When Pure Love is Trampled (3)
“Director, I just don’t get it. That affair article is fabricated, right? You’re not planning to cut out an actor who’s been framed and slot someone else in his place, are you?”
Jeong Seo-hoon deliberately pulled his foot back a little.
Deep down, he wanted to lunge right then and there, sink his teeth into his prey’s throat.
But to eliminate any chance of failure, to bury his burning desire, he played it cool and leaned back.
This is the situation, huh…
“Don’t worry, we’re not recording or anything. We can talk in person.”
A faint groan escaped.
Proof that he’d been worried about a possible recording after all.
—No, I didn’t think that. Why would you record me, Seo-hoon?
A lie. He totally thought it.
—It’s just awkward since it’s someone else’s privacy. I’ll trust you, so you absolutely can’t tell anyone outside. Oh, discuss it only with your sister. Or better yet, put her on speaker now.
“Got it.”
—Sigh, I think Yoon Hyeong-sik’s affair is real. I can’t go into details, but evidence just came to me.
“But the movie’s already fully shot. Can you really reshoot just because of a supporting actor’s affair scandal? The budget, the schedule—everything falls apart.”
—Reshooting isn’t the issue. The whole movie might get scrapped.
“Is that even possible at this stage?”
Jeong Su-ryeon, listening on speaker, widened her eyes too.
—I know it doesn’t make sense, but that’s the situation. It could really get canned.
“A fully shot movie gets scrapped? And it won’t if I reshoot as Kim Chan? I’m not following.”
—I can’t guarantee it, but you coming in gives us a shot at saving it. That’s why I need your firm yes.
Jeong Su-ryeon quickly typed a memo on her phone and showed it to him.
[Risk to your image if you step in as a replacement]
“At this point, if I step in as a last-minute sub and get dragged into the mess, won’t my image take a hit too? That’s what worries me.”
—Absolutely not. I’ll handle everything from start to finish. You just show up and act.
“……”
Jeong Seo-hoon deliberately took a long breath.
To melt his prey—no, his opponent—even further.
—I’ll set everything up just for you. Honestly, I can’t even promise it won’t flop now. But with you, there’s a chance.
“Still, I need more details to weigh the risks. I can’t wrap my head around a 290-billion-won movie getting entirely scrapped over a supporting actor’s affair scandal.”
—Sigh, fair enough. I’ll tell you. His affair partner is the woman of someone who has the power to kill this movie.
“……!”
Jeong Su-ryeon’s eyes bulged like saucers, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.
Jeong Seo-hoon stayed utterly impassive.
—Get it now? It’s not about money. It’s emotions. Emotions.
“Then won’t that guy still try to tank the movie even if Yoon Hyeong-sik’s out?”
—If only that bastard’s gone, he won’t go that far. I can talk him down. That’s why we need you in.
“What about other actors?”
—No time. You’re the only one who can jump in right away. No, wait, what am I saying? I had this image in mind for the reshoot, and you fit it perfectly. This movie—it’ll actually get better.
Jeong Su-ryeon thought he sounded genuinely desperate.
If his head were cooler, he wouldn’t have said, “You’re the only one with time.” It could bruise egos.
She hurriedly typed another memo on her phone.
[Do it or don’t—decide NOW. Don’t keep him waiting]
“I’ll do it.”
—Really? Thank you! Seriously, thank you! No backing out later, okay?
“Just make sure the pay’s good.”
—Don’t worry! I’ll give you the best deal! I’m in a rush, so I’ll hang up. Call you later.
Right before it cut off, he heard someone urging, “Reporter, let’s head out now!”
Jeong Su-ryeon finally exhaled the breath she’d been holding the whole call.
“Whoa, that’s insane. An affair with a movie investor’s girlfriend?”
“He didn’t say investor.”
“Who else has the pull to kill a movie? Must be a major backer, not some small fry. Probably investor one or two.”
“An investor’s girlfriend would have her nose in the air. How’d he even snag her?”
“Right? Hard to even cross paths. If it were Choi Seong-bin, maybe.”
Choi Seong-bin, now in his forties but still strikingly handsome from his young star days, played the ex-NIS agent among the trio of thieves.
“But are you really doing this? Last-minute sub means it’ll be tight.”
“I’m not in a position to pick hot or cold water right now.”
“What? You’ve got a truckload of scripts and scenarios piling up for you.”
“I haven’t even glanced at them. Have you?”
“Not yet. But they’re definitely stacking up.”
“Until you observe it, it’s all uncertain. Count it as zero.”
“What was the role Yoon Hyeong-sik had again?”
Not a huge part, so Jeong Su-ryeon didn’t remember it sharply.
Too many spectacles in the movie to single out an impressionistic supporting thug who wasn’t even that good-looking.
“Action leader Kim Chan. Chae Ji-hyun’s underling.”
“Oh, right.”
“That sleazy gangster who kept hitting on Chae Ji-hyun on the sly. Dies at the end, yeah?”
“Yep.”
“Mom lost her third son not long ago, and now the fourth? She’ll be bawling in the theater again.”
“Not much backstory, so probably no tears.”
“But with so little depth, can you pull it off? Kim Chan’s a villain too, but he’s too low-rent. Totally different vibe from Lee Jin-wook.”
“So I match Lee Jin-wook’s vibe, then?”
“Nah, not that. You’ll crush it. Easier than Lee Jin-wook, right? But your image is worlds apart from Yoon Hyeong-sik’s. This okay?”
Action leader Kim Chan.
The gallery deputy director (Chae Ji-hyun’s role) uses him to manage artworks and eliminate rivals.
Swept away by the beauty’s temptations, he dreams of a lavish future with her, pockets astronomical sums.
Ends up dumped by her, dying alone.
Nothing but her tool from start to finish.
Déjà vu.
Just like before heading to the resort.
The scenes were still vivid in Jeong Seo-hoon’s mind.
Kim Chan leading his crew to rob the gallery, hauling stolen goods and cash, hunting rivals.
Those evoked Rashid’s platoon’s sweep operations.
Leading squadmates to scour and wipe out stragglers, grabbing spoils.
When Kim Chan eliminates the last rival, giddy at praise from the deputy—he remembered his crew buzzing over capturing a high officer, promotions incoming.
Since he’d lived that atmosphere vividly, he could nail it.
Wonder what vibe the movie set will have.
Just imagining it made his mouth water.
***
Hwang In-jun steeled himself briefly outside SH Invest’s headquarters before entering.
At the lobby front desk, he gave his name, and the receptionist ushered him straight to the elevator like she’d been waiting.
Before the CEO’s office, he took one last deep breath.
“Come in, Director Hwang. First time face-to-face?”
A sharp-featured man in his mid-forties greeted him with a smile.
Maybe it was his imagination, but a lethal edge lurked beneath the grin.
“Nice to meet you, sir. Would’ve been better under happier circumstances, with the movie doing well. Shame.”
“Tell me about it. First bet on a Chungmuro legend like you, and this crap happens.”
Park Si-hong dropped the formalities naturally; Hwang In-jun felt no offense.
He valued manners, but some people made etiquette pointless.
“One thing first. Did you know, Director Hwang?”
“No clue.”
“Figured. Your eyes, your vibe. Makes me even sorrier. Not your fault.”
That apology ratcheted Hwang In-jun’s tension higher.
“Find another investor. Return my money then. No release until.”
“Sir.”
“Don’t try convincing me.”
Park Si-hong’s voice was flat, toneless.
His gaze steady, serene.
That rock-solid demeanor paradoxically revealed his rage’s depth.
“I know. It’s unreasonable. Breaks industry norms, the contract. Think I don’t get that?”
“……”
“But you’re a guy too—you get it, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you? That’s not a ‘get it’ face. What, does it bug you—a broke old fart with nothing but money and age banging a young thing he bought, throwing a tantrum?”
The soft, scolding tone pressed harder.
A sharpness unique to those long versed in blurring legal lines.
Ridiculously, Hwang In-jun felt a thrill.
Crazy. Not the time.
Park Si-hong’s crushing poise was molding a rich-villain character in his head, raw and real.
An aura no imagination could forge.
If not for his duty to save the film, he’d provoke more authentic reactions.
But now, total director mode.
“No, sir. I don’t think that at all. Money or whatever—if it’s his woman, anyone would rage if another guy touched her.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Especially a sleazy parasite leeching off a movie you funded. I’d be furious too.”
Personal morals on hold.
Time to mirror his subjectivity fully.
For the movie.
For all the futures and livelihoods tied to it.
“Anyone would want to crush him so bad he can’t set foot in this industry again, sever his lifeline completely.”
“Sever his lifeline?”
Park Si-hong flashed his first genuine smile.
“Artist types like you read emotions like pros. That’s exactly it. Cut his lifeline, rep, everything. Let him scrape by in poverty, cornered, till he drags his family to hell in despair!”
“……”
Pure sincerity. This man was the real deal.
More suited to shadows than sunlight.
“Talking to someone reasonable feels great.”
“Th-thank you.”
“So find another investor. Return mine.”
“S-sir!”
“What can you do? Movie tanks, his rep hits rock bottom, lifeline severed. Can’t have him slink back later.”
The pressure choked off his prepared lines.
“It’s right. Scrapping it sends him to true hell. Hated everywhere, broke, divorced, alone eating ramen till he gases himself! Thoughts?”
“Sir, please reconsider. I’ll find a way.”
“Cut his footage now? Fine too. No reshoot means sloppy release, flops below break-even. But my money? Where’s my 116 billion from?”
He’d surely killed before.
Not hands-on, but driven to death outside the law.
With money as the tool.
“I chase women with cash, but I’ve got pure heart. It got trampled. Time to go thug, right?”
Hwang In-jun recalled a famous line from a gambling flick, but not the moment.
Park Si-hong chuckled suddenly, sinking deep into the sofa.
“What, director? Don’t know that iconic line? Thought you’d laugh.”
“……”
“Forget it. That was thug thinking.”
“……Pardon?”
“Your turn, Director Hwang.”
Park Si-hong rested his interlaced hands calmly on his knee.
“Businessman Park Si-hong will hear you out.”
“……”
“Thug or businessman. Who wins this office decides the movie’s fate. Make it good. Go.”
Businessman Park Si-hong granted the floor.
Ridiculously, Hwang In-jun felt like he was in a movie scene.