Top Star Lee Do-yun
The traffic was heavy — rush hour, after all.
Normally that would have been enough to put me in a foul mood, but for some reason I kept smiling. Just thinking about what extra work I could pile onto Jeong Sora today was enough to put me in a good mood.
"Pfft…"
"Something good happen lately?"
"Huh?"
"You've been smiling a lot."
"Ah… not something good, exactly. Something fun, though."
Come to think of it, Han Jihyun had changed a lot since Iseul's visit. She was wearing makeup now, dressing as nicely as she could, and her whole demeanor had brightened. Of course, her relationship with me hadn't changed one bit.
"Thank you for the ride."
"Don't mention it. Right now you're not just Han Jihyun — you're Yoo Serin's parent. This is the least I should do, so don't feel obligated. And take your time, enjoy yourself. I'll let them know."
"Yes, thank you for that too."
They seemed to talk on the phone every day, but Han Jihyun still wanted to see for herself whether Yoo Serin was doing well as a trainee. And today happened to be a day when the school had sent an official notice that attendance wasn't required, so she'd come to work with me. Seeing something with your own eyes is always more reassuring than hearing a hundred words about it.
"Yes. Just leave the recording studio open for them, and give them as much practice time as possible. Same for Minju and Mei."
"Understood, Representative. I'll take care of it."
After ending the call with Head of Department Yun Heejeong, I waited for the elevator to come down.
"Representative!"
"Whoa — you scared me…! Where were you hiding this time?"
"I wasn't hiding — I just got to work!"
"Ah…"
I nodded and stepped into the elevator that had just arrived, alongside Shin Yena, who stood next to me with her backpack strap hooked over her finger like a student.
"Why do you keep tormenting her?"
"Who?"
"You, Representative."
"Who am I tormenting?"
"Jeong Sora."
"Ah… I'm not tormenting her. She said she wanted to work, so I'm just giving her work."
"That is tormenting her!"
"She said she wanted to do it herself, you know? So why are you saying that? What does Jeong Sora say about it?"
"It's not that she says anything… she just looks so busy every time I go over there."
"Then stop visiting so much. Why does an Art Company employee keep coming to the U-I office like that?"
"I'm not going to see you, okay? I got close with Sora, so I'm going to see her."
"Ha…"
They'd been coming and going every day, and apparently they'd become friends. Well, they were both twenty-three — same age.
"But today I'm going to see you, Representative~"
"Why this time?"
"Don't worry. I won't go during work hours. See you later~~ Heh."
"……"
Something felt ominous, but as long as it wasn't during work hours, fine. I quickly pressed the close button, went up to the fifth floor, and headed into the U-I office.
"Good morning~"
"Good morning, Representative!"
"Hello, Representative."
"Hm? Where's Sora?"
"She's at her desk working. She said she came in at four."
"Four?? Wait — why would she go that far…."
When I went a little further in, I saw Jeong Sora with wireless earbuds in, hammering away at her keyboard like she was trying to break it. Her eyes were hollow, dark circles had started to form, and there was a strange sense of rage coming from the hands pounding the keys.
If I pile any more work on her, something bad might happen.
Ah. There goes one of my sources of entertainment.
"Ahem!!"
Knock knock!
I cleared my throat and knocked on her desk, and Jeong Sora jumped up in surprise and greeted me.
"You've arrived, Representative!"
"I heard you came in at four today? Take it easy. You're going to collapse at this rate."
"……"
Whoa. I heard that for a second.
The sound her eyes were making.
Should I kill him?
But I pretended not to notice and quickly went into the representative's office.
"Whew…. She's terrifying. More importantly, what's today's schedule?"
I was about to go out and ask, but just sat down at my desk instead. I got a schedule report every morning anyway.
After waiting a bit while on the computer, Jeong Sora came in and started going over today's schedule.
"And for lunch, there's a meal scheduled with Actor Lee Do-yun, accompanied by President Hong Mincheol and Head of Department Park Eunmi."
"Ah, that was today?"
"Yes."
"Hmm…."
Actor Lee Do-yun. Thirty-nine, soon to turn forty — not a young age for an actor. His contract with his previous agency had recently ended, and countless agencies including ours were sending him love calls.
Even at forty, he was a star who had held the top-tier actor position for fifteen years straight. A star who was the ultimate self-manager, never once caught up in a single scandal throughout his long career. Thanks to that, for terrestrial TV dramas his per-episode fee was 150 million won, cable two to three hundred million, OTT five hundred million. Truly a top star representing South Korea.
But relative to that fee and fame, he was an actor whose face you rarely saw outside of his works. Whether that was his agency's marketing or the actor's own will, I'd find out when I met him today.
"So the last schedule is at four?"
"Yes."
"Don't accompany me for the last one — go home early."
"No. I should accompany…."
"Go home and get some sleep. Your dark circles are going to reach your chin at this rate."
"Ah…. Yes.. Thank you…"
"Really? You're really thankful??"
"….I'll be going now."
With an expression that was anything but thankful, Jeong Sora dodged the question and fled the representative's office like she was escaping.
She'll probably say she can't take it anymore soon.
Hurry up and surrender.
Then I'll pull you out of that mountain of work anytime.
I left the office with hollow-eyed Jeong Sora. We were heading to the lunch appointment with Actor Lee Do-yun.
I could have gone alone since we were meeting President Hong Mincheol and Head of Department Park Eunmi on the fourth floor anyway, but Jeong Sora stubbornly insisted on coming along. Maybe she liked the restaurant? It was a pretty expensive Korean beef omakase place that was hard to reserve for solo dining.
"Then I'll…"
"Have a meal. I'll cover the bill."
"Yes. Thank you for the meal."
"……"
With an expression that somehow looked resolute, Jeong Sora headed for a counter seat where she could sit face-to-face with the chef. And we entered a narrow private room that had been prepared separately. The space was cramped, but it was the only area in the restaurant completely cut off from outside eyes.
"Welcome, Mr. Lee Do-yun. I'm Hong Mincheol, president of Art Company."
"Park Eunmi, Head of Department at Art Company."
"Yoo Eunho, Representative Director."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lee Do-yun."
We exchanged brief greetings with Lee Do-yun, who arrived at almost the same time as us, sat down, and began tasting the dishes that came out one after another — while, of course, discussing the most important matter: the contract.
But the more we talked, the more the meaning hidden in his gentle way of speaking became clear. No — the fact that he'd suggested meeting at lunchtime in the first place could be seen as him expressing a certain intention. If he'd truly wanted to sign with us, he would have chosen a leisurely evening where we could share a drink, rather than lunchtime.
"Would it be all right if I stepped out to the restroom for a moment?"
"Of course. Please, take your time."
"Excuse me."
While Actor Lee Do-yun was away from the table, I asked President Hong Mincheol and Head of Department Park Eunmi.
"What do you think? To me it feels like he's rejecting us indirectly."
"Well, Art Company is still a small company, after all."
"I think we should just consider it a delicious free lunch."
Head of Department Park Eunmi and President Hong Mincheol were thinking the same thing I was.
So was it too much of a stretch for the current Art Company to bring in Lee Do-yun?
I'd poked at a persimmon I couldn't eat for nothing.
"Then I'll hit the restroom too."
With the wind taken out of my sails, I suddenly felt like I needed to pee, so I stood up. I opened the door, went out into the narrow hallway, and turned toward the restroom.
Thud—
A woman who ran into Lee Do-yun collapsed onto the floor. No — "collapsed from shock" would be more accurate.
To react like that to an actor that famous… Han Jihyun??
"Han Jihyun…?"
"……"
"How are you here…."
"Hup!!!"
Lee Do-yun, who seemed to know her, lowered his stance and reached out to help her up — and the moment his hand touched her arm, Han Jihyun swung her hand and slapped it away.
"Ha… That's harsh. It's been almost twenty years."
"Harsh..? How can you say that to me..?"
"Ahem! So you came up to Seoul? Travel? Or do you live here?"
"I have no obligation to answer."
"Representative?"
"What are you doing?"
"……"
I held out my palm to stop President Hong Mincheol and Head of Department Park Eunmi from speaking. My body, which had gone out into the hallway, was back inside the room — and through the open door, I was eavesdropping on their conversation.
"You got rid of it?"
"Of course."
"Whew… I figured. After all that stubbornness."
"Stubbornness?!"
"It was stubbornness. How were an eighteen-year-old high school girl and a twenty-year-old college student with nothing to his name supposed to raise a kid? You faced reality and got rid of it, didn't you?"
Yoo Serin is the daughter born between Han Jihyun and Lee Do-yun?
Whoa. This is scoop material.
Just holding this card means he'll have no choice but to sign with us this time.
That perfect image — fifteen years without a single scandal, filled only with heartwarming stories — is Actor Lee Do-yun's greatest asset.
"Let's stop talking about that. I'll erase today's meeting from my memory too."
"Still the same. Playing hard to get just like when we first met. I had quite a hard time because of that. If only that person you called your older sister hadn't made life so difficult for the whole family."
"Stop it..!!"
"Fine. I'll stop. But did you get married? Are you seeing anyone?"
"Why do you want to know that?!"
"You're still beautiful. Free this evening? How about a drink?"
"Ha..! Get out of my way. Before I scream."
That was the end of the conversation. Only the sound of their footsteps could be heard, and a moment later Lee Do-yun was startled to see me standing inside the open door.
"R-Representative..?"
"I was just heading to the restroom myself."
"Did you by any chance…!"
"Huh??"
"Ah, nothing.."
"Excuse me."
"Yes.."
I walked past Lee Do-yun, who stepped aside, toward the restroom.
But why is she crying so pitifully.
A grown adult.
"……"
I glanced at the women's restroom door where the sobbing was coming from, then stood guard in front of it for a while.
"Sorry. There's someone inside."
"Ah, yes."
"I apologize."
I turned away customers coming to the restroom, and only after the crying stopped did I return to the room. I didn't run into Han Jihyun. It would have been awkward.
"Then I'll think it over a bit more and get back to you."
"We'll be waiting for good news."
"I enjoyed today."
The dessert hadn't even come out yet, but Lee Do-yun stood up from his seat. A rudeness that didn't match his gentle image.
He's nervous.
Worried that I might have overheard his conversation with Han Jihyun.
But I have no intention of letting him go that easily.
Remaining funds: 27 billion won.
"Mr. Lee Do-yun."
"Yes, Representative Yoo Eunho."
"I'll offer 15 billion won as a signing bonus."
"Representative!"
"Representative!!"
"……"
Lee Do-yun, who had turned toward the door to leave, twisted his body to face me again and sat back down. And I continued the deal.
"Signing bonus of 15 billion, contract split nine to one. Art Company covers all expenses. How does that sound?"
"Representative..!"
"Please calm down for a moment..?!"
President Hong Mincheol and Head of Department Park Eunmi gritted their teeth and grabbed my arm and thigh to stop me. If we made a contract like that, Art Company could actually end up in the red. But I didn't budge.
Because he abandoned Han Jihyun and Yoo Serin?
Of course that was part of it.
But I was a businessman now.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm serious. I'm confident that Mr. Lee Do-yun's joining will elevate Art Company's image far more than the amount and terms I've proposed. Will you accept my offer?"
"W-wait a moment… Let me think for a moment…"
"Take your time. The dessert hasn't even come out yet."
"……"
A short while later the dessert arrived, and I ate it at my leisure. But Lee Do-yun, President Hong Mincheol, Head of Department Park Eunmi — none of them so much as touched the dessert in front of them.
And then.
"I'll sign. Looking forward to working with you, Representative."
"Looking forward to working with you as well, Mr. Lee Do-yun."
Lee Do-yun accepted my proposal.