Episode 22

“Mr. Ryu, have you had a meal? Should we stop at a rest area?”

“Oh, I was just starting to feel a little hungry. Min-soo, did you eat?”

“I haven’t eaten either. We’ll stop at the next rest area.”

The car soon pulled into a rest area, and as Yeon-woo was about to get out, Min-soo stopped him.

“I’ll go get it. It would probably be a problem if you go out now. Please stay in the car.”

With a firm tone, Yeon-woo awkwardly sat back down, and Min-soo dashed to the food corner.

Yeon-woo hadn’t been shuttling between home and the filming set for long, so he didn’t yet have a strong sense of his own popularity. Manager Kim Min-soo’s words about how things could go wrong if he went outside still hadn’t quite sunk in.

“Um, there’s no need to rush like that.”

While waiting in the car for a moment, Min-soo quickly returned with various items he had bought.

Skilfully folding a support chair and placing a prepared plastic cover on it, Min-soo arranged the bought food on it.

Eating food from rest areas was something he was familiar with from previous experience.

“Oh, you’ve brought delicious things. Min-soo hyung, you have a good sense of picking food.”

Yeon-woo gave Min-soo a thumbs up as he looked at him.

“Hahaha, doing this job, I know all the rest areas like the back of my hand.”

Before handling Yeon-woo, Min-soo used to manage an unknown girl group who mainly did performances for military bases, so he became a master at long-distance travel, local delicacies, and highway rest areas.

“Ah, I see. I’ll enjoy it first then.”

Yeon-woo used his chopsticks to pick up a few pieces of food and then promptly put down his chopsticks.

Seeing Yeon-woo’s actions, Min-soo asked with concern,

“Doesn’t it taste good?”

“No, it’s delicious! I usually eat a little. I just ate a satisfying amount.”

Barely eating that much and already feeling satisfied…?

Min-soo felt that it was indeed different with the first actor he had ever handled. Although the girl idol he had previously managed had made outrageous headlines compared to ordinary people, it seemed like she suppressed her appetite and controlled herself. However, looking at Yeon-woo, even though he didn’t have much of a sample size since he was the first actor Min-soo had handled, it felt like he was naturally small.

If Min-soo were to see the way Yeon-woo looked when he weighed over 100 kilograms in the past, he might be shocked.

He decided that he should buy an appropriate amount of food considering what they would eat in the future. After finishing eating neatly, Min-soo cleaned up and started the car.

“Do you need to use the restroom? If you do, I’ll park right in front of it.”

“Um, it’s not far to Seoul, and I’ll just go at the shop.”

Min-soo’s car rejoined the main road and headed straight for the shop, where Yeon-woo was greeted by the stylist Director Jeong Haneul.

“Oh my, you’ve become even more handsome since I last saw you.”

“It’s the same, Director. You always look younger.”

“Hoho. Your way of speaking is as skilled as a high school student’s.”

Chatting about this and that, they finished with makeup. After that, they changed into sponsored outfits that a stylist from the agency had brought and headed to a restaurant in Yeouido for the final episode event.

“Oh, there are quite a few reporters have arrived.”

Both Yeon-woo and Min-soo were taken aback, as the area outside the car was already filled with reporters and fans holding cameras as large as those of reporters.

They were waiting around for a while. Stylist Lee Ye-eun, who came along, neatly fixed Yeon-woo’s appearance, which she would be responsible for, and adjusted it.

“Well, then I’ll go!”

Yeon-woo’s smile made Ye-eun’s face slightly flushed. Then, Min-soo quickly got out of the driver’s seat and assisted Yeon-woo.

“Oh, he’s coming out!”

As Yeon-woo got out of the car, a flurry of camera flashes erupted. With Min-soo’s assistance, Yeon-woo smiled and bowed to the surroundings before stepping forward and standing in the center.

“Look this way too, Mr. Yeon-woo.”

“Please give us a heart with your hand.”

Yeon-woo skillfully posed as the reporters requested.

“Wow, among the newcomers, he has the best visuals. Not at all!”

“What do you mean? He’s incredibly handsome.”

“No, what I mean is, he’s not a newcomer in visuals, but just in the entertainment industry, right?”

At Journalist Jung’s playful remark, the surrounding reporters chuckled.

“Overacting again.”

Meanwhile, not just reporters but also fans holding large camera cannons were amazed and taking pictures in a crowd.

Most of them were either fans of Jin-yuk or Hyeon’s fans who were passionately devoted to him. Although fans’ feelings couldn’t be measured, seeing Yeon-woo in person was enough to touch their hearts.

“Starting today, I have a new star.”

“Jin-yuk oppa, I’m sorry. Me too.”

As Yeon-woo kindly struck poses that journalists and fans requested, Min-soo approached him.

“Mr. Yeon-woo, you should go inside.”

“Yes, understood.”

Following Min-soo’s guidance, Yeon-woo entered the restaurant. Inside, most of the actors had not arrived yet and most of the seats were vacant. Yeon-woo went to a table where straps he hadn’t seen in two months were sitting and greeted Kim Han-soo, the director, and Lee Sang-jung, who played his father’s role in the drama.

“Oh, my son is here!”

“Father, have you been well?”

Hugging Lee Sang-jung, who was sitting with a cute smile, Yeon-woo looked at Director Kim Han-soo beside him.

“Director, I saw in the news that you’ve already scheduled a new shooting schedule for the next project. You should rest for your health.”

“Haha, Yeon-woo. I’ve made this my job, so it’s also fortunate to jump right into the next project.”

With warm eyes, Director Kim Han-soo carefully opened his mouth.

“By any chance, if Yeon-woo is okay with it, of course, I know you’re in your third year of high school and should focus on your studies.”

Seeing Director Kim hesitating as he opened his mouth, curiosity arose in Yeon-woo.

“Could you possibly spare a day or two for shooting around April-May?”

“Yes, Director! Of course. But what kind of shooting is it?”

Looking at Yeon-woo, who agreed cheerfully, Director Kim began to explain.

“We need the first love of the female lead for a flashback scene in a new movie we’ve just started. I thought there’s no one who fits the role as well as you do, Mr. Yeon-woo.”

“I’m honored, Director.”

Director Kim Han-soo smiled at Yeon-woo’s words.

“It probably won’t take that long for the shoot. Most of the scenes will be filmed at the school, so it might take a day or two.”

Yeon-woo continued to engage in conversation with the middle-aged men at the table without any awkwardness.

Although Yeon-woo had become much younger in both thoughts and actions after being reborn, his actual age was similar to the men at the table, so it was natural in a way.

After that, Ahn Jun-ho and Son Jin-yuk entered. Seeing Yeon-woo after two months, they hugged him tightly and shared stories.

Lastly, even Han Sohyun, who played “Yeorum,” the owner of the restaurant, attended, excluding writer Choi Mi-hyu, who couldn’t attend due to health reasons. Everyone except for Choi Mi-hyu, who couldn’t attend due to health reasons, was present.

They laughed and chatted while watching the final episode together on a big TV.

As the scene of bidding farewell to each other at the airport played out, the ending credits rolled, and everyone applauded, congratulating each other along with the cast and crew.

At that moment, Director Kim Han-soo, who was on a call, removed his phone from his ear with a smile and said, “Our final episode’s viewership rating is 15.1 percent.”

The directing team followed up, shouting, “Even on the online platform, it’s 15.3 percent!”

Wow!

Cheers and indiscernible cheers erupted from the excited cast members.

“Now, pay attention, everyone.”

Raising both hands and excitingly drawing attention from the restaurant, Director Kim Han-soo added another piece of good news.

“All members of our team will be given a reward vacation from the broadcasting station.”

“Yahoo!”

“Nice! The reward has arrived.”

The restaurant, which had been in a festive mood due to the drama achieving the highest viewership rating of the year on JNBC, was now in a state of frenzy.

“Director, where will it be?”

Ahn Junho, who was drinking beer, asked.

“Well, JNBC is sending us to Saipan.”

“Wow! Saipan! Not Southeast Asia but Saipan!”

Director Kim Han-soo chuckled at the staff’s excited voices.

“LN Media worked with the broadcasting station to upgrade it to Hawaii.”

Kim Han-soo’s words caused a stir at the restaurant table.

“Wow! The passion is rising!”

As Assistant Director Kang Inchang raised his spoon and cheered, laughter erupted inside.

Now, the chant had changed to “Hawaii!”

“Yeon-woo, can you go too? You’re in your third year of high school…”

With hopeful eyes, Han Sohyun asked from the seat next to him, chattering away.

“There’s no reason to decline a free trip, right?”

Yeon-woo grinned.

“Alright! It’s going to be fun. Jin-yuk hyung, you’re going too, right?”

“Of course. How could I miss it when So-hyeon and Yeon-woo are going?”

Jun-ho, who was drinking beside Jin-yuk, looked at Yeon-woo.

“Hey, Yeon-woo, have you ever tried shooting a gun? I went to a shooting range in Hawaii before, and it was fun.”

“Hey, I’m still a minor. Do you think I’ll have a chance to shoot a gun? I haven’t even been to the military yet.”

Yeon-woo responded with a vague smile to Jin-yuk’s words.

“Well, that’s true. ‘Yeon-woo’ hasn’t tried it.”

“What? Referring to yourself in the third person? Oh, you’re so cute. Did you drink some cider and get tipsy?”

Han So-hyeon pinched Yeon-woo’s cheek without reservation and teased him.

“Ahaha.”

Yeon-woo could only laugh coolly.

Zing!

At that moment, the cellphone he had put in his pocket kept vibrating.

Thinking it was a call, he checked to see that it was a group chat room.

Woo seong-sik

: [Link] “End-of-Season Event” of ‘Summer Promise’ – Ryu Yeon-woo Photos. IT Site Magazine

Woo seong-sik: There’s this too [Link] Today’s “Cha Woo-joo” with a dandy jacket

Kim Su: As expected of Ryu-nim.

Cha Ikhyun: Woo seong-sik is a genius. He’s better than Ryu Yeon-woo’s fan club.

Song Minhoon: That’s right, I agree. But Yeon-woo looks so cool.

Lee Woogyung: You guys aren’t members of Yeon-woo’s fan club? I joined a while ago. You’re not true friends.

Cha Ikhyun: Oh, really? I should join too. Share the link.

Lee Woogyung: [Link] Actor Ryu Yeon-woo Fan Cafe – Woo’s

Reading the article about the end-of-season event and seeing his friends discussing it, Yeon-woo felt grateful and started typing a reply.