Chapter 99. Berlin

"Phew, is it time to stop now?"

Seo Ji-eun's role is a character named 'Inari,' who is the vocalist of the indie band 'Mocha.'

She was the woman who performed alone on stage at the indie festival where Jay attended, representing her band.

Due to financial disputes among the band members, their relationship soured, and they scattered, leaving her to perform alone at the pre-scheduled indie festival.

Inari, with a black envelope wrapped around her wrist, trudged along.

"Grandma, you forgot to lock the gate again."

Although they didn't lock their doors in the countryside, she sighed softly at the sight of the wide-open, rusty green gate, given how the world was becoming increasingly dangerous.

Creak—

Click!

Inari closed the gate, entered the yard, and opened the front door.

"Grandma, I'm home."

As she entered the house, Inari was startled.

"Who's here? Whose men's shoes are these?"

As she moved toward the living room, she heard Grandma's voice from the kitchen.

"…Dear, if you do it like that, the cabbage will tear. You have to do it this way. Be thorough."

When Inari entered the kitchen, she saw a young man she had never met before, wearing an apron and applying bright red kimchi paste to cabbage leaves in a rubber basin.

"…Who are you?"

"Oh, Inari, you're here. How about the pork belly?"

In response to Grandma's question, Inari tilted her head and held out the black plastic bag wrapped around her wrist.

"I bought it. It's right here. You said we're having boiled pork today. Grandma, who is this…?"

"Hmm, I picked him up on the way."

"…Hello. I'm Jay. I couldn't communicate well, so it ended up like this."

"Uhm, are you a foreigner?"

Jay's face brightened at the first proper English he had heard today.

"Oh! You can speak English."

Yeon-woo explained the day's events to Inari as if he had found an oasis in the desert.

"So I asked to be taken to the nearest bus station…"

"Eh, you have to say 'bus' for 'bus.' What's 'station'? You must mean the intercity terminal. If you had said that earlier, I would have taken you."

Thanks to Inari's translation, they finally began to understand each other.

"By the way, do you happen to have a smartphone charger? The one Grandma uses is a type I've never seen before."

Jay also had a converter to convert C-type, but the charger Grandma had brought out after a miraculous communication attempt before Inari arrived was a type he had never seen, about the size of a thumb.

"Oh, Grandma uses an old 2G phone… Just a moment."

Inari rummaged through her bag and took out a C-type charger, which made Jay sigh in relief.

After all, Mr. Jeong must have been worried sick after losing contact with Jay following their last communication.

He plugged in the charger, but it seemed to be completely drained, so it would take some time to turn on.

At that moment, Inari noticed a guitar case in the corner of the living room and became interested.

"Jay, do you play the guitar?"

"Ah, I'm a composer. I came to Korea to work."

"Really? I do music too."

In fact, Jay had been unsure from the moment he first saw her, but he asked confidently after hearing Inari's words.

"By any chance, were you the one who performed at the indie festival…?"

"Eh? Yes, that's me!"

"What a coincidence."

This was the moment when a change came to Inari's mundane and recently troubled life.

"Jay! Do you want to listen to the music I made? My studio is over there. Well, it's more like a makeshift studio."

Jay nodded, and Inari, excited, grabbed him and led him to the studio.

"Tsk tsk. Kids these days get along so quickly."

At that moment, the voice of Director Park Chan-hong, who had been watching from the corner of the living room, was heard.

"Cut. Jay and Inari scene."

***

It had been about two months since the filming began.

During this time, the public's curiosity about the mysterious film production had only grown, and when Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun started filming busking scenes in the countryside, the internet exploded.

- I was on the village bus, and suddenly Ryu Yeon-woo started playing the guitar and Seo Ji-eun started singing from the back.

- My grandma said young men and women came to the village hall and gave a performance, and it turned out to be Ryu Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun. Crazy…

- What on earth are they filming? Why are there no articles? Journalists, get to work.

Meanwhile, the entertainment reporters were in a bind.

"Seriously! Why can't you get any information? If you find any production or distribution company, you should be able to get the script or at least some sources."

"It's a problem that we can't find anything no matter how hard we look. Editor, you know how many distribution companies there are in our country. It's not even an independent film."

Editor's face hardened at Yoon reporter's words.

"Say that again. What did you say?"

"Um, I was just venting out of frustration."

Seeing the hardened expression, Yoon reporter scratched his head and tried to explain, but the editor shook his head.

"No, not that. An independent film? Why didn't I think of that? This isn't getting funded and is being made as an independent film, right? From what I've seen on the internet, they're filming in the countryside without any set restrictions."

"Um… Could it be to make it more realistic? Surely, Director Park Chan-hong, Ryu Yeon-woo, and Seo Ji-eun wouldn't make an independent film, right?"

The editor stroked his chin, still thinking about Yoon reporter's words.

"Yoon reporter, I have a strong feeling about this. It's definitely an independent film. Investigate and publish a special article. It's fine to publish it as speculation."

"Um, I'll do it if you tell me to, but is it really an independent film? 'Master Plan' achieved ten million viewers."

Director Park Chan-hong, including his first work with Ryu Yeon-woo, 'Master Plan,' has already directed three films that have attracted ten million viewers.

However, the editor dismissed Yoon reporter's words and flipped through the calendar in the corner of his desk.

"Hmm… Yoon reporter, do you remember the article that Hansan Ilbo published last year? It caused controversy by criticizing Director Park Chan-hong."

There was a controversial article that criticized Director Park Chan-hong for not making films that were recognized internationally, despite his success in commercial films.

Seeing the editor holding the calendar, Yoon reporter's mind clicked, and he clapped his hands.

"Ah! A film festival?"

"Right. Given the timing, it could be Sundance or Berlin."

***

"I see. Understood. Have a good day."

After hanging up the phone, Director Park Chan-hong smiled at Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun.

"You two need to pack. We're going to Berlin."

Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun, who had been watching Director Park Chan-hong receive the call, brightened up.

"Yay! We're invited?!"

"Hehe. Yes, to the competition section."

Seo Ji-eun, jumping around excitedly, asked, and Yeon-woo was also surprised by Director Park Chan-hong's response.

"Competition section? Then we might win an award?"

"Of course, it's possible, but let's not get greedy. We should be satisfied with being invited."

Yeon-woo agreed.

Film festivals are where important figures gather, and he had always infiltrated as a diplomat when stationed in Europe.

'Now I'll be attending as an actor.'

It felt new and exciting.

'Even if we don't win, being invited is an honor.'

Of course, with the increasing frequency of Korean films winning awards abroad, he didn't rule out the possibility.

At that moment, Seo Ji-eun stood up, holding her head with both hands.

"Ah, this is bad! I need to diet. I have to wear a dress."

Seeing Seo Ji-eun, who was rubbing her slender waist and looking serious, Yeon-woo chuckled.

"Berlin is in February, so you'll freeze in a dress. Compared to Cannes or Venice, most people wear less revealing clothes and attend comfortably. The red carpet is also more casual, and it's rare to see men in bow ties and tuxedos."

"Really?! Phew, that's a relief. I've been thinking about having rosé tteokbokki for dinner tonight since last night."

Deciding the next day's dinner the night before, Yeon-woo, who wasn't particularly fond of food, laughed.

"Have you been to a film festival before? You seem to know a lot."

At Director Park Chan-hong's question, Yeon-woo broke into a sweat.

"Ah, I saw it in a documentary. Haha."

"Of course, that makes sense. Film festivals are the dream of actors."

Director Park Chan-hong nodded at Yeon-woo's words.

Dreaming of film festivals isn't just for actors.

Director Park Chan-hong was overjoyed to receive a call from the Berlin Film Festival's executive committee shortly after submitting the rough cut.

At that moment, the assistant director entered the office.

"Director, there's an article out now."

The assistant director's words made Yeon-woo tilt his head.

"We just received the call from the director. How did an article come out?"

"Ah, you received a call? Oh, yes!"

Director Park Chan-hong also tilted his head.

"What does the article say? We just received a call from Berlin."

"Ah, it's a speculative article. It says our film seems to be an independent production and is likely aiming for Berlin or Sundance."

"Wow, impressive deduction. Then we should make an official announcement. We need to nail it down."

The assistant director saluted, excited.

"Yes, Director. I'll pass the information to a friendly journalist. Haha. We're going to Berlin."

***

"Oh my."

Yumi-yeon, preparing to leave the office at Sejong City Hall, clicked on a portal site and saw an article on the main page.

- Ryu Yeon-woo and Director Park Chan-hong's independent film opens the door to Berlin. Berlin International Film Festival invitation.

- Will Ryu Yeon-woo and Seo Ji-eun's chemistry work in Germany? Director Park Chan-hong's film officially invited to the Berlin Film Festival competition section.

- Will Berlin bring good news? Director Park Chan-hong and Ryu Yeon-woo's grand independent film 'Sketch'.

Seeing the article, Yumi-yeon exclaimed, and her colleagues looked at her curiously.

"What's wrong? Yumi-yeon."

"Is something good happening?"

Shaking her head, Yumi-yeon looked at the team leader, Ryu Cheol-woong, sitting across from her.

"Team Leader Ryu, congratulations in advance!"

Ryu Cheol-woong, who was filling out documents, opened his eyes wide at the unexpected words.

"Huh? Congratulations? Suddenly?"

"Oh, haven't you heard? It's all over the portal main page."

As Yumi-yeon spoke, her colleagues, curious about what was happening, opened their internet windows, and Ryu Cheol-woong's phone rang.

Beep—

"Ah, son. What's up at this hour? Did you come home?"

- No, I'm calling to share some good news with you.

As the other civil servants read the articles pouring in, they naturally turned their heads toward Cheol-woong, who was on the phone.

After listening to Yeon-woo's explanation, Ryu Cheol-woong's mouth opened wide.

"Wow! What a blessing for our family. Congratulations, son. Well done."

- We haven't won an award yet, but being invited is a great honor.

"Of course! It's definitely something to be grateful for."

This year, 'Master Plan' attracted ten million viewers, and 'Beyond the Stars' recorded good ratings, but with the KBC year-end awards yet to be held and the film awards expected next year, Yeon-woo had only won a single rookie award for his debut work, 'Summer Wardrobe'.

Ryu Cheol-woong, who placed the rookie award in the most visible spot in the living room and polished it diligently every day after work, knew this.

Knowing this, Yeon-woo called his father first.

"Sure. Good job. Go home and rest."

After hanging up, Cheol-woong's colleagues approached him.

"Team Leader, congratulations."

"It's amazing to have such a famous celebrity in our midst."

"Oh, it's nothing. Thank you. Thank you all."

Min-su's voice, driving, sounded cheerful.

"Haha. Your father must be very happy, right?"

"Definitely. He seems happier than me."

"Wow, to make it to Berlin like this is impressive."

"Thanks to Director Park Chan-hong's script."

Yeon-woo, slightly embarrassed, scratched the back of his head.

At that moment, Yeon-woo's smartphone rang again.

'Hmm? Is it Mom?'

Thinking it might be his mother or sister So-hyun, who had received a call from his father, Yeon-woo looked at the screen and saw a call from Han Hae-woon.

"Yes, Mr. Han. I received your call."

- Ah, it seems there's someone else with you. Team Leader Ryu, I found a connection to 'Baek Sol.' Tracing back from the Plus Ten Entertainment CEO, I slowly dug and found a name.