Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 106

The Thug and the Firefighter (2)

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“Hmm hmm, eu-hmm hmm hmm······.”

Park Yeol-ho was thrilled these days.

He was so thrilled that he could raise his original key by two notes.

Old pop songs flowed from the open window as he drove to work in his new car.

-Spring days, did you come like waves… You came back holding my youth······.

He couldn’t help but be excited. As a parent raising children, how could he not be dancing when both of his sons had grown up and achieved great success?

‘To think that my children are recognized when they go outside, I couldn’t have asked for a better blessing as a parent.’ He would have been happy if they had just grown up healthy… but the older one became Korea’s best actor, and the younger one became a manager as famous as his brother.

Good things come all at once.

Although the house and car were nice, the most rewarding news was separate. After a long hiatus, he finally got to commute to a university on the outskirts of Seoul.

After several trial lectures, the school officials praised him effusively.

‘Professor Park, as expected, you have a different level of detail because you come from the field. The students’ reactions are also very good.’

‘You flatter me.’

‘Oh, I’m serious. We’re honored to have you now. I see you’ve been in education since you retired.’

He just smiled.

Having one hand missing narrows the range of movement more than you think. It’s difficult to do physical work such as restaurant chores, as well as being a designated driver or taxi driver.

He felt empty when he couldn’t get a job at a transportation company even after getting his disabled driver’s license again, completing a driver aptitude test, and even wearing an assistive device.

‘I can’t help it. They’ll think a one-armed driver isn’t safe.’

That’s right. Living as a firefighter for half his life… hadn’t he encountered human fear countless times?

Whether it was someone else’s or his own.

“···We have now looked at the differences between flaming combustion and smoldering combustion. Flaming combustion is divided into luminous combustion and surface fire, and smoldering combustion is divided into flameless combustion and surface combustion and deep-seated fire······.”

Today’s second class.

The students of the Department of Fire and Disaster Prevention, gathered in room 102 of the Muyeong Hall lecture building, perked up their ears.

In front of the blackboard, Park Yeol-ho in a gray suit with a loose end of one sleeve turns the slide.

“Therefore, smoldering combustion can develop into flaming combustion depending on the conditions. It is difficult to detect and has a high probability of re-ignition after a long period of latency.”

When explaining the classification of fire, someone enters through the back door of the lecture room.

A late student? Park Yeol-ho, who was conducting the class, widened his eyes slightly.

The lecture room is dark, but the slide light is enough to recognize the familiar silhouette.

‘Why is that guy here······.’

After a while, when the class is over and the students leave, the latecomer quietly gets up.

Jeans and a denim shirt. Park Geon, dressed as if he had jumped out of a university magazine cover, smiled brightly.

“I enjoyed the class, Professor.”

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A father and son walk side by side on a promenade overlooked by lush greenery.

“Hello, Professor!”

“Yes. Have you had lunch?”

“Yes, I just came out after eating.”

The back road of Muyeong Hall is deserted. A few students who pass by greet him, but only glance at the tall man wearing sunglasses.

They can’t imagine that Chungmuro’s [Korean Hollywood] top star would be here.

“What’s going on? Without Seon-i.”

“Seon-i has a meeting. She’s been doing so well lately that she’s about to take on another actor soon.”

As they approached the outskirts of the campus, Park Geon took off his sunglasses. Park Yeol-ho nodded with satisfaction.

“That girl is smart. People who see her for the first time think she’s weak, but there are few guys as strong as your brother.”

“He always made concessions because of me. I’m glad he’s being recognized now.”

Park Geon tilted his head. The sunlight gathered on his brow bone and flowed down his cheek.

“I thought it would have been better if I had come back a little earlier······.”

“Where, to the army?”

The answer came a little late.

“Whether it’s the military or somewhere else. Then my father would be much more······.”

“Don’t think like that, what’s meant to happen will happen.”

“Father.”

“I knew I wouldn’t be able to go on calls until my retirement. I would have retired someday.”

Park Geon’s gaze rested on the empty sleeve.

The hand that was burned and severed, that right hand remained a scar that could not be erased from their family.

···It’s a terrible sense of debt.

The lost hand and damaged respiratory system, the aftereffects of fighting the fire, do not fully return. If it hadn’t been for his wife, he would have had a hard time overcoming it.

“Geon-ah, you heard it in class earlier. Firefighters always have to be prepared. There are many officers who retired with worse injuries than me.”

That’s also the reason why their family changed. Instead of the taciturn eldest son and the father who lost his hand, the rest of the family consciously became brighter.

There’s a reason for the fool for a husband, the nagging wife, and the youngest who still speaks informally.

Instead of answering, Park Geon suddenly said.

“Dad, I’m filming a documentary.”

Park Yeol-ho was more surprised by the first word. It was the eldest son who had been calling him father since before entering high school. Did he get influenced by hanging out with his younger brother?

“I thought it was a drama, did it change in the meantime?”

“That’s JNBC, the new documentary is EBC. It looks like it’s going to be a mockumentary about firefighters for the 65th anniversary of Firefighting Day.”

“It’s a long way until November, isn’t it?”

“Does fire only happen in winter, or what.”

After being discharged from the military, his strange way of speaking became more like his peers.

‘I heard there are a lot of idols and actors around him, so he must have been positively influenced.’

Although deep down is a common trait of his sons, Park Geon matured too quickly.

Isn’t he the spitting image of his eldest son’s integrity? He was also concerned about his son’s high school days when he couldn’t fight against injustice.

Thanks to the grandson of Changjin Group, that district councilor’s son paid the price late, but······.

“···D, Dad, come visit the set sometime.”

Park Yeol-ho paused and woke up from his thoughts. It was because he heard something he had never heard before.

“Huh? You mean the filming set?”

“Yes. You can come and give acting advice or feedback. No matter how well an amateur imitates it, they can’t do as well as a former fire chief.”

The son now invites his father into his world.

*

“Hey, the announcement is up!”

The Department of Theater and Film’s student lounge at Hanyae University.

Upperclassmen put their heads together in front of a laptop with the announcement.

“The Thug’s Return? Is the casting list out too?”

“Is she still half asleep? It’s been official for a while that the Roman 3 [Three famous actors with the last name ‘Roman’ – a play on words] are confirmed.”

“Crazy, all three of them are acting geniuses!”

A female student put her hands together as if praying. She was in the middle of going to auditions at various agencies.

“Just looking at their faces… no, their acting will help. I wish even one of them would come to the audition.”

“Stop it, you’ll have a mental breakdown and won’t be able to say a word.”

The audition date was released.

Next Monday, Studio 3 at the JNBC headquarters.

Of course, there are no leading roles on the cast list.

Park Geon, who had camera tests every time, was a special case, and even for a 10-minute web drama, the leading roles are decided under the surface.

By the influence of broadcasting stations, investment companies, agencies, writers, and highly paid actors.

“So, how are you planning to build the team?”

The rooftop smoking area. CP [Chief Producer] Yoon Je-geol, who lit a cigarette, held out a lighter.

PD [Production Director] Na Jong-mo shakes his head. Before starting a new project, he switched back to e-cigarettes.

“The original author doesn’t have any direction either. I’ll bring in solid supporting actors and actresses, and then pick the ones who are good at it, depending on my budget.”

“What about the female writer?”

“She told me to do whatever I want. She said she has a lot of scripts in the works, so don’t ask her about everything.”

“Oh my, she makes her subordinates do everything and is so fussy… I’m glad she doesn’t interfere.”

This is welcome from the production team’s point of view.

After working with an original author who makes a fuss after selling the work, and a writer who interferes with casting under the guise of adaptation, the hair that used to be fine falls out in droves.

“I’ll go in with you that day, so pick well. The director told me to push Na Jong-mo hard.”

“Hmm, I’m a little worried if my senior comes.”

“I’m not going to take your rice bowl, you son of a bitch!”

It’s a drama planned for 16 episodes. There are many characters as there are many episodes, and even if you exclude the Eun brothers and the chairman, there are plenty of leading supporting roles.

While the actors were practicing fiercely, casting scenarios flew here and there.

“The Thug’s Regressor Returns? Puhit, what’s with the title?”

A waiting room for a commercial shoot. Actress Choi Yang-yeong, who was busy with overseas direct purchases on her tablet PC, burst out laughing as soon as she saw the cover.

The manager scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“Web novels are all like this these days. This title is normal compared to the others.”

“Still, it’s so funny. If it came out while I was changing channels, I’d be curious and watch it.”

“The title is funny, but the content is good. It’s the drama that all three Roman male actors are in, and it looks like JNBC is going to push it quite a bit.”

Today’s advertising concept is also ‘seduction’. With a long eyeliner and cheek touch on the eyes instead of the cheeks, it added a seductive image.

Choi Yang-yeong, who was reading a few pages, frowned.

“What, another bad girl? If I play a villain again this time, I’ll get hit with eggs at the sauna······.”

“You’ve been hit with eggs since your debut. By a grandmother who was eating at Gwangjang Market [famous traditional market in Seoul].”

“Oppa [term used by a younger woman to address an older brother or male friend], if you only say the right things, this will fall off. Like an apple.”

Long fingers brush the manager’s neck. It’s a joke that’s not sincere, but even a casual movement drips with provocative charm.

It’s not for nothing that she has nicknames such as Villain Number One and the entertainment industry’s top vixen.

“If my neck falls off, Choi-yeong will be uncomfortable.”

In the play, she’s the worst villain in the world, but the actual actress’s personality is somewhat different. The manager, who knows her well, asked in a subtle voice.

“So, are you going to do it? The CEO also got you a Zero Pictures movie a few days ago.”

“Heueung··· What should I do? I can’t do both works, can I?”

“Then you’ll get hit by Park Geon.”

The moment the manager chuckled, the eyes that were quickly scanning the script shone like a cat.

“Okay, then it’s decided!”

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“Did it come to you too?”

Meanwhile, Chungcheongnam-do, far from Seoul.

The script also flies to a waterfront bungalow where the hot sun is blazing.

Was he in his 60s… Three men with white hair sat side by side, casting their fishing rods.

“It didn’t come to me. It means Seok Pil-ho rather than Baek Jang-hyeop, PD Na originally has no blood or tears.”

A stubborn-looking man sitting next to veteran actor Baek Jang-hyeop smiled loosely.

“I don’t know if it’s a compliment or a dig.”

“Are you digging?”

“It’s a word that young people use these days. It means teasing while pretending not to.”

“···Act your age, you sexagenarian.”

Seok Pil-ho, a ‘Chairman’ specialist actor.

He is a veteran who has played the role of a chaebol chairman dozens of times in dramas, movies, and plays.

Next to him, director Kim In-ryong laughs heartily. The master, who has been to Cannes three times, and the two veteran actors are enjoying their old friendship for the first time in a while.

“Everyone our age knows that Seok Pil-ho lives young. Are you going to rejuvenate this time too?”

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t given an answer yet.”

“Shoot together if possible. I told you, that friend Park Geon is a real find. Come and learn some serious taste from a junior who is far behind you.”

A faint smile appeared on Seok Pil-ho’s lips.

“Old man Baek’s praise is endless. Talk about your wife like that.”

“Heo, that’s not what I want to hear from Chairman Seok. Who is the wandering playboy preaching to······.”

At that time, the fishing rod held by Seok Pil-ho waved greatly up and down.

“Oh, it bit!”

“Pull it slowly, it’s a huge one!”

As people who enjoy fishing more than golf, boyish shouts rise from both sides.

Under the exposed short sleeves, blood vessels stand out on the forearms that are hard to believe are in their 60s. Soon, when Seok Pil-ho grabs the fishing rod, a large rockfish swims through the air, scattering light.

“Wow, that’s a real whopper.”

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