Chapter 4
Without even answering, Yoon Juho grabbed my arm and dragged me along. The event venue wasn’t just filled with celebrities, but also socialites, people from the fashion and publishing industries, and influencers from related fields. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t pay attention to Yoon Juho. Those gazes felt burdensome. I pulled my arm free from Yoon Juho’s grip as he walked a step ahead of me.
“Hey, explain first before you start moving around.”
“Director Hwang is here, so I’m trying to introduce you to her. Why?”
If it was Director Hwang, she was the director of Eternal Night, which was considered the most anticipated drama of the second half of the year.
“You haven’t worked in a long time. What’s the problem now?”
Yoon Juho spoke bluntly. He must have read my reluctant expression.
My head started to ache. The dull, heavy feeling that still lingered around my butt somehow felt even more throbbing.
“I appreciate that you’re thinking of me. I’m grateful, but fix this habit of doing whatever you want without asking me…”
I knew it was useless to say anything. As expected, Yoon Juho was looking at me with a face that said he didn’t understand what the problem was.
“So now that I’ve explained, can I take you to introduce you to Director Hwang? Please, I’m begging you, okay?”
Looking at this guy who was deliberately being sarcastic as if asking whether I was satisfied now that he’d said this, I just pushed his back. How could I possibly change this prince who had lived almost his entire life as a star for over 20 years since his child actor days?
Besides, it was definitely more advantageous to show my face to Director Hwang with Yoon Juho than to go to Director Kang Woohyeon and bang my head against a brick wall. This wasn’t the time to be stubborn about disliking getting roles through personal connections.
Director Hwang’s table was just as glamorously composed as Director Kang Woohyeon’s group. Famous fashion designers, photographers, stylists… Except for one veteran actress who had been confirmed for casting in Eternal Night and was a senior way beyond my league, everyone else was famous figures who weren’t entertainers.
Director Kang Woohyeon’s works weren’t popular with the masses. Director Kang was a film director who provided actors with honor rather than box office success. On the other hand, Director Hwang Sooyoung was a drama director who guaranteed popularity through mass appeal and box office success. The number of major Hallyu stars she had created couldn’t even be counted on both hands.
Yoon Juho led me to Director Hwang’s side, who was seated at the innermost head table. It was a VIP seat I wouldn’t have been able to approach if I hadn’t followed Yoon Juho.
“Director-nim, this is the friend I mentioned to you.”
“Hello, Director-nim. It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Jung Jiin.”
“You really have to acknowledge Yoon Juho’s persistence. He actually brought you here.”
Director Hwang, who had been laughing pleasantly while exchanging jokes with someone next to her, shook her head with laughter still lingering on her face. I wondered what she meant and looked at Yoon Juho’s profile, but couldn’t get the explanation I was hoping for.
Director Hwang, dressed in simple black attire without any decoration and with her hair slicked back and fixed without a single strand out of place, gave off an intimidating atmosphere. Even though she was clearly smiling, she didn’t feel comfortable to be around.
“Of course I know Jung Jiin-ssi. Boundary Line was probably your official debut, right?”
Most people mentioned All for You or Tomorrow’s Diary as my representative works. Only long-time members of fan cafes would know that I had appeared in Boundary Line, where I only appeared in about ten scenes.
“I’m honored that you remember, Director-nim, but it was so early in my career that I’m embarrassed.”
“From what I hear, Jung Jiin-ssi is supposed to be really stiff, but you’re better at socializing than I thought. You’ve really become a proper entertainer, haven’t you?”
Director Hwang chuckled at my obvious comment. Then she personally poured and handed me a glass of champagne.
“How about it, Director-nim? You like him, don’t you? There’s no face in the entertainment industry right now that would suit the role of ‘Lee Soo’ better than Jung Jiin. I’m certain of it.”
“Hmm, well, the atmosphere seems plausible at least.”
At Yoon Juho’s aggressive appeal, Director Hwang sipped her champagne while casting her gaze at my face. Even though it seemed casual at first glance, it was a gaze that pierced sharply from deep within and made judgments.
It was unexpected that the two of them had talked about me in relation to a specific role. I had thought Yoon Juho would just introduce me to Director Hwang Sooyoung for a greeting.
Director Hwang, who hadn’t reacted easily to Yoon Juho’s encouragement, spoke to me.
“Jung Jiin-ssi, how about it? Would you like to audition for Eternal Night? There’s a role that Yoon Juho keeps pushing you for, saying you’re perfect for it, but that’s just about your face. I’ll have to see your acting once.”
“If you give me the opportunity, I’ll prepare diligently.”
“The materials… I’ll send them to your company. Let’s set a date and take a look.”
Having said that, Director Hwang turned her attention away from me to deal with other acquaintances who had come to greet her. Only then could I relax a little and breathe comfortably. I nudged Yoon Juho’s side with my elbow as he was calmly drinking champagne.
“What kind of role is it? It would have been nice if you’d told me roughly beforehand.”
“It’s not like you’re going to audition right here, so what does that matter? What’s important is that you got the opportunity first. Don’t mess up the audition, okay?”
It was true that he had created an opportunity that everyone would covet. Since I couldn’t get angry at someone who had helped me, I kept my mouth shut.
“You don’t have any other plans today, right?”
Yoon Juho said this while checking his watch, then lifted his champagne glass and emptied about half of it in one go.
“Why.”
“I booked a room upstairs, and you can use it until tomorrow. I have to leave at 11 because of my Taiwan schedule, but… anyway, I’ll see you there later.”
What he held out was a hotel room card key.
The last time we’d slept together was already six months ago. By now, I thought he would have accepted that our relationship as sex partners had naturally died out. It seemed I had overestimated Yoon Juho.
“Find a different owner for this.”
I pushed the card key he had held out between his fingers toward Yoon Juho’s chest. Just as he was frowning and about to say something, I felt a touch gently wrapping around my shoulder from behind.
“Jung Jiin-ssi.”
It was a smooth baritone, as smooth as the touch.
I reflexively turned around to find a completely unexpected person standing there.
The man who was the cause of the lower back pain that was currently throbbing, and who couldn’t possibly be here, in Seoul.
“Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but could we take a photo together?”
“……”
I couldn’t quite react and just stared up at him. And for good reason—this was someone I had been with in Bangkok until just this morning. Moreover, he was calling my name, which I had never taught him. And in very fluent Korean pronunciation at that.
“Ah, I’m a representative from Knox Hotel. Our hotel would like to take photos with Jung Jiin-ssi for promotional use.”
The man who introduced himself looked back and forth between me and Yoon Juho with an expression asking for understanding.
A Knox Hotel representative wanted to take photos with me while ignoring Yoon Juho, the major star, right in front of him? Even while telling such an obvious lie, the man remained calm. However he had gotten here, I wondered if he was telling such a sloppy lie because he didn’t know enough about Korean circumstances.
Yoon Juho looked at me and nodded. I had expected him to show his displeasure and chase the man away, but it was an unexpected reaction. Did he really believe the lie about being a hotel representative? Even when he said he wanted to take photos with me, not you?
Whatever the reason, it was a good opportunity for me, who wanted to get away from this situation. After briefly saying goodbye to Director Hwang, I hurriedly left the table. I felt Yoon Juho’s gaze clinging to my back, but I pretended not to notice and didn’t look back.
The man was waiting for me in front of a pillar a few steps away from the table, with his hands shoved in his pants pockets.
He was smiling, but somehow looked angry. It might have been because of his strong features. When expressionless, it was a face that looked serious and demanding. When he smiled, he looked a little… young and mischievous.
“If it’s alright with you, could we shoot in front of the bar over there? Actor Jung Jiin-ssi.”
The man pointed to the bar that had been set up on the left side of the stage, inside the event venue, as he spoke. When he pronounced my name at the end, he deliberately put emphasis on it. That made him look even more angry.
Looking down at me silently, he began to walk ahead, weaving through the bustling crowd of people.
Was it because we were in a different country and city?
Even though this was someone I had been with until this morning, I felt like I was meeting him again after a very long time. I was more flustered than I expected by this reunion with someone I never thought I would meet again. He was someone I didn’t expect to meet again, and someone I shouldn’t meet again.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
