Chapter 135
“Did you really do it? How?”
Even though he asked with such certainty, when he heard my answer, he seemed unable to believe it.
I told him he didn’t have to believe it if he didn’t want to.
Director Yoon clutched his head as if it was giving him a headache and muttered softly.
“Does your manager know about this?”
“No.”
“Then why did you tell me?”
“Because you asked me to involve you.”
“Don’t give me that crap. Speak straight.”
I was telling the truth.
But I’ve been speaking without a filter since earlier.
Was it intentional? Or was he too excited to even manage that?
“Yeon-jae, I asked everyone I knew about this. But no one knew why Seol Seung-jun ended up like that. Not a single person!”
“…”
“Who’s behind you? Why did you tell me?”
It seemed like it was the latter.
Looking at the opposite side, who had thrown away the innocent expression they usually wore and was now huffing and puffing, I spoke calmly.
“There’s someone behind me. But I can’t tell you who it is.”
Of course, I could say it. That I meet a transcendent being in my dreams.
And then I’d be locked up in a mental hospital.
“It doesn’t matter who it is. What’s important is why I told you, Director.”
“And what is that?”
I looked at the serious face of the other person and smiled gently.
“Please teach me how to manage my image.”
“…What?”
“I want to maintain my public image as it is now, but I don’t know how.”
Among the people around me, the one who managed their image the best wasn’t the successful actor, Jung-hyun hyung, or the top idol, Kang Se-hyun.
It was the person right in front of me.
“I’ve never seen anyone manage their image as well as you do, Director.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Right now, yes.”
Hearing my answer, Director Yoon looked even more puzzled, resembling a child.
Sometimes like an innocent child, sometimes like a weighty film director.
Director Yoon was someone who changed the mask on his face depending on the situation, place, and person.
‘Sometimes he seemed more like an actor than an actual actor.’
To reiterate, I was still just a rookie.
When I needed help, I had to put my pride aside and beg if necessary.
Just as I seek Jung-hyun hyung when I have trouble with acting, I intend to seek Director Yoon for image management from now on.
“I need a mentor. Someone who can tell me how to act in different situations, how to create and maintain an image.”
Seol Seung-jun was lucky.
There was a good prey named Park Ye-hee, so I didn’t have to dirty my hands directly.
Thinking about encountering people like Seol Seung-jun multiple times in the future, I needed to prepare in advance.
“I want to know how my fans see ‘Lee Yeon-jae’ right now and how I should strive to maintain this image.”
“Haa… Honestly, I don’t know what to say. Anyway, got it. I’ll think about it too.”
Director Yoon nodded, looking as if he didn’t know what was going on.
He was more cooperative than I expected. Feeling pleased, I brought up what I had been thinking.
“And Director, may I ask one more favor?”
“What is it?”
“You have a wide network, don’t you? You were shocked earlier because no one among those many people knew about Seol Seung-jun sunbae, right?”
“That’s true… Why? Are you trying to expand your network?”
“No. I’m not interested. Unless they’re absolutely necessary, I plan to keep my distance.”
When he looked at me, puzzled about what I was asking, I smiled gently.
“Spread some rumors.”
“…What kind of rumors?”
“People like Seol Seung-jun sunbae aren’t just one or two, right? Casually drop a hint to those in similar circles. If they don’t want to get into trouble, they should avoid Lee Yeon-jae.”
“Hah… Are you really a middle school student?”
I shrugged at his gaze that seemed to have seen all kinds of strange creatures.
Then, I guess I’d be a high school student.
“What if they ask why they should avoid you? What do I say?”
“That’s up to you, Director. You can say I’m out of my mind, seem like a lunatic, or something along those lines. Whatever you think is appropriate.”
In fact, I hoped that Seol Seung-jun would spread the word to people who had done drugs with him.
Because there’s no more effective way than having similar people associate ‘Lee Yeon-jae = a crazy person’.
But it was unfortunate that Seol Seung-jun got dragged away by his sponsor faster than I expected.
“Well, fine. It’s not a lie… You do seem like a lunatic. I’ll say that.”
“Thank you.”
“That’s not a compliment.”
Director Yoon closed his eyes tightly as if he had a headache.
‘I shouldn’t bother him any more.’
I checked Jin-bae hyung’s text saying he was waiting downstairs and quietly stood up.
“Then I’ll get going. Thank you for meeting me today.”
“Okay…”
“And please have this when you have time.”
When I handed over the item I had bought in advance yesterday, he looked at me with wide eyes.
“What’s this?”
“A bribe.”
“…?”
He carefully opened the box with a puzzled face.
Anyone would think I handed over a bomb.
“…This is a ○○ Bakery brownie.”
“Yes. You said you wanted to have it last time, Director.”
“How did you know that? Who told you?”
“You mentioned it during the Twins filming last year.”
“Did I?”
Why does he look like that?
I was confused by his unexpected reaction.
“When did I say that?”
“During the dawn shoot at the reservoir. You said you needed sugar.”
He looked half out of his mind because of the tight schedule.
Still, I don’t think I heard wrong.
“Did I give it too late? If you don’t feel like having it now, you don’t have to eat it.”
“No, it’s not that… You have a really good memory. I had forgotten about it…”
This time, it must be a compliment, right?
Sensing the timing, I thanked him and left the studio.
Buying the brownie, even with the wait, wasn’t a waste after all, seeing Director Yoon’s face brightening up as he saw me off.
It was a smooth harvest.
* * *
March, the spring of a new school year had arrived.
After attaching the red badge indicating I was a second-year middle school student, I walked to school for the first time in a while.
“Yeon-jae. How have you been?”
“Hi, Seo-jin.”
Baek Seo-jin came running up, jumping.
Her slightly red nose due to the still chilly wind made her look like a rabbit. She should dress more warmly.
“Yeon-jae, I saw the news! You’re going to be an extra in ‘Dogs’ Leash,’ right?”
“Yeah. I shot it last week.”
“I’m so jealous! I’m a fan of actor Kwak Woo-hyun. How is he in person? His personality?”
“He was calm. And he’s a really good actor.”
After Seol Seung-jun’s unilateral departure, the production team of ‘Dogs’ Leash’ quickly found a replacement.
After a few discussions, they cast actor Kwak Woo-hyun.
Unlike Seol Seung-jun, who had a calm demeanor, he was always serious on set, so we finished reshooting in an hour without any NGs.
Compared to Seol Seung-jun, it was a very simple and easy shoot.
“Why did actor Seol Seung-jun retire? I still don’t understand. He was at the peak of his career.”
“Yeah.”
He certainly was a good actor.
Considering he had been in the industry for 26 years, Seol Seung-jun must have been sincere about acting.
But thinking of how he showed up on set drunk, it was bound to happen eventually.
‘Moreover, it’s not my concern anymore.’
I monitored Seol Seung-jun and Park Ye-hee for a while, but I judged that I didn’t need to worry about them anymore.
If anything about Seol Seung-jun involving me came up, Director Yoon would let me know immediately.
From now on, I would stay away from things like alcohol, cigarettes, women, drugs, etc., which could cause controversy.
‘I must avoid anything my fans might dislike.’
I was thinking about how to become a person suitable for Bambi.
While chatting with Baek Seo-jin, someone put an arm around my shoulders.
It was a familiar weight.
‘This kid always puts his arm around my left shoulder.’
I wondered if it was a habit. Thinking it wasn’t a big deal, I looked back at Noh Bi-hyuk.
“Hi, Yeon-jae.”
“…”
It wasn’t Noh Bi-hyuk.
What was this kid’s name again?
“It’s too much, don’t you think? Shouldn’t you remember at least one of my names? Do you need a hint? Should I give you a consonant hint?”
As the conversation continued naturally, the name finally came to mind.
“Seo Ji-o. I remembered, so I don’t need the hint.”
“You can call me Ji-o.”
Was it January or February? Seo Ji-o, whom I met at the gathering Baek Seo-jin called me to, was smiling lazily as he did that day.
“You said you were transferring. So it was starting today.”
“Yeah. It’s easier to start fresh in a new semester.”
Today was the first day of the
first semester of the second year of middle school and the opening ceremony.
Seo Ji-o, who was wearing the same red badge as me, asked.
“Seo-jin is in class A, right? What class are you in?”
“You already know.”
“Huh? How did you know?”
It’s written all over your face.
Seeing his mischievous eyes different from Noh Bi-hyuk’s, I wondered why he was like that.
Seo Ji-o spoke slowly.
“You’re right. I heard it from Seo-jin. You two are in the same class again.”
“Yeah.”
“Then guess what class I’m in? Guess.”
Couldn’t he just quietly go to school?
His low voice didn’t hurt my ears, but the continuous talking was exhausting.
When I kept walking without saying anything, Seo Ji-o laughed as if he was enjoying it.
“Reacting like that hurts my feelings. I’m in the same class too. Isn’t it amazing?”
“It is.”
Why wasn’t Noh Bi-hyuk coming?
He usually ran up by now. I looked around.
Luckily, I made eye contact with Noh Bi-hyuk, who was watching us. Great.
Come quickly and get this guy off me.
‘…?’
The kid, who seemed like he’d come right over, just stood there.
He stood frozen as if surprised by something, so I approached him curiously.
No, I tried to approach.
With this weight on my shoulder, my body didn’t move as I wanted.
“Seo Ji-o. Can you take your arm off me?”
“Call me Ji-o.”
“I get it, so take it off. It’s heavy.”
Seo Ji-o pretended to cry at my cold tone and I casually tossed him to Baek Seo-jin, then went to Noh Bi-hyuk.
“Bi-hyuk.”
“Huh?”
“Are you sick?”
“No…”
“Why are you standing here? Let’s go.”
“Oh, okay.”
He seemed sick. His reactions were a beat slower than usual.
Standing awkwardly next to me, Noh Bi-hyuk scratched his eyebrows.
“Who was that guy who had his arm around you earlier?”
“Seo-jin’s friend I mentioned before. He transferred here.”
“Ah…”
I almost said he’d suit noisy people like him but stopped.
I remembered messing up when I introduced him to Sung Lee-jun and Nam In-hoo by adding unnecessary comments. I’d just stay quiet.
And when we gathered for lunch, I thought I made the right decision.
‘I’m glad I didn’t say anything earlier.’
Noh Bi-hyuk and Seo Ji-o clearly didn’t get along.
“…I never want to have lunch like this again.”
Baek Seo-jin was the first to speak.
With a pale face, she seemed to have indigestion from eating in such a stifling atmosphere.
“Do you two know each other? Why do you look like you’re ready to kill each other?”
At Baek Seo-jin’s question, Seo Ji-o laughed and responded.
“I’m curious about that too. Did I do something wrong to Bi-hyuk?”
“Seo Ji-o, don’t pretend to be nice. You were glaring at him too.”
“I was just reacting to Bi-hyuk glaring at me first.”
While Baek Seo-jin and Seo Ji-o were having a playful argument, Noh Bi-hyuk remained silent.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
I thought I’d ask him later, just as Baek Seo-jin sighed.
“I don’t care, but I want to eat comfortably from tomorrow. Which one of you is going to drop out?”
“…”
Baek Seo-jin was strong in that she easily threw out difficult questions.
I found it quite interesting and looked up. But…
“…?”
Why were both of them looking at me?