I will live as an actor. Episode 125
wrap-up party.
The rise and fall of a drama is none other than its viewership ratings. In that sense, there are many cases where works with low viewership ratings end early, and often end without even a proper dinner party, let alone a finale party. Conversely, if the viewership ratings were on an upward curve, it was natural that there would be discussions about extending the broadcast, and the finale party was also grand. Just like now.
Clap la la rock!
There are so many reporters lined up that it is reminiscent of the red carpet at an awards ceremony. As the actors who appeared in the historical drama âKing Yeonsanâs Secretâ arrive one by one, a spotlight so bright that it hurts the eyes falls on them. Sometimes, there are reporters who ask actors for mischievous favors.
âCha Hye-jin! Please pose nicely as Jang Noksu!â
âwhat?â
Actress Cha Hye-jin looked somewhat embarrassed by the reporterâs shout. He asked me to pose as Jang Noksu. At this point, I was wondering if I should at least perform a dance move as if carrying the Jango diagonally on my shoulder.
âNoksu, why are you so restless?â
Someone appears, placing a hand on Cha Hye-jinâs shoulder. When Cha Hye-jin turned her head with a surprised look on her face, none other than England was standing there.
Wow!
Citizens who were watching the closing party cheered all at once, and reporters were not to be outdone and repeatedly pressed their camera shutters. England carefully leads Cha Hye-jinâs hand as if she were an escort and walks towards the convention hall where the closing party is being held.
The scene seems to recreate the scenes of Yeonsangun and Jang Noksu seen in the drama, making viewersâ hearts flutter.
âIâm sorry, sister. I thought you were embarrassed.â
âOh no. Itâs okay.â
England let go of his hands as soon as the reporters stopped looking at him. Cha Hye-jin unconsciously wipes her dry lips as she looks at the back of England moving away.
âWhat kind of force can a young child have?â
It would be a lie if I said I wasnât disappointed. But then he shakes his head. Arenât you a top actress? Soon, Cha Hye-jinâs face, which had been embarrassed, became cold and haughty again.
âProducer Yu, why are you holding a grand finale party like this?â
England says, sticking his tongue out. Thatâs right, the convention hall where the closing banquet is held can already be called a banquet hall, with a variety of delicacies and gorgeous chandeliers illuminating those attending the closing banquet. If someone who doesnât know you sees it, itâs safe to say itâs a scene from an awards ceremony rather than a finale party.
âIsnât it bigger than the old âAugust Manâ?â
âThatâs what I call it. I felt it was amazing back then, but what about this?â
âItâs because the broadcasting station is in a complete party atmosphere right now. We had a clash with KBC over a historical drama in the same time slot, and we won. The boss, who has a big butt, even gave special instructions to make the Yeonsang teamâs finale party the best ever.â
âHow about KBC?â
âEven if you donât say anything about it, itâs obvious that it has a mourning house atmosphere.â
It was a confrontation between KBC and MBS that was also receiving attention from the media. Most people predicted KBCâs victory. After all, wasnât KBC a famous restaurant known as a powerhouse of traditional historical dramas?
However, contrary to everyoneâs expectations, MBS knocked down KBC. As the final episode approaches, the highest viewer rating per minute has surpassed 43%, so it hurts to say more.
âYeong-Kuk, the director is coming in a little while, so Iâll go and pick him up. And make sure Mr. Kim doesnât drink too much. That guy doesnât listen to me at all. Iâm worried heâll be drunk before the director arrives. Ugh.â
âall right.â
England smiles faintly and nods briefly. As the famous producer said, cinematographer Kim Deuk-hyeong was already intoxicated at a corner of the finale, raising several glasses of champagne. If I got a little more drunk, I would start shoulder dancing and sing trot. It was time for England to turn to coach Kim Deuk-hyung.
âMr. Jang Young-guk?â
* * *
âWho is it?â
He is a man with a weasel beard. The shallow eyes and wide cheeks give the impression of greed. It was clearly not a staff member or actor included in the drama filming team. But for some reason, the face looks familiar. It was a time when Britain was deeply troubled.
âThatâs really who I am.â
The man takes out a business card from his thick wallet. It is no exaggeration to say that even his business cards are framed with gold, just like his facial expression, and are at the peak of extravagance. England, who received the business card, then got lucky.
âBS Entertainment?â
âYes, thatâs right. I am Yang Soo-gap, the representative of BS Entertainment.â
âOh this human?â
He was quite a famous figure in the entertainment industry in his past life. There are several types of agency representatives. Be it a private person, a businessman, or an artist. While Kim Seong-hwan, the CEO of Songwon Entertainment, is closer to the artistâs tendencies, Lee is a person closer to a typical Saja. Itâs also of very poor quality.
âI heard Cha Hye-jin, an actress from our agency, praise Young Kuk so highly that it made my ears prick. As you know, BS Entertainment does not spare any investment in its actors.â
âCha Hye-jin was here?â
Among entertainment industry agencies, it was a place famous for its constant noise. From entertainment to embezzlement by the CEO of the agency. Of course, these are things that are not revealed now, but will be featured in the media later.
âActually, as the CEO, I have never been so eager to meet an actor, but especially because it was Jang Young-guk, I attended the finale party like this. It is currently known that Jang Young-guk has signed an exclusive contract with Songwon Entertainment, and I will tell you this directly. Jang âDonât you think it would be too much of a waste for an actor with so much potential like Young-Kook to be in a small agency like Songwon Entertainment?â
âWhat bullshit.â
England answered without revealing his true feelings.
âIâm not interested.â
âOf course yes?â
âIâm busy so Iâll stop.â
When I return the business card, Yang Su-gapâs face hardens. As England leaves behind him as if nothing had happened and walks toward where the filming crew is gathered, his cheek twitches roughly.
âHuh, that bastard treats me like a petty merchant?â
Yang Su-gap was a person who had established himself in the broadcasting industry. Didnât you build all kinds of connections through numerous entertainments and lobbying? Moreover, he was quite proud while reigning as the CEO of BS Entertainment.
But this was the first time I had been treated with such blatant disregard. The returned business card is crumpled violently in the palm of my handcuffs.
* * *
âWhat are you going to do with me?â
Cha Hye-jin said with a bewildered expression on her face. Standing opposite her is Yang Su-gap, the CEO of the agency. It was the time when the final party was in full swing. Two people are facing each other in a remote hallway of a convention hall with little traffic.
âActress Cha, no, Hyejin. You used to not even be able to meet my gaze, but now you praise me for being the most beautiful actress in Korea. Do you think the world is yours?â
ââ¦â¦.â
âWhat kind of difficult request did I ask you? I didnât just ask you to move around. I asked you to have a belly button kiss with Jang Young-guk and bring me a picture of that. Youâve done this many times in the past. Come now and get a clean look. Do you want to pretend?â
Cha Hye-jin narrows her eyebrows and glares at the handcuffs. However, Yang Su-gap shrugs his shoulders as if even her gaze is not a big deal.
âWhy am I revealing everything about you working at Nine Ten in the past? You know that if you tell a few reporters you know, it will quickly spread around the world.â
âHow can you, the CEO of your agency, do this to your actor?â
âWell, Iâm losing an actress, but what can I do? If my dog doesnât listen to me, I have no choice but to eat him like this. But what are you going to do? Iâm in a situation where I have to pay a penalty for advertising contracts as well as an exclusive contract deposit for my agency. Letâs not go to the entertainment industry in the future. âYou wonât be able to leave footprints in Yeouido. Hyejin, donât you want to go this messy? Letâs go easily.â
Cha Hye-jin collapses in her seat and wipes away tears. At that sight, Yang Su-gap shakes his head as if he has seen something dirty and walks away.
At the end of the show, many people can be seen already heavily intoxicated. The excitement reached its peak when the director of the drama department came to visit and handed over the presidentâs ticket. Because of this, England also had no idea how many glasses of champagne they had already drank.
âIâm here for work! Itâs been a while since I got to sing a song with you!â
âDirector, youâre drinking champagne and trotting!â
âYoungmin, go to the temple. Youngmin and I have a strong bond that you donât know about. Youngmin! Oh my, our lucky one!â
Before we knew it, the tip of cinematographer Kim Deuk-hyungâs nose was wide open like a ripe strawberry. He gets so drunk that he hugs England and even dances on his shoulders. The staff looks at this and bursts into laughter. Writer Choi Eun-sook approaches the famous producer and subtly stabs him in the waist.
âHow do you feel, PD Yu?â
âWhat do you feel?â
âOf all the dramas that have been featured so far, the viewership rating has never exceeded 40%.â
âItâs all thanks to writer Choi. I can say that. And there are such great actors and staff, but all I did was show the viewers a prepared dinner.â
âAre you being humble or are you just pretending? By the way, I canât see our Jang Noksu. Where has Actor Cha gone?â
âI just left for a moment to talk to the CEO of my agency.â
âOh, the guy with the long beard next to him? Heâs the CEO of BS Entertainment, right? The rumors Iâve heard are really bad. I donât know why Actor Cha is there.â
It was a time when the famous producer and writer Choi Eun-sook were talking to each other. Cha Hye-jin, who just then came back for the finale extension, corrected her expression and walked away, making the clicking sound of her high heels. Her makeup had been fixed so quickly that she couldnât even tell that she had cried just a moment ago.
âEngland, can you talk to me for a moment?â
Cha Hye-jin approached England, who was hanging out with the staff, and spoke quietly. Then the staff exchanged meaningless looks and left the room. AD Didnât Kim Young-min go so far as to give England a shoulder boost and tell them to âgo for itâ?
âI want it.â
âWhy, sister?â
England smiles and looks at her.
âWait a minute, Iâm so drunkâ¦â
Cha Hye-jin sways like a drunk person and soon leans her face against Englandâs shoulder. The picture isnât so bad that if a stranger saw it, they could say they were lovers. On the other hand, the UK is just puzzling.
Because the person who kept her distance from herself throughout the filming site was none other than Cha Hye-jin. However, he soon notices the embarrassment that flashes across her face.
âOf course it is.â
The entertainment industry has a dark side as much as it appears on the outside. Isnât this a place where extraordinary things happen that ordinary people canât even imagine? Thatâs because in the past, what organized gangsters started as part of their business was an entertainment industry agency.
You may not know it, but BS Entertainment CEO Yang Soo-gap is not as good as those people. At that moment, England grabs her shoulder and straightens her up. And then he elaborates.
âsister.â
At the words that followed, Cha Hye-jinâs pupils trembled violently, as if there had been an earthquake.
âDid the CEO order it?â