A Turkey in Place of a Chick (2)
Hwang In-jun flinched, while Jeong Seo-hoon simply shut his mouth and watched quietly.
Park Si-hong chuckled as if he found it amusing.
"Look at this. You get what it means, but you're pretending not to."
"What do you mean...?"
"I watched our actor's drama scenes. Your eyes are different. Others might think it's just acting, but real ones can tell at a glance."
The smile faded from Park Si-hong's face, replaced by probing eyes.
"That wasn't acting. Right?"
"President, Seo-hoon is..."
Jeong Seo-hoon cut off Hwang In-jun and answered.
"I got into university early and spent three years studying for certifications while helping in my advisor's lab. After my junior year, I enlisted, got discharged, and by chance landed a drama role. That's all I did before acting."
"Doesn't seem like it. Those aren't the eyes of someone who just studied."
Park Si-hong glanced at Hwang In-jun as if asking if it was true, and Hwang In-jun nodded frantically.
"Our Jeong Seo-hoon is a genius among geniuses. He got into Korea University's Electrical and Electronics Engineering as top of his class at 17."
"That's really all?"
Park Si-hong still looked skeptical, tilting his head before asking again.
"Where'd you serve?"
"Yongsan area. I was an orderly for a three-star general."
"Three-star orderly? Must've been easy duty."
"Yes. They gave us plenty of free time, so I kept studying in the army. Mostly tutored kids."
"What? For real?"
Park Si-hong kept tilting his head, as if he couldn't believe it.
"Those eyes are exactly like the ones I know. Pure acting?"
The mutter was soft enough that no one else could hear, but Jeong Seo-hoon caught it clearly.
Since starting Rashid's life, he'd felt his own physical abilities and senses sharpening day by day, honed to a keen edge.
Park Si-hong suddenly switched to a bright smile.
"Haha, I must've spouted nonsense. Forget I said it. Your killer performance got to me."
"No, you just liked my acting."
"But that was your debut?"
Short casual phrases slipped in occasionally.
It didn't feel like he was deliberately putting him down. More like he was consciously trying to stay polite.
Probably from years of looking down on others—it was ingrained.
"Yes. First time."
"Nice. You've got talent. Even fooled me for a second. Hey, Director Hwang, I told you to use this guy instead of that affair nonsense."
"Ah, yes. I failed to seize the opportunity."
"At least everything's back on track now."
Hwang In-jun felt a bit dizzy at how Park Si-hong casually claimed credit for something chronologically impossible.
"And Director Hwang. As an investor, I usually don't say this, but..."
"Please, speak freely."
"For the reshoots with this guy, can I check in occasionally?"
Hwang In-jun's face stiffened at the interference in shooting.
Park Si-hong smirked, as if he'd expected it.
"I put in 11.6 billion and raised more. You have to call, right? Fair's fair."
Hwang In-jun had no choice.
"Of course. I'll call."
"Not meddling. Just want to see with my own eyes. My money's going into a near-flopped project."
"Perfectly reasonable. I'll arrange it."
Park Si-hong wrapped up with a sharp business smile.
"I like Actor Jeong Seo-hoon. Let's make this movie a hit together."
"Thank you."
As he shook the offered hand, a subtle grip tested his strength fiercely.
Jeong Seo-hoon let it flow off casually and released naturally.
Curiosity flickered on Park Si-hong's lips again.
"You work out?"
"Yes."
Not true, but he brushed it off.
Park Si-hong stared piercingly before turning to Hwang In-jun.
"Director Hwang, when do we start shooting?"
"Within a week or ten days. Once reshoots begin, it'll be lightning-fast."
"Don't rush and crash harder, like I said."
"Yes, President. Noted."
The meeting between rookie actor and investor ended like that.
The Su-jang-go affair bait kept rolling without cooling off.
It was obvious Hwang In-jun's nemesis, President Tae Jin-jong, was deliberately stoking it.
Movie boycotts were gaining traction in various communities.
Finally, the production company drew their counter sword.
The new massive bait hit, and the public bit instantly.
Jeong Seo-hoon's fandom was mostly wary.
Worried about what good could come from sudden dishwashing.
Affair and boycott bait vanished from the internet in a flash.
Not gone entirely, but swallowed by the Jeong Seo-hoon replacement hype amid the loosened affair issue.
The three leads were prepping bodies for reshoots, and Hwang In-jun's reassembled staff restarted set prep.
After the official announcement, Jeong Seo-hoon got flooded with congrats and encouragement texts from all sides.
Congrats on the movie. Hope it blows up.
How much more successful does Director Hwang In-jun want? Casting Actor Jeong Seo-hoon too. Praying for 10 million viewers.
Broadcasters offered pure congrats, no worries mentioned.
Song Jeong-woo and Kim Sang-hee called to congratulate; Yoo Jeong-ah offered drinks, sulking when schedules clashed.
Veteran actor Lee Min-soo reached out first.
Congrats on first film. Need cameo? Say the word.
Thank you so much, sir.
Amid the barrage, he replied one by one when his father quietly sat down.
"Work starts tomorrow?"
"Yes. Shooting begins."
"Cleaning someone else's mess is tough and thankless. But since you started, see it through sincerely—that raises your value."
"Yes."
"Practicing lines?"
"In my head."
"..."
"What?"
Jeong Su-ryeon, passing by, clicked her tongue.
"Dad asked if you're practicing well. Means let me see the script."
"Ah, in the car. I'll grab it."
"No, no. Don't want to bother."
Jeong Seo-hoon refocused on replies; Jeong Tae-hyeon sat silently.
Battle-honed senses prickled at the gaze; he finally looked up.
"More to say?"
"Hm... Long time since we walked together?"
"Sure."
Jeong Seo-hoon stood immediately.
The father-son duo threw on coats and left the house.
They strolled, chatting lightly.
"Nonhyeon-dong's great, but noisy. Should've stayed in Jongno."
"Come to think, it's been ages. Why move here?"
"Your mom hated hanok, wanted bustle. Traffic, fumes, noise—ugh. Oh, called Professor Lee yet?"
"Soon."
"Quickly. He's worried sick."
"When I get breathing room. Too hectic now."
Not true.
Old school ties felt awkward to revisit yet.
"What role this time? Not another killer who dies at end?"
"Kills people. Probably dies at end?"
"Again?"
Jeong Seo-hoon recalled the original script.
Kim Chan dreams of rosy future with employer deputy chief (Chae Ji-hyun), commits plunder, murder, cover-ups—then discarded and dies.
"Mom might cry in theater again."
"Nah, not tragic. She might laugh at my death."
In the film he'd seen, Kim Chan's end was pathetic and shabby.
"Where we headed? Feels far."
"Here."
They arrived at a Mercedes dealership.
As if planned, Jeong Tae-hyeon entered smoothly.
"Come on."
"Buying a car?"
"Full acting? Need your own ride. Give current one back to mom."
"Better give mom new, I take this."
A young dealer spotted Jeong Tae-hyeon, rushed over bowing.
"Welcome, sir."
"Hm. Where's the car?"
"This way."
Dealer led; Jeong Seo-hoon walked beside his father.
Jeong Seo-hoon whispered out of earshot.
"Pre-ordered?"
"Yeah. Called today—ready."
"Why Mercedes? You don't like them."
"Only decent model in Korea."
"Model?"
Dealer stopped; sleek silver metallic mass appeared.
More minivan than sedan, high ground clearance.
Dealer beamed proudly.
"Sir, 3rd-gen LCV Sprinter, customized luxury full-option. Replacing Starkraft vans as celeb favorite."
Dealer eyed Jeong Tae-hyeon slyly, emphasizing to Jeong Seo-hoon.
"Base under 169 million won, but special order: 285 million won!"
Jeong Tae-hyeon grinned approvingly.
"Nice work snagging this quick."
"Searched nonstop 24/7. Lucky—reject from prior buyer."
Normally months to a year wait. No reject, impossible now.
"Yours. Like it?"
"...Yes. Thanks."
"Heard actors move lots, spend time in cars. Van's good—dad checked."
"Really thankful. I'll drive well."
"Knew it. Son's a celeb. Aura hit me at door."
"Bill it. Let's ride home."
"Yes, sir."
Dealer inwardly thumbs-upped the casual billions talk.
After signing papers, Jeong Tae-hyeon stood proudly.
"Tell sis it's used. She'll pout—'I get bag, you van?'"
Her screeching already vivid.
"She knows cars better. Won't buy it."
"How else this fast? Say tires, interior, paint all redone used—she'll believe."
"Dad, license for this? Mine won't cover."
"..."
Dealer drove them home.
The dealer never forgot that first intense customer.
Early-mid 40s?
Gentle visuals that must've charmed women young; plain clothes, but presence drew eyes.
Class from eyes to fingertips—beyond luxury brands.
He skimmed supercars like convenience snacks, then:
"Celeb vans? Sprinter?"
"Yes, sir. Order Sprinter? I'll help."
Sprinter: Benz imports base, local builders customize to order—months to year+.
"Need new now."
"Sorry, sir. Impossible. Sprinter..."
Dealer explained patiently.
Customer nodded attentively, mature face.
Thrill of convincing with logic.
Then.
"New in a month? 10 mil personal incentive to you. Find way."
"Perfect specs guaranteed!"
He scoured Korea's Sprinter market, snagged reject info.
Agency ordered, ditched depositless. Gold from sky.
Driving, dealer praised nonstop.
"Girl group ordered for fittings, tours. Comfy for celeb work."
"Dealer, seen my son?"
"Pardon? Ah... sorry. Know he's celeb, but no entertainment knowledge."
"Thanks. Seo-hoon, hear? Tough hungry path—dad eased with this."
Home, Jeong Su-ryeon wailed enviously at Sprinter; mom lifted driving ban to soothe.
That evening, Hwang In-jun messaged.
Revised scenario sent. Check it.
Email opened: script tweaked from original.
Reshoots tailored to Jeong Seo-hoon—Kim Chan's lines, actions, emotions adjusted.
After checking blue highlights, he called Hwang In-jun.
"Revisions confirmed."
-Sorry late. Just finished. Tight for reshoots.
"More than tweaks."
-Obviously. Yoon Hyeong-sik's Kim Chan same as yours?
Despite reshoots ahead, Hwang In-jun sounded genuinely thrilled.
-Decided you over him—ideas poured, couldn't fit all. Runtime killer.