Chapter 22. Final Episode Party

"Mr. Ryu, have you eaten? Should we stop at a rest area?"

"Ah, I'm a bit hungry, have you eaten, Mr. Minsoo?"

"I haven't either. I'll stop at the next rest area."

The car soon stopped at the next rest area, and as Yeonwoo tried to get out, Minsoo stopped him.

"I'll go. If you go out now, something big might happen. Stay in the car."

Yeonwoo, taken aback by the firm words, sat back down, and Minsoo ran to the food corner.

Yeonwoo, who had only been going back and forth between home and the filming location, hadn't fully realized his fame, and Minsoo's words about the potential trouble if he went outside hadn't fully sunk in.

"Hmm, there's no need to run like that."

While waiting in the car, Minsoo quickly returned with various items.

Minsoo, who seemed to be experienced in eating at rest areas, neatly folded the auxiliary seat, laid down a plastic sheet, and placed the food he had bought.

"Wow, you only bought the delicious stuff. Mr. Minsoo, you have a good sense of choosing food."

Yeonwoo gave a thumbs up to Minsoo.

"Hahaha, I know all the rest areas well from doing this job."

Before taking charge of Yeonwoo, Minsoo had mainly handled an unknown female idol who went on long-distance tours and military base performances for another agency, mastering long-distance travel, local delicacies, and rest areas.

"Aha, I see. I'll eat well first."

Yeonwoo picked up a few pieces with his chopsticks and quickly put them down.

Minsoo, worried, asked,

"Is it not tasty?"

"Ah, it's delicious! I usually eat a little. I'm full now."

After eating just that much and claiming to be full...

Minsoo felt that the first actor he was handling was indeed different. The female idol he had handled before ate very little compared to ordinary people, but it felt like she was restraining her appetite. Looking at Yeonwoo, even though he had few examples to compare, it felt like he had a naturally small stomach.

If Minsoo had seen Yeonwoo's past self, who weighed over 100 kilograms, he might have been shocked.

Thinking he should consider the appropriate amount when buying food in the future, Minsoo quickly finished eating, cleaned up, and got ready to leave.

"Would you like to stop at the restroom? If you need to, I can park right in front of it."

"Um, there's not much left to Seoul, and I'll go at the shop."

Minsoo's car rejoined the main road and headed straight to the shop. Yeonwoo, who hadn't been seen for a while, was greeted by Director Jung Haneul.

"Oh, you look even better than before!"

"Same as always. Director, you always look younger."

"Hehe. How come an actor can be so smooth with his lines?"

After exchanging pleasantries and getting his makeup done, Yeonwoo put on the sponsored clothes brought by the stylist from the agency and headed to a restaurant in Yeouido where the final episode party was being held.

"Wow, quite a few reporters are here."

Yeonwoo, of course, and Minsoo, who was also attending his first final episode party, were taken aback.

Outside the car, about a dozen reporters and fans with large cameras were waiting.

The stylist, Lee Ye-eun, who had come along, straightened out the star Yeonwoo's clothes.

"Then, I'll be back!"

Yeonwoo's smile made Ye-eun's face slightly red.

Minsoo quickly got out of the driver's seat to assist Yeonwoo.

"Ah! He's coming out!"

As Yeonwoo got out of the car, a flurry of flashes went off.

Yeonwoo, with a smile, received Minsoo's assistance, bowed to the surroundings, and took a few steps to stand in the middle.

"Look this way! Mr. Yeonwoo."

"Look here and make a heart with your hands."

Yeonwoo, following the reporters' instructions, skillfully posed.

"Wow, they say he's the top visual among newcomers. Not at all."

"What do you mean? He looks really good."

"No, I mean, he doesn't just look like the top among newcomers, but like the top in the entertainment industry."

The reporters chuckled at Jung's joke.

Meanwhile, the crowd of fans, mostly fans of Jin-wook or fans of So-hyun, also burst into exclamations.

Most were fans of Jin-wook or So-hyun, but the heart of a fan is not like a reed.

Yeonwoo, in person, was enough to sway their hearts.

"I think my favorite will change from today."

"I'm sorry, Jin-wook. Me too."

Minsoo approached Yeonwoo, who was kindly posing for the reporters and fans.

"Mr. Actor, let's go inside now."

"Okay, I understand."

Yeonwoo entered the restaurant following Minsoo's guidance.

Inside, it seemed that most of the actors hadn't arrived yet, and the seats were mostly filled by staff. Yeonwoo greeted the staff he hadn't seen in two months and went to the table where Director Kim Han-soo and actor Lee Sang-jung, who played his father in the drama, were sitting.

"Ah, my son is here!"

"Father, how have you been?"

Yeonwoo, with a playful smile, hugged Lee Sang-jung and looked at Director Kim Han-soo sitting next to him.

"Director, I saw in the news that you already have a new project scheduled. Aren't you taking a break for your health?"

"Haha, Yeonwoo, I've made this my profession, so it's a blessing to move on to the next project quickly."

Director Kim Han-soo, looking at Yeonwoo with warm eyes, spoke carefully.

"By the way, if it's okay with you, Yeonwoo, I know you're a third-year high school student and need to focus on your studies, but..."

Yeonwoo, curious about the director's pause, listened.

"Can you spare a couple of days for shooting in April or May?"

"Of course, Director! What kind of shooting is it?"

Yeonwoo, readily agreeing, looked at Director Kim, who then explained.

"In the new drama, there's a scene that requires the lead actress's first love, and I think no one fits the role better than you, Yeonwoo."

"I'm honored, Director."

Director Kim Han-soo smiled at Yeonwoo's words.

"I don't think it will take long, but most of the scenes will be shot in a school, so it will probably take one or two days."

Yeonwoo then chatted comfortably with the middle-aged men at the table.

Although Yeonwoo had become younger in his thoughts and actions after reincarnation, his original age was similar to the men at the table, which was natural.

Later, Ahn Jun-ho and Son Jin-wook entered and warmly greeted Yeonwoo, whom they hadn't seen in two months.

Finally, Han So-hyun, who played 'Yeon,' the owner of the wardrobe, arrived, and all the participants, except for writer Choi Mi-hyun, who was absent due to health reasons, were present.

They watched the final episode together on a large TV, laughing and chatting.

The ending credits rolled after the scene where they parted ways at the airport, blessing each other's paths. The staff and cast applauded, celebrating their successful conclusion.

At that moment, Director Kim Han-soo, who was on the phone, smiled and said,

"Our final episode rating is 15.1 percent."

The production team then shouted,

"15.3 percent based on the green screen!"

Cheers and various slogans filled the room.

"Everyone, please pay attention."

Director Kim Han-soo, raising his hands, drew the attention of the excited restaurant.

"Our entire team has been granted a reward vacation by the broadcasting station."

"Wow!"

"Nice! It's finally here."

The restaurant, which had a festive atmosphere due to the drama's ratings far exceeding JNBC's annual highest ratings, was now in a frenzy.

"Director, where are we going?"

Son Jin-wook, drinking beer with Ahn Jun-ho, asked.

"Well, JNBC is sending us to Saipan."

"Oh! Saipan! Not Southeast Asia, but Saipan!"

Director Kim Han-soo, smiling at the staff's reaction, continued,

"LN Media has upgraded it to Hawaii after negotiating with the broadcasting station."

The restaurant table buzzed with excitement.

"Wow! I feel so much love for the company!"

Ha-ha-ha!

The sound of cheers and the sight of Director Kang In-chan, the cinematographer, raising his spoon in celebration, brought laughter to the room.

The slogan "Hawaii!" echoed throughout the room.

"Yeonwoo, can you go? You're a third-year high school student..."

Han So-hyun, sitting next to him, asked with hopeful eyes.

"There's no reason to refuse a free trip."

Yeonwoo smiled.

"Yay! It'll be fun. Will Senior Jin-wook go too?"

"Of course. How can I miss it when So-hyun and Yeonwoo are going?"

Jin-wook, drinking with Jun-ho, looked at Yeonwoo.

"Yeonwoo, have you ever shot a gun? When I went to Hawaii before, I visited a shooting range and it was fun."

"Ah, I'm still a minor. How can I shoot a gun? I haven't even been to the military yet."

Yeonwoo gave an awkward smile at Jin-wook's words.

"Hmm, that's true. 'Yeonwoo' hasn't shot a gun."

"What? Are you referring to yourself in the third person? Oh, you're so cute. Did you get drunk from soda?"

Han So-hyun pinched Yeonwoo's cheeks.

"Ha-ha."

Yeonwoo could only laugh awkwardly.

Zing!

At that moment, his phone, which he had put in his pocket, kept vibrating.

Thinking it was a call, he checked and found it was a group chat.

- Woo Sung-sik: [Link] "Summer's Closet" Final Episode Party - Ryu Yeonwoo Photos. It's Site Magazine

- Woo Sung-sik: There's this too [Link] Video - Today's 'Joo' in a Dandy Jacket

- Kim Jun-soo: As expected, Mr. Ryu.

- Cha Ik-hyun: Woo Sung-sik is so fast. Faster than Yeonwoo's fan club.

- Song Min-hoon: True. But Yeonwoo is so cool.

- Lee Woo-kyung: Aren't you joining Yeonwoo's fan club? I already did. You're not true friends.

- Cha Ik-hyun: Oh, really? I should join too. Can you give me the link?

- Lee Woo-kyung: [Link] Actor Ryu Yeonwoo Fan Cafe - Woo's (Woo's)

Yeonwoo, feeling grateful while reading the final episode party articles and chatting with his friends, started typing.