Chapter 147: Quiet Time Together

TL: Aniea

“So when’s the wedding?”

“What kind of random question is that?”

“While someone is spending the whole day worrying about acting, someone else is confidently going on amusement park dates. How am I supposed to not be jealous?”

“.......”

At Seo Jun-woo’s sharp remark, I was at a loss for words. He was always a straightforward character, but today he was being especially blunt.

He even let out a deep sigh while looking at a couple photo of Kim Eun-ha and me taken on the street.

“...Are you feeling lonely these days?”

“...Being a celebrity is a lonely job. Public relationships like yours are the rare case.”

“I thought you weren’t the type to care about stuff like that?”

“People are all the same. It's just that, because our job is acting, we live pretending not to care, right? But today, it's particularly annoying to watch.”

“Hmm?”

When I tilted my head, Seo Jun-woo looked at me with disapproval and spoke.

“I’m talking about you. Since earlier, you’ve been looking at your phone and grinning nonstop. You’re the guy who usually only looks at his script. Have you completely given up your image now?”

“When did I ever do that?”

“Yeah, right? Geez... I should just stop talking. I’m jealous. Seriously. You’ve been dating for a while, but you still look like a couple who’s only been together for a month.”

“.......”

I nearly flinched at Seo Jun-woo’s sharp observation, but with superhuman patience, I managed to hold back.

If I left it alone, I felt like he’d drag me into something again, so I quickly changed the subject.

“Don’t say weird stuff for no reason. Be careful not to get hurt during today’s shoot. You almost got seriously injured before during the play because you didn’t stretch properly.”

“If someone hears, they’ll think you’re my girlfriend.”

“If Eun-ha ssi hears that, she might pour cement on your legs and throw you into the Pacific Ocean.”

“Wow, the detail.”

I wasn’t joking.

I quietly swallowed my words.

After chatting back and forth with Seo Jun-woo a few more times, time passed quickly. Soon, we were called by the staff and headed to the set.

The shoot that followed went very smoothly. Compared to daily life scenes, this action scene carried a higher risk of injury and was more difficult in many ways.

However, having done theater together before, we had received grueling training that surpassed even action school from Team Leader Kang Dae-ho.

Back then, the action using a lightsaber was extremely high-level, so this shoot actually felt rather comfortable.

“Okay. Cut!”

“Wow, Director. That was really good just now. I think we could go with this without any edits.”

“Right? This is exactly the kind of scene I had in mind when I cast you, but your chemistry is even better than I expected. It makes me want to push it even further....”

“What do you think about the long take we talked about last time?”

“Long take?”

As I brought it up first, the director’s eyes lit up. Seo Jun-woo, who was standing next to me, also lifted the corners of his mouth with interest.

“Yes. You mentioned it during our last dinner. That you’ve always wanted to shoot a long take action scene like in <Old Boy>.”

“Hmm. Did I say that? Well, I guess I did. It's not wrong. But it’s not something that’s easy to do, you know. I heard it took them days to shoot just that scene.”

“Of course, it won’t be easy. But since we’ve managed to finish most of the other shoots in one take, we have room in the schedule. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to give it a try.”

“Long take scenes are the hardest on the actors. I do appreciate you guys bringing it up first, but still, the budget is...”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that part.”

“Hmm?”

At my confident attitude, Director Park Hee-seok tilted his head. I smiled lightly and lifted my phone.

When I pressed 0, the phone started ringing, and before long it connected. Soon, a very familiar voice came through the receiver.

“Eun-ha ssi. I have a favor to ask.”

I briefly explained our situation, and after listening quietly to everything, Kim Eun-ha spoke.

-Proceed.

One word from her, stronger than a hundred from anyone else. Everyone who had been looking at me with skeptical eyes was left speechless, mouths agape.

-Something came up with Daehan Group anyway. Seems like the automobile project in Germany isn’t going well, so if we propose first, they’ll probably jump at the chance.

“You’re not saying you have to go beg Park Ji-hoon ssi or anything like that, right?”

-Oh my, are you worried about me right now? Or is it jealousy?

“If I had to choose, it’d be both.”

Hmm-hmm-

Even over the phone, her pleased hum echoed clearly. Imagining her smiling face, a wide smile bloomed on my own.

-Either way, you don’t need to worry. Like I said, they’re the ones already anxious, and all the business communication will go through Secretary Yoon.

“Well, that’s a relief.”

-But I agreed to your request so readily. Don’t I get anything in return?

“I’ll do the dishes tonight.”

Ha-

Then came a scoffing laugh from Kim Eun-ha, clearly intended for me to hear. After a moment of silence, she spoke up first.

-You’re landing a deal worth billions at the very least, and you’re settling it with just doing the dishes once? You’ve gotten quite extravagant, haven’t you?

“Thanks to someone.”

-And yet you’re really going to keep pushing it like this?

“Eun-ha ssi.”

-Don’t. That.

Lowering my voice dramatically,

Kim Eun-ha instantly reacted with disgust.

But if I stopped there, I wouldn’t be Kang Woo-ju.

“You know I love you very much, right?”

-A-Aren’t you with other people right now!?

“I am.”

Swish-

As I answered, I glanced lightly around. People with expressions saying “hopeless” came into view.

Especially Seo Jun-woo, who gave an exaggerated reaction as if he were about to throw up, which made watching even more fun.

-I can’t with you. Seriously.

“So is that a done deal on the negotiation?”

-Of course not. We’ll continue the negotiation at home, so keep that in mind. And! Don’t say embarrassing things in front of other people.

“Are you embarrassed by me?”

-Ugh, I should just stop talking. I’m hanging up now.

Click-

Without even waiting for my response, Kim Eun-ha hung up. But I didn’t feel bad at all. Just hearing her voice, I could tell how flustered she was.

“You might as well just start a family.”

“Should I call her back and cancel everything?”

“...You do realize how childish you’re being, right?”

Pfft-

I silently raised one corner of my mouth. Seeing that, Seo Jun-woo sighed deeply and raised both hands in surrender.

After we wrapped up the atmosphere, we continued a constructive discussion in a friendly mood.

As a result, the long take action scene we filmed received rave reviews from critics and became an iconic moment in film history.

***

“Kang Woo-ju ssi! You’ve swept all the Best Actor awards this time. Can you share how you’re feeling right now?”

The red carpet I had always dreamed of.

Countless cameras and eyes focused solely on me. And the spotlight I had once so desperately longed for.

All those days in the theater troupe, constantly scolded, losing sleep at night from anxiety, wondering when I’d be kicked out, those memories flashed through my mind like a panorama.

Holding back the tears rising not from acting, but from true emotion, I gripped the microphone.

“First and foremost, I want to thank the fans who supported me from the beginning.”

Clap clap clap clap-!!

As I bowed deeply, everyone smiled and applauded.

I saw familiar faces, Writer Jung Ha-rin and Director Kang In-ho, who had given me my first lead role, along with many of the staff.

In addition, from sunbae Kim Young-ho to Seo Jun-woo, Park Soo-bin, and Choi Ji-hwan, of course, also Choi Kang-hee and Lim Sang-hoon, who had worked on this project with me, and even Kang Han-na, who had just begun her career as an actress.

I saw them every day, yet seeing them here felt deeply emotional. I called out each of their names and gave a long and heartfelt thank you.

“And I also sincerely thank my family, who have always believed in me and supported me without wavering, and all the people in my life I couldn’t mention by name.”

Fweeeet-!!

As I bowed once more, playful whistles rang out, followed by another round of loud applause.

“Well then...”

“Oh, just a moment. There's still one very important person left.”

As the host, thinking all remarks had ended, was about to proceed, I asked for a brief moment.

I knew that dragging out an acceptance speech too long wasn’t ideal, but if I left this person out, the consequences would be far worse.

“Lastly, I want to thank CEO Kim Eun-ha, my strongest supporter and partner. I love you very much!”

Waaaah-!

When I raised a bouquet and formed a heart over my head, the crowd watching me all shook their heads at once, yet every one of them had a smile blooming on their faces.

After the brief award ceremony concluded, I stepped down from the stage. Seo Jun-woo patted my shoulder with a bittersweet smile as the schedule wrapped up.

***

“What was that at the end!?”

Smack-!

As soon as I stepped into the house, I was smacked on the back by Kim Eun-ha, who had been waiting. It was so strong I nearly toppled forward.

“You liked it that much?”

“If I’m being honest… yeah. I liked it. But honestly, I thought you’d mention me at the beginning? It kind of felt like you forgot and threw it in last minute?”

“No way.”

“You hesitated just now.”

“I didn’t.”

“Look me in the eye and say that.”

Squeeze-!

Kim Eun-ha grabbed both of my cheeks and held them in place. She stared suspiciously, but I didn’t avoid her gaze.

“You really didn’t forget?”

“I didn’t.”

“Prove it.”

Smooch-

Without hesitation, I kissed her on the forehead. Her gaze grew even sharper.

Smooch-

This time, I held both her cheeks and kissed the bridge of her nose. Still, her puffed-up cheeks showed something wasn’t sitting right.

“Don’t think I don’t know you’re just doing this because you’re out of things to say....”

Smooch-

“Ah! Stop with the kissing....”

Smooch smooch smooch-

“.......”

I kept pouring out affection until her words finally stopped, and only then did Kim Eun-ha’s expression begin to soften. I pulled her gently into my arms.

She didn’t squirm like before. Instead, she naturally wrapped her arms around my neck and spoke.

“It’s a little late, but congratulations on sweeping all the awards. You were practically worshipped out there. I heard even Hollywood reached out?”

“Are you jealous, by chance?”

“Yeah. If you contact another woman, I’ll kill you.”

Her whisper tickled my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

“What was that just now? Got something to be guilty about?”

“...Anyone would react like that when someone suddenly breathes into their ear.”

“Breath?”

“Are you really going to nitpick every word?”

“Hmph.”

Pfft-

Holding her in my arms, I headed toward the dining table. There, I saw a character cake modeled after the role I had played and various dishes laid out.

“Did you prepare all this?”

“I did at least put the candles on.”

“Even that alone is too much for me to handle.”

“Some of the food is my cooking too, so try guessing which.”

“Are we suddenly playing Russian roulette...? Ack!”

Kim Eun-ha playfully bit my ear. After that, we continued bickering and spent a cozy evening together.