How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor Chapter 56

Chapter 56

 

Some people might feel flustered, or even offended, by a question like that.

But the person I had instinctively figured out wasn’t that type.

If anything…

“Well. I do find it interesting.”

Team Leader Ahn smiled gently.

There wasn’t even the slightest sign that he was offended.

‘Just as I thought.’

He’s not the type who likes people fawning over him while pretending to be humble.

There were many ways to earn a favorable impression from someone you’d just met, but the correct approach depended on the person.

And with him, this approach worked.

‘…This really feels like I’m playing some kind of simulation game.’

I felt a brief wave of self-disgust at the thought of figuring out someone’s “speedrun method,” but quickly got over it.

Anyway, he was the person I needed to impress the most right now.

‘Then I should try everything I can.’

I spoke as confidently as possible, but without sounding arrogant.

“That’s a relief. However, company business isn’t driven by interest alone. I understand very well that this is something that requires careful consideration, especially when a great deal of money is involved. Please discuss it with your CEO and contact me afterward.”

I let my confidence show as if there were no other option besides Wooyeon Entertainment.

Of course, if Wooyeon rejected me, I’d immediately start looking at other agencies.

But I didn’t let even a trace of that show.

‘I can’t act too desperate either.’

No matter how much Wooyeon Entertainment might save me, this was ultimately a business deal intended to benefit both sides.

I needed them to feel inclined to help me, while also making sure they didn’t think they were the only people who could.

“Then I’ll be waiting.”

I focused all my attention on my expression, tone of voice, and gestures to convey exactly the impression I wanted.

Fortunately, my move seemed to work.

Team Leader Ahn smiled and said:

“Seulho, do you know something?”

“Hm?”

“Surprisingly, our CEO runs the company almost entirely based on interest.”

“…?”

“Then we’ll be in touch soon.”

The meeting ended with a remark that was difficult to interpret.

After that, more than a week passed without any contact from Team Leader Ahn.

‘Did I get rejected?’

While thinking that, I diligently rested.

I spent entire days sleeping on the sofa and watching dramas while ignoring Hyun Jingae’s pleas for me to do something.

“Seulho, at this rate you’re going to get bedsores. At least change positions while lying there.”

“I’ll take care of it myself.”

“You haven’t gone to the gym in days, have you? Your muscles are going to waste away. You want all that work on your body to go to waste?”

“If you’ve got time to worry about a twenty-five-year-old’s muscles, worry about your own health.”

“…Sometimes I really dislike you.”

Whether Hyun Jingae glared at me or not, I kept my eyes fixed on the TV.

‘It’s not like I enjoy living like a loafer.’

Back when I was a loan shark, I never wasted time like this.

Whenever there wasn’t work at the office, I’d go to a construction site and do day labor.

‘But I can’t exactly do that in Yoo Seulho’s body.’

If I got injured trying to earn a few bucks, the loss would be enormous.

Since I’d ended up in an actor’s body, I might as well take care of my face and physique.

‘Now that I think about it, maybe I should go to the gym today.’

Hyun Jingae didn’t know it, but I’d been doing bodyweight workouts in my room every single day.

Still, strength training with actual weights was a different matter.

I figured it was about time I went outside.

“Then should we head to the gym?”

“…! Great! Let’s go right now!”

At my words, Hyun Jingae grinned like a delighted marsupial and hurriedly grabbed my top.

‘He’s actually starting to act like a manager.’

Of course, the clothes he’d grabbed were a suit.

Completely useless for someone heading to the gym.

Seriously.

“Hyung, we’re going to work out. Wouldn’t training clothes make more sense than a suit?”

“Huh?”

Still, I appreciated that he was trying.

I’d even phrased it nicely to avoid making him feel bad.

Yet his reaction was strange.

“W-Well… maybe if we bring the suit too, there might be a chance to use it…”

The marsupial laughed awkwardly.

I stared at him expressionlessly.

“…W-Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Tell me honestly.”

“Why are you doing this again…? You know you’re terrifying whenever you get like this? At this rate, I’ll be wearing diapers because of you at my age.”

“Talk before I rip those diapers apart. What’s your scheme?”

I fixed him with a sharp stare.

Trembling, Hyun Jingae finally confessed.

“Well… Director Shin told me to bring you in…”

Ah, Director Shin again.

The sheer exhaustion made me frown.

A frantic excuse immediately followed.

“I thought you’d hate it if I mentioned Director Shin!”

“So you lied?”

“It would’ve been a lie if we never went to the gym! If we stop by the company first and then go to the gym, that’s not a lie!”

“Wow. Now you’re committing fraud too. You’re getting pretty skilled.”

When I applauded him, he slumped like a soaked paper towel.

“Please cut me some slack, Seulho… He’s been asking for over a week. I’ve been buying time somehow. I told him you had enteritis. I told him you’d gone out of contact. But he says if I don’t bring you in by today, I’m getting fired too.”

“If it was that serious, you should’ve said so.”

It’s not like I’m some psychopath.

Did he think I’d ignore the company no matter what happened to my manager?

‘What does he think of me?’

Feeling dumbfounded, I changed clothes.

“Let’s go.”

“Y-You’re really going to the company?”

“Why? Do you want to get fired?”

“No! Let’s go!”

Hyun Jingae hurried out of the room.

I followed him at a leisurely pace, thinking:

‘I’ve let this go on long enough.’

From the company’s perspective, it was true that they couldn’t keep tolerating a celebrity lounging around forever during such a crucial period.

Commercials, new projects… the offers were piling up.

Naturally they wouldn’t like me refusing to move.

‘I can’t wait forever for Wooyeon Entertainment’s call.’

For now, let’s hear what Director Shin has to say.

Then I’ll consider other agencies too.

 

***

 

Director Shin Seungim often thought:

‘Where else would they find talent like me?’

He genuinely rated himself very highly.

Whenever he worked hard for the company, he’d praise himself:

“There’s no employee like me.”

Whenever he chose himself over the company, he’d praise himself again:

“Now that’s what a competent professional looks like.”

By principle, Director Shin’s job was to make the agency’s celebrities more successful for the company’s benefit.

Yet he had repeatedly acted against that principle.

Why?

‘Because if I succeed, the company succeeds too.’

How was that any different from having an owner’s mindset?

Some people in the industry described him as ‘trash’.

But if he was being honest, there were times he actually liked that description.

‘It makes me sound cold and sharp.’

What he didn’t understand was why people insisted on portraying him as such a bad person.

‘Realistically, who doesn’t look after their own interests?’

Anyone who didn’t was a fool.

And if you looked at the results…

‘Has anything I’ve done ever harmed the company?’

The celebrities he’d manipulated still obediently paid their commissions.

The company continued to profit because of it.

Yoo Seulho was the perfect example.

If Shin hadn’t spread negative rumors about him throughout the industry, could a small agency like Star Actors really have held onto Yoo Seulho for over a year?

‘I simply lowered his value to match what suited the company.’

Director Shin genuinely believed that.

Which was why he felt absolutely no guilt toward Yoo Seulho.

And there wasn’t the slightest sign of remorse.

He had survived in the entertainment industry for as long as Yoo Seulho had.

Yet he’d never once stood in the spotlight.

That role always belonged to the celebrities.

Director Shin was the one who helped celebrities receive public love and maintain long careers.

Yet nobody ever acknowledged his contributions.

‘When I was younger, I envied them.’

But that was long ago.

Now things were different.

‘I want the celebrities under me to be loved.’

He wasn’t lying.

He sincerely wanted that.

Because in the end, he was the one controlling those beloved celebrities.

Whenever he looked at a celebrity who obeyed him, the power he possessed felt intoxicating.

‘To make Yoo Seulho into that kind of person, I need to break him down further.’

He had no intention of ruining Yoo Seulho.

He simply wanted Yoo Seulho to succeed with the help of Director Shin.

Not by achieving things independently and getting lucky.

Knock knock.

“Director, Yoo Seulho has arrived.”

At the welcome announcement from outside, Director Shin answered quietly:

“Send him in.”

He was standing inside the luxurious indoor golf room built into one corner of his office.

A net covered one wall.

Practice mats covered the floor.

A caddy bag in the corner held neatly arranged irons and drivers.

The scene practically screamed:

‘Is this a management company or a golf company?’

“Hello.”

A moment later, Yoo Seulho entered with his manager.

Deliberately not looking at them, Director Shin said:

“You’re here? It’s been a while.”

“It has.”

“Sit wherever.”

Holding a golf club and pretending to practice his swing, he observed them through his peripheral vision.

Yoo Seulho looked surprisingly cheerful as he sank into a sofa.

Hyun Jingae stood beside it, reading the room.

“The reason I called you today is–”

“Hyung, aren’t you sitting?”

The cheerful voice abruptly cut him off.

Director Shin involuntarily turned his head.

Yoo Seulho was patting the seat beside him while looking at Hyun Jingae.

“Come sit down.”

“N-No, I’m fine.”

Hyun Jingae’s face instantly turned pale.

After checking Director Shin’s reaction, he shook his head desperately.

“Why not? Director Shin told us to sit. We should listen to him.”

Yoo Seulho calmly patted the seat again.

Nearly on the verge of tears, Hyun Jingae awkwardly sat beside him.

“Ah, sorry.”

After Hyun Jingae sat down, Yoo Seulho turned toward Director Shin and grinned.

“I interrupted you without thinking. Hyung wasn’t following your instructions. Haha! Please continue.”

Director Shin flinched at his relaxed demeanor.

‘…What is this?’

A strange sensation, difficult to describe, crept over him.