Zeno felt his ears grow hot as he went out of the bus. He removed his mask since he was already in his neighborhood and inhaled deeply.
“Who the heck is talking about me?” he asked while rubbing his ears.
He was tired from the trip, so he really wanted nothing but to rest. It was already the afternoon, so his friends must be home, too. He didn’t want to admit it, but he missed Doha’s cooking.
However, as he arrived at the bottom of the stairs, an unfamiliar man greeted him.
“Zeno!” the old man exclaimed. “You look handsome. I only noticed it now. Good luck on whatever you’re filming.”
Zeno frowned and merely bowed, still confused.
He took another step forward and was met with a gasp. A girl wearing a school uniform stopped in her tracks, looking at him with wide eyes.
“I can’t believe we’re really neighbors! I thought my mom was a liar when she told me. Can I have your autograph?”
The schoolgirl shoved her notebook into his hands, and before he knew it, he had written his name.
“Thanks!” she exclaimed. “You’re more handsome than I thought.”
With that, she began skipping away, making Zeno sigh in relief.
He began hastening his steps, not wanting to run into any more trouble. However, he was stopped once more—this time, by the couple who always fought a few units away from his.
“Oh, my baby! Zeno is here,” the girl said.
Zeno turned to the two of them, and the boyfriend appeared very jealous. Zeno stepped back since he didn’t want to create any misunderstanding. Aside from that, though, he didn’t want them to argue again.
His eardrums suffered a lot when they fought.
“Can I ask for his autograph?”
“You can’t,” the boyfriend whined. Although Zeno found his behavior unreasonable, he was silently thankful.
With that, Zeno bowed once more before practically running toward his unit. As soon as he arrived, he saw his friends with a grill on the rooftop.
“Zeno’s back!” Minji exclaimed as soon as she saw him. Then, she let out a soft gasp.
“Your eyes,” she muttered. “Why are they sparkling so much?”
Eli clicked his tongue and placed a bookmark in his Anatomy book. “Your vision is jaded.”
However, as he looked up, he saw that Minji was right. Zeno’s eyes were sparkling!
“So pretty and precious!” Doha exclaimed. “Zeno is getting more handsome the more he becomes famous.”
“I’m not famous,” Zeno quickly said before changing the topic. “Anyway, when is Maxie going to be discharged?”
“Tomorrow,” Doha responded. “Do you want me to get her?”
Zeno shook his head. “I’ll fetch her. I’ll go after my farming job.”
Minji frowned. “You’re still taking up that job?” she asked. “Do you realize how popular you are right now? My co-workers kept replaying the livestream you were in, saying you were cool. I held in the urge to say I knew you in real life.”
“It’s not like they’ll believe you,” Eli teased.
Minji clicked her tongue. “Do you like me or something? Why do you keep opposing everything I say?”
Eli scowled. “Watch your mouth. Don’t say any bad words.”
Doha chuckled and placed the grilled fish on the table. “Come on. Stop arguing. I bet Zeno is tired, so let’s eat.”
Zeno took a seat and nodded at Doha. Despite him being the craziest among them, he was also the most understanding.
“Are you going to sign with an entertainment agency now?” Eli asked as they ate.
Zeno pursed his lips. Right, he still had to find an agency to sign with.
Minji’s eyes brightened. “If you want me to recommend some agencies, I’ll happily do so.”
“Some already reached out to me,” he answered.
Their eyes widened. “Really?” Doha asked. “Which companies?”
“Continuous Dominance, Evergreen, Moonrise, and a couple other more.”
“Really?” Minji exclaimed. “That’s more than I expected.”
Zeno nonchalantly nodded.
“Out of all the companies you mentioned, Moonrise is the best,” Eli said. “You should sign with them.”
“If we’re talking about the best acting company, then it’s Dae—”
Minji interrupted Doha before he could finish his statement. “Ah! I almost forgot. It’s the Celadon Excellence Awards tonight.”
Doha’s eyes widened. “So, that was what my clients were talking about. Turn on the television. We need to watch it!”
With that, Eli stood and walked to their old TV, turned it on, and went to the SK Network Channel.
“We’re right on time,” Doha said, his eyes focused on the screen. It displayed the opening credits. Even from the intro alone, the budget utilized seemed to be high. The effects of the title must have cost more than Eli’s medical school tuition.
The Celadon Excellence Awards.
Held every February, it was the pinnacle of prestige in Korean entertainment. It honored the finest talents in film, drama, and theater. Unlike other ceremonies that focus on individual categories, the Celadon Awards celebrated them all.
An invitation alone was a mark of distinction, reserved strictly for A-list and some B-list actors, ensuring that only the best of the best graced its stage. To be nominated as an achievement and to win was a career-defining moment.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if Zeno stands there one day?” Doha asked.
Zeno had to be held back by Eli before he could grab Doha’s collar.
“Oh, I didn’t think you would be this excited for it,” Doha chuckled. “Look! Ian Seo is one of the hosts.”
That diverted Zeno’s attention, and he focused once more on the screen. Ian Seo came out of the stage along with another familiar face—Ari Bae.
Ian had a bandage around his wrist, a result of the burn he incurred during the filming. The two of them shined under the spotlight as they settled in front of the microphones.
Ian smiled brightly. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the most prestigious night in Korean entertainment.”
“Tonight, we gather to celebrate the best of the best in film, drama, and theater,” Ari said just as excitedly.
They paused for a while, giving each other bright looks before turning back to the cameras.
“So sit back, enjoy the show, and let’s begin an unforgettable evening. Welcome to the Celadon Excellence Awards!”