What the Drama Left Behind (3)
* * *
“Oh, Ms. Ji-yoo!”
“Congratulations, PD-nim [PD-nim is a Korean title for a producer or director].”
Na Jong-mo PD, already slurring his words, feigned surprise with exaggerated gestures.
“I heard you were coming to the wrap-up party, but how did you know about the after-party for the final episode and come all the way here?”
Jin Ji-yoo clasped her hands together, looking apologetic.
“Unfortunately, I have an overseas schedule at that time. I wanted to see my Seoul ‘dog family’ before leaving the country, so I snuck in. Ah, if I’m not allowed to join because it’s a special appearance…”
“Who said you can’t join? Special appearances, supporting roles, extras, they’re all our family! Isn’t that right, Director Kim?”
“What’s there to say? So hurry up and finish that wild ginseng wine, our family is waiting.”
While the martial arts director and the director of photography were bickering over the wild ginseng wine, writer Eun Hee-wook quietly approached Jin Ji-yoo.
“I didn’t hear anything about you having a schedule?”
“Writer-nim, are you my stalker?”
“I have to check the facts. You’re someone who doesn’t even bother filming commercials, suddenly going overseas?”
Holding a wine glass, Jin Ji-yoo moved only her lips, replying with a smile.
“There will be people from the industry at the wrap-up party. They’ll be pushing their projects, sticking their faces in front of anyone who looks like they’re having fun; it’s bad for an actress’s mental health.”
“Ugh, the entertainment reporters should have seen this. Roman’s PR team takes care of her at every premiere, so no one knows Jin Ji-yoo’s true colors.”
“Is she worse than Baek Ha-ni? Her whole life is fake except for the luxury goods she wears.”
Eun Hee-wook, who had been chuckling, suddenly changed his expression.
“You, by any chance, is this about that? The team recruiting Park Geon, under Chief Joong-man’s special orders…”
“It’s not, so mind your own business. I’m leaving.”
Jin Ji-yoo pretended to recognize Seo Hee-do, who was approaching, and walked away. Eun Hee-wook, left behind, shrugged his shoulders.
“Well… once you’ve stepped into this world, you’re a professional whether you like it or not. The people involved will figure it out.”
*
By late at night, there were hardly any sober people left.
The staff members were drinking as if trying to make up for all the hardships they had endured.
Na Jong-mo PD, who had single-handedly emptied half of the wild ginseng wine, passed out early and was carried out, and Yong Joon-sang and Seo Hee-do were also exhausted from accepting the endless rounds of drinks.
“Oh, there are survivors at this table too?”
Kim Jung-nam, the director of photography famous for his drinking capacity, stopped while carrying a pitcher of beer.
“Park Geon-ssi, are you okay? If you’ve had too much, don’t push yourself and go home. You’ll get sick if you try to keep up with the staff’s pace.”
“Yes. I’ll have a little more and then leave.”
After the director of photography passed by, Geon opened a new bottle of soju [Korean distilled rice liquor].
‘I don’t get drunk easily here. Is it because I’m used to the distilled liquor from the Iron Kingdom?’
The liquor brewed by the dwarves in oak barrels was stronger than most whiskeys. Compared to the local ‘bomb shots,’ the soju in this world was like juice.
As he was reminiscing about old memories, a woody scent cut through the smell of meat.
“Can I have a drink too?”
“Ah, Ms. Ji-yoo.”
Jin Ji-yoo, her face flushed, sat down across from him. Her eyes widened as she saw the soju bottles scattered in front of Geon.
“Wow, what do you use for hangover relief? I wouldn’t be able to get up in the morning if I drank even half of that.”
“It’s just my constitution. Are you alright, Ji-yoo-ssi? Your seat was crowded.”
As the most famous actress, even though she was only making a special appearance, Jin Ji-yoo’s seat was bustling with people.
Jin Ji-yoo blinked her big eyes and winked.
“My public drinking limit is two bottles. If I really go for it, I can drink up to four bottles. My dad is from Busan and a heavy drinker, so I must have taken after him.”
“You have a very easygoing personality.”
“Image management is a thing of the past. There’s a real fake in the same agency, so I decided not to go for overlapping concepts.”
He didn’t have many opportunities to work with other actresses. There was a supporting actress who left after a few episodes, her name was… Kang Han-na, I think?
Geon didn’t remember well, so he just nodded.
“Yes, anyway, thank you for coming.”
“I should be the one saying thank you, shouldn’t I? You filmed one scene for a special appearance and then took all the buzz.”
“Isn’t it a win-win situation? Yong Joon-sang and Seo Hee-do were also very grateful.”
The two poured drinks for each other and clinked glasses.
“Next time, let’s definitely work together. Not a special appearance, but both as leads.”
“If you call me, I’ll go anytime.”
Jin Ji-yoo’s expression turned coy, as if she knew everything.
“That’s just lip service, isn’t it? You said the same thing to PD Na earlier; I know you’ll never come if you’re not interested.”
“No, I mean it sincerely. Your acting has as many expressions as real life.”
Jin Ji-yoo’s hand, which was reaching for a long-cut cucumber, stopped.
“You’ve seen my acting?”
“Yes, I asked Seon-i and watched a few of your works. Your debut work where you played a tutor, and the thriller movie you filmed recently.”
“Of all things, you had to watch those…”
Jin Ji-yoo muttered in a subtle tone, then quickly relaxed her expression and smiled.
“That’s good enough. I think it would be fun to film a serious drama with Park Geon-ssi.”
“With writer Eun’s work?”
“Absolutely not. I’m tired of thrillers and noir now. If you have any good projects, please share them, and let me know if anything comes your way in that direction.”
He looked around, but couldn’t see any managers. They must have been drinking enthusiastically earlier and passed out somewhere.
“Should I contact your company?”
“Are you kidding me? Give me your number.”
Jin Ji-yoo held out her space gray iPhone. Her long, white fingers supported the simple case, tapping it.
‘Is this like, an unofficial scout?’
Geon hesitated for a moment before taking the phone. It would be ridiculous to call it a scout, and even more absurd to think it was personal interest.
The other person was a star of a large entertainment company, while he was just a supporting actor who had a stroke of luck and gained some popularity.
“This is my number.”
Jin Ji-yoo took back the phone, chuckled, and then called Geon.
“I have my own number, you know? I wouldn’t have come all the way here if I was going to give you my manager’s contact information.”
“Yes, I saved it.”
“I hope the last episode goes well…”
Jin Ji-yoo muttered, touching her cheek. Geon also offered his best wishes in return.
“I hope you do well too, Jin Ji-yoo-ssi. From now on, too.”
Their eyes met. Jin Ji-yoo opened her mouth as if to say something, but then smiled brightly.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard those words. My team leader only tells me what to do but doesn’t really cheer me on to do well. I haven’t been able to hold a fan meeting since I quit being an idol.”
“Is that so.”
“I’m saying thank you. I’ll contact you.”
Jin Ji-yoo gave a nod and left, and another staff member took her place.
Geon went outside the restaurant to get some fresh air. He wondered where he had gone, but Park Seon was squatting at the entrance of the restaurant, groaning.
“Hyung [Korean term for older brother or male friend],…”
“Yeah. You’re very drunk. Let’s call a driver and go home.”
“No, no, the wild ginseng wine was too strong… I’m sobering up now.”
He had drunk a few glasses of the wild ginseng wine that Director Hyun Do-kyun had offered, but he didn’t feel drunk at all; it didn’t even touch his liver.
Park Seon still spoke with slurred pronunciation.
“Hyung, you know I’m really, really grateful, right? A first-year road manager being in charge of an actor, I wouldn’t have been able to be at a place like this if it weren’t for you.”
“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you either. I wouldn’t have even dreamed of being an actor.”
Park Seon’s eyes welled up with tears, and he finally hugged Geon and began his confession.
“When I fought with Chief Oh, I thought my heart was going to drop. The head of the department, the CEO, if something had happened to your discharge date because of me…”
Come to think of it, that Oh Gwi-joon or whatever, that bed-wetting chief, was kind of a benefactor.
If he hadn’t hit his younger brother, he wouldn’t have gone to Roman that day, and he wouldn’t have run into writer Eun.
“It’s okay. Even if I can’t use Hapki [Hapkido, a Korean martial art], I can handle a hundred of those guys.”
“Hapki? What’s that?”
“It’s something I used to do for a living.”
“…?”
As he was about to take his brother, who had a puzzled expression, inside, Park Geon looked across the street.
A black Sprinter van was parked in a corner of the alley where people’s eyes couldn’t easily reach.
It was a top star’s car that you had to wait a year to get even if you had the money, but that wasn’t the reason.
The woman’s voice that flowed out of the open car window caught his ear.
“What is it? Jin Ji-yoo really came? That car in front, that’s her manager’s car, right?”
“Then would she have come with a fake? Please trust what people say, actress Baek Ha-ni-nim. You’ve seen everything on Instagram, but you stubbornly insist on confirming…”
“Say one more word.”
After a moment of silence, a man’s voice filled with laughter was heard.
“Why don’t you say hello since you’re here? She’s still inside with that actor, right?”
“Forget it, let’s go!”
Soon, the van left like the wind. Geon stared blankly at the heavy back view before entering the restaurant.
It was still difficult to understand the friendships of celebrities.
‘The military would be more comfortable.’
*
‘Seoul’s Dogs’ Final Broadcast Day.
Han Ji-young, a huge fan of the drama, trembled with anger as she scanned the comments on the community forums.
“Park Geon is an actor who’s riding on Seo Hee-do and Yong Joon-sang… Wow, that’s crossing the line. Riding on them? What is he riding on?”
Where there are fans, there are also haters. It is the destiny of celebrities to be envied by those who are jealous of their popularity.
-Park Geon’s acting spectrum is honestly obvious ㅇㅇ [Korean slang indicating agreement or affirmation]. It’s disappointing because it seems like it will be like that in the future too
-I know his mask, physical, and proportions are no joke, and he’s good at fighting, but that’s it. More like a stuntman from the 90s than an actor?
-One-trick ponies don’t last long. He’ll probably disappear after playing an assassin or special agent
-Bubbles are bound to burst~
While the drama was enjoying great success, in some communities, ‘Park Geon bubble theory’, ‘action one-trick theory’, etc. were steadily circulating.
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