Staging Born of Capitalism (2)
The bait about Jeong Seo-hoon's two-timing scandal burned relentlessly without pause.
Those hoping the movie would flop.
Those hoping it would soar.
Without exception, they all madly tossed in firewood, fanning the flames higher and higher.
And even those uninvolved with the movie but loosely tied to the scandal bait joined in, venting their outrage.
"Hyun-tae. No matter how I look at it, this feels like it leaked from inside our team."
"Yes, sir. That's what it seems to me too. The details are so vivid, no one but someone from the wrap party that night could know them."
The testimony from an anonymous tipster.
The content was jaw-dropping.
It was packed with details that only the production team at that wrap party could possibly know.
That irked Song Jeong-woo even more.
"Thanks to Jeong Seo-hoon, the drama was a massive hit, everyone got decent incentives, and... well..."
"The shoot was super smooth too. Seo-hoon never called a single NG, so we just barreled through like we were on the Autobahn."
"Exactly. How could anyone stab us in the back like this? I'm gonna find out who it is and boot their ass."
"Damn right. We're a team—can't roll with some sneaky backstabber. We gotta root 'em out."
The two weren't worried about the scandal itself.
Open the lid, and it's just siblings—what's the big deal?
"The production company's not even responding much, so they're probably riding this aggro all the way."
"Gotta milk that kind of free promo."
Hate comments sucked, but no comments meant starvation.
And from the production company's view, they were immune to any shade thrown their way—no damage.
The only thing that could break a production company and investor's spirit was empty theaters.
Kim Sang-hee fretted over something else.
"I'm worried our soft-hearted Seo-hoon might struggle with these hate comments. It hurts me to see him go through such a harsh hazing."
"Seo-hoon doesn't strike me as soft-hearted. Dude's got titanium mental armor."
"That's the thing—the tougher the exterior, the softer the core. You wouldn't get it, PD-nim."
"Says the writer who cast him as a pleasure killer."
"Uh, well. I agree with that."
Kim Sang-hee shot him a displeased glare and changed the subject.
"What does Su-ryeon say?"
"She called. Says the movie side will handle it, so just sit tight. Might need some firepower support once the pot boils over."
Kim Hyun-tae let out a hollow chuckle.
"That maknae's got some serious mental fortitude."
"No kidding. Quitting acting to claw her way up as a PD from the bottom? Takes guts most people don't have. Pride gets in the way. Anyway, Writer Kim—new script done?"
Kim Sang-hee, mid-typing frenzy, slyly twisted her laptop away as Song Jeong-woo craned his neck.
"Not showing."
"Why? I'll see it eventually."
"You never know with people, PD-nim."
"Fine, fine. Won't push. Show me when it's ready. But lead's Seo-hoon anyway, right?"
"Seo-hoon's the protagonist."
"Same diff... Oh."
Song Jeong-woo trailed off with a short gasp, as if it suddenly clicked.
"Not just lead—solo protagonist?"
"Yes."
Dramas usually featured multiple A-listers.
The top-billed role got the spotlight, but supporting leads got equal star treatment.
But Kim Sang-hee said Jeong Seo-hoon was the sole protagonist.
"Damn, Writer Kim. You sharpened that knife aiming straight for Seo-hoon. Can't wait."
"Expect the best... but you might be disappointed too."
A cryptic remark, but Song Jeong-woo brushed it off.
Kim Sang-hee had laid such groundwork plenty of times before.
"Gah!"
Kim Hyun-tae clapped a hand over his mouth, gasping.
Song Jeong-woo whipped around in alarm.
"Hyun-tae, what? Another article?"
"You... gotta see this yourselves. Seo-hoon scandal-related."
"What now?"
Kim Sang-hee leaned in curiously too, peering at the phone screen article and photo Kim Hyun-tae held up.
It showed Jeong Seo-hoon trudging down a night street, carrying a limp woman on his back.
Her face was hidden, but his was crystal clear.
The three recognized Jeong Su-ryeon without seeing her face.
Song Jeong-woo let out a deflated groan.
"D-Do they really need to go this far? These siblings..."
Kim Sang-hee cut in coolly.
"They do. Gotta recoup that lost audience from the affair actor scandal—with interest."
"Still... I couldn't do it even with a knife to my throat."
"Means Seo-hoon's dead serious about the box office. First film in his portfolio—he's gotta hit 10 million. Illegal peaked at 29.9% and tanked; that'll sting."
Kim Sang-hee gazed pityingly at the photo's "Staging Born of Capitalism."
"A brother who'd piggyback even his sister for a hit, and a sister who'd let him. In today's media world overflowing with capitalism... the perfect actor mindset, suspiciously so."
"Anyway! No way I'd do it. Ever."
Song Jeong-woo shook his head in disgust.
"I'd rather debunk the sister rumor upfront than drag this misunderstanding out."
"Kinda feel the same."
"Right?"
"That's why we're the ones behind the camera or pen, huh?"
"..."
"Standing in front of the lens ain't for just anyone."
***
REWIND to the previous night.
The paparazzo, having tracked Jeong Seo-hoon's route, hunkered down like a stakeout detective, camera at the ready.
And finally, the target appeared.
"Black Volvo 7777. That's the one."
Unmistakable make and plates.
The car pulled over; Jeong Seo-hoon hopped out in a hurry.
A woman presumed to be Jeong Su-ryeon stumbled from the passenger seat, staggering to a corner to mime puking—wasted as hell.
The pap snapped away relentlessly, capturing it all.
Finally, Jeong Seo-hoon hoisted her onto his back and headed into a swanky single-family home, clear as day from the front.
"Perfect. Gold."
The pap checked his display, grinning ear to ear.
He never dreamed they were siblings. Their looks didn't match at all.
Meanwhile, after the pap wrapped his grueling stakeout and peeled out, Team Jeong Seo-hoon...
"Gone. Get off."
Jeong Su-ryeon, caught off-guard as he shrugged her off, face-planted on her ass.
"Hey! Warn a girl! I was playing drunk—don't just dump me like that!"
"Sorry. Couldn't hold another second."
"You think it wasn't nauseating for me?"
Jeong Su-ryeon rubbed her sore butt, scowling.
"But seriously, this far?"
"Hey, it gags me too. But you could learn from Devil Musician."
"Who's that?"
"Sis-bro music duo. They got cheek-to-cheek in a MV, lying opposite, hands cradling faces—total play."
"Wild. No way I'd go that far. Piggybacking you was bad enough."
"That's why they blew up young. Capitalism rules. For a box-office smash, sister's ride ain't much..."
Even saying it, Jeong Su-ryeon gnawed her nails, trembling.
"Movie hits, I win. What's in it for you?"
"Incentives if I baby you right and it succeeds."
"Mom? Dad?"
"Secret. You don't need to know."
"Car deal, huh? This ride yours now?"
"None of your beeswax. Just smash it. I sold my last shred of chromosomal dignity."
"I sold mine too. Not just you."
***
The pap-released photo of Jeong Seo-hoon carrying the presumed-Jeong Su-ryeon woman reignited the raging scandal.
The anonymous tipster swore it was her; Yoo Jeong-ah's fandom tore into Jeong Seo-hoon like wolves.
Jeong Seo-hoon's baby fandom fought valiantly on the front lines again today.
Su-jang-go and Jeong Seo-hoon dominated entertainment news daily.
Positive or negative, Su-jang-go was seared into the public's mind.
Meanwhile, ignoring the scandal din, the Su-jang-go set hummed along with reshoots, the final day now upon them.
Outside noise blared nonstop, but the set vibe stayed upbeat.
Actors syncing with Jeong Seo-hoon for the first time voiced awed regrets.
"Shooting with Actor Jeong Seo-hoon makes me hyper-focused somehow. Just me?"
"No, Se-yoon-ssi? Me too. Weirdly easier to immerse in character."
"Every 'cut,' feels like getting forcibly ejected? Like waking from a dream? Hard to explain."
"Didn't get why Illegal actors raved till I stood with him in frame. Can't quite pinpoint it."
Jeong Seo-hoon caught their chat with his keen senses but played dumb.
Rashid's world-lens captured co-stars too, influencing them—but they couldn't know.
One curiosity nagged, though.
'Big difference when the lens influences vs. not. Wonder how others feel it.'
Couldn't straight-up ask Cha Do-jin, Yoo Jeong-ah, Lee Min-soo, etc.
No way to probe if acting with him ramped their immersion.
Last day drew two meaningful guests.
Investor Park Si-hong and Jeong Seo-hoon's father, Jeong Tae-hyeon.
'Rare chance. Wanted to watch you film, even briefly.'
No reason to refuse, so Dad rode along in the van.
Glancing over, though, father and Park Si-hong sat close, side by side—staff-seated, probably.
'What're they talking about?'
First-time meet between two who'd never cross paths otherwise.
Their awkward chat oddly bugged him.
Couldn't eavesdrop; even his transcendent senses fell short at that distance.
***
In the awkward silence, Park Si-hong spoke first.
"You're Actor Jeong Seo-hoon's father?"
Hwang In-jun would've freaked at the ultra-polite tone.
"Yes."
"Pleasure. Park Si-hong. Investor in this film."
"Yes."
"Your son takes after you—tall, handsome."
"You're quite youthful yourself, Investor-nim. Hear that often?"
The leisurely, measured tone differed sharply from his son's.
Park Si-hong boomed a laugh.
"You know my age and call me youthful? How old do I look?"
"Mid-forties, visually."
"Hahaha, turning sixty next year."
His well-maintained youthfulness was one of his few prides.
"That's why I said very youthful."
"...Pardon?"
Park Si-hong's brain short-circuited briefly.
Very youthful, looks mid-forties.
So...
'Means he's way past forty-something actually.'
Pondering context, a sharper point emerged.
"How'd you know my age?"
"You just look older than me."
"How so?"
"Let's skip that. I lack eloquence—often misunderstood."
"Try me. Won't take offense, even if it's an insult."
"You'll regret it."
"Really, it's fine."
"Alright. Check your outfit, Investor-nim."
Jeong Tae-hyeon spoke slowly, evenly, with a mild smile.
"Desperate bid to look ten-plus years younger. No natural middle-age vibe—too artificial. But that watch: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Snow limited edition. Over 70% of buyers are sixty-plus."
"..."
"Heard from Seo-hoon you lent a Lambo for good shots. Our boy met a true benefactor. Please keep looking out."
"...Ah, yes."
Park Si-hong faltered before this unfamiliar archetype.
Mild-mannered good-student vibe, yet an unseen mass like a river's current.
Gazing proudly at the set, Jeong Tae-hyeon murmured admiringly.
"Thought Seo-hoon was just book-smart. Didn't know he had acting chops."
"Must be proud. Family setup...?"
"One daughter too. Family of four."
"I see."
Jeong Tae-hyeon fell silent again.
Park Si-hong, feeling stifled, prodded.
"No questions for me? I'm the top investor..."
"Any reason to?"
"First meet—you could background-check, build rapport. I might invest in his next. Dad's gotta wonder."
"Do other actors' families?"
"Usually. Rookies especially grill investor backgrounds. Some even probe family ties."
"Strange folks. That's rude."
Park Si-hong figured he prized privacy etiquette.
Had he recalled Jeong Tae-hyeon's casual family answer, he'd think otherwise.
'He looks family-less. Why not ask an investor? No investment hunger?'
Jeong Tae-hyeon quietly marveled at showbiz oddities.