Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 156

Lee Unha

 

There wasn’t just one production company willing to match the fee.

 

After excluding one offer that was impossible due to my schedule, the choices were narrowed down to two. Nevertheless, the fact that I even had options felt like a miracle.

 

‘Is this really happening?’

 

Was it actually real?

 

‘Am I really….’

 

Am I actually in demand in this industry?

 

‘Am I really an acting genius? Am I some kind of once-in-a-century prodigy?’

 

The faint self-doubt that had lingered in the back of my mind was being erased in real-time. At the very least, the production companies trying to sign me clearly recognized Lee Unha’s value.

 

Production companies weren’t idiots. They didn’t throw around their limited production budgets carelessly. They had to account for countless expenses besides actors’ salaries, so normally they’d do everything they could to negotiate appearance fees down. That was how things usually worked.

 

And yet….

 

‘Why are these guys competing to raise the price?’

 

The amount was set even higher than I had initially imagined, so it was only natural to be dumbfounded. I found myself reflexively rubbing my eyes to check if I was reading the numbers correctly.

 

“These figures… they’re real, right, Director Oh? <The World> didn’t pull some kind of trick, did they?”

 

“What could <The World> have possibly done? They were the ones who offered it themselves.”

 

“Just like that, without any complaints?”

 

“No, of course not. You think they wouldn’t have had anything to say?!”

 

“Ah, so there were complaints?”

 

“Ahem… ahem… Well, it’s not a big deal… and I don’t know if I should say this to an actor, but honestly, their initial reactions weren’t exactly positive…”

 

“…….”

 

“There was one company that openly showed their displeasure and told us to act like the offer never happened, and another that didn’t even bother replying… but man, since you appeared on Ten-Million Actor Diner yesterday, their attitudes have completely flipped! Now, some companies are saying they don’t care about the fee and just want to sign the contract first! Ahem! Ahem!”

 

“Aha….”

 

“In fact, there are many other scripts besides these! Since our Actor Lee asked me to pick, I’ve filtered them down to these three. Man… talk about perfect timing. For Diner to blow up at a time like this… it’s like the universe wants our actor to succeed….”

 

‘So that broadcast… really did become trending?’

 

I hadn’t checked the reactions properly yet, but hearing that the production companies’ attitudes had shifted because of that show made me feel good. I wanted to pull out my phone and see what was happening immediately, but I couldn’t exactly do that in the middle of a meeting with Director Oh.

 

Actually, it was hard to call this a serious meeting, but I didn’t want to show an insincere attitude in front of a staff member who was doing his best for me. Even if that person happened to be Director Oh.

 

I looked down at the three scripts before me. First, there was one….

 

‘Wait, this one doesn’t fit my schedule. Why did he bring it?’

 

Despite it already being disqualified, it sat proudly in the middle of the desk. Naturally, I voiced my confusion.

 

“By the way, Director Oh… that historical drama, the one called Moon or whatever… Didn’t we agree the schedule wouldn’t work?”

 

“Ah. That’s just the script I’m personally rooting for… They’re offering a high appearance fee, and they even said they’d consider adjusting the schedule… Personally, I think it’d suit you perfectly. Ahem…”

 

‘This ahjussi, seriously….’

 

“The schedule isn’t the problem. I can’t do historical dramas. I’m not familiar with them, there are too many difficult words, and I can’t immerse myself. The role isn’t the problem; the setting is.”

 

“Then what do you think would suit you?”

 

After subtly pushing that one script back toward Director Oh, I focused on the remaining two.

 

One was….

 

[Zombie]

 

‘A zombie flick… Do these still work these days?’

 

The script was exactly as the title suggested. I didn’t know if they were keeping that title or if it was just a working title, but it was an OTT blockbuster drama consisting of 12 episodes. It was a story about the struggles of survivors five years after a sudden zombie virus outbreak.

 

First of all, I liked the high production budget. It was a high-budget drama, and accordingly, the casting was flashy and the characters were diverse. Although I hadn’t read the script meticulously, I felt that every character—from teenagers to those in their 60s—felt alive.

 

The role I would play, Kim Jaeyoung, felt vivid too. A character who lost his entire family in the apocalypse and survived fiercely on his own for five years. Honestly, it was a fairly radical character for an idol to take on. You could say his humanity had been worn away over time.

 

He wasn’t some harmless coward who merely ran and hid; he was the type of character who would do anything to survive. Since he was in a grey zone where the line between good and evil was blurred, it was certainly a risky role.

 

‘Kim Jaeyoung actually has quite a few similarities with me.’

 

I felt the filming itself would be manageable.

 

Next, the remaining one was….

 

[Mist]

 

The character here was even more radical than the previous one. Which made sense. It was the story of a serial killer.

 

‘This one… might be a bit much.’

 

Unlike the previous character whose humanity slowly eroded, this one was completely broken from the very beginning. It was a drama where four lead actors, including myself, would work together, and it consisted of 8 episodes. It told the story of a detective, a private investigator, and a civilian teaming up against a psychopathic boy-killer who committed murders only when it was foggy….

 

‘It doesn’t really have anything that sets it apart. It’s not like these kinds of characters are rare these days.’

 

The only notable point was that the killer was a teenager. Other than that, it was a bit plain. Compared to the zombie one, it didn’t have many eye-catching elements. Which also meant its success would depend heavily on the director’s execution.

 

‘The budget is decent, they say the director is good… and the actors are good too… so this one… also looks okay.’

 

Since they both seemed like they’d yield similar results, I was torn.

 

“Personally, I… ahem… I think the zombie one is a bit more….”

 

“Director Oh.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I don’t have to choose right this second, do I?”

 

“Ah, right. Why? Artist Lee Unha… is something bothering you?”

 

“No, I think they’re both fine.”

 

“Then why? Haven’t you read the scripts already?”

 

“I have to balance this with group activities later. <Fantasia>’s full album will probably come out while this is airing… I have to consider the image it’ll project on the group. Thinking of our group’s image, the former seems a bit better, but….”

 

“Wow. Our Artist Lee Unha is thinking that far ahead now?”

 

‘Of course I have to. Don’t you? If the role is too dark, people won’t just have trouble adjusting—they’ll start wondering if this is who I really am.’

 

I’d been worrying about this for a while. For some reason, every production company that desperately wanted Lee Unha….

 

‘The atmospheres of the works are all quite dark, aren’t they?’

 

It felt like they all wanted to cast me as characters who had fallen into darkness. There wasn’t a single fresh-faced or innocent role to be found. It was as though they’d deliberately avoided giving me anything remotely bright or cheerful.

 

Considering Lee Unha’s public image was that of a Vitamin from the Idol Planet, the situation was even more incomprehensible. I had shown a somewhat dark side on Ten-Million Actor Diner, but that was only a tiny part. I never intended to limit my acting spectrum to villains.

 

‘Do I… do I look like a dark character? Do I look like I’m just forcing myself to act bright?’

 

Maybe some keen-eyed producers, directors, or actors were peeking behind Lee Unha’s mask. Maybe… because I had lived a life so closely intertwined with acting, they were vaguely sensing my true self?

 

I couldn’t guarantee that the possibility was zero, so I felt uneasy. Maybe there were others besides those people who viewed Lee Unha as a dark person as well.

 

‘Honestly, I’m not thrilled about either option….’

 

“…….”

 

‘If it comes down to it… the zombie one is probably the better choice, right? I’ve seen plenty of actual zombies. That’ll be a big help….’

 

It wasn’t something to brag about, but I had once helped with necromancy experiments after being transferred ownership. I was familiar not just with zombies, but with high-level undead like skeletons, death knights, and liches.

 

‘At least with the zombie one, there’s room for the character to change as the story progresses, unlike Mist. The latter is just a psychopathic serial killer, no questions asked… but then again, the latter has its own merits….’

 

I felt it would be better to take this to someone else rather than agonizing alone. It was somewhat impulsive, but I suddenly thought it would be great to share this dilemma with someone.

 

Naturally…

.

The person who came to mind was….

 

Kim Haejun.

 

‘That’s how it usually works. It’s better to share your worries than to struggle through them by yourself.’

 

Normally, I would have sought out Joo Wooyoung with mock tears for a consultation, but right now, helping Kim Haejun recover emotionally and giving him the strength to keep going was more important.

 

Come to think of it, this wasn’t really the time to leisurely debate which script was better anyway. <Fantasia> hadn’t even entered a hiatus yet. We were still actively promoting, and we had a fan meeting coming up soon. I needed to look after Kim Haejun, who still hadn’t moved past his previous mistake.

 

Maybe by reaching out to him first and talking while soothing each other’s wounds, it could be a huge source of strength for him.

 

“Well then, um… can I head back to the dorm now?”

 

“Huh? Yeah! Of course. Want me to do it? Do you want me to drop you off in front of the dorm? Artist Lee Unha?”

 

“No, no. It’s right across the street.”

 

“Well, then go ahead! Artist Lee Unha. You’re working hard reading scripts despite being busy! Huh?! Keep it up! Take <Fantasia> to the world!”

 

‘Seriously, enough already.’

 

After escaping the cafe as if fleeing, I pulled my hoodie over my head and headed toward the dorm. I stepped onto the yellow line of the crosswalk to get to the dorm right across the street.

 

And….

 

Just as I was about to move my feet.

 

‘What is this?’

 

Something felt wrong.

 

‘Huh?’

 

The source of that strange sense of unease was about ten meters ahead. I saw Kim Haejun walking from the opposite direction. I was about to raise my hand to greet him….

 

But because of that sense of incongruity, I lowered my hand and decided to walk past him as if I hadn’t noticed him.

 

‘What…?’

 

A mysterious crimson aura was swirling around Kim Haejun.

 

‘What… is that?’

 

It was ominous. It was my first time seeing it, but I instinctively knew it was something sinister and impure.

 

‘What… on earth… is that…?’

 

Kim Haejun’s chilling eyes—the ones I’d seen once before—were staring at me.

 

‘This bastard… what on earth… are you….’

 

I couldn’t even be sure if the person in front of me was really Kim Haejun.

 

“Unha.”

 

At that voice, the words escaped my lips before I even realized it.

 

“Who are you?”