* * *
“It’s been a while, huh?”
“Hello.”
“Yeah, yeah. Sit down.”
Director Eom Gyun, with his rough stubble, occupied a seat right in the middle of the Baekryong Film Awards audience.
At first glance, he looked like some drifter from a back alley, but in terms of reputation, he was easily one of the three biggest names present.
“I was wondering why it was so damn hard to see your face. You even went to America? So, how was Hollywood air?”
“Haha. I just got lucky.”
“Your price must've gone through the roof. How much am I supposed to pay if I want to cast you later?”
“If you call me, Director, I’ll come without worrying about money.”
“You really do know how to talk.”
The meaning behind seating Myeong Jeha and Eom Gyun at the same table was simple.
Korean cinema is not dead.
It was practically a declaration made in the face of the natural disaster called NetHolics, which would soon arrive.
The public would inevitably turn their attention back toward cinema through the presence of a master and a rising star.
'The ticket price increase was coming soon...'
JC ENM had ultimately decided to raise movie ticket prices.
Outside pressure and countless unfavorable conditions had been involved behind the scenes, but Myeong Jeha could see right through Jegal Rok's calculations.
Han Yeoreum wasn't a leading actress in film yet.
Even if ticket prices increased, she wasn't a big enough name for the public to use as a punching bag over actor salaries.
That meant the negative sentiment would be directed toward others.
And since the January 1st scandal would soon erupt, the arrows would head there first.
'The combination around her is good.'
The fact that Kwak Cheolsik and Yun Hyeonjo had willingly sacrificed part of their fees to pour money into the investment had also played a role.
Even if someone tried to link <Faster Than the Law> with rising ticket prices and criticize them, the controversy could be quickly extinguished.
Besides, Han Yeoreum had chosen the same path as them from this series onward.
Since her role was small, she would naturally avoid negative attention.
And even if this installment performed worse than the previous one, she wouldn't suffer serious damage.
No matter how one looked at it, it wasn't a bad situation.
If public opinion split evenly, JC would intervene.
And Ji Haebeom's investment in <Code Name: Time Seven> was also part of a plan to maintain a positive atmosphere.
Well-known actors had been placed around Han Yeoreum like armor.
For the time being, she wouldn't be attacked.
'So while movie ticket prices are the hot issue, she stays in supporting roles...'
After that, another plan would be necessary.
It was about time she secured her place in the film industry.
If she drifted too much toward OTT platforms like NetHolics, it would become disadvantageous in many ways.
Becoming a star.
And being recognized as an actress.
Both had to coexist.
Because she had earned that right.
Naturally joining the conversations crossing the table, Myeong Jeha thought about what came next.
Things he had never needed to work hard for.
The world, which had always remained under his control, had become slightly twisted.
And that sensation made him smile.
Watching familiar people receive familiar awards for familiar works, Myeong Jeha applauded toward some unknown destination.
While mentally recalling projects suitable for Han Yeoreum.
The meaningless noise continued.
As always, the tedious first half ended.
Stretching, Director Eom Gyun tapped his shoulder.
“Ah, when does your filming end?”
“Not exactly sure... but I think it'll be about two years before people see it in Korea. Pre-production's already finished.”
“You going up against us?”
“Haha. Distribution isn't really an actor's business... I don't know.”
“Ah, right. You act like you've lived through everything, so I forget.”
Come to think of it, he'd heard only recently that Eom Gyun and Ji Haebeom were working together.
Naturally, Myeong Jeha already knew the project.
“What kind of movie is it?”
“You wanna join?”
“Hahaha. I need to grow a little more first.”
“You really do know how to talk.”
Eom Gyun seemed pleased by the courtesy.
“Want me to show you?”
A work he already knew.
Myeong Jeha, who could recall Eom Gyun's entire filmography with his eyes closed, answered with a perfect smile.
“Must be interesting.”
Eom Gyun loved twisted social criticism.
Ji Haebeom possessed genius-level calculation.
And the work the two had created together—
Lay completely outside Myeong Jeha's common sense.
“Looks like Sunbae Haebeom gave a lot of input in the beginning.”
“Huh? What? You've heard?”
“...Haha. No.”
Ji Haebeom had still invested in <Code Name: Time Seven> even after Myeong Jeha forced the bad-luck icon Jo Eunnara into the cast.
He had sensed something changing since then, but never imagined it would be to this extent.
“I just guessed.”
Ji Haebeom wasn't someone who gambled recklessly like Jegal Rok, that mad dog of capitalism.
He created his own scorecard and moved only when more than half the boxes were checked.
But now—
He was no longer the Ji Haebeom Myeong Jeha knew.
The role originally meant for a male actor had been erased.
And in its place—
A new character had been born.
Originally—
This work had no heroine.
“How am I supposed to deal with the fact that I keep thinking about him?”
Kim Bomi.
Secretly in love with Juhwan, her older brother's friend...
...Entering university and spending her days visiting coffee houses, roller rinks, and rock cafés...
Because even without romance, the message could still be conveyed.
Building the narrative around male actors while letting female actors fill the gaps was the safest path to success.
Nothing should be allowed to obstruct the road ahead.
Even a tiny stone could trip someone.
Ji Haebeom wasn't the type to forget the foundation of his own path to success.
Having known him for years, Myeong Jeha arrived at the answer in an instant.
'He doesn't consider this a gamble.'
One by one, checkmarks had filled Ji Haebeom's list.
As he watched Han Yeoreum—
Someone who had walked the path of a top male actor rather than the traditional route of an actress—
He had been measuring her.
A player who overturned the board through ability alone.
Someone with a strange talent that had carried project after project since the moment she first appeared before the public.
That was why this wasn't a gamble.
It was the safe route.
An indescribable excitement pressed against Myeong Jeha's head.
Because Han Yeoreum's existence—
Someone who had pushed aside the place reserved for male actors—
Was completely unexpected.
“Who are you thinking of for the female lead?”
“I've considered age and acting ability. If it isn't her, I'm not doing it.”
But another name emerged from Director Eom Gyun's mouth.
“Dong Baekyeong.”
Movies belonged to directors.
Without Eom Gyun's directing, the film's success became uncertain.
Looking at the stubborn director, Myeong Jeha smiled.
“I'm looking forward to it. Very much...”
His heart beat wildly on its own.
* * *
The MBS headquarters in Sangam.
Under the dark night sky, the red carpet shone brilliantly.
More live cameras than usual were present.
The MBS Drama Awards had become one of the biggest events of the year.
Every time a black van arrived, cheers erupted around them.
Shutters clicked.
Excited voices filled the air.
The atmosphere unique to award ceremonies.
“Please look over here once!”
“Kyaaaa!”
“Unnie! Unnie, unnie, unnie!”
The cold was enough to freeze lips, but everyone continued shouting the names of those arriving.
As rookie actors entered one by one, Reporter Wi suddenly found himself lost in memories.
Back during the Ruel Mint Carpet, Han Yeoreum had been among the first to arrive.
'But now our Baby Melon Bread... has grown this much...'
Han Yeoreum had become someone people had to wait to see.
That thought made his nose sting.
The Han Yeoreum who had been overjoyed just to have interview photos taken—
Had now become an actress worthy of illuminating the entire ceremony.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say most people present had come to see the <Dongdaemun Romance> team.
“Kyaaaaaa—!!!”
Then—
The van door opened.
And the noise was deafening.
“Han Yeoreum!!!”
“Unnie!!!”
“Yeoreum, look over here!”
Reporters waved more enthusiastically than ever as shutters exploded.
Watching Han Yeoreum greet everyone with practiced ease through the frame—
Wi Jaehwi thought:
Tonight belonged to Han Yeoreum.
* * *
“Ah, my heart's pounding...”
Hearing her name called so many times again made her entire body tremble.
The first thing Han Yeoreum felt upon stepping out of the van wasn't the winter wind.
It was the voices calling her name.
The expectations in everyone's eyes burned hotter than the cold air touching her skin.
“I'm really nervous too. I think I'm even more nervous than when I debuted. It feels like my heart's about to explode. I even took some herbal calming medicine, but it didn't do much.”
“It's herbal calming medicine...”
Seo Eden sat beside her, hands clasped tightly, wearing the most serious expression she'd ever seen on him.
He was too nervous.
Today, Seo Eden had been nominated for Excellence in Acting.
'Well... he jumped straight from Rookie Award to Excellence Award. Anyone would be nervous.'
Half of her wanted to yell about how strict the hierarchy in acting was and ask how he had already reached Excellence Award level.
The other half felt proud because their team had genuinely done well enough to deserve it.
“Well... you did great, Eden. You'll definitely win, so don't be too nervous...”
“Why are you saying it like it's someone else's problem?”
Because it really is...
“Howcanyoube— guh.”
As he spoke, Beopsun, lying in Seo Eden's arms, suddenly jumped and smacked his throat.
He seemed to bite his tongue.
Poor guy.
“Ang.”
“Aw, want unnie to hold you? Coming to unnie, Beopsun?”
“Ang.”
Holding the warm, fluffy, soft Beopsun was healing.
The horrible events in Russia and the suffering from the reshoots melted away.
'I'll take pictures with the trophy and upload them quickly.'
Because of spoilers, Kim Jisang, and dating rumors, she hadn't been very active on SNS lately.
Starting tomorrow, she'd be pouring out <Seoul Metropolitan City> promotions—
But before that...
'I want to say thank you.'
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for letting me act.
Those beliefs that had brought her all the way here—
Where Han Yeoreum's name appeared in so many nominations—
Kept her from becoming exhausted.
'Huh?'
Her eyes met someone in the distance.
Grabbing Beopsun's paw, she waved it.
A fan who had been with her from the beginning.
Looking at her—
With the same eyes.
From the same place.
* * *
Attending the MBS Drama Awards, Aetami was greeted by an “Unnie, when did you get here?” greeting from Beopsun and briefly lost consciousness.
By the time she came to her senses—
The ceremony had begun.
The curtain rose on a Drama Awards ceremony worthy of commemorating the year that had turned Han Yeoreum into one of the protagonists of the Holy Grail War.
