Chapter 57
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: A New Agency and a Cameo
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When will my front teeth grow in? When will my other baby teeth fall out? As Seojun was checking the mirror every day, he got a call from Lee Jiseok.
“Hello, Jiseok hyung.”
-Hey, Seojun. I saw the movie! You were amazing.
“Ehehehe. Thank you. Hyung, thanks for the birthday present.”
For Seojun's school entrance and birthday present, Lee Jiseok had gifted him old movies he'd never seen, along with their scripts. His mom, dad, and Seojun all enjoyed them.
-Glad you enjoyed them. What have you been up to lately, Seojun?
“After school, I go to Taekwondo on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, I go to music lessons. Starting next month, I'm going to Hapkido lessons too. And during summer break, I'll be going to swimming lessons.”
Sitting on a plush sofa, Seojun counted them off on his fingers. His rapid progress surprised his parents, and Seojun himself was having a lot of fun.
Seojun had many things he wanted to learn. As long as he had the time and opportunity, he could learn anything.
He wanted to learn how to ride a horse, but the place to learn was far away. He planned to learn during the school break.
Besides that, he also wanted to learn kendo and foreign languages. He planned to discuss it with his parents and learn them slowly, so it wouldn't be too overwhelming.
Lee Jiseok found himself scratching his cheek, listening to the elementary schooler's schedule that seemed busier than his own.
-Seojun. Do you know what a cameo is?
“Yes. I do.”
-It's for a drama I'm currently filming. Would you be interested, if you're okay with it?
“Oh, but...”
-Why? Are you busy?
“No, it's just...”
Seeing Seojun hesitate, Lee Jiseok suggested they talk about the cameo later and just grab a meal sometime. Seojun nodded and scheduled a time with him.
Weekend.
Seojun, with a golem doll gifted by Kim Heesang attached to his new bag, headed to Cocoa Entertainment with his mom.
They had decided to meet Lee Jiseok at Cocoa Entertainment.
It was a safer location than a café, where people might recognize Lee Jiseok and Seojun and flock to them.
Besides, it was the weekend, so there were fewer people at work.
Seo Eunchan, now the CEO and working hard, received the call and came down to the first floor.
“Ahahaha. Seojun, you lost your front teeth, huh? That's a big gap.”
Seo Eunchan laughed as he greeted Seojun and saw the gaping hole where his front teeth used to be. At his laughter, Seojun pouted.
“Ow!”
“Stop teasing the kid!”
Seo Eunhye slapped Seo Eunchan hard on the back, then looked around the first floor before asking him, who was making a fuss because he couldn't reach the stinging spot.
“Where are the other employees?”
“Only essential personnel came in. There's not much going on right now because of Brown Black's contract renewals. We have trainees, but they're practicing in the basement studio. You're not bothering anyone, so don't worry.”
“Alright. Here, these are snacks for the staff. Seojun, I'll come pick you up later. Call me.”
“Okay!”
After Seo Eunhye left, Seojun looked around the first floor in awe. It was completely different from the shabby old building. The new Cocoa Entertainment, under a new CEO, was using the entire five-story building. This was thanks to the investment funds Seojun had willingly given Seo Eunchan.
“Samchon. The company is huge.”
“Better than the old days, right? It might seem a bit empty since Brown Black is our only artist, but we have to start fresh now!”
Seo Eunchan took Seojun's hand and gave him a tour of Cocoa Entertainment.
“Another agency used this building before, so we just did a little remodeling. There was a practice room in the basement, but it was small and old, so we completely redid it. It's brand new, so even the Brown Black members come to practice here sometimes. The first floor is for greeting guests. There's a conference room and a lounge. And a room for storage.”
They slowly toured the building from the first to the fifth floor. On the fifth floor was Seo Eunchan's CEO office, and on one wall were photos of Brown Black and Seojun. It made sense to have pictures of the Brown Black hyungs, since Cocoa Entertainment was their agency. But,
“Why is my picture here?”
He would have understood if it was the 'Angel' photo. There were often reviews from people saying they carried it around in their phone galleries or as a small picture, like a good luck charm.
But the photo on the wall was one taken by the stills photographer during the filming of *The Devil*.
The crimson shaman's robes were billowing wide in the fierce wind, and a serious-looking Seojun was gazing off to one side.
Against a jet-black background, the yellow goblin energy, visible only to Seojun's eyes, had been captured in the shot. If that energy were rendered with CG, the photo was stunning enough to be used as a poster for *The Devil*.
“Ahahaha. Why is this here?”
Seo Eunchan quickly stood in front of the photo to hide it, breaking out in a cold sweat. It was the picture he had planned to hang on the first-floor wall once Seojun joined Cocoa Entertainment. He had also been thinking of hanging a photo of Jin Natra from *Shadowman 2*.
Seojun narrowed his eyes and stared at Seo Eunchan. Seo Eunchan quickly turned Seojun around and led him out of the office.
'I was planning to reel him in little by little, but now it's ruined!'
No, he gave us investment money, so isn't he already halfway a part of Cocoa Entertainment!? He wanted to say that, but Seo Eunhye would just say that was then, and this is now. Like mother, like son, Seojun would probably be the same. Seo Eunchan sighed.
“Alright, isn't it almost time for your appointment? Let's go to the first-floor conference room!”
“You're suspicious, Samchon.”
His nephew's meaningful gaze wouldn't leave him. Seo Eunchan quickly ushered Seojun into the elevator and went down to the first floor.
I have a pretty good idea what this is about. Seojun scratched his cheek.
Other agencies feel unfamiliar, anyway. But Cocoa Entertainment doesn't have any actors.
He had been discussing it with his mom and dad. Cocoa Entertainment, where he knew someone, or another agency with experience managing actors. The company Lee Jiseok belonged to had also been on the list.
After a family meeting, they had agreed that since he was still a child, it would be better to be with someone trustworthy.
With Seo Eunhye there and the investment money, they probably wouldn't make him do just anything. That was Lee Minjun's opinion. Seo Eunhye had nodded, saying that was true, and Seojun had agreed.
'Samchon is terrified of Mom.'
He even calls his maternal grandmother regularly now and goes home on time.
[First floor.]
The elevator stopped. Seo Eunchan led Seojun to the conference room.
He gave Seojun a glass of orange juice from the lounge and sat down in front of him. Then, glancing at Seojun, he spoke.
“So, have you decided on an agency?”
“Mm.”
Mom and Dad said it was okay to tell Samchon, so I should. Seojun opened his mouth.
“Yeah!”
“...Really?! Where?”
“Cocoa Entertainment.”
“...Wow!”
Understanding a beat late, Seo Eunchan threw his hands up in the air.
Hooray! The big fish I've been after is finally in my hands.
With top idol group Brown Black and superstar Lee Seojun, won't we be an agency to be proud of anywhere we go!
“But.”
As Seojun spoke, Seo Eunchan, who had been cheering, froze. Seojun shrugged and continued.
“I'll only be with your company until I start high school. After that, I'm going to the agency that can manage me the best.”
Seojun in high school.
Lost in thought, Seo Eunchan spoke.
“...What if you're happy with our management?”
“Then I'll keep working with you, Samchon.”
Honestly, his parents thought that was highly likely.
Even if it was their first time managing an actor, they had nine years to figure things out together. With that much time, even a brand-new agency would be able to manage Seojun perfectly.
Besides, he wasn't an unknown child actor who had to submit applications and hustle for roles. He was Lee Seojun, who received scripts and synopses from all over just by sitting still.
“The fact that work comes in without you having to do anything could be a reason to get complacent.”
Seojun nodded at Seo Eunchan's words. That was why the other agencies had been ruled out.
If they worked half-heartedly, thinking he was already a fish in the net, it would be poison for both Seojun and the agency.
Besides, aren't there agencies that often cause trouble in their actors' names, against the actors' wishes?
Seo Eunchan nodded. He then grabbed a piece of A4 paper and a pen from the corner of the conference room and sat down in front of Seojun. Seeing his uncle's uncharacteristically serious expression, Seojun pulled his chair closer.
“Any other conditions?”
“I'll seriously consider any dramas or movies Cocoa Entertainment suggests, but if I don't like them, I won't do them.”
“Okay.”
“And no package deals, even if you get new rookie actors.”
“Package deals... Did Nuna tell you that?”
“No. Jiseok hyung taught me.”
He had already sought advice from everyone he knew in the Korean and American entertainment industries, including Brown Black and Lee Jiseok.
It was also their suggestion to set a time limit until middle school, when the family was debating whether to sign a contract that would last until he was an adult. They said that starting from high school, the range of roles would expand, and that's when he would really need proper agency management.
Seo Eunchan scratched his head with the pen and nodded. Actor Lee Jiseok, huh. Many people besides him must have given their input. Seo Eunchan gulped as he thought about Seojun's connections.
“Got it. No package deals. Next?”
“Overseas movie contracts have to be handled separately.”
“Fine. I wasn't even thinking about that.”
Marine Company, a Hollywood debut... he hadn't even considered it. Seojun calmly relayed the terms he had decided on with his parents to Seo Eunchan. Most of them prioritized Seojun's opinions over money.
No matter how many projects he did in a year, if Seojun wanted to do it, he would, and if he didn't, he wouldn't. It didn't matter if he took a break for several years. Not knowing when Seojun might want to do something else, his parents had laid out conditions that were, from top to bottom, all for Seojun's benefit.
“Contract renewal will be after middle school graduation.”
“Okay. Anything else?”
“I think that's everything.”
“Then I'll draw up a contract with these terms and bring it to your house. Let's talk with Nuna and your brother-in-law then.”
“Okay!”
“Oh, right. What time is your appointment?”
They had been so focused on the unexpected conversation that they'd lost track of time. Seojun and Seo Eunchan looked at the clock on the conference room wall. Fortunately, there were still twenty minutes left until the appointment.
“Since we have time, want to look at the scripts that have come in?”
“More came in?”
“We get a lot of scripts and synopses. It's just that not many of them get produced. The volume seems to have increased lately because of web dramas.”
“Yeah. I'll read them!”
“I hope you find something you like this time. But with your front teeth like that, you might not be able to do it even if you like it, right?”
“Samchon!”
“Ahahaha.”
Lee Jiseok arrived at Cocoa Entertainment with his manager, Yoon Sungoh.
“It looks completely different from the pictures.”
In just a few months since the CEO changed, Cocoa Entertainment had been completely transformed. It was certainly different from the old, rundown building that had appeared in the news and online articles.
“They said it all changed after the CEO switched and they got an investment. They hired more staff, too.”
The office was spacious and clean. They had hired new employees and recruited talented and charming trainees.
The employee guiding them smiled and explained that the trainees over there, who were staring at Lee Jiseok in surprise, were part of a group set to debut in a few months.
When Lee Jiseok waved, the surprised trainees, who had been on their way to the convenience store for snacks, bowed deeply and then vanished into the practice room like a flock of sparrows.
Guided by the employee, Lee Jiseok and his manager, Yoon Sungoh, opened the door to the first-floor conference room.
Seojun, who was sitting in a chair flipping through the scripts his uncle had given him, greeted the two. They had arrived right on time.
“Jiseok hyung! Sungoh hyung! Hello!”
“Pfft. So this is why you were hesitating.”
Lee Jiseok couldn't hold back his laughter at the sight of Seojun's missing front teeth. After seeing him look cute, charismatic, and cool, this ordinary appearance might have felt awkward, but it suited Seojun perfectly, making him look like a mischievous child. Yoon Sungoh also covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.
Seojun spoke with a displeased look on his face. This was the second time today.
“My pronunciation is off, too.”
“I couldn't really tell over the phone.”
“The air keeps escaping through here. They said these ones will fall out later, too. Really! I don't think I can do any serious acting until my permanent teeth grow in.”
“That's probably true.”
Lee Jiseok sat down, still grinning. Manager Yoon Sungoh sat next to him.
Lee Jiseok took a stack of papers out of his bag and handed them to Seojun. It was the script and synopsis for the drama he was starring in.
“Is this the script?”
“Yeah. What do you think?”
[Reinvestigation]
The title alone screamed, 'I'm a detective story!'
Seojun flipped through the script. Towards the end, there was a section marked with a highlighter and a sticky note, likely by Lee Jiseok. It was about three lines of dialogue.
“It's really just a passing role that has nothing to do with the main plot.”
“But is it okay with me in this state?”
Now resigned, Seojun said, "Eeee," and showed Lee Jiseok the empty gap where his front teeth had been. Lee Jiseok burst out laughing again.
“It's fine, it's fine. It suits the role even better.”
“What kind of role is it?”
“An elementary school student who gives the license plate number of a hit-and-run driver.”
“That really is.”
Hearing Lee Jiseok, Seojun nodded.
“A perfect fit for me.”
“So? You want to do it?”
“I'll read it first to see what kind of drama it is.”
“So thorough.”
Seojun packed the script and synopsis he received from Lee Jiseok into his bag. The golem doll attached to the zipper dangled.
Lee Jiseok stood up with a smile.
“Let's go get lunch.”
“Okay!”
“Is there a good place to eat around here?”
“There's a place with delicious dumplings just up ahead. They sell naengmyeon, too!”
Lee Jiseok smiled, recalling the time the two of them ate dumplings together during the filming of *The Devil*.
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