The Patriot Called Yeolsadol

Kim Deok-su... Even a guy as meticulous as this, I never thought so...

Just a little while ago, he had come back after barely suppressing the articles about the number leak with money and connections.

But when Kim Deok-su offered the evidence, things would change completely.

Releasing an actor's number outside the company by an internal JMT employee was basically proof that the company couldn't properly manage either its staff or its artists.

In the worst case, it could lead to a drop in stock prices, investor issues, or even a problem within the JM Group.

'Even his father... No.'

Lee Hui-yeong's president tightened her thoughts and looked up.

Her signature poker face had already broken.

"All right. What does our Tteok-su want?"

"A strong response against the sasaeng fans. Public opinion, the law, security—everything the company can ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠do. Use all available means."

"...I might get called overkill, but are you sure?"

"Better to act without anxiety. And please ask Turnshine and Gang-hyeok too."

Lee Hui-yeong sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

A part of her heart felt uneasy.

It would have been easier to ask for a contract extension or more money.

Someone who only talks about the truth is difficult to deal with.

"...Fine. Call the woman named Gu-jeong and report her to the prosecution, and run big articles. I'll add the security team."

"Include Turnshine and Signature too."

"How thoughtful of you, thinking of the juniors. All right, just hand over the photos."

Deok-su sent the photos to Lee Hui-yeong, then erased them from his phone.

After finishing the business, he was about to leave when Lee Hui-yeong spoke up.

"I forgot one thing. Let's move in together while we're at it. You know the security at your current place is sloppy, right?"

"Thank you for your consideration. Since you're doing it anyway..."

"I'll send you a set of my spare luggage. Don't worry."

After that, JMT issued a statement.

The statement included both a denial of the suspicion that Deok-su's number had been leaked by the company and a strong warning against sasaeng behavior.

The fan clubs responded enthusiastically.

Especially the Signature fan club Arosam and Deok-su's fan club Ruby, as well as Turnshine's fan club Shining, gave their full support to JMT's handling and announcement.

-Don't try to get the first seat for Minji. Don't stalk us even if you say you love us.

-If you really love our Inna, protect her. Don't stalk us even if you say you love us.

-Can you believe Gang-hyeok oppa's face is so pale?! Please stop following us in taxis!

-Sasaeng OUT! Please don't get or buy anything that looks like what sasaengs have caused.

-Don't sell Re-sung oppa's hair from Switchter!

.

.

With JMT's artists' fan clubs moving, the other fan clubs started to stir.

-What are Cloud Entertainment doing? That 10-million-won tissue used to wipe Ha-woon's mouth is for sale!

-Theersun seems completely out of their mind. The sasaeng taxi that chased the BHF oppas and caused an accident is still being hushed up.

-Bintz Cho Gang-ryeol boss. Stop turning a blind eye and protect our Yun-dong-i! Aren't you seeing our kids starving?

.

.

After JMT and the fans, the other four major agencies couldn't stay silent anymore.

They too began reporting the sasaeng incidents they had previously ignored.

The sasaeng extermination movement that started with Deok-su had expanded across the entire entertainment industry.

-...L'Vyu, good job. The patriot idol of the idol world.

-Honestly, it's L'Vyu oppa who raised the flag. Now, instead of calling him a thug or whatever, just... it's a waste.

-L'Vyu really has changed.

-He caught sasaengs himself and even thought about his juniors... Ugh! What a man.

-The patriot who threw himself into the fight against sasaengs, L'Vyu. In that sense, should we call him Yeolsadol?

\└Lmfaoooo crazy, 'Patriot' lmfaooooo

\└Yeolsadol cc

\└Yeolsadol gozah

.

.

And so people began calling him the patriot who threw himself into the fight against sasaengs—Yeolsadol.

"...Pfft!"

A smile slipped from Lee Hui-yeong's lips as she scrolled through Deok-su's SNS.

"What's so funny?"

"Ah, no. People are calling oppa a patriot... haha."

Lee Hui-yeong laughed brightly, but Deok-su's face remained frozen while getting his makeup done.

The senior model Jang Deok-su, receiving makeup beside him, spoke up.

"L'Vyu. You don't have to be so tense. If it were Haute Couture, maybe, but today we're in Pret-a-Porter. Just relax and go with it."

Haute Couture was the fashion show where models walked the runway in uniquely designed clothes infused with strong designer colors.

Pret-a-Porter was the show where they walked in the ready-to-wear clothes derived from those Haute Couture pieces.

Even after that, Jang Deok-su continued to help Deok-su.

He taught him everything from selecting outfits, to rehearsals, and the things to watch out for backstage and on the runway.

Thanks to Jang Deok-su, Deok-su could prepare for the runway smoothly without hesitation.

"...Then, please enjoy yourself today."

Just before the fashion show began, J. Young gathered the models and shouted a rallying cry.

As the venue darkened and the music began to blare, the backstage became even busier.

Starting with model number one, they walked the runway one by one.

Jang Deok-su was number six, and Deok-su was number seven.

They had considered Deok-su's comfort when assigning the order.

Deok-su, wearing all-white clothing, practiced his expression in front of the mirror.

'Relax. Relax.'

While he was practicing his walk, it was finally Jang Deok-su's turn.

Standing on the runway, the smiling Jang Deok-su vanished. In his place stood a man with an intensely sharp gaze staring straight ahead.

After walking the U-shaped stage at a leisurely pace, he sent a glance toward Deok-su, who was just stepping onto the runway.

Deok-su nodded and began his walk.

'Relax... relax...'

He walked exactly as practiced, but once he reached the runway, his head turned completely white.

The distance to the front row where the executives sat was less than a meter, and the huge music was jarring. Most of all, the concentrated gazes of the people felt like a strong wind pushing him backward.

His gaze was intense as he looked forward, but it was difficult to see clearly.

In the middle of the U-shaped path, it was finally time to turn to the side path.

But...

'Ah...!'

Too much tension, it seemed. Deok-su's foot got tangled.

Luckily, he didn't fall, but his walk was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already twisted.

When Deok-su stumbled, Jang Deok-su quickly gestured from backstage.

'Come in!'

Seeing the gesture, Deok-su returned to the backstage pretending nothing had happened.

As soon as he stepped inside, Deok-su gripped the wall.

His legs were shaking.

When Jang Deok-su approached, Deok-su shook his head bitterly.

"...I made a mistake. It's all my fault for the designer..."

"Mistakes like that happen to models all the time. It's like when you get an NG during Deok-su's photo shoot."

Deok-su nodded, and Jang Deok-su shrugged his shoulders.

"The mistake from earlier is already behind us. You know that. From now on, if you do well, the previous mistake will disappear."

"...Thank you."

"It's all about the social life."

Deok-su steadied his mind and rushed to prepare for the next one.

He removed his top and slung the suit over his shoulders.

His well-trained chest and abs were clearly exposed.

"Don't mess up this time."

While Jang Deok-su was walking, Deok-su straightened his attire.

When he reached the midpoint, Deok-su took a deep breath and started walking.

Deok-su appeared on the runway with his torso exposed, and the people's eyes widened for a moment.

Especially the reactions of the women in the front row were visible.

Even people who professionally appreciated good bodies gasped at how toned Deok-su's physique was.

'...All the hard training paid off.'

The walk gave Deok-su even more energy.

His previously stiff steps and rigid gestures had become much smoother.

'Kim Deok-su's body was this good?'

'I only saw him wrapped up tight and never realized... The clothes suit him perfectly.'

'J. Young was right not to call him.'

The murmurs from the front row reached Deok-su's ears.

He almost smiled, but he kept his expression blank to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠end.

Soon, it was the finale.

All the models in white clothing walked the runway at once.

Like the others, Deok-su walked the runway in his all-white outfit.

Unlike the loose fit of the other models, Deok-su's attire was tight, accentuating his toned body even more.

'L'Vyu, showing off those muscles on the runway... His titles are spot-on.'

Lee Hui-yeong smiled while looking at the real-time articles and Deok-su alternately.

Deok-su's first fashion show was finally ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠over.

"...President Kang. Who else would there be?"

PD Cho Woo-suk sighed while flipping through the profile brought by casting director Kang Pil-sung.

The casting for the leads was done, but the problem was the villain role.

Good actors used image excuses not to play villains, and those who did were not to his liking.

Casting director Kang Pil-sung sighed.

"...I'll keep looking."

"There are no more characters? Has this industry really gotten so narrow..."

PD Cho Woo-suk rubbed his face.

If he could, he wanted to keep pushing, but casting director Kang Pil-sung was one of the most capable in the industry.

Casting director Kang Pil-sung pointed to the last person in his portfolio.

"What about this one, L'Vyu?"

"L'Vyu? Kim Deok-su? The one from Moment..."

PD Cho Woo-suk folded his arms and shook his head.

"An idol... The investors would love him."

"From the drama, he acts as well as the lead actors. Kim Deok-su..."

"The writers would hate him... If he's an idol, the people would recoil..."

"A camera test should be fine, right?"

After persistent persuasion, PD Cho Woo-suk decided to meet L'Vyu first and decide.

On the way, casting director Kang Pil-sung headed to JMT Entertainment.

After successfully finishing the first fashion show, Deok-su moved from Bucheon to Itaewon, Seoul.

When Deok-su was busy preparing for the fashion show, Jeong-mi, Lee Hui-yeong, and Park Hyeon-woo packed the boxes and arranged the movers.

There was still time left on the lease, so he had to pay the commission, but Deok-su accepted it.

It was because he was worried something might happen to his mother.

The new apartment had high management fees but thorough security, making it popular with celebrities.

Lee Hui-yeong and Park Hyeon-woo also found a small room near Deok-su's new place.

"I was supposed to find the house..."

"No. Thanks to you, we've come all the way to Itaewon. It's nice."

Park Hyeon-woo envied the two's relationship.

Deok-su always considered Lee Hui-yeong, and Lee Hui-yeong did her best for Deok-su.

It was the ideal relationship between an artist and a manager.

'Someday I'll...'

Park Hyeon-woo kept the two in his eyes.

After the move, a few days passed.

As the three were about to leave the company, Lee Hui-yeong's phone rang.

It was casting director Kang Pil-sung.

"Ah, President Kang. Hello. Yes. Ah... that is..."

The relationship between an actor's manager and a casting director was like that between an alligator and a bird of prey.

To a manager, the casting director was a helpful presence who handled the company's sales.

To a casting director, the manager was a necessary presence who supplied the profiles needed for sales.

To push the actor profiles that the production company wanted at the right time, many profiles were naturally needed.

After the call, Lee Hui-yeong turned to Deok-su.

"Oppa. Do you know President Kang Pil-sung?"

"Ah, the casting director? I heard he also does location hunting."

"That's right. He's one of the top people in the industry. He said he came nearby and wants to see you once. What do you say?"

It was the perfect timing.

Deok-su, Lee Hui-yeong, and Park Hyeon-woo headed to the cafe where casting director Kang Pil-sung was waiting.

Casting director Kang Pil-sung was a man with droopy eyes and a generous figure, giving him a gentle impression.

After a simple greeting, Kang Pil-sung immediately got to the point.

"L'Vyu. There's a good work, and I'd like you to come in for a test?"

The script for the weekend drama "University Is Over" on NBS.

After reading the script for a long time, Deok-su smiled brightly.

"Admissions coordinator? That's interesting. I never knew there was a job called a consultant who sends people to Seoul University."