― Seongtae, are you interested in taking on a job?
While he was reading a script at home, Han Seongtae tilted his head at the sudden call from Jung Dusik.
Calling him was fine, but asking out of nowhere if he wanted to “take on a job”?
‘Sounds like an ad.’
Given Han Seongtae’s current situation, there were not many kinds of work that could be added.
He already had a drama he was filming, and he had signed a contract with Netflix.
It was hard enough to focus on just one thing, so the chances of anyone offering him a new drama were almost zero.
“Hyung, I am sorry to say this when you are thinking of me, but I do not want to shoot any more commercials.”
― Huh?
“Just doing the pet product commercial is enough for me. Right now I want to focus on dramas.”
Han Seongtae stated his position firmly.
He was not planning to do more commercials and wanted to focus solely on acting.
Originally, he had not even planned to shoot the pet product commercial.
No, from the start, he had not been thinking about commercials at all.
‘If the rate had not been that high, I would not have done it either.’
He might have accepted the pet product commercial after some hemming and hawing, but the others were a different matter.
Putting it this firmly, Jung Dusik would surely have gotten the point.
― No. Seongtae, I think you are misunderstanding something. I am not calling to tell you to shoot more commercials.
“…Sorry?”
― After you spoke that strongly back then, if I still tried to push more commercials on you, I would be a jerk. I am not that kind of guy.
‘So it is not a commercial?’
At Jung Dusik’s words, Han Seongtae could not help but pause.
If it was not a commercial, then what kind of work was he trying to add?
Nothing came to mind right away.
“Then what is it about?”
As he asked, tilting his head, Jung Dusik’s answer came through the receiver.
― Do you want to go on a variety show?
It was not a commercial but a variety show.
The two were clearly different, but that did not mean Han Seongtae felt positive about it.
“Hyung, I just want to focus on acting right now.”
The final shoot for Baeknyeoncho was just around the corner.
In that situation, he had no desire to take on something else.
He had already compromised a lot by agreeing to shoot the commercial.
― I know. I know very well how seriously you take acting, so I honestly did not want to bring this up either.
For a moment, it felt like Jung Dusik was hesitating.
That reaction made Han Seongtae tilt his head again.
Just what kind of variety show was this, for him to react like that?
― Seongtae. You know You Quiz, right? That variety show that is really hot among younger people these days.
“Of course I know it. I watch it pretty often too. They even have a channel on MiTube.”
Even if he was crazy about acting, it did not mean he had no idea how the world worked.
On top of that, a variety show like You Quiz was fairly well known even among actors.
‘Because it is a variety show focused on the guest.’
You Quiz was a quiz variety show where they brought entertainers on as guests.
Up to that point, there was nothing especially strange about it.
There were not many shows that brought celebrities on and did quiz programs, but it was not as if they did not exist at all.
However, You Quiz was built on a different concept.
Even the quizzes were about the guest, and the way the show was run itself was focused on the guest.
Because of that, it was a show that ranked in the top one or two for variety program invitations when actors or singers wanted to promote a song or a project.
― They sent an offer. They said they would promote you properly and asked how about coming on and showing your face.
“You mean You Quiz sent an offer?”
― Yeah. If it were some other show, I would have turned it down on my own. You might already know this, but this is one of those shows you simply cannot refuse. Not going on is a loss.
He knew.
Since he knew what kind of program You Quiz was, he could fully understand how Jung Dusik felt.
From Han Seongtae’s point of view, it was not a disadvantageous offer at all.
He could promote the project, and for him personally, it was a chance to build a good image.
‘Yeah, this is something I absolutely have to do.’
On top of that, the host of You Quiz was Yu Jaehyeok, the so-called national MC.
― So what do you want to do?
The name You Quiz was simply too big to turn down.
The final day of filming for Baeknyeoncho drew near.
“So this day really does come.”
When he had first started the project, Han Seongtae had honestly wondered if the end would ever come.
In the sixteen-episode drama, his character appeared all the way through the final episode.
A shoot that would take over three months had felt nothing but long.
“It is the last shoot.”
“Right. Today is the last day.”
“You look a little spaced out.”
“It is the final shoot, after all. It feels a bit strange.”
At Jung Dusik’s words, Han Seongtae nodded and blankly looked around the set.
The set itself looked the same as always.
The staff were moving busily, and the actors were rehearsing in advance of the shoot.
If there was anything different, it was that…
‘The atmosphere is strange.’
The air surrounding the filming site was not quite the same as usual.
The mood felt a little more heated and, in a way, awkward.
“Alright, let’s give it our all to the very end! Seongtae, is your makeup done?”
“Yes.”
“Then let us go straight into shooting.”
At Hwang Gyeol’s words, Han Seongtae rose from his seat and went up onto the set.
This set was made to look like a wedding hall.
Baek Yeon and Yoo Yena’s wedding.
Here, Han Seongtae had to portray Ji Yeonwoo sending Yoo Yena off.
“Ready, action!”
At Hwang Gyeol’s cue, Han Seongtae took a deep breath.
Dandadadan!
With the wedding march, his expression changed.
It was his final performance as Ji Yeonwoo, not Han Seongtae.
Precisely because of that, he was determined to pour all of his focus into it.
“Do you, Baek Yeon, take Yoo Yena to be your wife, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, in joy and in sorrow…”
The two of them reciting their wedding vows.
Ji Yeonwoo quietly watched them.
Not at Yoo Yena’s side, but in the guest seats, filling one chair as one of their acquaintances.
“So it ends like this after all.”
He was not the one ending up with Yoo Yena, but no trace of regret could be found on Ji Yeonwoo’s face.
Over the time they had spent together, he had seen Yena’s heart and he knew what kind of person would be by her side.
“So you are not a gumiho anymore but a human.”
Because of the gods’ fickleness, Baek Yeon had gone from gumiho to human.
Ji Yeonwoo knew very well that the human Baekyeon suited Yoo Yena better than he did.
As a mountain god, he would live forever, but Baekyeon was human and his life span was finite.
The two of them would love each other and grow old together happily.
‘I do not have the heart to watch her as she dies.’
Ji Yeonwoo undoubtedly loved Yoo Yena.
However, precisely because he loved her so much, he blessed her love and wished for her health.
Her happiness was his happiness.
“At least I got a promise.”
Above all, the promise he had drawn out of Baek Yeon gave him a bit of comfort.
“I swear I will be a faithful wife and remain true to the duties and fidelity of our marriage.”
“I swear I will be a faithful husband and remain true to the duties and fidelity of our marriage.”
Waaaah!
Clap, clap, clap.
At their vows, people rose from their seats and began to applaud.
Ji Yeonwoo was among them.
“Alright, let us take the photo!”
Even when they said it was time to take pictures, Ji Yeonwoo did not move.
It was true that things had gotten better between him and Baek Yeon, but that did not change the fact that it was still awkward.
He did not want to splash ink on their happy moment.
He was watching them pose for the photos when it happened.
“Hey. What are you doing, not coming up?”
“He is right. Yeonwoo, hurry up and come up here!”
The two of them called out to him.
They told him to come up and stand beside them.
At their words, Ji Yeonwoo blinked.
‘Did they really just tell me to come up?’
That could not be.
There had to be someone else with a similar name.
“Ji Yeonwoo! Yes, you, you!”
“…Me?”
“Yes, you! Why are you just standing there like that? Can you not see we left a spot open next to us? Hurry up and get up here!”
At Baekyeon’s words, Ji Yeonwoo rushed up the steps.
“Come over here!”
Baek Yeon assigned him a spot.
Yoo Yena and Baekyeon were linking arms.
Ji Yeonwoo stood behind them.
In the middle of the two of them, he posed together for the picture.
“Smile. It is a happy day, do not ruin it by standing there with that gloomy face.”
“You do not have to say that for me to know how to do it properly.”
Answering Baek Yeon’s words bluntly, Ji Yeonwoo smiled.
And his smile was softer than any he had shown so far.
“Cut!”
Hwang Gyeol’s voice rang out through the megaphone.
It was the signal that the shoot was over.
Hearing that voice, Han Seongtae, who had been standing behind Kim Mucheol, let out a deep breath.
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ smiles and says you worked hard filming.]
[‘The One Who Defined an Era’ pats your shoulder and says it was a perfect finish.]
Laughing as he read the gods’ messages, Han Seongtae came down from the set together with Kim Mucheol.
“You worked hard!”
“Seongtae, your acting was really good again today! I hope we can shoot together again next time.”
“Since today is the last day, can I get your autograph? I will always be cheering for you.”
People came over and gathered around him.
Looking at them, Han Seongtae smiled brightly.
It was a shame that he would not be able to act as part of Baeknyeoncho anymore, but even so, it was a satisfying ending.
“Seongtae, let us keep in touch.”
“Yes, Yeeun. You worked hard throughout the shoot. Thank you for looking out for me.”
“I should be the one saying thank you. I was able to act better because of you. Let us make sure to meet up from time to time.”
“Yes.”
He exchanged farewells with Park Yeeun.
As he finished greeting people and turned his body, Kim Mucheol approached him.
“You worked hard. You are coming to the wrap party, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Good. Ah, you got the date for that get-together, right?”
“Yes, Seokjeong hyung sent it to me by text.”
“Okay, then I will see you again then too.”
Smiling, Kim Mucheol patted him on the shoulder.
That was how Han Seongtae’s second drama came to a close.
“Senior, you will eat dinner before you go, right?”
At Kim Rina’s question, Han Seongtae nodded.
Her practice, too, was now nearing its end.
Her musical would open at the end of September.
With filming also finished, Han Seongtae was helping her practice even more diligently.
― Kim Minseok: Seongtae, the script is done. Take a look.
― Ok, ok. I will read it now.
As they were moving along the street,
Han Seongtae quickly skimmed the script that Kim Minseok had sent via email.
The script had been divided into series format.
He had received the draft for episode 1.
As he read through it, his eyes widened slightly.
― Hey. This is good. It is really good.
― Kim Minseok: Yeah? That is a relief.
Seeing Kim Minseok’s reply, Han Seongtae smiled in satisfaction.
With a script like this, he was confident they could make an even more entertaining A Day (Haru) than before.
The curtain on the old stage had come down, and a new curtain was rising.
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