Chapter 87
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 87
A few days later, Eun-seong arrived at the Dream Art offices on Teheran-ro in Gangnam-gu. A secretary led him straight to the CEO's office, where CEO Park rose from the sofa to greet him.
"Well, look who it is! Eun-seong!"
"It's been a while, CEO Park. How have you been?"
Eun-seong smiled warmly as CEO Park rushed over, her welcome so enthusiastic it was as if she'd run out barefoot to greet him. They had known each other for years, their paths crossing often, and CEO Park always made a point to treat him to a meal whenever he was back in Korea.
"I heard you started filming the moment you returned, so I figured you were swamped. I didn't want to impose and was just waiting for the right time to reach out."
"Didn't you send a meal truck to the set recently?"
"I did! But let me tell you, even that wasn't easy. I wanted to send one right away, but the production team said so many others had already booked dates. I had to get in line and wait for an open slot!"
When she first contacted the production staff, they had to turn her down. It took a month and a half before she could finally secure a spot.
"Thanks to you, we wrapped up the shoot smoothly, CEO Park."
"You worked hard. I can't wait to see how entertaining the movie is. Honestly, you could just stand there doing nothing and it would still be a masterpiece."
CEO Park took Eun-seong by the hand, leading him to the sofa with the warmth of an older sister looking after her younger brother as she poured him a cup of tea. Eun-seong settled comfortably into his seat and lifted his teacup.
"Let's get some food. Do you want to grab something now?"
When CEO Park asked, Eun-seong waved his hand.
"I'm still on a strict diet."
"Ah, right. Of course."
CEO Park had a small face with sharp, distinct features. Her short hair, a style she’d maintained for years, had become her trademark. She exuded the aura of a successful entrepreneur even while sitting still and was known as the long-time supporter of actor Kang Tae-jun.
Eun-seong quietly gazed at a black-and-white photo of Tae-jun hanging on the office wall and asked how he was doing.
"How is Tae-jun?"
"Oh, you know him. Busy raising his kids. His daughter is nine this year."
"Ah, nine."
The mention of a nine-year-old daughter brought a smile to Eun-seong's face. The thought that they were both fathers raising children around the same age as Han-byeol created an instant sense of kinship.
"He must be busy. Nine is such a lovely age, isn't it?"
"It really is. I've never seen a man so devoted to his family. He's turned into a complete homebody."
"And how is Sister-in-law doing?"
"Jeong-won is doing great, too. Actually, she's the one working more these days."
Eun-seong nodded as CEO Park shared their updates with a laugh. He raised his teacup to his lips again but lowered it as he remembered one more person to ask about.
"How is Director Hwang? Is he still a director?"
"My husband? He's a director for life. Says he has no interest in being CEO. Basically, he just doesn't want to work."
As CEO Park burst into laughter, Eun-seong laughed along, finding her amusement contagious.
"Anyway, how have you been? Come on, tell me."
"Me? Nothing special. Just filming every day or preparing for a shoot."
Eun-seong continued his candid conversation with CEO Park. They were on the same wavelength and clicked instantly, chatting without pause, laughing, and listening intently to each other.
Some time passed.
"Oh my, is that the time already?"
Deep in conversation, CEO Park glanced at the clock, her eyes widening in surprise. Two hours had flown by. Worried she had kept a busy man for too long, she grew flustered.
"I completely lost track of time. I hope I didn't keep you when you have things to do."
"Not at all. Actually, I was thinking it's about time I got to the main point."
At Eun-seong's unexpected remark, CEO Park's expression instantly stiffened with tension.
"Ah, so you had something to say. Go ahead, speak freely. Make yourself comfortable."
"I'll be a free agent soon."
CEO Park, who had been leaning back against the sofa, suddenly bolted upright. She unconsciously uncrossed her legs and swallowed hard.
FA. Free Agency. With those two words, Im Eun-seong of Yeonildam Entertainment had just declared his intention to enter the open market rather than renew his contract.
Though rarely rattled, CEO Park hastily took a sip of her tea. Her mind was already racing.
"I'm thinking of parting ways with Yeonildam."
"We'll meet any conditions you want. Anything is possible."
As CEO Park immediately jumped at the chance, her eagerness to sign him palpable, Eun-seong let out a quiet breath. True to her decisive nature, she picked up the receiver and summoned Chief Chae Yun-ji, their contract negotiation expert.
An opportunity like this would never come again. She had to secure a rough outline before Eun-seong, who had walked in of his own accord, left her office.
She had assumed he would naturally renew with his current agency. But clearly, nothing in this world could be taken for granted.
"I don't really have any conditions. I don't even need a signing bonus."
"What are you talking about? No signing bonus? We'll give you the absolute best treatment in the industry, so don't worry about that."
"I didn't know this before, but it turns out I have a son."
"..."
"He's ten years old this year."
"...Wow."
At Eun-seong's bombshell, CEO Park's eyes widened. She stared blankly for a moment, as if her mind had gone numb, before shaking her head and waving a hand.
"Sorry. I completely lost my head for a second there, didn't I?"
"It's fine. Anyone would be shocked."
"Hold on a second."
CEO Park picked up the receiver again and told the negotiation expert she had just summoned that she wouldn't be needed for now.
"Yeah, I think it's better if just the two of us talk. Is that okay?"
After suggesting they speak privately, CEO Park took a long drink of ice water.
* * *
A long time passed after that. Eun-seong did most of the talking, and CEO Park listened intently.
Eun-seong spoke cautiously, pausing occasionally to ensure he hadn't missed any details, and only allowed himself a brief chuckle as he reached the end of his story.
"Well, that's the situation. That's why I'm planning to terminate my contract with Yeonildam."
"Ah... I see. You must have been so shocked. You've had a really hard time."
CEO Park nodded, biting her lip. She hesitated for a moment, wondering what to say next—
"First of all, thank you for telling me. Truly, thank you."
"Don't mention it. It's something I had to disclose to you anyway."
"I don't know how this will sound, but you two really seem like destiny. That's all I could think about while listening to your story."
CEO Park clapped her hands, breaking the somber mood. Now that Eun-seong's main point was out of the way, it was time to discuss the contract in earnest.
"So, you're going to terminate your contract with Yeonildam, and you, Actor Im Eun-seong, want to sign with our Dream Art. Am I understanding that correctly?"
"Yes. As I said, I don't have any special conditions."
"None?"
"However."
"However?"
As CEO Park echoed his word, Eun-seong slowly laced his fingers together and bounced his knee.
"Eventually, the world will find out that I have a child, so we'll need to manage the fallout."
Manage the fallout. CEO Park turned the words over in her mind.
"In that process, I need you to devise a way to ensure neither the child nor his mother is harmed."
...A brief silence fell.
CEO Park looked thoughtful, delaying her response. After a long pause, she finally spoke, a smile gracing her lips.
"Don't worry about that. The agency will mobilize every resource at our disposal to shield them."
"Are you confident?"
"Do you think I started this business yesterday? That's exactly what I'm here for, Eun-seong. Didn't you know?"
Eun-seong watched her confident expression for a moment, then stood up.
"I'll be off then. Let's discuss the rest of the details soon."
"Alright. I'll have the contract ready. Give me a call."
Eun-seong and CEO Park shook hands, sealing the start of a new beginning.
* * *
After leaving his meeting with CEO Park, Eun-seong drove toward Yeon-ju's neighborhood.
“But when are we going to meet again?”
“Well, won't it be soon?”
Lately, Eun-seong had been talking to Han-byeol on the phone every day. He would ask about the boy's day and share what he had been up to.
Then, yesterday, Han-byeol had suddenly asked when they could meet again. Eun-seong had promised it would be soon and resolved to visit him today.
He arrived at the school just as classes were letting out, a detail he had subtly gotten from Yeon-ju. Parking his car a short distance away, he watched as a crowd of children poured out.
He scanned the crowd with a hawk-like gaze, anxious not to miss Han-byeol. But no matter how long he waited, Han-byeol was nowhere to be seen, and the bustling school gates eventually grew quiet and empty.
"Did he already leave?"
Eun-seong checked the time. Confirming that no more children were coming out, he drove his car up to the school gates. Rolling down his window to look at the playground, a smile crept onto his face before he even realized it.
The remaining children were kicking a ball around on the playground, and he spotted Han-byeol among them.
The wind was biting cold, but the kids had already shed their jackets and were dripping with sweat. It was an age where cold and exhaustion meant little. Their eyes were locked on a single small ball as they swarmed after it in a chaotic pack.
There was no strategy to speak of; they simply chased whoever had the ball. The sight was so adorable that a chuckle escaped his lips. When even the kid playing goalkeeper, driven by sheer impatience, rushed out to steal the ball, Eun-seong burst into a hearty laugh.
Eun-seong watched for a long time. Gradually, the other children faded from his vision, leaving only Han-byeol kicking the ball. Today was the first time he learned that his son loved soccer, and the first time he realized the boy could run so fast.
...When he was young, Eun-seong had loved soccer too. It had been his favorite game.
Forgetting that any boy that age was bound to love playing with a ball, he felt a rush of complex emotions, as if this shared passion were a thread of destiny connecting them.
Every time the boy kicked the ball, every time his voice echoed across the field, a wave of emotion swelled in Eun-seong's heart.
"Yes! Nice shot!"
When Han-byeol, dribbling the ball, scored a goal, Eun-seong cheered out loud and clenched his fist without realizing it. A thrilling shiver ran through his entire body, as if he had just witnessed a dramatic, last-minute winning goal in the World Cup.
"Man, whose son is that? He's a natural. Should I raise him to be a soccer player?"
He watched Han-byeol jumping high in celebration, regretting that he hadn't recorded the moment.
A moment later, Eun-seong gripped the steering wheel with both hands and leaned forward.
"What's going on?"
The other children were starting to surround Han-byeol.