Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Relocating the Base
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The video released online was a low-resolution copy shot from afar, so no one could make out the faces of the people involved.
However, it became known that the child who had nearly been kidnapped was a child actress from Sunny Day.
The head of the publicity team reported.
"So in the end, the movie got even more solid promotion..."
THO Entertainment President Lee Tae-ho growled.
"Are you bragging right now that you sold out my daughter for movie promotion?"
"N-no, sir."
"What about public reaction?"
"It's positive. Everyone's only interested in the food truck uncle's amazing exploits. There's hardly any mention of Min-ji."
"What about Kim Yu-chan, the one who caused the incident?"
"He's gone to apologize to Min-ji."
Kim Yu-chan had doted on young actress Lee Min-ji a lot during filming. Lee Tae-ho knew he hadn't caused the accident on purpose.
Lee Tae-ho let out a sigh.
"Whew. What about Na Gang-in?"
"Pardon?"
"We owe him so much—we can't impose on him."
"Ah. Not many even among the film staff know who Na Gang-in is. They only heard the name on set. The few who do know wouldn't leak info carelessly."
"Still, if reporters dig, it'll come out eventually. That's enough. Make sure the articles wrap up at this level."
"Understood."
THO Entertainment's publicity team distributed materials about the incident to reporters. But if they turned those materials straight into articles, they'd end up as movie promos instead of incident reports. The team had crafted them that way on purpose.
The reporters felt it was overkill. Related stories popped up here and there, but with all the extraneous details stripped out, nothing too specific leaked.
Even so, the video being real footage spread properly.
The PC bang trio knew Na Gang-in was the food truck uncle.
Yoon A-reum boasted.
"I said from the first time I saw that video it looked like Gang-in oppa. See? I have a real eye for people."
College student hacker An Seong-hwan chimed in.
"Wow. To think there's another expert like that in our country."
"What? You saw someone else?"
"Uh..."
An Seong-hwan still didn't know the man who'd saved him from that rundown office while he was coding a stock forum manipulation program was Na Gang-in.
"Nah. Just someone I know who's seriously skilled."
Yoon A-reum declared confidently.
"Whoever it is, they can't beat Gang-in oppa."
Shin Eun-ha came to the PC bang to apologize.
"Gang-in oppa. Sorry."
"For what?"
"The video of you rescuing Min-ji hitting the news."
"You're not the culprit."
"Yu-chan oppa is. But I was on the same show. That guy's got such a big mouth."
"As long as it wasn't on purpose, it's fine. Where's Yu-chan?"
"Went to apologize to Min-ji. Word's probably getting out that the kid in the video is her soon."
"He's gonna get roasted."
"Probably getting an earful from Senior Jang Mi-jeong right now? That lady's got a temper."
"I'm good, so don't worry about it."
Shin Eun-ha hesitated.
"But oppa. Not selling food today?"
"Nah. Not today."
She looked openly disappointed.
"I was looking forward to it."
Na Gang-in turned back to her.
"You here to apologize? Or eat?"
"Both? But seriously, why no food at all today? You should at least make some for yourself."
"Got somewhere to go today."
Shin Eun-ha's mouth dropped open. She covered it with her hand and protested.
"No way you're jumping into a new movie solo? You traitor!"
"What nonsense is that?"
"Director Son Tae-min's next project, right? It is! I knew it!"
"Going to look at a room."
"A room? Oh! Not a new movie—you're moving!"
Shin Eun-ha beamed.
"I'll come! I'll check if it's a good place!"
"Why would you check?"
Na Gang-in went to check out a studio apartment building near the PC bang. The unit he was eyeing was small but had a kitchen, bathroom, and built-in washer.
Na Gang-in said.
"Got everything I need."
Shin Eun-ha was baffled.
She wasn't A-list star level, but she made decent money. She knew exactly how much top actors like Kim Yu-chan raked in.
So she was baffled.
"No way a guy like you is picking a place like this..."
"A guy like me?"
"You have insane skills—why choose this on purpose?"
"Compared to where I was, this is a palace."
"Where were you living before?"
"The PC bang."
"Huh?"
"They've got a cot in the back."
Shin Eun-ha had seen that cot before.
"I thought that was just for part-timers to nap on. How do you live there?"
"Hey. If you're here to tease me, leave."
Na Gang-in needed to stop using the PC bang—his temporary base—for daily life.
In the field, he'd dig a hole and sleep in it if there was no tent. But when that becomes routine, maintaining peak condition gets tough. Better to have a safe, comfortable space if possible.
So he was leaving the PC bang temporary base for a stable one.
Plus, new issues had arisen.
His name and face hadn't gone public from this incident, but more people knew him now.
If word got out he was crashing on a PC bang cot for room and board, plenty would react like Shin Eun-ha just did.
Combat Support AI Jeon Ji-in advised.
- Your unconventional lifestyle risks unnecessary suspicion.
So he'd come for a studio. A fixed address would dodge needless doubts.
Shin Eun-ha said.
"I get you crashing at the PC bang cot with your skills—maybe you were broke temporarily. But renting this now? You made bank from the movie."
"Yeah. Using that to cover the deposit here."
"Deposit?"
"Yep. Best option for the deposit money can get."
AI Jeon Ji-in had found this place via web search.
Shin Eun-ha sensed something off.
She asked point-blank.
"How much is the deposit exactly?"
"Five million won."
She realized what was happening.
"Wait, what? For real? Oppa, hold off on signing. Let me get you something better."
Shin Eun-ha didn't have THO President Lee Tae-ho's number. But she had actress Jang Mi-jeong's—his wife's.
She called Jang Mi-jeong.
- Hello?
"Hi, senior. It's Shin Eun-ha."
- I know. You're not calling to tell me to go easy on that punk Kim Yu-chan, are you?
"Don't kill him."
- Fine, I'll let him live.
"Not calling about that."
She explained the situation.
"Looks like the president paid Gang-in oppa just enough for a studio deposit for the movie."
- Huh? Which officetel? Cheongdam-dong?
"Not Gangnam. I'm here with him now. Place is tiny. Barely room after a bed."
- Then the deposit...
"He got exactly five million won for it—perfect for the monthly lease deposit?"
Na Gang-in was the guy who'd leaped onto the car kidnapping Lee Tae-ho and Jang Mi-jeong's daughter and saved her. And that wasn't all. Without him, Sunny Day wouldn't have hit theaters, let alone been a hit.
Jang Mi-jeong's voice sharpened instantly.
- Turns out there's another jerk I need to chew out! Got it. I'll check. Hey! Kim Yu-chan! Who said you could rest? Up you go!
Call ended.
Shin Eun-ha suggested to Na Gang-in.
"Let's grab coffee somewhere while we wait for a reply?"
Lee Tae-ho called Shin Eun-ha. He explained in a flustered voice.
- I checked. Turns out they paid Na Gang-in five million for his stunt double fee.
"Yes. But as you know, sir, he wasn't just a stunt double in our movie."
- No, he wasn't. I was shocked when I heard.
"You didn't know either."
- Director Son's swamped with editing and release. They said he wasn't minding other stuff. I figured approval docs would come to me, but it got internally approved, so I missed it.
"So who decided that?"
- Payroll handled it per standard rates. Shouldn't have for Gang-in, though.
"So you'll bump it up?"
- Of course. Recalculated as official martial arts director, not stunt.
"How much?"
- One hundred million right away. If red tape delays, I'll cover from my pocket.
Shin Eun-ha grinned wide.
"Wow. As expected of big-spending President Lee Tae-ho! Thanks!"
- Wait, why are you thanking me for paying Gang-in...
Shin Eun-ha hung up with a smirk.
"Oppa owes me a meal. Something really good."
"How much'd you get me?"
She held up one finger.
"One hundred million!"
"Whoa. Guess you come in handy sometimes."
"What? I'm a super helpful girl."
The one hundred million hit his account soon after.
Na Gang-in rented a 20-pyeong apartment with two rooms, living room, and kitchen that same day. He put fifty million down as deposit.
The place was vacant, so he moved in immediately after paying.
Shin Eun-ha stood by the empty living room window, admiring the view.
"Wow. The view here's amazing."
He could've paid more monthly rent for a newer build. But Na Gang-in chose this old apartment for the open view Shin Eun-ha was admiring.
AI Jeon Ji-in said.
- Entry paths secured with clear sightlines. Can spot enemies from afar. Blackout curtains on windows will block their observation.
Shin Eun-ha asked.
"Gang-in oppa. Fifty million on deposit— what about the other fifty? Buying a car?"
AI Jeon Ji-in said.
- Mobility secured as needed.
Na Gang-in agreed. He'd driven the food truck to the Gangwon set last time, but couldn't always.
"Gonna get one."
"Want an intro? For fifty mil... three diamonds might be tough for good ones."
AI Jeon Ji-in warned.
- Dumping all funds into mobility isn't efficient budgeting. Need remaining for equipment production base.
"I know."
Shin Eun-ha asked.
"Huh?"
"Said I'd handle it. No plans for three-diamond stuff."
"Got it. But place is empty? Got a built-in electric range, so let's grab cookware and make food."
"You've been gunning for a meal this whole time?"
"You made bank today thanks to me."
"Uh... mixed fried rice okay?"
"I like beef."
Na Gang-in and Shin Eun-ha bought a frying pan, plates, utensils, seasonings, and beef.
Over late dinner in the new base, Shin Eun-ha said.
"Oppa, you grill steak great too. Sides are all tasty."
"Doing it 'cause you upgraded me from studio to apartment."
Shin Eun-ha gave a sly look.
"Not ending it with one meal, right?"
"We'll see."
She eyed him while eating steak.
'Cooking better than famous chefs I know. Real-time action choreography on set? Never heard of that level. Probably killer at fighting too. Athleticism for Olympics.'
She tilted her head.
'Why'd a guy like this live broke in a PC bang break room?'
Didn't make sense.
'Grabbed a place first thing with money, so not on purpose. Some backstory.'
They weren't close enough yet to pry.
Wanting to get closer, she suggested.
"Gang-in oppa. Wanna do a movie with me? Heard directors are eyeing your action. Could buy a house, new car later..."
"Nah."
"Huh?"
Sunny Day was a rush job, so Na Gang-in hadn't lost much time.
AI Jeon Ji-in said.
- Standard film production ties up time. Interferes with missions.
Na Gang-in knew. So he refused.
"I'm pretty busy."
"Heard from the kids you just surf the net at the PC bang all day."
"Not playing. All necessary."
"What you really need is Chungmuro."