Chapter 110: Swallowing Their Pride
Ahn Seung-jun and Ahn Jong-hoon sat facing each other. As expected from father and son. Both were trying to suppress their roughened breaths without saying who should go first... But what good did that do? Their faces were already flushed red and purple, showing no sign of calming down. They still looked hilariously beet-red.
"Dad! Does this even make any sense right now?!"
"You, shut up first...."
Ahn Seung-jun's voice trembled. It was a profoundly heavy bass, fully embodying his authoritative personality and demeanor. Hearing his father's grave tone after so long made Ahn Jong-hoon flinch involuntarily. Lately, he'd often cowered before his son's hysterical(?) outbursts over the past few months, but this moment was different. It felt far more like a vertical relationship between boss and agency actor than just father and son.
"Hey, Hong Seong-o!"
"Y-yes... President."
"You tell me. What did Kim Soo-rim say on the phone?"
"Well, I just got the call a little while ago...."
Seong-o cautiously opened his mouth. As he spoke, Ahn Seung-jun's brow furrowed and his eyelids twitched in real time.
"...This is weird. This is exactly what I just mentioned—the casting condition demanded by Writer Kim."
Seong-o glanced at Ahn Seung-jun's expression and placed the folder with the paper in front of him.
"Ha!"
Ahn Seung-jun snorted derisively as he read it, rolling his eyes dramatically. He quietly set the folder down, his jowls quivering, and his neck had already turned bright red.
Confirming that even his father reacted with the same disbelief, "Am I some kinda green-screen extra? I'm Ahn Jong-hoon, Ahn Jong-hoon!"
Was it because he suddenly felt like he had an ally? "Daring to make me 'assist' some Baek Woojin? No, fuck! This is unheard of! That Kim Soo-rim bitch is totally fuckin' insane?!"
Emboldened, Ahn Jong-hoon launched into a tirade of abuse against Kim Soo-rim.
"Dad, this shitty script ain't even worth dealing with. Just rip it up!"
Shrrrip, shrrrip!
He tore the paper with Kim Soo-rim's demands once more with savage force.
"Who the hell does she think I am, fuck!"
He then scattered the handful of paper scraps into the air.
That was when it happened.
Ahn Seung-jun's stiff expression, briefly obscured by the fluttering papers, twisted violently.
"I told you to shut your mouth!"
He bellowed thunderously and hurled the ashtray from in front of him.
Crash!
The ashtray flew past his son, smashing into the back wall and shattering into pieces. Not just Ahn Jong-hoon, but Seong-o jumped in shock, eyes wide.
"What? Unheard of?! "
"D-Dad...."
"You're the one who's been pulling unheard-of stunts out there, that's why you're getting this bullshit treatment!"
Ahn Seung-jun jabbed a finger at Ahn Jong-hoon, fuming.
"I've been bending over backward everywhere to make my one and only son a mega-star, my back's about to break! I just came back from begging the network bastards to cast you, you worthless shit!"
His scathing tirade continued.
"What the hell's in that thick skull of yours? What were you thinking, spouting that crap! Huh? Look—no one's called you for a gig in almost a year! Not a single one!!!"
Just like Seong-o right now. Ahn Seung-jun seemed to have reached his limit too. His reprimand—no, near-denunciation—of his son showed no mercy.
"You know what they all say? They'd rather use a total rookie than you! They said that shit right to my face!"
Speechless. Ahn Jong-hoon hung his head like a mute who swallowed honey.
"Even smearing shit on your old man's face has its limits—do you know what pisses me off the most right now?!"
"......"
"Baek Woojin...."
Ahn Seung-jun's hand trembled. At the same time, he recalled the last conversation he'd had with Woojin.
"I'll prove your judgment was wrong."
"You cheeky little fuck...."
"When that time comes, you'll regret kicking me out right now."
"I dragged that nobody along for three years, raised him up, and the ungrateful bastard had the gall to act all high and mighty in front of me!"
Bam!
Ahn Seung-jun slammed his thick hand on the desk. Ahn Jong-hoon flinched again, hunching over.
"Of all people, why are you sniveling because you got outshone by that guy!"
With a fearsome glare, Ahn Seung-jun cleared his throat briefly.
A moment of silence.
"Hey, Hong Seong-o."
"Yes, President...."
He spoke again. His heavy voice mixed with ragged breaths.
"...Tell Kim Soo-rim we'll do it."
"Pardon?"
"N-No, Dad! Are you crazy?!"
Ahn Jong-hoon shot up from his seat in horror.
Bam!
Ahn Seung-jun slammed the desk hard once more.
"Do it if I say so?"
"......"
The upturned intonation carried a strongly coercive, threatening vibe. Like a brutal warning to the weakling before him.
"It's shitty, but just do it."
"Even so, that's a bit...."
"Fuck, answer me!"
Ahn Jong-hoon wore a dissatisfied expression, but he'd long been cowed by his father's momentum.
"O-Okay...."
He mumbled in a crawling voice.
Swish.
Ahn Seung-jun beckoned him closer. As Ahn Jong-hoon hesitantly leaned in, Ahn Seung-jun extended his index finger toward his face and spoke lowly.
"Listen well. Don't show a hint of displeasure—do exactly as you're told, nice and obedient."
"Yes...."
In just two years, he'd grown at a terrifying pace to dominate the careers of all 20-something actors in Korea, but he'd failed to recognize Woojin's worth and discarded him. Or, showing his ruthless side, utterly indifferent to others' lives for his son's success.
That didn't mean Ahn Seung-jun had no brains like Ahn Jong-hoon. Considering the fact that a one-man agency relying 100% on a single declining—no, already fallen—actor hadn't completely collapsed yet. As SJ's head, Ahn Seung-jun had a certain ability to coldly grasp industry trends and moods.
The torrent of bad reviews from insiders about Ahn Jong-hoon. He'd realized they'd truly reached the breaking point.
"Smile no matter what, act polite. Screw up this time, and it's really over! No next chances. Got it?"
In short, 'your acting career is done.' The most chilling words in the world.
Only then did a strong sense of crisis hit Ahn Jong-hoon, and he quietly nodded. The barrage of unfiltered curses and insults toward Kim Soo-rim that had filled his throat vanished.
"Seong-o, go out and tell her now. We'll accept any conditions."
"Understood, President."
"And don't forget to say thanks."
"Yes."
Creeeak, click.
Seong-o left the president's office. Ahn Seung-jun slowly leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs. The excitement was gradually subsiding. Father and son's gazes drifted into space.
But in their minds: 'Baek Woojin... just you wait.'
'I'll make sure he knows his place soon enough. Cocky bastard....'
Telepathy. From their perspective, they didn't know exactly when or why it had come to this—it was frustrating. But somehow, in just two years, their positions relative to Woojin had flipped.
Both men's eyes sought the cause not in themselves, but in Woojin.
Simply put, blaming others. Well, if they'd ever looked for faults in themselves from the start....
They wouldn't have tossed decent people under the bus for their goals in the first place.
"You've had a tough time, Manager. Good. I'll pass it on to the writer right away."
"Aigoo, no need. Thank you for the opportunity. We'll prepare hard."
"I hope so. I'd like Ahn Jong-hoon not to cause any trouble this time."
At that moment, Seong-o, calling Writer Seo Min-kyeong, added the thank-you as Ahn Seung-jun instructed.
And so, Ahn Jong-hoon joined Justice. As a special appearance. In the role of "Baek Woojin's assistant."
* * *
Along with the casting discussion that happened while he was away from the Justice set for the Busan International Film Festival,
"About your relationship with Actor Ahn Jong-hoon. I was wondering if it makes you uncomfortable, Woojin."
PD Woo Seung-hyun's question followed.
Woojin unwittingly smiled.
"No, not at all."
He answered without hesitation. If anything, he was looking forward to it—what was there to be uncomfortable about? If anyone was uncomfortable, it was Ahn Jong-hoon, not him.
"Good to hear. I know you did a special appearance together in Joseon Sunshine, and I heard there was some unpleasantness on set. Just checking."
"No worries. Not on my end."
'My' end. The nuance of that single word hung heavy.
As PD Woo looked puzzled, Woojin smiled and asked,
"Remember asking Senior Lee Kang-sik about his relationship with Senior Jo Seung-cheol?"
"Of course. It was the first time meeting the actors and writer—how could I forget."
"It's the same."
"Pardon?"
"Me and Ahn Jong-hoon."
When Senior Jo Seung-cheol's name first came up at that initial dinner, Senior Lee Kang-sik must have felt exactly like this. Woojin didn't add details. Just enough for the director to know.
"We're tied by a bad connection, yeah. Specifically, I'm the victim."
"Aigoo...."
PD Woo scratched his head, looking troubled.
"I'll tell you the details later if there's a chance. Not something I really want to talk about."
It was Woojin's honest feeling. He had no desire to badmouth Ahn Jong-hoon. No need to spread what happened at SJ, and no intention of souring the set mood by bringing it up.
Whenever he crossed paths with Ahn Jong-hoon, like in the Joseon Sunshine cameo, he'd repeatedly told Team Leader Kim Tae-gon and Manager Jun-an-hyung it was fine. No big deal. He had zero interest in SJ anymore. His days were packed just focusing on the work at hand.
The ones guilty and paranoid trying to keep tabs on 'him'? He had no time for that. If they kept acting without reflection or remorse, they'd self-destruct eventually.
Woojin laughed heartily and added,
"Haha, like Senior Lee Kang-sik said, the past is the past. Too busy making a great show with you, Director."
"I'd feel the same. I get it."
PD Woo nodded in understanding.
"Director, set's ready!"
Woojin brushed off his seat and stood.
"Shall we shoot?"
The walkie-talkie timing was perfect artistry.