Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 153

The Summer Harvest Festival (3)

* * *

Baekje Hotel, 83rd floor, rooftop lounge.

An unexpected barbecue party was underway. Choi Phillip, the last to arrive among those who were supposed to gather, sniffed the air and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow, what are all these smells?”

The members for today had already arrived. Gu Shin-seung, Jin Ji-yu, Baek Ha-ni, and other Roman actors who had arrived earlier greeted him.

“Did you come, maknae [youngest member]?”

“You’re late again. He’s always like this when his manager isn’t around.”

“She really has a lot in common with her sister.”

“…What?”

Jin Ji-yu, who had slipped in a word, pretended not to notice. Choi Phillip strode over and was about to sit down when he saw Gu Shin-seung and flinched.

“What’s with this old man? Why is his beard still like this? It’s been ages since his project ended.”

“I heard he’s going into another movie. This time it’s a king role, so he’s keeping his historical drama image alive.”

Indeed, the beard he had grown for his role as a *chuno* [slave hunter] had already become thick and bushy.

Baek Ha-ni glared at Gu Shin-seung with a disgusted expression, and then the protagonist in front of the barbecue grill turned around.

“I was surprised too. It’s growing even more lushly than the director’s.”

“Oh, our world star.”

“It’s such a luxury, getting to eat meat grilled by a world star.”

Park Geon, wearing a chef’s hat, placed the grilled skewers on the table.

“Not yet.”

Today’s gathering concept was ‘Big 5’, bringing together the pillars responsible for the actor lineup.

Jin Ji-yu and Baek Ha-ni, whose dramas had ended, Choi Phillip, whose movie filming was delayed, and Gu Shin-seung, who was entering a new historical drama, were all gathered.

“It’s kind of amazing. Isn’t this the first time this combination has gathered without managers?”

Choi Phillip looked around at the people sitting at the table. Jin Ji-yu, who was pouring wine into the empty glasses, agreed.

“Even when we had managers, we didn’t see each other just among ourselves. We only showed our faces at company year-end parties.”

“Right. If I had known these guys were coming, I would have skipped it. I was tricked by someone…”

Baek Ha-ni grumbled discontentedly. Although her relationship with Jin Ji-yu had improved relatively after ‘Human Camp’, there was one more original nemesis.

Choi Phillip leisurely raised his glass.

“Hey, I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t for Park Geon. What would I get out of coming here?”

“We’re party colleagues, after all.”

Baek Ha-ni, who was about to retort, looked to the side. Park Geon tilted his head and corrected her.

“Ah, it’s not a party, it’s a company [gathering]. I just arrived, so I was confused.”

“…Hasn’t Park Geon been here for about two weeks?”

Choi Phillip asked with a suspicious expression, but no one answered.

In fact, he was right. If it were the Eun family’s three brothers, who became close while filming ‘Manghoedol’, it would be different, but Jin Ji-yu and Baek Ha-ni had no private contact with Roman’s male actors.

What made this gathering possible was the sociability of the rising ace in his third year of contract.

“In that sense, I’ve been thinking about creating a gathering like this for a while. I’ve also filmed projects with everyone here.”

At Park Geon’s words, Jin Ji-yu, who was sitting next to him with sparkling eyes, chimed in.

“That’s right! Everyone has acted with Geon *oppa* [older brother/male friend] at least once, right?”

“That’s right. Me and that *hyung* [older brother/male friend] during Manghoedol, Jin Ji-yu made a special appearance in ‘The Dog of Seoul’ and ‘General Baekjeong’.”

“Hey, why are you leaving me out?”

The female lead of ‘General Baekjeong’, who had suddenly become air, shouted, but Park Geon continued calmly.

“So I wanted to say thank you. For all of you being my colleagues.”

A moment of silence flowed. Only the faint music, the crackling of the charcoal, and the white noise of the summer night floated in the air.

Choi Phillip scratched the side of his head and cleared his throat.

“Ahem, well… I heard you turned the CEO’s jaw as soon as you arrived. I matched him because I was afraid that would happen to me too. It would be a disgrace to lose to a rookie.”

“I didn’t do that.”

“Hey, I heard that team leader was so scared that he was carried away.”

“I didn’t even touch Oh Gwi-jun.”

Laughter erupted from here and there at Park Geon’s explanation. Gu Shin-seung stroked his bushy beard and said.

“It’s been a while since I’ve heard that guy’s name. Didn’t Ggamjjak-ai leave after that too?”

“Ggamjjak-ai? Who’s that?”

“Ha-ni *unnie* [older sister/female friend] doesn’t know that *oppa’s* [older brother/male friend] *malto* [way of speaking] well. It’s Wow কিড즈 [Wow Kidz].”

“…Wow, that’s so forced.”

The atmosphere quickly improved with Park Geon’s opening remarks, which weren’t really opening remarks.

They weren’t close enough to see each other separately, but they were in the same company and the same profession. Moreover, their positions in the industry were similar, so the conversation continued without a break.

“Hey, how much do you get per episode these days? I heard the director is giving this much now?”

To Choi Phillip, who showed one finger,

“What are you talking about? He just said that to make you jealous. How can you get that much when broadcasting companies are tightening their belts?”

“That’s right. It’s difficult unless *cheong’s* [advertisement] capital comes in. I heard there were a lot of rumors that Choi *sunbae* [senior colleague] offered 200 million per episode.”

Baek Ha-ni retorted curtly,

“But *oppa* [older brother/male friend], are you a king or a *chuno* [slave hunter]? You’re shaking up the concept again after having a drink.”

“I’m a king who used to be a clown. He looks like a tyrant and a twin.”

Gu Shin-seung and Jin Ji-yu shared private stories about the cast and roles of the new movie.

It was a scene that Lee Seong-cheol, the head of the department, who always nagged them to get along, would have cried if he had seen it.

A long finger tapped Park Geon’s arm as he silently watched the scene.

“Why are you looking so wistfully?”

Park Geon turned his head. Jin Ji-yu, whose cheeks were flushed, had come to the seat next to him, having drunk a few more glasses in the meantime.

“It’s nothing. It just reminded me of the past.”

“Tsk, it’s the past again. You’re just going to say that and not tell me the rest, right? When everything is settled… and so on.”

Jin Ji-yu lowered her voice and imitated him, but it didn’t sound the same at all because of her solemn expression.

While watching his colleague’s personal talent, Park Geon poured beer into an empty glass and handed it to her.

“It seems like there’s not much left.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“It’s nothing. How have you been?”

It seemed that she hadn’t heard the previous words because Gu Shin-seung had shown off his 1-person 3-role talent.

Jin Ji-yu drank half of the full beer and wiped her mouth.

“Well, I’ve been busier while *oppa* [older brother/male friend] was gone. I finished a new project safely… Ah, I heard from Seon-i that our lineup crushed all the DG actors. Completely, to the point where there’s no dust left.”

“How is CEO Noh?”

“He’s doing well. I think he’s planning to completely tear them apart in the remaining music shows and the second half of the year’s projects.”

Seeing her smiling brightly and saying things like crushing and tearing apart, she was the same colleague he used to see. Park Geon nodded.

“You’ll be busier.”

“I’m free. Baek Ha… Ha-ni *unnie* [older sister/female friend] and Shin-seung *oppa* [older brother/male friend] said they were going straight into projects, but I was thinking of taking a break and traveling alone.”

“Traveling?”

“Yes. I still regret not being able to go with *oppa* [older brother/male friend] to Cannes before. I was thinking of going from Nice to the Mediterranean.”

Unusually, Park Geon turned on his smartphone and seemed to be looking for something instead of answering.

The words that came out a little later were even more out of the blue.

“How about New York?”

“Yes? As a travel destination?”

“Yes, I’ve been indebted to you twice during special appearances. If it’s okay with Ji-yu, I’d like to repay you with an overseas trip.”

A suspicious light suddenly flickered in Jin Ji-yu’s eyes, which had been wide open.

“Wait a minute, is manager Seon-i going with us too?”

“Yes. If you’re uncomfortable, another team leader…”

“…Never mind. I was stupid to expect anything.”

New York, NBS exclusive studio.

In the lobby of this place, where countless people come and go busily, a group of Asians appeared.

“…What, that face looks familiar?”

“You idiot, it’s Cannes! Last year, that, that, Priest of Darkness…”

“Priest of Darkness, my foot, it’s Black Priest! I heard he filmed an action movie this time.”

“Are the people behind him actors too?”

The Cannes seal of approval is still valid for global fans. Even more so now that the viral of has spread all over the world in the past year.

Although it was in the middle of New York, more than 10,000 kilometers away from Seoul, there were many employees who recognized the guest and exclaimed.

“Wait, but this is New York.”

One of the information desk employees, who usually claimed to be a movie buff, whispered to a colleague.

“…What are they doing at NBS Studio?”

Is it because it’s the home of Hollywood?

Quite a few people recognized him and greeted him from the airport to here.

Geon said to his companion next to him.

“It’s different from Korean studios. The scale is much larger.”

“So what? We came here to film anyway.”

Jin Ji-yu, who was wearing a baseball cap, retorted sharply. As soon as she heard that it was an SNL shoot, her mouth was a mile wide, and she was sulking until she got off the plane.

She seemed very disappointed that her long-awaited overseas trip was actually a schedule.

‘…But she packed a lot of luggage.’

He couldn’t just not work. Park Seon, who was watching, quietly took out her smartphone.

“Uh… where’s Toby? He said he was coming down to the lobby a while ago…”

“Hey, God!”

Then, a loud voice came from the spiral staircase. Looking up, the short producer he had seen in Cannes was waving his hand enthusiastically.

“It’s been a while. How have you been? How was the overseas shoot? I wanted to write you a fan letter, but Korean is too difficult for me to write. But my heart is always in the summer night in Nice…”

The executive producer of SNL, who was in front of him, poured out words like a machine gun.

However, the person who was attracting attention was the man standing next to Toby Lee. Geon tilted his head.

“Why are you here?”

Gwyn Raymond. The director of , who should be in the final stages of editing, scratched his chin shamelessly.

“I just came to see. My movie’s lead is on someone else’s show.”

Rather, it was Geon’s party who was shocked. Park Seon was just gaping, and Jin Ji-yu, who was a little more sane, asked in fluent Italian.

“…Isn’t the movie still in production?”

“It’s been a while, Jin. I see you’ve figured out what language I’m comfortable with.”

“That’s not the problem…”

She never thought she would meet him in the middle of New York less than a month after filming ended. Gwyn Raymond shrugged his shoulders.

“I have a house in New York too. I’m in the final stages of editing, and I heard they were filming a program nearby, so I stopped by to cheer them on. I used up all my concentration for today.”

Toby Lee looked at Raymond, who was tapping his temple, with a pathetic look.

“I’m sorry, God. This guy called me ten times because you’re on our show. He said he had to protect you from the hotbed of racism, and he was making a fuss about something else…”

“That’s right! Lisa, I don’t know what kind of script that idiot with poop and firecrackers in her head will give you. I can’t stand to see our lead ruined here.”

“I guess I can’t be a movie person. Get out of here.”

“Broadway guys… that’s why your director’s hair is falling out.”

In front of the two people who were exchanging insults like compliments, the three Korean tourists put their heads together.

“Seon-i, what’s our schedule?”

“Uh… first, as soon as we arrive, we have a meeting… we’ll check the script and the general concept, then we’ll have a rehearsal, and if there are no problems, we’ll go straight into the live broadcast on Sunday.”

As Park Seon recited the schedule, Jin Ji-yu, who was rolling her eyes, asked.

“…*Oppa* [older brother/male friend], are you sure it’s okay? I can’t get used to that director no matter how many times I see him.”

“He’s good at his job. I didn’t expect to meet him here.”

Geon, who had briefly summarized, raised his head. From afar, a blonde woman with horn-rimmed glasses was walking towards them.

Park Seon, who had studied the cast, crew, and session band in advance, poked him in the side.

“*Hyung* [older brother/male friend], there! That’s Lisa, who wrote the script for the show with Toby…”

“Lisa Able.”

The blonde woman who came in front of the group said. She was so tall that she was eye-to-eye with Geon, the tallest of the group.

Looking into her bright blue eyes, Geon accepted the bundle of scripts she handed him.

“God.”

“You’re much better in person. And your pronunciation is good.”

Are those who hold pens similar regardless of East and West?