Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 180

As always, he placed the paper box he brought on the living room table and smiled involuntarily. 

Seo-juns eyes sparkled as he looked at the paper box like he had received a gift.

How can he enjoy reading scripts every day?

Seo-juns love for scripts was amazing. 

Anh Da Ho opened his mouth.

This is what came in last week.

Thank you, Da Ho hyung. What do you want to drink? Juice? Coffee?

Anh Da Ho hesitated for a moment at Seo-juns question. 

It was a dilemma he faced every time he visited Seo-juns house. 

Seo-jun understood his hesitation.

Seo-juns house had a lot of drinks and snacks from various countries.

His aunt from America would send boxes of them, and when he had overseas shootings, his actor friends like Rachel Hill and Evan Block would also send him snacks and drinks from those countries.

Seo-jun would share the delicious snacks with his grandparents, Uncle Hee Sang, Uncle Chan, and his school friends. 

He would also take them to Cocoa Entertainment. 

When he had shootings, he would also distribute them to the actors and staff.

Thanks to that, the break rooms on each floor of Cocoa Entertainment were filled with snacks and drinks from all over the world.

The employees could go to the break room anytime they felt bored and choose their favorite snacks and drinks from the many options.

They smiled brightly.

But the singers who had to prepare for their comeback and the trainees who had to control their weight could only look at the break room with tears in their eyes.

Some people even had Cocoa Entertainments snacks as their first food they wanted to eat when their activities ended.

Seo-jun, who didnt know such facts, shivered at the sight of the snacks that kept coming even after he had dealt with them.

He told his aunt and friends that he couldnt eat them all, but they still sent them saying that he could give them to his friends. 

Seo-jun also tried to repay them by sending Korean snacks and drinks, but he couldnt stop the onslaught of gifts from his numerous acquaintances alone.

He smiled bitterly as he thought of the snacks that would come again.

Do you have coffee?

Just a second. I have something that a friend sent me from France.

From France? Is it Charlie?

Yes, it was re-released in France. I heard they cried a lot while watching it. They said it was a gift for Danjong and sent him snacks, drinks, and various things.

Soon, warm French coffee for Anh Da Ho and tomato juice for Seo-jun were placed on the living room table.

Seo-jun smiled as he took a sip of the bright red tomato juice. 

It was made with love by his parents this morning, with tomatoes prepared by Lee Min Jun and blended by Seo Eun Hye.

Anh Da Ho and Seo-jun sat in their usual seats to read the scripts while sipping their drinks.

Heres a list of variety shows. Tell me if theres anything you want to do.

Anh Da Ho handed Seo-jun a list of variety programs that was on top of the paper box.

The list had the names of the programs, the topics and directions that Seo-jun would be involved in if he appeared on them. 

There was also Running Man, along with many other shows from different networks.

The topics ranged from quizzes to cooking.

It would be fun to try them once, but,

Seo-jun scratched his cheek.

I dont really want to do them right now.

Okay. Then.

Anh Da Ho nodded at Seo-juns words. Seo-jun laughed at Anh Da Hos straightforward answer.

Next were thin synopses.

Unlike the casual way he skimmed through the variety show list, Seo-jun read the synopses with concentration. 

The only sound in the quiet living room was the rustling of papers as Seo-jun turned them.

This one is not good. This one too I dont like this one either.

Seo-jun read the scripts without saying a word. But even without speaking, the manager could tell what the actor was thinking. 

The gestures of Seo-juns hand turning the pages quickly, his twitching eyebrows, his pouting lips.

Doesnt he like any of them this time either.

Anh Da Ho didnt expect to find such a work overnight either.

It hasnt been long since he finished filming the movie

But even so, Anh Da Ho wondered if Seo-jun would like that work.

A thin synopsis that he had put at the very bottom of the paper box that contained lists, synopses, and scripts in order. 

Anh Da Ho hoped that Seo-jun would pick up that synopsis.

Seo-juns eyes widened at the familiar name.

This is Director Choi Dae Mans work. Is this his sixth one?

You remembered?

Of course. Hes Director Choi Dae Man.

He was the director of Seo-juns first commercial, and they also worked together on a movie. 

It would be strange if he forgot.

Besides, he always showed me new stories.

He was a good director, but business was business, and life was life.

He had turned down his offers before, and if he didnt like this one either, he would turn it down again. 

He was a cold-hearted actor who flipped through the pages of the synopsis without hesitation.

On the white paper, there were the names and images of the characters, their backgrounds, and the plot of the work.

Seo-juns face, which had been expressionless as he read, showed a reaction. 

Anh Da Ho, who had been quietly watching Seo-juns face, noticed it too.

Seo-juns eyes sparkled and his face came to life as he read the synopsis. 

His face brightened as if he had a halo around him.

Anh Da Ho thought. This is it!

I want to do this!

Anh Da Ho smiled brightly at the sight of the actor smiling brightly.

***

Director Choi Dae Mans house, living room.

Director Choi Dae Man was sitting in front of his computer. 

He was browsing through various websites without any thought when a notification popped up on the corner of his monitor that a new email had arrived.

Director Choi Dae Man flinched and jerked his body. But his face showed no expectation.

It must be spam.

He thought so, but he couldnt stop his hand from heading to his inbox. 

A faint hope and anticipation stirred in him.

[(Ad) Todays shopping! Wet wipes30.]

But it was an advertisement email as expected.

Director Choi Dae Man sighed as he looked back and forth between his inbox full of spam emails and his phone that had been silent all day.

Did I get rejected again?

He scratched his head and got up from his computer.

He sat down at the table in the living room. 

There were papers full of black ink and papers that were still clean around him.

What should I write next?

He had to write a new work since this one seemed to be wrong too. 

He liked to sketch out his initial ideas by hand, drawing diagrams and setting up relationships. 

He put a clean paper on the table and picked up a pen.

Ding-dong-ding-dong-

Then, he heard the sound of the door lock opening.

Bang! A man who opened the front door came in and sighed as he saw Director Choi Dae Man sitting on the floor leaning against the sofa in the living room. 

Since Director Choi Dae Man liked to sketch out his ideas by hand and write scripts on his computer, it seemed like he had been rejected again.

Hyung. Did you get rejected again?

It was Park Jae Min, the assistant director who had been with him since Evil Spirit. 

It had been eight years since they filmed Evil Spirit. Park Jae Min, who used to speak formally to him, had become close enough to speak casually with him. 

He even knew the password to his house.

Yeah.

Shouldnt you do a decent work by now? Youve been hanging on to that one because you filmed it with Seo-jun, but you havent done any filming since then.

It had been four years since he released his next work that was rejected by Seo-jun, when he was a rookie. 

Director Choi Dae Man had been producing new synopses almost once a year.

Assistant director Park Jae Min put a big bag on the kitchen table and clicked his tongue.

Your imagination is amazing. How do you come up with them so easily?

I have a notebook of ideas that I wrote down a long time ago. Its not too hard to write synopses, not scripts.

Still, youre not doing it half-heartedly.

Director Choi Dae Man gave a bitter smile at Park Jae Mins words.

Park Jae Min opened the big bag and took out the containers of side dishes one by one and put them in the refrigerator. 

Park Jae Mins parents ran a side dish shop, so he bought from them every time. 

He was a regular customer and knew them well, so he sometimes delivered them himself.

Well, you do what you want. Youre making good money as an advertising director, so who am I to say anything.

Why dont you go independent?

At Director Choi Dae Mans words, Park Jae Min said as he put the clean containers back in the bag.

I think youll work with Seo-jun again someday. Ill go independent after I get close to him. Maybe hell appear in my work later.

Park Jae Min was as optimistic as Director Choi Dae Man. 

Director Choi Dae Man chuckled.

Seo-jun has such a good eye for works He had three consecutive hits with The Rookie, Over the Rainbow, and The Rebel. He wont appear just because youre close to him.

I guess so.

Director Choi Dae Man and Park Jae Min knew well that it was not true, even though there were many rumors on the internet that it was all about connections.

He makes enough money following you around.

Director Choi Dae Mans name became known in the advertising industry after Seo-juns first commercial became a hit.

He had been making more name for himself in the advertising industry than in the film industry for the past four years, and Park Jae Min was also doing advertising work with him.

Just dont forget your main job. Your main job.

At Park Jae Mins faint words, Director Choi Dae Man fell into thought.

His main job.

The movie director who scratched his head opened his mouth.

Fine. Ill make a new synopsis Lets work on this one.

The first one youre going to cast is Seo-jun, right?

Director Choi Dae Man gave a bitter smile at Park Jae Mins matter-of-fact words.

For real. Ill film it even if he rejects me.

Okay. Okay.

Director Choi Dae Man picked up his pen again and focused on the paper. Park Jae Min, who was familiar with Director Choi Dae Mans house, sat down in front of the computer and browsed through various websites.

July.

The movie The Rebel, where Seo-jun showed his acting skills, was still hot. It had been a long time since it surpassed ten million viewers, and everyone was wondering how much more it would make.

Park Jae Min read the articles about Seo-jun and the netizens predictions for his next work and nodded his head. 

In the corner of his monitor, he saw a notification that popped up discreetly.

It was an email alert.

Hyung, look at this

Park Jae Min, who was scratching his cheek, clicked on the notification. 

He was looking at the notebook of ideas while Director Choi Dae Man was immersed in his new synopsis.

Well, it must be spam.

He looked at the email without much thought and stiffened.

Sender. [Cocoa Entertainment]

At those five letters, Park Jae Mins heart felt like it was going to jump out of his mouth. 

His eyes, which had been shaking, slowly rolled to the side.

He saw the words in the long email that stood out to him.

Director Choi Dae Man. Synopsis. 

I read it well. 

Actor Seo-jun. Appearance decision Decision?

Appearance decision!

He read the email almost like a recitation and opened his mouth with difficulty.

Hyung! Look at this!

Director Choi Dae Man, who had been focused, lifted his head with a bewildered look.

He saw Park Jae Mins face, which was flushed with excitement. 

He was smiling so wide that his mouth seemed to tear, and he raised his arms and shouted.

Wow! Wow!

Director Choi Dae Man narrowed his eyes.

That kid Did he drink?

Park Jae Min came to his senses and shouted at Director Choi Dae Man, who was looking at him with a cold gaze.

Its here! Its here!

Whats here?

Email!

Ring.

Then, Director Choi Dae Mans phone rang.

The two heads turned to the phone that was ringing loudly. Park Jae Mins flushed face and excited gestures, and the phone that rang for the first time today.

Something clicked in Director Choi Dae Mans heart, which also started to beat hard.

Finally,

He got a call from actor Seo-jun.