Yeokjeok: Bud of Corruption
"Uwaaaaaah!"
After effortlessly completing the bungee jump as the penalty for Rush Man filming.
"Today was so much fun. I really want to come back next time!"
"M-me too! You must've felt held back with me around, but thank you for being so considerate!"
Sujin and I bowed deeply, wrapping up the shoot on a heartwarming note.
As we headed home under the sun for the first time in ages, I poked her in the side.
"Eek, Kim Donghu! You're crazy! Poking a senior in the waist like that?!"
"No, why'd you have to jump with me? I saved you on purpose since you said you were scared."
Sujin had jumped too. She'd come this far, and it'd be a shame not to, she said. Ignoring her trembling legs, she'd squeezed her eyes shut and leaped. Scared as she claimed, but when it counted, whatever fueled her courage?
She'd jumped right after me, no hesitation.
"...Didn't want you catching flak for it."
When I asked why, an unexpected answer popped out.
"What? Why would I catch flak?"
"You're seriously oblivious sometimes. Viewers don't always like it when someone's too cool."
Sujin called it all part of the seniors' grand plan, reaching up to ruffle my hair. Of course, she couldn't quite reach, so she ended up on tiptoes. I crouched down to make it easier for her.
Smooth strokes.
"Everyone knows you threw it for me. If I'd just stood there? Weird optics, right?"
"Pfft, no need to sweat the small stuff. Haters gonna hate."
"I know, but still."
Sujin grabbed my cheeks with both hands, puckering my lips into a fish face, then grinned brightly as she continued.
"What am I supposed to do? I just can't stand by and watch you get hate."
"...."
What the hell did that mean?
Suddenly, I was dying to know. The real reason for her bungee jump, and what she'd just said. I was about to shift into direct mode when—
"I'm heading out first!"
She spat that out and vanished into the van before I could respond.
"...Why am I suddenly so hot?"
I stared blankly at her retreating figure, then habitually pulled out my phone.
Ding!Ding!Ding!
I cannot forgive defeat!
Not even if you threw it on purpose!
Not even if it's chivalrous spirit for a lady!
I'll let this one slide.
But still, unforgivable!
Application 'Tarzan' downloaded.
I read Sims' scolding right away. The timestamps showed they'd been sent the instant I lost the game.
Defeat was absolutely unforgivable, apparently. It'd chewed me out once after a sparring loss too.
And sure enough, it added a new talent right away.
Tarzan, huh? Parkour and instincts, probably.
Why did it hate losing so much? No clue.
But man, it's been ages since Sims last texted.
Maybe because nothing worth texting had happened till now.
But I felt like it was time to get back to my main gig. Or more precisely, I missed acting.
Boxing nationals in September, that's why.
So I'd coast till then, then ask Seokho hyung about good castings.
The moment I decided that—
Ding!Ding!Ding!
One about me being called the heavyweight devil, sweeping everyone.
The other about my movie role.
Yeokjeok?
The name rang a bell instantly. One of the fun movies I'd enjoyed.
Can't wait.
Wonder what role I'd play this time.
+++++
"A handsome face like that needs constant screen time. If not? It's false advertising."
At Myeonghwa Films, the staff nodded in agreement at CEO Joo Myeonghwa's words.
"So, we must! We absolutely must cast Kim Donghu."
Her words carried ironclad resolve. She'd make it happen, paying any price.
Midway through her simple PPT pitch for Yeokjeok: Bud of Corruption, one staffer shot up a hand.
"Yes, question?"
"Yeah, it's... kinda simple, but."
"Spit it out."
"The story's about the common folk cutting out corruption, right? Like treason."
"Exactly."
"...But aren't the corrupt officials way too handsome?"
"Hm?"
Joo Myeonghwa glanced at the screen.
There was Jin Yuseong, the current king of handsomeness. And rising star Kim Donghu, with peerless perfection.
Together, they exuded zero villainy. If anything, the rebels looked like the bad guys.
"But handsome guys clustered together? It's great!"
"How so?"
"Like how two roses beat one!"
She tossed her long hair dramatically. The staff couldn't argue, but the corrupt roles had to be theirs. Especially Donghu— the movie's hook.
"Who else but him for a spoiled young master? Born into total privilege, clueless about the weak's plight!"
The staff zipped it. When she got like this, no stopping her.
"Contact Kim Donghu now!"
"Uh... ma'am?"
"What?"
"Reply's here."
"What?! Not even a day!"
"But it is."
"What'd he say?"
"He's in."
Detailed terms later, but he really wants the project, her subordinate added.
Joo Myeonghwa teared up, clapping wildly.
"Ten million viewers, here we come!"
Lately, an entertainment rumor swirled. Absurd, but his track record made it tempting to believe.
Just film with Kim Donghu, and it's a smash hit.
God, let it apply here, she prayed fervently.
+++++
I eyed the fresh script's grade, gauging its prospects.
At least ten million.
My involvement bumping it to B? Or was it always? No matter—huge potential.
Time to dive in.
I grabbed the script.
Immersion.
++++
Whoosh!
The scenery shifted in a flash. First thing I saw:
"Please... please spare my life... I beg you."
A slave groveling, covered in blood.
"No can do. If I let you live, the others'll get ideas."
A chilling, arrogant chuckle.
I stabbed the prone slave's back without hesitation.
Squelch!
From behind, lungs punctured—no scream escaped.
"Huuuuh...."
One life snuffed out, meaningless.
Didn't matter. Were slaves even alive? Life had value; they had none. Like roadside grass, crushed leaves, dog shit.
"Your eyes lately? Infuriating."
Worms wriggle when stepped on? Laughable. A worm's still a worm. Baring teeth at a dragon? Insolent.
So I handled it myself. Work for butchers, usually—but reasons to swing the blade personally.
Slash!
"Where'd you think you were going? Got anywhere?"
Two strokes, two worthless flames extinguished.
Destined to crawl underfoot. Maybe dying early for the dirt was mercy.
Five left. As if scripted, none answered.
Low value on life? Clinging to pointless convictions even now.
"That look says rebels, huh? Uprising for status?"
"How would filth like you know! The people's suffering! Our struggles!"
"Obviously?"
I burst out laughing. Absurd, limbs bound yet yapping.
Plus.
"Why should I care?"
The notion itself was pathetic.
"Why should a phoenix know a sparrow's mind?"
These lowly pests. Slaughtering them all would finally clear my head.
Slash!
The Joseon playboy's savage dance trampled the common folk mercilessly.