Chapter 59: Misunderstanding
“Hurry up.”
At Muyoung’s urging, she slowly got up. There was still blood around her mouth, but he didn’t really care. After all, it was only visible to him.
“For now, I’ll just call you Ghost-ssi, okay? To be honest, I lost my parents when I was young and lived a very difficult life. People say there’s no one without a story, and I know you must have had your reasons for ending up like this, but I’m asking you this under the assumption that the living should live. Can you help me?”
Dream-blink. The ghost sat slumped over, only listening to Muyoung’s words. In all her life—no, even after death—this was a first. Not only was someone looking at her directly, but they weren’t scared at all.
“Can you help me sell this house?”
Muyoung placed his hands over the ghost’s two hands, which were resting on the floor. Like smoke, the ghost’s form flickered and dispersed.
“There’s going to be an interview shoot here today. That’ll be the start, and then I’ll do everything I can on SNS to promote this house. At the same time, I’ll make a proposal to Buyong-ssi too. You know her, right? The landlady. She’s been having a headache because of you.”
Help promote the house and assist in selling it, and ask for an incentive payment. Junho would calculate how much it would be. It’s a multi-billion won office building, so it should be at least a few hundred million, right? Hehehe.
“If you refuse, you can stay here forever, but if you say okay, please leave.”
Ssssuut!
The ghost bristled at Muyoung’s words. A sudden chill filled the air—the ghost’s coldness, said to bring frost even in midsummer.
Just tell me to leave right away! There’s no way he could do that. Muyoung clicked his tongue and wiggled his fingers.
“You have to listen to what people say until the end. Did you forget already because you’re a ghost?”
What the ghost would get in return for helping him was……
“I’ll set up a memorial altar for you. Over there, in Amwangsan, I know a monk very well. I met him a few times when I was young because of my spiritual problems, and he’s a very kind and good person. With the incentive money I receive, I’ll set up a shrine there……”
Kyaaaaat!
Now she was making metallic noises, expressing her dislike even more. Whoa, that was an unexpected reaction. Muyoung opened his eyes wide and looked down at her quietly.
“Don’t you like food?”
Most malevolent spirits go crazy over a memorial altar. There are various reasons, but usually, they’re lonely beings with no family to set up a table for them.
“Then what should I do?”
He hadn’t expected this. He tilted his head to the side, letting it hang loosely, and examined the ghost carefully. Her eyes were still red. There was sadness in her gaze.
“No matter what, food is the best.”
-……That’s what you think.
“Whoa! She’s talking?”
A clear, audible voice. Muyoung jumped in surprise and fell on his butt. Then, he heard footsteps from the entrance.
“Ha Muyoung. What are you doing? Are you pooping?”
Junho came upstairs, carrying a bunch of stuff. He poked his head out into the hallway. Muyoung took out his phone, pretended to make a call, and waved his hand.
“Yeah. No. Stay there for a bit, I’m on a call.”
“Why are you sitting there instead of on the sofa?”
“This is more comfortable. You should go sit down.”
And then, shoo! He sent him away like he was chasing pigeons. Muyoung went into the bedroom and urged the ghost to come over.
“If you can talk, why didn’t you say so earlier!”
-……
“You’re closing your mouth again? Tell me what you want. You probably don’t need money, right?”
The two sat close together in the bedroom. It was bright daylight, but her surroundings were filled with darkness. She……
-You’re an actor, right?
She asked quietly, looking at Muyoung. Her gaze was a bit different from before. Her form was flickering, and her long hair was hiding her face, so it was hard to see.
“Yes.”
Muyoung brushed her hair aside with his hand and answered. Her face was slightly tearful. Ah, I see. This is envy and jealousy. Blood was flowing from her tightly bitten lips.
“Why, why are you doing this? Did I do something wrong?”
-You’re a kid who lacks basics. Shouldn’t you ask for an introduction and the whole story first? Look at the state I’m in now!
“I heard you committed suicide. What’s there to ask about that’s so good? It’s just something that happened, I guess.”
Yeah. I don’t really want to know.
From my experience so far, the more I know, the more troublesome things get tangled up. Isn’t it better to just exchange what we need straightforwardly?
“If you want something, tell me. If it’s possible, I’ll do it. You said you don’t like food, so……”
She let her hair hang down and only nodded her head. She was clearly deep in thought. Muyoung patiently waited in front of her. Tick-tock, how much time had passed?
-There’s a place called Hadong Theater on University Street 45.
“Hadong Theater?”
-The play
Yeah. Honestly, it was a blessed life. With wealthy parents, she pursued her dream of acting without much hardship. Even though she dipped her toes into the poorest part of the arts, her life was always prosperous.
“So what?”
But life is a bit rough as you go through it. Once she fell, the ground was too slippery for her to get up.
And so, trapped in a tunnel of depression, she reached death without even having a chance to grab onto something.
In an instant. She had only let go of her strength a little.
-I couldn’t do that. I had prepared so much.
“Sorry, but I absolutely won’t lend you my body or anything like that.”
-……Use your body for what?
“Huh? It’s pretty useful, you know?”
When Muyoung firmly showed the edge of his hand, the ghost replied incredulously.
-I want to perform there. Be my counterpart.
Honestly, I don’t know what she truly wants. But if I had to pick one thing that keeps circling in my mind, it’s that—to speak her lines on the stage where she couldn’t stand.
“Oh. That’s it? But can’t we do it here? Why does it have to be there?”
-There.
“You’re picky.”
But fortunately, it wasn’t as difficult as he thought. It wasn’t like setting up a shrine, which costs money. Muyoung held out his pinky finger and promised her,
“Then let’s make a deal. We’ll both keep our promises. This is about a multi-billion won office building. It might not seem like a big deal to you since you’re rich, but for me—”
Leaving Muyoung, who was passionately speaking, behind, she silently got up and passed through the wall. It meant she thought he was being too loud.
“Why are you ignoring what I’m saying—”
“Hey. Ha Muyoung.”
As he stood up in disbelief, Junho was looking at him even more incredulously. Silence fell between the two. Junho grabbed Muyoung’s shoulder with a serious expression.
Fortunately, he had a phone in one hand. He could only pretend he was on a call, as he had claimed.
“I knew you’d do something like this, you bastard.”
“What, what is it?”
When did he start listening?
As Muyoung looked away in distress, Junho began shaking his shoulders, tears welling up. His eyes were glistening, and he looked like he was about to burst into tears at any moment.
“What do you mean by lending your body? And what do you mean by doing it there and not here, you jerk! I’ve known you since the beginning, you bastard. That Han Dagyeong person—”
Thwack!
“You’re crazy!”
“Then what is it? You just said you’d lend your body. It’s about the office building, so you both have to keep your promises. Is this some kind of sponsorship—”
Thwack! Thwack!
Muyoung slapped Junho’s head repeatedly with both hands. All he had in his head was filth! You pervert!
“Muyoung, I’m here. Wow, this house is amazing!”
Just then, Ko Gyeongmin arrived.
Muyoung grabbed Junho’s ear and ran toward the entrance. Bang bang! Ko Gyeongmin was so startled by the sudden commotion that he couldn’t even take off his shoes.
“Hyung! Please explain this to Im Junho!”
“Manager-hyung! Muyoung turned black all of a sudden!”
Crunch, crunch. The two friends fought, biting each other. Ko Gyeongmin just laughed as he put down a small fruit basket.
“……They get along well.”
“Actor Hyojung? Skin? Allergy?”
“Yeah. That’s right. So Dr. Martel provided it as a form of compensation. You said real estate is better than money, right?”
Muyoung mumbled a response while chewing on an apple. Thanks to Ko Gyeongmin’s testimony, that strange misunderstanding was quickly resolved. It’s a relief, but that guy is his friend. Muyoung could only sigh.
“Then what was that earlier?”
“……A work offer.”
He quietly made up an excuse so the manager, who was organizing things in the kitchen, wouldn’t hear. Only then did Junho nod repeatedly, seeming to understand.
“But can you eat an apple? You put lipstick on your lips.”
“I got some just in case.”
Muyoung shook a small transparent bag. Inside was a cotton swab with lipstick on it.
Cheongdam-dong and places like that are too overwhelming, so he had quickly gotten his hair and makeup done at a place near his house before coming up.
“When will the reporter arrive?”
“Around three? They should be here soon.”
Ding-dong ding-dong!
They say that when a tiger is mentioned, it appears. Sure enough, the sound of the doorbell ringing came right away.
Ko Gyeongmin, who was in the kitchen, quickly ran out to greet them.
Click-
“Hello, reporter-nim.”
“Hello. Wow. The house is so nice. Nice to meet you, Ha Muyoung-ssi.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ha Muyoung.”
The reporter, with a camera slung over her shoulder, kept looking around, taking in the house.
Yeah, that’s it! Good energy makes for good photos.
“Please sit over here.”
“Oh. Thank you.”
“Reporter-nim, would you like coffee or tea?”
“I’ll have coffee. With lots of water added.”
The reporter took out a laptop, recorder, paper files, and other items from her bag and placed them on the table. She seemed to specialize in actor interviews—her movements were smooth and uninterrupted. She picked up a pen and smiled.
“Nice to meet you. I’m the type to include even the smallest details in my interviews.”
It meant that things were starting now, so think carefully and answer well. Muyoung lightly shook hands and nodded.
“Yes. I’ll do my best.”
“Well, first I should formally introduce myself. I’m Lee Euna, a reporter from the Maeil Daily entertainment department. Could you introduce yourself first?”
Click.
Along with those words, the recorder started playing.
Following Ko Gyeongmin’s instructions, Muyoung opened with a formal introduction.
How old are you, are you a student, you’re a Seoyeon University student but how did you study, how did you end up becoming an actor despite having no connection to the field, and so on.
“Oh. After the CSAT?”
There were some embellishments, but Muyoung tried his best to speak sincerely and truthfully. The reporter’s typing fingers grew faster.
“So you made an impression on the public with Late Night Pocha, and now you’re filming
“It’s all thanks to the people at the company who support me from behind.”
“Then tell me about that incident that became a hot topic recently.”
Tap tap.
“Hmm. How should I put it? It’s just as everyone knows.”
Muyoung pondered, tilting his head in confusion. Ko Gyeongmin, watching from behind, also seemed a bit tense. Lee Euna took a sip of coffee and laughed.
“Haha. Don’t be nervous. Sometimes newcomers misunderstand. Do you think reporters eat celebrities for a living? I’m just curious about what happened that day.”
Behind the reporter speaking those words, smoke rose faintly. Muyoung dropped the apple he was eating with a clatter.
“Did you see that? The comments comparing Unta-ssi’s and Ha Muyoung-ssi’s looks. What do you think? You think you’re a bit better looking, right?”
And like Muyoung, Ko Gyeongmin and Junho also realized that the question was the reporter’s trap. The three exchanged silent glances.