Chapter 39: I’ll Sign!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 39: I’ll Sign!
I dashed to my grandfather’s study in Samseong-dong, terrified my allowance might fly away.
As usual, Grandfather was dressed in a loud Hawaiian shirt. He stared at my face for a moment, but unlike my other relatives, there were no signs of a dramatic fuss.
“I saw the drama.”
“Yes, sir.”
“It turned out well.”
“Thank you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know, I was a bit embarrassed… and my screen time was so short I thought I might get cut at any moment.”
“I see. Now that you’re a celebrity, there will be plenty of bastards hanging around…”
Bringing up the fact that I’d decided to do one more spin-off right now would be a rookie move.
I held my breath and waited, my eyes fixed on the folder Grandfather was pulling out.
Wait, why isn’t it disguised as a book this time?
[Real Estate Registration Certificate]
[Owner: Lee Yu-jin]
“What is this?”
“To put it in terms you’ll understand… it’s the deed to a house.”
My fingertips trembled.
A deed? With my name written on it?
Wow, so this is what a house deed looks like.
“I’ve already completed the transfer of ownership. You just need to sign the deed of gift to be submitted to the National Tax Service.”
Grandfather held out another document. The words ‘Deed of Gift’ looked radiant, dazzling—practically glowing.
“Sign it.”
“I’ll sign it right now!”
I bolted upright, grabbed a Montblanc fountain pen, and signed feverishly everywhere he pointed.
Then, a sudden question occurred to me.
“But since I’m a minor, don’t I need my mom or dad’s consent?”
“If a minor is simply acquiring a right or avoiding an obligation, they can act independently. Why would the law forbid something that is unilaterally beneficial without any loss?”
“This foolish grandchild has gained yet another piece of knowledge thanks to her grandfather.”
“Move in as soon as possible. The security at your current place isn’t exactly top-notch.”
“Yes, sir! I shall follow your imperial decree!”
“…”
The meeting with Grandfather ended quickly.
I stepped out of the study, panting from the dopamine rush of imagining how I’d brag about this to Mom.
“Mom, let’s go! We have to escape before the other relatives get here!”
“Who’s coming at this hour? Anyway, how much did he give you this time?”
“I’ll tell you once we’re in the car!”
I sprinted all the way to the underground parking lot. Only after we had started driving did I dare open the folder. I felt like my heart was going to leap out of my throat.
[Location: Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul…]
Huh? This address looks familiar…
Wait, is this the same villa as the writer? Ack! Isn’t this the place where only top stars live?
The shock was so great my brain momentarily stalled.
If it’s a villa here, the price starts at ten billion won, doesn’t it?
Just how rich is Grandfather? And if he’s that rich, why does our house have an apartment mortgage…
“Mom, why do we have debts?”
“Huh? Where is this coming from all of a sudden?”
“Look at this.”
Mom’s expression froze for a moment as she looked at the registration certificate and the deed of gift.
She pulled the car over to the side of the road, clutching her chest and letting out a long sigh.
“I’ve always thought it was strange. Grandfather seems incredibly wealthy, yet our house still has a mortgage…”
“It’s just… your father didn’t want to ask Grandfather for help when he married me.”
“That was it? I thought it was something more…”
“Grandfather was against our marriage.”
“Ah…”
“That’s probably why he feels especially sorry toward you. Seeing how he gives you such generous allowances and even a house now that you’ve become an actress.”
So that was the secret behind my birth.
Damn, if things had gone differently, I could have been living the easy life as a rich kid in another life.
But since this was likely a sad story for Mom, I decided not to say anything insensitive.
“Goodness, I almost didn’t get born at all.”
“Exactly. I guess your dad and I ran around like crazy, braving everyone’s opposition, just to give birth to this beautiful elf. Back then, we weren’t afraid of anything.”
“Mom, please… why do you always leave the embarrassment to me?”
Since we were already out, we decided to go see the house Grandfather gave me. Mom’s eyes wavered when she saw the address.
“R-Really? Here? Hannam-dong?”
“Writer Jung Yoon-ah lives here too. The view is amazing.”
“Let’s go, hurry!”
Excited, Mom and I only realized once we arrived that we didn’t know how to get in.
The car wasn’t registered yet, so how were we supposed to tell the security booth that we were the new residents…
Should I show them the deed?
But our worries were for naught.
A young, sturdy-looking security guard approached the car and spoke politely.
“Are you perhaps the new resident, Ms. Lee Yu-jin?”
“Ah, yes. That’s me.”
“Your license plate is already registered. You may pass.”
“Oh, already?”
Grandfather must have taken care of everything in advance.
As we parked the car and headed for the elevator, Mom looked overjoyed.
“That’s our Yu-jin for you. Your face is your credit.”
“He said the license plate was registered.”
“Still, he didn’t show a hint of suspicion even though it was his first time seeing your face.”
“…Mom, that’s a bit of a stretch.”
“If I had come alone, he probably would’ve asked for all sorts of ID.”
“No way.”
We entered the house using the access card.
A vast, empty house, so large it felt hollow without furniture, greeted us.
But it didn’t feel cold.
The dazzling view of the Han River reflecting through the windows warmed my heart.
“Wow, if Grandfather gave you a house like this just for becoming a celebrity, I wonder what he’ll give you when you get married and have kids.”
“He probably won’t give me anything.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Because, obviously, that’s never going to happen.
Does this mean I’m neighbors with Writer Jung Yoon-ah now?
I heard the gym facilities here are top-notch. It’s nice to have a neighbor to do leg days with.
*
I signed the contract for the Hwan’s Torch spin-off with Mom—a project the Netscreen executives had scrambled to plan because they were terrified of getting shot.
The appearance fee was 3,000 shares of Envidium—no, wait, 700 million won.
PD Jang Hyun-soo offered some advice.
“You’ll have a lot of taxes to pay next year, so don’t touch 300 million of this. Keep it locked away no matter what.”
“The taxes are that high?”
“At this level, the simplified expense rate won’t apply, so it’ll be a lot.”
This is ridiculous. If I died saving the country, shouldn’t I get a permanent tax exemption?
After everything I did to protect this nation, they’re going to exploit a patriot like this?
With a heart that felt like it was vomiting blood, I was asking ChatJaemin about my estimated taxes for next year when a Netscreen executive approached me.
“Actress Lee, meeting you in person makes me realize once again that the camera cannot fully capture your beauty. You are truly stunning.”
“Th-Thank you…”
I suppressed the urge to cringe.
Let’s just think of this as the weight of carrying 3,000 shares of Envidium.
“You are aware that we’ve set your appearance fee at an exceptional rate, right?”
“Of course. Thank you.”
There are no cases where an actor gets S-grade pay for their second project, especially a spin-off movie. And I don’t even have an agency.
I guess the CEO really did feel a serious sense of crisis after that gun incident.
“Actually, there’s a company that offered a very good deal for production sponsorship and brand PPL. That company specifically requested S-grade treatment for Actress Lee.”
“Oh, really? They must have enjoyed the drama. I’m so grateful, I’d like to thank them personally.”
The moment I spoke those soulless words, a familiar voice called out to me from behind.
“No need for a formal thank you. I’d just like it if you could find the time to have tea with me more often.”
Startled, I turned around to see an elegant woman who looked to be in her early to mid-thirties.
Curator Han Ji-woo.
The woman I had met in the VVIP lobby of the Cheongdam-dong dermatology clinic—the one they said was the daughter-in-law of the Baekhyun Group. The male secretary in his 40s who was with her gave me a silent nod.
I quickly processed the confusing situation in my head.
“By any chance, is the company providing the sponsorship and PPL…”
“Yes, that’s right. Our Baekhyun Group affiliates have decided to monopolize all the sponsorship and PPL.”
I almost asked if it was because of me, but I bit my tongue.
I didn’t want to seem too full of myself.
So, does this mean my 3,000 shares of Envidium essentially came out of this chaebol lady’s pocket?
“As the main sponsor of the work, surely the lead actress can spare some time for a cup of coffee now?”
“I’d gladly drink ten bottles of Coke with you.”
I gave her a polite bow.
This was the person who had bestowed 3,000 shares of Envidium upon me. She was so radiant I could barely look at her directly…
Mom, PD Jang Hyun-soo, and Writer Jung Yoon-ah quietly stepped aside to give us some space.
“I’ll lead you to a nice place.”
“Could I bring a friend along? She’s my stylist, and I feel a bit anxious if she’s not by my side…”
“Of course.”
And so, Jang Ji-hye came along too.
A long, black limousine van was waiting for us.
To think I’ve already experienced a Rolls-Royce, a Ferrari, and a limousine at this age.
Jang Ji-hye was also fascinated, looking around the interior of the limo before cautiously asking me via text.
[Jang Ji-hye]: But why me?
[Jang Ji-hye]: You’re not the type to get anxious without a stylist.
[Me]: Hey, she’s probably going to buy us something delicious.
[Me]: Am I even a friend if I eat that alone?
[Jang Ji-hye]: I’m touched…
[Me]: (Smug thumbs-up emoji)
Our destination was a hotel on the high ground of Jung-gu.
Up close, it was incredibly shiny and luxurious.
“Let’s go inside.”
“Hermes? That sounds like a name that would make you stronger.”
“Yu-jin, Yu-jin. It’s pronounced Er-mez, not Hermes. You dummy…”
I had said it thinking of the ‘Hermes’ Shoes’ item from League of Legends, but I suddenly felt embarrassed.
“Feel free to pick whatever you like. As many as you want.”
[65,000,]
[125,000,]
[45,000,]
The price tags looked suspicious, so I quietly put the items back.
I caught a staff member standing nearby and whispered a question.
“The one that says 65,000… does that mean 65,000 dollars?”
“The ‘000 won’ has been omitted, miss.”
So, 65 million won?
I can’t exactly say, “Well, at least it’s cheaper than 65,000 dollars!”
How does it make sense for a single jacket to cost as much as a mid-sized sedan?
I spoke quietly to Curator Han Ji-woo.
“I don’t think they have anything in my style. My friend is getting really hungry; could we perhaps refuel first, Curator?”
“Oh dear, we can’t have you going hungry. All right. Director Kim, purchase the items I’ve selected and have them loaded into the car.”
“Yes, Curator.”
As soon as we entered the lobby, a middle-aged hotel employee who looked quite high-ranking approached to escort us, as if he’d been waiting.
[Me]: She must be a VVIP here. The hotel is practically bending over backward.
[Jang Ji-hye]: Didn’t you know? This is the Baekhyun Hotel. She’s the owner.
[Me]: Really????
[Jang Ji-hye]: How do you know her? Did she fall for you after seeing the drama? But do chaebols even watch dramas?
[Me]: Actually, she’s the lady I met in the VIP lobby of that Cheongdam dermatology clinic.
[Jang Ji-hye]: ?????
[Jang Ji-hye]: You should have told me that sooner!
[Jang Ji-hye]: This is insane! No wonder!
*
We were led to a private room in a restaurant with a great view and treated to a magnificent meal. I felt like I was acting out the glamorous life of a chaebol in a movie.
“If the portions are too small, shall we order a few more à la carte dishes?”
“In that case, I will gratefully eat more.”
The full course for one person wasn’t quite enough, so I ordered a few more dishes and scraped them clean. Only then did I feel like I could live.
The way Curator Han Ji-woo gazed at me was starting to feel a bit burdensome.
“Actress Lee, even the way you eat is elegant and beautiful.”
“…Lee Yu is my stage name. My real name is Lee Yu-jin.”
“Are you giving me permission to call you Yu-jin?”
“Permission sounds a bit too grand. I’d prefer it if you felt comfortable calling me that.”
Jang Ji-hye was practically dying of curiosity, urging me with her eyes.
I was just as curious.
What could this woman, who had everything and nothing to envy in the world, possibly want from me?
She wasn’t involved in the media business, and she was a married woman.
If it were a married man from a chaebol family, I’d suspect some dark ulterior motive, but that wasn’t the case here.
“It must seem a bit strange. You’re probably wondering why this rich older woman is doing this, what she wants, and you might even be worried.”
Her calm eyes studied every inch of my face over her interlaced fingers.
“I think you can guess from the fact that I run a gallery. I am someone who likes and loves beautiful things. But for the first time, I looked at a person and thought, ‘I must have her.’”
I never imagined I’d be the object of obsession for a chaebol daughter-in-law who was old enough to be my mother.
“I sincerely want to be your friend, Yu-jin. Would you allow me to ask how I might make that possible?”
“…Pardon?”
“My sons told me that young people these days prefer to be asked politely and indirectly like this. Did I make a mistake?”
*
Han Ji-woo was in a very good mood after successfully exchanging phone numbers with Lee Yu-jin and Jang Ji-hye.
How can a person be that beautiful?
Regardless of age, she wanted to be close to her. She wanted to be able to see that face often.
It was with such pure intentions that Han Ji-woo had provided the generous production sponsorship for the spin-off.
If her secretary’s daughter hadn’t been a fan of the drama, she would have missed this wonderful opportunity. She felt she should give the secretary’s daughter a separate bonus.
Feeling generous, Curator Han Ji-woo called her first and second sons to the restaurant to introduce them to Lee Yu-jin.
She saw clearly that her sons’ eyes were a mess of shock and excitement.
“Director Kim will take you both home comfortably in the car. I have something to look over with my sons, so you go ahead.”
“Thank you for the meal.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
After the two high school girls were escorted out of the restaurant.
Han Ji-woo’s expression turned ice-cold as she turned to her sons.
“I just made a new friend today. Do you know why I introduced her to you?”
The eldest son, whose eyes had been following Yu-jin’s retreating figure until the very end, snapped back to reality.
“You’re telling us to try our best to make her your daughter-in-law, right? Mother, I—”
“Not at all.”
With a cold expression and eyes that held only a hint of a smile, Han Ji-woo spoke clearly.
“Don’t you dare get greedy. I’m telling you not to use your status as my children to annoy her and drive away a friend I worked so hard to make. Do you understand?”