Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: My Own VIP
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Scene.35
My Own VIP.
“There's still much to see, but as they say, even sightseeing is best after a meal. Let's call it a day here and move on.”
Everyone was starting to feel a bit hungry anyway, so they all looked pleased.
While touring the farm was fun, they were scheduled to stay and film here for a month. There would be plenty of time to look around whenever they had a spare moment, so it didn't have to be today.
As they headed toward the main building, a uniquely shaped structure caught Lee Ha-na's eye.
While the other guesthouses were built in a Mediterranean style, this building had a strikingly modern design from the outside.
“Owner-nim. What's that place over there?”
“Ah, that's the Royal Wing. It's for VIPs only.”
At Kang Man-dong's words, everyone's expression turned curious.
“VIPs?”
“Yes, VIPs. It also means it's not a place just anyone can use, no matter how much money they offer.”
“So you mean only special guests can use it.”
“Why? You want to try and get an upgrade to that one too?”
“It's just... its design is different from the other buildings, and it has a unique feel.”
“Well, if it were up to me, I'd open the VIP wing to everyone, but I have my own rules.”
Seong Ye-rim stepped forward at Kang Man-dong's words. She had been monopolizing the questions, but at some point, Lee Ha-na had started jumping in, cutting into her share.
“What kind of people do you consider VIPs, Owner-nim?”
“Hmm. How should I put it? First, they need to have some social standing. Ah, but by standing, I don't mean a corporate chairman or a high-ranking government official.”
“Then what kind?”
“For example, people who are respected by others. Or those who have done a lot of good deeds. People like that?”
At Kang Man-dong's explanation, everyone let out a collective "Ah..." They realized that his definition of a VIP was completely different from what they had imagined.
“I see. But aren't there people like that who can't afford to use a place like this? Even if they wanted to...”
“Just as the pretty Ms. Ye-rim said, among those people, there are some who have no reason to come here and can't afford it.”
Seong Ye-rim nodded at his words.
“That's why this place is free.”
“What?”
At Kang Man-dong's next words, not only Seong Ye-rim but everyone listening looked utterly stunned.
“Four times a year, I invite them to stay. I've found that people who do good for the world all have one thing in common.”
“Which is...”
“They only give and never think about receiving.”
“Ah...”
“But it shouldn't be that way, right? If bad people deserve to go to jail, then good people deserve to receive even greater benefits.”
“Ah!”
“Since this is what I do for a living, I can't do much else. So I just express my gratitude this way.”
Everyone's face filled with admiration. This was especially true for Yeon Jeong-suk and Han Mi-ra, who had become subtly interested after Yu-hyeon's matchmaking attempts.
A man's appeal to a woman can come from many factors—looks, ability, wealth, and so on. But surprisingly, being a respectable person plays a huge part.
Yu Han-seong, who had been nodding continuously at Kang Man-dong's words, tapped Kim Seong-hui on the shoulder.
“Thanks to Writer Kim, we've ended up in a truly incredible place.”
“I know. I had no idea either.”
Kim Seong-hui was just as surprised. She had ended up here through a chance connection, but she had only known him as a successful immigrant who ran a farm and guesthouse business. She'd never imagined he was someone who thought so deeply about these things.
'Yu-hyeon is quite something, and his father is no joke either. Like father, like son, I guess?'
The father-son duo, Kang Man-dong and Kang Yu-hyeon, were like onions; the more you peeled back their layers, the more surprises emerged.
Just then, Yeon Jeong-suk asked a question.
“Owner-nim.”
“Yes, Actress-nim.”
Normally, the title "Actress-nim" would have felt natural and familiar, but for some reason, she didn't like it today.
“The title 'Actress-nim' feels a bit formal. I'm younger than you, Owner-nim, so you can just call me by my name. Ah, I'm Yeon Jeong-suk.”
To others, it just seemed like actress Yeon Jeong-suk was moved by Mr. Kang. But to Han Mi-ra, who had also been subjected to Yu-hyeon's matchmaking, her words sounded completely different.
'Oh my. Look at her.'
Kang Man-dong looked awkward and said, "No, how could I? I should call you Actress-nim."
“No, it feels awkward for me. Please, just call me Jeong-suk.”
'Oh my goodness!'
Han Mi-ra was dumbfounded by Yeon Jeong-suk's continued eccentric(?) behavior.
Yeon Jeong-suk was usually quiet and easygoing, but also someone who was quite particular about etiquette. Han Mi-ra thought she knew her better than anyone, but seeing her make such a bold move out of nowhere felt like being sucker-punched.
“Aigoo. I don't know if that's alright. You're an actress, after all.”
“I'm only an actress in dramas. Out here, I'm just a woman. We have to spend a whole month here, and I'd rather be comfortable.”
“Well, if you put it that way... alright then, Jeong-suk-ssi. By the way, was there something you were curious about?”
“Yes. I was just wondering if any of the people who've stayed here are people we might know.”
“Ah. The VIPs.”
“Yes. I'm curious about who received your invitations.”
At Yeon Jeong-suk's question, the others nodded as well.
“Someone you all might know...”
Kang Man-dong scratched his head, then casually dropped the name of a VIP who had stayed there—a name everyone would recognize.
“The Pope?”
".....?"
"......!"
“And let's see. Angelina Jane was here too.”
“Angelina? You don't mean... the movie star Angelina?”
“Why not? He said the Pope came and went.”
Everyone looked dumbstruck as they murmured amongst themselves.
“The most recent person I hosted was someone named Dalton. I don't know if you'd know him.”
When Kang Man-dong mentioned the name Dalton, everyone just blinked, as if they'd never heard it. Then, one of the actors said to the person next to him, "Dalton? Could it be that person?" and all eyes turned to him.
“You know who he is?”
“Who?”
“Uh, well. The person who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year was named Dalton.”
“A Nobel laureate? What does he do?”
“I heard he spent his whole life traveling to remote areas doing medical volunteer work. I don't know the details either. I just happened to see it on the news.”
Kang Man-dong nodded.
“That's him, the one who won the Peace Prize. When I think of the trouble I went through to get him here...”
Kang Man-dong shook his head as if to say the man had been a real handful.
Seong Ye-rim quickly threw out a question before Lee Ha-na could.
“Why?”
“He said he had too much to do and was too busy, so he had no time to rest.”
“Ah...”
Since he was someone who did medical volunteer work in remote areas, their expressions showed they understood.
“So I proposed a deal.”
“A deal?”
A deal to invite someone? It seemed like a strange sort of invitation, but everyone looked at Kang Man-dong with curiosity.
“I told him if he came here and rested for just one week, I'd provide him with a year's supply of medicine.”
“What? But... how could you...”
“Medicine isn't cheap... How could you possibly...”
“Everyone, look over there.”
Kang Man-dong pointed to the Royal Guesthouse for VIPs.
“There are three buildings, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why do you think there are three?”
“Huh?”
“I told you earlier. The Pope stayed here.”
“Yes.”
“So wouldn't other people want to come and see it too?”
“I suppose so. Even I want to go inside right now.”
At Seong Ye-rim's comment, Lee Ha-na clapped her hands.
“Did you perhaps take paying guests? People who could easily make that kind of donation.”
“Something like that. I sent out some feelers to coincide with the days that old man Dalton was staying. I asked if they'd be interested in making a donation and meeting such an esteemed person. Think about it, it's not just coming here to rest. It's spending over three days with a Nobel laureate. Taking pictures, eating together, having a drink. You think any of those rich guys with nothing better to do would turn down an opportunity like that?”
“Wow!”
“So, the year's supply of medicine...”
Kang Man-dong nodded as if to say, 'what more is there to say?' He hosted the VIP and, at the same time, got some spare cash donated. That was the story.
“That's amazing.”
“Really, I was impressed before, but now... I respect you even more!”
It was surprising enough that he kept three guesthouses vacant just for invited guests, but they couldn't help but admire Kang Man-dong's way of making it all happen.
“How did you come up with such an idea?”
“This? It wasn't my idea. It was my son's.”
“What? Camu's?”
Not only Seong Ye-rim but everyone else looked shocked.
Yu-hyeon, receiving everyone's stares, just shrugged lightly.
“You only need enough money to get by, right? I'd rather do something with it than hoard it my whole life. I was trying to figure out what to do, and that kid Camu suggested making a VIP invitation wing. It sounded like a good idea, so I started it. Now, it's become an annual event.”
Like father, like son, indeed. The people looked back and forth between Kang Man-dong and Camu, nodding repeatedly.
Helping others? It's easy to say, but putting it into action is another matter entirely.
But this father and son were completing their lives in a way others hadn't even considered.
Choi Pil-yeon began to understand the behavior Yu Han-seong and Kim Seong-hui had shown until now.
'A man of this caliber... anyone would bow their head to him. The drama is important, but forging a connection here would be beneficial for a long, long time.'
Choi Pil-yeon decided he had to connect with Kang Man-dong and use that as leverage to bring Yu-hyeon to TNT.
'His looks, his physique, his language skills...'
The hardware was flawless, no matter how many times you looked. But to have software with a story like this... this was a character you couldn't create even if you tried.
'He's the type who'll blow up just by standing in front of a camera. I absolutely can't let him get away.'
Choi Pil-yeon wasn't the only one thinking this. Though considered a step below Choi Pil-yeon, Park Sang-gyu of UN, as well as the other managers, couldn't fail to recognize such talent.
'Before Director Choi calls dibs... I have to move first...'
'Might as well poke the persimmon I can't eat... I'll give it a shot anyway.'
'I need to contact the company first. How much of a signing bonus would I need to offer to get his attention?'
Dreaming their different dreams, they arrived at the main building, where two round tables and a long rectangular table came into view in the spacious yard.
“Alright, everyone, have a seat.”
At Kang Man-dong's gesture, everyone found a suitable spot and sat down.
“Yu-hyeon. Go get some wine. Bring out the one we first made when we came here.”
“Yes.”
“Now, everyone, look over there.”
Kang Man-dong pointed toward the entrance of the yard, and everyone's gaze naturally gathered in one place.
“Wow... the view.”
“The edge of the vineyard is touching the horizon, right? Whoa. It's incredible.”
Since the main building was situated higher than the farm area, the view was different from the one at the guesthouses.
Just then, the sun, which had been hidden behind the clouds, revealed its crimson glow and began to descend toward the water's surface.
“Wow...”
As the sun settled between the low-lying clouds on the water, the surroundings began to blush a deep red, as if buckets of orange and red paint had been poured over everything.
The boundary between the blue horizon and the ochre vineyard turned red, gradually blurring into one. In unison, the farm and the surrounding guesthouses were also soaked in the sunset's glow.
“Unbelievable... How can a sight like this exist?”
The lighting and camera crews, in particular, looked completely mesmerized. They were even worried if they could properly capture it on camera.
Lee Ha-na unknowingly got up and walked toward the entrance.
They had taken seats in the inner part of the yard, and her view was obstructed by the heads of the people gathered around.
When she'd been chided for not taking off her sunglasses, she had felt sulky, but now, faced with this unimaginable spectacle, she felt grateful to Kang Man-dong for scolding her.
If she had witnessed this magnificent view with her sunglasses on, she would have regretted it for the rest of her life.
*
“This is the place?”
Lee Jae-eun looked out the car window and frowned. No matter where she looked, there was no farm, not even people coming and going.
“Well, the navigation system definitely says this is the spot...”
Deputy Manager Kim Byeong-seok, who was behind the wheel, couldn't hide his bewilderment and kept fiddling with the GPS.
'Damn it, is it because it's different from the Korean GPS? Why did it lead us to such a strange place?'
He was already on Lee Jae-eun's bad side, and now with his work performance being like this, he was burning up with anxiety.
Section Chief Park, who had gotten out of the car, was just as flustered. He too looked around, but there was only a lonely road stretching out, with no buildings or farms in sight.
'This is driving me crazy.'
Just then, three large SUVs pulled up and stopped one after another behind their vehicle.
'What's this?'
Section Chief Park watched the vehicles with a wary expression. This wasn't exactly a place where one would stop their car.
When the SUV doors opened and the occupants revealed themselves, Section Chief Park's wariness shot through the roof.
The appearance of the men getting out of the SUVs was unusual. They were all wearing suits, but the aura they gave off was definitely not that of businessmen.
'Damn it. What is this! Where did these guys come from!'
Section Chief Park went to the driver's side and tapped on the window. Kim Byeong-seok, still struggling with the GPS, looked up at him with a "Yes?" expression.
'Behind us!'
At Park's gesture, Kim Byeong-seok quickly checked the rearview mirror. His expression hardened when he, too, saw the men who had gotten out of the SUVs.
'What the hell. Are they local gangsters?'
About ten men had gotten out of the cars. Every one of them was built like a mountain, and their movements exuded an unusual energy.
Seeing their unusual reactions, Lee Jae-eun also turned around quickly. Her expression stiffened.
“What is it? Who are those people?”
Just then, the man who appeared to be their leader pointed at the car Lee Jae-eun was in. A man who looked like a subordinate then sauntered toward them.
“Byeong-seok. If things look strange, get the car moving.”
“What about you, Chief?”
“Are you planning to leave me behind?”
“How could I?”
Kim Byeong-seok shrugged, as if trying to shake off the tension.
Section Chief Park stepped forward to meet them, preventing them from getting too close to the car.
“Can I help you?”
“Are you here for Camu?”
".....?"
“No? My apologies. Please, carry on.”
Contrary to his intimidating appearance, the man's speech and actions were polite.
Section Chief Park looked bewildered for a moment before quickly stopping the man.
“That's right. We're looking for Camu. But we can't find the way. Do you happen to know the way to the farm?”
“Ah, I knew it. I had a feeling.”
The man nodded as if his guess had been correct, then pointed to the forest beside the road.
“The forest?”
“We're also on our way to Camu. Let's go together.”
The man said only that and walked back to his group.
When Section Chief Park returned to the car and said he'd found the way to Camu, Lee Jae-eun gave him a look that said, 'Is it really okay to follow those people?'
“Let's follow them at a reasonable distance.”
Lee Jae-eun still looked uneasy, but she decided to trust Section Chief Park and Deputy Manager Kim and move on.
Unlike ordinary secretarial staff, these two were literally the group's troubleshooters, meaning their physical capabilities were all top-notch.