Chapter 50

< Breakout (8) >

In fact, Kang Ujin, who had been adapting to the 'Mijangsen Film Festival,' began to clearly flounder when Hong Hyeon returned to her seat.

"Didn't you congratulate me?"

"···Congratulations."

Initially, Ujin found it strange that she had won the Best Performance Award. He thought she would definitely win the Grand Prize. Considering her acting skills, experience, and reputation, it seemed inevitable. Yet, Hong Hyeon won the Best Performance.

"Thank you. I'll bow down and receive it."

"But why did you congratulate me in advance?"

"Why pretend not to know? If I win Best Performance, it's a done deal, right? Don't act so modest."

"····"

"Well, I wanted to be the first to congratulate you. Even if you win Best Performance, it won't ruin my mood. I acknowledge it."

In the midst of this,

-Whoosh.

Choi Sung-geun, with his ponytail, arrived late due to his schedule. He bowed slightly and slipped in next to Director Shin Dong-chun and Hong Hyeon.

Choi Sung-geun, dressed in a suit, immediately gave Hong Hyeon a thumbs up.

"Sorry, Director. I'm a bit late. Oh, Hyeon, you already won an award? What did you win?"

"Best Performance in Acting."

"Great job, great job. I need to prepare some hype."

Seeing Hong Hyeon win Best Performance, the head of her agency didn't seem surprised at all. Kang Ujin, who had been watching them, stood up from his seat. Despite the chaos, he maintained his manners.

'This is a bit tight.'

Choi Sung-geun was going to sit in the empty seat to Ujin's right, so Ujin made space for him. As a result, both Choi Sung-geun and Hong Hyeon turned their attention to Ujin, who had suddenly stood up.

At that moment,

"Grand Prize in Acting... Congratulations, actor Kang Ujin from 'Private Eye'!"

Suddenly, Ujin's name was called out for the Grand Prize, and he was momentarily stunned as he looked towards the main stage.

Next to him, Hong Hyeon chuckled.

"Look at this. You stood up before your name was called. You were sure you'd win the Grand Prize, weren't you?"

Choi Sung-geun also smiled and patted Ujin's shoulder.

"I like your confidence. Congratulations, go up and receive your award."

Director Shin Dong-chun, sitting to Hong Hyeon's left, also offered his congratulations. Despite the small misunderstandings, Ujin had no time to react.

"····"

He was trying to gather his thoughts and composure. The atmosphere in the hall seemed to change. It felt sticky and yet floating, like being slightly drunk. He felt as if he might collapse if he lost focus for a moment. It was a thrilling sensation, but Ujin had no time to process it.

-Tap, tap, tap.

Ujin had to walk to the stage with all his might.

He didn't hear the reactions of the dozens of people murmuring, nor did he feel the gentle applause. Ujin had only ever received a silver medal for flying a hang glider the farthest when he was in elementary school. But this time, he had won the Grand Prize, surpassing top actors.

It wasn't strange that Ujin's soul seemed to leave his body.

The pressure of the first experience, separate from his skills, made Ujin's rationality fade, and his instincts took over. This meant that his self-maintaining concept became stronger. At this point, Ujin stepped onto the stage. His mind was still dazed, but his expression was clear.

Then, he heard Japanese.

"Congratulations. Your work was truly remarkable."

It was Director Kyotaro. However, to Ujin, the Japanese didn't feel foreign. It felt like Korean. So, his response came naturally, as if in Korean.

"ありがとうございます, 監督。(Thank you, Director.)"

Though he didn't intend it, it came out as if he had planned it.

"Thank you for your kind words. I'm honored that you liked 'Private Eye.'"

At the same time, the audience near the stage stirred. Director Kyotaro, standing on stage, also widened his eyes slightly. Of course, the interpreter standing next to him did too.

So, the interpreter asked Ujin, this time in Korean.

"You speak Japanese well?"

The surprised interpreter blurted out the question. At this moment, Ujin's scattered mind began to return.

'···Ah. What? Japanese? Did I just answer in Japanese?'

Ujin's narrow field of vision began to widen. Thanks to this, the tension that had enveloped his body gradually eased.

"No, I just know a little."

By the time Ujin answered the interpreter, he had fully regained his composure. It was a significant moment, with many important figures watching. Any mistake here, where his first impression could be made, would be disastrous. Director Kyotaro spoke next, in Japanese.

"Have you ever lived in Japan? Your pronunciation doesn't sound like you studied it."

Ujin, holding a trophy and a bouquet in both hands, met Kyotaro's gaze. His eyes sparkled. Was it due to the lighting? Whatever it was, Kyotaro decided to try out some Japanese. Ujin responded in a moderate tone.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I'm not that skilled. I can communicate, that's all."

"Haha, no way. With that level of Japanese, you're at a native level. I was quite surprised."

"Surprised by what?"

"···Your absurd acting skills and your mastery of a foreign language. Why are you still struggling in short films? Are there many actors like you in Korea?"

Struggling in short films? What does he mean? Ujin paused slightly. Meanwhile, the interpreter was pondering whether to interpret this conversation.

After all,

"What, him? He's Japanese?"

"No, he speaks Korean well too."

"Maybe he learned it in advance?"

At this moment, over a hundred people in the audience were tilting their heads in confusion. It was strange enough that an unknown actor had won the Grand Prize in Acting, but now this unknown actor was calmly conversing with a Japanese master director on stage.

"Kang Ujin, right? His Japanese is at a professional level? Ah, he must have worked in Japan."

"Is he a Korean-Japanese? That's why he knows Director Kyotaro?"

"He must be quite famous in Japan? Korean-Japanese usually have separate names."

"What a mysterious guy."

Anyone would find it strange. If people who didn't know Ujin were reacting this way, how would those who knew him react?

Especially,

"···Japanese?"

Director Kwon Gi-taek in the jury seat.

'What's going on? Is he not just from the English-speaking world? Did he also work in Japan? Did he build his acting skills in both places?'

Hong Hyeon, Choi Sung-geun, and Director Shin Dong-chun, with their mouths slightly open.

'He speaks Japanese too? And fluently? What is he, a second life? No, that's impossible. Why is he always a mystery?'

'······So, he can speak Japanese too. What kind of past does he have?'

'Oh- Ujin lived in Japan?'

Of course, even writer Park Eun-mi. She was so surprised that she covered her mouth with both hands.

'Incredible acting, totem, English, Japanese······Maybe I should start a religion.'

The hall, with over a hundred people, was relatively quiet, but a calm typhoon was raging. A typhoon of misunderstandings and errors. But Ujin, at the eye of the storm, was completely unaware of the situation.

He just stared sternly at Director Kyotaro.

At this moment,

-Whoosh.

A 'Mijangsen Film Festival' staff member below the stage waved at Ujin, signaling him to give his acceptance speech. Indeed, the conversation on stage had been a bit long. The interpreter, noticing this, gave up on interpreting and gestured to Ujin.

"Give your speech first."

Director Kyotaro, understanding the situation, immediately apologized to Ujin in Japanese.

"Oh, sorry. I interrupted the proceedings."

Soon, Ujin stood in front of the standing microphone. In his field of vision, he could see over a hundred important figures. Although the 300-seat hall wasn't completely full, the situation was grand enough for Ujin, who had never experienced this before.

"····"

Ujin subtly swallowed. This was the decisive moment. What should he say in his speech? He needed to be as serious and polite as possible. At this point, the reporters around the stage, who had been standing awkwardly, raised their cameras towards Ujin.

"Whoever you are, I need to take a photo, right?"

"Hong Hyeon and Park Jung-hyuk were beaten, so I need to take a photo."

"What was his name again?"

"Kang Ujin, Kang Ujin."

A dazzling flash of cameras was directed at the indifferent Ujin on stage. He couldn't help but furrow his brow, as it felt like lightning was striking right in front of him.

'Ah- I don't know. Let's just get it over with.'

Due to his scattered mind, Ujin decided to say whatever came to mind, with a deep voice.

"Thank you. The hard times were long, but now I have many good people around me. I won't make a long speech. I will consider this prestigious award as a鞭策 and strive even harder, without stopping, to improve. Thank you."

As Ujin's speech ended, appropriate applause broke out. Meanwhile, Director Kwon Gi-taek chuckled.

"Strive even harder without stopping? That's scary."

Ujin, maintaining a solid poker face, walked off the stage. The flash of cameras from reporters didn't stop, and the eyes of over a hundred people followed Ujin.

As Ujin returned to his seat, the 'Private Eye' team threw their congratulations at him.

But Ujin, still with a scattered mind, sat down and thanked them appropriately. Then, he looked down at the trophy in his hand. The sense of achievement was incredibly high.

'Ah- My lips keep curling up. Hold it, hold it.'

Even though it was a short film, it was an award recognizing his acting at a film festival. Ujin wondered where he should display this trophy at home.

At that moment,

"Grand Prize for Best Film! It's here! Congratulations! 'Private Eye'!!"

Suddenly, 'Private Eye' was called out on stage. At the same time, Director Shin Dong-chun, with his square jaw, stood up with red eyes.

In other words, 'Private Eye' swept the 'Mijangsen Short Film Festival' with three awards.

"Thank you, thank you all!"

This meant that 'Private Eye' had swept the awards.

About an hour later, at a large café in Seoul.

It was a franchise café that looked quite spacious even at a glance. Cups and bags with the café's logo were displayed around the counter, and the tables were filled with an overwhelming number of customers.

Everyone was busy doing something.

Some were chatting, some were studying, some were on their phones. Many customers were busy with their own activities amidst the noisy environment. Among them, three familiar women were sitting at a table by the window with drinks.

They were in their early 20s?

With faces typical of college students. They had been chatting for quite a while, so there wasn't much conversation now. One was working on something on a laptop, and the other two were looking at their phones.

Then,

"Huh?"

A woman in a white shirt, looking at something on her phone, tilted her head.

"Ah, I've heard this name somewhere before?"

Her words caught the attention of her friends.

"What is it? Who?"

"Another guy, right?"

"No, it's not!"

The woman in the white shirt, slightly annoyed, showed her phone to her friends. A news article was being displayed on the phone.

"Look! This name! Doesn't it sound familiar?"

Her friends quickly focused on the phone.

"Hmm- You're right? It sounds familiar, but it's a common name. Wasn't it one of the guys you dated?"

"No, it's not!"

"But this guy is an actor? He's with Hong Hyeon? Was there an awards ceremony?"

"I don't know. I just saw it while browsing entertainment news."

"Kang Ujin, Kang Ujin. Hmm, where have I heard it before?"

"But he's quite handsome. He must be a newcomer."

At that moment,

"What are you all looking at?"

A woman with long brown hair and a hat appeared behind the three women. Her hands were wet, indicating she had just come from the restroom. She immediately asked a question.

"Hyun! Do you remember the name Kang Ujin?"

The woman with the hat shrugged, as if it was obvious.

"Of course, I remember. I told you he's my brother."

She was Kang Ujin's younger sister, Kang Hyun. In other words, the three women sitting there were her friends. One of her friends clapped her hands.

"Ah!! That's right! Hyun's brother... Wait, brother? Brother?"

"Yep."

"Wow, that's amazing."

"Wait- Hyun, your brother is an actor?"

Kang Hyun, who was about to sit down, frowned.

"What? Why are you suddenly talking about my brother?"

"No! Wow! Hyun, your brother is in the news?"

"···What are you talking about? He announced he was an actor two months ago."

"Really!"

One of her friends pushed her phone towards Kang Hyun.

"Even with Hong Hyeon! He won an award! What? Your brother is so handsome!"

"???"

Kang Hyun, after scanning her friends' excited faces, looked down at the phone.

At the same time,

"···Huh?"

Her eyes widened dramatically. Clearly, the article contained a photo of her brother, and he was with top actress Hong Hyeon.

"Whaa??"

Meanwhile, in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do.

Near the Jinju Bus Terminal. The street, where many buses still come and go, was crowded with people. Some were boarding buses, some had just gotten off. Due to the crowd, there were many shops around the bus terminal.

Among them was a porridge shop.

It looked less busy than convenience stores or kimbap shops. The interior was calm, fitting for a porridge shop, and the owners appeared to be a couple. The husband was looking at a monitor at the counter, and the wife was sighing deeply on a folding chair next to the counter.

Both of them looked young.

The husband was quite tall with a strong presence, and the wife, though of average height, had good skin. The problem was,

"Ha-"

The wife sighed deeply, as if she had a lot on her mind.

"I'm worried, so worried."

The husband, who was clicking the mouse, asked without looking away from the monitor.

"Why?"

"Aren't you worried? You don't care about our son."

"Hyun-mi. You worry too much. He'll figure it out, just wait and see."

The wife grumbled softly in response to her husband's answer. At this point, a customer entered, and she naturally greeted them. After taking their order, she returned to the counter.

"Vegetable porridge, pumpkin porridge."

"······"

But there was no response from her husband. Sensing something was off, the wife tapped his shoulder.

"What are you doing?"

At this moment, the husband, who had been lost in thought, turned the monitor towards his wife.

"···Hyun-mi. I clicked on it because the name caught my eye. But why is our son in a photo with this person?"

The wife, with a slightly scrunched face, looked