Tat-tat-tat-tat. Click.
He put the gear into P and pulled the parking brake.
“Hoo…”
Clenching the steering wheel tightly, Han Seongtae let out a deep breath.
The acting he showed in front of Britton Lee.
‘I’m not satisfied.’
Han Seongtae wasn’t satisfied with his own acting.
He could do better.
He definitely could have acted far better than what he’d just done.
“Was my practice too lacking?”
Han Seongtae muttered softly, slowly closed his eyes, then opened them.
No matter what, it seemed he hadn’t had enough time to practice, and his body wasn’t following the way he wanted.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ smacks his lips in regret, saying it feels like you could do more, but for now this is the best you can do.]
Han Seongtae knew his practice was lacking, and the gods of acting knew it too.
So it was regrettable, but he didn’t regret it.
Because he acted to the best of what he could do.
Anything beyond that was a matter of time.
‘The real issue is how Britton Lee sees my acting.’
Britton Lee was one of the world’s masters.
There was no way someone like that wouldn’t see Han Seongtae’s shortcomings.
Tap, tap.
Letting out a light sigh, Han Seongtae got out of the car.
Even if he sat there and worried a hundred times, it wouldn’t make him look better to Britton Lee.
All he could do was hope that his best had been conveyed well.
“…?”
After getting out and facing Britton Lee, Han Seongtae tilted his head at a strange feeling.
Britton Lee’s expression was subtle.
A feeling hard to explain in words.
“Han.”
“Yes.”
“Are you…… a genius?”
At his words, Han Seongtae paused for a moment.
A genius?
Han Seongtae didn’t think he was a genius.
He was just someone who worked hard.
But with the gods of acting accompanying him, and with him drawing in their know-how, what about now?
Under Britton Lee’s gaze, Han Seongtae smiled.
“I believe it hasn’t even been a month since you sent the script, but I didn’t expect you to act this well. It’s incredible.”
“Thank you for seeing it kindly.”
Han Seongtae’s smile was genuine.
He’d been worrying about what he should do if Britton Lee didn’t like it.
Now, there was no need for that worry.
His sincerity, his passion, had gotten through to Britton Lee.
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ says that people like them connect through acting.]
[‘The One Who Made Laughter from Tragedy’ smiles with satisfaction, saying your acting may have been lacking just now, but it was filled with passion.]
[‘The Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says it’s amazing to be able to show acting like that in such a short time.]
Was it praise or encouragement?
Maybe it was both.
Either way, what did it matter.
‘Just the fact they’re with me is something to be grateful for.’
Seeing the gods’ messages, Han Seongtae let out a laugh and continued the conversation with Britton Lee.
“At this point, there’s nothing more to see. Watching more has no meaning.”
At his words, Han Seongtae smiled and nodded.
Han Seongtae thought the same.
He had already shown all the acting he could show here.
“Next time, it would be good to see you on set.”
“I feel the same. It’d be nice to see you on set.”
At Han Seongtae’s answer, he smiled.
“Get home safely.”
“You too, Director. Get home safely.”
Han Seongtae parted ways with Britton Lee like that.
It was a good meeting.
The kind of meeting that made him look forward to the next time.
After returning home, Han Seongtae read the script and repeated his practice.
Time that flowed by with anticipation eventually arrived at the day of the awards ceremony.
The day of the awards ceremony dawned.
The first awards ceremony in his life, across both his past life and his present life.
“Hoo… I’m nervous.”
Standing in front of the mirror, Han Seongtae muttered softly.
He put on the suit the company had tailored for him, and from among the clothes and accessories Kim Miso had sponsored, he picked out a watch and put it on.
Wearing a dark-toned sky-blue tie, Han Seongtae slowly examined his reflection in the mirror.
‘It’s been so long since I dressed up this formally.’
Unless it was a wedding or a funeral, there weren’t many occasions to dress in full formality.
Maybe that was why his reflection felt awkward.
[‘The One Who Defined an Era’ gives a thumbs-up, saying you look incredibly cool right now.]
[‘The Actor of Eternal Youth’ looks at you and laughs, saying seen like this, you really are handsome.]
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ says it suits you and tells you to be confident.]
Amid the gods’ messages, Han Seongtae put on the dress shoes Park Yeeun had bought him and left the house.
He’d received a text from Jung Dusik saying he’d arrived downstairs.
Screech, thud.
The door shut, and Han Seongtae walked in the direction where Jung Dusik was.
“Huh?”
“Hey, look over there. That’s insane.”
“Look at the suit fit. It suits him so well.”
“He’s really handsome.”
With each step he took, people’s eyes followed him.
One step, one gaze.
Along Han Seongtae’s footsteps, more and more people stopped nearby and stared at him.
“Hey, I think I know who that is.”
“Who?”
“It’s Han Seongtae. Ji Yeonwoo!”
“What?”
“Look at this. It’s exactly him!”
There were people who recognized Han Seongtae.
Some of them lifted their smartphones and searched up the work he’d filmed.
The more Han Seongtae filmed projects, the more people’s attention naturally increased.
The more recognizing gazes there were, the faster Han Seongtae’s steps became.
He didn’t know why, but he felt embarrassed for no reason.
[‘The Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ tells you to enjoy people’s attention.]
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ says you’ll get used to it soon.]
As long as he endured the stares, that was all.
It was a little awkward, embarrassing, and shameful, but not to the point he couldn’t bear it.
Still, the more people recognized him, the more his range of movement would inevitably shrink.
‘I really do need to move soon.’
A studio apartment was bound to be weak in security.
For privacy, and for safety, he needed to move.
“Is that the one you got tailored this time?”
“Yes.”
“It suits you. If you just fix your hair, it’ll be no joke.”
At Jung Dusik’s words, Han Seongtae smiled.
From what he’d seen so far, Jung Dusik wasn’t someone who spoke empty compliments.
Han Seongtae sank back into the seat.
And they arrived at the hair salon the company partnered with.
“I’m going to the awards ceremony today, okay? Please do my hair to match that.”
“Yes.”
At Jung Dusik’s words, the salon manager nodded and approached Han Seongtae.
She looked him over and didn’t hold back her admiration.
“Your skin is seriously amazing! How does someone have this little blemish-free skin?”
“Is it?”
“Yes. At this level, there’s not much I even need to touch. Teacher Kim, come help here.”
“Yes!”
At her words, the person called “Teacher Kim” came over.
‘Didn’t she just say there wasn’t much to touch?’
The two of them were holding onto Han Seongtae all by themselves.
Han Seongtae felt puzzled at the sight, but he silently accepted their hands.
‘It was good I came out early.’
Only after more than an hour passed could Han Seongtae escape from their hands.
“Wow… I did it, but this really is art. I need to leave this as a photo. Can I take a picture?”
“Yes.”
Click, click.
The moment Han Seongtae gave permission, the director pulled out her smartphone and started taking photos.
“Man, killer. You look great.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah. If female fans see you like this, they’ll go crazy. Perfect.”
Buzzz.
Then, Jung Dusik’s smartphone rang.
Buzzz.
Han Seongtae’s smartphone rang too.
“I’ll take this call and be right back. Wait just a bit.”
“Yes.”
The moment Han Seongtae nodded, Jung Dusik answered the call and disappeared from his seat.
Watching him, Han Seongtae also lifted his phone to check the notification.
—Park Yeeun: Are you on your way?
A text from Park Yeeun.
A gentle curve formed at the corners of Han Seongtae’s mouth.
—Yes, I stopped by the hair salon, and I think we’ll leave soon.
—Park Yeeun: Good. I’m on my way now too. See you at the station.
—Yes, see you then.
“Uh…… Actor Han?”
While he was texting back and forth with Park Yeeun, a voice came from the side.
Turning his head, Han Seongtae saw a familiar face.
“Running into Actor Han here of all places. You remember me, right?”
“Yes, you’re Team Leader Choi Gideok.”
Actor Team 1’s team leader, Choi Gideok.
He hadn’t expected to see him here.
Of course, it wasn’t all that strange.
This was a place the company partnered with, and it wasn’t like only Team 2 had actors.
He just hadn’t expected to run into him like this.
“Looks like Actor Han came to get his hair done after getting nominated for the awards ceremony.”
“Yes.”
“Nice. Even as a guy, I can tell it suits you.”
“Thank you.”
As he answered, Han Seongtae looked at him quietly.
Maybe it was just his imagination.
But Choi Gideok kept talking to him in a friendly way, like they’d known each other for ages.
“I’m here because our actor Kim Heonho has the awards ceremony. He got nominated for Best Couple Award this time.”
“Ah, please tell him congratulations.”
No matter how much time Han Seongtae poured into practicing, he still knew what actors the company had.
Kim Heonho.
Of course, he knew he was one of the actors in Actor Team 1.
“It’s nice to see you doing well these days, Actor Han. I’m looking forward to the day we get to work together.”
“Ah, yes.”
“But is there anything hard for you these days? If there is, talk frankly. Even if I’m not the team leader of ‘Actor Team 2,’ I can still help with plenty.”
Choi Gideok said it while emphasizing “Actor Team 2.”
Watching that, Han Seongtae narrowed his eyes, then relaxed them.
‘Now I get why Team Leader Min said that.’
She had told him the team leader of Actor Team 1 was aiming for him.
Back then, he hadn’t thought much of it.
But facing Choi Gideok, he felt like he could understand why Min Najeong was wary of Team 1.
Right in front of him, Choi Gideok was far too blatantly trying to dig up problems with Actor Team 2.
As if he wanted Han Seongtae and Actor Team 2 to be on bad terms.
‘I don’t like this kind of person.’
No matter how much Team 1 and Team 2 competed in results.
It wasn’t right to pull strings behind the scenes like this.
Having been on the receiving end of these kinds of schemes in his past life, Han Seongtae hated this kind of dirty trick even more.
No, it went beyond hate—he despised it.
‘This person doesn’t mesh with me.’
Han Seongtae’s opinion of Choi Gideok settled.
“Team Leader Min and Hyung Dusik have both been so good to me, I’m not lacking anything in particular.”
Even if there was, he had no intention of telling Choi Gideok.
“But there has to be at least one thing, right?”
“There isn’t.”
“Ah…… then that’s a relief. Yeah, well. Still, if there’s anything uncomfortable, tell me anytime.”
“…”
“We can do at least that between us.”
What was he even saying “between us” for?
At Choi Gideok’s words, Han Seongtae clicked his tongue inwardly and opened his mouth.
“Thank you for your concern. But I don’t think that’ll happen.”
At Han Seongtae’s words, he could see Choi Gideok smack his lips.
“Seongtae!”
Just then, Jung Dusik’s voice came from behind.
Jung Dusik hurried over and stepped in front of Choi Gideok.
“What’s going on with our actor?”
“Long time no see, Dusik.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t be so on guard. As a team leader, I was just encouraging him, that’s all. We can do at least that for ‘our’ actor, right?”
Choi Gideok tapped Jung Dusik on the shoulder and walked away.
“Then I’ll see you again next time, Actor Han.”
Han Seongtae didn’t answer.
He didn’t particularly want to meet him again.
“Hoo… sorry. I shouldn’t have left my seat.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Team Leader Choi looked like he was saying something weird. Ignore him. That guy… sticking people like that is his habit.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
“Well… he didn’t say anything too strange, right?”
“No, nothing like that. He just asked if there was anything uncomfortable, so I said there wasn’t.”
“Good.”
Jung Dusik nodded and patted Han Seongtae on the shoulder.
As if reassured, a faint smile formed at Jung Dusik’s mouth.
“That Team Leader Choi…… what a lousy person.”
At that, Han Seongtae shrugged.
“Your hair turned out well. Let’s go.”
“Yes. Let’s go, hyung.”
At Jung Dusik’s words, Han Seongtae smiled and nodded.
There had been a brief incident at the hair salon, but Han Seongtae didn’t pay it much mind.
Because something more important was waiting for him now.
The KBN Awards Ceremony.
As a nominee making his way there, Han Seongtae’s heart was beating a little faster than usual.
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