Top Star by Luck

Chapter 48

This is the routine for an actor’s activities:

When they’re filming a project, they focus solely on the production.

From the moment filming begins, all of the actor’s actions are centered on enhancing the quality of the work.

But what happens after filming wraps up and the release is over?

[“You’ve got to milk it.”]

[“Make money.”]

[“Recoup your investment.”]

This marks the true beginning of an actor’s career—or rather, the start of their career as a model.

[“There aren’t as many actors who live solely off their film salaries as you might think. What they do is build up their recognition through films, and then earn their real profits through advertising. This is why most actors don’t do many projects at once.”]

This was the reality behind actors who seemed to only work as models.

Once an image is established through a movie, it can last for years.

So, unless an actor is particularly ambitious about their career, they may only release one film every few years and focus on modeling during the rest of the time.

Of course, this is a personal choice.

“Uhm…”

Lee Min Ki was conflicted for a different reason.

While he scratched his chin in hesitation, Manager Park Han Mo laid out some documents in front of him and spoke.

“Companies rarely prefer rookie actors as models. Do you know why?”

“Because they don’t have a fixed image yet?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Manager Park Han Mo smiled in satisfaction and continued.

“An actor’s image is like a brand that a company has spent years building. In that sense, your image is quite clean.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Yes, it’s so clean that it’s actually difficult to find suitable work.”

“…”

Was he joking?

Just as a small crack was forming in Lee Min Ki’s confidence, Manager Park Han Mo chuckled and said,

“To put it bluntly, your recognition isn’t particularly high yet.”

He couldn’t argue with that.

Hearing this frank and logical statement made Lee Min Ki sigh and respond.

“I guess that’s why I’m not getting any work.”

That’s right.

At present, Lee Min Ki was struggling to find decent advertising gigs.

‘Was it always this hard to land a good ad deal?’

After filming one movie that did reasonably well, he thought companies would start reaching out.

But to his surprise, few had.

Of course, there were some minor offers.

But none of them were good enough to justify risking overexposing his image.

As Manager Park Han Mo stood in front of him, he continued speaking.

“Additionally, your most recent role was in a thriller, which makes it even more challenging.”

“Is a thriller really that much of a problem?”

“That’s how thrillers tend to be. They don’t help much in advertising. Even if your recognition has increased, whether that translates into a good image for advertising is another matter.”

He tossed out his words casually.

“No one’s going to hire someone who was brutally murdered on-screen for an insurance commercial. The same goes for food or apartment ads.”

“…”

It hit him hard.

Lee Min Ki cleared his throat awkwardly and asked,

“What about fashion modeling? I thought there was some talk recently about doing something in that area.”

“That’s not much different. There’s a lot of competition. Actually, to be honest, there’s way too much competition.”

So, fashion was a red ocean too.

“Plus, don’t you already work with a shopping mall? It’d be better to focus on that for fashion-related work, at least for the time being.”

He agreed with that.

Recently, the collaboration with the mall had been going quite well.

Still, Lee Min Ki, feeling a sliver of hope, asked once more.

“Then, should I just accept whatever comes my way for now?”

“Ads are all about image. No matter how much money they offer, there’s a reason why actors refuse to do ads for loan companies.”

“Ugh.”

“There’s a saying: Actors shouldn’t be too picky when it comes to roles, but when it comes to ads, they should be selective.”

“…So once an image gets misperceived, that’s it?”

“Yes, there are actors who’ve never been able to break away from being labeled as child product models just because of one wrong ad.”

It was constant rebuttal after rebuttal.

He was starting to feel like a deflated balloon.

But somehow, Lee Min Ki had the feeling that Manager Park Han Mo was teasing him.

It was that thing people do—lowering expectations as much as possible before giving you a great surprise, like before handing out a birthday present.

‘Besides, JC is known for handling advertising, right?’

There’s a reason he belonged to his agency.

They had surely been working hard, sending his profile out to every good opportunity.

Could it be that one of them hadn’t landed yet?

Just as he was beginning to wonder…

“But fortunately, we’ve just found an ad that suits you perfectly.”

Of course.

He knew it.

“Really? You’re not joking, it’s a real job?”

Lee Min Ki’s voice, tinged with excitement, made Manager Park Han Mo grin.

Then, the next moment,

“It’s a supplement ad.”

“Huh?”

Despite the pleasant-sounding words, Lee Min Ki froze like a stone.

Manager Park Han Mo stood up and leisurely paced around the office as he continued.

“Not only is the pay decent, but the company expressed a lot of enthusiasm for you.”

“Wait a second. When you say supplements, do you mean vitamins or something?”

“No. It’s a supplement that matches your image perfectly.”

“…Protein?”

“As expected, you’re quick.”

Lee Min Ki closed his eyes tightly.

A protein supplement ad.

Yeah, the moment he heard “supplements,” he had a gut feeling.

Since he had filmed a shirtless scene in his last movie, and it had gained quite a bit of attention…

But to think it would actually be for a protein supplement.

Well, at least it was work.

He was happy about that.

But at the same time, he couldn’t help but worry.

‘Am I showing too much skin lately?’

He wasn’t sure if it was okay for a rookie actor to already be taking on so many shirtless roles.

Exposure was a double-edged sword—it was great when used at the right time, but overuse could lead to self-sabotage.

‘It won’t ruin my image, but it could definitely pigeonhole me.’

Having a healthy image was good.

But as the saying goes, once someone’s labeled as a “sexy actor,” they end up being typecast forever.

It left a lasting impression that was hard to shake.

‘Still, it doesn’t seem right to just sit around doing nothing until my next project.’

The pros and cons needed careful consideration.

Weighing them in his mind, he hesitated.

“And the company is quite reputable.”

Manager Park Han Mo dropped a crucial hint.

“It’s a product by Hanjung Pharmaceuticals, called Real Protein.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not particularly well-known, but it has a clean reputation.”

Real Protein.

Anyone interested in fitness would have heard of it.

‘That’s the one Gym Manager Kwon Joon Yong recommended.’

He recalled hearing about it directly from Gym Manager Kwon Joon Yong.

[“I usually prefer imported products. Most serious bodybuilders do. But this one’s different.”]

[“Real Protein?”]

[“Yeah, in terms of quality, it beats out most imports. It’s priced well too. Honestly, for casual fitness enthusiasts, there’s nothing better. But it doesn’t sell.”]

[“Why not?”]

[“Because their marketing team is terrible.”]

That was what Gym Manager Kwon had said.

If there was anyone whose recommendation he could trust, it was Gym Manager Kwon, who measured protein intake down to the gram.

[“Ha ha, who knows? Maybe if you become a big star one day and promote it, it’ll sell better.”]

[“So, why don’t you take it, Manager?”]

[“It gives me diarrhea.”]

[“Ah.”]

At least Gym Manager Kwon’s recommendation was trustworthy.

“Of course, the decision is entirely yours.”

Facing Lee Min Ki, who was at a crossroads, Manager Park Han Mo calmly continued.

“I think it’s a product that fits your personality well, but if the exposure worries you, you can turn it down. JC isn’t pushing this on you…”

At that moment,

“No, I’ll do it.”

With a resolute expression, Lee Min Ki’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.

“I want to do it.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s hard to explain, but I have a feeling about this. I think it’s going to benefit me in the long run.”

His sudden determination made Manager Park Han Mo double-check, but Lee Min Ki spoke with even more confidence.

“I’ve been wanting to try a supplement ad anyway.”

“Ah, you’ve always been into fitness, haven’t you?”

“That’s a big part of it.”

At least, that was the moment he managed to convince himself.

Lee Min Ki, as if the energy from earlier had been a lie, cleared his throat and asked,

“Since it’s a supplement ad, I’ll probably have to take my shirt off, right?”

“Ah, I understand what you’re worried about, Actor. You’re probably thinking your body isn’t fully developed yet, or something along those lines.”

“Ahem.”

It was spot on.

As Lee Min Ki cleared his throat awkwardly, Manager Park Han Mo smiled and continued.

“But there’s no need to worry too much. They would have already done their research before submitting the offer. After all, they’re spending their money, so they’d have checked thoroughly. We’ll also do our best to negotiate everything.”

“Well, that’s reassuring.”

“But for now, I’d like you to focus on exercising rather than other activities.”

He emphasized his point by flexing his arm.

“Since it’s all about fitness.”

* * *

And just like that, Lee Min Ki’s first major ad was for a protein supplement.

As a result, he had a new task.

“Would it be possible to undergo intensive training for a while?”

He was fully dedicating himself to working out at the [gym near his home].

Hearing this request, Gym Manager Kwon Joon Yong muttered in an unusually delighted voice.

“Finally, it’s time for you to do this too.”

His face beamed with a smile so wide that it almost seemed like his mouth would split open.

“…”

Something felt ominous.

A prickling sensation of unease ran down Lee Min Ki’s back, alerting him.

Gym Manager Kwon Joon Yong was undeniably a competent trainer. But the issue was that his competence excelled in bringing pain to others in the process.

[“Min Ki, it hurts, doesn’t it? If you really can’t lift anymore, let me know.”]

[“Manager, I-I can’t lift anymore…”]

[“Since you’re still talking, two more sets should do it.”]

[“But I can’t…”]

[“Make that three sets, then.”]

He was an odd person.

It was as if he instinctively knew how far someone could be pushed, right to their limit.

Kwon Joon Yong somehow knew the limits that even the person lifting the weights didn’t know.

‘Does he have some kind of system in his vision?’

For example:

[Member: Lee Min Ki]

– Body Measurements –

[Height: 178 cm]
[Weight: 67 kg]
[Muscle Mass: 35 kg]
[Body Fat: 6.3 kg]
[Body Water: 44 kg]

– Special Notes –

Good definition but overall lacking in volume.
Excellent at controlling diet.

– Overall Rating –
Weakling

The thought alone was horrifying.

However, from Kwon Joon Yong’s perspective, Lee Min Ki was a golden opportunity.

‘The number of members is slowly increasing.’

Recently, the gym had gained more members, likely due to Kwon’s diligent one-on-one training with Min Ki, which he had done without extra pay.

More members had joined.

And most of them were women.

With the rise in female members, naturally, more male members started to join too.

‘One more big push, and the business will really take off. Who knows? I might even expand to franchise operations, with [gym near his home] having its 11th branch.’

As Kwon Joon Yong looked at Lee Min Ki, his gaze turned golden, as if he wasn’t seeing a person but a pile of money.

Sensing the primal fear, Min Ki instinctively took a step back.

‘Why do I feel like this? I didn’t even feel this tense when I was facing death.’

And then, it happened.

Still folding his arms, with a sinister smile, Kwon Joon Yong slowly opened his mouth.

“Let’s take a body profile shot.”

“Body profile?”

“Yeah, a body profile.”

A body profile meant a photo session focusing on the body.

It wasn’t just about muscle mass; it required reducing body fat to extreme levels to highlight definition.

“Min Ki, you’ve been working out at our gym for over six months now, right?”

“I started around mid-last year, so yeah, about that long.”

“Exactly. You know what they say: even a dog at a school learns something after three years, and after half a year, a fitness newbie should be ready to take a body profile shot.”

“…”

What kind of nonsense was this?

What does a school dog have to do with fitness beginners?

Does that mean fitness rookies don’t even get the treatment of a dog?

All sorts of questions flashed through Min Ki’s mind, but Kwon Joon Yong continued without paying them any attention.

“Min Ki, summer is coming soon, right?”

“Yes, it’s summer soon.”

“As you know, summer is the season of exposure, and the season of exposure is the season for body profiles.”

With a serious, almost solemn expression, he made his case.

“Min Ki, how about we take a cool body profile this summer and then make your ad a huge success?”

The idea itself wasn’t bad.

After all, he’d need to sculpt his body for the supplement ad anyway, and if he took the body profile along with it, it could help with promotion.

Since it was summer, he might even get more related offers.

But the lingering fear remained.

Once he committed, he had a gut feeling he’d be reduced to eating something that could barely be called food while lifting weights non-stop.

‘This is something I need to do, so why does it scare me so much?’

As Min Ki hesitated, Kwon Joon Yong nodded and said,

“Let’s start tomorrow. I’ll let you rest on the weekends, so we’ll train five days a week.”

“Well, about the cost…”

“Min Ki, don’t mention money between us. Just bring yourself. I’ll even take care of all your meals.”

“…”

“From tomorrow, we’ll only eat sweet potatoes and chicken breast. Four meals a day.”

“…”

“Oh, and make sure to come to the gym twice a day starting tomorrow.”

Was this what it felt like to willingly walk into a tiger’s den?

However, Min Ki had no other choice.

* * *

[Today’s Journal]
I started working out with Min Ki again.
It seems like he has a lot of free time lately.

[Today’s Journal]
I met with Min Ki after a while. He looked a bit gaunt.
Why does such a healthy person look so worn out?

[Today’s Journal]
His face has lost all its liveliness. I suggested we go eat some pork belly, but he refused.

[Today’s Journal]
Finally found out the reason.
He’s trying to take a body profile.
He’s been eating nothing but sweet potatoes and chicken breast for a week now.
Seon Ah and I cheered him on.

[Today’s Journal]
He’s gotten tired of chicken breast and is looking for different types. Apparently, chicken breast products are quite diverse these days.
He recommended a few:
Steamed chicken breast, steamed pepper chicken breast, chicken breast balls, chicken breast cubes, chicken breast dumplings, chicken breast snacks, chicken breast sausage, chicken breast steak, chicken breast jerky…
I was going to order some, but I decided not to because it sounded gross.

[Today’s Journal]
Min Ki is finally going to take his body profile photo tomorrow.
I hope it turns out well.
I’ve learned a lot from watching him work out so hard. Nothing in this world comes easy.
Min Ki is amazing. I respect him.
How could he put in so much effort just to shoot an ad?
I’m going to order pizza later.
I like mine with pepperoni, extra tomato sauce, and crispy crust.

* * *

The next day.

‘Kim Tak… That guy, seriously ordered pizza right in front of someone about to take a body profile?’

He thought it was a joke, but Kim Tak actually ordered it.

Is that even human?

How could he?

Recently, I thought he had finally grown out of his wild side, but apparently not.

The core hasn’t changed.

A stray dog might spend three years wandering around, but in the end, it’ll just end up sleeping drunk near Sadang Station.

‘One day, I’ll get my revenge.’

Stewing in his anger and frustration, Lee Min Ki stood in front of a studio.

It was Studio Muscle, a body profile studio that Gym Manager Kwon Joon Yong had recommended from [gym near his home.

‘Finally, the day of reckoning has arrived.’

He clenched his fist tightly.