Chapter 63: Words That Shouldn’t Be Said

“That part is quite interesting, so I can’t help but ask. Which part made you feel that way in particular?”

“In the beginning, Kang Hyun appears as a genius doctor, but he ends up facing a situation where he can no longer continue that profession and falls into despair.

Yet at the same time, he keeps wondering what he can do moving forward and struggles with that question.

That part especially resonated with me.”

Wooju stared intently at Jitae’s profile as he continued speaking in a calm tone.

To be honest, Wooju didn’t know much about the movie.

He had never watched it.

So he had no idea what kind of character the protagonist Kang Hyun was.

But what Jitae had just said was not something he could simply ignore.

“Does that mean you’ve experienced something similar yourself?”

Wooju was curious too.

If the reporter hadn’t asked that question, he might have forgotten they were in the middle of an interview and asked it himself.

Perhaps sensing Wooju’s intense gaze, Jitae pulled his cap down even further and slightly curled his lips upward.

“When I first started modeling, I struggled a lot.

Every time I had a shoot, I got scolded, and there were many times when I wondered if this path was really meant for me.

It was the same when I started acting as an actor.”

Ah.

So he was talking about his life as a celebrity.

The sparkle that had briefly appeared in Wooju’s eyes slowly faded.

The reporter seemed satisfied with the answer as well and didn’t ask any follow-up questions.

“Then I think we only have a few questions left.

Next… this movie has been extremely successful. What kind of reactions did you receive from people around you?

You can talk about close colleagues or even your family.”

“Ah, actually… I don’t have many friends.”

Jitae gave an awkward smile.

“Then how about your family?”

“……”

Wooju had been admiring the reporter’s fast typing speed when suddenly the seat beside him grew quiet.

Until now, whenever the reporter asked a question, Jitae had answered smoothly as if he had prepared in advance.

But this time, he suddenly fell silent.

Because his cap was pulled down so low, Wooju couldn’t see his face clearly, but the veins on the back of his hand resting under the table stood out slightly.

It was a common question.

It didn’t cross any boundaries and was something that could normally be asked in an interview.

But in that brief moment of hesitation, Wooju wondered if Jitae might feel uncomfortable answering it.

Earlier, Park Junghwan had said that managers usually mediated difficult questions, but honestly, Wooju had no idea how far he should step in.

If he interfered unnecessarily, the atmosphere might turn awkward instead.

“Of course they’re happy.”

While Wooju was still hesitating, Jitae slowly opened his mouth.

“They even brag about it to people around them.”

“I thought so.”

Jitae gave a fairly ordinary answer, to the point where Wooju wondered if he had worried for nothing.

Come to think of it, Wooju didn’t actually know much about Won Jitae’s family.

Even when they were students, they had never really talked about their families.

The only things he had heard were rumors passed around—

that Won Jitae’s family was extremely wealthy,

and that his mother was incredibly beautiful.

In fact, when Wooju had once found a framed photo of Jitae’s mother while cleaning the room, he had only thought, So the rumor was true.

He had never asked anything beyond that.

“Then we’ll wrap up the interview here. Thank you for your time.”

“Thank you as well.”

Jitae and the reporter shook hands across the desk.

Soon after, the reporter’s hand extended toward Wooju as well.

Startled out of his daze, Wooju quickly grabbed it.

“I know quite a few reporters in the sports field as well.

If you ever have questions or need something in the future, feel free to contact me.”

“Ah… thank you.”

She truly was a veteran.

Even in this moment, she was securing potential work opportunities.

After all, the recent friendly match incident had caused quite a stir, so she probably saw it as a good opportunity.

Reporter Kim Yula packed her belongings neatly and efficiently.

The directors who had set up cameras in the room also began packing up one by one.

“You’re going straight back to the dorm, right?”

Director Kim, who had once drowned Wooju in alcohol during their last drinking session, asked.

“Yes.”

“Then we’ll pack the equipment and head down to the parking lot.”

Wooju and Jitae also left the interview room.

Even then, Jitae kept his cap pulled down tightly.

Maybe because Wooju had started noticing it, that habit kept catching his attention.

Was that some kind of habit of his?

Either way, because of the cap, Wooju couldn’t even see his face—let alone meet his eyes.

“Won Jitae, I want to stop by the restroom.”

“Yeah. Turn right and walk straight down the hallway.”

Jitae pointed toward the long corridor behind them.

Wooju told him to go down to the parking lot first and started walking.

That floor seemed to be where the interview rooms and meeting rooms were gathered, giving it the feel of a typical office.

He had heard that the company had moved to a new building recently.

Maybe that was why the scent of a new building lingered faintly in the air.

The spotless white-toned restroom was part of that newness.

If all of this had been made possible thanks to Won Jitae’s success, then it was somewhat understandable why the CEO called him a lucky charm.

After finishing and coming out, Wooju walked back the way he came.

As he turned the corner toward the elevator, he heard people talking ahead.

“Jitae, your face looks much more relaxed.”

“Does it?”

Peeking around the corner, Wooju saw Jitae talking with someone in front of the elevator.

Wooju had told him to go ahead first—had he been waiting there?

“Have you been well, senior?

It’s been a while since I saw you at the agency workshop.”

The man standing in front of Jitae was objectively handsome.

His face also seemed vaguely familiar, which made Wooju think he was probably an actor in the same company.

Of course, Wooju didn’t know his name, but he had probably seen him at least once on TV or in advertisements.

“Me? I haven’t been doing well.

You must’ve heard, right? My drama got canceled this time.

Or are you asking even though you already know?”

“That’s not the case. I guess I heard the news late.”

Won Jitae usually wasn’t very interested in others, so it was entirely possible he really didn’t know.

Even now, Wooju could tell from those short sentences that Jitae found this conversation quite tedious.

“Right. Well, you’ve filmed Rail and become a ten-million-viewer actor now.

Why would you care about news about a washed-up actor like me?”

Wooju’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

The tone, the shrugging gesture—

it was clearly sarcasm.

“I’m sure a better opportunity will come next time.”

There was no way Jitae hadn’t noticed the sarcasm either.

He tried to brush it off and steer the conversation toward ending it.

But the senior actor seemed to think he had found a proper opening and didn’t back down easily.

“Yeah, everyone thinks like that when they’re young.

But you know how this industry works, Jitae.

It’s all connections and networks.

Since we’ve run into each other, let me ask you something.

How did you do it?”

“Pardon?”

Wooju naturally leaned in to listen.

“How did you get cast in Rail?

Director Park Suwon is famous for not choosing unproven rookies, yet you got cast just like that.”

Wooju knew eavesdropping on other people’s conversations wasn’t a good habit.

But after hearing the way that man spoke, he couldn’t bring himself to leave.

Besides, the elevator they needed to use was right where those two were standing.

“People who know already know.”

Wooju could understand someone becoming sensitive after their drama was canceled and their work was cut off.

But that wasn’t a reason to talk recklessly about things you didn’t actually know.

During the interview earlier, Wooju had watched closely how Jitae answered questions.

Even when asked deep questions about the film’s story or the protagonist’s psychology, Jitae responded without hesitation, calmly explaining his thoughts and analysis.

Those were not answers someone could give without serious thought and effort.

Of course, Wooju didn’t know much about how the entertainment industry worked.

He couldn’t deny that connections mattered there.

Even in the sports world, such unfairness was everywhere.

But at the very least, Wooju knew that Won Jitae wasn’t someone who relied on such things.

Someone who climbed easily through others’ help wouldn’t have such detailed thoughts about his work.

“I heard a little from a senior I know… that your mother…”

“Excuse me.”

Unable to stand it any longer, Wooju suddenly stepped out from around the corner.

The man talking with Jitae—Ji Hyungyu—widened his eyes in surprise.

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes.

Isn’t it very rude to say things that make the person listening uncomfortable?”

Wooju stepped forward and stood firmly in front of Jitae, as if protecting him.

“What? Suddenly… I think you’re misunderstanding.

We were just talking casually as seniors and juniors—”

“It didn’t sound like a casual remark.

And regardless of your intention, if the other person feels uncomfortable, it’s something you shouldn’t say.

Let me put it this way—

If he spoke to you like that, would you feel good about it?”