Chapter 117: Family
“Pffft!”
Muyoung was lying idly on a hospital bed, laughing as he watched MeTube. It’s been a while since I’ve watched a comedy show, and it’s really funny.
Zziiing— Zziiing—
“Huh?”
But suddenly, the screen changed and the caller information appeared. Oddly enough, it was a name: ‘Yusah.’
Muyoung tilted his head in confusion and pressed the call button.
“Yes. Hello.”
-Ah. Muyoung. The call went through. Are you okay?
“What do you mean?”
What did he mean by that, out of the blue?
I wondered if I had dialed the wrong number, but Ha Muyoung clearly said his name.
-I heard you were admitted to the hospital.
“Gulp.”
I was really shocked and almost flipped out.
I wasn’t admitted, but how did he know I was in the hospital?
When Muyoung couldn’t respond and hesitated, Yusah continued speaking.
-As a professional, you should also take care of your body.
“Don’t worry. There will be no problem with the shoot. And the situation isn’t serious enough to warrant hospitalization.”
Is he worried about schedule issues as an investor?
Muyoung tried to reassure him as much as possible by rambling on about his physical condition.
He had a slight fever, but he had just been laughing while watching MeTube, so he felt fine.
-If that’s the case, that’s good. Our lead actor, Muyoung, needs to be taken care of. Should we go eat some meat?
Here we go again.
……Does he not have any friends? He keeps trying to lure me with food.
Muyoung asked seriously.
“Why are you trying to feed me so much?”
-Haha! It’s because we all do this to make a living. Let me know a good time this week since I’m free. Oh. I’m getting a call. Take care of yourself then.
Yusah, who only said what he wanted to say and then hung up. Muyoung looked at his phone in disbelief and lay back down.
Then Ko Gyeongmin, who had gone to the bathroom, burst in.
Slam-
“Muyoung!”
“Oh. You startled me.”
“Was that reporter just now really from Everyday?”
“……I think so? Why?”
“That bastard! Ugh!”
His fist clenched in the air, full of frustration.
The reason was that the article title he showed me was quite something.
“Oh. That’s why-”
That’s why Yusah called.
Muyoung laughed in disbelief and skimmed the article. The follow-up articles, centered around the first article from Everyday that he had cut, were also pouring in.
[Actor H rushed to the emergency room due to the agency’s unreasonable schedule.]
Considering that it even had a title like that……
“Why is everyone like this?”
“I don’t know. I’m really going to beat these guys up! Ugh!”
“I’ll post on SNS that it’s not true for now.”
“The company said they’ll request a correction too. What a disaster out of nowhere.”
When I logged into SNS to post an explanation, people’s comments were pouring in.
Most were supportive messages wishing for a speedy recovery, but there were also occasional posts criticizing the agency.
-What the hell was the company doing while the actor was in that condition? From what I’ve seen, it’s not even a successful company.
-There’s nothing else besides Ha Muyoung, right?
-Treat people like human beings. I thought the schedule was a bit busy these days, but it finally blew up. Are you greedy for money? Who’s the boss?
Yikes. Everyone’s so fierce.
They must be saying that because they care so much about Muyoung.
Muyoung turned on the camera so that precious people wouldn’t hurt each other.
Click!
And he took a selfie with a bright, pretty smile. Ko Gyeongmin was busy dealing with the situation in the corner.
[Hello everyone, this is Muyoung! What’s going on? I did catch a cold, but it’s not a serious situation at all. Thank you all for worrying about meㅠㅠ The company adjusted my schedule well, so I’m resting comfortably now!]
In case another controversy arose, Muyoung posted a comedic photo with only his face in a close-up. If they see that it’s a hospital room, they’ll worry even more, right?
-Huh. Really? That’s a relief.
-Was it a false report? Everyday is reallyㅡㅡ crazy. Take care of your health!! Please!
-It’s not the emergency room? I was so worriedㅠㅠ
-Oppa, if there’s a problem, please draw a carrot in your next selfieㅠㅠㅠ
Fortunately, the misunderstanding seemed to be resolved quickly, but some people still seemed skeptical.
Muyoung calmed their worries by giving them all hearts one by one.
“Hyung. I posted that message.”
“Oh? Okay. I’ll call a nurse. You’ve finished all your IVs.”
“Understood.”
Ko Gyeongmin scratched his head and left the hospital room. The company must be in chaos too, with the sudden public backlash.
Muyoung was about to put away his phone when he remembered Yusah and sent him a text.
[I think Wednesday evening this week would be best for me. If that doesn’t work, I’ll see you next time.]
Ring.
[I’ll choose the location.]
Suddenly, Bora’s words about there being some intention came to mind. But how would she know if she’s not a psychic and hasn’t been told?
‘I’ll ask him properly while we’re eating.’
Muyoung thought that and continued to give hearts to the comments that kept coming in.
“Muyoung, over here.”
A high-end Western restaurant.
It was a restaurant where you could enjoy Seoul’s night view while eating, so the interior was quite stylish. Yusah waved his hand and welcomed Muyoung.
“Hello. Representative.”
“How’s your body?”
“I’m fine. I took some medicine and slept well for a day, so I’m completely better.”
“That’s good. There’s only one menu here.”
“Oh. Yes. I’ll eat anything.”
A table set with only empty plates.
Muyoung stared blankly at his face, feeling awkward. He wondered what to talk about.
“You seem to have something you want to say?”
“I do, but I was worried it would be uncomfortable to talk about before eating.”
“Pfft. Where would that be the case? And even if it’s uncomfortable, so what? We eat every day.”
Muyoung fiddled with his fork and asked cautiously.
I wonder if it’s okay to ask this.
“……Do you want to become friends with me?”
“Huh? Pffft!”
Yusah burst into laughter at the unexpected question.
The sound was so loud that people at a distant table glanced over. He even teared up a little and wagged his tongue.
“Wow. Really. I thought he was extraordinary.”
“No. I was just curious because you keep asking me to eat.”
“It’s kind of true. I’m interested in Muyoung. Have you heard of SJ E&M?”
At his words, Muyoung shook his head.
I’ve never heard of it before.
“It’s a specialized agency established by SJ. It’s a company that manages everyone needed in the film industry, from actors to directors.”
As he spoke calmly, soup and bread were served before the meal. He gestured for Muyoung to eat while listening.
“It hasn’t been long since it was established, but for directors, there’s Song Yurok and Choi Mark, and for actors…… there’s Gong Daham, Min Linna, and Twi.”
They were all names I’d heard somewhere before.
It’s a new company, but since it’s a conglomerate subsidiary, it’s very solid. Yusah rested his chin on his hand and proposed to Muyoung.
“I’d like Muyoung to come aboard our ship.”
“But I still have a long time left on my contract. I’m just over a year in.”
“Isn’t the contract period short?”
“Huh? Where did you hear that?”
“I just asked to check.”
Wow. Crazy. Are there such cunning people in the world?
Do all conglomerates do this? Muyoung was surprised and opened his mouth wide, and Yusah laughed again.
“But actually, that doesn’t really matter. If Muyoung is okay with it, we’re even willing to pay the penalty on our side.”
Since the company is small, he’s confident.
Whether it’s legally or extralegally.
“……Why do you like me so much?”
“Hahaha. Because you’re hot!”
“Huh? Are you serious?”
“Of course it’s a joke. First, you’re only 21 years old. How many recognizable male ‘actors’ are there in the Korean entertainment industry in your age group? Apart from those who came from the idol industry, it’s a wasteland.”
……Is that so?
When I actually tried to think of someone, no one came to mind.
There are people who started as child actors and survived, but there are few recognizable actors in their early 20s.
“Second, talent that outweighs experience. I value that a lot. I said it before, didn’t I? Entrepreneurs find value in an invisible future. No one can predict what Muyoung’s future will be like because there have been no cases like this before.”
Cases where movies and dramas become huge hits right from debut? They’re so rare that it’s almost safe to say there are none. It’s something that happens once every ten years or so.
“So I want to pay a price now and recruit Muyoung. Honestly, I think you already know the company’s advantages without me having to explain them.”
A conglomerate.
That one fact explains everything. And is it just any conglomerate? It’s an SJ affiliate that’s indispensable for film distribution and production.
“What happened with Muyoung’s false report causing a big fuss this time.”
Yusah took a sip of water and began to speak.
His gaze sharply bound Muyoung.
“What happened after that?”
“They issued a correction on that side and it was settled.”
“If we were your agency, such an article wouldn’t have come out in the first place. And if it did come out, we would have obtained a formal apology, not a correction.”
Who would dare to touch them carelessly?
At Yusah’s words, which awakened reality, Muyoung just chewed on the bread.
Right. That’s true. Honestly, they wrote the article because the company seemed easy to mess with, in a ‘what the hell’ kind of way.
“I’ll give Muyoung wings on his back. I can do it, and Muyoung is worth it.”
At Yusah’s sweet offer, Muyoung just moved his lips silently.
A brief silence. He patiently waited for Muyoung’s answer.
“……What if I refuse?”
“If you refuse? Then you refuse.”
“There’s no disadvantage, right? If there is, I need to prepare and say it.”
“……Hahaha! I’m going crazy, really!”
It was a refusal that seemed like a refusal but wasn’t really a refusal.
When Yusah burst into laughter, Muyoung also smiled naturally.
“Can I ask why you’re refusing? Is it because we’re new?”
“No. If it’s new, Big Win is no pushover either. They have no results, and there are only two employees.”
“Then?”
At that moment, the main course arrived. Thick steak with steam rising from it.
Muyoung swallowed hard and answered.
“The representative said it himself. You find value in an invisible future. I do too. I saw that value in Big Win.”
I’ll never forget the days when I first met Ko Gyeongmin and Na Geumdong. The best choice guided by flower petals. No matter how good a company is, if it’s not the best for Muyoung, it’s not the best.
“So I want to go with the company.”
“Ohh. This is……”
“Are you disappointed?”
“Of course. I was confident.”
He replied, holding up both hands.
Muyoung, who had his hands neatly placed on his knees, looked cute, so he nodded his head.
“But you can eat the meat.”
“Really? Even though I refused?”
“That’s that, and this is this. What kind of situation would it be if I invited you to eat and you went home hungry?”
Yay! Muyoung said he’d eat well and cut the meat vigorously with his knife. The taste of the meat that melted in his mouth was superb.
“If you sign a contract with us, I’ll let you eat this every day.”
“I don’t wanna-”
“Ohh. What a pity.”
The two of them exchanged playful banter.
Yusah placed a piece of meat on his plate and said,
“If you tell me how much time is left on your contract, I’ll let you know.”
“Yes. It’s a secret.”
“That’s too much.”
Muyoung smiled brightly.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem like the type to get upset just because he was rejected.
More than anything, he wasn’t someone who could see black smog like others.
“Then, when you become a free agent, let me know first. I’ll take you away with really good conditions.”
“Okay. I’ll tell you then.”
“……I think I’ve been a bit foolish. Honestly, I didn’t expect you to refuse so firmly.”
Muyoung blinked, wondering what he meant.
Of course, even while doing that, his chewing jaw didn’t stop.
“I also made an offer to the company.”
“……What did you say?”
“Whether they’d be interested in transferring Ha Muyoung’s contract.”
Gulp.
Muyoung swallowed a piece of meat and asked.
“What did they say?”
“I haven’t heard back yet.”
Thud-
Thud thud-
“Boss. My head’s going to break.”
“Ko-ssi…….”
A messy office. Na Geumdong couldn’t calm his troubled mind and kept banging his forehead against the wall.
“Muyoung must be cutting steak with the SJ representative right now. What are they talking about? What will Muyoung do? If they say they’ll meet his conditions as much as possible, will we be able to keep him?”
“If you’re that curious, ask him later.”
“Waaah. I don’t know! What if he really decides to go?”
“……Sit down first. You’re making me nervous.”
Ko Gyeongmin was just as troubled.
Honestly, we brought in a completed kid and got this far without doing anything. It’s awkward for the company to hold on to him.
“If Muyoung decides to go……”
“What?”
“Waaaaah……”
Na Geumdong wailed, unable to even think about the situation.
At that moment, a sound came from outside.
Knock knock-
Who is it?
No one’s supposed to come.
The two of them turned their heads toward the door at the same time, and a hand holding a bag poked through the door crack. Hmm. It smells like meat. Expensive meat, I don’t know what kind, but it smells really expensive.
“Have you two eaten yet?”
And peek.
Muyoung smiled and poked his head in.
“Muyoung!”
“If you haven’t eaten, eat this with me.”
Na Geumdong’s face brightened instantly. Ko Gyeongmin also looked surprised. Muyoung even held up a bottle of beer and shook it.
“……Did you eat dinner?”
“I ate something simple. This was delicious, so I packed some for you. I thought about the boss and Manager Hyung, so I brought it. Family should eat the same food, right?”