Chapter 382
Chapter 382
To find out Bae Se-jin’s current situation… surprisingly, a single internet search is more than enough.
‘Lee Se-jin.’
His profile already pops up at the very top.
This guy is currently a top-tier actor whose stock is soaring.
Checking his full filmography reveals a prestigious lineup where not a single project has drawn fewer than two million viewers. At this level, anyone who watches movies has likely heard his name at least once.
[Ooh, but he hasn't done any dramas?]
That’s likely intentional. It seems he’s been meticulously managing his projects ever since his days as a child actor.
Naturally, his brand value is high. Considering the current climate where actors are held in higher regard than idols, he’s practically at TeSTAR’s level.
It looks like a situation where he has nothing to be wanting for, but… the next item in his filmography is the problem.
It’s the same agency he had before. The ones who overwork child actors and then leak rumors during contract renewal season to lower their market value.
‘That must suck.’
In this world, instead of protesting against the agency and taking a break, it seems he took a short period to reorganize after his child actor years and went straight back to work.
Instead of a long hiatus, he built a solid career.
And while the actor himself maintains an air of mystery, the agency is busy selling the name ‘Lee Se-jin’ across the media and social media.
I stroked my chin.
‘This is easy.’
[Pardon?]
It means his schedule security is lax.
Since there aren't many people who camp out in front of dorms or agencies like idol fans do, the information hurdle is low.
‘Piece of cake.’
I scrolled through Dream K’s official social media.
Using keywords extracted from there, I found an employee’s private Inheart account, compared and searched through it chronologically, and reached a conclusion.
‘Bae Se-jin is currently filming some kind of follow-up project.’
And although the names were anonymized, looking at the frequency with which a person presumed to be Bae Se-jin was indirectly mentioned on the employee’s SNS…
[Ah, it looks like he’s at the company often.]
Exactly. Mentions pop up frequently, especially when Bae Se-jin is active. It’s at a level where it seems he heads straight to the office after finishing his schedules.
So, the probability of him being at the company right now when he’s not filming is extremely high.
“Hmm.”
That is why, on the very next morning after awakening Bae Se-jin, I took a quick shower, grabbed a hat and a mask, and left my studio apartment.
Of course, I didn't just rely on probability.
[Bae Se-jin: Staring at the CEO who is pointing fingers (｀ㅅ ´+)]
I had checked his status.
When I do that, his movement path shows up roughly like this:
‘Finished a dawn shoot, moved by car, entered a building, and met the CEO?’
Where would the CEO be? Most likely in the company building.
Given this, the probability of him being at the office is significantly high.
[So… you’re going?]
“Yeah.”
Let’s go check for ourselves.
His agency was located in a corner of Gangnam.
It wasn't a grand building like those of major idol agencies. It was an old four-story building without even a nameplate.
Consequently, the security on the first floor wasn't that tight.
The back door used by building management seemed like the type that would just have a ‘No Unauthorized Entry’ sign and be left alone.
‘Is it there?’
Sure enough, as I waited at a suitable spot, a truck stopped, and people in uniforms began moving in and out of the back door.
I waited for the right timing and naturally walked toward it. I moved in a way that would make me be mistaken for a temporary worker moving boxes.
At that, Keun-dal’s popup appeared, shaking slightly.
[Um, hyung. If you get caught for trespassing… won’t that be a problem?]
‘It’s fine as long as it reaches Bae Se-jin’s ears, and since it definitely will, it doesn't matter.’
I’m doing this because I’m afraid I’ll be cut off at the entrance, or that a LeTi rookie visiting this agency would be treated as an official visit.
It’s not just any building; it’s his agency’s building. I’d rather get caught.
‘I’m half a public figure myself.’
I’m benefiting from the fame I gained through the idol survival show.
No unauthorized entry? I can just say I’m an authorized person.
Since I’m a recognizable face in a similar industry, if I say I’m an acquaintance of ‘Lee Se-jin’ and came to meet him quietly by appointment, they’ll mostly believe me.
‘No, whether they believe me or not, as long as it reaches Bae Se-jin’s ears, it’s fine.’
The fact that his name changed to Bae Se-jin when he awakened clearly means he recovered his memories of the TeSTAR days.
Then, even if just out of confusion over this strange situation, he’ll try to meet the stranger who suddenly appeared.
‘The only worst-case scenario is… if the agency blocks the message from reaching him at all.’
Considering I deduced he doesn't have a contact number, that possibility isn't zero, which is a problem.
Step.
I moved through the emergency door on the side of the first floor and first hid inside a bathroom stall.
I intended to check if Bae Se-jin had left the company in the meantime and then map out my path, but…
Slam!
Just then, the bathroom door swung open forcefully, and I heard the sound of someone walking in with heavy footsteps.
‘There’s no way the security team is out already.’
Sure enough, I just heard the sound of the sink being used. I shrugged and went back to checking the status window…
[Bae Se-jin: Washing face with cold water (#ㅅ#)=3]
“…….”
No way.
I cautiously opened the door.
Creak.
There, I saw a man standing at the sink.
Dressed in a suit, the guy had his head down, splashing cold water onto his face.
And the moment he lifted his head, his face was reflected in the mirror.
“…!”
It was Bae Se-jin.
With no hair dye or colored lenses and wearing a sharp suit, his style was unmistakably that of an actor.
‘To think it would happen like this again.’
A memory immediately surfaced.
For some reason, I always seem to run into this guy in front of a sink while I’m in Ryu Gun-woo’s body.
—You’re Lee Se-jin-ssi, right? I’m sorry. I’m a fan, so I was just surprised.
It was a strange coincidence. But I didn't have time to waste on sentimentality.
After confirming there was no one else in the bathroom, I spoke to Bae Se-jin.
“Hello.”
“Yes?”
The guy, who had been looking at me with wary eyes from the moment I stepped out of the stall, instantly composed his expression. He really was an actor.
“I’m a fan.”
“Um, thank you. Are you a new employee?”
Seeing him relax his guard, I delivered the finishing blow.
“Not exactly. I’m a fan of TeSTAR’s Bae Se-jin.”
“…!”
An immediate reaction followed.
“Who are you?”
Bae Se-jin’s aura sharpened instantly.
It looked like he might grab me by the collar at any moment, or quickly block the bathroom exit.
I guess being direct is the answer.
I opened my mouth immediately.
“It’s me, Park Moon-dae. Hyung.”
“…!?”
Clack.
Something fell from behind Bae Se-jin’s back.
Looking down, it was shaped like a ballpoint pen.
It was likely a voice recorder.
“Pa-Park Moon….”
“Yeah. This is how it turned out.”
I should get to the main point before this guy loses his mind any further.
*
Unfortunately, taking this guy to a decent restaurant or cafe was impossible.
Not only were both our faces too well-known, but his current situation was…
“It’s hard for me to leave this building.”
“What exactly is the situation?”
“…There’s a reason. Anyway, you—you’re the one who should explain where you left your original body and why you’re in that one…!”
I don't know if he actually believes me or is just pretending to for now, but I should take it as a win that Bae Se-jin is at least ready to interrogate me.
“Actually.”
“Actually?”
“I was originally born with this body. Park Moon-dae was a body I newly acquired.”
It sounded like nonsense, but given the circumstances, Bae Se-jin’s shaken face turned pale.
“Are—are you a ghost by any chance…?”
“No.”
Wait a minute.
From the point of view of entering someone else’s body after dying, the premise isn't exactly different.
[It is different! It’s completely different!]
“Actually, now that I think about it, it might be similar….”
“Gasp.”
At this rate, he might faint from shock. I corrected my words.
“Anyway, I had been living as Park Moon-dae since just before participating in Idol Inc. It wasn't a choice I made voluntarily.”
“……Are you saying it was a situation like this? Like this, where the world suddenly changed…?”
“It might be similar. Anyway, the Park Moon-dae you know was me from the beginning. …I can’t help it if you don't believe me.”
However, Bae Se-jin, whose face had been changing colors, gave a surprising response to those words.
He started to speak, let out four or five deep sighs, and then answered like this:
“…I know. You haven't changed a bit.”
“……Thank you.”
Even if it was just an act, it didn't feel bad.
“But I’m not letting you off with just that! This whole situation makes no sense, and then there’s you…. Explain in detail!”
Even if I wanted to explain in more detail…
“…In the company bathroom?”
“…….”
He sighed and gestured for me to follow.
“Follow me.”
The place Bae Se-jin took me to was a company storage room near the emergency exit on the third floor.
‘Is this a place he often comes to when he wants to be alone?’
His movements looked practiced.
Click.
After closing the door, he hardened his expression and spoke seriously.
“…No one will come here for a while. Now, talk.”
“Okay.”
I nodded and began to explain the situation so far, keeping it as concise as possible.
“So….”
‘I never get used to this.’
Still, having done it once for Cha Yu-jin, the story flowed quite smoothly.
Bae Se-jin’s face turned blue, then white, then sallow.
But at the end, it turned red.
I understood the previous reactions, but why the last one?
“Th-then… are you that person?”
“Pardon?”
“The one… Ryu Gun-woo-ssi. The one who cheered for me!”
Ah, that.
‘No wonder he had that strange look on his face earlier.’
Although I’m mixed with Park Moon-dae now, it seems he recognized the Ryu Gun-woo of that time in this face. I stroked the back of my neck and spoke.
“…That’s true, but I didn't do it to deceive you on purpose. I really meant it as a cheer.”
Bae Se-jin hurriedly waved his hands.
“No, no, thank you…. ……Wait. But you were Park Moon-dae back then, so the timing doesn't add up, does it??”
“That also got complicated and tangled up.”
I didn't expect to have to explain this much. I briefly explained the story of the real Park Moon-dae, Keun-dal.
Keun-dal, surprisingly, excitedly chimed in here and there.
[Hyung, tell him I passed the civil service exam thanks to you too!]
And Bae Se-jin, surprisingly, wasn't overwhelmed by this unrealistic situation. Nor did he just accept the situation casually like Cha Yu-jin.
Instead, his face grew increasingly serious as he offered various analyses.
His background in the humanities was shining through.
“Do you know about the grandfather paradox? Your situation seems similar to that….”
“Then doesn't this current situation seem like a kind of mock exam? It feels similar to reality but a bit less difficult.”
“Maybe it’s something like virtual reality. You know, like in movies. Like The Matrix….”
I answered all these remarks as sincerely as possible.
But in the end, the conclusion was this:
“I don't know. It’s all just speculation for me too.”
An unknown variable.
“Anyway, I’m proceeding… on the bet that I can return based on the structure so far.”
“…All the way to winning a Daesang as an idol.”
“Yes.”
“…Right. That does make sense.”
Bae Se-jin took a short, deep breath. It seemed his mental capacity was reaching its limit after hearing too many crazy things.
And perhaps because of that, a similar sentiment came from Bae Se-jin.
“Then since we’re going back to reality anyway, this place is like, a dream or something.”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“…?”
What is?
“Just wait. I’m going to tear this place apart.”
“Pardon?”
“This agency!”
Bae Se-jin spoke with eyes burning with fire.
“It’s not reality anyway, so this is perfect. Regardless of the fallout, I’m going to see this through to a proper legal resolution.”
“Uh…….”
Of course, I had no intention of stopping him, but…
“Still, if you find acting here fun, wouldn't it be okay to enjoy it a bit?”
When he was in TeSTAR, his individual activities were constantly deferred, so he barely got to build a career in acting, didn't he?
I thought it might be quite beneficial for him to experience the environment here as practice before going back and checking his future plans for individual activities.
But Bae Se-jin was relentless.
“I love acting! But not this.”
“Why?”
He clenched his fists.
“These bastards force the same character on me every single time…!”
“…….”
“I’ve been playing similar psychopathic roles here for four years now. Even to me, it feels like they’re milking it to death!”
“Hmm.”
Right, that could be infuriating.
‘Lee Se-jin’ is currently a renowned actor beyond any doubt, so it makes no sense that he can’t even choose a script for himself.
‘Normally, he should be able to throw a script and act like a diva.’
Isn't this just unfair treatment?
Then, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
“Hyung, by any chance, the reason you don't have a contact number is….”
“…! How did you know……. That’s right. These bastards don't even let me use a personal smartphone, claiming it’s for ‘mental health management.’”
Bae Se-jin muttered with a cold face.
“They’re treating me like someone with limited legal capacity.”
He was using civil law terminology; he must have defined his past by brooding over it even after becoming TeSTAR.
“…That must have been hard.”
“Actually, as long as I could act, it didn't matter much. It’s not a murderous schedule like when I was a kid because they’re conscious of public opinion, and the settlement pay is enough for my mom to live well….”
His face clouded over, then his eyes blazed with light.
He clenched his fists.
“But as long as I am me, no matter how much this isn't reality, there’s no need for me to endure this anymore.”
“That’s true.”
He made a cool declaration.
“I’m going to flip everything over and leave! You’re preparing to be an idol now, right?”
“I am.”
I briefly told him about LeTi’s survival show. Bae Se-jin nodded and then shouted as if he had made up his mind.
“I’ll go on that too!”
Um.
“Wouldn't that be difficult?”
“Why!”
“Hyung, you’re 25.”
“…….”
That was true.
Among the members I’ve checked so far, the undisputed eldest, 25-year-old Bae Se-jin, turned bright red and lowered his head.
‘I guess it couldn't be helped since he had to be a certain age to succeed as an actor rather than a child actor.’
Just as that brief thought passed.
“……Is—is that too old to be an idol? When we did Idol Inc., there were participants around that age too..”
“No, it’s not that kind of problem.”
I explained slowly.
“It’s because you’ve built up so much as an actor at that age, the public will have unnecessary backlash against you appearing on an idol program.”
It meant the problem was that he was a 25-year-old actor who had achieved too much.
He was in his prime. Unless Bae Se-jin was overwhelmingly better at being an idol than acting, it would only lead to pain.
If we’re going back to reality anyway, there’s no need to endure that kind of pain here as well.
After agonizing over it, Bae Se-jin finally sighed and admitted it.
“…You’re right.”
“Hmm..”
But it seemed he hadn't given up on providing support.
He clenched his fists.
“Then, I’ll give you a proper push.”
“Pardon?”
An ambitious smile flickered across his face and then vanished.
“Anyway, according to your hypothesis, I don't need to worry about a long-term future or my influence here.”
“Th-that’s true.”
He chuckled lowly.
“I’ve already looked into more than a few instances of corruption in this agency in reality.”
No way.
“I’m going to hire a lawyer and push them. Let’s see if they can still act shamelessly even when their weaknesses are exposed. Since I’m not leaving, I’ll fix them properly!”
Filled with a desire for a satisfying resolution, his eyes gleamed. Well… he’s an actor, not an idol, and it’s not like he’s fighting a public war of words; it’s just teaching the CEO a lesson.
“I’ll cheer you on for that.”
“Yeah!”
He looked proud, and now he even made a suggestion with pure excitement.
“Once that’s over… I’ll have a say in my activities. Then should I start an SNS account and tell people to vote for you?”
“No, thank you.”
He’s saying scary things.
After discussing the issue of fairness for a long time, he agreed to postpone that matter until after my debut.
‘He’s like a runaway train.’
A Bae Se-jin who doesn't worry about the future had become like the protagonist of a revenge story.
“Then you….”
And just as the conversation about our current lives was about to continue.
Vibrate—.
My smartphone rang.
“Ah, I need to buy one too.”
“I’ll give you my number first.”
And it was when I opened my smartphone.
A text message had arrived.
“…….”
Right.
It was the guy I had agreed to contact after filming.
Bae Se-jin, who was watching from the side, brightened up.
“…! You found Lee Se-jin too? Does he have his memories too?”
I spoke slowly.
“No.”
“We met by chance, but I don't have a way to return his memories yet.”
“…….”
Bae Se-jin’s energy died down. Then he stood beside me as if to offer quiet comfort.
“You were closest to him. You know, with Lee Se-jin and Seon A-hyun….”
And then, as if realizing something, he asked cautiously.
“Have you seen news of Seon A-hyun?”
I nodded slowly. Bae Se-jin seemed restless, then he patted my back with a large, generous gesture.
Thump, thump!
“No… we can just win the Daesang soon and go back! You—you’re good at making plans like this. …We’ll be able to do well!”
“…Yes.”
I sat in the storage room with Bae Se-jin for a while longer. It was funny, but I felt a bit more at ease.
And a little later.
“I think they’ll come looking for me soon… I’ll contact you as soon as I get a number. I’m going to get one today.”
“Will it be okay?”
Bae Se-jin snorted.
“I’m going to get one anyway, so what are they going to do?”
And that afternoon.
A new group chat room was opened.
[TeSTAR / 3 people]
The first person to post wasn't me, but Cha Yu-jin.
For some reason, it felt like we had returned to the past.
The guy even posted an announcement.
[Take your 7 STAR! Cheer up!]
Looking at that phrase, which I felt like I hadn't seen in a long time, I slowly typed on the keypad.
It was less than half the members, but the fact that a shape was forming didn't feel bad.
Not long after, the fourth episode of Wise aired to great success, and a new filming session was just around the corner.
“Hyung, you’re filming starting today, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Good luck, stay safe… see you soon.”
I left the studio apartment again and headed to the filming set.
And there, I would encounter the most competitive rule in the history of this survival program.