Embracing the Entertainer's Oath

Suhyeon recalled the memory of meeting his fan club members in the past.

"Suhyeon oppa, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠love you!"

"Kyaaak! Oppa, you're so cool!"

"So cool. What do I do? Oppa, I love you!"

When they see me, screaming and jumping around is their natural reaction... but today's atmosphere is completely different from usual. It's like they've come to a temple. Not a celebrity fan club, but more like members of a temple stay club.

As Suhyeon approached the spot where about a dozen fan club members were gathered, murmurs finally began to ripple through the group.

Spotting a familiar face among them, Suhyeon quickly searched his mental database.

That's the fan club president. Her name's Kang Sung-hee, 28 years old... At least she's pretty enough to stick in my memory.

Suhyeon approached the fan club president with a warm smile plastered on his face.

"Hello, President Kang. Long time no see."

"Oh my goodness! Suhyeon, thank you. For even pretending to know me like this... But yeah, 'President Kang' is fine. Just call me Sung-hee casually."

This woman's one of a kind. Asking a 28-year-old like her to be called 'Sung-hee-ya'...

"I can't just speak casually ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to you. Sung-hee-ssi, everyone seems really down today. Is something wrong?"

"Ah, after you released Moon and My Story, we got a ton of new members joining the fan club. So for today's tribute event, we mostly recruited the newbies... I guess they're all nervous since it's their first time at something like this."

"Ah, I see."

Suddenly, the fan club members staring at Suhyeon began to sob. Startled, Suhyeon looked over, only to see the sniffles escalate into full-on wailing.

What the hell? A bunch of young women crying all at once—it's chaos.

"Hey, why is everyone crying like this? Calm down. This is supposed to be a good time."

After a few minutes of nonstop tears, the members started to compose themselves. Once the mood had settled, Suhyeon spoke up.

"Since the drama shoot is in the studio, not outdoors, I can't take you all inside with me. We'll have to part here... So as thanks for coming, I'll sign something for everyone."

A moment later, while signing for a fan who looked like a high school girl, Suhyeon chatted with her.

"You look like a student. What's your name?"

"Yes. Kim Soo-young, third year at Seonhwa Girls' High."

"Pretty name. But if you're a senior, aren't your college entrance exams coming up soon?"

"Normally, I'd be at the study hall today cramming... but I really wanted to meet you, Oppa, and say thank you in person."

"Thank me?"

"Yeah. I'd been using studying as an excuse to slack off on chores, snapping at Dad all the time... Our relationship was pretty strained. But now, thanks to your song, we're getting along great. Thank you so much."

"Really? That's great. But if Soo-young skips the study hall today to come here, your dad might hate me."

"No way! I told Dad. When I said I was coming to meet you, he happily gave me allowance and told me to go. He's a fan of yours too."

"I see. Thanks. Soo-young, do you have any dreams or goals?"

"Me? I want to get into S University's business school, make a ton of money, and let Dad live easy. Mom passed away early, so Dad raised me alone... Sniff. He works so hard, barely sleeping... because of me... sob sob."

Watching the girl's eyes well up again as emotion overwhelmed her, Suhyeon felt his own chest tighten. He spoke carefully.

"Then how about I sign something for your dad to cheer him on? Think he'd like that?"

"Of course! He'd love it. He said he cried a lot listening to your song too."

"What's your dad's name?"

"Kim Myeong-seok. Use the 'bright' myeong and 'stone' seok."

Suhyeon signed the paper and swiftly penned a message: for Kim Soo-young, the merit of firefly light and snow; for Mr. Kim Myeong-seok, the grace of nurturing.

After patting the beaming, jumping Kim Soo-young on the shoulder—thanking him profusely for the gift her dad would love—Suhyeon moved to the next girl.

"Student? Name?"

"I graduated high school last year. Jo Seo-hyun. Oppa, meeting you like this feels like a dream—I'm so happy."

"Yeah, I'm happy too. What's your dream, Seo-hyun?"

Jo Seo-hyun hesitated before answering.

"...Singer."

"Oh yeah? No auditions then? Our company's not bad..."

"I auditioned everywhere, including YK, but got rejected every time."

"That's too bad. Why?"

"...They said... my face is nothing special, no talent..."

"Hmm."

"So I thought, I'll never be a singer, my dream, and gave up... But because of you... your song... I started dreaming again. Sob. I won't give up—I'll try once more. Sob sob. Thank you, Oppa, from the bottom of my heart."

Suhyeon's chest grew heavy at her earnest words, barely holding back hot tears as he replied.

"Looks don't matter for becoming a singer. And whether you have talent? Only God knows. I'll cheer your dream to the end."

He signed and wrote even a nag horse, with ten drives with heartfelt resolve, handing it over.

After signing for all the fans, Suhyeon walked toward the studio, his mind a whirlwind.

If God exists... why reincarnate me? Early death? Plenty of young talents died in history—why me?

Unable to sort his tangled thoughts, he entered the studio. Seong Kang-ho spotted him and waved.

"Suhyeon-ah!"

"Hyung-nim, hello."

"Yeah, yeah. Good to see you. Whoa, that beard's coming along nicely now."

"The PD said next week's beard-shaving scene, so I've been growing it diligently."

Seong Kang-ho slung an arm around Suhyeon's shoulders and whispered low.

"Suhyeon-ah, you and me—we're like brothers, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"PDs and writers? Once the drama ends, who knows if we'll see 'em again. But you and me? Different. We're actors, close bros—we'll meet often. Right?"

"Spot on, hyung-nim. I respect you, got a lot to learn, so I'll visit plenty."

"Good. Come anytime. If things get awkward ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠later, think of me. Got it?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Heh. You'll see. Remember me then and shove it my way. I trust you."

Suhyeon stared at Seong Kang-ho patting his shoulder, utterly baffled.

Out of nowhere—what's he on about? This guy's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so quirky.

As they talked, Suhyeon spotted PD Kang Min-cheol and writer Jeong Soo-hee approaching with stiff expressions.

Bowing as they neared, Suhyeon greeted them.

"Hello, PD Kang, Writer Jeong. Writer-nim, you're on set today too? Nice to see you. Thanks for giving us this reshoots despite your busy schedules."

They barely acknowledged him before blurting out in unison.

"Suhyeon-ssi, as the drama's production PD, I should take custody of the artwork, right?"

"Suhyeon-ssi, remember I revised the script for these reshoots."

Flummoxed by their simultaneous claims, Suhyeon stood blankly until Seong Kang-ho whispered.

"Later in reshoots, you'll draw that picture, right? They've been bickering forever over who gets it post-shoot. Like kids... Tsk tsk. Pathetic. Remember what I said—shove it my way if you're stuck. My wife's asking if I can snag it, so I swore I could. Now I'm in a bind. Help your bro."

Finally getting it, Suhyeon sighed deeply.

"Haa... Grown adults acting like this. Fine, I'll draw one for each of you three. But nothing at the Masterpiece Authentication level—that takes too long. Soon, I'll do proper ones for each, but today's goes to the writer-nim. Settled?"

Leaving the clapping, delighted writer, the disappointed PD, and Seong Kang-ho behind, Suhyeon headed to makeup.

Waiting his turn, he skimmed the script.

Simple lines. One read and I'll memorize it.

After one glance, he set it aside, lost in thought again.

Why did God send me here? Does God even exist? What does He expect from me?

His turn came; eyes closed for makeup, he organized his mind.

Why an entertainer, of all jobs? Endless professions out there. Means He didn't revive me to kill with martial arts or schemes...

He recalled the fans.

They said my song moved them to tears, reconciled with dads, reignited dreams. Song's not alone—acting does the same. Sigh. Giving emotion, courage, hope to many...

In that moment, a tiny sprout budded in Suhyeon's heart.

A world praising killers and massacres... to this one. Maybe God wants nothing grand. Just live happily, like I desperately wished. But... too wasteful? Not immortal—what can I do before I die?

"Suhyeon-ssi, makeup's done."

"Thanks. Good work."

Standing, he glanced in the mirror at his handsome face, muttering low.

"Entertainer... The job only a chosen few can do, touching countless hearts, they say. Maybe I can give it my all?"

That instant, the sprout surged, growing wildly.

Before shooting, Suhyeon knelt. Before him, pristine hanji paper; beside, brush and inkstone. He regulated his breath.

Inhaling, gathering his mind; exhaling, scattering distractions.

As his breathing deepened, silence enveloped all.

In the hush, the cinematographer—without PD cue—started rolling. The PD nodded faintly, whispering so as not to break focus.

- Ready~ cue.

Suhyeon's eyes snapped open at the sign. All doubts forged into unbreakable conviction—fierce, blazing.

I am an entertainer. Thus, I'll strive endlessly to move people lifelong, dying without regret as one. This is my soul's oath to myself.

With resolute eyes, he grasped the brush. In his heart, the tree grew into an iron pillar, unyielding to any storm.

As Suhyeon finished, Yoo Sil-jang sighed.

[Sigh. Suhyeon-ah, must you? Could cause misunderstandings...]

"That's why I'm asking you specially."

Gazing at the evening scenery rushing by, Suhyeon stated firmly.

"I have zero intention of getting sued for sexual harassment."