BTT 75

“If you feel that way, quit quickly. Professor Seok’s issue is resolved, so you should go back to filmmaking. If you want to gain experience, you should work as a producer’s assistant instead.”

“I’ll do it for a little longer.”

“Sigh, do as you please.”

Seeing that Hae-jun wasn’t listening to him at all, Senior Yang turned on his laptop and launched Withpl.

“What do you want to watch today?”

“Just play something from the popularity rankings.”

The aspiring director and aspiring screenwriter were binge-watching movies and dramas every evening. Since they had finished all the movies they had bookmarked yesterday, they decided to try a new genre today.

Senior Yang entered the World Ranking category and clicked on , which was ranked 5th, after browsing a few titles.

“This has been popular lately.”

Hae-jun’s eyes widened. Come to think of it, was released, wasn’t it? He had completely forgotten in his busyness.

Soon, the title screen of appeared. After a zombie’s face passed ominously over the dark and somber screen, BTT 1 began to play.

Hae-jun wiggled his toes. Lee A-gon wouldn’t appear for a while. He wanted to rewind and check the part where Lee A-gon appeared. But if he did that, Senior Yang would find it strange.

“What are you doing? Eat before it gets cold.”

Senior Yang urged him as he mixed rice into his ramen. Hae-jun had no choice but to pick up his spoon. The peaceful scene of Seoul before the zombie virus spread appeared, and soon after, the protagonist’s daughter ran to school with a bright smile.

“Manager-hyung. Are you alright?”

To Yang Road’s question, Hae-jun slowly nodded. He could barely keep his eyes open from sleepiness. Today, Lee A-gon’s schedule included an interview with a magazine, which meant he had to leave home earlier than usual.

“You seem very tired. What did you do yesterday?”

“I stayed up all night watching .”

“Ah, that. The one our actor appears in.”

Yang Road’s face lit up.

“I watched it too. I didn’t know our actor was in it until he appeared in BTT 7, and I was so surprised. His acting was really good, too. He played a crazy psychopath, and it was just…”

Having said that, Yang Road lowered his voice.

“Isn’t it a role that perfectly suits him? How could he be cast in a role that fits him so well?”

“He’s a good actor, but I don’t know if the role suited him that well.”

When Hae-jun learned about the character Lee A-gon would play on the set of , he was very anxious. He worried if their kind and gentle A-gon could play a psychopath killer.

“Ah, the actor is coming.”

Just then, Lee A-gon appeared at the shared entrance. He got into the car with a frown, immediately put in his earphones, and pulled his hat down low. It was a clear sign not to talk to him.

Yang Road carefully started the car. Hae-jun turned his head and stared intently at Lee A-gon’s face. Lee A-gon kept his head down, his hat pulled low. This was the only time he could look at his face.

‘I want to hold his hand.’

Hae-jun gazed longingly at Lee A-gon’s hands.

‘What should I say to get him to hold my hand? Should I get him drunk? Then maybe I can hold his hand?’

Come to think of it, he had never had a drink with Lee A-gon. What would a drunk Lee A-gon be like? Hae-jun imagined it. Lee A-gon with a flushed face. Lee A-gon with a slurred tongue from being drunk. Lee A-gon giggling foolishly. Ah, it was all too cute.

“Ugh!”

Just then, Yang Road let out a short scream. Lee A-gon had kicked the driver’s seat from behind again. Yang Road asked with a frightened expression,

“Why, why?”

“Look ahead.”

“Huh? I am looking.”

“Look ahead.”

Lee A-gon made a motion as if to kick again. Yang Road straightened his back and stared intently forward.

Hae-jun turned his head to look ahead. He felt a pang in his chest. That wasn’t directed at Yang Road, but at him.

It seemed he didn’t even want Hae-jun looking at him.

‘I need to talk to him quickly.’

Hae-jun clutched his aching chest. This was the natural consequence of him deceiving and hurting Lee A-gon. Even if Lee A-gon kicked him or punched him, he would endure it. If he kept begging, someday Lee A-gon would forgive him.

Because his Lee A-gon was such a kind and gentle child. Hae-jun believed in the image of the kind Lee A-gon he knew.

The interview took place at a studio for the magazine’s photoshoot. The petite female interviewer greeted Lee A-gon with a bit of effusiveness.

“Welcome, Actor. I’m Reporter Shin Min-hee. It’s an honor to be interviewing you. Wow—”

Reporter Shin clapped her hands and exclaimed.

“You’re even more handsome in person than on screen. You look taller, too.”

“Thank you.”

Lee A-gon exchanged polite greetings and sat down. The interview then officially began.

“As a rookie actor, you must have been very nervous being cast in a major production like .”

“Yes, I was very nervous. I couldn’t believe it until right before filming.”

“Have you seen your own performance?”

“No, I haven’t seen it yet.”

“You should definitely watch it. It’s very interesting. Especially the scene where you die.”

“Don’t spoil it. I told you I haven’t seen it yet.”

At that, Reporter Shin laughed. The atmosphere became friendly.

‘What? He’s talking fine.’

Watching from a distance, Hae-jun felt relieved. He had been worried if he could do the interview well, given how shy he was, but he was surprisingly at ease.

The interview proceeded smoothly. To ordinary questions like “What kind of roles would you like to try in the future?” and “What do you think your charm is?”, Lee A-gon gave equally ordinary answers.

“Returning to the topic of , how were you cast in it?”

“The same as everyone else. I auditioned.”

Lee A-gon replied with a straight face. Since he did audition, it wasn’t entirely a lie.

“Many actors must have applied, so why do you think you were chosen?”

“Perhaps because I was the best? Haha, just kidding.”

Lee A-gon raised both hands and laughed. Reporter Shin leaned her chair forward slightly.

“Do you think you were the best among the applicants?”

“No. I was just lucky.”

“Lucky? Was there anything about the casting process that felt like luck?”

Hae-jun frowned. The reporter was asking questions about the casting for to a degree that felt rude. She clearly knew something. It seemed the scoop about him being a parachute had leaked from somewhere.

“It’s a role that’s too big for an unknown rookie actor to suddenly take. I think our subscribers would be curious if it was really due to luck.”

Reporter Shin said with a charming smile.

“I am a rookie, but…”

Lee A-gon leaned towards Reporter Shin. Then, he lowered his voice as if sharing a secret. Reporter Shin leaned in, pretending to listen intently.

“I’m not unknown, you see.”

“A rookie who isn’t unknown. What do you mean?”

“I played the lead role in a broadcast drama when I was young. I played the child version of the protagonist in .”

“?”

Reporter Shin quickly sifted through the data in her mind and recalled the drama.

“Ah, that’s my mother’s favorite drama. You were in it?”

After giving a slight smile, Lee A-gon sat up straight.

“I remember watching it with you when you were young. So you were that shoe-shining boy.”

It would be strange for an unknown actor with no filmography to suddenly join a major drama, but it made sense that the child actor who originally played the lead role had returned as an adult in a distinctive supporting role for .

“Is this the first time you’re announcing this through our magazine?”

“Yes.”

Reporter Shin beamed. She seemed delighted to have landed a rather good scoop unexpectedly.

“Then, my next question. After , you took a long break. What led you to decide to return?”

“I was a bit ill. I wasn’t in a condition to act.”

Lee A-gon answered with a response that was partly true, but not entirely false. He had been ill, and thus not in a condition to act. Now that he had regained his health, he decided to act again. It was a calm answer, like saying he would work harder from now on.

Hae-jun uncrossed his arms. There was no need to worry. Lee A-gon was handling the interview quite well. His nervousness at the sensitive questions was rendered meaningless.

“Lastly, a personal question. Do you have any dating experience, actor?”

Reporter Shin asked as the interview drew to a close. To that question, Lee A-gon did not answer for the first time.

“Actor?”

Reporter Shin tilted her head slightly.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment… What was the question?”

“Dating. Have you ever dated?”

“Yes. I have.”

And Lee A-gon closed his mouth, offering only a quiet smile. Reporter Shin, who was naturally waiting for the conversation to continue, finally asked again.

“What kind of relationship was it? Please tell me in detail.”

“In detail… Well, for starters, I thought about marriage.”

“Oh my.”

Reporter Shin looked surprised. Curiosity flickered across her face.