NOVEL NEXT Episode 074
Episode 074
After taking photos at the photo zone, I entered the awards ceremony venue.
As I was moving according to the staff’s guidance, I heard a familiar voice.
“Si-joon!”
When I turned my head, Park Jun was standing there.
“Hyung. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, it really has been. Have you been well?”
I had been in constant contact with Park Jun.
We had even met privately a few times.
But we hadn’t met much since the casting of
It was partly because I tend to focus a lot on new projects, but Park Jun was also busy preparing for a new project.
Park Jun had started a new film and was in the middle of shooting.
“I’ve been busy filming the drama.”
“I heard your first lead role is getting a good response. It’ll soon exceed 10% ratings, right?”
“It’s thanks to Senior Cindy. How about you, hyung? Are you filming the movie well?”
“It’s been so long since I worked on a film that I was a bit lost at first, but I finally got my bearings. I didn’t realize I was slow to adapt to new projects.”
“But you’ve always had good results. This movie will probably be successful too. When is it releasing?”
So I had a pleasant conversation with Park Jun.
I was a bit nervous as it was my first time participating in the Baeksang Arts Awards, so I was glad to meet someone I knew.
Before my regression, I had only appeared as a minor character in various works, so I had never been nominated for a Baeksang Arts Award.
The same was true for year-end award ceremonies.
For that reason, I had no experience with award ceremonies, and I was currently a bit nervous.
If I hadn’t regained my confidence on the red carpet earlier, it could have been a big problem.
But as I talked with Park Jun, even the little remaining nervousness seemed to disappear.
As I was talking with Park Jun, I kept meeting familiar faces.
Most were people I had connections with through
“Si-joon-ssi. Nice to see you.”
“Wow! It’s been a while!”
“I’ve been enjoying your drama!”
“Actor-nim! You look so handsome today!”
Since both
Especially Park Jun was a strong candidate for an award.
“Hyung, you’re nominated for Best Actor in the TV category, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right. I’m also nominated for the Grand Prize in the TV category, but that one seems unlikely.”
“You never know. You had two hit works last year.”
“I’m a bit hopeful too, but the Baeksang Grand Prize feels more like a lifetime achievement award… You’re nominated for Best New Actor in the TV category, right?”
“Yes, but I don’t think I have much chance. The other nominees are so formidable.”
“But your two works probably had the highest ratings? The Kim Won-young role was also as popular as any main lead.”
“I’m not sure if that would score higher than actors who actually played main leads. I don’t have high expectations.”
“Well, it’s better than having too high expectations and being disappointed. Still, don’t lose hope. You never know.”
While we were having this conversation,
Someone cleared their throat beside us.
Thinking it might be someone I knew, I turned my head to see Ji Jung-hyun standing behind us.
Park Jun and I reflexively bowed our heads to Ji Jung-hyun.
“Hello, senior.”
“Have you been well?”
Naturally, Ji Jung-hyun was a senior to both of us.
Even at the Baeksang Arts Awards where many distinguished people gather, he was among those with the highest careers.
It was a point that showed why Ji Jung-hyun was called a top star in Korea.
“I’ve been well. By the way, were you two originally quite close?”
If it was just asking how we were, it would be understandable.
But suddenly asking about our relationship made the flow of conversation a bit strange.
However, I answered Ji Jung-hyun’s question without thinking too deeply.
“We became close while appearing together in . We hit it off on set. Right, hyung?”
“That’s right. Thanks to meeting a better junior than my hyung, we were able to successfully put the drama out into the world. By the way, do you know Si-joon too, senior?”
When Park Jun asked the question, Ji Jung-hyun showed his characteristic smile and answered.
“How could I not know someone who shared the same role with me?”
Somehow, his tone seemed prickly.
In response, Park Jun also replied with a bright smile, as if not wanting to lose.
“Is that so? I thought you wouldn’t be interested in Si-joon since you’re usually so aloof.”
“That might have been the case normally. But Si-joon isn’t an ordinary junior. Isn’t that why you’re playing the big brother role too?”
“Well, I’m not the type to approach someone so calculatedly.”
“We’ll have to see about that. You’re not the type to play big brother to just anyone, are you?”
For some reason, I felt like the two were having a battle of nerves.
The atmosphere was so sharp that I didn’t know how to react.
‘They definitely seem to know each other… but their relationship seems oddly bad.’
Come to think of it, the two had appeared in the same works consecutively a few times in the past.
But to see them not getting along like this.
I briefly thought it might be because they were both nominated for Best Actor in the TV category today.
They would be competing for the Grand Prize in the TV category too, so it was understandable to feel a sense of rivalry.
‘I don’t understand having such a sharp exchange with someone over one award…’
I thought that the sense of rivalry might intensify from the Best Actor award onwards.
After all, I had never been nominated for an award of that level yet.
As I was organizing my thoughts like this,
Ji Jung-hyun and Park Jun glared sharply at each other, then turned their heads towards me simultaneously.
“Si-joon, where are you sitting?”
“Where are you planning to sit?”
I was momentarily flustered as the situation suddenly turned to me.
“…Well…”
But I calmly asked a staff member passing by.
“The seats are assigned, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Could you tell me where I’m supposed to sit?”
“Just a moment… Ah, you should sit over there.”
The staff pointed to a spot not far away.
At the same time, Ji Jung-hyun and Park Jun’s expressions split in opposite directions.
Because names were clearly attached to my seat and the one next to it.
Park Jun looked somewhat triumphant.
Ji Jung-hyun seemed needlessly disappointed.
That’s right.
The owner of the seat next to mine was Park Jun.
It seemed they had set up Park Jun’s seat close to mine, probably because we had recently worked on a drama together.
It was a consideration from the organizers.
“Si-joon, let’s go sit down. The ceremony will start soon.”
“Ah… Yes!”
“Then, senior, we’ll be going first. I hope you can achieve a satisfying result today.”
“……”
Although Park Jun said this in a brighter voice, Ji Jung-hyun’s hardened expression didn’t soften.
I felt like I should add something, so I opened my mouth.
“Senior! I’ll contact you later.”
“…Do that.”
So I followed Park Jun to our assigned seats.
Glancing back, I saw Ji Jung-hyun quietly looking at me as if lost in thought, before moving a beat later.
* * *
This year’s Baeksang Arts Awards opened with the theme “To Sprout”.
In line with the theme, impressive scenes from TV, drama, film, and theater were edited and displayed.
It was a high-quality video befitting the status of the Baeksang Arts Awards.
So I was able to watch the video with interest.
After the introductory video finished playing, the two main MCs of the Baeksang Arts Awards appeared.
The main MCs were Im Dong-seop, whom I had briefly met on
The two briefly introduced themselves and looked back on the past year.
“Last year, many works received love from many people. Thanks to that, the Baeksang Arts Awards, Korea’s only comprehensive arts awards ceremony, was able to have a busy year.”
“TV, drama, film, theater. We express our gratitude to everyone who worked hard in each field. Thanks to you all, we were able to be happier and more joyful.”
After that, the judges for each category were introduced.
They were all distinguished people with notable names.
It was a point that showed how much effort the Baeksang Arts Awards organizers had put in to maintain its history and authority.
Then another second introductory video played, and I felt my heart beating faster.
I knew that the nominees for Best New Actor in the TV category would be announced after the second introductory video.
“The New Actor nominees will be coming up soon.”
Park Jun muttered this, seeming to know this fact.
As soon as he finished speaking, last year’s two winners appeared on the awards stage.
The words “TV Category Best New Actor” were brightly engraved on the largest screen in the venue.
“Hello, I’m Ahn Ju-sung, in charge of presenting the TV Category Best New Actor award.”
“I’m Kim Da-hee.”
“There’s a saying that if you receive the New Actor award at the Baeksang Arts Awards, things go smoothly. Da-hee, how was your past year?”
“Maybe it’s because I received the New Actor award. Thanks to many people seeking me out, I spent my time very busily. How about you, Ju-sung?”
Ahn Ju-sung and Kim Da-hee had a conversation typical of award ceremonies.
But I felt as if I could hear my own heartbeat.
It was puzzling to feel such nervousness when I hadn’t had high expectations for winning the New Actor award.
‘Perhaps I was unknowingly expecting something after all.’
As I was thinking this, the nominees for Best New Actor were finally announced.
Park Du-hyun, who made an impression on viewers as the main lead in
Song Seon-woo, who has been making a name for himself as the second male lead in
Kim Chan, who proved his skills with traditional melodrama acting in
Kang Hyun-jun, who helped the drama’s success with his tense acting in <0.1%>.
They were all formidable award candidates.
After confirming the nominees, my tension suddenly dissipated.
It couldn’t be helped.
The caliber of people expecting to win alongside me was too impressive.
Especially Park Du-hyun and Song Seon-woo were the most promising actors.
They were people who would steadily maintain popularity with solid skills in the future.
‘I guess I should be satisfied just with participating in the awards ceremony…’
As I was thinking this,
Ahn Ju-sung opened the card to announce the winner.
“The winner of the Baeksang Arts Awards TV Category Best New Actor is…”
And Park Jun muttered beside me.
“Our Si-joon… is the best, isn’t he?”
I smiled softly hearing those words.
Because through those words, I could tell how much Park Jun cared for me.
To say I’m the best even after the nominees were announced.
‘He really is a good hyung.’
I thought this and burst into laughter.
At that moment.
“Lee Si-joon! Congratulations!”
My name was called.
And I couldn’t help but have a blank expression, as if I had never laughed.