That Suspicious Professor (3)
The meeting with Professor Lee Se-jong was short.
After leaving only a few essential explanations and reminders, Lee Se-jong exchanged business cards and departed.
Kim Sang-hee, struck by some new inspiration upon seeing him, buried her face in her laptop as if ready to dive in. Jang Seung-won, who had been holding his breath the entire time, gasped like someone recovering from hyperventilation and asked,
"That professor—what the hell does he even do?"
"He's a professor in the Electronics Department. And my advisor."
"No, that's not what I mean. What kind of guy goes around saying, '300 billion? I can cover that out of my own pocket, heh heh heh'?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself, but I know his personal assets exceed 100 billion."
"…100… billion."
Jang Seung-won felt his legs go weak.
Should he be shocked that a university professor had over 100 billion, or baffled by Jeong Seo-hoon's casual tone in uttering the figure?
"Are professors usually that rich? Or do you need that kind of money to become a Korea University prof?"
"His family was well-off to begin with, but most of it is wealth he's accumulated himself."
"No, but how?"
"Patent royalties."
"…Patents?"
The more he heard, the deeper he sank into the quagmire.
Patents? What patents?
"He runs a patent specialization firm in Silicon Valley. He holds numerous foundational patents himself, and he buys up promising tech at low prices, refines it, and licenses it to manufacturers for royalties."
"…Patents make that much money?"
"They're mostly critical ones. And he keeps filing new ones steadily."
"Any chance you know which companies pay him royalties…?"
"Intel, AMD, ARM, NVIDIA, Apple, Microsoft—variety of them. Even domestic conglomerates pay up."
"I heard Korean chaebols never pay royalties and just steal patents…"
"It's his patents, but the company's American. They can't mess around."
Jang Seung-won's dazed expression gradually returned to normal as he listened.
"So Professor Lee Se-jong wasn't bluffing, right?"
"Yes. I guarantee it. Though I didn't expect him to bring up accommodating my undergrad life. I was planning to defer readmission for Haegeuk filming."
"Don't defer. Readmit."
Jeong Seo-hoon feigned mild surprise at Jang Seung-won's firm words.
"PD-nim? Won't it interfere with filming?"
"We'll adjust the schedule around you as much as possible. There aren't many daytime outdoor shoots anyway—we can batch them. Most are indoor or night shoots. Oh, but juggling undergrad and filming—think you'll manage the stamina?"
"Stamina's no issue for me. As long as the timing works."
It was true.
His body grew stronger by the day, thanks to the comet's lingering effects.
During the Illegal filming accident, he'd climbed a rope hand-over-hand with arm strength alone. No hangovers no matter how much he drank, no fatigue.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt endurance limits.
"Perfect then. You doing undergrad and starring in a drama? That's buzzworthy. A fusion historical with a current Korea University genius undergrad actor! Even non-drama viewers won't skip it."
"You see, Seo-hoon? Everyone in production is obsessed with ratings."
"You're the same, Writer-nim. Why pretend otherwise?"
"Even for good ratings, how do you sell an actor to a professor?"
"Just one semester left. You'll readmit eventually to graduate—why not leverage the 'top Korea U student' premium for our drama? It's a one-semester card."
"That professor seems suspicious."
Kim Sang-hee declared it flatly, and Jang Seung-won's face grew serious.
"Why? Something off?"
"What motive would a professor have to go easy on a 21-year-old top Korea U readmit candidate with one semester left, military service done?"
"Grad school…"
Jang Seung-won trailed off, choking mid-sentence, breath catching.
Kim Sang-hee shot him a triumphant look, as if to say now you get it.
"He's a talent worth pulling into grad school, even fronting 300 billion himself—our Seo-hoon."
"No way—we can't send an actor to grad school! What'd Seo-hoon do wrong?"
"PD-nim. Grad school's not for punishment."
"Boys mess up, they go to juvie. College kids mess up, they go to grad school."
Kim Sang-hee muttered quickly, and Jang Seung-won pressed urgently.
"We gotta block this. Seo-hoon, did the professor tie the investment to grad school?"
"He never mentioned it."
"Pfft, no mention doesn't mean no strings. Professors plant guilt subtly, make you uneasy—that's their skill for snagging undergrads. You don't realize till you're already in the lab."
Jang Seung-won's face darkened further at her lilting tone.
"If we take this, we're screwed. Should we decline?"
"Don't worry. I'll act forever."
***
Jeong Seo-hoon decided to sign the CF contract.
It was a solid deal, as his manager Ha Tae-soo had pushed.
"One-year contract, great terms. Just three shoots. By Haegeuk's finale, it'll be done anyway—better lock it in."
"Sounds right, hyung. I'll do it."
"Contract review…"
"I'll handle it. I know some law."
"Right, patent attorney exam. Forgot."
Jeong Seo-hoon skimmed the contract and stamped/signed without hesitation.
A few days later, he met the advertiser and CF director—specifically, the marketing exec from the company.
"Truth is, I'm a huge Jeong Seo-hoon fan. Loved Illegal, saw Su-jang-go over ten times in theaters."
"Thanks for enjoying it."
"Personal autograph okay?"
The mid-30s woman marketing exec couldn't meet his eyes steadily, gaze darting away throughout.
The CF director spoke dryly, businesslike.
"We'll send the concept by end of day. Light emotional acting, but you're an actor, not a singer—no sweat. Super easy. Tailored to your villain image."
"Got it."
"Oh, your co-star's Chae Ji-hyun."
On the drive back from the hour-long meeting, Ha Tae-soo teased while driving.
"Paired with Chae Ji-hyun again. Careful, or it'll spark scandal like with Yoo Jeong-ah."
"Don't care."
"Our Seo-hoon's a big star now. Byung-cheol said during Su-jang-go, he thought you had twenty years' experience. Total poise."
"I just don't rattle easy. Personality thing."
"Rock-solid mentality—perfect for actors."
Leaning his chin on his hand, staring out the van window, his phone buzzed incessantly.
Jeong Seo-hoon just shoved the phone aside.
***
Late night.
After finishing a Korean film, Jeong Seo-hoon stepped out to the second-floor communal living room.
Quenching his thirst with cold water, he sensed his father's presence quietly behind him.
"Movie done?"
"Yes."
"Lately, whenever you're home, it's all movies and dramas."
"Going through top Korean box office hits first. Gotta watch a ton if I'm filming dramas and movies here."
"Right. Don't let papers pile up—dive in. For actors, other works are like papers, no?"
"Huh, yeah. They're papers."
Jeong Tae-hyeon eased onto the sofa and continued.
"Heard you met the PD with Professor Lee? Today."
"Yeah. Meant to tell you, forgot."
"Drama investment confirmed."
"Just heard."
"Professor Lee called the PD right after, then me. Said it's a go."
Jeong Tae-hyeon asked cautiously.
"Heard he conditioned investment on readmission. Not upset?"
"No conditions. He just asked the team to accommodate my undergrad life if I readmit."
"That's the condition. You don't know his style yet. Lots of PhDs born that way."
"…"
"Readmit plans?"
"If PD adjusts schedule, of course. Can't defer graduation without reason."
"If grad school's a burden, tell me. I'll explain to him."
"Never a burden. No plans now, even if someday. Finish undergrad, focus on acting awhile."
"Don't let him snag you… Anyway, if he's pressure, tell me anytime."
***
After consulting Kim Sang-hee, Jang Seung-won accepted Lee Se-jong's investment and went with cable.
"Professor's 300 billion plus NetPrime's 300—600 billion means full script freedom, Writer Kim."
"I'll tailor to 24 episodes. 2.5 billion per. Revive the child actor backstory I cut."
"Appreciate it."
"Appreciate? If we flop, Seo-hoon owes grad school debt. Gotta give my all."
"Pfft, think he'd enslave him over lost investment?"
"Checked him out—that prof's no joke. No one leaves his grad program without a PhD."
"Proof he's great?"
"No escapes till PhD—they grind under him."
"Oh, like that?"
"Seo-hoon has no grad plans, but who knows. We recover investment, aim for smash hit."
"Obviously."
With 600 billion in hand, drama planning theirs.
Major and indie producers knocked desperately.
"Produce with us—full support."
"Give us this, next drama top treatment for you, PD-nim."
Can't produce solo—pick a company.
PD held rights, so firms groveled awaiting choice.
Jang signed freelance directorial for Haegeuk sole project; company managed funds, thanked him—a novel setup.
Colleague PDs envied, flooding congrats texts/calls.
"Please take care of us."
"Yes, PD Jang. Let's crush it."
Final pick: CV Cable, Illegal's broadcaster.
Unlike KBC, drama chief groveled like PT marathoner.
"Writer-nim! Back at last. Welcome."
His face bloomed like greeting newlywed daughter home.