Haha.. I'll Graciously Accept Your Kind Intentions.
After filming the bus rollover scene in Chapter 40, all of Korea erupted in an uproar.
It all started with the media outlets. They ran massive coverage based on footage released by KBC and J&J Entertainment, reporting how Seo Eun-seong had saved the stunt actors from a fire accident during an outdoor shoot.
And just like that, Korea was once again plastered with the three letters "Seo Eun-seong."
Especially on various online communities, where his posts dominated the top trending spots.
Praise and cheers poured in for Seo Eun-seong's heroic actions. Naturally, the rookie actor's brand reputation soared, and the buzz around KBC's weekend drama The Three Sisters of Jang Pharmacy grew even thicker.
Meanwhile, as shooting wrapped up for the day, late lunchtime arrived.
"Eun-seong, you did great today. And you look extra handsome today?"
Oh Ji-yeon, who had been gripping the van's steering wheel, glanced back at Seo Eun-seong.
"Haha. It's all thanks to you, Manager. How did you even think to turn that into news?"
Seo Eun-seong stuck his tongue out at Oh Ji-yeon. She had a knack for blowing up any buzzworthy moment into a full-blown topic.
"So humble? If it weren't for you that day on set, we almost had a disaster. And it's a fact that you saved those stunt actors, right? I just let more people know about your good deed."
Oh Ji-yeon's words weren't just empty flattery. Right before Seo Eun-seong pried open the bus door and went in, the martial arts team had been about to rush out with fire extinguishers. Without him, it really could've been a major accident.
"Phew. Honestly, I was a bit scared too. But hey, it all worked out. Thanks, Manager."
"You'll probably... see more good things coming your way often. So look forward to it? Seo Eun-seong?"
"Again? Now I'm really getting my hopes up, Manager?"
Seo Eun-seong and Oh Ji-yeon clicked perfectly as actor and manager.
"Hungry? I heard there's a famous baekban place nearby? Let's go eat."
"Yes! Sis!"
"Sis? Pfft."
Oh Ji-yeon burst out laughing at Seo Eun-seong's playful remark.
Soon, a shabby but renowned gukbap and baekban joint came into view.
That's when it happened.
"Huh? Eun-seong-ssi? You here for lunch too?"
Indeed. Kim Na-yeon came trotting over with her manager toward Seo Eun-seong.
"Fancy seeing you here again? Na-yeon-ssi?"
Oh Ji-yeon's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly. But she couldn't outright snub a top actress, so they ended up joining tables.
"Mind if we eat together?"
Ding-a-ling.
Oh Ji-yeon opened the restaurant door first and stepped in. Past lunchtime, the quiet shop had a few aunties gathered watching TV.
But then.
"Oh my goodness?!"
One of the serving aunties spotted Seo Eun-seong, dropped her tray, and shrieked.
"Heavens! It's the hero! Our hero!"
"What? The hero's here?!"
The auntie chopping green onions in the kitchen and the grandma at the register all came rushing out at once.
"Aigoo! My lord! He's way more handsome in person than on TV!"
"Oh my oh my! Look at that height! Those broad shoulders—he's total general material!"
"Our hero! Look how worn out his face is from saving people on TV! Half his face is gone! Poor thing!"
The top actress Kim Na-yeon was completely invisible to the aunties.
"Aigoo! Look at these arms! You saved people from the bus with these? Hero?"
"Saw it on the news—real accident on set, and our hero boy saved them, right?"
They mobbed only Seo Eun-seong, stroking his arms, patting his back—it was chaos.
Indeed, the bus rollover scene from episode 4 of the drama had aired, and the news had made it a huge sensation.
"Ah.. haha.. Hello. I'm Seo Eun-seong."
Seo Eun-seong smiled softly down at the enthusiastically fawning aunties. Rather than burdensome, he found them kinda cute.
"Eun-seong? No! Kim Young-woong! Come in! Come in! Sit at the coolest spot over there!"
"Hot? I'll turn on the fan first?"
"Cushion! Gotta sit on a cushion! Can't just sit on the chair!"
Under the aunties' fierce welcome, Seo Eun-seong found himself ushered to the best seat almost against his will.
"Pardon? I'm fine, really?"
No matter how much he protested, it was useless. Instead, Oh Ji-yeon and Kim Na-yeon stood awkwardly like fifth wheels across from him.
Eun-seong-ssi is so popular..
Kim Na-yeon blinked in bewilderment. Normally, entering a restaurant meant chaos as people recognized her. But to these aunties, top actress Kim Na-yeon was utterly transparent.
Good for him. He's blowing up.
Still, it felt oddly satisfying and heartwarming.
A moment later, four portions of spicy pork baekban arrived.
"Hmm?"
But the spread in front of Seo Eun-seong was on another level.
"Hero! Eat up! This is cultured ginseng root we grew for my hubby, but specially for you to keep your strength up!"
"Made the egg roll extra big! Loaded it with meat too—eat it all!"
In front of Seo Eun-seong alone, the spicy pork piled up like a mountain. Extra-large egg rolls and grilled abalone not even on the menu appeared as service. Most absurd was the honey-glazed cultured ginseng root delicately plated.
Meanwhile, Kim Na-yeon and Manager Oh Ji-yeon's tables had only basics like kkakdugi and soybean sprout salad.
"Auntie? This is too much! Thank you so much! I'll dig in!"
Seo Eun-seong flashed a bright smile and scooped a big bite of rice.
"Aww! Even the way he eats is blessed."
"Right? Sis? Our hero's a real gem, huh?"
The aunties blushed like schoolgirls, thrilled.
"But hero?"
"Yes? Madam?"
The owner propped her chin, gazing intently at Seo Eun-seong with a serious face.
"Don't get too close to that sassy girl from Jang Pharmacy. That one's got a temper like no other. Pretty face ain't everything?"
"Right! Even if it's drama, she's just a vixen! Vixen!"
"Cough!"
Seo Eun-seong reeled from the sudden roast by the owner and aunties.
"Cough! Cough!"
Across from him, Kim Na-yeon, who had been quietly eating, choked and coughed up a storm.
It was her drama character Jang Seo-ga getting trashed by the aunties.
"Forget that sassy one. Wanna meet my daughter? She passed the civil service exam this year—such a good girl, and great cook too! Want pics?"
The aunties started flipping through their phone galleries, diving into full matchmaking mode.
"Haha.. I'll graciously accept your kind intentions, Auntie. I'm still not ready yet."
Seo Eun-seong politely threw up an iron wall, sweating bullets.
But the aunties' fawning and affection barrage didn't stop until the meal ended.
"Special grilled beef. Try it~"
"Like sikhye?"
"Love it!"
Seo Eun-seong chewed beef and sipped sikhye, glancing at Oh Ji-yeon across from him.
"Eun-seong."
Oh Ji-yeon swirled the sikhye in her glass like fine wine, elegantly.
"Yes, Manager. What is it?"
"How's it feel? This is the real power of weekend dramas."
Oh Ji-yeon curved her red lips into a charming smile.
"Think about it. You captured teen and twenty-something girls' hearts with the flashy movie outing and Siren MV? Secured 30s and 40s mass appeal with I Live Alone variety?"
"Yeah."
"And now one hit from the weekend drama bags the elders' love too?"
Oh Ji-yeon winked at Seo Eun-seong.
"Actor Seo Eun-seong will become a national actor loved by all ages in Korea. What do you think of my plan?"
"Whoa..? You had all that in mind?"
Seo Eun-seong stared blankly at her, spoon in hand.
Oh Ji-yeon was managing rookie Seo Eun-seong with every demographic targeted.
"Manager."
"Yeah?"
"Are you a genius by any chance?"
Seo Eun-seong raised his thumb with genuine admiration from the heart.
"Hehe. Glad you think so."
Oh Ji-yeon beamed with satisfaction. This actor Seo Eun-seong... he followed every lead perfectly and nailed every task. Definitely worth grooming.