Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: A New Target
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I was at a loss for words, unable to say anything, my eyes just darting around.
I never really had much interest in the entertainment industry.
Han Ji-hyo had been famous since her debut, and I only happened to come across her and become a fan because of a friend.
I don't know much about other celebrities, nor do I care.
For over a year before I died, I was suffering so much from my illness that I'd even forgotten about Han Ji-hyo.
It seems that in the meantime, Im Chae-seul had risen to fame and swept up all of Han Ji-hyo's commercial deals.
"Why are you so quiet?"
"I... I'm sorry."
As a fan who once adored her (not that I don't anymore), bowing my head was the best I could do.
When I apologized, Han Ji-hyo suddenly burst into laughter.
A clear, high-pitched laugh that felt refreshingly liberating.
It was the same vibrant laugh that had made me a fan.
I loved Han Ji-hyo's uniquely cheerful and refreshing laughter.
It felt like it cleared my own mind as well.
"It's fine. I was just kidding."
"I may not have known, but as a fan, my apology is sincere."
"What didn't you know?"
"I didn't know that you and Chae-seul were rivals at the same agency. I just found out today."
Han Ji-hyo narrowed her eyes, staring at me in silence.
The brief silence was slightly suffocating.
"Really?"
"Yes. In fact, I only recently learned that Chae-seul was an actress."
"But if you're her boyfriend, why do you call her 'Ms. Chae-seul'?"
"We address each other formally."
Han Ji-hyo's eyes narrowed even further, a hint of suspicion creeping in.
"You're not lying, are you?"
"Is there any reason I would need to?"
"...I suppose not. Well, it's somewhat persuasive."
Then Han Ji-hyo muttered something very quietly to herself, but I couldn't quite hear what she said.
"You said you only found out Im Chae-seul was an actress recently?"
"Yes."
"What projects of hers have you seen?"
"...To be honest, I don't know any of them."
"How did you become a couple without knowing that?"
"I don't have to know her filmography to be her boyfriend, do I?"
"So you became a couple without even knowing she was an actress? That doesn't make sense. How did you two meet?"
"Chae-seul was the one who asked me out first."
"..."
It was true that she made the first move, after all.
It also helped strengthen the case that Im Chae-seul isn't a lesbian.
"Did Im Chae-seul really ask you out first?"
"Yes."
Suddenly, Han Ji-hyo's mood seemed to improve.
I didn't think I was mistaken.
"You said you were a long-time fan. Can you swear on that time?"
"I swear on all the years I've been a fan of yours. I was just minding my own business when she asked me out."
"If the Representative had just brought some random male celebrity, I would've thought he was trying to fool me. But with someone like you saying it, I find myself wanting to be persuaded."
Not that she was persuaded, but that she *wanted* to be persuaded?
What's the difference?
Suddenly, Han Ji-hyo spun around, her heels clicking as she walked back to her Ferrari and opened the driver's door.
Before getting in, she stared at me intently and said.
"Tell your girlfriend this for me. The fact that I can't stand the sight of her will never change."
"What? Aren't you going to see the Representative?"
"There's no need anymore. After seeing your face, there's no way she could be a lesbian."
Just like when she arrived, Han Ji-hyo sped out of the parking lot.
I was a bit bewildered.
In any case, when I came back up alone, the Representative, who had been pacing anxiously, reacted with wide eyes.
"Why are you alone? And what took you so long? Did something happen?"
"Uh, she just left."
"What? She just left?"
"Yes. She said there was no need to see you and left. She said after seeing me, there was no way Chae-seul could be a lesbian..."
The Representative suddenly clapped his hands and burst out laughing before finally composing himself enough to ask.
"Did she say anything else?"
I met Im Chae-seul's gaze.
She was waiting for my answer, her eyes full of interest.
"She asked me to tell Chae-seul... that the fact she can't stand her will never change."
"Did she really believe you were my boyfriend?"
"Yeah. Did she believe it?"
"Yes. It seemed like she did."
The Representative let out a huge sigh of relief, clutching his chest.
"Well, it's impossible not to believe it. Whether it's Chae-seul or anyone else, what woman in the world could resist a man like you, Chang-woo?"
"Representative. What did you just say?"
"Ah, sorry. I was so relieved that it just slipped out."
"I'll let it slide. I mean, it's true."
Im Chae-seul looked at me, her eyes curving into a gentle smile.
So this is what it feels like to have your heart melt.
The captivating charm that had enthralled hundreds of millions of fans radiated effortlessly from her smile, as natural as breathing.
Bzzzt. Bzzzt.
The Representative's phone vibrated. After checking the screen, his expression turned incredibly bright.
"Ji-hyo says she'll try to believe you're not a lesbian. She won't make an issue of it anymore."
"Really? That's a relief."
Im Chae-seul was visibly relieved.
It seemed she was less happy about the problem being solved and more relieved that the conflict with the person she loved had come to an end.
That couldn't just be my imagination.
"What about the contract renewal? And terminating her exclusive contract? What's she going to do?"
It definitely wasn't my imagination.
There was no sense that she wanted Han Ji-hyo to leave.
If anything, it looked like she was trying to hide the fact that she wanted the opposite.
"She didn't mention that. But this is enough. Her heart has softened. From now on, I'll go shower her with gifts, beg for forgiveness, and cling to her, and she'll pretend to give in reluctantly."
"You once said that if you had to choose between me and her, you'd choose me."
"Chae-seul, never say that again. Chang-woo, I'm begging you to keep quiet about this too. Otherwise, Ji-hyo will kill me."
"Then why did you say something like that?"
"No, before, I really thought it was a situation where I had to give up one of you, so I went all-in on you."
"Aha, so now you're going to play both sides?"
She teased the Representative with a bright smile.
For some reason, I didn't feel great about it.
They might be business partners, but I didn't like seeing my woman acting cute with another man.
I wonder if I'll feel this way when I see Jung Hye-na laughing and talking with her studio's representative.
"Do your best to win her back. Her pride must be very hurt, so you'll probably have to kneel for quite a while, Representative."
"I'll have to. You have no idea how relieved I am that at least you aren't being hostile toward Ji-hyo."
"I told you, I like her."
"Phew..."
Once the situation settled down, the Representative's eyes turned to me again.
His gaze was filled with a mix of complex emotions.
His face was a mask of torment, clearly wanting to say a million things but unable to get even one of them out properly.
"Mr. Lee Chang-woo."
"Don't worry. I'll see Chae-seul quietly so we don't cause any scanda—"
"Are you sure you don't want to be a celebrity?"
Damn it, so that's what he was agonizing over.
"It's just such a waste of your looks. Whether you become an idol or an actor, you'd be a disruptive species that would devour the entire ecosystem."
"I can't act or sing—"
"That's not what's important. Do you know what I saw the moment I first laid eyes on you? The aura, the presence, the sheer force of a star. Chang-woo, you'll become a superstar just by breathing. I guarantee it."
This guy kept trying to fill my head with hot air.
To think he's recommending the celebrity life, which would be of no help to my sex life whatsoever.
"If I wanted to be a celebrity, I would have done it long ago."
"Oh, what a shame."
In the end, the Representative suppressed his lingering regret and gave up for the time being.
"If you change your mind later, you must contact me. Whether it's through Chae-seul or directly, you have to."
He looked like he would kidnap me if I didn't take his business card, so I had no choice but to accept it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the Representative left.
Im Chae-seul beamed at me.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, everything was resolved without any trouble. I would have been heartbroken if she had really terminated her contract and left."
"You must really like her a lot."
"She's the first person I ever felt love for."
"But... is it okay for you to be like this with me?"
Even as I said that, I had already pulled Im Chae-seul into my arms by her waist.
Standing, our bodies pressed together, we silently felt each other's warmth and breath.
"So, shall we finish what we started?"
"Chae-seul, state rule number four."
"Rule four. Im Chae-seul will introduce as many attractive women around her as possible?"
"I've decided I want an introduction to Han Ji-hyo."
Im Chae-seul's eyes went wide as she looked up at me, as if she couldn't have imagined it.
Then, her eyes suddenly curved into a mischievous grin.
"You want to do it with her?"
A direct question with no beating around the bush.
I had prepared countless 'dignified excuses' for just such a provocative question.
But I realized there was no need for that.
In front of Im Chae-seul, such crude excuses would only tarnish the face I possess.
"Chae-seul, don't you want to do it with the three of us together?"
A red flush of excitement spread across Im Chae-seul's face.
Her, me, and Han Ji-hyo.
She must be imagining the three of us, naked and tangled together.
Her breathing was quickening; it seemed the mere thought was enough to arouse her greatly.
I, too, became curious about the scene in Im Chae-seul's imagination.
What position would Han Ji-hyo be in?
And who would Im Chae-seul be focusing on more—Han Ji-hyo, or me?
I wanted to enter her mind.
I wanted to take those two women and bring the fantasies filling her head to life on my bed.
"Are you confident?"
"We'll have to see."