Chapter 65
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Na Seon-yong
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Kwak Hoon moved fast.
The moment Red Film's CEO Baek gave the go-ahead for production...
"We'll back you all the way, so knock it out of the park, Director Kwak."
"I'm seriously pumped about this right now."
Innocent Boy's production was locked in.
Kwak Hoon dove straight into research, pulling together a mountain of zombie flicks.
And naturally, Shin Yi-han stepped up as the lead.
"Yi-han! Come on in!"
He was heading to Winter Entertainment to break the news.
Shin Yi-han didn't have a doubt that CEO Choo Gyeo-ul would turn down Innocent Boy.
He was that confident.
Still...
"I've been dying for you to get here!"
Uh... He hadn't expected Choo Gyeo-ul's eyes to sparkle like this over some other project.
"Can you take a look at this first?!"
Shin Yi-han could only muster an awkward smile at the script she thrust forward. She'd beaten him to the punch.
"This is gonna be huge!"
Choo Gyeo-ul beamed, blissfully unaware.
Ever since Part 1 of Others' Hell dropped on Newflix, inquiries about Shin Yi-han had spiked.
"You just missed an insane call!"
An hour ago, some truly great news had come in. Choo Gyeo-ul couldn't help but bubble over with excitement.
"From Director Kim Hwa-wook himself!"
He wasn't quite on the level of the legendary Tak Bong-chun, who dominated both commercial and arthouse scenes.
But Kim Hwa-wook...
He was the guy helming the Sin City series—guaranteed box office gold with at least five million tickets per flick.
This was outreach for the fourth installment!
Choo Gyeo-ul figured it was perfect as Shin Yi-han's first big commercial gig.
A franchise like that? Hit city.
It was a golden chance to put his face in front of millions.
Following up Others' Hell on Newflix, it'd cement his name for good.
"Sin... City?"
Shin Yi-han blinked at the script's title—way bigger than he'd expected.
He hadn't thought it'd land in his lap.
- Sin City 4
No denying it: a blockbuster anyone would kill to be cast in.
"Yes! They want you for one of the villains!"
Choo Gyeo-ul nodded eagerly.
"It's a prime shot to double down on that gripping villain vibe you nailed in Others' Hell..."
She was convinced.
And this wasn't just some creepy bad guy. As the story progressed, the villain got pathetic yet oddly relatable.
That vibe would soften the sharp edges of his image from Murder's Delusion.
Better buffer than jumping straight to a total 180 character.
Of course, with Shin Yi-han's cheat-code acting skills, he might not even need the middle ground.
But no downside here. Quite the opposite.
Watching Choo Gyeo-ul light up like this...
Shin Yi-han scratched his cheek, feeling sheepish rather than thrilled.
He already knew the outcome.
What do I do...
She's so excited.
This flick's a total trainwreck.
Even a quick flash through his past life confirmed it.
And the fourth one? That's the nail in the coffin.
Sadly, Sin City was doomed to vanish without even a theatrical release.
For reasons as sordid as its name.
Best to steer clear.
No one outside the inner circle knew yet.
Shin Yi-han's head shook involuntarily as he pictured the fallout.
He set the script down on her desk without a glance. No interest in anything from that director.
And honestly, what he was really curious about right now wasn't Sin City.
"By the way, CEO."
"Yes?"
"Who's this next to you...?"
There was a third person who'd been standing by Choo Gyeo-ul's side.
A face that looked vaguely familiar, with a rugged intensity rivaling Sin City's leads.
"Oh."
Choo Gyeo-ul's eyes widened at the question, like she'd totally spaced.
"I called him over when I heard you were coming. Sorry, forgot to introduce you."
She'd been too hyped since Kim Hwa-wook's call.
"Let me introduce him."
Choo Gyeo-ul smiled brightly and slid right into it.
"Your new manager from here on out."
She'd handled manager duties herself up to now, but with the next project talk heating up, it was time. Two projects—that was the deal.
"Manager Na Seon-yong."
Choo Gyeo-ul presented Shin Yi-han's new manager.
"He looks a bit intimidating, but he's a total softie! Light on experience, but sharp, detail-oriented. Personally, I can vouch he's the best guy I know!"
Ah...?
Shin Yi-han's gaze shifted to this Na Seon-yong.
Bear-like bulk, scary mug.
Understatement: "a bit" intimidating.
Kids might burst into tears just making eye contact.
Height about his match, but the muscles? Insanely jacked.
And then Na Seon-yong opened his mouth.
"If it's okay..."
A voice as deep and heavy as his build rumbled out.
Na Seon-yong stepped forward.
"Mind if I call you hyung?"
"?"
Shin Yi-han straight-up flinched at the imposing presence.
Up close, he loomed even larger?
The shock didn't last.
Na Seon-yong's eyes crinkled into oblivion with a massive grin.
A beaming smile that didn't match the frame at all—like a total bro.
"Yi-han hyung! Honored to meet you!"
And apparently, he was the hyung.
"Na Seon-yong here! Huge fan! Since Blazing! My heart was pounding from that first scene!"
Na Seon-yong grabbed Shin Yi-han's hand, face lit up like a kid's.
"Please, call me Seon-yong! Hyung!"
Shin Yi-han couldn't hold back a laugh.
The fanboy grip trembled—no faking that.
He got what she meant by "softie."
That sunny smile even sparked a memory from his past life.
Whoa. Now that he's smiling, I see it.
Shin Yi-han grinned for real.
No wonder the face felt familiar. Total unexpected win.
This guy's that guy. Jackpot.
Impossible to miss.
His future was too huge.
So it started here—as a manager?
Na Seon-yong, who rocketed to CEO of a major agency and topped the charts within a decade.
This was him.
His managerial chops? Proven beyond words.
"And yeah! I think Sin City 4 is solid too!"
Even backing Choo Gyeo-ul while voicing his take showed it.
"Oh! And if any of these catch your eye... Might be worth considering!"
Na Seon-yong handed over the stack of papers he'd been clutching.
He'd analyzed every script on Shin Yi-han's desk.
Dead serious.
Anything for his actor.
Especially Shin Yi-han.
Na Seon-yong had devoured every one of his works, rewatched them endlessly.
The righteousness, the cruelty, the pathos. Shivers every time, dreaming of working together someday.
First time he'd ever wanted to manage for real.
Mind-blowing.
This shining star—he wanted to lift him highest, help him soar.
To him, Shin Yi-han was worth it.
"Seon-yong! Don't freak out, okay?"
"Huh?"
"Wanna manage actor Shin Yi-han?"
"Wha—?!"
Recently, CEO Choo's offer had nearly floored him.
Na Seon-yong had shown up buzzing with excitement.
And Shin Yi-han's eyes widened at him.
Didn't expect this level of dedication off the bat.
The overflowing passion at first meet—pure gratitude. He smiled softly.
"Thanks."
He took the stack, slipping it into his bag as thanks.
Notes and Post-its everywhere—clearly poured his heart in.
"I'll read every one."
"Whoa! Y-Yes! Thank you!"
Curious what a future heavyweight would recommend.
But separate from their efforts...
Shin Yi-han's heart was set. Sorry.
"Next project, though."
He slid his script onto Choo Gyeo-ul's desk.
"I wanna do this."
Obviously the best of the bunch here.
And the one he wanted most right now.
"......?"
"......!"
Choo Gyeo-ul and Na Seon-yong froze.
Choo especially.
Hold up.
Again?
Flashback to when he'd snagged the Newflix drama role himself.
He brought his own again?
Choo Gyeo-ul stared at it.
What'd he drag in this time? Not even glancing at Sin City.
No clue.
And he looked thrilled, like he was already sold.
She took the script.
"Tamra...?"
Jeju? What's it about?
She tilted her head at the title.
"Yeah. Joseon-era zombie flick."
"?"
Shin Yi-han smirked at her instant unease.
"Director's Kwak Hoon, obviously."
"......"
Her face fell further at the director's name.
He chuckled lightly.
Forget the out-of-left-field genre—she was worried he'd ditch it out of loyalty to the director.
"Give it a read."
Made sense why she'd hesitate.
Plenty of red flags.
But an hour later...
The verdict?
"S-So."
Shin Yi-han grinned.
Choo Gyeo-ul blurted in a panic.
"Filming starts when?!"
She was floored—for totally different reasons.
Passing on this? You'd be nuts!
From her view, her actor had done her job again.
Scouting killer roles that fit him perfectly.
"We gotta prep now, right?! Action school or whatever!"
And he'd nailed it.
With this bonkers script. She was reeling.
The lead, no less.
Production just greenlit, and it's his.
Like no one else could pull it off.
Sin City, the one she'd shoved at him first? Stone cold now.
All she wanted was more deets on Tamra.
"Who wrote this thing?!"
She clutched the script.
Genre aside, totally different vibe from the indie Innocent Boy.
Wouldn't peg the same writer.
Must be another genius.
"Obviously."
To Shin Yi-han, it was a no-brainer.
"The Innocent Boy writer. Their second script."
He beamed, thrilled at their shock—as a writer.
"......?!"
"......!"
Choo Gyeo-ul's jaw dropped. Na Seon-yong, peeking over her shoulder, too.
"Y-You should've led with that! Before we read? Instant yes!"
"Right! Innocent Boy writer? Can't miss!"
They shot to their feet, buzzing uncontrollably.
This was the must-do project!
Around the same time.
Another done deal—beyond movies.
"Brian! It's official!"
Newflix staffer Jennifer Kim lit up at the good news.
"We did it!"
She flashed Brian the chat log, grinning.
- We'd love to have you!
- Getting to meet Mr. Kim and the lead in person!
From Bobby Pax.
Response to his podcast ask about inviting Others' Hell stars.
"Knew it! Bobby Pax!"
Brian jumped up at the quick yes.
"Guy's got taste."
Comic Friends.
Over eight million subs. Promo heaven.
He was over the moon.
Jennifer let out a relieved sigh.
I was sweating he'd bail, say it was a joke...!
But Bobby Pax and buddy James Garfield were Others' Hell superfans.
- Dinner after if schedules line up!
- We're hyped!
They'd hyped it on air for a reason.
Main villain Go Do-jin was booked, sadly.
But lead Baek Eun-won and sub-villain Shin Yi-han were good to go.
America had the hottest reactions among English markets. Prime promo spot.
"Oh, right. How's their English?"
One hitch, though.
"Listening at least—they'd make it smooth."
Communication.
Jennifer shared what she'd dug up.
"Baek Eun-won seems decent. Child star grind, kept up studies."
"Nice! Dodged a bullet."
Even for video podcast Comic Friends...
Live format needed solid English.
"Shin Yi-han?"
"Eh, didn't get deets on that."
"He knows some, right...?"
"......"
Promo kicked off on a whim—just checked schedules, skipped language check.
"If he's good, jackpot."
"Worst case... Comedy pod, it'll be fine?"
"Yeah, but."
Confirm it, Jennifer.
Brian rubbed his chin.
"If Shin Yi-han's English is at least basic."
Might as well maximize the win.