Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Wrap-up Party
“You absolutely have to be the last one, oppa.”
At the stylist Im Min-ji’s words, Jin Su-ho gave a troubled smile.
“Why are you making such a big deal out of it? I can just go in when I arrive.”
“No, you can’t.”
The manager whipped his head around to look at Jin Su-ho. The sudden movement made Jin Su-ho flinch.
“Our actor, who always enters last, getting pushed aside by Yu Yeon-seo and failing to secure his spot? That’s ridiculous.”
“Oppa. This is a matter of pride.”
Jin Su-ho sighed as if he couldn’t be bothered. The cast of Dreaming were walking the red carpet laid out for the wrap-up party and entering the restaurant.
“Lee Seon-ja is here too, you know.”
“She hates this kind of thing, so she always goes in first. Look, over there.”
Lee Seon-ja was being showered with camera flashes.
On the red carpet, arriving late was a measure of popularity, a way to win the battle of nerves. The manager and stylist were burning with fighting spirit.
“I really don’t care at all. Let’s just get out.”
“Tsk, just stay put.”
Jin Su-ho already felt self-conscious because the wrap-up party had been delayed due to his schedule, and now, held back by his own team, he was stuck in the van, unable to do anything.
“I’ll go scout the situation first.”
He’s too nice for his own good. I’ll have to take care of it myself. The manager stepped out of the van with a solemn voice. He found the staff member in charge of the red carpet order.
“When would be a good time for our actor, Jin Su-ho, to enter?”
“Um… well…”
The staff member pointed to one side with an awkward expression. Lee Tae-gyeom stood there with his arms crossed smugly, while Im Seung-hyeon, dressed in a suit, stood beside him with his hands in his pants pockets. This was, in fact, all Lee Tae-gyeom’s doing.
“So, how did you know the young master had amnesia?”
Im Seung-hyeon whispered quietly to Lee Tae-gyeom. He was remembering how Lee Tae-gyeom had given Yu Yeon-seo a heads-up during the last script reading.
Other than his family, the only people who knew about Yu Yeon-seo’s amnesia were the CEO and manager of Halo Media, and Im Seung-hyeon.
They had only told Lee Tae-gyeom that his personality had ‘changed a bit,’ without going into detail. A large part of the reason was his history of abandoning Yu Yeon-seo on the road, and Lee Tae-gyeom, knowing this, had simply done his job without complaint.
“You just know!”
“Since when?”
“Pretty much from the beginning?”
Lee Tae-gyeom’s eyes darted around.
They said he’d matured after the accident, and the pay was good, so he’d swallowed his pride and come back… but his personality had changed too much. It was as if he were a different person.
‘How badly did he hit his head?’
That was where the suspicion began. Could a head injury really change a person’s personality that drastically?
“I knew it when I saw you whispering to Yu Yeon-seo every time he stumbled.”
“Is that so?”
“He might have a shitty personality, but he’s really smart. For you to have to tell him even those minor things, I knew something was wrong with him. Right here.”
Lee Tae-gyeom tapped his temple with his index finger. Seeing Im Seung-hyeon’s stiff expression, he felt intimidated and quickly added.
“I swear I haven’t told anyone. I only know because I’m his manager. I doubt anyone else knows.”
Im Seung-hyeon’s expression softened in understanding.
“I may not be well-educated, but I’m quick on the uptake.”
Honestly, if it weren’t for Yu Yeon-seo’s foul personality, it was the perfect job. Because Yu Yeon-seo had once thrown a fit at the agency, yelling, ‘You’re lending my manager to another actor?’, his manager could rest comfortably on days without a schedule instead of driving for other actors.
“But can someone’s personality change that much just from losing their memory? Shouldn’t their original nature remain? From what I’ve seen, it’s not like he’s a complete blank slate.”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never lost my memory.”
“Turns out his true nature is actually decent? Nah, no way.”
Lee Tae-gyeom shook his head, muttering to himself.
Im Seung-hyeon, who was listening nearby, raised an eyebrow. Now that he heard it, it was a rather sharp observation.
“By the way, sir, that person is Jin Su-ho’s manager, right?”
“It seems so.”
Lee Tae-gyeom unfolded his arms.
“Hello. Are you by any chance Yu Yeon-seo’s manager…?”
“Ah, yes. And you’re Jin Su-ho’s manager, correct?”
Lee Tae-gyeom greeted Jin Su-ho’s manager with a wide grin. The corners of his mouth trembled as he forced an unfittingly gentle smile. He was mimicking the smile Im Seung-hyeon had used to reel him in.
Im Seung-hyeon swallowed a laugh at the sight. He looked like a chihuahua baring its teeth…
“Excuse me, but when will Yu Yeon-seo be making his entrance…?”
“Last.”
“Pardon?”
“My actor has a disease where he’ll die if he doesn’t enter last.”
Lee Tae-gyeom’s expression instantly turned serious as he spoke shamelessly, leaving Jin Su-ho’s manager dumbfounded.
“But still…”
Lee Tae-gyeom whipped his head around to look at Im Seung-hyeon.
“Secretary Im, who’s the investor for this drama?”
“Our young master, of course.”
Im Seung-hyeon decided to play along.
Jin Su-ho’s manager, who was listening, looked at Im Seung-hyeon. He had assumed he was an agency manager since he was always following Yu Yeon-seo around, but a secretary? Does Yu Yeon-seo have a personal secretary?
“The jaw-dropping per-episode fee for the lead actor, who made sure it was paid immediately?”
“That would be our young master.”
While actors were typically paid after the broadcast, Dreaming was different. The production company was a subsidiary of JSENM, and under the Vice Chairman’s special orders and Yu Yeon-seo’s insistence that money matters be handled thoroughly, payments were made promptly. Equally, without discrimination between staff, lead actors, and supporting actors.
“But still, considering Jin Su-ho’s name value…”
The manager’s words were cut off by Jin Su-ho, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation.
“Stop it. I told you, let’s just go first.”
“Gasp, when did you get here…?”
“I’ll go in first.”
Jin Su-ho bowed his head to Im Seung-hyeon and Lee Tae-gyeom before immediately stepping onto the red carpet.
“We won.”
Lee Tae-gyeom made a V-sign with his fingers and showed it to Im Seung-hyeon.
“But is entering last really that important?”
“Of course it is. The manager insisted I secure the spot. Said it makes you look cool to appear last…”
Is it similar to the political battles at the company? Im Seung-hyeon had recently become the center of attention and scrutiny from his department colleagues for receiving the favor of the owner’s family.
They must have thought he’d be quickly cast aside since he was assigned to Yu Yeon-seo, but now that he was suddenly being favored by the owner’s family and the head of his division, their hearts must be pounding.
“Hey, we’re after Jin Su-ho. Dead last.”
“Did you finally pull it off?”
Yu Yeon-seo sighed, looking fed up. In truth, like Jin Su-ho, he didn’t care about the order.
“Anyway, good job.”
Still, he did it for my sake, so I should just let it go… Yu Yeon-seo got out of the van.
“What is all this?”
“It’s support for the wrap-up party.”
In the past, wrap-up parties were modest affairs where actors and staff would gather at a barbecue restaurant. But things were different now. Actor fandoms were beginning to resemble idol fandoms.
Yu Yeon-seo pushed aside a bouquet of flowers and opened a beautifully wrapped paper bag. It was decorated with stickers related to the drama. On Yu Yeon-seo’s bag, an image of the silver-haired Chunbaek was printed.
“Why would they prepare all this…?”
Opening the velvet box tied with a ribbon, he even found a crystal appreciation plaque.
Yu Yeon-seo had made it clear that support should only come from people richer than him, but his fans didn’t give up and found a loophole. They decided to carry out the support by posing as fans from the drama’s official online gallery.
With Yu Yeon-seo’s notoriously dedicated fandom and Jin Su-ho’s massive and powerful fandom clashing, the support competition was fierce.
“The fans have prepared so many gifts!”
The wrap-up party was hosted by the actor who played Lee Min-seong. Contrary to the desperate performance of a son struggling after learning of his parents’ death, the actor himself was quite talkative.
After Lee Min-seong’s brief introduction, everyone began to loudly chat and grill meat.
“Please, eat up.”
“…Aren’t you eating, Su-ho?”
“I’m eating as I grill.”
Jin Su-ho didn’t put down the tongs, diligently serving meat to the other actors at his table.
“So, I heard you’re recording a Chunbaek version for the AI speaker?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds fun. Don’t they need Dr. Yang Ju-hui?”
“No.”
Despite Yu Yeon-seo’s curt replies, Jo Yu-mi burst out laughing as if it were the funniest thing in the world, making him sigh softly. She’s already had a few drinks.
Still, it was better than people avoiding him because they’d heard rumors about his terrible personality.
“Yeon-seo.”
“Writer-nim!”
Jeong Da-hee was also actively moving between tables. She had called for Yu Yeon-seo, but it was Jo Yu-mi who had answered.
“It seems the production company is testing the waters for a Season 2. What do you think, writer-nim?”
“Well… I left it open-ended at their request, but I have something else I want to write.”
The Jeong Da-hee who had lacked confidence as an aspiring writer was gone, replaced by a full-fledged author. Hadn’t she said she was likely to win the lawsuit against writer Hwang Mi-jeong?
“That’s great.”
Yu Yeon-seo spoke before taking a sip of his drink. In any case, it was a good thing. If Jeong Da-hee writes another great piece, can I take credit for her success?
“This is all…”
“Thanks to me? I get it, so just eat.”
Hearing such embarrassing praise to his face was getting old. Yu Yeon-seo sent Jeong Da-hee over to the director’s side and turned his head. He saw Jo Yu-mi with a pleased expression.
“What is it?”
“Yeon-seo, you’re so different from the rumors. Why do you think those rumors started, Su-ho?”
“I’m not sure… It is strange, isn’t it?”
Jin Su-ho’s eyes sparkled as well.
“To be honest, I came here with my guard up after hearing you were the lead, Yeon-seo.”
“Goes to show you can’t believe rumors anymore.”
Are these people teasing me? Yu Yeon-seo furrowed his brow and pushed the meat toward Jin Su-ho and Jo Yu-mi.
“…Just eat.”
I take back what I thought earlier. It’d be better if they just believed the rumors and kept their distance.
Just then, he noticed Lee Seon-ja from the next table getting up from her seat.
‘Lee Seon-ja worked with Lee Hui-seo…’
She played Lee Hui-seo’s mother in Under the Persimmon Tree, which was the last project Lee Hui-seo filmed before she retired.
He tried not to pay attention… but he couldn’t help his gaze from following her. Yu Yeon-seo watched Lee Seon-ja’s back as she went out for a smoke, hesitated, then let out a deep sigh and stood up.
In the smoking area, Lee Seon-ja and a few staff members were smoking.
“Ma’am.”
“…You smoke too?”
“No.”
Yu Yeon-seo frowned at the smell of smoke but didn’t leave. Lee Seon-ja watched him with a strange expression before lighting her cigarette.
“You have something to say to me.”
“Yes.”
Yu Yeon-seo stared into Lee Seon-ja’s eyes with a firm expression.
“First, if I was rude to you during Doll, I would like to apologize. I’m sorry.”
He remembered the disapproving look on her face during the script reading. For some reason, she had tried to be nice to him afterward, but he felt he should still clear up any lingering resentment from the past. Even if he couldn’t remember it himself.
“Oh, my. Don’t be like that. I’ve already forgotten all about it.”
“Does that mean you accept?”
“Apology accepted. That’s enough.”
Lee Seon-ja was quite surprised, taking the cigarette from her lips. Yu Yeon-seo had been impolite, but not so rude as to warrant such a serious apology.
“Did you follow me just to apologize for that?”
“Actually… there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about my late mother…”
Startled, Lee Seon-ja dropped the cigarette from her hand.
“You mean… Hui-seo?”
“Yes.”
“Is it okay to talk about her?”
“Pardon?”
Yu Yeon-seo looked back with a questioning expression. What does she mean by that?