HLC 17

“In any case, I didn’t mean to dismiss you. I know how hard it is for unknowns to last in this industry.”

“Then what did you mean?”

“There are types of people who are suited for flattering and pleasing others. More precisely, types who can only survive that way. But Song Hyun-soo-ssi, you’re not that type. You won’t last long with that method. It’s better to leave the job search to a company and just focus on acting.”

“I appreciate your guidance, Sunbae-nim, but I’m not exactly a novice in this industry myself.”

Yoon Joo-ho let out a bitter snort.

“Whether it’s guidance or half-guidance, I’m not the type to do that sort of thing.”

“Then why did you change your mind?”

“Who knows.”

As if he didn’t know the reason himself, Yoon Joo-ho lowered his head and laughed self-deprecatingly.

“Seeing Song Hyun-soo-ssi today, you vaguely resemble someone I knew a long time ago. That must have bothered me.”

Song Hyun-soo was momentarily captivated by his expression and tone, as if reminiscing about a distant past. However, the fleeting glimpse of emotion from Yoon Joo-ho was brief. He lifted his chin and took the last puff of his cigarette.

“Find a proper company first. Not trash like UB.”

Then, he tapped the end of the cigarette with his fingers, extinguishing the ember. Sparks scattered in all directions.

“Even if you become a seasoned veteran with 30 years of experience, this industry remains tough. You’ll thank me later.”

Yoon Joo-ho tossed the freshly extinguished cigarette among the scattered butts on the ground and shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets. He cast one last glance at the cats still playing around Song Hyun-soo’s sneakers before turning away.

Thank you, my foot. Who wants to go to a company like UB?

He scoffed at Yoon Joo-ho’s retreating back, but what was the point? He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. He picked up the cigarette butts Yoon Joo-ho had left and tossed them into an ashtray. He picked up the striped tail, which kept nudging him, and rubbed it against his cheek.

“Is it enough to just look good? Right, Julmu?”

Meeeow.

As cold as the air was, the cat’s warmth felt comforting. The cold snap, the first in 20 years, seemed real.

■■■

That was the only time he spoke with Yoon Joo-ho alone.

Thinking it might be awkward, he played with the cats for a while longer before heading back. The drinking party had already escalated into full swing. The restaurant was buzzing with the mingled voices and warmth of people from various tables.

Song Hyun-soo quickly scanned the room for Yoon Joo-ho.

He was seated at the production staff’s table, sleeves rolled up past his elbows, chatting animatedly with everyone. He threw his head back and laughed heartily, proposing toasts repeatedly and downing soju. It seemed some people he’d worked with before were there. Everyone around him listened intently to Yoon Joo-ho and observed him with curious eyes.

Yoon Joo-ho, whom Song Hyun-soo expected to at least show his face out of courtesy before leaving, was surprisingly one of the last members to remain. Song Hyun-soo also stayed until the end, leading to an unusually heavy drinking session.

Even so, a hangover from five or six bottles of soju? I’m not the Song Hyun-soo I used to be.

He shook his head and took another drag of his cigarette. Looking up at the sky, already darkening, he replayed Jung-ho’s questions.

What’s Shin Hyo-jin like in person?

Even those who claimed Shin Hyo-jin was ordinary would be too stunned to look her in the eye if they saw her in person. Her acting skills were, of course, beyond question.

When Han Joo-young drinks, she mixes in a lot of English. The rumors about her being from a wealthy family seemed true. However, she often managed to be obnoxious without any malice.

And Yoon Joo-ho.

What was Yoon Joo-ho like when I met him in person?

A lucky charm, my foot.

Let’s just say Yoon Joo-ho is for ornamental purposes. A decorative rosebush with about twenty-six thousand seven hundred and thirty thorns.

Find a proper company. Does anyone want to go to a trash company? If you’re that worried, will you take me at Look Planning? He’s lived his whole life as a top star, so his perspective is certainly different. Who is it that truly doesn’t understand the ways of this industry?

But it was also true that that wasn’t the entirety of Yoon Joo-ho.

The rumor about him drinking only water costing 400,000 won was false, and while he could be annoying, he never looked down on actors with lower recognition than himself. At least, not yet. And he did move away so the cats wouldn’t inhale cigarette smoke. Though it might have been for other reasons.

Regardless, while he had a considerable talent for irritating and provoking people, he didn’t seem like a completely terrible human being. Most importantly, he was friends with Ji-in’s hyung. Ji-in’s hyung wouldn’t be friends with a trashy guy, no matter what.

‘Seeing Song Hyun-soo-ssi today, you vaguely resemble someone I knew a long time ago. That must have bothered me.’

But who did I resemble?

Song Hyun-soo paused, his hand halfway to his lips with the cigarette, and pondered. Could it be… my first love?

He chuckled at his own weak imagination and brought the filter to his lips. A woman who resembles me? That’s a bit much.

“Hyung! The rice is ready!”

Jung-ho shouted from the kitchen. He ground out his cigarette against the wall and tossed the butt into the ashtray. Seeing the sparks fly in all directions reminded him of Yoon Joo-ho.

Thinking about Yoon Joo-ho no matter what I look at. It feels like I have a crush. He chuckled.

■■■

Yoon Joo-ho’s residence.

Director Bang Sang-ho of Look Planning and Yoon Joo-ho sat facing each other in front of a sofa set.

“H-Hyung, what is this? This is all blood.”

Director Bang read down the script in his hand. His recitation was stiff and monotonous, lacking any change in pitch or tone. On the opposite sofa, Yoon Joo-ho tried to immerse himself in the emotion.

“Lee San, look at me. Listen carefully. You weren’t supposed to come here.”

His wavering eyes held a hint of madness, and his lower jaw trembled slightly.

Unlike Director Bang, he wasn’t looking at the script. His memorization was almost complete. But simply memorizing lines and reciting them in front of the camera wouldn’t make it acting.

“There’s blood all over your hands, Hyung. Whose blood is this? Dad. That’s my dad.”

“Haa…”

Yoon Joo-ho, preparing for his next line, couldn’t hold back any longer and let out a deep sigh. He rested his elbows on his knees and buried his head deep between his thighs. He bit his lip and squeezed his eyes shut. Director Bang glanced at Yoon Joo-ho, watching him.

“What? What are you unhappy about now?”

“How many years have we rehearsed lines together? How is it that you never improve?”

“If I could act, I would have become an actor. Do you think I’d be putting up with your temper like this? Do I have to be good at acting too? Is my profession acting?”

Yoon Joo-ho snapped his head up.

“There’s a limit to how bad you can be. Even if I asked Siri to read it, she’d be better than you. I’m not even expecting you to be a good actor. You should at least match my emotional state enough for me to get into character. Where did you sell all your question marks?”

Yoon Joo-ho stood up abruptly and walked away from the sofa. His hands tucked into the pockets of his robe, his steps in his indoor silk slippers exuded irritation.

Yoon Joo-ho walked behind the bar set up in one corner of the room. It was a fully equipped bar, not just a makeshift one. When he moved to his current house, he had decorated this second-floor room like a lounge bar.

He browsed the bottles displayed in the cabinet, rubbing his right temple. Director Bang’s gaze followed Yoon Joo-ho’s back.

“Couldn’t sleep again?”

“Is this the first day I haven’t slept?”

“If you have a migraine, should I find you some medicine?”

“No.”

“It’s better than drinking from midday.”

“A drink or two is medicine.”

The furniture and appliances filling the bar area were almost all built-in. The bar, cabinet, refrigerator, table, sofa. Everything was made of stainless steel, glass, and black. The interior was designed to resemble Yoon Joo-ho’s office at Look Planning. Because of this, the room had an overall dark, heavy, and cold atmosphere.

Yoon Joo-ho picked out a bottle of whiskey. Then, as was his habit, he reached for ice for an Old Fashioned glass but stopped.

‘Whiskey’s aroma becomes richer when it meets lukewarm water. It lowers the alcohol content slightly while allowing you to enjoy the aroma more.’

He suddenly recalled the words of the bartender, the actor playing Lee San, who had done a voice impression.