After arriving at Los Angeles Airport and retrieving my luggage, Jang Sunho guided to the exit.
"Over here, actor," he said.
Unlike , Jang Sunho moved without hesitation, as if he had been here several tis before.
"When I went to Japan, there were quite a few reporters. I wonder if it'll be the sa this ti," I thought.
I wasn't particularly expecting it, but still, it would have been nice if people had been waiting for since I had co to the United States.
However…
"…"
Outside the exit, there was no one.
To be precise, there were many people, but they were all waiting for their acquaintances, not .
A situation quite different from what I had experienced in Korea and Japan.
Faced with the temperature difference, I was montarily bewildered, but I faced reality.
Here, I was a complete rookie.
While and other works on Netflix had achieved considerable success, I, in the end, was a newcor who had achieved nothing here.
It didn't make feel bad or uncomfortable.
Instead, it stimulated .
"It feels like I've returned to being a rookie actor," I thought.
Even now, if I were to be honest, I was still a rookie.
"Actor Kang! Team Leader Jang!"
While I was looking around with various thoughts, a man approached, calling out to and Jang Sunho.
Jang Sunho lightly raised his hand in response to the man who called him, then moved in that direction.
"Hello! I'm Lee Jaehyun, the manager who will be assisting Actor Kang Jinseok during his U.S. schedule this ti."
The man greeted with a cheerful voice and handed over a plastic bag.
"Team Leader Jang asked to prepare a lunchbox for you."
A lunchbox!
It was truly a welco phrase to hear. Of course, I had eaten the ‘special al' that Jang Sunho had prepared for on the plane. However, it was a sowhat bland porridge, and to be honest, it didn't taste good. It lacked the savory flavor of regular porridge; it was just like ‘tasting water.'
"Thank you!"
As I graciously accepted the lunchbox, Jang Sunho, as if it wasn't the right ti yet, took the lunchbox away, saying, "Let's move by car first. Mr. Lee, did you happen to park the car openly sowhere?"
"I parked it right in front."
The car Lee Jaehyun ca in was outside the airport. It was the sa type of van I used to ride in Korea.
"Ah, more than that, it's truly an honor to et you in person like this. I'm a big fan of Actor Kang Jinseok."
Lee Jaehyun said to as he started the engine.
"Oh, yes! Thank you."
"Oh, I should be the one thanking you. Well then, let's get going."
Our destination was ‘The OS Hotel LA.'
It was a hotel with the sa style where I had stayed even in Japan, and the room was truly luxurious.
As soon as we arrived, I sat down at the table and hastily started eating the lunchbox. I was curious about the nu since it was a lunchbox in the United States, but it turned out to be the sa as what I would eat in Korea.
During that ti, Jang Sunho checked the schedule with Lee Jaehyun.
"According to the schedule I received, today is a day off. You will finish acting rehearsals by the day after tomorrow and then attend auditions, is that correct?"
"Yes, that's right."
"After the audition, will you return imdiately?"
"Yes. I can't wait endlessly for the audition results."
"Since you're here, you might as well do so sightseeing. Anyway, I understand. Oh, and didn't Team Leader Jang ntion that you have a eting to attend?"
After glancing at , Jang Sunho spoke to Lee Jaehyun.
"Yes. I have to et the head of OS USA. I'll provide you with the details separately."
"Understood. Well then, you must be tired from coming here. I'll take my leave now. Rest well!"
As Lee Jaehyun cheerfully said goodbye and left the room, Jang Sunho also stood up.
"Actor, I'll be in the next room, so if you need anything, please don't hesitate to call."
"Sure."
"And I'll take the snacks the Warehouse n gave you from your bag. It's called ‘Gyeonmulsengsim.' Since it's visible, you might want to try it."
I pretended not to know, but as expected, Jang Sunho was thorough.
"Then I'll go out."
"Yes…"
That's how Jang Sunho left the room, carrying ran, beef jerky, pickled fish, and gochujang—foods the middle-aged n had prepared—in both hands.
***
Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office.
There, Prosecutor Lee Minyoung and Ryu Sungho, the director of KL Entertainnt 1, were having a serious conversation.
"Firstly, thanks to you, Ryu Sungho, the case is being handled smoothly. The evidence is so clear that at this rate, we might be able to finish all the trials by next year."
"I'm glad I could help."
Unlike when dealing with other suspects, Lee Minyoung treated Ryu Sungho with courtesy.
Although he was involved in criminal activities, he had made efforts to rectify all wrongs, and Lee Minyoung respected his choice.
"And regarding the investigation into Lee Jeongmin that you asked for earlier, we've decided to restart it. However, the case has been a long ti, and there isn't much-remaining data. Also, honestly, I'm too busy to handle it all."
"I understand, Prosecutor."
"Thank you. I entrusted the investigation of Lee Jeongmin to a reliable junior. She's a friend who is very interested in the KL Entertainnt case and is such a responsible person that she will take full responsibility and reveal the truth to the end."
At Ryu Sungho's words, Lee Minyoung bowed deeply.
"But the problem is…"
Lee Minyoung continued with difficult and vague words.
"The actions you've taken during your 20 years at KL Entertainnt are the issue."
"My actions… Are you talking about the things I did assisting President Lee Youngkyung?"
"Yes. Other directors and employees we are currently investigating are stating that ‘Ryu Sungho, Lee Youngkyung's right-hand man, led most of the activities.' This is evident in the evidence you provided as well."
"…"
"Of course, considering that you actively cooperated, making the handling of this case easier, we intend to take that into account and adjust the possible sentence accordingly. However… it seems difficult to avoid imprisonnt."
Even with the ntion of imprisonnt, Ryu Sungho's expression remained unchanged.
"I understand, Prosecutor. Because that's the truth. Regardless of my intentions, I did all the dirty deeds under Lee Youngkyung's orders."
He even showed a faint smile, as if feeling relieved.
"I will accept the consequences of my sins."
Lee Minyoung had a complex expression. She had prosecuted and judged nurous criminals until now, but this was the first ti soone readily admitted guilt and expressed willingness to face punishnt.
However, the law and principles had to be fair to everyone.
"I understand. Still, I will try to accommodate as much as possible."
With a sigh, Lee Minyoung spoke to Ryu Sungho.
"Thank you."
"Is there anything else I can assist you with?"
Ryu Sungho responded as if he had been waiting for that question.
"Prosecutor, would it be possible for you to place Lee Youngkyung and in the sa prison? It would be perfect if we could share a cell."
Lee Minyoung was montarily taken aback by the unexpected request.
After quickly regaining her composure, she asked Ryu Sungho, "You want to be in the sa prison and even the sa cell?"
"Yes. I want to see him rotting away in prison, suffering just like my sister did until she died, in pain and agony."
"…"
"Can you do that for ?"
Lee Minyoung chuckled uncomfortably.
After a mont, she responded with a sowhat uncertain voice, "I can't definitively say which prison you'll go to or how the cell assignnts will be made. And, fundantally, it's discouraged to place convicts involved in the sa case in the sa space. I'll look into it, but don't get your hopes up too much."
"Just that alone is appreciated."
Ryu Sungho, seeming to have no more to say, leaned back on the chair's armrest. As if almost forgetting, he asked Lee Minyoung,
"Oh, Prosecutor. How is the public opinion regarding Actor Kang Jinseok? It seed fine before I went to prison."
"The public opinion is really good. He even went to the United States for an audition yesterday."
"If it's an audition in the U.S…. it must be Director Jas Won."
"You knew?"
"Yes. I've had various interactions with Actor Kang Jinseok and even caused him so difficulties. I've been interested in him."
Ryu Sungho gave a faint bitter smile.
"I hope things go well for him. It might be a long ti before I get to see that work."
***
"Actor Kang Jinseok's audition is coming up soon."
Late at night, Jas Won sipped strong coffee, thinking about Jinseok.
Drinking coffee at this hour would likely make it difficult to sleep. But Jas Won didn't have much thought for sleep anyway.
Strictly speaking, he was too busy to have ti for a good night's sleep.
"Among the actors that auditioned so far, Steve Oh is the one I liked the most. We've worked together on a project before, so it would be convenient to cast him."
But Jas Won didn't find Steve Oh particularly agreeable.
It wasn't because of Steve Oh's acting abilities; his acting was considered top-notch not only by other Hollywood directors but also by fellow actors.
The reason Jas Won wasn't satisfied with Steve Oh was because of Jinseok.
"When I saw his acting in Japan, it felt like my eyes were opening anew. There was a divine quality to his performance."
Jas Won recalled Jinseok's acting that he had secretly observed among the staff in Japan.
It was difficult to express in words, but Jinseok's acting was on a different level from other actors.
His acting not only imrsed himself but also drew other actors into the scene. Jas Won wanted that kind of performance.
"Maybe my standards have beco too high."
At that mont, soone knocked on the door.
"Director, it's Kim Hyun."
"Yes, co in."
Kim Hyun entered the room and handed Jas Won a thick stack of docunts.
They were all actor profiles.
"This is the list of actors for the fourth callback. It includes both lead and supporting roles."
A callback generally referred to re-inviting actors who had already been interviewed or auditioned and were deed suitable for the project.
So, a fourth callback ant they had gone through this process four tis.
Yet, there were still so many actors remaining.
It indicated the considerable interest among actors in Jas Won's upcoming project.
"Even if it takes up to the sixth callback."
Jas Won chuckled and spoke as he looked at the profiles, then pushed them aside on the desk.
While these roles were important, the most crucial one now was the ‘protagonist,' so he had little concern for the others.
Kim Hyun, looking at Jinseok's profile on Jas Won's desk, asked, "It seems like you have great expectations for Mr. Kang Jinseok."
"Yes."
After a brief response, Jas Won tapped Jinseok's profile with his hand and concluded, "I've seen thousands of auditions, but an actor awaited with such anticipation as Kang Jinseok is a first."
Reviews
All reviews (0)