Chapter 134
Translator: uly
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: The Importance of Management (2)
“Yeonwoo-ssi, once you start doing promo events, you’ll get tons of articles, and that’s the perfect chance to shine. Stand out there, and you’ll draw in fans thinking, ‘Huh, who’s that hot guy?’”
Lee Gyu-han added that fans were the most important thing for a long-lasting career in entertainment.
“So tough it out and do them well. It’ll definitely help. The top dog in this industry is fully backing you up, so it’s a sure thing.”
Lee Gyu-han’s faith in Kwon Sung-hyun bordered on worship.
‘Well, he’s not wrong.’
No matter how much Kwon Sung-hyun acted like he was missing a screw around him, he was still one of the biggest names in showbiz. It might be a bit over the top, but he wouldn’t deliberately lead him astray.
Of course, [Truth] didn’t confirm that every word from Kwon Sung-hyun or Lee Gyu-han was true, nor did it reveal their intentions.
In the meantime, the van carrying Yeonwoo smoothly arrived at its destination.
“The hair shop is in three hours, right? We’ll be waiting nearby, so when you’re done, just call from inside—don’t come down!”
“Yes. Got it.”
After handing Yeonwoo over to the shop staff, Lee Gyu-han said.
Yeonwoo waved back with a practiced “Have a safe trip” and headed to the changing room. He was already getting used to it after just a few visits.
But one thing bothered him.
“Why aren’t you going?”
It was the child spirit trotting right after him.
[Huh? What?]
“I said, why aren’t you going.”
[Go where?]
“Where? To your actor, obviously?”
[Eh? What are you talking about? I have to stick with our Yeonwoo—where else would I go?]
The child spirit grinned and circled around Yeonwoo like he was wrapping him up.
He blinked his big eyes with an innocent look that said he had no idea.
Yeonwoo chuckled at the sight.
‘He’s trying hard.’
At a glance, the child spirit looked just like an adorable kid dressed neatly in colorful traditional clothes.
How round and cute was he? Big, sparkling eyes, a cute fringe neatly covering his forehead.
Pudgy cheeks and firm, plump lips like a little bird’s beak.
If he were alive, those rosy cheeks would make him the epitome of cuteness.
And the colorful outfit a size too big for his frame.
Anyone could see he was unbearably cute.
If he just didn’t open his mouth and spout old-man wisdom, everyone would fall for it.
This wasn’t just talk from knowing him a long time.
‘If he were alive looking like that, he’d probably land child actor roles no problem.’
He was snarky usually, but facts were facts.
But what did looks matter?
‘Inside, he’s no cute kid—he’s an ancient sly fox.’
Yeonwoo’s eyes narrowed as he looked at him.
A cute guy suddenly acting extra cute meant he was deliberately changing the subject.
“Since when have you been stuck to me?”
“Hey, come on. We’ve been together for over twenty years, you know?”
“Yeah, right. Up until I met Kwon Sung-hyun-ssi.”
“Aha! What’s this kid rambling about?”
Exaggerated laughter followed, but Yeonwoo ignored it.
“I know exactly what’s up. We’re not strangers—we’ve known each other for a full twenty years.”
One corner of Yeonwoo’s mouth curved up.
“I was wondering why you stopped hopping into animal bodies lately.”
“Huh? What? Dongja has no idea what you’re saying~?”
The child spirit pretended to look elsewhere.
But he jumped and waved his hands at Yeonwoo’s next words.
“Ah, really no idea? Guess I can call Kwon Sung-hyun-ssi then. Tell him to come pick up his spy.”
“No, it’s a misunderstanding!”
“Call and find out. Whether you’re his little plant or not.”
“Waaah! Kang Yeonwoo! You sharp little punk!”
He’d played dumb hard, but when Yeonwoo pulled out his phone mid-change, the child spirit finally surrendered.
“How did you figure it out? I thought I was ghost-level sneaky!”
“I’ve said it before—you sometimes forget you’re a ghost.”
“No discrimination! No discrimination!”
The child spirit shouted, then asked.
“But seriously, how’d you catch on? I acted super innocent……”
“Even if I wanted to play along, it’d have to be convincing.”
The child spirit’s weird behavior wasn’t new.
‘Roughly speaking…… it started when I got back from overseas filming, right?’
No. More precisely, after the reshoots came up.
—……That guy’s been coming to set?
It started with that offhand comment.
—Yeah, well…… He said it was to apologize to the staff, I guess.
The food-torture apology had left a deep impression.
He had work to do, but delicious food kept coming nonstop.
Refuse? The big shot who ordered it all was there on set, eyes wide open, watching despite his busy schedule.
Keep eating? Stomach full, sleep creeping in……
—Apologize? That guy?
—Hard to believe, but yeah. Though watching him, it felt more like torture by food.
Anyway, after that, the child spirit started following Yeonwoo around oddly.
He seemed to have put some thought into it, per his words.
Some days he’d tag along.
Others, he wouldn’t.
‘What clinched it was him ditching that sparrow body he loved so much.’
The child spirit needed a physical medium to communicate with Kwon Sung-hyun.
He adored Kwon Sung-hyun, after all.
Yet he ditched that body multiple times just to follow along.
‘Back in the day, sure, but he’d been slacking on that “duty” lately.’
It began when Yeonwoo left for overseas filming and asked him to watch over things.
What if Kwon Sung-hyun’s soul and body separated while he was gone? Can’t have that.
He couldn’t afford penalties eating into his barely growing lifespan!
But.
‘Well, wandering spirits chasing selfish gains isn’t new……’
Even an old-timer like the child spirit was no exception.
Using Yeonwoo’s request as an excuse, he’d stuck to Kwon Sung-hyun blatantly even after Yeonwoo returned.
Imagine that guy suddenly going back to basics.
How could it not raise suspicions?
“How old are you to still be dancing to Kwon Sung-hyun-ssi’s tune?”
“Wh-what……! What’s my age got to do with it……! I’m still in my prime! You disrespectful…… rotten…… elder-abusing…… kid! Latte is……”
“Stop surfing the internet. What’s with that speech pattern?”
“Don’t you know the latest trend? Commas non-stop, suffocating rhythm—really no idea?”
“Nope. And quit changing the subject.”
“Tch. Sharp as ever.”
“Even if you take sides, take mine. Spying on me for Kwon Sung-hyun-ssi? I let it slide before, but should I keep putting up with it while getting teased as the dream ghost guy? What do you think?”
Yeonwoo smiled brightly.
“Hey, hey, Yeonwoo. Don’t smile. Scary. You’re scarier when you smile!”
“Exactly why betray me? Huh?”
“Betray?! When did I betray you! Our actor was just worried about you and……”
“We’ve known each other years—how could you do this? I’m hurt, Dongja.”
Honestly, he’d considered playing dumb.
Having the child spirit around was routine by now.
But.
‘Spies are a problem.’
Child spirit or whoever.
Having a watchdog was annoying.
He wasn’t planning to ditch him for real.
Just.
‘Time to address it and air things out.’
That was all.
Definitely not because of any grudge ghost talk.
Or pinning bachelor ghost on him.
Absolutely not.
His mood wasn’t twisted over it.
Absolutely not.
Absolutely.
“Ugh…… Fine! My bad!”
Yeonwoo let out a disappointed sigh, and the child spirit finally waved the white flag.
Tender-hearted as he was, it was no surprise.
“But I had no choice!”
“Yeah, sure. Make your excuses.”
“My ultimate fave smiling and asking personally…… Who sane would say no?!”
Yeonwoo pondered. Should he remind the guy he wasn’t human?
“Be honest, Kang Yeonwoo! If our actor pulled that on you, you’d cave too! You think I don’t know you’re weak to his smile?!”
The child spirit made his final plea.
Yeonwoo paused.
“……When did I?”
He shot back, but the brief, subtle silence didn’t escape the ghost’s notice.
“Heh. Lying’s bad, Yeonwoo. I’ve known you forever—your weakness to our actor is obvious!”
Now fully turned around, the child spirit smugly crossed his arms.
‘Jeez.’
Yeonwoo clicked his tongue.
Hard to deny it outright, just like the spirit said.
Not because of Kwon Sung-hyun’s smile, though.
Just.
‘He’s a premium lifespan vending machine—how could I not be weak?’
No matter how firm he tried to be, [Harvestable Lifespan: +3 days] popped up, and he’d unwittingly give in to Kwon Sung-hyun’s ridiculous requests.
It wasn’t his will.
More like an act of God?
“And I was only with him because you asked me to watch him briefly—normally, I’m supposed to follow you!”
“What’s ‘supposed’ to?”
“……I’m your guardian!”
“……?”
What nonsense was this?
“I’ve never had a ghost as a guardian.”
Before the child spirit could reply, Yeonwoo cut in.
“And this conversation ends here. I’ll let this slide once, but if you rat everything out to Kwon Sung-hyun-ssi again……”
“……What’ll you do?”
“Slap a barrier on him.”
“What?!”
“On your actor.”
“You monster……!”
While the child spirit reeled, Yeonwoo quickly changed clothes.
“You’re really gonna barrier our actor?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeonwoo, let’s compromise.”
“Compromise?”
“How worried must he be to ask me that? You never tell him anything—that’s the problem!”
“Why should I tell him?”
Wasn’t that dangerous?
‘Handing over weak spots.’
Sharing your story meant giving someone your info.
Yeonwoo had experienced that fallout too many times.
—He says he really sees ghosts? He told Gil-dong that yesterday!
—Yeonwoo, lying like that in counseling makes it hard for teacher. Just say you hate studying. Ghosts don’t exist—why lie?
—He tripped alone and blamed a ghost? That’s so him.
Back when he was purer and younger.
How often had his innocent truths boomeranged as daggers?
‘I wasn’t lying.’
‘I really tripped because a ghost grabbed my ankle!’
‘I was just looking down to avoid eye contact with the ghost.’
Even truths didn’t always land.
If they didn’t become weaknesses dragging you down, you were lucky.
‘Why on earth would I do something so pointless?’