The award ceremony is usually held live.
So,
What did Kim Donghu just say?
He said he’s happy to receive the rookie award, right?
It’s not just that he received the rookie award for the first time, but the first one… Is he really aiming for this?
It didn’t take long for Kim Donghu’s lively acceptance speech to spread across the internet.
What’s with the boldness? Is he declaring that all the rookie awards are his?
Kim Donghu can participate in the Cheongryong, Daejong, KBC, and SKS award ceremonies!
So, is he planning to snag four rookie awards? What the heck!
His dramas are hitting a minimum viewership of 30%, his short films are sweeping the mise-en-scène awards, and his debut commercial film is a hit with ten million views;
At this rate, the rookie award doesn’t even have a taste—it’s either Kim Donghu or a conspiracy!
He immediately claimed a spot in the real-time search rankings.
The second part of the stage that followed didn’t really mean much either.
That’s how huge the impact of Kim Donghu’s word “first” was.
To the audience always craving fresh faces,
This audacious young actor was a breath of fresh air.
It’s no wonder,
“Kim Donghu, confidence in rookie award ‘Thank you for the first rookie award’”
“Is it boldness or recklessness? What will the result be?”
“Top-notch politeness! Calmly spitting out his acceptance speech! He memorized all the staff names from Endless Frontlines.”
Articles popped up at lightning speed.
It’s rare for a rookie to get this kind of attention,
But it was possible because it was way beyond ordinary.
And then something came along to add fuel to the fire.
“Cheongryong Film Festival, Best Picture Award goes to! Endless Frontlines! Congratulations!”
The highlight of the Cheongryong Film Festival.
Who would take home the Best Picture Award,
And the audacious answer the festival gave was indeed [Endless Frontlines], which only intensified public opinion about Kim Donghu.
How many awards is [Endless Frontlines] racking up at the Cheongryong Film Festival?
If you add in the Best Picture Award, how many is that now?
With Director, Art, Cinematography, and Best Actor awards too, it’s five? No, should I count the rookie award as six?
This is seriously insane.
He seems to be showcasing the power of a blockbuster.
[Endless Frontlines] achieved the remarkable feat of snagging six awards at the Cheongryong Film Festival.
And if we look at just Kim Donghu, including the short film award, it totals seven.
At this moment, the name Kim Donghu was firmly etched into people’s minds.
How much is his value going to rise?
He doesn’t even have a lead role outside of short films—his real game starts after he becomes an adult!
For real; I don’t think there’s ever been a child actor with this kind of presence!
He’s bound to explode, flying his own fighter jet perfectly.
As long as he doesn’t undergo a dramatic transformation, he’ll conquer South Korea as he is.
As long as there are no controversies like school bullying, it seems legit!
A new star is about to begin shining by the end of the year.
The birth of the other had just begun at the end of the year.
++++++
Busy, busy.
To sum up the end of the year, this expression fit perfectly.
Giving acceptance speeches, resting for a few days, then heading out to another award ceremony—over and over again.
As a result, there were a whopping 4 rookie awards proudly displayed on one side of the agency wall.
Thankfully, all the busy work was finally over.
There were no more schedules in front of me.
“Great job, Dong-ho. Especially changing your acceptance speech every time; that’s a real talent.”
“I wrote it in advance, just in case, you know, for situations where it might actually overlap…”
“Well prepared.”
Seok-ho hyung looked proudly at my plaques filling up the wall.
“I truly believe this place will be overflowing in the future.”
“…But isn’t one wall a bit too much?”
“It’ll be soon.”
Whether he actually believed that or not, Seok-ho hyung glanced at me several times with a serious look before checking the calendar.
“New Year’s is coming up soon.”
“Yeah, it is.”
After the long year of 2011 came to an end, the abrupt arrival of 2012 started peacefully, unlike last year.
It seemed having no ongoing projects contributed to that peaceful start.
“Weren’t you focusing on exercising this year?”
“Yeah, I plan to recharge my stamina while resting.”
“Dong-ho, but that…”
“I know, I’ll be careful not to get hurt.”
“Well, I believe you’ll do fine; you’re not seven years old or anything.”
Injuries could have a critical impact, big or small, so I understood why Seok-ho hyung was worried.
“…Uh, okay. So besides Golden Bell and the boxing tournament, there’s nothing else this year?”
“Right? But if a good project comes along…”
I might take it.
At that, Seok-ho hyung shook his head as if he couldn’t argue.
“You really don’t seem to know how to rest.”
“I guess it’s just my personality.”
“Oh, by the way, next week is the premiere of the eclipse; people are really looking forward to it after seeing the trailer.”
“Yeah, I actually plan to watch the premiere with Su-Jin.”
“Just the two of you?!”
“What? Oh, no, at Su-Jin’s house.”
“Oh, okay then.”
What was he so surprised about?
‘Whatever, it’s not that important.’
Having roughly laid out my 2012 plans, I quickly said my goodbyes and left the office.
‘So I’m 16 now.’
The future had changed quite a bit.
Having received various cheats and made tremendous progress,
I can now confidently present my business card as a proper actor.
Yet, worries still lingered.
“Both my parents die when I’m 19.”
I wonder how this future will change.
Can [Sims – The Real Life] really alter even this?
“Is the reason they sent me to this one-person agency connected to all that?”
I still couldn’t figure it out.
What kind of future awaited me?
One thing was certain, though.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
– [Confirmed they are temporarily pausing acting to focus on boxing]
– [Redirecting the path to a solid future towards ‘boxing.’]
There won’t be a thorny path in my life.
+++++
Bam! Bam bam! Bam!
Upbeat music flowed,
“Five, six, seven, eight!”
Clap clap clap clap.
To the sound of someone counting and clapping,
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
The girls executed sharp choreography.
Dance they must have been honing for ages.
Despite the intense moves,
Not a single one was out of breath.
And among them, one stood out with an overwhelming difference.
“Jaerin, getting better and better?”
“Th-thank you.”
It was none other than Ryu Jaerin, destined to become a future top star idol.
She was a true standout,
her talent incomparable.
Not even a hint of jealousy was felt.
With her staying late to practice the longest,
she naturally earned respect and awe within the group.
‘She’s filled with ambition.’
The producer knew why Ryu Jaerin was working so hard.
‘Maybe it’s because of someone she likes.’
There was no need to mention who that was.
‘Kim Donghu.’
Not sure what their relationship was,
but it was clear they had known each other for a while.
Otherwise, there’d be no reason to plaster photos of him as a school uniform model all over her dorm room.
‘Yeah, unrequited love is no big deal.’
In fact, the producer didn’t worry much about this.
Why?
Because the person she liked was none other than Kim Donghu.
To say that teenage girls didn’t like Kim Donghu would be absurd.
So much so that it would make them ponder if ‘Kim Donghu’ could be their ideal type when girl idols are asked.
That’s how much he was adored by everyone.
Of course, apart from the producer with such complacent thoughts.
‘Kim Sujin, where on earth did this girl roll in from?’
Ryu Jaerin’s heart was ablaze.
She had known about Kim Sujin for a long time, but that didn’t mean she was always conscious of her.
But then,
The moment she saw a new side of Kim Sujin in the recently aired [Eclipse].
And Ryu Jaerin’s female intuition kicked in.
‘She likes Kim Donghu too.’
While everyone praised Kim Sujin’s acting, saying it was perfect, mature, and wondering how she could act love so well,
Ryu Jaerin could see it.
‘That’s not acting.’
It was a look and expression that could only come from truly being in love.
“Why is she trying to snatch someone else’s husband? Isn’t that adultery?”
“Huh?”
The other members expressed confusion at Ryu Jaerin’s sudden remark.
But Ryu Jaerin had already fallen deep into her own world.
“Trying to woo someone who’s taken, that’s just asking for trouble.”
As she muttered this, Ryu Jaerin held a pamphlet from the Korea National University of Arts.
++++++
Watching the first episode of [Eclipse] with Su-Jin flowed smoothly without any drama.
The feelings I had at that moment seemed fleeting.
We really just watched the drama and had dinner together.
And then, without any incidents, we parted ways.
On my way home, I felt how fast time was flying.
‘Even when taking it easy, time keeps flowing.’
Before I know it, am I going to go ring the golden bell soon?
> Next year when you come to our school, I’ll be the senior, right?
> Call me senior or noona there!
Then came Su-Jin’s KakaoTalk, and I chuckled lightly.
Right, thinking about it, we’re really going to meet at the same school next year.
‘That’ll be fun.’
Just imagining our school days brings a smile to my face.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
A message from [Sims – The Real Life] arrived.
-[Confirmed that this year there’s a boxing tournament]
-[Arrange a plan to utilize the celestial technique]
-[Download the app ‘Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee.’]
‘What?’
Could this be the famous saying from that person I know?
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