Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Nothing is Impossible with Money
< There’s nothing money can’t buy. >
“Mr. Yu Yeon-seo, it turns out you have a personality disorder, don’t you?”
Yu Yeon-seo glanced around. Perhaps because he was a popular actor these days and held a respectable title, he could feel the eyes of several people turning his way. I guess I can’t just strong-arm him.
‘But why is he showing this to me?’
Did he really think I’d be scared by something like this? Yu Yeon-seo decided to play along, as if he were ashamed that his weakness had been exposed.
“Still, this is too much. How can you be so fine after your own mother died like that? Care to share your secret?”
Ah, that comment was a bit infuriating. Yu Yeon-seo clenched his fist. Mistaking this for hitting a nerve, So Dong-hyeon grew triumphant.
“Where did you get this?”
“Where else? Someone gave it to me.”
Thinking he had successfully gotten under his skin, So Dong-hyeon gleefully recounted how he had obtained the record.
Did something like that happen? Maintaining a serious expression, Yu Yeon-seo listened with amusement to So Dong-hyeon’s provocation.
“So, who did you piss off so badly that they’d use a record like this to tell you not to even think about setting foot in the entertainment industry?”
“……”
“You know the media attacks got worse after that, right? I’m telling you this out of the goodness of my heart.”
To get his hands on a record like this… Is this from the ‘head’ of the family? This was an unexpected gain. My relatives thought I lost my memory because of that incident. Could they have orchestrated this because they were afraid I’d regain my memories while tracing Lee Hui-seo’s footsteps?
As if So Dong-hyeon’s taunts didn’t bother him in the slightest, Yu Yeon-seo broke into a wide smile.
“Is that so? Well, thanks anyway.”
“What?”
He found this because he wanted to screw me over, but he’s too scared to reveal it publicly, fearing he’ll end up like that reporter… so he’s provoking me like this in person instead. This was actually a good thing. The sudden shift in atmosphere left So Dong-hyeon bewildered.
“It’s information I happened to need. And since this is my record, I’ll be taking it, alright?”
“……”
“Oh, and by the way, did you know the director is pitching that film today? Watch closely.”
See just how complete the scenario you tried to steal is. Yu Yeon-seo patted So Dong-hyeon’s shoulder encouragingly and walked past him.
“Ah… seriously.”
He just had to bring up my mom, and now I’m seeing things. Annoyed, Yu Yeon-seo brought a handkerchief to his mouth and spoke.
“Mr. Im Seung-hyeon. I don’t want to see that man after today…”
“Yes, I’ll take care of it.”
Im Seung-hyeon, who had appeared right behind him at some point, nodded. Still, it was best not to leave any loose ends.
“Mr. Yu Yeon-seo! Hello!”
“I’m the operator of a new film production company…”
Although the ‘Night of the Filmmakers’ was an event held by the film festival, the atmosphere wasn’t rigid. It was similar to the ‘Film Night’ hosted by JSENM.
“At this rate, I’ll be rich in business cards.”
“Give them to me.”
Yu Yeon-seo handed the business cards to Cha Yun-ho and took a seat. Soon after, JSENM’s pitching began, presenting Lee Jeong-hun’s directorial debut, ‘Nevertheless.’ It wasn’t a pitch aimed at securing investors or a production company. It was more of an announcement, saying, ‘We’ve made this much of our movie, so please look forward to it.’
“Whoa, what? It’s already out?”
“Didn’t filming start this year? It looks like it could be released right away.”
The industry insiders watching the presentation began to murmur. Filming had clearly started in a rush this year and hadn’t wrapped up that long ago, yet it seemed like a finished product was already out.
“Our film, ‘Nevertheless,’ is scheduled for release not in the second half of 2022, but in the first half.”
The release date was even moved up from the original schedule.
‘Was it a lost cause from the start?’
So Dong-hyeon, watching this unfold, let out a hollow laugh. In hindsight, not forcing the filming of ‘Appeal’ had been a stroke of genius.
“Watch closely. There’s nothing money can’t buy. If there is, it just means you don’t have enough of it.”
Yu Yeon-seo enjoyed the sight before adding a comment. So Dong-hyeon, however, struggled until the very end.
“You know Oh Jin-seong’s character is trash, right? If this gets out, do you think you can still release the movie as planned?”
Ah, so now he’s going to attack the lead actor’s character? Yu Yeon-seo smirked.
“I know you won’t.”
“You think I can’t?”
Yu Yeon-seo recited a few names—the names of the lead and supporting actors in a film produced by Gusang Films, and even the names of Gusang Films’ director and CEO.
“Surely you didn’t think I wouldn’t know their weaknesses, did you?”
“……”
“I’ll expose this and say it was because of you. Do you think you can survive in this industry then?”
I hope you conduct yourself wisely. Leaving the frozen So Dong-hyeon behind, he left the venue.
After leaving the ‘Night of the Filmmakers,’ Yu Yeon-seo headed to a tent bar where Park Seung-hwan was waiting. As he entered, all eyes in the bar turned to him.
“You’re here? First time in a place like this?”
“Yes.”
Park Seung-hwan muttered something about him being a bourgeois. He glanced around, setting the mood, then placed a tablet in front of Yu Yeon-seo. Feeling playful, Yu Yeon-seo lowered his voice.
“Is this it?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
“Anyone would think we’re making some kind of illegal deal.”
“You’re here, sis?”
At Yu Yeon-seo’s request, the pitch for the synopsis Park Seung-hwan was holding had been canceled. Instead, the members of ‘Welcome to the Guest House’ decided to catch up at the tent bar.
“Our uncle’s glass is empty.”
“How long are you going to call me uncle?”
While Yu Yeon-seo looked over the synopsis, Park Seung-hwan and Lee Yun-jeong poured drinks for each other. Soon, Jin Su-ho and Choi Jun-yeong also arrived. The sound of camera shutters could be heard from nearby.
‘A family movie?’
But the title itself was ‘Filicide.’ The title alone was unsettling. Yu Yeon-seo, who had been briefly scanning the synopsis, scratched his eyebrow.
‘It’s dark…’
[Filicide]
Synopsis
Dae-sik has been caring for his schizophrenic son for years. Plagued by financial hardship, he plans a joint suicide.
However, Dae-sik’s plan to kill his son and then himself fails. He survives, only to face his son’s cold body.
The court, taking his tragic circumstances into account, gives him a relatively light sentence. After serving his time, Dae-sik is released, only to be confronted by a grandson he never knew existed, Min-jae.
“So, what do you think?”
“...Aren’t I a little too old to play a student?”
“Is that all you have to say?”
Park Seung-hwan, who had been anticipating Yu Yeon-seo’s reaction, frowned. Even if filming started next year, he would be playing a high school student at thirty.
“What’s wrong with you? I’m playing an old man over seventy.”
“Besides, Yeon-seo, you take such good care of yourself, I don’t think it would look weird for you to play a high schooler.”
Is that so? Yu Yeon-seo tapped the screen. There was one more thing that bothered him.
The high school student in this synopsis had to exude a melancholic aura, as if he had already seen everything the world had to offer. Would the depressing emotions of the work not affect me in real life?
“So, which skin clinic do you go to?”
“I don’t really do anything special…”
“Really? You were born with it? I’m so jealous…”
Lee Yun-jeong gently pressed Yu Yeon-seo’s cheek. His skin was clear and clean without anything on it, and its elasticity was no joke. She observed him for a long while.
“Change the eyebrows a bit, trim the hair. There’s no problem with an adult actor playing a student role.”
“Besides, Yeon-seo, you already look young for your age.”
Jin Su-ho and Choi Jun-yeong also chimed in.
“So, anything else to say?”
“The theme is heavy. I can see why you’d want to do it, hyung. There’s a lot to think about…”
It was a synopsis that Park Seung-hwan, whose passion for acting had grown recently, would covet. Likewise, it was appealing enough to whet the appetite of Yu Yeon-seo, who also had a passion for acting. But…
‘It’s just that the mood is so depressing.’
He had wanted his next project to be a deliberately light-hearted one. ‘The Imperial Seal’ was a relatively bright romantic comedy, but when he faced a situation similar to his own near the end, he felt consumed by those emotions. And that feeling was far from pleasant.
The hallucinations and auditory illusions that had tormented him were mental issues. The question was whether his body would be okay while filming a movie with such a heavy theme, especially one centered around family.
‘Still… it’s tempting.’
It was indeed a synopsis worthy of Park Seung-hwan’s attention. The role itself was a character he had never played before.
“I’ll do it.”
“Great. Let’s go meet the director together tomorrow.”
“Are you two close?”
“He was a junior staff member on my debut film.”
Moreover, ‘Filicide’ was such a coveted synopsis that he and the director had discussed it and kept it under wraps. As luck would have it, the schedule of Yu Yeon-seo, a junior actor he had his eye on, was a perfect fit. And with that, not only the production company but also the investment, distribution, and lead actor were all settled.
“Can I read it too?”
He passed the tablet to Jin Su-ho, who was sitting next to him. Park Seung-hwan didn’t stop him, as he trusted the members of the guest house. The members who quickly skimmed it let out small sighs.
“It’s dark…”
“Hyung, have you been feeling down lately?”
“Of course not.”
The theme itself was depressing and a bit far from mainstream appeal. However, everyone agreed that it was a role any actor would covet.
For Park Seung-hwan, it was his first time playing an elderly character, dealing with the conflict of emotions after killing his schizophrenic son, getting out of prison, and figuring out how to treat a grandson he had never met before.
“Come to think of it, there have been a lot of news stories about things like this lately.”
“Right. It’s tragic. The director mentioned that too.”
Park Seung-hwan took a long gulp of his drink and continued. He said ‘Filicide’ began with a question about how the media packages the act of killing a child and then committing suicide—for reasons like financial hardship or not being able to leave a mentally ill child alone in the world—as a ‘joint suicide.’
“I didn’t know this, but apparently, unlike parricide, filicide doesn’t have an aggravated punishment.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, so only the charge of murder applies.”
“That’s harsh,” Lee Yun-jeong said, slamming her glass down. Choi Jun-yeong told her to calm down and refilled her glass.
“Then, does that mean at the end of the movie…”
“You’ll have to watch the movie when it comes out to find out.”
Everyone booed at Park Seung-hwan’s answer. Their faces were flushed red, likely from the drinks they’d had.
“I understand the circumstances are dire, but does a guardian really have the right to decide the fate of a child’s life?”
“But when you’re pushed to the brink like that, I think you could do it in a fit of rage, thinking ‘what will happen to this child without me?’”
“But really, when life is that bleak, you can’t help but think about whether it’s better to just die.”
“Shouldn’t there be a better welfare system in the first place to prevent situations like this from happening?”
As people with rich sensibilities, they blossomed into a conversation about the themes of ‘Filicide.’
“Yeon-seo, what about you?”
At Lee Yun-jeong’s question, Yu Yeon-seo answered blankly.
“I think I would still want them to live with me.”
“Really?”
“Yes. No matter the situation…”
Yu Yeon-seo downed the alcohol that had just been poured into his glass in one go. Wincing from the drink, he finally spoke.
“Dying like that is selfish. Especially taking your own life.”
He had said it without much thought, but the others, belatedly remembering Yu Yeon-seo’s circumstances, very naturally changed the subject.
“Haven’t we been talking about depressing things for our first reunion in a while?”
“You’re right. Oh, Jun-yeong, I heard you’re having a concert?”
“Yes! I am! Please come as guests, everyone!”
Yu Yeon-seo looked up at the arm that had been slung around his shoulder.
“Especially you, Yeon-seo. You have to come and sing a song.”
“Well, if I have time.”
“Huh? You said you’d do it!”
Choi Jun-yeong, seizing the opportunity, kept pleading for him to be a guest. Bothered by his persistence, Yu Yeon-seo finally broke into a laugh.