CH 47

Editor: Re

Pr: TT

After an uncomfortable night at someone else’s house, I went to Cha Jungwoo’s villa with Hansoo as I promised. A few days had passed, but reporters were still encamped in front of the villa. As time passed, the probability that Cha Jungwoo wouldn’t leave the house seemed to have increased. As I was walking towards the entrance to the villa, someone from afar called my name cautiously. 

“Taemin! Here!”

“Where are you?” As I turned my head left and right, I found Hansoo half-hidden in the wall of the building next to the villa. “Why are you here?” As soon as I approached, thinking, he pulled me into his hiding place.

“As requested, I got all the catalogs and magazines that only the rich peruse.”

Then he lifted up an envelope full of brochures. 

“There was so much material, I only listed unreleased products separately. I was doing this until dawn yesterday…”

“Why are you whispering?”

When I asked strangely, Hansoo widened his eyes wide and warned me.

“Shh! Lower your voice!”

“Why?”

“The reporters are all over the place!!”

In case a reporter came all the way here, Hansoo looked around with sharp eyes. I looked at the vigilant guy and pointed out an important point.

“No one out there knows our faces.” 

However, Hansoo, whom I thought that he would have come to his senses, did not budge. He rather pointed it out to me.

“What! We even filmed a movie!”

It hadn’t even been released yet. No, we didn’t even film any more than that. I got tired of trying to explain, so I came out from behind the wall by myself. I had only one magazine in my hand. Ignoring Hansoo’s shouting that I should disguise myself from behind, Cha Jung-woo, who I had promised, was waiting inside. It’s already past ten, but I know he won’t be sleeping. He probably couldn’t sleep all night. It’s been going on since the incident broke out.

“Huh! Why are you only here now?!” 

I left the road manager behind and headed to the living room. The mess was still there, but the sofa was the only thing that stood up properly. The road manager who had been following me hurriedly stepped in front of me and pointed to the stairs leading upstairs.

“Hurry and go up. He hasn’t slept and he’s still waiting.”

I ignored him and went straight to the sofa in the living room. Dump. I leaned over on the soft sofa with a high back and opened the magazine I was carrying.

“Tell him to come down.” 

Even if I didn’t look to the side, I seemed to know how the road manager’s face had changed.

Flutter, flutter.

For a while, only the sound of a magazine flipping through echoed inside. Moments later, the road manager sighed heavily and I heard the sound of going upstairs. Cha Jungwoo probably won’t come down right away, but it was okay because I also needed time to read the magazines.

Hansoo had really marked the magazine. New items of products that were first shown on the Internet. At that time, it was a familiar product name, but to me it was like a password. In particular, even though the magazine was clearly written in Korean, there was also English, so I couldn’t understand the contents. Besides, the watches that look similar to my eyes are one that is new and the other is old. When I looked online, I knew that the price of this watch was tens of thousands of won, so I looked at the picture again with bewildered eyes. 

What had changed? I stopped the paper I was flipping over and looked at it intently for a while. The explanation was also full of unknown words mixed with English. I only understood one thing. Sophisticated appearance. Was it the same? While looking at the two watches, my eyes fell at the information about the watch at the bottom of the ad. There were also words written in small letters that I did not know, but there was also a notification that it was waterproof to the depths of the water. Why are you wearing a watch and going into the sea? Rich people wear watches when they swim?.

Realizing one surprising fact, I turned over several pages and stopped at the place marked by Hansoo. Under the difficult English name, Hansoo kindly wrote the pronunciation in Korean. I was muttering awkwardly in my mouth when I heard a thumping sound coming down the stairs. I deliberately pretended to be more focused on the magazine. The sound of thumping footsteps drew nearer, and I heard the sound of someone sitting across from me. And Cha Jungwoo’s greetings followed immediately.

“Bastard, is it early in the morning?”

The smell of alcohol swept over along with his curses. 

“Fuck, I heard you’re only a two months old trainee? This bastard… Do you think it’s funny that I’m like this now? People like you will be cut off from the company right away…”

“What do you want to ask me?”

I interrupted with annoyance. He gave me a short cursing and stared at me.

“Fuck, watch your mouth. Who are you to interrupt me?” 

I looked at him and slowly opened my mouth.

“I guess you have no idea yet.”

“What?”

“Do I look like someone afraid of being cut off at work? Or do I look like an aspiring celebrity who wants to gain popularity around you?” 

He frowned and looked at me. I gave him a faint smile.

“Think again. Because if you swear one more time, you’ll look like someone who’s going to break their head with that broken table leg.”

“…”

“Qtja vb sbe kjca ab jrx wf?” 

“…lr sbeg cjwf Off Kjfwlc?”

“Pr atja jii sbe kjca ab jrx?”

P kjr jybea ab ufa eq ogbw ws rfja, wfjclcu P kjr ublcu ab ub, ktfc atf ues rkjiibkfv j rwjii megrf lc tlr wbeat.

“Pr la agef atja sbeg wjcjufg abbx atlr bc? Ccv ab atf ues ktb rqgfjv ws lrref bc atf lcafgcfa.” 

“Yes.”

“Who is that?”

“Are you sure your manager betrayed you?”

He clenched his teeth as if he didn’t like the question. 

“Yes.”

Then you don’t really need to hear the recorded voice. I thought and gave the answer I wanted.

“Song Yoohan.”

“Song… Yoohan?” 

He looked at my mouth for a moment, as if at a loss for words, then checked again.

“Song Yoohan? Song Yoohan, who appeared as my younger brother in the drama xxx?”

I haven’t seen the drama xxx, so I didn’t answer, but he laughed out loud as if it didn’t matter.

“Haha, it’s the guy who cried to the director every day that it was a pathetic role that interfered with my sister’s relationship. That bastard screwed me over.” 

Unable to contain his anger, he mumbled harshly to himself.

“Fucking bastard, I should have stepped on him a few more times to keep him from getting up.”

Laughter erupted from the inside of the words that were spit out with poisonous eyes. Yeah, you are all the same. Then he looked up as if he had remembered something.

“Was that jerk an actor under Manager Choi before?” 

I nodded. He continued the question casually.

“Is the arms broker Chairman Kim still sponsoring him?”

“… an arms broker?”

When I asked what I had heard for the first time, he leaned back on the sofa. 

“Yeah, arms broker. He mainly did the import of weapons, but there is also talk of looking over other military supplies. He used to do business in a foreign country, but when he got old, he came back to Korea. At first, there were rumors that he had missed his country as he got older, or that he had come to look for the family he had abandoned, but they are all unbelievable. He was an old man who made the business very messy, and within a few years he had wiped out all his competitors. Besides, he has that disgusting hobby.”

Cha Jungwoo frowned and spit it out as if he didn’t like it.

“I heard that no one lasted more than a month under Chairman Kim, but did Song Yoohan completely catch the old man?”

“I think so.” 

“Ha! It’s amazing. I’ve seen all sorts of dirty things in this world, but Chairman Kim is an insane person.”

“He must be out of his mind.”

As I responded indifferently, he raised his eyes full of wonder.

“Are you acquainted with Song Yoohan?” 

“Before.”

“Hmm,” he asked after looking at me for a moment.

“What’s the story with that jerk?”

“Shouldn’t you be more concerned about your story right now than mine?” 

Turning around, he slightly bit his lower lip and ran his hand through his bangs roughly.

“Your manager. Is he serious about everything he said to me?”

His question was heard as if the manager was really the kind of person who would say that.

“You must have known it all already. You know why he went bankrupt when he was the owner of an agency before.” 

“What do you think?”

His red, bloodshot eyes stared straight at me.

“He’s serious.”

And I added lightly. 

“The manager really believes that that is the only way for you to live.”

“And you?”

I was annoyed as to why this prick kept being tenacious with me, but he answered.

“I don’t believe in that method. I believe in the manager.” 

“…”

“If that person thinks so, then so be it.”

When he answered, he lowered his gaze and pondered for a while. I was a little surprised to see him. Even if my manager can solve it this way, shouldn’t a person in that position have to seek advice from another competent person or take action? Why are you so stupid that you only drink alcohol in the house? Then he raised his eyes as if he had organized his thoughts.

“So, because you trust your manager, you also believe that I can eventually make a comeback.” 

“…”

“No?”

“Does what I think matter?”

Cha Jungwoo seemed to understand the frustration contained in the question. He smiled and shrugged as if he didn’t understand. 

“Maybe it’s because I know you, just like you said. Because I’m the type of person who’s going to break my head with a broken table leg. Tell your manager to stop by in the afternoon. Let me talk to him again.”

His forehead was full of wrinkles, as if he felt bad about having to do something he didn’t like. However, it was not enough for us to just talk.

“I’ll warn you, but if you’re going to use my manager temporarily to get out of this situation, it’ll be more troublesome later. Once you sign a contract, you won’t be able to cut Manager Choi.”

I threw the evidence to him, who was puzzled. 

Smack.

I tossed at him the envelope I had been given. I had read the contract before coming here. I don’t know what the other conditions are, but one thing stands out. Once appointed, the manager cannot be replaced under any circumstances without the permission of both the company and the manager.

It was surprising to me that the word “no matter what” was included. Even in my contract, it was stated that if the manager was at fault, I could cancel the contract. Cha Jungwoo looked down at the contract that had fallen on the floor because there was no table.

“What’s this?” 

I glanced at him, and he looked at me with vigilant eyes and picked up the envelope. Soon, with a rustling sound, he pulled out the wad of paper inside. But it only came out half way. He stiffened in a state where he could no longer pull out the contract. And when I almost suspected he might not be breathing, he asked low.

“…the company… the company contacted you?”

I noticed one thing in his words. That he hasn’t been contacted by the company for a while. The people at the company who came to his house were just pretending to seem busy at work in the eyes of others. In particular, to the reporters. It was then that I realized why he stayed home, drank and was not looking for any other way.

I glanced back at the road manager eavesdropping on us from afar. He was startled and hid in the kitchen, but him being in this house even though he was beaten was evidence. Damn, you’re the one who reported to the company. In other words, the company really confined Cha Jungwoo. Cha Jungwoo must be a powerful celebrity, but he was so easily pressured by the company. When he couldn’t hide his surprise, Cha Jungwoo clenched his teeth, staring at the contract that he had not yet taken out as if he wanted to kill it. 

“Fucking bastards, are they trying to say this is an easy chance?”

And the expectation of Madman was realized right in front of my eyes.

Rip~! Rip!

While tearing the contract into pieces, he got up from his seat and stepped on the paper with his feet. 

“Sons of bitches!! How much money did I make!! They got what they wanted and now… Fuck!”

Huffing and puffing, he suddenly picked up the phone that had been lying on the floor. And as he raised his arm to throw it at the wall, I spoke slowly.

“Do you like watches?”

“What?” 

Turning his head, he asked fiercely. I pulled the magazine I had been reading and glanced at the advertisement for the first watch I saw.

“There’s a new product coming out.”

“What… what nonsense are you talking about, you!”

“Oh, it’s coming out next month, so if you go to the military there, you won’t even be able to see the real thing.” 

Now he turned around threateningly as if he was going to throw the phone at me. But I didn’t stop and turned the magazine to the next displayed advertisement.

“These sunglasses are due to come to one of the stores next week, but they are already fully booked.”

“Fuck, you…”

“Of course, you won’t be able to see this either. Maybe you won’t be able to see it even after you get out of the military. You used to have mutual sponsorships, but unless you buy them yourself with your own money, you won’t be able to touch them.” 

For a moment, he stopped moving, but his eyebrows twitched and moved.

“What are you talking about, huh?”

“You’re stumbling here, and for two years you would go to the military, so there would be a gap. In the meantime, the contract with the company with six months left will end. Then just imagine: Two years later, can you buy these things to your heart’s content?”

“I…” 

After barely uttering a word, he added in a low voice.

“You don’t think I have that much money?”

“There will come a day when there will be no such money.”

“…” 

“No one will use you, and even if they did, they would tell you to do a supporting role, which will hurt your pride. But, you have the face of the top star Cha Jungwoo, how would you do that? Besides, your hobby of buying all the new expensive watches will have to be continued for the sake of face. Because even if you don’t spend a little money, people will be judging. Such as, ‘Cha Jungwoo must have turned into a beggar’.”

His breathing became more and more harsh at my words, and he hurriedly threw the phone at me. But I didn’t avoid it and looked straight into his eyes.

Slam!

The phone brushed the side of my face and fell to the floor. 

“Huff, huff, huff…”

Cha Jungwoo exhaled as if he had run a 100m, shaking his chest and breathing heavily.

“Get out. You get out of my house right now.”

I got up slowly and checked the time. 

“Until midnight tonight. Just know that if there is no contact within that time, everything is over.”

***

I didn’t think it was that long, but when I came out, 40 minutes had passed. And there were people waiting for me during that time.

“Taemin! Here!” 

Feeling that something similar happened 40 minutes ago, I turned my head to see Hansoo beckoning to me from the corner of the building next door. Had he been hiding there all this time? As I approached reporters who had no interest in us, he pulled me out of sight.

“How was it?”

Instead of explaining, I handed over the magazine.

“Well used.” 

“No, what? Do you think it will go well?”

“Yes.”

I was a little surprised at myself by the easy answer. However, I have a feeling. Driven to a tough place, that guy would contact the manager. As if surprised, Hansoo widened his eyes wide and asked, ‘Really?’ several times.

“I am really happy. Ha~ I heard that Cha Jungwoo’s personality is dirty… Besides, the manager is right. However, if the manager’s name is cleared and manages Cha Jungwoo well, Myungshin hyung will be really pissed off. right?” 

As if just thinking about it made him excited, so Hansoo brightened up quickly and dragged me outside again.

“Oh, the manager called. He asked where we were, and I was sweating all along.”

“Why did he call?”

“He wanted both of us to be tested because there’s an opportunity to do a small flier advertisement. Oh, and he also got contacted by the director. The weather forecast for tomorrow says that the weather will be clear, so they’re filming Taemin’s suicide scene first.” 

What does sunny weather have to do with suicide? I had doubts, but thanks to Hansoo, who was in a rush to go to the manager quickly, I put off the thought of filming. And after meeting the manager and taking the photo test without even having a meal, the day flew by. All three of us were so busy that we forgot Cha Jungwoo, so when we were having a late dinner with ramen at a restaurant, the manager’s phone rang.

“Yes, it’s Choi Deuk-”

When the words suddenly stopped in the middle of the name, Hansoo and I, who were drinking ramen, raised our heads. The manager was answering the other person after a while with a calm expression.

“Let’s go now, Cha Jungwoo.”