Chapter 150
Chapter 150
A Director’s Debut
Just in time for dinner. Manager Park and Lee Tae-gyeom joined them, and the five of them moved to a restaurant near the agency.
“Han-gyeol, please eat a lot.”
“Yes, thank you.”
From CEO Han’s perspective, Lee Han-gyeol was a mouth-watering artist. Although his group was on a temporary hiatus, he was a member of a popular idol group, so he had a solid fanbase. Perhaps thanks to the legendary success story of rising from obscurity, he had attracted quite a few investors, and they hadn’t left even while he was in the military.
“But why did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“That. The investment story.”
As soon as their contracts expired, all the members of One Seven released a statement through Kim I-jun’s social media.
Yu Yeon-seo thought it was enough that they had resolved things between themselves and wondered why they had to announce it to the whole world, but One Seven felt it was wrong to stay silent after everything they had received. They also felt a bit awkward because they had gotten swept up in the fans’ reactions and resented him more than they should have.
“Actually, we were going to reveal it the moment we found out. It’s just that we were still under contract with them.”
“What if you’d faced repercussions for revealing it?”
He didn’t ask in a particularly concerned tone. Lee Han-gyeol chuckled.
“You seem to have forgotten, but I’m older than you.”
Around the time of contract expirations, some agencies would use media manipulation to pressure members, with a nuance of ‘The other members have renewed. What about you?’ or, if renewal talks ultimately failed, they would reveal dating scandals or plant stories about the member having a bad personality. But AST Entertainment had been quiet.
And the CEO over there, as Yu Yeon-seo knew him, was more than capable of such dirty media tactics. But strangely, it had been silent.
“Wasn’t that because you took care of it?”
“Me?”
Yu Yeon-seo furrowed his brow as if hearing it for the first time. I’m not thoughtful enough to worry about things like that… Ah, Im Seung-hyeon. He recalled his secretary saying he would handle it.
“My secretary did it.”
“Then you did it.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Judging by his expression, he seemed to have a firm misunderstanding… Yu Yeon-seo suddenly felt a gaze and turned his head. At the next table, CEO Han was resting his chin on his hand, watching the two of them with a pleased smile.
“Ahh, look at that loyalty. It’s good to see.”
“CEO Han, why are you being so creepy?”
“You two should meet up often. You need to tone down that personality of yours.”
“Do you think I’m a kid? That I need CEO Han’s help even with who I meet?”
“What’s with that tone? Your old personality is subtly coming out.”
“I’ve always been like this.”
Lee Han-gyeol watched the argument between the agency CEO and his actor with fascination. For him, it was an unimaginable scene.
CEO Choi Dong-won of AST Entertainment had an oppressive personality. He always drilled into them that they had failed because they lacked talent, crushing their spirits. With his domineering and authoritarian nature, a casual conversation like this was impossible.
Then again, Yu Yeon-seo had backing, so he never lost to CEO Choi… Lee Han-gyeol thought before speaking.
“Is it okay to talk to the CEO like that?”
“Yeah, it is. I’m going to take over this company anyway.”
“Really?”
Lee Han-gyeol asked CEO Han. Manager Park, hearing this for the first time, choked and started coughing.
“Well… I haven’t stamped the papers yet.”
CEO Han’s voice trailed off. He probably felt uneasy about selling the company he had nurtured with affection for money. Seeing him hesitate, it seemed he would give in soon.
“But hyung, why this company of all places? You must have had better offers.”
“Yeon-seo… Is our company not to your taste? You said you were going to take it over…”
Our company has good conditions too… Yu Yeon-seo ignored CEO Han’s spineless protest.
“It’s not necessarily because of you. The conditions and environment are good.”
Halo Media owned a production company and had a solid roster of actors. They were also willing to promote rookie actors, even if it meant packaging them in deals.
“Besides, the filmographies of the actors here are really good.”
“Ahem… Is that so?”
“Yes, the word is out. They say this company brings in good projects.”
As soon as he heard that, a laugh escaped Yu Yeon-seo’s lips. In truth, that rumor had likely spread because more than half of those projects were ones Yu Yeon-seo had been interested in but had to pass on due to scheduling conflicts.
“That’s actually thanks to me. Quite a lot of them.”
“Ugh, I can’t argue with that.”
“So just let me take over quietly.”
Yu Yeon-seo raised his water glass and clinked it against CEO Han’s as if making a toast. Lee Han-gyeol had a question mark floating above his head.
“Are you not going to do any music activities? Didn’t you compose, hyung?”
“…I quit that ages ago. I only did it for a little while as a trainee.”
“Really?”
His memories were all jumbled, which caused moments like this. Yu Yeon-seo frowned. Suddenly, Lee Han-gyeol’s eyes widened.
“You’ve got a nosebleed.”
“Ah, again… Do you have my handkerchief?”
“Here.”
As if this wasn’t the first or second time, Lee Tae-gyeom naturally handed him a soft handkerchief, and Yu Yeon-seo expertly plugged his nose.
“You get nosebleeds often? For him to carry something like that.”
“Sometimes. Excuse me for a moment.”
The manager, who had been unfazed by the nosebleed, shot up from his seat when he said he was leaving. Lee Han-gyeol observed this scene intently. Yu Yeon-seo waved his phone screen at Lee Tae-gyeom.
“Where are you going?”
“To call my brother.”
“Ah, okay.”
Only then did he sit back down, seemingly relieved. If he left him alone and he collapsed or something, Im Seung-hyeon would scold him.
CEO Han and Manager Park craned their necks to confirm Yu Yeon-seo had completely left before turning to Lee Tae-gyeom.
“So, did he do well at the shoot? I heard he missed a day.”
“That’s right. Nothing strange came out of there, right? His image can’t hit rock bottom again… I went through so much to fix it…”
CEO Han and Manager Park spoke urgently.
“Took you long enough to ask. He did well. The atmosphere on set was great.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“But why did he miss a day?”
Come to think of it, he missed a day before too… Lee Han-gyeol’s suspicion deepened.
“He just seemed to have a hard time from being too immersed in his acting.”
“Oh… is that so?”
“You’ll see when you see the final product. Everyone was praising him, saying he was no joke.”
“Ahh… to think the day would come when our kid would hear such things.”
This would have been unimaginable in the past. CEO Han, who had sworn off drinking, felt so good that he ordered a bottle of alcohol and shared it with Manager Park.
“…Excuse me, Manager.”
“Yes?”
“He’s not really raising a dog, is he? I checked his social media, and there were no pictures.”
“That’s right.”
Then why did he say that back then? Lee Han-gyeol wondered. Realizing his slip-up too late, Lee Tae-gyeom covered his mouth with his hand. His eyes darted around, studying Lee Han-gyeol’s expression. Come to think of it, this guy gives off a similar vibe to Im Seung-hyeon.
“…It’s complicated.”
Lee Han-gyeol Spotted Meeting with Agency Representatives During Final Military Leave
One Seven’s Lee Han-gyeol to Become Labelmates with Yu Yeon-seo? Seen at Dinner with Halo Media CEO
-Looks like Lee Han-gyeol is going to Halo
-That’s Yu Yeon-seo’s agency, right?
└Oh congrats congrats
└He got into a good place
└Good for him, he’s a likable idol
-Ah, but why Halo of all places?
-I’m not so sure about this;; of all people, he’s in the same agency as Yu Yeon-seo lol
└But why can’t they be in the same agency?
└It’s honestly disgusting how he’s trying to leech off him now after all that criticism
└└Who criticized him?
└└└You don’t remember the interview where they said they struggled because of the member who left? Want me to drop the link?
└└└└They said they didn’t know about the investment back then
└└Isn’t it a huge stretch to say he’s leeching just because they’re in the same agency?
-Honestly, I hope he doesn’t get involved with YYS
└+1
└+1111
└Right, that group is so old news ffs
-Honestly, it looks like Lee Han-gyeol’s haters have swarmed this thread
-Don’t use my actor to hate on someone else
-Wow, how times have changed. Back then, their fans hoped they wouldn’t get involved with Yu Yeon-seo lol
-Now it’s the other way around lol I still haven’t forgotten all the crap he got back then lol
└fr they need a taste of their own medicine lol
└└Let’s not stoop to their level though
└Honestly, isn’t the One Seven fandom hilarious too? The moment the truth came out, they’re all like, “I was always a supporter of all 7” lol
└└fr they were high on their chart-climbing success, spouting bullshit like “Our boys couldn’t make it big because of Yu Yeon-seo!” but it turns out their idols were the ones leeching..
└└└+1 Who do you think paid for the albums that let them climb the charts in the first place?
The next day, Yu Yeon-seo visited a movie theater for the first time in a while. The moment he stepped out of the elevator, camera flashes erupted from all directions. Looking quite accustomed to it, Yu Yeon-seo didn’t even blink.
“Yeon-seo!”
“You’re here?”
Director Lee Jeong-hun and Director Cheon Seong-min, who were being interviewed by reporters, waved.
“It’s been a while.”
“Um… but is the theater really here?”
“Yes.”
“H-here?”
Lee Jeong-hun stared blankly at the entrance of the theater they were about to enter. It was known as the theater with the largest screen in South Korea.
“I have a reputation to maintain. Screening it in a regular theater wouldn’t be cool.”
If we’re going to do it, we should do it grandly, right? At those words, Lee Jeong-hun looked quite moved. Uh oh, he shouldn’t be moved just yet.
“What’s this?”
“A gift to congratulate you on your debut. It’s nothing much.”
“Gasp…”
Today was the private screening for Director Lee’s debut film, ‘However.’ Since there were plenty of seats to spare, he had invited a few people from the press and told the director to invite his acquaintances as he pleased.
“Director Cheon, isn’t this an expensive wine?”
“This is… Hah…”
Director Lee Jeong-hun’s ‘However,’ which was originally supposed to be released in early 2022, had its release postponed because a blockbuster series based on a foreign comic happened to land at the same time.
Director Cheon Seong-min’s eyes sparkled like a child’s at the wine Lee Jeong-hun received.
“Oh… That, am I getting that gift too?”
“I’ll give it to you when you win an award at a film festival, Director.”
“Why is the bar so high for me?”
“Why? I’m sure a director like you will win at least one.”
Joking with Director Cheon, Yu Yeon-seo glanced at Lee Jeong-hun, who was showing off the wine to his acquaintances. He had built many connections since his days as Director Cheon’s screenwriter.
‘I hope he’s brought some useful people along…’
I didn’t know this, but raising people is quite fun. Seeing him transform from his initial impression of being disheartened after having his synopsis stolen into the respectable director he is now, it’s clear there’s nothing money can’t do.
“But it seems no one from Gusang Films came? I even put a sticker on their invitation myself…”
“You have a wicked sense of humor.”
“It’s fun, isn’t it?”
Director Cheon chuckled at his response, and Yu Yeon-seo laughed out loud as well. A few people who had been murmuring behind them approached.
“Hello, Director.”
“Oh? Yeon-seo is here too… I think we saw each other at the awards ceremony…”
They were the actors who had participated in ‘However.’ They greeted Director Cheon warmly, then turned to Yu Yeon-seo, their eyes shining. Ah, was their target me, not Director Cheon?
“By the way, it seems Oh Jin-seong didn’t come?”
“No, he said he had a scheduling conflict.”
That can’t be right… Yu Yeon-seo smirked. I didn’t know, but I seem to enjoy not only raising people but also seeing others tread carefully because of me.
“We should probably head in.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve saved good seats for you directors.”
Though my secretary probably did it, not me. Yu Yeon-seo led the two directors into the theater. It seemed everyone he had sent an invitation to, except for Gusang Films, had taken their seats.
Before sitting down, Lee Jeong-hun slowly looked around at the people filling the seats. He was overcome with emotion. He clutched his trembling chest and stared at the screen.
(Presented & Distributed by JS Entertainment)
(Produced & Financed by Yu Yeon-seo)
Two concise lines on a black screen, immediately followed by a stylish title sequence with the actors’ names. And then… it was finally the moment he had been waiting for.
(Director Lee Jeong-hun)
The sight of his own name filling the theater under the title of ‘Director.’ Lee Jeong-hun was overwhelmed with a surge of emotion.