NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 110

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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 110. Reaction

Unknown director Hwang Min-kwon, who had spectacularly failed with his debut film, was also staring intently at the monitor just like other film industry professionals.

 

“Hey, isn’t this amazing? I can really feel how Korean films are expanding into the world these days.”

“But even that’s just getting occasional invitations to the three major film festivals, and when you work in Hollywood, you get ignored to a heartbreaking degree.”

 

Looking at his friend Jung Yo-han who was shaking his head beside him, unknown director Hwang Min-kwon turned his head curiously.

 

“By the way, Yo-han, why did you suddenly return to Korea? Your reputation as a CG director in America was gradually rising.”

“Ah, I don’t know. Don’t ask. Let’s just watch the awards ceremony.”

“I can’t even make a name for myself in Korea, so why did you come back when you were doing well in Hollywood?”

 

Yo-han glared at Min-kwon who kept pestering him with questions.

 

“Hey! I told you not to ask. I came back to make films with you.”

“That’s ridiculous. What would you do with an unknown director like me? You came back in a fit of anger after breaking up with Katie, didn’t you?”

“···Ha, if you know, then go get me some beer.”

 

Hwang Min-kwon stared at his friend Jung Yo-han for a moment, then patted his shoulder and got up from his seat to go to the living room.

 

After briefly stopping by the restroom, he opened the refrigerator door and took out two cans of beer when Jung Yo-han shouted from in front of the computer.

 

“Oh! Hwang Min-kwon, come here quickly! This is a historic moment.”

“Why! What is it?”

 

When he rushed over with the beer, he saw Director Park Chan-hong and actor Ryu Yeon-woo embracing with bright smiles in the audience seats on the monitor that Yo-han was pointing at.

 

“What? Did they win an award?”

“I’m sure the host said ‘Golden Bear’? They must have won the Golden Bear Award!”

“Amazing! Wait a minute.”

 

Hwang Min-kwon quickly took out his smartphone and opened the news tab on a portal site.

 

“Hasn’t it appeared yet? There are no articles.”

“Hey, the reporters are watching the same thing as us, so how could articles already be up?”

 

Then when he hit refresh, articles began to appear.

 

“Huh? They’re coming up. Look at this.”

 

– [Breaking News] Film 「Sketch」 wins Golden Bear Award at Berlin Film Festival, first in South Korean history.

 

Looking at the smartphone screen that Hwang Min-kwon held out, Jung Yo-han clicked his tongue.

 

“Wow. We’re watching this historic moment in real time. But hasn’t Korea won the Golden Bear before? We’ve been invited every time.”

“Well, we’ve won the Silver Bear several times and the Golden Bear once for a short film. This is the first Golden Bear in the main competition section.”

 

At Hwang Min-kwon’s words, Jung Yo-han turned his gaze back to the screen.

On the monitor, Director Park Chan-hong could be seen smiling brightly while holding the trophy and giving his acceptance speech.

 

Hwang Min-kwon sighed while looking at that scene with envy.

 

“I don’t even feel jealous about this. Director Park has an insurmountable career even in commercial films.”

“If you keep at it, you’ll be like that someday too.”

 

Soon the screen showed Ryu Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun applauding in the audience.

 

“Hey, can you imagine it? An actor who at twenty-one has been in a ten-million viewer film domestically and won a Golden Bear Award overseas.”

“Actor Ryu Yeon-woo was twenty-one? That’s crazy.”

 

Of course, Yeon-woo had not only starred but also produced and invested, but even though that fact wasn’t known yet, it was undeniable that he had added tremendous achievements to his career.

 

“Ha, I want to use Ryu Yeon-woo as the lead in the film we’re preparing too.”

“Would that work out?”

 

***

 

“···Ugh, I’m dying.”

 

Yeon-woo, whose eyes were sunken from drinking celebratory alcohol at the awards ceremony after-party that lasted until late last night, groggily got up from bed while clutching his burning stomach.

 

It was truly a triumph.

 

He had secretly thought they might win one of the Silver Bear awards, perhaps for screenplay, and thought it would be amazing if they won the Jury Grand Prix, which was considered the second-place award.

 

“But the Golden Bear Award.”

 

He washed his face with cold water.

Even after sleeping and waking up, he couldn’t believe the achievement he had accomplished yesterday.

 

As the cool water touched his face, his drowsy mind seemed to clear up a bit.

Yeon-woo busily prepared since there was one more thing to obtain in Berlin.

 

“I can’t even rest and have to go out. But it’s fortunate that I’m young right now.”

 

In his previous life, although he had a body like a combat weapon, the energy that comes from youth couldn’t be imitated, so it would have been twice as difficult as now.

 

Yeon-woo left the hotel wearing a black hoodie and mask.

 

Since Lichtenberg Library opened from 7 AM, he left at 6:30 AM when there weren’t even people going to work yet.

 

“The airplane is at 2 PM, right?”

 

Since he was finally returning to Korea today, he had to move more tightly than expected to finish everything beforehand.

 

He stopped by Berlin Station and checked the storage locker where he had left the item tucked in a book as payment for the information request.

 

‘Locker number 47···.’

 

When he checked through the device’s screen, it was marked as available for use.

That means someone found and took the contents inside.

 

Half of the total 2 billion won worth of euros went to the request processing fee.

About 1 billion won in Korean currency.

Although it’s the minimum amount among the acceptable fees, it’s quite a large sum for ordinary people.

 

Some might say it’s an amount that makes it difficult to buy a decent apartment in Seoul, but conversely, it’s enough to buy real estate in an enviable location in the capital of a country that has joined the ranks of developed nations.

 

Presumably, information about secret organizations in Korea was likely not very valuable in the dark information market.

 

The value of information depends on who will pay how much to buy it.

 

If that information had been about North Korea that the National Intelligence Service hadn’t grasped, it would have been expensive since there was a definite buyer called the ‘South Korean government,’ but information about organizations distributing drugs in South Korea didn’t have many people who would want it.

 

He didn’t know if the organization called ‘Baeksol’ knew about the dark information market, but they probably focused on erasing their traces only within South Korea.

 

For these reasons, it was likely not very expensive information overseas, so he put in a request for the minimum amount.

 

‘I don’t know what quality of information it will be, but they seem to have definitely accepted the request.’

 

Yeon-woo hurriedly headed to Lichtenberg Library.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, South Korea fell into a whirlwind of various emotions from the morning articles pouring in.

 

University students gathered in small groups in their club room, talking about 「Sketch」.

 

“This is crazy. Hey, did you see the news? Seo Ji-eun’s movie won the Golden Bear.”

“But did you know what the Golden Bear was? I found out for the first time from the article.”

“He obviously didn’t know either. He’s just pretending to know after reading the article. And it was a joint production by Director Park Chan-hong and Ryu Yeon-woo, so why is it Seo Ji-eun’s movie?”

“I don’t know. Guys aren’t interested and Seo Ji-eun is the female lead.”

 

The internet was naturally even more heated than reality.

 

“Hello everyone! This is Wrecker Man Cheol-ju. The news I’ll deliver faster than anyone else today is about our country’s movie 「Sketch」 winning the Golden Bear. Applause!”

 

This was the YouTuber ‘Wrecker Man’ who introduces entertainment industry issues by dragging them over like a tow truck hauling away cars after an accident.

 

Last time, he had failed when he tried to get sweet view counts about the dating rumors between Ryu Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun, but this admirable issue-maker, the young male actor Ryu Yeon-woo, had created hot topic material again today.

 

“You’ll remember this video from last time. The video about Ryu Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun’s dating rumor happening linked at the bottom right! If you haven’t seen it, please watch that video too. Now, the movie revealed then was 「Sketch」. What? You all know already? Of course you would. The news talked about nothing but this all morning today.”

 

Wrecker Man caught his breath for a moment and continued speaking while displaying photos of Ryu Yeon-woo and Park Chan-hong as reference material.

 

“So what news did I bring? It’s about this movie’s domestic release schedule and behind-the-scenes stories about the film production. Everyone, did you know that actor Ryu Yeon-woo also participated in the production of this movie?”

 

Not knowing through what route he secured it, Wrecker Man displayed reference material while delivering news that 「Sketch」 was scheduled to screen in movie theaters nationwide starting a week later, and the behind-the-scenes story that this movie was produced as an independent film without any investment, made solely with Director Park Chan-hong and actor Ryu Yeon-woo’s personal funds.

 

These days, YouTubers uploading videos had greater impact in spreading information than news.

 

Unlike news that delivers only facts briefly with restrained emotion, YouTubers talk as if they’re revealing great secrets, so listeners’ concentration works much more strongly.

 

It was the same among office workers having lunch.

 

“Section Chief, isn’t this amazing? With idols these days and now our country’s movie taking first place at the Berlin Film Festival.”

“Ah, was it the Golden Bear? I saw the news this morning. Director Park Chan-hong was already successful anyway.”

“According to what the YouTuber said, Ryu Yeon-woo co-produced this movie. They submitted it as an independent film.”

“Really? That young guy is impressive. That guy who was in 「Master Plan」, right?”

 

Section Chief Kim Sil-mu listened to his coworker and picked up his smartphone to enter the mountain bike club cafe he frequently accessed.

 

– Wow, I’m drunk on national pride. Bartender, bring me shots today.

└ Old man. How can I do business if I serve shots from morning?

 

– Showing the majesty of K-Culture. Berlin conquest. (Long post)

└ That damn K is getting annoying. What are you conquering now?

└ I hate national pride too, but this one is worth acknowledging.

 

Internet communities had hotter reactions than reality, and the response at Ryu Yeon-woo’s fan cafe ‘Woo’s’ was naturally blazing like a furnace.

 

– Our actor is really working hard and even promoting national prestige. Writing while crying.

– This morning I turned on the TV to get ready for work and was showering, and even the water streams from the showerhead were dancing after hearing about our actor’s award news?

– What’s the content of 「Sketch」? How can I wait until release? I keep getting short of… breath…

└ Patient, get a grip. I’m a doctor. Where are you? Here?

 

***

 

As they passed through the arrival gate and came outside, countless camera flashes poured down.

 

The public’s interest pouring onto the director and actors who returned in triumph with the Golden Bear from the Berlin International Film Festival was indeed tremendous.

 

“As the director mentioned, we’ve prepared a space inside so as not to inconvenience airport users.”

“Hmm, well done.”

“Then we’ll escort you this way.”

 

A production company representative came to guide the group, and they decided to conduct a brief interview at the VIP lounge prepared at the airport.

 

When the interview started, reporters from various newspapers competed to raise their hands.

 

“The director and actors have just returned and are still suffering from jet lag. We can’t take many questions, so we’ll take just five questions briefly in order. The reporter in front.”

 

The representative asked for understanding and pointed to the reporter in the very front, who opened her mouth.

 

“Hello. I’m Joo Hye-young, entertainment reporter from CBC. First, congratulations on your award. This movie is known to have been produced as an independent film, and I’m curious about the reason for proceeding that way.”

 

At the reporter’s question, Director Park Chan-hong, who was sitting on the sofa, leaned forward slightly and pondered.

 

“Hmm. I wanted to return to my original intentions and film this movie. The young people Jay and Nari in the story clash with the world with intense passion despite being clumsy, and I thought, even though I’m old, there’s no reason I couldn’t do the same.”

 

Director Park Chan-hong finished his answer and was about to lean back against the sofa again when a sudden curiosity struck him, prompting him to speak once more.

 

“I’d like to hear actor Ryu Yeon-woo’s thoughts on the same question. As a director, I was curious about it too.”

 

When Director Park Chan-hong looked at him and passed the question over, Yeon-woo, who had been sitting beside him with his head slightly bowed in attentive listening, raised his head.

 

He fell into thought for a moment at the question.

 

Since his reincarnation, living a new life and visiting Berlin for the first time—where he had once been stationed as an agent in his past life—had left him deep in various thoughts during the return flight.

 

After thinking for a moment, Yeon-woo nodded and opened his mouth.

 

“I think something that shines occasionally looks more beautiful than something that always shines.”

 

He began with words that could have been an answer to the reporter or something he was saying to himself.

And Yeon-woo continued speaking.

 

“In life, those moments that shine occasionally come to us, and when I think about it, those moments are always created by romance. This romance stands at the opposite end of efficiency.”

 

Looking at the reporters with a gentle smile, Yeon-woo opened his mouth again.

 

“Romance is born when we deliberately take the difficult path even though we know the easy way. The moment I saw this scenario, I felt that.”

 

The venue fell quiet for a moment, not expecting such an answer about ‘romance’ from a young man in his early twenties.

 

“So if you want to confirm what that romance is, please watch 「Sketch」 in theaters.”

 

Breaking that atmosphere with a witty conclusion and winking, Yeon-woo’s gesture brought faint smiles to the reporters’ faces.

 

“Hey. Winking is my specialty.”

 

At Seo Ji-eun’s playful complaint from beside him, soft laughter could be heard throughout the lounge.

 

Manager Kim Min-su, who had been watching from behind, quietly nodded his head.

 

“The actor has become free and easy with aegyo too since doing that Deer Antler Training at the last fan signing event.”

 

Other questions poured in for Director Park Chan-hong and Seo Ji-eun as well, and as announced beforehand, they ended the interview after answering only a few questions.

 

The 「Sketch」 team dispersed for now, deciding to have their reunion later since they still had travel fatigue from the long journey.

 

The van sent by LN Enter picked up stylist Lee Ye-eun, Team Leader Jeong Hyeok, Manager Kim Min-su, and Yeon-woo, who had traveled the long distance to Germany, and headed toward Seoul.

 

As soon as he arrived at his officetel and unpacked, Yeon-woo picked up his smartphone and pressed the call button.

 

Not his family or friends.

Not CEO Kim Ju-seong either.

Not his fellow actors.

 

– Yes. I’ve answered the phone.

“Hae-woon. Come up to Seoul right now. There were quite significant results in Berlin.”

– I actually saw the article about your return and came up in advance. I’ll be there within 20 minutes.

 

After ending the call, Yeon-woo smiled while looking at a note filled with numbers that looked like a code sheet, which he had taken from his coat’s inner pocket.

 

“Interesting. These Baeksol guys.”

 

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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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