Chapter 93. Paparazzi

"Food truck? So there's actually food?"

"Yes. I heard from another manager that the staff really likes it. Since winter is coming soon, I think tteokbokki and odeng would be better than coffee."

Yeonwoo nodded.

"That's true. It would definitely be popular."

"Then I'll check it out."

Jung Cheolmin smiled and poured beer into his glass.

"Our Yeonwoo is now sending support to other actors, so you've really grown up. Come, let's stop talking about work and have a drink. Cheers!"

"What should we toast to?"

At Yeonwoo's question, Jung Cheolmin stroked his chin.

"Hmm, how about our manager Kim Minsoo's debut?"

"Me? Really?"

"You debuted as an extra today."

Everyone laughed at Jung Cheolmin's words.

"That's right. Minsoo, you debuted."

"Haha, is that how it works?"

The drinking session continued and ended a little past midnight.

***

"Is the information reliable?"

"Yes, the information is reliable. I double-checked it."

The middle-aged man with a bald head stroked his chin while looking at the report he was holding.

"Isn't it from LN Media? Ryu Yeonwoo is under their management, right?"

"Sir, no matter what, there will be traces. I've been in this business for 15 years, you know."

The man reporting also had a frown on his face.

Last night, he received a call from an extra actor about the next project of the currently hottest actor, Ryu Yeonwoo. He paid a considerable amount of money to get the exclusive information, but it was a real headache.

"But why is there no information at all? No investors, no distributors, not even casting news, and even the staff don't know."

The man reporting sighed deeply at the editor-in-chief's words.

"Exactly. How can there be no information when they've already started filming?"

"First, let's put someone on Ryu Yeonwoo and Park Chan-hong. If we follow them, something will come up."

"If nothing comes up, when will we release the story? Other guys will definitely smell something."

The editor-in-chief, after pondering while folding the report, opened his mouth.

"Two days. Just two days. If nothing comes up, we'll release the story. At least it's a fact that Ryu Yeonwoo and Director Park Chan-hong filmed at the airport."

"Huh, got it. I'll set it up."

"Hurry. They might already have someone from another newspaper following them. There's no such thing as a scoop that waits more than a day in this business."

Meanwhile, at that moment, Yeonwoo was driving Jung Cheolmin to Yongsan Station after filming a scene for an indie festival in Daejeon.

The scene they filmed today was about Jay Miller, who meets Inari, played by Seo Ji-eun, for the first time at an indie festival with Mr. Jeong.

Or rather, it's not so much a meeting as Jay watching Inari, the indie band's vocalist, perform on stage from the audience.

The scene where Jay, intrigued, watches Inari, who is on stage alone under the name 'Mocha Band'.

However, in reality, Yeonwoo, now in the car, turned his head and was staring at the rear window.

"Why? Yeonwoo."

"There's a black SUV following us. It's been following us from the set to here."

"I didn't notice."

Due to his habits from his previous life, Yeonwoo, like a professional, usually kept an eye on the cars around him and the passersby.

"Sir, do we have some time before the train?"

"Yeah, we finished shooting early today, so even if we arrive by the navigation, we still have about 40 minutes left."

"Minsoo, can we make a right turn at the next intersection and drive one block around and come back? I'm sure it's following us."

At Yeonwoo's words, Minsoo checked the car behind him in the rearview mirror and nodded.

"Sure, I understand."

Originally, to head to Yongsan Station, they needed to make a left turn, so Minsoo's car, which was in the first lane, changed lanes to the fourth lane.

The car behind them also changed lanes.

"Huh? It's really following us."

"I'm making a right turn."

Minsoo smoothly turned the steering wheel and made a right turn. The car behind them also started to make a right turn.

And another right turn at the next intersection, and another right turn.

After four right turns, they would have driven in a square and returned to their original position.

A normal car wouldn't make such a round trip to return to the same spot.

"Mr. Actor, it seems like we're being followed."

"Yeonwoo, that's it. Paparazzi."

Since the only keywords that came to mind when thinking of being followed were pursuit, assassination, and kidnapping, Yeonwoo exclaimed 'Ah!' at Jung Cheolmin's words.

"Ah... Paparazzi."

"Mr. Actor, should we lose them?"

Minsoo, whose job was to drive all year round, seemed capable of losing them with aggressive driving through the alleys.

"No, let's just go to Yongsan Station. If their purpose is to take pictures, it's not a big deal."

Seeing the paparazzi following them, Yeonwoo's nerves, which had become sharp due to his experiences from his previous life, softened again.

Minsoo's car arrived in front of Yongsan Station.

"Yeonwoo, don't get out. The car that was following us is parked behind us."

"Yes, sir. Be careful."

"Okay. Let me know when you come to Daejeon."

Jung Cheolmin got out of the car, and Minsoo's car headed to the recording studio where Yeonwoo went to practice every evening.

When Minsoo's car arrived and went down to the underground parking lot, the black SUV, which couldn't follow, passed the entrance.

Yeonwoo got out of the car and went up to the recording studio.

"Oh, Jay is here."

"Yeonwoo, you did well today, right?"

Chris and Seo Ji-eun, who were practicing something while looking at the sheet music, smiled at Yeonwoo as he entered.

'Yeah, she really sounds like a little Han So-hyun.'

Yeonwoo smiled and sat down, thinking of Seo Ji-eun's tone, which reminded him of Han So-hyun.

"I only watched the stage shooting. Seo Ji-eun did the acting."

"Hey, you also filmed the after-party scene, right?"

"Well, it was quick. I was a bit late because I had to drop off Mr. Jung Cheolmin at the train station."

Yeonwoo continued, looking at Chris.

"Director, we were going to practice the guitar, right?"

"Hey, just call me Chris. The second song was quite difficult, right? You haven't memorized it yet, have you?"

"No, I memorized it quickly because it was interesting."

Yeonwoo got up and took the guitar from the corner.

"Shall we practice it now?"

Chris, with a doubtful expression, and Seo Ji-eun, smiling innocently, nodded.

Yeonwoo started playing the guitar from the first song, and Seo Ji-eun sang along.

Yeonwoo flawlessly performed the first song with a smooth melody, the second song, which was quite difficult, and the third song.

On the contrary, Seo Ji-eun, who was still not familiar with the third song, stumbled in the middle.

"Wow, you're really good. Did you play the guitar before?"

"Ah, I learned a long time ago. About 15 years ago?"

At Yeonwoo's story, music director Chris tilted his head.

"Hmm? Then did you start playing the guitar when you were nine?"

"···Hmm? Ah. Yes···"

"Wow! Yeonwoo, you were a prodigy?"

Chris's question made Yeonwoo flustered and tried to cover it up.

If it was his international age, he would have been nine years old.

Without thinking, he spoke based on his previous life's standards, and suddenly he became a guitar prodigy.

The subsequent practice progressed smoothly and quickly.

"I'm hungry."

At Chris's words, Yeonwoo and Seo Ji-eun turned their heads.

"Then, shall we order something?"

"Is there a place nearby that sells triangular snacks and instant noodles?"

At Chris's words, Yeonwoo and Seo Ji-eun looked at each other.

"Are you talking about triangular rice rolls and cup noodles?"

"There's one right in front. In Seoul, there's one within 100 meters wherever you go!"

At Seo Ji-eun's words, Chris's eyes sparkled.

"I always wanted to eat them when I watched K-dramas in my hometown."

"Chris, it's past 9 PM. If you eat that, your face will swell tomorrow."

"Hehe. What's the point of worrying about that? My husband is in America anyway."

At Chris's words, Seo Ji-eun got up.

"Yeonwoo, shall we go out for a bit?"

"Sure. Let's go out to get some fresh air, and wear masks and caps."

Yeonwoo and Chris got up, following Seo Ji-eun.

They took the elevator down and entered the convenience store right in front of the practice room.

Jingle─.

"Welcome."

Chris went to the refrigerator with fresh food and said excitedly.

"Wow. There's a convenience store on the first floor of the hotel where I'm staying, but it's always empty when I finish practicing and come back because there are many foreigners. They are very popular with foreigners."

Seeing Chris's excited reaction, Seo Ji-eun approached with a smile.

"Chris, try this. This is the best. It's bibimbap flavored. Ah, and this too!"

Seo Ji-eun recommended various items and told Chris about the best combinations in the convenience store.

They picked out enough to have a quick meal and went back to the practice room after paying.

"I'll fill the coffee pot! Yeonwoo, what are you going to eat?"

"I'll just have a sandwich."

"Hee. Then do I need to diet?"

Seo Ji-eun, holding a spicy cup noodle, went to the kitchen with a bright expression and then frowned at Yeonwoo's words.

"No, I just ate some leftover rice rolls in the car after finishing the shoot."

"Is that so?"

Seo Ji-eun headed to the kitchen with a bright expression again.

"Jay, do you want to see this?"

Chris came over and showed a video on her smartphone.

"This is the reference video I showed to 'Director Park Chan-hong'. In the middle, there's a busking scene..."

Chris explained the scene she had in mind while showing the video.

While watching the video, Yeonwoo thought about the scene that would be in the movie, and it seemed quite impressive and eye-catching.

"Sounds good?"

"Right?"

At that moment, the kitchen door opened, and Seo Ji-eun came back with a cup noodle in each hand.

"Ta-da! Chris, wait 2 minutes. You haven't eaten the triangular rice rolls yet, right? It's better to eat them together."

"Wow. I really wanted to eat them while watching dramas."

Seo Ji-eun sat down and asked Chris.

"Chris, what K-dramas have you watched? You haven't watched 'Beyond the Stars', have you?"

"Oh, I wanted to watch it, but the subtitles aren't out yet, so I'm waiting. I can't understand it anyway."

Yeonwoo nodded. He heard that the overseas launch would be around next month.

Ding─.

Buzz─.

At that moment, Yeonwoo and Seo Ji-eun's smartphones started ringing simultaneously.

"Huh? I'll take this call for a moment!"

"Hmm, I also got a call. Who could it be at this time?"

Seo Ji-eun got up to take the call, and Yeonwoo looked at the screen.

- Team Leader Yoon Mi-yeon

'Hmm? What could Team Leader Yoon want at this time?'

Yoon Mi-yeon, who was in charge of planning and publicity, last spoke to Yeonwoo when he was accepted to Korea University at the beginning of the year.

Most of the time, she communicated through manager Kim Minsoo, and for important matters, through CEO Kim Joo-sung or Team Leader Jung Hyuk. Yeonwoo, tilting his head in confusion, answered the call.

"Yes, Team Leader Yoon?"

- Yeonwoo, have you checked the internet recently?

The internet? Yeonwoo tilted his head.

"No, I was practicing. Is something wrong?"

- I know you're in a new project, and I also know it's unlikely...

Yoon, hesitantly and cautiously, continued.

- But there's a dating rumor about you and Seo Ji-eun on the internet right now.

"Really? With who?"

- With you.

"······"

Yeonwoo, who had fallen into a brief silence, spoke again.

"Me?"