chapter 22

Chapter 22. The Wrap-up Party

"Actor Ryu, have you eaten? Should we stop at a rest area?"

"Ah, I'm a bit hungry. Have you eaten, Min-soo hyung?"

"Not yet. I'll stop at the next rest area."

The car pulled into the rest area, and as Yeon-woo was about to get out, Min-soo stopped him. "I'll go. It might be a bit chaotic if you go out now. Please stay in the car."

Yeon-woo, slightly taken aback by the firm tone, sat back down. Min-soo hurried towards the food court.

Having only traveled between home and the filming set, Yeon-woo hadn't fully grasped the extent of his newfound fame. He didn't quite understand what his manager meant by "chaotic."

"He doesn't need to rush like that."

Yeon-woo waited in the car, and soon Min-soo returned, laden with food. He expertly folded down the passenger seat, spread a plastic sheet he had prepared beforehand, and arranged the food. He seemed accustomed to eating takeout in the car, his movements practiced and efficient.

"Wow, you picked all the good stuff. You have great taste, Min-soo hyung," Yeon-woo said, giving him a thumbs-up.

"Haha, I've become an expert at rest area food, thanks to this job." Before being assigned to Yeon-woo, Min-soo had managed an unknown girl group that mostly performed at military bases, making him a master of long-distance travel, regional cuisine, and highway rest stops.

"Ah, I see. Well, thank you."

Yeon-woo took a few bites and then put down his chopsticks.

Min-soo, looking concerned, asked, "Does it not taste good?"

"No, it's delicious! I just don't eat a lot. I'm full."

'Full after just that much…?' Min-soo realized that managing an actor was different. The girl group members he had managed before also ate very little compared to the average person, but they seemed to be suppressing their appetite. Yeon-woo, on the other hand, seemed genuinely full, as if he had a naturally small stomach. Although he only had one actor to compare to, it was a stark difference.

Min-soo would probably be shocked if he saw Yeon-woo's past self, weighing over 220 pounds.

He made a mental note to adjust the amount of food he bought for Yeon-woo in the future, quickly finished eating, cleaned up, and started driving again.

"Do you need to use the restroom? I can stop right in front of one."

"It's not far to Seoul now, so I'll go at the salon."

They arrived at the salon. Jung Ha-neul greeted Yeon-woo warmly.

"Oh my, you've become even more handsome!"

"Not really, I'm the same. You look younger than ever, Ha-neul."

"Ho ho, you're a high school student with such smooth talk."

They chatted as Yeon-woo got his makeup done. Then, he changed into the sponsored outfit brought by his stylist, Lee Ye-eun, and headed to a restaurant in Yeouido for the wrap-up party.

"Wow, there are a lot of reporters here."

Both Yeon-woo and Min-soo, attending their first wrap-up party, were taken aback.

The area outside the restaurant was crowded with reporters and fans wielding large cameras.

Ye-eun, the stylist, carefully adjusted Yeon-woo's outfit.

"I'll be going now!" Yeon-woo said with a smile, making Ye-eun blush slightly.

Min-soo quickly got out of the car and escorted Yeon-woo.

"He's here!"

Camera flashes exploded as Yeon-woo stepped out of the car. He smiled, bowed to the crowd, and stood in the center, assisted by Min-soo.

"Look this way, Yeon-woo!"

"Can we get a finger heart?"

Yeon-woo expertly posed for the cameras, fulfilling the reporters' requests.

"Wow, I heard he's the top visual among rookies, but that's not true at all."

"What do you mean 'not true'? He's incredibly handsome."

"No, I mean, he's not just the top visual among rookies, he's top visual in the entire industry."

Jung, the reporter, made a playful comment, making the other reporters chuckle.

The fans, wielding their large cameras, were also impressed.

Most of them were fans of Jin-wook or So-hyun, but seeing Yeon-woo in person was enough to sway their hearts.

"I think my bias is about to change."

"Sorry, Jin-wook oppa, me too."

Min-soo approached Yeon-woo, who was patiently posing for the cameras.

"Actor, let's go inside."

"Okay."

Min-soo escorted Yeon-woo into the restaurant. It seemed most of the actors hadn't arrived yet, as the room was mostly filled with staff. Yeon-woo greeted them warmly and joined Director Kim Han-soo and Lee Sang-joong, who played his father in the drama, at their table.

"Oh, my son is here!"

"How have you been, Father?" Yeon-woo hugged Lee Sang-joong and then turned to Director Kim Han-soo.

"Director, I saw an article saying you've already started working on your next project. You should take a break."

"Haha, Yeon-woo, it's a blessing to be able to move on to the next project quickly in this profession." Director Kim Han-soo looked at Yeon-woo warmly and then spoke hesitantly, "If you're available, Yeon-woo, I know you're a senior in high school and need to focus on your studies, but…" His hesitant tone, unusual for the usually decisive director, piqued Yeon-woo's curiosity.

"…could you spare a day or two for filming in April or May?"

"Of course, Director! What kind of filming is it?"

Director Kim smiled at Yeon-woo's ready agreement. "In my new drama, there's a flashback scene where the female lead's first love appears, and I can't think of anyone more perfect for the role than you."

"I'm honored, Director."

"It shouldn't take too long, mostly scenes on a school campus, so probably just a day or two."

Yeon-woo chatted comfortably with the older men at the table. While his thoughts and actions had become younger since his rebirth, his soul was still middle-aged, so he felt at ease with them.

Ahn Joon-ho and Son Jin-wook arrived and greeted Yeon-woo with enthusiastic hugs.

Finally, Han So-hyun, who played Yeo-reum, arrived, completing the main cast. With the exception of Screenwriter Choi Mi-hyun, who was absent due to health reasons, everyone was present.

They chatted and laughed as they watched the final episode together on a large screen.

The drama ended with the airport scene, where the characters parted ways, wishing each other well. The end credits rolled, and everyone applauded, celebrating the successful conclusion of the project.

Director Kim Han-soo, who had been on the phone, smiled and announced, "Our final episode ratings are 15.1%!"

The production team added, "And 15.3% on Green Window!"

Clap! Clap!

The staff erupted in cheers and chants.

"Attention, please!" Director Kim Han-soo raised his hands, quieting the excited crowd. He then dropped another piece of good news. "The network has decided to send our entire team on a reward vacation!"

Clap! Clap!

"Yes! It's finally happening!" The restaurant, already buzzing with excitement, became even more lively.

"Where are we going, Director?" Son Jin-wook, who had been drinking beer with Ahn Joon-ho, asked.

"Well, JNBC offered Saipan…"

"Ooh, Saipan! Not Southeast Asia, but Saipan!"

Director Kim Han-soo smiled at their reaction and continued, "But LN Media negotiated with the network and upgraded it to Hawaii."

The restaurant erupted in cheers.

"Yes! My company loyalty is soaring!" Cinematographer Kang In-chan's enthusiastic cheer, holding up his spoon, brought laughter to the room.

The chants changed to "Hawaii!"

"Yeon-woo, can you go? You're a senior…" Han So-hyun asked, her eyes full of anticipation.

"There's no reason to refuse a free trip," Yeon-woo replied with a smile.

"Yay! That's great! Jin-wook, you're going too, right?"

"Of course. I can't miss out if So-hyun and Yeon-woo are going."

Joon-ho, who had been drinking next to Jin-wook, looked at Yeon-woo. "Yeon-woo, have you ever shot a gun? I went to a shooting range in Hawaii once, and it was fun."

"He's a minor; he wouldn't have had a chance to shoot a gun. He hasn't even been to the military yet," Jin-wook said.

Yeon-woo gave an ambiguous smile. "Um, that's right. 'Yeon-woo' has never shot a gun."

"What's with the third-person? So cute! Are you drunk on cider?" Han So-hyun teased, pinching his cheek.

"Haha…" Yeon-woo chuckled awkwardly.

Bzzt! Bzzt!

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He checked; it was the class group chat.

– Woo Sung-sik: [Link] "Summer's Closet" Wrap-up Party - Ryu Yeon-woo Photos. It Sight Magazine.

– Woo Sung-sik: Here's another one [Link] Video - "Cha Woo-joo" attends the party in a dandy jacket.

– Kim Joon-soo: As expected of Ryu-nim.

– Cha Ik-hyun: Woo Sung-sik is so fast. He's probably faster than Yeon-woo's fan club.

– Song Min-hoon: Totally agree. Yeon-woo looks so cool.

– Lee Woo-kyung: You guys haven't joined Yeon-woo's fan club yet? I joined ages ago. Are you even his real friends?

– Cha Ik-hyun: Oh, really? I should join too. Send me the link.

– Lee Woo-kyung: [Link] Actor Ryu Yeon-woo Fan Cafe - Woo's

Touched by his friends' enthusiasm, Yeon-woo started typing a reply.