Even If You Come, I'm Not Going (3)
“Look at this. Views already over 10 million. See, I told you? This one's pulling way more aggro.”
Ha Tae-soo said it with total confidence.
His face was screaming for praise, so Jeong Seo-hoon tossed him a scrap like feeding a loyal war dog after a mission.
“Yeah, you've got a better eye for video than me, hyung.”
“Back when I managed idols, I pulled tons of aggro from fans with daily life clips like this.”
Originally, Jeong Seo-hoon had planned to cut Jim Director from the vlog.
The reason was simple.
No plans to go to Hollywood, so why complicate fans' heads by introducing him unnecessarily?
It was like an engineer's instinct to prune meaningless paths and streamline everything.
But Ha Tae-soo wouldn't quit. He brought two versions: the spicy red hot one and the mild blue one.
'The aggressive red flavor, the smooth blue flavor. Just give 'em a taste first.'
After watching both back-to-back, even his dad, mom, and sister picked the red one.
Jeong Seo-hoon admitted the version ending with Jim Director's face reveal built more hype.
'But I'm not heading to Hollywood?'
'Whether you do or not has nothing to do with the vlog. The point is a famous Hollywood director flew in to meet you personally. It jacks up your value.'
Jeong Su-ryeon chimed in too.
'Hey, save the debut for later. Right now, pull all the aggro you can to build your name. Hollywood director comes running? Your price skyrockets in Chungmuro overnight, and picking projects gets way easier.'
And so, Jeong Seo-hoon went with the red hot version in the end.
Recalling a scene from a classic he'd watched meaningfully.
'Yeah, Neo took the red pill in the end. Hyung, let's go with this.'
'Welcome to the Aggro World.'
The result of that choice? The glorious YouTube views exploding right now.
“That said, if the first vlog blows up this hard, it's gonna be trouble. If our artist thinks this is standard manager fare, company life gets rough. You won't overwork me too much, right?”
“From now on, handle all fan comms content like vlogs yourself. I won't meddle.”
“Got it. I never do anything bad for my artist, so chill.”
“But fans are asking if you're debuting in Hollywood. What should I tell them?”
“No need to answer that.”
“No need?”
Ha Tae-soo leaned in with conviction.
“When has the fandom ever had so much happiness it's overflowing to the point of sugar crash?”
“When I give great performances in good projects?”
“Nah.”
“When I remember fans at fanmeets and give them some skinship?”
“That's just for some fans. Doesn't apply to the whole fandom. Not everyone can hit every fanmeet.”
“Hmm, no clue.”
“When they spin their hope circuits like an overclocked CPU about to fry.”
“Hope circuits?”
“Yeah, hope drives the fandom insane.”
He got the context.
But how not answering fueled those hope circuits? That didn't click.
“See. You're filming a vlog, Jim Director shows up out of nowhere. Last line's you calling cut. Then fans spot you two—plus manager—dining at the hotel restaurant.”
Ha Tae-soo's face lit up hotter than usual.
“Agency drops zero official word. Fans go nuts wondering. He's not there for chit-chat; must be a casting offer. Only sauce is you two chowing steaks.”
“Just circumstantial, no real clues. Yeah, it'd be frustrating.”
“That's when fans crank their imagination gears till they're blissed out on the edge.”
Ha Tae-soo explained fans were thrashing in massive, joyful speculation they couldn't handle.
“Casting's locked, right? What role? Lead, so director came to convince personally? Hero? Villain? Post-Hollywood debut, how much does his price jump next?”
Ha Tae-soo rattled it off like a machine gun, barely breathing.
“Villab community's been chewing Hollywood bait nonstop for days. Even columns analyzing Jim Director's style. Thought it was a thesis at first.”
“But what do I do? I'm not going to Hollywood.”
“No second thoughts? Too good to pass.”
“Grad school's as vital to me as acting. Hollywood means ditching it.”
Grad school was key for comet access, but this sounded legit to outsiders.
“Fine, if the artist's prioritizing studies like acting, can't argue. Bit of a shame, but don't crush fan hopes yet.”
“Wouldn't clearing it up front prevent bigger letdown later?”
“Fans have the right to run wild with hope and imagination.”
“……”
“Eventually, if fantasies drag too long without payoff, hype cools naturally. Till then, let 'em splash in happiness ocean. Plenty of fandoms never get that.”
“Hyung, sounds like you've got a story.”
Ha Tae-soo muttered wistfully.
“Told you I managed a hot idol before you. Why'd I switch?”
“Dunno.”
“No matter how a supporter scrambles, can't stop an artist proactively blowing shit up.”
Ha Tae-soo brightened up again.
“Compared to that, your 'bombs' are grad school admits. Makes my job easy.”
Bright, but a tinge of sad memory lingered in his smile.
“Let the fans enjoy for now.”
Jim Director wouldn't give up easily.
Calls every other day, pulling out all stops for a meeting.
His lab visits weren't a bother.
Ha Tae-soo even said it helped jack up his value, and Jeong Seo-hoon agreed.
The lab fan-slaves lost it.
“Holy shit, Jim Director's here again today.”
“Dude's dedicated AF.”
“Casting pitch, right? What else? Personal fanboy flying in? Nah, too sus.”
“If the director's that fanboyish, he's casting him anyway. We chill and watch.”
“Never forget the umbrella and straw sandal seller tale.”
“Haegeuk hyped us today. Bet Demon Hunter crushes tomorrow.”
Fan-slaves resisted sneaky pics, but spilled the Jim Director visit tale on Villab community.
Trolls like <Subtly bragging he goes to Korea Univ labs?> got insta-deleted, banned, IP-blocked.
Villab tolerated zero trolling, aggro, fake news, or hate.
“Jim Director shooting anything now?”
“No official yet.”
“Rumor's he's grabbing a blockbuster megaphone soon. What role for the undergrad?”
“Not villain.”
“Why?”
“Villain? Nah, cool hero role, that's why undergrad's holding out.”
“Ooh, convincing.”
“Are you looking for an image change, by chance?”
After repeated nos, Jim Director finally asked that.
Grad school's an excuse; maybe the role didn't click.
Four straight villains? Actor image fixation worries made sense.
“No. Haven't read the script, but your role pitch alone hooked me plenty.”
“'Plenty' could mean not fully.”
“Then correction: fully hooked. More than any lead hero.”
“So purely academics? Nothing else?”
“Yes. That's what I've said from the start.”
“Sorry. Artists sometimes hide true feelings; thought grad school was just part of it.”
They ate at the student cafeteria.
No one sat nearby, like unspoken agreement.
Phones out for distant pics, but no approaches—afraid of photobombs.
Plus the heavy vibe.
Neither Jeong Seo-hoon nor Jim Director cared about cameras.
Such attention was routine.
“Then during break, fly to the US for shoots? If Mr. Jeong OKs, I'll schedule around it.”
Jeong Seo-hoon knew this was wildly generous.
To Hollywood, he was barely-over-a-year rookie, Asian actor at that.
So he felt bad.
“Grad students have no breaks.”
“Ah……”
A heavy sigh puffed out like stale smoke.
“Guess I wait years till you finish grad school.”
“Post-PhD, probably professor track.”
“Professor? What about acting?”
“Confident in both. Time management's fine. Stays doable without leaving Korea.”
Even with Lee Se-jong's UN access, clearance wouldn't be high. Limits deep research.
To max clearance, professor path, building credentials step-by-step.
No overseas till comet mysteries solved.
Short conferences OK, not months/years abroad.
'No need to leave loose ends.'
“Hollywood's the ocean of all media. Korea's great market, but still a river. No ocean dreams, Mr. Jeong?”
“Some things only possible in rivers.”
“Heard your advisor and dad are Caltech alums. Thoughts on transferring there?”
To Jim, perfect for boosting scholar-actor cred.
Jeong Seo-hoon had the chops.
He forgot no Comet Macdrian in US.
“Sorry.”
“……”
Jim looked extra tormented today.
Not just regretful acceptance.
Deep conflict over a risky choice even he couldn't guarantee.
He finally voiced the harder-than-quitting option.
“Can't promise rashly, but if—just if—we tweak the script... shoot your parts in Korea? Possible?”