Chapter 70: Can I Ask You A Favor?

༺ Can I Ask You A Favor? ༻

{How does it feel to get popular and famous, kyung?}

‘Well…’

Yoomyeong was aware that he was being too calm even though he gained something he had never experienced before.

Back when he was hungry, he used to think that he would be happy as long as he had something to fill his stomach.

‘I am happy. However, I don’t think that should be my purpose for acting. It’s something that comes with acting…’

{Really?}

The power of acting, the power of the character, and the power of the media.

Several factors combined to create the elusive illusion of ‘popularity.’

Even a highly talented actor might not gain popularity if they aren’t cast for a good character. In fact, even a good character could be hated if the role they played was that of a villain.

So, what should actors aim for in their acting?

Yoomyeong knew the answer.

It was the audience’s reaction right after the performance.

The dazed eyes of the people who couldn’t escape from the shared emotions,

And the power to evoke and immerse in genuine human emotions, whether it was ‘love,’ ‘hatred,’ or ‘sadness.’

He had already experienced that level of acting through the mysterious entity wearing a cute animal mask in front of him.

{Hmm…}

Miho made a strange expression.

It was strange how a human who was delighted as if he had conquered the world just because he could act or because he received a supporting role the first time was surprisingly indifferent to the most addictive aspect.

He didn’t even seem to realize that it was he himself who had created this situation.

{That aside, your filming set is a bit strange, kyung~}

‘Why?’

{The drama is doing well and the actors have good energy, so there should be more residual energy after the shooting… but it seems less than expected.}

‘Really?’

{Yes, kyung~  There isn’t a lot… but considering that you’re also an unusual case who received my presence, I suppose that could happen…}

‘Hmm… Aren’t there any other acting spirits besides you?’

{Spirits like me are not common, kyung. Besides, the others tend to stay away when I’m around because they get suppressed by my presence.}

‘Really? That’s impressive…’

Miho’s tail lifted and waved smugly.

{Alright, don’t worry about it and just focus on your acting.}

‘Okay.’

It was mid-January, and it was the last day of shooting for <Showbiz Studies>.

*

Hana won the audition for ‘cat girl’ and suddenly rose to stardom. In the meantime, she gave her answer to Do-jun’s confession.

“I won’t deny that I’m attracted to you, senior. But right now, your influence is so strong that I think I’ll be dragged and associated with you like how iron fillers are stuck to a magnet. I don’t want to be known as Kwon Do-jun’s girlfriend; I want to stand on my own as the actress Kim Hana.”

And so, three years passed swiftly.

During that time, Hana became a well-known actress, and Do-jun repeatedly confessed his feelings only to be rejected.

As for Bohyung… he went back to his home, but he remained a warm supporter of Hana.

And then, the final scene.

Hana was cast as the lead actress alongside Do-jun in the same production, engaging in a fiery acting duel as equals.

The reviews dubbed it ‘the battle of acting between the male and female leads.’

Meanwhile, watching her from afar was Bohyung.

“You’ve grown a lot, Hana.”

“She’s become a great actress.”

“That’s right. I realized it when she called my name in so many different ways back then. I knew she’d become a great actress.”

He muttered as if he were brushing off faded memories.

“Aren’t you… going to tell her?”

“What do you mean?”

When the manager closed his mouth in embarrassment at the seemingly innocent question, Bohyung laughed mischievously.

“I’m not going to tell her.”

“May I ask why?”

“Because I have good eyes.”

The manager’s expression darkened.

Although it may seem like Bohyung easily navigated through life with the ability to understand people’s hearts and thoughts, he had never used it to manipulate and force anything to his liking, even back when he was a child.

It seems he didn’t plan to force anything this time, either.

“The outcome is too obvious. It’d be like taking a refreshing drink for a brief high and facing a gruesome price afterward.”

“…”

“If she doesn’t call me ‘Bohyung’ with that voice again…”

The manager’s eyebrows creased.

He had taken care of Bohyung since he was a child, but he had never heard his voice like this.

The smile that seemed permanently etched on Bohyung’s face was wiped away.

“I can’t help it. Even though I know it’s a bitter pill to swallow, it feels like I’ll wither away if I don’t take it.”

“…You won’t die, though.”

“Yeah, I know that in my head, but…”

“…”

“I wonder if I’m really sure I won’t die.”

Bohyung softened the end of his words with laughter, but it was filled with deep obsession.

It was a feeling that transitioned from skepticism about people in general to affection for a single person.

That was why he pressed his feelings deep down inside.

Instead of breaking her, he wanted to put her inside an untouched glass wall so that he could still see her.

“Also, I didn’t want my feelings to become distorted because of a confession that wouldn’t succeed. It’s not like I helped her with a hidden agenda from the beginning. I just wanted to give her the chance she’s worked so hard for.”

The manager quietly nodded and accepted his conclusion.

“I guess Hana is going to meet Kwon Do-jun today.”

In the last words spoken calmly by Bohyung were numerous emotions buried within.

“Cut! Well done, Bohyung!”

“Great job, Bohyung.”

“Wow, Bohyung is done for today. I’m so jealous!”

“Bohyung’s fans are going to cry after seeing today’s episode.”

The last few scenes of Bohyung watching Hana had already been filmed in the morning.

Although there was still one more episode to go, Bohyung’s scenes were already over with episode 15.

Yoomyeong bowed deeply to the people he had spent most of the last five months with.

“Thank you.”

*

January 27th, Thursday.

It was the last day and the wrap-up party for <Showbiz Studies>.

One by one, people arrived through the biting cold. Of course, Yoomyeong still thought of himself as a rookie and arrived 30 minutes early, taking pictures with each staff member one by one.

Click.

Click.

He gladly fulfilled the staff members’ requests, who all wanted to leave with a photo of them together to commemorate their time working on the show.

“The director has arrived~”

The CP came early with the director of KBK’s Drama Department.

Seeing how they came early and greeted each staff member by patting them on the shoulder, Yoomyeong could tell how excited KBK was about the outcome of the drama.

It was understandable. The viewership rating from yesterday was 44.7%.

It might not be on the level of ‘Jewel in the Palace’ or ‘Lovers in Paris,’ but starting at 18%, the drama had rapidly risen in ratings and was now even being called a national drama.

After a long period of struggling, it seemed that KBK’s Drama Department could finally relax.

“Oh, Mr. Shin Yoomyeong!”

Seeing Yoomyeong, the director hurried over.

“Hello, Director.”

“Yes, I enjoyed the drama. My daughter is a huge fan. Could you please sign this for her?”

“What’s your daughter’s name?”

Someone handed over a pristine piece of paper, and Yoomyeong signed it. He was quite accustomed to giving autographs now.

“Brother.”

Cha Harin arrived, followed by Jung Junhee and Baek Seunghyo.

Lee Kyu-seong sent a late notice of his absence due to illness.

While those who knew the real reason couldn’t help but show their displeasure, the atmosphere grew even more cheerful without his uncomfortable presence.

“The broadcast is starting!”

The content of episode 16 was as expected: it was the ending where Hana and Do-jun finally got together.

— Now, I feel like I’ve become a little magnet. Although I’m still small, I now have my own influence and strength, so I have confidence that I won’t be dragged down by acting or love. Let’s do our best on both fronts, Kwon Do-jun.

With confidence, Hana extended her hand and looked Do-jun straight in the eye.

Her confession was much more similar to a declaration of war that would end in a draw, a war where they would endlessly win and lose.

It was fortunate that there was no unexpected twist in the ending.

This was because writer Yook had asked, ‘Isn’t the ending of ‘Lovers in Paris’ wonderful?’ with a glint in her eye, which had secretly worried Yoomyeong.

Wow—

As the ending scene played out in the background, the theme song of the drama began to play, and the <Showbiz Studies> team, who had been on a five-month journey, erupted in cheers.

It was the end.

Then, writer Yook approached Yoomyeong’s table.

“Mr. Shin Yoomyeong, let’s have a drink.”

“Yes, writer Yook. Have a seat, please.”

Already flushed from having received drinks here and there, writer Yook downed the glass filled by Yoomyeong in one gulp.

“Isn’t this the first time we’ve seen each other since then?”

“Yes. You were busy with writing, right? You couldn’t even come to the set.”

“Yes, I was busy. And then there was the struggle with KBK to extend it to 20 episodes.”

“But you didn’t extend it in the end.”

“Wouldn’t it be ruined if I extended it? They told me they saved a lot of airtime for the drama, but they gave up when I threatened to end my first work with them as my last.”

“Haha, you’re quite something, writer Yook.”

“But this time, I did well with KBK. I was very satisfied because the screen came out just as I had imagined while writing the script. Especially in episode 10, when Bohyung falls for Hana with the ‘trigger.’ I didn’t think you would be able to pull that off when I wrote it, but… you surprise me every time I watch you, Mr. Shin Yoomyeong. I mean, Actor Shin Yoomyeong.”

She emphasized the word ‘actor,’ narrowing her eyes slightly.

“It’s because the script and the character were good.”

“That was surprisingly good, too. Let’s agree that both were good.”

“Haha, sure.”

Yook Mi-young didn’t mind getting along with people who lifted themselves and others. It was the confidence that only a skilled person would have.

“So let’s work together again sometime, Mr. Yoomyeong. When that time comes, you should think positively because I will definitely cast you as the male lead. Of course, you need to continue showing us great acting until then.”

“If you write a good script, I’m all for it anytime.”

She burst into laughter at his confident response.

“You sometimes remind me of Director Bang even though you’re only twenty-four.”

“I’m twenty-five now.”

Yoomyeong had just turned one year older.

“We will now cut the cake~”

Under a banner that read [KBK Showbiz Studies Finale Party], a large cake was set up, and the actors stood in front of it.

Baek Seunghyo and Cha Harin cut the cake on behalf of everyone.

Wow—

A loud cheer erupted, and the finale party continued until late into the night.

*

The viewership rating for Showbiz Studies’s Episode 16 was 45.2%.

Due to the initially low ratings, the average viewer rating was 34.8%. But no matter what anyone said, <Showbiz Studies> was the winner of the 04-05 year-end and early-year drama season.

It drew the strokes for the character of the female lead who ‘wasn’t saved’ and competed shoulder to shoulder with the male lead.

It was also a drama where the second male lead was loved more than in any other drama.

— Bohyung… T-T

— Bohyung, are you thirsty? Noona will call you. Bohyung-ah, Bohyung-ah, Bohyung-ah, don’t cry…

— It seems like the love line is messed up. Wasn’t it supposed to be the female lead and Bohyung?

There were still many people who remembered him as ‘Yoon Bohyung’ rather than ‘Shin Yoomyeong,’ but it was also a drama that solidified his value as an actor.

*

Two days after the final episode.

Yoomyeong had an interview scheduled, so he came to the company.

He had given several days off to Ho-chul, who had been working hard for several months. Yoomyeong drove himself to the company and finished the afternoon interview.

However, he ran into Baek Seunghyo in the hallway.

“Yoomyeong.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Do you want to have dinner?”

At the gathering during the beginning of the year, Baek Seunghyo had spoken to Yoomyeong.

He was gruff and manly, but he had a somewhat gentle side when he spoke. Yoomyeong readily nodded.

They sat facing each other at a nice restaurant near the company, ordering army stew and a bottle of soju to accompany their small talk.

“Did Lee Kyu-seong say anything after that?”

“No, he didn’t. He glared at me, but he didn’t say anything.”

“Your manager seems to have handled it well.”

Baek Seunghyo also seemed to be well aware of Director Moon’s resourcefulness.

And after talking about this and that for a long time, Baek Seunghyo paused.

His expression implied that he had something to say.

“So, Yoomyeong.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Can I ask you a favor?”

“Of course, if I can help.”

“Can you act out the confrontation scene between Eunseong and Wolgong ‘properly’?”

It was an unexpected request, but Yoomyeong had a feeling that he knew the reason. It seemed like ‘that Wolgong’ continued to bother Seunghyo.

“You mean my Wolgong, and not Tak Gyumin’s Wolgong?” Yoomyeong asked.

“Yes, your Wolgong.”

“I see.”

After they finished their meal, they returned to the company.

Their destination was the practice room on the second floor.

“Is this your first time here?” Baek Seunghyo asked.

“Yes.”

Good Entertainment’s practice rooms were well-equipped. It had separate areas for physical training and acting practice, and they even provided practice clothing.

Baek Seunghyo rummaged through his bag in the empty practice room.

“Here’s the script. Let me know when you’re ready.”

Baek Seunghyo said as he handed Yoomyeong two A4-sized script pages.

It was the script for <Rivalry of Fate>, which contained only the lines for Eunseong and Wolgong.

Yoomyeong sat down in one of the chairs and began to internalize Wolgong’s lines. There were only a few lines of information provided, and he had to construct the basic framework of Wolgong with that and flesh it out with his imagination.

Thirty minutes later, he spoke.

“I’m ready.”

In the empty stage without an audience, the two actors who had prepared intensely faced each other.

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