Life is Easier If You're Handsome-Chapter 206

Let's rewind for a moment.

At the point when the short film Cutting the Knot had just finished at the Cannes Film Festival.

"Find out where Kim Donghu is and contact him immediately, make the audition invitation sound natural."

"Got it."

"Make sure! Contact Kim Donghu directly!"

"Directly, you mean?"

"Of course, what would the manager know? You have to contact the actor directly."

Verilad Ice, the producer for Tarzan, immediately moved to contact Kim Donghu. He had heard that Donghu was preparing for the Asian Games, but he was still sure that Donghu would choose Tarzan.

Neither of these were easy opportunities.

And if Tarzan succeeded, it could be a decision Donghu would regret missing out on.

'Not sure, but it’s probably a small competition, right?'

On the other hand, Tarzan was set in Hollywood.

Hollywood was the entire world.

Success there would guarantee a level of success far beyond anything in Asia.

And naturally, Verilad Ice’s perspective was:

'If it were me, I’d go for Tarzan. Not just a supporting role or a minor part, but the lead!'

This opinion stemmed from his ignorance of the East and the Korean military obligations.

Since he didn’t even know where South Korea was, he just assumed Donghu would accept his offer eagerly.

Now, let’s return to day 12 of the Cannes Film Festival.

"I was rejected."

"What?!"

"He asked me to come in person."

When Verilad heard that his proposal had been rejected, he was stunned.

"In person? What do you mean? Are you telling me, the producer, to go meet him?"

"Yeah, I guess he doesn’t like that the manager was ignored."

"Hah! What... what kind of decision is that, based on pride?"

He was baffled.

It was so absurd that he even let out a bitter laugh.

How many actors have been revived by the words of a producer like him?

How many films have been saved from the brink?

And yet, he turned him down? Turned down me?

The one considered the best in Hollywood?

"How dare he... how could he be so audacious..."

He asked him to come in person,

even though it was just an audition invitation. To come all the way here for an audition?

For an actor from another country?

For a rookie who just showed his face at Cannes?

For someone with no connections at all?

"Fine! This is over! We’ll redo the planning anyway, so there's plenty of time! Forget the audition invitation!"

"Understood."

"But stay for now, don’t leave during the closing ceremony; it’s rude."

He couldn't take it.

This was a blow to his pride.

That arrogant kid.

Verilad Ice furrowed his brows.

'Once the closing ceremony is over, I’ll return to my home country and change my plans.'

With that resolution, Verilad turned his attention back to the stage.

The opening light passed, and the first short film Palme d'Or award was announced.

"Before it descends into destruction, a romance that tenderly wraps up their last moments."

"Fifteen minutes of a completed story, the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film goes to... Cutting the Knot, directed by Lee Seong-deok."

Lee Seong-deok, crying, climbed the stage to give his acceptance speech for the Palme d'Or.

"It’s such an honor! I’ve dreamed of this since I was a child... sniff... really... thank you so much!"

Not being the highlight, the speech was short and simple.

The crying scenes were repeatedly filmed, and the audience sighed at the fact that the lead actor was training at that very moment.

"I’m really sad I couldn’t see Kim Donghu in person."

"True Hero and Cutting the Knot—such artistry."

"His face, you can’t beat that, no one could be better looking."

"His acting, too. To think an actor like that is only in Korea... soon, other directors will start sending love calls."

As the audience celebrated Cutting the Knot, various conversations arose.

'...Love calls? Who’s sending love calls? Are they crazy? He’s my actor.'

Verilad Ice was deeply displeased by the conversations around him.

He had to smile and clap because it was that kind of occasion, but he couldn’t ignore it.

'Winning the Palme d'Or? Well, yeah, he’s handsome, sure, he is handsome.'

He was a good actor.

But can he sing too? That seems very unlikely.

Not everything can be perfect, can it?

'That’s cheating.'

Just a few minutes ago, Verilad thought Donghu was finished,

but with the reactions around him, the more he mulled it over, the more restless he became.

'But if he’s good? I heard... it seems like he might even have some connection with Evelyn.'

Still, to personally go all the way to Colorado just to encourage an audition?

'Hah!'

This [N O V E L I G H T] kid’s audacity was off the charts.

What does he think he is?

'It’s just some record set in a small country, right? And it’s just a short film.'

He couldn’t believe he had thought about that cocky, inexperienced Asian actor, even for a moment.

Fine, fine.

'Kim Donghu! You’re finished in my plans!'

***

I blinked, staring at the two people suddenly appearing in front of me.

"Hello. We’re from Disney. This is Verilad Ice."

"...Ah, yes. Hello, I’m Kim Donghu. But why is your manager introducing you instead of you doing it yourself?"

"You can think of it as a cultural difference."

"Huh?"

"Haha, by the way, I have to say, the altitude in Colorado really makes it a bit hard to breathe."

"Yes, that’s why a lot of boxers come here. It’s great for building cardiovascular endurance."

It had been exactly three days since I received the Tarzan audition offer from Disney.

As soon as the Cannes Film Festival’s closing ceremony ended, Verilad Ice had flown straight to Colorado.

'Honestly, I thought I’d be rejected, but I didn’t expect him to actually come.'

From the texts I got from Sims, it felt like the audition was almost a given.

It could go either way, but still, the whole thing felt like a gamble.

So, since it had happened this way,

I boldly pushed forward, determined not to be dismissed because of my race or because I was an unknown actor.

But I never thought the producer himself would come.

'He’s really tall, but his body is so thin.'

He had a slender, lean figure, pale skin, wearing sunglasses, and neatly combed brown hair.

What should I say...

'He looks like a textbook example of a Western middle-aged man.'

I greeted Verilad with that thought in my mind.

"I’m Kim Donghu. Thank you so much for coming in person, especially with the competition right around the corner."

"I understand. It’s something I should have been considerate of; I apologize for not thinking of it earlier."

"...?"

I could see the manager giving a puzzled look at Verilad Ice's words.

What’s going on? What happened?

Anyway.

"You came to discuss the Tarzan audition, right?"

"Yes, that’s right. There’s still some time, but I’d like to see you as soon as possible."

Now that he was here, it was time to talk seriously about the Tarzan film.

"Then, we’ll have that discussion with my manager."

"Your manager? As I mentioned before, this is a big matter. At least the head of the agency should be here. That’s why I insisted on talking to the actor directly in the first place."

In that regard, Verilad didn’t need to worry at all.

"Oh, my manager is the company’s representative."

"Excuse me?"

"Yes."

"...The representative is your manager?"

"Yes, all the details can be discussed with my manager."

Since Seokho was both my manager and the representative of the company.

"Hello, I’m Choi Seokho, the CEO of Veritas and Kim Donghu’s manager."

As soon as the introductions were over, Seokho stepped forward and greeted Verilad.

Now that Seokho had taken charge, there was nothing more for me to do.

'Seokho will handle everything, from the audition schedule onwards.'

Now, I only had one thing left to focus on.

'Winning the Asian gold medal.'

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That was the goal I had to run toward.

***

Time flew by, and by July, only about a month and a half remained until the Asian Games.

Normally, boxing wouldn’t receive that much attention,

but this year, all eyes were on one irregularity.

Olympic heavyweight gold medalist Kim Donghu.

His participation had already been announced.

"Kim Donghu, I’ll beat Kim Donghu."

"My goal is to beat Kim Donghu. If I can beat him, the gold is mine."

"I’m going to avenge the loss from last time."

"I can’t say for sure that I’ll win, but I’ll give it everything I’ve got."

Heavyweight boxers from all over Asia made their declarations.

Their goal wasn’t just the gold.

What they wanted was to win against Kim Donghu.

If they beat him, they could consider themselves the champions of the Asian Games boxing.

It was inevitable.

He was a legend who had knocked out a full-doping athlete in just two rounds.

To compete against such a record-breaking athlete meant that victory would mean everything.

He was also very young.

Only twenty-two.

The future was bright.

"Originally, there was no heavyweight category in 2018."

"Kim Donghu’s popularity made the heavyweight category grow, a lot of fighters want to face him."

That’s why, one by one, people started gathering around the bright future.

While they secretly speculated about the outcome,

everyone kept saying they weren’t sure how it would go.

The heat only continued to grow,

and by mid-August,

"WAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!"

The 2018 Asian Games opening ceremony began.