NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 100
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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 100. The End of Twenty
“Really? Who is that person?”
– It’s Jung Chan-suk. It seems like this person also oversaw the drug case involving actor ‘An Jun-ho’ that you mentioned before. Even so, they’re just a tail that can be cut off anytime if caught. In other words, they seem to be a minion of Baeksol.
Yeon-woo fell into thought for a moment after hearing Han Hae-woon’s words.
Yeon-woo shook his head as he recalled the bright image of An Jun-ho, who had always played the role of mood maker while filming 「Summer’s Wardrobe」.
“Jung Chan-suk. I feel like I’ve definitely heard that name somewhere before.”
– It is a common name. She’s currently the Deputy Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Deputy Assistant Minister meant a Grade 1 civil servant.
Of course, it was a very high-ranking government position, but compared to ministers and vice ministers, it wasn’t a position that would be exposed to media.
But still, the moment he heard the name, it definitely felt familiar somehow…
“Teacher Han. If you have a photo, could you send it to me?”
– Yes, Team Leader Ryu. I’ll send it right away.
“Yes, I’ll take a look and reply by text.”
As soon as Yeon-woo hung up the phone, a photo was transmitted from Han Hae-woon through the secure messenger.
‘…So it was this person.’
As soon as he saw the face, he remembered who this person was.
– This person wasn’t originally a Deputy Assistant Minister, and Jung Chan-suk is obviously a fake name too. This person’s real name is Ha Ju-ran. She’s a National Intelligence Service agent who was in charge of Southern China, Myanmar, and Laos.
As soon as Yeon-woo sent the message, a reply came from Han Hae-woon.
– Han Hae-woon: I see. Ah, if I could remember the materials I investigated in my previous life, things would definitely be much easier. I definitely investigated the Laos side too. But those memories haven’t returned yet…
– Regarding the An Jun-ho case, investigate intensively whether there were any incidents or corruption that needed to be hidden using some issue right before that incident broke out.
– Han Hae-woon: Yes. Understood.
It wasn’t simply because An Jun-ho was a close actor that he ordered the investigation.
When he thought carefully about An Jun-ho’s incident last time, there was one question – at that time, An Jun-ho wasn’t even working on any projects, and there was no apparent benefit for the mysterious organization called ‘Baeksol’ to gain by involving him in a drug case.
Then it would be one of two things.
Either An Jun-ho actually did drugs.
Or they fabricated a false issue to manipulate the media and cover up something.
Yeon-woo, who was organizing his thoughts, typed again.
– Speaking of memories. What about that notebook? Wasn’t it written in code there?
– Han Hae-woon: That wasn’t my responsibility, so I passed on the information and disposed of it. I only handled ‘classified agents’ like Team Leader. Ha, I wish I could receive hypnotherapy or something to revive my memories.
Looking at Han Hae-woon’s message, an unexpected thought occurred to him.
‘Could it be, that thing?’
The acting therapy that had guided him to draw out inner memories when he first went to Jeong Cheol-min’s academy suddenly came to mind.
Hadn’t he naturally harmonized Ryu Yeon-woo’s mind based on Jeon Su-hwan at that time, stabilizing the unstable parts?
Yeon-woo scratched his cheek for a moment, then started typing.
– …Then would you like to try it once? I know someone who’s quite skilled.
– Han Hae-woon: Someone skilled? A shaman?
– No, it’s not really like that…
Meanwhile, at the acting academy office in Daejeon, Jeong Cheol-min sneezed refreshingly.
Achoo─.
“Ugh, did I already catch a cold because winter is coming? Why are my nose and ears so itchy and why am I suddenly sneezing?”
***
December passed quickly and the end of the year arrived, bringing the broadcasting station awards ceremony season.
“Phew, I’m getting more nervous.”
Manager Kim Min-su took a deep breath while driving.
Yeon-woo smiled quietly watching him.
“What’s there to be nervous about? It’s a happy day.”
“You’ll definitely win an award, right? Honestly, this year’s KBC was practically carried by you, sir.”
“I wonder. There were quite a few works on KBC Channel 2 that had high ratings, so it might be hard to be certain, don’t you think?”
At Yeon-woo’s words, Kim Min-su shook his head from the driver’s seat.
“Come on, if you don’t win, I’ll write hate comments on the KBC homepage. It doesn’t make sense. Really, this year was your year, sir.”
At today’s KBC Acting Awards ceremony, none of the actors he had worked with in previous projects were present.
The drama Son Jin-wook was filming was an SBC production and hadn’t aired yet.
Han So-hyeon hadn’t worked on any particular projects this year except for CF activities, and he heard Ma Seok-do was filming a movie.
‘Hmm, if I do happen to win an award, there are more people I need to thank.’
That meant he was building good connections while working in the entertainment industry.
Beep─.
– Please enter the 「Stars Beyond the Stream」 team.
With the radio sound, Min-su’s car entered the entrance of the KBC Main Hall where the red carpet was laid out.
Following behind Min-su’s car were the vehicles of Jin Yu-han and Seo Ji-eun.
A security guard approached to open the door, and as they got out, camera flashes and cheering sounds could be heard.
And following behind, Jin Yu-han and Seo Ji-eun got out.
– Yes. The three protagonists of 「Stars Beyond the Stream」, which received great love this year, have made their appearance. Actor Seo Ji-eun in her dress today looks absolutely beautiful.
The venue announcer’s voice came through the speakers, and Yeon-woo naturally escorted Seo Ji-eun as they entered the venue hall.
“Aren’t you cold?”
Yeon-woo asked, looking at Seo Ji-eun who was wearing a deeply cut dress.
Then Seo Ji-eun answered with a smiling face, barely moving her lips as if doing ventriloquism.
“I’m freezing to death.”
Walking alongside and hearing Seo Ji-eun’s words, Jin Yu-han chuckled and slightly slowed his walking pace.
He was probably thinking of letting Seo Ji-eun stand in the photo zone first to get her inside as quickly as possible.
‘Compared to when we first met for filming, this is really tremendous progress.’
Jin Yu-han, who used to maintain an attitude that was nothing more or less than business, now seemed to have become more social after going out to have fun with Yeon-woo and living the theater company life because of the musical.
“Please look over here.”
“Please look this way and smile.”
“Could the three of you please do a heart pose together?”
Following the reporters’ requests, they struck various poses, and after individual shots, Seo Ji-eun was the first to enter the awards ceremony venue.
Then Yeon-woo and Jin Yu-han also passed through the photo zone in turn and entered the venue hall.
‘Come to think of it, the combination is exactly the same.’
A love triangle with two men and one woman.
It’s the same composition as 「Summer’s Wardrobe」.
The difference was that he had now risen from supporting male lead to protagonist.
As the ceremony began in earnest, the first award for the 「Stars Beyond the Stream」 team came from an unexpected place.
– The winner of this year’s KBC Acting Awards Best Supporting Actor is Jin Yu-han from 「Stars Beyond the Stream」. Congratulations.
Jin Yu-han, who had looked bewildered since being introduced as a candidate on screen, stood up from his seat, and Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun stood up together to congratulate him.
“Congratulations, Yu-han.”
“Thanks. I didn’t expect to receive a supporting actor award.”
Of course, the role of ‘Lee Ji-baek’ that Jin Yu-han played was a supporting role in the planning stage, but since he was such a famous actor with a strong presence, writer Kim Jin-ju increased Ji-baek’s screen time toward the latter half, so the drama team considered him a lead alongside Yeon-woo.
However, it seemed the broadcasting station judged him as supporting.
Jin Yu-han went up on stage with joy at the unexpected award.
He received the trophy and stood in front of the microphone.
– Ah, first I’d like to thank all the KBC officials for giving me such a big award.
Waaah!
With the cheering sounds, Jin Yu-han cleared his throat briefly and continued speaking.
– Originally, I wanted to play the role of ‘Seo Hee’ in this work. When I lost in the private audition and chose the role of ‘Lee Ji-baek’, it was because of curiosity about ‘What kind of acting will actor Ryu Yeon-woo do?’
The venue stirred somewhat at Jin Yu-han’s words.
“What, so Jin Yu-han lost to Ryu Yeon-woo in the audition?”
“I wondered why Jin Yu-han suddenly took a supporting role.”
The reporters sitting in the press section in the corner of the awards ceremony venue began typing busily to pour out articles about the behind-the-scenes story that was suddenly revealed.
– Acting has always been fun for me. But while filming this work with actors Ryu Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun, who became so close to me, I realized that ‘acting together’ is also fun. I realized that works shine not when receiving the spotlight alone, but when breathing together within the frame. I will repay you with even better acting in the future. Thank you.
Jin Yu-han bowed his head toward the camera and went down from the stage holding the trophy.
Great applause poured out in the awards ceremony venue.
Yeon-woo scratched the back of his head as if embarrassed, but soon nodded.
‘So that’s why Jin Yu-han suddenly started doing musicals.’
He thought Jin Yu-han’s personality had become more social while doing musicals, but it was the opposite.
It seemed he chose musicals thanks to his changed personality.
And in the awards ceremony that followed, Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun each won excellence awards, so the 「Stars Beyond the Stream」 team ended up taking home three trophies.
– To Father, Mother, and younger sibling So-hyeon who are watching at home···.
While watching his son’s award scene on TV, Ryu Cheol-woong polished the spot next to the newcomer award on the living room display case until it shone.
“Honey, we need to order a bigger display case. This one is too small.”
“Oh my, yes. Let’s order one.”
The display case was plenty big and looked rather empty with just one newcomer award sitting there alone, but in the parents’ eyes, the size of the award their son brought home seemed bigger than it actually was.
Ryu So-hyeon quietly smiled watching her parents already making a fuss.
***
“Son, did you pack the gochujang?”
“Come on, I said gochujang is fine.”
Yeon-woo packing his luggage to leave for Berlin.
The year had changed and Yeon-woo had also turned twenty-one.
Director Park Chan-hong had poured his soul into completing 「Sketch」 and now it was time to go out and be validated on the world stage.
“I’ll be going now. I’ll call you when I have time over there.”
“Be careful and come back safely.”
“Oppa, buy me a gift.”
After closing the door and going downstairs, Kim Min-su was waiting.
“Please give me your suitcase, sir.”
Min-su loaded Yeon-woo’s suitcase into the trunk and got in the car.
When Yeon-woo also got in the car, Min-su grinned and looked back.
“Job satisfaction is 100 percent. Hawaii, Berlin – we’re traveling every year.”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
Chatting about this and that, when they arrived at Incheon Airport, there were more reporters than expected.
Kim Min-su shook his head as he parked the car.
“Ugh, there are a lot of reporters. We didn’t even announce the schedule, so how did they know to come out in advance?”
“They probably got information from the airline company.”
Yeon-woo and Kim Min-su got out of the car, grabbed the suitcase, and crossed the crosswalk.
“Reporters, please let us pass for a moment.”
Kim Min-su, protecting Yeon-woo, asked for understanding from the surrounding reporters and cleared a path.
“Mr. Ryu Yeon-woo. What do you think are the chances of winning at this film festival?”
“Please give us a brief introduction about the content of 「Sketch」.”
Yeon-woo briefly answered the reporters’ questions while walking toward the immigration hall.
“Of course it would be great to win an award, but I already consider being invited an honor. 「Sketch」 is a movie about young people who set out to find something precious through music and grow in the process.”
“Reporters, watch out for the pillar behind you. You’ll get hurt.”
Kim Min-su cleared the path while actually showing consideration for the reporters who were desperately trying to conduct interviews while walking backwards, worried they might fall.
With his good physique, he seemed to have no difficulty protecting Yeon-woo while pulling the suitcase and clearing the path at the same time.
However, as reporters surrounded them, airport passengers also spotted Yeon-woo, and movement became increasingly difficult due to the growing crowd.
Tweet─.
At that moment, thanks to the airport security who noticed the commotion from afar and approached blowing whistles, they were barely able to break through and escape the crowd.
“Wow, next time we should ask the company to deploy additional personnel.”
“That’s right. It wasn’t this bad even when we departed for the 「Summer’s Closet」 reward vacation.”
Yeon-woo shook his head, personally realizing his increased popularity over the past few years.
When Team Leader Jeong said he would deploy additional security personnel, he had declined because it wasn’t an official schedule and he was worried it might look like he was making a fuss over nothing, but that was a mistake.
It seemed like security personnel would be necessary from now on.
‘I used to be a security guard myself, but now the day has come when I’m receiving protection from someone.’
Yeon-woo chuckled at the absurd thought.
Then Kim Min-su checked his text message and spoke up.
“The director, actor Seo Ji-eun, and the other staff have all gathered in the lounge now. Let’s hurry and go in too.”
Yeon-woo nodded and entered the gate with Kim Min-su.
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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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