How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor Chapter 124

Chapter 124

 

Ignoring Hyun Jingae, I walked over to Ajin, who was sitting inside the car.

When I knocked on the window, her face popped up.

“Oppa Junho!”

“Can we talk for a bit?”

Ajin looked puzzled for a moment, then immediately nodded.

“Sure! If it’s a long conversation, should we sit somewhere?”

“Let’s go to that bench over there.”

“Okay!”

“Wait.”

Just as Ajin and I were about to move, Hyun Jingae suddenly cut in.

Looking gloomy, he mumbled to Ajin,

“I’ll step out, so you two can talk in the car….”

“Really? Is that okay?”

Ajin asked brightly, but I immediately answered no.

“Let’s just talk on the bench. Manager, please stay comfortably inside the car.”

“……Okay.”

Hyun Jingae replied in a depressed voice.

After watching his back as he trudged back to the car like a dog that had just been scolded by its owner, I headed to the bench with Ajin.

“What were you talking about with your manager oppa earlier? I heard voices outside the car.”

“Nothing much. Just talking about filming.”

“Oho. Then what did you want to tell me?”

Ajin asked directly.

Kids these days really don’t beat around the bush.

“You know, usually I’m the one who goes looking for you, but this is the first time you’ve come looking for me. So it’s strange, but also kind of scary.”

“Scary? Why?”

“Hmm, how should I explain it…”

Sitting on the bench, Ajin scratched her head.

“You’re definitely kind, oppa. But you’re not exactly warm. Sometimes you feel like a taekwondo master. Funny, right?”

“Well, being a master isn’t a bad thing.”

“Come on. Why would I say something bad about you?”

Ajin giggled.

Since Choo Seomok and Hyun Jingae were waiting, I got straight to the point.

“You said before that Jaehyun and your father knew each other.”

“Oh, right! Yeah!”

“I looked into it, and they’re appearing in the same project. Apparently, they’re playing father and son.”

“No way, seriously? Wow, I totally misunderstood.”

Ajin smacked her forehead hard.

“People really shouldn’t speak carelessly….”

“Anyway, I told you because I thought it might bother you. Their casting news is still confidential, so don’t tell anyone.”

“Okay! I won’t! Ugh, sorry. I made you worry for no reason, oppa.”

Ajin emphasized that she’d be more, more, more careful from now on.

Then, with the most serious expression I’d ever seen on her face, she said,

“Oppa, I have a lot of shortcomings, right? I’ll keep improving, so even if I act immature sometimes, please don’t hate me too much.”

“Where’s this coming from? Did someone say something?”

“No, nothing like that. I’m just worried. Manager oppa talks about this kind of thing a lot these days. He says I should constantly reflect on my life.”

That bastard.

‘Isn’t he scaring a kid who just became an adult because he’s full of regrets himself?’

Suppressing a sigh, I told her not to blame herself too much.

Confidence was just as important in life as self-awareness.

“So what if someone hates you? Don’t worry about that. You can’t be loved by everyone anyway.”

“Ah, right. That’s true.”

“You only live once. As long as you don’t do anything rotten, it’s fine. Unless you’re committing crimes, don’t spend your whole life worrying about what others think.”

It’s easier to live as an oblivious flower-brain than as an overly considerate, overly sensitive person.

Since I’d always wanted to tell her this, the words just poured out.

When I came to my senses, Ajin was staring at me with wide eyes.

“I guess I nagged too much. Sorry.”

“No! I’m grateful that you care. It’s just… when I look at you sometimes, you don’t feel twenty-five. You feel more like someone who’s thirty-five.”

Well, that’s because the real me is thirty-five.

Swallowing words I couldn’t tell her, I smiled lightly.

“You don’t mean I look old, right?”

“Of course not! I mean you’re mature! It’s a compliment!”

“Thanks.”

I got up.

“You should rest while you can. It’s almost your turn now, isn’t it?”

“Haha! Why are you saying it like that!”

Ajin laughed with her mouth wide open.

She seemed to really like hearing, “It’s your turn.”

Considering the upcoming scenes, it wasn’t wrong.

“It’s weird. I’m so happy to have a break, but I also want to start filming again already. Especially the next scene! I can’t wait.”

“Build up your stamina beforehand. It’s going to be brutal.”

“Even if you try to scare me, I’m not afraid!”

Ajin bounced around like a youngest sister pestering her older brother.

She certainly wasn’t treating me like a senior in the entertainment industry.

‘Maybe that’s why it’s comfortable.’

Like all the actresses I’d worked with before, I felt no romantic attraction.

But just like the Choi Ran and Choi Yoon sisters, I couldn’t help caring about her a little, so I patted her shoulder through the air.

“Alright. Get home safely.”

“Yep! I’m ordering Yupdduk as soon as I get home. You should eat something delicious too, oppa~!”

Ajin waved both hands enthusiastically and climbed into the car.

Only after the Carnival disappeared completely did I turn around.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve gone back to Seoul.’

As soon as filming for Director Baek’s movie What I Loved ended, I’d come straight here and devoted myself to filming.

It was possible because I had no one I needed to meet anyway.

“Let’s go.”

As soon as I got into the car, a rough voice answered.

“Did your conversation go well?”

“Yeah. I talked with Ajin.”

“……I see. Then I’ll head out right away.”

His somewhat rough voice immediately softened.

Looking into the rearview mirror, I saw him wearing a satisfied smile.

‘Come to think of it, this guy too….’

He’s no ordinary lunatic.

Wondering why I was surrounded by nothing but crazy people, I turned my gaze out the window.

 

***

 

“Seulho, you’ve worked hard.”

I came to the company after a long time.

It felt like the first time I’d seen Team Leader Ahn since nursing Choo Seomok.

“The movie reactions are insane.”

“Huh?”

Blinking, unsure which movie he meant, I waited as he explained.

“The horror movie you’re filming. The investors’ reactions are really positive.”

“But nothing’s even come out yet. What reactions?”

Shouldn’t there at least be a rough cut before there was anything to show?

We’d only filmed half the story so far.

“Rumors spread quickly among investors. No matter how much Director Seo funds the movie with family money, he can’t completely ignore investors.”

“Oho… anyway, that’s a good thing, right?”

“Of course. Everyone’s clamoring to invest even now. If it’s already like this, it’ll be interesting when it releases next summer.”

When I asked how he knew that, he smiled gently.

“Knowing that is my job.”

I see.

Having competent people around really was reassuring.

“If the movie becomes a hit, we can immediately push for a series deal. Should I try making you the lead of the sequel?”

“I don’t know. Director Seo would probably refuse.”

“Really?”

People say you shouldn’t trust others’ words completely, but according to what Director Seo had said a few days ago, that was the case.

“He got furious and said horror movies die the moment they become franchises. He swore he’d never do it, no matter how many trillions they offered.”

I had been so surprised.

‘I’d hand it over immediately for just a hundred million won.’

Rich people’s principles really were something else.

“Whatever happens, I have a good feeling. What do you think? You must have some sense after filming it.”

“I honestly don’t know about box office success, but I think the movie itself will turn out well.”

Director Seo lacked social skills, but he was serious about movies.

He wasn’t just some rich guy wasting family money to maintain the title of artist.

“That’s good. Just focus on the remaining filming.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh, and you have to keep your bet.”

Smiling, Team Leader Ahn handed me some documents.

Wondering what it was, I looked at the first page.

 

Evaluation (Working Title).

 

“Evaluation? What’s this?”

“That NetXrix variety show you said you wanted to join.”

Ah.

‘Right. There was this.’

I’d mentioned it back when I was blackmailing… no, negotiating with the villa owner over his affair photos.

“Judging by your expression, you forgot.”

“Yeah. Completely. Did you contact them recently?”

“I sent it about a month after our conversation. I didn’t bother telling you. I figured you’d finally breathe easier after finishing Director Baek’s movie.”

He’s surprisingly considerate too.

I thanked him for his thoughtfulness.

‘I’ve been underestimating this job.’

I thought filming two projects at once wasn’t a big deal.

Turns out, it was a huge deal.

If I’d had to film a variety show on top of that, I definitely would’ve collapsed.

“When does filming start?”

“Still a long way off. They’re just building the studio now. It’s a pretty big show, so you’ll have multiple meetings with the production team beforehand.”

Oho.

‘Sounds fun.’

Remembering the feeling I’d experienced recently made my body itch with anticipation.

Thinking how nice it’d be to have several bodies, I stood up.

“Thanks. Then I’ll get going.”

“Nothing else you want to ask?”

“Huh?”

Looking up, I saw a mysterious smile on his face.

What? What had I missed?

“Um… I don’t know? Are there other schedules?”

“Why aren’t you asking how much you’ll get paid this time?”

“……Ah.”

My mouth fell open.

I was shocked; I’d never even thought of it.

And I was even more shocked because it was me.

‘Have I gone crazy?’

As I stood there dumbfounded, Team Leader Ahn merely smiled.

“I’m so happy, Seulho.”

“You get happy over the strangest things….”

Muttering awkwardly, I left his office.

I hurried out of the company and got into the car, feeling strangely unsettled.

‘Am I getting too excited?’

Wondering whether this was really okay, I sat there quietly.

Bzzz.

My phone vibrated.

Looking at the screen, I saw the name of the person I’d just been talking to.

“Hello?”

[Seulho, sorry. You left in such a hurry that I forgot something important.]

“……Since when did I ever leave in a hurry?”

I answered grumpily, making him laugh.

“What did you forget to tell me?”

[There’s something you need to start preparing.]

His gentle voice came through the receiver.

[Let’s start preparing your acceptance speech.]

“Huh?”