“Hmm, Ryu Yeon-woo? New Star Award and Best Actor Award…?”
“Ryu Yeon-woo is a young actor who’s rising these days.”
The interpreter by his side added to what Bernard Penton said.
Bernard Penton, a Hollywood casting director, mainly worked with multinational companies like Netflix and Prime, which provided online streaming services. He connected actors to original series and movies produced by these platforms. With K-POP already making waves, he recognized the growing demand for Korean content in Hollywood and acted swiftly to secure a position in the emerging market.
“It’s a good mask that will work well… Please write down the works he appeared in separately.”
“Yes, Director.”
Following the staff’s guidance, Yeon-woo joined the table where the “Summer Promise” team was seated.
“Director, Jun-ho hyung… they’re here first.”
“Yeah, they came in with the director without doing the photo wall event.”
Yeon-woo looked at Kim Han-soo, who had already taken a seat and was sitting with Ahn Jun-ho. The awards ceremony venue was filled with famous celebrities no matter where you looked.
Jin-yuk, who had taken his seat first, gestured to Yeon-woo and pointed towards the fans.
“Yeon-woo, our fans are over there. Let’s go and greet them.”
Yeon-woo looked in the direction Jin-yuk’s finger pointed. On one side of the audience seats on this floor, “Summer Promise” placards were visible. These were fans of the selected works who had been pre-announced online, along with the staff guiding them.
The two of them shook hands with the fans, and the fans cheered and waved their placards.
Seeing Jin-yuk and Yeon-woo’s interaction, So-hyeon and Jun-ho also turned to face the fans and waved in response.
Soon, the awards ceremony began. The venue darkened, and a cinematic video was played on the screen. Various media works that had heated up the previous year were edited briefly with grand music.
“Summer Promise” also made brief appearances in between scenes.
====
***
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The glamorous awards ceremony proceeded smoothly, and around the latter part of Part 1, it was time for the award ceremony for Yeon-woo’s nomination for the Best Male Rookie Actor in the TV category.
“Now, would you like to meet the third nominee for Best Male Rookie Actor?”
Actor Koo Do-hyun, the presenter for the Male Rookie Actor award, and the previous year’s winner, delivered his speech. An edited video of Yeon-woo’s acting in “Summer Promise” was shown on the screen.
“In JNBC’s Wednesday-Thursday drama ‘Summer Promise,’ actor Ryu Yeon-woo, who portrayed the character Woo-joo.”
Yeon-woo’s personal camera was attached to the front, capturing his expression.
‘This is kind of embarrassing…’
As his video played on the screen, he couldn’t help feeling self-conscious.
In a gathering attended by numerous actors, when Yeon-woo saw his acting displayed on the big screen, he couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious.
Then, other nominees were introduced, and the screen displayed a total of five male actors.
‘At first, I was satisfied just with the nomination, attending the awards ceremony with a sense of honor. But as the moment of the award drew near, my desire to win it grew.’
The hope for Yeon-woo’s victory wasn’t confined to the awards ceremony venue. Inside the venue, Yeon-woo’s family was watching the live broadcast on SBC.
“Oh, I’m too nervous to watch. Dear…”
“Hehe, winning isn’t the most important thing. It’s an honor just to be there. Let’s relax.”
His parents tried to watch the ceremony from closer to the TV to get a better view.
Hisyounger sister, Ryu So-hyeon, sat on the sofa behind them and smiled as she watched her parents.
Ryu Cheol-yung, who advised them to stay calm, was trembling visibly, as anyone could see.
And in the dormitory of Yeonha University, Woo Seong-sik was concentrating on the SBC live broadcast on his laptop.
Seong-sik’s roommates and classmates were also watching the broadcast, munching on chicken as they watched the awards ceremony.
“Hey Seong-sik, are you really close friends with Ryu Yeon-woo? Not just classmates?”
Kim Jae-kwon, a classmate known for not easily trusting others and always having doubts, asked Seong-sik.
Seong-sik squinted at Jae-kwon, who had asked for the third time.
“Why do you keep squinting at me? It’s just because it’s fascinating.”
Jae-kwon shrugged his shoulders and avoided Seong-sik’s gaze.
In fact, Jae-kwon had never lost a game of rock-paper-scissors since elementary school and wanted to represent the department in university.
However, since O.T., Seong-sik, who quickly made friends with his unique social skills, had his arm wrestled away from him. Now, Jae-kwon was trying to play tricks on Seong-sik.
On the other hand, Kim Junsoo and Hong Yuri, who weren’t in a relationship yet but had been spending a lot of time together lately, were sitting in a café. They shared earphones and watched the awards ceremony on their laptops.
“Oh, Yeon-woo has to win!”
“Of course, he’ll win.”
The two of them stared at the laptop screen intently, clenching their hands.
Finally, the presenter Koo Do-hyun took the mic and began speaking.
“The winner of the Best Male Rookie Actor in the TV category at the 55th Korean Arts Awards is…”
He paused for a moment, and then continued.
“Congratulations to Ryu Yeon-woo from ‘Summer Promise’!”
Yeon-woo stood up with a broad smile.
“Congratulations, Yeon-woo!”
“Son, congratulations!”
Jin-yuk and So-hyeon held Yeon-woo’s hand, beaming as if they were the ones receiving the award.
Not only the “Summer Promise” team but also other actors around extended their congratulations to Yeon-woo.
Ma Seok-do, who was at a different table, came to Yeon-woo just before going on stage, holding his hand and patting his back.
“Congratulations, little brother.”
“Thank you, hyung. See you on set tomorrow.”
As Yeon-woo made his way to receive the award, he greeted numerous fellow celebrities he encountered on the path to the stage.
“Yeon-woo has earned a place in the limelight through his portrayal of youthful emotions and conflicts between succession and his dreams in the TV drama ‘Summer Promise.’ Congratulations on your award.”
The MC’s voice praised Yeon-woo’s performance, and on the stage screen, a still cut of “Yeon-woo” from ‘Summer Promise’ was displayed.
With long strides, Yeon-woo ascended the stage and received the award from presenter Do-hyun.
“Thank you, Senior.”
“I enjoyed your work. Congratulations on your award.”
Do-hyun smiled at Yeon-woo and shook his hand before stepping down. Yeon-woo took his place at the microphone to deliver his first-ever acceptance speech.
In his dapper black suit with a bowtie, Yeon-woo’s handsome appearance was broadcast nationwide.
“Oh, dear! Our Yeon-woo!”
“It’s like a member of our family made it to the stage!”
“Wow!”
Yeon-woo’s family expressed their joy as they hugged each other.
Kim Junsoo and Hong Yuri, who had watched from the café, also hugged each other in excitement, and then their faces turned red and they quickly separated.
“Wow! Um, ahem.”
“Cough.”
Seong-sik’s dormitory was also in a state of excitement.
“Wow!”
Seong-sik cheered for Yeon-woo’s award, and Jae-kwon, who had reluctantly attended the gathering just in case his gossip came out, grumbled.
“Why is he overreacting so much? People might think he’s part of the family.”
Jae-kwon’s friends frowned a bit at his obvious grumbling.
Whether Jae-kwon spoke or not, Seong-sik was focused on his friend, who appeared like a model in the laptop monitor.
Yeon-woo’s acceptance speech was played through the speakers.
“First of all, I’m genuinely delighted to receive the Best Rookie Actor award, which I can only receive once in a lifetime. I would like to express my gratitude to Director Kim Han-soo and writer Choi Mi-hyu, and to all the staff who gave me this great opportunity.”
Yeon-woo mentioned the colleagues with whom he had shared his first-ever shoot, reminiscing about those times.
The camera occasionally captured the actors from the ‘Summer Promise’ team who attended the awards ceremony.
Then, the screen returned to Yeon-woo as he continued to speak.
“I also want to thank LN Entertainment and, most importantly, my dear Wooz family. And my acting mentor, actor Jung Cheol-min. Above all, my precious family, my father and mother. I’ve received the award.”
As they watched the screen and saw their son’s joyful expression, Yeon-woo’s parents, Ryu Cheol-yung and Lee Sun-ok, couldn’t help but shed a few tears.
Jung Cheol-min, who was watching from the acting academy, felt the same way.
“What? Me?!”
As if she heard her younger brother’s story, So-hyeon’s name was immediately mentioned.
“And my adorable So-hyeon. Oh, her name is the same as Han So-hyeon, the actress. It’s a story about my younger sister. Haha. I’ll give you a lot of allowance, little sis.”
Laughter erupted within the awards ceremony as Yeon-woo shared his story, and it was faintly picked up by the on-site microphone and transmitted to the TV.
“I want to express my gratitude to Junsoo and Seong-sik, Yuri noona, our fantastic manager Min-soo hyung, and our stylish sister. I will repay this Rookie Actor award with great performances in the future.”
With his final statement, Yeon-woo bowed his head, said his farewell, and left the stage. Despite he thanked numerous people and the lack of any apparent nervousness, not much time had passed.
Meanwhile, when Yeon-woo’s last words of gratitude were heard from the awards ceremony, Jung Cheol-min’s dormitory room was filled with cheers.
“Oh, oh, oh! He even mentioned Seong-sik. Are they really close?”
“They say they are friends! I told you several times. Haha.”
With envious looks from other fellow students, they approached Seong-sik, requesting his autograph.
Jae-kwon, who had grumbled about Seong-sik being overly dramatic, sat there with a sour expression, chewing on his chicken with force.
In the café, Junsoo and Yuri, who had been watching with headphones, were taken aback and let out a small shriek.
“Eek! What? He mentioned my name too!”
“Yeah, he mentioned mine too!”
After Yeon-woo’s winning moment, which brought joy to many, the awards ceremony continued with other categories.
For the Best Male Actor award, in which Jin-yuk and Yeon-woo were nominated, Jin Yu-han was awarded the prize, becoming the rival that many media outlets had highlighted for this awards ceremony.
The Best Female Actor award in the TV category went to So-hyeon, soothing some of the disappointment. The awards ceremony extended into the late evening.
At the awards ceremony today, where So-hyeon won the Best Female Actor award and Yeon-woo won the Rookie Actor award, the “Summer Promise” team was in a festive mood, and this naturally led to a dinner party.
Now that he was of legal drinking age, Yeon-woo was more at ease mingling with the staff and sharing their joy.
Jin-yuk, who had sadly missed an award, seemed genuinely content with Yeon-woo and So-hyeon’s victories, with a consistent smile on his face.
Amidst a deluge of incoming calls, Yeon-woo spoke with his family first, followed by the others whose calls were stacked up in the order they had come.
And thus, Yeon-woo’s first night in his new life, having stepped on the red carpet for the first time and won his first award, came to a happy close.
*****
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