Chapter 74
Chapter 74
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 074
Chapter Title: Who the Hell is KSH7? (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-No way. Don't we need to get more active with fan activities?
ㄴBut Yeonwoo didn't seem to like personal support.
ㄴYeah, I heard the people who sent the coffee truck last time got told not to do it.
ㄴSo we can't do anything for our Yeonwoo...? What's the point of me making money then!
To them, someone's single comment fell like a blessing.
-Why don't we just donate? In our Yeonwoo's name?
ㄴGenius!!
ㄴYes!! We can just follow KSH7's example!!
ㄴHe's the only one who spent big and didn't get scolded by Yeonwoo!
Once someone broke the ice, the board's energy ignited.
How about buying rice and sending it?
What if we replace appliances at a senior center?
To prepare for winter, buy a ton of briquettes and distribute them?
And so on.
A flood of ideas poured out.
It was custom support tailored to Yeonwoo's personality.
And it was the first footprint that drew the public's reaction of, "Just who is this person making fans so dedicated to charity?"
Thanks to that, perhaps.
-Guys, doesn't KSH7 remind you of someone? To me, it looks like initials...
KSH initials, and 7 for lucky seven. Doesn't it scream that?
Plus, someone who's Yeonwoo's number one fan and throws around big money... Isn't there just one person?
ㄴYou mean Seonghyeon?
ㄴYeah, Kwon Seonghyeon = KSH initials exactly.
Seonghyeon is Yeonwoo's biggest fan, and for him, that money's no big deal.
ㄴPeople have thought of it, but the consensus is he wouldn't be that blatant.
Honestly, KSH is too easy to link to Kwon Seonghyeon.
And everyone says Seonghyeon would've just appeared as a guest instead.
ㄴAh... I see.
KSH7's identity became irrelevant.
It was thanks to speculation from those unaware Yeonwoo had banned guests.
In any case, it was a relief for someone.
***
After the war-like filming of *Handheld TV*.
Yeonwoo's daily life returned to peace.
Peace by Yeonwoo's standards, that is. In reality,
"Hyung-nim... are you okay...? You seem really busy lately...?
If you're swamped, we could put the OST work on hold..."
"What hold? We do what we're doing."
"No, but... I love hearing your music, hyung-nim, but...
Aren't you doing too much right now? I heard a ton of ad shoot requests came in."
"Ah. Those. I'm not doing any anyway, so it doesn't matter."
"Huh? Really okay?"
"They said it's fine."
"Even though the rates I heard were insane? Who said?"
"Kwon Seonghyeon-ssi."
"Ah...."
The moment Kwon Seonghyeon's name dropped, an exclamation mark popped up on Jerry's face.
That name alone made everything click.
"Well, yeah. Shooting later when your value goes up more isn't bad.
The image they want is kinda similar too...."
Jerry nodded.
"But still, you should rest a bit, hyung-nim.
Your dark circles are all the way up to your chin...!"
"This is rest."
Acting research and script analysis were fine, but there was a problem.
*Skills aren't always all good.*
Intent Discernment, upgraded to A-rank additional stat.
It let him sense actors' performances even more delicately, but...
*An unexpected side effect.*
Sensing too delicately meant getting too immersed in the emotions themselves.
In a way, not entirely bad.
Diving deep into rich, varied emotions would surely help acting diversity.
But for Yeonwoo, who'd lived reining in emotions, it felt terribly unfamiliar.
"If I don't do this, I feel like I'll suffocate. So don't say anything."
"Hey, I'm all for it. I joined because I fell for you in the first place."
"Fell for me?"
As Yeonwoo's shocked gaze hit him, Jerry jumped back with hands up.
"Ah, your Nutyube! Nutyube! I got here from that first direct cam upload!
What I fell for was your songwriting and composing!"
"Ah, that."
A lightning-fast excuse worth freaking out over.
"Whew. Don't ever misunderstand like that. What if I die?"
"Why would you die?"
"Korea's no-gun country is a real blessing...."
"......?"
"Getting mugged mysteriously on the way home from the studio would be the worst."
"What are you talking about?"
"For some reason, I feel like that person could pull off a perfect crime without getting caught...."
"......??"
Maybe because he lived abroad.
*His thought process is a bit unique.*
Why suddenly guns and muggers?
The brief awkward air vanished as they resumed work, like it never happened.
As he'd told Jerry, filming *Handheld TV* had been quite effective.
It had aired out the stuffy atmosphere around him big time.
"By the way, I thought the previous version was perfect, but every time you tweak it, hyung-nim, it magically gets even more perfect."
The track Yeonwoo was working on now was the OST version he'd casually played on Nety.
Tweaking the version he'd uploaded to Nutyube brought it close to completion.
"About time to wrap this up."
As the main theme, he'd put extra effort in.
Firm trunk means sturdy branches.
"Whew... no rest."
At least, fortunately, Kwon Seonghyeon's spitefully piled homework was nearing the end.
The remaining DVDs had noticeably dwindled.
But who knew when he'd barge in with a smile and dump more 'homework.'
*Lately, that guy's been clicking with Dongja-ryeong on something.*
Couldn't deny Kwon Seonghyeon's touch helped.
But fatigue was real too.
That soft face, so ruthlessly firm.
[If Yeonwoo-ssi wants, I can help directly.]
An offer from a top star at the peak in every field—but a hard pass.
Weirdly, tangling with Kwon Seonghyeon drained him mentally often.
[All studying needs review, right?]
True, but...
[No. Still, a bit.]
*'Why do I have to review melo acting with you?!'*
Acting was easier with a partner.
Especially emotion-heavy scenes—better immersion with someone opposite.
But if that someone was Kwon Seonghyeon? Different story.
*Face-wise, it's not awkward—perfect fit even—but...*
Everything else was the issue.
A scene gazing deeply, expressing sticky longing.
Couldn't immerse staring at a guy a head taller?
If only to see the face.
But top star Kwon Seonghyeon, 20+ years in the industry, battle-hardened, was no pushover.
[Hmm. Yeonwoo-ssi. Know this?]
[What?]
[Filming isn't always smooth.
Like if the partner's not your type.
Bad personal relations.
Or dealing with an utter bastard you hate.
All sorts of reasons.]
True enough.
Entertainer world tangled in interests.
Might have to work with enemies anytime.
[You gonna refuse every time, Yeonwoo-ssi? Just 'cause you don't like them?]
[......No. I wouldn't.]
Kwon Seonghyeon's words rang true a hundred times.
But did that mean he had to say it while volunteering for the rom-com heroine role?!
[Why? Don't suit me?]
It did.
But everything but the face was light-years from heroine material.
Seeing Yeonwoo's stiff expression, Kwon Seonghyeon finally muttered softly.
[......Was this pushing it?]
Not a little—a lot—but it seemed settled.
Except Kwon Seonghyeon kept popping up for 'reviews' anytime.
*They say he's Korea's priciest. Too many calls, ten bodies short? Why's he here so often?!*
He insisted it was his break, but not quite.
Everyone desperate to snag him anywhere.
Lately, he'd been whispering with Dongja-ryeong, visits thinning.
Homework done, nuisance gone, work wrapping.
Time for fatigue to fade.
Or so he thought.
"Huh? What's that noise? Something happen?"
If not for the sudden commotion outside.
And the sudden demonic energy.
Yeonwoo would've thought so.
***
"This is trouble!"
"Hey hey. Just wanna see a face quick."
"This is trespassing... ugh!"
"Call the cops if you're mad, huh?"
Thud!
A heavy, dull crash echoed.
"Gasp, something wrong? Sounded like the guard...."
Sound-sensitive Jerry froze mid-monitor, staring at the studio door.
Clanging metal clash followed.
Then heavy footsteps approached.
Thud. Thud.
"Hyu, hyung-nim... robber maybe...?"
"Shh. Quiet."
Yeonwoo pressed a finger to his lips.
*'I'm fine, but you might not be.'*
He swallowed the reason.
No need to freeze Jerry more.
This sudden mess flustered Yeonwoo too.
But honed senses warned him.
[Aaaahhh...]
[Kill... gonna kill...]
The intruder oozed such venom.
*'How many grudge spirits wrapped around him?'*
Stale, foul stench pierced walls already.
Their resentful whispers rang clear.
That level meant obsessive thoughts lurking nearby too.
Even without Spirit Eyes, danger clear.
"Huff, huff...!"
Jerry's terrified pants peaked with quiet studio door knocks.
Tap tap...
"Whew. Here you are. Holed up, no wonder I couldn't find you."
Rough-looking guy, obvious.
Long scar along jawline stood out.
Grudge spirits clinging confirmed his quality matched the face.
"W-we, we got no, no money!"
Panting Jerry mustered a yell.
But spotting others behind the man, it deflated.
"All handled, Section Chief!"
"Yeah. Good. Guards only two?"
"Yes. One more, but we talked him down nice."
"Good. No loose lips or trouble. We're out quick anyway. No tails."
'Talked' surely not chat.
Scarface turned from instructing burly thugs to Yeonwoo and Jerry.
"Aigoo. I must look the robber type. Gotta meet expectations then."
Grinning wide, his hefty frame and plump face seemed kindly.
If not for the curving scar with the smile.
"Phones? Hand 'em all over."