An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 49

49. No One is Forever the Boss, No One is Forever the Underling (7)

“I cannot apologize.”

As I said this, looking directly into Director Lim’s eyes, his expression hardened coldly.

“You can’t?”

Director Lim, who had been sending desperate glances to make me apologize, bit down on his lower lip.

Even so, I didn’t think I needed to debase myself completely before Kang Chan-sung.

“Yes, I don’t see why I should apologize. Even if I concede and apologize, kneeling is a bit much, don’t you think?”

His pupils wavered at my words, but he replied with a stiff face.

“You think you can handle the consequences?”

Director Lim was deliberately using a harsh tone to dissuade me.

Undeterred, I opened my mouth.

“Yes, and shouldn’t our Team Leader Kim receive an apology first?”

The recurring memory made me breathless, and a sigh escaped involuntarily.

I wouldn’t even consider just offering an apology, but kneeling? That’s absurd.

What kind of era is this, anyway? There’s a limit to how much someone can abuse their power.

The more I thought about it, the more resentful I felt towards Kang Chan-sung. With a long sigh, I opened my mouth.

“But the apology….”

“I…!”

Just then.

Team Leader Kim, who had been quietly standing by, cut me off.

He stepped forward between me and Director Lim, swallowed hard, and then spoke.

“Director, honestly, we didn’t get into this drama because of some connection [meaning they weren’t cast due to nepotism or favors]. We were legitimately cast, weren’t we?”

Director Lim nodded silently at Team Leader Kim’s words.

My casting involved the opinions of the casting director and many others, but Director Lim’s choice must have been among them.

Team Leader Kim took a calm breath and continued.

“Even if Hee-sung is here as a supporting actor, he’s still an actor in the same drama, isn’t he?”

“That’s true.”

Team Leader Kim widened his eyes and slightly curved his lips.

“We’re not just some nobodies; we’re HS Entertainment.”

His short statement.

It wasn’t anything grand.

He simply stated the name of the company.

But the fact that it was a large agency alone gave the words a strong force.

Is this why people want to join large corporations and agencies in the entertainment industry and beyond?

“…Hmm, I understand what you’re saying.”

As expected.

At the words ‘HS Entertainment,’ Director Lim cleared his throat and changed the subject.

Although he hadn’t experienced this often, Team Leader Kim was calmly handling the situation.

“Then, what would you like us to do?”

Team Leader Kim seemed to think it was necessary to resolve the situation, so he asked about the next course of action.

Director Lim stroked his chin and frowned.

Team Leader Kim murmured in a small voice.

“Hee-sung’s filming needs to continue, doesn’t it?”

At his words, Director Lim looked at Team Leader Kim, not me, and opened his mouth.

“Then, it would be good if Hee-sung’s manager could convey the apology on his behalf.”

As soon as Director Lim finished speaking, Team Leader Kim nodded immediately.

“Yes, we can do that much.”

I immediately grabbed Team Leader Kim’s arm.

“Hyung [Korean term for older brother or respected male figure]!”

Kang Chan-sung demanded an apology from me, but Team Leader Kim was going to apologize.

I didn’t want him to step up instead of me.

The very idea of Team Leader Kim apologizing to Kang Chan-sung was unbearable.

But Team Leader Kim gently lowered my hand and replied.

“Hee-sung, this is something that happened between me and that person in the first place.”

“Still….”

“It’s okay. I’ll resolve it quickly. Anyway, we need to continue filming soon.”

I shook my head at his words.

Team Leader Kim smiled and left with Director Lim.

***

“Haa….”

Director Lim and Team Leader Kim were walking side by side on the set.

The only sound between them was Team Leader Kim’s sigh.

There was no other conversation.

He had smiled at Jin Hee-sung and said he would resolve it, but Team Leader Kim was also reluctant to apologize.

However, he was Jin Hee-sung’s manager, and he believed that his role was to allow him to focus solely on acting.

To do so, Team Leader Kim decided that he should step up, apologize, and resolve the situation.

Even though he was going there with a firm resolve, Team Leader Kim’s steps were heavy.

They say it’s better to get it over with quickly, but Team Leader Kim’s steps gradually slowed down as he wanted to go as slowly as possible.

Nevertheless, he soon arrived at Kang Chan-sung’s car.

“Director!”

Suddenly, they turned their heads at the sound of someone calling for Director Lim.

The assistant director, who had rushed to Director Lim, did not look good.

“What is it?”

“The writer contacted me and said there are parts that need to be urgently revised in the later scenes.”

Director Lim frowned and said.

“What, revisions?”

“Yes, are you busy?”

The gaze that had been on the assistant director shifted to Team Leader Kim.

Team Leader Kim stretched out both hands and said.

“Director, you can go. I’ll go alone.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes, I think that would be more comfortable. You can really go.”

Director Lim patted Team Leader Kim on the shoulder and nodded.

He immediately turned around and left with the assistant director.

Left alone, Team Leader Kim let out a long sigh that he had been holding back.

“Haha, that’s why I did that, you know?”

“Oh, oppa [Korean term for older brother used by females or a term of endearment], that’s so funny.”

Kang Chan-sung, his manager, and stylist, laughing and chatting in the distance, came into Team Leader Kim’s view.

Kang Chan-sung was sitting on the waiting chair, leaning back with his legs crossed, laughing.

The manager and stylist standing next to him were looking at Kang Chan-sung.

The Kang Chan-sung who had been so angry was nowhere to be seen.

Team Leader Kim clenched his teeth at the sight of him laughing with his staff.

As a result, Team Leader Kim’s face trembled.

He let out a sigh and slowly opened his eyes.

Even if it was dirty and petty, it would be over if he just said one word of apology.

He desperately wanted to apologize quickly and leave.

Team Leader Kim forced a smile on his stiff face and started moving again.

But he couldn’t hide the feeling of being dragged to a place he didn’t want to go.

As he walked, Kang Chan-sung’s stylist, who had been laughing, raised her head.

“Huh?”

At her words, Kang Chan-sung turned his head with a smile.

When he confirmed it was Team Leader Kim, the corners of his mouth, which had been smiling, coldly drooped.

“I… I came because I have something to say.”

At Team Leader Kim’s words, the stylist glanced around and quietly stepped aside.

Kang Chan-sung, still leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, looked around Team Leader Kim.

“Did you come alone?”

“Yes.”

At his words, Kang Chan-sung’s face twisted.

“Where’s Jin Hee-sung?”

“I came to apologize on his behalf.”

Team Leader Kim gritted his teeth and bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry for earlier.”

As his head went down, one corner of Kang Chan-sung’s mouth smirked.

Team Leader Kim’s head was bowed for a few seconds, and his face turned red.

Slowly raising his head, Kang Chan-sung pouted his lower lip, clicked his tongue, and said.

“I wanted a sincere apology on his knees.”

Team Leader Kim bit his lip tightly at his sarcastic tone.

His insides were boiling, but he barely suppressed the heat and opened his mouth.

“…I’m sorry.”

The trembling was evident in each word Team Leader Kim spoke.

Kang Chan-sung’s lips twisted suspiciously.

“But well, I’ll let it slide this much.”

Team Leader Kim’s fists were clenched as if they would burst.

He nodded without saying anything.

Then, Kang Chan-sung raised his eyebrows and continued.

“Make sure to tell Jin Hee-sung clearly. Tell him not to act up next time.”

He finally took his back off the chair and shook his head.

“How dare a supporting actor try to climb over the main lead?”

Team Leader Kim avoided Kang Chan-sung’s gaze and swallowed hard.

***

After Team Leader Kim left.

I was still pacing in front of the car, filled with rising anger towards Kang Chan-sung.

Why do I have to apologize?

What did Team Leader Kim and I do wrong?

If you’re the main lead, if you’re top-tier in the entertainment industry, does that mean you can do this?

I pressed my temples and repeatedly sighed.

I was pacing back and forth in front of the car when I saw Team Leader Kim walking towards me in the distance.

I quickly walked towards him and shouted.

“Hyung!”

At my call, Team Leader Kim smiled brightly, reached out his hand, and replied.

“Oh, Hee-sung. Why are you in front of the car in this heat? You should be inside.”

“No, it’s okay. Did you go and come back, hyung?”

Team Leader Kim forced a smile and said.

“Yeah, I apologized and came back.”

He was smiling, but he didn’t look like he was smiling at all.

He seemed to be forcing a smile because he was worried about me.

Sadness was evident in his eyes.

“Haa.”

At his appearance, I unknowingly sighed.

Rather, he patted me on the shoulder and said.

“I’m okay.”

Even at Team Leader Kim’s words, I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Ah, I’m really okay.”

“I’m not okay, hyung.”

I couldn’t open my closed eyes.

I couldn’t bear to look at Team Leader Kim’s face.

Rather, he opened his mouth in a soft voice, as if comforting me.

“Hee-sung.”

I didn’t make eye contact with him, bit my lip, and murmured softly.

“Hyung, I’m sorry….”

“What are you sorry for?”

He smiled with tightly closed lips.

Then, Team Leader Kim’s phone rang.

“It’s a work call. I’ll take this call.”

Team Leader Kim held up his cell phone to me.

When I nodded, he cleared his throat and pressed the answer button.

“Hello. Yes, this is Jin Hee-sung’s manager. Yes, yes.”

He held the phone with both hands and gradually moved away from my sight.

Even in the midst of all this, I squeezed my eyes shut as I watched Team Leader Kim answering a call related to my work in a bright voice.

This is a really messed up situation.

Kang Chan-sung, you son of a bitch.

What makes me even angrier than the fact that Team Leader Kim apologized to Kang Chan-sung is that.

I couldn’t protect Team Leader Kim.

I hated this situation where I was swayed by Kang Chan-sung, who is more successful than me, and I couldn’t stop my person.

In the end, I couldn’t protect my person from being harmed.

“Haa, this sucks.”

I murmured, barely swallowing my voice so that Team Leader Kim wouldn’t hear.

I was so angry that I wondered if I could get this angry.

My face, which had turned bright red, felt like it would explode.

All I can do in this messed up situation is watch Team Leader Kim.

No matter how much I think about it, the only way I can avoid experiencing this again.

There was only one.

That is for me to rise higher.

I need to establish myself as an actor and rise as high as Kang Chan-sung, or even higher.

That way, I can protect my people from getting hurt.

I clenched my fists so tightly that they would burst, with my eyebrows trembling.

So that no one can touch them.

I have to protect my people.