Ch.111Irregular

At the time when Kim Donghu was filming “Traitor: The Root of Corruption,” the Korean Boxing Association was surprised by the unexpected appearance of an irregular talent.

“Is this… really true?”

Tap.

A profile appears on the screen.

180cm, 81kg, heavyweight.

8 wins (8 KOs) 0 draws 0 losses,

Youth boxing championship winner,

National High School Boxing Championship winner,

Currently breaking all youngest-record achievements and even updating the shortest match duration records.

Some call him “Korea’s Muhammad Ali” or “Korea’s Mike Tyson.”

“Haha.”

Laughter came naturally upon seeing the profile.

“How did such a blessing come to us on its own?”

“And he’s not just an ordinary person.”

“Right, that’s right…”

The association members shifted their gaze to the name on the profile.

Kim Donghu.

Those three characters written proudly there—why did they feel so proud of them?

“He’s truly the face of Korean boxing.”

“If he continues at this pace, I think he’ll definitely qualify for the national team selection.”

“That’s right. If he consistently participates in competitions each year, he’ll certainly be qualified.”

“Being an actor by profession shouldn’t be an issue. His skills are absolutely dominant in this field, aren’t they?”

Listening to the conversations gradually emerging, the Korean Boxing Association chairman smiled with satisfaction.

“Of course, of course. There’s nothing problematic at all. Rather, we’re gathered here to ensure there won’t be any issues.”

“Exactly! Your words are absolutely right!”

Obviously, a superstar couldn’t be created just by trying to create one.

No matter how much effort was put in begging them to appear,

No matter how mercilessly the spotlights were shone on them,

“How long has it been since we’ve had a star? Has there ever been such a talented prospect in Korea?”

Superstars couldn’t be manufactured.

But now one had appeared on his own—how grateful they were.

Moreover, Korean boxing had been gradually shrinking.

As if its brief golden age had been nothing but a lie.

“Indeed, something good always comes after waiting!”

In the midst of this drought, Kim Donghu’s existence came like welcome rain,

becoming the Korean Boxing Association’s greatest treasure and only lifeline.

“In that sense, don’t make him feel too much expectation, okay? We shouldn’t pressure him.”

“Yes! We understand!”

The chairman calmed the association members and continued speaking calmly.

“It goes without saying, but no one should pressure Kim Donghu the athlete—no, the actor!”

Kim Donghu was a spark.

The only spark that could reignite Korean boxing.

“Don’t try to take photos with him or anything like that… I believe you understand what I mean.”

To treat such a figure carelessly?

That was absolutely unacceptable.

“Of course!”

“And especially regarding journalists, you know? Keep entertainment reporters out as much as possible.”

“Yes!”

“We need to create an environment where Kim Donghu the athlete—no, the actor—can focus completely on his matches.”

This isn’t simply for Kim Donghu the athlete—no, the actor.

Think of it as restoring the prestige of Korean boxing.

Everyone agreed with the chairman’s words, which conveyed desperate determination.

“We absolutely cannot let his interest in boxing fade.”

The chairman closed his eyes briefly and envisioned the future.

Kim Donghu winning a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the Olympics.

And from there, the new beginning of Korean boxing.

What a perfect, lovely, and proud picture that was.

‘Handsome, physically fit, popular, good-natured, smart, talented in acting…’

Thank you for choosing boxing.

The chairman sent deep gratitude to Kim Donghu in his heart.

++++++

My recent schedule could be summarized in one word.

‘Busy.’

And not just busy—chaotically busy.

Even though class attendance requirements were flexible,

I tried to go to school whenever possible.

If I wasn’t filming, I was at school,

and if I wasn’t at school, I was filming—this cycle repeated.

Since filming locations were always in provincial areas,

travel time also consumed considerable energy.

After spending at least two hours in a van and briefly stretching,

I would immediately act, then get back in the van to go to school.

If I hadn’t been exercising consistently, I might have collapsed long ago.

‘Still, the exercise has paid off.’

Though I felt tired, it wasn’t unbearable.

My body just felt a bit heavy.

Honestly, in this state, three days of good rest would fix everything.

‘Once the individual shooting parts are mostly finished, then it’s group filming, right?’

There would definitely be more free time then,

and I could get sufficient rest from that point on.

‘Plus, today I have no schedule and can rest all day.’

I glanced at my phone.

The light from the phone entered between my tired eyelids,

showing the current time.

‘…I should eat lunch soon.’

11:30 AM.

Perfect timing to sleep a bit more and then have lunch.

Having reached that conclusion, just as I was about to fall asleep again.

Sniff, sniff.

“Huh?”

An unfamiliar smell wafted through the closed door.

“Doenjang jjigae?”

Why would I suddenly smell this?

‘Did Mom come?’

Currently, my mom and dad weren’t in a position to worry about their son living alone.

My younger sister, Kim Seohyun, who was just born and approaching her second birthday.

They needed to focus all their attention on baby Seohyun.

But suddenly there’s a smell of doenjang jjigae in my house?

‘It’s unlikely to be Mom.’

A thief wouldn’t break in to make doenjang jjigae,

I muttered to myself as I immediately opened the door and headed to the kitchen.

“You’re up?”

And there was Yerim.

Rub, rub.

No matter how much I blinked and rubbed my eyes,

as if emphasizing that this wasn’t a hallucination,

Yerim approached me with her hair swaying.

“I said I was your boxing manager, but I don’t think I’ve been taking care of our athlete enough.”

“Enough?”

“So I came over to make you some food.”

“The password… ah, I must have told you before.”

So that’s how it happened.

‘No, what do you mean “that’s how it happened”?’

This wasn’t something to take lightly.

“What is this… I’m really confused right now?”

“Why? Isn’t this, you know, every man’s fantasy?”

“No, no no no no, no!”

I frantically waved my hands to stop Yerim’s following actions.

‘She’s really the most out-there person when you think about it.’

I should have known from when she was talking about becoming a model.

“Anyway, I’m going to make you meals every weekend! I can’t do weekdays because I’m busy too!”

“…So you’re coming here every weekend?”

“Of course! What’s wrong with that? We’re friends.”

“Isn’t that a bit… strange?”

Hearing my words, Yerim thought for a moment.

Then, as if she realized what was wrong, she nodded.

“If we’re not friends… then model and boss?”

“…I’m not a boss.”

“Come on, I know the atmosphere at your agency.”

The problem is that Seokho hyung is being too obvious.

Judging that continuing this way wouldn’t be good for me,

I quickly reached a conclusion.

“Please add lots of tofu.”

“Okay, lots of tofu!”

I watched Yerim hurrying back to the kitchen.

And I thought:

‘Ah, no one should catch us like this.’

During this time, I shouldn’t let anyone into the house.

Somehow my instincts were strongly warning me about that.

++++++

The advantage of group filming, if I had to pick just one:

‘Harmony, harmony. The harmony of acting that fits perfectly together.’

It was about unity.

Despite multiple people being captured on camera, there was no awkwardness,

rather, everyone naturally blended into one scene—

that was the true value of group filming.

“Cut!”

Perhaps that’s why.

Director Yoon Seongbin called out the cut sign with satisfaction.

“That was perfect!”

The filming of “Traitor: The Root of Corruption” was gradually completing its foundation.

Having finished introducing each character, the days of developing the actual plot,

where these characters would intertwine, were not far off.

‘And then they’ll gloriously compete against each other.’

Even among the powerless common people, there were influential figures.

The battle between the “traitors” who wanted to root out corruption,

and the “nobles” who wanted to protect their interests.

The day to capture that picture was not far away.

“It’s been a while since I’ll be acting with Donghu again.”

In response to actor Jang Geonho’s words, spoken with genuine anticipation,

other actors couldn’t contain their curiosity.

“Is Kim Donghu really that good?”

“I’ve never seen Senior Jang Geonho look forward to something like this—I’m almost jealous.”

“Exactly! You hardly said anything when we were acting!”

In the playful and lively atmosphere,

actor Jang Geonho laughed and continued.

“Everyone has such doubts, but the on-set feeling is different.”

There was bound to be a difference between watching on screen and seeing in person.

That’s why theater exists as a separate field.

“But everyone saw him at the reading.”

“True, but acting is another story.”

“Think of it simply—he’s at least twice as good as what you saw there.”

“…What?”

Actor Jang Geonho’s words put question marks above the surrounding actors’ heads.

Twice as good from that level?

‘Is that even possible?’

And they came to understand Jang Geonho’s words:

In early December.

At the beginning of winter when the cold wind was blowing.

“…Maggots gathering and spreading their rotten stench.”

When they faced Kim Donghu’s acting head-on.