Chapter 191
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: Surprise Guests
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At Evan Block's accommodation.
Evan Block and Richel Hill had arrived in Korea the day before yesterday and had been resting at their lodging. Unlike his usual routine of heading home or to the Cocoa Entertainment practice rooms, Seojun came here to hang out with the two actors.
“Working Man is on.”
“I want to watch!”
Seojun laid out the tteokbokki, fried snacks, and sundae he had bought on the table and laughed as he watched Evan and Richel converse in Korean. The two actors had adapted to Korea in just two days. Seojun sat down next to them.
Richel Hill, who seemed to be enjoying the tteokbokki, asked.
“Jun. What's for dinner tonight?”
“My grandmother said she’s making bulgogi.”
Hearing that Seojun's friends had come all the way from America, his maternal grandmother had rolled up her sleeves to cook for them. Richel Hill, slowly processing Seojun’s words, nodded in understanding.
“Grand-mother. I know! She’s Eunhye’s mother, right?”
“That’s right.”
Wow!
While the one-year student of Korean was celebrating her small victory, the fluent speaker, who had even taken a Korean proficiency test in the States, spoke leisurely. Of course, in perfect Korean.
“Bulgogi sounds delicious. I’ve had it at Korean restaurants in the US, but I wonder if the homemade version is different?”
“It’s delicious because it has my grandmother’s secret marinade.”
“Now that’s something to look forward to.”
“Secret? What’s a secret?”
And then, it was dinnertime.
His mom and dad arrived with a container full of the bulgogi his grandmother had made. And it wasn't just bulgogi. They had enlisted Seo Eunchan’s help to bring enough food to feed the bodyguards as well.
Like a large family, they all gathered around the table again. Evan Block, tasting the delicious bulgogi made by Seojun’s grandmother, said with a smile. Richel Hill also had a bright, expectant look on her face.
“We’re meeting them tomorrow, right?”
“The Naeuiwon team. I’ve been wanting to meet them!”
“Dajin is coming too.”
“Hunter! The Hunter! I’ve seen her other works since then, too.”
Richel Hill beamed.
“I brought gifts, too!”
“Me too.”
At Evan Block and Richel Hill's words, Seojun recalled the mountain of presents Richel had given him on the first day.
‘That was already a ton…’
“You brought more?”
“They’re small, so I brought them in my suitcase.”
“What are they?”
At Seojun’s question, Richel Hill smiled brightly and said.
“It’s a secret!”
* * *
On the day of the meeting.
Four Korean actors and two Hollywood actors stood facing each other at the entrance of the accommodation.
As the standoff dragged on, Seojun glanced at the wrapped items scattered on the floor before looking back up at the four actors.
A small smile played on Seojun’s lips as he saw the blood drain from their faces. They seemed more shocked than he had expected.
What should I say? Where do I even begin? Lee Jiseok, who had been opening and closing his mouth, finally managed to utter a single word.
“Seojun…”
“Yes?”
“You said… friends…?”
Seojun smiled and replied to Lee Jiseok’s question.
“They are. Very close friends.”
“…I’m sure they are.”
Well, he couldn’t say he hadn’t intentionally misled them by simply introducing them as ‘friends.’ Hahaha. Their shocked faces were hilarious.
Samchon Jongho looked as if he were seeing a ghost, and Hyung Dohun seemed completely dazed. Nuna Dajin looked like she was about to burst into tears, while Hyung Jiseok, at least, seemed to be slowly grasping the situation.
The one to break the frozen atmosphere was the ever-bright and cheerful Richel Hill. She looked delighted to be speaking with Koreans other than Seojun.
“Hello! I’m Richel Hill. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
“Heek!”
A strange sound escaped someone’s lips at Richel Hill’s sudden Korean assault.
The four actors’ wildly trembling eyes darted to Evan Block standing next to Richel Hill, then back to her.
“I-I thought Evan Block was the one who spoke Korean…”
Richel Hill, overhearing Lee Dajin’s murmur, smiled and said.
“I learned too. Am I good?”
“…Incredibly! Ah, hello. I’m Lee Dajin!”
Meeting a Hollywood actor for the first time in her life, a tense Lee Dajin bowed a full 90 degrees. Her eyes widening at the gesture, Richel Hill smiled and bowed back.
While Richel Hill and Lee Dajin were exchanging extremely polite greetings, Evan Block extended his hand to Kim Jongho.
“Hello. I’m Evan Block. It’s a true pleasure to meet you.”
“…A pleasure. I’m Kim Jongho.”
Kim Jongho, who had been debating between ‘My name is’ and ‘I am,’ spoke in Korean. Half of his mind was still reeling. The sight of fluent Korean flowing from a foreigner’s mouth felt like watching a dubbed movie, utterly surreal.
The four actors, having regained some of their senses, exchanged greetings with Evan and Richel. After shaking their hands, Lee Dajin, with a look of pure bliss,
“I’m never washing this hand again!”
She exclaimed, cradling her right hand with her left.
As the four actors were slowly coming to terms with the situation, Seojun began picking up the items they had dropped. One was a black plastic bag, so small or so full that the corners of snack bags were peeking out.
“What’s all this?”
“Ah, that’s a pres…”
As Seojun handed them the beautifully wrapped gifts they had unknowingly dropped, the four actors’ faces instantly turned white.
Snacks, stationery, a diary, a wristwatch.
The four actors looked up at the glittering Hollywood stars. As the three Hollywood actors tilted their heads in confusion, it felt as though their returning senses had packed up and left again.
If I had known, I would have bought something else!
“Seojun…”
Lee Jiseok called out to Seojun. His voice was thick with resentment.
“Yes?”
“You said… friends…”
It wasn’t just Lee Jiseok; Kim Jongho, Park Dohun, and Lee Dajin all stared at Seojun with resentful eyes.
Huh? What’s this?
Are we starting over?
Seojun tilted his head, confused by the four actors’ reactions.
* * *
Hahahaha.
Laughter filled the restaurant where the actors had gathered for dinner. Richel Hill was laughing so hard she looked like she might cry, and Evan Block couldn’t stop either. Seojun’s shoulders shook with laughter.
“You thought we were middle schoolers?”
“Well, Seojun said you were his friends, so we assumed you were his age. We even searched for you online, but we never imagined it would be you two.”
Kim Jongho shook his head in disbelief.
“Seojun has never brought friends to the set before. He’s never asked for autographs either. So we decided to show his friends our cool actor-selves and got all dressed up…”
Seojun laughed at Lee Jiseok’s words. No wonder all four of them were dressed more formally than usual.
“Hyung, my friends are more interested in idols than actors. Well, the kids at my school might be a little different, but most people prefer idols.”
“Ah, you’re at an arts middle school, right?”
‘Arts middle school?’ ‘Yep, an arts middle school.’ Richel Hill and Evan Block whispered to each other.
“Yes. In the acting department. I also just passed the audition for *Escape*.”
Ooh.
At the unexpected news, all eyes turned to Seojun.
Munch. Seojun took a bite of tteokgalbi and smiled. Now that *Escape* had been mentioned, it was time to drop the second bombshell. Seojun sent a look, and Evan Block and Richel Hill’s lips curved into smirks.
Hearing about Seojun’s friends, Lee Dajin asked.
“That’s great! What roles did your friends get?”
“They’re playing Go Joowon’s friends in the archery club and also patients.”
“I see. So they’ll all be playing zombies.”
“Yes.”
Lee Dajin nodded, and her eyes met Evan Block’s and Richel Hill’s.
‘Right, we all know, but the two of them probably don’t yet!’
Realizing this, Lee Dajin quickly explained.
“*Escape* is Seojun’s next project. It’s a zombie movie. It hasn’t been announced in the news yet, so most people don’t know. Oh, and this is a secret until the articles come out. It’s part of the promotion plan.”
Evan Block said with a smile.
“We know about it.”
“Ah, Seojun must have told you.”
At Kim Jongho’s words, the other three actors nodded in understanding.
Watching them, the three Hollywood actors shared a meaningful smile. As the four Korean actors tilted their heads in confusion, Richel Hill spoke up.
“We’re in it too. *Escape*.”
“…What?”
“We’re so happy to be filming with all of you.”
At Evan Block’s words, the four bewildered actors froze as if struck by lightning. Their chopsticks, in the middle of picking up food, stopped in mid-air. A shocked silence fell over the once-boisterous restaurant.
“Wait, so… you’re in it? *Escape*? A Korean movie?!”
As Lee Dajin spoke, her jaw dropped, as did those of the other three actors.
Their eyes, once again wide with shock, turned to the Hollywood actors, who were smiling like villains.
Evan Block said.
“Jun introduced us. The script was great, so we decided to join. Our parts will be short, but we look forward to working with you all.”
At his words, the four actors, like zombies with malfunctioning brains, turned to look at Seojun, who was grinning from ear to ear. Seojun met their horrified gazes with a bright smile.
“Everyone’s going to be so surprised, right?”
Looking at Seojun’s playful face, the four actors simultaneously had the same thought.
‘It’s going to be more than just surprised.’
The four of them gulped, imagining the chaos that would erupt in Korea after *Escape* was released.
After the whirlwind of a dinner, Evan Block and Richel Hill were back at the lodging, eating the snacks Lee Jiseok had bought and happily examining the cute, middle-schooler-style gifts.
“This is cute!”
“This pen writes nicely.”
As Seojun laughed along with the two actors, someone poked him in the side.
“This is all your fault, Seojun…”
Lee Dajin and Park Dohun, who had unintentionally given gifts fit for a middle schooler to their favorite Hollywood actors, couldn’t even look at the two stars who were delighted by the simple presents.
They could only resent Seojun for hiding who the recipients were, poking him in the side. Kim Jongho and Lee Jiseok cheered them on with their eyes.
Hmm.
It didn’t hurt, but the poking in his side felt like a jab at his conscience. To be honest, he never imagined they would go so far as to buy gifts for his ‘friends.’
Seojun raised both hands in surrender.
“My bad.”
At that, Park Dohun stopped poking and whispered.
“Tell us what Evan Block and Richel Hill like, and I’ll forgive you.”
“Me too!”
Lee Dajin whispered as well, and Lee Jiseok and Kim Jongho’s eyes lit up. Seojun saw their expressions and nodded with a smile.
After carefully putting away the gifts they received (the four Korean actors’ eyes widened at the sight, but the two didn’t notice), Evan Block and Richel Hill presented the four with gifts they had brought from America.
Evan Block’s gift was a high-end fountain pen, and Richel Hill’s gift was,
“Oh my gosh…!”
“Swallin Anum?!”
An autograph and a short letter from Swallin Anum. The brief letter mentioned how much she had enjoyed *Naeuiwon* and the children’s play *Spring*, leaving the four actors looking at Richel Hill with faces full of emotion.
“To be precise, my gift is the autograph. As for the letter, when I told my teacher I was going to meet you all, she asked me to pass it along.”
Her words moved the four actors even more as they gently touched the letter paper.
‘I have her autograph, but I want a handwritten letter too.’
Seojun gazed wistfully at the four letters.