By Zephyria 
Could I ever get tired of meeting people who are so happy just to see me? Will that day really come someday? Right now, I’m just amazed, dazed, and happy.
The instructor carefully organized the signed paper into a file so it wouldn’t get crumpled. He said with a cheerful face.
“The response to the photoshoot is really hot. It’s a big deal around here. Your followers must have increased a lot, right?”
Song Hyun-soo tapped the table with the pen he had used to sign, and smiled awkwardly.
“It’s all thanks to Jooho Senior, I guess.”
“It’s not just that. Even I thought the chemistry between you two was really good. No matter how good Yoon Senior is, he wouldn’t have gotten this kind of response if he had shot it alone, right?”
Yoon Senior.
The instructor was four or five years older than Yoon Joo-ho, but Yoon Joo-ho had much more experience as an actor. They weren’t close enough to be informal, so they seemed to use light honorifics and call each other Yoon Senior and Hyung Jang-woo.
“It’s rare for a rookie actor to have the opportunity to do a photoshoot with Yoon Senior, but on the other hand, it’s the same for Yoon Senior. Because of his status, he usually does solo shoots or shoots with a female co-star.”
“That’s probably true.”
“Putting Yoon Senior with a rookie like Song Hyun-soo allowed the public to see a new side of actor Yoon Joo-ho that they hadn’t seen before.”
“Really… do you think so?”
The photoshoot definitely had a bigger impact than expected, but not all of the public opinion was favorable. Some of Yoon Joo-ho’s fans didn’t like Song Hyun-soo, saying that an actor who was practically unknown was riding on Yoon Joo-ho’s name.
The instructor nodded, looking confident in his opinion.
“The public has been watching actor Yoon Joo-ho for 30 years. No matter how handsome and charming someone is, 30 years is enough to get tired of them. But they got to see Yoon Joo-ho as a person, fresh and natural, like a rookie. It’s like discovering a new charm in an old lover you thought you knew everything about, and falling in love all over again… wouldn’t you say?”
Song Hyun-soo tilted his head.
“Hmm… but I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of Jooho Senior.”
“Are all the actors in Look Planning Yoon Gyeol-ho?”
The instructor chuckled and put the file in his bag. Song Hyun-soo scratched his cheek with his index finger and thought.
I was Yoon Gyeol-ho waaaaay before I joined Look Planning.
“But Yoon Senior.”
“Yes.”
“Does he even watch that video?”
During the acting lessons, Song Hyun-soo’s performance is recorded. And it’s sent directly to Yoon Joo-ho. It was Yoon Joo-ho’s request.
“The company director tells me to send it, so I send it. But does he say anything to you about it?”
“No, not really.”
“He doesn’t say anything to me either. Then why does he want me to send it? Is it just for record-keeping?”
Song Hyun-soo didn’t know what Yoon Joo-ho did with the videos either.
He often talks to him about acting. They exchange opinions and sometimes have quite heated discussions. When Song Hyun-soo asks questions, he gives him tips seriously and passionately. But he doesn’t interfere with the acting lessons. He probably thinks that time is entirely the instructor’s domain. It’s Yoon Joo-ho’s way of showing respect.
“Oh? Is it that late already? I took up too much of your time because of the autograph.”
The instructor checked the time and hurriedly packed the rest of his belongings into his bag. Song Hyun-soo also picked up the bag he had placed on the chair next to him.
“It’s okay. It’s only been 30 minutes.”
“You were originally quite good at the basics, but today I can see that your vocalization, pronunciation, and breathing have all improved noticeably.”
“Oh, really?”
That was welcome news to Song Hyun-soo.
“You must be practicing hard.”
“Actually, I’m doing it whenever I have time. I do it in the shower, while driving, and in the elevator.”
“That’s a good attitude. Not just in acting, but in any field, the basics are the beginning and the end.”
“Yes, Jooho Senior says that too.”
“Many actors, especially rookie actors, tend to neglect the basics and try to learn the technical aspects first. But that kind of superficiality will eventually hit a wall.”
Song Hyun-soo nodded slowly, with a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Yes, I know. I used to be one of those actors.”
The instructor looked at Song Hyun-soo, who was looking down and rubbing the back of his neck, and said in a warm tone, as if to comfort him.
“You’re not like that now.”
Then he found something in his bag and looked surprised.
“Oh, I almost forgot to take this with me. Here.”
What he took out of his bag was a small shopping bag.
“What’s this?”
“It’s your birthday in a few days.”
“Wow, thank you! I didn’t even think about it.”
“It’s nothing special.”
It’s really nothing special, so don’t expect too much, the instructor emphasized several times, looking embarrassed.
“You usually do such nice things, so I’m a little embarrassed to give you a gift like this.”
“Hey, don’t say that! Thank you, Hyung.”
Song Hyun-soo put the shopping bag in his backpack as he got up, as the instructor told him to open it later. As he followed him, he asked in a slightly cautious tone.
“But you know. We’re pretty close now, so I’m asking.”
“Yes.”
“Is your family quite well-off or something?”
“Huh?? Me? No! Not at all!”
“You’re still a rookie, but your clothes and shoes are almost all high-end brands, and I haven’t seen that bag before.”
“Ah… I got it as a gift, a gift.”
Song Hyun-soo mumbled, pulling the bag he had been wearing on one shoulder as if to hide it.
“It’s not a crime to have a wealthy family, so you don’t have to keep it a secret. These days, the public likes it even more if you have that kind of background.”
The instructor’s expression and tone seemed somewhat bitter as he said that.
“But I’m really not. I just happened to… I’ve been getting a lot of gifts lately…”
“Hmm… is that so?”
He didn’t ask any more questions, but he seemed to have concluded that Song Hyun-soo was denying it even though he had a wealthy background.
The source of the expensive bags, clothes, shoes, and other belongings that changed frequently was, of course, Yoon Joo-ho. Before meeting Song Hyun-soo, shopping was one of Yoon Joo-ho’s ways of relieving stress. According to Director Bang, the frequency and amount of shopping had decreased dramatically since he met Song Hyun-soo. Then, after they officially became lovers, he started buying things for Song Hyun-soo.
The signs had already been visible before they started dating. He had forced suits, shoes, padding jumpers, and the like on him under various pretexts, and when he returned from business trips, he would appear like Santa Claus with shopping bags full of gifts.
They had argued about this issue several times. But Yoon Joo-ho didn’t seem to want to back down on the issue. He didn’t take it as seriously as Song Hyun-soo did.
This kind of conversation was common.
‘What’s that?’
‘A travel perfume case. You don’t have one of these yet, do you?’
‘Why would I need something like that?’
‘You’ll be going on more business trips in the future, so you’ll need something like this.’
‘I can just put the perfume bottle between my clothes, why would I spend money on something like this… especially a luxury brand.’
‘Hey, listen to your elders.’
‘You’re only four years older than me, what are you talking about? If you’re an adult, then I’m an adult too.’
‘Your birthday hasn’t passed yet. It’s five years.’
‘Why are you being so petty… Anyway, stop buying me things.’
‘Why?’
‘I haven’t even gotten a proper job yet, so I can’t do anything for you. It’s not easy to just keep receiving things like this, to be honest.’
‘You can’t do anything for me? You gave me a keyring. That’s expensive.’
‘It’s expensive for a keyring.’
‘Why are you saying it like it’s just a keyring?’
‘It is just a keyring. Compared to what you’ve given me.’
‘Because it’s not that expensive? Is that why it’s just a keyring?’
‘……’
‘We’re giving each other gifts, does it matter how much they cost? Is the amount that important?’
‘……’
‘You bought it with the money you earned from your first photoshoot. How precious is that to me?’
‘I’m grateful that you think that way, but…’
‘Don’t think of what I give you as money. It’s not material, it’s my love.’
I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had been helplessly defeated by a clever argument. But I couldn’t think of anything else to say to someone who said that what they were giving me wasn’t material, but love.
Even if he bought products that didn’t show the logo well, someone was bound to recognize them, just like now. It was an industry full of people who knew high-end brands well. Every time, Song Hyun-soo had to sweat to make excuses.
Song Hyun-soo emphasized to the instructor once more.
“Hyung, I’m really not. I’m someone who wants to work hard and earn a lot of money quickly.”
The instructor nudged Song Hyun-soo’s shoulder and laughed.
“You’re getting a lot of scripts, aren’t you? You can choose whatever you want now, so what are you worried about?”
“Huh? Scripts?”
When Song Hyun-soo asked back, the instructor looked back with a puzzled expression.
“Don’t you know? I’ve already heard about three or four projects.”
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