Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Every Variety Show Wants Me
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President Do Bong-seok ended with those words, calmly curving his lips upward. He checked the wall clock, then casually asked me,
"Jun-seo, you free around dinner time?"
"All I've got is time, thanks to you, President. You're the reason I'm not swamped right now."
"Hah, so you do get it?"
The president let out a hollow laugh, shuddering as if his teeth were chattering.
"You have no idea how many variety show offers are piling up for you right now. Sorting through them is making my hair fall out. It's falling out."
"Of course I don't. You haven't told me a single one that's come in."
He composed his expression and looked me straight in the eye before speaking again.
"Every variety show on every broadcasting station."
"...Every one?"
My jaw dropped.
That meant...
Every single broadcasting station in the country wanted me. Seeing my shock, the president chuckled.
"Yeah, they were so damn persistent.... Even after I explained everything. Those guys don't know the word 'quit.' They just don't quit...."
"......"
"Hey, Jun-seo. You listening?"
I snapped to at his call. I'd closed my gaping mouth without realizing and nodded.
"Yeah, I'm listening."
"You're still not thinking of doing any other variety shows, right? The appearance fees they're throwing out this time are insane. They were bidding against each other, jacking up the prices."
Why bring that up?
Did he want me to do one more variety show?
I asked cautiously.
"...What do you think, President?"
President Do Bong-seok flashed an enigmatic smile and poked my side.
It was a seriously unsettling smile.
"What? I thought you weren't into money, but looks like you are after all?"
"That's not it. What do you want me to do?"
"No need to play innocent. The highest bidder among them was..."
We weren't getting anywhere.
Talking more would just piss me off, so I turned away.
"...Forget it. I'll handle it myself. But why dinner?"
"Ahaha! The conversation went sideways. Jun-seo, you know Ji-hwan, right?"
"Yes, why Senior Ji-hwan?"
"He's got an outdoor shoot today, so I sent a coffee truck in your name. Swing by there around dinner time."
No clue what the president was getting at, suddenly sending me to see Senior O Ji-hwan.
I looked him straight in the eye and asked,
"...Pardon? Why there?"
"We're using your fame to promote the project he's starring in. Ahaha! Don't worry, the coffee truck came out of agency funds."
That wasn't a big deal.
It'd boost my image.
And promote Senior O Ji-hwan's work. Plus, it was a favor from the president—I couldn't say no.
After all he'd done for us...
I nodded.
"Got it. I'll do it."
"Good, it's close by. Even if it's a hassle, make sure you go. Okay?"
The president patted my shoulder and headed out of the office.
I sat quietly until In-cheol got back, checking fan reactions. Man, this was more fun than I expected.
-Oh! I knew it!
-Wait, no way.... Is Jun-seo oppa really her dad?
└He said dad lololol. Excuse me, Actor Lee Jun-seo is only 27?
└His profile pic looks straight-up 30s.... Isn't oppa too old for that?
└If he's hot, he's oppa.
└True that. Totally.
-Wow, so Yu-na's aunt is singer Yusia? So jealous.
└Jealous? An aunt spreading black history? If I were Yu-na, I'd fight her.
└Lololol fair.
└If there's more black history, spill it all!
└You'll get sued lol.
-Dad! It's me! Me!
└Go home. This isn't lost and found for dads.
I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle a laugh.
'They're hilarious.'
Fans calling me "Dad" now. And egging on Yu-na and Yusia's exposé war.
'Nothing left to expose anymore.'
Tap. Drip.
A weird noise came from the side.
What was that?
In-cheol had returned without a word and was sorting something.
I peeked—stacks of bound scripts.
"Hey, In-cheol. What's all that?"
Without looking back, he answered my question.
"Scripts that came for you, Jun-seo."
"All these for me?"
Seeing the mountain of projects made me curious if any were gems.
I picked one up and checked the title first.
'Fate of the Moon and Sun.'
Sageuk vibes from the title alone.
Was my gut right?
I flipped it open. Yep, traditional historical drama as expected. A clichéd palace maid and king's love story.
"...Pass."
I went through In-cheol's stack one by one.
One. Two. Three.
By the end, anything decent went stale in the middle, killing my interest.
The rest...
All box-office poison.
"They're all meh...."
I muttered under my breath and closed one. A giant hand shot out. In-cheol snatched it from me and stood.
"I'll file these in the cabinet, so shut down the computer you used and wait here."
"Yeah, take your time."
I sent In-cheol off, powered down the computer, and stood to head out.
Thud!
Something kicked my foot.
I looked down—a neatly bound script.
'In-cheol drop this?'
I picked it up.
Title: 'Viper'. Concise.
Wasn't in the stack earlier....
I tilted my head and opened it.
A secret agent called the 'Viper.'
On a mission, nearly dies swept away by waves but saved by an old fisherman.
Amnesiac from the trauma.... Lives happily as the old man's grandson until the organization moves to eliminate him.
Intriguing plot.
"First things first.... Gotta keep this one."
Following In-cheol's lead to the salon, I ran into someone totally unexpected.
'Python Group's leader, Kang Min-woo.'
He sat in the waiting area, skin duller than before. His eyes looked lifeless.
Going through something tough?
Our eyes met.
Long time no see—awkward, hard to speak.
"Hi?"
"...Oh, hi? Long time."
After greetings, I sat a bit away from Kang Min-woo.
His voice trembled faintly.
And those sidelong glances.
He seemed more awkward than me. Where was the cocky guy who'd yelled at me before?
"You doing okay, hyung?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
"Doesn't look like it...."
"It's, uh.... Nothing. I'm really fine."
Brief silence.
Kang Min-woo fidgeted with his lips, then spoke.
"Right. Jun-seo, you hear? Senior Yusia's getting the boot?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"You haven't.... heard anything from her?"
Something was up.
I could feel it.
Did he screw over Yusia somehow? Sensing the weirdness, I played dumb.
"Done something wrong?"
His eyebrows drooped pitifully. He sighed like the ground was caving in, then slowly spoke.
"I must've been insane back then."
"What happened?"
"Thing is...."
Here's what he said.
He and his group mates badmouthed Yusia in the waiting room at a music show.
She overheard, super awkward situation....
'What? That's it?'
His grim face made me think it'd be some huge screw-up.
Just gossip?
"What do I do? Senior Yusia crushes people as revenge. She timed her album to overlap ours...."
Ah, right.
Forgot Yusia's personality for a sec. What'd she do when Yu-na broke their promise first?
Hit back double.
I nodded slightly.
Then shot Kang Min-woo a glare.
"No, why'd you gossip in the first place?"
He hung his head at my sharp question.
"Our group's album timing overlapped with hers, got pissed and...."
I sighed deeply.
"Sigh, just apologize in person. She'll accept."
"Really?"
"Hyung.... You weren't even planning to apologize to Sia?"
"Of course I was.... But what if she keeps crushing our group even after?"
"Then keep apologizing."
Couldn't help him with this.
Even if she's my late wife's sister, business is business.
Ding!
A customer entered.
We both turned to the salon door.
'What? Why's that guy here?'
The new arrival was none other than Kwon In-ju.
Workout clothes, puffer jacket against the cold.
And slippers totally wrong for the season.
His outfit screamed "neighborhood stroll."
Our eyes locked.
"Huh?"
His eyes widened round, then he grinned brightly and waved.
"Hey! Jun-seo! Long time! You here for a cut too?"
Kwon In-ju bounded over and plopped in the seat next to me. He glanced at Kang Min-woo, then fixed on me.
"Ahaha! What are the odds."
"Tell me about it. What brings you to the salon, hyung?"
"Year-end awards soon, right? Can't lose to you without some preemptive skin care."
"Ah.... Your skin looks good already."
"This is post-care glow."
Mid-chat with Kwon In-ju, Kang Min-woo—who'd been hovering—sidled closer.
"Jun-seo, who's this guy?"
I smiled awkwardly at Kwon In-ju's question and opened my mouth.
"Oh, he's...."
Kang Min-woo grabbed my wrist to stop me and smiled at Kwon In-ju.
"Hi? I'm Kang Min-woo, singer-actor who worked with Jun-seo on his second project. Nice to meet you."
"Ahaha, nice to meet you too. I'm from his third.... Wait, who doesn't know? Actor Kwon In-ju."
Just intros, but it felt like a pissing contest.
'Ah, could this be it?'
That thing where celebs brag about being closest to me?