“Zeno, you’ve hit 3 million followers!” Yuan exclaimed, his eyes filled with excitement.
“Why are you still here?” Zeno replied, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “We’re ready to head home. You should have left two weeks ago.”
Yuan flashed a bright smile. “I’m thrilled that you hold me in such high regard!”
Zeno pursed his lips. “Which company did you say you’re with again?”
“Moonrise,” Yuan responded. “I recently signed on with them. Do you want me to refer you to my agent?”
Zeno shook his head firmly, a clear indication that he wanted no part in the antics associated with that company. There was a recurring theme he wanted to avoid.
“Look on the bright side! Aren’t you happy? You now have more followers than Daniel!” Yuan continued.
Daniel, standing off to the side, couldn’t help but frown. Throughout the filming process, Yuan had made things far from easy for him. He felt powerless to retaliate, fully aware that Yuan was right—Zeno had indeed surpassed him in followers!
[+8 Public Perception]
[+5 Job and Income]
[Fame Meter: 50%]
[New Items Available!]
Zeno made a mental note to check his items later.
With half of the episodes for ‘The Forsaken Prince’ now aired, calling it a success was an understatement. The show had taken the nation by storm, especially among the youth. It had not only surpassed the ratings of ‘Broken Chains of Justice’ but had reached an impressive 30% during its latest episode.
Now that filming was complete, Zeno had achieved his goal of reducing production time by 10%. Thanks to his S-class acting skills, he breezed through scenes without difficulty. Suho, too, had rediscovered his passion for acting and made significant improvements throughout the production.
Aside from the occasional whining from Oska and Daniel, the overall experience was quite positive. Zeno felt a little bit (really, only a teenie tiny bit) of disappointment that filming had concluded, yet he also found himself yearning for the comfort of his own bed—and, albeit reluctantly, he missed the demon dog he owned.
In this location, cell service was practically nonexistent, leaving Zeno puzzled as to how Yuan had learned about his 3 million followers. If it hadn’t been for his system, Zeno would have remained unaware.
Just then, the sound of a sniff interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see Yuan gazing at him with wide, pleading eyes.
“Is this the last time we’ll see each other?” Yuan asked.
“I hope so,” Zeno muttered under his breath, but Yuan appeared like he didn’t care.
“I won’t forget you, Zeno,” Yuan declared, leaning against his side. “Please, promise you won’t forget me either.”
As much as Zeno wished he could erase Yuan’s presence from his mind, he knew his memory was superior. He was certain he would recall Yuan’s annoyingly persistent self.
Suho chimed in, extending his hand with a shy smile. “It’s been a pleasure working with you,” he said, performing a slight bow. “I genuinely hope we can collaborate again in the near future.”
Zeno merely nodded in response, his expression neutral.
“Hey!” Yuan exclaimed. “Why didn’t you nod toward me?”
Risa approached, her cheeks faintly flushed as she joined the conversation. “I had such a fun time during filming,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “I’m really looking forward to seeing you during the promotion period.”
Zeno let out a resigned sigh. Yes, the journey was far from over. Daeshim PD had already enrolled them in a lineup of shows to promote the drama. Although, in his opinion, that wasn’t necessary at this stage.
He nodded once more, this time a bit slower.
Yuan hopped away toward Daeshim PD, eager to pester him about what he could do to join the promotional activities as well.
“Yuan, as much as I’d love to accommodate you, you have another drama that requires your attention,” the PD replied, eliciting a sigh of relief from Zeno.
At that moment, Ryeo approached him. “Sir,” Zeno quickly bowed in respect.
Ryeo’s smile seemed softer than it had been previously. The surrounding staff and fellow actors watched their interaction with confusion and curiosity. It was unusual for Ryeo to forge friendships or mentor someone as young as Zeno, making their bond all the more surprising.
“I’m truly looking forward to more of your remarkable works,” Ryeo said, genuine warmth in his voice.
“Thank you, sir. The same goes for you,” Zeno responded earnestly.
Ryeo chuckled lightly. “One thing I’ve discovered during this filming process is that I’m getting too old for these roles. I find myself unable to commit to them anymore.”
Zeno quirked an eyebrow, a playful smirk appearing on his face. “Are you considering giving up, sir?”
Ryeo Wang’s laughter echoed lightly. “Of course not! Until I achieve my dream of winning an international award, retirement is simply not an option.”
“Then you better choose another project soon,” Zeno suggested.
“Focus on your own work, young one,” Ryeo replied with a mock-seriousness. “I have plenty of projects lined up for me.”
Zeno grinned. “By the way, sir, did you manage to get that mole checked out like I reminded you?”
An ambiguous expression crossed Ryeo’s face momentarily before he nodded. “They took a sample, and I’m currently waiting for the test results to return.”
“That’s good to hear,” Zeno muttere. “You really need to take care of yourself. Remember, you’re nearing the average life expectancy for Koreans. You could die if you don’t prioritize your health.”
Ryeo laughed heartily, placing his hands over his stomach in amusement. His young manager gawked at the senior man. He had never witnessed him laugh like that throughout his entire career!
“What do you know about living long?” Ryeo teased. “You’d better come see me again once you’ve lived long enough to give advice!”
Zeno smirked in response, opting to remain silent.
“Zeno, everything is loaded!” Moby called out from his truck, drawing their attention.
Ryeo glanced toward the vehicle, a small smile curving his lips. “Why is it that you’re still being transported in that old car?”
Zeno shrugged nonchalantly. “As long as it moves, I’m good,” he replied. “My company isn’t exactly wealthy, but they’re doing their best to support me.”
“Do you have any plans to join another company?” Ryeo inquired.
Zeno paused to consider the question before shaking his head. “Not really. I doubt I’d have this same level of freedom and support if I were part of a larger company.”
But then, Ryeo offered him a cautionary look.
“You should be more careful, then,” he warned. “You may not have noticed it when you were just starting out, but bigger companies will be eager to snag you once they see your talent. If you ignore their requests, you might find yourself becoming their number one target.”
“Don’t worry,” Zeno assured, taking a step back. “I’m well aware of that.”
With finality, he waved farewell, bowing deeply to Daeshim PD and the rest of the staff.
It was finally over.
“Wait, Zeno! Let’s take a photo together. I need to boost my followers!” Yuan shouted as he sprinted after him. However, Zeno quickly ducked inside Moby’s truck, escaping the request.
“Ready to go?” Moby asked.
Zeno nodded, casting a final look at the filming site that had felt like home for the past month.
Moby started the engine and sighed as he began pulling away.
“I hope you’re prepared,” he said.
Zeno shot him a curious glance. “Prepared for what?”
“For everything,” Moby said simply.
“A lot has changed since your show began airing.”