Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 53

The Change is Rapid (2)

* * *

[Beats Per Minute – Blood Pressure]

[107 – 134/80mmHg]

“Ugh, is my watch broken…?”

Chae Eun-bi, a third-year editor at Fogue magazine, tried hard to calm her racing heart.

The heart rate displayed on her smartwatch was alarming, to say the least.

Today was the day for an interview with Park Geon, the hottest name in the entertainment industry, who had achieved back-to-back successes with dramas and movies.

‘I didn’t really think he’d come.’

Her company was just an ordinary fashion magazine with a total of six employees. Therefore, they couldn’t usually afford to host a big celebrity.

Was it last August? She had contacted him when he was a rookie who had just become a hit with ‘The Dog of Seoul,’ and surprisingly, she got a reply.

-I’m about to start filming a movie, would it be okay if I adjusted the schedule and came then?

She said it was okay. Actors usually schedule interviews to promote their next work.

She didn’t realize how big of a miscalculation that was until right before the movie’s release. Promotion or whatever, the actor single-handedly brought in 6 million viewers.

The editor-in-chief, who cleanly gave up, was still vivid in her mind.

‘Yeah, forget it. Give up on Park Geon and scout someone else.’

For high-profile celebrities, such verbal promises, especially to small fashion magazines, are no different from reunions they don’t need to attend. So, she naturally thought he would cancel, but…

-Ah, I’m so sorry! We’ve been so busy that we forgot to contact you until now. Would it be okay to appear now, even at this late date?

The manager apologized with a voice dripping with regret and immediately set up a schedule.

…These people are strange.

They’re the ones who hit it big, but it’s her first time seeing a celebrity who apologizes for contacting them again.

‘Two years as an intern and three years as an editor. All I’ve seen are jerks…’

She doesn’t know why, but it’s an extreme luxury. If it’s a pictorial of a promising star who has returned as a top-tier celebrity, the sales of this issue will skyrocket through the roof.

On the way to the studio she had booked, the editor-in-chief, whose schedule unfortunately overlapped, handed her the corporate card and urged her.

‘Chae Eun-bi, I’m counting on you. Even if it’s just thirty minutes of nonsense, fill it up and get it, got it!’

There’s no need to prepare unique questions. All sorts of fashion magazines rushed to host this surprise star, but only they were chosen.

Why? Company size? Concept? Or did the editor-in-chief cut a deal behind the scenes? Our company doesn’t have that kind of money…

Just as Chae Eun-bi’s mind was overheating with delusions, the bell hanging on the glass door rang.

Soon after, two men walked towards Chae Eun-bi, who was sitting in the center of the studio.

“Hello!”

“Hello, I’m Park Geon.”

“Hel-lo… Yes, hello, wow.”

While giving the most foolish first greeting of her 29 years of life, Chae Eun-bi deeply felt it.

The screen is fake. She had watched all the dramas and movies, but his real-life presence was overwhelmingly more impressive. The photographer and stylist who came with him forgot to greet and were gaping with their jaws dropped.

“I’m sorry for contacting you so late.”

The seemingly amiable manager appeared in front of the apologizing celebrity and bowed deeply.

“It’s not because of him, it’s because of me. I forgot to set aside the schedule in the middle… Anyway, please accept this. I bought some cookies on the way for the editor and staff to enjoy.”

“No, really… I’m grateful that you came like this, thank you for the food!”

A warm greeting was exchanged, and the interview began. It was a common Q&A interview for a fashion magazine, but there were also cameras and lighting panels to capture the conversation.

This interview, along with the pictorial, would be uploaded to YouTube as behind-the-scenes footage.

“You’ve become an even bigger star than you were during ‘The Dog of Seoul.’ You must have received many interview requests, but may I ask why you chose Fogue over other magazines?”

“Because I promised to appear.”

“Ah…”

“And I liked that there was no specific concept.”

“Yes? Concept?”

Park Geon looked back at the manager, who had just entered with a suitcase, and smiled faintly.

“Maybe it’s because of my background, but the fashion magazines that contacted me at the time kept recommending military uniforms. I contacted you because it seemed like a place where I could talk comfortably.”

Of course, his appearance is by no means ordinary. Even before hair, makeup, and other styling, her heart pounds every time their eyes meet.

‘…Even if he hadn’t showered for days and was sent out like that, most actors wouldn’t be able to stand next to him.’

Following that, trivial personal details not found in the agency profile were exchanged. It was a ‘normal’ questionnaire that she had stayed up all night agonizing over, thinking that they couldn’t just talk about his works.

“What’s your zodiac sign?”

“Gemini.”

“Date of birth is…”

“June 3rd.”

“Do you have any favorite foods…?”

“Barbecue, pizza. I mainly like Western food, and I eat everything except things with wings.”

“Do you have any hobbies or favorite channels you enjoy these days?”

“When I’m resting, I mostly watch YouTube. I mainly subscribe to channels that show meat grilling, overseas special forces training demonstrations, and game攻略 [game walkthrough] videos.”

Most of the answers are simple and immediate. He doesn’t hesitate or measure his words in any question.

‘Well, even the rumors say he’s the same inside and out.’

When asked why he chose ‘The Dog of Seoul’ and ‘Black Priest,’ Park Geon rarely chose his words.

“From the moment I first saw the scenario, I felt like I had to do it. The story itself was the kind I liked.”

“Thank you. Then finally… I’m curious about what acting means to actor Park Geon.”

This time, silence flows.

Long eyelashes slowly rise and fall, and an unknown emotion flashes in his eyes. Chae Eun-bi tightly pressed down on her hand, which was unknowingly reaching out.

“A regression to the past.”

“Regression, as in…?”

“Literally. When the shoot starts… when the camera rolls, I feel like I’ve returned to the past for that moment.”

The manager, who was diligently moving the suitcase, is also listening with a serious face from over there.

Chae Eun-bi moistened her dry lips and asked.

“Have you acted in the past?”

Park Geon suddenly raised his gaze. In the eyes that were staring intently, a clear light emerged this time.

Regret… or sorrow.

“I probably did.”

Although the atmosphere became heavy at the end, today’s interview was a great success.

The coordinator and photographer, who had been watching the interview like fans at a fan signing event, returned to their positions. After the interview, a pictorial to be published in the magazine was scheduled.

“Ah! There’s one thing I forgot to ask, when are you planning your next project? Is there a genre you’d like to film?”

He swept the rookie awards with supporting roles in dramas and leading roles in movies. Now, if he just rests for a while and enters a blockbuster from the three major broadcasting stations, he will completely join the A-list ranks.

The answer that came out was completely different from expectations.

“I don’t have a specific genre I want. I want to film as quickly and as much as possible.”

* * *

It is now the era of media visualization. Fashion magazines have also jumped on the bandwagon.

In the past, they would only upload a few interviews and pictorials to their own pages and be done, but these days, they upload celebrity behind-the-scenes stills, unreleased videos, and more to all sorts of places.

Fogue is no different.

The staff stayed up all night editing the data that Chae Eun-bi brought like a treasure, and matched it to the publication date of ‘This Month’s Issue.’

The magazine, which came out in four days, surpassed the usual sales by five times, and the online page views exceeded ten times, showing the momentum of the ‘Park Geon Effect.’

In the behind-the-scenes still cut video uploaded amidst countless support, fans’ comments poured in.

[Park Geon (PARKGEON) Fatal Priest, the Dignity and Future of the ‘Trend’? (feat. Manager Seon) ㅣin FOGUE]

120,000 views

-Fogue has an exclusive interview with Park Geon?!

-Just thank you. Just thank you. Just thank you.

-Reminds me of The Dog of Seoul lol What kind of collaboration is special forces, game攻略 [game walkthrough], and meat grilling channels?

-Every word is taciturn but delicate… The typical romance novel male lead material…

-(Workaholic Cold City Man Team Leader)

-His actions are harmless to the world, but the most harmful to the people next to him

-Actor’s clothing list) 1:23 Training suit/zip-up, 3:16 Silk shirt/leather pants, 6:44 Argyle knit/denim pants

-I only saw him in suits or priest robes, but it’s so nice to see him wearing casual clothes like that… Is he not coming out on home entertainment shows?

-It seems burdensome because he lives with his family.

-He says he wants to work! What is the agency doing not getting the actor any work!

-It hasn’t even been a month since the movie was taken down, is he already going to start another project,,,?

-If it’s Park Geon, it’s possible. Our actor is someone who does what he says.

* * *

That night.

Park Seon, panting, opened the door and put down a heavy pile of documents.

On the desk, five piles of scenarios were already lined up like stone towers.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], this is the last one. I copied and brought everything that’s in the agency.”

Park Geon was buried in the paper, flipping through the script. Even though he had stayed up all night, there was no sign of fatigue in his eyes.

“Thanks. Next time, I’ll just…”

“What are you talking about, what actor goes around looking for scenarios on their own? I’ll find them all for you, so you just have to read them.”

Park Seon, wiping away sweat, patted the piles of paper with a proud expression.

“I’ve skimmed through them, though not all of them? Even if I just take a quick look, there were quite a few good works. The genres are also diverse, so it should be easy to choose the next project.”

“How far along are the scenarios that came to us?”

“Uh… that’s here, the ones marked in red. You can see the rest as having no owner.”

“Or no lead.”

“That’s right!”

Park Geon handed two copies of the scenario to his brother, who was snapping his fingers. Park Seon’s eyes widened.

“Oh, maybe this is…”

“Yeah. It looked interesting.”

“Okay, I’ll contact them right away to check the progress.”

Park Seon ran out without even receiving the scenario. Bang! In the meantime, he doesn’t forget to close the door.

In the hands of the actor who was left alone, two works with the MBS and JNBC logos are shaking.

“…It’s not urgent. I don’t feel it this time.”

* * *

JNBC office building, 3rd floor lounge.

The lighting director, who worked with him on ‘The Dog of Seoul,’ was hurrying past when he was startled.

“Oh, Park Geon-ssi [term of polite address]! What’s wrong?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Next is the drama department PD [Producer-Director] who he got to know while passing by.

“Actor Park Geon? What are you doing here?”

“I have something to think about.”

This time, a female staff member from the production team.

“Here… please have this. I bought coffee and cookies for our team’s errands, but it looks like there will be leftovers…”

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

His fan service is also outstanding. He doesn’t just frown, but also makes eye contact.

The staff member, whose face turned red, retreated as if running away. Anyone could tell that the snacks were bought on purpose, but anyway, both the giver and receiver were satisfied, so it was fine.

The assistant director and PD, who were peeking at the 6 million viewer actor’s bizarre behavior from over there, whispered.

“How many days has it been?”

“It’s been three days today.”

“Wow… it’s not easy.”

It’s been 3 days since Park Geon suddenly appeared at JNBC. He came to meet PD Na Jong-mo, but he only greeted the people he knew and then holed up in the lounge.

With piles of scenarios that change every day in front of him, like someone waiting for a revelation.

“At first, he seemed interested in the new weekend drama.”

The PD scratched his greasy hair and pretended to know.

“Ah, Sea of Anger?”

Sea of Anger, a typical corporate thriller.

The best anticipated work of the first quarter, written by a popular writer and directed by an experienced PD.

“It’s a work by Joo Gi-tae and Lee Hyun-ok. With Park Geon’s name value, he could easily break through the lead role there, right?”

“Well, he auditioned there, but well…”

As the assistant director whispered, the PD’s expression gradually turned puzzled.

“Then the actor turned it down.”

“That’s right.”

“But why is he sitting there like that? Like a trainee who failed the audition.”