Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 129

129. A Bet?

Lee Minki asked, puzzled.

“We made a bet?”

“We did, verbally.”

‘Is that so?’

Thinking about it, he vaguely remembered mentioning something about advancing overseas.

‘Is that even something to bet on? There’s no prize, is there?’

Lee Minki tilted his head, but he noticed a subtle pride in Manager Park Hanmo’s eyes.

‘Anyway, only a few minutes remain until the official entry into the overseas market.’

‘I’ve finally come this far.’

Lee Minki savored the overwhelming emotions. He glanced around the lounge, then turned to Manager Park Hanmo and asked,

“But Manager, is it really okay for you to come all the way to a foreign country?”

“Is there any reason why it wouldn’t be okay?”

“Like, other actors you’re in charge of. At least one.”

“Didn’t I tell you? Starting three days ago, I’m dedicating all my work to you, the actor.”

“Yes?”

“From now on, you and I are in the same boat.”

‘The same boat, huh.’

Lee Minki was searching for a response to those meaningful words when he finally spoke.

“Either way, Manager, we’ve always been in the same boat, right…….”

“Wait a moment.”

Manager Park Hanmo glanced around and said, “Let’s go in quickly, before people crowd around too much.”

Looking around at those words, Lee Minki noticed the place was already full of people glancing their way.

‘He’s already come this far.’

Lee Minki savored the moment and followed behind Manager Park Hanmo.

‘No, why are his steps so fast?’

“Let’s go together.”

‘He’s really fast.’

‘No, really.’

* * *

Korean Airlines.

There’s an unofficial manual passed down among the flight attendants who work there.

It goes like this:

“Got it? Just because you have celebrity guests doesn’t mean you should strike up unnecessary conversations.”

It was a guideline to avoid talking to celebrities.

“Is it prohibited by policy?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just that you shouldn’t talk to guests carelessly in the first place. They find it burdensome.”

A senior flight attendant put her hands behind her back and continued to explain, as if it were obvious, to the rookie flight attendant’s question.

“What if a complaint comes in later? It’s just ruining our airline’s image. Entertainment agencies will move everything [change schedules, accommodations, etc.] if there’s even one problem on the plane. Like a group boycott.”

It was a common occurrence.

Since celebrities are in a profession that attracts public attention, even one voice has an enormous ripple effect.

Perhaps that’s why minor complaints easily grow into huge boycotts.

At airlines, new employees were often told to ‘not talk to them’ especially.

Especially in business class and above, celebrities are someone you’re bound to encounter at least once while working as a flight attendant.

“There are people who have actually been fired for this, you know? Keep that in mind if you want to work here for a long time.”

“What about looking from afar?”

“Even if you just stare, they’ll be uncomfortable if they’re uncomfortable. Don’t you feel a little uncomfortable when a staff member stares at you when you’re looking around a clothing store?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Still not enough. Among my senior colleagues, for example…….”

Just as the long lecture was about to end,

The rookie flight attendant, who had been listening to the explanation for a long time, sighed softly.

“Ugh, but it’s a shame. On this flight.”

“Lee Minki?”

“Yes.”

The rookie employee nodded at the suddenly mentioned name.

“Lee Minki is also on board. And we can’t even look at him.”

That’s right.

Lee Minki was scheduled to be on this LA-bound flight.

Not anyone else.

Not even a person with the same name.

The hottest rookie actor in Korea—no, Lee Minki, who is going beyond a rookie and heading towards becoming an established actor.

“I might never see him in person again.”

“…….”

It’s a childish grumble.

But even the senior flight attendant had a hard time refuting it this time.

‘Lee Minki can’t be helped.’

It was because the other party was none other than Lee Minki.

If it were a moderately famous celebrity, she wouldn’t mind.

But Lee Minki is such a famous actor, especially known for his visuals.

Moreover, he’s famous for hardly doing any external activities other than acting.

She heard that he hardly even shoots commercials except for coffee and health-related products.

It was almost impossible to witness Lee Minki in person in Korea.

‘I want to watch secretly, but, phew, it’s in front of a rookie.’

It’s heartbreaking.

She wants to secretly watch him even if she gets scolded by her boss.

But isn’t she supposed to be a role model for her junior?

To have to look at that Lee Minki as just a guest, of all people.

‘I hate the world at times like this…….’

The senior flight attendant said with a feeling of shedding tears of blood.

“……So be more careful. He’s a famous person. You don’t know what his personality is like.”

“I heard he has a good personality.”

“Are you going to keep talking back to me? Of course! It’s famous that Lee Minki has a good personality! But there are plenty of people with good personalities who still abuse their power, you know? For example, Andre Yoon drank a glass of champagne and got drunk and sang in the cabin and got a warning…….”

That’s how the lecture, which didn’t contain even a speck of sincerity, continued.

Until the plane took off.

* * *

Sitting in his seat for a while.

*Whoosh-*

Lee Minki, who was used to the sound of the air that made his ears feel muffled, thought this.

‘Wow, I’m actually flying in business class in my life.’

The fact that he was sitting in business class was touching in itself.

Some may say that it’s strange for a celebrity to use business class.

First class isn’t exactly a dog’s name [insignificant], but business class feels somewhat dissonant with the luxurious image that celebrities commonly evoke.

But.

[Originally, first class is hardly ever used. Even A-list celebrities don’t use it much.]

Even celebrities usually use economy class.

If they pay attention, they usually use business class.

There is a difference of 5 million won [approximately $3,700 USD] from first class.

From the agency’s point of view, they naturally want to save expenses.

But it was all the same to Lee Minki.

‘It’s business class. Business class.’

The fact that it was a flight to the United States was overwhelming enough for him, so business class was more than enough.

The seat is subtly wide.

This alone was a delightful thing for Lee Minki.

‘I thought I would die riding in economy class. No, I thought I would live without ever riding a plane.’

Because.

‘Wow, my legs are comfortable. So are my shoulders.’

It was because the space was not cramped.

Lee Minki is inherently well-proportioned.

His legs are long, and his shoulders are broad.

That’s why he felt so uncomfortable when he rode in economy class.

How deeply did he feel the warmth of the person next to him [a humorous way of saying he felt cramped]?

In addition, perhaps due to his inherent bad luck, whenever he took public transportation, the person next to him was always bulky, which was also a cause.

‘Business class is different after all.’

While he was delighted, there were also some questions.

“They’re not giving me as much attention as I thought.”

It was strange that neither the celebrities nor the passengers were paying attention to him.

“There’s no need to think strangely about it.”

Manager Park Hanmo, who was next to Lee Minki, who had a question mark on his face, said as if it were natural.

“I heard that airline flight attendants have separate instructions. And ordinary passengers have this much manners.”

“Hmm.”

Lee Minki nodded slightly at those words, then said as if he still wasn’t convinced.

“In the overseas travel entertainment shows I saw before, they talked to them a lot, right? The flight attendants gave them food, so when they got off, they had a bundle [of gifts].”

There was an entertainment show he saw a long time ago.

A handsome actor boarded a plane for overseas filming, and the flight attendants kept coming in and out, taking care of him with snacks.

[They just gave it to me.]

The scene where other celebrities got angry and poured out nagging at the reaction that it was natural for him was still vivid in his eyes.

“If you look at that, somewhere.”

“It’s scripted.”

Manager Park Hanmo said as if cutting it off with a knife.

“Really? Are you sure?”

The moment Lee Minki asked with lingering doubts, Manager Park Hanmo yawned slightly and said,

“Yes, I know because I asked that celebrity personally.”

Ah.

This must be certain.

Lee Minki, who was deflated, sighed.

‘I guess this world is more realistic than I thought.’

He soon took out a magazine with a little disappointment.

It was a book he brought with the intention of spending today’s flight studying fashion.

Anyway, since the internet won’t work in the cabin, he needed something to pass the time, and his skills would grow as much as his growing insight.

*Rustle, rustle.*

After turning the pages for several minutes.

“Snore…… Snore…….”

Manager Park Hanmo leaned back in his chair and fell fast asleep.

‘It’s the first time I’ve seen Manager sleeping.’

Lee Minki looked at him sideways as if he was surprised.

Come to think of it, there were many times when he fell asleep in the car, but Manager Park Hanmo never did.

Perhaps that’s because taking care of sleeping celebrities is also part of the manager’s job.

‘This atmosphere is good too.’

A small sound of air is flowing out of the plane.

Manager Park Hanmo in the next seat is fast asleep.

Lee Minki himself is reading a magazine.

It was the moment when he thought that this moment of waiting for arrival in the United States felt so good.

“Cough!”

A violent cough erupted from somewhere in the business class cabin.

It was a middle-aged man next to Lee Minki.

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

A series of violent coughs as if he was going to cough up his lungs.

Apparently, Lee Minki’s luck wasn’t always good.

“Cough!”

The man who had been coughing for a long time, a moment later.

*Thud.*

With a small sound, the middle-aged man next to him collapsed forward like a straw doll.

Then, he coughed while holding his neck.

As if he was about to die right away.

“……!”

Lee Minki’s eyes widened at what was happening in front of him.

‘No, suddenly?’

He thought it would be a comfortable trip, but suddenly the person next to him is acting like he’s about to collapse.

What’s going on?

Was this kind of thing common in the world?

‘Wait, the flight attendant.’

Lee Minki quickly turned his gaze to find a flight attendant.

‘There’s no one.’

But he couldn’t see her.

Did something happen somewhere?

He looked at Manager Park Hanmo, but he was also fast asleep.

When he turned his head again and looked at the coughing guest.

“Gack, heuh, keuh.”

He was just holding his neck and enduring as if he was about to faint.

‘It’s dangerous.’

A clear emergency.

Lee Minki’s judgment was summarized into one without a moment’s hesitation.

“Manager, wake up.”

First of all, it was to wake up Manager Park Hanmo.

“Um…… Ummm, let me sleep a little more…….”

“It’s good to sleep, but it’s urgent.”

Lee Minki shook his shoulder and said,

“It’s an emergency, so please call a flight attendant.”

“Yes?”

“Someone has collapsed. I have something to do.”

“……!”

Manager Park Hanmo, who quickly grasped the situation with those words, got up from his seat.

Then, he shouted loudly and left his seat.

“There’s a patient here!”

Lee Minki, who gave instructions to Manager Park Hanmo first this time, quickly moved his seat.

The people around him don’t know this emergency well yet.

Even if they know, they’ll be embarrassed.

It will take some time for the flight attendant to come.

It may only be a few seconds, but a few seconds can be very urgent.

A situation where one person’s life is determined by a moment’s time. Then, what he has to do now was obvious.

‘First, let’s do something.’

It was first aid.

“Excuse me.”

Lee Minki, who moved to the side of the passenger who was half-collapsed, lifted him up as if he was carrying a load on his shoulder, and then put him down in the aisle.

Was he half-fainted?

There was no resistance from his body.

“Excuse me.”

Lee Minki, who slightly lifted only his upper body, brought his ear to the passenger’s mouth and repeatedly checked his breathing.

‘He’s not breathing.’

It’s certain.

He’s suffocating.

The things to do in this situation were engraved in Lee Minki’s head at the cellular level.

‘Do the Heimlich maneuver.’

It was the Heimlich maneuver [a first-aid procedure for dislodging an obstruction from a person’s windpipe].

Physically compressing the lungs of a patient with breathing difficulties from the outside to forcibly induce breathing.

That was the action Lee Minki decided to take in this place.

A technique that works best for suffocation patients.

Everyone has it engraved in their heads, but it’s endlessly difficult to recall in an emergency.

But.

‘I’ve received it many times, but it’s my first time doing it myself.’

Lee Minki was an exception.

That’s because he was also someone who had been suffocated several times so far.

Around elementary school, he had received CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] twice in a row in one year.

That’s how he learned it with his body.

Thanks to that, it was possible to think of the Heimlich maneuver the moment he saw a suffocating patient.

Why, it’s like this.

The person who has been to the Jordan River [faced death] knows best the heart of the person who is trying to cross the Jordan River [facing death].

“…….”

The coughing sound had already stopped.

Perhaps it was because there was no more air left in his lungs to cough up.

Only a few seconds remained until the patient completely lost consciousness.

‘It was around here. Above the navel, below the sternum.’

Lee Minki, who raised his arms over the point he had memorized countless times, strongly folded his hands.

And.

Quickly counting the beats in his head.

‘One, two, three.’

*Thump!*

He strongly pressed his chest deeply enough to make a dull sound.

The impact was enough to make the patient’s body bounce like a fish on a cutting board.

“……!”

But still, his breathing did not open up.

Still, there was no harvest at all.

Seeing him bounce up as if resisting the impact, it became clear that he had not lost consciousness yet.

If he had really fainted, there would have been no reaction at all.

It seemed like he wouldn’t need artificial respiration just barely.

‘It’s still okay. Calm down, one more time. One, two, three.’

Lee Minki, who counted the numbers desperately in his heart, strongly contracted the muscles of both arms once again.

*Thump!*

It was the moment when the impact, which seemed like his ribs would break, struck again.

“Cough!”

Finally, hope was heard.

“Keheok! Kehk! Heueok! Heok!”

The patient, who had been caught, bounced his body and collapsed forward as it was, and began to exhale as if vomiting.

“Uwaaack! Kehk! Kehk! Heueok! Heok!”

Repeating hyperventilation for a few seconds like a sprinter who ran at full power.

Little by little.

Very little by little, his breathing calmed down.

“Are you okay?”

Lee Minki, who was relieved belatedly, asked about his well-being, thinking that he had passed the crisis for the time being, and at the same time, he was checking the patient’s complexion in case he didn’t know.

*Taptaptap!*

A hasty footstep was heard belatedly from the end of the hallway.

When Lee Minki turned his gaze there.

There was a person who was saying the same words as Lee Minki a little while ago, with a greatly shocked gaze.

“Are you okay?”

It was a flight attendant.

The moment the employee was examining the patient’s complexion, the patient turned his head and looked at Lee Minki, then said in an exhausted voice.

“……I lived thanks to you.”

Bucket List No. 17.

Hearing the greeting that he was thankful for saving him.

Belatedly, the worry was cleared from Lee Minki’s heart, and finally, a proud heart filled him.

He then shouted confidently.