Chapter 12: Nothing is free!
“Do you have any troubles?”
Muyoung’s innocent question.
The stalker’s eyes, hidden between a hat and a mask, narrowed in confusion. What a strange thing to say out of the blue.
“Are you calling me a psycho right now?”
She snickered, flipping through the images of Enbin on her camera screen. That kind of accusation wouldn’t work. She was already used to it.
“No, I’m just really curious.”
But Muyoung didn’t back down.
He needed to know what the strange smog meant. What if the misfortune affected not only the person involved but also himself?
“Go away.”
“Uh. Just a second. Let me see……”
Muyoung stared at the woman.
Specifically, at the smog tangled around her neck and back. Her back was against the wall, so its shape was distorted.
“Hmm.”
And he observed it very seriously. The stalker’s face was flushed, though it wasn’t visible behind her mask.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
It was the first time a man—a handsome man, no less—had stared at her so intently. Even Enbin, whom she’d followed for days, had looked away in disgust.
“Go away.”
“You’re the one who should stay still.”
Muyoung looked at her carefully, his eyes sparkling. The stalker’s face grew redder and redder. It was strangely embarrassing. Luckily, the mask hid it.
‘The shape is definitely…….’
Meanwhile, the more Muyoung looked, the more he realized it resembled a human form. His first impression when he saw her standing earlier was correct. It looked like someone was on her back.
-Uh…….
“Huh.”
Then, a sound came from the smog.
Muyoung flinched and took a step back without realizing it. Smog never spoke. It just appeared.
‘So, a malevolent spirit?’
Malevolent spirits also rarely made a sound. Those that did usually had deep grudges or didn’t realize they were dead. Either way, it was annoying.
“Why, why are you like that?”
The woman was also startled and took a step back.
Did she maybe have something in her eye?
-Eojina…….
“Eojina?”
“……!”
Muyoung absentmindedly repeated what the malevolent spirit said. Judging by her reaction, that must be the stalker’s name. The smog kept tightening around the woman’s neck.
-Please come to your senses and go home.
“It’s saying to go home. Come to your senses.”
“Who, who?”
“The thing hanging on your back.”
The woman froze. Was this some kind of joke? But Muyoung’s expression was overly serious. The malevolent spirit’s voice was so faint that if he didn’t concentrate, he’d miss it.
-Otherwise……it’ll all burn up.
“It says everything will burn up if you don’t. But what will?”
“You’re crazy too, huh?”
When Muyoung muttered to himself, the woman let out a dry laugh. She must have heard his name from the manager and Enbin.
-The house……it’s on fire…….
“Whoa. Your house is on fire, she says.”
The stalker frowned. What nonsense was this? She decided to completely ignore Muyoung and took out her earbuds. Then.
“The 40 million won in cash you put in the second drawer of the dresser and what? The thing in the pink box? The video of that guy? Oh. That’s called a USB.”
The woman froze, staring at Muyoung in silent shock. She was a credit defaulter and turned everything she got into cash. And the USB’s existence! Above all else!
“How, how, how do you know that……”
“Let’s go check it out before it all burns up.”
The woman bit her lip and made a call—to a chicken restaurant near her house.
“Is this Sangdong O Chicken? Is there a fire near Sarang Villa by any chance-”
The woman listened blankly.
Then she suddenly jumped up and started screaming.
“Aaaah-!”
“Ah! You scared me.”
And she grabbed the camera around her neck and ran frantically down the hallway. The black smog surrounding her released a blurry figure.
“Oh. I see.”
The malevolent spirit and the smog had been intertwined. A faintly colored soul bowed to Muyoung. Judging by their resemblance, it was probably her mother.
“The black smog is still attached.”
Even if she ran, there’d be nothing she could do. Everything would burn up, leaving her penniless, or she’d be injured in the fire. Either way, misfortune would befall her.
‘But a video of that guy? Judging by her reaction, it must be really important, huh? Hmm. Maybe Enbin?’
Swooosh.
The malevolent spirit disappeared through the wall, seemingly intent on chasing after her daughter. Muyoung was left alone. He adjusted his clothes and stood up.
Squeak.
Enbin opened the door.
He looked back and forth between Muyoung and the quiet hallway with an incredulous expression.
“What did you do?”
I didn’t do much.
Compared to the really annoying malevolent spirits.
I just delivered a message.
But…….
“Want to know?”
Is there any reason I should tell you?
Enbin was speechless at the cheeky response.
Is that even a question? Of course I want to know!
“Tell me quickly.”
It wasn’t just that stalker.
In his career, he’d dealt with all kinds of crap, but nothing had been as exhausting as dealing with sasaengs. If there was some kind of trick, he’d do anything to find out.
“I just told her to go home, and she listened well.”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
“Believe it or not. But talking like this makes us seem like close friends, doesn’t it?”
Muyoung adjusted his bag and waved at him with an innocent smile as he said goodbye.
“Well, bye then.”
“This is ridiculous.”
Enbin stepped right in front of him, blocking his path. Muyoung crossed his arms and tilted his head.
“I don’t understand why you’re doing this.”
“Tell me properly. In detail. Exactly how did you get rid of that woman? Even the veterans at the company who’ve been in this business for over twenty years had never seen anything like it and gave up on her.”
“I did something the veterans couldn’t?”
“Yes. So-”
“And you want me to tell you for free?”
Muyoung opened his eyes wide and made a somewhat ridiculous expression. He wanted something in return. Enbin gave a sly smile and gestured to the manager.
“Hyung!”
“Yeah?”
“Bring me my wallet.”
Money. He could give as much as Muyoung wanted.
He earned tens of billions a year. It piled up in his bank account with every breath he took. He was willing to pay a large sum for a comfortable life going forward.
“Uh. I didn’t ask for money.”
As the manager hurriedly brought over the entire bag, Muyoung leaned against the wall and muttered.
“Well. I mean. Money’s good to have. But-”
What did he want?
All sorts of assumptions ran through Enbin’s mind. Did he want an agency introduction? To be connected to another project? Or maybe-
“Cancel the fact that I got fired.”
“Fired? From this web drama?”
Enbin asked in disbelief.
Compared to his own plan, that was such a pathetic request. What was the point of an agency’s power? There were plenty of actors who got attached to a lead role here and there whenever there was a casting.
‘Is he stupid?’
Or maybe he just didn’t know the market well yet.
Well. Either way, it was a good opportunity for Enbin.
“Okay.”
“And apologize to me and the staff like you did earlier.”
“Apologize?”
“You fired me on your own. The company did the casting. Isn’t that called overstepping? Usually?”
The door was open.
And the manager and the company employees were all watching the two of them. It was such a rare sight that everyone was completely focused.
‘What the hell is this situation?’
‘Is there a method to getting rid of sasaengs?’
‘Enbin’s apologizing……? Wow!’
Each of them gasped in shock at different points, holding their breath.
Cho Miyoung, in particular, was fascinated by how the situation kept unfolding, wishing time would slow down.
‘He’s bold. What was his name? Ha Muyoung?’
Enbin let out a dry laugh and ran his hand through his hair.
But objectively speaking, he admitted he was in the wrong. He’d been sensitive because of the stalker and had overreacted more than usual.
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I was shortsighted.”
“Uh-huh. It’s okay. I’m sorry for making fun of your acting too.”
Like two elementary school students apologizing.
The two mechanically exchanged apologies and forgiveness.
Enbin turned around and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry. I went too far today.”
“Oh, no. It’s fine. It happens.”
“Hahaha. Right. It’s okay.”
Even the employees awkwardly joined in with hahas and hohos.
A conversation straight out of a textbook on morality took place.
Enbin turned around and gave Muyoung a silent gesture, as if to say, Is this good enough?
“And one last thing.”
“Too many demands?”
“Practice the script well.”
“……!”
Cho Miyoung gasped in surprise, her mouth open.
Oh my god. The hole to escape a collapsing sky was right there—in the form of Ha Muyoung!
“This is my first project, and it’s really important. So I’d appreciate your cooperation. If you need any help, I’ll help you.”
“What kind of help?”
“Dialogue breathing techniques, practice partners, anything else. Whatever you need for acting.”
“Hah! This is your first project, you say. I’m already on my third.”
“Great. Then you’ll do even better! Let me know when you’re done filming, and I’ll tell you what I talked about with the stalker.”
“Are you kidding? What if she shows up again before that?”
“Hmm. I think she’ll be quiet for a while.”
“……Are you sure?”
There was a brief silence, as if to say he wouldn’t let this go if it was a joke. Enbin frowned deeply.
“Yeah. I’m sure.”
But Muyoung was happy just to be part of the project. He didn’t care about Enbin’s harsh tone. Then, two policemen came up the hallway at the end.
“We got a report and came here-!”
“Oh. Yes! It’s here.”
The manager and the employees approached the two of them, raising their hands. Muyoung quietly pushed Enbin’s back toward the conference room.
“Come on. Let’s go in.”
“Continue the reading? In this atmosphere?”
“You have to fill the time to be a pro. Do what you can, and if not, let me know. I’m a student, so I have a lot of time. I can come find you, so let’s do it separately.”
‘Does he not realize I’m a celebrity right now?’
Enbin burst out laughing in disbelief.
The way he spoke sounded like he was in a university theater club. The director and the writer closed the door and said,
“Alright. Then let’s quickly pick up where we left off.”
“How much time do we have left?”
“About an hour.”
“Then let’s just do the guests in episodes 2 and 3. Muyoung will probably meet with Enbin separately.”
“Why do I have to meet with this guy-”
As Enbin tried to object, Muyoung held out his phone.
“Your number.”
Anyway, he’d have to meet with him again to hear about getting rid of the sasaeng, whether it was after the project ended or not. Enbin hesitated for a moment about whether to give him the manager’s number…….
“If it gets leaked, you’re dead.”
“Oh. A celebrity’s number.”
He entered his personal phone number.
What a real nutjob. He’d never met a character like this before in his life. Annoying, yet strangely not hateable. Muyoung texted Enbin from his phone.
Ding.
[Ha Muyoung. Nice to meet you. But have you been filmed by the stalker or something?]
“Video? I don’t know. She always carries a camera, so there’s probably something.”
“Hmm. I see.”
“Then shall we begin, Enbin?”
“Yes. Let’s go. And don’t talk to me anymore.”
Enbin gestured to Muyoung and turned to the script. His pronunciation was much better than before. Muyoung sat quietly and watched the reading. And outside the door.
‘Damn it! I want to see Ha Muyoung act too.’
Cho Miyoung, whose next schedule had arrived, turned away with regret. She kept repeating the name in her mind. Ha Muyoung.