Ice Comes from Water (2)
Of course, Kang Min hadn't gone in guns blazing from the start.
For someone known—mostly thanks to Seo Bom's forced rumors—for being polite, refined, and sensible, it was only natural that he'd first demand an apology with utmost courtesy.
"It's impossible for me to change your mind, Director, and it wouldn't mean anything anyway. But Han Ye-seul is someone I personally brought here because I trust her. I think that was rude."
"Oh, in that case, you should probably change your thinking."
In other words: Your opinion doesn't matter—what matters is it was an insult, so let's call it even with an apology.
But Lloyd Gonzalez was stubborn.
Letting out a small sigh, he turned the tables and tried to persuade Kang Min instead.
"Robert De Niro met Brian De Palma but only succeeded after meeting Scorsese. Tom Hanks worked with Ron Howard but only unlocked his potential after Spielberg. Actress Lee Do-na already had years of experience, but she truly blossomed only after meeting our boss. For an actor, a director who truly captures them is that important."
"Director Gonzalez."
"Ah, of course, I'm not arrogant enough to claim I'm that person. But the world may not have right answers, yet it sure has plenty of wrong ones."
It was almost a scolding tone.
"The most regrettable failure for promising young actors is clinging to personal sentiments. You have to separate personal guilt from a director's value completely."
"So you've sized up that value at a glance, have you?"
"Don't I have the reputation and experience for it? Trust me just this once."
"......"
The conversation was running parallel, never intersecting.
The director, brimming with pride equal to his fame, wouldn't budge, and the designer, who had stepped back a pace, stayed silent—likely because she had her own side deal.
After about ten minutes like that,
Kang Min finally let out a small sigh and turned his head.
"I'm truly sorry, PD Han. I never imagined it'd turn out like this."
"...No, whatever. I didn't exactly refuse to come."
Han Ye-seul swallowed her bitter resentment but shook her head, pretending to be calm.
There was no helping it. Anyone else might have thrown a fit, but this was Lloyd Gonzalez's judgment. It was the obvious conclusion.
For Han Ye-seul herself—who'd been wandering lately—this advice might even be a stroke of luck.
...Wonder if there's a flight.
"I'm sorry. I'll make this up to you, PD Han, no matter what."
"Yeah..."
"Then let's go. No point sticking around."
"...Pardon?"
Han Ye-seul blinked at the exchange, which felt like it had happened just two days ago.
Well, the outcome wasn't much different.
Kang Min stood up right away.
"I understand your position."
"...Yes?"
"I'm sorry, but with this difference of opinion, it's hard to proceed with the project together. Thank you again for the invitation."
"A-Actor Kang Min?"
Han Ye-seul dazedly looked around.
Lloyd Gonzalez.
The S&W staff nearby.
Marie Ray.
And the head of Korea's Ray Goldmary branch, who had been translating for her—
All of them, the kind who became instant sensations just by visiting Korea, stared in utter bewilderment.
What the hell?
Some negotiation ploy?
No.
As most people rolled their eyes, still clueless, Kang Min really did grab Han Ye-seul and burst out the door.
The door slammed shut behind him, leaving jaws on the floor.
"...?"
Han Ye-seul desperately tried to process it.
So,
right now,
Kang Min had just kicked away a golden opportunity to connect with S&W, a studio with worldwide prestige, over a mere snag...
"Hmm, shoulda gone for the cheesesteak after all. First time at a Mexican joint, and it didn't sit right..."
"Are you insane?!!!"
Han Ye-seul screamed at full volume at Kang Min, who spouted nonsense with his usual impassive face.
She flailed and grabbed his arm, dragging him back.
"Go back! What the hell are you thinking?!"
"What am I thinking? I just said I don't like it there."
"It's me they don't like! If I just disappear, it's solved—why ruin everything like this?!!"
"Exactly! Cool your head like they said!"
The door flew open, and out rushed the Ray Goldmary Korea branch head—someone they'd met before—and a few staffers, scrambling after them.
The branch head especially, probably chewed out by his boss, was sweating bullets and yelling at the top of his lungs.
"A-Actor Kang Min! You must not realize—this is S&W! S&W! The studio with global fame, headed by Kim Cheol and Lee Hyun-seok! For any Korean actor, domestic or abroad, this is the pinnacle!"
"I know."
"Like hell you do...! Do you really not know what happens if you burn bridges here?! Even if talks break down, walking out like this brands you as rude! You gonna throw away a bright future?!"
It was such a brutal prediction of doom that even Han Ye-seul unconsciously held her breath.
But Kang Min just shrugged.
"Wonder who's the rude one here."
"Min-i!"
"Anyway, tell them I couldn't care less. Looks like S&W hasn't had a single lead die in the past year."
"?"
"...?"
Ignoring the stunned crowd, Kang Min concluded with flawless logic that it was no issue and kept walking.
The branch head trailed after, shouting something, but Kang Min's reply was simple.
"A world-class director and world-class actor..."
"Right! Doesn't that tempt you?!"
"Not really. I don't need it."
"...Pardon?"
"What matters more is that PD Han Ye-seul will come to understand me better."
To Kang Min, it was obvious.
To relaunch his own Unbelievable, he'd need a PD, and no one else came to mind who could handle his bizarre demands besides Han Ye-seul.
What good was becoming a world-class actor if he couldn't die on screen every day? No need to prioritize—it was that straightforward.
But to everyone else,
it landed differently.
"......"
"......"
"......?"
The murmuring crowd fell silent.
Even the chatty branch head shut his mouth, staring like at a madman.
And Han Ye-seul herself gaped blankly, mouth flapping.
Hmm...
What?
In the suddenly deathly quiet space, with only Kang Min tilting his head,
a new face cleared his throat and broke the tension.
"Uh, sorry about this. Looks like I showed up at a bad time... Mind filling me in?"
"!"
"?!"
The branch head's jaw dropped; Han Ye-seul clapped a hand over her mouth.
Even unflappable Kang Min faltered. It was that kind of face.
Cannes.
Venice.
Berlin—
S&W's co-CEO and legendary director who had swept the Big Three international film festivals scratched his goatee, looking around in confusion.
#
"Goddamn it, Gonzalez, you spouted bullshit."
"My God, Director Kim Cheol! I was only following my convictions—"
"Yeah, your convictions led to bullshit. What do you want me to do about it, you idiot."
"......"
The messy situation somehow sorted itself as the arriving co-CEO Kim Cheol irritably waved it off.
He sighed deeply and apologized.
"Sorry about that. Lloyd here's got skills, but he also jumps to wrong conclusions, acts dumb, and talks crap. I'll apologize myself, so forgive him."
"Y-Yes! Of course, of course!"
Han Ye-seul nodded frantically. As a producer, seeing her extreme idol and mentor apologize in person had her half-dazed.
On the flip side, Kang Min furrowed his brow slightly.
"Well, I think he should apologize himself..."
"Min-i!"
"Did I say something wrong?"
"Please—!!"
In the end, Kang Min was satisfied only after Kim Cheol forced Lloyd Gonzalez to apologize.
Everyone around clicked their tongues at the "madman," and Han Ye-seul, face flushed, mumbled before bowing her head.
Kim Cheol watched the two with grandfatherly warmth. Looks just like my granddaughter back in the day—
And with his heart warmed, the world-renowned director's mood shifted a bit.
"Well, empty words won't cut it. How about I show some sincerity my way?"
"S-Sorry, what exactly do you mean...?"
"This proposal looks fun. I'm on vacation anyway—could spare a day to help. What do you say?"
"......Pardon?"
Han Ye-seul's jaw dropped.
She fiddled with her ears, wondering if she'd heard right or if this was a dream or hallucination.
Even the bystanders—even Marie Ray, the only one whose name value could match—were stunned.
Lloyd Gonzalez was famous, sure, but he couldn't compare to Kim Cheol. Forget national or global leagues—this guy had his name in history books!
For Kang Min, it was a reversal of fortunes—no, a bluebird flying right into his lap—
"As long as you don't boss PD Han Ye-seul around, no reason to refuse."
"Min-i!!!!!"
Madman...
He's a madman...
As Han Ye-seul screamed again and the crowd shivered at Kang Min's madness, Kim Cheol blinked in surprise before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha! Good, perfect."
For some reason, he laughed for a good while before finally stopping.
"Don't worry, I won't. Hell, I could even give that young PD some advice."
"...Pardon?"
"You look troubled. Or am I wrong?"
"......"
#
Four days.
For a mere tens-of-seconds ad, it was a schedule that was tight bordering on disastrous.
But global powerhouse S&W was one of the few that could pull it off without strain.
"We'll start with the gun issue."
Kim Cheol, who had filled the set with equipment in a flash, said.
"Might be distant for Korea, but America's in chaos right now. Europe's not great either. Good starting point before diving deeper."
"Yes..."
"Didn't you say you're shooting a drama now, PD Han? Can you spare four days?"
"Ah, yes. Everyone's so motivated, I could slack for a month."
Especially Shim Yoo-hyeon, doubling as editing supervisor—he was terrifying. Whenever he produced something, Kang Min was clapping and heaping praise.
Maybe the kebab guy understood actor Kang Min better than Han Ye-seul ever could...
"......"
"Anyway. Actor too talented—that the issue?"
"Pardon?!"
"That's the face."
Kim Cheol smirked. I've seen plenty of actors and writers stumped by over-talented directors. Not me, though. Really.
Han Ye-seul hesitated but figured there was no hiding it.
She nodded weakly in affirmation.
"I knew Min-i was amazing, but... yesterday hurt."
"He trusts you a lot, seems like."
"Yes. Even though I'm not worthy."
"Hm."
"I wanted to be a film director at first. Settled for a drama company instead. Gave up what I really wanted to make there too—figured it wouldn't sell. Kept compromising."
And so, Black Forest was born: polished safe picks, trimming away her original vision until nothing remained.
But it got wrecked.
By one actor going wild.
Even heaven-sent Kim Cheol clicked his tongue in agreement.
"Yeah, that was rough... borderline fraud. Tactics crushed strategy flat. What, he ain't Xiang Yu."
"...After Unbelievable, I realized a bit of what I want. Grateful Min-i wanted to do it together. But—"
"Watching that kid soar, feels like you're holding him back?"
"......Yes."
In truth, MBS's Kim Kang-hyun and VP hadn't mentioned Han Ye-seul out of any scheme. Just to curb Kang Min's ambitions(?).
But for her, it was a trigger.
No one's fault, yet she felt self-loathing.
A self-loathing she'd never escape...
And Kim Cheol gave his verdict.
"Well, solution's simple."
"Pardon?!"
"You're depressed 'cause your production level's lacking. So raise it."
"Th-That..."
Han Ye-seul hesitated.
"I think... I have no talent. Don't even know where to start..."
"Doesn't matter."
Kim Cheol's face turned rare seriousness.
"No, what you do doesn't matter. World's got monsters who reached the top on sheer obsession to make the ultimate trash drama."
"Pardon...?"
"Sometimes, a lunatic smashing headfirst into walls outpaces a genius cruising the highway... Still think it's kinda crazy."
"I-I'm not sure who you mean."
"Yeah, no one does..."
Kim Cheol gazed distantly at the sky.
Then patted her shoulder with his pot-lid hand encouragingly.
"Alright, one tip, kid."
"A tip?"
"Ditch common sense, PD Han. Drop all that 'this won't work' or 'that's bad'—just look at the camera purely. That's where it starts. Worries'll fade."
"Ditch... common sense..."
"Yeah!"
"Common... sense..."
The master director grinned at her dazed mumbling.
...And later, Kim Cheol would recall:
He hadn't meant for it to turn out like that.