Chapter 30: Youngbin, Please (1)

It was about an hour after the after-party had started when Ha Jae-ban and I entered the restaurant.

In other words, it was exactly when Seon Ji-yoon was at her happiest, pouring drinks down.

“Oh my! Choi Gun-hyung’s glass is empty!”

“His glass is empty!”

“Shall we fill Choi Gun-hyung’s glass together? And what do we do with a filled soju glass?”

“Bottoms up! Bottoms up! Bottoms up!”

As expected, Seon Ji-yoon.

No way I’m ever sitting at the same table as that heavy drinker.

The first after-party, I sat at the same table as Seon Ji-yoon, got caught up in her pace, and ended up drinking more than two bottles per person before collapsing together. I think she finished five.

After waking up the next day with a pain in my skull like a god being born, I stuck to only drinking whiskey with Seon Ji-yoon.

That was because whiskey was at least the weakest alcohol for Seon Ji-yoon.

Even then, she could down half a bottle without a second thought, so there was no way to win.

Still, unless you had a constitution as strong as Seon Ji-yoon’s, there were no drunks at parties she attended—which was what made her great.

For people who didn’t drink, she would liven up the mood with water instead of soju, and anyone with a bad drinking habit, she’d send home straight away.

At any party with Seon Ji-yoon, there were only two types who got so drunk they couldn’t control themselves.

Those who recklessly challenged Seon Ji-yoon, or those who loved drinking as much as she did.

I was neither. So why did I drink so much that day?

Anyway, only people who truly believed in her principle, ‘Drinking together should be happy,’ could become the drunk of Seon Ji-yoon’s parties.

‘I really liked that philosophy, at least.’

By the time I was nearing my end, things had turned sour with Seon Ji-yoon, and we barely drank together anymore, so these memories were all old now.

Ha Jae-ban looked around the tables and spoke.

“Hyung, where are you going to sit?”

He made it sound like there were lots of options, but there weren’t many tables with two empty seats. Most were full or had maybe one spot left.

“As far away from Seon Ji-yoon as possible. No exceptions.”

“But in this life, isn’t Seon Ji-yoon your sunbae?”

“She is. Hey, don’t laugh.”

“I’m not laughing.”

“Oh! Jeon Yeohu!”

Damn it.

I hear it—the voice of the god of drinking, calling me.

Go away, specter of the god of drink.

If I follow that voice, I’ll end up crossing the River Jordan.

“Jeon Yeohu! Over here~! Director Park Min-tae is here, too!”

“Huh?”

Why is Director Park Min-tae here?

I turned my head in disbelief to see a red-faced jug already tipsy, waving at me.

“Hey~ Yeohu~!”

He liked to drink, but I didn’t think he’d actually show up to the after-party.

I took Ha Jae-ban’s phone, entered my number, and handed it back.

Either way, now that Seon Ji-yoon had marked me, there’d be no chance to talk with Ha Jae-ban about his agency issues or anything else tonight.

“My number and my manager’s. Save them.”

“Oh, okay!”

“And don’t even come near that table. You’re a terrible drinker.”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“I saw it in an interview before I returned. Got it? Stay away. Cleaning up your corpse would be a pain.”

“Yes……”

Ha Jae-ban’s gaze shifted subtly, but I didn’t have time to worry about it as I quickly moved to another table. The one I ended up at had Seon Ji-yoon, Choi Gun-hyung, Park Min-tae, Director Woo Hyun-sik, and a few other senior veterans.

To others, it might’ve looked like the perfect networking spot, but just being at the same table as Seon Ji-yoon made me want to avoid it.

I was seated diagonally across from Seon Ji-yoon, with Director Park Min-tae and Director Woo Hyun-sik on either side.

I think it started from there.

From that moment, my glass was never once empty.

The rest of the memory is gone.

*****

Drink! Drink!

Hey, hey, he’s gonna die.

Yeohu, I’m sorry—hic

Choi Gun-hyung’s done for, too! The winner is Seon Ji-yoon!

My last memory was Seon Ji-yoon laughing as I toppled over, and Choi Gun-hyung, clinging to my shoulders, slurring out weird drunken nonsense.

*****

On nights when you drink yourself unconscious, there are only two outcomes.

Either you sleep like the dead and wake up hungover, or you have a terrible nightmare.

Unfortunately, this time it was the latter.

In the dream, I was sitting in a huge, envy-inducing apartment with all the lights off, just staring blankly at my phone screen.

On the screen were endless posts cursing someone out.

The name was hidden, so I couldn’t see who it was.

The insults had spread across every SNS, news article, and video platform channel you could imagine.

I avoided him because his eyes looked evil, guess physiognomy is real

This guy’s just a menace to society

Look at him, not even posting an apology, bet he’ll never admit his fault lol

Ah, another one blows up like this └ fr lol every day there’s something └ Got cocky after succeeding young, someone needs to send him to a re-education camp lol. The world runs just fine without bastards like you~ └ Still can’t figure out how that ugly bastard got famous

I feel bad for the fans who liked a guy like that. Huh? Why are there tears in my eyes? Is that… me?

‘If you’re going to show me something, at least show me a name or what happened.’

I’d seen so many hate comments like these, I couldn’t even guess what crime had happened or to whom.

In the dream, I searched my contacts for someone, but couldn’t bring myself to call, and just threw my phone onto the sofa.

‘Shit…….’

I could feel the emotion from my dream self.

It’s not my problem.

I don’t have to care.

Not like anyone would believe me if I denied it, anyway.

If I’d really done something like that, it’s only right I quit acting.

It’s your fault.

So at least try to explain yourself to me.

I’m your friend, damn it.

No, I shouldn’t listen.

I’ll only get caught up in it for nothing.

Did I ever mess up before?

Shit. I can’t even remember.

This isn’t why I started acting.

The phone screen goes black, and I lie back on the sofa.

The dream dissolves into darkness.

When I woke up from the dream the next morning, I was sprawled on the floor with my belly bared. No wonder I felt chilly—too drunk to even make it to my bed.

At least I learned a new superstition:

If you sleep with your stomach exposed, you get nightmares.

“My head’s splitting.”

Thanks to the combo of hangover and nightmare, my body felt wrecked.

Still, it was a good thing some forgotten memories came back.

I downed a cup of water and checked my phone to find messages from my manager and Ha Jae-ban.

[Manager Gido: Yeohu! There’s no schedule today so just rest easy. Call me when you wake up!]

[Unsaved number: Hyung, it’s Ha Jae-ban. Contact me when you wake up.]

Both messages came in the middle of the night, so it seemed Manager Gido had come to the after-party for my sake. I’d sent him home first on purpose, so I felt a bit guilty.

Ha Jae-ban must’ve gone home around the same time as me.

First, I texted my manager to apologize.

[Hyung, I’m up. I can’t remember much from last night, but… thank you for everything.]

Better to mention Ha Jae-ban’s situation too.

[By the way, can I introduce one more actor to our agency?]

Next, Ha Jae-ban.

[Contact me in 2 hours.]

I enjoyed a refreshing morning shower while sorting through my memories of Ha Jae-ban.

Listening to his story made me think more about regression.

First of all, the [Regressor Survival System] really seemed to prioritize the ‘survival’ of regressed people above all else. Maybe in Ha Jae-ban’s case, the system judged that not giving him quests was best for his survival.

‘I’m the total opposite.’

And another thing I still didn’t get.

How were regressors selected in the first place? Not everyone who dies regresses.

“It’s not like regression is Russian roulette.”

Do you have to be ready to die to regress? Something like that?

Whatever.

Thinking about it only gives me a headache. I’ll just go make some ramen.

*****

Exactly two hours later, Ha Jae-ban called.

[Hyung!]

“My head’s pounding, keep it down.”

[How’s your head?]

“Not good. How much did I drink last night?”

[Um… just from Ji-yoon sunbae’s table alone, 20 bottles in the first round?]

“That’s enough, you can stop talking now.”

I felt the bad memories rising again.

“Anyway, I already told my manager about your agency issue, so drop by next time we have a reading. Finish your contract properly before coming over. I don’t want any messy problems.”

[…]

“What’s wrong, why so quiet?”

[I’m just not sure how to thank you in situations like this. Do I buy you a meal or something?]

“I’m not taking money off a kid.”

[But in this life, I saved up well, I have plenty. Didn’t even have to spend it on treatment.]

“Then I’ll gladly take your pocket money.”

[Hehe. Honestly, I didn’t have a good impression of you before… sorry…….]

“Hey. Do you usually tell people to their faces when you talk behind their back? Forget it, stop laughing, it’s cringe. Just don’t go badmouthing our agency later. We’re not a big company yet.”

I’d make it big later, though.

[It’s fine.]

“Why do you want to leave your agency anyway? They’re bigger than us right now.”

[Me? Being here just brings up too many memories of the past. It seems better to be with you, hyung.]

Probably is.

I almost reconsidered, but after hearing the agency name at the party, I was sure moving was best for Ha Jae-ban’s future.

He might not know, but a few years from now, that company ends up all over the news because of the CEO’s crimes.

“Okay. I’ve said my piece, so I’m hanging up.”

[Alright. See you at the reading.]

I hung up rather coolly, and a few days later, it was time for the reading.

After the after-party, maybe because she’d warmed up to me, Seon Ji-yoon walked straight over and greeted me the moment our eyes met.

“Yeohu~ You’re coming to the after-party tonight, right?”

Seon Ji-yoon smiled brightly, tilting her soju glass.

Top star actresses really do have a different kind of smile; even now, I can picture it in a CF.

If I were just an ordinary rookie actor, I might have fallen for this kind of attention at first sight.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t an ordinary rookie actor, and objectively, I was better-looking than Seon Ji-yoon.

Whether before regression or now, I’m still better looking than you.

Ah~~~ why are you better looking than me!!

Out of all your drunken rants, that one was my favorite.

“Yeohu?”

“Sorry, I have somewhere to be after today’s reading.”

“Really? Aw, too bad. Were you so sorry to refuse that you just clammed up?”

“Well… something like that. Let’s get together next time.”

“Yeohu, the more I see, the more sincere you seem! Okay, good luck with the reading today.”

Today’s reading was up to episode 8.

After the reading, as promised, I took Ha Jae-ban to the company.

Since I said I’d be bringing in a new actor, Lee Youngbin said he’d wait out front, curious.

“Hyung!”

As soon as I parked and got out, Lee Youngbin came walking over.

He hesitated and stepped back when he saw Ha Jae-ban getting out with me.

Lee Youngbin glanced back and forth between us.

From Lee Youngbin’s or my perspective, Ha Jae-ban was a true senior in the industry, and even though he followed me like a junior because of my regression, things were different for Lee Youngbin. Over there, he was still the junior, even if older.

“Ha, Ha Jae-ban sunbae is coming to our company?”

“Not sure yet.”

“This is insane… This could be newsworthy! Aren’t we about to hit it big?”

“Don’t jinx it. We brought him in my van and came up from the parking lot on purpose to avoid rumors.”

“Hyung, what floor’s the boss on?”

“15th. We’re going straight up.”

Ha Jae-ban gave Youngbin a polite nod as a senior and followed right after me. Youngbin still looked like he couldn’t believe what was happening.

As soon as we got off the elevator, a staff member led us to the president’s office, where Ma Eun-in was waiting, dressed sharp.

“Hello, Actor Ha Jae-ban. I’ve heard a lot about you from Yeohu.”

“Hello, I’ve heard a lot about you from hyung, too.”

“I never told either of you much, though.”

“Haha, anyway, shall we sit?”

Ma Eun-in put on her business smile and led Ha Jae-ban to the sofa.

Youngbin, unsure what to do, went outside with me.

“Hyung, shouldn’t you be in there?”

“Why?”

“Because you brought him?”

“There’s nothing to gain from hearing all the contract details.”

“But you listened to mine?”

“You’re a bit of an idiot, so I had no choice.”

“Ah, got it!”

Both are juniors, but Youngbin and Ha Jae-ban have very different vibes.

Youngbin’s like a pebble picked up in an alley, while Ha Jae-ban’s like a polished stone in an aquarium. Either way, both are just inanimate objects.

We decided to wait in the staff lounge until Ha Jae-ban came out.

Youngbin seemed to have something to say, too.

“Actually, lately I haven’t been doing well at auditions.”

“The one you were supposed to try last time?”

“That, too……”

Youngbin trailed off and shook his head.

“So your skills aren’t up to—”

No, no. I’m the new and improved Jeon Yeohu, I’m the new and improved Jeon Yeohu.

Just telling the truth doesn’t solve everything. That would be rude.

‘Shit. If only you were actually good at acting.’

No.

No.

Normally, I would’ve drawn a line and stopped contacting him, but things are different now.

“What do you think you were lacking?”

“I’m not sure. I failed all three auditions recently.”

Youngbin said this while pulling out a drama audition script from his bag and handing it to me.

I recognized the dramas immediately, so I knew exactly why Youngbin had failed all these auditions.

Why did this idiot only choose these…?