Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 46

It was, in a word, an overwhelming first impression.

A single snapshot.

The handsomeness that commanded attention from the moment he entered the bar, Lee Minki’s striking appearance, was reflected in his classmates’ eyes like a perfectly composed photograph.

If this wasn’t luck, what was?

“Oh, uh. Minki’s here. Just a moment, let me see where there’s a seat.”

At the alumni president’s brief announcement, the classmates all stood up, fidgeting.

Where would Lee Minki sit?

The mere thought of it made them nervous.

“Okay, you can sit over there.”

“Thanks.”

“…Okay.”

The alumni president, feeling a palpable distance despite the short exchange, let out a long breath.

Conversing with someone so handsome was exhausting in itself.

It was the reaction of tension suddenly leaving him.

Creak.

However, for those sitting at the table Lee Minki was assigned to, it was just the beginning.

“Long time no see. Your name is…”

“I’m Park Jinyoung.”

At Lee Minki’s words, a man sitting across from him offered his name.

It was Park Jinyoung.

At that short reply, Lee Minki smiled as brightly as a spring breeze, as if genuinely thankful.

“Yeah, Jinyoung, it’s been a while. I remember you were popular in school because you were handsome, and you’re still handsome now.”

Praise right from the start.

You could dismiss it as mere formality, but it was more than enough to bring color back to Park Jinyoung’s face.

Because.

‘I must be crazy.’

He was, in fact, the one who had been badmouthing Lee Minki the most just moments before.

Saying things like, ‘Lee Minki, that bookworm, becoming an actor? If he can do it, I can become an actor too.’

Words that had been flowing out of his mouth just a few dozen seconds ago.

But now, he couldn’t even bring himself to utter a single syllable of them.

‘How can a person change this much in just a few years of not seeing them?’

He wasn’t the only one thinking that.

The other classmates sitting at the same table weren’t saying it out loud, but they were thinking the exact same thing.

‘Amazing.’

‘It’s not just the camera; he looks even better in person.’

‘Is it because he’s styled up?’

‘Look at those shoulders. You could park a car there.’

Only an awkward silence circulated.

Not only them, but even Lee Minki himself was sweating.

‘Why is everyone so quiet?’

He had attended the reunion in high spirits, but it was strangely subdued.

Could it be that they weren’t very close?

Reunions were unfamiliar to begin with, but was it always this awkward?

Why are they just staring at my face?

“Is there no water glass?”

“Ah, use this one.”

“Thanks.”

With that one polite exchange, the atmosphere, frozen like ice, thawed a little.

A female classmate sitting at the same table barely cleared her throat and said.

“Come to think of it, I heard Minki debuted as an actor?”

“Yeah, recently.”

“Was it ‘Evergreen’? I was surprised when I saw the article. I didn’t recognize you, but the name was the same as yours. When I looked it up, it was you.”

She started with praise, of course.

At those short words, the classmates next to her swarmed around like bees, all eagerly joining in with the praise.

“Yeah, you looked really cool.”

“I watched the drama Minki was in!”

“You were practically the lead. And the writer was famous, too, right?”

“Is Minki the most successful one then?”

“Haha, you really never know what will happen in life.”

“I’m jealous.”

Among them were one or two people who had been subtly gossiping just moments before.

But with the person in front of them, they couldn’t muster the courage to do so.

If anything, they were too embarrassed to think straight.

Lee Minki’s reaction to the words that continued for a while was consistently humble.

“I’m just a rookie supporting actor; we’ll have to see how it does after it’s released.”

“…”

Someone had said something similar just a little while ago.

But the intention was clearly different.

If those words were meant to tear down Lee Minki back then, this time.

‘He’s so humble.’

It was a statement that made people look at Lee Minki with renewed respect.

‘He’s really become someone.’

‘I heard actors are really arrogant from their rookie days, but he’s different.’

Of course, it didn’t matter to him at all.

“I’m just learning things one by one, so I can’t really say anything. Every time I see my seniors, I feel like I’m lacking in so many ways. I’m worried about what will happen if it flops.”

“Still, you must see a lot of celebrities on set.”

“I see them a lot.”

“I heard the actor industry is really harsh on rookies.”

“Is it?”

Looking at the conversation alone, it wasn’t very smooth.

It was because Lee Minki hadn’t been talking to ordinary people for too long, and the classmates were no different from strangers.

But.

“Choi Yuchang is really amazing. He takes care of everyone around him. He’s like a father figure on set.”

That alone was enough to make people listen.

Even if his conversation skills were lacking, his visuals more than made up for it.

And he had the right attitude.

‘Why is he so different from when he was a student?’

‘Is it because he’s styled up?’

‘I didn’t think he was that handsome back then.’

He was different from when he was a student.

His self-esteem had risen, his back was straight, and his gaze confidently met the front.

His relaxed posture drew people into the conversation.

The person had changed.

That much was clear from the classmates’ faces, which were flushed like ripe persimmons.

‘What if he heard what I said earlier?’

‘This loose mouth. Why did I say that earlier? I didn’t mean to say those things.’

Lee Minki, who had become excessively handsome, made them feel inferior in return.

Of course, there were still some who hadn’t come to their senses.

‘Why is everyone so conscious of that bastard?’

Sitting in the corner, just observing the situation, was Go Jaebum.

Go Jaebum.

He didn’t like this situation.

Even back in school, no, even today, wasn’t he supposed to be the center of attention?

The fact that Lee Minki, whom he had been secretly looking down on, was leading all the topics was irritating to him.

‘That guy who used to be my lackey is acting all high and mighty just because he dolled himself up.’

There was no real reason to hold a grudge.

But do people always need a reason to hold a grudge?

The person he had been secretly underestimating had become a better person.

That alone was enough to create unnecessary animosity.

The fact that Go Jaebum hadn’t been able to find a stable job and was just working part-time these days also fueled his resentment.

‘Well, shall I bring up some old stories?’

He might be a frog now, but that doesn’t mean his tadpole days have disappeared.

That’s the real him.

Right now, this is just a mask.

Having made up his mind, a bitter smile hung on Go Jaebum’s lips.

Then, his mouth opened.

“Hey, Lee Minki. Come to think of it, you were always a loser in high school. Just reading books in the back.”

He was trying to tarnish Lee Minki’s image by bringing up memories, especially bad ones from the past.

But.

“I was back then.”

“But…”

“No, but how can I help it if books are fun?”

Lee Minki was no longer someone whose mentality could be affected by such tactics.

Rather than backing down, he continued with a beaming smile.

“I’m too busy to read books these days, but it was so fun to read books back then. I don’t have any free time because I’m working every day. If I had known it would be like this, I would have played more back then. I regret it every day.”

“…”

“I’m sometimes envious of you, Jaebum. You had so much fun and still got into a good university. You were like the perfect son among the kids, right?”

He was so calm.

No, beyond calm, his reaction was so fresh and untainted that it seemed he hadn’t even registered the attempt to slight him.

Was this really enough?

‘This bastard…!’

It was more than enough.

“What have you been up to these days?”

It was enough to shatter Go Jaebum’s mentality, grinding it into dust.

He felt his head spin as he replied,

“…Just doing this and that? Working at the company, helping my parents, and sometimes taking a break.”

“You’ve been living so diligently even after graduating.”

“……”

“So, you came here after work today.”

“Yeah, yeah, well, something like that…”

Go Jaebum bit his lip.

The attack, devoid of even a speck of malice, stung deeply.

That was the problem.

It was so obvious that there was no malice.

The other person was so bright and kind, and if he were to aggressively tear him down further, it was obvious who would look more pathetic.

‘Shit.’

That was all.

What else could he do but clench his teeth until they felt like they would break?

No matter what he tried to do, the initiative in the conversation had completely passed to Lee Minki.

“Hehe, Go Jaebum tried to mess with Minki but didn’t get anywhere.”

To the point where someone would step forward to take his side.

Go Jaebum flared up and shouted.

“Hey! What messing around?”

“Oh, it’s all so obvious. Minki is just being nice and letting it slide.”

“What did I do?”

“Look at him, he doesn’t know anything. He’s been a softie since he was a student.”

Whether he was genuinely innocent or just pretending to be.

Go Jaebum’s face was flushed red, as if it would burst if pricked with a needle.

But, similarly, there was nothing he could do.

“……I’m going to the restroom.”

The troublemaker retreated.

It was the real beginning.

“I heard you also worked as a model for a shopping mall?”

“It wasn’t really my place to do it, but the owner looked favorably upon me, so I barely managed to do it.”

“Wow, I wondered who in the world does that kind of work, and it turns out someone around me was doing it.”

All the classmates’ attention shifted to him.

A competition unfolded to try and say even a single word to him.

‘Ah.’

Just as the atmosphere was about to heat up, Lee Minki took out his phone and checked it.

Then, as if something urgent had come up, he packed his things and got up from his seat.

“Why? The store? We’re going for a second round later.”

To the voice holding him back with regret, Lee Minki said.

“I have an important schedule in a bit.”

He said he had a schedule.

At that short clue, other fantasies sprouted like pumpkin vines in the classmates’ minds.

‘Are they going to hang out with celebrities?’

‘A photoshoot?’

‘Maybe it’s an interview.’

‘Judging by the fact that he didn’t drink a drop of alcohol, it seems like it’s a shoot.’

They were all wrong.

Today was the day for leg day at the [gym near his house].

The reason Lee Minki got up was because of that.

It might seem ridiculous to skip a class reunion for a mere workout, but it wasn’t.

He had often skipped leg day because his legs were shaking during filming, and because of that, Director Kwon Junyong had given him a stern warning.

[Minki, do you think your legs are a joke?]

After finishing filming, his workout volume increased significantly.

It was hard to refuse because he was in a state where he would crush his bones if he missed even a day.

And also.

‘Class reunions aren’t that fun.’

Lee Minki had unknowingly distanced himself.

He thought he could gain something by coming to the reunion.

Whether it was memories or enjoyment.

But what actually caught his eye were people who were no different from strangers.

There weren’t many memories to share.

Wasn’t it full of classmates awkwardly watching his every move?

Unnecessarily wary or unnecessarily flattering.

‘I guess I really did spend my school days wrong.’

It was bitter, but he couldn’t help but know.

He had suspected it, but when he directly faced his classmates, he instinctively realized it.

That there was a wall.

Once he recognized that wall, it was hard to feel any enjoyment from then on.

But it was already in the past.

‘You can’t have everything.’

He actually felt relieved.

Lee Minki decided to put the past behind him at this point.

“Then, see you later.”

“Huh? Oh. Yeah, take care.”

That was the end.

Lee Minki gave a short greeting to his classmates and left the bar with steps that held no regret.

Feeling the much cooler night air.

After he left.

It was the classmates who were left with regret at Lee Minki’s departure.

‘Ah, I should have asked for his number.’

‘……I need to live diligently too.’

‘Should I start going to the gym from tomorrow?’

* * *

A few days later.

[Forever Green] officially finished its premiere.

That day.

Lee Minki made a promise with the colleagues he had filmed with.

[Want to go see a morning showing together?]

It was to enjoy the movie from the same perspective as the audience.

Along with actors he knew, such as Joo Hana and Jerry.

Watching a morning showing early in the morning.

And then, coming out of the movie theater and going to a cafe, then checking the viewers’ reviews together in real-time.

It was a small pleasure that he could enjoy because he participated in the production.

‘There probably won’t be many people because it’s a morning showing.’

When else would he enjoy this kind of fun?

On the way to the movie theater.

Lee Minki’s heart thumped as if he were enjoying a small escape in his daily life.

‘Ah, I hope it’s successful.’

Now that it’s been released, I hope it’s successful.

Not only the movie, but I also want to be more successful as an actor.

I want to go to higher places.

If possible, I want to conquer even Hollywood beyond Korea.

‘Yeah, like those works.’

In just a few years, Korea is scheduled to become the core of the global video industry.

If I said this now, I would be called crazy.

I wanted to be fully involved by then.

Thinking that, it was the moment Lee Minki stepped into the movie theater.

“Minki is here.”

The colleagues who were waiting welcomed him.

“Am I a bit late?”

“No. We came early.”

As Joo Hana smiled brightly, Jerry strode over and scanned Lee Minki from top to bottom.

Then he said.

“Ooh ooh, Minki, you’ve been dressing better and better these days.”

“Really?”

“I felt it at the premiere last time, but I think Minki dresses really well. Where do you buy your clothes? Let me wear them with you.”

“Secret.”

That afternoon.

The audience’s reviews began to be posted on the movie site in earnest.

[★★★★☆]

[asdjak: I understood the hearts of the critics.]