“Yeah, the schedule will probably be out next week. The director said he’d contact me.”

“That’s good. By the way, you don’t have a manager; are you going to keep contacting them personally?”

She made a ‘tss’ sound and replied, “That’s right. I need to find an agency soon….”

After her contract ended, Song Yuna didn’t renew it with WG Entertainment. It was a natural result.

Usually, it was common to contact other agencies as soon as the contract ended.

Because of the prosecution appearance and the uproar in the media, Song Yuna hadn’t yet found a company to sign with.

However, to continue her work and future activities, she had to find a company, so I was about to discuss it with Song Yuna when she asked me, half-joking and half-serious, “Should I… just join your company?”

Despite her serious tone, I answered firmly, “No way.”

“What, did you have to reject me so coldly?”

“Yuna, I’m saying this for your sake. I’m afraid it might become uncomfortable if business gets involved in our relationship.”

“Tch….”

She turned her back with a sulky face.

“I’m worried that it might ruin things between us. We can see each other every day even if we’re not in the same company.”

She twitched her lips and nodded. Then, looking back at me, she said, “Well… I guess so. But I got a call from Best Entertainment a while ago.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, there’s a manager I used to work with in the early days of my career, and he’s now the head of Best Entertainment.”

I opened my eyes wide and replied, “That’s great. Best Entertainment is a great company.”

“Yeah, and that manager—no, the head of the department now—he took good care of me when I was a rookie. Unless there’s a big problem, I’m thinking of having a meeting that day and signing with them.”

With Song Yuna’s level of fame, she didn’t have to worry about her next company. Nevertheless, I was worried that she might join the wrong agency or not get any calls.

At Song Yuna’s words, I breathed a sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted.

Just then, my phone rang. Song Yuna glanced at it and said, “You’re getting a call. Answer it quickly.”

“Okay.”

[Caller: Manager Park Taehyun]

“Yes, Manager.”

-Mr. Hee-sung, are you available to talk?

“Yes, go ahead.”

-The release date for our movie has been confirmed for the end of next month, and we’re starting the movie advertising tomorrow.

“Oh, that’s good.”

-We’ll have a premiere before the screening, and I’ll organize the stage greetings and send you the schedule.

“Yes, I’ll prepare accordingly.”

* * *

Clink-

“It’s nice to have a drink together like this in Seoul,” Jang Junwoo said, clinking his glass against mine.

“Yeah. I was going to meet you often in Seoul after the project ended, but we’re only meeting now.”

“It’s been so hectic.”

I emptied my glass and looked at Jang Junwoo.

“Thank you so much. Thanks to you, Yuna’s situation was resolved well.”

“Hey, my father is a fan of Yuna, so I wanted to help.”

“Still, I was going to visit Yuna with your father when he had time, but he’s been busy lately.”

He shook his head and replied, “Oh, my father has been very busy lately. Let’s set a date and see each other soon.”

“Sounds good. I wanted to treat you big, but we’re only meeting now. Thank you, and I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay; we’re friends.”

We clinked our glasses, full of alcohol.

And so, our empty bottles began to pile up.

An hour later, Jang Junwoo’s cheeks were slightly flushed.

Only then did I bring up what I really wanted to say.

“Junwoo.”

“Huh?”

“Are you auditioning for any projects these days?”

I knew that he helped Song Yuna because he was my friend, even though his father was a fan. So, I wanted to repay Jang Junwoo with something that would really help him as a friend.

And what I could do for him now was ‘casting’ [recommending him for a role]. However, I avoided directly giving him a role, as it could hurt Jang Junwoo’s pride.

He nodded at my question. “There are many things I want to do. So I audition for a lot of things, but I don’t hear back afterwards….”

At Jang Junwoo’s answer, I opened my eyes and immediately asked, “What kind of work is it?”

“The title is….”

At that moment, Jang Junwoo’s pupils shook rapidly. He stared at me, narrowed his eyes, and asked, “Hey, don’t tell me….”

Jang Junwoo, realizing my intention, shook his head.

“Junwoo, I’m so grateful to you that I want to do this much for you. I want to help.”

But Jang Junwoo reached out and stopped me.

“Friend, I don’t want to be a nuisance.”

“It’s not like that.”

“I don’t want to ride on your name, and I’m going to get a role with my skills and climb up step by step. So I want to be an actor who stands side by side with you later.”

“…….”

At his words, one side of my heart ached. There were always so many people around me who wanted to use my position and name to get famous.

Even though I reached out first, my heart was warmed by Jang Junwoo’s words that he wanted to act fairly.

He smiled and continued, “When I work hard and stand next to you, then you sacrifice your appearance fee and raise my appearance fee a little. Haha.”

The moment I was overwhelmed with emotion, Jang Junwoo poured cold water with a joke.

“This guy… you were drawing a big picture?”

When I answered with a hearty laugh, Jang Junwoo also laughed and raised his eyebrows.

“Of course. Isn’t this friendship, my friend?”

“Yeah, come to my side quickly. I’ll give you all the appearance fee. Haha.”

Clink-

Perhaps because it was a place with a friend who could fully share his heart, laughter never stopped.

It was peaceful just knowing that I could talk to Jang Junwoo without hiding or adding anything.

It felt like I had finally made a real friend.

* * *

The day of the stage greeting for the movie ‘Undercover’.

The movie was playing on the screen in front of the stage. We, who had to go on stage as soon as the movie ended, were waiting behind the stage.

While waiting, a staff member approached me and said, “15 minutes left.”

I nodded and checked the time on my cell phone.

[Caller: Song Yuna]

I received a call from Song Yuna and quickly answered it.

“Hello?”

-Are you busy?

“I’m going to the movie stage greeting soon.”

-How many minutes left?

“About… 15 minutes. Is it urgent? Or should I call you later….”

-I just wanted to ask you something. I’ll hang up soon.

At Song Yuna’s voice, which sounded like she had called in a hurry, I moved to a quiet place.

“Yeah, I can talk for a while. What is it?”

-About that drug thing… when the article broke.”

“Yeah.”

-Everyone thought I was on drugs at the time, but you were sure that I wasn’t… how were you so sure?

“Of course, I believed you weren’t. Because the Yuna I know would never do that.”

At my words, Song Yuna asked in an even more serious voice, as if her curiosity hadn’t been resolved. -But it’s not just that you believe in me; you knew the solution clearly. You knew about my past illnesses… how did you know all that?

“…….”

At Song Yuna’s question, I was speechless. The reason I knew her past was… because I saw Song Yuna’s past in a dream.

But I can’t say that I knew it through a dream.

-Huh? I don’t understand how you knew about that.

I hurriedly racked my brains and blurted out an answer. “I heard it from WG Entertainment before.”

-From the company?

“Yeah, I heard that someone who used to work at WG Entertainment came to our company this time. I heard about it roughly through that person.”

-Oh, that’s right. That person said that he had worked at WG Entertainment for a long time. That’s ridiculous. I guess WG Entertainment spread all my stories.”

“I don’t know the details, but I heard the story roughly.”

-So you knew.

“Yeah, was that what you were curious about?”

-Yeah, get ready quickly. It’s about to start.

“Okay. I’ll call you when it’s over.”

After hanging up with Song Yuna, I hurriedly went on stage without even having time to take a breath.

“Waaaaa!”

With the cheers erupting, I heard applause, and some actors and the director, including me, stood side by side on the stage and bowed together.

The microphone was handed to me first.

I smiled brightly and began, “Hello, this is Jin Hee-sung.”

“Kyaa!”

“Did you enjoy the movie?”