The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 45



Only Krnovel

Episode 45

There is a saying that if you want to gauge the success of an event, count the number of reporters who gather there.

Friday, December 31st, Sangam TVM Hall.

The red carpet leading to the entrance of the main hall was crowded with more reporters and fans than last year.

“Isn’t this more than when actor Lee Woo-jin attended two years ago?”

The surrounding staff nodded their heads at the muttering of an entertainment reporter.

Even when Lee Woo-jin, who had been active in Chungmuro, appeared in a TVM drama after about 10 years, it wasn’t like this.

“Well, wouldn’t that actor have some stake?”

“I guess it’s because I drew the aggro properly.”

It is clear who the actor who contributed the most to the final spurt of this year’s TVM Drama Awards is.

“It’s not easy to make the public listen and stop with just one word, but for a rookie, that guy is amazing.”

“Do you think that was just a word? Wording like that has come out quite often in the past.”

“Yes? Then?”

“Have you not seen the look in that guy’s eyes?”

“… … ?”

As the camera crew tilted their heads, the veteran entertainment reporter continued speaking.

“It wasn’t just a single word. It was the atmosphere and stance of the moment when those words were spoken, the charm and aura that emanated from the person himself. When all of that was added up.”

“… … ?”

“A star’s words have a ripple effect. That’s why the public felt something from that short 15-second video clip.”

“Reporter Choi, I think I understand what you said.”

“Maybe if you see it for yourself you’ll know what I mean… … Ah, they say even a tiger will come when you call it. It looks like it’s coming at a good time.”

At the entrance of the red carpet leading to the main hall where the awards ceremony is held, camera flashes begin to go off one after another.

“Oh, here we come!”

Everyone’s heads turn to one place when a single word is used to refer to an object without a subject.

What this meant was that everyone here was waiting for a specific person.

“Actor Kim Hyun-soo!”

In some ways, Kim Hyun-soo is one of the actors who received just as much attention as top stars this year.

He succeeded in capturing the public’s attention through both acting and interviews.

Something that catches the public’s eye and is on everyone’s lips.

Perhaps, it could be said that it was the talent most needed to shine in this industry where countless stars rise and fall.

In this way, Hyunsoo walked the red carpet with the spotlight just like any other top star.

A relaxed and curious attitude that flows through your whole body.

The arrogant gaze even swallows up the flash from the camera.

Choi Ye-rim, an entertainment reporter for Dispatch, looked at Hyun-soo and her eyes lit up.

“How is it when you see it in person?”

“Uh… … Really, just like Reporter Choi said, there seems to be something different from what I saw on the screen? I don’t know exactly what it is, though.”

“That’s enough. It’s our job to find out from now on. The public eye never lies. People know that instinctively. That man… … .”

That there is something different from others.

* * *

As he entered the hall, leaving the spotlight behind, the first thing that caught Hyunsoo’s eye was the large stage.

On stage, Shin Ho-seok, known as one of the top three MCs in Korea, was preparing to host the show, and next to him, actress Lee Yu-jin, one of last year’s winners, was drinking water and reviewing the script.

Perhaps because the live broadcast was about to last for over 3 hours, both Lee Yu-jin and veteran MC Shin Ho-seok seemed quite nervous.

Below, South Korea’s top actors are greeting each other.

Every time the actors waved their hands toward the audience, cheers erupted.

Flashes of light flash here and there as if not wanting to miss even a single moment of your favorite’s most wonderful and beautiful appearance.

Hyunsoo stood at the entrance of the hall and slowly took in the sight before his eyes for a moment.

A space that I have always seen only on TV and dreamed of one day standing there in person.

‘It is no longer a space of dreams.’

I am here now.

Like them, he was also an ‘actor’ who attended the awards ceremony.

“Hyunsoo!”

Hyunsoo’s head turned in the direction where the voice came from.

The hostess waves her hand from a table in the center of the hall.

At the name that came out of her mouth, several actors’ eyes turned towards Hyun-soo.

A strange current mixed in the gaze.

The actors knew about Hyun-soo’s interview that had been causing a stir on the Internet for a few days.

A tongue-clicking or disapproving look.

Or else, they just glance at it and then lose interest altogether.

Hyunsoo headed toward the center of the hall, avoiding their gazes and whispers.

‘I feel like I’ve become the main character against my will.’

Hyunsoo recalled what Gogun had been muttering before arriving at the hall.

‘You’re in the middle? You guys are transparent. You’re going to make your hyung a poster boy until the end.’

The TVM Drama Awards succeeded in creating a buzz by using Hyun-soo as a customer attraction card.

So it is true that there is some truth to what Gogun said.

But even then, Hyunsoo’s thoughts were different.

As I said in the interview.

‘Your darkness is worthy of being in the middle of this place.’

Hyunsoo’s gait was confident, as he had not forgotten that fact.

“Hey, Junior Kim, who are you trying to impress by dressing up so cool today?”

Hyunsoo smiled and responded to Jang Do-seok’s warm greeting.

“I don’t know about other people, but it must be hard to kill your spirit, senior. Your usual atmosphere is so different that I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Jang Do-seok burst into laughter at Hyun-soo’s advanced speaking skills(?).

“What? Hahaha, our actor Kim, your social skills have improved a lot in the short time I haven’t seen you. I just wore whatever my wife gave me… … Hmm, is that okay? I picked it out for her at the department store.”

“Your ma’am, your taste is just as good as that of art directors.”

Just as Jang Do-seok’s mouth was wide open at Hyun-soo’s generous display of advanced skills, a loud noise was heard from the side.

“Would a person without a female senior live sadly? If this continues, won’t the two of you be filming a bromance for your next project?”

“Huh? A bromance with our actor Kim? That sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it?”

“If I had the chance, I would like to set up a script meeting right away.”

“… … Are you both serious about what you’re saying?”

The owner, who had been looking back and forth at the two people exchanging sticky glances(?), soon let out a sigh.

“These people are serious. I’m so jealous, I’m jealous!”

The owner, who had nodded her head once, soon greeted Hyun-soo with a cheerful smile.

No, actually, it was more like a greeting than an inquiry.

“I heard from Representative Woo. Is it okay?”

Ina’s gaze at Hyunsoo is mixed with worry.

Jang Do-seok also looked at Hyun-soo with a slightly heavy gaze.

These two people are well aware of Hyun-soo’s current situation, even though they haven’t shown it yet.

When there was no immediate answer from Hyun-soo, Joo-in-ah realized her mistake and continued speaking.

“Oh, sorry. I was so worried that I forgot about it… … . Let’s talk about this next time.”

“Yeah, yeah haha! And honestly, I thought the interview video with junior Kim was really cool. People were talking about it, but I actually thought it was cool to watch because it was bold and unexpected for a rookie.”

“Senior Jang.”

“I’ve known for a while that our junior Kim has a secretly manly disposition. But I’ve seen controversy over acceptance speeches, but this is the first time I’ve seen controversy over pre-event interviews… … .”

“Senior Jang, be quiet.”

“Oh, yeah, yeah.”

When the owner pokes his side, Jang Do-seok’s mouth closes as if it were zipped.

Hyunsoo, who was watching that scene, suddenly burst into laughter.

“You two don’t have to be like that. I’m really fine with it.”

In fact, Hyunsoo has been repeating that he is okay several times recently, but he still feels good whenever he says it.

This also meant that there were many people who were worried about Hyunsoo.

Anyway, despite Hyun-soo’s words, the worry on both of their faces didn’t seem to go away easily.

“And actually, that’s not all that was on TV. I didn’t make any bold statements like you said.”

“Huh? What do you mean, not everything that was shown on TV?”

Jang Do-seok tilted his head at Hyun-soo’s sudden words, and Joo In-ah, who already knew the whole story to some extent through Woo Ji-yoon, clicked her tongue.

“Actually, what I said back then was… … .”

As soon as Hyun-soo’s explanation was over, Jang Do-seok violently got up from his seat as if he had been possessed by the dark Jang Man-ho.

Knock knock!

“What?! So that was all a trick by the broadcasting station guys?!”

Do-seok shouted loudly as if to let everyone present hear.

The owner grabbed Jang Do-seok’s arm and said.

“I know you love your juniors very much, but your voice is too loud. Today is a special day, right? What if you get caught by the host of the special day?”

Jang Do-seok snorted at the owner’s words.

“Huh, if you want to listen, then listen. The gazes that have been looking at our junior since earlier have been so ticklish.”

Several of the actors sitting nearby are seen flinching at Jang Do-seok’s sharp remark.

As Do-seok said, some of the actors had been looking at Hyun-soo, who had made the problematic interview remarks, with disapproving eyes.

But at the same time, everyone here is working in the same industry.

The atmosphere looking at Hyunsoo began to change significantly from just now.

They also realized what Do-seok meant by the broadcasting station’s trick.

“Well then, what else should I say?”

“Yeah, I heard it from another junior. I don’t think that guy Kim Hyun-soo is the type of person who would do something so reckless.”

“Can’t you tell just by looking at them? I knew it from the beginning. It’s not like they’ve been making fools of actors on TV for a day or two.”

Jang Do-seok’s shout was both a warning to the broadcasting station and a reprimand to his fellow actors.

Hyun-soo, who felt grateful for Jang Do-seok’s unique way of consoling, continued speaking with a smile on his face.

“It’s true that I felt resentful at first. But when I actually got here… … .”

“Come and see?”

“I feel strangely relieved.”

At Hyun-soo’s words, Joo-in-ah continued speaking in an even angrier voice than Jang Do-seok had just spoken.

“You feel relieved, are you an idiot? How can you feel relieved after being treated like that?”

In response to Ina’s questioning words, Hyunsoo gave an answer neither of them had expected.

“I’m happy to be able to finish the year in one place with my seniors and other actors.”

“what?”

Ina and Doseok tilt their heads at the strange answer that came out of Hyunsu’s mouth.

“I spent a year just filming without thinking. I heard people call me an actor countless times on set… … but I don’t think I ever thought of myself as the actor ‘Kim Hyun-soo’.”

I learned it, but I never thought of it as Kim Hyun-soo.

Do-seok and In-a smiled faintly as they understood the meaning behind Hyun-soo’s vague words.

No, actually, there is no need to understand.

Because everyone here knows what Hyunsoo just said.

“Because the job of an actor is basically like being a wanderer.”

Actors travel all over the country or the world like vagabonds.

Creating new characters, new works, and new worlds in unfamiliar places.

There is the advantage of always having new experiences, but there is also a downside.

That is, the absence of a ‘place to return to.’

For the past year, Hyun-soo has lived more as ‘Jang Ki-chun and Lee Ji-woon’ and ‘Lee Jun-hyeok and Gun-hoo’ than as ‘Kim Hyun-soo’.

So, living like an ‘actor’ who just plays someone else, when the year comes to an end.

When you gather together with colleagues who have been through thick and thin together, you finally come to realize it.

‘I… … I haven’t been running alone for the past year.’

This is a place where ‘actor’ Kim Hyun-soo can be called fully just ‘actor Kim Hyun-soo’.

That’s why this event, which takes place once a year, was a kind of return home and highlight for the actors.

Devil’s Edit?

A lot of malicious comments?

In fact, the reason Hyunsoo’s heart is calm is not because of his dream temperament…

Isn’t it because there was no room for such a problem to creep in at the end of the past year of running without rest?

Continued in the next episode