I Will Live as an Actor Episode 147
â When are you coming back, young lady?
The butlerâs voice comes through the receiver. You can tell just by hearing the voice. That worries are seeping through the fine wrinkles. After all, the eldest granddaughter of the Rossellini family and the chief designer who will lead Desiderio in the future has been living in an unnamed country in Asia for fifteen days already.
âGrandpa, I think it will take some time.â
-There was an uproar on the company side as well. It is said that the preparation process for Elfo stellato is experiencing disruption due to the young ladyâs sudden absence. For the sake of those who remain, please return home as soon as possible. miss.
Monica hangs up and leans back on the sofa. I didnât think it would be easy. But I didnât expect it to be this difficult. Even if he is a world-famous actor, he eventually bows his head in front of Desiderioâs name. However, there is no answer yet for young Asian actors.
âThat makes it more attractive.â
The sight of England that she encountered at the filming site was enough to make Monicaâs heart flutter. It doesnât mean I feel like a man. After watching the priestâs confession, it kept lingering in my mind. I wonder why on earth an Asian actor fascinates me so much. But I couldnât find a clear answer.
âIt wasnât even a fuss.â
Therefore, when Monica first announced that she would select an Asian actor as Desiderioâs exclusive model, there was a strong backlash from the company. This was because there was too much talent to lead Desiderio in the future. If it were an ordinary luxury brand, it wouldnât have been like this. But isnât Desiderio a place that only deals with the upper class that the world recognizes?
Jang Young-guk.
He may be famous in Korea, but to the world, he is nothing more than a minor role in Hollywood. The fact that Desiderio offers a minor role in Hollywood to become an exclusive model is consistent with the fact that a black person is selected as the head of the White House. It didnât make much sense. But after actually encountering it, I could understand.
âVino.â
Itâs Italian for wine. Even after it is aged in oak barrels and injected into a bottle, it takes decades to reach its peak. The same was true for actor Jang Young-guk. Obviously, as time passes, more people will recognize its value. Just like myself now.
It was then.
âPreparations are complete.â
It was Jordana, the secretary. Monica stands up at the sound of his voice. Siri looks particularly bright as her flowing silver hair reflects the sunlight.
* * *
âEngland, are you really not thinking?â
Manager Lee Bong-chun, who was behind the wheel, glanced at the rear-view mirror and asked. Even he seems curious. After all, the rumor has already spread widely within the agency. The fact that Desiderioâs chief designer came to Korea to meet the British.
âWould you like to ask the representative?â
Manager Lee Bong-chun rubs the bridge of his nose. This is something you often do when your true intentions are revealed. CEO Kim Seong-hwan is probably equally anxious. No ordinary actor could refuse Desiderioâs offer. No, it would be the same even if he were a world-famous actor.
âIâve been getting a lot of calls to my agency these days. I wonder if itâs really true. That designer already showed up at the filming location and caused an uproar. I guess I just went there to write an article.â
âHow did the CEO respond?â
âYou said it was groundless. You donât know how England will react if you change your mind and say you wonât take it. Youâre saying that because youâre afraid of causing embarrassment.â
If England is selected as Desiderioâs exclusive model, Korea will be noisy again. To exaggerate further, Asiaâs fashion market may be in turmoil. Desiderio has never selected an Asian as an exclusive model before.
Thatâs why CEO Kim Seong-hwan couldnât just give the reporter the source material. It was unclear what Desiderioâs side would do if Britain rejected the offer. In terms of business scale and influence, Desiderio and Songwon Entertainment say this, but isnât the difference between an elephant and an ant?
âThereâs still some time left, so Iâll think about it a little more.â
It was a favor from Desiderioâs side. If you donât like the terms of the contract or want to add special provisions, please let me know within a month. Thatâs why I couldnât help but have even more doubts.
What the hell am I saying?
It is said that one time, a top Hollywood actress offered Desiderio to become a model herself, but Desiderio flatly refused, saying it did not fit her image. Therefore, she did not understand why Desiderio was courting her so passionately.
It is true that he is an actor who has played leading roles several times and is well known to the public. But that is limited to Korea. Even if it were expanded, would it be the same as Japan across the sea? From a global perspective, he is just a small actor in Asia.
âNo matter how you look at it, England, you seem too cautious.â
âI think itâs because Iâm getting older.â
âSomeone would think you were middle-aged.â
England swallowed a bitter smile. It is no exaggeration to say that my experiences from my past life have made me so careful about everything. I was stabbed in the back by people I trusted and relied on, so in the end I couldnât trust anyone. Maybe thatâs why I became more distant from human relationships. Just then, a van arrived at the filming site.
Why is the atmosphere like this?
The atmosphere at most filming locations is similar. The staff members who are busy preparing for standby and the assistant directors under the director gather for meetings and the actors are busy repeating the script. But the current atmosphere was different from usual. Isnât everyone excited about something?
âThank you, England!â
The first to react was the assistant director. As soon as he sees England at work on set, he runs over to say thank you. Moreover, being an assistant director was just the beginning. Starting with the youngest staff members who usually couldnât make eye contact due to the nature of their roles, to the sound director and lighting director who were quiet.
What on earth are you thankful for?
It was a time when I was dumbfounded. Director Baek Jang-hoon and cinematographer Jang Do-wook approach.
âEngland, why did you prepare such expensive items? Looking at all the youngest members, it looks like it was well over a hundred.â
gift?
âJang-wook said you were his favorite.â
âBrother, hmm. Donât you have some respect? Letâs not act like this and have a dinner party today. Young-Kuk even went as far as giving gifts to liven up the mood at the filming location, so it wouldnât be a shame if we just let it go.â
âIf anyone sees it, theyâll think youâre paying for the company dinner. Young-King, from now on, if youâre going to give a gift like this, at least tell me in advance. Since everyone seems to like it, I wonât elaborate any further, but Iâm worried that itâs a very expensive product. â
It wasnât long before I discovered the cause of the commotion. Desiderioâs high-quality wallets of various types were presented to the filming site. And that too in the name of Britain.
* * *
âWhat happened?â
As soon as England finished filming, he went straight to Monica. It was a hotel near Gwanghwamun. It was a shame because there was an individually prepared business room. If we had met in the hotel lobby, we would have been in trouble. Not only was she famous as an actress, but it was also because she had a look that attracted attention wherever she went. Monica took a sip of black tea and answered.
âThere is a saying in Italy: Show your sincerity to the person you like. Donât hold back everything for the person you love. I gave you a gift because I like Mr. England.â
An Italian with a flowing mustache serves as the interpreter.
Are Italians really this reckless? Even if you were thinking about giving a gift in the first place, shouldnât you ask yourself first? Moreover, it is a luxury product that does not cost a penny or two, and there were roughly over a hundred pieces to accommodate the staff and main actors. As if reading Englandâs thoughts at that time, Monica elaborates.
âAnd the wallets are all basic lines, so the prices are not that expensive. To begin with, Desiderio is not a place that mainly makes wallets. I hope people think of them as just my sincerity.â
âHow much?â
âThe most basic model starts at $1,000.â
The answer was provided by an interpreter. I couldnât help but be surprised when I heard the price. If you calculate it in foreign currency, doesnât that mean that the cheapest one costs over a million won? Even if you multiply it by 100 using simple arithmetic, it would be over 100 million. Moreover, it is said that they gave high-level items to the director-level staff and supporting actors.
âI will pay the price.â
I suddenly ended up spending a lot of money, but I had no choice. This is because what Monica showed was a favor with a purpose. However, after hearing Englandâs words through the interpreter, she tilts her head in surprise and looks at England with curiosity.
âItâs really interesting. Are all Asians similar to you, Mr. UK? Even if you show favor to them, they start to be suspicious like this. Donât take offense. I was really expressing my sincerity. I was trying to make Mr. UK feel bad. âI had no intention of being rude.â
âIsnât it because they want to use me as their exclusive model? Itâs hard to say it myself, but I donât know what youâre so obsessed with. If it were Desiderio, even famous Hollywood actors and top models would come running out in socks.â
The interpreter hesitates for a moment. I guess I donât know the word beoseonbal. But soon, somehow, communication continues. After hearing Englandâs words, Monica is deep in thought and then opens her lips with a sweet smile.
âEver since I was young, I was obsessed with having the temperament to have at all costs. But this was my first experience as a designer. I thought all the stories about old European designers creating their own muses and getting inspiration were lies. âBut when I saw you on the screen, I could feel it. I knew for sure that you would be my muse in the future, and when I came to Korea, I was convinced.â
I have nothing to say. It would be correct to say that it is embarrassing.
âI am willing to accept any conditions provided by England. And I originally tried to win her heart somehow, but it seemed like there would be no more time. I feel like my home country is trying to get me to return as soon as possible.â
At Monicaâs call, her secretary Jordana walks over. Jordana takes out the documents she had prepared in advance and hands them to Monica.
âDonât think Iâm too philistine. I think this is the only way I can convey my true feelings to you, whom I havenât met for a while.â
Monica handed over the documents. England canât hide his puzzled look as he looks at the document. Isnât this an exclusive model contract? Iâm sure I got it before too. What has changed? Because it is in English, it takes time to read. However, what caught the UKâs attention was the changed contract amount.