An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 95

95. #19 – There’s No Set Answer (3)

Seo In-woo.

The actor I recently worked with on a drama.

He played a supporting role in the drama we filmed together, and it was a success.

Since then, we’ve exchanged greetings occasionally.

But lately, we’ve both been so busy that we haven’t been in touch much.

I never expected Seo In-woo to be in this drama.

My eyes met his in the distance.

He smiled brightly and waved.

Thanks to a temporary break in filming, Seo In-woo noticed me and quickly walked over.

“Heesung, sunbae [senior/older colleague]!”

“Wow, In-woo, it’s been a while.”

We greeted each other warmly, happy to see each other after so long.

He bowed politely to Manager Kim, who was standing next to me.

“It’s been a while, Manager Kim. How have you been?”

“I’m doing well.”

Seo In-woo turned to me and asked.

“But what brings Heesung, sunbae, here?”

“I came to spy on you and see if you’re doing a good job. Haha.”

He chuckled at my joke, playfully tapped my shoulder, and replied.

“Come on, you didn’t even know I was in this. Haha.”

“Actually, I also came to see and support Sanghyun, sunbae, and to have a look around.”

Seo In-woo gave a thumbs up.

“As expected, successful actors all know each other.”

“No, it’s just because we’re in the same company. And only sunbae is successful, not me.”

He waved his hand.

“Our Heesung, sunbae, is doing great these days too. The rumors are everywhere.”

Just then, a staff member shouted at Seo In-woo from afar.

“In-woo, we’re ready to film!”

“Ah, yes!”

I patted Seo In-woo’s shoulder and said.

“In-woo, go film. Let’s catch up separately next time.”

“Sounds good. I’ll contact you.”

He waved to me and ran to the set.

A moment later, Seo In-woo’s acting began.

I focused on his performance from a distance.

‘In-woo… his acting has improved.’

As I was watching Seo In-woo intently.

Manager Kim whispered in my ear.

“Heesung, keep watching. I’m going to visit the other managers.”

“Okay, take your time.”

After Manager Kim left, I furrowed my brow again and focused on the chemistry between Seo In-woo and his co-star.

Several more takes followed.

Seo In-woo’s acting was natural, as if he had found his stride.

However, the supporting actor’s repeated mistakes caused NG [no good/take again] after NG.

Despite this, Seo In-woo remained unfazed and maintained his composure.

I became tense and held my breath, completely absorbed in Seo In-woo’s performance.

Just then, a hand gently rested on my shoulder.

“Heesung, are you watching closely?”

I was so focused that I didn’t even notice Manager Kim approaching, and I flinched in surprise.

He was standing next to me with a manager he knew.

“Oh?! I was so focused on In-woo that I didn’t even see you coming, hyung [older brother/male friend].”

I greeted the manager next to Manager Kim.

“Hello.”

“Yes, Heesung.”

He smirked, raising one eyebrow as he spoke to me.

“But you’re very popular, Heesung.”

I tilted my head at his words.

“Excuse me?”

“There’s someone over there who seems to be a supporting actor… she keeps looking at you.”

As soon as the manager finished speaking, I followed his gaze.

The person looking at me was…

Han So-jeong.

My eyes widened.

I quickly turned to Manager Kim and said.

“Hyung, I’ll be right back.”

Manager Kim smiled and nodded.

He seemed to recognize Han So-jeong as well.

“Okay, go ahead.”

I quickly approached Han So-jeong, and she greeted me with wide eyes.

“So-jeong!”

“Wow, it really is Heesung. I saw you from afar and wasn’t sure if it was really you.”

“Haha, is that so?”

She blinked repeatedly and nodded.

“So-jeong, you’re filming this drama too.”

Han So-jeong slowly shook her head at my words.

“Yes, I’m still appearing in a minor role. But I’m still working steadily.”

“Why? What’s wrong with minor roles? You grow one step at a time, starting with minor roles.”

She forced a smile.

I continued to speak to her.

“Besides, So-jeong, you’re such a good actress.”

A smile spread across Han So-jeong’s face at my words.

I first met Han So-jeong as my co-star in a one-act play.

Since then, I’ve grown from a supporting role to a leading role.

She has remained a minor actress since that one-act play.

I felt like we were growing together, so I was interested in her progress.

Moreover, she is a talented actress, so I always cheered her on.

However, her words that she was still a minor actress had a hint of bitterness.

Han So-jeong clapped her hands and said to me.

“Is this the first time we’ve seen each other since our ‘Entertainment Extra’ project?”

I quickly nodded at her question, trying to change the subject.

“That’s right. I haven’t seen you since then, except for phone calls.”

Han So-jeong kept looking around while talking to me.

I cautiously asked Han So-jeong about her behavior.

“But did you lose something?”

“Ah, the staff said they put the drama t-shirts out, but I can’t seem to find mine… I’m trying to find it quickly.”

She started rummaging through the chairs and props on the floor.

“Ah… I’ll help you too.”

I moved to follow her.

“Did it fall behind this chair?”

Just as I was lifting the large chair behind her.

“Oh my, Heesung!”

A staff member approached me, clapping her hands and speaking.

“Yes, hello.”

“I heard you came earlier, so I came to see you. I’m a fan.”

She shook my hand with a bright smile.

I smiled back, taking her hand.

“Haha, thank you.”

“But did you lose something?”

She looked around me and asked.

I pointed to Han So-jeong, who was bent over looking for something, and replied.

“Ah, Han So-jeong said she didn’t receive her drama t-shirt. I thought the staff might have dropped it while putting them out, so I was helping her look for it.”

At my words, she clapped her hands repeatedly and said.

“Oh my, you should have said something. I’ll get it for you right away.”

She shouted to the staff next to her.

“Bring the t-shirts and items here quickly!”

And she immediately handed Han So-jeong a pile of t-shirts and items.

Han So-jeong, who received the items, looked at me with a faint smile.

“Heesung, thank you for your help.”

“No, I didn’t do anything.”

“Still, thanks to you, it seems like they gave me more items than I was supposed to receive….”

Han So-jeong smiled and began to gather her belongings.

***

“Heesung, are you going straight home?”

As soon as I got into the car and started the engine, Manager Kim asked me.

“Yeah, I have to go straight home.”

“Okay. I’ll get going.”

The car carrying me began to leave the set.

I said to Manager Kim, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.

“Hyung, thank you for bringing me today. I learned a lot thanks to you.”

At my words, Manager Kim looked at me in the rearview mirror and replied.

“Come on, no need to thank me. Let’s visit other film sets like this from time to time. There’s a lot to learn, and it’ll be good.”

“Sounds good.”

Buzz.

At that moment, my cell phone vibrated in my pocket.

[Caller: Choi Seobin, sunbae]

“Oh?”

As soon as I checked the caller, I straightened up.

After clearing my throat, I pressed the answer button.

“Hello?”

-Oh, Heesung. Can you talk?

“Yes, of course.”

-What are you doing?

“My schedule is over for today, so I’m about to go home. What about you, sunbae?”

-That’s good. Then, shall we meet up now and have a drink?

At Choi Seobin’s suggestion for drinks, I immediately opened my mouth without hesitation.

“Sounds great. Where should I go?”

***

A neighborhood bar near Choi Seobin’s house.

It was a place he frequented, so a quiet and private room at the back of the bar was reserved.

As soon as the employee saw my face, they guided me inside.

When I opened the door, Choi Seobin was sitting at the table, waving his hand to greet me.

“Sunbae!”

“It’s been a while, Heesung.”

I bowed politely to him.

“How have you been, sunbae?”

“Haha, yeah. Why are you greeting me so formally all of a sudden?”

He waved his hand in the air and pointed to the seat with his chin.

“Come on, I have to greet sunbae like this at least.”

He laughed heartily at my jest and immediately poured a drink.

“How have you been?”

“Yes, I’ve been looking for my next project. What about you, sunbae?”

I took the bottle from his hand, filled his empty glass, and asked.

“I’m preparing to start filming a drama soon.”

“Wow, didn’t you just take a break, sunbae?”

Contrary to my expectations that Choi Seobin would rest for a while after filming the movie with me.

He was preparing to return without taking a long break.

“This is a long break. What’s the point of taking a long break?”

“Haha, you’re really amazing.”

The Choi Seobin I know has been running without a break for a long time.

At most, he would take a few months of rest after finishing a project.

And then he would immediately return to his next project.

Well… that’s how he was able to reach the top star position.

He held up the full glass in the air.

After our overflowing first glasses clinked together, the cold liquid went down my esophagus.

As the glasses clinked several times and the topic of greetings came to an end.

Clunk.

Choi Seobin poured the liquor into his mouth, put the empty glass on the table, and looked at me.

“So, are you in the process of choosing your next project?”

“…Yes.”

At my words, he tilted his head.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

What’s wrong….

There was one thing I was struggling with alone.

It was a concern about the next project, and I thought I should tell Choi Seobin about it to get his advice.

“Sunbae, I actually have a concern.”

He looked at my serious face and nodded with an equally serious expression.

“What is it?”

“I played the lead role in my recent project.”

“You did.”

Contrary to his serious face, he replied casually.

“But there’s a project I want to do this time, but they say I have to go in as a supporting role.”

At my words, Choi Seobin stuck out his lower lip and slowly nodded.

I frowned at him and continued.

“I’ve just started playing lead roles, but going back to a supporting role… it’s not as easy to decide as I thought.”

Choi Seobin was still listening to me and took a sip of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor].

“I’m so worried about whether it’s okay to go back to a supporting role, or whether the path to becoming a lead role again will become more distant.”

Only after pouring out my worries to him did I pour the glass in front of me into my mouth.

Kkeueu.

After fully feeling the bitter alcohol going down my esophagus.

When I put the glass on the table, Choi Seobin, who had been staring at me, opened his mouth with a gentle face.

“What about the project?”

“Yes?”

A short answer in return.

No, I tilted my head at the short question.

Unlike my surprised face, Choi Seobin asked me with a more nonchalant expression than anyone else.

“I’m asking what the project is like.”

“Ah….”

To me, who was hesitating at the crossroads of lead and supporting roles, Choi Seobin’s question made me feel embarrassed.

He shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth again as if it were nothing.

“If the project is good, go in, and if not, don’t go in.”

Choi Seobin’s words made my head feel dizzy as if I had been hit in the back of the head.

It was such an unexpected answer.

Who is the director of that project, what is his level?

Or is the appearance fee or the color you can show as an actor okay?

Will you be able to go to the lead role after that project, etc.

Instead of the kind of things I had been worrying and thinking about for a long time, he just asked what the project was like.

The bitter alcohol I drank a little while ago was not absorbed into my body, but rather made my mind clearer.

And after swallowing a dry saliva, I looked at him and opened my mouth.

“The project is good.”

“Then what are you worried about? You have to do it.”

“…….”

Even Choi Seobin’s successive answers came as a fresh shock to me.

As if he had read my mind, Choi Seobin slowly closed and opened his eyes and said.

“If Heesung, you were an established actor, I would honestly tell you to think about it.”

I nodded at his words.

“But you’re a rookie. You’ve just started to make a name for yourself, and it’s a time to build your filmography. In that case, you have to do it unconditionally if the project is good.”

I listened intently with a straight posture to engrave his words without blinking an eye.

Choi Seobin also continued to advise me in a serious manner.

“If you think it’s a good project, you have to do it. You learn a lot while working on a project.”

I put my lips in and shook my head violently.

Choi Seobin asked me.

“But what kind of project is it?”

“It’s Director Kang Junsu’s ‘Survivor of the Destroyed World’. Have you heard of it?”

Before I could finish speaking, Choi Seobin raised his eyebrows.

“Ah, I read that too.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah, I read all the scripts that come out.”

At his words, I opened my mouth wide and exclaimed.

If he were in Choi Seobin’s position as a top star, he wouldn’t have to bother looking for and reading the script.

It means that casting offers are pouring in for him on their own.

However, the fact that he finds and reads all the scripts that come out first was admirable.

It seemed to prove that you can’t just get the title of ‘top star’ just because you have a long career and have done many projects.

The fact that he continues to make such efforts even at that level was a great stimulus to me, a junior.

At that time, I was sending him a look of admiration.

Choi Seobin poured the liquor into his mouth, looked into my eyes, and opened his mouth.

“Anyway, what I want to say is that if the project is good, you have to do it regardless of whether it’s a lead or supporting role.”

I nodded my head and filled his empty glass.

Choi Seobin continued with a sincere look in his eyes.

“Whether it’s a success or a failure, if the project is good, you’ll be able to learn a lot.”

“…Thank you, sunbae.”