The Grove (The Drove).
One of the large shopping malls famous in Los Angeles.
True to its reputation, The Grove was bustling with people from the entrance.
Han Seongtae stood at the entrance, looking inside.
‘It feels a little different from Korea.’
He did not go to shopping malls much even in Korea.
Still, he could at least tell that Korea and America felt different overall.
If Korea had department stores, America had shopping malls instead of department stores… that much, he knew.
‘The shopping mall buildings aren’t that tall.’
Han Seongtae went inside and looked around the shopping mall.
Unlike Korean department stores, which usually started at six or seven floors or more,
American shopping malls seemed to have five floors as their limit, no matter how tall they were.
Instead, they were extremely wide.
At this size, it was probably similar to Dongmyo Market, or even wider.
Because it was wide, there were many kinds of luxury brands, and all sorts of things were being sold.
[‘The One Who Defined an Era’ smiles, saying you can finally do some proper shopping.]
[‘The Actor of Eternal Youth’ peeks around here and there, saying there are many places that interest him.]
‘It’s a good thing I didn’t make any plans today.’
He had deliberately not made any appointments, thinking the shopping might take a long time.
It was a situation where it would be fine even if he walked around the shopping mall all day.
Han Seongtae moved his steps wherever the god of acting wanted to go.
Jingle.
The small bell attached to the door announced that a customer had entered.
The welcoming voices of the employees came from inside.
Han Seongtae passed by them and looked over clothes he might wear.
[‘The Actor of Eternal Youth’ says that for this party, it would be better to have an appropriate sense of weight rather than something bright.]
[‘The One Who Defined an Era’ says it would be better to match it to cool tones, and consults with ‘The Actor of Eternal Youth.’]
Han Seongtae only looked around, and the ones who chose his clothes were the gods of acting.
“Your payment has been completed.”
The amount spent just to go to the party came to no less than over three million won.
His hands did tremble while paying.
But he knew that image was important for an actor, and he knew that change was necessary, so he paid with tears in his eyes.
After that slightly painful but satisfying shopping trip ended, on the way back to his lodging,
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ grabs your collar, saying there is somewhere you need to go.]
Han Seongtae’s steps moved not toward his lodging, but toward another place.
The place he arrived at after following the direction ‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ wanted him to go was—
‘This is just a house.’
It was a house a little ways away from the city.
It was neither a restaurant, nor a museum, nor anything of the sort. It was an ordinary private home.
Why in the world had he told him to come here?
Han Seongtae could not read ‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ thoughts.
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ urges you to go inside.]
“You want me to go in here? I can’t. This is trespassing.”
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ says it is fine, that it is not like that, and that you may go inside.]
Han Seongtae understood what ‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ was saying even less.
What exactly was this place for him to insist he go this far?
Unable to ignore the god’s request, Han Seongtae let out a deep sigh and moved his steps.
“Excuse me, is anyone here?”
There was no one.
As if the place had been empty for a long time.
The house was only cold and silent.
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ says the password is probably ‘1028.’]
“Was this where you lived when you were alive?”
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ waits for you in silence.]
Han Seongtae let out a deep sigh and entered the password.
Click.
Watching the door open, he let out a hollow laugh.
He could clearly tell that this place was deeply connected to ‘The One With a Thousand Faces.’
Han Seongtae slowly went inside, then blinked at the interior of the house, which was cleaner than he had expected.
As if someone had come and cleaned, there was not a single speck of dust visible inside the house.
Following ‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ words, he moved his steps.
“Ah…”
Together with the photo of one person, he could see traces of that person’s work lined up beside it.
‘So this was his party house.’
He had once seen a certain movie.
A place that appeared in a film about one actor’s life story.
That place was here.
And the owner of this place was Heath Ledger.
“Ha…”
Han Seongtae could not hide his emotions.
Who was Heath Ledger?
The dark-hero film he had acted in was still talked about again and again even now.
People who had seen his acting still remembered Heath Ledger’s powerful impression even ten years later.
A great actor, and a figure who was pitiful because he died far too young.
A party house where that person’s traces remained.
This place, made for Heath Ledger’s growth in acting, was where Hollywood actors often came to have discussions about acting.
A place made solely for growth in acting.
Everywhere, traces of Heath Ledger’s acting remained.
Looking at them, Han Seongtae felt a hot desire surge up from his chest.
‘I want to make a place like this too.’
A place solely for acting.
A place where people sincere about acting could gather and comfortably talk.
A man who had lived only for acting.
Han Seongtae came to want to resemble him.
[‘The One With a Thousand Faces’ smiles, saying nothing is impossible if it is you.]
He had gained one more reason to act even harder.
Two days was not a very long time.
Han Seongtae was standing at the entrance to the party venue.
Beside Dominic’s house, the cars driven there by the actors were lined up.
Looking at the cars from famous brands, Han Seongtae thought, ‘Someday, me too.’
Because he could not live on foot forever.
Even if he had a manager, he could not always bring him around.
More than anything, while filming Rampage, he had strongly felt that it would be nice to have his own car.
“Seongtae, don’t be nervous. In the end, people live here too.”
At the voice from beside him, Han Seongtae’s thoughts were interrupted.
Seeing Jung Dusik worrying about him while looking completely tense himself, Han Seongtae could not help but laugh.
“I think you’re more nervous than I am, hyung.”
“Really? I even took a calming pill, but it still won’t settle down.”
“Don’t be too nervous. Like you said, in the end, they’re all just people.”
Han Seongtae patted his shoulder and headed into the party venue.
Because this was a party where one manager could accompany him in case of emergency, Han Seongtae had brought Jung Dusik right away without saying anything more.
Inside the party venue, they arrived like that.
‘It’s more ordinary than I thought.’
Dominic’s party was not extravagant.
Food was prepared in an ordinary family home, and famous people were walking around among it. That was all.
It was not the kind of luxurious party Han Seongtae had imagined.
It was a scene that looked like people had simply invited acquaintances over to eat and drink together.
As he was looking at that scene, Dominic, wearing a sleeveless shirt, approached and spoke to him.
“Han, welcome. I was waiting for you.”
“Thank you for welcoming me, Dom. It’s such an honor that I’m even attending Dom’s party.”
“Don’t think of it as anything too grand. Just talk casually, relax comfortably, and go when you’re ready.”
“Yes, thank you for caring.”
Dominic told him to enjoy himself, tapped Han Seongtae’s arm, then moved away to greet someone else.
Even to another man, his back as he walked toward the people looked cool.
“Hello.”
“Yes, hello. Ah, you must be Han, the one Dom mentioned.”
Han Seongtae moved through the party and exchanged greetings with people.
A chance to build connections that Dominic had created for him.
Han Seongtae was not foolish enough to miss that chance.
Jung Dusik was talking with the managers of other actors.
Each of them was doing their best in their own position.
Around the time the beer he had been holding was about half empty, after finishing his conversation with some people and sitting by the window to rest for a moment, Han Seongtae noticed Dominic and Letty approaching him.
“Are you enjoying the party?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, I’m enjoying it. It’s good to see you too, Letty. You look really beautiful today.”
“Thank you. Han, you look great too.”
He answered Dominic’s question and exchanged greetings with Letty.
There was goodwill in her eyes as she looked at Han Seongtae.
Dominic took a seat beside Han Seongtae.
In his hand was a beer that seemed to have just been taken out, with water droplets gathered on it.
“To be honest, there was someone I wanted to introduce you to today. Unfortunately, the situation didn’t work out.”
“An introduction?”
“Yes. She’s a kid who likes cars like me. I thought she would get along well with Han too.”
At Dominic’s words, Han Seongtae tilted his head.
He could not guess who Dominic was talking about.
‘I’ve already met all the actors from Instinctive Rush here.’
There was no one else left to meet.
“There will be another chance later. It’s not as if we’re only meeting today.”
“…That’s true.”
At Dominic’s words, a smile formed on Han Seongtae’s lips.
He understood what Dominic’s words meant.
Saying they were not only meeting today meant Dominic was making it clear he was willing to meet him anytime.
‘That’s nice.’
It felt like he had achieved the purpose of coming to the party.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ smiles, saying he is happy to see faces he missed.]
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ feels a little regretful over the face he has not seen yet.]
Looking at the god’s message and sipping his beer, Han Seongtae continued his conversation with Dominic.
“Han’s acting feels more fascinating the more I see it.”
“My acting?”
“It changes every time I see it. As if several people are contained inside one person’s body.”
“Ah…”
Dominic was someone called a great actor all over the world.
That meant he had a great deal of experience and years behind him.
Because of that, the meaning contained in each of his looks and words was quite sharp.
“I learn by watching other actors’ acting. They are all my teachers in a way, so maybe that’s why it changes. Dom, you’re one of my teachers too.”
“Hahaha. That’s an interesting thing to say. Every actor is a teacher… not bad. You’re right. There are things to learn from others.”
Dominic smiled and nodded.
Just then,
Vroooom!
The sound of an exhaust came from somewhere.
A sound that naturally made the heart beat faster.
“Ah, she’s here.”
At Dominic’s words, Han Seongtae reflexively looked beyond the window.
A sports car appeared on the road.
A sleek sky-blue car.
He could see one person getting out of the car parked in front of the house.
At the sight of the woman, whose long straight hair left a very strong impression, Han Seongtae’s expression became strange.
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ lets out a sigh as he sees her.]
[‘The One Who Lives and Dies by Speed’ mutters quietly as he looks at her, saying she has grown so much.]
Along with one god’s intense reaction, she raised her head.
“….”
Han Seongtae’s eyes met hers.
At that moment,
time stopped.
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