The Face Genius Actor

Episode 076

[Baeksang Best Actor Ji Jung-hyun, “Si-joon, I really hope we can work together on the next project!” Acceptance Speech]

[Monopolizing the popularity of male seniors? Even Baeksang Grand Prize winner Park Jun joins the love call for Lee Si-joon!]

[“Let’s work on a project together too!” Park Jun’s shy confession to Lee Si-joon?]

[Baeksang New Actor Award Lee Si-joon… Interest pours in for his next work!]

[Mesmerized by his face? Baeksang’s Lee Si-joon’s flustered expression continues to be a hot topic]

[‘Hyungs? Didn’t I dress well?’ Baeksang Best Dressed Lee Si-joon’s charm overflows!]

[New actor’s wonderful acceptance speech… But the topic is the acceptance speeches mentioning Lee Si-joon?]

[This year’s Baeksang Arts Awards catchphrase ‘Si-joon, let’s work together’]

Articles kept pouring in.

Who won the Grand Prize or who won the Best Actor award wasn’t as big an issue as expected.

Rather, people were more curious about why Ji Jung-hyun and Park Jun mentioned my name.

Even reporters kept calling to ask about it.

“What? Actor Ji Jung-hyun? How would I know that? I’m telling you I don’t know. Yes. Really.”

Yeo Kyung-chan was constantly receiving calls from reporters while holding the steering wheel.

In fact, I was also curious why Ji Jung-hyun and Park Jun mentioned my name.

It was even more so because it was so sudden.

I tried contacting both of them separately, but neither gave an answer about this.

Ji Jung-hyun read my message and ignored it, while Park Jun deflected by saying, ‘Congratulations again on your New Actor award today.’

Both showed a strong will to never give the answer I wanted, each in their own way.

‘Why is everyone doing this to me…’

As a celebrity, it wasn’t bad to make my name known.

It was also good to receive interest in my next work choice.

But receiving attention like this felt strange somehow.

For some reason, I felt like a shrimp getting its back broken in a fight between whales.

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have asked why they did that before leaving the awards ceremony earlier.’

While I was thinking this,

I belatedly discovered messages in the family group chat.

[Mountain Man][20:21] Youngest son! Congratulations! New Actor Award! You’re the best!

[Mountain Man][20:21] Your acceptance speech was so moving… Mom would be proud too

[Mountain Man][20:22] You’re coming straight home after the awards ceremony, right?

[Mountain Man][20:22] It’s a shame Si-hwan isn’t here, but let’s have a celebration party just the two of us

It was a message from an hour ago.

The battery died during the awards ceremony, so I couldn’t check the message in time.

I replied to my father without further delay.

[Si-joon][21:34] Thank you, Dad

[Si-joon][21:34] I’m heading straight home now

[Mountain Man][21:34] Should I prepare a whole chicken?

[Mountain Man][21:35] With soju?

[Si-joon][21:35] Please prepare for 4 people. My manager and stylist are coming too

[Mountain Man][21:35] Alright! It’s good to have more people celebrating!

While we were having this conversation, my brother appeared.

[Short Answer Man][21:36] Congrats on New Actor Award

[Si-joon][21:36] Did you just time your message again this time?

[Short Answer Man][21:36] No

[Short Answer Man][21:36] I could watch it on OTT this time

[Si-joon][21:37] The world has improved

[Short Answer Man][21:37] Indeed

[Short Answer Man][21:37] By the way….

[Si-joon][21:37] Yes?

[Short Answer Man][21:38] What’s with Ji Jung-hyun and Park Jun?

[Si-joon][21:38] What do you mean? They’re seniors

[Short Answer Man][21:38] Are you close?

[Si-joon][21:38] Sort of

[Si-joon][21:38] I keep in touch with Jun hyung

[Si-joon][21:38] Senior Ji Jung-hyun offered to work together on the next project

[Short Answer Man][21:39] Seems like you’re close….

[Si-joon][21:39] Why are you suddenly asking that?

[Short Answer Man][21:39] Just

[Short Answer Man][21:39] Curious

My brother’s tone seemed different from usual.

It felt like he had something he wanted to say but wasn’t saying it.

The fact that he was sending more messages than usual was proof of this.

‘Is he bored being alone in France?’

While I was thinking this,

My brother brought up something a bit sudden.

[Short Answer Man][21:40] I’m coming back to Korea next week

He had originally said he could only come back next month.

I thought for a moment about why his schedule had changed, then nodded.

‘It must be one of two things. Either one schedule was cleared up. Or he’s really bored.’

It felt like it was probably the latter.

He seemed even more restless hearing that we were having a party here.

As a good brother, I replied so he wouldn’t feel too lonely.

[Si-joon][21:40] Okay, come quickly

[Si-joon][21:40] I miss you

Then a reply came a bit late.

[Short Answer Man][21:43] Okay^^

Seeing him use a smiling emoticon, it seemed his mood had improved a bit.

* * *

I had a celebration party at a restaurant with Yeo Kyung-chan, Song Jin-ah, and my father.

Receiving congratulations from the people who supported me most closely made me excited.

The whole chicken, delicious whenever you eat it, was the perfect supporting actor.

While we were achieving results at the Baeksang Arts Awards,

had already aired its 8th episode.

And finally, the ratings for the 8th episode were 10.36%.

It was an amazing result for a drama that couldn’t be confident of success.

Naturally, the atmosphere on set could only get better.

“Congratulations to everyone!”

“Great work, everyone!”

They didn’t light candles or call the writer like they did for “I Will Cast Love”.

The atmosphere on set was different, but more importantly, writer Jung Su-jin wasn’t someone who lacked that 2%.

However, everyone was happy about the symbolic result of breaking 10% viewership.

The proof was that everyone they met greeted each other warmly and offered congratulations.

Director Yoo Sung-hyo’s expression was particularly bright.

It was natural, as he had achieved meaningful results in both film and drama.

It was a rare accomplishment for a director to bring good results in both similar yet different genres of film and drama.

For that reason, I was able to talk more cheerfully than usual with Director Yoo Sung-hyo.

“Hello, Director. Congratulations on breaking 10% viewership.”

Director Yoo Sung-hyo, who was happily greeting other staff members, turned his head at the sound of my voice.

“Ah! Actor! You arrived early today too!”

“Yes, I just arrived.”

“I should be the one congratulating you. Thanks to you, ‘Let’s Live Together, Princess’ has done so well.”

“Not at all. It’s all thanks to you, Director.”

“Ah, and I watched the Baeksang Arts Awards. Belated congratulations on winning the Best New Actor award.”

“Thank you. I hope we can all be together at the next Baeksang Arts Awards.”

“If the ratings keep going up like this, there’s a possibility.”

“I guess so. In that sense, we should work hard on today’s filming too.”

“Your passion for acting is really something. On a day like today, it’s okay to be a little excited.”

“We have important scenes to film today. The conflict between Han Ji-hoon and Lee Young finally explodes.”

“That’s true. I was thinking a bit yesterday…”

And so, Director Yoo Sung-hyo explained the filming plan as usual.

At that moment, the set became noisy, probably because Cindy had arrived.

When I turned my head, she was already approaching.

“Hello, senior.”

“Si-joon! Congratulations! I heard you won the Best New Actor award at the Baeksang Arts Awards?”

“Thank you for the congratulations. More importantly, our drama’s ratings exceeded 10%.”

“That’s right! I was so happy when I checked this morning that I rushed straight to the set!”

Cindy looked genuinely happy.

Seeing her express her emotions honestly made me feel good too.

“I’m worried I might not be able to film properly today because I’m so excited. Director, is it possible to move the filming of Scene 38 in Episode 12 to later?”

Director Yoo Sung-hyo seemed to think it would be difficult to film in this state too.

He nodded readily and replied.

“If Lee Si-joon is okay with it, it’s fine.”

Certainly, Scene 38 in Episode 12 was a scene where both Cindy and I needed to go through a whirlwind of emotions.

In a situation like this where the mood was so good, it could be difficult to capture the right emotions.

“Yes, that’s fine with me. Then I’ll go wait first.”

“See you later, Si-joon. Once again, congratulations on winning the Best New Actor award!”

I received Cindy’s congratulations and walked towards where the vehicles were parked.

Time passed, and at 2:31 PM, the filming of Scene 38 in Episode 12 finally began.

“Standby! Cue!”

* * *

“Where are you looking?”

Lee Young’s voice is cold.

“I’m right here, where are you looking?”

What am I looking at?

I don’t know either.

But it’s certain that my gaze has momentarily left Lee Young.

Lee Young suddenly bites her lip.

Then, as if her pride is hurt.

As if she can’t bear it anymore.

She looks at me and continues with a trembling voice.

“Do you know what I find most unfair at this moment?”

“…”

“Suddenly falling into this strange world called the Republic of Korea? No.”

“…”

“Having to change even my way of speaking while living as Lee Young of the Republic of Korea? No.”

“…”

“Having to live as an ordinary person from being a princess of a country? Not that either.”

“…Lee Young.”

“What makes me angriest right now… What makes me want to cry because it’s so miserable… is that you’re not looking at me.”

“That’s not…”

“No! It’s not that it’s not! I’ve seen it several times! I’ve confirmed it several times! How do I know? Because you’re all I have here. Because I have no one else to rely on. So I can see everything! I can see you seeing someone else in my face!”

Lee Young suddenly collapses to the floor.

Then she starts crying like a child.

But I can’t comfort Lee Young.

Was it really like that?

Was I really still looking at Lee Young of the Republic of Korea, not Lee Young of the Korean Empire?

I can’t be sure.

If, as Lee Young says, the person I’m looking at is Lee Young of the Republic of Korea, that’s not right.

If I reach out my hand, that would only hurt Lee Young again.

I’m confused.

I’m furious at the fact that my feelings are still not sorted out.

At the same time, Lee Young’s crying, which seemed like it would last forever, subsides.

“You don’t even comfort me.”

Then Lee Young gets up and continues with a voice still wet with tears.

“Let’s end this now. Looking for a dead person in a living person. A living person acting as a dead person.”

Lee Young passes by my side.

Her body slightly touches my arm, but I still can’t reach out.

Like a dead person moving away, the collar of a living person brushes past.

– We met and… parted like that, transcending time and space.