Chapter 40
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Father. It's a Kids' Fight.
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Scene.40
Father. It's a Kids' Fight.
The crowd’s eyes went wide.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. If it’s HS, isn’t he talking about them over there?”
“He said anyone who signed with HS should leave, right?”
The people started murmuring and looked over at the HS group, who were talking with their managers.
Kang Man-dong glared and strode toward Lee Jae-eun. The people in his way quickly stood up and cleared a path.
“Executive Director. We need to talk.”
Seeing Kang Man-dong looking down at her with a stiff, hardened expression, Lee Jae-eun looked quite flustered.
She’d heard he was the farm owner, but there was no reason for him to have any dealings with HS. Even if there were, there was certainly no reason for her to be called a “company with no manners” in such a public setting.
Assistant Manager Kim Byeong-seok stood up and stepped between Lee Jae-eun and Kang Man-dong.
“I don’t know what this is about, but please, talk to me.”
“Hah! After spouting such ridiculous nonsense, you don’t know what this is about? Are you HS people all on different pages? Just the three of you show up, and you don’t even know what the others are saying?”
“I don’t know why you’re doing this, but…”
Kim Byeong-seok glanced around, trying to de-escalate the situation, but Kang Man-dong had already lost his temper. Had he not spoken up, it might have been different. But stopping now wasn’t in Kang Man-dong’s nature.
“Who do you think you are? What right do you have to tell us to drop an actor?”
Just as Kim Byeong-seok was about to say something more, Lee Jae-eun, who had been watching from behind, spoke up.
“Assistant Manager Kim. What is this about?”
“It’s nothing, miss. You don’t need to worry…”
“Nothing? Toying with someone’s life, yanking them around as you please. You call that nothing?”
At Kang Man-dong’s unreserved shout, Kim Byeong-seok’s expression became troubled.
‘This is crazy. Where did the manager go!’
Kim Byeong-seok, looking not just troubled but utterly bewildered, kept searching for Park Gyu-hyeon.
*
“Writer Kim. What is going on?”
Kim Seong-hui, who had been watching Kang Man-dong with an anxious gaze, was startled and turned around.
Yu-hyeon spotted Han Mi-ra standing next to Kim Seong-hui, her face stained with tears.
“Did HS cause this problem?”
“Ah. Well. You see.”
Seong-hui quickly recounted what had happened earlier at the annex.
A request to remove Han Mi-ra from the drama. Hearing that his father had been threatened for refusing, Yu-hyeon’s expression hardened instantly.
“Yu-hyeon, please try to stop him. I understand how the owner feels, but if HS retaliates…”
“Yes, Yu-hyeon. You should stop him. Because of me, the owner…”
Han Mi-ra looked completely lost, as if she were the one at fault.
“Hah. Unbelievable.”
Yu-hyeon pressed his temples against a throbbing headache, then approached Marcos.
“Park Gyu-hyeon, Kim Byeong-seok?”
As Yu-hyeon mentioned the two names, Marcos immediately took out his smartphone and made a call.
“HS Executive Director Lee Jae-eun. Park Gyu-hyeon, Kim Byeong-seok. Han Mi-ra.”
He listed only the names without any complex explanation, but the person on the other end simply asked him to wait a moment, no further questions asked.
“Yu-hyeon. Please do something.”
Thinking Yu-hyeon was the only one who could stop Kang Man-dong, Seong-hui urged him again.
Yu-hyeon looked at Seong-hui, his expression as hard as Kang Man-dong’s. Then he said one word.
“Wait.”
Seong-hui was about to argue that this was no time to wait, but then Kang Man-dong’s words flashed through her mind.
-When that boy gets truly angry… just stay quiet.
Kim Seong-hui shut her mouth tightly, took Han Mi-ra’s arm, and put a little distance between them and Yu-hyeon.
“Writer-nim. Why?”
Han Mi-ra, who had been about to step in and stop Kang Man-dong herself, looked at Seong-hui with a bewildered expression.
“Ms. Han Mi-ra. I think we should just stay quiet for now.”
“What do you mean…”
“Yu-hyeon… told us to wait.”
“Yu-hyeon did?”
Han Mi-ra, thinking it was absurd, tried to step forward again.
“President Kang said so. He said that when Yu-hyeon has that expression and speaks stiffly, like a machine, we should never interfere and just listen. He said getting involved could make things much worse.”
“What are you talking about…”
“I don’t really know what’s going on either. But the owner isn’t one to make things up. So, let’s just do as we’re told for now. Okay?”
Seong-hui squeezed Han Mi-ra’s hand, her eyes pleading. Han Mi-ra still looked like she didn’t understand, but she stopped moving at Seong-hui’s desperate gaze.
Marcos held up one finger, indicating it would take ‘one minute’. Yu-hyeon nodded and took a moment to gather his thoughts.
“Marcos.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s say Marcos is an outsider interested in the project.”
“....?”
“They’ve also obtained KM’s list of shareholders.”
“I don’t understand what you’re suddenly talking about.”
“They’ll start verifying, right? They have to confirm if the information they acquired is accurate.”
“Probably?”
“Right. But when they look into it, they find a young Asian man. A drama writer, a composer. Occupations like that.”
“Hmm…”
“Seeing that, would they judge me to be the originator of the ‘project’? Or would they think I’m bait?”
“Ah!”
Marcos understood immediately.
“Prejudice. It’s scarier than you think.”
“True. Given the nature of the project, they’d picture some gray-haired old man in a lab. Or someone who obviously lives and breathes books.”
“The fabricated identity is solid, right?”
“It’s triple-layered.”
“Good. Then until the practical tests are stably concluded, let’s operate under a different identity.”
“As a drama writer, you mean?”
“Sometimes, a hobby can become a profession.”
Marcos nodded repeatedly, as if to say it wasn’t a bad idea. Even if they came looking for Yu-hyeon with suspicion, they would be confused if they found someone from the arts, not the type they could associate with advanced technology.
“This is actually a pretty good method.”
He didn’t know how the leaked information would be analyzed, reassembled, and acted upon, but in a situation like this, it might actually be safer to have an open role that the enemy would find hard to suspect, rather than hiding.
*Ting.* A message popped up on Marcos’s smartphone.
The requested personnel information had arrived, along with the current location of Lee Jae-yoon, the president of HS Energy and a key figure in Han Mi-ra’s case.
Marcos immediately held out his smartphone.
After checking the contents, Yu-hyeon approached Kim Seong-hui.
“Writer Kim Seong-hui.”
“Yes, Yu-hyeon.”
“I have a favor to ask you.”
“What is it…”
“I know this is sudden, but… the co-writer. Can we reveal it?”
Seong-hui’s eyes widened at Yu-hyeon’s words. When she had pleaded with him, he’d adamantly refused. Why the sudden change?
Yu-hyeon pointed toward Kang Man-dong, the drama production team, and the people from HS Group.
“It seems I need to be at least an official party to get involved over there.”
“Aah! Yes!”
“And it seems like it would help the drama, too.”
“Of course! It’ll be a huge help!”
“However, you must continue to keep quiet about everything except what I’ve just revealed. Can you do that?”
“Of course!”
Seong-hui nodded repeatedly, as if to say it wouldn’t be difficult at all, since she was already doing it.
“Good. I’ll take care of this commotion first.”
As Yu-hyeon moved toward the tables, Han Mi-ra, who had been held back by Seong-hui, quickly spoke up.
“Co-writer? Writer-nim. What did he just say?”
“Yu-hyeon is the co-writer for this drama’s script.”
“What?”
Han Mi-ra’s eyes flew open, as if she’d heard something unbelievable.
“Do you know the MangoFlix drama ‘Urus Club’?”
“Who doesn’t know that one?”
“Hehe. Exactly. Yu-hyeon is the scriptwriter for that drama. Oh, and he’s also the original author of the novel, ‘The Urus Murders’.”
“.....!”
“He said it would just be a hassle if people knew, so he told me to keep my mouth shut, and I couldn’t say a word. But now I feel so relieved. The secret’s finally out.”
*
Park Gyu-hyeon, covered in dust, reappeared and once again blocked Kang Man-dong’s path.
Just as Kang Man-dong glared and was about to speak again, Yu-hyeon stepped in, just as Park Gyu-hyeon had done.
“Father.”
“Oh. Yu-hyeon. These people…”
“I heard from Writer Kim.”
“You did? They said they’d ruin the farm…”
“Yes. I heard about that too. So I’ll finish this.”
“Hmm.”
“It’s not right for an adult to get involved in a kids’ fight, is it?”
Yu-hyeon stressed the words ‘kids’ fight’ as he looked at Kang Man-dong.
“Ahem! Right. It’s not right for an adult to butt into a kids’ fight.”
As Kang Man-dong stepped back, Kim Seong-hui and Han Mi-ra rushed to his side.
“Owner-nim. Are you okay?”
“Are you hurt anywhere…”
“Ah. I’m fine. Not a scratch on me.”
Kang Man-dong played it off as if there was no problem at all.
“Owner-nim. I’m so sorry. Even now, if I just…”
Han Mi-ra was frantic, feeling responsible for the escalating situation.
“They’re the ones in the wrong, so why are you making that face, Mi-ra?”
Kang Man-dong comforted her, telling her not to worry.
“By the way… when Yu-hyeon gets involved, things tend to get bigger. This is trouble.”
Kang Man-dong muttered with a worried expression.
“Get bigger?”
Seong-hui blinked and looked at Kang Man-dong.
“I told you. When that kid gets angry…”
As Kang Man-dong stepped out and Yu-hyeon stepped in, Park Gyu-hyeon looked dumbfounded.
“I think your father made a big mistake. Are you aware…”
“The mistake was made by HS.”
“Hah, really. It seems this father and son just don’t listen…”
Ignoring Park Gyu-hyeon’s chatter, Yu-hyeon took out his smartphone and made a call. He switched to speakerphone and turned the volume all the way up so everyone could hear.
A moment later, someone answered and a torrent of French poured out.
-Hey! Camu. Why are you ignoring my calls? Isn’t this too much? You said you didn’t like me that way, but we could still be friends!
The people listening to the speakerphone exchanged words: “What language is that?”, “Sounds like French?”, “Anyone know French!”
Just then, Lee Ha-na casually stepped in and briefly translated what was coming from the speaker.
Murmurs of ‘Oh, Lee Ha-na speaks French’ spread through the crowd. Lee Ha-na, now the translator, lifted her chin slightly and looked at Seong Ye-rim with a proud expression.
Seong Ye-rim shot a sulky glance at Lee Ha-na, then turned her head away.
-Be honest! You blocked my number, didn’t you? Right? Is that it? Huh? Huh? Huh?
Yu-hyeon winced slightly at the other person’s boisterously chatty tone.
“I called because I have something to ask.”
As fluent French flowed from Yu-hyeon’s lips, a collective ‘Ooh-’ went through the crowd. English, Italian, and now French!
-Oh! You’ve finally made up your mind? Is that it? Is it? Tell me it is! Please!
“Should I just hang up?”
-Oh, no! No no no no no!
“.....”
-Tsk. What is it? I don’t know anything outside of fashion.
“That’s right. It’s about fashion.”
-Ooh. Really? What is it?
“Have you heard of HS Fashion?”
-HS Fashion?
The person on the other end asked back, puzzled. Marcos quickly showed his smartphone screen to Yu-hyeon.
“Granuda? I think that’s the name?”
-Not Granada?
Marcos checked the screen and shook his head.
“No. It’s Granuda.”
-Hold on. Hey! Anyone heard of Granuda! Where? What? Ah! That thing.
The person exchanged a few words with people nearby and then continued.
-Granuda is a brand that’s launching soon. Rumor has it the owner is a mafia boss’s daughter. Her dad had his men threaten the models, and when the rumors spread, all the girls dropped out.
“Threats?”
-What did they say again? Something like if they loiter around his precious daughter, they’ll disappear without a trace? What. Don’t tell me they threatened you too, Camu?
“Something similar did happen.”
-Wow. What kind of scumbags are they? They had no one better to mess with than our Camu! What should I do? Should I just crush that Gratin thing or whatever it’s called?
Lee Ha-na, who had been translating snippets of the conversation, hesitated, unable to translate the last part.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll handle it. Thanks. See you later.”
-What? That’s it? Camu! Don’t be like that, just wear one of my outfits…
Yu-hyeon, looking like his ears were hurting, ended the call. But the other person, apparently not finished, immediately called back. With an annoyed expression, Yu-hyeon calmly pressed the decline button and then blocked the number.
“Ms. Ha-na?”
“Yes.”
“You need to finish translating.”
“Uh. Well…”
Lee Ha-na hesitated, glancing at Lee Jae-eun. But even without the last part, everyone had heard enough to understand what HS had been up to in France. The crowd looked at Lee Jae-eun and the HS employees with expressions of disbelief and absurdity.
“If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll do it myself.”
As Yu-hyeon was about to recount the phone call, Lee Jae-eun, her face pale, quickly waved her hands.
“Stop! Just stop!”
Park Gyu-hyeon glared at Yu-hyeon, his face hard.
“You’re a fearless young man.”
“I think you’re the fearless one.”
Seeing Yu-hyeon not even flinch, Park Gyu-hyeon let out a hollow laugh. Things started going wrong in France, and now to be humiliated in this backwater of Malta.
“You’re Executive Director Lee Jae-eun, I believe?”
“.....”
“I heard you ordered Ms. Han Mi-ra to be dropped from the drama.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Lee Jae-eun, who was already pale, shot a fierce glare at Park Gyu-hyeon. Her eyes seemed to say, *You said you came to Malta on business, don’t tell me this was it?*
Park Gyu-hyeon sighed and spoke coldly to Yu-hyeon.
“This doesn’t seem to be your business.”
“On the contrary. When it comes to casting, there’s no one here who has more right to be involved than I do.”
Everyone looked confused by Yu-hyeon’s words. Just then, Kim Seong-hui stepped forward and announced proudly.
“Yu-hyeon is the co-writer for this drama. He is also the largest investor, having put in 3.3 billion won, and he owns the broadcasting rights for France, Italy, and Malta!”
“What… is this nonsense.”
“Wait. Camu… co-wrote the script for this drama?”
“He invested 3.3 billion?”
“And he has the broadcasting rights?”
At Kim Seong-hui’s bombshell announcement, jaws dropped all around.
Ignoring Seong-hui’s introduction, Yu-hyeon continued speaking to Lee Jae-eun.
“Aren’t you curious who I was just on the phone with?”
“Who… was it?”
“Toise.”
“Toi… Toise!”
Lee Jae-eun first looked puzzled, then her eyes went wide with shock.
“Yes. A director of the French Fashion Federation and, until last year, the head designer for Dior. He’s busy launching his own brand these days, but… did you say the brand HS prepared was called Granuda?”
“.....”
“I hear Manager Park Gyu-hyeon said this to my father.”
Yu-hyeon looked at Park Gyu-hyeon with cold eyes.
“That if he didn’t drop Ms. Han Mi-ra from the drama, he would buy the farm next to ours and build a pension. That he would make it impossible for us to sell our farm’s produce. And that he would block the roads so no one could come or go. In short, he said he would ruin us.”
Lee Jae-eun looked as if she could devour Park Gyu-hyeon on the spot.
“I’m thinking of doing the same. Launch Toise’s brand right next to Granuda. Release competing products against everything Granuda puts out. And maybe ensure the roads to Granuda’s fashion shows are always under construction or blocked by a couple of broken-down trucks, making them inaccessible.”
At Yu-hyeon’s words, Kim Seong-hui and Han Mi-ra burst out laughing with a ‘Pfft!’ He had just thrown Park Gyu-hyeon’s words right back at him, only changing the names.
“I… I don’t even know Ms. Han Mi-ra well, and I never gave such an order.”
“It doesn’t matter. HS is HS.”
He gave her a look that said he couldn’t care less; they were all cut from the same cloth.
"It's true. I didn't even know about this..."
"Executive Director Lee Jae-eun."
"Yes."
"Then get to work."
"Work...?"
Lee Jae-eun looked at Yu-hyeon as if to ask what he meant.
"If you don't want to see Granuda turned into gratin and tossed in a microwave, then bring me the source of the problem. The one who harassed my Aunt Mi-ra. The deadline is one day. If that person doesn't come to me on their own two feet, apologize, promise it won't happen again, and properly compensate for the damages caused within that time... well, it should be quite a show."
Yu-hyeon leaned in close and whispered, just loud enough to be heard.
"My proposal. Don't even think about refusing it. Not unless you want to wake up in a blood-soaked bed with a horse's head."
"....!"
"Hm? You're still standing here."
Yu-hyeon tapped his wristwatch.
"23 hours and 59 minutes left."