Chapter 134: A Method That Fits Me
Chapter 134: A Method That Fits Me
After ending the call, I stared blankly at my phone screen for a moment. The reflection of my face on the dark screen looked rather stunned.
This got a lot bigger than I expected.
Appearing on Britain’s flagship talk show was something I had never even considered. And having a British princess appear as a guest with me was even more unimaginable.
So what I’m saying is—nice.
They say you should row when the tide comes in. But at this point, it wasn’t just rowing. It was like attaching a motor to the boat.
The corners of my lips slowly lifted.
Anyway, the system window remained open.
【I Will Take Responsibility for the Next Drama’s Ratings Until the End!】
【Selection Goal: 40%】
【Reward: ??? (Varies depending on the target achieved)】
Episode 10 had already surpassed 40% ratings. But the system had not yet displayed a goal-completion notification.
It probably meant I had to maintain it until the final ratings. The goal literally said “take responsibility until the end.”
Which meant it was far harder than achieving a one-time record.
Most dramas lose momentum in the later episodes or end up with only a fixed group of viewers remaining.
But at the current trend, it’s entirely possible.
Thanks to the increase in favorability, I gained the title Trusted Actor, raising my Box Office Pull to 40%. And most importantly, I obtained the Emotion-Piercing Aura.
Soon it would be time for Han Jusin’s emotional scenes. If that aura struck viewers directly, the impact of the upcoming scenes would explode.
On top of that, the issue spreading from Britain would bring more domestic viewers.
Not only defending the 40% ratings, but possibly pushing them even higher.
At this rate… maybe I can even expect an incentive.
Judging from the system’s patterns so far, exceeding a target usually granted greater rewards. If things went well, I might even push one more stat to S-rank.
Meanwhile, late that night, Han Seungwoo arrived at his family home.
The moment he stepped inside the entrance, his mother greeted him with a tense expression he was not used to seeing.
“Your father wants to see you in the study.”
Han Seungwoo’s eyes widened. “In the study?”
“Yes. He’s waiting.”
His father’s study carried a special meaning. He only summoned people there when discussing truly important matters.
Which also meant that since Han Seungwoo had begun falling out of his father’s favor, he had never once crossed that threshold.
His heart pounded violently.
Han Seungwoo placed his briefcase on the floor and adjusted his clothes while looking at the mirror. After taking a long, deep breath, he knocked.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
A low, heavy voice.
Behind his glasses, Han Taejun glanced at his son.
“Sit.”
Han Seungwoo perched halfway onto the leather sofa opposite him.
Silence followed.
Han Taejun closed the document he had been reading and removed his glasses, placing them on the desk.
“It seems the drama is doing quite well. I heard planning and investing in that drama were entirely your own unilateral decision.”
It sounded like praise, but his tone was dry.
Han Seungwoo swallowed.
“And establishing ties with a government department like the Ministry of Health and Welfare through this opportunity was also a clever move. Anyone running a business should have at least that level of sense.”
“…Thank you.”
Han Seungwoo sighed inwardly in relief.
His father was acknowledging his achievements.
Had I been worrying too much?
The tension began to loosen and a smile was about to form when Han Taejun’s voice froze the air in the study.
“However… it would have raised your value more if you had simply claimed you led all of it without revealing unnecessary details.”
Han Seungwoo’s eyes trembled.
He understood immediately.
The organ-donation campaign carried out through Doctor Princess. Revealing that Ryu Sunho had planned it had displeased him.
“Even if it is true that that fellow designed the plan and set the board, anyone beneath you is merely expendable. Whatever happens, the master must receive the spotlight.”
His father was right.
If he wanted to hide it, he could have.
He could have given Ryu Sunho an appropriate reward, silenced him, and publicly framed it as Content Trinity’s social contribution project, swallowing the credit as his own.
So technically, it was not wrong.
The old Han Seungwoo would have bowed his head without question, because he wanted recognition and because he wanted love.
But Han Seungwoo asked himself, If I live like that… am I happy?
No matter how he thought about it, he could not see the answer.
A life climbing upward while using everyone around you as tools. What waited at the top? What would remain for the person standing there?
Probably nothing but hollow recognition and the fear that everything might collapse at any moment.
Only then did he understand why he had struggled so desperately to resemble his father yet never received approval.
From the beginning, he and his father were different people.
If you forced yourself into clothes that didn’t fit, how could you possibly look good?
Han Seungwoo lifted his head for the first time and met his father’s eyes directly without avoiding them.
“…Father, there was something you emphasized while educating me since childhood. You called it the Attitude of a Monarch.”
Han Taejun’s brow twitched. An unexpected reply.
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“I have a good memory, so I still remember everything. The third rule of the Attitude of a Monarch—use any method necessary, but prove yourself solely through results.”
Han Seungwoo hid his trembling hands behind his back and clenched them tightly. The pain of his nails digging into his skin steadied his mind.
“I thought about it carefully, and it seems my personality is different from yours. I’m closer to passion than cold calculation.”
“So?”
“Hot, passionate loyalty. Leaving people behind. That seems to be the method that suits me.”
Han Taejun let out a dry laugh.
“I thought you had matured somewhat, but it seems you’re still immature.”
“It’s not immaturity. It’s simply a different method. I’ll prove it with results. Instead of stealing others’ achievements, I’ll expand those achievements and make those people mine.”
Silence fell.
Han Taejun stared at his son.
In the past, he would have laughed or shouted, but now he remained strangely quiet.
After all, the rising stock price of Content Trinity was a clear achievement backing those words.
And his son’s expression had changed. Unlike before, he was no longer shrinking away or avoiding eye contact. Instead, his eyes were alive.
“…You must be able to take responsibility for those words.”
“Of course. I’ve already taken responsibility for plenty of miserable failures. What’s one more?”
“…Then leave.”
“Good night.”
Han Seungwoo grinned.
For the first time, his father’s study did not feel cold.
While the agency was arranging the schedule for the British talk show, I still had to complete the filming schedule already set. So I was heading to a movie set.
But the atmosphere inside the moving car was strange.
For some reason, Team Leader Jo Sehun kept chuckling all day, while Road Manager Jeong Daeyeop, holding the steering wheel, stared straight ahead with ears bright red.
“Team leader… please stop laughing…”
“Pfft, sorry, but I keep remembering it. That solemn expression of yours.”
“Seriously…”
I asked, “What happened?”
Jo Sehun turned around as if he had been waiting for that question.
“Sunho, our Daeyeop here made a very big decision. One he was even ready to risk his life for.”
“His life?”
What kind of decision required risking his life? This wasn’t some martial-arts world.
“Daeyeop watched Doctor Princess and decided to become an organ donor.”
“Oh really? That’s a good thing. But why the reaction?”
“He submitted a resignation letter at the same time.”
“What? Why?”
“Strange, right? I asked him too. Turns out he thought organ donation meant doing it while alive.”
“…?”
“He thought he had to remove his perfectly healthy organs and offer them while still alive. So he made a grand decision and even wrote a farewell letter to his parents to show filial devotion before coming here.”
Silence filled the car.
Through the rearview mirror, I looked at Road Manager Jeong Daeyeop. He was sweating nervously, clearly embarrassed.
“When I explained it happens after brain death or after death, he finally relaxed. But that relieved expression—man, I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Jo Sehun burst out laughing again.
I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing too.
If he was going to feel relieved anyway, why make such a dramatic decision?
At my puzzled look, Jeong Daeyeop hesitated before answering solemnly.
“…Because I’m a chivalrous hero.”
I quietly turned my head and looked out the window, then shut my eyes tightly.
The filming set of Mueon:ga was buzzing with whispers.
Staff members gathered in small groups, talking quietly.
The topic was, of course, Ryu Sunho.
“I mean, even an actual British princess mentioned him…”
“At this level, isn’t it good news for our movie too?”
“Of course. It means our lead actor works in the global market. The investors are already going crazy. The film hasn’t even opened domestically yet, but they’re already talking about overseas markets.”
“Wow… it feels like this project has been running smoothly from the start.”
“Director Baek Junbong must be thrilled.”
At that comment, the assistant director shook his head.
“I’m not so sure. The Baek Junbong I know wouldn’t particularly welcome this.”
“Why?”
“He only cares about the internal completion of his work. He doesn’t like gossip or popularity outside the work itself.”
“Ah…”
“Especially if the lead actor becomes noisy for reasons unrelated to acting—positive or negative. He sees it as noise.”
“True…”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward Director Baek Junbong, who was sitting in front of the monitor.
He stared at the storyboard without moving, as if the world’s noise meant nothing to him.
A proud and sensitive artist.
“Great masters really are different.”
“He looks like some enlightened hermit…”
“Like a giant tree that doesn’t sway in the wind.”
Just as the staff watched him with admiration, Ryu Sunho arrived at the set.
“Oh, Sunho is here!”
The staff greeted him as he entered with his manager.
At that moment, Director Baek Junbong, who had been staring at the monitor, suddenly sprang up like a compressed spring.
“Oh! The pride of South Korea! Ryu Sunho has arrived!”
Director Baek Junbong ran toward him, grinning from ear to ear.
One staff member looked at the assistant director in disbelief.
“…The giant tree just got uprooted and started running.”
“…Maybe Ryu Sunho is the typhoon.”
“All right, standby!”
Once all the staff were in position, Director Baek Junbong’s shout instantly changed the atmosphere on set.
The foolish grin from moments ago disappeared. Only the sharp eyes of a director remained as he stared at the monitor.
Meanwhile, Ryu Sunho closed his eyes and flipped the switch deep within himself.
【LV.3 Emotion-Piercing Aura Activated】
The texture of the air changed.
When Ryu Sunho opened his eyes, there was no longer the star loved by the British royal family, nor the genius doctor Han Jusin.
There was only a monster who transformed others’ pain into art.
Gu Sunwoo.
“Action!”
With the clap of the slate, the camera’s red light turned on.
.