The Lotus
"But Team Leader, why are both Baeksol and Baek Noya Baeks? My past life was Baek Yu-hyeon too."
Han Hae-un's words drew a snort of laughter from Yeon-woo.
"Baek Noya isn't a Baek. It's Back. He's ridiculously good at running away. Or maybe they call him that because he always stays in the rear."
"Ah, is that so? English mixed with Chinese characters—that's bizarre."
Han Hae-un continued.
"Still, this time that Back might become the backer watching our backs. Baek Noya said the debt he owes you can't be repaid with stories of the past like this, so he'll support us with as much information and manpower as possible. He said he's lived long enough anyway, and if any of Baeksol remains, he wants revenge."
"Baek Noya's escape skills are first-rate, but he's survived this long in the underworld, so his foundation is pretty solid. He'll be useful. Just don't trust him too much."
Han Hae-un nodded and asked again.
"But what is this favor you did for him, Team Leader? Baek Noya was extremely devoted toward you."
"It's nothing special. I saved his granddaughter once."
"...Excuse me? How is that nothing special?"
When Yeon-woo had been in charge of the domestic division in his past life, Baek Noya—whom he often used as an informant—had his family put in danger by an opposing organization's attack plan. At the man's desperate plea to save his granddaughter, Yeon-woo had arranged for her to immigrate to America.
At the time he had only helped because he needed good relations with his informants, but for the one who received the help, it would not have been such a light favor.
"Ah, and about Byeon Hak-gyu and An Jun-ho that you mentioned, Team Leader. Plus10 Entertainment."
At Han Hae-un's words, Yeon-woo looked over.
"Yeah, anything turn up?"
"First, An Jun-ho—the investigation results haven't been announced yet, but it seems a small amount of the kind you slip into drinks was detected. Not the direct injection type. He claims he didn't know and just accepted the drinks he was given."
Listening to Han Hae-un, Yeon-woo nodded. He hadn't seemed the type, so there was a good chance he'd fallen into a trap.
"What about the punishment?"
"It's a first offense, and the opposing lawyer is someone with a lot of experience in this area, so internal opinion at the prosecution is that a suspended indictment is likely. Still, as a celebrity, he won't be able to recover his ruined image."
Yeon-woo nodded at Han Hae-un's words. He would need to meet An Jun-ho separately sometime later.
"And about CEO Byeon Hak-gyu. Recently Plus10 has been split into several subsidiaries, and those subsidiaries are suspicious. Lately various entertainment industry incidents have been erupting from those companies."
Watching Yeon-woo listen silently, thinking about something, Han Hae-un added,
"And that drama you're filming these days, Star Beyond the River."
"Hm?"
At the unexpected words from Han Hae-un's mouth, Yeon-woo stopped thinking and looked at him.
"One of the actors from a Plus10 subsidiary is appearing in that production too. Park Gyeong-wan."
"Park Gyeong-wan? Hmm."
Park Gyeong-wan was the one who had subtly picked a fight during the action scene shoot last time.
He was an actor who would appear in a fairly impactful supporting role from episode 12 onward, when they started filming on the special sets. Originally he had been a member of the stunt team, but recently he had started taking roles with dialogue in a few productions.
After he had so obviously picked a fight, Yeon-woo had thought to keep an eye on him, but with no further movement he had been gradually fading from his attention...
Having finished reporting everything about the investigation and today's matter with Baek Noya, Han Hae-un left saying he had business in Incheon, and Yeon-woo returned home, organized his thoughts, and fell asleep.
When the next day dawned, Yeon-woo drove down to Daejeon himself and kept his retired mother company until, before he knew it, evening had arrived.
"What? Oppa's home?"
"Those are Yeon-woo's shoes."
The front door opened, and his father's and younger sister's voices carried in.
Apparently school had ended and their father had picked So-hyun up on the way back.
"Welcome home, Father."
"That's my line. It's been a while since you came down, son."
"Oppa! I've got a mountain of autograph requests piled up. Last time you came to pick me up from school, the rumor spread everywhere. You have to do every single one before you leave."
With all four of them gathered under one roof for the first time in ages, the house grew noisy and seemed to fill with life.
"Got it. I'll leave a million of them."
Yeon-woo ruffled So-hyun's hair with a smile.
"Everyone eat. The kimchi stew's ready."
"Yes. I'll wash my hands first."
Father and So-hyun headed into the bathroom to wash up, while Yeon-woo sat down at the table ahead of them and set out the spoons and chopsticks.
In a way, the glamorous life of an actor dressing in a tuxedo for award ceremonies was something he had already tasted in his past life, attending high-society foreign parties now and then in the role of a diplomat.
It was ordinary moments like these that made Yeon-woo feel, once again, that he was living a life completely different from his previous one.
Watching his father and sister wash their hands and take their seats, Yeon-woo smiled contentedly.
"What? Why are you smiling, Oppa? I gained weight, didn't I."
"What weight? You need to eat more."
Gazing at the kimchi stew sending up lazy curls of steam, Yeon-woo steeled his resolve even harder.
Whoever they are, I will never let this life be taken from me. Never.
They finished the meal in high spirits and chatted quietly among themselves until, before they knew it, it was almost time for the drama to start.
Ryu So-hyun settled onto the sofa with her smartphone in hand so she could follow the live chat alongside the drama.
What she was watching wasn't just the usual green portal she frequented, but open chat rooms as well.
Most of them were members of Ryu Yeon-woo's or Jin Yu-han's fan cafés, or people who had become fans of Star Beyond the River after watching episode one the day before.
So-hyun watched the live chats for a while, then, when the logo announcing the start of the drama appeared, she tore her eyes from her phone and joined the rest of the family in staring at the TV screen.
"Oppa, what's today's episode about?"
"Honestly. Where's the fun if you already know?"
"Mom hates getting spoiled, huh? That's what we call a spoiler."
At So-hyun's words, their mother let out a soft laugh.
"I know that much, thank you. I got force-fanned by my own son."
"Ooooh. Legendary."
These days Yeon-woo's mother, Lee Seon-ok, spent her time at home hunting down videos related to her son and peeking into fan cafés to see what people were saying.
Along the way she was gradually picking up fandom slang and internet culture.
"Honestly. Enough with the traffic accidents and spoilers—focus on the TV. Our son's coming on."
At their father's words, the family turned their attention back to the screen.
"Today I shall set you one question. Think it over carefully and bring me your answers this afternoon."
They received the problem their master, Wang Ham-yun, had set and each unfolded it.
Go outside and find what kind of person you wish to become as you live in this world.
Hong Ui-yeon's face brightened as she read the letter, and she turned to Master Wang Ham-yun.
"Then we're allowed to go outside today?"
"Yes. All of you go out, look around, and return with your answers this afternoon."
At those words Hong Ui-yeon's face lit up and she sprang to her feet.
She immediately began shaking Seo Hui and Yi Ji-baek, who were seated beside her, urging them along.
"Waaah! Let's go, let's go! Hurry outside, young masters. On the way here the willow plum blossoms were everywhere."
Caught off guard, Seo Hui and Yi Ji-baek rose and were hauled outside by Hong Ui-yeon.
Watching the three of them from behind, Wang Ham-yun smiled with quiet satisfaction.
"How can they be so upright, so pure, so clear."
The screen then showed Hong Ui-yeon dragging Seo Hui and Yi Ji-baek through the marketplace, trying on ornaments, before shifting to the three of them strolling along a quiet pond.
Seo Hui and Yi Ji-baek watched Hong Ui-yeon as she ran laughing through a flower field, bright and carefree.
"Tsk tsk. How can she be so frivolous? From our first meeting until now, she has no sense of propriety."
"Haha. Why does Young Master Seo dislike Lady Hong so much?"
"It's not that I dislike her, exactly..."
At Yi Ji-baek's words, Seo Hui scratched his cheek and mumbled. Yi Ji-baek asked again.
"Have you thought about what you wish to become, Young Master Seo?"
"Well, I'm still turning it over carefully. What about you?"
"I wish to become like that flowing river over there. I want to keep flowing without end and see the wide world."
"That answer suits you."
Seo Hui nodded at Yi Ji-baek's words.
Hong Ui-yeon, who had been looking at the flowers, came over and asked,
"What are you talking about?"
"We were thinking about the problem Master set us. Have you decided what you wish to resemble, Lady Hong?"
At Yi Ji-baek's question, Seo Hui answered in her place.
"How about a foal? You run around so well every day."
"I do not!"
Hong Ui-yeon glared at Seo Hui, huffing, then looked off toward a woman sitting by the distant river drawing water and opened her mouth.
"I want to become a person like the river. Someone precious who is of help to everyone."
At that answer a spark lit in Yi Ji-baek's eyes, while Seo Hui watched with interest.
"The two of you give the same answer. Yet the reasons are completely different."
After that, the scenes of Seo Hui, Yi Ji-baek, and Hong Ui-yeon wandering here and there, simply enjoying themselves, looked like a living photo book.
In the midst of it all, the way Yi Ji-baek kept watching Hong Ui-yeon—honey practically dripping from his eyes—made it clear that affection had taken root.
Watching Jin Yu-han's performance, So-hyun seemed to be sucked straight into the screen.
"Waaah, what is that look in his eyes. I'm getting butterflies. Oppa, I have a request."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Get me Jin Yu-han's autograph."
Their mother shot So-hyun a mild glare.
"What! He's handsome. I'm allowed to become a fan."
"Who said you weren't? Get me one too, son."
"Haha. All right."
Curious about the internet reaction, So-hyun looked back at the chat window—and found it the opposite of what she had expected.
"Hm? Oppa's more popular on the internet."
"Really?"
At So-hyun's words, their father and mother scooted closer with interest and snatched her smartphone.
"Hey, why. You can look on your own phones."
"We don't know where to go."
"What do you mean you don't know! Mom, you spend all day staring at fan cafés on the computer."
Over at the KBC1 Drama Department as well, Bureau Chief Hwang Cheol-yeong and Director Lee Sang-hun were staring holes through the television.
"So both of you wish to become like the river. Then what kind of person do you wish to become, Seo Hui?"
"I wish to become like the lotus."
"The lotus...? A man as a flower. And the reason?"
Ryu Yeon-woo appeared on screen, his refined features and resolute voice delivering the line as if it resonated straight through the chest.
"The lotus pushes up through the mire and lives its whole life in the mud, yet is never stained by that filth. I wish to become that kind of person."
With those words the camera briefly showed Hong Ui-yeon's and Yi Ji-baek's faces before cutting away.
On the screen, a masked figure was setting fire to a thatched cottage.
Then the viewpoint pulled back into a wide shot and rose, and with tense music swelling, fires bloomed one after another across Gaegyeong.