Chapter 142
“Noona, could you tell Director Carrière that I’m a fan of Director Jean Dumont’s films?”
I had no idea whether I would get another chance to meet Jean Dumont after today.
So I decided to grasp at whatever opportunity I could.
“Out of nowhere?”
Gil Boyoung tilted her head in confusion.
Instead of answering, I quickly nodded.
She turned to Director Carrière and relayed what I had said.
“Ah, Kibaek. So you’re a fan of Director Jean Dumont.”
Then she brightened.
“Should I introduce you right now?”
She paused.
“No, actually, why don’t you join us for lunch tomorrow instead?”
“I’m already having lunch with Director Jean tomorrow.”
What?
It’s this easy?
She wasn’t just offering to introduce me for a moment.
I could actually have lunch with him tomorrow?
I had stumbled onto an unexpected bridge, and excitement slipped into my voice before I could stop it.
“Lunch tomorrow? What time? Where?”
Gil Boyoung and Carrière laughed at how excited I looked.
“Kibaek, did you really like Director Jean Dumont’s films that much?”
“What? Ah... yes. Ahem.”
“I’ll send you the time and place tomorrow morning.”
Then she looked around.
“By the way, where’s Director Song?”
“Ah, right. Director Song.”
I pointed.
“He’s over there.”
I led Gil Boyoung and Director Carrière toward the rest of our group.
The moment everyone saw Gil Boyoung, their eyes widened like startled rabbits.
“What? Boyoung, how are you here?”
“Director, have you been well?”
Gil Boyoung smiled brightly.
“Congratulations. Seriously. I’m so, so happy your film made it into the Competition.”
“Didn’t you say your schedule overlapped and you couldn’t come?”
“I exaggerated a little because I wanted to surprise everyone. Hahaha.”
She gave them a mischievous smile.
“Wow, how long has it been?”
“I think the last time I saw you was before Kibaek went into the military.”
“Really? Has it already been that long?”
“For me, I think the last time was at the Busan Film Festival for Home Sweet Home.”
“Jungin unnie, it’s been forever.”
Gil Boyoung looked her over.
“Are you dating someone? Why did you get so pretty?”
After a rapid exchange of greetings, I introduced Director Carrière, who had been quietly watching from behind Gil Boyoung.
“All right, everyone, one second.”
“This is Director Philippe Carrière, the director of the film Boyoung noona is currently shooting in France.”
Everyone exchanged brief greetings with him.
Then Carrière turned toward Song Jaehyun and greeted him in halting Korean.
“I like Director Song Jae-hyeon’s movies very much.”
“I saw Home Sweet Home and Timeless too.”
Song Jaehyun was visibly touched and thanked him repeatedly.
While we continued talking, an announcement came over the speakers telling everyone to enter the theater and take their seats because the opening ceremony was about to begin.
Ah.
It’s finally starting.
As I entered the theater filled with filmmakers from all over the world, emotion washed over me.
Before my regression, this was a place I never would have entered in my entire life.
But now I was here.
Standing beside Director Song Jaehyun.
Shoulder to shoulder with Han Taesung as a fellow producer.
And I made a promise to myself.
Right.
When we leave this place at the closing ceremony, let’s do it with the Palme d’Or in our hands.
After finishing getting ready to go out, I checked the time on my phone.
The appointment was at noon.
I should probably leave soon.
I was just getting up when Cha Seungjoon rustled on the bed.
“Where are you going?”
He still looked half-asleep, probably because of the hangover from last night.
“Is your stomach okay?”
I looked at him.
“You don’t even handle wine that well. Why did you drink so much?”
At the opening-ceremony after-party the night before, Cha Seungjoon had been drinking wine straight from the bottle even though he rarely drank it.
I had ended up carrying him back to the hotel on my back.
Usually, it was Cha Seungjoon who carried me home.
Last night had been the opposite.
“So where are you going?”
“Ah, I have an appointment, so I need to head out now.”
“An appointment? What about everyone else?”
“Director Song and PD Baek went out for some kind of group interview with the directors invited to the Competition.”
“The others are probably still at the hotel.”
“Really?”
“You should wash up and eat something.”
I grabbed my things.
“I’ll head out first.”
After leaving the hotel, I made my way toward a restaurant called La Palme d’Or on the Cannes waterfront.
With a sweeping view of the blue Mediterranean Sea, it was famous as a gathering place for filmmakers during the Cannes Film Festival.
When I entered, Gil Boyoung was already seated and waved at me.
Beside her sat Director Carrière.
And with them were a white-haired elderly gentleman, another man around Jean Dumont’s age, and a middle-aged woman who looked somewhat younger.
“Ah, I’m sorry I’m late.”
Even though I had arrived early, seeing everyone already seated made me feel awkward.
“No, you’re not late.”
Gil Boyoung smiled.
“We came early.”
Then she gestured toward the white-haired man.
“Anyway, introductions first.”
“This gentleman here is someone I probably don’t even need to introduce.”
“Director Jean Dumont.”
I bowed deeply to him.
Then, in the French I had hurriedly practiced with Coordinator Kim Jihoon the day before, I spoke slowly.
“Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Min Kibaek.”
“I work in film and drama production in Korea.”
