An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 335

335. Whirlwind (8)

After arriving in Korea, Manager Park went straight to the office without resting.

“I’m here, CEO.”

CEO Kim welcomed him warmly.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all. Hee-sung has suffered much more than I have.”

“Haha, that’s true.”

CEO Kim checked the time and asked, “Did Hee-sung go home?”

“Yes, I dropped him off at home and came straight to the office.”

Manager Park visited the company to report on the events concerning Jin Hee-sung in Los Angeles.

He pulled out a crumpled notebook and headed to the conference room.

And they remained in the conference room for a long time.

“…So, Hee-sung’s current condition has improved significantly.”

CEO Kim, who had listened to everything, nodded with a worried expression.

“I’m glad he’s okay now, but Hee-sung must have had a tough time.”

“That’s right. I’m also concerned about his physical condition.”

“Yes, Manager Park, you’ve worked hard too. It must have been difficult taking care of him by his side.”

“It’s my job.”

CEO Kim smiled faintly and asked, “So, you’re proceeding with the musical filming next month?”

“Yes, I think a month’s rest will be sufficient.”

“Yes, it wasn’t just the fans and I who were waiting for Hee-sung to return to Korea.”

“Pardon?”

CEO Kim clicked his tongue and retrieved some documents.

“The number of offers Hee-sung has received… Oh, it’s too many to list.”

“Scripts?”

“Scripts are a given. Variety shows, radio programs, advertisements, interviews… It’s insane.”

“Wow…”

Manager Park looked at the pile of casting requests for Jin Hee-sung in front of him and exclaimed, “Hee-sung’s market value must be incredible.”

“Yes, but Hee-sung said he wouldn’t accept any of them.”

At his words, Manager Park nodded.

“Yes, Hee-sung has been having a hard time lately… He seemed to want to rest constantly.”

“That’s right.”

“This time, I asked him what he wanted to do in Korea for a month, and do you know what he said?”

CEO Kim raised his eyebrows.

“Rest.”

“Only rest?”

“Yes, he said he doesn’t want to do anything. He said he would just rest at home for a month and then go back to the States. He told me not to bother him.”

CEO Kim sighed and nodded.

“Okay. If Hee-sung wants to rest, it’s right to let him rest. Well, I can reject the casting offers and interviews… But I’m worried about Hee-sung.”

“I was going to take him to the hospital for an IV [intravenous drip, to quickly replenish fluids and nutrients], but he strongly refused. He said he didn’t need to go to the hospital.”

“I understand what you mean. I’ll check on Hee-sung separately.”

“Yes, CEO.”

CEO Kim got up from his seat and said to Manager Park, “Manager Park, you must be tired too, so go and rest. Take a break in Korea for a month.”

“I’m fine.”

At his words, CEO Kim smiled and replied, “You’re Hee-sung’s manager. If Hee-sung doesn’t have a schedule, Manager Park doesn’t have work.”

“Ah… That’s right.”

“Yes, I’ll contact you if there’s anything you need to do, so take a break for a while. Any schedule-related contacts for Manager Park should be forwarded to the company.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Manager Park left the company, CEO Kim sighed deeply.

“Haa… How do I reject all these offers?”

He didn’t have the slightest regret that Jin Hee-sung wasn’t earning appearance fees because he wasn’t working.

Jin Hee-sung was already making a lot of money for the company just by filming movies.

However, he was filled with fear that rejecting all Korean schedules would make him a target for reporters.

It would be enough to tear Jin Hee-sung apart for refusing interviews, programs, and advertisement offers in Korea after returning from Hollywood.

“I’m worried that strange stories will circulate…”

CEO Kim bit his lip and pondered, then contacted the program writer he was closest to.

-CEO Kim, hello.

“Yes, Writer. How are you doing?”

The writer greeted CEO Kim’s voice with a joyful tone.

-Of course. I was going to contact you anyway; I heard Hee-sung came back to Korea.

“Ah, yes. That’s why I contacted you…”

However, CEO Kim carefully began, his voice the opposite of hers.

“Hee-sung seems to be taking a break this time and then leaving to do a musical again, probably because filming in Hollywood was tough.”

-Oh, really?

“Yes, I wanted to give you an interview if possible, but I don’t think I can, so I contacted you. I’m sorry.”

-Ah… No, it can’t be helped.”

She asked CEO Kim a question.

-But you’re not just rejecting our interview; you’re not doing any other schedules, right?

“Yes, that’s right.”

-I see. But I heard you received a lot of advertisement offers. Even if it’s short, can’t we get an interview at the advertisement shooting location?

“Pardon?”

-There are already rumors that many advertisement inquiries have gone to actor Hee-sung. There are so many people looking forward to Hee-sung’s news, so I want to get an interview on the spot, even if it’s short…

At the writer’s words, CEO Kim responded without hesitation.

“We’re not doing advertisement shoots either.”

-You’re not doing any advertisement shoots at all?

“Yes, I haven’t scheduled anything while Hee-sung is in Korea this time. There are no interviews with other places, and I haven’t scheduled advertisements, variety shows, or radio.”

The writer didn’t respond to CEO Kim’s words.

She seemed quite surprised.

“Anyway, that’s why I’m sorry and contacted you. I’m saying this because I want Hee-sung to rest comfortably, so please understand.”

-Ah… Of course.

“I’m telling you this because I’m worried that strange stories will spread. You know, Writer, right?”

At his words, the writer smiled and replied.

-Yes, I know what you mean. Hee-sung… There’s nothing wrong with his health, right?

As expected, when the question he feared came out, CEO Kim immediately denied it.

“Of course not. That’s why I’m telling you to be careful. It’s not depression either.”

The word the writer couldn’t bring up first, ‘depression.’

When CEO Kim took the lead and spoke first, the writer replied with an awkward laugh.

-Oh, I didn’t ask about that, but I understand. I’ll pay attention.

“Yes, I’ll contact you again next time.”

Meanwhile, in the writer’s room where she received the call, as soon as she hung up, she shouted to the staff around her.

“Jin Hee-sung’s interview has been canceled.”

“Why isn’t he doing the interview?”

“He said he just wants to rest.”

The PD [Program Director], who was spinning in his chair, smiled at her.

“Jin Hee-sung must have come back with actor disease [a derogatory term for arrogance or pretentiousness in celebrities].”

“From Hollywood?”

“Yeah. Since he’s advanced to the United States, he can’t even be bothered with Korean broadcasts anymore. Actor disease has no cure but to go to hell.”

The writer spoke to the PD, who was sneering while talking about Jin Hee-sung.

“But it’s a bit strange to say it’s actor disease.”

“What is?”

“If it’s actor disease, wouldn’t he shoot advertisements? His value must be very high.”

At her words, the PD tilted his head.

“What, he’s not shooting any advertisements either?”

“Yes, he rejected all advertisements, programs, interviews, etc.”

He replied to her bluntly, “Isn’t Jin Hee-sung going to start raising his value now?”

“I don’t think so…”

“There’s a lot of talk in the broadcasting station right now. Everyone’s talking about how he’s trying to raise his value.”

“Is that so? But he said he’s going straight to the United States for a musical after taking a break.”

The PD stroked his chin and made a ‘tsk’ sound.

“Then it’s not raising his value; could it be…”

However, the writer, who anticipated his next words, hurriedly interrupted him.

“He’s not sick, and he doesn’t have depression!”

“Oh, really? Then why is Jin Hee-sung just staying at home? I don’t understand.”

The PD shook his head, looking at the speculative posts about Jin Hee-sung.

***

I was getting used to this life again after returning to Korea.

It took me a week to get over the long jet lag.

“Haa… Good.”

I was happy even though I didn’t do anything.

A quiet house, filled with my belongings, from furniture to bed.

If I just opened my cell phone, I could easily order all the food in the world, from Korean to Western, Chinese, and Japanese, with just one click on the delivery app.

I was experiencing a newfound happiness in this Korean life.

I hadn’t left the house for a single day since arriving in Korea, but there was no inconvenience in my life.

These days, everything was possible with just one cell phone.

“The weather is really nice today.”

I got out of bed and headed to the terrace where the warm sunlight was shining.

Sitting leisurely with a cup of coffee right now.

Many cars were moving busily on the road, and countless people were heading somewhere for their respective jobs.

Sitting on the high apartment terrace, I looked at the leisurely flowing river.

If I were to define peace, it would be this moment.

“Come to think of it, my head doesn’t hurt today either?”

I pressed my head with my hands.

“Is it because I’m not thinking about work and just resting?”

After drinking coffee and relaxing for a long time, the cup was already empty.

Even though it was long past lunchtime, I couldn’t leave the terrace because I was captivated by this silence and tranquility.

But it was Song Yu-na who broke this peace.

“Jin Hee-sung!”

She called my name and ran to the terrace; I don’t know when she opened the door and came in.

“What is it? Yu-na, when did you arrive?”

At her words, I pointed to the cell phone in the living room.

“It was over there, so I didn’t even know you called.”

“Tsk, what are you doing there so pathetically? Come in quickly. Let’s eat.”

Song Yu-na shook her head, a large shopping basket in her hand.

“What did you buy so much of?”

“To eat.”

“We can order…”

She smiled and nodded.

“I’m going to cook. Come quickly.”

“Wow… Amazing?”

Song Yu-na shrugged her shoulders and tied her apron.

That’s how two hours passed.

Then Song Yu-na’s voice called me, who was tired of waiting.

“I did it really quickly, right?”

I burst into laughter at her proud face.

“That’s right. You made it quickly.”

“Come and eat quickly.”

“You must have had a hard time, our Yu-na.”

She smiled and said, “Oppa [term for older brother used by females] always did it for me. I wanted to cook for you alone today.”

When I went to the kitchen, there was a Korean meal set on the table.

“Wow…”

I exclaimed, looking at the food and the messy kitchen behind her.

I smiled at the sight and looked at Song Yu-na.

“I’ll eat well, Yu-na.”

“Yeah, eat quickly. I worked hard to make it after watching Q-tube [likely a reference to YouTube].”

“Wow… It’s so delicious?”

A home-cooked meal after a long time.

I couldn’t stop eating, as if I had lost my mind.

At the sight, Song Yu-na looked at me with a happy face and asked, “Is it delicious?”

“Yeah. Totally!”

“I’m glad. Oppa, your head doesn’t hurt today either?”

At her question, I nodded vigorously.

“Yeah, my head doesn’t hurt at all because you came, Yu-na.”

“I’m glad then. Oh, right. When are you going back to America?”

“I have to go back in a few weeks.”

Her expression quickly turned gloomy at my words.

“Already?”

“Yeah, I have to prepare for the musical now.”

“Yeah… It can’t be helped…”

She moved her chopsticks, counting the grains of rice, then clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Oppa, should I advance to the United States too?”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“Yeah. If I go, I can see Oppa often, and should I go to Hollywood once?”

At her words, I shook my head without hesitation.

I also went to Hollywood for the first time with expectations.

But there was racism and hardship as great as those expectations, and what made me even more difficult was the pressure.

It was the pressure pouring in from Korea.

If I succeeded, I would return home in triumph, but if I failed, I would end up being ridiculed.

“No. I’m happiest acting in Korea.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Yu-na is doing well in Korea, so I hope you don’t walk a difficult path.”

“I just… It feels like the time I spend with Oppa is decreasing more and more.”

She erased her gloomy face, raised her eyebrows, and asked me, “Then should I… follow you when you do a musical?”

Cough-

At her words, I coughed while drinking water.

“What, is it so surprising?”

“Coming to America means living together, right?”

Then she shouted at me with a flushed face, “Wh-what! It’s not!”

I smiled at Song Yu-na, and so we enjoyed our short time in Korea together.