Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 400

In the silence that settled.

The first one to come to his senses was Director Min Heekyung.

He felt like laughing. 

He couldn’t believe what he had received, but he understood right away why Seo-jun had received it.

“Seo-jun. Congratulations.”

“…Uh, yes?”

Seo-jun, who had his eyes wide open like a rabbit, came to his senses at Director Min Heekyung’s words.

He realized that what he had heard was not a mistake when he saw Director Min Heekyung’s face smiling at him.

‘The Golden Palm Award winners are Flowing Away, Min Heekyung,’

‘And Lee Seo-jun.’

A slow joy rose between his surprised feelings.

Seo-jun’s face slowly filled with happiness.

When Seo-jun’s face became happy, Kim Hanseok, who was standing next to Seo-jun, was also startled and opened his mouth wide.

“Holy… This is crazy…”

He said without realizing it.

But the surprise was only for a moment, Kim Hanseok accepted the situation and clapped his hands with all his strength.

‘It’s Seo-jun hyung!’

He was Lee Seo-jun, who had won an Oscar at the age of 13. It was not strange for him to win any award.

Of course, it was a very special thing that the award was one that only directors had received so far.

‘It’s Seo-jun hyung!’

Clap clap clap!!

At the sound of Kim Hanseok’s excited applause, the audience and the filmmakers who were still stunned also came to their senses. 

Evan Block and Rachel Hill, who were sitting in the audience seats, and other Hollywood acquaintances also jumped up from their seats.

And then,

Wowwww!!

They sent a huge cheer for the first-ever joint Golden Palm Award for a director and an actor in the history of Cannes Film Festival.

The Lumiere Theater was filled with cheers.

***

Wowwww!!

The press room was the same.

It was already heated up by Director Kim Joo-hyung’s Grand Prix (Jury Prize) and Director Min Heekyung’s Golden Palm Award, but it exploded with Lee Seo-jun’s joint award.

Korea was no different.

Breaking news had been flowing out since early dawn.

[(Breaking News)Flowing Away, Director Min Heekyung wins Golden Palm Award!]

<Today at the Cannes Film Festival in France…>

[(Breaking News)Lee Seo-jun wins Golden Palm Award!]

<No content>

The breaking news article prepared for Director Min Heekyung was fairly complete and had some content, but Lee Seo-jun’s unexpected Golden Palm Award went out as an article without even a proper title.

But no one focused on that fact.

KBC, which was broadcasting the closing ceremony of Cannes Film Festival live, was also in chaos.

They expected Lee Seo-jun to create a beautiful scene that they could broadcast for a long time, but it turned out to be a huge hit.

A huge hit!

[One Shot]’s Grand Prix.

[Flowing Away]’s Golden Palm Award.

And actor Lee Seo-jun’s Golden Palm Award!

People turned on their TVs or logged on to YouTube to see the historic scene as soon as they heard the news. So the ratings were rising even at this 3 a.m.

Lee Seo-jun’s fan cafe [From Sprout] was also filled with tears and emotions of the sprouts who stayed up late.

[Notice: Lee Seo-jun’s light stick model will be added.]

[Author: Sob]

Hello. This is Sob.

Lee Seo-jun’s light stick model has been added.

It is a Golden Palm Award trophy model.

We will produce it with Cocoa Entertainment and ‘From Sprout’, so we will conduct a demand survey for the Golden Palm Award trophy model.

+) Oscar trophy model can be reserved from tomorrow.

-Me!

-I stayed up late and watched it! I’m so glad I saw it live!

-Seriously. I think I would have regretted it for a long time if I missed it

-A really unexpected award

-I think it’s because I felt Seo-jun being surprised too.

-Who would have expected it

-I wanted to scream but it was dawn so I just shook my light stick hard

-Me too. If it was daytime, I would have…!

[From Sprout] was not the only one, other communities were also buzzing.

The live broadcast screen was captured and posts were made quickly.

[The (still) child actor who won Oscar×Golden Palm Award!]

[Cannes Film Festival Best Actor? No, Golden Palm Award!]

-…This is insane…

-Wow… Who would have thought ‘and’ would come out there…

-The person who was doing simultaneous translation on KBC was also surprised, the timing was late

=I didn’t expect to feel a pause in the subtitles

-I don’t know about anything else, but I understood and Lee Seo-jun!

=I understood it, but I couldn’t comprehend it for a moment.

=22 Why did Seo-jun’s name come out and why did the camera focus on him, I thought.

-There are two trophies…!

***

“/Please come out, both of you!/”

The host’s words, which were almost like a confirmation kill, made Lee Jiseok, Kim Jongho, and the other actors push Director Min Heekyung and Seo-jun forward with excited faces.

“/Congratulations!/”

“/Thank you!/”

As they went down the stairs, they received congratulations from everyone and headed to the stage.

The French actor and the jury president who were hosting the ceremony welcomed Director Min Heekyung and Seo-jun on the stage. 

Seo-jun slowly realized the reality as he looked at the trophies that resembled branches.

‘…There are really two.’

One for Director Min Heekyung.

One for me.

Seo-jun’s face couldn’t stop smiling. 

He felt like his body was floating and his heart was beating so fast that he felt it from his fingertips to his toes.

Because of that emotion, Seo-jun’s aura flowed out.

The sprouts who were watching the broadcast were groaning at Seo-jun’s appearance on the screen.

His sparkling eyes, his flushed cheeks, his lifted lips. 

His whole body showed joy and happiness, overflowing emotions. 

He was shining brightly.

They couldn’t scream at this dawn, so they just shook their glittering light sticks. 

Song Yujung and Im Yena also covered their mouths and shook their light sticks hard.

“/Congratulations on your award./”

“/Thank you for your award./”

The jury president handed the trophy to Director Min Heekyung, and the French actor who was hosting handed the trophy to Seo-jun.

Director Min Heekyung received the Golden Palm Award with a grateful face, shaking his hand a little. 

Seo-jun also smiled brightly and hugged the Golden Palm Award in his arms.

They wondered who should speak first for the acceptance speech, and Director Min Heekyung stood in front of the microphone at the gesture of the French actor. 

Every little happening in this special situation of joint award attracted attention.

Director Min Heekyung, who stood in front of the microphone, swallowed his saliva and looked ahead. 

It was his first time as a director to stand in front of so many people, and he was very nervous. 

His shoulders felt stiff as if they had frozen.

Seo-jun’s eyes went to Director Min Heekyung, who was nervous. Seo-jun smiled gently and sent him a signal.

As his tension slowly eased, he thought it was fortunate that Seo-jun was next to him and opened his mouth with a slightly trembling voice.

“Bonjour.”

The interpreter translated it into English.

“I… almost couldn’t make this film.”

It was a shocking acceptance speech from the start.

“On the day when my first film failed and the film I had prepared for a long time was rejected, I decided to quit being a film director. I gave up everything and was about to go home when I met a boy.”

Dan Hong’s planning team leader and publicity team leader lit up their eyes.

That story was supposed to be used for publicity purposes, but come to think of it, there was no place more attention-grabbing than here.

“That boy was preparing for filming with his friends, and he looked like he loved movies and acting more than anyone else. He looked so bright and shiny that I couldn’t help but think that it would be nice if he could star in my film. It meant that I still had some film director’s heart left.”

He felt like he knew that story somehow, and Seo-jun blinked his eyes.

“So I decided to try one last time, really one last time. And that boy also gave me a sharp evaluation of my script.”

Director Min Heekyung spoke with a steady voice, smiling.

“That’s how I made ‘Flowing Away’. Thanks to this film, I was able to stand here where I dreamed of. I want to take this opportunity to thank that boy.”

Everyone looked at Director Min Heekyung as they heard his acceptance speech through the interpretation. 

They were curious who that boy was.

The Korean reporters in the press room also raised their hands on the keyboard and waited for Director Min Heekyung to open his mouth.

“He must be Korean.”

“Maybe he’s a student in high school or middle school?”

“If he has such a connection, maybe he’ll have a place in Director Min Heekyung’s future works?”

“It’s a promising work of the director, so… he’s lucky.”

Who was that unknown actor who made Director Min Heekyung, who won the Golden Palm Award, try again, and maybe even join Director Min Heekyung’s team in the future?

Director Min Heekyung turned his head with a smile.

There was an actor who loved acting more than anyone else, wearing a neat tuxedo, holding a golden trophy.

“Thank you so much, Seo-jun.”

The interpreter who was about to interpret paused.

The Koreans and those who understood Korean opened their eyes wide. 

The Korean reporters in the press room also opened their mouths wide.

‘…Then… who’s the lucky one…?’

While everyone was surprised, Seo-jun, who met Director Min Heekyung’s eyes, smiled softly and said.

“You’re welcome.”

***

After that, Director Min Heekyung thanked Dan Hong, the production company that chose his script, the actors, the staff, and finished his acceptance speech. 

Seo-jun stepped forward. 

The Golden Palm Award trophy in his hand was heavy.

“Merci.”

Thank you. 

As he opened his mouth, Seo-jun’s soft voice caught everyone’s ears.

“/This is my first time attending the Cannes Film Festival. Because I wanted to come here with a film that I starred in./”

Everyone’s attention was raised by the amusing episode that had just happened.

“/I’ve always wanted to come to Cannes Film Festival. Since a very, very long time ago./”

‘Maybe even in his first life.’

He had won the Academy Award for Best Actor first, but that was a really special case. 

It was clear from the fact that there was no Asian actor, let alone a Korean actor, who won it after Seo-jun.

Maybe the Cannes Film Festival’s Best Actor Award was the most possible and the highest award for a Korean actor.

Most other actors also thought so and wanted to win the award at Cannes Film Festival, and Seo-jun did too, so even though he couldn’t know everything because the book of his first life was old, he was sure that his first life was like that too.

“/So I was really happy when I was invited. It was a wonderful day when my film was screened and applauded by the people at the Lumiere Theater. Of course, other days were also really good. It’s not often that you can see so many diverse and amazing films in one place./”

Everyone smiled and nodded at Seo-jun’s words.

That was the most basic and important point of a film festival.

“/I thought that if I ever won an award, it would be the Best Actor Award… but I didn’t expect to receive the Golden Palm Award. So I’m a little flustered, but also happy and grateful./”

There were laughter here and there at Seo-jun’s voice full of humor.

“/I want to thank the director and the production company who made this wonderful film, the staff, the actors who filmed with me. And the people and my family who are watching in Korea. I also want to say thank you to the audience who filled the theater. Merci!/”

Applause poured out at Seo-jun’s sincere thanks.

***

Team leader Ahn! Please congratulate Seo-jun for me!

Golden Palm Award… Isn’t that too big of a scale?

We’re getting a lot of interviews.

And requests for appearances!

<Well. Let’s consider it along with the film schedule.

<Reject anything that overlaps and send me the candidates first.

<I’ll review them here until we return home.

Yes. I got it.

“Who is it? Dahyo hyung?”

“The people from Team 2. They all congratulated Seo-jun. And Korea is also buzzing, so there are a lot of contacts even though it’s dawn.”

Seo-jun asked and Ahn Dahyo lowered his phone and answered with a smile. Seo-jun smiled hehe and followed Ahn Dahyo.

The [Flowing Away] team was heading to the press center for an official press conference after the awards ceremony.

“Seo-jun hyung. You look even more shiny up close!”

“I never thought I’d see this…”

“Me too.”

Kim Hanseok, Kim Hoyoung, and Choi Hyunhee looked at the Golden Palm Award trophy engraved with [LEE SEOJUN] with curious faces. The staff side was crowded around Director Min Heekyung’s trophy.

They walked while looking at the trophy and before they knew it, they arrived at the front of the press center. 

The Cannes Film Festival staff who were guarding the door looked at them with smiles, the protagonists of this Cannes Film Festival.

“/Congratulations on your award. I’ll open the door for you./”

The Cannes Film Festival staff in suits opened the door to the press center. Flashing flashes burst out between the wide-open doors.

Seo-jun and [Flowing Away] team smiled brightly.

***

The sun rose and people woke up one by one.

Some turned on their TVs, some turned on their radios, some turned on their phones.

And they faced what had happened overnight. 

They couldn’t ignore it even if they wanted to.

[This dawn, the closing ceremony of Cannes Film Festival took place.]

Whether they turned on TV news or

[Director Kim Joo-hyung’s ‘One Shot’ won the Grand Prix, right? I enjoyed his previous work too! Congratulations!]

Radio morning show or

[Korea’s first Golden Palm Award winner! Director Min Heekyung’s ‘Flowing Away’!]

Internet bulletin boards, it was all about that story.

And the end of all those stories was always the same.

[For the first time in Cannes Film Festival history,]

In other words,

It could also be said that it was the first time in world history.

[Actor Lee Seo-jun won the Golden Palm Award.]

A belated cheer rang out.