An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 53

53 #12 – Maybe What You See Isn’t Everything (2)

“Are you… really okay with this?”

Director Lim asked cautiously.

I tilted my head, questioning him in return.

“But what did they say on their end?”

“Who, Chan-sung?”

Director Lim raised his eyebrows.

I quietly nodded.

“Chan-sung said he doesn’t mind doing a fan signing with Hee-sung.”

I held back a burst of laughter at Kang Chan-sung’s absurd reaction, as Director Lim conveyed it.

Considering Kang Chan-sung’s attitude towards me on set, there’s no way he wouldn’t care about this.

He seemed to be putting up a pointless front.

Seeing me nod, Director Lim lit a cigarette.

*Flick.*

The cigarette, lit by the lighter, began to burn black at the tip with his inhale.

Director Lim, exhaling white smoke, shifted his gaze to me.

“What about Hee-sung?”

“Pardon?”

“Are you okay with doing it with Chan-sung?”

To be honest, I wasn’t exactly thrilled about having to share a schedule with Kang Chan-sung.

No, to be frank, I was leaning more towards disliking it.

Now that the drama filming was over, I thought I wouldn’t have to see him again.

But the person I was stuck with had to be Kang Chan-sung.

It’s not like Kang Chan-sung threw a fit and asked to change the schedule.

It wouldn’t make sense for me to say I couldn’t handle the schedule here.

Director Lim might be asking for my opinion, but he probably called me here to give me a heads-up.

I bit my lip tightly before answering.

“To be honest, it is a bit uncomfortable.”

At my words, Director Lim avoided my gaze and put the cigarette in his mouth.

“So?”

“But it’s work. I’m fine.”

Only then did he raise the corners of his lips at my answer.

“You sure you can do it?”

“Yes, I have to.”

Director Lim stomped out the cigarette he was holding.

Then, he turned his head to exhale all the smoke before patting me on the shoulder.

“Alright, Hee-sung. Even if it’s a bit uncomfortable, it’s the last drama schedule, so please do well.”

“Yes.”

“We still have the last episode to air. Let’s do well at the fan signing and boost the final ratings!”

“Yes, I understand.”

Director Lim nodded vigorously with a satisfied expression.

A fan signing with Kang Chan-sung….

I’m already worried.

***

After several hours of company dinner.

The gathering finally wrapped up around midnight.

“Go home safely!”

“Everyone, go safely, and let’s meet again soon.”

Manager Kim, who was standing in front of the restaurant, raised his hand to greet me.

As soon as I got into the car, he handed me a hangover cure and said.

“Drink this.”

“Thanks, *hyung* [older brother or close male friend, used as a term of endearment].”

I poured the hangover cure into my mouth.

Then, I turned to him, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.

“*Hyung*, did you hear about our fan signing schedule?”

He looked at me through the rearview mirror and nodded.

“Yeah, the assistant director told me when you went out with Director Lim.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, saying your schedule overlapped with Kang Chan-sung.”

It was something I already knew, but hearing it again from Manager Kim’s mouth made me sigh.

“Oh, but is it just me and Kang Chan-sung going?”

“No, they’re grouping the main actors and a few popular supporting actors together.”

“Ah… but of all people, I’m grouped with Kang Chan-sung.”

Manager Kim raised the corners of his lips and replied.

“Hee-sung, do you remember what I showed you last time?”

“What was it?”

He looked at his cell phone and opened his mouth.

“The articles and viewer bulletin board captures I saved.”

He seemed to be referring to the buzz about the chemistry between Kang Chan-sung and me that was all over the viewer bulletin board and articles last time.

I immediately caught on and nodded.

“Oh, I remember.”

“It seems like your chemistry with Kang Chan-sung was so good that you two will continue to be grouped together in terms of activities.”

“Oh dear….”

A sigh poured out of my mouth without me realizing it.

“It won’t be easy.”

“But the viewers who watched the drama are cheering for your chemistry.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

I leaned back in my chair and pondered.

I was reluctant to be involved with Kang Chan-sung.

But it’s my first fan signing in my life.

I was worried, but on the other hand, my heart was full.

Of course, not everyone who comes will be my fan.

But some of them might be my fans.

The thought that someone might like my acting and like me made my heart flutter.

I was grateful just knowing that such beings existed somewhere.

“*Hyung*, what do I have to do at the fan signing?”

It’s my first fan signing, but it must be one of the common events for Manager Kim, who has been working as a manager for a long time.

“Some places have talent shows, but only the main actors will do that.”

“Ah… then what about me?”

“You don’t have to do that kind of thing.”

Manager Kim rolled his eyes and continued.

“Just answer well when the MC asks about the drama, and just do well with fan service when you sign.”

“That’s right, the autograph!”

The most important thing at a fan signing is the autograph.

During my minor role days, I had a conversation with the surrounding actors about autographs.

The minor actor gave me serious advice.

‘You have to create an autograph from when you’re not famous. Otherwise, one day, when someone asks for your autograph, you’ll just have to write your name in block letters.’

At the time, I didn’t really relate to the minor actor’s story.

*Will the day ever come when I can sign for someone?*

Back then, it was hard to even appear in one scene as a passing minor actor in a drama.

But I made an autograph with the determination that I would definitely succeed.

I murmured in a small voice.

“The autograph… I’m glad I made it back then.”

***

“Seo-bin.”

Choi Seo-bin’s manager, Manager Bae Tae-heon, approached him and handed him a piece of paper.

“This is the list of movie cast members you asked for.”

Choi Seo-bin accepted the documents he handed him while sitting down.

“‘Became a Genius Salesman,’ you’re talking about that work, right?”

“That’s right.”

Manager Bae pulled up a chair in front of him and opened his mouth.

“This is the final cast list I just received….”

Before he could finish speaking, Choi Seo-bin looked at the paper and said.

“What, did the cast change?”

“Yeah, I was going to tell you about that.”

Choi Seo-bin’s brow furrowed more and more as he fixed his gaze on the paper.

Lead role: Choi Seo-bin

Lead role: Park Na-yeon

Supporting role: Park Min-joon

Supporting role: Jin Hee-sung

.

.

.

“*Hyung*, what is this, Park Na-yeon?”

“Yeah, Park Na-yeon is the one who changed this time.”

Only then did Choi Seo-bin raise his head and look at Manager Bae.

“No, isn’t filming starting next month?”

At his words, Manager Bae nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Why is it changing so close to the crank-in [start of filming]?”

Choi Seo-bin opened his mouth again as if he couldn’t understand.

“The female lead was originally Jo Hye-min.”

A conference room with no one in it.

Manager Bae lowered his voice as much as possible in the quiet conference room and opened his mouth.

“But Jo Hye-min caused an accident this time. The article will probably be up soon.”

“What happened?”

He nodded and pulled his body closer to Choi Seo-bin.

“Oh, um, she was caught drunk driving. They said they changed it urgently because the article will be out soon.”

Choi Seo-bin’s face contorted at Manager Bae’s words.

“This is ominous….”

At Choi Seo-bin’s expression, Manager Bae hurriedly opened his mouth.

“No, it’s better this way than going into filming.”

“That’s true, but Park Na-yeon….”

Choi Seo-bin kept looking at the cast paper as if he didn’t like the changed lead role.

At that sight, Manager Bae asked him.

“Is there any problem with Park Na-yeon?”

At his question, Choi Seo-bin shook his head.

“No, it’s not that. Well, Park Na-yeon is so famous for her acting. I guess it’ll be okay.”

“Of course, Park Na-yeon is a famous actress.”

Choi Seo-bin nodded.

But he couldn’t hide his uneasy feelings, so he took a long breath and tapped the letters ‘Park Na-yeon’ with his finger and murmured.

“But… I can’t picture a finished product.”

***

“Hee-sung, we’ve arrived.”

I could tell even without listening to Manager Kim’s words.

I had been sitting there nervously since before the car arrived because of the bustling noise.

I had been waiting for this day with a mix of nervousness and excitement.

The fan signing.

My jaw dropped naturally at the sight of the long line from the entrance.

“Wow, are all these people here for the fan signing today?”

Because the car had heavily tinted windows, I stuck my face to the window and looked at the people.

Manager Kim smiled and replied.

“Yeah, there are so many people, right?”

I nodded at his words and started looking at the people outside the window again.

They were buzzing as they looked at the car entering the entrance.

The car was slowly moving forward under the guidance of the guide.

I was lost in thought as I looked at the people in the long line.

*Not all of them are my fans.*

But they are fans who enjoyed the work ‘Entertainment Industry Extra’ that I completed together.

I was filled with overwhelming emotion just by the fact that they had taken the long journey to see me, to see us, even in the hot weather.

*So this is what it feels like to be loved as an actor.*

My heart was pounding and my chest was swelling.

I took a slow breath in and out.

“Hee-sung, are you nervous?”

At Manager Kim’s words, I only nodded without answering.

He chuckled at my appearance and said.

“Isn’t it amazing that people came all this way just to see you?”

“Yeah, of course, I don’t know how many fans came to see me, but I feel like I’m going to fly.”

Manager Kim looked at me through the rearview mirror.

His warm eyes seemed to be trying to calm my trembling heart.

“The other actors’ cars are backed up in front, so we’ll go in a little slower.”

“Okay.”

Manager Kim turned his gaze forward.

I also turned my head and looked at the people outside the window again.

As the car moved forward a little, I could finally see the pickets that some people were holding.

I stuck my face to the window, strained my eyes, and looked at the pickets.

Their figures and letters are clearly visible, but they won’t be able to see me.

As I looked at the letters on the pickets, as expected.

Kang Chan-sung’s fans were overwhelmingly numerous.

There were so many phrases for him.

Some fans were even wearing T-shirts with Kang Chan-sung’s face on them.

Looking at that, I thought of Kang Chan-sung.

*Yeah.*

Originally, viewers wouldn’t know the personality of the actor.

They probably can’t even imagine that his appearance on TV is different from his real self.

Kang Chan-sung has so many fans who like him so much….

I shook my head at Kang Chan-sung’s personality that came to mind.

At that time, as I turned my gaze,

“…Oh!”

I saw a fan holding a picket with my name on it.

Manager Kim opened his mouth in surprise at my voice.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“I think I have a fan there too. They’re holding a picket with my name on it!”

I said to him in an excited voice.

Manager Kim smiled and replied.

“What does it say?”

“Jin Hee-sung… marry me. Haha.”

I burst out laughing as I read the letters on the picket.

“They want to marry you?”

“Yeah, that’s what it says.”

Manager Kim opened his mouth in surprise and replied as if joking.

“Wow, you got a bride. Congratulations.”

“I know. They say they want to marry me. It’s touching because they like me….”

Pointing to the pickets with his finger, he slowly began to read them.

The occasional mentions of me were enough to make my heart beat.

I was choked up by the fact that someone liked me.

“Ahem.”

At that time, I was loosening my throat and relieving my tension.

One picket in the distance caught my eye.

‘Kang Chan-sung X Jin Hee-sung SungSung Line♡’

‘SungSung Forever’

The picket had a large two-shot photo of me and Kang Chan-sung attached to it.

The surroundings were decorated with hearts.

The chemistry between Kang Chan-sung and me….

It’s so subtle.