Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity
Chapter 119
Mist stayed silent for a long time.
This wasn’t the reason I brought it up.
“Mist. You don’t have to worry about it. Just forget it.”
“How can I forget that? It’s such a sad thing to say…”
“I’m fine. I’m not sad at all.”
“…Maybe that’s why I’m twice as sad for your share.”
If I said that made me feel better, what expression would you make?
I looked at Mist for a moment before hugging him tightly.
Since he had transformed into Jin-bae hyung, he didn’t fit as lightly into my arms as before.
“Having someone to be sad for me is a surprisingly happy thing.”
My heart felt as soft and tender as a freshly made rice cake.
This wasn’t such a bad life, was it?
I held back a laugh, tightening my lips.
I intended to pat his head in gratitude, but Mist suddenly stood up.
“Yeon-jae! Let’s do an experiment!”
“An experiment?”
“Let’s try not acting at all at tomorrow’s fan signing event!”
Really?
It must have shown on my face because Mist started to explain enthusiastically.
“No matter which character you act like, you can’t satisfy everyone! Some people will like Yu-hyeon, and some will like Kim Ho-yoon!”
“That’s true. But isn’t it more rational to satisfy someone rather than no one by not acting at all?”
“So, let’s experiment to see if there’s really no one satisfied when we don’t act! What you said was just an assumption, not a definite result!”
Was Mist always this articulate?
Though I looked at him skeptically, he made a valid point.
Having concrete results through data rather than vague assumptions was indeed more certain.
“But even so, does it have any meaning?”
I still didn’t understand the purpose of the test.
But since it was the first time Mist requested something from me, I agreed.
“Because you once granted my request.”
When I asked him to touch the black stone, Mist almost disappeared.
What kind of result would your request bring?
What would disappear this time? My popularity? My life? Jin-bae hyung?
Worrying about that, what actually happened was like a dream.
“See! I was right! Even without acting, many people were satisfied today!”
“Did it really look like people were satisfied to you?”
“Of course! People are talking about you online right now!!”
Mist, excited like a child, told me about the community reactions.
It was clear from the way he recited them like a memorized script.
You were checking people’s reactions all the time, huh.
“Mist.”
“Yeah?”
“…Thank you.”
“Hehe! No problem! It was a very satisfying experiment!”
I laughed at his comment, implying not to think that way again in the future.
Thanks to Mist, I could meet fans without playing a role. I was grateful.
But honestly, what I was more grateful for was something else.
Just that you were with me. That was the most precious thing.
“I want to see Mist soon.”
But class hadn’t ended yet.
I was ignoring Noh Bi-hyuk’s chatter in front of me.
“So, what’s your next project?”
“Suddenly?”
“What do you mean, suddenly? You’ve been working non-stop. I’m more surprised you’re taking a break now.”
That was an exaggeration. But still…
“Actually, there is a script I’m interested in.”
“Of course.”
I scratched the back of my neck, embarrassed.
“So, what interests you the most?”
“I can’t do it anyway. The company told me to rest until next year. Not to do anything.”
“What? Why?”
“They said now is the ‘time to wait.'”
Noh Bi-hyuk still looked puzzled.
But I didn’t explain further. Why? Because I didn’t understand either.
While talking with Team Leader Woo, something else came up, and I had to rush home.
“I should go to the company and ask today.”
I had planned to wait quietly until they called, but I couldn’t take it anymore.
Well, I’ve waited enough.
* * *
“So exactly how much longer do I have to wait?”
I spoke more sharply than intended.
I knew it wasn’t polite, but I couldn’t help it.
“Until May next year? That’s six months left.”
How could I stay calm after hearing that?
“Six months? Are you telling me to do nothing and just rest for half a year?”
“Not doing nothing. If good commercials come in, you’ll shoot them, and we’ll start photo shoots soon.”
“Then can’t I do that and act in a project too?”
“Take a break while you can, Yeon-jae. You’ve been running non-stop for the past year. It’s not like you’re completely stopping work anyway.”
“An actor’s job is to act. If I’m not acting, I’m resting.”
“…Do you want to give a lecture to all our actors someday? Please, say that in my place.”
Team Leader Woo deflected the conversation with a playful tone.
I bit my lip as my words threatened to rush out.
“Do other actors usually rest for so long?”
“Is six months long? Some resist for years, saying the emotional toll of projects is too much.”
Team Leader Woo shook his head as if he couldn’t understand.
“That’s strange. I thought you’d like it. Take this time to travel with Jung-hyun or hang out with friends. Don’t you want to rest?”
“It’s not that I dislike resting. I just…”
The acting I did at dawn to remove the misfortune factor was actually no problem.
There were plenty of scripts lying around the company. But for me…
After organizing my thoughts, I looked up.
Looking at Team Leader Woo and Jin-bae hyung, I said.
“Yes. I don’t want to rest. I want to act.”
“…”
To be precise, I wanted to act on set.
Not the acting I had to do at dawn to remove the misfortune factor, but real acting.
The practice I did alone in a dark room before dawn was just a compulsory act.
The scene that was instantly silenced by the action call, the camera focusing solely on my face, actions, and lines, and Jin-bae hyung always in my sight.
Rest instead of enjoying all this? Absolutely not.
“Sigh…”
I watched as Team Leader Woo sighed deeply, looking frustrated.
“Team Leader. I told you before. If the company tells me not to do something, I won’t do it. It’ll be the same this time.”
“…”
“But I’d appreciate it if you could give me a reason I can accept. Honestly, I don’t understand why I have to rest when I say I’m okay.”
Team Leader Woo avoided my gaze.
Pressing his temples, he mumbled to himself.
“Why am I always the villain…”
Villain?
Team Leader Woo roughly loosened his neatly tied tie.
“Sigh, fine. Since you’re so curious, I’ll tell you.”
“…”
“The purpose of this break is to raise your market value to the highest. It’s the president’s directive.”
It took a moment to interpret his words.
“…Will my market value go up if I take a break?”
“Yes. The benchmark is next May. By then, we’ll know exactly how much we can raise it.”
What’s so special about next May?
I was about to ask more, but Team Leader Woo spoke first.
“I’ll explain it simply. The best way to raise an actor’s market value is to elevate their grade.”
“Grade?”
“It’s true for all celebrities, but especially for actors. A mysterious image is more valuable than a familiar one. The harder you are to approach, the higher your value.”
Team Leader Woo roughly threw his tie onto the desk.
The tie slid off and fell to the floor.
“It’s hard to climb up. But falling happens in an instant.”
“…”
“You’re doing really well now. It’s not that we don’t want you to act. But we hope you can rest until next May.”
“What’s happening next May? How will my market value change then?”
Team Leader Woo laughed incredulously.
“You really have no interest in anything but acting, huh?”
“Pardon?”
“I told you before. The movie you shot with Director Yoon is going to be submitted to the Cannes Film Festival. The festival opens in May.”
Cannes, one of the world’s top three film festivals.
Last year, Director Yoon Kang-yeon won the Palme d’Or with ‘Cassette.’
“The best scenario is you winning an award there. But even if you don’t, it doesn’t matter.”
“Because just going to Cannes will elevate my grade?”
“Exactly.”
Team Leader Woo smiled proudly, as if looking at a bright student.
“From ‘Butterflies on a Burning Zelkova Tree’ to ‘Goodbye, My Summer,’ and the ‘Look’ commercial. You’ve built up well so far. We can’t risk any potential missteps now. We’d appreciate your cooperation.”
“…Okay.”
I nodded obediently. It was a reason I could accept.
“Thanks for understanding. The quality and quantity of scripts you’ll get after that will be different. You’ll have more choices. It will be a great opportunity for you.”
Team Leader Woo patted my shoulder.
* * *
On the way home, Jin-bae hyung cautiously spoke.
“Are you okay, actor?”
“It’s disappointing. But knowing the reason makes it better.”
“You liked that script. I read it too and thought it was good. Should I talk to Team Leader Woo—”
“I already asked.”
“What? When?”
“When you went to the bathroom earlier.”
I replied sheepishly.
Even after agreeing, I couldn’t let go of the regret.
I asked Team Leader Woo to look at the script while Jin-bae hyung was away.
‘Ah, this is the script you wanted to do? You have a good eye. There’s a lot of buzz in the industry about this drama.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. The writer is a rookie but worked with Writer Kang Yoon-mi’s team for five years. There’s no doubt about their skill.’
Since Team Leader Woo looked approving, I asked if I could do it.
And I got rejected.
‘Yeon-jae. This is what I mean by a risk.’
‘…’
‘I can’t approve even a 99% sure-hit project. I’ve seen too many cases crumble by ignoring the 1%. And this one is at best a moderate hit.’
His face was so stern that I couldn’t argue further.
“It’s a shame, actor…”
“It’s already decided. There’s nothing more I can do.”
I’ve pushed as much as I could.
But having done everything I could made it easier to let go of the script.
“How about a trip then?”
“Sounds good. Let’s go with Jung-hyun hyung, the three of us.”
“Great! Where do you want to go? I’ll take care of everything.”
“Anywhere but the mountains.”
“…”
Jin-bae hyung looked sullen at my added comment.
His expression didn’t match his size, making me laugh.
With that, I really felt better.
“Yeah, I’ll take a proper rest.”
It wouldn’t be bad to revisit the ranch with Jung-hyun hyung and Jin-bae hyung this time.
Before winter break, I should watch a movie with Baek Seo-jin and see Park Ha-eun after a long time.
I also needed to visit the orphanage. Oh, and have that meal with Choi In-joon again.
“When I think about it, there’s quite a lot to do.”
Six months might not be enough.
Now that it’s come to this, I decided to make the most of my break.
That’s what I thought.
If I hadn’t met that strange person at the movie theater.
“How about writing a script with me?”