Chapter 78: To Avoid Breaking, Rather...
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 78: To Avoid Breaking, Rather...
This is driving me crazy.
He says American aircraft carriers are "great swimmers." That they can stay out there all year round.
How does he come up with lines like that? Did he prepare it in advance? Or did he just think of it now?
An aircraft carrier coming all the way to the waters off Jeju Island just for a shoot—how could I possibly resist? I had to accept.
I was about to blurt out my agreement immediately when I barely managed to recall Han Ji-woo’s previous warning.
That was a close one.
Following Han Ji-woo’s advice, I nodded with as much of a poker face as possible and gave a non-committal response.
“Thank you for the wonderful proposal. I will give it serious consideration.”
Inwardly, I wanted to grab Vice Admiral Chad and grill him about every single piece of naval equipment.
However, to make the appearance fee negotiations go smoothly, I couldn't let it show that I was dying to take the role. If I did, Han Ji-woo would lose his leverage in the negotiations, and that would be reflected directly in my bank account balance.
Ugh, having to hide my excitement for a role I desperately want until the contract is signed... this is the ultimate torture.
After that, I listened to explanations about the filming schedule and the conceptual design.
But my heart was already on the Clipper Navy transport plane that Vice Admiral Chad had arrived in.
Ah, I want to ride it. If I ask for a ride, would they let me? I feel like they would.
A three-star admiral flew all the way to Osan Air Base in a transport plane just to negotiate a role in a Navy promotional film. He even risked being teased for looking like a "squid who lost its mother" by standing next to me.
With that much dedication, surely he’d let me hitch a ride if I asked?
Han Ji-woo whispered to me.
“You look like you have something you’re dying to say. It’s okay, go ahead.”
“Well, but if it puts us at a disadvantage in the negotiations...”
“If I stopped you from saying what you truly want just because I was worried about negotiations, I shouldn't be the CEO of an agency.”
“As expected, you are my light.”
“And you, Yu-jin, are the miracle of my life.”
Aaaagh! Aaaaagh!
It was meant to be a witty comeback, but I didn't even break even...
“Could I possibly take a ride in the Clipper transport? It’s actually one of the items on my bucket list.”
Vice Admiral Chad, hearing Han Ji-woo’s translation, let out a silent laugh before speaking seriously.
“Of course.”
Nice.
Riding a US Navy transport plane as a civilian—what a stroke of luck.
As I fidgeted with excitement, Vice Admiral Chad quickly stood up.
Finally, one of my bucket list items is being crossed off.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
I was startled when we stepped outside after the meeting.
A massive crowd of US Air Force soldiers and officers was waiting outside. They were holding up large photos of my characters from somewhere.
“Elf! Elf! Elf!”
“Sal-rang-hae-yo!” (I love you!)
“F-ing! God-dess! Yu-jin!”
Despite the winter weather, a wave of heat rushed over me.
What was "F-ing"? Oh, they probably meant "F*cking Pretty" (Jon-ye).
Getting hit with a barrage of Korean praise in an English accent made the embarrassment twice as potent as usual. At this rate, my everyday "Glass Mask" was going to shatter.
Han Ji-woo whispered to me.
“Greet them in the Elven tongue. They’ll absolutely die for it.”
“If the personnel at this air base are wiped out, it’ll leave a fatal hole in South Korea’s airspace...”
Seeing the soldiers cheering so hard in their clumsy Korean made my heart ache a little.
Right, I had times like that too. Whenever a celebrity came for a troop performance, the whole division would go wild.
Just as I was about to say something, a bearded officer rushed over and handed me a microphone. He stood politely beside me, holding a loudspeaker wirelessly linked to the mic.
I spoke calmly in Classical Latin.
“Milites,
qui tam longe missi estis ut terram alienam defendatis,
magnam vobis gratiam habeo.
Propter vos ego cotidie tuto et quiete dormio.
Si quando America terra fiet
in qua arma inter cives quiescant,
tum libenter vos visam.
Sed puto vos mecum sentire
illum diem cito non venturum esse.”
(Soldiers, you have worked so hard, being deployed to this distant land to protect another country. Thanks to you, I sleep peacefully every day. Someday, when America becomes a land safe from the overflow of weaponry, I will surely visit. But I suspect you all agree that such a day will not come soon.)
Since the word for "firearms" doesn't exist in Classical Latin, I roughly translated it as "the overflow of weaponry."
“Yeahhhhhh! Yeahhhhhh! Yeahhhhhh!”
“F-ing! God-dess! Yu-jin!”
Even though they probably didn't understand a word I said, seeing them go wild with joy made me feel grateful, embarrassed, and flushed all at once.
There wasn't enough time to give individual autographs, so we just took group photos. Even that couldn't be done all at once, so we proceeded in several groups.
And then, finally, I was able to board the Clipper Navy transport...
Whoa, whoa! This is seriously awesome!
Since this model was intended for VIP transport for generals and above rather than troop transport, it was a feast for the eyes.
“Can I take a photo?”
“Of course.”
Vice Admiral Chad gave his permission with a smile, so I busily took selfies with the interior as the background.
I’m someone who has lived my whole life without knowing how to take a selfie, but today was different. To embed proof that I was actually here into every photo, I had to take selfies.
This was immortal proof of my visit.
The crew members also asked for photos, so I diligently posed with them, and took some of my own. Finally, Vice Admiral Chad asked for a photo, so we took a two-shot together.
“Wow, I look like I’ve got a giant head in this photo.”
It’s not that big, sir. It’s just perfectly average.
“Yu-jin, take one with me too.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I left you out, Director.”
“It happens, since we’re always together.”
Lastly, I took a photo with Han Ji-woo.
“Are you still using that budget-model Baekhyun Phone?”
“Ah, it’s just a hassle to reinstall all the banking apps and stuff.”
When Director Han Ji-woo replaced all my home appliances, he gave me flagship models of every phone type, but I’d just been keeping them in storage because setting up everything from stocks to banking from scratch was such a chore.
“Ah, so that was the reason.”
“My dad and mom really love theirs, though.”
“Then tell me later when you absolutely have to change phones because yours died. I’ll bring you all the latest models again.”
“Yes, thank you. I’ll be sure to tell you.”
“I’m only saying this because it’s a pity to see you using a low-performance model; I’m not expecting any advertising effect.”
“Of course. It’s not like we’re filming a Baekhyun Phone commercial or anything.”
As I stepped out after touring the Clipper transport, a familiar face was waiting.
“Oh! The 51st Fighter Wing Commander! Colonel Coswell!”
“Wow, how do you know all that?”
“I just happen to have a lot of interest in this air base, so I’ve come to know the high-ranking commanders.”
“Ji-hye said I should stop you from watching military videos in public, and now I understand why. You might actually make the hearts of your male fans explode en masse.”
“...Director.”
Anyway, I took a photo with the Wing Commander, who had arrived late.
Perhaps because this was a place full of content I loved, it felt more special than meeting other fans. I really shouldn't discriminate among fans, though...
“You were right, Director. Coming here without knowing made it an even better surprise gift.”
“Hehe, I’m glad you liked it.”
I left the US military base in the Cullinan.
Just like when we arrived, the security vehicles Han Ji-woo had prepared formed a barrier in front and behind us.
“By the way, you really are something, Yu-jin. To think an aircraft carrier would willingly come all this way just for a shoot.”
“The US military is actually very serious about cooperating with movies. If a movie does well, enlistment rates skyrocket.”
“Oh, you know a lot about that? I didn't know. Then if a Navy promotional film starring superstar Lee Yu-jin comes out, the Navy enlistment rate will go through the roof, won't it?”
“Th-that, I’m not so sure about...”
World star, superstar. Those words are still so foreign and embarrassing. I acknowledge that my name value has gone up, but it’s still cringeworthy, so to speak.
Han Ji-woo’s smile deepened.
“Then I should really try to hike up the appearance fee negotiations this time, shouldn't I?”
“Am I finally going to receive an appearance fee in the 20 billion won range?”
“No, I’m thinking of making it zero won.”
“...Pardon?”
My mind went blank for a moment.
He obviously wasn't talking about a no-guarantee appearance, but I couldn't understand what Han Ji-woo was aiming for.
“I’m planning to convert the entire appearance fee into investment capital and put it into the film production instead. Then, if the movie is a massive hit, you’ll receive investment profits, right? It’ll come back as a sum that can’t even be compared to the appearance fee itself.”
That’s the 'win big and pay it back' strategy.
The Japanese tried that against the US and got completely wiped out.
“Um, it’s great if it’s a hit, but what if it fails? What if we can’t even recover the principal?”
“Why do you think it will fail? Your name alone is already a guaranteed box office draw.”
“...”
“I’ve checked the script, and if you star in this, it’s a guaranteed mega-hit. Trust me. In the absolute impossible case that we lose money, I’ll cover the 50 billion won appearance fee myself.”
Oh, then even if it fails, I recover my base appearance fee, and if it goes well, I’ll be sitting on a mountain of money.
Wait? But did he just set the appearance fee at 50 billion won?
“If you do that much for me, I’ll feel too guilty...”
“You know well enough that I didn't start this agency to make money, don't you?”
“...I know. I’m always grateful.”
“Do you have any intention of investing the money you’ve saved up so far into this movie? It’ll probably come back quadrupled.”
Quadrupled? It’s tempting.
But even at this very moment, my Envidium stocks are soaring, so it’s hard to make a snap decision.
“But I don't have much money left in my bank account.”
“You spent all that already?”
“I put it all into Envidium...”
“I see. Envidium is a good blue-chip stock.”
Han Ji-woo gave a gentle smile.
“Then I’ll just put my own money in. About 90 billion won. That’s all the spare cash I have on hand right now.”
“What?”
“I’ll give you all the profits.”
“Wh-wouldn't it be right for you to keep them, Director? Why give them to me?”
“Then my purity would be tarnished. It would feel like I’m using you for profit. I’m not taking care of you to make money.”
“...”
I thought Director Han Ji-woo was the most normal person among those around me, but it turns out he was hiding madness beneath his warm kindness too...
It feels like there are no normal people around me except for my mom and me.
*
After Lee Yu-jin left.
The 51st Wing Commander immediately went to see Commander David of the US 7th Air Force to give a face-to-face report.
“Commander, is that true? Vice Admiral Chad personally flew a transport plane to our base in secret just to meet the actress, Yu?”
“That is correct, sir.”
“Hah, I thought he was visiting Korea in secret to negotiate the sale of squid fishing boats... We were completely fooled.”
“Seeing that Hollywood producer Steve Feinman accompanied him makes everything clear. Actress Yu will be starring in a Navy promotional film. Her role will likely be...”
“A pilot, I assume.”
“That is what we believe, sir.”
“Understood. Good work.”
The Wing Commander saluted and left, and Commander David closed his eyes, lost in thought.
A moment later, his eyes snapped open, and he called his orderly to give instructions.
“Contact the Air Force Public Affairs Office immediately. Tell them if they don't want to see Air Force pilot enlistment rates drop starting next year, they need to call me right now.”
If the Navy pilot enlistment rate increases due to a massive movie hit, the Air Force pilot enlistment rate will naturally decrease.
This is known as the Law of Conservation of Recruitment Resources.
“Be sure to add this: the future of the Air Force is about to be pulverized.”
By any means necessary, the Air Force had to take this movie for themselves.