The Makeup Witch
Suhyeon woke up in the morning, got into the van driven by his manager, and headed to the YK Building. He arrived precisely at the appointed time of 10 a.m. and went straight to the office of Park Dongju, manager of Actor Team 1.
"Come on in, Suhyeon."
"Good morning, Manager Park."
"Where's your manager?"
"He had something urgent to handle, so he stepped out for a bit."
"Perfect. I wanted to talk to you alone anyway. Have a seat."
Suhyeon sat on the sofa and replied, "Manager, why call me 'Suhyeon-kun'? Just speak casually like yesterday. I'm still young, and it feels burdensome."
Park Dongju plopped down on the opposite sofa. "Is that so? I thought I should treat you with some respect... Fine, if it bothers you, I'll drop it. Suhyeon, my Actor Team 1 isn't the top earner at YK—maybe third place. But yesterday, I said our team has the most power. Any idea why?"
Suhyeon did a quick mental calculation at the probing question. 'Hmm... Manager Park is sharp and has a steady personality. Better to pull him to my side than keep hiding. He's already onto something.' Deciding, Suhyeon answered without hesitation. "One of two things. Either you're President Kim Seongman's son... or since Korea's capitalist and this is a corporation, you hold a big stake. You don't look old enough to be his son, so probably the shares."
Park Dongju's eyes widened in surprise, then he burst out laughing. "Hah! You're really sharp. Why hide that brilliant mind until now? Impressive. Not many know, but including nominees, I hold just over ten percent. So, you get why I'm telling you this?"
Suhyeon answered the test-like question without missing a beat. "YK's market cap is over 300 billion won. Ten percent is over 30 billion. Not chaebol level, but enough for a lifetime of luxury. Yet you're still working as manager because you love the job—watching talented young actors grow must be your joy in life."
Park Dongju stared at Suhyeon with admiring eyes. "Never imagined chatting with a guy just past twenty would be this fun... So, guess why I'm having this talk?"
"To show me you're not hung up on money or wealth. So I won't worry about using you for gain, and we can be open and straightforward without hiding anything."
"Incredible... Truly incredible. Today, at my age, I finally get one of Mencius's sayings. Suhyeon, do you know this one?"
Suhyeon briefly recalled his past life. 'Heard it endlessly from the Zhuge family instructors...' "One of Mencius's: 'Obtaining the world's geniuses and educating them is one of the three joys.' You've realized the joy of nurturing talent—one of the gentleman's three delights."
Park Dongju roared with laughter, clapping vigorously. "I guarantee it—you'd succeed at anything, not just entertainment. Scary smart. No more words from me." Sobering up, he leaned forward seriously. "Suhyeon, no need to say much else, but let me give one piece of old-man advice."
"I'll take it to heart."
"In this industry, countless talented young people suffer mental breakdowns—drugs, alcoholism, gambling, even suicide. I don't want that for you."
Pausing, he met Suhyeon's eyes. "You're at the age for bravado—puffing up your chest, showing off to girls. But you're the opposite, hiding your talents. Whatever the reason, bottling it up could lead to serious issues. From now on, be proud and show your abilities. Got it?"
"Yes. Thank you for your concern. I'll keep your words in mind."
"Good. Now, let's go meet our team's pride, codenamed Byeongeomnyeo."
"Pardon? Byeongeomnyeo?"
"Yeah. You'll see."
Soon, in Actor Team 1's exclusive dressing room, Suhyeon discovered her secret. Nicknamed after the Chinese art of bian lian—face-changing—she was a legendary makeup artist who could transform anyone into a completely different face in moments with her swift hands.
"Byeongeomnyeo, like I said yesterday, do Suhyeon's makeup right. Big audition today."
"Manager Park! Stop calling me that! People who don't know think I'm some '[woman with severe constipation]' because of you! Just call me Team Leader Kim."
"Kim Team Leader sounds like a shady loan shark. Anyway, take good care of him."
Park Dongju tossed a lame dad joke and headed upstairs. Irritated, Byeongeomnyeo—Kim Tim-jang—frowned and explained to Suhyeon. "I talked to BBG's coordinator yesterday and noted your usual makeup, so it won't change much. Sit comfortably."
As Suhyeon sat at the vanity, Kim Tim-jang thought, 'Face is ridiculously handsome, as rumored. But he's a thug, so don't fall for it. Stay sharp...'
She pulled out her phone for the notes from the BBG coordinator. 'First step...'
Checking, she stared into Suhyeon's eyes, her face flushing red.
Suhyeon, embarrassed by the intense gaze, smiled brightly. "You'll burn a hole in my face."
Kim Tim-jang stammered, "What a crazy bitch..."
"Pardon? I'm a guy, not a girl. And on first meeting, that's harsh."
Ignoring him, she turned. "Myeong-suk! Myeong-suk! Come here quick!"
A stylist adjusting Suhyeon's outfit from the corner approached. "What? Why call me mid-makeup?"
Kim Tim-jang shoved her phone. "Shut up and read number one."
The stylist glanced, stared at Suhyeon's face, blushed, and spat, "Crazy bitch... Eyes must be fucked."
"Right? You see it too? I'm not wrong?"
"Spot on, unnie. What a clueless bitch. Whoa... I'm shaking. What now?"
"Me too... Go do nails, bitch."
Even Suhyeon—praised as the sharpest mind in five hundred years of the Zhuge clan—couldn't follow. "What are you two talking about? I don't get it."
Kim Tim-jang thrust the phone. "Read number one. Look, my hands are shaking."
Suhyeon read the first makeup step: "No. 1: Suhyeon's empty head makes his eyes always dull. Looks like rotten pollack eyes, so must wear black or dark circle lenses. Essential. Never forget. ***** ... What the hell."
"Crazy bitch, right? Calling our Suhyeon—sparkling with wisdom—"
"Exactly, unnie. That coordinator's insane. How dare she say that about eyes like galaxies pulling you in... Unnie, my heart's racing."
"Keep it racing or die, bitch. Go back to your spot!"
Suhyeon sighed amid their chatter. 'That guy's shit-pile never ends, no matter how much I clean.'
After the ordeal, fully made up, Suhyeon changed into the stylist-prepared suit. The two women shrieked and snapped photos at the sight of him in the vibrant, occasionally shimmering navy suit under the lights. Thanking them, he hopped in the van and headed to Myeongseong Studio in Chungmuro for the audition.