Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 137

Former Hero is a Trillionaire Actor – Episode 137

Cannes International Film Festival (4)

* * *

“Eunbi, aren’t you having lunch?”

“I’m okay. I have a lot to do.”

The team leader, heading out with a mini fan, spoke with a peculiar expression.

“Wow, it’s rare to see Director Chae skip a meal.”

Chae Eun-bi, the director of FOGUE, replied without taking her eyes off the monitor.

“We have an interview today. I need to prepare.”

“That’s true… but you’re incredibly diligent. Anyone would think you’re preparing for a speech.”

You can tell her passion just by looking at the mountain of materials piled around Chae Eun-bi’s desk.

Moreover, the interview is at 5 PM. It’s only noon, but she’s already bustling about.

The editor-in-chief, who came with her, chuckled and chimed in.

“Team Leader Kang, why are you picking on Eunbi? Our ace is making a rare appearance.”

“That’s right. Well, I’ll buy you a burger on the way back. Anything you want to eat?”

“A Big Mac set. And a milkshake for the drink.”

Magazine, FOGUE.

Just last year, FOGUE was a small fashion magazine, but now it has grown into a popular interviewer of celebrities.

At the center of it all was the interview Park Geon did after ‘Black Priest’.

Chae Eun-bi reminisced about those days for a moment.

‘It all felt like a dream back then.’

The director’s cut of the filming site uploaded to YouTube was a huge hit, and the monthly issue also broke the record for the number of copies sold, turning the month upside down.

The video, which received a tremendous number of comments, likes, and views, boasts overwhelming records even on FOGUE’s own YouTube channel.

‘Things went well after that too. The ranking of noteworthy fashion magazines jumped at once… and it became easier to get interviews as we were exposed to algorithms here and there.’

Of course, many connections overlapped, but it is an undeniable fact that Park Geon’s influence was significant.

That’s why she had been preparing for days. Now a veritable world star, Park Geon had once again promised an interview with their magazine.

-Ah, Editor! We seem to be arriving a bit early! Take your time, we’ll be waiting!

Despite winning two awards in the Cannes competition, these brothers haven’t changed.

Exactly five minutes after the manager’s younger brother called, the stars of Cannes appeared before the ‘FOGUE’ team, who had come early to wait.

The location booked today was a flower cafe.

Chae Eun-bi and the staff handed over the bouquets they had prepared, cheering.

“Hello, Actor!”

“Congratulations on the Best Actor Award and the Palme d’Or!”

Park Geon, walking in, accepted each bouquet and expressed his gratitude.

Chae Eun-bi also greeted him with a nervous heart.

“I’m Chae Eun-bi, the director who interviewed you before. I don’t know if you remember…”

A slight smile appears on the actor’s expressionless lips.

“Of course, I remember. You gave me a good interview, so I scheduled it as my first public appearance after returning home.”

As the rumors say, he has an inexplicably good memory, even remembering the director who interviewed him as a rookie.

While Chae Eun-bi was moved, greetings were exchanged with the staff, and soon the camera turned on and the interview began.

“I’m actor Park Geon. I’m greeting you for the first time since returning from Cannes.”

The photographer in charge of Park Geon’s shoot this time, as before, inwardly admired him.

Slightly tanned skin and the same height. He doesn’t feel the tension of a rookie now or then… but somehow, the atmosphere feels different.

If he was like a sharp soldier back then, now he has the aura of a considerably mature actor.

‘He was completely Seo Yo-han himself in Cannes.’

In the camera lens, Chae Eun-bi conducted the interview quite skillfully.

“A week has passed since your return. I’m curious how you’ve been spending your time.”

“I received a lot of congratulations.”

“From whom did you receive them?”

“I spent some time with my agency family, colleagues I worked with, and friends. Recently, I’ve become interested in soccer, so I’m coordinating entertainment schedules.”

“Speaking of which, many fans are curious about your relationship with player Ji Jang-hyuk. Have you been friends since the beginning?”

Park Geon’s appearance, suddenly caught on camera at a soccer stadium in Nice, was immediately reported widely.

Photos of him talking with Ji Jang-hyuk after the game circulated, and even following each other on Instagram caused a stir among fans.

“Ah, Ji Jang-hyuk.”

The manager, sitting far away, turned his head with a startled expression.

Park Geon looked at his younger brother and smiled.

“Seon is a fan of Nice, so he went to see Ji’s game while in Cannes. That’s how we met, and now we often keep in touch.”

“Then, is it possible to see you two on a variety show?”

“Yes, if the opportunity arises. It will probably be sports-related.”

Now comes the real interview. It’s time to ask about the items Chae Eun-bi prepared overnight, the narrative that continues from last year’s questions.

“I heard you say that acting is ‘a return to the past.’ You actually played a returnee in ‘Manghoedol’ [a drama about returning to the past]. And you became the star of Cannes through ‘Black Priest,’ which you filmed in the past. Have there been any changes as an actor in the meantime?”

It’s difficult to hear about Park Geon’s acting history anywhere. Unless it’s a special matter, he doesn’t bother to go out in public.

After a moment, Park Geon looked down at the back of his hand.

A white, large hand without scars.

“That answer is still valid.”

“That acting is a return…”

“Yes. But some things have changed. I can’t be tied to the past forever, so I’m trying to find ways to move into reality through my works.”

It sounds profound at first, but the direction in his words is firm. Chae Eun-bi, holding her breath, asked again.

“I see. This time, your acceptance speech at Cannes also attracted a lot of attention. Was there any other meaning to it?”

As much as the Palme d’Or for ‘Black Priest’ and Park Geon’s Best Actor Award, the acceptance speech left by the lead actor at the end was a hot topic.

Beware of the light.

It was somewhat unfamiliar even as an acceptance speech for the Palme d’Or, but it garnered even more attention because the character in the play was a priest.

What does it mean, is it a quote, all sorts of speculations were rampant.

Park Geon answered without blinking.

“Too bright spotlights blind people. It clouds judgment and obscures the five senses. I suddenly had that thought… so I just said what came to mind.”

The interview ended like that. After all the filming was over, Park Geon signed autographs for each and every staff member on set.

Chae Eun-bi, who was taking pictures at the end, asked.

“Actor, will your next work be a movie? Or a drama?”

The answer came back without hesitation.

“I don’t care. As long as I can move forward.”

*

Baek Hani’s birthday party was held.

The location was the Roman headquarters lounge for the first time in a while. The pretext was a joint party to commemorate the Palme d’Or for ‘Black Priest’.

Baek Hani herself strongly declined, but it seemed that Director Lee Seong-cheol pushed it through.

A hologram of Baek Hani appeared in the headquarters lobby, and a banner was hung at the entrance to the lounge.

[Standing Tall as Actress Baek Hani]

[-Congratulations- Reborn Hani]

[Let’s Walk Only on Flower Paths, Ice Queen!]

[Happy 40th Birthday to Baek Hani]

Geon looked up at the comments that were confusing whether they were congratulating or teasing.

‘…Isn’t the last one asking for a fight?’

Just then, he felt someone next to him. He asked with genuine curiosity.

“Who made this banner?”

Chief Yoo Joon-il chuckled and replied.

“Several people. The CEO approved it, and the director also had a hand in it, but I don’t know who did the very bottom one.”

“It was me.”

Choi Phillip, who had approached unnoticed, smiled brightly. His face was full of pride.

“Thinking about how she’ll react later… wow, it already feels like ten years of indigestion has gone down.”

“Isn’t Shin-seung coming?”

“I’m here.”

Soon, Gu Shin-seung even appeared, and ‘Eun Three,’ who was once the talk of the town, was completely revived.

Gu Shin-seung was wearing a ridiculous cone hat, and he was handing them out to everyone he saw, urging them to wear them.

“No, I’m not wearing it! It’ll be immortalized on the official account again!”

Choi Phillip, who had vehemently refused, finally fastened the chin strap with a sulky face. Gu Shin-seung nodded contentedly and asked Geon.

“How was Cannes?”

“It was fun. I also realized that there’s a long way to go.”

“Palme d’Or and Best Actor Award, and even more from there?”

Geon shook his head.

“Results are important, but the process is also important. There’s still a lot I haven’t found.”

With his occasional flashes of insight, Gu Shin-seung seemed to immediately understand what he meant.

“Then that’s a good thing. Now you’ll be getting a lot of offers from overseas. Even just once in your life, being the face of Cannes has a huge effect.”

In fact, he said that numerous love calls had come in since Geon was on the plane.

There were rumors that Yoo Joon-il’s team was tearing their hair out and screaming because not only Hollywood but also directors from various countries were contacting them.

‘No, why are these people contacting us on their own? If you’re going to do it, at least unify it in English, please!’

Of course, this is also a happy complaint.

The bridgehead for advancing overseas with the harvest of Cannes is as good as wide open.

Global OTT [Over-the-top media services, streaming services], as well as famous overseas directors… there were dozens of producers who showed interest in him at the picnic on the last day in Nice.

In a world where new faces are always lacking, if he were to appear in even one of a master’s next works…

“What is all this!”

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from the lounge entrance. Gu Shin-seung shrugged his shoulders.

“I thought she wasn’t coming, but our main character has appeared.”

Perhaps because the seasons have changed several times, this scene is also familiar.

They leisurely went to the entrance. Sure enough, Baek Hani, her face flushed red, was huffing and puffing at the entrance.

“Who put that up? Especially that… I’m not even thirty yet, why are you saying I’m forty!”

“It’s not wrong, though. Your face value is similar?”

Choi Phillip gently teases her from the side. He’s even wearing the cone hat that he didn’t want to wear so much, and he seems to be enjoying it himself.

Baek Hani, looking around to see if there was anything to take off, glared.

“You’re out. Chief, tear down that banner quickly. With garden shears or something.”

She’s been a lot gentler lately, but her basic aggressiveness hasn’t gone anywhere. Chief Yoo Joon-il asked with a bewildered expression.

“Hey, this is an agency. Where would we have garden shears?”

“Then go buy some!”

Baek Hani, who was screaming, met Geon’s eyes. Geon handed over the gift he had bought before his colleague became more hysterical.

“…What is this?”

“It’s a specialty of Nice. Candied fruit.”

The tip of Baek Hani’s eyebrows, which had soared, lowered slightly.

“Did you know it was my birthday?”

Numerous glances poured in from around, but Geon replied indifferently.

“No. I just bought it according to the number of people.”

“……..”

Behind today’s birthday girl, who was clenching her fists, the sound of clicking high heels was heard.

Choi Phillip, who had confirmed the last guest, whistled.

“What, Jin Ji-yu is all here?”

“I know. What day is it today?”

While Gu Shin-seung was muttering, Baek Hani also confirmed the uninvited guest. Jin Ji-yu, who appeared wearing a dress like a awards ceremony, smiled brightly and greeted.

“Happy birthday, Sister.”

“Why don’t you just say happy death day.”

A blunt reply came back, but unlike usual, Jin Ji-yu didn’t fight back.

Instead, she handed over the box she had brought as a gift. It was a sight that Baek Hani, who received it, and the people who watched, couldn’t help but be shocked.

“I’m seeing such a sight in my lifetime. This is like a North-South dialogue [a metaphor for reconciliation between opposing sides].”

“I know, Choi Phillip’s fan service has gotten better.”

“Ah, come on!”

While Choi Phillip and manager Kim Young-tae were bickering, the head of Roman appeared.

CEO Noh Joong-man, who came up with Director Lee Seong-cheol, shook the camera in his hand.

“It looks like everyone’s here. Let’s take a commemorative photo before we go in.”

“No, so suddenly?”

“Don’t worry, it’s not for publicity. I just want to see the dark history of Choi Actor wearing that funny hat.”

Soon, a public relations team employee took the camera from Noh Joong-man and bent down on one knee.

“Okay, Jin Actor and Baek Actor, please stand a little closer. Director, please come a little more forward… Okay, I’m taking it! One, two, three!”

Click!

As the flash went off,

Another precious memory is woven together.

* * *