Chapter 103
Chapter 103
Are You Retiring?
(Before you say I don’t know because I don’t appear on variety shows much, maybe Mr. Park Ju-hyeon should work on his own sense of humor.)
Unlike the frigid atmosphere on set, the broadcast focused on Park Ju-hyeon looking flustered after Yu Yeon-seo’s sharp retort. They even added sound effects fit for a casual game to lighten the mood.
They used clips of Han Tae-hyung and Choi Jun-yeong laughing to cleverly edit the footage, making the atmosphere on set seem warm and friendly.
‘Well, if you miss a scene like this, you might as well resign as a variety show producer.’
“Life’s Tavern” had suddenly become just like any other variety show. There were some negative reactions, with people saying it was originally a calm, guest-focused program, but you can’t make a show if you worry about such minor opinions.
Yu Yeon-seo’s Rebuke to Park Ju-hyeon on “Life’s Tavern”: “Your Character Itself is the Problem”
Yu Yeon-seo Fires Back at “National Unlikable” Park Ju-hyeon, Propelling “Life’s Tavern” to Its Highest Ratings Ever
As news spread that the already widely disliked Park Ju-hyeon had been thoroughly put in his place by Yu Yeon-seo, the show’s buzz reached an all-time high, as did its ratings. They could just blame the change in the program’s character on Park Ju-hyeon.
(Haha! Yeon-seo is quite sharp, isn’t he? I told you, you should stop talking like that. It’s not the style these days.)
Choi Jun-yeong, having been on the receiving end before, was struggling to hold back his laughter. But for the main MC, who had a long recording session ahead and needed to maintain a good atmosphere, it must have been quite awkward.
After the recording ended, Yu Yeon-seo went to see Han Tae-hyung.
[Did I say something out of line?]
[No, if anything, I should be the one apologizing. I should have cut him off before he said something strange... I’m sorry. You must have come here hoping for a pleasant conversation.]
He smiled gently and patted Yu Yeon-seo’s shoulder.
[I’m a bit weak when it comes to Ju-hyeon. He was really strict with me back in the day....]
[Is that so? Maybe I should have said more....]
Han Tae-hyung burst out laughing at his response.
[Yes, and this is a secret... but when you said that, it was actually quite satisfying.]
[I’m glad to hear that.]
[But are you really not interested in being a supporting MC? You were really good.]
[No, I should focus on my main job.]
Like Han Tae-hyung, Park Ju-hyeon had debuted as a comedian in the 90s and had been appearing on various programs ever since. He had earned the title of “National Unlikable” due to his frequent slips of the tongue, but many shows hired him for that very reason. With his long career, he had many friends in the industry.
Perhaps that was why most guests tended to let Park Ju-hyeon’s rudeness slide. But Yu Yeon-seo didn’t tolerate it. He had no need to.
-Isn’t Yu Yeon-seo’s smiling face kind of scary though?
The set must have been in chaos then.
└Probably? If you look at Han Tae-hyung laughing, the position of his drink suddenly changes lol.
└└Oh, you’re right lol.
└Wow, only Yu Yeon-seo could pull this off lol. Anyone else would have just let it go.
└Wow, so satisfying lolololol.
└Thinking about what my idol went through with Park Ju-hyeon, this is so cathartic lol.
└Honestly, it’s true that no one’s curious lol. How many people has Park Ju-hyeon dragged through the mud by provoking them like that?
└└Fr, his pattern is always the same. It’s so boring.
-As a Choi-men, thank you so much, Actor-nim. T-T
└From now on, any attack on Yu Yeon-seo will be considered an attack on Choi Jun-yeong and Choi-men.
└└Seconded.
└└└Thirded. Choi-men.
“Choi-men” was the name of his official fan club, a combination of Choi Jun-yeong and “Amen.”
(Alright, we’ve heard from Jun-young, so now shall we hear from Yeon-seo?)
After being put in his place by Yu Yeon-seo, Park Ju-hyeon kept his mouth shut, and the show revolved around Han Tae-hyung and the two guests.
(When we talk about Yeon-seo, we can’t miss this topic. The sudden awakening after the accident. A lot of people have been saying things like that.)
(Things like, maybe my soul was swapped, or maybe there’s a zipper on my back...? Yes, I hear that a lot.)
(Haha! I also saw a video on a streaming platform comparing your acting before and after 2018. I’d like to propose a different hypothesis.)
(What is it?)
(That perhaps you were intentionally hiding your skills.)
(It wouldn’t be easy to act that badly on purpose.)
Honestly, even I thought it was terrible. To act like that intentionally? The person behind it would have to be a god of acting.
(But I heard the aftereffects of a car accident can last a long time... Are you okay now?)
(Yes, nothing hurts anymore. I’m perfectly fine.)
When he gave that answer, he could almost hear Im Seung-hyeon and Lee Tae-gyeom clicking their tongues in disbelief. He later heard that a few staff members had actually turned to look at them when they scoffed.
(How did you feel at that time?)
(Well, I’d say my attitude toward life changed.)
(I was in a minor accident myself, but it made me think a lot. May I ask what specific thoughts you had?)
(Hmm... that there’s no point in saving money?)
(What? Hahaha!)
When he said this, he was thinking of Kang Jin-hu’s death. It brought up complicated feelings, but he didn’t elaborate.
‘What’s the point of talking about it... It’s useless.’
In any case, the public reaction was more focused on Yu Yeon-seo landing a blow on Park Ju-hyeon. That was even better. He hated opening up about himself in public. It wasn’t bad for it to be buried like this.
-But is it okay for Yu Yeon-seo to do that?
Park Ju-hyeon has been in broadcasting for years, won’t there be any backlash? Is it okay to attack him like that?
└LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO
└lolololol
└└What’s so funny?
└Backlash for Yu Yeon-seo? lololol
Backlash? As if Park Ju-hyeon could do anything.
[I’m truly sorry. We shouldn’t have invited you....]
If anything, he was the one receiving apologies from the production team.
Besides, whether the content was good or bad, by the end of the shoot, even Park Ju-hyeon was enthusiastically responding to Yu Yeon-seo’s words. He was probably busy crunching the numbers in his head. Thinking about how this kind of attention could land him a role on a cable TV program where he could be a full-blown provocateur.
[Hey, that was so satisfying for me. If you ever need my help with anything, just call.]
After the shoot, Choi Jun-yeong was all over Yu Yeon-seo, patting his back. He must have been quite bitter about his past experience with Park Ju-hyeon. He kept making reactions like, “Keeuhh,” and “Whoa, you really tore it up,” as if he’d just finished a hearty bowl of soup.
[But I’m a little worried.]
[Who’s going to say anything to you?]
[Of course not. I mean for you.]
So, you’re worried that Park Ju-hyeon, unable to say anything to me, might take it out on you? Realizing this, Choi Jun-yeong laughed heartily and gave Yu Yeon-seo a thumbs-up.
[You’re really something else.]
Anyway, the post-broadcast reactions are good, so I guess I’ll stop looking.
Turning off the screen, Yu Yeon-seo leaned back comfortably in his chair and spun it around.
“Why are you here again?”
Han Jun-o of Halo Media opened the door to the CEO’s office and clutched his chest in surprise at the sight of Yu Yeon-seo sitting there as if it were his own office.
“CEO Han’s chair is comfortable.”
“I’ll just give you the chair. Go home.”
Yu Yeon-seo opened his closed eyes and stared at the CEO’s face. The look clearly said, Do you really think I’m here because I can’t afford a chair like this? CEO Han sighed.
“Do you enjoy tormenting me this much?”
“Tormenting you? You like it when I visit often, CEO Han. Don’t you?”
Unable to refute, he cleared his throat and, as if it were now routine, sat on the guest sofa. People were already coveting the rapidly rising star Yu Yeon-seo.
And right on cue, Yu Yeon-seo was spotted frequently visiting the company. Seizing the opportunity, CEO Han had been telling those who were interested, “He comes to the company diligently even though he doesn’t have to,” and “We’re really close. He has no plans to change agencies for the time being.”
As an aside, there were apparently people who staked out the cafe near the company like idol fans. They said people even came from abroad just to see Yu Yeon-seo, but well... that was probably an exaggeration.
“Other CEOs are busy running around, but isn’t our CEO busy?”
“Hey, I was busy meeting with industry people until yesterday. You always come when I’m free. What is it this time, a script?”
Yu Yeon-seo gave a half-hearted nod. CEO Han grumbled under his breath. If he needed a script, he could have just asked Lee Tae-gyeom like usual... Feeling self-conscious, CEO Han opened the news section of a portal site and shot up from his seat.
“Yeon-seo.”
“Why are you suddenly calling me so affectionately?”
“...Are you retiring?”
“What are you talking about now?”
CEO Han strode over and held his phone screen in front of Yu Yeon-seo’s face.
Yu Yeon-seo to Retire from Entertainment and Inherit Company? ...Receives JSENM Stock Inheritance
Ah, the embargo must have been lifted. He reached out and touched CEO Han’s phone screen.
JSENM Vice Chairman Choi Yu-jin Gifts Stock to Son Yu Yeon-seo... A Shift in JSENM’s Succession Structure?
[Business] JSENM Convenes Extraordinary General Meeting Next Month for “Appointment of Yu Yeon-seo as Internal Director”
Yu Yeon-seo’s Receipt of JSENM Shares Not a Case of Tax Evasion... Generous Lump-Sum Payment of Inheritance and Gift Taxes Becomes a Hot Topic
Juseong had intentionally leaked a few stories, but other media outlets had seen the news and were now churning out copycat articles in real time.
“Why is everyone making such a fuss over a few shares?”
“It doesn’t look like just a few shares. The taxes are... gasp, did you really pay this much?”
“Well, something like that.”
“Wow... you must be really rich.”
Yu Yeon-seo didn’t respond. To be honest, he hadn’t expected Choi Yu-jin to part with so much of her stake... so the taxes he had to pay were substantial. Fortunately, he had the assets his original body had inherited and the wealth he had diligently grown, but he’d have to work hard to cover it all. Any news from Director Cheon yet...?
“You, you’re not moving to the entertainment division at JS, are you?”
“I’m not moving agencies, I’m getting a position at the headquarters. Didn’t you read the article?”
“Well... I know that. But it’s still a possibility.”
CEO Han replied in a timid voice. Yu Yeon-seo crossed his arms. Honestly, he would probably move eventually, but it was a hassle right now. The thought of going over contract terms one by one... Should I just buy Halo Media? I have enough money left over.
It was Lee Tae-gyeom, opening the office door, who broke him out of his thoughts.
“Hey, Yeon-seo. Are you going to the year-end awards ceremony? Oh... CEO-nim, you’re here too.”
“This is my office, you know?”
“Oh, right.”
He brushed it off nonchalantly and approached Yu Yeon-seo. CEO Han’s shoulders slumped.
“Anyway, a year-end awards ceremony?”
“You’ve been nominated for quite a few awards for ‘Demon’.”
Ah, the drama awards hosted by a major network. Come to think of it, he had been to music festivals and film festivals, but never to a year-end drama awards ceremony. “Dreaming” was a JSTV production that didn’t hold an awards show, and “People Who Lack,” which would be released early next year, was an OTT platform series.
“What am I nominated for?”
“Best Character Award and Best Couple Award....”
“Best Couple Award?”
“Yeah. It’s decided by 100% viewer votes. You can think of it as a popularity award. Oh? There’s a separate Male and Female Popularity Award too. That’s also a fan vote.”
A popularity award... At least I won’t be coming back empty-handed. Yu Yeon-seo nodded.
“And Top Excellence Award for a Genre Drama, the Producer’s Award, and ‘Demon’ is also up for Best Drama....”
“There’s more?”
“I guess since it’s been a while since they had a show with good ratings, they nominated it for all sorts of things. There’s even a new award this year.”
“Really?”
“Are you going to go?”
His deliberation wasn’t long.
“I have to.”
Should I get a new suit made?