Life is Easier If You’re Handsome
Chapter 276

At the Cannes Film Festival, the thing most highly valued is usually artistry.

In other words, a film filled with swinging swords and flying blood—a one-sided action movie—is unlikely to win an award.

Because such a film carries the strong scent of commercial cinema.

However—

"Musashi is on a different level."

"It elevated violence into something artistic."

Director Kiryuu’s Musashi maintained its artistic integrity to the core.

"The historical accuracy of Musashi’s era is truly meticulous."

Why go so far as to build an entire village just to recreate a single period?

To maximize the artistry presented at Cannes.

Not with CGI, but by creating a village that breathes and lives, and within it, reconstructing the society of that era in Japan.

From customs, to culture, to traditions—everything is woven into art.

Some parts of the movie could even be called documentary-like.

And yet, the reason audiences still found it enjoyable—

"Was definitely the action."

"The ongoing contemplation of life and death... and especially the philosophy of practicality, it stands out."

Once a work is released, there’s nothing more laughable than the creator trying to explain it themselves.

Questions can be answered, yes, but intense interpretation? That belongs to the audience.

And so now, the judges naturally began attaching annotations to Musashi.

There must have been intent behind this.

There’s a hidden device here, and it harmonizes perfectly with the foreshadowing back then.

"The audience reaction was the best. Sure, it has commercial elements, but that’s inevitable."

"Exactly. You can feel the immense thought poured into this."

"And whenever the film gets slow, the action resolves it. That’s the biggest thing."

It’s not flashy, but it’s fast and clean.

Not frivolous, and there’s a constant center of gravity holding it steady.

Only possible because of Kim Donghu.

As the judges continued their discussion about Musashi—

"I don’t think we need to say anything more."

"Right. It’s unanimous, after all."

They concluded the meeting had no further purpose.

The conversation stopped.

At the same time, the star of the film they had so passionately debated—

Kim Donghu—

"So, how’d you get here?"

"What do you mean how? We submitted our film to Cannes too."

Was lying in bed, chatting with an old childhood friend.

"You shot a film? Why didn’t you tell me?"

"I didn’t want to distract you while you were working. I figured you’d try to help, or offer to do a cameo or something..."

"I mean, isn’t that a given? You should have."

"Whatever. You’re ridiculous."

Though she said it like that, Kim Sujin smiled faintly with a sulky face.

Because she knew Kim Donghu wasn’t just saying those words to be nice.

"I’ve got to show I can be amazing on my own too, don’t you think?"

"You already are amazing on your own."

"...Why are you saying that while staring at my chest?"

"Huh?"

"And why are you pretending not to notice while grabbing my hips?"

"Mm? Well, if I’m going to confirm how amazing you are, I have to touch."

"You’re insane! Are you some kind of pervert?!"

"I mean... not a pervert. Why is it perverted to touch your girlfriend’s body?"

"...."

The moment he said “girlfriend,” Kim Sujin’s face flushed red.

Her mouth, which had been running freely, clamped shut.

‘He’s crazy. Seriously crazy. How can he say that kind of thing so casually?!’

And this was someone who had potential scandals with other women, too.

But when he acted like this, it was as if he took full responsibility.

‘...Shin Yerim, Ryu Jaerin, Evelyn.’

Kim Sujin knew a few women who liked Kim Donghu.

Even Chisako, currently appearing in Musashi.

‘She hasn’t made a move yet, but still—I can’t let my guard down.’

To be honest, she really, really wanted to have Donghu all to herself.

And who wouldn’t?

What person wouldn’t want to receive the full love of the one they love?

But—

"I can’t do it anymore. I’m done. I swear."

"Really?"

"Do you even know how many times we did it? It’s over ten! How are you still perfectly fine?!"

Kim Sujin had hit her physical limit.

Probably something every other woman involved with him had experienced too.

"...Because I haven’t even started yet?"

"You’re insane! Totally insane!"

Kim Donghu was just too healthy.

To the point of excess.

And the more he did, the more energized he became.

Even right now—

"You know it’s usually the woman’s face that’s supposed to glow after, right?"

"...You’re glowing right now."

"Exactly, and if I’m glowing, then you’re practically radiating."

Kim Donghu stood up, looking even more energized than before he got into bed.

"Then as the one with the healthier body, I guess I’ll have to bathe you."

"No! No no no! Don’t touch me! You’re crazy! Kim Donghu, stop!"

Kim Sujin shoved his face back with both hands.

She had fallen for this move more than once before.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"You go out first. There’s the award ceremony today, so I’ve got a lot to prep for."

"Tch."

Kim Donghu reluctantly grabbed his clothes and got dressed.

Watching him, Kim Sujin let out a deep sigh.

Everything really was perfect.

Everything was perfect...

‘But being too healthy is a problem too.’

There was just no way she could handle him alone.

***

The Cannes Film Festival Awards Ceremony.

As if there were never any surprises—

"The 75th Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or goes to... Musashi, directed by Kiryuu Sota, starring Kim Donghu."

"WAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

The Palme d’Or was awarded to Musashi.

The unusual detail was that not only the director’s name, but the actor’s name was also announced.

This was due to a unique characteristic of the Cannes Festival.

Since the film that wins the Palme d’Or becomes ineligible for awards in other categories, this was Cannes’ way of showing courtesy to Kim Donghu.

And the purpose of that courtesy was simple.

‘Because when actors like Kim Donghu come to Cannes, the festival’s prestige rises.’

They wanted to bring Kim Donghu to Cannes as often as possible.

With Chinese capital moving aggressively behind the scenes recently, some figures who didn’t fit the spirit or standards of the festival were starting to appear.

So Cannes wanted to hold up Kim Donghu as a banner—a preemptive strike to block such unsavory advances.

They wanted to preserve their title as the “festival of a different class.”

Of course, regardless of the jurors’ intentions, it was extremely rare for an actor to be co-awarded the Palme d’Or.

—Wait, director and actor got the Palme d’Or? Isn’t this the first time?

—Not the first, just super rare. Happened once about ten years ago.

—Look at Kim Donghu’s impact.

—Great Donghu, it’s you again.

—Do we... do we add the “long” thing again?

—What “long” thing?

—There’s a thing.

The internet exploded.

And at the same time—

“Musashi to release simultaneously in Korea and Japan! Director Kiryuu expresses firm intention”

“Korea and Japan unite to conquer Cannes! Director for Japan, actor for Korea!”

“Palme d’Or winner Musashi—just how good is it?”

Reporters pounced like they’d been waiting.

When it came to Kim Donghu, all they had to do was toss in ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) logs to fuel the fire—they’d profit either way.

Speed was everything.

"Wow... so he really went and pulled this off."

Watching the whole situation unfold,

Gil Gil-dong, the entertainment chief of Daily Happy, briefly recalled the past.

‘Back during High Dream, I never imagined he’d get this big.’

Now he was just dominating the world.

And the problem was—it didn’t stop here.

‘What is he, some kind of master chef with a secret life-enhancing sauce or something?’

Next month, The Pianist would drop on D+ (Dezney Plus).

Then in October, Physical 300 was set to air.

You could basically say 2022 belonged to Kim Donghu.

On top of that—

“Wasn’t it boxing next year? Or UFC? Geez...”

He wasn’t your average monster.

Clack.

Gil Gil-dong reviewed articles written by his staff while simultaneously scanning through community reactions.

[Kim Donghu! Great actor and Palme d’Or winner! Please come back to Korea!]

—Please shoot more dramas. Please shoot more Korean films.

—I’ll pay for the tickets. Save Korean cinema. Who else but you can do it, Donghu?

—No one else but you, Donghu. Please save Korean cinema.

—Can you win Cannes with a Korean film next time? I don’t ask for much.

—So now that he’s won Cannes, only the Oscars are left?

—Honestly, he should’ve won it for Tarzan. Still pissed about that.

—Agreed. What a joke.

—Anyway, please come back to Korea.

—Movies just aren’t fun without you these days.

[The Real Reason Kim Donghu Is So Annoying]

—Now that he’s world-class, he’s just everywhere.

—Please pay attention to your homeland!!!

—Other actors go global and we cheer them on, but damn lol

—Kim Donghu’s too global. I miss him.

—But to be honest, Korea can’t afford him anymore.

—That’s for sure.

—(Original poster) Yeah... I mean, I get it.

[Kim Donghu Probably Can’t Do Korean Films Anymore]

—He’s rumored to only do profit-share contracts now. His fees are nuts.

—If Musashi, The Pianist, and Physical 300 all hit? He’ll be worth billions.

—As a boxer, he’s already pulled in several hundred billion. lol

—Korean producers can’t afford him. Only Hollywood-level budgets now.

—That Palme d’Or title is strong—especially since he won it as an actor.

—This year’s too packed anyway. He’ll probably take a break next year.

—As an actor, sure. But as a boxer/fighter, he’s still moving~

—Legendary schedule unlocked.

‘You really can’t ignore online communities anymore.’

Call it collective intelligence.

Some of their analyses were pretty spot-on.

‘Yeah... there’s no way Korea can afford him right now.’

If anyone were to try, it’d have to be a conglomerate.

But would they actually step up?

‘Unless it’s a massive production...’

Even if it was massive, the story would be the issue.

Kim Donghu really had gone far now.

Just as Gil Gil-dong was thinking all that—there were others with completely different ideas.

"At last, Kim Donghu is within reach."

"Let’s do it. Let’s execute the plan."

"You’re serious?"

"Yes! It’s the PC era! We need a new face!"

These were the ones known to the world as DC.