Kingdom Come (2)
After wrapping up the news broadcast, Tom Brokaw always drank tea. A warm lemon tea he believed protected his throat. Sipping from his personal mug, he would exchange greetings with the staff, scan the empty studio, and head home. That was his usual routine, but it changed whenever there was a guest. Tom Brokaw prepared two cups of lemon tea and handed one to Sion Lee, today's guest. Sion, who had been signing autographs for the staff, accepted the tea with a bright smile.
"How was it?" When Tom asked for his thoughts in a casual tone, Sion shrugged.
"Actually, I'd like to ask you first. How did you think it went?"
He was certainly a man with a stark contrast between his on-camera and off-camera personas. During the live interview, Sion had danced precariously along the edge of the pre-approved broadcast guidelines. While Tom had secretly loved it, the producer—who would be the one dragged upstairs and chewed out by the executives if things went south—had turned pale as a ghost. Recalling that tense atmosphere, Tom replied, "I'm looking forward to tonight's ratings."
Tom was a man who closely observed the changing times. The dignity of the past was fast becoming synonymous with being out of touch, and a bolder, more raw sentiment was rising to the mainstream. While he believed the role of major legacy media like the news was to defend that dignity to the bitter end, he had also been wondering if it was time to let go of some of that rigidity to capture a broader audience. Sion's appearance today would likely help convince the stubborn executives upstairs. In hindsight, it was an unexpected windfall for NBC.
"Was that why you invited me? For the ratings?"
"Of course, that was part of it."
"Still, I didn't think NBC would be the one to take the first step. I was a bit surprised."
Tom raised an eyebrow at the sharp insight hidden beneath Sion's casual tone. He was absolutely right. While adapting to the times was the destiny of media, there was no reason for a giant like NBC to lead the charge. The larger the network, the less need there was to attempt such risky changes; it was standard practice to let latecomers test the waters first, then adopt the proven trends. After a brief silence, Tom spoke.
"Are you heading back to LA right away?"
"No, I plan to stay for about three days. I figured I'd do an interview while I'm here."
Sion grinned, realizing Tom's true motive had finally surfaced.
"There's an interesting party happening. Would you be interested in attending?"
"Who else is going?"
"Well... that's a bit difficult to disclose here."
"Then I won't go."
"Pardon...?" Tom blinked, caught off guard by the immediate, unexpected refusal. "But they are people you'd find very beneficial to talk to."
"You mean people with too much money looking for a place to invest, just waiting for a chance to polish their public image?"
"..."
"I like those kinds of people too, but if their identities aren't clear, I have to be careful."
Especially when there were definitely people out there constantly gunning for him. Seeing Sion display such unexpected caution, Tom nodded in understanding. A Hollywood superstar with a movie currently sailing smoothly at the box office—in his position, a single minor scandal could turn into a raging wildfire that consumed everything. In a way, this cautious attitude made him seem even more trustworthy.
"Fair enough. We will be in touch soon, then."
"Thank you for understanding. I apologize if my refusal seemed rude."
"Not at all. If anything... our conversation just now has made me trust you even more, Mr. Lee." Tom's eyes gleamed as if he were about to break a major news story. "At your age, it's only natural to want to go out and have fun, yet you remain so disciplined. It's truly impressive."
"Obsessing over women is just a phase."
"Hahaha, I suppose so. You were incredibly popular in your youth, and even now, you could have anyone you want if you wished."
"...?"
"And yet, you maintain such strict self-control. It's truly admirable."
Sion felt a strange misunderstanding blooming between Tom's words of praise. Lately, people seemed to romanticize the way he didn't obsess over women, alcohol, or sports cars like other young Hollywood stars, instead focusing entirely on his career.
It's really not that big of a deal, though.
Having lived such a flashy life as an actor and Hollywood superstar, he simply cherished the quiet, ordinary moments of daily life all the more. But well... he figured letting the misunderstanding slide wouldn't hurt, so he just offered a soft, gentle smile.
Sion Lee's appearance on NBC Nightly News sent minor shockwaves through various circles.
"Even legendary Hollywood stars don't get on that show easily."
"Incredible. But what was the real reason they invited him?"
"It's the trend of the times. Honestly, these days... he's practically a cultural phenomenon."
That was how industry insiders evaluated Sion's NBC appearance. And they weren't entirely wrong. The image of Sion Lee as an actor had played a massive role in elevating the film to this status. The former brat, who used to do whatever he wanted and make problematic remarks in his youth, was now standing on the side of the public, scratching their itch with a much more refined attitude. At the same time, he had built an image of fearlessly standing up to massive corporate capital, which appealed perfectly to the youth of this era.
Because as a "rebel," he was doing the things they couldn't easily do themselves. As a result, the narrative of "one abandoned by the system," which had been added like seasoning to the action-blockbuster-meets-noir atmosphere, was amplified and swallowed whole by the audience. On internet communities, users were still dissecting and analyzing just how deep of a masterpiece Bad Contract 2 was, savoring every single detail to the absolute bone.
"..."
Sion, who was monitoring these reactions on his computer with the ease of a man from the future, was honestly left in awe.
"Wow, that's crazy. So that's what that meant."
He could see how it could be interpreted that way. Perhaps there really were hidden details in the film that even he hadn't noticed. But to be frank, he felt it was the imagination of the audience who loved the movie that had elevated the work to such heights. And that was exactly how the masterpiece had been completed.
A movie built on the foundation of the current era. Sion Lee's rebellious image acting within it. And finally... the people who took all of that, interpreted it, and wrote their thoughts. Suddenly, he felt connected to them.
This is beautiful.
Sion couldn't help but think that this was the true magic of storytelling. He had no innate business genius, nor did he have a massive inherited fortune. But this entire process—creating a work alongside the people living in the same era and sharing the experience with them—felt like it was what truly gave his life value.
Why didn't I realize this before?
Back when his face had been ruined, he had shut himself away, refusing to communicate with anyone. But thanks to a miracle, he had been sent back to enjoy all of this fully once more. He felt nothing but gratitude for everything surrounding him.
After spending some time reading through the rest of the internet reactions, Sion stood up with a satisfied smile. When he went downstairs, Chloe was already waiting to take him to his next schedule. Although he still felt a slight awkwardness seeing her due to his past life, he had grown quite used to it by now.
"Chloe."
"Yes, Mr. Lee."
"I hope you have a happy day today."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
Chloe replied in her usual flat tone, but her eyes clearly said, Here he goes again.
Sion got into the car she was driving and headed to the venue. Today's schedule was an autograph session and fan meeting. It had been proposed by the theater chain AMC and was set to take place in the lobby of their largest multiplex. Arriving at the venue, Sion could truly feel the shift in the times. As he stood by the railing outside the actors' waiting room on the top floor, watching the crowd below, someone quietly approached his side.
"How does it feel, Mr. Five-Hundred-Million-Dollar Man?"
It was Jodie Foster, who played Miss Silver in the film.
"I saw your news appearance. You were quite something."
"I just gave those suits at NBC a little taste of reality."
It had been highly amusing to watch the producer's face turn pale every time he made a slightly provocative comment.
"Let's have a good run today too, Jodie."
"Of course. I'll support you well from the side, so lead the way, Boss."
Jodie gave a light wink and turned around. Time passed, and soon, the fan meeting began.
Like a sports team's victory press conference, the four lead actors, the director, and the producer sat side-by-side at a long table. The eyes of the fans watching them naturally gravitated toward Sion Lee, who sat right in the center.
Whoa...
This is insane. Seriously.
I can't believe I'm seeing this guy in person.
His face is so small. But even from this far away, I can see all his features perfectly.
The massive multiplex was packed to the brim all the way up to the fifth floor. Everyone leaned over the railings, desperate to catch a glimpse of Sion, leaving the security guards deployed to control them absolutely exhausted.
The clicker count for today's attendees totaled 3,271. The first-floor lobby was so packed there was barely room to step, and the lucky few who had won the raffle to get autographs stood in a long, exclusive line, bathed in the envious stares of the crowd. Finally, the host grabbed the microphone and kicked off the event.
"Wow, with a theater this big, the crowd is absolutely massive! Can everyone hear me?! All the way up to the fifth floor?!"
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggghhhhh—!!"
The fans' cheers rained down like a storm. Yet, despite the chaos, Sion felt a deep, inexplicable wave of emotion at the sheer sight of so many people gathered just to see him. Because of that, he spoke in a softer, gentler tone than usual.
"I've been looking at the internet a lot lately. Reading the thoughts people share there makes me realize just how lucky of a guy I am... and at the same time, how much responsibility I carry."
"What a beautiful sentiment! Could you elaborate on what you mean by 'carrying responsibility'?"
"It means that I have to behave properly so that the people I work with, and the fans, can be happy. That's what it means."
Instead of his usual rebellious persona when facing the public, Sion wore a mischievous, boyish smile as he scanned the sea of fans.
"Culture is about sharing the same emotions, isn't it? As the star of a movie you all enjoyed, I want to make sure I don't grow old and turn into something ugly... So I feel like I need to keep my head straight and live a proper life."
"Wow, that is truly wonderful!"
"So, I promise to live diligently without causing any trouble with drugs or alcohol. That's all."
The light joke instantly broke the ice, warming up the atmosphere. From Joe Pesci and Jason Statham to director Tony Scott and Jodie Foster, everyone looked at Sion with eyes full of trust. The talk continued in this heartwarming mood.
Then, out of nowhere, the host received a note from a staff member who had rushed up from below.
Huh...?
Sion tilted his head as he noticed the host's face suddenly turn pale. It seemed an unexpected issue had arisen. Normally, they would have just pushed through, but the matter seemed so significant that the host actually stepped down for a moment to double-check the contents of the note. Meanwhile, word of this sudden development reached the actors.
"They say there's a special guest."
"Who? Bill Clinton?"
Sion thought it would have to be someone of that caliber to justify delaying the event. Soon, the host scrambled back onto the stage and shouted into the microphone.
"Ah, at this moment... we would like to introduce a very special guest!"
The watching fans looked on with anticipation, assuming it would be someone close to Sion, like Elena Asimov or Jack Nicholson, coming up for a fun surprise segment. But the name that escaped the host's mouth was entirely unexpected.
"Please welcome... Donald Trump!"
"...What?"
Sion's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
Ba-bam!
The absolute pinnacle of American extravagance. Flanked by slender, beautiful women on both sides, a man in a sharp suit stepped onto the stage. While many fans recognized him, not everyone did. The bewildered expressions of those wondering who on earth this was were captured by a few reporters' cameras, but the man himself didn't care in the slightest. He strode forward confidently as if he were the main star of the show, waving cheerfully to the crowd. Then, with a broad grin, he walked straight up to Sion and offered a greeting.
"You called, so I came, Mr. Lee."
"...?"
Sion desperately wanted to ask: Excuse me? I did?