Chapter 22
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22
"Go Yeon-ju's son? The child actor?"
"Yes, CEO."
Dong-hwan, Eun-seong's manager, had been summoned to the office of Tae-gon, the head of the agency.
Upon entering the CEO's office, Dong-hwan briefly explained Eun-seong's current status, adding Han-byeol's casting at the end of his report.
Tae-gon's brow furrowed deeply. He had been on a business trip abroad to sort out Eun-seong's schedule, and this mess had unfolded without anyone bothering to inform him.
"Are these crazy bastards casting people without consulting me?"
Dong-hwan swallowed hard as Tae-gon shot back fiercely.
Although Han-byeol was playing Eun-seong's son, his screen time wasn't significant, and casting a child actor for a movie wasn't typically something the CEO needed to be involved in.
Confused as to why Tae-gon was getting so worked up, Dong-hwan continued with a blank expression.
"Well, the director happened to spot the kid and cast him on the spot."
"Bullshit. This has Director Jin Hae-young's fingerprints all over it. Do you really think this was a coincidence?"
Tae-gon didn't believe a word of this so-called "on-the-spot casting."
Logically, you couldn't cast an actor that way for a film with tens of billions of won invested in it. Hadn't the original child actor, who supposedly broke his leg, beaten out hundreds of others for the part?
"So, the director saw some kid on the street and just cast him? You expect me to believe that?"
"Uh... well, that's the story. Quite a few people witnessed it."
"It's definitely Jin Hae-young's doing. She must have planned this from the start when she brought Go Yeon-ju in."
"Huh? But this only happened because the original child actor broke his leg. To say it was planned seems a bit..."
Sensing Tae-gon's sharp glare, Dong-hwan let his voice trail off.
Tae-gon was convinced that the sly Director Jin Hae-young had intentionally paraded Yeon-ju's son in front of the film's director to secure his debut.
No, he even suspected they might have coordinated with the director beforehand, staging the entire incident just to make it look plausible.
Because that was exactly what he would have done.
The fact that Han-byeol had now signed with Chang-rok Entertainment, Hae-young's agency, turned Tae-gon's suspicion into absolute certainty.
The director must have been bribed by Chang-rok, and Go Yeon-ju's son was getting a free pass to a glamorous debut.
"Just how much did Chang-rok have to bribe them?"
"Pardon?"
His mind made up, Tae-gon clenched his teeth. The thought of being outmaneuvered by Director Jin Hae-young was infuriating.
That sly fox, Jin Hae-young. I will crush you, no matter what it takes.
"CEO, is there some kind of problem...?"
"None of your business. What did Eun-seong say?"
"About what?"
"Go Yeon-ju's son got cast! What did Eun-seong say about it?!"
"He didn't say much. He didn't seem to care at all."
Sigh. Tae-gon rubbed his temples. Jin Hae-young was one thing, but Go Yeon-ju's behavior—slowly worming her way into Eun-seong's orbit—was just as offensive.
He had let his guard down for a moment because she was a married woman with a child starting as a lowly assistant, but that had clearly been a mistake.
"Are these people playing games with me? The nerve."
Tae-gon narrowed his eyes at Dong-hwan.
He couldn't let Eun-seong get dragged into a game rigged by Jin Hae-young and Go Yeon-ju. He couldn't just sit back and watch Go Yeon-ju ride Eun-seong's coattails to secure her son's successful debut while feigning innocence.
Tae-gon immediately called Team Leader Lee Hyeong-mi, Eun-seong's dedicated stylist.
"Team Leader Lee, it's me. I'm sending that junior staff member we discussed to Jin Hae-young soon, so make sure she's well-prepared."
He would not tolerate someone like Go Yeon-ju lingering around Eun-seong.
Tae-gon decided he had to get Yeon-ju kicked off the movie's costume team. He resolved to resume the plan he'd temporarily shelved: sending a new assistant to Director Jin Hae-young.
Hanging up, Tae-gon fixed his gaze on Dong-hwan. Staring intently at the manager, who still didn't seem to grasp the issue, he muttered in a threatening tone.
"You go and keep a close eye on Eun-seong. Don't get distracted. Got it?"
"Yes, CEO."
"Make sure no pests get near him. If his image gets tarnished, you're dead to me. Understand?"
"I understand, CEO."
Dong-hwan nodded, his face tense.
* * *
After watching Han-byeol and Eun-seong practice together, Yeon-ju returned to the waiting room, her expression blank and dazed.
The image of him and Han-byeol together—something she could neither forget nor erase—lingered like an afterimage every time she blinked.
She still had work to do. She needed to organize and pack away the clothes.
But her body refused to move. Weighed down by an invisible force, Yeon-ju simply sat on the sofa, letting time slip by.
...How much time had passed?
The door opened, and Eun-seong walked in. Yeon-ju, who had been blinking slowly in a daze, turned with a start.
"Don't make that face."
"Pardon? Me?"
Startled by his sudden entrance, Yeon-ju's eyes widened, prompting his criticism.
Her eyebrows, which had shot up in surprise, quickly settled. She had no idea how to interpret his demand to fix her expression the moment he walked in.
Feeling stifled, Eun-seong unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. As he slumped onto the sofa, Yeon-ju automatically stood up to give him space.
Sweeping her hair back, Yeon-ju stole a glance at him.
Their eyes met.
"H-has practice finished already?" she blurted out, flustered.
Eun-seong let out a short sigh.
"It's over. You can't keep a kid practicing for too long. There's only so much they can absorb at once."
"Ah, yes..."
Yeon-ju's voice trailed off as she answered, her fingers fidgeting.
Her expression, still reeling from the dreamlike events of earlier, was frozen with tension.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"No, no. It's not that."
When Yeon-ju shook her head in denial, Eun-seong stood up.
Staring quietly at her pale, bloodless face, he let out a heavy sigh and lowered his head.
A slight headache was coming on, and he pressed his temples.
"It seems you're uncomfortable because an uninvited guest barged in. Go ahead and rest."
Believing she felt awkward being alone with him, Eun-seong tried to leave, but Yeon-ju took a step forward and blocked his path.
Eun-seong stopped in his tracks.
"This is your waiting room, Actor. If anyone should be resting, it's you."
"I'm fine, so just sit. You only stood up because of me."
"No, that's not it. I was about to get up anyway. I still have work to do."
As Yeon-ju pointed to the remaining tasks and spoke unusually fast, Eun-seong's eyebrows twitched.
Her face was as pale as uncooked dough, yet she was insisting she was fine and telling him to sit.
I'm the one who's not fine. I'm not fine.
"I was about to head out anyway. Whether you stay and work or rest, do as you please."
"Um, thank you."
"..."
"For taking such good care of Han-byeol."
Eun-seong looked somewhat surprised by the unexpected gratitude. Hesitating for a moment, Yeon-ju bowed deeply.
"I heard it's unusual for an actor to personally rehearse with someone from the very beginning. It must have been a huge help to Han-byeol. Thank you."
She raised her head to speak, then bowed deeply once more.
At the sight, Eun-seong let out another groan. So this is what Go Yeon-ju is like when she puts on her motherly mask? The same woman who's always so stubborn and cruel to me?
"I didn't do it to get your thanks. The sooner the kid gets used to it, the easier it is for me. I did it for myself, so don't worry about it."
"Still, I wanted to thank you properly. You've accommodated us in so many ways, and I feel both sorry and grateful."
Wondering how many more times she planned to bow, Eun-seong found himself awkwardly returning the gesture as she bent at the waist again.
They both straightened up. When Yeon-ju tried to bow yet again, he quickly reached out and pushed her forehead with his hand, forcing her upright.
"Unless you're trying to make me so uncomfortable that I hyperventilate, stop folding yourself in half."
"I didn't have any other way to express my gratitude."
"I get it. I've received more than enough thanks, so stop. You really don't know when to quit."
"I'm sorry."
As Yeon-ju quickly complied, lowering her gaze, Eun-seong studied her expression. Wondering why she was acting this way, he quietly examined her face and let out a dry sigh.
Whether she was being indifferent or bowing like this, he felt uncomfortable either way.
"To be honest, I wasn't expecting anything, but the kid acts quite well."
"..."
"He has good comprehension and adaptability. It doesn't feel like his first time."
"Ah..."
After Yeon-ju had left, the set had erupted in gasps of admiration. Eun-seong had only returned to the waiting room after seeing the director slap his knee and jump to his feet in excitement.
Eun-seong, still pressing his temple, stared at her.
Then, he took a step closer.
"There are still areas to improve, but I think that's something your son's effort and time will solve. His natural talent is quite good. I can't guarantee anything, but if he's polished well, he could make it big."
Yeon-ju looked at Eun-seong with a somewhat distant gaze. As he fell silent, having said his piece, she felt a sudden sting in her eyes and lowered her lids.
Just then, a warm hand settled on her shoulder. It was his.
As Eun-seong patted her shoulder a couple of times and then squeezed it gently, Yeon-ju bit her lip hard.
"I'm not just saying this to make you feel good. As you know, I don't know how to do that. And while I'm especially cautious talking about your son, facts are facts. I wanted you to know."
"Yes... thank you..."
"No. I should be the one thanking you."
...Was it because the day had been so strange, so extraordinary?
His touch felt incredibly warm.
As if it were tracing the hardships of a life she had endured alone, caressing the scars left by time.
"I don't know how this will sound to you, but... you raised your son well."
Under the fluorescent light, her world went dark.
You say I've worked hard. To think that you, of all people, would acknowledge the harsh, unyielding world that has been so uniquely cruel to me.
"I know it couldn't have been easy. You've worked hard raising him."
His words were terribly sorrowful, enough to bring her to tears.