I Will Live As An Actor

Chapter 102

Melody.

His voice was soft and smooth, like savoring a fluffy castella cake. 

There was no objection to his choice of song for the celebration performance. 

He liked trot songs, but they were not suitable for this occasion. 

So he picked one of his favorite ballads from his past life, a sentimental song by Park Woo-kyung.

“Wow, did Young-guk always sing that well?”

Director Shin Seong-hyun widened his eyes and stared at the stage. 

He had thought Young-guk would be a good singer, since he had a nice voice when filming movies. But this was beyond his expectations. 

Young-guk was alone on the stage, since it was a solo performance.

But he dominated the spacious stage with his presence. 

And his singing was even more impressive. His voice was sweet as honey, and his lyrics were poetic.

‘Wow.’

Actress Seo Min-hye couldn’t close her mouth. 

She was in the MC seat, the closest to the stage. 

She could see Young-guk better than anyone else. 

She was an actress, but she still had stage fright. 

She wondered if Young-guk felt any nervousness, but she couldn’t see any sign of it. 

He even took a step forward to the audience, following the lyrics.

‘Did he dream of being a singer?’

She had such a thought. He looked perfect in his tuxedo, matching his romantic song. 

His tall height, his broad shoulders, and his sweet voice made her feel like she had met a prince from a dream.

“That’s it!”

The head of production, Bae Jin-seong, clenched his fist. 

He had been doubtful when he asked Young-guk to perform for the celebration. But he had no other option, except for Young-guk.

He had hoped that the performance would go smoothly, but he didn’t expect such a hit. 

He was sure that the viewers beyond the screen would not be able to take their eyes off Young-guk. Just like him.

‘Wow, he’s my boy.’

Actor Ahn Jung-hyun rubbed his cheek. 

He had known that Young-guk was a good singer. But he always sang trot songs, so he didn’t expect much this time. But Young-guk never disappointed him.

Look at him, the people in the seats were dazzled by him. 

Even he, who knew Young-guk’s singing skills, was shocked. 

To the eyes of the people, he looked like a goose that laid golden eggs. As proof.

-Thank you, I love you.

The last lyrics were sung by Young-guk, and the camera alternated between him and the actresses in the seats. 

He sang in a gentle tone, as usual, but his voice was indescribable. His eyes were full of emotion, enough to shake the hearts of women.

The actresses who were caught by the live camera looked the same. 

Their faces were flushed, despite the makeup. 

They looked at Young-guk on the stage with longing.

***

The chairman of the merchants’ association was dancing with his nose flared, following Young-guk’s song on the TV. 

The others were the same. 

They didn’t expect Young-guk’s performance. 

The banquet hall turned into a ballroom, as everyone enjoyed the sweet voice.

“Wow! His singing is amazing!”

“Right? He was good when he was young, but now he’s almost a singer. He’s almost better than Na Hoon-a.”

“Wait a minute, don’t compare him to Na Hoon-a. Let me tell you, he’s a bit below Na Hoon-a, but above Nam Jin.”

They started to debate whether Young-guk’s singing was better or worse than Na Hoon-a. But they all agreed that he was better than Nam Jin. 

Maybe it was because they were old men from the Gyeongsang region. 

The good thing was that the atmosphere of the merchants’ association calmed down after Young-guk’s performance ended. 

That was when.

“Mom, I made up my mind!”

Yang’s daughter, Myung-ja, clenched her fist. 

Yang looked at her with a curious look.

“What did you decide, making such a serious face?”

“I’m going to marry Young-guk oppa when I grow up!”

“Talk after you lose some weight, you thorn in my side!”

Myung-ja’s face falls at Mrs. Yang’s scolding. But she doesn’t stop picking up pork slices with her chopsticks. Then, the merchant association president, wearing a red marine hat, boasts his scruffy beard and adds.

“Myung-ja’s mom is the only one who has the golden orchid, so who knows, maybe Myung-ja can marry Young-guk.”

“Right, old man?”

“Yeah, yeah, there’s this guy named Kim Young-guk among my friend’s sons who lives in Geoje. He’s a real gem. I’ll introduce you to him sometime. Talk to me after you graduate from school.”

“Oh, really, sir!”

The laughter doesn’t leave the merchant association building. In the warm atmosphere, everyone is focused on the TV screen. 

The British stage is over and the main stage of the Blue Dragon Film Awards is about to begin. 

As time goes by, the Priest Confession team wins music, screenplay, cinematography, and director awards one after another, and the mood is soaring.

They’ve already surpassed three crowns, so everyone forgets to drink their soju glasses and concentrates on the award stage. 

At that moment, someone among the Namhang merchants throws a topic.

“Look at that, isn’t Young-guk going to win the best actor award?”

***

Best Actor Award.

In the past, the Korean film festival was called the holy land of movie actors. 

Unlike the acting awards ceremony hosted by the terrestrial broadcasters, it was based on the most objective evaluation results. 

In that sense, every movie actor dreamed of the best actor award.

-The Priest Confession, Kim Hyung-seop as Yago!

When Kim Hyung-seop, who played Yago, is named for the best supporting actor award, the Priest Confession team stands up from their seats and congratulates him. 

Kim Hyung-seop, who was always polite, had a stunned look on his face. 

He didn’t expect to be chosen. 

And he gets up from his seat and looks at Young-guk with an apologetic gaze.

“Young-guk…”

“No, why are you like that? You got a good award. Hurry up and go up to the stage. The director of photography is waving at you to come up quickly. And you prepared your acceptance speech in advance, right?”

“I did, but…”

The reason why Kim Hyung-seop was sorry was simple. 

There was an unwritten rule that had been going on since the past in the film festival. 

They don’t put the same work on the best supporting actor and the best actor awards.

Since Kim Hyung-seop of The Priest Confession was named for the best supporting actor award, the best actor award was likely to go to another actor of another work. 

Shin Sung-hyun, the director, asks quietly as he watches Kim Hyung-seop’s back going up to the stage.

“Young-guk, aren’t you sorry? I honestly thought you would be named for the best actor award this time. I’m not saying it’s a pity that Kim senior won the best supporting actor award. Oh, I don’t know what to say.”

“Why are you like that, director Shin? It’s a good thing if anyone gets it. The Priest Confession team has already won so many awards today, I can’t even count them. You also won the director’s award, so I can look forward to the after-party, right?”

“Yeah, look forward to it! I’ll buy you whatever you want to eat today!”

Director Shin says so, but he looks full of regret.

But what about Young-guk?

‘I have no luck with awards, as always.’

Young-guk was a supporting actor who devoted his acting life to his past life. But he had no connection with the film festival, and he had never won the best supporting actor award. 

No wonder, he was considered one of the most unlucky actors in his past life.

‘Did I prepare the acceptance speech for nothing?’

Young-guk rubs his nose with his hand, feeling awkward. 

He thought this work might have a chance. So he spent the last few days tossing and turning in bed, preparing his acceptance speech. 

He was thinking of his mother who would be watching him in Namhang, and how he could make a cool acceptance speech, as much as he was engrossed in reading the script.

‘I’m envious.’

He smiles as he watches Kim Hyung-seop’s back going up to the stage. He had already missed the acting award at the SBC Awards. 

Not to mention, The Priest Confession was a rated-R movie that drew the most viewers in Korea. It would be a lie if he wasn’t sorry. Then someone says.

“Kim sunbae-nim, why are you crying?”

Actor Kim Hyung-seop was shedding tears as he gave his acceptance speech. 

He was one of the most respected supporting actors in Korea. But he had never been close to winning an award at the film festival. 

This was his first time receiving the Best Supporting Actor award, and he couldn’t stop his tears.

‘He can’t even finish his speech.’

He must have been overwhelmed by his emotions, as he was stuttering and struggling to speak. 

Young-guk understood his feelings. He had worked hard all his life to stand on that stage. 

The stage where all the people in Chungmuro recognized him. 

The stage where he could thank his fellow actors and the public. He must have felt something indescribable.

‘Kim sunbae-nim, don’t cry!’

At that moment, Young-guk stood up from his seat and clapped his hands. Then, the others followed suit and rose from their seats to applaud. 

Kim Hyung-seop finally wiped his tears and cleared his throat.

-I don’t know if I deserve to stand here and receive this award. If I have to think of the person I’m most grateful to right now, I’m sorry to Director Shin Seong-hyun, but it’s the actor who was sitting next to me, Jang Young-guk. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have gotten this award. Young-guk, I’m sorry and thank you so much.

The camera showed Young-guk, who was clapping his hands. He smiled brightly in response. 

The spotlight shone on both Young-guk and Kim Hyung-seop, as the camera alternated between them.

‘I’ll get it next time.’

Young-guk was disappointed that he didn’t win the Best Actor award, but he thought that Kim Hyung-seop deserved the Best Supporting Actor award. 

He had given a brilliant performance in The Priest’s Confession. If Kim Hyung-seop hadn’t played the role of Jacob, The Priest’s Confession wouldn’t have been completed. 

Soon, Kim Hyung-seop came down from the stage. He still looked sorry to Young-guk, even as he held the trophy.

“Kim sunbae-nim, you have to change your nickname now. You were always so serious and dignified on the set, like a great actor. I can’t get used to seeing you like this.”

Young-guk joked with Kim Hyung-seop, trying to lighten the mood. 

The team of The Priest’s Confession congratulated Kim Hyung-seop, but they also avoided eye contact with Young-guk, as if they were hiding their complex feelings. Then,

-We will introduce the films that are nominated for the Best Actor award.

It was time to introduce the films that were nominated for the Best Actor award. 

Among them, The Priest’s Confession was also included. Young-guk waved his hand to the camera that was pointing at him. 

He didn’t forget to smile, as if he was greeting his fans. But he didn’t have any expectations.

After all, he didn’t think that the unwritten rule that had been followed for a long time would be broken for him. 

The previous year’s winner came up to announce the result. And then, an unexpected outcome followed.

-The Best Actor award, the glorious honor, goes to the actor of The Priest’s Confession, Jang Young-guk!