NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor

Amidst the ongoing debates, the court officials were precisely divided into two camps. Embarrassingly enough to call them camps, only Seo Hee and Lee Ji-baek stood apart from those advocating surrender.

Meanwhile, a scene unfolded where So Son-nyeong insisted that whether surrendering or negotiating, they should send an envoy to meet face-to-face. This plunged the court back into contemplation.

Director Lee Sang-hoon deliberately portrayed the silence of the court, creating a momentary stillness on screen. By cutting off the upper bodies of the officials from the frame and focusing solely on the floor of the court and the officials’ feet, the scene was captured in cold tones.

The screen depicted the reality where no one dared to muster the courage, portraying it with chilling effect.

Soon, the scene shifted to a reversal as young Seo Hee resolved under the moonlight to convey her feelings to Hong Ui-yeon.

‘When one step back would mean a thousand steps back, how could we proceed if we cannot take that one step forward?’

At that moment, the elderly Seo Hee standing in the court slowly stepped forward. Actor Yeon-woo deliberately portrayed Seo Hee’s steps not as those of a rigid hero but as those of an aged, feeble person, with trembling steps devoid of strength.

‘This drama wasn’t meant to show Seo Hee’s heroic side. From the beginning, we focused on Seo Hee’s life and showed her human side, assimilating viewers.’

That one step forward became a scene where you could feel the human agony of taking your own steps to a place where you might end up dying due to Yeon-woo’s acting choices.

“This humble servant suggests sending Minister Seo Hee to the battlefield.”

“My lord?”

Seo Hee lifted his head with a determined expression.

“If the enemy leader desires a substitute, it is only fitting for the substitute to go. Your Majesty.”

The scene transitioned, subtly adding an echo to Seo Hee’s words to leave a lingering effect.

Subsequently, the king came out to the riverbank, holding Seo Hee’s hand and comforting him and his wife, Hong Ui-yeon. Finally, the drama headed towards its conclusion.

This marks the beginning of the story known to the public about Seo Hee. However, the beginning of this story is the end of this drama.

“Finally, it’s airing.”

Seo Ji-eun covered her small face with her hand, peeking through her fingers at the TV.

Other staff members also watched the culmination of their journey with nervous excitement.

With majestic music reminiscent of drifting through vast space, a lone horse racing through the desert appeared on the screen. As the camera approached the horse, it zoomed in on Yeon-woo’s eyes, deliberately portraying his restrained expression. Rather than a heroic or valiant look, it conveyed the anguish of one individual rushing towards an army of tens of thousands, or perhaps even hundreds of thousands, with a determined yet restrained expression.

“Wow.”

As the camera returned to the sky, revealing a vast army stationed far away, and Seo Hee traversing the expansive desert, kicking up dust like a sandstorm, she resembled a comet streaking across the quiet night sky, leaving behind a long tail as she headed towards distant space.

With the grand music reaching its climax, the screen briefly blacked out, followed by the logo appearing.

「The Star Beyond the River」

The staff rose from their seats, applauding enthusiastically.

– Clap, clap, clap! –

“Wow!”

They cheered loudly, giving Director Lee Sang-hoon and Ryu Yeon-woo a standing ovation.

Seo Ji-eun and Jin Yu-han, standing beside them, also smiled and gave Yeon-woo a thumbs-up.

“Thank you.”

Yeon-woo stood up and bowed in all directions, expressing his gratitude as the staff followed suit.

Thus, he concluded his first leading drama.

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***

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“Hmm…”

Rubbing his head, Yeon-woo groggily got up from bed.

“I drank quite a bit. It’s been a while.”

Since being assigned to overseas projects, he hadn’t been able to relax with alcohol anytime he wanted. Even after becoming an adult, he had restrained himself during company gatherings, considering the following day’s schedule. However, yesterday, after finishing his first leading drama, he had kept drinking until he felt tipsy, following the staff’s lead around the table.

“Ugh, it’s been a while since I felt like this. Hangover.”

With slow steps, he walked to the refrigerator and drank some water. Then, he lay back down on the bed and picked up his smartphone.

He had heard that the final episode had achieved a viewership rating of 27 percent, but he hadn’t had time to check the internet reactions.

‘Hmm, let’s see.’

The highlight of the final episode was already uploaded on the official YouTube account.

[Wow, please don’t end. Seriously, Yeon-woo.]

[The ending scene was insane. Ha, my standards have gone up, what drama should I watch now?

[The last episode was truly movie-level.]

[I really enjoyed watching it. It’s a shame we won’t see the combination of Ryu Yeon-woo, Jin Yu-han, and Seo Ji-eun anymore.]

[So, did Seo Hee know he was going to die when he ran into enemy territory? Is it a sad ending?]

└ How about studying some history? Don’t know about diplomatic negotiations?

As he scrolled through the comments, the reactions were generally positive as he had expected.

After checking the comments, he glanced at the flood of messages and KakaoTalks congratulating him on the final episode that he had received last night.

[Han So-hyeon: Yeon-woo, you must have worked hard on the historical drama. I’m also shooting ‘Flowers Falling in Hanyang’…]

[Woo Seong-sik: Wow, the last scene was awesome. You look like a horseback riding athlete.]

[Kim Joo-hyung: I enjoyed the drama! But how did you shoot the last desert scene? I’m curious about the filming method…]

[Son Jin-yuk: Hey, bro, your acting has improved so much, right? Let’s do a project together?]

[Kim Jin-joo: Mr. Yeon-woo. If the company allows it, will you please? I’m crying like a mother.]

As he checked the names with gratitude and replied one by one, there was a message that made him chuckle.

‘Kim Jin-joo, the writer? What promise did I make yesterday?’

He vaguely remembered saying something and nodding that they should discuss it with the company.

“Ah! The fan signing event.”

Finally, Yeon-woo recalled the desperate request from writer Kim Jin-joo yesterday, with a face full of worries.

Coinciding with the end of the drama, the book version of ‘The Star Beyond the River’ was being published, and the publisher had earnestly requested a book signing event.

“But who would come to get an autograph from someone like me? They said it’s going to be at the biggest bookstore in Gangnam, but what if no one shows up and it’s embarrassing for the organizers? Ugh.”

Kim Jin-joo, holding Yeon-woo’s hand tightly and bowing his head, pleaded after taking a sip of alcohol.

“This is ridiculous, but if by any chance, you’re planning to have a fan signing event or fan meeting, could you do it with me? Just sit next to me and sign the books if anyone brings them. Huh? You’re the protagonist of my book after all.”

Yeon-woo looked at Kim Jin-joo’s desperate expression.

“Hmm, I think this work was so good that a lot of people would come to a signing event.”

“No, no. I had a book signing event once before, and it was so embarrassing that I developed a trauma from it. Ugh.”

Looking at Kim Jin-joo, who looked like he was about to cry, Yeon-woo, who was stroking his chin.

“Hmm, I was thinking of having a fan signing event or fan meeting soon anyway. Let me ask my agency.”

“Please.”

Remembering the conversation from yesterday, Yeon-woo nodded his head.

“Well, if you’re going to do it anyway, I guess it’s okay to do it together. Since there’s a fan cafe and fans of the work, it should be fine.”

Getting out of bed, Yeon-woo made a call.

[Oh, Yeon-woo. Congratulations on finishing the drama.]

“Thank you, Team Leader Jung. You mentioned before that you were scheduling my fan meeting or signing event.”

After checking his schedule for a moment in response to Yeon-woo’s words, Team Leader Jung answered.

[Hmm, we haven’t scheduled anything yet. We’ll probably do it after scheduling some CFs. But we have to do it soon.]

“What about this? Kim Jin-joo asked me yesterday…”

Yeon-woo explained about the conversation from yesterday, and after listening quietly, Team Leader Jung spoke up.

[Is it okay? It seemed a bit vague to just have a fan signing event without being an idol group, but it would be more meaningful to do it together with the author for the book release. Since he’s the creator of the original work. Hold on a moment.]

Team Leader Jung, who seemed to be checking something, spoke again.

[We may need to negotiate with Kim’s publisher, but I think they’ll be happy to oblige. If the trendsetter agrees to it.]

“Then, I’ll ask for that negotiation. Kim Jin-joo seemed very worried.”

[Even if he does it alone, it shouldn’t be as embarrassing as before, right…? Anyway, I’ll handle it and let you know the results.]

After a short while, Team Leader Jung, who had finished negotiating, conveyed the information to Yeon-woo and Kim Jin-joo, and Kim Jin-joo thanked Yeon-woo again over the phone, relieved that one of her major concerns had been resolved.

[Notice] Actor Ryu Yeon-woo – Writer Kim Jin-joo ‘The Star Beyond the River’ Fan Signing Event Information

Writer: Manager Yeo Nu-jina

The big teaser posted on Yeon-woo’s fan cafe ‘Wooz’ exploded with comments.

[Wow! Does this mean the fan signing event will be like meeting an idol up close?]

[Our actor, would you like a headband or a hat like an idol?]

[Ah, my heart is already bursting. I’ve already pre-ordered the book anyway. I’ll definitely take a day off and go.]

[Why is it on a weekday! I’m planning to be severely ill that day too.]

As the day of the fan signing event approached, a long line stretched out in front of the bookstore in Gangnam from early morning.

To prevent ordinary bookstore customers from being inconvenienced by Yeon-woo’s arrival, the wise staff had prepared a vacant store that was used as a storage room to serve as a dedicated entrance for the fan signing event, and the line in front of it stretched outside the building since the morning.

Inside the venue, with some distance between them, Kim Jin-joo and Yeon-woo were seated at separate tables.

“Yeon-woo, I’m really, really grateful. I’ll do anything for you if you ever need it!”

“Just the fact that you wrote such a great work is already more than enough for me. I was planning to have a fan signing event anyway.”

And finally, the fan signing event began.

“Wow, this is amazing.”

The first fan, holding a book, entered following the guide and first approached Kim Jin-joo to get his book signed.

“Sir, this drama was so fun. I also liked your previous work, ‘Scent of Time’.”

“Oh my, really? Thank you so much.”

“I also brought that book, could you sign it too?”

“Of course. Please.”

A fan pulled out Kim Jin-joo’s previous work from their bag. Watching this, Yeon-woo inwardly felt relieved that there were more fans of Kim Jin-joo than expected.

But as a fan pulled out Kim Jin-joo’s previous work to get it signed, they couldn’t help but keep glancing at Yeon-woo, their face turning red as if they were drawn to him like a magnet, even while receiving the autograph.

“Thank you for reading.”

“Thank you, Sir!”

After a polite bow, another fan approached Yeon-woo following the guide. From their expression, it seemed like they were already about to cry.

“Wow, this feels like a dream come true.”

Smiling, Yeon-woo extended his hand, and the fan grabbed it tightly.

“Hello.”

“Wow. I really feel like I’m about to cry. I’ve been waiting since five in the morning.”

Seeing this pure reaction, Yeon-woo smiled as he signed the book and asked, “It must have been cold. Besides the autograph, is there anything else you’d like? Maybe a selfie?”

“···Can you fulfill another request?”

“If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it.”

Smiling, Yeon-woo nodded, and the fan took something else out of their bag.

“Hmm? Isn’t that a Rudolph headband?”

Yeon-woo’s manager, Kim Min-soo, who was standing behind him, accepted it instead. Before managing Yeon-woo, he had worked with a girl group at another agency, so he was familiar with this culture.

The culture of fan service, where artists wear hats or headbands and show cute expressions that fans want.

“Please wear this deer horn headband!”

Sweat began to bead on Yeon-woo’s back, which stiffened for a moment.