Swing in Chicago (5)

Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

"A-choo!"

A sudden gust of wind brushed against the back of his neck, making Charlie Kang sneeze loudly.

"Ugh, damn it. Why is it so freezing?"

Having lived in warm California his entire life, he couldn't adapt to the sudden drop in temperature. Even within the same country, the climate difference between states and regions was staggering. Shivering slightly, he walked out of the airport terminal and gasped in shock when he spotted a young man standing right in front of him, his hat pulled down low. Charlie quickly rushed over.

"I told you I'd head straight to the house...!"

"Isn't it Korean custom to greet your elders when they arrive?"

"Since when did you care about that?! Damn it! Everyone's going to recognize you!"

"It's fine. This is Chicago. It's not like California where even a blind man on the street would recognize me."

Sion Lee smiled casually. Just as he said, the people passing by didn't pay much attention to him. Even those who happened to catch a glimpse of his face merely thought, Wow, he's handsome, before moving on. No one imagined he was a famous Hollywood actor. After all, why would a star like him be in a place like this?

Still, Charlie's anxiety got the better of him, and he nudged Sion's back.

"Alright, I get it, so let's just go! Before things get loud!"

As they walked out of the airport, Charlie noticed a sedan parked along the curb. When he raised an eyebrow in suspicion, Sion naturally walked over to the driver's side and opened the door.

"What are you doing? Get in."

He offered the invitation as smoothly as a snake sliding into a boot.

"...Sion?"

Unable to let it slide, Charlie spoke up, enduring the biting Chicago wind.

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell me you bought a car?"

"No, how could I buy a car in such a short time?"

That answer brought a small sigh of relief to Charlie.

"It's a rental, right?"

"Yeah. I rented it for six months. They gave me a celebrity discount."

"......"

The anxiety rushed right back.

"What's wrong?"

"Are you planning to live here permanently?"

"Of course not. I'll go back when filming is done. California is still a better place to live, after all."

Despite his words, the way Sion pulled out a pair of sunglasses and put them on inside the car was incredibly natural. He looked exactly like a local who had lived in Chicago for years. Feeling a bit uneasy, Charlie climbed into the passenger seat, and Sion immediately started the engine and pulled out into traffic.

Once they were on the road and completely isolated from the outside world, Charlie finally let out the emotions he had been holding back.

"Sion. We need to talk."

"We should. Thanks for coming all this way, Charlie."

"...You've really changed. Since when do you care about me like this?"

"Do you hate it? Want me to speed like I used to?"

"Please. Do you have any idea how many speeding tickets you've racked up?"

Sion kept his eyes on the road, avoiding Charlie's gaze as the agent grumbled. In his past life, Charlie Kang was one of the few people who had never given up on him, taking care of him until his very last moments. Knowing that such a person was touched by a tiny bit of kindness made Sion feel a strange, poignant guilt.

I'd love to treat him incredibly well, but...

Considering the image of the actor 'Sion Lee' that he was carefully rebuilding, he couldn't afford to be too soft.

Besides, maybe because this body is young, acting a bit self-indulgent is psychologically more comfortable.

If he hadn't maintained that slightly reckless image, he wouldn't have been able to justify auditioning on a whim. Even so, his recent actions were radical enough to baffle anyone, even for a notorious brat actor. A Hollywood actor at the forefront of the entertainment industry always had too many strings attached.

"Seriously... why do you suddenly want to star in some nameless indie film? Maybe we really should have gotten a brain CT scan when you had that car accident."

Charlie's voice dropped. He was bringing the conversation back to the main point. But Sion answered coolly, as if it were no big deal.

"I did get a CT scan back then. It was perfectly fine."

"No, I didn't mean it literally. What kind of crazy stunt is this?"

"Charlie. This is a decision I made after calmly thinking about my future career. I'm sorry for acting on my own without telling the agency beforehand, but this time, as my agent, please respect my choice as an actor. I won't do this again... 'for the most part'."

"...So you did it first because you knew I'd stop you if you told me beforehand."

Seeing Sion answer with absolute sincerity, Charlie continued his questions with a more serious tone.

"Why the sudden change? You never really cared about acting itself before, did you?"

"I... didn't. But now I do. I realized I can't keep living like this."

Sion spoke honestly, without wrapping his words in pretense.

"After my mother passed away and I went through that car accident, it suddenly hit me. How will people remember me as an actor? Surely not in a good way. I have some popularity now and many studios are looking for me, but I wondered if I would gradually fade away as time goes by."

Though Sion left out any mention of his 'face,' Charlie implicitly understood the weight behind his words.

"So you chose an indie film by a director whose track record is unknown? There are plenty of action movies or other genres."

"I guess I wanted to show that I can act. To the people who know me. Indie films are great for that. There's less studio interference, so I can constantly communicate with the director and others to deliver the performance I want."

"...You're serious."

Charlie Kang was overcome by an inexplicable emotion. Sion chuckled softly and continued.

"And besides."

"What?"

"The media is tearing me apart like dogs. I can't stop now."

The Sion Lee speaking right now possessed a vitality that hadn't been seen in him for a long time. The falling star, which had done nothing but plummet since his mother's death, was rising once again. Seeing him regain his spirit and take action, Charlie couldn't bring himself to tell him no.

"Damn it, you're still as selfish as ever."

"Trust me. I can do well."

"Sigh."

Letting out a long sigh at Sion's words, Charlie finally nodded.

"Fine. Do whatever you want. I'll clean up after you, just like I always have."

"...That makes you sound like the mafia."

"I'd prefer if you said a boxing trainer. What do you mean, mafia, to a law-abiding citizen who pays his taxes?"

Though he grumbled, Charlie leaned back comfortably in his seat, his mind finally at ease after the conversation. Feeling a slight ache in his lower back from the long flight, he thought to himself.

Still, this is much better than before.

It was infinitely better than when Sion was running wild, completely losing his sense of purpose after his mother's death. Even if his new direction had veered off into a completely unexpected path.

"But Sion. What was that you said on the phone? Something about the Democrats taking power?"

"Oh, that? Usually, when the administration changes, they demonize and replace everything. The higher-ups go crazy trying to suck up to them somehow. So, in short, an era is coming where indie films dealing with the dark side of society will hit big. That's the gist of it."

"......"

Charlie stared blankly at Sion's profile as the young man spoke nonchalantly, keeping his eyes on the road. Finally, Charlie managed to speak.

"Did you join the Freemasons or something?"

Sion couldn't help but chuckle at the tone, which was a perfect mix of worry and sheer absurdity. It was a retrospective interpretation based on his knowledge of the future, but it was exactly what was going to happen.

"President Bush is still in his first term. What do you mean, the Democrats are taking power?"

"I saw a revelation from God when I almost died."

With that, the car Sion was driving headed toward downtown Chicago, where Philip Studios was located. In the near future, George H.W. Bush would indeed fail to win re-election, handing the presidency over to Democrat Bill Clinton.

Now that he had persuaded his agency, Sion had nothing holding him back.

Now, Charlie will handle the details of the contract negotiations.

As he had hoped, an environment where he could focus solely on his craft had been established. Furthermore, while ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he intended to keep an eye on how the media was reacting, he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠decided not to waste energy responding to them.

October 1990 in Chicago was growing increasingly chilly. While Charlie visited the production company, Philip Studios, to review and negotiate the contract terms, Sion waited at an outdoor café, taking stock of the situation.

Filming starts in November, right?

From what he had heard, the shoot was scheduled to last about a month. Once the finer details—such as billing order, promotional obligations, and appearance fees—were ironed out, he would sign the contract and finally receive the completed script.

Did Daniel say he was still revising it? I hope it moves quickly.

He was curious about what Daniel Summit's very first project in this era would look like. In his past life, Daniel had joked in an interview that the project fell through because he had been stubborn with the investors, which was a common story. Even if it wasn't Hollywood, film production was a structured industry; a fresh college graduate rarely got to direct a proper film right away.

Most of the time, only a tiny fraction of people who grind at the bottom of the set and gain experience get a chance.

The era of young genius directors suddenly appearing out of nowhere and dominating on their own was fading.

In that sense, it's a win-win for both of us.

If this shoot went well, the future master director Daniel Summit would secure a much faster debut than in his past life, and the current brat actor Sion Lee would get a chance to showcase his transformed acting ability. Since he was already drawing unintended attention, he wanted to do it right.

Ironically, the current Sion was well aware that he was 'not special.' Of course, realizing that he needed to project a certain 'specialness' as a popular actor, he maintained a confident front, but deep down, he knew his limits. Though he had honed his acting skills for a long time after his face was ruined, he had never actually played a lead or major supporting role on the big screen, which made him secretly nervous.

In modern cinema, an actor isn't great alone.

Like everyone in the film industry, he knew all too well that no one could create anything alone. An actor—especially a film actor standing at the forefront—only found meaning when working alongside a director who envisioned the scenes, a writer who crafted the story, and a crew equipped with all kinds of technical expertise.

Before his face was ruined, he had risen to the top too easily to ever realize that.

I want to make a good film.

With that thought, Sion bought a few movie magazines from a nearby newsstand and sat down at the outdoor café. Ordering a cup of coffee, he began reading the articles about himself.

"...They're already making a massive fuss."

Though he had walked around casually at the airport, he realized he should probably bundle up more when going outside from now on. Anyone who read these articles would recognize him instantly.

Especially once the cameras start rolling.

Right at that moment.

"Huh?"

"......"

Sion looked up and realized a little girl was standing in front of him, visible past the edge of his sunglasses. She couldn't have been more than ten years old. Fearing he had been recognized, he offered a gentle, casual smile.

"Are you a prince?"

"...What?"

"It's sparkling. Just around you."

"......"

Sion quietly observed the girl. She didn't look like she came from a well-off family. Her sleeves were frayed and tattered, and her face was smudged with dirt, as if she hadn't washed in days. She clearly wasn't a customer at the café. She must have been passing by the fence and stopped when she saw him.

Looking at her, Sion was suddenly reminded of his own past. When he was exactly eight years old, he had looked just like this. A poverty so deep he couldn't escape it, though he hadn't even realized it back then because his parents were still alive.

"......"

What about this girl? What should he say to this child who didn't see him as a famous actor?

After a brief hesitation, Sion found himself replying.

"Are you a princess?"

"Huh...?"

"Because you're sparkling too."

He slid his sunglasses down slightly and smiled at her. The girl's eyes trembled slightly.

"I can tell. It's so bright I can barely look. A beautiful princess."

"......"

The girl blinked in surprise, then, suddenly overcome with shyness, turned and ran across the street. Even as she ran, she kept glancing back over her shoulder.

"See you next time~!"

Sion waved until the girl disappeared into the distance. He smiled faintly and was about to turn his attention back to the magazine when—

"Wow..."

He realized someone had suddenly approached his table.

"Are you a prince? Are you a princess? Wow... double wow..."

It was his 'future' director, Daniel Summit.

If Sion had a gun on him, he might have put it in his mouth and pulled the trigger right then and there.

"How did you...?"

Ignoring Sion's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flushed face, Daniel continued to marvel.

"Wow, when the most handsome man on earth says it, even a moment like that literally becomes a 'scene'."

"...I usually get paid for this, but today was a special fan service."

"It's my first time seeing something like this, I'm genuinely moved, Mr. Lee."

"Sion is fine. We're going to be working together."

"Ah, great, Sion. You can call me Danny."

"Sure, Danny. ...So, what brings you here?"

"I had nothing to do, so I was just wandering around. Just like you."

Without waiting for an invitation, Daniel promptly sat in the seat opposite him. Watching him perform a series of unexpected actions, Sion was slightly taken aback, but he quickly pieced together what was happening.

"You got kicked out of the contract negotiations."

"How did you know?"

"It's obvious. Once they start talking numbers, directors and actors get pushed aside."

"Haha, true. But I'm just grateful they handle the annoying stuff. We just have to make a great film to repay the money-counters."

Daniel smiled sheepishly, then narrowed his eyes as he looked out at the street.

"Chicago really suits my movie."

"...In what way?"

"It's cruel. People casually drinking coffee behind a fence, and those who don't even have the luxury to enjoy such leisure. This contrast says a lot. I think putting that in a split screen for the opening would create a great mise-en-scène, though it might be too obvious..."

Hearing his words, Sion slowly scanned his surroundings. Indeed, Chicago was a cruel place, just as Daniel said. As the Rust Belt in the American Midwest declined, Chicago naturally felt the impact, entering a period of painful industrial transition.

The wealth gap had widened. The wealthy moved to the suburbs, creating their own segregated havens. Meanwhile, downtown Chicago suffered. The poor clustered together, crime rates surged, and various social issues erupted. The welfare system was riddled with holes, leaving those trying to live honestly exposed to danger day after day in the blind spots of the law.

"So you want to capture that cruelty in the movie."

"To be blunt, yes."

Seeing that Sion understood his vision, Daniel's eyes shone with excitement.

"Even in the midst of that, there must be dreams. And innocence. Like you and that girl just now. But the reality today is that even that gets thrown into the gutter. Society is rotten, and we are hypocrites. I want to melt the idea that we live by comforting ourselves that we aren't like that into this film."

"We haven't even signed the NDA yet, aren't you telling me too much?"

"Oh, come on. Between us."

"......"

Sion held back from asking, What exactly is 'between us'? Daniel was entirely different from the Hollywood professionals he had encountered in his past life.

The people there, exposed to a highly calculated production environment, hid everything like they were dealing with radioactive material and constantly played political games.

Even for a young rookie, the fact that this director showed absolutely none of that calculating attitude made Sion feel almost awkward.

"Seeing what you just did gave me confidence in how to direct. Though I'm a bit worried about that handsome face of yours."

"Which part?"

"I'm worried the anatomy of what I'm trying to say will turn into a romance. Well, it's not a big deal. I'm planning to hire a professional makeup artist."

"...Hmm."

After a moment of thought, Sion asked.

"What kind of person is the protagonist?"

"A loser living at the bottom of society. To be blunt, it's Alex from the script you did the cold reading for. I brought a part of the first draft."

"What is the image you have in mind?"

"He's young, but has a beer belly, and because he's done so many drugs, he's missing a few teeth. Oh, and his eyes look a bit out of it? Like a modern redneck you'd commonly see in factory districts."

Daniel rambled on, describing the image in his head. Sion listened quietly, his mind already working on how to embody 'Alex's appearance' as an actor.

Well, I can't actually drown myself in alcohol.

As someone who had ruined his past life, he had no intention of getting addicted to anything ever again. In that case, what would be the best approach?

...Ah, that's it.

A terrible idea that only a true American would think of popped into Sion's head.

Whipped cream.

He didn't care in the slightest about ruining his own looks.