Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 127

From Their Respective Planets (1)

*

The week the final episode of ‘ThugReg’ aired.

Friday night, expensive sports cars pull into the alleys of Sinsa-dong.

The underground parking lot is already full. A woman wearing sunglasses leaves her car with a valet near a building and heads inside.

Soon, a pair of dizzyingly high heels stop in front of an iron gate.

“I was told to come here, but is this the right place?”

“Yes. You can go in.”

With the front door locked, a guard standing at the back door lets the guests in.

Too many celebration parties can be a nuisance. They’ve earned enough, so there’s no reason to be stingy.

Instead of the agency building where they have to be mindful of others, they’ve rented out an entire lounge.

“Oh, sis!”

“Why are you so late, Hee-ju?”

“She said she’d be late today. She told me to get a picture with Park Geon if he’s still here, is he?”

“He’s here, but there are so many people… Anyway, he’s unbelievably handsome in person, different from the actors we usually see.”

The inside is truly a festival of beautiful men and women. A woman dressed to the nines takes a newly arrived acquaintance up the dark stairs.

On the first floor, a DJ plays music, the trendy beats just loud enough not to interfere with conversation.

Even in a party where acquaintances invite acquaintances, the ‘ThugReg’ members are the center of attention.

The protagonist’s younger brother, Park Seon, isn’t even wearing a suit, just jeans and a short-sleeved t-shirt, but he’s surrounded by celebrities and people in the industry.

“Hello, we met once before. In the JNBC hallway.”

A man with a bright smile hands Park Seon his business card. Looking at it, it says Kim Yong-soo PD [Production Director].

“Ah, you’re PD Kim! My brother is probably on the second floor.”

“No, I thought I should say hello to the manager today and congratulate you on your promotion to team leader.”

News travels fast in this industry. It hasn’t even been a few weeks since he was promoted to team leader, but congratulatory texts and calls are pouring in, making him feel overwhelmed.

“Thank you. I haven’t officially taken charge of other celebrities yet…”

Park Seon replied awkwardly, but the other party winks playfully.

“You don’t have to be in charge of someone to be a team leader; the position makes the person. By the way, are you interested in variety shows?”

“I’ll discuss it with my brother. The company is also considering it positively.”

“No, not Park Geon, but Manager Seon.”

“Yes… Yes?”

“We’ve heard rumors in the variety show department that you’re a blue chip. There’s a pilot show coming out soon about star families, especially managers. Please take a look at the plan later.”

Oh dear, Na Jong-mo is coming. As soon as the variety show PD muttered and disappeared, two women approached.

Watching his clumsy younger brother from a distance, Geon smiled faintly.

‘He’s so consistent. It’s about time he got used to the popularity.’

If he heard that, he would have protested that he was a professional, but Park Seon is still a cute younger brother.

To the actor brother, and to the regressed hero.

“Actor Park, hello! I’m Lee Soo-chang, I greeted you at Jun-sang hyung’s [older brother/friend] barbecue restaurant before… Do you happen to remember me?”

“Yes, thank you for coming.”

“No, I’m more grateful! If it’s not too much to ask, can I take a picture… no, two pictures!”

The handsome male actor takes several pictures and steps back, seemingly regretful.

If it weren’t impolite, he would ask for his underwear instead of a photo to use as an amulet.

‘I’ve got a strange image, especially since I played the role of a regressor.’

The Midas Touch.

Now everyone in the entertainment industry talks about that nickname.

The track record of turning every project he touches into a success, combined with Eun Han-seom’s regressor image, makes some people seriously ask if he’s living a second life.

In the public relations office the day after the final episode, Team Leader Gong Gi-hyung greeted him excitedly.

‘I can only express it as crazy. A movie in the Cannes competition, and dramas with 40% ratings in a row. In this industry, if Park Geon’s name comes up, people will line up ten times around Sangam-dong [area in Seoul with many broadcasting stations] to work with him.’

‘The viewership ratings were high even during General Baek-jeong’s time. It’s not exactly a bigger success.’

‘Actor Park, do you know the difference between 99 and 100?’

‘The number of letters?’

‘…No, it means that a one-tick difference determines whether it boils or not. The important thing is whether you succeed nine times and fail on the tenth, or whether you hit the jackpot every time.’

And the winning streak is ongoing.

“Actor Park!”

Turning around, he sees Yoonbal25 waving his hand. He was with a flamboyantly dressed woman.

Having rolled around in this industry, the automatically installed mask radar conveys its intuition. She doesn’t seem to be a celebrity… Did he bring an acquaintance?

“Hello.”

“Yes, it’s a huge hit! They’re giving me some kind of award for the revival of the publishing industry? They say it’s an award for people who write books. I’m going to Paju on Sunday to receive it.”

“Aren’t you a writer too, Writer Yoonbal25?”

Yoonbal25 blinked, then nodded as if that were the case.

“Oh… I guess so. By the way, congratulations to you too, Actor Park. I heard you’re going to Cannes?”

“I think so. The awards are a bit delayed this year, so I’ll be attending with the colleagues I filmed with.”

Yoonbal25 seemed to have already had a few glasses of champagne. Amazing, amazing! He repeatedly exclaimed with a hearty exclamation, then turned to the woman next to him.

“That’s right. This is a close younger sister. She’s been having a hard time lately, so I brought her along to cheer her up.”

“A hard time…?”

“Oh, no. Why are you saying that on such a good day?”

The startled younger sister stopped him, but Yoonbal25 stubbornly said what he had to say.

“This friend is a popular streamer, but she’s been stalked recently. It’s obvious that he’s a malicious fan, but she couldn’t catch him, so she’s been suffering for a while. I’m so angry at how the laws of Korea are so messed up.”

“Oppa [older brother], stop it! I’m sorry, he’s not good with alcohol, but he drank a lot…”

“Hey, when did I ever?”

“You chugged champagne as soon as you got here! It’s embarrassing, so come here. Quickly!”

While being dragged away by his sister, Yoonbal25 muttered about the stalking punishment law and how reality is more evil than web novels.

‘People are being stalked these days?’

As Geon was thinking, a familiar face appeared.

“Ms. Baek Ha-ni?”

“Did you see something you shouldn’t have? I don’t know why you’re making that face.”

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t come to places like this? After the General Baek-jeong wrap-up party.”

Baek Ha-ni, wearing an all-black jumpsuit with a silver chain belt, paused for a moment.

“…That was then, and everyone from the company is coming today. I have to show my face at times like this; it’s so hard to pretend to be reformed.”

“Reformed?”

Baek Ha-ni’s eyebrow furrowed.

“What, you don’t know?”

“I know what it means. Isn’t it rehabilitation?”

“…I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Baek Ha-ni sighed and suddenly looked around.

“By the way, did she leave already? All the faces I don’t want to see are here, but one is missing.”

“Faces you don’t want to see…?”

“Who else could it be, Jin Ji-yu.”

Come to think of it, even though congratulatory calls were pouring in, Jin Ji-yu’s side was quiet.

The person who would usually call… Has she been busy lately? He was about to brush it off, but Baek Ha-ni said in a strange tone.

“Well, she’s a pretty complicated kid too.”

*

At the Roman Entertainment headquarters,

The head of the division tilted his head as he entered the CEO’s office.

“Oh, what’s with the air purifier? I’ve never seen it before.”

CEO Noh Joong-man, who was sitting on the sofa, said.

“A gift. It came yesterday, so you wouldn’t have seen it.”

“Even a Hanjo Electronics… It’s an expensive model; did JNBC bribe you by sending actors?”

“They only called. Baek Ha-ni sent that, saying I shouldn’t die suddenly from fine dust.”

The sound of hearty laughter echoed through the CEO’s office. Lee Seong-cheol, the head of the division, barely stopped laughing and wiped away the tears that had welled up.

“Ha-ni has been acting strange lately. Is she trying to become a charity angel?”

“To you too?”

“Yes. A few days ago, a new nameplate and that, what do you call it, a two-million-won chair arrived. She said it was to replace the one I threw and broke last time.”

Baek Ha-ni has changed.

Not only is she not causing accidents, but she’s also extending a hand of reconciliation to those she once caused trouble for.

She sent a new nameplate and a famous brand chair to Lee Seong-cheol, the head of the division, and a hair loss shampoo and black hair spray to Yoo Joon-il, the manager.

The gifts were sent to the company, and Yoo Joon-il, who gleefully opened the package, had a confused expression, unsure whether to be angry or happy.

‘Ha… Is she messing with me? Is she trying to start a fight with me, huh?’

‘Just use it. You need it anyway, why are you pretending?’

‘No, Head of Division! My hair is just naturally thin!’

Those who are quick to notice know the timing of the change.

It must be after filming General Baek-jeong, that historical drama.

She’s completely fallen for Park Geon, Baek Ha-ni has finally come to her senses… Rumors were rampant, but none of them were revealed to be true.

Lee Seong-cheol, the head of the division, thinks so too. Baek Ha-ni is not a calculating person who would try to cover up her past misdeeds to look good to someone.

Rather, it’s closer to a natural change. Like a frozen waterfall slowly melting, and the snow piled up on the trees all winter being blown away by the warm breeze.

“They still seem to be on good terms. She seems to have gone to the wrap-up party this time too.”

“I see. She didn’t have much synergy with Shin-seung.”

As they are in the same agency, the main actors have many points of contact.

When she took a pictorial with Gu Shin-seung, they looked at each other like chickens and ducks… She was like cats and dogs with Choi Phillip, and she was always eager to fight with Jin Ji-yu.

CEO Noh stretched out his legs leisurely.

“It’s amazing when you look at it. She’s not particularly good at getting along with people, but people are always by her side.”

“Well… Isn’t it because of her leadership? She’s the type to be the main character wherever she goes.”

“No, she’s just taking the lead because she has to, because she’s used to taking on the dirty work herself.”

There is a clear difference between those who like to lead people and those who sacrifice themselves first.

Lee Seong-cheol, the head of the division, nodded and asked.

“CEO, is there any news from Ji-yu’s side?”

His voice is quite different from just now, subdued. Noh Joong-man’s expression also hardened.

“It’s still quiet. She made such a mess, so we’ll have to stick around and watch for a few more weeks.”

He doesn’t say it’s over.

Even Noh Joong-man himself has enemies everywhere.

Like DG, who took a hit, and the still-standing Joinus. Like Roman’s competitors, who are constantly looking for an opportunity, humans live with a powder keg that could explode at any moment.

“Keep an eye on her. The shock must be great, since she attacked again while under a restraining order.”

“How can I? You’re the one who brought Ji-yu to our company.”

“Does the person who brought her and the person she cares about have to be the same?”

Lee Seong-cheol, the head of the division, shrugged his shoulders.

Just the day before yesterday, an advertisement model proposal came from a high-end foreign car brand.

The protagonist is the youngest grandson of ‘ThugReg’, who recently replaced all of his family’s cars at once.

Two gazes are focused on the rookie who has become Roman’s main star, hanging in the last frame of the CEO’s office.

“Who knows, now that Mercedes has arrived, the old car might be thrown away.”

*

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