Beautiful Campus (3)
[The old building proves once again to be the renowned one]
[Jeong Seo-hoon, Song Jeong-woo, Kim Sang-hee Trio! Riding the tailwind yet again!]
[A dazzling assembly of youth stars that's a feast for the eyes! A lineup we'll never see on home screens again!]
In Korean drama history, the chance of this glamorous lineup reuniting is slim.
Not just the fees, but their schedules aligning in the future...
He'd scheduled dinner with Oh Tae-woo.
The place was a high-end Korean restaurant in Gangnam.
When Yoo Jeong-ah was mentioned as joining, Oh Tae-woo agreed without question.
"That actor Oh Tae-woo guy—isn't he too easy to win over? Looks like a grizzly bear, but turns into a sweet country pup around Yoo Jeong-ah."
"I think he'd do well as a full-time actor if he quit being a detective."
"Really? That good?"
"Yeah, he's got talent for villain supporting roles. Seems like he didn't know it himself till now."
"Why don't you nurture him then?"
At Ha Tae-soo's words, Jeong Seo-hoon glanced out the car window, then subtly shifted to the rearview mirror.
"My career isn't at the level where I mentor someone."
"As The King Film director Jeong Seo-hoon, isn't it worth considering?"
Jeong Seo-hoon smirked at the meaningful tone, and Ha Tae-soo continued.
"You made this dinner using his sister fan as an excuse—there's intent behind it, right?"
"What intent?"
"I know you're greedy for talent now. Building your own crew step by step. Keeping distance from actresses you like without committing."
"That how it looks?"
"You're juggling four—no, five now—actresses friendly. Not the type to hang with them all chummily."
Stopped at a signal, Ha Tae-soo turned back, meeting eyes directly.
"Planning to direct someday?"
"Good thing you're not clueless."
"Brat. Hate calling me perceptive, huh."
"Well, like you said, I might grab the megaphone someday. Who knows. Last year, who imagined I'd act professionally?"
He himself hadn't even realized such a world existed.
"You really are thinking directing."
"Directing isn't the goal. But to act what I want, in projects I choose smoothly, I'll need to consider it eventually."
"Not dissatisfied with PD Song Jeong-woo's direction, right?"
"Not at all. Song PD's directing is flawless."
The light changed, and the car moved again.
Gangnam's main roads were clogging with rush-hour traffic.
"But someday I might not be satisfied with 'this level.' Gotta plan ahead."
"You'd have excelled as a professor too. Maybe even Nobel. Painful loss for Korean science."
"Show you acting while winning Nobel?"
"Hey, talk sense... But that'd be a global syndrome."
Jeong Seo-hoon chuckled, recalling Rashid's world.
More advanced in some areas, similar in others, lagging elsewhere.
Bringing paradigms from advanced parts could make Nobel feasible.
Just no reason or drive to.
The van soon arrived at the hanjeongsik restaurant.
"Not bringing it up today, right? Quit detective, go full actor."
"Nah, rushing might backfire. Keep dangling bait steadily."
"What bait?"
"What else? Appearance fees."
Seating: Jeong Seo-hoon and Oh Tae-woo across, Oh So-hee next to Jeong Seo-hoon, Yoo Jeong-ah next to Oh Tae-woo.
Oh So-hee, dining beside her beloved top star, looked blissfully suffocated, unsure if dream or reality.
Yoo Jeong-ah, not next to Jeong Seo-hoon, still chatted effortlessly and enjoyably with Oh Tae-woo, showing pro poise.
"But when does my oppa appear?"
As drinks loosened her, Oh So-hee joined the talk.
Yoo Jeong-ah smiled kindly.
"Mid-season, I think."
"Then fee's low. Was gonna snag a laptop if he earns well."
"Hey, why squeeze your bro's meager gig pay?"
"O Actor-nim, can't you gift sis a laptop? Total fee's 3,200 at least."
"Whoa, that much? Supporting role?"
"Contract's 200 per ep, 16 eps, I heard."
"Insanely generous. The King Film must be loaded. O Detective-nim, going full actor for real?"
"The King Film's prepping 1,000 per ep for next after this."
Suddenly the topic, Oh Tae-woo just drank silently.
Yoo Jeong-ah poured shots, firing questions.
"Drama shooting not conflicting with detective work?"
"Yes, on leave, no issue."
"If reinstatement hurts, cross over fully. You got real potential."
"If Yoo Jeong-ah says so, gotta consider seriously, haha."
Mouth smiles, eyes don't. Barely polite for her.
"Episode 1 at 19%—good?"
"Oppa, not good—huge hit! Cable with handicap, insane."
"Cable no special handicap now. Still massive success."
Then Oh Tae-woo's phone buzzed.
Jeong Seo-hoon caught his eyebrows hardening at caller ID.
"Excuse me, work call."
"Harass on leave? Violent crimes improved, but inevitable. Go."
"Yes, Yoo Jeong-ah-ssi."
The three continued.
Oh Tae-woo took long. Remote workplace bullying intensifying.
Then text from Lee Se-jong.
"Professor's calling. Be right back."
"Bosses can't stand underlings eating peacefully, leave or not."
Oh So-hee grumbled.
Out to the garden rear, Jeong Seo-hoon heard a quiet, firm voice afar.
"...No changing mind. Not reinstating. Leave it. Hanging up."
Jeong Seo-hoon puzzled.
Said on leave—did he resign fully?
Didn't seem reckless bridge-burner.
Turning, Oh Tae-woo startled seeing him.
"Ah, did you..."
"Just stepped out to call too."
Worried if overheard, plain on face.
Glancing back, relieved distance hid it, expression eased, waved.
"Going in first. Smoke's harsh, don't linger. Good voice, can't ruin throat."
"Thanks."
Eye-nodded, Jeong Seo-hoon called Lee Se-jong. Light dinner chat opened, to point.
-UN approval granted. Level 1 access, but.
Jeong Seo-hoon nearly fist-pumped, suppressed joy.
First gateway to grad school goal opening.
-From midnight, you'll get Level 1.
"Can I head up right at midnight?"
-That urgent? Start dawn leisurely. Access won't run.
"Been anticipating. Why so little damage despite observed size/mass."
-Then midnight, move together. Introduce to resident team. But Level 1, temper expectations. Limited access.
"Still grateful, Professor."
-Yeah. Level up gradually. Enjoy dinner.
Back to room.
Ratings, drama, shoots, PPL, upcoming CFs—varied talk, but his mind ticked only to midnight.
Before parting, slipped word to Oh Tae-woo.
Purpose of dinner.
"The King Film set next gig over 1,000 per ep for O Actor-nim. True."
"..."
"Truly think you belong acting, wrong path now. As director and co-star, greedy for you."
Staring silently, Oh Tae-woo wry smile.
"Wrong path? Retired to desk, but pride in serving country forever in heart."
"Sorry, didn't mean..."
"Not offended. Just, no regrets that time."
Light handshake, bright close.
"Great meal. Next... after shoot and reinstatement, dunno. Both gigs for Yoo Jeong-ah fan heart."
In sunken eyes, Jeong Seo-hoon suddenly saw echo of another self—Rashid.
"Nervous?"
"A bit."
"Eh, underwhelming up close. Level 1 barely anything."
"You at what level, Professor...?"
"Can't say. Level 1 limit."
"Freshman semester start equivalent."
"But you overtook PhD kids fast. Many bigwigs expect much. Why access so quick."
Campus perimeter no-entry line, cops every 20m blocking.
But crossing, trivial.
Jeong Seo-hoon sensed detection sensors every 5m.
Snipers hidden everywhere. Koreans mixed, over half foreigners.
Then massive camo tent.
Leveled mountain area, sky-invisible camo mega research tent.
"Mystery guest all scientists crave, inside there."
Tent radius over 100m.
Comet impact flattened mountain part?
This wide cratered, yet no Seoul damage?
Heart raced.
Through layers of checkpoints, heart of tent revealed secret.
Classic space rock meteoroid shape.
5m long, 3m wide.
Jagged sharp rock protrusions overall, uniquely light-devouring black.
Black hole-like absorption astonishing.
Hoped, but no Rashid memory match. Shallow hope dashed.
"Professor, why not move it? Research here?"
"Hm..."
"Beyond my access?"
"Some details restricted, but basics ok. Why tent here, not relocate..."
Lee Se-jong arms crossed, stared plainly at fallen comet, added.
"Can't move it. Won't budge an inch."