Ch.53Somehow I thought things were going too well lately.

Originally, the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival didn’t receive much attention.

While it was well-respected in film industry circles, it lacked mainstream appeal.

But.

“Kim Donghu, Devouring Movie Theaters After TV? A Bold Move”

Things changed dramatically once Kim Donghu got involved.

Kim Donghu, already known to the public through “High Dream” and as the face of Brilliant Uniform, won four awards?

This was impossible to ignore, even for those who didn’t want to pay attention.

Especially.

“Director Lee Seongdeok’s Social Question? Has Society Found ‘The Hero’ It Needs?”

The film created quite a stir by raising questions about society.

The fact that a short film reached #9 on real-time search rankings says it all.

ㄴKim Donghu is insane, how many bodies does he have?

ㄴDoes he have the stamina? Is he really fifteen?

ㄴCan I download “The Hero” via torrent?

ㄴGo die, you pirating bastard;

ㄴHe’s ridiculously handsome though, looks fresh every time I see him

ㄴFirst he helps “High Dream” hit 30% ratings, then wins 4 awards at Mise-en-scène? What’s next?

Just how far is he planning to go?

Does work really come in so endlessly?

That evening, while all sorts of discussions were circulating in online communities, people saw a movie advertisement on TV.

“…Endless Frontline?”

A series of scenes clearly depicting a movie based on the Korean War appeared.

“Do you know how many times this frontline has changed?”

“How many people died just to take that one hill!”

Then Han Taegeon appeared, proudly displaying his handsome features.

A fierce battle over a single hill.

Just as the vivid intensity was sinking in.

“…Is it true there’s rice and meat soup in the South?”

A short narration with a black screen marked the end.

Usually, this would be when viewers would enjoy guessing whose voice it was.

But people had just heard that voice days before.

“Could it be our Donghu oppa is in this movie?!”

Right after proving his acting skills in a short film,

he appears in a commercial movie advertisement that very evening?

Whoosh!

Using the four Mise-en-scène awards as a stepping stone,

the real-time search rankings changed instantly.

In less than 10 minutes after the advertisement aired,

Kim Donghu-related terms dominated:

1. Endless Frontline

2. Endless Frontline Han Taegeon

3. Han Taegeon

4. Kim Donghu

5. 4 Awards

6. The Hero

They instantly devoured the top spots in real-time searches.

+++++

The “Endless Frontline” press screening was confirmed for next week,

giving me a week of free time.

I knew exactly what to do with that time.

The most perfect way to spend my daily life.

‘Going to school.’

I should at least show the effort to fulfill my middle school attendance.

As soon as I arrived at school, Yerim greeted me as if she’d been waiting.

“Donghu! It’s been too long since I’ve seen you at school, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah, this is serious.”

With a grave expression on my face, I approached Kangsik.

“H-hi, D-Donghu.”

“Kangsik, what happened with that game? How much has Minhyeok progressed?”

“Ah, well, you were inactive for so long that Minhyeok just conquered everything…”

“…!”

Kim Minhyeok, that bastard.

How dare he do such a thing?

‘I let him escape a few times when we played cops and robbers during lunch.’

And this is how he repays that kindness.

Putting the shock aside, I spent my time leisurely at school.

I ate school lunch after a long time,

Hid in the library when I was about to get caught during hide-and-seek,

>Donghu, sorry for the sudden message.

>But I think your opinion is most important.

>Are you really not considering our school?

I also received the usual text from Principal Edward Park.

Now approaching the second semester of my second year in middle school,

it was definitely time to seriously consider my academic future.

‘I should start thinking about arts high school now to avoid being late.’

Actually, there wasn’t much to think about.

The best choice was to go somewhere that would manage an entertainer’s attendance most efficiently.

<Of course I should. Thank you for your concern.

<Donghu, you’ve made a great decision. Your musical talent is truly…

I quickly shoved my phone into my pocket, unable to read the rest of the chat.

Principal Edward Park’s excessive flattery was truly unbearable.

‘So my academic path is pretty much decided?’

Does that mean I’ll be attending the same school as Sujin next year?

‘Since she entered a year early, she’ll be my senior if I go there.’

Sujin as my senior.

While I was thinking about this.

>Donghu, have you decided which high school you’re going to? Are you going to an arts high school?

A message from Jaerin arrived.

<Yeah, I decided on Daehan Arts? That’s where I’m going

>Ah, I see. Okay.

Wondering if she was watching me from somewhere, I sent my reply.

Jaerin simply acknowledged it without saying anything more.

‘Oh right, there’s a Brilliant Uniform event in two weeks, isn’t there?’

I’ll see her there after a long time.

Maybe she didn’t say more because she plans to talk then.

‘But you’ve been quiet lately?’

During this leisurely time,

I checked messages from [Sims – Real Life].

Usually, it would be about time for something to be thrown my way,

but it had been completely quiet for the past few days.

And as if noticing this belatedly.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

After a long time, a message from [Sims – Real Life] arrived.

-[Q. What happens when a loving couple’s relationship improves?]

-[A. They make a second child!]

“…”

An unexpected announcement about a sibling.

I thought of my parents who had been inseparable lately and laughed helplessly.

‘Right, I thought they were getting along too well recently.’

Finding out about a sibling through a text message.

It was shocking in many ways.

+++++++

Time flew by quickly, and it was the day of the “Endless Frontline” press screening.

“Endless Frontline” had adopted a VIP screening approach.

They judged this to be superior from a promotional perspective.

Especially.

‘The public is already highly anticipating Endless Frontline.’

With Kim Donghu’s 4 awards at Mise-en-scène raising public interest,

adding critical acclaim would be the perfect strategy.

Click, click, click.

Camera flashes burst every time celebrities stood at the photo wall.

The light was bright enough to hurt the eyes,

but everyone continued exchanging light greetings, unfazed.

“Wow, he’s seriously handsome.”

“Just seeing him up close is amazing.”

Regular people participated in the event,

and though they couldn’t watch the movie, they were satisfied just seeing the actors.

Then.

“Kyaaaah!”

The atmosphere heated up when Han Taegeon, who played the protagonist Kim Suha in Endless Frontline, appeared.

Not just Han Taegeon, but also Seo Myungwoo, Go Changsik, and others.

The lead actors gathered in one place, giving brief interviews and greetings.

“What do you think is the highlight of this film?”

When asked about the key point of the movie,

Han Taegeon smiled slightly and answered immediately.

“Please pay special attention to the actor playing the unnamed role.”

Unnamed role? Who could that be?

As people wondered,

Murmurs spread.

Someone in the distance created a commotion, announcing their presence.

“Here comes our secret weapon.”

The boy who received Han Taegeon’s waving hand greeting

bowed in response.

The mysterious figure that “Endless Frontline” had hidden even in its trailer,

someone everyone knew but was labeled a secret.

“Was it true that Kim Donghu appears in Endless Frontline?!”

Kim Donghu appeared at the VIP screening.

Knowing something and confirming it felt different.

Everyone was shocked, and because of this, they lost track of how things unfolded.

From how he entered the theater

to how the actors’ greetings proceeded.

Their minds wandered in surprise at the unexpected development.

Then.

Thud!

When the lights in the theater went out and the movie began,

the VIP audience finally regained their senses.

About halfway through “Endless Frontline.”

‘What’s going on? Why hasn’t he appeared yet?’

‘Is Kim Donghu really in this?’

The audience was puzzled.

They knew actor Kim Donghu had participated in the stage greeting,

but for some reason, he hadn’t appeared in the film.

Just as doubts about Kim Donghu’s appearance grew.

“What is this revolution worth, that we live like this?”

The screen changes instantly.

Thud! Thud!

Despite the voice, nothing is visible on screen.

The only sound is something being stabbed repeatedly.

Tap tap.

The sound of something breaking.

As if dirt covering the camera had been cleared away,

the screen brightens and the situation becomes visible.

The first thing that catches the eye is a cold corpse clutching supplies tightly.

“Yeah, I ate it. Is that a problem?”

Next, a blood-covered boy appears.

His appearance needs no explanation.

A boy who killed his comrade for food stomps on the corpse’s neck.

“Besides, if you’re going to die like this, those who’ll survive should eat more.”

Crack! Snap!

The sound of something breaking.

An overwhelming entrance.

‘…Is this Kim Donghu?’

The audience gets goosebumps from his different level of intensity.

Fear crawls across their skin like centipedes.

“The South.”

Hoo.

A brief breath escapes from Kim Donghu, or rather, the student soldier, with visible vapor that quickly disappears.

“Sister, is it really there in the South?”

Eyes filled with longing and yearning briefly appear on screen.

A hint of humanity within evil.

All the audience could do was watch with their mouths open in a daze.

Crunch!

Meanwhile.

Someone was watching the film as if about to tear off the armrests.

‘Kim Donghu…!’

It was Director Kang Sanghun with his Guan Yu-like beard.

Director Kang thought as he watched the performance that amazed him even on second viewing.

‘Endless Frontline’s break-even point is about 4 million viewers…’

But at this rate.

‘I can see it.’

Endless Frontline, 10 million viewers.

If that happens, Kim Donghu would have won 4 awards at the short film festival.

And in his commercial film debut.

‘Will he become a 10-million-viewer actor?’

Just how high was he planning to climb?

It was impossible to guess.