Chapter 72
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 72
Although Han-byeol only had one official shoot left, frequent reshoots meant he was still a regular on the film set.
The boy’s reshoots were usually scheduled on off-days, rarely overlapping with Eun-seong's schedule, so the two seldom saw each other. Now, with the reshoots finally winding down, Han-byeol’s time on set was coming to an end.
Today, however, Han-byeol arrived in an exceptionally good mood. For the first time in a while, his schedule overlapped with Eun-seong’s.
His pockets stuffed with chocolates from home, he ran straight to Eun-seong's waiting room, only to find it empty.
After wandering around aimlessly, he was spotted by his acting coach and dragged into practice. With his mind completely elsewhere, it was impossible to focus. He had to repeat a scene he usually nailed several times before he was finally allowed to leave.
He resumed his search for Eun-seong, scouring the area. He walked wherever his feet took him until he suddenly stopped in his tracks. It dawned on him that instead of running around like this, he could just call.
"Is it okay to call him?"
Han-byeol muttered, fiddling with his phone. He had the number, but they had never exchanged calls or texts. His mom had warned him that Eun-seong was a very busy person and that he should never be the one to contact him first.
Staring quietly at the number on his screen, Han-byeol slipped the phone back into his pocket. He wouldn't know what to say if Eun-seong asked why he called, and the thought of the potential embarrassment was enough to make him decide against it.
"…Oh?"
Just then, he spotted Eun-seong walking toward him with a group of people. Han-byeol couldn't contain his joy and beamed. It felt like telepathy—the moment he’d decided not to call, Eun-seong had appeared out of nowhere. Han-byeol ran toward him.
"Han-byeol, you're here!"
The first to greet him was Dong-hwan, the manager walking beside Eun-seong. Han-byeol gave Dong-hwan a polite bow before looking up at Eun-seong, pulling the chocolates from his pocket.
A reporter walking with them looked down at Han-byeol and asked, "Who is this?"
"Oh, he's the kid playing Eun-seong's son in the movie. His name is Han-byeol. Handsome, isn't he?"
"Wow. He really is handsome."
Hearing them talk about him, Han-byeol glanced up at the strangers.
"Han-byeol, these are reporters. Say hello."
"Hello. I'm Han-byeol."
"Oh, he somehow resembles Im Eun-seong. Is it because they're both handsome? Where on earth did you find a kid like him?"
"Ah, well, about that…"
Dong-hwan started to explain but cut himself off when Eun-seong shot him a cold look. Oblivious to the tension, Han-byeol opened his palm and held the chocolates out to Eun-seong.
"These are for you."
Eun-seong looked down at the child's hand.
"I brought them to give to you when I saw you. I brought a lot today."
"Wow, chocolates! Can I have some too?"
When Dong-hwan chimed in, Han-byeol nodded vigorously. He was starting to feel embarrassed that Eun-seong wasn't taking them.
Dong-hwan took a few chocolates from Han-byeol's hand and popped them into his mouth. Even then, Eun-seong didn't reach for any. Han-byeol slowly lowered his hand and stared at the floor.
"Han-byeol, do well on your reshoot today. Good luck!"
Han-byeol nodded slowly at Dong-hwan's voice, which seemed to be speaking for the silent Eun-seong. Wondering if he had done something wrong, he thought hard, and then, as if realizing what it was, he looked up again.
"My invitation. About that…"
His lips still sealed, Eun-seong met Han-byeol's gaze. Han-byeol shrugged, putting on a slightly exaggerated expression.
"I just made that because I was bored. Uh, just… I was thinking of having my birthday party with just my mom and grandmother anyway."
"…"
"Uh, and Auntie Hae-young too. That's how we've always, uh, always had my parties since I was little."
"…"
"Of course, I'll have one with my friends too. But the party with my mom is the real party."
Han-byeol mumbled, his voice trailing off. Dong-hwan, still chewing on the chocolates, read the room and quietly led the reporters away. The reporters glanced back at the boy and Eun-seong as they walked, but Eun-seong's expression remained utterly cold and detached.
In the end, they were left alone, which only made it harder for Han-byeol to look Eun-seong in the eye.
Was he mad because of the invitation? Was he mad because I set the time without asking?
"Anyway… it's totally fine if you don't come. No, no, I mean, it really was just an invitation I made because I was bored…"
"Right. I understand."
When Eun-seong replied curtly, Han-byeol looked up at his face. Eun-seong didn't smile, didn't pat his head, and didn't even call him by his nickname, One Star. Han-byeol felt so strange he could hardly bear it.
As the child stood there fidgeting with his fingers, Eun-seong spoke again.
"I don't think I can make it that day. I'll be busy. I'm sorry."
"Oh, no! It's okay. I'm really okay. It's fine. Really."
"Good. I'm glad you're okay with it. Do well on your reshoot."
As Eun-seong finished speaking and walked away, Han-byeol's mouth fell slightly open. He stood there blinking, then turned to watch Eun-seong's retreating back.
Eun-seong’s figure, rejoining the waiting reporters, looked so cold and harsh that the sorrow Han-byeol had been holding back threatened to burst forth.
Biting his lip, Han-byeol fiddled with the chocolates still in his pocket. His lips trembled, and his ears burned hot.
Feeling like he was about to burst into tears, Han-byeol turned and ran in the opposite direction.
* * *
Tae-gon, currently in Paris, returned to his hotel after a dinner with film industry executives. The five-star hotel near George V Station was located in the 8th arrondissement, just off the famous Champs-Élysées.
Heading straight to his room, Tae-gon poured himself a whiskey and settled into a relaxing half-bath. With smooth jazz filling the room, he let the clinking of ice wash away the day's fatigue. Looking out at the panoramic view of Paris, he felt as if the entire world lay at his feet.
Tae-gon loved moments like this—looking down on everything from the very top.
Just ten years ago, he had been scraping by in basement offices, feeding on nothing but dreams and ambition. I will succeed. I will make a star with my own two hands.
He had gritted his teeth a dozen times a day back then. Bowing endlessly to industry figures who wouldn't even accept his business card, let alone share a meal with him, he had bided his time, waiting for an opportunity. Just you wait. I will succeed. I will absolutely make it.
But things rarely went according to plan. The entertainment industry was alluring precisely because no one knew who would be the next big star, but that same unpredictability made it a brutal market. Even when he first cast Eun-seong, then just a college freshman, he had never imagined the kid would become this successful.
Yet, in the end, he had climbed all the way to the top. It was nothing short of a triumph of human will.
"I need to wrap up this contract quickly."
Enjoying the Paris nightscape, he tilted his glass slightly. The clinking of the ice was music to his ears. The reason Tae-gon was in such a stellar mood today was that his company's stock price had surged.
Usually, stock prices plummeted when a flagship star's contract neared its end, but Eun-seong was different. It was unprecedented and highly symbolic.
It was a phenomenon driven by the market's confidence that Eun-seong would renew his contract with Yeonildam. Tae-gon slowly swirled his glass, listening to the ice. Clink. Clink.
"I'm never letting you go, Eun-seong."
He muttered to himself as if Eun-seong were standing right in front of him. Just then, the doorbell rang over the jazz music. Tae-gon glanced toward the door, stepped out of the tub, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
"Who is it?"
—It's Chief Yang, CEO.
Hearing Chief Yang's voice, Tae-gon opened the door. Chief Yang, already bent in a deep bow, looked up at him. Tae-gon gave a brief nod, gesturing for him to enter.
"I apologize for disturbing your rest, sir."
"Cut the crap. Did you look into what I asked?"
"Yes, CEO."
Water dripped from Tae-gon's damp body. He sat on the sofa and held out his hand. Chief Yang stepped forward politely, bowed once more, and handed him a folder.
"Anything unusual?" he asked before even opening it.
"Well, Ms. Go Yeon-ju doesn't have a husband, CEO."
"…She doesn't? Then who the hell is that guy running the animal hospital?"
"He's just the director of a local animal hospital in her neighborhood. He and Ms. Go Yeon-ju are not married."
"What the fuck? Then what is this?"
Tae-gon flipped the folder open. Eun-seong and Jin Hae-young had definitely told him Go Yeon-ju had a husband. A veterinarian. They had been so sure. Absolutely sure.
"Ha, this is driving me fucking crazy."
…Did they lie to me?
Tae-gon's brow furrowed as he scrutinized the documents. There wasn't much of interest in Yeon-ju's file, so he flipped to Han-byeol's records. That was when Chief Yang chimed in.
"He is ten years old, CEO. He started elementary school a year late, so he's a year older than his classmates."
"Ten years old?"
Tae-gon stared at Han-byeol's file, lost in thought. Ten years old. Ten years old…
As he put the pieces together, his eyes widened, and his fists clenched tight.
"This is insane."
Gritting his teeth, Tae-gon bolted upright from the sofa.
He threw the folder to the floor and glared at Chief Yang.
"Get the car ready. We're going straight to the airport."
"Yes, CEO."
Tae-gon canceled all his remaining schedules in Paris and booked the next flight back to Korea.