Chapter 55
Chapter 55
The Chairman’s Test
When would I ever get an offer like this?
Yu Yeon-seo is a madman.
That’s what Lee Tae-gyeom always thought back when he was Yu Yeon-seo’s twelfth manager.
‘That guy’s not just any madman, so I, a sane person, have to understand him with the patience of a saint if I want to survive.’
His tenure as the twelfth manager lasted just over three months, which was said to be the longest record among all the managers who had worked for Yu Yeon-seo.
Anyway, during those three-odd months, he had to endure Yu Yeon-seo’s terrible personality countless times.
[Hey, you call this coffee?]
[Can’t you do your job right?]
This much was fine. There were plenty of other rude celebrities besides Yu Yeon-seo who treated their managers like emotional punching bags.
But Yu Yeon-seo, while stopping short of outright cursing, had a real knack for getting under people’s skin. And he wasn’t just like that with his manager; he was equally foul-tempered with everyone.
[You can’t even cover for that one thing? Are you even a manager?]
[Isn’t it a miracle you’re still alive when you’re this incompetent? How are you even breathing?]
[Aren’t you going to get lost?]
But if I got lost, who would be your manager?
He’d be quiet one moment and then suddenly flare up in a fit, making it impossible to know how to react. His mood swings were so erratic that even Lee Tae-gyeom, who had to put up with it, felt his irritation rise.
[That light you broke... I heard it was really expensive... and hard to get...]
[I’ll pay for it. Hey, take the money. And what? Are we friends? Watch how you talk to me.]
Still, the reason he lasted the longest was because Lee Tae-gyeom was simple-minded. He’d get stressed out when facing it head-on, but he had the kind of personality that would forget about it the moment he turned around.
‘If that bastard keeps this up, it wouldn’t be surprising if he got murdered one day.’
But that didn’t mean he had forgotten everything he’d been through.
[Long time no see?]
But after the accident, Yu Yeon-seo was no longer a madman, but he had become a strange one.
He completely stopped getting furiously angry and irritated as if something was chasing him.
His peculiar way of getting on people’s nerves remained, but he seemed gentler than before. Thanks to that, working as his manager was much easier.
[But why are you an actor?]
[Why, is my acting bad?]
[No, I just don’t see why a guy like you, who’s rich and... good-looking, would need to be a celebrity.]
He could live comfortably on his stock dividends alone. As Lee Tae-gyeom muttered, Yu Yeon-seo looked at the mountain of scripts piled in front of him and spoke.
[It’s fun.]
[What?]
[When I act, I can be anything, not just a third-generation chaebol.]
As he said that, his eyes, scanning the scripts, were full of life. Before, his eyes had been lifeless. They were only barely tolerable when the cameras were rolling.
[Really?]
Watching him, Lee Tae-gyeom subconsciously thought that he seemed to have found more of a will to live than before.
Lost in thought, his lips twitching, Lee Tae-gyeom seemed to make up his mind and looked Chairman Yu in the eye.
“I... will pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“What did you say?”
Chairman Yu, who had been leaning back in his chair, leaned forward.
“I have a lot of grievances against him, and if I did what you asked, I don’t think I’d feel a shred of guilt...”
“...”
“But still... I keep getting the feeling that this isn’t right. I’m sorry.”
The look in Chairman Yu’s eyes changed. Even as he spoke, Lee Tae-gyeom wondered, Am I thinking straight?
If he just closed his eyes and accepted the Chairman’s offer, he could get his hands on more money at once than he would ever make as Yu Yeon-seo’s manager.
‘If not now, when would I ever get an offer like this...? But it just feels wrong.’
Still, a corner of his mind kept telling him that this wasn’t the right thing to do.
Lately, Yu Yeon-seo’s acting was more than just tolerable—it was quite good. It seemed he definitely wasn’t without talent, and more importantly, he looked happier being an actor than he would be running a company.
‘Why am I thinking about his happiness...?’
Finding himself strange, Lee Tae-gyeom let out a small sigh. Anyway, what’s wrong is wrong.
“If you’re really that curious, it would be faster to just ask him directly. I can’t do it.”
“Is that so? Hmm...”
The Chairman’s expression twisted. He was trying to hold back a smile, but to Lee Tae-gyeom, it looked different.
“Well then, it can’t be helped.”
“Yes, then I’ll just use the restroom...”
Lee Tae-gyeom wanted to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere. He shot up from his seat and headed for the door Yu Yeon-seo had exited through.
“Is the test over?”
Just then, Yu Eun-ho and Im Seung-hyeon, who had stepped out, came back in. The Chairman picked up his spoon with a satisfied look on his face.
Fleeing the scene, Lee Tae-gyeom almost collided with Yu Yeon-seo, who was just coming out of the restroom.
“Agh, you scared me!”
“You scared me more. What’s wrong?”
Yu Yeon-seo had washed his face, and his wet bangs were dripping water.
“What, are there no towels in there? You should’ve dried off properly. Did something happen?”
On closer inspection, his complexion looked off. As Lee Tae-gyeom narrowed his eyes, Yu Yeon-seo quickly turned his head away, avoiding his gaze, and wiped his face with his sleeve.
“It’s nothing.”
Yu Yeon-seo, for his part, was confused. He hadn’t used Memory Synchronization or Auto-Action Mode today, yet he felt sick and his heart was pounding. On top of that, he had coughed up blood again for no reason.
‘Beta, what’s wrong with my body?’
<The cause has not yet been identified. Please continue synchronization.>
‘Damn it...’
<Current synchronization rate is 25.36%.>
Beta was useless. Was this the limit of 2207’s technology?
“Hey, can’t we leave a little later? Your grandfather is a bit...”
“Scared?”
Yu Yeon-seo’s smile looked mocking, and Lee Tae-gyeom scratched the back of his head roughly.
“By the way, is your family in some kind of inheritance battle?”
“Nothing like that.”
“Really?”
“Why, did something happen to you?”
“...It’s nothing.”
Yu Yeon-seo kept pressing, but Lee Tae-gyeom kept his mouth shut. Honestly, he was too embarrassed to say anything.
“Don’t just summon me like this in the future.”
Having finished the meal, Yu Yeon-seo grumbled as he stood at the entrance. The Chairman, for some reason, had a pleased smile on his face.
‘What’s with him? Is he that happy just from having a meal with his grandson?’
A few more meals and his smile might just split his face. Yu Yeon-seo thought he should visit like this occasionally if he ever wanted something.
“I’m leaving.”
“Come visit more often!”
“If I have time.”
Yu Yeon-seo turned and left without a second thought.
From the large living room window, Yu Eun-ho watched the car carrying Yu Yeon-seo’s party disappear around the corner before asking nonchalantly.
“So, were you satisfied?”
The Chairman simply smiled faintly without answering.
“Don’t push it too far. Yeon-seo isn’t a fool. He knows how to judge people.”
“You’re right. Any more and he’d complain I was meddling.”
In any case, the Chairman was satisfied. Im Seung-hyeon was already a proven asset, but Lee Tae-gyeom had a history of being discarded, so he had wanted to test him personally.
“Then I’ll be going as well.”
“Already?”
“I still have a lot of work to do.”
Yu Eun-ho bowed his head to the Chairman.
“You don’t look well.”
“It’s nothing. I’m just a little tired.”
“I heard you’ve been working late every night. Take it easy. Who would dare say anything to my eldest grandson?”
Yu Eun-ho’s expression softened into a small smile. Who would say anything to the Chairman’s grandson? Everyone treated him well. There were a few employees who were overly sycophantic, but it wasn’t too bothersome.
“I can’t do that.”
“No? Hoho!”
The Chairman laughed heartily, clearly pleased. Not only was he exceptionally capable, but he was also diligent; there was nothing to dislike.
‘And Yeon-seo... it seems that boy has had a change of heart as well...’
Now he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“I’ll come again.”
“Alright.”
After seeing him off, Yu Eun-ho got into his car. The conversation he’d had with Im Seung-hyeon earlier still seemed to echo in his ears.
[First, I’d like to know why you’re asking that question...]
[The manager who’s inside right now mentioned it. He asked if a person’s inherent nature can change, no matter how much their personality does.]
[Inherent nature...]
It was a valid point. Yu Eun-ho thought he should contact Yu Yeon-seo’s doctor.
[I think I know what you mean.]
[So, how was he?]
[His original personality... is exactly as you know it, Mr. Im. As for any particular changes...]
Yu Eun-ho trailed off. Original inherent nature.
As befitting someone called a genius, his memory was quite good. Not perfectly, but he could recall many things from his childhood.
His younger brother, who had changed so suddenly after witnessing Lee Hui-seo’s accident. He had forgotten for a while, thinking that as long as his brother didn’t have sudden fits, anything was fine. His brother before the age of seven was...
[...He was a kind child. The complete opposite of the personality you know, Mr. Im.]
[Then I’d think there must be a reason his personality soured.]
[Well...]
He had an inkling, but he couldn’t easily tell anyone yet.
Yu Eun-ho fiddled with his phone for a long time before calling someone.
“Hey, it’s me...”
After his acting lesson with Park Hyeon-jeong, Yu Yeon-seo headed straight for the CEO’s office. It was actually rare for a celebrity to visit the company office in person. Lee Tae-gyeom could have just brought him the scripts, but he made a point of coming to the company to see CEO Han and Manager Park.
“What do you want to do about the promotional schedule for ‘White Tiger’?”
“What do you mean? I’ll do it.”
Manager Park stared blankly at Yu Yeon-seo, wondering if he had heard correctly.
“For real?”
“Why, did I not do them before?”
“You didn’t.”
The original body supposedly never missed a leading role, yet he skipped the promotional events... What a nuisance.
“You’re really going to do it?”
“I have to.”
“Wow... Good thinking.”
Amnesia is a wonderful thing. Manager Park hummed a tune. Yu Yeon-seo spun around in the CEO’s chair he was sitting in.
“Don’t book me on any weird shows for the promotions. I don’t like that kind of thing.”
“I know. I’ll handle it.”
CEO Han, who had naturally lost his seat, spoke with a serious expression.
“Hey, Yeon-seo.”
Goosebumps rose on Yu Yeon-seo’s arms. Why was CEO Han calling him so affectionately by his first name, without his surname?
“Want to do a variety show?”
“A variety show?”
He stopped the chair and looked at CEO Han.
“Didn’t I usually not do variety shows?”
“Yeah, that’s right. You remember that.”
He could find well-organized documents about that with a simple search. While he had a filmography of dramas and movies, there was nothing about variety show appearances.
“You were famous for never doing promotional activities or variety shows.”
“So why the sudden talk about a variety show?”
“Well... at your level, you don’t really need to manage your image, so wouldn’t it be good to appear on one at least once? If you went on a variety show, you could totally dominate...”
CEO Han’s expression as he rambled on was strange. Yu Yeon-seo narrowed his eyes.
“What, is the producer an acquaintance of yours or something?”
“Ah, no, it’s not like that...”
I knew it. Yu Yeon-seo let out a deflated sound.
“What kind of show is it?”
Should I at least hear him out? As Yu Yeon-seo shifted his posture, CEO Han spoke excitedly.
“It’s a variety show where they run a guest house in a foreign country. You know, serving food to guests and all that.”
“Do people watch that kind of show much? There are a lot of them these days.”
“They do. But the ratings depend on who the guests are.”
Travel and observation variety shows were the trend these days. While such programs could be boring, the situation changes when a lineup of top stars makes an appearance.
“From what I hear, the cast they’re putting together behind the scenes is quite spectacular. Not to mention you.”
“Hmm...”
“They said filming starts in December. You could go right after your semester ends, couldn’t you?”
Still, it doesn’t really appeal to me... Yu Yeon-seo said nonchalantly.
“Where are they going?”
“It’s not set in stone, but they said it’s an island. A resort destination.”
“An island, so... the sea?”
“I’d assume so.”
The sea... the sea. Yu Yeon-seo couldn’t forget that place from his Memory Synchronization.
‘I did need a vacation, as it happens...’
CEO Han keenly noticed the change in his expression and cheered inwardly. Yes! It’s a go!