An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 48

#11 – There is No Eternal ‘Gap’ or ‘Eul’ (6)

“What are you doing right now?!”

My shout turned every head in front of the coffee truck toward me.

The buzzing chatter instantly died down as soon as I spoke.

Kang Chan-sung frowned, turning to look at me.

“Ah, the person in question has arrived.”

Kang Chan-sung raised an eyebrow and smirked.

He looked confident, as if thinking, ‘Just what I wanted.’

Whatever his intention, whatever the situation, it didn’t matter.

What could Manager Kim have possibly done to deserve being scolded by Kang Chan-sung, who was much younger, in front of so many people?

I couldn’t stand it.

No matter the reason, I couldn’t accept it.

I stared intently at Kang Chan-sung and said,

“I need to know why you were yelling at Manager Kim.”

In truth, I roughly understood the reason when I approached the coffee truck.

Manager Kim had gone to get my coffee as soon as the truck arrived.

But Kang Chan-sung, the one who arranged for the coffee truck, hadn’t arrived yet.

However, yelling about that was beyond me.

I was simply asking to confirm if there was another reason I didn’t know about.

Then, Kang Chan-sung lowered the corner of his lips, which had been raised high, and replied,

“The coffee truck just arrived. Does it make sense that your manager came before me?”

As soon as Kang Chan-sung finished speaking, I couldn’t help but laugh.

I had a hunch, but that was really the reason.

Ever since he got angry at me because of the hot dog snack truck a few days ago, I’ve been wondering about Kang Chan-sung’s actual intelligence.

It was utterly childish.

I turned to look at Manager Kim.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], is that true?”

At my words, Manager Kim drooped his eyebrows and nodded apologetically.

Seeing his expression, I almost rolled my eyes.

Manager Kim hurried to me.

“Hee-sung, calm down. It’s my fault for going to the coffee truck first….”

Before he could finish, I frowned.

“Hyung, besides standing in line at the coffee truck first, did you do anything else?”

Manager Kim cautiously murmured,

“…No.”

“Then why are you getting yelled at?”

“Still, Chan-sung should have gone to the coffee truck first.”

I couldn’t understand this at all.

Just because he stood in line to get coffee before Kang Chan-sung, was it worth all this?

“Really… is that all there is to it?”

I barely held back a sigh and suppressed my emotions.

I tried to make a rational judgment and asked Manager Kim for confirmation again.

It wasn’t easy for me, a junior, to raise my voice and respond to Kang Chan-sung, a senior and the lead actor.

I thought I needed to accurately assess the situation.

Of course, I could respond to Kang Chan-sung just for yelling at Manager Kim.

But I would have to take responsibility for every word I said.

“Well, yes, but anyway, it’s my fault in the first place….”

Manager Kim kept glancing at Kang Chan-sung and trailed off, lowering his voice.

In the end, my anger button was pressed.

“No, what’s wrong with that?!

“Still, I shouldn’t have received the coffee first.”

Manager Kim grabbed my arm.

I pushed his arm away.

“Isn’t that how it’s usually done?”

After hearing the situation from those involved, I became more furious, not calmer.

What kind of life has Kang Chan-sung lived, and what kind of thoughts does he have to act like this?

“Did you hear that properly?”

After listening to our conversation, Kang Chan-sung twisted his lips and raised his voice even louder.

“What your manager did wrong.”

What wrong?

At his words, the accumulated questions and anger finally burst out.

My face flushed red, and I shouted.

“Isn’t the rule that you can freely drink from the coffee truck?”

“What rule… with the owner right here, where did you learn the rule of going to eat first?”

A conversation that made no sense.

How should I even respond to continue this?

“Who would want to drink coffee if you act like this?”

At my words, Kang Chan-sung gave a ridiculous smile.

His attitude made me even angrier.

I stared straight into his eyes and shouted,

“Are you using the coffee truck to act superior?”

“What, acting superior? Are you done talking?”

Kang Chan-sung rolled his eyes as if dumbfounded and shouted.

I didn’t even blink and said,

“No, I know very well that you’re grateful for the coffee truck, snack truck, and food truck that the fans sent.”

“Someone who knows….”

I cut off Kang Chan-sung’s words and shouted so loudly that the set would be shaken.

“But!”

His pupils trembled slightly, perhaps startled by my words.

“But, you’re not the only one who has sent coffee trucks, snack trucks, and food trucks so far, are you?”

“What, me?”

Kang Chan-sung was furious again that I didn’t call him ‘senior’ [term of respect for someone older or more experienced].

But I had no intention of correcting my address.

Since there were many people bustling around, I thought I was being polite enough just by using honorifics at the end of each sentence.

“The director’s acquaintances, other actors’ fan clubs, and actor colleagues have sent countless coffee trucks.”

“So what!”

Kang Chan-sung stuck out his chin and shouted.

I shook my head.

“You can show off, but you shouldn’t act superior, right?”

At my words, Kang Chan-sung trembled all over and raised his voice so that the set echoed.

“What is this bastard? Have you said everything you want to say?”

I slowly closed and opened my eyes and glared at him.

Kang Chan-sung also shot lasers with his trembling eyes.

With the rising anger, a hot breath flowed out for a long time.

“That bastard, really… if I say just one word….”

“What are you doing now!”

At that moment.

The person who appeared, cutting off Kang Chan-sung’s words.

It was Director Lim.

It seemed a staff member had run to Director Lim and told him about the situation in the noisy atmosphere.

Director Lim was panting as if he had run a long distance.

Everyone here, including me, stopped as if they were paused and looked at him.

“What are you all doing in this sacred filming location!”

***

“Director, we’re filming a little later. What should we do?”

The assistant director cautiously asked Director Lim.

The coffee truck incident in the morning had made not only Director Lim uncomfortable.

“Haa… so that’s all there is to the reason for the fight?”

Director Lim sighed deeply and asked.

“Yes, Kang Chan-sung, I don’t know why he’s doing this.”

“Does that even make sense?”

The assistant director clicked his tongue and replied.

“That’s what I’m saying. Kang Chan-sung says there’s an owner of the coffee truck, but as Jin Hee-sung said, Kang Chan-sung was acting superior.”

“Geez, we can’t stop snack trucks from coming to the set.”

Director Lim shook his head.

“Ugh, that bastard Kang Chan-sung, his personality is really….”

“How much is that coffee truck worth to make such a fuss?”

He sighed deeply.

In fact, in terms of price, the snack truck isn’t worth much.

Of course, it depends on the number of staff and the type of snack truck.

In the case of this set, there were few staff members, so the coffee truck and snack truck cost about 500,000 won [approximately $400 USD].

Even a food truck would be enough for about 1 million won [approximately $800 USD].

The assistant director nodded at Director Lim’s words and added.

“That’s right. Looking at today’s coffee truck, it seems to have cost a little less than 500,000 won.”

“Well, it’s not about the money, but the sincerity is appreciated. But you shouldn’t act superior with that.”

“Yes, Director, you’re exactly right.”

A moment of silence flowed between Director Lim and the assistant director.

Director Lim, who seemed to be deep in thought for a while, kicked his chair and got up, muttering softly.

“Still, I have to step in to continue filming.”

At his words, the assistant director chimed in.

“Are you going to Kang Chan-sung? Should I go with you now?”

“Uh, but I’ll go alone. You prepare for filming.”

As Director Lim reached out his hand, the assistant director bowed his head and replied.

“I understand. I’ll prepare it right away.”

***

Kang Chan-sung was still angry, folding his arms and staring blankly into the air.

“Aish, that crazy bastard Jin Hee-sung.”

Manager Shin stood next to Kang Chan-sung and nodded in agreement.

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“He’s making fun of his seniors, isn’t he?”

He massaged Kang Chan-sung’s shoulders and replied in a friendly voice.

“Hey, Chan-sung, you have to bear with it.”

Manager Shin poured out all sorts of soft words to appease Kang Chan-sung, who would be filming in a few tens of minutes.

“You’re also a top actor in this industry, and you have a lot of generosity….”

Whether he understood or not, Kang Chan-sung roughly shook off Manager Shin’s hand and replied.

“Whose side are you on, anyway!”

“Of course, I’m on your side.”

“But why do I have to understand….”

Knock knock.

At that time, there was a knock on the window of the car Kang Chan-sung was in.

“What is it?”

Turning his head to look out the window, Director Lim was standing there with a smile.

Manager Shin’s eyes widened and said,

“Why did Director Lim come all the way here?”

Creak.

The door opened right away, and Director Lim spoke to Kang Chan-sung.

“Chan-sung, can we talk for a bit?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Kang Chan-sung got out of the car.

Director Lim began to speak in a soft tone and voice, as if coaxing a child.

“Chan-sung, are you okay?”

At his words, Kang Chan-sung still folded his arms and shook his head.

“No, even if the director sees it, that bastard Jin Hee-sung….”

The two continued to talk for a long time.

Director Lim was clearly exhausted.

But because he had to continue filming, he was busy trying to appease him with a forced smile.

“Then, of course, everything Chan-sung says is right.”

“Director, you think so too, right?”

Kang Chan-sung poured out his heart as if he was even more enthusiastic at Director Lim’s words of agreement.

“Of course. But we have to continue filming like professionals, right? Don’t you think?”

Kang Chan-sung sighed deeply and shook his head.

“I can’t do it.”

At his words, Director Lim opened his eyes wide and asked.

“You can’t?”

“Yes, how can I immerse myself and act with this feeling?”

Director Lim wanted to get angry at his unprofessional attitude.

But he barely swallowed the anger and the sigh that was about to come out because he was playing the lead role.

“Still, there are many staff and actors waiting, so I was wondering if our Chan-sung could give in a little.”

Kang Chan-sung avoided Director Lim’s gaze.

Director Lim took a long breath through his nose.

Then, he cleared his throat and spoke to Kang Chan-sung again.

“Then Chan-sung, how can we continue filming… no, how do you think your mood will improve?”

At his words, Kang Chan-sung frowned and stared into the air.

Director Lim looked at his expression and continued to speak.

“How about we tell that Hee-sung’s manager to come and apologize?”

“Apologize?”

Only then did Kang Chan-sung glance at Director Lim.

Director Lim quickly opened his mouth, thinking this was it.

“Yeah, if he comes and apologizes, I hope our generous Chan-sung will accept it. How about it?”

He shook his head and replied.

“No. Tell Jin Hee-sung to come and apologize himself.”

At his words, Director Lim tilted his head.

“Hee-sung?”

“Yes, if the manager makes a mistake, the celebrity in charge should apologize. Besides, Jin Hee-sung is the one who spoke rudely to his senior.”

Director Lim swallowed hard.

“Okay, I’ll go and say a word to him and tell him to apologize to Chan-sung. He’s probably feeling sorry.”

Director Lim stroked Kang Chan-sung’s arm and continued to speak.

“As expected, our Chan-sung is generous. Haha.”

At that moment.

Kang Chan-sung raised one corner of his lips and made a demand of Director Lim.

“Please tell him not just to say sorry, but to come and kneel down and apologize politely.”

“What?”

Director Lim blinked repeatedly, flustered.

“Shouldn’t he receive that much of an apology?”

“Ah, but….”

Kang Chan-sung closed his eyes tightly and replied.

“Wasn’t he prepared to kneel down when he was being a jerk to his senior?”

***

“Hee-sung, why did you do that earlier?”

Manager Kim opened his mouth as if trying to hold back a sigh.

Looking at him, Manager Kim said again.

“I’m really okay….”

Manager Kim, who seemed to be full of complicated feelings, trailed off while avoiding my eyes.

I raised my eyes and replied.

“I’m not okay.”

“Still… if you yell at Kang Chan-sung like that, what are you going to do now?”

Manager Kim seemed full of apologies for not being able to take care of me as a manager and causing a commotion on set.

I forced a smile at the sight of him biting his lower lip and sighing repeatedly.

At that time, Director Lim’s figure was seen approaching us with hurried steps.

“Director Lim is coming over there?”

I got up from my seat right away.

As soon as Director Lim came to me, he started talking about what happened with Kang Chan-sung.

I listened to his words until the end.

“…So I understand Hee-sung’s heart.”

“Thank you, Director.”

Director Lim, who had been looking at me all along, suddenly avoided my gaze and carefully opened his mouth.

“So… that’s why, Hee-sung.”

“Yes, please speak.”

He scratched his head as if it was difficult to speak.

I frowned and looked at him.

“Honestly, everyone here knows that Chan-sung is wrong. I know, but….”

I prompted him, who was hesitating.

“…But?”

“Still, Chan-sung is the lead role, and he’s a senior in the entertainment industry, and also….”

I raised my eyebrows.

“And I know Hee-sung got angry and shouted, but still, a junior shouldn’t do that to a senior in front of people.”

I wondered what he was trying to say by talking around like this, so I asked Director Lim directly.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Director Lim still avoided my eyes and sighed.

“I… I was wondering if you could go to Chan-sung and kneel down and apologize….”

“Yes?”

My face contorted for a moment.

I thought I had misheard, so I asked him again.

“What are you telling me to do?”

“Kneel….”

It was an absurd suggestion.

In an instant, my heart started beating like crazy, filled with anger.

Director Lim closed his eyes tightly and spat out the words like a machine gun.

“Hee-sung is a supporting actor and a junior, so just close your eyes and apologize this time.”