After receiving an unexpected welcome in the United States, Taeha immediately exited Los Angeles International Airport and headed to a reserved five-star hotel.
He planned to stay at this hotel for over a week.
Since the chances of Pyungwha winning the award were so high, various American media outlets had already requested interviews with Taeha.
In addition, he was scheduled to appear on one of America’s famous talk shows.
Of course, Taeha did not intend to only work in America.
‘I should experience some overseas travel for once.’
After being possessed, Taeha had never been on a proper overseas trip.
The same was true in his previous life—it was only natural since he had been so immersed in work that he died from overwork.
In fact, it could be said that he had no rest at all.
In this life, he had always maintained a perfect work-life balance, so there was no chance of a dramatic situation unfolding, but that was all.
For the sake of efficient rest, overseas travel was excluded from his priorities.
He judged that the act of packing heavy luggage and spending hours on transportation for an overseas trip was actually a loss.
Besides, Taeha preferred to just laze around at home on his days off, binge-watching movies or dramas.
But since he was already in LA, Taeha thought he might as well try some overseas travel this time.
For reference, during his visit to Milan, his schedule had been too tight for such thoughts.
That was especially true since Pyungwha was still airing.
However, this time he had relatively more free time, so Taeha could plan sightseeing in America.
But then,
‘I wonder if it’ll be okay. There are more people recognizing me than I thought.’
At the airport, more people recognized Taeha than he had anticipated.
The proof was that after unpacking at the hotel and briefly going out for dinner, a crowd gathered, forcing him to return.
‘It almost turned into an impromptu autograph session.’
Of course, if the number hadn’t been so large, Taeha would have provided fan service.
He was never stingy with fan service.
But when too many people gathered, he couldn’t do that.
There was a risk of accidents, and it could also interfere with the business of the restaurant he intended to eat at.
So Taeha had no choice but to return to the hotel and request room service.
Fortunately, the high-quality steak befitting a five-star hotel was a relief.
‘I might have to give up traveling in the US if things go badly. Well, that’s a story for after I finish all my schedules.’
With that, Taeha set aside the Earl Grey tea he had been drinking as a palate cleanser after dinner and prepared to sleep.
But he couldn’t fall asleep easily.
***
‘Is American water not agreeing with me?’
Taeha was still unable to adjust to the jet lag on the second day.
It was strange considering that in Milan, which had a longer flight time, he had slept well without even thinking about jet lag.
Thus, suffering from lack of sleep, Taeha managed to get through two days of American schedules.
Fortunately, no one noticed Taeha’s sleep deprivation.
That was only natural since Taeha handled his schedules so professionally.
Over the two days, Taeha conducted interviews with two newspapers and one magazine.
Contrary to his slight worries, there were no difficult parts at all.
Rather, Taeha received many questions that were too simple for him.
Both the newspapers and magazines seemed to focus on who Taeha, a person not well-known in America, actually was.
Just the fact that there were no questions about which of his usual acquaintances—Han Yun-seong, Seon Min-gi, or Lee Seok-hyeon—he was closest to showed how low the interview difficulty was.
Occasionally, Seon Min-gi, being a well-known actor in America, was asked about their relationship, but that was it.
It did not lead to deeper interest.
Thus, Taeha smoothly completed his American schedule.
Both the American newspapers and magazines that worked with Taeha expressed satisfaction.
Taeha’s interview skills, maximized by his Immersion Ability, were excellent.
Also, the fact that no matter how Taeha was photographed, the results were outstanding was one of the biggest reasons the newspapers and magazines were satisfied with the interview.
As a result, one of the magazine editors left a comment for Taeha.
“Working with Mr. Taeha for even a short time made me admire you at every moment. I sincerely hope you get a better result than expected at this awards ceremony.”
It was an incredible compliment that Taeha had not expected to hear in America.
That’s why Taeha also expressed his gratitude to the employee.
And the AH Entertainment employees, including Im Chan-hyung, who had been listening nearby, felt proud.
Because they had witnessed with their own eyes that Taeha’s star quality worked even in America.
But as they say, life is full of ups and downs—not everything was good in America.
The problematic event unfolded on the day of the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony.
***
“Should I try this one on too?”
“Sure.”
“Oh, sorry. How about this one?”
“Yeah, I’ll try it on.”
“Ah, no. I think this is better.”
“Nice. Let’s try that one too.”
When appearing at official events,
Taeha now had no other choice.
As an ambassador, he had to wear Prada.
So Taeha thought choosing clothes for the awards ceremony would be very easy.
But it wasn’t as easy as he thought.
The fact that Taeha had been nominated for the Primetime Emmy Awards had made Camilla Prada extremely excited.
Thus, dozens of outfits personally prepared and sent by Camilla Prada arrived for Taeha.
And it was stylist Kim Su-jin’s job to pick the best among those outfits.
To help with this task, Taeha had to change clothes several times at Kim Su-jin’s request.
Thanks to that, Taeha felt that choosing awards ceremony outfits was easier before becoming a Prada ambassador.
“Just one last time—please try on the first outfit you wore. I’m really sorry, Actor-nim.”
“It’s fine. You’re the one working hard because of me. Which one was the first?”
“This one on the far left.”
Thus, after much effort, Taeha was able to fix the thirteenth outfit he tried on as his awards ceremony attire.
Kim Su-jin let out a sigh of relief and said.
“Choosing your clothes is never easy, Actor-nim. Because everything suits you so well.”
“But you pick out the best one from among them. You worked hard today too.”
And the next day,
Finally wearing the outfit chosen yesterday and finishing his makeup, Taeha moved to the Peacock Theater, where today’s awards ceremony was being held.
Before arriving at the Peacock Theater, he met Song Ji-eun, who had entered the US separately to handle her schedule.
In addition to Song Ji-eun, Director Jo Joong-hoon, and Park Hyeon-je and Han Ji-hee (the sub male and female leads) who appeared together in Pyungwha, as well as Im Geon-won and Im Bo-ram (the sub-sub male and female leads), were also set to attend this awards ceremony.
Thus, a total of seven main figures who shined in Pyungwha walked the red carpet of the Primetime Emmy Awards.
The atmosphere on the red carpet was not much different from Korea.
But the scale was enormous.
First of all, the size of the Peacock Theater where the awards ceremony was held was beyond imagination.
It made one doubt whether it was really an indoor theater.
Moreover, the massive crowd fitting that scale also blazed with reporting fervor.
For an ordinary person, it would be impossible not to be nervous.
But again, with the help of his Immersion Ability, Taeha was able to shine on the red carpet without much difficulty.
The proof was that the moment Taeha appeared, silence fell around the red carpet as if everyone had forgotten how to breathe.
After finishing photo time and moving to another location for interviews, Song Ji-eun said.
“I think Taeha-ssi is definitely going to be the best dressed at this Emmy Awards.”
Song Ji-eun, an ambassador for Gucci, was showing off styling as excellent as Taeha’s.
But in her voice, which was certain that Taeha would become the best dressed, there was not a trace of trembling.
Taeha asked curiously.
“Is that so? I think the outfits of the other celebrities here are also plenty excellent.”
“Well, they are. They’re probably all ambassadors of famous luxury brands like us. But the best dressed isn’t just given to someone who dresses well.”
“Then?”
“Someone who overwhelms the audience and leaves a strong impression, like Taeha-ssi. That’s who gets it.”
Song Ji-eun said this, her face flushed with excitement.
She seemed thrilled at the thought that Taeha, the Initial, might become the best dressed.
Watching her, Taeha chuckled.
“As expected, only Ji-eun-ssi is on my side.”
At that, as if she knew what Taeha was thinking, Song Ji-eun waved her hand.
“Oh, come on. I’m not saying this because I’m the Initial. I’m telling you, Taeha-ssi will really get the best dressed award!”
“Yes, yes. Thank you.”
“Ah! Seriously!”
To be honest, Taeha thought Song Ji-eun’s reaction was somewhat exaggerated.
That’s why he didn’t attach much meaning to it.
It was a matter that couldn’t be dwelled on for long anyway.
Because it was almost time to start the interview.
“Next is Kang Taeha-ssi and Song Ji-eun-ssi’s turn.”
A staff member announced the order, and soon they stood before the cameras.
Then two interviewers greeted Taeha and Song Ji-eun.
“The two of you can be called today’s main characters! Nice to meet you!”
The two people hosting the Emmy interviews today were Aaron Johnson, a journalist formerly from the New York Times, and Mia Knox, the host of the TV talk show The Mouse.
And among them, it was Aaron Johnson who asked Taeha an impolite question.
“Kang Taeha-ssi, who was merely an unknown actor from a small country, has gained tremendous popularity with just one work, Pyungwha, and has finally been nominated for the Primetime Emmy Awards. How do you feel?”
The moment Aaron Johnson asked this, not only Song Ji-eun but also Mia Knox’s expression hardened.
Because Aaron Johnson’s question contained both a disparagement of the country called the Republic of Korea and a disparagement of Taeha, who had steadily worked as an actor in that country.
But even knowing this, Taeha did not lose his smile.
Rather, he activated his Immersion Ability and showed an even brighter, more transparent smile.
Then he asked Aaron Johnson.
“What’s your name, reporter?”
And this question carried the following meaning:
Who are you, rolling in from somewhere, to say that to me?
Unless he was a fool, Aaron Johnson couldn’t fail to grasp this meaning, and taken aback by the unexpected counterattack, he stammered.
“I’m, I’m Aaron Johnson. Formerly with the New York Times.”
“I see. Nice to meet you.”
“Yes. Nice to meet you.”
With a bewildered expression, Aaron Johnson accepted Taeha’s handshake, and Taeha lightly patted Aaron Johnson’s shoulder, putting a cap on the conversation.
“I’m very glad to be invited to such a wonderful awards ceremony. Above all, the part that touched me the most after arriving in Los Angeles was that there were many people who welcomed me and my colleagues without any hesitation. I want to continue doing many works that repay such love in the future.”
Moreover, Taeha’s English, spoken like this, never faltered even for a moment.
It was the moment Song Ji-eun’s heart, which had briefly hardened, felt a refreshing surge of relief.