I Spent a Night with a Top Star Actress Chapter 35 - A dilemma.

The tangled threads were coming undone, one by one.

The Priest in Black and Seo Tae-jun, settled into place.

Twenty, having gotten on track earlier, kept charging forward without rest.

Thanks to all that, the pace of my life kept picking up speed.

If I looked away for even a moment, I’d lose track of where I even was.

But not every thread had come undone.

This Sunday.

I had a dinner appointment lined up with top star actress Lee Ha-eun.

There was no way this would end with just a meal, with a woman I’d spent a night with.

Whatever was going to happen, was going to happen.

I couldn’t predict what that would be, but…

One thing seemed clear.

Whatever Lee Ha-eun and I had right now would change because of this meal.

“I just don’t know if that change is going to be for the better or the worse.”

So I was worried, but not exactly afraid.

Things had changed a lot from back when I was clinging to Lee Ha-eun.

Except…

I couldn’t hide the strange anticipation that came with having dinner with a woman I’d spent a night with.

Burning Friday.

I came into work in the best condition I’d been in for a while and walked into the meeting room.

After sitting down, I opened the document file on Choi Go-eun that Seok-du hyung had handed me.

I crossed my arms and muttered.

“Well, I’ve got Choi Go-eun in hand as planned.”

The results of the meeting from a few days ago had come in.

The celebrities torn loose from the blown-up Team 1 had been reassigned across the departments.

And I, as planned, had gotten my hands on child actress Choi Go-eun, the one who’d go on to win Best New Actor at the Busan International Film Festival.

The problem was.

“Ugh… no matter how I look at it, she seems way too ordinary.”

Child actress Choi Go-eun, whom I’d given up a good pick to get my hands on, gave off far less of a special feeling than I’d expected.

‘Looks, filmography. On paper, Choi Go-eun’s just too ordinary.’

I found myself tilting my head.

“How did a kid like this win Best New Actor at the Busan International Film Festival?”

Maybe her acting was good?

But honestly speaking…

A child actor’s acting doesn’t really have depth or range.

‘It’s all pretty much the same, is what I mean.’

Honestly, how good could a kid’s acting really get?

Acting was like wine, its flavor deepening the longer it aged.

A child actor without enough experience under their belt just couldn’t be exceptional.

I scratched my head and muttered.

“Guess I should lower my expectations a bit.”

Maybe it was because the information the future message had handed me had been so strong.

Without realizing it, my expectations for this actress named Choi Go-eun had climbed too high.

‘If I lower my expectations and look again, maybe some other good point will show up.’

Having decided that, I waited for Choi Go-eun at ease.

A moment later, a knock sounded.

“… I got the message and came. Can I come in?”

I uncrossed my arms and said,

“Yes. Come in.”

The door opened and Choi Go-eun appeared.

In that moment, my eyes jolted.

‘… Wait, this is Choi Go-eun?’

Her hair was a wild mess.

The t-shirt she had on was baggy to the point of sagging off her frame.

She was only eighteen, but her skin was a total wreck, and dark circles sat heavy under her eyes.

If it weren’t for the plump baby fat I’d seen in her profile photo…

I never would’ve guessed this was Choi Go-eun, looking like this.

Meanwhile, Choi Go-eun greeted me in a curt voice.

“Hello.”

Belatedly composing my expression, I answered.

“Yes, good to meet you, Choi Go-eun-ssi.”

I held out my hand, offering a handshake.

Choi Go-eun stared blankly at my hand and answered.

“I came because you called me, but why did you call me?”

Naturally withdrawing my hand, I answered.

“I’m taking over as your manager now, Choi Go-eun-ssi, so I called you in to see your face at least once.”

Choi Go-eun let out a short laugh.

“My manager changed? I didn’t even know that.”

That laugh was closer to a sneer.

“But does it change anything, having a new manager? You’re just going to neglect me anyway, aren’t you?”

The corner of my mouth curled up.

Look at this.

This kid’s got some bite.

My expectations for Choi Go-eun started coming back to life, in a different sense.

“You’ve been neglected up until now, so why do you think I called you in, if not to start looking after you from here on?”

“From where I’m standing, that sounds ridiculous.”

“Is that right? Then do you want to leave?”

“!”

“I called you in to try to get along with you, not to fight.”

Choi Go-eun’s eyes narrowed, half-lidded.

It was a look like a wounded kitten with its claws out.

But I had no intention of going easy on her just because she was a kitten.

“If you don’t want to talk with me, open that door and walk out. I’m not going to stop you.”

Honestly, an actress like Choi Go-eun was one I could take or leave.

At my attitude, Choi Go-eun’s lips twitched, then she lowered her eyes.

Watching her quietly, I tossed her the churu I’d been keeping in reserve.

“Choi Go-eun-ssi, I know what happened.”

“!”

“You signed your contract a year ago, and the only work you got was a bit part in a web drama. Your last manager neglected you so badly you couldn’t even go to auditions properly, right?”

Choi Go-eun’s head snapped up.

“Yeah. That’s right. My old manager probably didn’t even know I existed.”

“It wasn’t me who did it, but I’ll apologize on his behalf.”

“…”

“But if you keep snapping at me, I can’t help you. And there’s no reason for me to put up with it and help you anyway.”

Choi Go-eun’s eyes wavered.

Seemed like the churu I’d just tossed her had tasted good.

“So decide for yourself. Whether you’ll talk with me, or open that door and leave.”

Having said my piece, I crossed my arms at ease.

A moment later, Choi Go-eun’s mouth opened.

“… Can I act?”

“Of course.”

“… If I get neglected again this time, I think I’ll really lose it.”

“I won’t do that. Don’t worry.”

At those words, Choi Go-eun’s guard eased a little.

“Sorry. For snapping at you.”

I let out a short laugh without meaning to.

She’s got some bite to her, but…

Looking at her like this, she’s really just a kid.

Well, at eighteen, she really was still a student.

I leaned forward and said,

“I’m going to ask you a few things. That okay?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of acting are you confident in?”

“I don’t really know.”

“Don’t snap at me.”

“… I practice all kinds of things on my own, but I don’t know because nobody’s ever watched and told me.”

I stroked my chin.

‘Short on acting experience too, is that it.’

Tsk.

Her personality and way of talking seemed distinctive enough, but…

At this rate, wasn’t everything else just too underwhelming?

Feeling my expectations for Choi Go-eun cool off a little again, I flipped through the script I’d brought along.

By coincidence or by fate, the script for The Priest in Black came into my hand.

Handing Choi Go-eun the script for The Priest in Black, I said,

“Want to try a light reading? It’s not an audition or anything, so don’t be nervous.”

Taking the script, Choi Go-eun asked.

“… I just read the first page?”

“Is the role’s name Seo Rin-bi?”

“Yeah. It says Seo Rin-bi.”

I nodded.

“Yes. Go ahead and read Seo Rin-bi’s lines. Put some feeling into it.”

Bowing her head, Choi Go-eun stared hard at the script.

I don’t know how much time passed like that.

Choi Go-eun’s low voice rang out through the meeting room.

“I was born with a rotten temper.”

My gaze was pulled straight into Choi Go-eun.

---

The reading ended.

Suddenly thirsty, I gulped down the cold water beside me.

Even so, the burning thirst in my throat wouldn’t go away.

Forcing my ragged breathing under control, I muttered.

‘… What is this kid?’

Goosebumps rose.

From watching Choi Go-eun act out Seo Rin-bi.

‘What is this, why is she acting this well?’

No…

Was this even a level you could just call good acting?

It was like Seo Rin-bi had possessed Choi Go-eun.

I’d seen all kinds of acting styles in this business, but this was the first time I’d seen method acting like this.

‘Of course, it wasn’t perfect.’

Her vocal delivery, the detail in her facial acting, even how she handled her gaze, all of it was awkward, amateurish.

But…

an immersive pull and an aura that grabbed the eye covered every one of those flaws completely.

In that moment, I was certain.

‘This is her. It’s really her.’

The rising star winning Best New Actor at the Busan International Film Festival.

The acting prodigy in front of me right now was the one, no doubt.

In that instant, my disappointment in Choi Go-eun started turning into anticipation.

“… Choi Go-eun-ssi.”

“Yes.”

“Did you teach yourself to act?”

Choi Go-eun nodded.

“Yeah. I taught myself.”

A disbelieving laugh burst out of me.

That performance just now was self-taught?

It was hard to believe, but it seemed to be true.

If she’d been neglected this whole time, she wouldn’t have had the chance to practice with any proper acting teacher, after all.

‘A real prodigy, then, is that it?’

Feeling goosebumps rise again, I asked.

“Your acting is really something. Do you… feel that way about it yourself?”

At my question, Choi Go-eun twisted a strand of her nearly wild hair, thinking it over.

I don’t know how much time passed like that.

The corner of Choi Go-eun’s mouth twisted.

“I don’t know. I don’t think I’m that good. But…”

Trailing off, a faint glimpse of madness showed in Choi Go-eun’s eyes.

“I’ve never once been impressed or surprised watching other actors act.”

“Why not?”

“Because it was boring.”

“!”

“How do I put it… the feeling of someone really acting? It’s not like a person playing a person, it just feels like watching a puppet show.”

The corner of Choi Go-eun’s mouth curved.

“Still, well. I do like actress Lee Ha-eun’s acting. It feels alive. Actress Lee Ha-eun’s acting.”

A smile that felt familiar, somehow.

A shiver rose up from the tips of my toes.

‘… She’s alike.’

An almost excessive confidence.

A personality with a screw loose somewhere.

Method acting bordering on insane.

Choi Go-eun… was startlingly similar to Lee Ha-eun’s child-actress days!

In that moment, the future text I’d forgotten about for a while came to mind.

-[World] A shocking upset! A Korean actress takes home Best Actress at the Academy Awards!

Ten years from now, an actress winning Best Actress at the Hollywood Academy Awards.

If that ridiculous thing ever became real, I’d assumed the one holding that award would be Lee Ha-eun.

‘Because Lee Ha-eun’s the best actress in Korea.’

But that thought was changing, right now.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

Another rival had appeared.

A young rising star who looked like watching Lee Ha-eun’s own child-actress days.

In the form of a child actress named Choi Go-eun.

---

A new hole had opened up in a puzzle that only had one piece left.

A new hole named Choi Go-eun.

But it was a hole that felt good.

‘What should I do with this?’

My mouth went bone dry while dopamine flooded through me.

After mulling it over, I decided to focus on Choi Go-eun for now.

“Choi Go-eun-ssi.”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to start looking after you from here on, Choi Go-eun-ssi. Can you follow what I tell you?”

Choi Go-eun stared blankly at me.

“What happens if I don’t?”

“I’ll have to go back to neglecting you.”

“… I’ll listen well.”

At that obedient answer, I moved on to the next step.

“These are coupons for skin cleansing and a hair salon, from places sponsoring Baekhak.”

Choi Go-eun tilted her head.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“Of course I have to. You’re going to be an actress, and you’re walking around looking like a beggar.”

“!”

“It’s a one-month coupon, so get yourself properly taken care of. Understand what I’m saying?”

Blinking as if startled, Choi Go-eun slowly nodded.

“…Yes.”

“Good. That’s it for today. See you next time.”

Choi Go-eun, reading my expression, got up from her seat.

“Goodbye.”

Choi Go-eun, hurrying off with quick little steps out of the meeting room.

Watching her go, I let out a belated sigh.

“… This is how this turns out?”

Right.

I’d already thought it was strange, that article about the Academy Best Actress award coming in.

Because every future text that had come my way so far had only shown me immediate possibilities.

‘But… Choi Go-eun was that possibility.’

What would Choi Go-eun be like, ten years from now?

If that acting talent got its looks managed properly starting now…

she’d become a top actress, no question.

‘It’d be stranger if she didn’t.’

I couldn’t even guess how high she’d climb.

With acting like that…

she might genuinely reach the summit that was the Hollywood Academy Awards.

‘But that’s ten years from now.’

I didn’t even know what tomorrow held, so thinking about ten years out was getting way ahead of myself.

So I thought about the present instead, and…

that was its own problem.

“If it comes to this…”

Would it be crazy to just close my eyes and recommend Choi Go-eun for the role of Seo Rin-bi anyway?

It sounded ridiculous, but the picture it painted was plausible.

According to Director Park Jun-seo, the role of Seo Rin-bi had been modeled on Lee Ha-eun from the start.

And in the short time I’d spent with her, Choi Go-eun’s personality and acting talent were a dead ringer for Lee Ha-eun’s own child-actress days.

‘Which means putting Choi Go-eun, who resembles Lee Ha-eun, into the role of Seo Rin-bi wouldn’t be strange at all.’

A disbelieving laugh burst out of me.

“Wow… what do I do with this?”

It was a happy dilemma…

which was exactly why it was such a complicated problem.

Seriously, what do I do about this?

Just then, my phone rang.

-[Team 5 Jeon Hyeong-woo: Chief! Actress Lee Ha-eun’s asking where we’re eating this week?]

“… The timing on this is something else.”

Letting out a heavy sigh, I tipped my head back and muttered.

“What does Lee Ha-eun even like…”

This was its own kind of dilemma too.

Stroking my chin, digging through my memory, my eyes went wide.

“Gukbap?”

Surprisingly, Korea’s best top star actress liked gukbap.

---

Road manager Jeon Hyeong-woo, hands on the wheel, glanced over.

A woman like a single framed masterpiece was gazing out the window with a languid expression.

Called a top star by the public.

Or the nation’s own actress, Lee Ha-eun.

‘God, what is with that vibe of hers?’

It had been about two months since he’d become actress Lee Ha-eun’s dedicated road manager.

You’d think he’d be used to those looks by now…

but his heart still pounded every time he laid eyes on Lee Ha-eun’s face.

‘But wait, Lee Ha-eun-ssi… she’s so different from the rumors.’

The horror stories about Lee Ha-eun going around Baekhak Entertainment!

Assaulting managers, screaming abuse at them, swapping them out just because she felt like it…

A woman with an unpredictable personality and behavior to match the title of crazy bitch, that was the Lee Ha-eun road manager Jeon Hyeong-woo knew.

But the Lee Ha-eun he’d actually experienced firsthand was quieter than he’d expected.

Or maybe it was more like she just had no interest in him?

Aside from the occasional question about Kwon Chan, Lee Ha-eun was, surprisingly, an easy celebrity to take care of.

‘… Is she just holding her temper in check? Or do I actually have a talent for managing actors?’

That was when road manager Jeon Hyeong-woo’s head tilted.

Lee Ha-eun broke the silence and asked.

“Jeon Hyeong-woo-ssi.”

“Yes?”

“What do you think of a guy who suggests gukbap on a date?”

“?”

Jeon Hyeong-woo blinked.

“… A guy who suggests gukbap on a date?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh… isn’t that the worst?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Who does that these days? At the very least he should take you to a pasta place.”

The corner of Lee Ha-eun’s mouth curled up.

“Why, I like gukbap, though?”

“… Even if you like it, isn’t it a bit much to eat it on a date?”

“Is that so?”

“I’d say so, yeah?”

Falling silent, Lee Ha-eun looked back out the window.

Road manager Jeon Hyeong-woo’s expression, hands still on the wheel, turned sour.

‘Why’s she talking to me first, of all things?’

Had they finally gotten a little closer?

Falling for that illusion, road manager Jeon Hyeong-woo spoke up first this time, to keep the conversation going a little longer.

“So… what should we do today?”

“About what?”

“Should I wait until Chief Kwon’s appointment ends?”

The corner of Lee Ha-eun’s mouth curled up.

“No, don’t wait.”

That curl at the corner of her mouth soon deepened into a rich curve.

“I have a feeling I’ll be with Chief Kwon for a while, so just head home right after.”