Chapter 92

The interlude between Yoon Hyun and Lim Yoon-a backstage quietly came to an end as they returned to their seats in the audience.

Although a few of the passing staff saw Yoon Hyun and Lim Yoon-a chatting, and then Lim Yoon-a crying, they didn't think Yoon Hyun was scolding her. Instead, they assumed Yoon Hyun's on-stage speech, which seemed like a declaration of gratitude, had moved Lim Yoon-a to tears.

As the two's story began, developed, and concluded, the award ceremony continued smoothly.

As Yoon Hyun had anticipated, the drama awards were not concentrated. Although "Brilliant Inheritance" lagged slightly due to its idol drama status, "IRIS" and "Queen Seondeok" were truly neck and neck.

What greatly surprised Yoon Hyun was that in the film category, "Haeundae" did not dominate. The patriotic "Cyrano Agency" actually went head-to-head with "Haeundae."

Everything seemed a bit unpredictable.

As a spectator enjoying the show, Yoon Hyun really liked this atmosphere.

Before each award was announced, no one could sit comfortably.

It was quite interesting.

Then, as the first major award was announced, the atmosphere, which had been somewhat comedic, suddenly became tense.

Ko Hyun-jung won Best Actress in the drama category.

Before the awards began, it was generally agreed that the Grand Prize would likely go to either Lee Byung-hun or Ko Hyun-jung. Compared to Lee Byung-hun, Ko Hyun-jung had an unparalleled advantage: she didn't have a Yoon Hyun by her side.

Yoon Hyun's presence, while pushing "IRIS" to nearly 60% viewership, was a double-edged sword for Lee Byung-hun, who was eager to win an award.

So when Lee Byung-hun talked about the Grand Prize with Yoon Hyun, he was conflicted. On one hand, he knew that without Yoon Hyun's control of the plot and his pivotal performance, the massive investment in "IRIS" might have turned it into a simple, American-style hero story, and it wouldn't have achieved today's success.

But because of Yoon Hyun's presence, his role as the male lead became awkward. He himself felt that in this drama, he wasn't as prominent as Yoon Hyun.

So he initially thought he would win Best Actor with Kim Tae-hee, and the Grand Prize would go to Ko Hyun-jung, who had single-handedly supported the entire drama.

But now that Ko Hyun-jung had won Best Actress, the chances of Lee Byung-hun winning the Grand Prize greatly increased.

Even the on-site director noticed this and started giving Lee Byung-hun more camera time.

Lee Byung-hun himself became excited.

However, his excitement didn't last long, as the Best Actor award was announced to be his.

This time, not only was Lee Byung-hun, who was on stage to receive the award, stunned, but even Ko Hyun-jung, who had been smiling regretfully, was taken aback.

What was going on? Was the Baeksang planning to give the Grand Prize to Han Hyo-joo or Lee Seung-gi?

Or was there some other possibility?

This didn't make sense! It was too strange...

Although the subsequent Best Actor and Best Actress awards in the film category, won by Ha Jung-woo and Ha Ji-won, somewhat diluted the weirdness, the tension remained.

What was the Baeksang up to?

Suddenly, a camera captured a scene that reminded both the audience at home and on-site.

The scene showed Lee Byung-hun, after receiving the Best Actor award and returning to his seat, enthusiastically hugging Yoon Hyun.

Yoon Hyun, who had been smiling regretfully, was about to comfort Lee Byung-hun, but his smile froze when he heard Lee Byung-hun's words in his ear, turning into a strange expression.

At this moment, people remembered...

Right! "IRIS" had two male leads! And their second male lead had fought his way from a supporting role to the lead through his acting.

This person had also competed for Best Actor two years ago, as a second male lead.

And at that time, he had just debuted!

Two years had passed, and although he hadn't acted much during this period, discerning viewers could see his brilliant performance in "IRIS."

Upon reflection, if Lee Byung-hun were replaced by Ha Jung-woo, Park Shin-hye, or Kim Joo-hyuk, "IRIS" would still be "IRIS." But if Yoon Hyun were replaced by anyone else, the drama would not have achieved its current success.

At this moment, those who calmed down to think realized that it wasn't "IRIS" that made Yoon Hyun, but this man, who had been half-forced by Kim Tae-hee to act, who had made this Wednesday-Thursday drama with nearly 60% viewership!

The entire award ceremony site became a bit restless.

Except for Yoon Hyun, who sat there with a stiff face, in stark contrast to the excited Kim Tae-hee who was tapping him continuously.

But the script didn't seem to be written this way...

When "IRIS" won Best Drama, many people began to worry that the Grand Prize for the drama category wouldn't go to an "IRIS" actor.

Especially when the Best Film award didn't go to "Haeundae" but to "Cyrano Agency." This almost confirmed that the Grand Prize would be split between two works.

"Queen Seondeok" and "Haeundae."

Just as the excited onlookers felt regret for Yoon Hyun's near miss, Yoon Hyun, who had been tense and without a smile after hearing Lee Byung-hun's words, suddenly showed a relieved smile.

When "Cyrano Agency" won Best Film, he even let out a long sigh. This scene was faithfully recorded by the camera that had been focused on him since Lee Byung-hun's award.

"Hyun, it looks like you won't get the Grand Prize this time," said Kim Tae-hee, who had been excited but now felt a bit disappointed, leaning over to whisper in Yoon Hyun's ear.

The current award trend made Kim Tae-hee give up on that hope.

"It's fine, Tae-hee-ssi. I never thought I would win," Yoon Hyun smiled and shook his head. "And for me now, winning this award might not be a good thing."

"What do you mean? How can winning not be a good thing?" Kim Tae-hee thought Yoon Hyun was just being arrogant.

"I never wanted to act. If I win this award, what will I do in the future... will I still act?" Yoon Hyun asked Kim Tae-hee.

"You don't want to act, you're just being stubborn," Kim Tae-hee said, looking down on Yoon Hyun. They were too familiar, and Yoon Hyun's grandiose lies didn't work on her. "I saw you enjoying acting!"

"Enjoying it is one thing... but..." Yoon Hyun scratched his head.

"Let's make a bet?" Kim Tae-hee suddenly said. "If you win, you can't say you won't act anymore."

"What if I don't win?" Yoon Hyun was taken aback and laughed. "Will I never act again?"

"If you don't win, you can't act in any drama without me, okay?" Kim Tae-hee laughed and acted spoiled.

"Tae-hee-ssi, you..." Yoon Hyun was speechless.

"Even if you don't act anymore, if I ask you to act with me, will you refuse?" Kim Tae-hee asked.

Yoon Hyun was speechless.

"Hyun, no matter how successful you are in the music industry, in Korea, actors still have a higher status than singers!" Kim Tae-hee said earnestly.

Yoon Hyun was taken aback. In that moment, he finally understood why Kim Tae-hee had insisted on dragging him to act in "IRIS." She was worried about his status in the entertainment industry...

Yoon Hyun nodded seriously and didn't say anything more.

His eyes were a bit red.

Finally, it was time to reveal the Grand Prize.

"This year's competition for the Grand Prize in the drama category has been very intense," said the presenter, last year's Grand Prize winner Kim Hye-ja, smiling on stage. "Three dramas have exceeded 45% viewership, and many of the actors' performances deserve this award. But unfortunately, only one person or one work can receive the Grand Prize. Let's reveal today's Grand Prize."

A video clip appeared on the screen behind Kim Hye-ja, and the audience burst into a chorus of exclamations.

It was a clip from "IRIS." The main character in the clip was now sitting stiffly in his chair.

Yoon Hyun.

The last scene of the clip from "IRIS" showed the protagonist lighting a cigarette with a lighter after killing the assassin who tried to kill the male lead, and then slowly walking away with a limp.

"Yoon Hyun! Congratulations!" Kim Hye-ja led the applause.

"Hyun! Congratulations!" Kim Tae-hee, sitting next to Yoon Hyun, was so excited that she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. "Go up and receive your award!"

If it weren't for Kim Tae-hee's reminder, Yoon Hyun might have sat there for a long time.

Although he had already decided that even if he didn't win this time, he wouldn't resist acting in the future, he...

Had never thought he would win!

Kim Tae-hee's excited kiss seemed to bring him back to his senses, and he quickly stood up, hugged Lee Byung-hun, who was congratulating him, and walked to the stage.

Just as he left his seat, Lim Yoon-a, who was standing on the other side of the aisle and clapping for him, rushed over and kissed him on the other cheek.

And so, Yoon Hyun walked up to the stage.

"To be honest, I never dared to think I would have a chance to win this award," Yoon Hyun said, blushing as he received the trophy from Kim Hye-ja. "This award makes me feel a bit nervous. Thank you to the judges for recognizing me, thank you to Teacher Kim Hye-ja, and thank you to everyone who likes and supports me. Your unwavering support has given a capricious person like me the opportunity to stand here. Thank you all. I will continue to work hard and bring you more works. Finally, I want to thank Tae-hee-ssi. Without you, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to act in this drama, and I wouldn't be standing on this stage. You've done so much for me, and I never realized it. Sister, thank you!"

Yoon Hyun, who couldn't express himself well, bowed deeply to Kim Tae-hee and then followed the staff guiding him off the stage in a daze.

The Grand Prize in the film category, as expected, went to the director of "Haeundae," Yoon Je-kyoon.

The 46th Baeksang Arts Awards came to an end.

At the after-party, Yoon Hyun got drunk for the second time in his life.

His last memory was of Kim Tae-hee, with tears in her eyes, holding a large glass of alcohol and pouring out her frustration at not winning Best Actress, and then making him drink the whole glass.

And today, moved by Kim Tae-hee's care at the award ceremony, Yoon Hyun, without a word, picked up the glass...