Chapter 37

Villain Only Acting 037

Major Hype? Major Fire? (1)

When he opened his eyes the next day, Jeong Seohoon felt a rare sense of clarity.

The memory of spending about a year in Rashid's world during the final filming of the drama was vivid.

Successfully completing the final operation without a single casualty, and the moment they all laughed together in the transport plane as they headed to a resort.

Perhaps it was because he had enjoyed himself to the fullest at the resort before returning here, his heart felt light.

He had even dreamed about clearing out the remnants of the enemy with his squad members the night before.

'My head is completely clear.'

It felt as if the grime that had accumulated in his mind had been thoroughly washed away.

Perhaps it was temporary. He might experience the harsh pain again if he returned to the battlefield.

But for now, he could enjoy this clarity of mind.

And...

'I want to stand in front of the camera.'

A new thirst had taken root in his heart.

It was different from before.

It wasn't the dark heart that had denied his life and only longed for that place.

The last time he saw his squad members, they were surrounded by alcohol, music, and women, looking very happy at the resort.

'I want to act.'

The special scenery visible only in front of the camera, the ecstasy it brought.

He wanted to feel that sense of oneness.

Not just to quench the thirst that arose from Rashid's lack, but to cleanse his own thirst.

This was both Jeong Seohoon's thirst and the secret hope of a war-weary captain.

The captain, while watching the stage at the resort, had clearly envied them.

Jeong Seohoon checked his phone schedule out of habit and smiled bitterly.

"What am I doing? The filming, no, the drama is already over."

He had been muttering to himself about what time the filming was today, like a fool.

He hadn't searched for the audience's reactions. He wasn't curious.

What he wanted was not how he appeared in their eyes.

He just wanted to experience the special scenery and ecstasy in front of the camera again.

Suddenly, Kim Sanghee's laughter came to mind.

"Don't forget this feeling and remember it well. Seohoon, you've completed a world, a life. How many completed worlds are there in my laptop?"

He could understand her sense of accomplishment.

"As much as that place is dear and important, this life is also precious."

When he first returned from the battlefield to this place, he had started acting out of a desire to deny this place and return to that one.

He believed that the camera, which showed the scenery of that place, would eventually bring him back.

Now, his mindset was different.

He had come to value this place, Jeong Seohoon's life, as much as that place.

***

"Although it's a bit disappointing not to hit 30%, 29.9% is still a huge success. You know that, right?"

"Really? I don't know much about ratings."

"This is a real, real hit. Ah, it's really disappointing to miss by just 0.1%. But the difference between 3 and 2 in the first digit is significant."

"You were saying they were the same just a moment ago."

"Anyway! Your value has skyrocketed. Now everyone in the drama industry is talking about the 'Private Jeong Syndrome.' You must have a truckload of scripts coming your way."

"I haven't even seen them. Have you?"

Jeong Su-yeon shrugged.

"Actually, I haven't seen them either. I just heard about it. Ah, you need to find an agency quickly. Unfortunately, my dad is coming today, which is a problem."

Jeong Su-yeon summarized the audience's reactions, which were still lingering.

'At least you have a good business sense.'

Thinking that he would start squawking if he spoke, he checked what his sister had organized.

- I thought it wouldn't end well, and it really ended with a death. It was sad, but I have no complaints about the writer.

- Jin-wook, you must be happy there.

- Is this a hint that they will be reborn as the second generation of the Goo & Hwang couple? The two flowers on the grave are meaningful.

- It just means that Jin-wook left a legacy to Goo & Hwang. Why interpret it that way?

- Do you know? The backgrounds from the middle onward were based on the paintings Jeong Seohoon drew to capture his emotions.

- Really? I felt it was a bit different.

- He really draws well. Is he from an art school?

- I heard he's from an engineering school.

- No way, he definitely doesn't look like an engineering student. Haha.

"These reactions will last forever, right? Wake up. They'll probably last a week at most, and usually just a few days. The audience has to get back to their daily lives."

"It might be a bit disappointing for the production team."

"Why would it be disappointing? The ratings and fame will last forever. Now, until you die, or until civilization collapses, 'Illegible' will be part of your filmography."

Jeong Su-yeon continued showing the drama's reactions.

"So, don't think about taking a break. You should quickly move on to your next project while you're famous. First, you need to choose an agency."

"The writer has already cast me for the next project."

"Of course, you should take it. But Kim Sanghee will also need a break, right? At least a year. You should take a good role if one comes up during that time. It's not a good time to be idle."

"Will the writer really take that long of a break?"

"Even that's short. Usually, it's longer. Creativity isn't like Saudi oil, you know? It doesn't just gush out. Right. How's your work phone these days?"

"I haven't checked it in a long time. There were too many messages."

"Damn, even if you can't reply, you should check it regularly. Give it to me."

Jeong Su-yeon snatched Jeong Seohoon's original phone and checked the messages.

Her face turned pale as she saw the countless missed calls and text message bombs.

"I don't even know where to start."

"But did you make dinner plans? We need to clear out the house today."

"Oh, right. I need to leave before Dad comes. Oops."

On the first day their father visits, the siblings clear out the house so their parents can have a private time.

"What should I do? I have nowhere to go. Where can I kill time?"

"Then stay home. Just pretend you're not there and don't come down from your room on the second floor."

"I can't, it feels suffocating. Hey, want to drink all night?"

"Why would I drink all night with you?"

"Who wouldn't? You're just saying that because you suddenly have no plans."

"Your broadcasting career was a waste. You've been there for so long, but your network is like this."

"Then what about you? Do you have any plans?"

Jeong Seohoon gave a meaningful smile, and Jeong Su-yeon narrowed her eyes.

"Is it Yoo-jung?"

"No. The writer and PD, we're meeting with them as a group of three."

"Hey, include me. We worked together, so it's fine, right?"

Jeong Su-yeon was the youngest assistant director.

There was no chance to drink with the two of them unless it was a group dinner.

"I want to get closer to the writer. Let me benefit from my brother."

"Let me ask them first."

***

Song Jeong-woo and Kim Sanghee readily agreed.

Since they had worked on the drama together and Jeong Seohoon was her younger brother, there was no reason to refuse.

The two siblings immediately headed to Kim Sanghee's Cheongdam-dong bar.

Besides the PD and the writer, there was one unfamiliar man.

Kim Sanghee greeted them warmly.

"Welcome. It's been a while, Su-yeon."

"Hello, writer."

"But you two are still hiding your relationship?"

"Yes, it just happened."

The unfamiliar man showed curiosity.

"Are you two a couple? Wow, I see. The Yoo-jung scandal was just a fluke, then."

The siblings turned to him simultaneously, looking serious.

"We're siblings."

"We're siblings."

The unfamiliar man, taken aback, laughed awkwardly.

"Ah, sorry. You two don't look alike at all, so I couldn't imagine you were siblings."

Kim Sanghee chimed in.

"Right. Both of you are good-looking, but not looking alike at all is a first for me."

"This one looks like his dad, and I look like my mom. That's why my mom likes him more. She says he looks exactly like Dad in his youth, like he's traveled through time."

Song Jeong-woo laughed heartily and asked.

"Then, Su-yeon, you get a lot of love from Dad, right?"

"Ah, PD. Dad likes him more than me, but not as much as Mom. Mom buys everything I ask for, but not for me."

"Sis, that's the same for me. Anyone who hears this would think I got everything I wanted."

The unfamiliar man, Hwang In-joon, scratched his head and introduced himself.

"Anyway, nice to meet you. I'm Hwang In-joon. I make a living through movies."

Jeong Su-yeon clapped her hands in surprise.

"Ah! I knew it! Your face looked familiar! Are you