Lee Junseong headed to a small nearby cafe with Robert.
As soon as they sat down, Robert took off his hat and asked Lee Junseong.
“Did Director Gyeong Chanhyeon tell you to come find me?”
“Ah, it’s nothing like that. I just came because I was curious.”
Lee Junseong looked at Robert with suspicious eyes.
He then grabbed a napkin and twisted it between his index finger and thumb.
“What did you say to Director Gyeong Chanhyeon?”
“I didn’t say much.”
“Is that so?”
Lee Junseong asked back, glaring at Robert.
At that, Robert also frowned.
“Is there a problem?”
“You didn’t say much, yet things are turning out like this?”
At Lee Junseong’s words, Robert spoke as if he found it absurd.
“I told him I have no intention of doing a movie. Clearly.”
“Then why is Gyeong Chanhyeon’s script tailored to you? Unless you did something, this makes no sense.”
Lee Junseong took a breath before speaking.
After meeting Robert, the script felt even more like a dedicated Robert Penn script.
It felt as if the script was being written with a specific actor in mind, and Lee Junseong was certain Robert had done something.
“If you don’t participate in the movie, I don’t care about your past. I don’t care whether you’re on drugs right now or not. But if you do participate, then the conversation changes.”
“I told you, I have no intention of participating.”
“Keep that thought. Until the very end. Gyeong Chanhyeon will probably come looking for you again. He’s a guy who doesn’t know how to give up.”
At Lee Junseong’s words, Robert spoke through gritted teeth.
“I told him clearly. That working with me would be an act of self-destruction.”
“Gyeong Chanhyeon is the kind of guy who doesn’t care about that. In fact, I think he’d enjoy it. If he comes again, please reject him. I’m asking you.”
Leaving those words behind, Lee Junseong left the seat.
Robert stared blankly at Lee Junseong’s retreating back and let out a deep sigh again.
‘Is it not just a simple relationship between a producer and a director?’
Producers and directors are originally paired for business.
Unless they have a special relationship, they shouldn’t know much about each other, but Lee Junseong seemed to know Gyeong Chanhyeon quite well.
“Sigh…”
Lee Junseong’s words were quite stinging, but not a single word was wrong.
Even if he were the producer, he certainly wouldn’t have used an actor like himself.
Robert smiled bitterly, stood up, and returned to Burger Emperor.
A few days later.
“This isn’t right…”
The script, which had been flowing smoothly after meeting Robert Penn, suddenly hit a wall.
Since every single line of the character was important, a small mistake could lead to the collapse of the character, so he stepped away from the keyboard for a moment.
“Sigh…”
Especially if he didn’t use Robert Penn in this movie, he had to pour his soul into every single line.
Robert was an actor who breathed life into his roles through ad-libs.
If he used a different actor, one who wasn’t like that, he had no choice but to create that vitality himself.
‘This is harder than I thought. Trying to bring it to life through dialogue alone in my head…’
He searched for Robert Penn’s contact information on his phone.
Then, he cautiously pressed the call button.
“Hello?”
—Yes.
He felt something was off at the voice, which was colder than expected, but he asked him.
“Could we meet for a moment?”
—I’m somewhere else right now.
“Where?”
—A temple.
“What?”
At his question, Robert spoke as if wondering why he was so surprised.
—I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. I came here to clear my head.
“Ah. Haha. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately too…”
Robert Penn was silent for a moment.
Then, he spoke in a slightly warmer voice.
—It’s good to empty yourself out here.
“If you tell me the location, I’ll head there immediately.”
As soon as the call ended, Robert sent the location of the temple via text.
He immediately drove toward the temple where Robert was.
Robert waited for Gyeong Chanhyeon at the temple entrance, and before long, Gyeong Chanhyeon’s car appeared.
And seeing him step out of the car, a bitter smile naturally formed on Robert’s lips.
“You got here faster than I thought?”
“Haha. Yes.”
“Let’s go in.”
The two walked silently through the quiet temple.
Watching Gyeong Chanhyeon blankly look around the temple that blended in with nature, Robert asked curiously.
“Didn’t you say you had something to talk about?”
“Yes. I did… but coming here makes me feel a bit more at peace. Just a moment. Haha.”
Looking at the smiling Gyeong Chanhyeon, Robert recalled Lee Junseong’s words and steadied his heart.
“Would you like to take a look? I’m not offering you the role. I just wondered if these lines would suit this character.”
“Yes. Just a moment.”
Robert read the script quickly, alternating between the script and Gyeong Chanhyeon, making various expressions.
“What is this…”
“I need lines that are slightly sly yet charming, but you don’t feel that, right?”
“No. I think this is sufficient. Haha. Truly… CEO Lee Junseong was right.”
A script written with him in mind.
A scenario with such completeness that he would believe it if someone told him it was written by someone who knew his character better than he did.
Robert chuckled at the scenario and handed the script back to Gyeong Chanhyeon.
“Junseong? You met Junseong?”
“Yes. He came to the shop. Haha…”
“To the shop?”
At Gyeong Chanhyeon’s question, Robert nodded and answered.
“He told me not to even think about doing a movie with Director Gyeong.”
“What?”
Gyeong Chanhyeon looked at Robert with an expression as if he had been hit hard in the back of the head.
“By the way, what is the relationship between you two? You’re not just a simple producer and director, are you?”
“Ah… we were college classmates. Haha. Old friends. It’s been over ten years now.”
Robert spoke to Gyeong Chanhyeon with a look of envy.
“He’s a good friend. Definitely a good friend.”
“…”
“He told me you would come looking for me again. That Director Gyeong is that kind of person. A human who never gives up… haha.”
Robert Penn sat on the edge of the temple porch with a bitter smile. Then, looking at the distant forest, he continued.
“But CEO Lee Junseong said he would stop you no matter what. At first, I was angry, but then I understood. And since you say you’re friends, I understand even more. He probably doesn’t want to ruin his friend’s future.”
“…”
“But does that mean you originally had the intention to do it? You did have the greed, didn’t you?”
“Pardon?”
Looking at the forest, Robert looked at Gyeong Chanhyeon with an expression as if wondering if he hadn’t understood.
Then, Gyeong Chanhyeon’s expression had completely changed.
Seeing the corners of his mouth curled up high, Robert seemed flustered.
“The fact that you were angry means you definitely had the intention to act, right?”
“That’s not exactly…”
“The Robert I saw at the shop looked like he had no thought of acting at all. That’s why I didn’t even make an offer.”
When he first met Gyeong Chanhyeon.
He was in a state where he had completely forgotten his dream of acting.
He no longer had any intention of stepping foot in it, but his mind had been complicated for a few days due to things that confused this thought.
However, without fail, it eventually concluded with giving up acting.
“Yes. I want to act. But let’s look at reality. If we go into movie production, there will be more articles about me than about the movie. Just like the movie three years ago!”
Clink.
As soon as Robert finished speaking, the sound of a wind chime echoed in the breeze.
Gyeong Chanhyeon closed his eyes for a moment as if enjoying the sound, appearing to think about something.
And as if a decision had been made, he spoke to Robert with a bright smile.
“Are you afraid of those articles? You’re different from the person I knew.”
“…”
Robert stared blankly at Gyeong Chanhyeon as if he found it absurd.
“Are you afraid of how others see you?”
“I don’t want to see others be ruined because of me anymore.”
At Robert’s words, Gyeong Chanhyeon shrugged his shoulders and said.
“Why are you pretending to be mature?”
“What?”
“Why are you intentionally placing a burden in your heart?”
At Gyeong Chanhyeon’s words, Robert frowned and snapped back.
“What are you talking about? Just because you’re a fan doesn’t mean you know everything about me. Stop acting like you’ve been inside my head.”
“I’m going to stop now.”
“What?”
Robert’s expression was a sight to behold.
With his face completely distorted, Gyeong Chanhyeon didn’t get scared; instead, he pushed harder.
“I’m not going to be your fan anymore.”
“…”
“The Robert pretending to be mature isn’t the actor Robert I was a fan of. That selfish, obnoxious side is your charm, and if that disappears, you’re useless.”
“Pretending to be mature?”
Robert gritted his teeth and glared at Gyeong Chanhyeon.
But Gyeong Chanhyeon continued as if he didn’t care.
“Yes. It’s a pretense. Aren’t you brainwashing yourself into believing you’re happy making burgers? Aren’t you just brainwashing yourself into saying you hate acting because you’re afraid of harming others, while you actually want to act?”
“…”
Robert covered his face at Gyeong Chanhyeon’s words.
‘Why does it feel like he knows me better than I know myself… what on earth…’
As Robert let out a deep sigh at this thought, Gyeong Chanhyeon said with a smile.
“That script is a gift. In exchange, I’ll take one strand of hair.”
“What?”
“You’ve got a full head of hair. Let me just pluck one.”
Pluck.
“There. Read that script and look at it while thinking about your old self. It’ll be more helpful.”
“I haven’t even said I’d do it yet…”
“You will, right? I have to go to work now, so let’s meet again soon.”
Gyeong Chanhyeon ran toward his car with light steps as if he were possessed by a spirit.
Watching that retreating back, Robert showed a smile as if he found it absurd.
A short while later.
Lee Junseong thought of Robert’s face in the CEO’s office.
‘Indeed, for an actor, a face is a talent…’
He had tried to detach him from Gyeong Chanhyeon with harsh words, but since there was an age difference, harsh words didn’t come easily.
And picking a fight as soon as they met wasn’t an easy task either.
But for the sake of the movie, he should have said even harsher things…
Bang!
Lee Junseong blinked at the sight of a brightened Gyeong Chanhyeon bursting through the door.
“What is it? Why are you suddenly like this?”
“Robert Penn. Let’s use him.”
“You crazy bastard. I told you no. That’s—!”
Lee Junseong frowned at Gyeong Chanhyeon’s sudden change of choice.
“Is it a money issue? If the insurance premium is the problem, deduct it from my allowance.”
Gyeong Chanhyeon’s eyes were swept with madness.
He should have been used to it by now, but Lee Junseong squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again before speaking.
“I’m telling you it’s not just a money issue! Are we a laundry service? Huh? Why are you shielding that bundle of problems? Look at the streets of Hollywood. There are countless people struggling because they couldn’t grab an opportunity. Why on earth do we have to shield a problem child like that?”
Lee Junseong looked at Gyeong Chanhyeon, repeating the things he had told Robert.
“Then laundry him. If we run a piece of trash through the laundry and a diamond comes out, isn’t that a gain for us?”
At Gyeong Chanhyeon’s words, Lee Junseong shook his head as if he couldn’t understand.
“What kind of nonsensical logic is that? What…”
“If it’s a money issue, I’ll take the loss. If it’s a public opinion issue, I’ll solve it.”
“No, I’m asking how you’re going to do that!? You’re a guy who just stepped foot in Hollywood. There aren’t even many people who know you!”
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