Chapter 21: Agency

“Ah. Good! Cut!”

The photographer put down the camera with satisfaction. Enbin had just finished wearing five outfits in a row without a break. Since there was a scheduled departure, they had to make sure not to delay the time.

“Mr. Enbin. Let’s take a look.”

The CEO, the writer, and Enbin huddled together in front of the screen to check the photos. Muyoung and Junho were also peeking over their shoulders.

“I like this one.”

“The natural light makes it look much better.”

“Should we enhance this one a bit with editing? It’s a shame to discard it.”

Professionals can probably see the difference between an A-cut and a B-cut. To Muyoung and Junho, all of them looked good enough to be released immediately. Enbin carefully monitored the photos, fanning himself with his hand.

“So, should we go with this?”

“Yes. Let’s do that. You’ve all worked hard.”

“You’ve worked hard!”

When the three of them agreed, the surrounding staff clapped lightly. The manager was the happiest of all. While everyone was packing up the filming equipment, Enbin went into the room to change his clothes.

“CEO. Are you done?”

Junho respectfully called his brother the CEO and asked. He clearly distinguished between work and personal life. He clenched his teeth and smiled, a gesture to hide his outburst of excitement.

“It turned out so good. I’m amazed.”

Enbin perfectly captured the emotion that BORNTORE was aiming for. As a designer and a businessman, he couldn’t have been more satisfied.

“Let’s help with the cleanup and then go eat. Muyoung, are you hungry too?”

He put his arms around his two friends’ shoulders and swayed lightly. It seemed like excitement was bursting out naturally, let’s go! Hooray!

Squeak.

At that moment, Enbin, who had changed his clothes, came out pulling his shirt. It wasn’t a hot day, but being outdoors under the light panels had raised his body temperature.

“Muyoung, am I going to drink this?”

He rummaged through the beverage bag that Muyoung had bought earlier and asked.

“Ah, but that—”

While Muyoung reached out and hesitated, Enbin opened the can lid. And the carbonated drink burst out refreshingly. Enbin’s white T-shirt was stained brown.

Sssss!

“Oops!”

“I, I was about to tell you to be careful……”

“What, did you drop it on the way here?”

“No. When I went to drink it, I noticed the bottom was dented.”

Muyoung pulled out a wet wipe and handed it to Enbin. Aside from the stickiness, the clothes were a mess. He called the manager with a look of dismay.

“Hyung. Is this sponsored clothing?”

“What? Oh! What is this!”

“We’re in big trouble.”

The more they wiped, the more the stain spread. The manager stared blankly at the clothes and then checked his watch.

“We have to go to the airport right away. Otherwise, it’ll be rush hour and definitely congested.”

But how could they go like this? Both of them froze as if their minds had stopped working. Muyoung, who was wiping his clothes, said to Junho,

“Can’t Enbin wear the clothes from the shoot earlier and go?”

“Huh? I already packed it up to give to the manager.”

“Bin, just wear that for now and go, and ask the sponsor to send new clothes to the airport. It’s better to wait in the car and then go out than to be late because of traffic.”

As long as he doesn’t get out of the car, the reporters won’t take pictures. It would be safer to pick him up there, change, and then go out.

“Yeah. That’s better.”

“Ah—I’m sorry, hyung.”

“It’s okay. I’ll make a call and come back. Once you get the clothes, come out right away. I’ll leave the car ready, so you can change while you’re on the way.”

Muyoung opened a bottle of water and poured it into his hand. Meanwhile, Junho quickly went to get the paper bag he had packed earlier. The CEO and the employees were curious about what was going on and glanced over.

“Sorry. I should have put the drink away.”

“No. It’s my fault. Anyway, what are you going to do now?”

“Me? I’ll probably help clean up here and then go eat?”

Enbin nodded, wiping the moisture with a tissue.

“Let me know when you get back. How the web drama party went.”

“Yeah. You take care too. Where were you going again?”

“Thailand. And you should decide on an agency. Even if you just want to act, you still need to make a living, right? And do you think good works just lie around on the ground? That’s what companies do—they bring in those kinds of things.”

Just like a mother nagging, he chattered on.

Of course, you’d have to audition, but depending on the company, there’d be some flexibility, right? You had to push forward when the momentum was there.

The message was that you had to seize the opportunities that were pouring in now.

“If you need it, let me know. There’s an SN label that also recruits actors. It’s still new, but the name carries weight.”

“Thanks. I’ll think about it carefully and decide.”

When Junho brought a paper bag containing clothes and towels, Enbin took it with a smile.

“Thank you.”

“No. You’ve worked hard today.”

“Okay. I’ll go now. You’ve worked hard too!”

Enbin greeted the staff and gestured to Muyoung to contact him later. He was escorted by the employees and got into the van.

Vroom—

“I wonder if he’ll be able to get the clothes at the airport.”

Junho just shrugged his shoulders in response to Muyoung’s muttering. It wasn’t his business to worry about that.

“Oh, by the way, Junho.”

Junho, who was leisurely organizing the cables, looked up. Muyoung smiled brightly.

“You should do a grand bow.”

“……”

I didn’t know what it was, so I searched online, and it turned out to be something really scary. Junho quietly smiled and slowly backed away. That’s why you should watch what you say.

“Grand bow!”

“Are you crazy? You’ll break your neck!”

“You said you’d show me—”

The two of them ran around the cafe yard, playing pranks. The employees and the CEO, watching them, shook their heads lightly as if to say, “Just leave them be,” and continued cleaning up.

“Writer. When will the edited photos be ready?”

“If we push it as much as possible, it’ll take about two weeks.”

They were so focused on the launch that they didn’t know.

Enbin never ended up receiving the sponsored clothes at the airport that day and had no choice but to appear in front of the reporters wearing BORNTORE.

A few days later.

Muyoung arrived at a meat restaurant wearing a hoodie. After getting lost several times in the narrow alley, he found it. A familiar man was smoking at the entrance.

“Team Leader!”

“Oh ho! Muyoung!”

He already seemed to have had a drink, his face quite flushed.

“Why are you so late?”

“Sorry. I had assignments piled up.”

“Haven’t eaten yet, right?”

He quickly stubbed out his cigarette and led Muyoung inside. It seemed like he had reserved the entire place. All the tables, clustered here and there, were filled with familiar faces.

“Muyoung’s here!”

“Wow—what’s going on! Why are you here now?”

“If Enbin hadn’t come, we would’ve eaten it all among ourselves!”

There were overwhelmingly more employees from Square Film than on-site staff. It was supposed to be a wrap-up party for the shoot…… but it felt more like a celebration of the project’s success.

“Come on. Sit over here.”

The first episode’s explosive popularity had led to additional production being secured without any issues. There was still editing and uploading left to do, but that was the editing team’s job!

“CEO! Muyoung’s here.”

“Oh! Come in quickly.”

At the employees’ commotion, Cho Miyoung, who was eating meat to her heart’s content, raised her hand. She seemed to be mingling freely. Muyoung and the team leader sat down in front of her.

“Is alcohol okay?”

“Yes. But just a little. I’m not very good at drinking.”

“Really? You’re at an age where your liver is fresh.”

Cho Miyoung handed him a glass of soju and poured him a drink. But there was one man who was bothering her—a stranger sitting next to her was staring intently at Muyoung.

‘What’s going on?’

I’ve never seen him before. Wondering if something was on his face, he touched his chin, but there was nothing there. The man whispered something to Cho Miyoung.

“Puff puff puff ha ha ha!”

And she burst into laughter. Only the team leader waved his hand as if to say, “Stop it.”

“Muyoung will be surprised, CEO.”

“No. Sorry. The senior is being so silly. The comment on MeTube, was that written by the senior?”

“He looks much better in person.”

The man laughed and handed Muyoung his business card. It read ‘Sealing Actors’ Director Park Cheolmun.’ Muyoung tilted his head.

‘Sealing Actors?’

It was a familiar name. If even an amateur like Muyoung recognized it, it meant the company had a certain reputation in the industry. Cho Miyoung raised her glass and explained,

“Sorry. Were you surprised?”

“No. Receiving a business card isn’t something to be surprised about.”

“I heard you still haven’t decided on an agency?”

At her words, Muyoung glanced at the team leader. You told her all sorts of things? The team leader just scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

“I’m busy with midterms.”

Other agencies had only given him their contact information. But Park Cheolmun from Sealing Actors was Cho Miyoung’s college senior. She had no choice but to invite him after his persistent request to arrange a meeting.

‘And it’s better to go to a place with connections if possible. After all, if we can’t get it ourselves.’

It would be easier to get cast if it was a company she knew, in preparation for the future. Muyoung fiddled with the business card and just smiled.

“This is the first time I’ve received one in person like this.”

There were only speculative posts online about who Muyoung was. There wasn’t enough information for someone to actually come looking for him.

“Really? What an honor.”

Park Cheolmun put down his chopsticks and said,

“Your acting was really impressive. You’re still young, but the depth is different, I should say. Of course, the external factors are also quite promising. We don’t usually do casting like this, but I just couldn’t let you go.”

Meanwhile, Muyoung picked up his chopsticks.

He had been starving all day, doing assignments. Of course, it wasn’t because he had no money to eat. Really.

“We can adjust the signing fee as much as possible.”

“Signing fee? How much?”

He hesitated. When Muyoung showed interest, Park Moonchul closed his eyes tightly as if it were a secret and then opened them.

“It’s a bit awkward to talk about it here, but I’ll make sure it’s something that people will say is really good for a newcomer. I promise.”

Then Cho Miyoung also chimed in from the side.

“Sealing Actors has a lot of money. They have a lot of popular actors. Park Jimin, Roy, Haejun, and also……”

Familiar names came out of her mouth. They were actors with quite solid reputations. Oh ho! Muyoung admired them and chewed on the meat.

“Daryeong! The female lead in the MBV miniseries this time? She’s also from Sealing Actors.”

“Oh. Really?”

If it’s the MBV miniseries, isn’t that the drama Bora was cast in?

“A school friend of mine was cast as a supporting role there.”

“Really? Who?”

“Kang Bora—”

Just as Muyoung opened his mouth wide and was about to eat more meat, smoke appeared around Park Moonchul’s lips.

“Kang Bora? I don’t know her well. But since she’s Muyoung’s friend, I’m interested. I should look into it.”

Gulp—

Muyoung was so startled that he swallowed the meat whole. Ha ha, he laughed, spewing out smoke. It was as if a devil in human disguise was exhaling. Park Moonchul’s entire face was covered in black smoke.