Jeong Ha-rin's Dream
Jang Hyeok-jin was hospitalized. Because Lee Ji-hoon had neatly broken all ten of his fingers.
"Fuck, I need to find a new job right away, and this shit happens..."
As he lay in his hospital bed, mumbling like he was the real victim, his smartphone started ringing.
Riiing.
"Hm...? Oh, oh?!"
Jang Hyeok-jin checked the caller ID and fumbled for his phone in a panic. But with his broken fingers, he could barely grip it. After struggling alone for a bit, he finally managed to answer.
"H-hello?!"
"Ah~, Manager Jang. I heard you got fired?"
"Ah, yeah... I was just about to call you. Things are a bit messed up right now."
"Messed up? Haha, did you win some kind of prize?"
"No, that's not it... I got into an accident and I'm in the hospital."
"Ah~, you're hurting, huh? ...Anyway, you know why I'm calling, right?"
"Yes...."
"Who's this new manager I heard about? Looks like I'll have to deal with him from now on."
"......"
Jang Hyeok-jin stared at the name on his phone screen for a moment.
━Kang Do-hyun.
The famous popular actor playing the male lead in the drama Jeong Ha-rin was currently filming.
And in this industry, a guy with a bad reputation when it came to women.
"......Do-hyun, sir."
"Yeah, what?"
"......One last time, ...how about buying some valuable info?"
"Haha, you been holding out on me? Ooh, now I'm curious."
He'd already lost his job anyway, and with his hands like this, he wouldn't find work for a while. So Jang Hyeok-jin needed money.
"I'll give you all the details..., but you gotta pay well...."
"Sure, I'll decide after I hear it."
And so, Jang Hyeok-jin started telling Kang Do-hyun everything about Jeong Ha-rin.
There were two reasons I became Jeong Ha-rin's manager.
First, being right by her side let me grasp all the little details about her. I could get way more varied info than what you'd normally find out.
And second, as her manager, I could watch all her emotional changes up close.
If I just spread her bad issues through my connections to the internet or news, I wouldn't get to see her exact reactions. Nothing's more boring than that.
So I became Jeong Ha-rin's manager.
"Cut!"
"Phew..., hey, Ji-hoon. Water."
"Here."
A manager's job was more varied than I thought. Starting with managing Jeong Ha-rin's schedule.
During shoots, I had to prep the shooting order, wait times, and always have water, blankets, cushions, and such ready for her.
Managing her reputation was also the manager's role, so I handled communication with the crew, directors, everyone.
'Not much different from my old job.'
Honestly, compared to it, being a deputy at that shithole small company was doing all the same miscellaneous crap. So Jeong Ha-rin's manager gig wasn't all that different.
The only real change was...
"Let me help."
"Ah, Manager...! Thank you!"
"But why aren't you an actor, Manager? You should try it."
"Yeah, your agency should talk you into it."
"Hm..., I get camera shakes."
"Whoa..., really."
"Such a waste. Perfect actor face."
"Right?"
People's attitudes were way better now. Thanks to my leveled-up looks from customization.
'Guess I overdid the tweaks more than I thought.'
I figured I'd toned it down, but anyway. It made the work easy. Good looks alone boosted people's evaluations, so no need to smash heads into keyboards like at the old company. Peaceful workplace.
My first day as manager ended up being a pretty fun one, adapting to the job.
Screech.
Afterward, I drove Jeong Ha-rin home in her car.
"We're here."
"Phew..., yeah. Good work, don't be late tomorrow."
Slide.
Jeong Ha-rin didn't even glance at me as she got out. I got out too.
It wasn't my car to begin with.
But.
"......What."
"What."
"Why're you coming this way?"
I got into the elevator with Jeong Ha-rin. She glared at me with a tired face.
"What the fuck are you pulling right now?"
Seemed like a misunderstanding. So I deliberately pressed the 7th floor button.
"......7th floor?"
"What else, heading home. You gonna tell me not to go home too?"
"......"
At my words, Jeong Ha-rin gaped blankly at me for a second, then seemed to get it.
"Hey..., you live in this officetel...?"
"Yeah, just moved in recently."
"But 7th floor...?"
"It was empty."
"You crazy bastard!"
Jeong Ha-rin spat curses and grabbed her collar, backing away from me.
"You, what the fuck are you thinking?! Are you insane? Fine, manager for fun, but..., how do you move next door?!"
Her reaction was richer than expected. I grinned happily.
And the elevator reached the 7th floor.
"Getting off?"
"......"
"Come by later or whatever. Heading home first."
"......"
Quitting time meant arriving home. The dream job, in a way.
I stepped out onto the 7th floor of the luxury officetel. Approached one of the two doors, punched in the code.
Beep.
"......You really moved in?"
"Why peek at someone else's passcode? Should I report you?"
"I should be the one reporting!"
Jeong Ha-rin stared at me like I was ridiculous. I ignored her and went inside.
"Whoa, why's it so empty? No furniture? ...No wonder I didn't know you moved in."
"......"
Jeong Ha-rin grabbed my door and peeked inside uninvited.
'Empty? It's super clean and nice.'
Of course, all I'd brought from my old place were basic clothes and my computer. But I liked it. Furniture I could buy piece by piece. Just escaping that moldy one-room was bliss.
"Hey."
Then, Jeong Ha-rin, standing blankly at the entrance, spoke as she opened the door wider. Sharp and fierce voice.
"Fuck, saying it again..., don't get any funny ideas. Think I'll fall for you just 'cause you're hot?"
"......Never thought that."
"Bullshit, your intentions are obvious. Anyway, try any tricks and..."
What would she do if I did? 'She's making me wanna try more.'
I almost laughed but stopped. No interest in scumbag sex crimes.
"Acting like a slut who spreads her legs for everyone."
"......What, what'd you say?! You done talking shit?!"
"Whatever, get out. Someone's breaking the law here. This is my house? Get out before I call the cops for trespassing."
"Hey, you fuck! Do anything weird and!!"
I shoved the yelling Jeong Ha-rin out and shut the door.
Slam.
Beep.
"Phew..., quiet now."
People were probably waiting in the hospital lobby already. Wasted time on her.
"Alright, off I go..., some big shot from broadcasting today?"
I got ready and fast-traveled to the Korea University Hospital lobby.
"Whoa..., that Lee Ji-hoon psycho. Total nutjob, right?"
Jeong Ha-rin stood in front of Lee Ji-hoon's door, glaring at it for a while.
"Parachute manager, and moves next door? Thinks he's the guy from next door or some drama shit..."
Jeong Ha-rin thought of a famous drama with a similar setup. The protagonist becomes the heroine's manager and happens to live next door.
...The handsome part felt the same too.
Then she shook her head hard.
"I'm crazy, fantasizing over some chocolate milk bitch..."
No matter how hot, he was just an actor manager. No idea how he afforded this luxury officetel, but.
'Can't lose my expensive purity to a loser like that.'
She dreamed of selling it big to a chaebol someday and rising high. So with a stern face, Jeong Ha-rin headed to her place. Checked around twice for anything weird.
She shut her door while glaring at Ji-hoon's door.
Slam!
And the next day.
"......"
"You're here? Hop in quick."
"Ha, nice. No worries about being late."
Jeong Ha-rin, looking tired, got into the car where Lee Ji-hoon had the engine running.
"You look beat? Didn't sleep?"
"......Wolf pup moved next door."
"That's some ego."
"......"
And so the second day of Lee Ji-hoon as manager began.
'What the hell's this guy's deal...?'
At first, she thought he was just trying to hit on her. He'd shown interest when doing her designated driving before.
Plus, she was a fresh rookie actress blowing up from a lead role in a famous movie, super pretty too. Tons of guys pulled moves on her besides him. Famous male actors, directors, agency-connected businessmen.
But.
'This psycho's a first...'
She'd dealt with all kinds of guys hitting on her, but none became her manager and moved next door.
'Wait..., maybe...'
Something flashed in Jeong Ha-rin's mind.
'This fucker's trying to ruin me?'
She'd assumed his hot looks meant he was after her, but revenge seemed more likely. High school "friends" at best, not exactly buddies.
'Then why not just post on broadcast sites or online...? Why manager...?'
But thinking differently, revenge wouldn't need this hassle. Easier ways existed aplenty. And she hadn't tormented him that bad—just errands.
'What the hell's he thinking...?'
Jeong Ha-rin glared at Ji-hoon's back while driving, not even reading her script properly.
But contrary to her worries, the day went normally. Shoot smooth, Ji-hoon did manager duties diligently.
And afternoon.
"Director."
"Yeah? Oh, Ha-rin. What's up?"
"Can I use a stunt double for this?"
"......What? Stunt double?"
Today's shoot: the drama's highlight, male and female leads' kiss scene. Jeong Ha-rin wanted a double for it.
"No, Ha-rin. How can you use a double for a kiss scene! It's what viewers hype most!"
"I didn't even know there was a kiss. Anyway, if no double, I'll fake it."
"Haa..., no, you're an actress. Just do it?"
Jeong Ha-rin didn't budge.
'Riding my popularity for ratings anyway.'
She knew her worth, so she could pull this. Acting stardom wasn't her goal.
"Haa..., break for now! Everyone gather."
"Decide well."
Jeong Ha-rin ignored the director's glare and went to Ji-hoon.
"Kiss scene? Why skip?"
Ji-hoon handed her a drink and asked as she approached.
"Ha, you think I'm nuts filming a kiss? Whole country watches, preserve me tonguing some other guy?"
"......"
Ji-hoon shut his mouth, baffled.
'Isn't that what acting is...?'
Stripping naked if needed for the role. He couldn't understand her stance.
'Sensitive spot, huh...'
Might be her most precious thing. Guessing that, Ji-hoon probed more about the kiss.
This is why he picked manager.
"Kiss ain't big deal. Not your first."
"Uh, never done it."
"......What?"
"So don't spout shit anywhere. Weird rumors, I'll sue."
"......"
Never even kissed...? Unbelievable. First experiences happening younger these days. In his memories, she was loose, hanging with party kids, probably spread for all sorts.
"No lie...? Still, dated guys, right? And none touched you...?"
Ji-hoon whispered just in case. She sighed wearily.
"Hey, know my dream?"
"...Dunno."
"Marry rich handsome chaebol third-gen, become lady. That's it."
"Huh...."
"So while others cram exams, grad uni, certs. I manage looks, build career, keep purity as premium product."
Getting her point now.
'So..., no guys, no kisses to stay competitive...'
Chaebol romance most dismiss as fantasy. She'd aimed true since childhood. Toughest person he'd met, in a way.
Still.
'Valuable info.'
Stuff you couldn't normally get. Ji-hoon smiled faintly.
And then.
"Ha-rin?"
Someone approached them. They turned.
"Ah..., sunbae."
"Haha, call me oppa. Casual."
Kang Do-hyun. Famous actor playing male lead in her drama. He approached her, glancing at Ji-hoon.
"Whoa~, this the new manager? Aspiring actor?"
"Lee Ji-hoon. Not aspiring, just manager."
Ji-hoon bowed politely.
"Haha, nice to meet. Anyway, Ha-rin."
"Yes, sunbae."
"Heard you want double for kiss. ...Something wrong with me?"
"No, nothing with you, sunbae. Personal reasons."
Jeong Ha-rin answered coldly, mechanically.
'This guy's blatant too...'
She'd dealt with guys pulling moves in acting. Kang Do-hyun one of them. Kept distance.
"Ah, good. Director said persuade you. ...If not big deal, just do it? Or..."
He glanced at Ji-hoon.
"...Boyfriend watches drama?"
"...No, not that. Sorry, sunbae."
"Okay, I'll explain to director."
"Thanks."
Kang Do-hyun left after. Then turned from afar to look at Ha-rin.
'Ha..., that stubborn...?'
He dropped the nice smile, clicked tongue.
Jeong Ha-rin. Hottest actress now. Top-tier looks too, made him lick lips.
'Dodging makes me want her more...'
Common: leads filming romance, spark real. He'd bedded many that way. Sometimes lover vibe, sometimes "ease bed scene awkwardness."
She was thickest wall yet.
'Doesn't care pissing off director...'
Rare for lead actress to refuse kiss. Not huge deal, but could tank rep, get shunned.
'That confident...'
Looks, acting. Recent movie topped OTT charts weeks. Backing let her act out. Tough for him.
Finally, he called someone.
Riiing...
Click.
"H-hello?"
"Ah, Hyeok-jin?"
The call was to Jeong Ha-rin's ex-manager, Jang Hyeok-jin.
"I'll buy that info. ...How much?"
To Kang Do-hyun, Jeong Ha-rin felt like a game he had to break. Gritting teeth, he'd use any means.