Chapter 46
Oh Jongman, who had received a call from Netflix Korea, froze in place. The voice of the employee on the other end of the line kept talking, but he couldn’t seem to move a muscle.
“You’ll need to come to Netflix Korea sometime. When would be convenient for you, Writer Oh Jongman?”
With his mouth slightly open, Oh Jongman didn’t budge. It was more than disbelief; it felt unreal, as if he were standing outside his own life and looking in. Then the woman on the phone spoke again.
“Writer Oh Jongman?”
Only then did he snap back to his senses and answer in a rush.
“Ah! Yes, yes! Sorry! What did you say?!”
“Haha, it’s all right. Um— we need you to come to Netflix Korea for a meeting. When would be a good time for you?”
“Yes! Time!”
As joy swelled inside him, his thoughts tangled into knots.
“Oh! Can I check my schedule and call you back?!”
“Of course. But please let us know as soon as you can. We need to arrange our schedule as well.”
“Understood!”
“Congratulations again on winning the One-Act Drama Project contest!”
After delivering one last round of congratulations, the Netflix employee hung up. Oh Jongman slowly lowered his phone, then abruptly threw both arms into the air.
“Aaaaargh!”
He roared so loudly the rented studio practically shook. With his rough features, it even looked like a beast bellowing. Really, it was just an explosion of triumph. On top of that, he’d just heard about the Busan International Film Festival, so his happiness had doubled.
He had failed as an actor, but now, as a writer, he had tasted his first success.
This was only the beginning, of course, but he had every right to celebrate. Soon after his howl faded, Oh Jongman picked up his phone again. He wanted to tell his wife the good news.
“Honey! I did it! The Netflix contest! I won!!”
From the other end of the line came his wife’s voice, bright with joy, as if she were about to burst into tears herself. After talking for several minutes, Oh Jongman finally ended the call and, in his own way, managed to calm down.
My one-act drama— on Netflix? My God.
For a rookie writer’s debut, it was an enormous break. His heart still hammering away, Oh Jongman began sending messages.
The content was simple.
-I won Netflix’s One-Act Drama Project!!!
The recipients were Kang Jaeha and Lee Chanhoo.
Meanwhile, in Yoon Dayeon’s officetel.
Inside the white-toned but neat, narrow officetel, Yoon Dayeon sat with a sheet mask on her face. She was sunk into the sofa, thinking hard about something. Before long, she found herself replaying her earlier conversation with CEO Han Taeseong. It began with the talk of contract renewal he had brought up.
“...A three-year renewal. Now?”
In response, Han Taeseong remained as composed as ever.
“Because there’s finally been a change.”
Yoon Dayeon, remembering those miserable years when she’d been left to rot, crossed her legs.
“You just let me sit there all this time, didn’t you?”
“······”
Han Taeseong kept his smile and met her gaze. There was no swing of emotion in it. Only calm. As if his eyes were saying it for him. Catching that, Yoon Dayeon brushed back her long hair.
“Sorry. I’m being too whiny. I know what this business is. If something doesn’t sell, you throw it away—that’s just how the market works.”
The entertainment industry was a wilderness, a jungle. Yoon Dayeon knew that well enough. An entertainer was a product, and if that product had no value, leaving it to gather dust in storage was common everywhere. Still, she couldn’t hide her hurt toward Leon.
No matter how much of a “crazy psycho” Yoon Dayeon was supposed to be, she was still a person.
“A three-year renewal. What are the conditions?”
Han Taeseong murmured in a low voice.
“If there’s something you want, tell me.”
“Nothing comes to mind right away.”
“Think about it. I’ll allow most things.”
“That’s awfully generous all of a sudden.”
“You delivered real results. You should get the treatment that goes with that.”
That was when Yoon Dayeon once again became certain of Han Taeseong’s nature. He was a thoroughly calculating man.
Well, he’s always been that way.
Whatever the case, the fact that Leon’s CEO had personally spoken to her about renewing her contract meant he truly recognized how much Yoon Dayeon’s value had risen.
Letting out a soft breath, she nodded.
“Fine. Three years. I’ll think about it.”
Then she suddenly recalled Kang Jaeha’s stiff face.
“I’m also curious what other people think.”
“...Other people’s opinions. You’ve changed a bit, Dayeon.”
“How so?”
“Back then, you used to bulldoze ahead like a tank, not caring what anyone else thought.”
“Things are different now. If I acted the same way I did back then, after coming all this way, I’d just be a crazy bitch.”
“Because of Kang Jaeha?”
Flustered by the sudden shift in his gaze, Yoon Dayeon stumbled over her words a little.
“N-no, it’s not like that, okay??”
“If you want, I can arrange a dedicated manager for you.”
“No need. He’s not the type who’d stay tied down even if you tried to leash him. He’s already doing multiple things besides me, isn’t he?”
“True.”
“And you, too, are saying one thing while thinking the same thing—that it’s better to let Kang Jaeha roam free, aren’t you?”
As if she’d hit the mark, Han Taeseong lifted the corner of his mouth and picked up his coffee.
“He’s exceptional.”
Yoon Dayeon snorted softly, then started to agree, only to shake her head back and forth and rise abruptly.
“I mean, he’s definitely like no character I’ve ever seen, and yeah, he is exceptional... Anyway! I’m going.”
Her mind returned to the present, to her own officetel, and she remembered the line Kang Jaeha had told her recently.
Leon doesn’t suit you, Dayeon.
Yoon Dayeon peeled the mask from her face and narrowed her brow, muttering to herself.
“Then where does?”
At the moment, besides Han Taeseong’s offer to renew with Leon, she had received quite a few other proposals. The same had happened on the day the Busan International Film Festival ended, and afterward, too, various agencies had reached out.
Of course they had. Yoon Dayeon had come roaring back to life at Busan.
Still, her price tag hadn’t risen all that much yet. But her momentum was building, and it would climb quickly enough. Everyone wanted to secure her before that happened.
The entertainment industry. Especially among agencies, rumors traveled fast.
Everyone seemed to know that Yoon Dayeon’s contract with Leon was about to end. But in all honesty, she didn’t have much interest in the other agencies.
The reason was simple.
...He isn’t there.
Kang Jaeha wasn’t in any of those places.
I know he can’t exactly be attached to me full-time. Judging by the absurd abilities he’s got, he’s only going to get busier. The number of people he handles will keep growing. Still, if possible, somewhere he’s around...
As she thought it through, Yoon Dayeon suddenly sprang to her feet and shook her head. When had she started depending on that man this much? But she couldn’t stop thinking about Kang Jaeha.
At that moment—
♬♪
Her phone rang. Startled, Yoon Dayeon checked the screen. Her eyes widened. The caller was Kang Jaeha. A little flustered, she cleared her throat and answered.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
Jaeha’s voice on the other end was calm.
“You’re home?”
“I am. What, did you think I’d gone out somewhere?”
“Let’s talk.”
“Talk?”
“Yeah.”
“Sure, but I’m kind of at home right now.”
After glancing around the neighborhood outside her building, she replied,
“If you’re free, want to come over to my place?”
About two hours later.
Kang Jaeha stepped into Yoon Dayeon’s officetel. Meeting him by the shoe rack, Dayeon tried to act nonchalant and spoke with a deliberately awkward air, making a show of seeming perfectly normal.
“This is the first time a man’s ever come here.”
Jaeha looked at her for a moment. Her long hair was tied back. Then he answered with his usual flat composure.
“I’m honored.”
“You sound completely hollow.”
“Do I have to sound otherwise?”
“Forget it. What do I expect from you? Come in.”
“By the way, are you wearing makeup?”
“W-what are you talking about? Makeup? What makeup! It’s just basic makeup, okay?? I might be going out later.”
With a casual nod, Kang Jaeha sat down on the sofa she’d indicated. Yoon Dayeon hesitated, wondering where to sit, then dragged over a kitchen chair and took a seat facing him.
“So, what did you want to talk about?”
“A few things. First is your next project.”
“My next project?”
“You’re not done just because you got a little spotlight at Busan.”
“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean? I know that much! I still have to claw my way up!”
“Good. It’s not your next project exactly, but I’ve got something I’d recommend as a stop along the way.”
“What is it?”
“Netflix Korea’s One-Act Drama Project.”
Yoon Dayeon’s eyes widened slightly, as if she’d seen the article herself.
“The One-Act Drama Project? Hmm— so I just have to audition, right?”
“If you want to.”
“If you tell me to jump, I jump. You said to leave my ego behind and go wherever the road points, right? I’ll do it. It’ll probably be a short shoot and all that, if it’s the One-Act Drama Project. That’s the kind of thing you mean, right? Like with Gyeollo. Are you recommending this to Jihee too?”
“Probably.”
“So now there’s a rivalry brewing again.”
Kang Jaeha changed the subject.
“Are you getting a lot of calls from agencies?”
“...You really do keep track of everything. Yeah, quite a few.”
“Han Taeseong probably mentioned a renewal too.”
“He did.”
“What do you want to do?”
“What do you think?”
With a faint smile, Kang Jaeha answered.
“A new place would be better than Leon. Somewhere that can focus its attention on Yoon Dayeon.”
“But... if I leave Leon, you won’t be there.”
“You’re making it sound like you’ve ever acted based on my thoughts.”
“Ah! No! It’s just that you told me before you’d give me direction!”
“Wherever you go, I’ll keep steering you. I’m pretty responsible like that.”
“...You know you’re really impossible to figure out, right?”
“As for an agency, why don’t you try the one I recommend?”
“And where’s that?”
“I’ll look around. We still have some time, so wait.”
Crossing one leg over the other, Kang Jaeha then brought up veteran director Yu Giltae.
“Director Yu Giltae spoke to me at Busan.”
“Ah! Right! Director Yu Giltae said my acting left an impression on him and that he definitely wanted to see me again. Isn’t that amazing?”
“If he contacts you about meeting, drag it out a little.”
“Drag it out— why?”
“About a week from the day he calls.”
To Yoon Dayeon, who still couldn’t quite follow the logic, Kang Jaeha answered with complete composure.
“Because there’s something I need to keep an eye on.”
His expression made it clear he already had the entire arrangement laid out.
Later that same afternoon, at the MEG office.
At MEG, Kang Jaeha was gathered together with his subordinates Lee Chanhoo, Go Chunseok, and Ha Yeonji. Sitting in the direction they were all looking at was their newly added subordinate.
Cha Chunghyun scratched his head awkwardly.
“Uh— nice to meet you. I’m the new guy. I’m not much, but I’ll devote this humble body to MEG’s growth from here on out.”
Ha Yeonji gave a light clap, and Lee Chanhoo and Go Chunseok both looked welcoming as well. Then Cha Chunghyun asked the boss,
“What exactly am I supposed to do? If you dump too much on me all at once, I’ll get overwhelmed, so please take it step by step.”
With a faint smile, Kang Jaeha spoke.
“Don’t start acting helpless from day one. Like I said, your job is to handle MEG’s household. It’s a different position from the others. Money management and the rest. You’ll be talking to me the most.”
“I can already feel how brutal this’ll be, but—I’ll do my best.”
“First, you’ll need to deal with the tax side. And you’ll handle whatever I tell you to, piece by piece. I’ll explain the details of MEG and the other operations I’m running.”
“Yes, sir. But—Boss. If I slack off at work, do I die? That thing called Absolute Obedience is kind of scary.”
“You think you’d die? Don’t be dramatic. Just work like you did in the mercenary corps.”
Kang Jaeha didn’t ask Cha Chunghyun about his mother. Instead, he asked something else.
“And what’s your ability?”
“Ah— compared to the others here, it’s nothing special. To me, the flow and routes of money and supplies look optimized.”
“Keep going.”
“It means I can see the flow of funds in an instant, and it gets fed into me. Then it’s optimized and the answer comes out in the direction I want. Things like taxes, as you said, are easy. Tax evasion, slush funds, shell companies, all that stuff isn’t hard either. I can track them too.”
They would have to keep watching him, but Cha Chunghyun was clearly specialized as a household manager. Still, it looked as if he could be useful in other ways as well.
With his own intelligence on top of his ability, the synergy should be huge.
Before crossing over to the other world, Cha Chunghyun had become a certified tax accountant through his own efforts. That meant he was smart. Add his ability on top of that, and from Kang Jaeha’s point of view, he was nothing short of excellent.
Ha Yeonji cut in.
“What, so he’s basically a cheat character as a money guy? No wonder you did your thing in the mercenary corps and then slept like a baby while reaping all the benefits!”
Cha Chunghyun scratched his chin.
“My ability has a condition. I have to sleep a lot. I recharge through sleep— only then can I use it. Though even if I don’t use it, my brain’s still good.”
He threw in a little boast at the end, then said to Kang Jaeha,
“Give me MEG’s financial records first. I’ll try to save as much money as possible on taxes.”
Jaeha replied,
“No tax evasion. The world isn’t the same as it was in the mercenary corps.”
“That’s a shame. Tax evasion is a lot more fun. Whatever, I don’t mind.”
Cha Chunghyun shrugged, looking like it was no trouble at all. Of course, there was a hint of languor in the gesture.
“Tax optimization, streamlining, cutting it down to the bone. That’s my specialty.”
At the same time, in an upscale traditional Korean restaurant.
About four people sat in a private room. Three men were seated side by side, and across from them sat Director Kwon Seongmin, wearing glasses.
One of the men said to Director Kwon Seongmin,
“Director, you turned Busan upside down with a short film, so now it’s time to make a feature. Whatever project you take on, our agency will participate in the investment. Of course, we’ll also make sure your signing bonus is taken care of properly.”
“······”
“We’ve already selected a few screenplays that suit you perfectly. All you have to do is come over and take the helm. What do you say? Won’t you join our agency?”
It was obvious the men were trying to scout Director Kwon Seongmin, who had suddenly become hot property after Busan. Their offer was substantial. In any ordinary situation, it would have been enough to make him waver. If he were younger, even more so. But Director Kwon Seongmin’s expression, as he pushed up his glasses, remained firm.
“...I’m very sorry. It’s an offer far beyond what I deserve, but...”
Thinking of the moment the first call had come from MEG, and of Kang Jaeha and the others—
“There’s a place I need to repay my debt to.”
He rejected the offer without a trace of hesitation.