Family
“Puhahaha!”
Ha Moo-young lay idly on the hospital bed, bursting into laughter while watching YouTube. Comedy shows are actually pretty fun after a long time.
Bzzz— bzzz—
“Huh?”
Suddenly, the screen switched, displaying the caller info. Out of nowhere, the name “Yoo Sa-ha” popped up.
Moo-young tilted his head curiously and pressed the call button.
“Yes, hello?”
“Okay with what?”
What the hell? Out of the blue like that. He wondered if it was a wrong number, but no—the guy had said his name clear as day, Ha Moo-young.
“Gasp.”
He nearly jumped out of his skin in shock. It wasn't exactly hospitalization, but how did he know he was in the hospital?
As Moo-young froze, unable to respond, Yoo Sa-ha kept talking.
“Don't worry. No issues with filming. And it's not serious enough to even mention hospitalization.”
Is he worried about the schedule as an investor? Moo-young rattled off details about his condition to reassure him. A slight fever, sure, but he'd just been cackling at YouTube videos without a care.
Here we go again...Does this guy have no friends? Always trying to lure him with food.
Moo-young asked with a serious expression.
“Why do you keep trying to feed me?”
Yoo Sa-ha hung up after rambling on. Moo-young stared at his phone in disbelief before flopping back onto the bed.
Then Go Kyung-min burst in from the bathroom.
Bang—
“Moo-young!”
“Ack! You scared me.”
“That reporter from earlier—from EveryDay, right?”
“...Yeah, probably? What's up?”
“That bastard! Argh!”
His fist sliced through the air, brimming with irritation. When Moo-young asked what happened, the article headline Go Kyung-min showed was a doozy.
“Ah, so that's why Yoo Sa-ha called.”
Moo-young chuckled wryly as he scrolled through the article.
EveryDay's lead article had spawned a slew of derivatives.
“Why are they all like this?”
“No idea. Seriously, just wanna smack 'em! Ugh!”
“Should I post on SNS saying it's not true?”
“Company's requesting a correction too. What the hell, outta nowhere like this.”
Logging into SNS to post a clarification, he saw comments pouring in. Mostly well-wishes for recovery, but plenty slamming the agency too.
Whoa, brutal. But it came from concern for him. To keep fans from hurting each other, Moo-young turned on the camera.
Click!
He plastered on his brightest, clearest smile and snapped selfies.
Go Kyung-min was busy in the corner handling damage control.
To avoid more drama, he cropped a close-up comic shot of just his face. Showing the hospital room would worry them more.
Luckily, the misunderstanding cleared fast, though some lingered suspiciously. Moo-young hearted them one by one to ease their worries.
“Hyung, I posted it.”
“Oh? Yeah. I'll call the nurse. IV's done.”
“Got it.”
Go Kyung-min scratched his head and left the room. With the sudden backlash, the company must be chaos.
As Moo-young pocketed his phone, he remembered Yoo Sa-ha and texted.
Ding.
Kang Bora's words popped into his head—he must have some agenda. But without mind-reading powers, how could he know? I'll ask straight-up over dinner.
Moo-young kept hearting the endless comments.
* * *
“Moo-young, over here.”
A high-end Western restaurant. With Seoul's nightscape as a side dish, the interior was stunning.
Yoo Sa-ha waved him over.
“Hello, CEO.”
“How's the body?”
“All good. Meds and a full day's sleep fixed it right up.”
“Glad to hear. Only one menu here.”
“Ah, got it. I eat anything.”
The table had just empty plates. Moo-young stared awkwardly at Yoo Sa-ha's face, unsure what to say.
“Got something you wanna talk about?”
“Yeah, but didn't wanna make dinner awkward.”
“Pfft, no such thing. And if it's awkward, so what? Food's what we eat every day.”
Moo-young fiddled with his fork and asked carefully. Is this okay to say outright?
“...You wanna be friends with me?”
“What? Puhahaha!”
Yoo Sa-ha roared with laughter at the unexpected question. Heads turned from distant tables. He wiped tears, sticking out his tongue.
“Epic. For real. Knew you weren't ordinary.”
“No, just curious why you keep inviting me to eat.”
“Spot on, partly. I'm interested in you. Heard of SJ E&M?”
Moo-young shook his head. First time hearing it.
“SJ's new talent agency. Manages actors, directors—everyone in film.”
As he explained casually, soup and bread arrived. He gestured to eat while listening.
“Newly launched, but directors like Song Yu-rok, Choi Mark; actors... Gong Da-ham, Min Rin-a, Tui.”
Familiar names. New but backed by a giant—solid lineup.
Yoo Sa-ha propped his chin, proposing to Moo-young.
“I'd love you on our ship.”
“But my contract's got a ways to go. Just over a year in.”
“Short term, huh?”
“Huh? How'd you know?”
“Just checking.”
Whoa. Crazy. Do all chaebols have snakes like this?
Moo-young gaped; Yoo Sa-ha burst out laughing again.
“But that stuff doesn't matter much. If you're in, we'll cover the penalty.”
Small agency, big confidence. Legally or otherwise.
“...Why do you like me so much?”
“Hahaha. 'Cause you're hot!”
“For real?”
“Kidding, obviously. First, you're just 21. How many known male actors that age in Korean entertainment? Idols crossing over aside—total wipeout.”
...True? Hard to name any offhand. Child actors survived, but early-20s stars? Rare.
“Second, talent that devours experience. I value that big time. Told you—business is finding value in unseen futures. Yours? No precedents to gauge.”
Debut hits in film and drama back-to-back? Near mythical. Once a decade, maybe.
“So I wanna pay now to sign you. Company's perks? You know 'em.”
Chaebol. Says it all. And not just any—SJ affiliate, film distribution powerhouse.
“That fake news mess with you.”
Yoo Sa-ha sipped water, eyes sharpening on Moo-young.
“What happened after?”
“They issued corrections; it's settled.”
“If you were with us, no such article flies. If it did, we'd get a full apology, not correction.”
Who'd dare touch them?
Moo-young munched bread as Yoo Sa-ha's reality check hit home. Yeah, true. Small agency looked easy pickings—or else.
“I'll give you wings. I can; you deserve.”
To the sweet pitch, Moo-young just chewed silently.
A brief silence. Yoo Sa-ha waited patiently.
“...What if I say no?”
“No? Then no.”
“No hard feelings? Gotta prepare if there are.”
“...Hahaha! You're killing me!”
Half-refusal, half-not. As Yoo Sa-ha cracked up, Moo-young laughed naturally too.
“Mind if I ask why? 'Cause we're new?”
“Nah. If new was it, Big Win's no slouch. No results, two staff.”
“Then?”
Main course arrived then. Steam rose from thick steaks. Moo-young swallowed hard.
“You said it—value in unseen futures. I see it too. In Big Win.”
He'd never forget meeting Go Kyung-min, Na Geum-dong. Flower pollen's guiding choice. Best offer or not, not his best? No dice.
“I wanna grow with the company.”
“Ahh, got it.”
“Bummer?”
“Obviously. Thought I had you.”
He raised both hands playfully. Nodded at primly seated Moo-young—cute.
“But... can eat the steak?”
“For real? After refusing?”
“That's that; this is this. Sent away hungry? No way.”
Jackpot! Moo-young declared he'd dig in and sliced aggressively. The meat melted divinely.
“Sign with us, steak every day.”
“Tempting~”
“Aww, bummer.”
They bantered. Yoo Sa-ha plopped a whole cut on his plate.
“Mind sharing contract end date?”
“Sure. Secret though.”
“Harsh.”
Moo-young grinned. Good—no sulking like some. No black smog either.
“FA then? Hit me first. Killer terms.”
“Deal. I'll tell you.”
“...Feel like I whiffed. Didn't expect such a firm no.”
Moo-young blinked—what? Jaw still working steak.
“Pitched your company too.”
“...Mmfwha?”
“Asked if they'd consider transferring Ha Moo-young.”
Gulp. Moo-young swallowed the chunk.
“What'd they say?”
“No word yet.”
* * *
Thud— thud thud—
“Boss. My head's gonna explode.”
“Manager Gooo~...”
The messy office. Na Geum-dong banged his forehead on the wall, unrest soothed not.
“Right now Moo-young's probably slicing steak with SJ's CEO? Wonder what they're saying? What'll he do? If they match terms max, can we keep him?”
“That curious? Ask later.”
“Sniff. What if he really goes?”
“...Sit first. You're a mess.”
Go Kyung-min was rattled too. No favors done, perfect talent snagged—hard to hold now.
“If Moo-young wants to go...”
“Then?”
“Waaah...”
Na Geum-dong whimpered at the nightmare.
Footsteps outside then.
Knock knock—
Who? No visitors.
Both turned; a bag-poking hand slipped through the door crack.
Mmm. Meat smell. Pricey stuff.
“Eaten yet?”
And peek— Moo-young grinned, head poking in.
“Moo-young!”
“Not? Eat with me.”
Na Geum-dong's face lit up. Go Kyung-min blinked in surprise.
Moo-young shook a beer six-pack.
“...Your dinner?”
“Grabbed light. This was good—thought of you two. Family eats together, right?”