NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 93

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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 93. Paparazzi

“A snack truck? So there’s actual street food?”

“Yes. I heard from another manager that the staff really likes it. Since winter’s coming, tteokbokki and oden would probably be better than coffee.”

 

Yeon-woo nodded.

 

“That’s true. It would definitely be popular.”

“Then I’ll look into that option.”

 

Jeong Cheol-min smiled as he poured beer into his glass.

 

“Our Yeon-woo is all grown up now, even sending support to other actors. Come on, let’s stop talking about work and have a drink. Cheers!”

“What should we toast to?”

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, Jeong Cheol-min stroked his chin.

 

“Hmm, how about Manager Kim Min-su’s debut?”

“What? Me?”

“You debuted as an extra today.”

 

Everyone laughed at Jeong Cheol-min’s words.

 

“That’s right. Min-su hyung made his debut.”

“Haha, I guess that counts.”

 

The drinking session that followed ended just past midnight.

 

***

 

“Are you sure this information is accurate?”

“Yes, the information is solid. I double-checked it.”

 

A balding middle-aged man stroked his chin while looking at the report in his hands.

 

“It’s not funded by LN Media, is it? Ryu Yeon-woo is signed with them.”

“Editor-in-Chief, no matter what, there would be traces left behind. I’ve been in this business for 15 years.”

 

The man giving the report also had a frown on his face.

 

Yesterday evening, a minor actor had contacted them claiming to have information about the hottest star Ryu Yeon-woo’s next project.

They had paid quite a bit of money to get exclusive information, but it was driving them crazy.

 

“But why isn’t any information coming out? No investors, no distributors, not even casting news, and even the staff don’t know anything.”

 

At the editor-in-chief’s words, the man giving the report let out a deep sigh.

 

“Exactly. They’ve already started filming, so how is there no information at all?”

“For now, put people on Ryu Yeon-woo and Park Chan-hong. If we tail them, something will come up.”

“If nothing comes up, when do we publish? Other guys will definitely catch the scent too.”

 

At the man’s words, the editor-in-chief crumpled the report while pondering, then spoke up.

 

“Two days. Stay on them for exactly two days, and if nothing comes up, we’ll just publish the article. At least it’s a fact that Ryu Yeon-woo filmed at the airport with Director Park Chan-hong.”

“Sigh, understood. I’ll set it up that way.”

“Hurry up. Other newspapers might have already put people on them. There’s no exclusive scoop in this business that waits more than a day.”

 

 

Meanwhile, at that moment, Yeon-woo was on his way to drop Cheol-min off at Yongsan Station after filming the indie festival scene together, as Cheol-min was heading back down to Daejeon.

 

The scene they filmed today was where Jay Miller goes to see an indie festival with Mr. Jeong and meets Lee Na-ri, played by Seo Ji-eun, for the first time.

 

Actually, rather than meeting her, Jay unilaterally watches Na-ri, the indie band vocalist, from the audience.

 

It was a scene of Jay looking with interest at Na-ri, who came on stage alone as just a vocalist under the band name ‘Mocha Band’, not as a full band.

 

But in reality, Yeon-woo was now turning his head in the car, staring intently not at Na-ri but through the rear window.

 

“What’s wrong, Yeon-woo?”

“That black SUV following behind us. It’s been tailing us from the filming set all the way here.”

“Really? I didn’t notice.”

 

Due to habits from his previous life, Yeon-woo habitually observed surrounding cars and passing pedestrians like an occupational hazard.

 

“Sir, we have some time before the train, right?”

“Yeah, since we finished filming early today, even if we follow the GPS route, we’ll have about 40 minutes to spare.”

“Min-su hyung, could you turn right at the intersection ahead and go around one block to come back to the same spot? I’m pretty sure they’re following us.”

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, Min-su checked the car behind them through the rearview mirror and nodded.

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

To head to Yongsan Station as originally planned, they should have turned left, so Min-su’s car, which had been driving in the first lane, changed direction and moved to the fourth lane.

 

Then the car behind them also changed lanes to follow.

 

“Oh? It’s real? They’re following us.”

“Making a right turn.”

 

Min-su smoothly turned the steering wheel, and as they made the right turn, the car behind them also began to turn right.

Then at the next intersection, another right turn, and another right turn.

 

Making four right turns in total would take them around one block in a square and bring them back to the original spot.

A normal vehicle wouldn’t go around in circles like this just to return to the same place.

 

“Sir, it does seem like we’re being tailed.”

“Hey, Yeon-woo, that must be it. Paparazzi.”

 

For Yeon-woo, who could only think of intense categories like pursuit, assassination, and kidnapping when hearing the word “tailing,” Jeong Cheol-min’s words made him go “Ah!”

 

“Ah… Paparazzi.”

“Actor. Should I lose them?”

 

Min-su, whose job was driving all year round, looked like he could lose them if he drove aggressively through the alleys.

 

“No. Let’s just go to Yongsan Station. If their purpose is taking photographs, it doesn’t really matter.”

 

Seeing that he was being tailed, Yeon-woo’s nerves that had instinctively sharpened due to his past life experiences softened again.

 

Min-su’s car arrived in front of Yongsan Station.

 

“Yeon-woo, don’t get out. That car from earlier is parked behind us.”

“Yes, Teacher. Please get out carefully.”

“Alright. Contact me when you come down to Daejeon.”

 

Jeong Cheol-min got out of the car and Min-su’s car headed to the recording studio where Yeon-woo had been going every evening lately to practice together.

 

When Min-su’s car that had arrived went down to the underground parking garage, the black SUV passed by the entrance, seemingly unable to follow that far.

 

Yeon-woo got out of the car and went up to the recording studio.

 

“Oh, Jay’s here.”

“Yeon-woo! Did the filming go well today?”

 

Chrissy and Seo Ji-eun, who had been practicing something while looking at sheet music, smiled when they saw Yeon-woo entering.

 

‘Hmm, she really is like little Han So-hyeon.’

 

Looking at Seo Ji-eun whose way of speaking reminded him of Han So-hyeon, Yeon-woo chuckled and sat down.

 

“Sister did the stage filming. I only had to watch, you know?”

“Hey, you filmed the dinner scene after that too.”

“Mm, that ended quickly. I was a bit late because I had to drop off Teacher Jeong Cheol-min at the train station.”

 

Yeon-woo looked at Chrissy and continued speaking.

 

“Director. We were supposed to practice with the guitar today, right?”

“Hey, what Director. Just call me Chrissy. The second song was quite difficult, so you probably haven’t memorized it all yet, right?”

“No. The song was interesting so I memorized it quickly.”

 

Yeon-woo got up and brought out a guitar from the corner.

 

“Shall we practice together right away?”

 

Chrissy with a dubious expression and Seo Ji-eun smiling brightly nodded.

 

Yeon-woo started playing guitar from the first song and Seo Ji-eun sang along with it.

Yeon-woo perfectly handled everything from the first song with its smooth melody to the quite difficult second and third songs.

Rather, Seo Ji-eun wasn’t yet proficient with the third song and stumbled in the middle.

 

“Wow, you’re really good! Did you play guitar before?”

“Ah, I learned it a long time ago. About 10 years ago?”

 

At Yeon-woo’s story, music director Chrissy tilted her head.

 

“Hm? Then Jay has been playing guitar since he was nine years old?”

“···Hm? Ah. That’s… right?”

“Wow! Yeon-woo, you were a prodigy?”

 

He was flustered by Chrissy’s question and mumbled.

Yeon-woo, who would be nine years old if it was before ten in international age.

Holding a guitar after a long time, he spoke carelessly based on his past life’s standards and ended up becoming a guitar prodigy.

 

The practice that followed went smoothly as they picked up the pace.

 

“Ugh, I’m hungry?”

 

At Chrissy’s words, Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun turned their heads.

 

“Oh, then shall we order something?”

“Is there that thing around here? Triangle food and instant ramen.”

 

At Chrissy’s words, Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun looked at each other.

 

“You mean triangle kimbap and cup noodles, right?”

“There’s one right in front too. In Seoul, there’s probably one within 100 meters wherever you go!”

 

At Seo Ji-eun’s words, Chrissy’s eyes sparkled brightly.

 

“I always wanted to eat that whenever I watched K-dramas back home?”

“Chrissy. It’s past 9 o’clock now, if you eat that your face will be all puffy tomorrow?”

“Hoho. What do I care about that? My husband is in America anyway.”

 

Hearing Chrissy’s words, Seo Ji-eun stood up.

 

“Yeon-woo. Then shall we all go out together for a bit?”

“Sure. Let’s put on masks and hats and go get some fresh air.”

 

Yeon-woo and Chrissy stood up following Seo Ji-eun.

They took the elevator down and entered the convenience store right in front of the practice room building.

 

Ding─.

 

“Welcome.”

 

Chrissy went to the refrigerator with fresh food and spoke excitedly.

 

“Wow. There’s a convenience store on the 1st floor of the hotel I’m staying at too, but there are many foreigners so when I go back after practice, there’s nothing left? It’s popular with foreigners.”

 

At Chrissy’s excited reaction, Seo Ji-eun laughed and approached.

 

“Chrissy. Try this. This is the most delicious one. It tastes like bibimbap, you know? Oh, this one too!”

 

Seo Ji-eun recommended various items, teaching her the convenience store golden combinations.

They picked out enough items to satisfy their hunger at the convenience store, paid for them, and came back up to the practice room.

 

“I’ll put water in the coffee pot! Yeon-woo, what are you going to eat?”

“Um, I’ll just have one sandwich.”

“Hiiing. Then should I go on a diet too?”

 

Seo Ji-eun, who was heading to the pantry with the coffee pot while holding spicy cup noodles with a bright expression, heard Yeon-woo’s words and became troubled, making a sad face.

 

“No, it’s not that. I ate some leftover kimbap from the car after filming earlier.”

“Really?”

 

Seo Ji-eun headed to the pantry again with a bright expression.

 

“Jay, could you take a look at this?”

 

Chrissy approached him and showed him a video on her smartphone.

 

“This is the reference video I showed to ‘Director Chan-hong Park’, and in the middle busking scene…”

 

Chrissy explained while watching the video about the scene she had conceived.

Watching the video and thinking about the scene that would go into the movie, it seemed quite cool and eye-catching.

 

“It looks good.”

“Right?”

 

Just then, the pantry door opened and Seo Ji-eun returned holding one cup of noodles in each hand.

 

“Ta-da! Chrissy. Just wait 2 more minutes. You haven’t eaten the triangle kimbap yet, right? It tastes better when we eat together.”

“Wow. I really wanted to try this while watching dramas.”

 

Then Seo Ji-eun sat down and asked Chrissy.

 

“What K-dramas have you watched, Chrissy? You haven’t seen ours, have you? ‘Stars Beyond the River’.”

“Oh, I actually wanted to watch it but I’m waiting because the subtitles aren’t out yet. I wouldn’t understand it anyway if I watched it now.”

 

Yeon-woo nodded. From what he heard at the wrap party, it would probably launch overseas as early as next month.

 

Ring ring─.

Buzz─.

 

Just then, both Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun’s smartphones started ringing simultaneously.

 

“Huh? Let me take this call for a moment!”

“Hmm, I got a call too. Who could it be at this hour?”

 

Seo Ji-eun stood up while answering her phone, and Yeon-woo also looked at his screen.

 

– Team Leader Yoon Mi-yeon

 

‘Hm? What could Team Leader Yoon want at this hour.’

 

Team Leader Yoon Mi-yeon, who was in charge of planning and promotion, had last spoken with him earlier this year when Yeon-woo got accepted to Korea University.

 

Most things went through Manager Kim Min-su, and important matters were conveyed through CEO Kim Ju-seong or Team Leader Jeong Hyeok, so Yeon-woo tilted his head wondering what this could be about as he answered the phone.

 

“Yes, Team Leader Yoon?”

– Yeon-woo. Have you checked the internet right now?

 

The internet? Yeon-woo tilted his head.

 

“No. I was practicing. Is something wrong?”

– I know you’ve been working on a recent project, and I know it’s probably not true, but…

 

Team Leader Yoon paused and continued cautiously.

 

– There are dating rumors about you and Seo Ji-eun on the internet right now.

“What? With who?”

– With you.

“…”

 

After a moment of silence, Yeon-woo spoke again.

 

“Me?”

 

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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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