Chapter 51

Villain Only 051

The Fire Grows Larger (2)

Park Si-hong had reserved the entire black beef specialty restaurant in Samsung-dong.

The black beef, which cost nearly 100,000 won per serving, had a different texture from regular beef. It was not easily chewed, but the flavor was intense, making it hard to stop eating.

The first-floor hall and second-floor group seating area were occupied by regular staff, while the cast members took their seats in the four-person rooms.

And Jeong Se-hoon ended up sitting alone with Chae Ji-hyun in one of the rooms.

"Since we sat according to the number of people, it's just the two of us here."

"I'm not good with words, so I thought you might get bored. Should I invite someone from another room?"

"No, it's fine. I'm having a great time. You don't need to bring anyone else who's good at drinking."

Even though he hadn't done anything yet, she found it entertaining.

Jeong Se-hoon thought, 'Chae Ji-hyun's threshold for fun must be quite low.'

This was the first time he had a private drink with her since the Huang In-joon studio.

He remembered not being able to have much of a conversation with Chae Ji-hyun back then.

Huang In-joon had done most of the talking, and Yun Hyung-sik, the cheating man, had been pestering Chae Ji-hyun whenever he got the chance.

And now, in this private setting with just the two of them...

"Wow, you really know how to grill meat. How do you do it so well? It just melts in my mouth."

"I think I burned it a bit. I'll just eat this one myself."

"No, it's better this way. The outside is crispy, and the inside is juicy, making it even more delicious."

"Are you sure? It looks burned to me..."

"Let's have another drink. Hurry up and drink. The meat is so delicious, I can't stop drinking."

"I have to meet someone tomorrow, so I can't drink too much..."

"Are you saying you don't want to drink with me?"

"No, that's not it. Who would refuse a drinking session with Chae Ji-hyun senior?"

Chae Ji-hyun, her face flushed from the alcohol, swayed her wine glass and laughed.

"Oh, come on. It looks like you don't want to drink with me. By the way, how old are you?"

"I'm twenty-one."

"Wow, really? That's amazing. So, I'm the senior here? Wow, that's not right. Why do you keep calling me senior so formally?"

"Should I call you 'unnie' then?"

"I don't like that because it feels too distant. Just call me Ji-hyun. I'm confiscating the 'senior' and 'unnie' titles."

Chae Ji-hyun's reactions were even more exaggerated than usual, and she laughed without stopping.

Even when she accidentally dropped a piece of meat onto the charcoal while cutting it with her chopsticks, she found it hilarious and laughed uncontrollably.

Since this was only the second time he had a private drink with a woman (the first being Yu Jeong-a, and even then, Kim Sang-hee was in the hall), Jeong Se-hoon had no frame of reference for why she was acting this way.

[Mom's Daughter] Can you take care of it?

[Mom's Daughter] Hey, answer me.

[Mom's Daughter] Be careful with Chae Ji-hyun.

[Mom's Daughter] Don't just drink with her; use her connections.

[Me] Connections?

[Mom's Daughter] Alcohol connections. She can't drink, remember?

After a brief moment to check his sister's messages, Jeong Se-hoon turned his head to find Chae Ji-hyun already asleep, leaning on the chair next to him.

[Mom's Daughter] Can you take care of it?

[Me] She can't drink, so let's end this quickly.

[Mom's Daughter] You drank with her and didn't know?

[Mom's Daughter] She got tongue-tied after less than a bottle.

[Me] She just passed out.

[Mom's Daughter] Scandal incoming.

Jeong Se-hoon gave his sister a mild scolding and then hesitated over the remaining message from Professor Lee Se-jong.

It would be rude to ignore it for too long, but he still wasn't sure how to respond.

'Graduate school.'

When he graduated from a science high school and entered Korea University's engineering department as the top student, Jeong Se-hoon had no doubt that he would become a scientist, a professor, and dedicate his life to exploring the natural world.

His enlistment as a regular soldier, rather than in a defense company, was also due to Lee Se-jong's consideration.

Lee Se-jong's words when he suggested regular enlistment after finishing his third year came to mind.

'Jeong, a defense company might be easier, but it's too long. It would be a waste to have your talent exploited for 2 years and 10 months. Just enlist as a regular soldier.'

'Generals will fight to have you as their duty soldier. You can give private lessons to the kids and study in your free time.'

'You can save 1 year and 4 months of service and have a much easier time.'

'I'll drop a hint to a few generals.'

Indeed, his military service was very comfortable, and he had plenty of time for personal study.

If everything had gone as planned, he would have returned to school this semester, finished his remaining semesters, graduated early, and started his master's program next year.

He would have gone abroad to Caltech or MIT to secure a professorship and, like his father, devoted himself to academia and research.

But after encountering the comet and falling into Rashid's world, his life changed completely.

A degree, tenure, and substantial research funding and patent royalties from multinational corporations no longer seemed appealing.

Jeong Se-hoon's entire focus was now on the world shown by the camera, the world being created by the camera.

That was why he had unconsciously avoided Professor Lee Se-jong until now, out of guilt and regret.

"I can't keep putting it off..."

With a firm resolve, Jeong Se-hoon finally deleted the 1 and calmly typed out a message.

[Hello, Professor. It's Jeong Se-hoon. I've been busy with filming, so I haven't been able to contact you properly. I'm planning to visit the school tomorrow. Is that okay?]

The 1 disappeared almost immediately, and after a few slightly boring minutes, a reply came.

[Professor Lee Se-jong] Of course, come. I'm at the school all day these days.

[Me] I'll see you tomorrow.

The next day, Jeong Se-hoon left home early in the morning.

While driving, he received a call from Chae Ji-hyun.

-Did I drink a lot yesterday? Oh, I don't remember anything. Did I make any mistakes?

"There was nothing like that. Your manager took good care of you and helped you get home."

-Even though I can drink, I kept drinking because the atmosphere was so fun yesterday.

"I'm sorry, but I'm driving right now."

-Where are you going? You said you were meeting someone.

"I'm going to meet my advisor."

-Oh, I see. Have a good meeting. Let me know when you're done.

"Sure."

After a polite response, Jeong Se-hoon ended the call.

Parking his car in front of the engineering building, Jeong Se-hoon suddenly noticed the western mountain scenery.

[No Trespassing]

[Forbidden Area]

A yellow guardrail with a red warning sign was wrapped around the western part of the university, and police officers were stationed every few dozen meters to prevent people from entering.

Temporary guard posts were also visible in various places.

Jeong Se-hoon asked a passing student.

"What's that? Did a murder happen?"

"That's where the comet 3I/McDorian fell. The western part of our university is now a restricted area."

A typical engineering student, with a buzz cut, thick-rimmed glasses, and a pale complexion, answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Jeong Se-hoon, who he didn't recognize, would have been even more surprising if he had.

Would a Korea University engineering student recognize a newly debuted male actor?

The professors would scold him for how he would manage graduate school life later.

He then realized that after the McDorian fragments fell, the news outlets had all suddenly clammed up a few days later.

'The comet McDorian. It definitely sent me to Rashid's world.'

He had thought about investigating the comet, but had pushed it to the back of his mind while adapting to Rashid's world and his life as an actor.

But to see such a large no-trespassing line and people stationed 24/7...

"Usually, they just put up a no-trespassing line. Why are there people stationed so densely?"

"I don't know. Those police officers are very strict. If you get too close, they'll frown and tell you to back off."

"Really? When did this start?"

"At first, it wasn't this strict. A lot of investigation teams came because of the comet fragments, but after a few days, they suddenly pushed everyone away and put up the no-trespassing line. They stationed people to prevent anyone from entering."

The engineering student frowned slightly and continued.

"Because of those people, both students and faculty are very inconvenienced. They say the no-trespassing line is about 1,130 meters long."

"That's almost the distance from the school fence to the Gangnam Loop Road."

"About that much."

"Was there any significant damage to the school?"

"Not really. That's what's strange. The Department of Physics and Astronomy said the comet didn't burn much when it entered the atmosphere, so the whole school should have been destroyed. Not just the school, but the entire Gwanak District should have been flipped upside down."

"..."

Objectively, it was strange, but Jeong Se-hoon didn't doubt it.

Instead, the events and experiences caused by the comet were even stranger and more mysterious.

"Thank you."

"Are you a student? What department?"

"Electrical and Electronic Engineering."

"Oh, what year? Are you a freshman? I'm a 22nd-year freshman."

Jeong Se-hoon's face made the student assume he was a freshman like himself.

"I'm an 18th-year student."

"18th-year? Senior, I'm sorry. But why didn't you know about the comet falling..."

"I was discharged this upper half of the year. Is Professor Lee Se-jong doing well?"

The freshman bowed even lower upon hearing that he was a veteran.

I thought he was a classmate, but he's a fossil!

"Yes, Professor is doing very well."

"Thank you. If I see you at school later, I'll say hello."

"Oh, you're here to re-enroll."

Despite the four-year gap, this freshman, who had just enlisted, was probably one year younger than Jeong Se-hoon, assuming he enlisted as a regular soldier.

Entering the engineering building, Jeong Se-hoon looked for the professor's office.

[Lee Se-jong]

If there was nothing special, Lee Se-jong would be in his office now.

His routine was to be in the office in the morning and then immerse himself in the lab in the afternoon.

Knock knock.

"Come in."

Jeong Se-hoon cautiously opened the door and saw a scholar with white hair covering his head, deeply engrossed in a large monitor screen.

It had been almost six years since he last saw this face, including his military service and Rashid's world.

Instead of a sense of familiarity, he felt a strange sense of meeting someone for the first time.

Without looking up, Lee Se-jong said,

"What brings you here? Sit down and talk. I'm a bit busy right now."

"I came to greet you, Professor."

Instantly, Lee Se-jong's hand, which had been moving the mouse non-stop, stopped.

His gold-rimmed glasses slowly turned to face Jeong Se-hoon, and his prematurely gray eyebrows curved into a smile.

"Welcome back, Jeong."

"I'm sorry."

"You ungrateful boy. How long has it been since you were discharged? Why did you only come now? Were you that reluctant to come to graduate school?"

"That's not it. I was just doing something else for a while."

"If Dr. Jeong hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known you were acting. But isn't that a tough field? You're not seriously planning to continue, are you?"

Jeong Se-hoon couldn't bring himself to reveal his true thoughts.

Since his first year, Lee Se-jong had been incredibly kind to him.

Unlike the common professors who treated students like parts, Lee Se-jong was one of the few precious professors who could be called a true scholar and mentor.

"It's fun. After studying all my life, it feels refreshing."

"Then try it for a bit longer. Having diverse experiences when you're young can help you develop a different perspective on nature."

"Yes, Professor."

"When is Dr. Jeong coming back? We should have a drink together."

"He's finished his projects and seems to have a lot of free time for now."

"Jeong, what about your re-enrollment?"

"I might not be able to do it next year."

"There's only one semester left. Wouldn't it be better to re-enroll in the first semester of next year? You can delay your graduate school admission a bit."

Re-enrolling this semester would be too late anyway.

"Even though I don't know much about the drama world, being a current actor from our university could help your reputation."

"My sister did say that. But I feel a bit guilty using the school's name for entertainment activities."

"I'm fine with it. Use it as much as you want. That's what an alma mater is for."

Jeong Se-hoon felt a bit more at ease.

Lee Se-jong, who had moved to the sofa, noticed this and chuckled.

"Why, were you nervous?"

"No, I wasn't."

"You seemed nervous. Worried I'd pressure you to come to graduate school as soon as you arrived, weren't you?"

"......Actually, a little."

"Can you force a horse to drink if you drag it to water? You need to find a good stream or prepare the water first."

Lee Se-jong even brought out some snacks and continued the conversation leisurely.

"By the way, I heard your drama ended recently. What are you doing now?"

"I immediately joined a movie. It should be released soon."

"Movies usually don't progress that quickly, do they?"

"I joined as a last-minute replacement for a nearly completed film. Actually..."

Jeong Se-hoon explained the details, and Lee Se-jong nodded in understanding.

"I should make time to see it."

"You don't have to."

"Still, I should see a movie with one of my students. I haven't even touched the dramas I've collected because they're too long."

"Thank you, Professor."

"While you're here, why don't you visit the lab and say hello to your juniors? You'll be the oldest fossil there now."

"What about the seniors and my classmates?"

"They've all either found jobs or gone abroad for their Ph.D.s. I've let them all go independent."

"I'll visit the lab another time. I don't have time today."

There was so much to talk about after so long.

Jeong Se-hoon regretted not visiting sooner.

"By the way, Professor, I saw the no-trespassing line on my way here."

"Oh, that? It's set up by the UN mission team. They're investigating the fallen comet fragments."

"Have they finished collecting them?"

"That's confidential."

Lee Se-jong's mysterious smile made Jeong Se-hoon stare and ask,

"Professor, do you know something?"

"I'm a core member of the investigation team. I have to keep the secrets."

"......"

"Curious? Then come to graduate school and become my student."

***

After parting ways with Lee Se-jong, Jeong Se-hoon glanced at the no-trespassing line before getting into his car.

He noticed a group of people, who looked like scientists, being escorted out of the restricted area with strict security.

A few of them, looking extremely red-faced, were expressing their excitement.

'Do the fragments of McDorian still remain there?'

Jeong Se-hoon looked at the distant mountain peaks for a moment before getting into his car.

He was genuinely curious, but compared to Rashid's world and his current life as an actor, it was like a candle in front of the sun.

Without hesitation, he started the car.

The premiere wasn't far away.

[Professor Lee Se-jong] Jeong, the doors to graduate school are always open for you. Knock whenever you're ready.

Jeong Se-hoon didn't delete the 1 all day.