LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 268
Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity
Chapter 268
“Bambi, I love you!!”
“My baby is the best!!”
From everywhere, I could hear the wailing of people presumed to be from Biyeon.
As I walked on the red carpet, I turned my head busily.
“Bambi, are you hurt anywhere?!”
“No. I’m fine!”
I quickly looked towards the direction of the voice I had been waiting for.
When I shouted loudly, the sound of the cameras' shutters became even faster.
‘Good thing I showed up.’
Han Ha-ram had disappeared yesterday, but the situation was resolved early this morning.
In other words, it would have taken a long time for the fans to hear about it through the news.
‘Of all times, why post on the fan café?’
At the time, I was so focused on finding Han Ha-ram that I acted without thinking.
Thanks to that, the public investigation sped up, but I felt guilty for worrying Biyeon.
When I smiled brightly as if nothing had happened, I saw relief slowly spreading across the fans' faces.
“I love you, Bambi!”
Though they couldn’t get close due to the firmly installed fences, loud voices echoed as if to defy that.
Many said they were scared, worried, and hoped I wouldn’t get hurt.
Words and gazes full of love poured out.
It was an overwhelming amount of praise, but it was something I didn’t want to miss.
With a prepared smile, I repeated that I was ‘okay’ and ‘thank you.’
That was when it happened.
An enormous roar came from behind.
“Please take care of yourself, Bambi!!!!!!!”
Oh my.
“……I-I will.”
Unconsciously, my expression collapsed.
As I stuttered with wide eyes, laughter erupted from all around, finding my reaction amusing.
The sound of the cameras' shutters became even faster.
I managed to regain my composure, but my heart still pounded.
‘That scared me.’
Wow, I was really startled.
For a moment, I thought thunder had struck.
“You should go inside now.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Before heading in the direction the staff guided me, I bowed deeply to the fans one last time.
“My baby, make sure you win an award!!”
I responded to Biyeon’s ridiculous remark with a wry smile.
---
As I entered the alley inside the awards ceremony, journalists flocked to me.
This was the place for brief interviews, typically with questions about the possibility of winning and feelings about it.
But in my case, it was different.
“Actor, may I ask about what happened yesterday?”
“According to additional police reports, there are more missing persons. Do you know anything about it?”
“There are rumors that there’s more than one culprit―.”
Is this an awards ceremony or a press conference?
The barrage of questions was filled with urgency, and I had a lot I wanted to say as well.
But unfortunately, I was limited in what I could reveal.
“I’m sorry, but since it’s an ongoing police investigation, I can’t comment on it.”
“Ah….”
Half of the reporters reacted as if they expected it, while the other half seemed disappointed.
After blocking all the questions, I went inside.
With no more reporters, the barrage of questions finally ended.
“Hey, I heard you were kidnapped. Are you okay?”
Ha.
“First of all, I wasn’t kidnapped. Don’t I look fine? All limbs intact.”
“Hey. Don’t joke around. Do you know how shocked I was when I woke up this morning?”
Actor Kim Seok-jun frowned.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen him.’
Not wanting to discuss it, I changed the subject.
“How’s the filming going? I heard you started shooting ‘Killing Horn’ Season 2 last month.”
“Well, yeah… I’m having fun.”
Actor Kim Seok-jun scratched his temple with an embarrassed look.
He seemed surprised to be the main character in Season 2, initially thinking he’d just play a supporting role.
I smiled and joked.
“Do you still get nervous before shoots?”
“Hey, who said I get nervous? I shot Season 1 without any worries.”
He grumbled, saying he only thought about making a lot of money.
‘Butterflies on the Zelkova Tree’ had ingrained this habit in him.
‘Good grief.’
Now he doesn’t even care about money.
I chuckled at his obvious pretense.
“Hyung, do you know your eyes still sparkle?”
“…Stop saying that.”
Actor Kim Seok-jun replied with an awkward face.
Embarrassed by his outburst, he quickly changed the subject.
“Did you prepare your acceptance speech? It looks like you’ll win the Best Actor award.”
“Me? You and Jung-hyun hyung are also nominees.”
“Think about it logically. I’m just a filler. Lee Jung-hyun is more likely to win in the film category. Who else but you?”
Hmm.
I shrugged.
“Well, you never know until you unwrap the package.”
“Look at this guy acting all nonchalant. Just prepare your acceptance speech in advance so you don’t tremble on stage.”
“Worry about yourself, hyung.”
---
“Good grief, you make a fuss even when I worry about you.”
Actor Kim Seok-jun grumbled.
I lightly ignored his continuing muttering.
---
“We will now announce the Best Actor Award in the TV category at the 67th Arts Awards of 20XX.”
At the MC’s words, someone poked me in the back.
“Hey, it’s your turn soon. Have you prepared your acceptance speech?”
Ha.
‘What a nuisance.’
Without a word, I grabbed Kim Seok-jun’s hand and lowered it.
When I applied pressure, I heard a painful “Ugh” from behind me.
Several faces appeared on the screen at the awards ceremony.
Jung-hyun hyung, Kim Seok-jun, me, and other actors.
Given that this award ceremony did not give out duplicate awards, it was safe to say that one person was already excluded.
Jung-hyun hyung had already received the Best Actor Award in the film category.
“Then, I will announce the winner.”
The presenter slowly opened the envelope and began to speak.
“Actor Kim Seok-jun from ‘Killing Horn’!”
“Congratulations!”
Fireworks exploded.
Simultaneously, the camera captured Kim Seok-jun with his mouth wide open.
Regardless of image management, his extremely surprised face, with his mouth agape, was broadcasted live.
I stifled my laughter and patted his back.
“Hyung, congratulations.”
“Huh? Huh?”
“Hurry up and go. You need to receive your award.”
“Me, me? No, you.”
“Hurry.”
Since he was certain I would win, Kim Seok-jun kept looking back at me as he walked.
‘He’s going to trip if he’s not careful… There it is.’
He tripped.
The camera captured Kim Seok-jun stumbling on the stairs.
The broadcaster quickly cut the feed, but unfortunately, it switched to Jung-hyun hyung and me.
Both of us were gritting our teeth to hold back laughter, causing the audience’s laughter to grow louder.
“Uh, yes, uh… thank you, thank you. I’ve received this award….”
Unable to prepare an acceptance speech in advance, Kim Seok-jun trembled on stage as he had advised me against.
I smiled at the sight of the lost lamb.
He was cute.
“This is my first time receiving such a big award, uh, really thank you. I received a lot of help from many people. Uh, sitting at the same table as Lee Jung-hyun and, yes. And Bambi, no, Lee Yeon-jae.”
……What is he saying?
The smile quickly faded from my face.
I take back what I said about him being cute.
“Thank you to the two people who filmed with me, yes, thank you.”
After more rambling, Kim Seok-jun finally came down.
He looked completely drained.
That didn’t change even after he returned to his seat.
“Hyung, are you okay?”
“Oh, no? Not okay.”
“Yes. You look like it.”
Kim Seok-jun still had a blank expression.
He stared at the trophy in his hand as if it was unfamiliar, then suddenly flinched and looked at me.
“Hey, I’m sorry. You should’ve received this.”
“Don’t say such foolish things.”
“No, really….”
Kim Seok-jun watched me carefully.
Since the other awards I was nominated for had already been announced, it meant I wouldn’t be receiving any awards.
Of course, I was fine with that.
‘It’s a bit disappointing.’
As Jin-bae hyung said, I wasn’t particularly interested in the awards themselves.
I understood that the trophy wasn’t just a piece of metal.
It symbolized the efforts of countless people in the industry.
Honestly, that made me more reluctant to receive it.
‘Someone like Kim Seok-jun deserves it more.’
So, the disappointment I felt wasn’t because I didn’t receive an award.
It was because I couldn’t say what I wanted to say.
‘Well, there are other ways.’
I could always post on the fan café.
That might be better. No time constraints.
Yeah, I thought so.
‘……What is this?’
But not long after, just before the end of the awards ceremony.
I found myself standing on stage.
With a trophy in one hand.
---
“Now, for the highlight of the Arts Awards, we will announce the Grand Prize.”
The MC’s voice echoed through the microphone.
‘As soon as I get home, I’ll shower and turn on the computer.’
I was organizing what I would write on the fan café in my head.
“The Grand Prize of the Arts Awards goes to―!”
Jin-bae hyung would definitely say something about posting at this hour, hmm.
‘Alright. I’ll finish the upload within an hour.’
I nodded as I thought.
“Lee Yeon-jae! Congratulations, Lee Yeon-jae!”
My name was suddenly called.
“…?”
“Unbelievable, Yeon-jae!!”
---
“Oh, this is right!!”
Jung-hyun hyung, who was next to me, suddenly rushed over, and actor Kim Seok-jun hugged me too.
I sat there with wide eyes, dumbfounded.
‘What is this….’
I followed the person guiding me, walking in a daze.
I shook hands with someone, hugged others, but still couldn’t grasp the situation.
The Grand Prize? The Grand Prize?
‘Me?’
The Grand Prize was the only award for which the nominees were not announced in advance.
‘Last year’s winner was definitely….’
It had been a veteran actor who won the award after 30 years of debut.
‘And the next winner is me?’
Is that okay?
A sudden wave of pressure surged up to my throat.
As the presenter handed me the trophy, I shook my head unconsciously.
No.
‘I’m not such a great person.’
What should I do?
Holding the trophy felt like holding a time bomb, I stood in front of the microphone.
“Hello, I’m Lee Yeon-jae….”
My bewildered expression, trembling voice, and wandering gaze.
I tried to compose myself, knowing the camera was capturing all of it.
I cleared my throat to be as polite as possible, but it didn’t go well.
Receiving this award felt impolite in itself.
“I’m sorry. Receiving this award… I’m very grateful but also feel very sorry. I….”
My head felt foggy, like a dream.
Guilt crept up from my toes.
“…….”
A tense silence followed.
I had prepared a lot to say. I certainly had a lot to express.
‘But….’
I stared blankly at the trophy.
I had received an award at Cannes as well.
But back then, I didn’t realize the significance of this trophy.
The countless people who work tirelessly every day to uphold the honor of this trophy.
I felt anxious and uneasy.
Just when it felt like my mouth was drying up.
The eternal silence was broken by a shout.
“Our Bbul-bbul, you’re the best!!”
It was Jung-hyun hyung.
Laughter erupted from the audience.
I was the same.
Hearing that nickname after so long made my lips curl into a smile.
“Yes. Bbul-bbul…. Bbul-bbul won an award. Horn… has come up to this stage.”
Right.
This wasn’t my award.
I felt my head clear up naturally.
‘Phew.’
I took a short breath and began to speak.
From the director of ‘Killing Horn,’ the writers, the staff, my fellow actors, my supportive agency and Jin-bae hyung, to my friends and fans.
I apologized for not being able to mention everyone by name and expressed my gratitude.
And finally, I said what I truly wanted to say.
“In every relationship, there are strong and weak. The one who loves more is always the weaker one. Horn will forever exist as a weaker being to Kang Seok.”
I looked ahead.
“There are still many people living as the weaker ones. Many children suffer physical and mental abuse from the parents they love.”
I thought of the child who had trembled in my arms all night.
My voice gradually shook.
“Children cannot help but be weak in front of their parents. Although it’s said parents can’t win over their children, for young kids, they have only their parents. Just like Bbul-bbul and Horn had only Kang Seok.”
I swallowed hard.
“I sincerely hope that people who exploit their position in relationships just because their children love them will disappear.”
As I spoke, I thought of you.
You, who lay on a mattress with a corpse.
“For children like Horn who need help….”
But he’s no longer there.
Horn is now wearing a clean suit he never wore in his life, receiving cheers from countless people.
At this moment, he stands on this stage.
“I dedicate this award.”
I looked ahead with him, a faint smile forming on my lips.