Even If You Come, I'm Not Going (2)
As evening fell, Jeong Seo-hoon was riding in a van speeding down the road.
His destination was the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido—he'd received an invitation to dinner from Director Jim.
When Jeong Seo-hoon stepped out at the parking lot lobby entrance, a staff member spotted him and flinched.
But true to his training as a hotelier, the man didn't show it, instead greeting him with a warm smile.
"Welcome. There might be a bit of a stir inside the hotel, so would it be alright if we escort you personally?"
"Thank you."
Ha Tae-soo, who had parked the van in the surface lot, hurried to follow.
As soon as they entered the high-ceilinged first-floor lobby, visitors recognized him and began murmuring.
Three male hotel staff quickly flanked them like bodyguards, forming a protective cordon that made even those itching for a word back off preemptively.
"We hope you enjoy your visit."
The escort lasted only until the elevator, but it was enough to fend off any unwanted approaches.
He pressed 37, and the elevator rose swiftly and silently.
By then, word must have spread, as the restaurant manager was waiting politely outside the doors.
"This way, please."
"I'm meeting someone. Reservation under Jim."
"Ah, you're with him. Right this way."
Director Jim was lounging at a window table with a stunning view, listening to music.
As Jeong Seo-hoon approached, the director stood, laughing heartily and offering a handshake.
"Mr. Jeong, come on in. The porterhouse steak here is delicious. Better grilled than back home, even. You have to try it."
"Looking forward to it."
Ha Tae-soo, sidelined from the conversation, was pleading intensely with his eyes. Please say you'll do it. Please.
Shortly after Jeong Seo-hoon sat, the dishes began arriving.
A massive bone-in steak sizzled on a cart beside the table, flames leaping high.
Once the fire died down, the server placed it in the center.
But that was just the start.
Abalone, jumbo shrimp, pasta, tenderloin steak—the table brimmed with mouthwatering fare.
"Isn't this a bit much?"
"Just in case the steak doesn't suit your taste, I picked everything that looked good."
For drinks, the choice fell to Jeong Seo-hoon.
He selected a suitable wine, and a poised male sommelier brought the bottle, introduced it, and opened it with care.
Against the glittering city lights now swallowed by night, their fine dinner with excellent wine commenced.
"I was so shocked by your flat-out refusal—no conditions checked, no room for negotiation—that I flew all the way here."
"I'm sorry, but my mind hasn't changed."
"I just don't get it. I like to think I have some reputation, and this film's pure production budget exceeds 300 million dollars."
Director Jim, parched perhaps, gulped down his wine and asked,
"Is it the role? But the part I offered is a solid supporting villain—intense impact right from the start."
"Let me clear up the misunderstanding first. It's not that I dislike the role. Quite the opposite—it's so compelling I'd love to take it on."
"Then why...?"
"Because I have no reason to work in Hollywood."
Jeong Seo-hoon acted not for fame or fortune.
It started as a way to glimpse his longed-for world through the camera lens again.
Now, he was hooked on the allure of acting itself, eager to unveil the secrets hidden in the mystical vistas revealed by the lens's power.
To unravel the comet's mysteries—the source of all this wonder and power—he'd even entered grad school.
Acting and the comet: neither could he abandon; they were his entire life.
"I can pursue the acting I want right here, without Hollywood."
Hollywood—or anywhere abroad—would only hinder his access to the comet.
His explanation to Ha Tae-soo about lab life was the pure truth.
* * *
Today, the atmosphere in Professor Lee Se-jong's lab was brighter and more jovial than usual.
The fan slaves, oblivious to the invisible chains binding them, wandered around with smiles plastered on their faces all day.
It was thanks to a monumental achievement sweeping the entire B-Lab.
"Number one."
"Finally top spot."
"Double number one, even."
"Man, I wish every day was like today."
Haegeuk: The King's Uncle and The Hunter: Demon Slayer had claimed the top two spots on NetPrime Global.
Overseas viewers who enjoyed the Korean zombie historical but dropped Haegeuk early due to its unfamiliar orthodox historical vibe...
They tried The Hunter, got hooked, and returned to Haegeuk, propelling it to first place.
Viewers of Haegeuk flowed into The Hunter thanks to Jeong Seo-hoon's latest drama buzz, falling for Choi Hong-rae's noir atmosphere and the chemistry between Oh Jun-ho and Jeong Seo-hoon.
Thus, Haegeuk took first, The Hunter second—and B-Lab dubbed it the "Double Number One," making a huge fuss.
"Look at this! Disaster! Haegeuk's been pushed to second! What do we do? Waaah!"
"When that happens, just be happy The Hunter climbed to first. Like the umbrella seller and straw sandal seller parable."
Wise fans rejoiced when Haegeuk slipped because The Hunter surged, and vice versa.
"What a joyous day."
"On a day like this, you think they'll do a team dinner or something?"
"It's great for us, but unrelated to the lab."
"How's it unrelated? Our crown prince who'll inherit the lab just hit global double number one. Double gold medal!"
"This is the lab's triumph. Objections denied."
Even senior PhD students who never watched dramas learned of the double celebration via Jeong Seo-hoon.
Grubby second-year PhD Kim Yun-hee had long wrestled inner conflict from the first-year master's students' zealous proselytizing.
"Is it really that good?"
"Super fun, seriously!"
"I binged Illegal after midterms in my fourth year—insanely good. Our empire's crown prince's killer performance is no joke."
Kim Yun-hee muttered inwardly.
What's with the lab vibe lately...?
First-years washing hair and showering daily? Random giggles erupting in the quiet lab?
It was disconcerting, a mood she'd never seen in years past.
Even back in undergrad, it wasn't this bad. And Seo-hoon was around then too.
There were female seniors smitten with Jeong Seo-hoon back then, but they never dared approach.
The only change: his top-star fame elevating his profile.
"But sunbae, what was it like back in your undergrad days? Before he enlisted."
When Park Yeo-jin, a chemical engineering undergrad alum, asked, Kim Yun-hee and the few electronic engineering undergrad first-year masters paled in unison.
The non-departmental fan slaves just looked puzzled.
Kim Yun-hee sighed.
"A tree that couldn't rise—and shouldn't."
"Huh?"
"When I was a junior, Seo-hoon enrolled. The whole department buzzed. A 17-year-old science high school topper entering as top student."
Everyone was valedictorian material, but Jeong Seo-hoon was leagues above.
At that level, why not Caltech or MIT?
He got into both but chose here.
Why? Bad English?
Saw him in interview—native level.
Parents probably worried about sending a kid abroad.
"Anyway, from freshman year, everyone in the department knew Jeong Seo-hoon."
"Whoa, as expected."
His family background was hush-hush, but Professor Lee Se-jong pre-selecting him for PhD advising, plus his insanely handsome face and perfect proportions, did the rest.
Kim Yun-hee recalled how he stood out alone at every department event.
The scant female students sighed whenever they saw him.
"The sunbaes who fell for him first? Tore their hair out learning he was a minor. You non-majors have no idea that pain."
The electronic engineering first-year female fan slaves sighed in solidarity.
"Unnie, yeah..."
"When I enrolled, he was a second-year sunbae. Couldn't even talk to him. One year ahead in credits, but two years older."
Second-year PhD Kim Yun-hee asked, stunned.
"You two... from our department?"
Not everyone knows every name and face, even among peers—let alone seniors/juniors.
"Then you two are... older than Seo-hoon?"
"Yep. One year behind in undergrad, but two years his noona."
"But why use formal speech with him? Our department goes by age over credits."
One fidgeted before answering.
"In front of the prince, I just wanna be one fan, not noona."
"Right. That era when we couldn't even chat freely with him—time to make up for it now."
"He re-enrolled, still couldn't approach, just pined... then heard about his drama debut, binged everything."
"Heard he'd enter grad school second semester, quit my new job to follow."
Non-major fan slaves murmured in shock.
"This is electronic engineering's hidden history..."
First-year PhD Kim Hye-in, who outed herself as a B-Labber and often led fans in Jeong Seo-hoon's absence, let out a proud yet wistful booming laugh.
"I'm just one year ahead in undergrad but four years older. You guys have it way better."
"Huh? Sunbae and older, but why call him 'prince' and use formal?"
"Once you're in B-Lab, you're just a B-Labber. I don't wanna be sunbae in front of him anymore."
Deep sighs rippled through the non-major fan slaves.
"My god. What kind of hierarchy is this..."
Second-year PhD Kim Yun-hee chuckled.
"Seo-hoon finished second semester at 19 and enlisted. No one younger than him across all years till then. A few same-age but entered a year early?"
First-year PhD Kim Hye-in picked up.
"Sunbae or hoobae, I was older, he was a minor. Wrong word and you'd get accused of hitting on the hot minor hoobae."
"As expected from '17 class—you know the vibe."
"Yep, unnie. As older hoobaes, one slip and the few female classmates whispered we were after the hot minor sunbae."
Kim Yun-hee suddenly recalled the past and burst into giggles.
"Anyway, we couldn't casually chat with him back then—feared misunderstandings. You guys following him freely? Pure bliss."
"Unnie..."
"Ugh, jealous. Living openly fangirling and trailing him without a care. So damn envious."
"Unnie, no way?"
"Hey, any girl in our department who never crushed on Jeong Seo-hoon? Step up. I can say it now. I can say it!"
Second-year PhD Kim Yun-hee.
Just one year ahead. But...
"Till I graduated undergrad, never shared a drink with him. Why? Minor! At our graduation, we planned to call him up for his first legal beer as an adult—'16 class hyped—but he enlisted right after junior year!"
Reviving old sorrows, her eyes misted.
"Illegal... really that good?"
"Yes. Watch it, unnie—on NetPrime rewatch."
"Fine. For the girl who once pined... I'll mourn her quietly."
"He was a minor."
"...I'll buy the DVD and watch alone. And Hye-in, meet me later."
First-year master's fan slave Park Yeo-jin hesitated, then ventured,
"Sunbae, if we watch his works with the prince in the screening room later... can I invite you?"
Kim Yun-hee nodded with a bittersweet smile.
"Why skip me last time...?"
"Sorry. Won't forget next time."
* * *