I Only Play Villains

Fire is a bigger fire (2)

Park Si-hong leased the entire black beef restaurant in Samseong-dong.

Black beef, which cost close to 100,000 won per serving, had a different texture from regular Korean beef. It is not easily bitten, and the chewy taste and umami taste are strong, so I went in endlessly.

General staff occupied the 1st floor hall and 2nd floor group seats, and the cast members took their seats in the 4-person room.

And Jeong Seo-hoon happened to settle down in a room with Chae Ji-hyun alone.

“Since we sat in the room according to the number of people, only the two of us came in here.”

“I don’t have the talent for words, so I think senior Chae Ji-hyun will be bored. Shall I bring someone from another room?”

“No. It’s fun enough. You don’t have to bring those who play well.”

I haven’t done anything yet, but it’s fun enough.

Chae Ji-hyeon’s fun threshold must be quite low, Jeong Seo-hun thought.

It is the first time since Hwang In-joon’s studio to have a drink with her privately.

I remember not being able to talk to Chae Ji-hyun at that time.

It was because Hwang In-joon was talking most of the time, and Yoon Hyung-sik, an affair man, was blaming Chae Ji-hyeon whenever he had a chance.

And Chae Ji-hyun in a private place with just the two of them…

“Wow, you cook the meat really well. How do you bake so well? It melts in your mouth, melts.”

“Looks like I got burned. I will just eat this.”

“No. Rather, the outside is crispy and the inside is moist, making it even more delicious.”

“No matter how you look at it, it looks like it was burned…”

“Have another drink. Come on, drink it. Because the meat is delicious, I also drink a lot, right?”

“I have to meet someone tomorrow, so I shouldn’t drink too much…”

“You don’t want to drink with me?”

“No, that’s not it. Who wouldn’t want to have a drink with Chae Ji-hyun?”

Chae Ji-hyun laughed as she shook the wine glass that was dripping with alcohol.

“Ah, no. It looks like it’s written all over your face that you don’t want to drink with me. But how old are you?”

“Twenty one.”

“Wow, really? Awesome, great. Oh my, then am I older? Wow, not this one. But why do you keep calling me senior?”

“Then can I call you sister?”

“I don’t like that because it feels strange, and I just call her Jihyun. Confiscated in front of senior title. Confiscated my sister too.”

Chae Ji-hyun had a bigger reaction than she had ever seen before, and burst into laughter without stopping.

Even while cutting the meat with scissors, the flesh fell onto the charcoal under the grill, and I laughed out loud at what was funny about that.

Yoo Jung-ah (even Kim Sang-hee was in the hall) and Chae Ji-hyun were the only ones who drank alone with a woman, so there was no standard point to gauge why this woman was like this.

[Mom’s daughter] Can you pack when you come?

[Mom’s daughter] Hey, answer me

[Mom’s daughter] You, but be careful Chae Ji-hyun

[Mom’s daughter] Don’t stop drinking

[Me] Alth?

[Mother’s daughter] Alcohol trash. I saw you when you said you can’t drink

While I checked my older sister’s chat for a while, it was quiet, so I turned my eyes and found Chae Ji-hyun sleeping on the chair next to me.

[Mom’s daughter] Can it be wrapped?

[Me] Tell me quickly that I can’t drink

[Mom’s daughter] You drank together and didn’t know that?

[Mom’s daughter] I didn’t even eat a bottle and got into trouble

[Me] I’m down now

[Mom’s daughter] Scandal

Jeong Seo-hoon chewed his sister moderately, and touched the talk message from Professor Se-jong Lee, who still had 1 left.

If you don’t read it for too long, it will be obvious that you are ignoring it on purpose.

But I still don’t know what to answer.

‘It’s graduate school.’

After graduating from a science high school, he entered Hankook University’s College of Engineering as the top of his class.

At that time, there was no doubt that Jeong Seo-hoon would become a scientist, become a professor, and devote himself to the search for natural truth for the rest of his life.

It was Lee Se-jong’s consideration for him that he enlisted as a general active duty soldier without entering the defense industry.

I am reminded of what Lee Se-jong said while recommending that I enlist in active duty after finishing my third year.

‘Jung. The defense industry is comfortable, but it’s too long. It’s a waste to let your talents be exploited for two years and ten months. Just enlist on active duty.’

‘The generals will scramble to take you as an orderly. I’ll be able to study privately in my free time while tutoring the kids comfortably.’

‘I can save a year and four months on my service period, and my body will be much more comfortable.’

‘I’ll spill some words to some generals.’

In fact, military life was very comfortable, and I had a lot of time to study on my own.

Under normal circumstances, I would have returned to school in the second semester of this year, completed the remaining semester, graduated early, and prepared for my master’s degree as a freshman in graduate school next year.

After that, he would go to Caltech or MIT to study abroad, get a professorship, and, like his father, he would devote himself to studies and research there.

However, his life changed completely as he encountered a comet and fell into Rashid’s world.

Degrees, tenures, and enormous research and patent fees from multinational corporations were no longer attractive.

All of Jeong Seo-hoon’s attention was now focused on the world that the camera shows and the world that the camera creates.

Because of that, I had unconsciously turned away from Professor Lee Se-jong until now.

Because I’m sorry and I’m sorry.

“I can’t keep dragging it…”

Jeong Seo-hoon, who made up his mind, finally got rid of the 1 and calmly typed the message.

[Hello professor. This is Jeong Seo-hoon. I’ve been busy with filming, so I haven’t been able to properly contact you. I’m going to visit the school tomorrow, will it be okay?]

1 disappeared almost immediately, followed by Daptok after a few slightly boring minutes.

[Professor Sejong Lee] You can come as many times as you like. I’m still at school all day these days.

[I] See you tomorrow.

***

The next day, Jeong Seo-hun left home early in the morning.

While I was behind the wheel, I got a phone call from Chae Ji-hyun.

– Did I get drunk yesterday? Oh, I don’t remember at all. Didn’t I make a mistake?

“There was nothing like that. The manager took me in well.”

– It’s not that I can’t drink, but yesterday the atmosphere was so fun that I kept going in.

“Yes. But I’m sorry, I’m driving right now.”

-Where are you going? I think you said you were meeting someone.

“I’m going to see my advisor.”

-Oh, I see. See you soon. Please contact me when you’re done.

“Yes.”

After answering politely, Jeong Seo-hoon hung up the phone.

Parked the car in front of the College of Engineering building and got off, Seo-Hoon Jeong suddenly saw the western mountain scenery.

[Forbidden]

[Forbidden Area]

A yellow guard line engraved with a red warning sign wrapped around the mountain in the western part of the university, and a foreground stood every few tens of meters to prevent people from approaching.

Temporary guard posts were also seen here and there.

Jeong Seo-hoon grabbed a passing student and asked.

“What is that? Has there been a murder case?”

“That one? It’s where Comet 3I/Madrian fell. Our school western zone is now a forbidden area.”

Bunch of hair, thick-rimmed glasses, pale skin like a dying person, a dark-colored shirt and a southern appearance.

The typical engineering student fashion man replied as if he didn’t know anything.

I didn’t recognize Jeong Seo-hoon at all, but if I did, it would have been even weirder.

An engineering student at Korea University recognizing a male actor who just debuted?

Professors will scold me about how I will endure graduate school life later.

Come to think of it, a few days after Macdrian fell, I realized that they all kept their mouths shut as if they had promised in the news.

‘Comet Magdrian. I’m sure that’s what sent me to Rashid’s world.’

At some point, I thought I would look into the comet problem, but I pushed it to the corner of my unconscious while adjusting to Rashid’s world and life as an actor.

However, I would have thought that they would set up such a large prohibition line and allow people to stand there 24 hours a day.

“Usually, only the prohibition line is put up, but how do you even put people up so tightly?”

“I don’t know. Those foregrounds are very strict. If you even get close, they will show a straight face and tell you to step back.”

“Yes? Since when was that?”

“I don’t think it was like that at first. A lot of the investigation team just came in because the comet fragment had fallen, but after a few days, all of a sudden, all of them were bitten and they were banned from approaching like that. Even stop people and don’t let anyone pass.”

The engineering student continued with a slight frown between his brows.

“Because of these people, students, faculty, and staff are not the only ones who are inconvenient. They say the length of that restricted line is 1,130 feet.”

“That is enough to cover the entire area from the school fence to the Gangnam Beltway.”

“About that much.”

“Has there been any major damage to the school?”

“It wasn’t much. That’s weird. The Department of Physics and Astronomy said that the comet hardly burned up when it entered the atmosphere, but then it is right that our school should be completely blown away. No, it’s not just schools, they say that Seoul should have been turned upside down, starting with the deletion of Gwanak-gu.”

“…”

It’s objectively strange, but Jung Seo-hoon didn’t have any doubts.

Rather, what he experienced and is experiencing now because of the comet is a more strange and mysterious event.

“thank you.”

“Are you a student? Where?”

“This is the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.”

“Oh, what class? Are you in first grade? I am also a freshman in the class of 22.”

Looking at Jeong Seo-hoon’s face, he thought that the college student must be a freshman like himself.

“I am in the class of 18.”

“······Seo, were you a senior? Sorry. But why didn’t you know that the comet had fallen…”

“I was discharged in the first half of this year. How is Professor Sejong Lee?”

Hearing that he had been discharged, the freshman bowed his head even more.

I thought it was a motive, but it was a fossil!

“Yes. The professor is doing very well.”

“thanks. See you later at school, let’s say hello.”

“Ah, you’re here to go back to school.”

The student number is 4 years apart, but the age of this freshman without military service will be 1 year younger than Jung Seo-hoon. Assuming you entered active duty.

Upon entering the College of Engineering building, Jeong Seo-hoon visited the professor’s office.

[Lee Sejong]

If nothing special happened, Sejong Lee would be in the professor’s office right now.

It was my routine to be in the professor’s office in the morning, and crash into the lab in the afternoon.

smart.

“Come on in.”

Opening the door cautiously, Jeong Seo-hoon saw a scholar with hoarfrost on his head burying his eyes in the large monitor screen.

Including the military and Rashid’s experience, the face I see in almost 6 years.

Rather than a welcome feeling, an unfamiliar feeling as if you are seeing someone for the first time takes the lead.

Professor Sejong Lee said without even looking at him.

“What happened? sit down and talk I’m a bit busy right now.”

“I came to say hello, Professor.”

For a moment, Lee Se-jong’s hand, which had been moving the mouse non-stop, stopped abruptly.

The gold-rimmed glasses slowly turn sideways and look this way.

His eyebrows, which had turned white earlier than his age, smiled in a parabola.

“Come on. Jung.”

“sorry.”

“You naughty friend. After being discharged, when will you come back now? Did you hate going to graduate school that much?”

“That’s not it. I was doing something else for a while.”

“If Dr. Jeong hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known that I was acting. But that’s a hungry series. Are you serious about continuing?”

Jeong Seo-hoon couldn’t bear to tell his true feelings.

How kindly Sejong Lee has been to himself since 1st grade.

Unlike common professors who only see students as parts, Lee Se-jong was one of the few precious professors who could be called a true scholar and teacher.

“It’s fun. I’ve been studying all my life, so it’s refreshing.”

“Then try a little more. Having a lot of different experiences when you are young can help you develop an eye for observing nature from a different perspective.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“When is Dr. Jeong going back? We should have a drink together.”

“I think you’ve had plenty of time for the time being since all the projects you’ve been in charge of have been completed.”

“Jeong-kun, how about you go back to school?”

“I might not be able to do it next year.”

“There is only one semester left. Wouldn’t it be nice to go back to school in the first half of next year? Even if you delay going to graduate school a bit slowly.”

Returning to school in the second half of this year was too late anyway.

“I don’t know much about dramas, but if you were an active actor at our university, I think it would help your reputation.”

“My sister said something like that. But I feel a little sorry for selling the school signboard to entertainment activities.”

“I’m fine, so use it to your heart’s content. That’s what alma maters say.”

Jeong Seo-hoon felt a little more at ease.

Lee Se-jong, who moved to the sofa, noticed that and smiled.

“Why are you nervous?”

“no.”

“You seem nervous? As soon as you come, I’m afraid I’ll stir-fry you to enter graduate school. is not it?”

“I actually did a little bit.”

“Will you drink water if you force a horse to the water’s edge? You should find a river with good water in advance or prepare for it.”

Lee Se-jong even brought out refreshments and continued the conversation leisurely.

“But the drama ended a while ago. What are you doing now?”

“I went straight into a movie. It looks like it will open soon.”

“Do movies usually go that fast?”

“Because I rushed in as a substitute for a finished movie. The fact is······.”

When Jung Seo-hoon explained what he had to say, Lee Se-jong nodded as if he understood.

“I’ll have a look when I have some time.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Still, it’s a movie starring a student, so you have to watch it. The drama is too long, so I just kept it and haven’t touched it yet.”

“Thank you professor.”

“I’ll stop by the lab while I’m here and say hello to my juniors. Now Jung, you must be the most fossil in rap.”

“Senior and my older brothers and sisters, then…”

“Everyone got a job or got a doctorate and went abroad to study. It’s completely independent.”

“I don’t have time today, so I’ll stop by for a rap next time.”

Maybe it’s because it’s been a while, so there’s a lot to talk about.

Jeong Seo-hoon regretted a little in his heart that he had been putting it off.

“By the way, professor, I saw the no-go line on the way.”

“Oh, that? That’s what the UN mission did. It is because of the investigation of the fragments of the fallen comet.”

“Haven’t you finished collecting yet?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

When Lee Se-jong showed a strange smile, Jeong Seo-hun stared at it and then asked.

“Does the professor know something?”

“I am also a key participant in the investigation team. Confidentiality must be respected.”

“…”

“Are you curious? Then come to graduate school and become my student.”

***

Jeong Seo-hoon, who broke up with Lee Se-jong, looked at the prohibited line for a while before getting into the car.

Suddenly, a group of people who were not unusual at first glance were coming out of the forbidden area under strict security.

Several central figures who seemed to be scientists were expressing their excitement with red complexions.

‘Is the fragment of Macdrian still there?’

Jeong Seo-hun gazed at the distant mountain peak for a while before getting into the car.

It’s okay to be interested.

But compared to Rashid’s world and the actor’s present, it’s at the level of a candle in front of the sun.

Jeong Seo-hoon started without hesitation.

The premiere was not far off.

[Professor Sejong Lee] Jeong, the graduate school is always wide open for you. Feel free to knock anytime.

Jeong Seo-hoon did not erase 1 all day that day.