Chapter 31: An Invitation to a New Stage

At the sudden mention of an invitation to the year-end awards ceremony, Myungwoo felt momentarily dazed.

[Your response in <Alley Childhood Friends> this time was insanely good. Same with <Black and White Mask> before. An invitation came to the agency. They want you, Kang Myungwoo, to attend the year-end awards.]

“Really?”

[Why would I lie about this? Anyway, come straight to the agency after school today. Got it?]

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Myungwoo answered the manager in his still-dazed state. 

After the call ended, he stared blankly at his phone.

‘Year-end awards invitation.’

The meaning was clear.

It meant there was a chance he would receive an award.

“Ha, haha…….”

Laughter escaped Myungwoo’s lips unknowingly.

‘An award…….’

In his previous life, he had struggled so hard to finally get one later on, but in this life, he might receive it in the very year he started acting.

And at just 10 years old, no less.

Was it the result of a handsome face and acting seasoned with experience?

‘Really…… feels amazing.’

Myungwoo felt like he could fly. He hummed a tune as he headed to school.

***

Classes ended, and the manager pulled up in front of the school to pick Myungwoo up.

Myungwoo hurried into the car and they headed to the agency.

“Aigoo, our Kang actor!”

Upon arriving, the agency president, Kang Changsu, greeted him with a beaming smile.

“President, did an invitation to the year-end awards really come for me?”

“Ayoo, of course! Naturally! Here, look!”

Kang Changsu handed over the invitation he had been cherishing in his hand.

Myungwoo quickly took it.

‘It’s real. A real year-end awards invitation.’

The design was slightly different from what he remembered in his past life, but this was definitely it.

“Why me…….”

“Why you? Because you acted amazingly, of course!”

At Myungwoo’s words, Kang Changsu laughed haha and patted his back pang pang.

Myungwoo stared at the invitation with a bewildered expression he didn’t bother hiding.

“Wow, I worked hard, but I didn’t think it’d be this much…….”

“Uhaha, worked hard? No, you worked hard and well, that’s why!”

‘He’s extremely excited.’

Well, even when he was Han Minwoo, Kang Changsu got this excited every time an awards invitation came. 

In his 40s, he got them every year.

Of course, they ended up as supporting actor awards.

‘Good start.’

Getting invited to awards in the year he started acting.

This wasn’t just good luck; it was mega good luck.

‘Should tell Mom too.’

She’d be thrilled. 

It was no different from her son being recognized as an actor.

Myungwoo smiled brightly and said to Kang Changsu.

“President, can I go home now? I want to tell Mom this news…….”

“Huh? Haha, this kid, such a filial son. But not yet. There’s one more thing.”

“Yes? Another thing?”

“Yes. Hey, Choo Siyoung! Come in now!”

‘Choo Siyoung?’

At the unfamiliar name, Myungwoo tilted his head.

The door opened, and a tall woman with a cool impression strode in.

“You called, President.”

“Yes, Siyoung. You know him? Our rising star, actor Kang Myungwoo. Myungwoo, this is Choo Siyoung from our company.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Assistant Manager Choo Siyoung from Woojoo Entertainment.”

The woman named Choo Siyoung looked at Myungwoo with a cool face and extended her right hand.

“Ah, I’m Kang Myungwoo. Nice to meet you.”

Myungwoo instinctively extended his right hand and shook hers.

“President, what’s this suddenly……?”

“Ahh, Myungwoo, she’ll be your official coordinator from now on. A very capable person who joined recently.”

“Official…… coordinator?”

“Yes. You’re going to keep rising, so you need a proper coordinator, right?”

Myungwoo blinked and looked at Choo Siyoung, who still had a cool expression.

‘Coordinator……..

Come to think of it, his current one was temporary. 

The president had said to wait a bit as he’d get an official one soon.

‘He got one after all.’

Well, Myungwoo welcomed it. 

Even as coordinators, temporary and official were definitely different.

“Nice. Thank you, President.”

“Uhaha, that’s not the end!”

No, what more? 

Myungwoo wondered how many new things this president had.

“This time, you got invited to the year-end awards, right? So you need clothes to wear there?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Awards ceremonies aren’t just about receiving awards.

Of course, awards are very important, but equally important is the appearance as an actor and celebrity there.

That’s why celebrities put more effort into awards outfits than anyone.

“But that’s already taken care of. JB contacted us!”

“JB? The one I shot the ad for last time?”

“Yes! They said they’ll make a custom suit just for you. Sales went up thanks to your ad, and they want to thank you.”

Kang Changsu laughed keolkeol and added JB’s reason for helping Myungwoo.

But Myungwoo intuitively knew. It wasn’t because of the ad…….

‘Jo Seungha.’

It must be repayment for straightening that kid out.

Rather good. JB’s children’s and teen clothing line was quite high-end.

Not bad for his first awards outfit.

“JB said to come to the headquarters whenever you have time. When do you think you’ll be free?”

“Ah, even today is possible, but can I tell Mom first?”

“Uhaha, of course! What are you doing, Manager Kim. Hurry and take our Kang actor to his mother!”

“Yes, President.”

Myungwoo’s manager was also grinning ear to ear. He nodded and quickly led the way.

“Myungwoo, let’s go. Mother’s waiting.”

“Ah, yes!”

Myungwoo followed with a bright face.

Getting from the company to home was quick. Thinking about the awards, they arrived before he knew it.

“Mom!”

Myungwoo quickly entered the password and came in, calling for Mom first.

“Myungwoo-ya, school over?”

No Yeonhee, working inside, smiled brightly and greeted Myungwoo.

“Mom, I have good news!”

“Oh my, what good thing happened to our Myungwoo again?”

At Myungwoo’s excited expression, No Yeonhee smiled pleasantly too.

“I got invited to the year-end awards! From KBC that aired <Alley Childhood Friends>!”

“What? Year-end awards?”

At the surprising news, No Yeonhee’s eyes widened hugely. 

Myungwoo quickly opened his bag, took out the invitation, and handed it to her.

“Yes! They said to invite me.”

“Oh my…….”

At the bigger-than-expected news, No Yeonhee couldn’t close her mouth in shock.

Her son got two roles right after starting acting, and reviews were good in the works, so she thought he had talent, but invited to awards in his first year.

No Yeonhee looked at her son proudly.

Myungwoo, with a face very handsome like hers, was smiling brightly.

“Our son, cool. Already invited to awards.”

“Haha, right?”

No need to pretend humble in front of Mom, so Myungwoo laughed and affirmed without hiding his excitement.

“Yes, so proud. Our Myungwoo must have amazing talent as an actor.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’m dazed too. Never thought I’d get invited to awards.”

“Hm, if invited to awards, no time for this. Shall Mom go buy clothes for the awards with you?”

“Ah, that’s fine too. Someone’s giving clothes.”

“Huh? Giving clothes? Who?”

At the new info, No Yeonhee tilted her head. Myungwoo smiled brightly and opened his mouth.

“I shot an ad for JB last time, right? They said sales went up thanks to me, so they’ll tailor a suit.”

“Oh my, JB? Isn’t that pretty expensive?”

“That’s why. Must be very grateful for the sales boost.”

Myungwoo deliberately didn’t mention Jo Seungha. 

Mom didn’t know, and no reason to show a 10-year-old deeply understood such processes.

“Oh my, so thankful. Good thing.”

“Right? Haha, wanted to tell Mom as soon as I heard.”

“Aigoo, our son, how come only pretty words.”

No Yeonhee smiled widely, hugged Myungwoo tightly, and stroked his head.

Myungwoo smiled brightly and hugged No Yeonhee back.

After the hug, Myungwoo said without delay.

“Mom, JB said to come to headquarters for the suit fitting, so I said today. Okay?”

“Of course, what wouldn’t be okay? Our son.”

“Ah, just in case you want another party and cake.”

“Oh my, this kid.”

At Myungwoo’s joke, No Yeonhee laughed hoho. Myungwoo laughed haha and bowed.

“Then I’ll be back, Mom.”

“Yes, go carefully. Make sure to thank them.”

“Of course, Mom.”

Myungwoo waved back at No Yeonhee waving and went out again.

“Ah, Myungwoo, talked well?”

“Yes, she was super happy.”

“Of course she’d be happy. Son doing this well. Get in now. To JB design headquarters.”

“Yes.”

The manager, waiting outside the car for Myungwoo, quickly loaded him and started.

Arriving at JB design headquarters was quick too. It wasn’t far from home anyway.

‘Come to think, born into a well-off family is lucky too.’

Otherwise, saying he wanted to act might have gotten scolded: what acting, study instead.

‘Handsome face, intact acting skills, well-off family. Really nothing missing this life.’

Myungwoo anew felt how much he had this life.

Maybe compensation for struggling so much in past life.

‘Anyway, good thing.’

Thinking that, Myungwoo stepped into the headquarters.

“I’m actor Kang Myungwoo.”

“Ah, Actor Kang-nim. We’ve been waiting. This way.”

Upon saying his name at arrival, the staff at the entrance politely guided him.

Myungwoo followed the staff into the elevator, and the staff pressed the top floor button.

‘……?’

Suit-making on the top floor? Unusual, right?

Myungwoo swallowed his puzzlement and followed.

Arriving at the top floor, the staff led Myungwoo to a room and knocked, saying.

“Chairman, I’ve brought actor Kang Myungwoo.”

‘Ah.’

Only then did Myungwoo realize why the top floor.

‘Jo Beomgyu is here.’

Jo Seungha’s father and JB chairman, Jo Beomgyu, had called him.

Soon the door opened softly, and the staff bowed politely as if to enter.

Myungwoo didn’t hide his puzzled expression and entered the room with the manager.

“Oh, come in, Myungwoo.”

As expected, Chairman Jo Beomgyu was waiting inside.