Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 132

132

Exactly 12 minutes after Boyana Olsen appeared at Excalibur Burger.

In conclusion.

‘This is how it turns out.’

It worked out well.

Very well, in fact.

“Are you really going to be okay with this?”

Boyana Olsen giggled in response to Jeffrey Rogers’ hesitant voice.

“I cleared my schedule for today anyway. Just think of it as going out to play with a friend.”

That’s right.

The development unfolded with Boyana Olsen participating as a guest on [Last Man Standing] with Lee Minki.

“You’re really participating, right? Really?”

Jeffrey Rogers’ voice was cautious.

Probably because she was a rising star who had recently entered the Billboard chart’s top 5.

Bringing her in would guarantee viewership.

It was only natural for the show host to be excited.

“Keep your promise, though.”

“Ah, of course. Isn’t trust what show hosts live on? Haha!”

The promise here was to provide Lee Minki with appearance royalties.

Not that he minded at all.

It was a win-win situation a hundred times over.

‘If we can bring in Boyana Olsen, giving royalties to Lee Minki is nothing.’

Strictly speaking, in terms of her value in the United States, she was incomparable to Lee Minki.

‘Hmm, I don’t know if this is going to be okay.’

Lee Minki, who suddenly welcomed Boyana Olsen as a relief pitcher, let out a small groan.

‘I was just going to ask her to watch out so I don’t get scammed.’

He had only expected an implicit guarantor role.

After all, specific negotiations would be conducted through Manager Park Hanmo.

But then.

[Min, should I appear too?]

Boyana Olsen suddenly jumped in and threw out the suggestion.

The situation was twisted from the initial plan.

However, upon closer examination, it was beneficial to everyone here, including Lee Minki.

‘Hehehehehe, I came to scout Lee Minki and Boyana Olsen came along! And it’s Boyana Olsen, who avoids media exposure! I can’t believe my luck!’

Jeffrey Rogers undoubtedly benefited greatly.

‘This is going to be fun. I should chat a lot with her after the quiz show.’

Boyana Olsen is originally a hedonist.

Appearing on [Last Man Standing] wouldn’t cause any problems, and it was just playing with a close friend.

Moreover, Lee Minki.

‘It’s already lucky to appear on the quiz show, but if Boyana Olsen is also involved… the buzz will be really guaranteed.’

He thought he was pulling up a pumpkin vine, but it turned out to be ginseng. [Ginseng is a valuable medicinal root in Korean culture.]

And not just any ginseng, but fresh ginseng aged over 50 years.

Manager Park Hanmo, who was unintentionally watching all of this, was simply speechless.

‘I see why Director Lee always praises the actor’s luck.’

Any situation turns positive no matter what.

Is there anyone else like this in the world?

From the perspective of someone who lives diligently, it feels a bit unfair.

While he was lost in deep thought, Boyana Olsen shrugged and said.

“Ah, but I don’t want to do makeup, so I’m not going to.”

“Hey, you make a living off the public’s dreams and fantasies, you know.”

“Then it’s a nightmare.”

“That’s something to be proud of.”

The friend he had met after a long time had grown in stature but was still the same as before.

“You haven’t cared about what others think since college.”

“This is America.”

“You’re not American.”

“If you speak English and live in America, you’re American.”

“That’s why you’re legally Australian.”

“If I just go to the immigration office and talk about naturalization, it’ll be approved quickly…”

“Then what nationality is Justin Bieber?”

“American.”

“See? That’s why you can’t do this.”

“Wait a minute!”

Lee Minki, unable to watch the two’s childish argument any longer, interrupted and shouted.

“You two always argue when you meet. We’re adults, right? We have a guest here, so let’s stop for now.”

“Actor, what you’re saying is hard to overlook.”

“Yes?”

Lee Minki was wondering if saying they were adults was too much of a leap when Manager Park Hanmo shook his head and said.

“Let me make it clear, an argument can only be established between beings with similar intellectual levels.”

“……”

“This is more like teaching. I’m pointing out and correcting you.”

Who is this guy?

Lee Minki’s expression was filled with bewilderment at the casual insults coming from Park Hanmo’s mouth.

‘You’re usually cool, why does your mental age drop in front of Boyana Olsen?’

You’re not this kind of character.

That’s how the conversation was about to go off on a tangent.

“Alright, alright, alright! Let’s consider it decided then!”

Jeffrey Rogers quickly changed the atmosphere and said.

“We don’t have time, let’s move right away! To the studio!”

* * *

What should I say about American studios?

‘It’s big.’

It was big.

Really, really big.

Korean studios are also big.

Having pushed the video industry for decades, they have enough.

Especially terrestrial broadcasting studios, which are comparable to large corporate buildings.

But what should I say about this?

‘I’d believe it if you said it was a university campus, not a broadcasting station?’

The area of American studios was different from the start.

In other words, it was a matter of horizontal area.

‘Do they have land to spare?’

Korean broadcasting stations mainly stack vertically.

But here, the floor height is low, and the area of each of those low floors is enormous.

“Wow… it’s really huge. Well, successful broadcasting stations are different.”

Lee Minki was admiring the surroundings when Park Hanmo suddenly opened his mouth and said calmly.

“This is Studio 2, and the main studio is separate. Land prices are expensive around here, so it can’t be helped, but that one is about three times bigger than this.”

“You’ve been there?”

“I did an internship and tour when I was a student.”

Come to think of it, Park Hanmo majored in film in the United States.

As Lee Minki was recalling this fact, Jeffrey Rogers, who was walking ahead, turned around and asked.

“Oh, that explains why your pronunciation is so good. If you interned at this broadcasting station, that means you went to college in America?”

It was a probing question.

“I studied film at GIA (Grafton Art School).”

At that one word, a small, unexpected light flickered in Jeffrey Rogers’ eyes.

“Major?”

“I learned producing.”

“It’s already surprising that you went to GIA, but you studied producing there? You’re an elite. Did you graduate cum laude [with honors]?”

“I graduated summa cum laude [with highest honors].”

“……This is surprising.”

This time, it’s neither pretense nor anything else.

Jeffrey Rogers’ eyes widened in genuine surprise.

‘I guess the manager is quite impressive.’

Is this the level of education that a famous show host in the industry would be interested in?

Usually, once you become a working adult, your academic background rarely matters.

Working adults are re-evaluated based on their job performance.

Is it still surprising despite that?

‘Come to think of it, he often glossed over the reason why he came to work in Korea.’

Just as I was wondering, Jeffrey Rogers pointedly asked that question.

“Then why aren’t you working in America?”

“……”

“You don’t have to answer if it’s uncomfortable.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Park Hanmo shook his head and said.

“I don’t think you necessarily have to work in America just because you can work in the industry.”

“But isn’t the market too small?”

“That’s not wrong, but…”

In the next moment, he turned his gaze to Lee Minki.

What he said next was…

It was as if time briefly stopped for the listener.

“Isn’t it thanks to going to Korea that I was able to form a relationship with our actor?”

“……”

This guy.

He’s saying that meeting me was worth deciding to go to Korea.

Is that the level of weight he’s putting on it? Jeffrey Rogers cleared his throat and said.

“Oops, I was presumptuous. I apologize.”

“It’s okay. I hear that often.”

“I like this guy.”

Even though they had only exchanged a few words, Jeffrey Rogers seemed to like Manager Park Hanmo quite a bit.

Would it be right to say he felt a small sense of peace?

I thought he would get along with someone as excitable as himself, but it seems he preferred someone calm like Park Hanmo.

“Today is a really lucky day for me.”

“Is that so?”

“I mean it. I often think about this while doing this job, but a day when I meet a lot of good people is a good day.”

They walked for quite a while like that.

Jeffrey Rogers cleared his throat and stopped in one of the hallways, saying.

“We’re scheduled to start soon, so let’s get you two lightly styled. Our studio’s stylist will help you.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Just tidying up your hair will be enough.”

With those words, Jeffrey Rogers quickly disappeared.

It seems he wasn’t just saying he was busy.

* * *

Do you know this?

There is a common misconception among Asian celebrities working in the American market.

That is.

[Most of the people they bring in are just quota fillers for the sake of viewership.]

Regardless of their actual skills as actors, most are hired to cater to the local market.

From movies to dramas, musicals, and variety shows, Asians are embedded like corn kernels in sausage.

It’s hard to say it’s a misunderstanding.

In fact, it’s true that sales fluctuate greatly depending on whether one celebrity from that country is added or removed.

[I wish Asians wouldn’t come out.]

[There’s always one who gets picked even if they can’t act, and I hate that so much.]

[In high school movies, the Asian friend of the protagonist is a must. Wearing glasses and good with laptops.]

This perception is, in a way, a barrier to entry.

It makes it easier for Asians to enter the market, but conversely, it’s also the main culprit for preventing them from receiving proper evaluation.

To summarize.

The American market is by no means kind to newly entered Asian celebrities.

The American Dream is a fantasy.

America is local. [Meaning America prioritizes its own culture and people.]

No matter how hard the actor tries, they are mostly rejected after facing strong resistance.

[A guy who got lucky and participated in a major work thanks to Asian hype.]

With this kind of stigma.

Now.

In that market, a man has finally set foot.

And it’s none other than.

“Let me introduce you. K-pop superstar from Korea, Air Doctor, friend of Boyana Olsen, dance master from Korea, Lee! Min! Ki!”

In a quiz show, no less.

“Who is he?”

“Is he famous?”

“Boyana Olsen’s friend?”

“Did his agency tell him to be friends with her?”

His recognition was still low.

But.

Only 10 minutes after the broadcast started.

“Oops, see you again on the charts next time.”

Boyana Olsen was eliminated after only three questions, and about 20 minutes passed.

“Now, we will reveal the fifth question. What is the term for American Westerns made in Italy in the 1960s?”

The 100 participants had dwindled to about 20.

Bang!

There was always someone who submitted the answer faster than anyone else.

“It’s Spaghetti Western.”

When Lee Minki was the person in question, there were few people in this place who could still look at him with prejudiced eyes.

“He got it right again?”

“He answers almost every question as soon as it’s asked.”

“His brain is really fast.”

While admiration continued, there was only one thought in Lee Minki’s head.

‘……Are the questions too easy?’

Easy.

A little too much.