Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Fighter's Intensity
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Just before stepping into the ring.
Eyeing the opponent right in front of him.
His fighting spirit overflowed, and his whole body buzzed with excitement.
"I've always faced tough opponents. In a way, I was constantly the underdog."
Unfortunately, there are clear racial limitations in sports.
When he first stepped into the WFC.
Everyone predicted defeat for the small Asian guy from South Korea.
But.
Choo Dong-hyun emerged victorious, building his legend ever since.
After that, he was the protagonist in every match, never just an extra.
This time too.
'I have to be the protagonist.'
Lee Dae-hyuk spoke with emphasis as he watched Choo Dong-hyun burning with fighting spirit.
"Alright, time to head out!"
"Yeah. I'll KO him in the first round and be back."
Slam—!!
Choo Dong-hyun slammed the driver's door shut with force.
Lee Dae-hyuk, who had gotten out after him, felt a twinge of unease.
'...He's not really going to KO him, is he?'
Lee Dae-hyuk turned around, chiding himself for the needless worry.
His cheering(?) for Choo Dong-hyun was over.
'Still, better get some insurance.'
He knew Choo Dong-hyun would nail the acting perfectly.
But what if Jin Soo-young went off-script again?
Things could go wrong.
'Busy. So busy.'
Lee Dae-hyuk turned to go meet Jin Soo-young.
Even if this CF succeeded, it wouldn't bring him much personal gain.
The reason he was working so hard was simply a desire to put a perfect period at the end of his first job experience.
'Not greed, but lingering attachment?'
He was leaving, but for the sake of colleagues like Joo Hyo-min and Lim Soon-chul who were staying behind, he wanted to wrap things up nicely.
***
Inside Jin Soo-young's van.
Jin Soo-young clicked her tongue as she listened to Lee Dae-hyuk.
"You're asking me to go easy on him?"
Lee Dae-hyuk's request was simple.
In short, he wanted her to act while showing consideration for the amateur, Choo Dong-hyun.
"Not go easy—I'm asking for some consideration."
"Why should I?"
Was she thinking it was okay to show her true colors in front of Lee Dae-hyuk now?
Her voice rose, her eyes sharpening.
Lee Dae-hyuk, sitting across from her ferocious expression, simply smiled in response.
"Because you're the top actress."
"Pardon?"
Her eyes wavered at the words "top actress."
She burned with endless ambition, but she was still an actress.
The phrase "top actress" inevitably made her heart race.
"Me?"
"Of course. Isn't your acting top-tier in Korea?"
It wasn't empty flattery; it was sincere.
'With that outstanding acting, she's perfectly fooling the public too.'
But even Jin Soo-young, with her flawless acting, had a weakness.
Simplicity.
Flatter her a little, and she fell for the proposal hook, line, and sinker.
Just like now.
"Sigh. I know it's flattery, but it feels good. Fine, I'll play along."
"Thank you."
"Since I'm doing you this favor, you do one for me later."
Lee Dae-hyuk nodded as Jin Soo-young added the condition.
"Anytime."
"Not curious what I'll ask?"
She was surprised by his unconditional acceptance, not even asking a question.
"Not at all."
"It might be something really tough."
"It's fine. I've got the power for it. I'll do what I can."
Jin Soo-young had her leverage to pressure Lee Dae-hyuk.
He planned to humor her as much as possible.
'For now.'
"Then, please take good care of Choo Dong-hyun."
"Yeah, don't worry. I'll show you what real acting is."
Lee Dae-hyuk stepped out of the van as Jin Soo-young smiled brightly.
Click—!!
Watching the door close, Jin Soo-young puffed out her cheeks.
Kim Seung-hyuk, in the driver's seat, turned around.
"Why the long face? Shouldn't you be happy?"
"I feel like he played me in the palm of his hand."
Wrinkles formed between Jin Soo-young's brows.
Truth be told, she didn't have any specific favor to ask.
She was just securing insurance...
"His eyes just rub me the wrong way."
"Lee Dae-hyuk's eyes?"
"He looks at me like we're equals. Damn, why does it hurt my pride so much?"
"......"
Jin Soo-young had no backbone, but she had keen instincts.
***
Lee Seung-chan was deep in thought.
The way Choo Dong-hyun looked at Jin Soo-young was just too... scary.
His mouth was definitely smiling.
But Choo Dong-hyun's eyes held no love for his wife.
Just hostility and fighting spirit, like in a fight match.
During a break in filming.
Lee Seung-chan quietly asked the assistant director.
"How's Choo Dong-hyun's gaze?"
"...If the love is too passionate, maybe it comes out like that?"
The assistant director felt it was over the top too, but Choo Dong-hyun's acting had definitely improved from earlier.
But if he directed the acting now?
It would go back to constant NG cuts, 100%.
Hoo—!!!
Lee Seung-chan let out a sigh.
The filming deadline was just today.
'Compromise.'
He still had hope.
"We'll fix it in editing."
"Got it."
As Lee Seung-chan and the assistant director made their decision, Jin Soo-young and Choo Dong-hyun were lost in their own thoughts.
'Why do I feel like I'm being treated like a kid?'
Jin Soo-young eyed Lee Dae-hyuk standing off to the side of the set, feeling uneasy.
And.
'I'm the protagonist. I'm the protagonist...!!!'
Choo Dong-hyun, getting makeup touched up by the staff, repeated that one thought.
.
.
.
"Is this shoot actually going well?"
In one corner of the model house.
Joo Hyo-min monitored the filming amid the staff, her eyes full of anxiety.
But Lee Dae-hyuk was relaxed.
"Just having those two in the same frame will make headlines."
"True, but... his eyes are too scary."
"Think of it as hot passion."
"Not hot—scary..."
Lee Dae-hyuk scratched his chin at Joo Hyo-min's mutter.
Time passed like that, and a few hours later.
"Cut! Good work, everyone."
"Good work."
"Good job."
Fortunately, the shoot wrapped without incident.
Choo Dong-hyun's intimidating gaze was a slight issue, but the acting was solid.
Hardly any NG takes.
Even Lee Dae-hyuk, who knew the future, was honestly impressed.
'No wonder he's the champion. Impressive.'
Choo Dong-hyun would make a name in variety shows too, but that was a bit further in the future.
This ad might even speed up his variety debut.
But Lee Dae-hyuk looked forward more to his great champion road ahead.
'Save the variety for later.'
He silently conveyed his wish to Choo Dong-hyun.
***
Evening.
After finishing his last task, Lee Dae-hyuk returned not home, but to Daehan Construction.
In the Daehan Construction president's office.
Nam Sung-il made a bitter face as he sipped the coffee Lee Dae-hyuk had brewed.
"Finally getting to taste that famous Lee Dae-hyuk coffee."
"Good?"
"Yeah. Lives up to the hype."
"Hype?"
Lee Dae-hyuk was puzzled.
Hype about him?
Nam Sung-il answered his question right away.
"The handsome new hire who brews great coffee."
Lee Dae-hyuk gave a wry smile at Nam Sung-il's words.
"Not sure about handsome, but coffee, I'm confident."
"I know your abilities best here at Daehan Construction. No need to be modest."
"Not modesty... Hm. Got it. Thanks for the praise."
Nam Sung-il laughed at Lee Dae-hyuk's banter.
"Hahaha. Young folks find this fun. Makes it all the sadder that this is the end."
Lee Dae-hyuk had come to bid Nam Sung-il farewell.
He'd caught the spy, and the Jin Soo-young shoot was done.
All his business at Daehan Construction was finished.
Nam Sung-il knew his purpose and didn't try to hold him.
Instead, he felt deep regret.
Thud—!!!
Nam Sung-il set down his coffee cup and looked at Lee Dae-hyuk sitting across.
Lee Dae-hyuk had already proven his abilities by catching spies Cha Woo-jin and Park Joo-seung.
'Not just proven—far beyond.'
They hadn't extracted meaningful info from Seo-jin Construction via Cha Woo-jin and Park Joo-seung yet.
With the Jesong-dong gate scandal, Seo-jin wouldn't leak info easily to spies.
Plus, with President Min Seung-soo arrested, they'd be extra cautious.
But at least they weren't losing info.
"Protecting our information alone is reassuring for now."
"If we fight on equal terms, Daehan Construction will definitely beat Seo-jin Construction."
Nam Sung-il's eyes gleamed at Lee Dae-hyuk's serious tone.
His body was old, but his heart still burned with competitive spirit.
"Not just Daehan Construction—the day Daehan Group beats Seo-jin Group will come too. Seeing you makes me believe that."
"......!"
Lee Dae-hyuk felt puzzled.
Thump thump thump—!!!
Facing Nam Sung-il's unwavering gaze, his heart raced.
It was the faith in those eyes.
Hearing from someone else that they could beat Seo-jin Group made his chest pound for no reason.
It was laughable.
'Is my soul growing younger with my body?'
He was past the age for his heart to race over a few words.
Still.
'It doesn't feel bad.'
Lee Dae-hyuk declared with shining eyes.
"That day will surely come."
"Yes. I believe it."
Nam Sung-il's eyes were full of affection.
But also pity.
He knew a fair bit about Lee Dae-hyuk.
No matter how talented, the 'illegitimate son' handicap made inheriting Daehan Group tough.
He might end up with just a few affiliates.
'Even a few is a lot.'
But holding affiliates didn't end it.
He'd face attacks from half-brothers or Madam Park Ji-sook.
He'd met her few times, but she was no pushover.
A woman with ambition matching her talents.
Now, with her younger brother's mess, she'd harbor even greater grudge against Lee Dae-hyuk.
'It'll be rough.'
Lee Dae-hyuk's path would be thorny.
Still, Nam Sung-il wanted to see the Daehan Group under his lead.
The warm, delicate eyes toward regular employees.
Plus sharp judgment and quick thinking.
He had all the qualities for group leader.
"Looking forward to seeing you again."
"Yes. Then."
Lee Dae-hyuk bowed 90 degrees and left the office.
***
Leaving the office, Lee Dae-hyuk hurried to meet his next appointment.
Meeting Nam Sung-il wasn't just to quit Daehan Construction.
One last task remained.
Lee Dae-hyuk headed from Daehan Construction to a Chinese restaurant in front of Daehan Group HQ.
Cheonghwaru.
President Kim Dae-min's favorite spot.
Pat pat pat—.
Kim Dae-min poured water into a glass, waiting for Lee Dae-hyuk.
Creak—!!
At seven on the dot.
Lee Dae-hyuk entered and sat across from him.
"Did I keep you waiting?"
"Got here early and enjoyed some leisure."
Kim Dae-min handed Lee Dae-hyuk a glass of water.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
Shrugging, Kim Dae-min continued.
"Enjoy company life?"
"Yes. So I'm a bit sad to leave."
"Sad, huh... Makes sense. Normal daily life is harder to come by than you think."
The words carried worry and deeper meaning.
Lee Dae-hyuk knew it well.
To achieve his dream, he had to give up normalcy.
But he had no intention of stopping.
"Indeed. Especially for those chasing ideals."
He couldn't say 'revenge' in front of Kim Dae-min.
So he used 'ideal' instead.
A word that didn't suit him at all.
'Gives me chills.'
Even saying it felt cringy.
But Kim Dae-min interpreted it differently.
"Ideal... Yes. At your age, Young Master, many chase ideals and challenge themselves. And face failures along the way."
"Yes. Failures can happen."
Lee Dae-hyuk nodded slowly.
Petty failures didn't scare him.
He'd learned from experience too.
"I've learned a bit myself, short as it was."
"What'd you learn?"
"That great owners need failures. Without failure, you don't know success."
Lee Dae-hyuk's words carried subtle barbs.
"!!!"
Boss, Become a Chaebol