Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 65

Former Warrior is a Ten Million Actor – Episode 65 (65/199)

Dismantle the Smear Campaign (1)

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Today is the last broadcast day for ‘Detective Team.’

The Han Ji-young trio, consisting of enthusiastic, general [referring to casual fans], and newbie members of Park Geon’s fan club, can’t just let it pass.

Everyone leaves work like clockwork, and this time, they gather at Han Ji-young’s house a whole hour early.

“Aren’t we here too early?”

“Yeah, we even ordered chicken… but there’s nothing to do.”

“What do you mean there’s nothing to do, you guys? We have to review.”

Han Ji-young operates the remote control with a reverent motion. Skipping a few menus, the beginning of episode 9, which they’ve already reviewed once, starts playing.

—Thank you, and see you again.

‘The Chic’s’ own brand, ‘Orme Femme’s’ grand launch show, concludes successfully.

—Team Leader, you looked better than the models?

—…Let’s stop talking about that now.

Due to Seok Tae-oh’s scheme, all the models scheduled for the show defected, and Yoo Bi-eun mobilized the manpower of her agency, but there was a shortage of male models.

Lee Jin-ha had no choice but to go on the runway. And, of course, he achieves great success.

It’s a story that doesn’t quite make sense at first glance, but with proportions and an aura that surpasses even professional models, it’s understandable without having to turn a blind eye.

Followed by a date with Yoo Bi-eun. Watching the rain outside, the conversation between the two men and women sitting side by side in a LP [long play record] bar is carried by the music.

—What’s your relationship with Seok Tae-oh?

—A terrible, karmic relationship. Why do you ask when you already know?

—Because I want to help you. You’ll be in danger if you stay with that awful company.

After Yoo Bi-eun’s aggressive appeal, a meaningful eye contact follows. Just before their approaching lips are about to meet, Lee Jin-ha pushes Yoo Bi-eun away.

—…Ha, my pride is getting crushed a lot today. Am I that unattractive?

—No. I came out because of a promise, but you’re attractive enough, Director Yoo. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t have entrusted you with the life or death of this show.

—Then why…!

The moment Yoo Bi-eun tries to say something more, a loud vibration rings out. Lee Jin-ha’s eyes widen as he takes out his phone to check.

The audit team, led by the police, storms in on charges of embezzlement, breach of trust, and bribery.

“That’s an overreach. Isn’t that too much of a stretch to push the protagonist into a crisis?”

“Watch episodes 4 and 6 again later, the foreshadowing is there. We were too busy admiring the face genius to pay attention and missed it.”

While Han Ji-young and her friends bicker, the scenes quickly skip.

The old animosity between Seok Tae-oh and Lee Jin-ha… The person who manipulated the financial and accounting team reports to falsely accuse Lee Jin-ha was Deputy Hong Joon-young……

Thanks to Han Tae-ri’s wit, Team Leader Lee Jin-ha’s charges were dropped, but he is an outcast within the company.

How can a general who has been betrayed in the place where he is registered continue to fight?

Unable to rely on Seok Tae-oh’s AF Mall or ‘The Chic,’ where he has been working, Lee Jin-ha eventually quietly packs his bags and tries to leave the company.

“It’s starting, it’s starting!”

“Wow… it’s been over an hour since we ordered the chicken, and they’re not even thinking of coming. Is there a World Cup game today?”

And the last episode began.

.

.

.

At the same time, Bae Myung-ho and Seo Seung-ah were also opening a can of beer each for the first time in a while, watching the poignant rain scene.

—Team Leader. Please don’t go.

Their friend, acting as Lee Jin-ha, coldly shakes off Kwon Yu-ri’s grabbing hand. Tears quickly well up in her innocent eyes.

“Wow, he pushed her away?”

Bae Young-ho exclaimed, but Seo Seung-ah applauded enthusiastically as if she was proud.

“Good job, Lee Jin-ha! No, Park Jin-ha! You can’t have your first dating scandal with Kwon Yu-ri!”

“There, there, over-immersion again. In a rom-com, no matter how steamy the kiss scene is, there’s no scandal.”

“What do you know? That’s how it all starts.”

Then, the background music that had been playing as the two exchanged glances in the rain stops.

It’s a situation where a passionate kiss scene would obviously come out. Sure enough, Park Geon roughly pulls Kwon Yu-ri and presses his lips against the other actor.

So, he just pressed them together.

“…Huh?”

Clearly, the visuals are good and the direction is decent, but isn’t that too much of a youth drama feel?

Bae Young-ho asked with a serious face.

“Is a slightly pure style popular in rom-coms these days?”

“What… what are you talking about? It’s just nice to watch because they don’t make smacking sounds like other dramas.”

“You’re stuttering.”

Seo Seung-ah assured, trying to manage her expression.

“The writer is unknown, but… they’re doing a good job of playing hard to get with the main characters until the last episode. Just you wait, something will explode before it ends.”

…And the drama ended.

Seok Tae-oh also became the head of the AF Mall content division and happens to run into Yoo Eun-bi at a brand launch event.

—Oh, the guy who harassed Team Leader Lee Jin-ha?

—Forget it. I don’t do that kind of thing anymore.

With the foreshadowing of a new couple, the backstories of the characters who appeared are wrapped up one by one.

With Lee Jin-ha and Kwon Yu-ri leaving ‘The Chic’ and launching a new brand, the ‘Thank you for watching’ message appeared.

Bae Young-ho muttered.

“Nothing definite came out, it was just a youth drama with one kiss.”

“…I guess so. I failed to grasp the writer’s tendencies.”

In any case, the drama was twice as successful as initially planned.

Seo Seung-ah, who was skimming through the articles that were uploaded at the same time as the finale, widened her eyes.

“Oh, articles about Park Geon and Byun Hwi-seung are up. Our predictions were right after all!”

“Why ‘our’ predictions? I was the only one who got it right.”

Even while grumbling, Bae Young-ho peeked at the smartphone screen, looking curious.

Park Geon’s SNS had a photo of the two of them faithfully watching the live broadcast together at what appeared to be Byun Hwi-seung’s house.

Looking at the photos with timestamps, the intention is obvious. It’s to prove to fans, antis [anti-fans], and reporters that the discord rumors were unfounded from the beginning.

“He’s so clever. If he puts up something like this, the people grumbling behind his back will decrease.”

Seo Seung-ah boasted as if it were her own business, and Bae Young-ho teased his friend with a smirk.

“The one who knew that was the same one who cursed Byun Hwi-seung so much as soon as the discord rumors came out? As if he were her mortal enemy.”

“Oh, the fan meeting article is up too. That’s right, you have to row when the water comes in…” [idiom meaning to take advantage of an opportunity]

“That attitude of doubting even after hearing directly that they didn’t fight. I think our lawyer Seo should have gone to the prosecutor’s office instead of a law firm. How can her heart for her friend be so fair and just.”

“…I’ll pour beer on you if you don’t shut up?”

*

The night ‘Gray City Team Leader’ ended.

The community became a cauldron of chaos with various topics mixed together.

Title: Reason why the discord rumors were false from the beginning

Content: From the beginning, the Detective Team side had repeatedly issued official statements that it was a false report, the reporters kept spreading it and made it a big deal. Also, Park Geon only fights in the drama, and Byun Hwi-seung only fights with women. Rebuttals are not accepted from those who don’t know Park or Byun ㅅㄱ [short for ‘goodbye’]

-Do you believe that? Timestamps can also be manipulated, and the TV screen in the back can also be manipulated with a replay?ㅋㅋㅋ [Korean laughter, similar to ‘lol’]

└Can this person function in daily life?

└└Conspiracy theorist is dizzy

-But there hasn’t been anything else since then; I don’t know if they really fought or not…

└From the beginning, the discord rumor was just a discord ‘rumor’ ㅇㅇ [short for ‘okay’]

-I don’t know, maybe it was a sophisticated noise marketing [marketing that uses controversy to gain attention]

└The writer and director should explain, explain

└└These are the people who spread it around, so the rumors keep being reproduced

-But think about it, would Byun Hwi-seung cause an accident while being with Park Geon?

└Not blackening by proximity, but mugwort growing in hemp ㄷㄷ [Korean slang expressing disbelief or shock]

└Get rid of the saying monger

If the debate over the truth of the discord rumors is sparking on this side, a slightly different topic is circulating on the other side.

Title: Best Rom-Com (Rated for All Ages) of the First Half of the Year

Content: YTS writers… did you have to… just touch lips to feel satisfied…!!!!

-A rom-com that was suspiciously corporate

└Is this Park Geon magic…?

└└But I can’t imagine Park Geon making smacking sounds ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└└ㅇㅇ The female lead is pretty, but… she didn’t have enough of an impact to seduce Lee Jin-ha in the drama

-Where’s Seo Ye-ni?

└Butt out

└└Sister, get out of here if you don’t want to get into big trouble

-(Re-upload, constant post) List of people beaten by Beating Master: Jin Ji-yu, Yong Jun-sang, numerous extras, punching machine, Byun Hwi-seung

“The reaction here is good.”

After sending her friends back, Han Ji-young took a tour of the communities to check the atmosphere.

There were some titles like ‘Is this a rom-com…? Give me back my rom-com,’ but the fans’ reaction wasn’t bad anyway.

Following an emotionless killing machine and a bride with a desperate fate, he’s finally playing a somewhat normal office worker.

Even though there are fewer romance scenes than in other rom-coms, fans are somewhat satisfied just by the fact that he’s taken on a different role than before.

“Yeah… it’s so sweet that they don’t even know it because their teeth are rotting…” [sarcastic expression]

After leaving three consecutive comments on a post complaining that there was little romance in the drama, Han Ji-young turned on the fan club homepage with a smile on her face.

A large message was written on the fan cafe’s main page with Park Geon’s face on it.

[Park Geon’s 1st Debut Anniversary, Fan Meeting COMING SOON]

*

Byun Hwi-seung, who was half-lying on the sofa, called out.

“Actor Park.”

“Yes.”

“You’re having a fan meeting?”

“The date hasn’t been set yet. So I wanted to ask you, how did you do your first fan meeting?”

Byun Hwi-seung scratched his chin.

“Well… I don’t remember very well. I probably rented a restaurant and had a party. I used my own money to rent it out and we drank a lot of wine together until I passed out and was carried away by my manager.”

“…I’ll just ask a colleague at the agency.”

“Suit yourself. The atmosphere must be good lately.”

“Atmosphere?”

He was going to ask Jin Ji-yu for advice, but a different answer came out. Byun Hwi-seung said with a look that said, ‘What if you don’t know?’

“Quantum has been nominated for first place on music shows. They’ll probably be up against Joinus’s male idols this week, and Puffing Dolls will be releasing their 3rd full album soon.”

Puffing Dolls was the idol group that Jin Ji-yu had mentioned before, who performed at the awards ceremony.

He definitely saw their names and photos on the agency’s website, but he’s getting the members’ names mixed up. While he was trying to remember, idol news kept pouring out.

“The Joinus kids are evenly matched… DG and Sea Rain are already precarious. If they get through this time, Roman will take over the idol scene in the first half of the year?”

“You’re up to date.”

Byun Hwi-seung snorted arrogantly, as if he were mistaken for an award winner.

“Of course, I’m an expert in the same industry.”

“You know all the members’ names, don’t you?”

“How did you know? Quantum has Jang Yeo-bin, Im Su-ryeong, Kim Kyung, and Rita. Puffing Dolls are…”

“Wait a minute, what about our company’s male idols?”

“Don’t ask about those dark guys. It’s a waste of brain capacity.”

“You’re really consistent.”

Geon couldn’t help but admire. If someone is this consistent, the person giving them a hard time feels sorry.

The 11-year debut uncle fan [term for older fans] smiled slyly.

“Jin-hong hyung [older brother/male friend] said that Roman’s momentum is no joke these days. Since Park Geon joined, both actors and idols have been on a continuous rise.”

“Is that so.”

“What’s with that reaction?”

“There must be a lot of people who don’t like it. The CEO and the head of the division also talked about the agency’s power.”

Byun Hwi-seung nodded.

“If you’re in this industry, it can’t be helped. It’s normal for the bottom to fight among themselves and the top to fight among themselves. Envy, jealousy, collusion, and checks are optional.”

At that time, the door lock password was pressed and the managers appeared.

Park Seon, who followed Byun Hwi-seung’s manager Kim Jong-pil, shouted like a triumphant general.

“Victory! The final viewership rating is 21.3%!”

“Over at KBC, ‘Superior Man’ finished with 5%. It will be difficult to rebound even after the Detective Team ends.”

“Wow… they finally managed to surpass 20%.”

It’s not a higher viewership rating than the dogs in Seoul [a very popular drama], but it’s true that they achieved several times the results with limited resources.

Even at this moment, congratulatory messages are pouring in from all sorts of people, including Seo Ye-ni, Kwon Yu-ri, and Director Hwang.

[Gu Shin-seung] You worked hard, congratulations.

[Gu Shin-seung] Good luck in the future.

[Gu Shin-seung] (Article link)

…The unexpected contact is Gu Shin-seung, who finally exchanged numbers through Team Leader Yang.

It’s not that he didn’t expect to be contacted, but he’s also talking normally in the messenger, so he’s taken aback.

He must be busy these days because he has to go into a new movie, but seeing him taking care of these greetings, he seems to be a surprisingly kind person.

“Anyway, thanks to Actor Park, I’ve completely laundered my image. It’s a bit of a shame that retirement is off the table.”

“It’s thanks to your help. It was an honor to be able to work with you on a good project.”

“What honor, it would be lucky if it wasn’t a blemish.”

Byun Hwi-seung waved his hand and asked.

“So what’s next? A movie or a drama?”

“I’m thinking of going for something big no matter what. I felt something while filming this drama.”

“Good ambition. If you ever get tired of acting and want to retire from the entertainment industry naturally, let me know. I’ll teach you how to leave this industry in the shortest amount of time.”

Park Seon, who was listening, was startled.

“Actor, my hyung is not ready to retire yet…!

“I’m just kidding. You have to keep doing it for another 10 years.”

While listening to the senior and junior’s chatter, Geon clicked on the article link sent by Gu Shin-seung.

Perhaps it was because he had just heard Byun Hwi-seung’s words. The ordinary title was strangely noticeable.

[Roman․DG․Joinus, The War of the Stars Begins]

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