Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 188

The Former Hero is a Ten Million Actor (1)

* * *

Filming for ‘Son of the Gods’ has wrapped.

A full year, three months, and thirteen days.

Despite tourists and fans snapping photos on several occasions, there were virtually no internal leaks, such as official on-set stills.

[‘Team Son of the Gods’ Holds Farewell Dinner in New Zealand, Vowing to Meet Again Before Dispersing]

[Incheon Airport… Park Gun Surprised by Fans’ Cheers, More Concerned Whether They’re Sleepy from the Early Hour, Offers Fan Service]

[‘Heavenly Beauty’ Unfazed by Year-Long Hiatus… Jin Ji-yu Looks Even Younger, Achieves ‘Airport All-Kill’ with Fashion?]

[McClain Jabasranty, Peter Shawn, and Other Hollywood Giants Unanimously Declare, “Park Gun Was an Actor Beyond Standards”]

A reporter from a certain entertainment magazine, scrolling through the articles, clicked his tongue.

“It never ends, no matter how much I scroll. He took a break for over a year, but how does he still have this much influence?”

“He’s the son of Cannes, after all. Plus, his agency must have been going crazy. The actor and director are quiet, but the companies are making a fuss in every direction.”

A fellow reporter, sitting and drinking coffee, responded. The first reporter crossed his arms.

“True… Wellflix and Roman are doing a good job. These days, there’s nowhere you can go without seeing a ‘Son of the Gods’ poster.”

Wellflix, the platform exclusively releasing ‘Son of the Gods,’ jumped into the promotion war early.

Posters were plastered on buses, taxis, subway billboards, and all sorts of screens, and trailers have been uploaded to YouTube for the past two months.

[July 1st, the Sons of the Gods Return.]

Even though filming wasn’t entirely finished, they had already set the premiere date and announced a large-scale stage greeting event.

‘It’s not a hit series yet, but they’re already doing stage greetings and fan previews… You can tell how much the platform is anticipating it,’ he thought.

On top of that, Roman’s support, having won the long war with DG, is in full swing.

“Choi Phillip, Baek Ha-ni, Gu Shin-seung… They’re only picking the top players to promote it. It’s like they’re more passionate about promoting this than their own work.”

“Ha, No Jung-man wouldn’t stand still. He’s the guy who managed to cut off DG’s limbs one by one.”

In the long and arduous DG acquisition battle, Roman undeniably took the biggest piece of the pie.

From shareholders demanding improved governance, to CEO Byun Dong-geun’s resignation, to companies launching tender offers to secure management control.

After a grueling eight-month journey, the ‘DG Acquisition Race’ was halted, but Roman walked away with a significant stake and a large number of DG artists.

In fact, DG is now more than 40% smaller. With Joinus, another giant, holding its breath, Roman has emerged as the most powerful agency.

“A collaboration between the industry’s top two, huh?”

The reporter, smacking his lips, asked his colleague.

“But what do you think it’ll be like?”

“What, the work?”

“Yeah. If they promote it this much and the reaction is lukewarm, they’ll really screw up.”

The colleague turned his laptop around. On the most popular YouTube channel these days, Quantum and Four Queens were shouting in unison.

-Please give ‘Son of the Gods’ lots of love! We’re going to watch it from the moment it’s released!

-No, Riya… The release time is 6 AM…

-Oh! Sorry!

Not only top actors but also the trendiest and most popular idols are sending fiery support.

The reporters looked at each other and shrugged.

“I don’t know about the content, but it’s guaranteed to be number one.”

PD [Production Director] Na Jong-mo exclaimed.

“‘Son of the Gods’! Number one on Wellflix’s program rankings within one hour of release! Overwhelmingly number one in global freshness!”

“PD Na, you can’t get ahead of yourself before it’s even released. Don’t you know the unwritten rules?”

“What does that matter, Writer Young? There’s no such thing as a jinx for our Gun-ie.”

“Ugh… This is why PDs are like this. Manager, wasn’t it hard working with a director like this twice?”

Writer Young Do-eun, who wrote the screenplay for ‘Butcher and General,’ shook her head and asked.

Instead of his brother, who was late due to his schedule, the younger brother takes on difficult questions at times like this. As Park Seon smiled awkwardly, PD Na Jong-mo interjected.

“Hard? Waiting for these brothers was harder. Why is it so hard to meet them even after they’ve returned?”

“PD-nim [PD – honorific], Actor Park is a world star, plain and simple.”

This time, Yoon-bal 25, who had dyed his hair blue, chimed in.

Today’s schedule concept is ‘Wrap-up Party with Writers and Directors.’ Somehow, all the writers and directors who had worked together so far ended up gathering.

The linchpin who brought these people together, writer Eun Hee-wook, dismissed the controversy.

“That’s all because Jong-mo hyung [older brother or close male friend] didn’t come. Just the day before yesterday, we had a wrap-up party in Yeouido [district in Seoul known for broadcasting and finance] all night.”

PD Na Jong-mo’s expression changed as if he had been stabbed.

“That’s because the Yangyang filming ended late… No, I arrived in Seoul at 2 AM, how could I go to a party!”

“Come on, why are you acting like that when you know better?”

“That’s right. Writers and directors who pressure actors can’t find anyone to work with on their next project, right?”

When Yong Ryu-baek, the first-generation fantasy master, and Kang Young-il, the original author of ‘Son of the Gods,’ joined forces, the PD was inevitably pushed back.

PD Na Jong-mo muttered, pretending to be sad.

“Ugh, how can I live with the writers breathing down my neck? Kim Ryul went abroad, and the PDs are busy with their own filming. If only Gun-ie were here…”

“Ah, when is Actor Park arriving?”

Writer Young Do-eun snatched the end of the sentence and asked. Park Seon, checking his wristwatch, replied.

“About thirty minutes? He said he was nearby, so he won’t be too late. He even packed gifts to give to the writers and directors…”

“As expected of Actor Park! Is there any other actor who takes care of the people around him like this?”

“Writer Young, don’t you know Gun-ie’s personality? He’s definitely going to bring out some weird wooden dolls, saying they’re the most expensive souvenirs from New Zealand.”

Watching the writers and directors start another argument, Park Seon barely held back his laughter.

Two weeks since his return. Since coming back, the days have been busier than when he was in New Zealand.

First, he was dragged to welcome parties,

Second, he had to restart domestic activities that had been put on hold due to filming.

‘Is it just me, or does the schedule seem to have increased compared to when I filmed God…?’

It’s been a full year and three months.

It’s common for stars to go on overseas trips for a few months, but actor Park Gun always disappeared after reaching a peak.

From ‘God: Guardian of Wrath’ to ‘Son of the Gods,’ he only went abroad, so fans were joking that this work should just be moderately successful.

PD Na Jong-mo said, as if suddenly remembering.

“Right, but what is he doing at the Poisons Hotel? Another work meeting?”

Even though he had a manager’s younger brother and a road manager, Park Gun was famous for driving and managing his schedule alone unless it was an official schedule.

Park Seon, who hadn’t heard anything, shrugged.

“I don’t know. Something about a gift presentation…”

“…Presentation?”

“So, this is the gift?”

Baek Ha-ni raised one eyebrow. In the small box in her hand, a wooden carving resembling a totem pole was sticking out its tongue.

The agency colleague replied shamelessly.

“Yes. Isn’t it cute? And traditional.”

Even though it had been over a year, Park Gun hadn’t changed.

Baek Ha-ni, turning the wooden carving this way and that, asked.

“…Did you give these to other people too?”

“Yes. They’re all slightly different, but they look similar. I gave Baek Ha-ni-ssi [honorific] a special colored one.”

‘There’s also a price difference,’ she thought. Even the way he added that as if taking credit, it was clear who it was from.

Baek Ha-ni packed the souvenir in her bag and sighed.

“There were so many things to buy, like cream and traditional honey, but a wooden doll… You really are something.”

“People don’t change, they say.”

Park Gun, replying, turned his gaze to the clouds flowing past the glass window.

A wide-open hotel lounge.

It’s a meeting and rendezvous spot frequently visited by top stars because celebrities often come and the security downstairs is tight.

“So, how have you been since you returned?”

“Well… Similar to today.”

“Similar to today?”

Park Gun pondered for a moment, then rattled off his recent schedule as if reciting a script.

“Yesterday, I met Choi Phillip-ssi, the day before, I met Gu Shin-seung-ssi and Manager Yoo, Team Leader Gong. Three days ago, I saw the Black Priest family for the first time in a while… Last Sunday, I had dinner with the PD from the Hoedog Team. He’s moving to JNBC.”

‘It’s a terrible schedule to even hear about for someone who’s extremely introverted or hates people,’ Baek Ha-ni thought. She frowned.

“A promotional tour, huh? You’ve been meeting only people since you came back.”

“Because I was away for a long time. Don’t you do that when you come back from an overseas trip, Baek Ha-ni-ssi?”

“Of course not. I don’t even make appointments in the first place.”

The two actors blinked and looked at each other. Eventually, Baek Ha-ni raised her hand first.

“…Okay, how was the filming?”

“Are you talking about ‘Son of the Gods’?”

“Yes. It’s being released tomorrow, Wellflix Korea is going crazy.”

Park Gun paused for a moment. Baek Ha-ni looked at her colleague’s face anew.

The long hair falling over his eyes, the white skin, the deep eye shadows, and the elegantly curved mouth were all the same.

No, rather, his complexion was better than before he left for New Zealand. His condition was noticeably deteriorating towards the end of the work, but at least Park Gun in front of her didn’t show any signs of that.

“It was hard. The hardest of the works I’ve filmed.”

“……”

Baek Ha-ni tilted her head. Park Gun, whom she knew, was an actor who never said things like it was hard or overwhelming. What happened this time…

“But it was enjoyable. I also found something I had been looking for for a long time.”

“Your face has changed. Before you left, you had the look of someone who had swallowed a few bombs.”

Park Gun replied without smiling.

“You’re sharp as ever. Actually, I had an underlying disease, so I had a lot of worries since my debut.”

“What, are you kidding? An underlying disease, what…”

“But now, I think I’ve gotten rid of it.”

Rarely, a voice without certainty or anxiety brushed past her ear.

Park Gun asked in a calm tone.

“How about you, Baek Ha-ni-ssi? Do you think I can continue my acting career in the future?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Just… I had that thought on the plane. In a situation where I’ve achieved a lifelong dream, is it right to keep filming works? Of course, there’s no reason to retire.”

It was a story that would make people faint if they heard it, but Baek Ha-ni replied nonchalantly.

“I don’t know.”

“……?”

“I’m not you, so how would I know? Just live as you please. You said you wanted to have a positive impact on more people, right?”

It was what Park Gun said in his first interview after returning. Baek Ha-ni continued, looking into her colleague’s eyes.

“Whether you film movies or dramas, someone will gain energy for the day by watching you, and someone else will be immersed in happiness after going to a fan signing… Ah, you know there are a lot of writers and directors aiming for you, right? While you were away, Chungmuro [Korean Hollywood] and Sangam [area in Seoul with many broadcasting stations] were piled up with Park Gun assassination plots.”

“I’ve been getting a lot of calls. They were asking when I’m going to start my next work.”

“That’s right. If only that monstrous stamina is still intact, you can film anything…”

Park Gun nodded.

“Even though Hapki is gone, my body is fine.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. I didn’t think I’d be having this kind of conversation with Baek Ha-ni-ssi, so it’s a bit new.”

Just as Baek Ha-ni was about to say something, a voice filled with laughter was heard.

“Why, you asked me what kind of person I used to be, right? When we first met.”

“…I don’t remember, it’s too long ago.”

“I think I can answer now.”

Baek Ha-ni unknowingly pricked up her ears. Just then, the clouds that had been covering the sun scattered, and sunlight poured into the lounge.

For the first time since his return,