How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor – Chapter 54

Author: Cireng

Chapter 54

When I arrived at the company, a mountain of scripts was waiting to greet me.

‘Looks like my market value really has gone up.’

I ran my fingers across the number written on the last page of one proposal.

Compared to my previous project, the figure was more than ten times higher. A hollow laugh escaped me.

‘Making money is ridiculously easy.’

Of course, becoming famous as an entertainer wasn’t easy.

Still, thinking that I could now earn from a single project what had taken countless schemes and dirty jobs to make as a loan shark left me feeling strangely conflicted.

‘Some places are offering even more than this.’

And there weren’t just one or two of them.

Judging by the size of the pile, offers must have started arriving even before the drama ended.

“See anything you want to do?”

Hyun Jingae cautiously asked, watching my expression.

“I don’t know…”

I deliberately looked over the mountain of scripts with apparent indifference.

Immediately, Hyun Jingae grew restless and started rubbing his hands together.

“None of them look good? Should I bring you something else? We really do need to start deciding on your next project.”

“Hyung.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Can’t I rest a little longer?”

“Seulho…”

My words instantly made him look miserable.

It wasn’t even something I truly meant, but seeing him react that way somehow made me feel sor–actually, no, it didn’t. Why would I feel sorry over this?

‘Still, I should manage my expression.’

The corners of my mouth drooped, and he flinched.

“You know this is exactly when you need to strike while the iron’s hot.”

After hesitating at my dejected look, my manager closed his eyes and spoke firmly.

“You’ve only just started getting recognized. How can you take a break now? It’ll take years before your position is completely secure.”

“I know that too. But I can rest a little, can’t I? I haven’t had a break for months.”

“I’d like you to rest too! But Director Shin–gah!”

In the middle of raising his voice in frustration, Hyun Jingae hurriedly covered his mouth.

His eyes rolled around nervously as he checked my reaction.

I waved my hand.

“It’s fine. It’s not exactly a secret anymore.”

“S-sorry.”

“If you’re really sorry, then tell me Director Shin’s position. Which one of these does he want me to choose?”

“Uh…”

He hesitated.

I let the corners of my mouth droop again.

Immediately, he pointed at a script.

“This one!”

It was the very first script he’d handed me.

As expected, there had been an agenda behind it.

‘But that’s unexpected.’

The project was an extremely ordinary genre piece.

Neither the director nor the writer was particularly famous.

It wasn’t some giant production with an enormous budget.

And I wasn’t even the lead.

In other words, the pay for me was relatively low.

‘I thought Director Shin, who sees me as a product, would prioritize money.’

I had expected him to push me toward whichever project offered the highest appearance fee.

That would maximize the company’s commission, after all.

“Why does he want me to do this one?”

“Uh… you’re probably not going to like the reason.”

Hyun Jingae started sweating awkwardly.

‘Seriously?’

I had to suppress a laugh.

“Since when have you worried about telling me unpleasant things? Just be honest.”

“Well… he said the bigger you become, the better it is for the company, but the harder you’ll be to manage.”

The words poured out of him as if he’d been waiting for permission.

“He said you might start getting ideas above your station and demand to move to another agency, so it’s important to remind you of your place first. He also said that if they want to keep playing with you for a long time, it’s better to give you safe, average projects.”

Hah.

Even then, he wasn’t finished.

“He said you got lucky this time and received praise for your acting, but your real limits would definitely show in your next project. Rather than getting greedy and losing everything, he thinks you should survive with projects where you can hide your shortcomings and extend your lifespan as an actor.”

Hyun Jingae was genuinely innocent.

‘He’s really repeating everything word for word.’

Did Director Shin know?

That his loyal dog was telling me all of this?

‘He’s probably reported my words to Director Shin the exact same way.’

My disbelief must have shown on my face because Hyun Jingae hurriedly shouted,

“That’s what Director Shin said, not me! I don’t think your acting is fake!”

“Well, thanks for that.”

My lukewarm response made him jump around in frustration.

Ignoring him, I sank into thought while looking at the script.

‘Well…’

If I were Director Shin, I’d probably think similarly.

A normal agency executive would want their artists to succeed.

The more successful the artist, the greater the benefits they’d receive.

‘But Director Shin isn’t a normal person.’

Someone who truly wanted their artists to succeed wouldn’t go around spreading malicious rumors in the industry.

He was the type who wanted artists to succeed ‘because of him’.

Not the type who wanted them to succeed ‘without him’.

“So what are you going to do?”

At Hyun Jingae’s cautious question, I shrugged.

“I’ll read this script first.”

“Really?!”

The moment I pointed at the script he’d recommended, his face lit up.

He looked ready to start jumping for joy.

I told him to get lost because he was giving me a headache, and he disappeared like a delighted cockroach.

“Now I feel a little bad.”

If Hyun Jingae heard this, he’d probably be hurt, but I had no intention of choosing this script.

No, to be precise, none of the scripts here were options.

‘There have to be other scripts too.’

I was one hundred percent certain that these weren’t all the offers I’d received.

Just like ‘Your and My Space’, Director Shin had probably filtered them and only passed along projects he could influence or control.

How did I know?

Because yesterday, I called directly.

“Hello. This is Yoo Seulho. Am I speaking with Director Baek Jinhee?”

***

“Director Jang gave me your contact information. Is now a good time to talk?”

After looking through the list, I contacted the director who seemed most suitable.

It wasn’t anything particularly significant.

Just a courtesy call, really.

I expected the person on the other end to sound annoyed or indifferent at receiving a sudden call.

Instead…

“Mr. Seulho! Was my script really that bad?”

“…Excuse me?”

The unexpected question completely caught me off guard.

As it turned out, Director Baek Jinhee had heard endless praise about me from Director Jang and had immediately sent me a script.

The surprising part was the timing.

She’d sent it before Episode 1 of ‘Our Space’ even aired.

“Wait. Were you trying to cast me based solely on Director Jang’s recommendation? Without seeing anything?”

“I trust that man’s eye. He isn’t someone who praises people lightly. Of course, when I suggested you, everyone tried to stop me. But I insisted we at least meet, so I sent the script! But how could you not even respond?”

Apparently, around the time she started wondering why there had been no reply, Episode 1 of ‘Our Space’ aired.

My acting became a hot topic, and directors all around her began talking about me.

Director Baek had simply assumed:

“Ah, he expected to become popular and is carefully considering his options.”

Still, she thought it was rude not to send even a simple acknowledgment.

Though she admitted such things happened often enough in the industry that she hadn’t felt the need to call and complain.

“I see. But Director, I never received that script.”

“Right. That’s exactly what I thought you’d say.”

“No. I really didn’t receive it. Among the scripts my agency gave me, yours wasn’t there.”

At first, she seemed to think I was lying.

But after I repeated myself several times, she finally got angry.

“You seriously never got it? Hah. Unbelievable. Do they think I’m beneath Director Jang or something? That Director Shin guy promised me he’d personally deliver it to you!”

“I’m sure Director Shin had his reasons. Please don’t be too upset.”

“You still want to defend him after everything he’s done to you? I’ve heard more than enough stories.”

When she asked how I had managed to endure working there, I simply laughed.

‘It’s okay. Not much longer now.’

“Hmm… Mr. Seulho. Let me ask you something.”

The casual courtesy call had gradually turned into something much deeper.

Lowering her voice as though sharing a secret, Director Baek asked:

“Have you thought about changing agencies?”

I fell silent for a moment.

I was planning to spread the rumor that Yoo Seulho was looking for a new agency anyway.

But was this really the right person to start that chain reaction?

Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Director Baek spoke first.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not bringing this up as gossip. I have some connections I could introduce you to.”

Then she mentioned the name of an agency.

“Really?”

The question escaped me instantly before I could even think.

“Can you really connect me with them?”

“Of course. In my opinion, they’re the best actor management company out there. It definitely wouldn’t be a bad offer for you. Ah, but…”

She suddenly hesitated.

“I’m not sure. From what I heard, your parents had a pretty serious conflict with them. If you join them, your parents might have a few things to say.”

“A conflict? What kind of–”

“Eh, I’d rather not say.”

She awkwardly changed the subject.

“Anyway, don’t get the wrong idea. I can introduce you, but I don’t have the power to force them to take you or anything. I can only arrange a meeting.”

“That’s more than enough. I’ll handle the rest myself. That way, I can appear in your project with a clear conscience.”

“What kind of thing is that to say?”

She booed jokingly.

But her voice was smiling.

“Fine, I’ll let them know. Wait for their call. We’ll talk about the script afterward.”

“Understood.”

Not long after we ended the call, I received a call from an unfamiliar number.

‘That’s impressively fast.’

Suppressing my surprise, I quickly arranged a meeting location.

And the next day, I headed there.

“I’ll guide you this way.”

Following an employee into a private room, I found a man standing inside.