Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 100

The Million Dollar Actor – Episode 100 (100/199)

Celebration (2)

* * *

“What’s with all the people?”

The vocal trainer, waiting for the elevator on the basement floor where the practice rooms were located, asked, bewildered.

The colleague next to him replied with a dumbfounded expression.

“You don’t know? There’s a commotion upstairs right now.”

“How would I know? I’ve been so swamped with the kids that I haven’t even had time to eat.”

“It’s the ‘General Baek Jeong’ wrap party. They got permission from the CEO and rented out the entire lounge.”

The trainer snapped his fingers.

“Ah, that’s right. Today was the finale!”

Although the fields were different, it was a major project with two representative actors involved. ‘General Baek Jeong’ was the talk of the town, so most company employees knew about it.

“But why is everyone going up? Shouldn’t the ‘General Baek Jeong’ team be the only ones having a blast at their own party?”

“They invited everyone in the company to come, eat, and have fun. I heard the trainees went up in droves earlier to get autographs.”

That must be why the A&R [Artists and Repertoire] team people were going up in groups. The vocal trainer in the elevator nodded.

“As expected of Park Gun. He’s a true gentleman, following in Gu Shin-seung’s footsteps.”

“Kim, you should go too. You have to have a glass of champagne.”

“No, I’m already getting treated all the time, so it’d be a bit much to join in again.”

The colleague trainer’s expression was playful.

“Really? You might regret it?”

“What, why?”

“Up there, all sorts of people are gathered right now. Even actors who don’t show up for Quantum’s year-end party.”

*

The 4th-floor lounge had been transformed into a party venue.

Champagne corks popped everywhere, and the gifts that had been brought in were piled up.

Even before the final broadcast ended, ‘General Baek Jeong’ articles dominated the portals.

[Lee Cheon-in, 4 Months Running with ‘The Soul of Joseon’··· What He Left Behind]

[KBC “Get Out of the Way” CVN’s Dazzling Monopoly]

[Highest Viewership Rating 40.2%, First Among Other Program Channels··· Cable, Even Combining Terrestrial Channels, It’s Been Several Years]

[Jarmani Ambassador, Fake School Violence Controversy, Paris Fashion Week··· Park Gun’s ‘Accent’ on His Career]

[An Epic Poem Penetrating the Tragedy of the Era, General Baek Jeong Was Not an Ordinary Historical Drama]

“Ah, Mr. Kim, thank you. I’ll visit you soon and get in touch.”

“Tony Pictures? Yes, yes, but our actors’ schedules are a bit tight right now··· Let’s schedule a meeting slowly.”

“We’re in the middle of a wrap party right now. Filming? I’m sorry, but outside access is not allowed, so the PR team will pick out a few and deliver them to you.”

On the surface, it was just that the work had gone well, but everyone knew that Roman and C&J had completely crushed DG and Joinus.

The status of the victorious agency and broadcaster changes drastically. It’s also why team leaders and above are receiving congratulatory calls like crazy.

“Hey, Jung Na-yoon! Why are you here? Do you know how much work there is to do in the office right now······.”

“The team leader told me to eat and stay. He said the groundwork was already laid, and he’d handle any urgent responses himself, anyway?”

The PR [Public Relations] team’s female employee replied, sipping her non-alcoholic cocktail. Team Leader Gong volunteered to do the work of a hundred people, so even the PR staff had come down to enjoy the party.

“Writer Young, have a drink.”

“Drink moderately. I heard rumors that the director was acting up during the final shoot, and I was so embarrassed.”

“Ugh, that nagging is worse than my wife’s. That’s why I brought a non-alcoholic one.”

The writers, directors, and actors are all busy receiving overflowing glasses and a flood of congratulatory calls.

In particular, the lead actors’ phones are getting alarm bombs [constant notifications].

Black Order Priest Kahn Waiting Room: [Actor Park, congratulations! Kim Ryul is also crying and congratulating you!]

Lee Jang-mi: [Did you get a call, oppa? CEO Tae and Director Kim are with me right now, and these people are completely drunk and going crazy]

Seo Hee-do: [Hyung ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ You’ve really worked hard]

Hopeless Three Siblings: [Congratulations Park Gun! The best output from Kyungil High School ㄷㄷ]

Sung Ji-ho: [Ha.. I’m also Lee Cheon-in… My mom said it’s a place for adults and won’t let me go ㅜ]

Below that, there were messages from the staff and actors who had worked together for a long time. The rate at which new ones were coming was much faster than the rate at which they could be checked, so the number didn’t decrease.

Briefly replying to each one, Gun recalled this time last year.

‘It’s different from then.’

Before, even after the final episode of “Seoul’s Dog” aired, it wasn’t like this.

Broadcasting station officials called, asking how they knew his contact information, and a few advertising offers came in, but that’s different from congratulations.

‘There are more contacts in my phone book now······.’

His phone book, which used to only contain family members except for old classmates Seo Seung-ah and Bae Young-ho, now goes on endlessly.

The realization that this is not the Iron Kingdom comes suddenly at times like this. With countless people remaining by his side, without regression or death.

Wasn’t this the wish he had been hoping for while endlessly regressing?

“Oh, it’s Puffing Dolls!”

“Quantum came too, tearing up Sangam and making a comeback!”

At that moment, the entrance to the lounge became noisy, and cheers erupted.

Quantum, who had been defending first place on other broadcasts for a while, and Puffing Dolls, who took first place on today’s MBS music broadcast, appeared together.

“Jiyu unnie······!”

“Congratulations, I knew it would be a double celebration.”

“Congratulations to you too, seniors!”

“Today is legendary, legendary. How can you have both an actor team and an idol team hit it big?”

With cheerful exclamations, sparkling stage costumes blended into the party venue.

One member who was close to her was already hugging Jin Jiyu and sharing her joy. Gun quickly muttered to himself.

‘Quantum’s platinum blonde is Jang Yeo-bin, Puffing Dolls’ long hair is Shin Chae-yi··· Last year’s awards ceremony special stage was Puffing Dolls······.’

Even before he could check his memory, idols quickly surrounded him. Glancing to the side, managers were also crowding around Park Sun-hye.

The leaders of the two teams, platinum blonde and black hair, bowed powerfully.

“Congratulations, seniors!”

“Unnie, you have to say ‘actor-nim.’ He said he doesn’t like being called ‘senior.'”

“Ah, that’s right. I’m sorry, actor-nim!”

Puffing Dolls’ Shin Chae-yi poked her in the side, and Quantum’s Jang Yeo-bin quickly apologized. Perhaps because they were from the same agency, the two teams seemed quite close.

“It’s okay. More than that, congratulations on your consecutive number one wins on the music broadcasts. Sun-hye showed me, so I watched the stage and voted.”

“R-really······?”

“Kyaa! The actor-nim watched our stage!”

“Oh, I have to contact Si-woo and brag. Can I get an autograph······.”

As expected of idols, their tension is basically high. The ‘General Baek Jeong’ staff are also watching him, surrounded by the company’s idols, with smiles.

‘Come to think of it, I was too preoccupied with the school violence rumors back then.’

Back then, everyone looked tearful, but today they are just ordinary girls of the same age. The youngest-looking member among the surrounding girls suddenly spoke.

“Please watch So-jin unnie’s acting later too! The lesson teacher praised her, so she’s been riding high lately, but she needs to be told off!”

“What are you saying to the actor-nim, you idiot!”

“···I’m sorry, the youngest is still young······.”

“I’ll watch it later.”

“Y-yes······?”

Shin Chae-yi, the black-haired girl who greeted them at the ‘Seoul’s Dog’ awards ceremony, asked back with a blank expression.

“I’m not very good either, but if I can be of help.”

“U, ugh······.”

“Unnie! Don’t cry, your makeup will come off again!”

···They are truly a group with clear emotional expression. As if accustomed to the leader’s care, the members rush over and take Shin Chae-yi, who is sobbing, away.

“I’ll greet you again! We are I Love It, Quantum!”

“Yes, I am Park Gun.”

After the idols flocked to another place, this time a tall man approached.

It was Gu Shin-seung, who had arrived earlier and already finished one autograph session.

“Congratulations, Actor Park.”

“Thanks to the snack truck and coffee truck you sent, we were able to finish well. But you’re not Gu Clan’s Young Master today.”

Gu Shin-seung pretended not to hear and raised his champagne glass. The clear liquid flowed down his long neck.

“Did you, perhaps, hear from Jiyu?”

“No. I haven’t heard any details.”

“I was wondering if you had decided on your next project. There’s something I’m watching these days, and I’ve become completely engrossed in it. I thought it would be a lot of fun if the three of us went out together.”

He’s someone who reads and watches all sorts of works, from martial arts novels to fantasy, so who knows what he’s brought this time. Gun chose an appropriate answer.

“Now that the drama is over, I was thinking of resting and choosing. If you send me the scenario······.”

“Ah, it’s not a scenario.”

“Yes?”

Come to think of it, he said ‘the three of us’ just now. Gu Shin-seung, who was rolling his eyes, quickly muttered.

“There, the team leader is coming. I think I’ll get scolded for bothering the actor-nim again, so I’ll contact you separately for more details.”

Come to think of it, Team Leader Yang has been glaring at this side with a fierce look in his eyes since earlier.

It must be difficult to monitor the actor so that he doesn’t cause an accident. Thinking this, Gun greeted him briefly.

“Yes. Thank you in many ways.”

“You’re welcome, I’m the one trying to seduce you. I’m worried that I started the bribery offensive too late.”

Gu Shin-seung smiled and was about to turn around when he stopped.

“Ah··· That’s right, did you see him on your way here?”

“Who······.”

As Gun asked back, the surroundings suddenly became quiet. Gu Shin-seung, who turned around, also raised one eyebrow and stepped back.

Soon, the people holding glasses parted to the left and right, clearing a path.

CEO Noh Joong-man, who had crossed the lounge with the head of the headquarters following behind, extended his right hand.

“We were right back then.”

The Korean restaurant from a year ago suddenly flashed through his mind. Gripping the thick hand, Gun smiled faintly.

“It was a good choice, for both of us.”

*

Roman Entertainment, 14th floor, CEO’s office.

Steam rises from the teacup on the marble table. CEO Noh Joong-man, who only showed his face at the party downstairs, was receiving another guest.

“Why, didn’t you go down to the lower floor?”

The person sitting in front of him is one of the two main players of ‘General Baek Jeong.’ Baek Ha-ni grimaced in disgust.

“Why would I go there? Don’t even tell them I came, because there are a lot of faces I don’t want to see.”

“Actor Park would be happy to see you.”

“···The wrap party is over, so it doesn’t matter. If he’s sad, he’ll buy me a drink separately.”

Her tone is the same, but the atmosphere is completely different. Noh Joong-man watched her with an interested look.

‘What happened?’

The annoyance, weariness, and contempt that were always on her face had melted away by several layers. As if she had removed the broadcast makeup that had been piled up in dozens of layers.

Since the first time they formed a relationship··· Had he ever seen Baek Ha-ni this close to her bare face?

“Anyway··· You wouldn’t have come without a reason. If you have something to say, say it.”

“Jin Jiyu.”

An unexpected name comes out. Baek Ha-ni spoke casually, as if asking about the conditions for her next project.

“Is there something going on with Park Gun? Are they dating, and the CEO is using the PR team to shut everyone up?”

“It seems like it’s the first time I’ve heard you talk about someone else.”

“It’s because of the advertisement. If the actor I acted with immediately gets caught up in dating rumors, my value will drop.”

Advertising and value, the actor in front of him had entrusted everything to the company and never paid any attention to it··· But there’s no need to poke a dormant bomb.

Instead of pointing it out, he crossed his arms.

“Well, why don’t you ask him yourself if you’re curious.”

“He’ll mistake it for interest. Then it’ll become annoying every time I see him, and I’ll get annoyed.”

“Actor Park? Even if the entertainment industry turns upside down, it doesn’t seem like that would happen.”

“You never know people’s hearts. Don’t you know even after being betrayed like that?”

Baek Ha-ni, who retorted sharply, looked at her watch. Whether she had achieved her purpose, her intention to get up and leave was emanating from her whole body.

“Try to renew your contract well. You have a specialty, CEO, grabbing them at the bottom and not letting go.”

“It’s not like they won’t leave just because I don’t let go.”

“Then what, get taken away by someone else. That guy Jin Gyu-il seems like he’s going to pull out the company’s foundation.”

“Baek Ha-ni. As you know, money isn’t everything.”

Baek Ha-ni got up without even pretending to listen. As always when she had business at the company, she had come alone without a manager.

It was when she was about to leave the CEO’s office. CEO Noh’s voice, filled with laughter, flew out.

“It’s almost time for contract renewal, so tell him not to go. If there are good colleagues, you never know.”

*

The party continued past midnight.

Not only the teams that were working overtime, but even Choi Phillip, who had finished filming, came over, so people kept coming and going.

Since this kind of double celebration is rare even within the agency, an unofficial outing was held.

Gun clashed glasses with another representative actor on one side of the lounge.

“Shin-seung hyung [older brother/male friend] said that?”

“Yes. He said he would send something, but I was wondering if Choi Phillip also knew anything, so I asked.”

He asked, wondering if it was about the word ‘three,’ but this side also seemed to be hearing it for the first time.

Choi Phillip poured champagne and shrugged.

“I don’t know. It’s faster to just ask him directly, but he always disappears at times like this.”

“That’s what I’m saying. He didn’t even use that strange tone today.”

“Oh, really? Then that hyung is doing business··· Did he suddenly want to film something together, is he trying to ride Park Gun’s coattails even now?”

At that moment, his cell phone rang. Not a text or messenger that had been switched to silent, but a vibration.

[Kyungil High School Jin Gyu-il]

After asking Choi Phillip for his understanding and answering the phone, a familiar voice flowed out.

-Congratulations. It seems like you’re in the middle of a wrap party, is it okay if we meet up briefly after it’s over?

* * *