Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Actor Jung Ji-seok (2)
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I quietly hurried off to monitor the footage. The director munched on his kimbap, smiling contentedly.
“Aigoo, our Dowon. You’re good at acting too.”
He’d gone from calling me Dowon-kun to Dowon-ie.
‘They say if someone your senior calls you “our” anyone, the game’s over. Is that really true?’
I flashed a big smile.
“Thank you.”
“From your diction to your breathing—it’s the real deal. Our Dowon.”
The director, eating his kimbap, seemed genuinely pleased. Jung Ji-seok shot me a glare from beside me.
‘Honestly, there’s nothing to nitpick, right?’
So, Jung Ji-seok stayed silent.
“Ji-seok, look. I told you he’s good.”
“Well...”
“Dowon’s our lucky charm. Look around honestly. Women flock because of him.”
Even I have that effect? News to me.
“Open your heart a bit. You’re the only one who needs to, but you won’t.”
Jung Ji-seok whipped his head away. The director let out a deep sigh and patted my shoulder.
“Dowon, bear with it even if it’s tough. Ji-seok’s stubborn.”
“Well, sincerity moves heaven.”
I smiled brightly.
“Keep at it, and someday I’ll move even a senior like you who’s like the sky itself.”
Though who knows when that’ll be.
“Arrogant punk.”
The director whispered while holding Jung Ji-seok back.
“Think of him like a son. Why hate such a handsome, cute kid?”
“My son’s better looking than him.”
Wow. I blinked in surprise.
“Really? Truly better looking than me? That’s pretty rare.”
Jung Ji-seok started to say something but bit his lip hard. Then he turned and walked off, muttering under his breath.
“Not quite, huh?”
Pfft—
I covered my mouth and laughed. This guy’s actually cute.
The director watched us with a sly smile.
“I was worried, but it’s good. You two are getting along.”
Where?
‘Does he have cataracts?’
Or maybe he’s hard of hearing.
He caught my skeptical look and burst out laughing again. I couldn’t understand it.
‘Well, whatever...’
I narrowed my eyes at Jung Ji-seok. As an actor, he took care of himself—nice broad shoulders.
‘He’s kinda fun.’
Filming with this petty, laughable middle-aged actor was pretty enjoyable.
That’s when it happened. Jung Ji-seok’s shoulders suddenly slumped.
‘What?’
I rushed over immediately.
“Jung Ji-seok-ssi?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
“Are you hurting? Chest pain maybe?”
“I said it’s nothing!”
He yelled out of nowhere, but I checked his complexion. The pain seemed minor; his expression eased right away.
‘But it’s chest pain.’
Upper chest would be lucky, but worst case...
No time to think. I yelled at his manager.
“Call 119!”
“What nonsense!”
“You need 119.”
“It’s just indigestion! Acute indigestion!”
“You didn’t even eat my kimbap—what’d you eat to get indigestion? Ah, seriously, old folks don’t listen.”
His brows furrowed again, probably another wave of pain. I couldn’t stand by anymore.
“Manager Jung Ji-seok! Get him to the hospital now!”
“Hey, manager! If you listen to him, you’re fired!”
The director approached. I felt the crowd murmuring. I bit my lip hard.
“Fine.”
It wasn’t my business anyway. Walking away wouldn’t be on me.
‘Damn. But this isn’t right.’
I scooped Jung Ji-seok up right then. The middle-aged actor was heavy, but my cheat-enhanced waist held firm effortlessly.
“Hey, what the hell!”
“You talk too much! Manager Heo Yongdam, to my car! Director, I’ll take him to the ER!”
“Huh? Okay!”
I ran with Jung Ji-seok in my arms. I’d expected more resistance. But the stubborn guy who wouldn’t listen was furrowing his brows in pain.
‘Damn. Knew it.’
Honestly, it could’ve just been stomach cramps. But the blood of that shaman from Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do told me otherwise. Something was really wrong.
The manager whose hip I’d treated with cheat today got it immediately.
“Hey, hop in! Dowon, take good care of Actor Jung!”
The car took off right away.
“Straight to the university hospital. Lucky the set’s in Gyeonggi-do.”
“Yeah, got it. Third ring road straight there.”
“It’s nothing, I said!”
“It might not be. If it really is nothing, I’ll do whatever Jung Ji-seok-ssi says.”
“Really? Then can I drop out of this movie?”
Pain hit his chest again; he furrowed his brows.
‘Pain keeps coming—got energy for threats?’
Don’t wanna age like that. Damn.
“Yeah. But if not, you do whatever I say? Okay?”
My manager’s driving was top-notch. I grabbed my smartphone just in case.
‘Of all times, only one cheat left...’
One for the manager’s hip, one for members’ fatigue recovery—only one chance left.
‘And it might not even work...’
Still, I switched to cheat mode.
[Cheat Mode 2/3]
[Recover Actor Jung Ji-seok’s heart condition.]
[……]
[Impossible with current body state.]
Ah, damn.
‘If cheat can’t fix it, it’s serious.’
What’d this guy do to his heart?
Jung Ji-seok couldn’t even straighten his back.
“Manager-ssi, how far?”
“Almost there! There it is!”
Car stopped—I moved fast, getting out.
“Dowon, I’ll call someone. ER will handle it.”
“No. I know from experience. Faster if I carry him in.”
No need to watch. I lifted the pained, hunched Jung Ji-seok and dashed inside.
“Heart!”
I shouted loud as we entered; medical staff rushed a bed over. I laid him on it. The ER doctor checked his face, then unbuttoned his top and hooked a machine to his finger.
No need to watch. The doctor yelled immediately.
“Prep PTCA!”
Damn. As expected.
I panted hard. A nurse yelled at me.
“Are you family? Help undress the patient.”
Strictly speaking, no. Honestly, just a fellow actor.
But I stripped Jung Ji-seok’s top off right away. Only then did I realize—we were in movie costumes.
Hanbok, specifically.
The doctor smeared something on his thigh and inserted whatever. The nurse pulled me back.
“Family, please step out.”
I retreated hesitantly. My mind was blank.
“It’s not going in!”
“Try again!”
Not even a proper room for the thigh catheter. Still in movie costume, I pulled out my smartphone again.
Strangely, my head felt calm.
‘Heart recovery failed with cheat.’
So what would work?
I watched the team fighting to save Jung Ji-seok.
[Cheat Mode 2/3]
[Instantly enlarge Actor Jung Ji-seok’s cardiovascular vessels.]
[……]
[Body changing.]
[Side effect: Legs weaken for 10 minutes starting 10 seconds from now.]
[Cheat Mode 3/3]
I slowly slid down the ER wall.
In the chaos, my manager grabbed my shoulder.
“Dowon, you okay?”
“A bit.”
Then a voice rang out.
“Got it! It’s in! There!”
It worked.
A small laugh escaped. He’s alive. That old man.
“Dowon?”
“Sorry. Whew...”
I rubbed my dry face. Noisy. Once I noticed, everything was clamor. I exhaled slowly, staring at the ceiling. The wavy pattern was so consistent.
“This G University Hospital, right?”
“Huh? How’d you know?”
“Ah, yeah. Familiar place.”
Mom passed here. Come to think of it, I’d come by 119 plenty.
I looked at my hands.
‘Back then, I had no strength.’
Now I carry middle-aged men no problem. Didn’t expect to end up here again like this.
I clenched my fists. Finally calming down.
My manager grabbed my shoulder.
“Dowon, don’t stay here. Sit on a chair.”
“No seats here. Always crowded. See?”
Manager finally looked around. Patients lay on chairs with IVs.
“Up in about 8 minutes.”
“What kinda answer’s that.”
I smiled wryly.
“Rushed here so forgot—do you have Jung Ji-seok-ssi’s manager number, Manager-ssi?”
“Huh? No.”
“Then the director’s?”
“Dunno?”
Great.
“Should’ve brought his manager too. No one’s here for him.”
“Yeah.”
I sighed again. Then I noticed people staring.
‘Ah, the hanbok.’
Not even a good one—shabby for my peasant role.
“I’ll make some calls at least.”
“Yeah.”
Manager called someone urgently. I quietly tensed my legs. 10 minutes post-cheat, strength returned right on cue.
Then a nurse frantically searched for me.
“Um, hanbok patient’s guardian!”
She spotted me and ran over.
“Please handle admission. Patient keeps calling for you. Calm him before meds.”
“Ah, not really guardian. Co-star in the same movie.”
“Oh no! What now? He’s asking...”
“Guardian’ll be contacted soon. He’s calling for me?”
“Yes. Keeps asking for his son.”
When did I become Jung Ji-seok’s son?
I entered carefully. Post-treatment, drugged Jung Ji-seok kept reaching out.
“Son...”
Guess he has a son. I whispered close.
“Your son’s coming soon, Jung Ji-seok-ssi.”
The middle-aged actor suddenly grabbed my cheek.
“Son...”
Not your son.
“You turned out handsome staying put.”
What’s that mean?
“Came to greet me?”
He’s delusional? I furrowed my brows.
“Jung Ji-seok-ssi?”
“Aigoo, our son. But Dad can’t go yet. Can’t make your mom a widow, your sister fatherless. Right?”
I stared at the middle-aged actor. Jung Ji-seok’s eyes sparkled oddly.
Then I got it.
I answered slowly.
“Yeah. Don’t go.”
His hand was cold when I held it.
“Still far off. Wait till sis’s kid enters college. Why peek early?”
Jung Ji-seok grinned. An unusually wistful smile—memorable.
“Got it, punk.”
He blinked a few times, then slept quietly.
I let go and sighed.
‘Damn. Learned something useless.’
Why am I so quick on the uptake? Better not to know.
“Dowon?”
Manager brought a drink. Thirsty, I chugged it.
“Reached anyone?”
“Yeah. Coming soon.”
“Whoever comes, we leave.”
“Right.”
ER bustled again. I covered my mouth, exhaling long.
“You okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You look drained.”
“Well, whatever.”
Jung Ji-seok’s manager burst in panting. He bowed deeply to me and my manager.
“Thank you.”
“No big deal.”
“Ah, seriously. Never imagined...”
Tears welled in his eyes.
“Haven’t heard from doctor yet. Don’t know discharge, but crisis passed.”
“Thank you. Truly.”
“He’s sleeping now. We’ll head out.”
Emotional connections tired me. Plus, if ER folks recognized me, trouble.
‘Might already have.’
Photos go up, whatever. Not like I did wrong.
I stood slowly and left the ER. Manager grinned.
“You did good, Dowon.”
“Well, ended up saving a life.”
“Without you, Jung Ji-seok would’ve been in real trouble.”
Yeah, that much was true.