Chapter 136:
Lee Hyemin stared blankly at the seat where Jinseok had been sitting.
Suddenly showing up with a confusing story and invited her to watch a movie. It was beyond comprehension.
"Did he really come all the way here to tell that story?"
But Lee Hyemin couldn't easily brush off Jinseok's words.
"I don't know how he knows about me and Kim Faith If he came all the way here to tell such a story, there must be something I don't know."
Pausing to recall the conversation with Jinseok, Lee Hyemin looked intently at the business card Jinseok had given her.
"OS Entertainment, Kang Jinseok Team Leader, Jang Sunho"
She put the card in her wallet and stood up from her seat.
***
Despite Jinseok's NG in the middle, the shooting and editing of "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling" proceeded smoothly as planned.
As the work neared completion, the schedule for the film preview and the release date were also set.
The preview would take place from Saturday, March 25th, to the next day, Sunday, March 26th. The official release date was set for Monday, April 1st, right after the preview.
And today, on March 25th, the preview of "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling" was taking place at Yongsan CGB.
"Why are you staring at the pamphlet so intensely? Were you always this interested in movies?"
A female student, munching on popcorn while waiting for the theater to open, looked at her friend and said.
"It's not that. I'm just curious."
"About what?"
"I wonder if Kang Jinseok really looks like this."
In response to her friend's question asked with a very serious tone, the female student laughed as if it was absurd.
"You've chased celebrities like crazy, and now you believe in screens and photos?"
"There are a lot of good-looking people in real life too."
"Yeah, yeah. Didn't you regret going to the SKC awards last time?"
"You said there were many good-looking people. If they have a preview today, Kang Jinseok might come. Will I be able to see him from afar?"
The friend turned her gaze into the distance as if looking at a distant mountain. Then, she asked with a twinkle in her eye, "Are you working next weekend? Oh, you said you don't do weekend jobs anymore. But, I heard so much about this movie on social media, it's a bit intimidating."
"Why are you intimidated by something trending on social media?"
"Because everyone says it's fun. It feels a bit forced when everyone is making a big deal about it."
With a sigh, the female student spoke and then stood up from her seat. "It's almost time for admission. Let's go and line up."
At that moment, the door to the screening room on the second floor opened, and people started coming out one by one.
Some wore faint smiles, some had red eyes, and others hurriedly made phone calls.
"Hey, isn't this the place where the Aboslute Unlicensed Counseling' preview is today?"
"I think so. It was marked as off-limits for the screening on the second floor today."
"Let's get closer. I'm curious about people's reactions."
"Hey! Where are you going when it's almost time for admission!"
Ignoring her friend's urging words, the female student went near the escalator on the second floor.
While it might be difficult to directly ask about the movie, you could infer the level of enjoyment by just listening to what people were saying.
While scanning the surroundings, the usual conversation between couples, commonly found anywhere, caught her ears.
"Oppa, when is this released? Let's come see it again."
"Were you so entertained? I wasn't that impressed."
"What do you mean, not impressed? Oppa, you teared up when the con artist had a car accident at the end."
""
"And then, in the end, the two met again"
"Ah, I got it, I got it. Yeah, it was fun!"
The couple quickly left the theater, and from the other side, conversations like "Oppa, did you keep saying Kang Jinseok looked handsome while I was watching the movie?" and "Oh, no," "Oppa, you're handsome too. At least a generic version of Kang Jinseok," "Really?" "Is that so?" "Do you really accept that?" could be heard.
While her friend observed the couple's departure, urgent and serious voices from nearby conversations reached her ears.
"Team leader! The Absolute Unlicensed Counseling' preview just ended! Please come to our next product with Yeo Hyemin as the model. What? Team leader, trust me. It has to be Yeo Hyemin. I'll write a resignation letter if it fails. No, I'll sell my house to cover the losses."
"Hey, babe. It's me. I said back then to buy the shares of Kang Jinseok's agency. Did you sell that? Oh, this guy! Why are you shouting? Buy them again! Ah, this person! Why so many words? Just buy them again!"
"Unni, come to Sangsu Station right now. I just watched the movie preview, and I came up with an idea for the next video on our channel. Let's go to the places featured in Absolute Unlicensed Counseling,' shoot a review in advance, and upload it to coincide with the movie's release. The movie? It's no joke. Everyone in the theater was crying."
Couples moved by the pure experience of the film, middle-aged individuals who seemed to be industry insiders, and a YouTube influencerall the way to individual investors, the reactions were diverse.
"Is the movie really that good?"
As the friend stood there, dumbfounded by people's reactions, the female student hit her on the back.
"Hey! They've started the admission! Get a hold of yourself!"
"Ugh Why did you hit me?"
"Because you don't listen to words!"
"Do you even listen when I speak?"
As the two bickered, a sudden roar from the second floor caught their attention. The enthusiastic cheers, mixed with applause, made their gaze naturally turn in that direction.
"What's that"
"I-Is that Kang Jinseok?"
The friend tore apart the pamphlet she was holding, revealing a figure that seemed even more handsome than what came out of it. Shaking hands with people inside the screening room, Kang Jinseok, in a suit, walked somewhere guided by security guards.
Amidst the excitement, the female student and her friend couldn't take their eyes off Kang Jinseok. Perhaps feeling the intensity of their stares, Kang Jinseok glanced in their direction.
Although it wasn't a significant action from Kang Jinseok's perspective, the shock the female student and her friend felt from Kang Jinseok's gaze was not insignificant.
"Heuk He saw me"
"I-I made eye contact."
"Mom, Dad. Thank you for giving birth to me"
Having heard those admiring words, Kang Jinseok, with a shy smile, subtly waved his hand.
When Kang Jinseok disappeared from their sight, the female student and her friend continued to wave their hands until his back was no longer visible.
Regaining her composure, the female student shouted to her friend.
"Hey, hey! What are you doing? We need to go quickly!"
"Uh? Oh let's go. But why are you angry? You got yourself together too!"
"Well, that's true Never mind, let's hurry up!"
After a while, the sound from the second floor suddenly changed. The female student and her friend, still curious about the commotion, looked in that direction.
"Phew just saying hello was more tiring than I thought."
Wiping the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand, I spoke, and Jang Sunho handed me a handkerchief.
"You have to get used to it now. Once the movie is released, you'll have to do fan appreciation events and autograph sessions."
"Is that so? Anyway, I'm relieved that the audience's reaction wasn't as bad as I feared. I was worried because when I looked it up on the internet, the audience at preview screenings tended to give harsh reviews compared to regular viewers."
"Jinseok, this film is not just getting a mildly positive response"
During Jang Sunho's words, the waiting room door opened, and a staff member shouted.
"Is Manager Kang Jinseok here?"
"Yes, I'm here."
Responding to the staff's call, Jang Sunho said to me, "I'll be right back," and left the waiting room. After a short while, Jang Sunho returned with several people.
It was Go Seoyeong and a woman I hadn't seen before. She observed the waiting room with round eyes, spotted me, and froze.
"!"
It was a reaction straight out of a comic, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
With the woman by her side, Go Seoyeong greeted me.
"Hello, actor. I enjoyed the movie. Your acting was excellent."
"Haha, thank you. But who is this?"
Still frozen, the woman was pointed at, and Go Seoyeong nudged her shoulder.
"What are you doing, Suyeon? You should say hello."
"Oh, um! Hello! I'm, I'm Kang Suyeon!"
"Why are you acting like this? Sorry, actor. She's my junior from my reporter days, and I got her to handle the exclusive interview today. Maybe that's why she's so nervous."
"Oh, so you're the reporter conducting the interview today. I'm Kang Jinseok, nice to meet you."
"Yes, yes! Nice to meet you!"
When I extended my hand for a handshake, Kang Suyeon was startled and firmly held my hand. I could feel her trembling like a newborn kitten.
Though I haven't met many reporters so far, this was a first-time reaction.
Whether the trembling was noticeable, Go Seoyeong, as if sensing it, remarked with a hint of sarcasm.
"Suyeon, it's impolite to be so nervous. What would happen if you acted like this?"
"I'm, I'm sorry. So, shall we start the interview now? I, I provided the questionnaire Oh, may I proceed with the interview right away?"
"Haha, sure, go ahead. But there's no need to be so tense."
"Phew! Let me set up the camera, and we'll start right away!"
Kang Suyeon, still nervously fidgeting, began setting up the camera.
While observing this, Jang Sunho's face showed no change, but he undoubtedly cast a displeased look at Go Seoyeong, the one who brought Kang Suyeon.
Go Seoyeong, oblivious to Jang Sunho's gaze, continued whistling, and I could only manage a wry smile.
"Well, shall we start the interview, then?"
***
After the preview, various reviews of "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling" began to surface on social media, YouTube, and entertainment news articles.
[Exclusive! Meeting Kang Jinseok, the Love Scammer of "Absolute Unlicensed Counseling" Reporter Kang Suyeon]
[After "Loting Hill," "Notebook," and "Cute Lady," Finally Encountered a Heartwarming Romance Film Influencer: Want to Watch a Movie with Me?']
[It was entertaining in the beginning. It got sentimental in the middle. I cried in the end. After the movie, I called my ex-girlfriend. Ye-eun, I'm sorry. Movie-specialized YouTuber Kong Cinema']
[Praise to the director who created such love. Gratitude to the actors who portrayed such love. Lee Minho, movie columnist]
With experts and general audiences alike praising the movie, the expectations of those who haven't seen the film yet only grew. However, on the other hand, there were concerns about the credibility of the reviewers due to the overwhelmingly positive evaluations.
Usually, film previews come with criticisms, big or small, but it was challenging to find such critiques in articles and columns. Amidst these concerns, a video on YouTube was uploaded to dispel the public's worries.
[ Preview Site Reactions_Fancam]
[Channel: Leftover Tuna Can]