Recruitment
"T-together?"
The model's eyes shook violently at Moo-young's whisper.
What should she do? How could she navigate this crisis? The gazes of the upper-class folks surrounding and peering down at them pierced her back like arrows.
Smoothly, Moo-young silently placed her hand on his arm. A wordless signal: no time to waste—get it together.
We've got to think about those behind us too.
The music had a fixed length. He had no idea how they'd handle it backstage, but if she stopped, it would delay everyone behind... and in the worst case, the finale music would cut out.
"Uh..."
Not content with tripping herself at her own hosted party—Yoo Sa-ha's show itself ruined? Atmosphere aside, it would be a career killer.
"Let's go. I can see the path roughly."
Moo-young wrapped an arm around her waist, escorting her. The model naturally hooked her arm through his, leaning in. Correcting her posture, they evoked a single vivid pictorial spread.
"Whoa—"
Right now, the only one who could help her here was Moo-young. Bu-yong or Da-kyeong couldn't just stroll out with her. Besides, this was the kind of thing only a celebrity would pull off.
Thump-thump! Thump!
The music raced toward its climax. The model stepped forward, enduring the pain, her stifled groans of agony audible only to Moo-young as she gritted through it.
"Hahaha! Awesome!"
"Wow!"
Clap-clap-clap!
With Moo-young supporting and guiding her, the model gradually acclimated to the pain. The onlookers cheered enthusiastically, delighted. Light applause rippled through, accompanied by laughter.
"But seriously, he's so cool. That actor—Ha Moo-young, right?"
"Heard he won Rookie of the Year at the Baeksang."
"Rookie? Talk about guts."
"Is he a model too?"
"Nah, I don't think so."
As if it were the natural duty of elegant, refined people, they watched Moo-young and the model with uniformly warm smiles.
"He's so..."
And naturally, all eyes were on Moo-young himself. Matching the pro catwalker's stride effortlessly. His straight-ahead gaze gleamed under the lights.
"cool."
"Right? Like a count from a movie."
"Hohoho! Exactly!"
"Heard he's shooting a vampire flick. Must be channeling that vibe."
Amid the countless debuting youths in high society, he shone uniquely brilliant. Not just his looks, but the enigmatic aura radiating from him.
"Turn here."
Growing accustomed to the pain as they walked, the model found her rhythm. The cool, chic, provocative gazes of the pair swept the hall.
They safely completed a full lap of the vast hall.
"Thank you."
Before entering backstage, the model whispered. Moo-young released her hand with a smile. A light nod to each other.
"Haha!"
"Whoa!"
They'd done nothing special—just walked. But the party venue and the accident turned it into a performance. The crowd loved it.
Clap-clap-clap!
As applause swelled, Moo-young slipped from the lights into the shadows, while the remaining models finished the show steadily.
Click—the lights came up fully, and Yoo Sa-ha grabbed the mic from atop the platform. A gentle, beaming smile, looking especially pleased.
With his greeting, the party officially kicked off.
Moo-young circled behind the crowd. Passersby grabbed his arm or chatted him up, holding him back.
"Hello, Moo-young-ssi."
"You were awesome earlier! Haha!"
"Loved the movie."
"Thank you."
Bow here, bow there. He could barely walk amid the greetings.
Saving him were Da-kyeong and Bu-yong, who naturally pulled him along.
"Oh my. Da-kyeong. What brings you? You never come to these."
"Came with my sister-in-law. Anyway, Moo-young-ssi. This way?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah!"
They found a quieter corner and grabbed champagne. Moo-young let out a satisfied groan as the sweet fizz went down smoothly.
"Ahh!"
"You drink well."
"My throat was parched."
"Dude, you were so cool! Even I was swooning—and I'm a guy. Epic!"
"Uh-oh. Can't have you swooning."
Excited Bu-yong poked his side, making a fuss. Da-kyeong smiled faintly, scanning the room.
"What was on the floor? Why'd she trip suddenly?"
"Those heels were stiletto-level. Probably caught something."
As Yoo Sa-ha delivered his celebratory message, they clinked glasses lightly among themselves.
Then Joo Jeong-dan appeared out of nowhere. Looking like he'd been hunting for Moo-young, his clothes disheveled.
"Man, Ha Moo-young-ssi. You're a good guy."
A satisfied grin as he handed over a business card emblazoned with Executive Director Joo Jeong-dan, Baekgoon Enter.
"Let's grab a meal sometime?"
He was doing SJ Enter investments now, but movies came around. Not director-actor ties—investors could switch anytime. Plenty of actors juggled multiple projects. In this revolving industry, connections were key.
"We've got some great scripts."
Meaning: chow down and talk films.
Moo-young politely took the card. His eyes fixed on Joo Jeong-dan's left shoe.
"Sure. Thank you, Executive Director. But... your shoe's dirty."
"Ah, that model spilled food earlier. Heh. Hilarious, right? Slipping while grabbing the tablecloth—pure comedy."
"...We were fine up close, though. Weird."
Moo-young, Da-kyeong, and Bu-yong—right there beside him. That foot snag earlier... real?
Joo Jeong-dan just shrugged with a laugh at Moo-young's words.
"Stuff happens. Coming to the after-party?"
"Not sure yet."
"Bit tacky to say here, but parties are my specialty. Hit me up. I'm bored—heading out early. Have fun~"
He blew in and out like the wind. Da-kyeong and Bu-yong gave awkward nods, then sipped their champagne.
"Why come to a dull party?"
"Like Da-kyeong, tagging along with sis-in-law?"
"Oppa, cut it out."
"Heh~ Kidding! Truth is, I was shocked too."
"Why? He can't come here?"
Moo-young wedged between Da-kyeong and Bu-yong, asking. He didn't know their world's tangled webs.
"No rule against it. Looks like he got an invite. SJ and Baekgoon are bitter rivals, eating each other alive. Funny they sent it—and funnier he came."
"Exactly. Not on good terms."
...Could it be? The foot thing on purpose? To wreck the party?
Nah! No way.
Moo-young just tilted his head quizzically at the guy's shady rep—hard to say.
Whatever. If intentional, he's a real scumbag.
Heels that high—she could've been seriously hurt.
Ugh. If he'd seen clearly, he'd have said something! Frustrating with just suspicion, no proof.
Moo-young cooled his boiling gut with cold champagne.
Then a soft hand gripped his shoulder. Yoo Sa-ha.
"Moo-young-ssi?"
"Ah, Director."
"Thanks for earlier. Was gonna ask a staffer, but you saved the vibe without a hitch. Model's off to the hospital. Appreciate it."
"No biggie."
"Haha. Good call inviting you. I'd be too shy for that. Perks of being a celeb—impressive."
"Your speech was great."
He grinned, clinking champagne glasses. A clear clink.
"Oh, right. Joo Jeong-dan showed."
"Yeah. Kinda happened."
Meaning: invite went out by mistake, didn't expect him.
Yoo Sa-ha eyed the card in Moo-young's hand.
"Took his card?"
"Yeah. Offered a meal."
"Meals are good. But watch out for that guy."
No need to ask why. Moo-young had spotted the black smog coiling around his arm.
Yoo Sa-ha chuckled playfully.
"Baekgoon Enter's got a big fall flick rumored. Chuseok timing—could overlap your movie a whole month if it drags."
No firm schedule yet, but Q4 target post-September. Chuseok slots favored high-stakes investments, so probably after. Might spill into October if lucky.
"Hmm. Meaning..."
But a blockbuster with buzz? Likely Chuseok hanger, into October.
"They'll compete like we're competing."
SJ vs. Baekgoon meant Streets' Sunlight vs. that blockbuster.
Moo-young smiled faintly.
"That much faith in our film?"
He'd invested 200 million to scrape 5 billion budget.
Yoo Sa-ha shook his head at the question.
"Film? Honestly, no clue. But you? I'm betting big."
"O? Why?"
"Businessman trait. Seeing futures in the intangible."
Deep into distribution and investments, he tracked the industry. A comet-like rookie upending it all?
...None before.
Da-kyeong, Bu-yong, and Sa-ha stared blankly at Moo-young, thinking the same. Like a kid sipping booze among adults.
"What's up?"
"Nothing. Anyway, party's just starting—eat up! Hello. Over here. That's FG Corp exec, and you know him? Kim Ho-seung the athlete."
Like a beast eyeing prey, Yoo Sa-ha hunched slightly, introducing folks.
Moo-young memorized each one flawlessly.
"What's with Yoo Sa-ha?"
"What else."
Bu-yong asked Da-kyeong, watching them.
"He's hooked. Gonna groom him."
"Right. Heard he's acquiring an agency."
"Not one—second one?"
"Aggressive. Actor poaching's got him wild-eyed."
Big corps swallowing small ones? Old news.
Da-kyeong and Bu-yong shrugged it off, enjoying the party.
"Moo-young-ssi eats well."
"Diet starts tomorrow."
"Haha. Pace yourself or you'll hurl midway~"
Whatever. With the real party underway, Moo-young dove into the seafood and delicacies bliss.
Graaah—chew, tear, savor the meat feast!
Midnight hit, snapping him alert.
"Moo-young-ssi? Leaving?"
"Yeah, beat. Shoot tomorrow morning. Had a blast! Oh, can I take this?"
"Of course. Take all you want—it's out for guests. Shame you're going already."
"Sorry. Ate well!"
"See you next time."
He grabbed a small food box, bidding Yoo Sa-ha farewell. Da-kyeong and Bu-yong waved from the crowd.
Meanwhile—
Honk!
"Gah!"
Go Kyung-min, parked across from the hotel waiting for Moo-young, had dozed off and hit the horn. Time nearing midnight.
Wonder if Moo-young's doing okay.
Schedule wasn't totally free. Tweaked it to send him anyway—talent and luck first, but these hotel invitees gave wings to the prepared.
Tap-tap.
"Hyung."
"Whoa! Scared me!"
Moo-young, arrived unnoticed, tapped the driver's window.
"Sorry. Long wait? Should've gone ahead."
"Nah. You drank—couldn't leave you solo."
Manager duty.
Moo-young gratefully showed the food box.
"Hyung, thanks. Eat this."
"What's that?"
"Dunno the name. But tasty—grabbed some."
Cars trickled out one by one. The all-night party winding down.
On the road home, Moo-young glanced at him. Booze made him wiped. Kyung-min driving home too.
"Crash at mine?"
"I'm good."
"Hyung... do managers always do this much?"
"Huh?"
"Cleanup after boozy actors. Feels bad."
Kyung-min chuckled softly.
"You're clueless, Moo-young."
He'd cleared the schedule for the party—good opportunity for his career, which meant company growth too.
"Anyway, sleep."
"Mmm."
Couldn't ask for a better partner. Family-like agency!
Moo-young thanked his lucky star inwardly, drifting off.
Yoo Sa-ha's message chimed in, but he slept too deeply to notice.