A Sold-Out Theater and a Stubborn Star
Filming for Exorcism Investigation 2, which had begun in early spring, wrapped up entirely around the time summer was drawing to a close.
Director Jeon Changhwan reviewed the still cuts to be released ahead of time for marketing purposes.
Audiences of Exorcism Investigation 2 loved the bickering, family-like dynamic of the Exorcism Investigation Unit. And so he selected the stills that best captured that feeling as much as possible.
And among the stills, the one Director Jeon Changhwan had argued most forcefully to pick for himself was the Demon's face.
"……It's terrifying in motion, but still, somehow, as a still."
That dread they'd all felt when they'd first encountered it in the cave didn't come through in the photograph. Admittedly, the stills had only been taken from the first take.
None of that energy was present — the energy that had terrified everyone in that room that day.
Later, after the cave scene had been filmed, a script supervisor deeply devoted to the Exorcism Investigation Unit even went so far as to say this:
'How is our Exorcism Investigation Unit supposed to beat that……'
The absurd part was that the stunt team standing beside her actually nodded along.
It was a good omen. Exorcism Investigation was unambiguously an entertainment film. In the end, the protagonists always defeat the enemy. And in that sense, the existence of an enemy who seemed utterly impossible to beat would only amplify the audience's anticipation.
"Hah, and who cast him? Me, that's who. I dangled the bait of a friendly cameo and…"
Director Jeon Changhwan praised himself, even miming the motion of reeling in a fishing line.
The promotional stills for Exorcism Investigation 2 began to drop, one by one.
As the marketing stills for Exorcism Investigation 2 continued to drop, interest in Lee Heeyoon's next project was surging.
With Love in the Moon having ended its broadcast in late spring and no news of a follow-up role even as summer arrived, Team 1 at Leader Actors was being driven to the brink of paralysis just fielding the calls.
Lee Heeyoon was about to come of age. Perhaps because of that, every casting offer they received said more or less the same thing.
— A role that would firmly establish him as an adult actor…
— If he wants to cement his place as an adult actor, our production…
— No other work could more decisively mark the turning point in Lee Heeyoon's career.
Every offer was greedy for the first project he'd film after officially becoming an adult.
For the first time since founding Leader Actors, CEO Gam Seongbeom found himself standing amid an avalanche of enormous casting proposals.
In particular, the success of his role as 'Moon Gyeoul' had brought in a flood of advertising offers aimed at the senior demographic. Health supplements, insurance — advertisers had been reaching out with heart-stopping sums of money.
CEO Gam Seongbeom clutched his head with both hands and spoke to VP Gam Soohan.
"Soohan, I used to think actors having no work was true suffering. But it turns out this is worse……"
"Stop with the spoiled talk and get a grip."
As he spoke, VP Gam Soohan swapped the tea that Team Leader Do Jaeyeon had left in front of the CEO for an energy drink. Gam Seongbeom gave him a scolding look.
"You rascal, at least Jaeyeon makes that stuff because she cares about her health. Who knows what's even in it…… but what are you, fueling up like a machine? Chugging energy drinks?"
"Because you're always slumped over your desk when you work."
"Am I some amusement ride?"
"The tide's coming in — that's why I'm telling you not to rest."
At VP Gam Soohan's words, CEO Gam Seongbeom clicked his tongue.
"Keep that up and you'll wreck your heart. Everyone in our family has gone because of bad hearts."
"I know. I'm being careful."
"Careful, my foot — you're always pulling all-nighters, surviving on coffee and energy drinks…… Heeyoon's success matters, sure. It matters. But our lifespans matter too, you know."
"I know. It's just…… this is such a critical period right now……"
With that, the two of them looked at Lee Heeyoon visible through the practice room's glass wall. With his fan meeting just days away, he was creakily rehearsing a dance challenge. Gam Seongbeom said:
"What kind of person works that hard at that?"
"Right?"
"You know the fan meeting sold out?"
"Jaeyeon said not to tell him. If he knew he had to dance like that in front of 330 people, he'd run."
"……Then let's keep it a secret."
Having made up his mind, CEO Gam Seongbeom looked back toward Lee Heeyoon.
"I went around declaring that this year would be all about his studies…… but the world just won't cooperate."
"What can you do when the world keeps calling?"
"Then he's got to go!"
Apparently CEO Gam Seongbeom's booming voice carried, because Lee Heeyoon stopped rehearsing, scrunched up his face, and glared outside. Then he pulled down the blinds that had been open.
Fortunately, the response that they'd give the company a pass this time, since it was their first, was the louder one. No one forgives the same mistake twice. Team Leader Do Jaeyeon engraved this blunder firmly into her memory.
Truly, she had never anticipated this kind of turnout. His role in Garden of Manyusa had been small, and his face barely visible in Strange Fate; Love in the Moon, the first work in which his face was properly showcased, drew a target audience entirely different from the people who attend fan meetings.
And yet.
Far more people had shown up than anyone expected.
Lee Heeyoon had stubbornly held to a modest target, insisting that filling half the seats would be enough. Where on earth that iron conviction came from — the belief that his own fans could never possibly fill 330 seats — not a single person at Leader Actors, who had watched him for years, could say.
'Oh.'
Then it happened. Team Leader Do Jaeyeon caught sight of Lee Heeyoon just coming out of the shop, and froze.
Because he'd complained so often about everyone being visual-obsessed, they'd all made a point of never bringing up his looks around him.
But today, she decided, it was worth saying.
"……You look good."
When she'd asked what he wanted to wear, he'd said a school uniform. When she'd asked why on earth a school uniform, he'd said, "Because once next year starts, I won't be able to show it off anymore."
It surprised her every time, but he truly was an entertainer to the marrow.
And so she'd picked out a preppy look — the kind of outfit that brought to mind a well-bred student at an elite private school.
Perhaps because he'd spent his career playing downtrodden characters, he had never once dressed like a rich man's son. For some reason, Team Leader Do Jaeyeon found Lee Heeyoon oddly unfamiliar today.
Just as she'd expected, Lee Heeyoon gave her a scolding look.
"See, this is what I mean. There are plenty of important things in this world besides a face."
"In this business, the face is everything."
"Only the people at our company think that. Besides, people only say that because I can act. If articles came out every day saying I couldn't act, would anyone be talking about my face?"
……Not a single word of that was wrong.
As always, though she hated to admit it, most of what Lee Heeyoon said was right. It was just that he blurted it all out without filtering.
Still, lately Team Leader Do Jaeyeon had heard industry colleagues say a few times that "Lee Heeyoon at least has good manners." The qualifier 'at least' was a little grating, but it was something. Having good manners was better than having none at all.
As they walked into the theater, Team Leader Do Jaeyeon said:
"The tickets are all gone."
"……Since when?"
"The first day."
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because if I told you earlier, you'd have said you weren't dancing. For ninety minutes, that dance is the only funny thing I've got — you have to do it……"
At Team Leader Do Jaeyeon's words, Lee Heeyoon looked utterly exasperated, then apparently decided there was nothing to be done — he shook his head and said nothing more.
She'd felt it before, but Lee Heeyoon truly was an actor devoted to his company to a fault. When it came to scripts, no matter how carefully the company vetted them, he'd ultimately do what he wanted — but for everything else, he went along with whatever the company said. Even with commercials and photo shoots, he'd grumble when the company asked, and then do them all anyway.
Just before the fan meeting began, Team Leader Do Jaeyeon looked out over the packed house, then turned back to Lee Heeyoon. And she spoke to him — noticeably more nervous than he ever was on camera.
"Hey, you'd better listen, because I'm only saying this once."
"What now? I haven't been sassy lately."
Lee Heeyoon started defending himself before she'd even said a word. Team Leader Do Jaeyeon briefly wondered if she'd been riding the kid too hard, and then said:
"You know this already, but our company will do anything and everything for you. I want you to do everything you've ever wanted to do."
"I know. And you're already doing all of it."
When he replied like that, Team Leader Do Jaeyeon pressed on.
"Lee Heeyoon. I'm saying this as the team leader of your dedicated team."
"What is it."
Team Leader Do Jaeyeon took a deep breath and spoke.
"Thank you. For coming to the company I work at, and for making it possible for me to work with you."
At those hard-won words, Lee Heeyoon furrowed his brow for a moment, then quickly let out a short laugh.
"If you know it, treat me well."
And then, just before stepping out toward the stage, he glanced back over his shoulder and added:
"I'm the one who's thankful you took me in."
And with that, he headed for the stage.
He'd learned the house was sold out only moments before, yet the face he wore as he stepped out under the lights showed not a trace of nerves. Being loved was simply in his nature.
Truly — a superstar born to it.