Chapter 121: Use
“Didn’t you know?”
What a fool. A fool.
She only knew the brand Brüllem, but knew nothing about the BG Line.
Muyoung groaned, quickly tapping his forehead.
The model looked at him in wonder.
“Have you been living abroad?”
“No, I’m a native Korean…”
Ah. She hesitated for a moment, but soon agreed, as if it could be that way. You’re still young. It’s possible, right? Maybe…?
“Anyway, don’t go near the inside. It’s better to just play around where there are a lot of people and then leave.”
At that moment, it felt like something hit the back of his head. Both Jen and this person… seemed to have a vague idea of what was happening in the inner room.
“Did you know?”
“…There’s no way. It’s rampant in this industry. Rumors spread like trash. Do you avoid poop because you’re scared of it? It’s better to stay away because it’s dirty.”
“If there’s poop on the street, shouldn’t you clean it up?”
Muyoung rummaged through his pockets to find his phone.
“I’ll report it to the police…”
The woman lightly grabbed his hand. She shook her head lightly.
“Police? They won’t even be able to come in.”
At a party hosted by the second-generation heir of a large corporation, are the attendees ordinary people? They’re definitely shielded, as if a barrier has been erected, preventing any approach. In South Korea, chaebols live above the law.
“I think you were lucky. If you got caught, it would have been really tiring.”
Even at a place like this, if there’s a definite witness, it would be troublesome.
Especially for someone who has a lot to protect. It would definitely harm Muyoung as well.
“Keep your mouth shut. Eyes closed. Ears blocked. Understand?”
…I don’t understand.
Muyoung frowned, looking back at the corridor they had come out of. The black smog was still swirling. If he were more drunk, he would have thought there was a fire for sure.
‘What are they trying to do, acting like that at a place like this.’
Bad luck as strong as Joo Jungdan devouring himself.
Muyoung sighed and lowered his gaze. Her ankle caught his eye. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to require a cast. Below the pant leg, a loafer and a bandaged bonghwa bone were prominent.
“How’s your leg?”
“It’s better than I thought. But I won’t be able to walk the runway for a while. I was trying to make it work for at least Brüllem, but they said I could end up limping for life.”
It seems like it was originally her place.
The model, looking troubled, bit her lip and glared at the floor. She smiled, waving her hand behind Muyoung. Her colleague was calling from afar.
“I have to go now. Muyoung, you should go home quickly. Remember only the good things from the party today.”
“Ah. Excuse me-”
“Thank you so much back then.”
Does she know?
Joo Jungdan’s foot had come in front of her outstretched leg. Judging from the conversation just now, she might have vaguely felt it.
But as Muyoung advised, since there’s no evidence, it’s buried and covered up.
“Ah. No way.”
Muyoung messed up his hair and glared at the corridor again.
Beyond that long passage, only when the bodyguards pass by can he face Joo Jungdan’s crime again. He should have taken a picture. Then it would have been evidence.
“Ugh-”
He only groaned, then checked a message from Ko Gyeongmin on his phone.
[Is the after party fun? The agreed time has passed, are you going to play more? Should I go home first?]
Muyoung pushed through the crowd toward the entrance. Every time he was bumped, the scent of perfume and alcohol pierced his nose.
He replied, frowning deeply.
Ding.
[No. I’m going down now. Not fun at all.]
“Why is he like that?”
Bora, eating her lunch box on set, mumbled to Ko Gyeongmin. For the past few days, it seemed like his mind was somewhere else, looking spaced out.
“I don’t know. He doesn’t seem sick.”
“Hey, Ha Muyoung, snap out of it.”
“Huh? Yeah. Why?”
“What’s wrong? You’re holding your chopsticks backward.”
At Bora’s words, Muyoung glanced at his hand.
And, as if nothing was wrong, he held them properly again and picked up a side dish to eat.
“Is something wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Then focus properly.”
“…Yes, yes.”
A voice with no energy at all.
It seemed like the aftermath of dieting, but then again, it didn’t. There’s definitely something… but since he doesn’t say anything, how can she know?
‘He’s still focused on filming, so there’s no problem, but what if he goes around like this with loose screws in his daily life? Tsk tsk. Look at those dazed eyes.’
Bora clicked her tongue inwardly, scrutinizing Muyoung’s condition. Lost in deep thought, he asked his manager,
“Hey, what happens if a chaebol gets angry?”
21 years old. An adult, but only in his second year of stepping into society. The weight of the chaebol’s name didn’t easily reach him.
Only in a commonsensical way, the pinnacle of power and honor—that’s all. Ko Gyeongmin chewed on the rolled egg.
“Why? Did Yusah say something to you?”
“Yusah? Why would Yusah?”
Bora, who hadn’t heard anything, was startled and turned her head.
“What? Why? He seemed so cool.”
“So why? What is it? Just talk among the three of us.”
“What are you asking about?”
“No! Just! Let’s talk, the three of us!”
The company only knew Yusah, not Joo Jungdan. He hadn’t mentioned meeting him at the charity party. He didn’t feel the need to say anything.
Click-
“Muyoung, come over here for a second!”
“Yes!”
A staff member opened the waiting room door and called him. His back, as he got up leaving his spoon behind, looked exhausted.
Bora watched him with hawk-like eyes.
“Why is he like that? It’s not like him.”
“I know. If it doesn’t get better in a few more days, I’ll have to ask him directly.”
His appetite hadn’t been good for the past few days, and he’d lost a little weight. Muyoung unbuttoned his shirt and asked the director,
“Is this okay?”
“Yes, you’ve dried it well.”
There would soon be a shirtless scene in the latter part of the film. He had been controlling his weight for that. For the first time in 21 years.
When the director gave the okay, Muyoung nodded nonchalantly.
‘It’s bothering me.’
And in his head, as he buttoned up, only that thought lingered. The aftermath felt uneasy. If he didn’t deal with it, he wouldn’t feel like moving forward.
Squeak-
“Hey, after this…”
As Muyoung opened the waiting room door.
A man sitting in the makeup chair turned his body around. Bora was only mumbling about her food, and the manager had also put down his chopsticks.
“Joo Jungdan?”
“Hi! Muyoung!”
“What brings you here?”
Joo Jungdan. The disheveled appearance from the last memory was nowhere to be found, and he was perfectly neat in both hair and attire.
Bora and the manager looked puzzled, staring at Muyoung.
‘What’s going on?’
But the one who wanted to ask was Muyoung.
He finished buttoning up and introduced the two to him.
“This is Executive Joo Jungdan from Baekgun Entertainment.”
Then the two seemed to recall, ‘The chairman’s son!’ and flinched simultaneously.
“Sorry for dropping by suddenly. No, I called the company, and they said you weren’t at the agency, and they didn’t know when the shoot would end. So I came to take a look. Don’t take it too seriously. We’re an investing company.”
Who knows?
If he likes what he sees, maybe he’ll add some money like SJ.
At his not-really-a-joke, Ko Gyeongmin laughed awkwardly.
“Please step aside for a moment.”
“Huh? Oh, sure.”
At Muyoung’s request, the two left the waiting room.
A little distance away, a weasel-faced man, presumably his secretary, nodded.
Thud!
As soon as the door closed completely, Muyoung sat on the sofa. In the mirror of the dressing room, his own face was reflected straight ahead.
“What brings you here?”
“Geez. Don’t be so cold. We’ve already met twice. Or is it three times?”
Okay.
His instincts were on high alert.
‘He knows I saw him that day at the private party.’
Jesus. What to do?
“Isn’t it twice?”
“Huh? I don’t think so?”
He tried to deny it first, but it didn’t work.
The two locked eyes.
Muyoung sighed and raised both hands. Okay, since it’s come to this, it’s good. It was bothering him to the point of disrupting his daily life.
“Yes, I saw you that day. Is that what you came to confirm? It would have been easier to just call.”
“Actually, I don’t remember, but the girl next to me has really good eyesight. Haha. You know who I’m talking about, right?”
“How would I know who the executive’s girlfriend is?”
“Hmm?”
A rough laugh hiding a snakelike gaze.
A sharp, almost fierce look, as if to catch even a single drop of lie.
But it’s true. What does it matter about his girlfriend?
“Why?”
“Ah. So that’s a relief. You were in a pretty ugly state, really drunk.”
“It seemed that way.”
“Wow, your image is quite different from what I expected.”
“I’ve seen all sorts of things in my life, so my condition hasn’t been good lately. Why would you…”
He was about to scold him but stopped.
He’s not a friend, so it’s none of his business.
“Never mind.”
His girlfriend’s words, that someone seemed to have come in when he was drunk, had been nagging at him. Just in case, he had checked all the club’s CCTV and confirmed Muyoung and the model in the corridor. So he came rushing over. If his father finds out this time, it’s three strikes and he’s out.
“Muyoung, you’re attending Seoyeon University, right? I like smart people. They calculate quickly what’s gain and loss, so they don’t do stupid things.”
It was a roundabout way of warning and threatening him.
That if he leaked anything, it would bring no gain to his life.
And it would create quite a bit of loss.
“Keep your mouth shut.”
‘Ugh, these people are so annoying.’
Muyoung just smacked his lips.
What could possibly be a wall to him, who lives alone without family in this world? If worse comes to worst, he’ll just go to America.
What, is there no place in the world where he can act?
“But you know, I’m smart but not quick-witted. You’re trying to scare me right now, aren’t you?”
Hey,
just deal with the smog wrapped around you.
You look like you’re about to be dragged into hell any moment.
At his words, Joo Jungdan burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Are you that naive? You don’t get the situation?”
“Yeah, I guess so…”
You can’t see anything either, so you don’t get the situation… In his heart, he wanted to add, ‘Be careful on your way back, maybe avoid taking the car.’
“Why? Is Yusah backing you up?”
“Yusah? Why would you bring up Yusah?”
Joo Jungdan mentioned his name.
As Muyoung mumbled, following along.
Rustle-
“Huh?”
Glittering dust fell around him in the mirror.
Surrounded by sparkles for the first time, Muyoung smiled in wonder.
“Ah, Yusah.”
In an instant, locked information unfolded like a rollback.
Baekgun, the arch-enemy of SJ. Overlapping movie releases. The other side had invested quite a bit…
‘Do you know who I’m talking about?’
Joo Jungdan’s question about the woman next to him.
Maybe she’s a celebrity? That woman?
Joo Jungdan called Muyoung’s name.
“Ha Muyoung?”
“Yes, Executive.”
“Listen carefully to what I say.”
He tapped his temple.
“Yusah, you see, has been my meal since childhood. No match for me. As he grew up and took on the representative position, he acts like he’s something special—”
He seemed to think that if he put his mind to it, he could crush him at any time.
At that serious moment, black smoke oozed from his nostrils.
“…!”
Not a mustache, but what is that?
For the first time seeing such a form of smog, Muyoung quickly covered his mouth. Ah, no. You can’t laugh.
“Are you laughing?”
“Eek! Sorry.” “What the hell. Are you on drugs too?”
“What are you talking about? I can’t even take cold medicine!”
As if seeing all sorts of weird people, Joo Jungdan glared at him, standing up.
Muyoung also wiped away his laughter and erased his smile. But still, his cheeks twitched uncontrollably.
“Shut your mouth—”
“No, how can you say such harsh words!”
“Like you just did, you son of a bitch! If you blabber around, you’re done, so watch your step. Got it?”
Muyoung nodded repeatedly, as if he understood.
“Yes, yes. I understand.”
He said that, but inside he was just clicking his tongue.
The smog was getting thicker, to the point where it would be lucky if he didn’t die.
Crash!
As he slammed the door open, Muyoung casually picked up his phone. There aren’t just one or two chaebols in South Korea. Tsk, tsk.
“Yusah, Yusah Representative’s number is…”
Go taste some flower petals!
“It’s here.”