I Acted Once, and Now They Call Me a Genius - Chapter 152

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 152

The filming of [Red Zone] was now approaching its final stages.

A situation where all filming would end in a week at the shortest, or within ten days at most.

Episode 8, where the narratives of most characters were reaching their climax.

Especially Yoon-seo had to show growth in quite a few aspects among them.

First, Yoon-seo overcomes her phobia of patients and assists with open-chest CPR for the first time. While Lee Hyeok massages the patient’s heart, she directly holds and adjusts the retractor that keeps the chest open.

Considering Yoon-seo who would freeze up even when a patient’s life was in slight danger, this was truly tremendous growth.

It wasn’t just the phobia aspect that improved.

Rather than simply showing resentment about refusing patients in the emergency room, she also showed herself properly contemplating what would realistically be the best course of action.

Of course, the biggest change was still her relationship with So-hee.

‘She practically confessed in episode 6.’

To be precise, So-hee asks Yoon-seo first. ‘Do you like me?’ And Yoon-seo honestly answers that she does like her.

So did the two get together?

Of course not.

Nothing is more troublesome than an unprepared confession.

In the end, the two continue to create an awkward atmosphere throughout episode 7. An atmosphere that seems good yet also awkward, and somehow ambiguous to definitively say ‘It’s good!’

And in episode 8, So-hee says:

—I’m considering studying abroad.

…It was a development that threw cold water on everything in many ways.

Studying abroad. If So-hee were to study abroad, wouldn’t Yoon-seo’s love naturally come to an end?

And there was one more problem.

That was that Yu Eun-jeong hadn’t yet decided how to conclude the relationship between So-hee and Yoon-seo.

“Ahhhhh, what should I do? What should I do? I’m really so conflicted!”

“…Writer, but we don’t have much time left for episode 9 filming either.”

“I know. I know but…”

Yu Eun-jeong made a tearful face and pressed both cheeks with her palms.

She didn’t seem to care about her face being messily crumpled.

“I don’t know how to make it the most thrilling!”

This part was relatable.

Just as Seon-woo couldn’t think of how to make Yoon-seo shine, Yu Eun-jeong was probably in the same situation.

Just because she’s a writer doesn’t mean the right answers would be clearly visible to her.

Thanks to this, Seon-woo could empathize more deeply with Yoon-seo’s heart.

He could experience this confusion of not knowing how things would turn out with So-hee in reality too.

‘…What if So-hee accepts her feelings.’

She would naturally be happy. But it wasn’t like she was afraid of being rejected either.

The confession happened because So-hee specifically asked about it, so she simply didn’t hide those feelings, but it wasn’t a confession with the feeling of ‘Go out with me.’

In a way, it was a state where just looking was enough.

Of course, even so, it wouldn’t feel good to be rejected.

But it didn’t seem like Yoon-seo would cry from sadness over it. At least the Yoon-seo that Seon-woo had been acting was like that.

That’s why.

“Writer, um… may I say just one thing?”

“Even ten things are fine. What is it?”

“It’s awkward for me to say this directly, but honestly speaking, Yoon-seo… seems to be a character who has appeal when she gets hurt and accepts it.”

Seon-woo ended up saying those words.

Although it was very delicate to say something to a writer that could influence the plot, Yu Eun-jeong was currently struggling with it, and… he had some confidence about this.

“…Oh?”

“It’s not that happiness doesn’t suit her, but when there’s pain and she silently endures it… the color of Yoon-seo that I feel seems to come alive more. I just wanted to tell you that. I apologize if I overstepped.”

“No, not at all! Yes. Yes. That’s right, exactly. Yoon-seo should be like that. …Then? Yes, as expected…”

Yu Eun-jeong’s pupils dilated.

The familiar writer mode had activated again. Seon-woo was a bit flustered. He hadn’t expected this kind of reaction.

‘Did it go well?’

Anyway, when Yu Eun-jeong’s writer mode activated, there was nothing to worry about.

She would appear with another amazing script within a few days. What Seon-woo had to do was think more about how to act as Yoon-seo until then.

Precisely, how to… make Yoon-seo unforgettable.

It was something that seemed within grasp yet wasn’t. It might be natural. Being unforgotten by people, remaining in memory forever was an enormous thing.

And what Seon-woo was trying to do for that…

‘Let it go.’

It was to let go of his obsession with this.

The desire to not be forgotten seemed to be hindering his immersion in Yoon-seo instead.

Seon-woo closed his eyes and burst Yoon-seo’s color orb.

And he watched as only Yoon-seo’s color filled the pitch-black world.

With each exhale, Yoon-seo’s flowers began to bloom one by one in his world.

Just as he was about to immerse himself with the momentum to plant those flowers all the way to the end of this world,

“Um… hello. You’re Kim Seon-woo, right?”

Next to the bench where Seon-woo was sitting, someone quietly settled down beside him. It was a middle-aged man with parted hair and thick horn-rimmed glasses.

Seon-woo swallowed his disappointment and slowly opened his eyes.

“Yes. Hello.”

“Ah, excuse me. I’m Oh Myeong-ho from LK Management. Um… if it’s not too presumptuous, may I give you a gift?”

“…A gift?”

Seon-woo was flustered by the sudden development.

Oh Myeong-ho smiled confidently and pulled out a Blu-ray disc from a paper bag. Seon-woo’s eyes sparkled when he saw it.

“Gattaca. It’s a first edition signed by director Andrew Niccol himself. I heard it’s your favorite movie, Seon-woo.”

“…H-how did you…?”

“Our management has some connections in Hollywood. When we looked for it, we managed to find it.”

Oh Myeong-ho placed the disc in Seon-woo’s hands.

Seon-woo looked at Oh Myeong-ho with a bewildered expression.

“You’re giving me something this precious?”

“It might be a bit old-fashioned, but they say there’s nothing better than gifts for winning someone’s heart. Do you like it?”

“No, of course I like it. I’m really touched… but I don’t have anything to give you in return.”

“Well, you don’t need to give me anything grand. Just spare me a little time, that would be enough. Would that be okay?”

“Ah, yes.”

“It’s a bit awkward to discuss business after giving a gift, but I’ll be direct. I understand you haven’t found an agency yet, so I was wondering if you’d consider our LK.”

“Ah…”

“Of course, I’m not trying to do business with just one gift. Seon-woo, what kind of actor do you want to become?”

“…I’m not really sure about that yet.”

“That’s understandable. But when we look at you, Seon-woo, we see a clear picture. An aura, you could say. You have… a charm that wouldn’t divide opinions with anyone. I’d say you’d do well globally?”

Oh Myeong-ho smiled broadly.

“In this era of global OTT platforms, there’s no better quality than that. We want to make you the next global star, Seon-woo. With the current intense interest in Hallyu, we’re confident we can draw that attention to you.”

After that, Oh Myeong-ho enthusiastically explained the treatment and conditions Seon-woo would receive if he signed with LK.

“Here’s my business card. Contact me anytime once you’ve made up your mind.”

And with that confident tone, he said his farewell and left.

His atmosphere suggested he was certain Seon-woo wouldn’t refuse his proposal.

That confidence wasn’t unfounded.

In fact, after Oh Myeong-ho left, the other actors made a bigger fuss than Seon-woo himself.

“LK? That’s pretty amazing, right? They have so many world-class stars.”

“Well, the contract conditions are practically on par with A-list actors… LK really seems to like you.”

They said it was good conditions.

Since LK was such a large-scale management company, working with them would mean getting to do many major projects.

But LK wasn’t the only one approaching Seon-woo.

“Seon-woo, could you spare us a moment?”

“Hello! I’m Director Seo Yu-mi from Seora Entertainment!”

On the film set, entertainment industry officials from here and there kept approaching Seon-woo.

Some waited for Seon-woo in the parking lot outside the studio, while others used their connections with the [Red Zone] production team to slip right onto the film set.

And among them, the most memorable person was…

“Th-that, Ki-Kim Seon-woo. Achoo! You’re Kim Seon-woo, right? Could we have a brief conversation?”

It was someone who had been waiting for Seon-woo at dawn on a snowy day, with snow piled up on his coat. He looked well over forty. Seeing his old coat that looked too thin to block the cold, Seon-woo couldn’t help but feel sorry.

“Ah, yes. Yes. Are you from an entertainment company?”

“Yes, that’s right! I’m Kim Do-hyeong, CEO of Life Management! Could you spare me just a moment?”

“Yes, of course. Ah, don’t stand outside, please come in. You might catch a cold.”

“Thank you…”

CEO Kim Do-hyeong.

While many people had come looking for Seon-woo, this was the first time a CEO had come personally.

Did that mean he really liked Seon-woo?

“We’ll give you the best treatment in the industry.”

Or was he that desperate?

It seemed like both were somewhat true. Kim Do-hyeong’s somewhat gloomy eyes sparkled whenever he looked at Seon-woo.

“Our company isn’t big. But I can promise you this. If you just come to us, Seon-woo… we’ll mobilize every possible resource to push you forward.”

Kim Do-hyeong spoke.

He would fully support Seon-woo as their flagship star.

And after bowing to Seon-woo several times, earnestly asking him to please consider it carefully, he left.

“He’s probably not lying.”

At the same time, a voice came from behind.

A familiar voice. Seon-woo’s eyes widened as he turned around.

A familiar face was sitting at the table behind him, drinking coffee.

Definitely from KS…

“Director Kim Ji-hun?”

“Oh, I didn’t expect you to remember my name. This is quite touching. It’s been a while, Seon-woo. Anyway, that deal earlier wouldn’t be bad. Life isn’t in a very good situation right now.”

“What do you mean by not being in a good situation?”

“You know Jeong Ji-myeong, right? The guy who recently got all his work cut off due to drugs. He was Life’s flagship star. Thanks to that, they owe hundreds of billions in compensation… the company is in a precarious state right now. You could say they’re at the point where they’ll be finished if they can’t create a new star.”

Kim Ji-hun chuckled.

“So they’ll definitely try to push you, Seon-woo. They’re facing death if they can’t make someone successful. But be careful. Pushing too hard… could end up being exploitation in some ways.”

“…That could be the case.”

“Of course, since this is coming from a competitor, feel free to take it with a grain of salt.”

Kim Ji-hun turned to look at Seon-woo and smiled quietly.

“By the way, I ended up having to rewrite the contract I was going to propose to you, Seon-woo. Because you magnificently proved something this time. That you’re not just a promising talent, but practically a star-in-waiting.”

“…I’m not quite at that level yet.”

“Yes, maybe not yet. But it’ll be soon. It’s a fact that not just I, but everyone in this industry knows. That’s why the love calls for you never stop coming, isn’t it?”

Kim Ji-hun let out a sigh.

“Honestly, it’s regrettable. I should have pushed harder last time to snatch you up somehow… Now the competition has gotten even tougher. I have no idea how I can win your heart.”

“…”

“So I thought about it. In ‘The Godfather,’ Al Pacino says this: ‘I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.’ I’m going to make you that kind of offer too, Seon-woo.”

“What kind of… offer?”

“One billion won.”

Kim Ji-hun spoke in a low voice.

“Just to clarify, that’s not an advance payment. It’s a signing bonus. On top of that, the contract period is 5 years. Revenue split is 80-20. Naturally, we take the 20. How about it.”

With eyes confident that Seon-woo would nod in agreement, Kim Ji-hun smiled.

“Would this be an offer you can’t refuse?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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