Chapter 57
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: I Heard They Were Last Place
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Scene.57
I Heard They Were Last Place.
After the party broke up, he recounted his conversation with Chairman Lee Won-cheol, mentioning that he had decided to treat President Lee Jae-yoon as a younger brother. Yu-hyeon wore a placid expression, as if this was only to be expected.
“It just sort of happened.”
“I see.”
“Is that all?”
“If that’s what you want to do, Father, then that’s what you should do. Should I call him Uncle from now on?”
“Will you be okay with that?”
“With what, sir?”
“Calling Lee Jae-yoon ‘Uncle’.”
“A title doesn’t make him a real uncle. I’ll just think of it as fancy wrapping paper.”
“Honestly. The way you talk. Anyway, you seem to be running around quite a bit. Did something else happen?”
“No, sir. There are just a few things to take care of before the drama starts filming. Oh, and about Elizabeth Veil.”
“The actress in your project?”
“Yes. It seems she’ll be arriving here tomorrow. She said she wants to be in the drama.”
“A Hollywood actress?”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
“I wonder. I don’t know either.”
At Yu-hyeon’s words, Kang Man-dong narrowed his eyes.
“What do you mean, you don’t know? It’s obvious. She’s coming to see you.”
“...”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“With what, sir?”
“You and Lee Ha-na are…”
“I told you, it’s not like that! I explained everything earlier!”
“You little brat. How dare you raise your voice at your father when he’s talking!”
“...It’s because you keep saying strange things.”
“What’s so strange about it? When young men and women get tangled up like this and that, things can happen.”
“Nothing of the sort will happen.”
“Like hell it won’t. Is that why you hugged Lee Ha-na twice?”
“...”
As Yu-hyeon shot him a look of disbelief, Kang Man-dong cleared his throat, ‘Ahem!’, and turned his back.
“You, on the other hand, seemed to be getting along quite well with Aunt Mi-ra.”
“Me?”
“‘I will protect you!’ ‘I’ll trust only you, Man-dong!’ That kind of atmosphere.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I was just helping her out because the situation was pitiful.”
“I don’t know about that. It didn’t seem that way to Aunt Mi-ra.”
“Enough of this nonsense. Go upstairs and get some sleep. And when that Eliza-girl arrives, don’t be so blunt. Treat her well. You know I can’t stand people who discriminate based on hair color, right? Don’t discriminate, and treat her well. You never know what life will bring.”
In this globalized world, he had no intention of insisting his son only be with a Korean, especially when they were abroad.
Whoever it was, as long as she loved his son and they dreamed of happiness together, that was what mattered most.
“I’ll take care of my own guests. You just worry about the aunts.”
“I’ll take care of myself. You worry about you.”
“...”
“...”
“Well, anyway. You worked hard today. Go get some rest.”
“Yes, Father. You worked hard as well.”
Upstairs in the second-floor study, his room, Yu-hyeon sank into a chair with a weary expression. He seemed to ponder something for a moment before pulling an old 2G phone from a drawer.
It was the burner phone used by Jang Man-ho, the contract killer who had posed as an immigration consultant.
He pressed the power button, and a small screen lit up with a crude melody.
He pressed the buttons, navigating to the text message inbox.
-Confirm death with an attached photo. The remaining balance will be paid upon completion of the request.
It was the hit request for his father, Kang Man-dong.
Even now, he couldn’t make any sense of it.
His father had lived like a nomad, wandering the world, but he had never harmed anyone or earned anyone’s grudge. Yet someone had hired an assassin to kill him.
Who, and for what reason, would want his father dead?
When he had gone looking for Jang Man-ho after his military discharge, he found the man had already been killed in an accident. That, too, could have been part of the process of erasing all traces.
He had people investigating secretly, but they still hadn’t found any leads.
If only he could find even the smallest connection.
At one point, out of frustration, he had considered asking the CIA for help, but he worried that some unexpected detail might surface and become a weakness, so he had kept his mouth shut.
The moment he spoke of it, the murders he had committed in the past could come to light.
He didn’t regret what he did back then, but it wasn’t something to go around boasting about either.
They maintained a tentative cooperative relationship for mutual benefit, but the moment a crack appeared, they could become worse than strangers.
Before it was too late.
Yu-hyeon had planned to use his sabbatical to go to Korea and investigate himself.
“Since it happened in Korea, it might be more effective to use HS than an external investigator. If I finish the Malta shoot within a month and go to Korea for the filming there…”
The timing would feel natural, and it would be a good cover for his true intentions.
For that to work, the more clamor this drama generated, the more attention and focus it drew, the better.
No one would suspect that the writer of such a noisy drama was the master of an energy project, and the CIA wouldn’t think he had any other motives.
*
The Korean entertainment industry, which had been quiet for some time, was flooded with daily articles following the news from Malta.
[GBS Special Feature Drama ‘Lovers in Malta’ / Revealed to be an International Co-production. To Air on Terrestrial Networks in Malta, Italy, and France, Not OTT! A Golden Opportunity for Korean Actors to Enter the European Market!]
[Exclusive: Global Star Elizabeth Veil Confirmed to Appear in ‘Lovers in Malta’! - “Great people and a fantastic script. There was no reason not to join.”]
-What is this? Elizabeth Veil? A superstar is going to be in a Korean drama, a romance at that?
-Here’s the (link). An interview with Elizabeth Veil herself. But based on her interview, Lovers in Malta doesn’t seem like your typical romance. She’s playing a mysterious role?
[Exclusive Interview: Elizabeth Veil Reveals Her Reason for Joining ‘Lovers in Malta’!]
-Oh, is she reviving her Annie character from Urus Club? This interview sounds legit!
-So what happens to all those actors who were badmouthing Lovers in Malta?
-(Link to Writer Kim Seong-hui’s article) She said anyone who wants to be in it should contact her? But it doesn't look like she'll just hand out roles. LOL.
[Writer Kim Seong-hui’s Bombshell Statement! “There are plenty of roles and cameos available. However, I have no intention of working with actors who have caused controversy.”]
-Ooh, she’s drawing a line in the sand.
-I thought Kim Seong-hui was a has-been, but she was sharpening her knives this whole time.
[HS Fashion Preparing to Launch a New Brand Through ‘Lovers in Malta’! Actors in the Drama to also Sign Fashion Show Contracts.]
-HS is going all in. This isn’t just costume sponsorship; they’re basically using the drama as a fashion show.
-The actors who got cast totally hit the jackpot. They must be dancing with joy.
-Does this mean the rumors are true?
-What rumors?
-The one that said it was supposed to be Kim Ji-yeon, not Lee Ha-na.
-There’s also a rumor that it was supposed to be Choi Seon-young, not Seong Ye-rim.
-Wow, if I were them, I would have welcomed those two with open arms. Writer Kim and CP Yu Han-seong have some serious guts.
-It’s not that those two have guts, it’s that the Urus writer is insane.
-Not insane, just on a different level. It’s like he hammered a nail in it: “No personality-deficient losers in my drama!”
-If it were a Korean writer, they would have been crucified. LOL.
-So what happens to Kim Ji-yeon and Choi Seon-young now?
-What do you think? They’ll lose their endorsement deals, casting calls will dry up, and they’ll be left twiddling their thumbs. Honestly, how many celebrities curse at staff and act like tyrants? If you lift the floorboards of the entertainment industry, it’s crawling with cockroaches. This is no different.
-The person above sounds like a staff member.
-Nope. Just a friend of a staff member’s acquaintance’s younger sibling.
-Right, right. Next staff member, please.
-Ahem. I’m a junior of an acquaintance of a staff member’s relative’s younger sibling…
*
UN and TNT found themselves in a situation where they could neither laugh nor cry.
It was great that Lee Ha-na and Seong Ye-rim had instantly become hot topics, but the opposing issue had sent Kim Ji-yeon and Choi Seon-young into a nosedive, causing the company’s stock to fluctuate wildly.
On top of that, the two women’s intense hysterics swept through the company, forcing their managers to run around like their hair was on fire.
A similar incident was unfolding at A1 Entertainment, known as TNT’s biggest rival.
“I told you to get CP Yu Han-seong on the phone!”
“I’m trying! What am I supposed to do if his line is constantly busy?”
A1’s president, Yang Jeong-su, pleaded with a frustrated look.
A1’s top actress, Na Jeong-yeon, kept throwing a fit, insisting she had to speak with the drama’s production team somehow.
“You should have persuaded Writer Kim and CP Yu back when I said I wanted to do it. It’s because you backed down so easily that I’m in this mess!”
“What do you mean I backed down easily? They said absolutely not. Didn’t you hear that Kim Ji-yeon and Choi Seon-young were also rejected for their roles?”
“Does them getting rejected mean I have to be rejected too?”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
Na Jeong-yeon looked like she was about to die from the injustice, tears streaming down her face.
“Why are you crying again? It’s not the only drama out there. If you show them your skills in another one…”
Just as Yang Jeong-su was trying to soothe Jeong-yeon, the head of the advertising department burst in.
“P-President. We have a huge problem.”
“What is it now?”
“Jeong-yeon’s endorsement deals…”
The department head trailed off, quickly shutting his mouth.
“Why did you stop? Just say it. It’s not like I won’t find out eventually.”
The department head glanced nervously at Jeong-yeon and reported cautiously.
“Well, the advertisers are saying it will be difficult to renew the contracts…”
“Just yesterday you said there were no problems! Why all of a sudden!”
“Well, with the news of Elizabeth Veil’s casting and the content of her interview… it’s not looking good. It’s not just Jeong-yeon; all the actors who were snubbed during the Lovers in Malta casting process are being affected, big or small.”
Na Jeong-yeon bit her lip hard and stared at Yang Jeong-su.
“And you still want me to just sit back and watch?”
Yang Jeong-su gestured for the department head to leave, then scrolled through his contacts to find Choi Pil-yeon’s number.
-President Yang from A1. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?
“Director Choi, I need a favor. The situation here is getting serious.”
-I think you have the wrong number.
“Don’t be like that. Honestly, who’s quicker on the uptake over there than you, Director Choi? I won’t forget this favor. Give me some info. We all scratch each other’s backs in this business, right?”
-Hmm. If you insist.
Impatient, Na Jeong-yeon rushed over and pressed her ear to the phone.
-There’s an online news outlet called Algorithm.
“Yeah, right. Algorithm. The one that published the personality articles.”
-They’ve decided to only cast actors who have been vetted and cleared of any issues.
“Hah. This is driving me crazy. The entertainment industry isn’t politics. What kind of…”
-Well, that information will spread around soon enough.
“Right. I need something better than common knowledge. Give me something real. Do you know how desperate I have to be to call you like this?”
-Tell her to make a donation.
“What? A donation?”
-I looked into why the other actresses lost out to our Ye-rim. It turns out that while Na Jeong-yeon is number one or two in earnings among actresses, her donation ranking is dead last.
Minor power trips and things like that can be smoothed over as an industry quirk, a characteristic of actresses. But word is she was filtered out because of her stingy personality, unable to give back.
“That’s a personal…”
-I know, I know. But our Ye-rim donates 10% of her income unconditionally. There’s talk that got her a lot of extra points.
“Really?”
-And more importantly, with Elizabeth Veil joining, it seems they’ve added another role for her counterpart. The people here already have their spots filled, so… well, it’s not certain, but I think they might bring in someone else from Korea.
Na Jeong-yeon, who had been eavesdropping, spoke up with a resentful expression.
“President. That donation… how do I do it?”
“You’re really going to?”
“What else am I supposed to do? If I just sit here, I’ll lose the few endorsement deals I have left! The important thing right now isn’t whether I go to Malta or not. I need to salvage my shattered image first! And do you think I’m just going to take this lying down? Just wait until I get to Malta. That Urus writer, or whatever. I won’t let him get away with this!”
“Jeong-yeon.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s do as you say and start with the donation. I’m not one to comment on these things, but being first or second in earnings and last in donations… it doesn’t look good.”
“Fine, I’ll do it. So… h-how much will be enough?”
“As much as possible. Let’s make up for all the times you didn’t and go for one big shot.”
*Hiccup!* That’s what I’m asking! How much is one big shot?!
*
News of top actress Na Jeong-yeon’s massive donation immediately hit the entertainment industry.
Other management agencies, which had been cautiously looking for a solution, lit up at A1’s sudden move.
Rumors began to circulate that the secret to revamping one’s image and getting a ticket to Malta was hidden in a generous donation.
Seeing this as the solution, some actors, after a brief period of watching each other, followed suit with their own donations, and the Korean entertainment world was once again thrown into a frenzy.
And this news traveled across the sea to Yu-hyeon.
“Casting through donations?”
Yu-hyeon looked at Kim Seong-hui and Yu Han-seong as if they were speaking nonsense.
“I know. I have no idea where this rumor started.”
The two of them were just as bewildered.
“Writer Yu-hyeon. I think there’s some misunderstanding about the casting. Shouldn’t we clarify that donations and casting are separate issues?”
Yu Han-seong spoke up, worried about the potential controversy.
“Just leave it be. As long as we haven’t officially stated that we’re negotiating roles through donations. Besides, it’s a good thing, isn’t it? Donating.”
“Well… yes, it is, but.”
“Now, let’s leave what’s happening in Korea to Korea and focus on our work here. We need to get back to the production meeting.”
As Yu Han-seong and Kim Seong-hui walked away with uncertain expressions, Director Choi Pil-yeon emerged from behind the pension.
“Writer-nim. If there’s anything else you need, please let me know at any time. TNT will always prioritize your opinion and unconditionally support you in any endeavor.”
“Not at all. Thanks to you, Director Choi, everyone is doing good deeds.”
*That’s because you, Camu, told me to…*
He didn’t say the words out loud.
“If you get another similar call, tell them it’s not just about donations. It seems whether they’ve gone out and volunteered in person is also important. And you’re aware that the schedule gets intense starting tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Director Choi, you are the most senior and eldest of the managers here. I trust you will manage things well so there are no issues. If the drama production concludes smoothly without any problems, I will be sure to reward you for it.”
“Then, for Urus Club Season 2…”
“Whether it’s Season 2 or a new project, I will guarantee TNT the first right of refusal. And as promised, the investment in TNT will proceed as soon as I arrive in Korea.”
After Yu-hyeon left, Choi Pil-yeon, who remained behind, immediately took out his phone and called Seong Ji-ho, the president of TNT and his brother-in-law.
“Hey, brother-in-law. It’s me. Yeah. You’ve got Choi Seong-yeon tied down so she doesn’t cause any trouble, right? Yeah. Good. Just remember that if any scandals pop up, Ye-rim will take a hit too. Right. If you don’t want TNT’s stock to become worthless… And I’ve secured a solid investor. This is our chance to crush A1 and everyone else and climb to the top of the industry. Ah, it’s a bit early to say who the investor is. I’ll tell you face-to-face when I get back to Korea. Okay. Right. I’ll call you again.”
*
“Is there still no word from Malta?”
Na Jeong-yeon, who had donated a staggering one billion won and returned home to cry tears of blood alone, sought out Yang Jeong-su with a hopeful expression.
“Hmm. Nothing specific yet. But we did manage to salvage a couple of the endorsement renewals.”
“I spent a billion won! That much is a given. I’m not talking about that, I’m talking about Malta! Malta!”
Just as Jeong-yeon’s tantrum was about to begin again, an employee from the PR department rushed in.
“President. W-we have a huge problem.”
“What is it now!”
“Look at this article.”
[Algorithm Exclusive! Donations and Volunteering are Excellent for Social Justice. However, They Are Revealed to Have No Connection to Drama Casting!]
Wh… what kind of bullshit is this?
*Gasp!* Then my… my one billion won! My one billion won!!