# Chapter 55
Seowoo knew well that there was no need to discuss such things now, and that he shouldn’t. He laughed awkwardly.
“Hearing it like this is quite embarrassing.”
“Come on, I’m really sincere. And honestly… once we all go out for drinks together, we’ll naturally become close. We’ll meet a few times before filming starts.”
Indeed, normally people would naturally become close after drinking together, but…
‘Seowoo-ssi should just quit drinking altogether. That would be much better for you.’
It seemed like Seowoo had some drinking habit that he wasn’t aware of. Would it be okay to join drinking gatherings recklessly without knowing the truth?
As Seowoo slightly furrowed his brow, PD Park’s eyes widened with a look of realization.
“By the way, I heard Han Seowoo-ssi doesn’t really like alcohol, is that right? Don’t force yourself to drink; you can just fill up on food. We’ll be going somewhere expensive.”
“…How did you know that?”
Did Seo Dohyun say something? As Seowoo looked at him with a half-believing expression, PD Park frowned, openly showing his indignation.
“I told you I’m really a fan, not just saying it to recruit you!”
Well, looking at that expression, Seowoo couldn’t deny it. He smiled and turned to the next page of the document.
“When does filming start?”
❖ ❖ ❖
“You’re going on a variety show, hyung?”
The response was one of shock, as if Seowoo had said something unspeakable. Of course it was surprising news, but still. Seowoo complained.
“Is it really that shocking?”
“The epitome of mystique, our fortress-like hyung, going on a variety show.”
“Drop those weird descriptions.”
When fans used such nicknames, it was at least cute, but everything Woojae said was filled with the intention to tease, syllable by syllable.
Woojae burst into laughter at Seowoo’s irritated response.
“But it seems like just yesterday when you said you’d rather not do variety shows because it would be hard to adapt.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with your sense of time. It’s been years since we last talked about variety shows.”
“Wow, really? Time flies too fast.”
Though he sounded like a prematurely aged person, to Seowoo’s eyes, Woojae looked no different from when he was twenty, which only made him laugh.
Well, considering he’d known Woojae for several years now and still thought this way, perhaps the comment about time flying wasn’t a complete joke.
“So has your mind changed now? Do you feel like you can adapt?”
“My personality hasn’t gone anywhere, so it’s not like adaptation suddenly got easier. It’s just that, after considering various factors, I thought it might be okay to try it.”
Seowoo had been working as an actor for over 10 years now. No matter how hard he tried to take on diverse roles, he couldn’t completely escape from the main ‘image’ that the public expected and that Seowoo typically portrayed.
Given his sharp eyes and pointed features, plus the fact that he was quiet and didn’t talk much, no director was particularly inclined to give him cheerful roles. Most of the time, he played cold, prickly, and decisive characters.
If he participated in variety shows, he could reveal a new side of himself, which would help refresh his image. After all, being able to handle diverse roles was crucial for an actor.
‘…That’s what Seo Dohyun said.’
Though he didn’t want to admit it readily, Dohyun’s advice had significantly influenced his decision.
He might be strange and have many questionable aspects, but Seowoo couldn’t deny that Dohyun’s abilities as a CEO and manager were quite exceptional. It seemed that Dohyun’s claim about aiming for the top wasn’t just something he made up on the spot to bring Seowoo on board.
“So is it confirmed now? When do you start filming? There’s been a ton of news about Season 3.”
“Looks like the first shoot will be toward the end of next month. But they said we’ll meet several times before that to get acquainted with each other.”
“Will there be drinking?”
“One hundred percent.”
Woojae burst into laughing when Seowoo reported exactly what PD Park had told him about the usual atmosphere of their drinking gatherings and how enthusiastically everyone was expected to drink.
“So they said there’ll be a drinking session next week. Was it next Thursday?”
“Where are you meeting?”
“They’re still looking for a venue, so they’ll let me know later.”
Given that it was the first time everyone would be meeting together, PD Park’s enthusiasm for carefully selecting the location was evident. Clearly, it was more an extension of filming than just a casual drinking gathering.
Woojae made a groaning sound.
“I was going to share some good news, but I ended up hearing better news. I should’ve gone first.”
“What? Why, did something good happen?”
Instead of answering right away, Woojae kept letting out subtle laughs.
“Not for me, but good news for you, hyung.”
“Hey, are you trying to show off your variety show skills? What is it, really? If you don’t tell me, I’m heading to your place right now. What is it?”
Woojae was teasing by stretching out his words like “What could it be?” But just when Seowoo was about to lose patience and get irritated, Woojae finally brought up the subject.
“Hyung, we talked about this a few days ago. About finding Jinhyuk-hyung.”
“…Right. Did you find out something?”
Woojae clicked his tongue at Seowoo’s impatience, skipping straight to the point without waiting.
“Our hyung is secretly quite impatient. Even though he doesn’t seem like it…”
“Are you kidding me? Are you teasing me right now?”
“Alright, calm down. Take it easy and listen. I’ll explain the whole story.”
According to Woojae, their previous guess was correct. Although Jinhyuk had disappeared completely from Seowoo’s surroundings, he couldn’t cut off blood relations or other close friends. He had simply become ‘invisible only to Seowoo’s eyes.’
So naturally, it didn’t take long to find Jinhyuk’s friend. Woojae had asked him to deliver a message to Jinhyuk, and coincidentally, today, that friend had contacted him… That was Woojae’s explanation. His excited voice was vivid even through the phone.
“What do you think, hyung? Isn’t it amazing news? Ah, I wanted to tell you this in person, but I can’t meet you today.”
“…”
“Hyung? Hyung, what’s wrong? Why… Oh, I didn’t investigate his friend; I just asked around casually. It absolutely wasn’t through any illegal channels, really! I swear!”
Though Seowoo hadn’t said anything, his silence must have made Woojae uneasy, as he insisted multiple times. Normally, Seowoo would have teased him about being overly defensive, but the words didn’t come readily.
His feelings were complicated. He felt resentful, yet also somehow glad, and thought that if contact could be established this easily, as Woojae said, there would have been no harm in looking for Jinhyuk earlier.
Putting aside his mixed emotions, Seowoo smiled. At the very least, being glad and happy was genuine.
“…Thank you. Really, thank you. It’s all thanks to you.”
“Ah, it’s not such a big deal. Just treat me to a meal sometime.”
Deliberately downplaying it was typical of Woojae. Seowoo’s lips unconsciously lifted a bit more.
“But hyung, aren’t you curious about what Jinhyuk-hyung said?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, how do you know to thank me already when you don’t know what he said? What if he said never contact him again, or, like, he doesn’t think there’s any need to meet face to face?”
Seowoo tried to imagine Jinhyuk saying such things, but it wasn’t easy to picture. Still, if such a situation did arise, as Woojae suggested, Seowoo’s response would be straightforward.
“Then what else can I do but not contact him?”
“Seriously?”
“Why, did Jinhyuk ask not to contact him?”
In response to Seowoo’s half-worried, half-suspicious query, Woojae gave an amused reply as if such a thing would be impossible.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Jinhyuk-hyung said he wants to see you.”
“…”
Seowoo’s silence lengthened at the unexpected answer. It would have been much more understandable if Jinhyuk had asked not to contact him.
The person who suddenly disappeared not only readily accepted contact but even said he wanted to see Seowoo? Wasn’t that a lie?
Seeming to understand what Seowoo’s dubious reaction meant, Woojae hastily added:
“I don’t know the details either, and I didn’t contact Jinhyuk-hyung directly; I heard it through his friend. But he really said he needs to meet you. Said he has something to tell you.”
“…Didn’t Jinhyuk give his number? He changed it, you know.”
“Yeah. I guess it’s more comfortable for us to coordinate between you two? If you ask for his number, he might give it. Should I ask for it?”
Honestly, rather than waiting, Seowoo wanted to know right now. He wanted to call and ask why Jinhyuk had done that, what the problem was, but he couldn’t. After all, Jinhyuk had reached out first. Rushing things might cause him to withdraw even that gesture.
“…I’ll ask for it when we meet. When does he want to meet?”
“Next weekend. Does that work for you?”
“I shouldn’t have filming on Saturday. Oh, but there might be changes in the morning. I’ll check exactly and let you know, so tell him that for now.”
“Should I just go with you? The three of us have met a few times before.”
Perhaps Seowoo’s troubled feelings showed in his voice, as Woojae readily offered. Indeed, since Seowoo didn’t know why Jinhyuk had called for him or what the situation was, it might be better to bring Woojae along, but…
“No. It’s a problem between me and Jinhyuk anyway. I’ll go alone.”
“As long as you’re okay with it…”
Just as Seowoo was about to reply, he heard the sound of the door lock opening in the distance.
“…?”
He reflexively checked the time. It was late evening, just past dinner time. There was only one person who would be coming home.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
