Chapter 83
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 83
"If anything happens to him, you know what will happen. I will release this recording to the world. So you'd better watch yourself."
Yeon-ju's words had been gnawing at Tae-gon for days.
"Fuck…"
The more he mulled it over, the more furious he became. No matter how he wracked his brain, he couldn't find a way out of this.
He had ridden Eun-seong's coattails all the way to the top and had never felt this anxious or restless before. He’d done all sorts of dirty work to get what he wanted, but that was only possible because of the immense power he wielded.
Now, his entire life was about to be destroyed by a single recording. Anxiety kept him awake at night, and he was plagued by nightmares of falling right back to the bottom.
…Im Eun-seong was going to leave.
Tae-gon could already feel it. With the contract expiration approaching, Eun-seong would normally have dropped a hint about renewal, but this time was different. He’d heard that even when the company's contract specialist had subtly probed the actor's intentions, Eun-seong had remained consistently evasive.
It wouldn't matter if they threw mountains of money at him, offering an astronomical signing bonus and every favorable clause imaginable. Entertainment agencies capable of matching any offer were already lining up, just for a chance to sign Eun-seong. The man had renewed his contract last time out of pure loyalty, but he had absolutely no reason to stay with Yeonildam now that he knew the truth.
Yes. It was agonizing, but he had to let Eun-seong go. That was the only way to save Yeonildam.
"But I doubt that will solve everything," Tae-gon muttered, rubbing his chin. Would the problem really end just by letting Eun-seong walk? Would there be no other backlash?
Truthfully, he had no leverage to use against Eun-seong. Eun-seong wasn't the type to leave himself vulnerable like that. The threat he’d made to Go Yeon-ju had been a bluff, something he’d cooked up on the spot; Tae-gon didn't know a single one of Eun-seong's weaknesses.
If Eun-seong released that recording to the world, Tae-gon would be utterly defenseless.
"Sorry, CEO Min. The calls just don't stop, even at this hour."
Just as he was spiraling, the man who had briefly stepped away returned. Tae-gon quickly schooled his expression into a smirk.
"Of course you're busy. There's no rest when you're chasing a scoop."
The dimly lit bar was CEO Min's usual haunt. The man sitting across from him was Shin Gi-taek, the CEO of Sunlight Magazine.
He was two years younger than Tae-gon, and the two maintained a symbiotic relationship—a smooth business arrangement. They called each other "brother" on the surface, but it was a connection that would evaporate the second they were no longer useful to each other.
When Tae-gon picked up the bottle to pour a drink, Shin Gi-taek raised his glass. The Glenfiddich 30 Year Old flowed into the crystal old-fashioned glass, where a fist-sized sphere of ice clinked against the side.
Tae-gon tossed back the liquor, leaned against the sofa, and spoke.
"So, anything interesting lately? I haven't seen any exclusives from you guys in a while."
"That's why you need to help me out, CEO Min. If you've got any information, please share."
"Listen to you. Are you asking me to leak scandals about my own actors?"
Tae-gon laughed, but Shin Gi-taek shook his head with a completely serious face. In a world where exclusive scoops were becoming a rarity, Sunlight Magazine was in a deep slump.
"Are tips really that scarce?"
"We get plenty of tips from the general public these days, but verifying them is a nightmare. When we look into them, over ninety percent turn out to be fake."
"A huge waste of manpower."
"Exactly. The company's a mess. It's hard to make a living."
Watching Shin Gi-taek complain about his struggles while sipping a premium 30-year-old whiskey, Tae-gon let out a faint smirk.
"By the way, you're moving forward with Im Eun-seong's contract renewal, right?"
In the middle of their conversation, Shin Gi-taek subtly brought up Eun-seong. Tae-gon skillfully deflected.
"You can read all about it in the official press release."
"Press release or not, it's a sure thing. I mean, how could you not hold onto him, CEO Min?" Shin Gi-taek persisted, unwilling to let it go. "But shouldn't you leak a line or two around now to boost the stock price? Everyone is dying to know about Im Eun-seong's renewal."
"He has a business trip to Greece scheduled for next week. I'll give you the press release for that, CEO Shin. Take it."
"Oh, thank you so much."
Though he expressed his gratitude for the schedule, Shin Gi-taek sneered inwardly.
Who gives a damn about a schedule? I asked about the contract renewal.
But Tae-gon wasn't one to give up information easily. No matter how close they pretended to be, it was just business. Giving up for now, Shin Gi-taek refilled Tae-gon's glass.
"When is Im Eun-seong leaving the country? Isn't the domestic filming wrapping up soon?"
"I suppose so. I wonder if Eun-seong is dating lately; he hasn't been in touch at all."
Shin Gi-taek, who was in the middle of pouring, snapped his head up. Tae-gon waved his hand dismissively.
"It's a joke, a joke. It's just that he's been so quiet. He always goes dark when he gets deep into filming."
"Ah, right. CEO Min, would it be okay if we did an interview on the film set sometime?"
"Do whatever you want with that. You don't have to go through me; just contact our PR department."
"Yes, of course. I've just gotten into the habit of leaning on you, CEO Min. You always look out for me."
Shin Gi-taek laid on the flattery as he filled his own glass.
*
Sigh.
Three days had passed since she last saw Eun-seong, and the day of the shoot had finally arrived.
Yeon-ju, now returning to work, had been bustling about since the crack of dawn. To apologize to her colleagues, she had spent the morning diligently rolling gimbap. She felt too embarrassed to show up empty-handed.
"You look like you're fleeing a war. Honestly."
Mrs. Na muttered as she eyed the towering pile of gimbap. Just a short while ago, Yeon-ju had dropped the bombshell that she'd quit her job. Then, she had drifted from one temporary gig to another, like a day laborer helping out at a rich family's party.
Now, all of a sudden, she was going back to work with Hae-young and rolling enough gimbap to supply a Gimbap Heaven franchise.
"Do you need some help?"
"I'm all done. I'm leaving now. Just help me clean up."
"Isn't that the hardest part?"
"True. Sorry, Mom."
When Yeon-ju apologized with a grin, Mrs. Na's eyes widened. For a while now, Yeon-ju had been moping around like a sick little bird, but today, for the first time in ages, her daughter's face was bright and clear.
After packing the thick rolls of gimbap into a shopping bag and grabbing her purse, Yeon-ju headed out before Han-byeol had even woken up. Mrs. Na followed her to the front door, nagging the whole way.
"Wear gloves. It's cold. Should I get you a scarf?"
"It's not the middle of winter, Mom. I'm fine."
"Must be nice to be young. Watch the traffic lights when you cross the street."
"Okay."
"And don't just rush into the road when the bus is coming. Wave your hand politely. You're so tiny, what if the driver doesn't see you and hits you?"
"Oh, yes, yes. I'm off."
As Yeon-ju grabbed the doorknob, Mrs. Na raised her voice again.
"The bottom of that shopping bag is going to rip! Wrap some tape around it before you go!"
"It's sturdy, it'll be fine! Bye, Mom!"
With a thud, Yeon-ju closed the door and was gone. Mrs. Na tilted her head, watching her daughter practically fly out of the house.
"I wonder what's gotten into her," Mrs. Na thought to herself. "Running off like a madwoman with a flower in her hair."
Raising Yeon-ju was definitely harder than raising Han-byeol.
*
Filming was already winding down, heading into its final stages.
Eun-seong, who had continued to arrive early even after Yeon-ju left, parked his car in the empty lot once again. Out of habit, he walked through the entrance and headed straight for the waiting room.
As if announcing the start of winter, the sunlight was weak, leaving the hallway dim and gloomy. With every step he took, the heavy thud of his dress shoes echoed like a sound effect in the quiet hall.
He stopped in front of the waiting room door, his gaze fixed on the handle for a long moment. His heart fluttered. It was a conditioned response, the anticipation that a dream world would unfold the moment he opened this door.
As he gripped the handle, the cold metal seeped into his palm. He pressed down, slowly pushing the door open, and the scene inside came into view like a cherished memory playing in slow motion.
…There was a scene that came to mind every time he opened this door, a sight he longed to see.
A sight he’d mourned, thinking he would never see it again.
"Oh, you're here?"
This scene. This sight of you standing there.
Eun-seong froze, his hand still on the doorknob. His eyes met Yeon-ju's. Her hair was tied up loosely, and she was sweeping the floor, having already hung her coat on a hanger.
Her greeting was so sweet, so warm—it felt like a divine gift, crafted to comfort a life riddled with exhaustion and wandering.
"I'm airing out the room, so it's a bit cold. Would you like a cup of warm water?"
Was it always this exhausting to stand strong and endure?
Could a moment so full it stole your breath arrive this easily?
"I'll finish cleaning before you look at your script, Actor. Please wait just a moment."
While they had wandered, keeping each other at arm's length, their feelings had only deepened. The more they tried to create distance, the more their yearning grew.
"Come on in, Actor."
As Yeon-ju gestured for him to let go of the door, Eun-seong stepped into the waiting room. He pulled the handle, closing the door with a soft thud, then locked it with a sharp click.
He strode toward her as she raised her eyebrows, still holding the broom. He felt as if she would vanish if he didn't touch her this very second.
Without warning, he pulled her into his arms and brought his lips down to hers. His tongue slid between hers in a morning greeting all its own. It was a deep kiss, one he had no intention of ending anytime soon, but it wasn't driven by a crude, primal urge to possess her.
He wanted all of her. Everything that was hers, he wanted to claim as his own.
So he drank her in deeply, not missing a single breath that escaped from between her teeth.
As if this were the only way he could swallow her wounded breaths and make them his.