Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Life's Goal (1)
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Watching from behind as the Child Spirit checked the reactions, the results were a little different this time. He barely felt any of that sticky, humid sensation. Sure, there were still people jealous of the success and attention itself... But the difference he felt in his body was so clear and vivid that he had no choice but to acknowledge it. Indeed, Kwon Seong-hyeon had been right.
“But... did you come here just to ask about that?”
The thought suddenly struck him, so he asked. The response came back.
“Well, since I was the one who suggested it. And it's about you, Yeonwoo-ssi.”
“My position led me to come up with the best method I could, but if it doesn't sit right with you, Yeonwoo-ssi, then it's all pointless, isn't it?”
“You don't have to go that far.”
“No. This is exactly what needs to be done. I can't just sit back and watch my angel get dragged through the mud with my eyes wide open.”
It had been a while since he'd heard the angel talk. It was hard to understand, but Kwon Seong-hyeon claimed he saw a brilliant golden light around Yeonwoo.
'Like... a goal, maybe?'
Someone at Kwon Seong-hyeon's level must have tasted every success and fortune worth having. When you had everything, boredom was inevitable. Having no more goals might be the same as losing the drive to live.
Was that why?
'Kwon Seong-hyeon wandering as a living spirit until now... maybe.'
The vague sensations he'd felt so far were starting to take concrete shape. Kwon Seong-hyeon probably...
Had he set a new goal? One very closely tied to Yeonwoo.
'He did say his soul and body haven't separated even once since then.'
He hadn't attached the Child Spirit to Kwon Seong-hyeon for nothing. The chatty little guy had fulfilled his role properly.
'Come to think of it, it's pretty strange.'
For some reason, to avoid penalties and stay alive, he had to keep an eye on Kwon Seong-hyeon. And Kwon Seong-hyeon seemed to have made Yeonwoo his life's goal. To an outsider, it might look like a snake eating its own tail.
Of course, that was if Yeonwoo's hypothesis was correct.
“Is there something on my face?”
Kwon Seong-hyeon asked, noticing the prolonged stare.
“No. Nothing. Thanks for caring until the very end, even though you must be tired.”
At first, he'd wondered why this guy was suddenly showing up and being a nuisance. But now he realized it was for his sake.
“No, no. That's my joy. Knowing you've noticed makes it all worthwhile.”
“I'm fine, so go rest. That guy's looking ready to kill me.”
Yeonwoo flicked his eyes sideways.
[That's right. Our actor needs to rest now. You barely slept with your eyes open until yesterday. Yeonwoo said it's okay, so sleep well today, Actor!]
“Ah. I've always had mild insomnia anyway.”
“I didn't know that.”
“Because I never told you.”
Yeonwoo thought for a moment before speaking.
“Then go get some deep sleep. Good night.”
A mesmerizing voice whispered in his ear, impossible to resist. If he closed his eyes like this, he'd surely fall into a deep slumber. Sensing it, Kwon Seong-hyeon smiled.
“Thanks to you, I think I'll sleep well tonight. You too, Yeonwoo-ssi. Good night.”
* Yeonwoo thought. 'The atmosphere feels kinda weird?'
With filming on the movie wrapping up, it moved into post-production editing. This stage was essentially the director's domain. How to splice the footage together. How to assemble the story. How to unfold the fixed plot through direction. It all fell under the director's complete authority.
But.
Yeonwoo got a call.
[Is it really okay for me to join? I don't know anything about editing...]
[What are you talking about? Just having you there is a huge, massive help!]
[You're not just saying that, right?]
[We're not just saying that either. We mean it!]
A sudden, desperately pleading call out of nowhere. The assistant director had begged him earnestly.
[Ah! If you have a schedule, we'll work around it!]
[No, it's not that.]
After the movie shoot ended, Yeonwoo had been forced into rest.
[Our company isn't so ruthless that we'd send you out as a boy breadwinner right away. Your recovery comes first.]
If he had to pick something, maybe light exercise and management sessions? The management felt slick and odd at first, but they said consistency was key. The firm presses along his muscles after intense workouts felt subtly pleasant and relaxing.
Anyway. The point was, he had no packed schedule—nothing at all.
Kwon Seong-hyeon had said it.
[It's good to seize opportunities when they come, but you can't get too obsessed.]
[Why not?]
Normally, wouldn't it be the opposite? When he asked, Kwon Seong-hyeon replied.
[It's not bad to pack in a lot of work in a short time. But if you burn yourself out too quickly, all that's left afterward is ash. No one left to row the boat.]
[Ah.]
[Then the boat can't move forward. It'll just float in place forever.]
That made sense upon reflection. There was even a term for it lately: burnout syndrome. In simple terms, mental exhaustion leading to physical lethargy.
[Your goal isn't a quick flash and fade, right, Yeonwoo-ssi?]
[Well... yeah.]
He was starting to really enjoy this entertainer world. Back then, he would've jumped at the chance for a quick haul without a second thought. But now was different. He couldn't quite pinpoint it, but...
He kinda wanted to walk this path a bit further?
'Is this what they mean by fate...?'
His mother, Lady Kang Yeon-hwa, had said it once.
[That's your fate! Your birth chart is like that—what can you do? Don't stray; accept it as destiny!]
Words he'd ignored back then. Honestly, it felt unfair. Fate as all-or-nothing? As if.
'We're not in some tribal era; it's the modern 21st century.'
Of course, Yeonwoo was someone who saw ghosts in that modern world and even talked to them. Standing here now, why did those words resurface?
With the grueling shoot—complete with a shipwreck—finally over, he figured rest wasn't a bad idea, per Kwon Seong-hyeon. Until the assistant director called.
[So, does that mean you'll come?]
The assistant director's voice brimmed with excitement.
[Yes. But what do I need to do when I get there?]
[Oh, you don't need to do anything specific. Like I said, just being there is a huge, enormous help for us.]
[You can speak freely. I'm not asking for extra pay or anything.]
[No, no! We know you're not the type. So... please just come. Um... next to our director.]
[...Pardon?]
[Can you come first? It's better to explain after...]
What kind of request was this? Despite the doubt, Yeonwoo agreed readily. And now, at the appointed time.
“...?”
The atmosphere in the studio was totally off. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what, but it was weird.
“Ah, Yeonwoo-ssi. You're here?”
“Y-Yes! Yeonwoo-ssi! Welcome!”
“...Hello.”
What was this? Why were they greeting him like some savior?
More importantly.
“Did he... die, by any chance?”
Yeonwoo pointed at Director Ji, who sat blankly in front of the equipment in one corner of the studio, face pale and spaced out. The assistant director rushed over and shook him.
“Director! Director, snap out of it! I get why you're losing it, but pull yourself together a bit!”
That short outburst crammed in 'a bit' so many times. Director Ji's state looked that dire. Smack! Smack! The assistant director's solid palms slapped the director's thick shoulders with crisp sounds.
“Argh. This bear of a man, so sensitive... How can you zone out like this just because you saw that scary person? We've got mountains of editing!”
The assistant director roused Director Ji, insisting they couldn't proceed with post-editing or processing without his direction.
“At this rate, forget winter release—we'll miss spring too! Ah, Director! Get a grip. How did you even secure the investment like this?! Oh... right, it was forced on us.”
Director Ji reacted only when Yeonwoo's name came up in the assistant director's muttering.
“Director, if you don't snap out of it, I'll just hand Yeonwoo-ssi off to the investors. They're already lurking, and if they snatch him while you're like this?”
“Yeonwoo-ssi...?”
Color finally returned slightly to his pale face.
“Yeonwoo-ssi is here...?”
“Yes. I brought him with all my might. Otherwise, you'd just burn out white and vanish.”
“Yeonwoo-ssi!”
The bear-like hulking Director Ji shot to his feet.
“You're he...”
“Hello, Director.”
“What brings you he...”
“Ah. Assistant Director called me.”
“Assistant Director...”
Director Ji turned, and only then did the assistant director cross his arms, as if saying, 'Do you see me now?'
“Yeah. I called him. Pretty commendable, right?”
“Today's shift... exempt...”
“Whoa, really? Yes!”
Some quick deal must've gone down between them. The assistant director, who moments ago had pouted about only seeing Yeonwoo, now beamed with serene benevolence. The shift was so swift it evoked tales of face-changing sorcery passed down from ancient lands.
'A skill I'd love to learn.'
Sadly, 'face-changing sorcery' wasn't in the assistant director's specialties.
“Ah, Yeonwoo-ssi. The reason I called is our editing was crawling at snail pace. We'd cleared all scenes in three months, but at this rate, it'd drag to next year or the year after for release. Ah, not really—Director's back on track now! Anyway, it was slowing, but not anymore.”
The assistant director grinned slyly, eyes saying, 'You get it.'
“...?”
New to this world, Yeonwoo didn't grasp the inner workings yet. He could act, but filmmaking? Total novice. Sensing it, the assistant director explained.