Directing Born of Capitalism (1)
The Jeong Seo-hoon & Yoo Jeong-ah scandal hadn't been fully cleared up yet.
Thanks to the Su-jang-go affair scandal exploding and stirring up buzz about the massive production budget going down the drain, public interest had been pushed to the back burner.
And with the parties involved staying silent, the whole thing was fizzling out into ambiguity.
But then the Jeong Seo-hoon & staff scandal broke, reigniting the Jeong & Yoo controversy entirely.
The mood started shifting toward the narrative that during Illegal filming, he'd played both staff and actress on the side.
It was an artificially stoked flow impossible to hide, but the hyped-up fandoms had lost all ability to discern truth.
Yoo Jeong-ah's fans began painting Jeong Seo-hoon as the devil incarnate, while his tiny baby fandom waged a grueling trench war with their twig-like arms and legs.
Jeong Seo-hoon's baby fandom was small but elite, unleashing their multitasking ping-pong skills to the fullest.
Pretending to be Yoo Jeong-ah fans while trash-talking Jeong Seo-hoon, slyly bashing her in the process.
Or praising her haughty, strong-willed nature while subtly implying she'd made the first move.
Some even played dumb and framed the actress as the clueless intruder in a secret staff romance.
Tiny elite fandom, but each member's firepower was worth a hundred men.
Those deliberately tossing in firewood.
Those blinded by the flames it sparked, erupting in rage.
The baby fandom who knew someone was stoking it but doused themselves in oil for Jeong Seo-hoon and charged into the counterfire.
And the spectators gathered just to watch the blaze roar.
Rookie actor Jeong Seo-hoon's cocky two-timing scandal mushroomed into a cloud devouring the entire front page of entertainment news.
"Director! Jeong Seo-hoon scandal broke!"
"What? With who? No!"
Hwang In-jun, hearing the scandal news for the first time, clutched his head.
"Please not Ji-hyun? Tell me it's not!"
"N-no, not Ji-hyun. Seems from Illegal shoot. Two-timing scandal of all things, and it's blowing up huge right now!"
"Two-timing? Fuck. Driving me insane."
They'd barely survived the near-disaster of the film collapsing, and just when he thought smooth sailing post-rain, now back to the sticky swamp.
For a split second, Hwang In-jun even resented Jeong Seo-hoon's parents a bit.
'If only they'd made him a tad less handsome, less charismatic, none of this would've happened.'
Then he wouldn't have fallen so hard for him either, but no time for that now.
"Illegal production team—who? Hwang Ra-hee maybe?"
The supporting actress playing the candy role as Yoo Jeong-ah's friend came to mind first.
Not many women in Illegal ripe for scandal anyway.
'Why skip Yoo Jeong-ah for Hwang Ra-hee? Did he hit on both? Seo-hoon could pull that off.'
"No, just some staff."
"Staff?"
A bolt of lightning suddenly hammered Hwang In-jun's brain.
"Pic! Got a pic?"
"Yes! Here!"
Staring holes into the photo the shooting assistant hurriedly showed, Hwang In-jun's mouth began twitching oddly.
"Heh, heh-heh, urgh-hur-hur, ho-ho-ho, hahaha!"
"D-Director? What's up?"
It was a lecherous, sinister, grotesque laugh that nearly made "Have you lost your mind?" slip out unbidden.
The kind bubbling from a pervert's vocal cords, not a human's.
"Fuck, heaven's handing it to us on a platter."
"Huh? Heaven helping how? Two-timing scandal's a massive setback right now."
"Tell production to fan these flames! Don't let it die! Mobilize promo team, go viral—burn this scandal bright!"
"Everyone's buzzing he fooled around with directing newbie while flirting with Yoo Jeong-ah—boost that? Her fandom's eyes are bloodshot ready to bury our film!"
"That directing newbie? Seo-hoon's real blood sister."
"Pardon?"
The shooting assistant blanked for a sec, then recoiled in horror.
"S-so it's a blood siblings scandal? Fuck. Gross. Reporters got plenty else to poke—why drag family into scandals... Shit, makes me wanna curse."
"They'll curse plenty. But for us? Jackpot. Scandals like this? Welcome anytime."
Hwang In-jun ranted excitedly, fists clenched.
"They're promoting our film for free! Fuck, how much marketing budget we saving? Could pump more into shooting."
"Director, reshoots almost done. Timeline's wrapped—no room to add."
"Damn shame. If it'd blown earlier, could've siphoned more promo cash to shooting."
Watching the director scheme film tweaks even now, the assistant realized star directors weren't born yesterday.
"Just in case, don't tell others—relay to production promo only."
"Got it. I'll tell 'em aggro hard till release."
"I'll tell Seo-hoon direct. Where's he at?"
"En route. Oh, snagged a sweet van. Illegal pay must've been fat?"
"Doubt it. Rookies don't get much. Think 9 mil per ep."
"Really? Then where'd he get van money? Killer ride."
The assistant muttered, "Did Yoo Jeong-ah buy it?'"
"If his ride leaks, more aggro. Tell promo?"
"Nah, too risky. Sibling thing's a laughable mishap that'll fizzle funny. But van? If some rich actress fan gifted it, real trouble."
"Right, short-sighted of me."
"Gonna greet our film savior. Final set check."
"Yes, Director."
Hwang In-jun zoomed off gleefully; the assistant murmured,
"Thought the cooked rice'd flip at the last second, but he adds hanwoo BBQ. True winners make it happen somehow?"
Though who the "winner" was—Hwang In-jun or Jeong Seo-hoon—was a tad blurry.
"Honestly, gross getting sibling misconceptions with sis, but fine. Film hits big? I win too."
"Then we'll aggro max till the end, then pop it."
"No need more incriminating sibling pics, right?"
Hwang In-jun waved frantically like it'd summon disaster.
"Nah, I'm audience-obsessed but still human. Can't order blood siblings like that."
"If you want, I'll do it. All-in on this film. If it succeeds, sis on my back for pap pics? Fine."
Even voicing "piggyback sis" triggered genetic revulsion.
Beyond a lieutenant's combat instincts—evolution's hardwired taboo.
"I get your resolve, Seo-hoon. Thanks for caring this much. But just stay quiet, do nothing. I'm not monster enough to demand that."
Hwang In-jun declared with steely resolve.
"Got one sis myself. I understand."
"Still, if you need sibling aggro anytime, say the word. Hope this hits ten mil."
"Ten mil or bust, next film's yours lead. Mark it."
"Yes."
"Can't match S-rank pay yet, but A-rank lead guaranteed. Hwang In-jun swears it."
Finally nodding to nearby Kang Byung-cheol, Hwang In-jun eyed the Mercedes Sprinter in awe.
"Sweet ride. Benz van—perfect for celebs."
"Dad got it."
"For real? Dad's loaded. Gotta be late 100 mil at least."
Kang Byung-cheol chimed quick,
"Near 300 mil. Pre-tax, van only."
"Whoa, Seo-hoon dad's a beast."
After ogling the van, all moved to shoot.
Ilseong Gallery's true face: owner's family's secret slush fund vault.
Priceless artworks untallied in value served as cash themselves; bearer bonds, gold bars stashed covert too.
Original script skipped Ilseong Group chairman—mere mentions.
But veteran actor Lee Min-soo's cameo gave him flesh.
Lee Min-soo appears twice.
Voice only once, in person once.
That in-person: showdown with action leader Kim Chan.
"Scene new to original, right?"
"Yeah. Director added for Seo-hoon's Kim Chan."
"Script shows—total diff vibe from Yoon guy's. But Seo-hoon? Killer."
"Illegal chemistry reunion wasted under scandals... Shame."
Staff clueless on sibling truth fretted lumps in throats; director, actors beamed bright.
"Ready, action!"
S#125.
Kim Chan, who'd raided the ultra-valuable art vault for life-reversal, senses post-success op gone wrong.
—Bro, didn't we bite off too big?
—Hah, knew Kim Soo-jin had guts, but this fearless? Hogging it all solo?
Beyond unpriceable art: bearer CDs, gold, offshore slush accounts buried in tax havens—ledgers, cards, codes...
—Ilseong owner's hidden stash. We're dead meat now!
—Uh, bolt overseas like plan?
—Crazy? They'll scour Amazon jungle too.
Realizing the indigestible prey in his jaws, Kim Chan bets all on final gamble.
He meets Ilseong chairman direct, storming enemy lair.
Buff guards glare; chairman eyes dry, speaks first.
—May not leave alive.
—That's why I called, sir. To live.
—Try. Excuses.
—No huge greed. Just enough to loaf generations. But raided? Your slush vault.
—No survival vibe.
—Knew from start? Never touched it.
Chairman finally smirks contempt faint.
—Hand quiet. 10 bil, buried.
—Sorry sir, no.
—No will to live?
—Came death-ready. Gotta claim hazard pay. I die? Your emergency funds ash.
—......
—5% fee. Not much. Clean your worries for a crisp 5%. Divorce suits, succession mess—no need extra headaches?
Bold sneer amid fake bow irks secretary beside.
—5%? Me and crew vanish forever. Invest once, trust me sir.
—Reject investment?
—I die here. Your cash plenty. Emperor games in afterlife, haha!
Brief silence—Kim Chan's longest, tensest all-in life moment.
—Fine. Proceed.