How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor Chapter 85

Chapter 85

 

After signing the contract, I opened my mouth as though I had been waiting for this moment.

“Do you remember something you said last time, Mr. Gyeongbeom?”

“About what…?”

During our previous meeting, when Joo Gyeongbeom had been swept up in sentiment, he had said this:

That he would help me prepare for the day Yoo Taeho and Lee Seulmyeong tried to sabotage my activities.

When I asked him why he would do that, he told me to think of it as a small favor.

Since I remembered every sentence clearly, I repeated his words back to him, causing Joo Gyeongbeom to nod.

“Yes, I remember. Considering your close relationship with our boss, I said we would do you that favor.”

“Good. Since you remember, this will be easy.”

I explained that the license plate investigation I’d requested last time had happened because of Lee Seulmyeong.

I added that the owner of that car was one of Lee Seulmyeong’s loyal lackeys and had followed me home to find some weakness.

“I didn’t know something like that had happened.”

“That’s understandable. But now that you do know, would you refund my money?”

“…Pardon?”

I smiled gently at his widened eyes.

“Didn’t you say you’d help me with matters involving Yoo Taeho and Lee Seulmyeong’s schemes?”

Since they’d taken my money because they hadn’t known the circumstances, now that they did, I wanted it back.

Joo Gyeongbeom blinked for a moment at my shameless request, then snorted with laughter.

“We’ll return it. It was pocket change to us anyway.”

Oh my.

If he thought those words would offend me, he was mistaken.

I smiled even more brightly.

“Then I can accept it without feeling guilty.”

“HAHA!”

Joo Gyeongbeom burst out laughing.

Seeing him like that after so long, I laughed too.

Meanwhile, the youngest stared at the two of us in utter confusion, his face clearly saying, ‘Have these people lost their minds?’

But there was no need to explain our sense of humor to him.

‘Still the same as ever.’

Gyeongbeom had been one of the oldest members of the organization.

There was even a time when we’d lived together, and whenever I skipped meals, he’d nag me even worse than Choo Seomok did.

‘Laughing like this again really brings back old memories.’

I tried not to get overly sentimental.

But well… we’d already signed the contract.

I figured it was fine to relax around someone who was now officially my ally.

“Can I drink this?”

After finishing the bottled water, I pointed at the glass Hwang Taejun had moved aside.

“Ah, sure.”

Still looking dazed, the youngest handed me the glass.

Unlike before, I drank the water without hesitation.

It was a kind of performance.

A declaration that I trusted them now.

As expected, Joo Gyeongbeom immediately understood the meaning and kept smiling at me.

“Were you really that thirsty…?”

Even now, the youngest was the only one making clueless comments, making me chuckle.

Whatever.

‘Friends? What friends?’

These guys were enough.

The familiar feeling relaxed me.

I slumped back in my chair after sitting upright the whole time.

“How is the Boss?”

“Nothing has changed since then. He still hasn’t regained consciousness.”

“And the doctors’ diagnosis?”

“The same. But we immediately implemented the changes you mentioned last time. We’ve kept only the necessary medical staff, and we got rid of the unnecessary medical equipment.”

“When you say got rid of…”

“We sold it for much more than we bought it for. Another country happened to make us a good offer.”

Good.

Satisfied, I nodded, and Joo Gyeongbeom grinned for some reason.

“Mr. Yoo Seulho.”

“Yes?”

“You’ll probably hate hearing this, but let me say one thing.”

“If you think I’ll hate it, isn’t common sense not to say it?”

“Yes. But I’m saying it anyway.”

This bastard.

As I narrowed my eyes, Joo Gyeongbeom exhaled quietly.

Even as he opened his mouth, he seemed to hesitate.

Then he muttered softly.

“It feels like I can breathe again. I don’t know how this will sound to you, but… it feels like I’m with the Boss.”

The first person to react wasn’t me, but the youngest.

“Hyung! I said that earlier too!”

Hwang Taejun jumped around excitedly.

At that moment, I couldn’t hold back anymore and punched his upper arm.

I’d held back long enough.

“AGH!”

“Sit still. You’re noisy.”

“Why are you hitting me? Even my Boss never hits me!”

“Mr. Gyeongbeom can’t, so I’m doing it for him. I’m helping him, so he should be grateful.”

Hwang Taejun desperately looked at Joo Gyeongbeom.

The look in his eyes screamed, ‘Take my side!’

But as expected, Joo Gyeongbeom only smiled.

“Ugh…”

Betrayal flashed through the youngest’s eyes before he glared at me with all his might.

“How can a celebrity hit a civilian? What if I expose you online as an assailant?”

“Really?”

Quietly, I pointed to the papers on the table.

The freshly signed contract.

The moment he saw it, the youngest shut his mouth.

Only then did he realize we were officially allies now, and he muttered gloomily.

“Even the way you corner people is just like Big Boss…”

“Ha, there you go again with Big Boss. Mr. Taejun, and you too, Mr. Gyeongbeom, stop saying that from now on.”

I deliberately spoke firmly, feeling they wouldn’t understand otherwise.

“Isn’t your Big Boss lying upstairs right now? How happy do you think he’d be if you compared him to some brat ten years younger?”

“But it’s exactly things like that that make you seem like Big Boss…”

“…Let’s add another clause to the contract. No saying I resemble Big Boss.”

Perhaps sensing how serious I was, Joo Gyeongbeom finally stepped in.

“Don’t worry. It won’t happen again.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I held it in for as long as I could. I had to say it once. Now that I have, I feel refreshed. Taejun, you’ve had enough too, right?”

Joo Gyeongbeom soothed the youngest like he was dealing with a kindergartener.

No matter how many years passed, I’d never get used to that sight.

Yeah. Just keep raising him yourself.

“Okay…”

Still, Joo Gyeongbeom’s strategy for calming the man-child always worked.

Hwang Taejun mimed zipping his mouth shut.

“I won’t mention Big Boss around Mr. Seulho anymore.”

“Thanks. And sorry for hitting you earlier. I’d held back long enough, so I had to hit you once.”

I added that I wouldn’t do it again.

“Thank you…?”

Hwang Taejun tilted his head in confusion, but by then the subject had already changed.

After that, Joo Gyeongbeom and I discussed how we’d communicate in the future.

‘Whew.’

After wrapping up our conversation, I said tiredly,

“Let’s order lunch.”

“Huh?”

“My manager’s completely insane. I have to send him a picture of my food.”

My phone had been going crazy for a while.

I glanced at the screen and saw a ridiculously long message.

‘I understand you’re upset, but I’d appreciate proof that you’re eating with your friends.’

Reading those words, I felt exhausted.

‘Ugh. Better just take a picture and get it over with.’

Joo Gyeongbeom looked surprised.

“So there is someone you give in to.”

“Mr. Gyeongbeom, you little–no, try living with my manager. Giving in is winning.”

Because of security, delivery drivers couldn’t bring food directly to the office.

They handed it to the guards, who checked the contents carefully before sending it up.

By then, the food was always cold, so dishes like jajangmyeon were automatically excluded.

“Rice bowls okay?”

“Sounds good.”

“Here’s the menu.”

The youngest handed me the menu.

‘It’s been a while. I kind of want spicy pork rice.’

Whenever I ate with these guys, my go-to was always spicy pork rice.

I didn’t care if people called me an old man. It was the tastiest.

Since I hadn’t been around here in ages, it had been a long time since I’d eaten this place’s rice bowls.

I almost ordered spicy pork, but imagining the youngest shouting…

”Oh! Big Boss always ate that!”

…made me lose my appetite immediately.

“I’ll have the tuna rice bowl.”

About forty minutes later, the food arrived.

As soon as I got it, I took a picture and sent it to Choo Seomok.

The reply came instantly.

[‘So it wasn’t some picture downloaded from the internet. You really took it yourself.’]

[‘I’m sorry for bothering you. But I know your personality, Mr. Seulho, and if I didn’t go this far, I knew you wouldn’t eat.’]

[‘Enjoy your meal, and I hope you have a good time with your friends.’]

Tsk. What an annoying bastard.

Clicking my tongue, I stuffed a huge bite into my mouth.

The rice bowl I’d missed for so long was just as delicious.

 

***

 

“Sorry for taking up so much of your time. Thank you for meeting me today.”

Since they’d even bought me lunch, I offered my thanks sincerely.

As I bowed politely, Joo Gyeongbeom did the same.

“I’m glad we reached a beneficial agreement. Contact us whenever you need something.”

“Okay, then…”

I turned around to head to my car, but suddenly remembered something.

“I do need something.”

“…Ah. Yes. Go ahead.”

Joo Gyeongbeom replied with a complicated expression.

His face clearly said, ‘How do you suddenly need something after one second?’

I ignored it and shamelessly spoke.

“I…”