Life is Easier If You're Handsome-Chapter 205

"After the Tracker, this is the second one."

"Huh?"

"The Korean movie that was selected for the midnight screening."

At the Cannes Film Festival, the Midnight Screening event usually features films that have not been released yet. However, there have been rare instances where released films have been included. This was such a rare case, and I hadn't expected it to happen again soon.

The key figures at the Cannes Film Festival were intrigued by this and, after watching True Hero, they understood why they had been invited.

With that understanding, they were now at the short film Cutting the Knot. What kind of director makes such an impact with a feature film and then brings that energy to a short?

Especially since the lead actor was the same. It was a valuable opportunity to learn more about the lead actor.

Just before the movie began, audience members who weren't familiar with Korea quietly raised a question.

"By the way... Donghu? Why isn't he here?"

"I heard he's preparing for the Asian Games?"

"The Asian Games? Why? He's an actor, right?"

"Turns out he's also a boxer, and he's the Olympic heavyweight champion from the Rio Olympics."

"What? Wait, so that Donghu, that Donghu?"

"Yeah, I was shocked when I first heard it too. Just... wow, wow."

An Olympic gold medalist boxer is also an actor? Even the seasoned individuals at Cannes found this truth difficult to accept.

But amid all this, there was one person who took this seriously.

If this is true... does that mean he has both the wildness and the intellect?

It was none other than Verilad Ice, who was preparing for the live-action Tarzan.

The concentration and acting skills he demonstrated with the one-take filming technique. And now, with Cutting the Knot, his ability to handle romance.

If all of this was real... and if he could sing well in a musical...

He could... he could be Tarzan.

He would replace every leading candidate he had in mind up until now. If there's someone like this who embodies Tarzan, why would he look for anyone else?

Of course, there was a part that made him uneasy.

Will people accept an Asian imitating a monkey... no, should I say a gorilla?

Would this be accepted in a place so sensitive to racial issues? But then again, maybe this could actually be considered politically correct.

Damn that political correctness, to hell with it.

If they were following the original Tarzan, a British actor would be ideal. But looking at his appearance, Donghu looked more British.

He’s exactly the Tarzan I imagined.

A perfect appearance that transcends both East and West. It’s just that when you say "Asian," people perceive it that way. If you introduce him as Western, people would believe it.

And who would dare accuse an Olympic gold medal boxer of racism?

Who would even think of doing that?

Verilad Ice mumbled to himself as he focused on the screen.

The short film Cutting the Knot.

The start and middle flowed seamlessly with perfect chemistry between the actors. One lingering question was carried throughout.

So why are they breaking up?

Is it a terminal illness? Or does one of them think they're traveling with their already-dead half?

With all these thoughts swirling, the woman finally voiced the question.

"So, why are we breaking up?"

***

"You're asking why we’re breaking up now?"

Or maybe you already know, but want to confirm it again.

The man, who had been driving, glanced at her through the rearview mirror. His gaze lingered for a moment, then quickly broke away.

"You're looking for an explanation that's so convincing, it'll make you feel powerless, make it seem inevitable."

"From me?"

"No, from both of us."

"...I don’t really speak Japanese."

"Then keep not knowing, I’m not going to speak Korean anymore."

The car continued toward Busan Harbor.

Inside the small car.

The suffocating air.

And the vibes that only long-time lovers have, woven throughout.

These things mixed together, creating a natural yet uncomfortable atmosphere, awkward but harmonious.

"Are you tired?"

"All of a sudden?"

"It’s hard to drive all the way from Seoul to Busan. Should I drive a little?"

"You’re too late."

"You’re just going too fast."

The conversation never quite cuts off, but it never fully stops either.

Just before the light goes out.

It’s like leaving only an ember and repeatedly bringing it back to life.

"Can’t we stop at the next rest area?"

"No, if we do, it’ll be too late."

"So what if it’s late?"

"I don’t like being late."

"You’re stubborn."

"You’re too laid-back."

"If we miss the ferry... we’ll just stay at an inn for the night."

"I don’t want to be late, so I avoid it."

Clink clink.

The charms hanging under the rearview mirror, placed there to ward off accidents, rattle.

"I hate you."

"I know."

"You’re bad."

"Yeah."

"Still, I love you."

"I feel the same."

"Suddenly speaking Japanese?"

"We’ve gotten close, so just like before."

There were no flashback scenes.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

Yet, through the vibe between the two, the past was naturally inferred.

The first time they met at Busan Harbor.

That moment naturally seeped into the audience’s mind.

The woman’s and man’s gaze and emotions.

The trembling of words conveying memories.

"We were so rash coming on this trip, not knowing anything."

"Yeah, we came to a neighboring country, and yet you didn’t know anything."

"You told me, so it’s fine."

"You’re being so prickly."

"When we first met, I was pretty prickly, right?"

"Yeah, you asked me about directions and restaurants from a stranger, but never relaxed."

"It was a foreign country... I was nervous, it was awkward, and you weren’t as sweet back then."

"I’m still not sweet."

"But I like you when you’re acting all shy like that."

In love, there’s always an end.

Not all love ends destructively or catastrophically.

Some love fades like a flower slowly wilting.

We know why we have to part.

Even if there’s no convincing reason to do so,

We know why we must cut this tightly bound knot.

Yes, it’s not about untangling it, it’s about cutting it.

Before it cuts itself from being so tightly bound,

To prevent it from strangling us both.

Screech.

The car finally stops at Busan Harbor.

Here is where the story of six years began.

Since it started here,

It’s only right to end it here.

It’s the time for parting.

And that moment.

"...Can't we go together?"

"No, we can't."

Tears fell from the woman's eyes, tears she had held back for so long.

"Or can I stay behind?"

"No, you can't."

The man's firm response caused a drop of water to fall on his cheek.

"...Why do we have to break up?"

"Because we no longer love each other."

Behind the scenes, they doubted each other.

In public, they fought.

Driven by anger, they yelled at ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ each other.

Their relationship had been so close that they knew each other's most vulnerable spots, leaving deep scars in places no one else could reach.

That truth doesn’t change.

Pretending it’s not there and continuing this story would be impossible.

At the final moment, suddenly, only the good memories resurfaced, tempting them to whisper their love again, but the knot had already been tied too tightly.

Because it couldn’t be untied,

it had to be forcibly cut.

"We were so focused on taking care of each other that we never had the time to take care of ourselves."

Now, it was time for them to have that time. That’s what the man wanted her to understand.

"How... how can you think that way? Does it even make sense? Six years, we’ve known each other for six years."

As always, the woman argued back, shouting through her tears.

"I’m not saying forget."

"...Can you go back? To when we weren’t us anymore?"

"Everything’s the same. You’re still selling romance, and I’m selling fake stuff."

The man cried quietly while the woman cried sorrowfully.

Now, it was time for them to become strangers.

The pain they had caused each other was now tearing apart the remaining memories.

They wanted to stop before it got to that point.

It was a mutual decision.

Yet, understanding this in the heart was an entirely different matter.

"...I loved you."

Finally, the woman spoke words from the past, not the present.

Now, it was over.

She declared it in Korean.

"I loved you too, truly, more than anything else."

"I will remember you."

The man spoke in Japanese.

And so, the knot was cut.

Before it rotted and broke,

it was cut first.

And at that moment,

the movie came to its end.

Thud.

The lights came on,

and a few audience members shed tears.

They were reminded of their past,

the emotions conveyed so vividly.

And at the same time, the judges thought to themselves.

'Aah.'

It seemed the short film’s Palme d'Or was already decided.

***

On the 12th day of the Cannes Film Festival,

as the awards ceremony and closing event approached,

In contrast to the buzz around the two films directed by Lee Seong-deok in France,

the state of Colorado in the United States was stirring in a different way.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

From the sound alone, one might think they were firing cannons,

but in reality, it was the sound of one person hitting a punching bag.

Thud!

Thud!

Every time the punching bag was struck, the metal chains attached to it swayed precariously.

It seemed like just a normal training session, but upon a closer look, it was something else.

Behind that one person,

there were boxers sprawled out on the floor,

panting, with groans coming from their bodies that didn’t match their builds.

"Donghu... you shouldn't push yourself too hard, you need to rest during sparring..."

"Don’t you know that the more you say that, the more we look pathetic?"

"Why?"

"We’re exhausted, we got beaten up badly. But the boss? The boss didn’t even get hit once."

It took about 13 minutes for him to knock out 12 people.

Even though it was sparring and he held back, it still took less than a minute per person.

"I’m feeling good today, like something is going to happen."

Kim Donghu smiled warmly and casually responded,

before striking the punching bag again.

Or, he tried to.

"Do, Donghu!"

"Yes?"

"De, Disney contacted us...?"

Before Seokho could drop the big news.

"Disney?"

"Uh, yeah... what... why would they contact us? They want to speak to you directly..."

He had a general idea of why they were contacting him,

but still, for Seokho to be ignored and for them to want to speak directly...

"Tell them to come here."

"Huh? Uh?"

"Tell them to come directly, I don’t like their attitude."

We shouldn’t ignore our manager.

He's a big deal at the company.