Chapter 5

Life Reversal (4)

***

Upon realizing, it wasn't just the middle school girls who were looking at Dojun. A young woman sitting at the far end of the train was also glancing at him.

After getting off at the next station, Dojun returned to Digital Media City Station. Throughout the journey, Dojun couldn't help but stop wherever he could see his reflection.

"You're handsome."

Standing in front of the SG Group headquarters, a building with a glass facade, Dojun muttered to himself.

He was handsome. Truly, a form that God had 'well' crafted.

Suddenly, he felt that his previous face was one God had left unfinished. No, it was more like God had crumpled it in anger.

Dojun raised his hand and stroked his cheek. The skin, once pockmarked with acne scars, was now as smooth as polished marble. His nose, once as big as a fist, had become sharp and straight. The crowning glory was his eyes.

So captivating were his large, deep eyes that he felt he might end up pressing his face against the glass door.

"Wow..."

Looking at those eyes, Dojun once again marveled at his new face. It was already astonishing to have returned, but his face had completely changed.

If he kept standing there, he might lose himself. He arrived a bit later than last time due to missing the station. Dojun regained his composure and entered the building.

He wanted to confirm if he had truly returned to the past and if everything else was the same.

First, the receptionist in the lobby was still there, smiling and greeting the employees as they entered.

Dojun approached the receptionist.

"W-What can I do for you?"

The receptionist, who met Dojun's gaze, asked with a start, just as before. However, this time, it wasn't because Dojun was unattractive, but because he was too handsome.

At that moment, a group led by Manager Baek Jeong-a passed by Dojun. The receptionist and the surrounding employees all greeted Manager Baek Jeong-a.

Dojun watched her with a cold eye.

Manager Baek Jeong-a, the group following her, and the guards in the lobby—all the faces he had seen that day were the same. Her eyes briefly met Dojun's. Dojun looked at her with a calm, expressionless face.

Manager Baek Jeong-a paused slightly but then maintained her dignified posture and headed towards the elevator. Dojun watched her go, with no intention of acting as he did last time.

"Sir, is there anything I can guide you to?"

As the lobby became less crowded, the receptionist spoke to Dojun again. The excessive politeness was something Dojun, who had lived an unlikable life, had never experienced.

"Ah, well..."

"Are you an actor here for the SGN drama audition...?"

There was a drama production office of SGN Broadcasting inside the SG Group. Before Dojun could find an excuse, the receptionist continued, assuming he was an actor. He didn't look like a regular student, employee, or related person.

When he was trying hard to become an actor, no one recognized him, but now that he was handsome, everyone asked if he was an actor.

A bitter smile couldn't be helped. Dojun shook his head.

"No, I think I came to the wrong building. Thank you."

The receptionist, who seemed to want to say more, watched as Dojun turned and left.

He didn't need to wait for Chairman Baek Jeong-han.

The only time he had met the man who had only ever looked at him with contempt was when his father crushed Dojun's dreams and prevented him from stepping out into the world.

It was just yesterday in Dojun's timeline. Unable to overcome his hatred and despair towards Chairman Baek Jeong-han, he jumped from the rooftop of the very building where the award ceremony he had always wanted to attend was held.

Seeing that face again would only fuel his anger. Dojun turned and looked up at the SG Group building towering into the sky.

'Soon, I'll have to come here. I'll have to meet Chairman Baek Jeong-han... '

Everything that had happened to him was hard to believe. His mother's death, the existence and reality of his father, the immense luck, and the new life he had found.

Even though his face had changed, Dojun's dream was still to be an actor. However, with the changed circumstances, his goal was no longer as pure as before.

He would quickly climb the ladder, one step at a time, to the top, and take money, fame, and power, and then seek revenge on Chairman Baek Jeong-han, who controlled Korea.

'By then, I won't be the Kang Dojun who rolled on the lobby floor.'

To achieve this, the first step as an actor, which would happen tomorrow, was crucial.

***

'But what about my changed face?'

Dojun sent a message to the film production manager, suggesting they sign the contract tomorrow as before. Only then did he realize the confusion of his return and the problem of his changed face.

'Being handsome is good, but everyone knows my original face, so it's a problem.'

On the subway ride home, which was crossing the Han River, the sun was setting, casting a red glow over the water.

'Should I say I had plastic surgery? If this is the level of plastic surgery, the doctor must be a god... Then, for now... '

Dojun decided to meet his friends before the production manager to see their reactions and figure out how to handle the situation. He found Hocheol's name in his contact list.

Hocheol readily agreed to meet after work. He was a grateful friend who had accompanied Dojun to Jangji and always comforted him when he was struggling for reasons he couldn't explain.

Of course, there was also Gangsan, but Hocheol, who was more composed, seemed like a better choice to meet first.

At a pub near Sin Dorim Station, Dojun entered the pub Hocheol had recommended and waited for him with a nervous heart.

"Excuse me."

A waitress, who looked like a college student, approached Dojun's table.

"I'll order when my friends come..."

"I heard! The owner said to serve you this while you wait."

"Really?"

"It's a complimentary service from the owner."

The waitress placed a bowl of fish cake soup on the table. It was a bit excessive as a complimentary dish before ordering. Looking at the other tables, they were only served cheap snacks.

The owner, whom the waitress mentioned, was not visible in the kitchen. Dojun nodded.

"Ah, thank you. I'll enjoy it."

The waitress blushed and left. Dojun, still in a daze, lifted a spoon and scooped up the hot fish cake soup.

After taking a sip of the salty and sweet broth, he realized something.

'Ah, my face. I'm handsome.'

The power of a handsome face was indeed great. After all, it wasn't just handsome but exceptionally so.

"You ordered this in advance? Good job."

Hocheol, who had approached from behind, sat across from Dojun.

"No, it was a complimentary service."

Hocheol, who seemed hungry after work, picked up the menu and sighed.

"Of course, it's Kang Dojun. When I'm with you, service is a given."

"Really?"

"Shall we order a chicken and a bottle of beer?"

"Sure, sure."

Dojun answered Hocheol's question absentmindedly. Even while facing Dojun, Hocheol was completely calm, showing no sign of recognizing the change in Dojun's face.

Dojun had thought Hocheol would be surprised and unable to speak or might not recognize him at all. However, Hocheol treated him as usual and even said something incomprehensible like "Of course, it's Kang Dojun." After placing the order, Hocheol spoke to the dazed Dojun.

"Did you come out because you were lonely? As I said yesterday, your mother... she must be in a better place. Don't drink anymore today."

Dojun remembered that visiting his mother's crematorium was half a year ago for him but yesterday for Hocheol.

"Thanks. The living must live on."

Was Hocheol really not noticing anything strange? Dojun watched Hocheol's reaction while talking.

"Yeah, your mother should have known about your casting in the Park Chan-jong film... Anyway, when are you signing the contract? You couldn't do it because of your mother's funeral, right?"

Clearly, everything else was the same.

'He mentioned the casting at the makgeolli shop... Wait.'

Recalling the drinking session, Dojun noticed something odd about the memories that flashed through his mind.

—Anyway, since it's Park Chan-jong, it seems Dojun is finally being recognized. Right?

—That's right. Dojun has always had a bad face. Try harder this time. Don't just rely on your looks.

—It's not just about looks; it's about lack of passion, passion.

The conversation had subtly changed. Memories of the past quickly flooded back.

The life of 'handsome' Dojun was the same as 'unattractive' Dojun's, yet different.

Originally, Dojun had worked hard to become an actor and improve his acting because he had nothing else. However, 'handsome' Dojun, born with a golden spoon in his face, was not someone who put much effort into acting.

He wasn't very enthusiastic about the audition suggestion. He felt he was still lacking and thought he could debut anytime, so he let time pass.

After his mother's accident, he started a part-time job as a delivery person, which stabilized his income and reduced his free time, gradually distancing him from acting. There was no 'unattractive' Dojun who made time to go to auditions with great effort.

Dojun, who had lived each day intensely, found his 'handsome' past absurd.

Still, the situation was the same in the end. It was fortunate to have participated in the audition for Park Chan-jong's film.

Dojun, with a beer glass filled to the brim, answered Hocheol.

"Tomorrow. I'm signing the contract tomorrow."

***

Just as becoming a chaebol heir didn't happen immediately after becoming the chairman's son, being handsome didn't mean he could debut right away.

'Lack of passion... Now, that's definitely not the case.'

In acting, looks were also a form of ability. Dojun had no intention of wasting this face. He couldn't afford to waste it.

Back home, Dojun clenched his lips and found the script for the film he was to sign the contract for tomorrow.

Although he had already passed the audition, he wanted to review and familiarize himself with the role he was to play.

"Huh?"

Dojun was sure he had highlighted the 'gangster' role he was to play with a highlighter. However, there was no mark on that role. Instead, the role below it was highlighted.

"What? Did I pass for this role?"

It was a role he had never even imagined.

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