Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: That's You (1)
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‘Presence is the alpha and omega of being an entertainer...?’
There might be some who disagreed, but that was Lee Gyu-han’s take on it. And what Yeonwoo had felt on set aligned with it to some extent. His own stats were proof enough.
The A-rank stat ‘Enchanting Voice’—once you heard it, it was hard to pull away.
And the equally A-rank ‘Eyes Brimming with Pathos.’
‘After getting those two, my influence shot up, right?’
Even back when he had nothing, drama writer Min Suji and box-office hitmaker Director Heo Yeongho had shoved him into a supporting role, ignoring all protocols. Then came the added stats, sparking an explosive synergy.
Influence—and the resulting Multi-Lifespan Auto-Harvest function—were the evidence.
‘No wonder it was such a huge hit.’
So this ‘Worship for the Forgotten God’ stat was a total jackpot for Yeonwoo, no matter how you sliced it. Not as directly tied to presence as Kwon Sung-hyun’s stat, but...
This thing called charm.
Depending on how you used it, it had every potential to synergize brilliantly with his existing stats.
‘Being S-rank, it’s obviously not some trash skill.’
Most stats were passive anyway—no need to consciously activate them. All in all, it was a stat he couldn’t be anything but thrilled about.
Honestly, just snagging this made the reward for catching that thoughtform worth it.
But.
“Why are you staring like that?”
Yeonwoo shot a displeased look at Woo Do-gyeom, who had strode over and planted himself nearby, openly gawking.
“It’s been a few days, and you look a bit different. Lost some weight in the meantime?”
He had no desire to thank the guy spouting such nonsense.
“Who do you think that’s because of?”
“Hmm. Me?”
Woo Do-gyeom played coy.
“Something’s definitely changed a lot. Hm. This is outside my expectations.”
“If you’re just gonna talk crap, don’t bother me—go handle your business.”
Even Yeonwoo’s icy dismissal didn’t faze Woo Do-gyeom. If anything, he leaned in closer toward Yeonwoo, muttering.
“Weird, right?”
“...?”
“I’m not exactly the conscientious type to begin with, but for some reason, dealing with you feels unusually tough—like it’s not my usual vibe. This is off-script for me.”
What nonsense was this?
Yeonwoo openly furrowed his brow.
“So what?”
“You don’t need to do anything. It’s just... I feel unfamiliar with myself. Like, right now, I’m wondering if gifting you that yacht over there would cheer you up a bit?”
“...Pardon?”
“What do you think? If I give you that yacht, would that sour look fade?”
“Are you insane?”
“Why not? Oh, taxes worrying you? I’ll handle that—no need to stress. Maintenance costs? Obviously on me...”
“Enough.”
“You’re cutting me off too harshly.”
“We already settled everything, didn’t we? Why pull this now?”
“Beats me. That’s what I’m wondering too. First time feeling like this, so hard to put into words.”
One thought flashed in Yeonwoo’s mind.
‘...Could it be thanks to that new stat?’
A power that, in some form, instilled attraction.
Maybe it planted a vague guilt in this cutthroat guy.
Pure speculation, but for the smiling, razor-sharp Woo Do-gyeom to suddenly offer extras without reason...
‘Kinda makes sense, doesn’t it?’
Talk about a two-for-one win.
“Figure out that tough dilemma on your own. You don’t mess with a dog while it’s eating—don’t you know that?”
Yeonwoo shooed him away like a fly.
“No matter how I think about it, something’s off.”
Yeonwoo ignored Woo Do-gyeom’s mutterings completely.
No obligation to kindly clue him in.
‘Let him stew. Bonus if it weakens him against me.’
Sure, Woo Do-gyeom was loathsome for using people.
Sure, it pissed him off—the film nearly tanking multiple times, scraping by with depleted spiritual power, pure hell.
But in the end, Yeonwoo had reaped rewards matching that suffering.
‘When you think about it, it’s thanks to Woo Do-gyeom. If he hadn’t sent me here, I’d never have gotten it.’
With everywhere modernized and trodden by humans, forgotten gods like that were basically extinct.
Without this backwater, he couldn’t have even met one.
So in a way, he ought to be grateful...
‘Still not thankful, though.’
Head and heart didn’t always align.
Plus-minus zero. Results-wise, even. But zero gratitude.
No urge to broadcast his gains either.
“Did you do something to me?”
“Why would I do anything to you?”
“Otherwise, how else in just a few days...”
He barely registered the rest.
But Yeonwoo instinctively knew.
Right now, something was in his grasp.
‘Feels like I’ve got a leash on a big beast—strong, sturdy one.’
A way to rein in this self-centered, troublesome monster.
*
Stranded in the wilderness, then rescued by an investor arriving on a white steed—no, a gleaming white mega-yacht—enjoying civilization’s perks and fine food afterward.
What did the film crew do?
“Let’s shoot.”
They resumed filming.
“Wouldn’t it be better to head back? After all that, you’re still going to keep shooting?”
Woo Do-gyeom’s people were stunned.
“It’s... fine now...”
“Director says it’s in the past, no issues currently, so better to wrap up quick.”
Actors and staff agreed.
“Don’t I look a bit haggard? Feels more fitting for Yeowon’s character. Director, how about reshoots? If we’re doing it, let’s do it right.”
“Reshoots?”
Even the lead actress chimed in, leaving Kim Secretary aghast.
Woo Do-gyeom just watched from behind, arms crossed, amused.
“If it’s better, of course. Stranding? Just good luck charm for our blockbuster.”
“Well said, Do-hee! Yeah. No crew’s paid such a hefty charm price.”
“Right? This much, we’re hitting ten million viewers for sure!”
“We came all this way—gotta finish strong! Hate to leave empty-handed after all that.”
Cheers erupted here and there.
“They’re all crazy... Out of their minds... More lunatics besides our boss...”
Kim Secretary muttered unwittingly.
Woo Do-gyeom overheard but just smirked.
Filming restarted swiftly—and wrapped just as fast.
Fearing another storm, they pushed with laser focus, marching hard.
Even with reshoots, no one complained.
Thus, in under a few days, they finally headed back to Korea.
*
“Business class is the life. First time I knew you could lie down on a plane—learned that this shoot.”
“Cheongwang really hooked us up. Going and coming...”
Veteran actors took it in stride, but staff? Not so much.
A ride costing millions per seat—for a budget-conscious crew?
Only big-shot directors smashing past ten million could swing it.
Even then, staff were another story.
“Chartering the whole business section? We hit the lottery. Usually just director and actors get perks, but all staff too...”
“No kidding. Didn’t know Cheongwang was this generous.”
Staff lounged in business, buzzing about civilization’s joys.
One lone exception.
‘You’re all being played...’
Yeonwoo pitied them hearing it.
Who forced that ordeal?
None other than Woo Do-gyeom, shoving them into the wilds.
The sad part? Director, actors, staff—all clueless.
‘They were even touched he bought that pricey yacht and came himself...’
Unprecedented investor care, they’d gushed.
“This is because of you, right, Yeonwoo-ssi?”
“Hm?”
“Chairman Cheongwang coming all the way here. Yeah? No?”
Sharp Yeon Do-hee had poked him slyly once.
But even she stopped there.
No way she’d guess: a fallen god-thoughtform on a deserted island, so he’d bound Yeonwoo to the team to handle it.
Pure Woo Do-gyeom—mobilizing dozens at huge cost for that alone.
“Whew, shoot’s finally wrapping!”
“Not yet...”
“Oh right. A few emotion scenes left out.”
“A bit... regrettable...”
“Director feels it too? Yeah, kinda sad. Ended too quick... Great, but still. Last days were wild, but super speed overall, right?”
“Yeah...”
Ji Director and Assistant Director’s live translation chat was always a sight.
Minus Yeonwoo’s private pity-party, the return flight vibe was solid.
Even picky actors bonded over shared near-death—cozy atmosphere.
But.
“Trouble.”
As the plane landed and they prepped to deboard, the news shattered the harmony.
*
“Uh... what does that mean...”
Assistant Director translated Ji Director’s slow words.
“Total chaos out there? At arrivals? Why? Some issue?”
The airline staff looked awkward relaying it.
“It’s an issue, yeah... Chaos, sure...”
“What is it?”
“Apocalypse? We turning the plane around?”
“Film buffs working films... This is our real deal?”
Staff murmured tensely; staff cleared throat.
“Nothing major... Just too many people at arrivals.”
“Arrivals? Oh, Do-hee or Yeonwoo fans probably.”
Those fans existed—ones tracking idols’ schedules obsessively.
“Airport’s not really sasaeng territory. Fans flock here anyway...”
“Yeah, that’s fine...”
“Do-hee and Yeonwoo hit VIP gate, done. No one cares about us.”
“Hey, you scared us. We’ve got experience—no biggie.”
Staff chimed in casually.
Not home-stalking sasaengs—airport was decent.
Especially with ‘airport fashion’ hype; stars timed it for buzz.
[Entertainer XX flaunts radiant airport look!]
[Perfect airport fashion star XXX: ‘See you soon’]
Free promo.
“Got spare outfits? Used most good ones...”
“Touch-up makeup. Do-hee! Yeonwoo! Over here...”
“Fans mean VIP’s iffy too. Style for good articles...”
As staff bustled—
Boom. Bombshell.
“No... It’s reporters.”
Staff froze.
Staff drove it home.
“They’re waiting for you all, from what I heard.”