Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Up until now, only articles about Haejoo had been pouring out. The public didn’t know the details of what situation Yura and Gyeong-ae were in. Choi Inho was targeting that very point and trying to exploit it. But ultimately, he was properly caught by Dojun.
“Don’t frown, smile.”
“My shoulder... it feels like it’s going to shatter!”
“I told you to smile.”
Dojun grabbed Choi Inho and walked out of the building. If anyone passing by saw them, he drew a plausible smile. On the other hand, Choi Inho, whose shoulder was gripped, was in agony. Even as his limbs trembled, Dojun made the strange threat to smile.
“Ugh!”
“You’re not listening.”
Dojun pulled one corner of Choi Inho’s mouth as if to rip it. Choi Inho struggled as his face became like the Joker’s from a movie. His face turned bright red as he looked up at Dojun. With the intensity suggesting he might really rip his mouth, Choi Inho involuntarily convulsed.
“It’s no fun if you’re like this already.”
“P-please, let, let go and let’s talk.”
There were several reasons why Dojun was called a monster. One of them was that his cruelty towards those who crossed the line could be beyond common sense. Those who knew this habit of Dojun’s didn’t dare to act rashly. Choi Inho had scoffed when he heard the rumors. But experiencing it directly, he was seized by a fear that Dojun would chase him to hell and hack him to pieces.
“A rat won’t become a human overnight just because of this.”
“Gag!”
“I’ve seen countless guys like you. To the point of being sick of it.”
“Please, just!”
“But the reason I let them be is because a moderate scolding isn’t enough.”
“W-what?”
“It’s going to get interesting from now on, so look forward to it.”
Just then, Secretary Song rushed out. When he met Dojun’s eyes, he reported urgently.
“Lee Yura accepted the visit application.”
Dojun nodded, acknowledging, then let go of the pathetic shoulder he was gripping. Only then did Choi Inho groan and grimace. Dojun then seized one of his arms.
“You’re coming too.”
“No, you go. I’m fine.”
“Come when I’m speaking nicely.”
“Oh, seriously!”
Choi Inho was dragged along helplessly. Secretary Song held him on the opposite side, so he couldn’t escape. As they entered the visitation room, a glass wall appeared. A moment later, Yura appeared, her head bowed deeply. Dojun picked up the receiver and tapped the glass wall. Only then did Yura reluctantly lift her face, her eyes widening.
“Oh my goodness!”
It was an ambiguous combination of Dojun and Choi Inho. Yura’s eyes darted around, unsure of what to do, wondering if she was falling into another trap. Dojun gestured for her to pick up the receiver. Yura, with a tearful face, put the receiver to her ear.
“Long time no see.”
“Why did you come?”
“I don’t know if you saw the news, but things outside aren’t looking good. Thanks to Reporter Choi Inho here.”
Yura shot a glare at Choi Inho. The battered Choi Inho was busy avoiding her gaze.
“Telling the truth in court will help you too.”
“...”
“Lying will only feed guys like him.”
Yura had also heard news about Haejoo in the detention center. Yura consistently felt wronged, thinking that if she had known things would blow up like this, she wouldn’t have fallen for Choi Inho’s诱惑.
“Even without that, reporters have been submitting countless visit requests regarding Haejoo’s case.”
“The evidence is more than abundant.”
“I know.”
“I’m not expecting any sincere repentance from you.”
Yura’s gaze, which had been continuously averted, directly met Dojun’s. Her eyes reddened and moistened, as if she was choked up.
“Your mother is beyond redemption. You wouldn’t want to end up like that too, would you?”
Yura knew that much. Nevertheless, she still felt a lingering resentment that Haejoo hadn’t helped her.
“Even so, there was no need to put me in jail!”
“Did you learn nothing about how terrifying money can be this time?”
“That’s!”
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. The moment you covet what belongs to others, it’s over.”
“Sniffle.”
“You and Haejoo are not family. You never treated Haejoo as true family either.”
“But we’re blood relatives!”
“If you’re blood relatives, you should have cherished her more. What do you think it would have been like if you were Haejoo?”
Finally, Yura burst into tears. Only when she reached a dead end in life did the harsh reality sink in. Choi Inho, who was watching their conversation, felt his insides burn. At this rate, it would be difficult to use Yura again.
‘I’m seeing sides of Park Dojun I never knew.’
Dojun, who seemed cynical, was also skilled at persuading people. Even if the other person was an enemy. This was why Dojun was able to accumulate immense wealth. Honestly, without any fluke.
“If Haejoo wasn’t there, Mom wouldn’t have left me alone!”
“What?”
“Even though I knew Mom’s actions were abnormal, if I didn’t take her side, how much she would...”
It was a reasonably justified excuse in her own way. Unfortunately, that didn’t erase past sins.
“If you repent your mistakes when you come back out into the world, I’ll at least arrange for you to make a living.”
“How?”
“To work at the factory on President Song Young-sook’s farm.”
“Really?”
“After that, you’ll have to become independent on your own. And make sure Haejoo is not harmed.”
It was a more realistic promise than anything Choi Inho had offered. Knowing that Dojun never spoke with a double tongue, Yura nodded. Just then, the visitation time ended. Unable to continue the conversation, Yura returned to her original seat. Choi Inho also walked out with Dojun. Choi Inho found it difficult to even make eye contact with Dojun, only looking for an opportunity to escape. Dojun then threw a chilling warning at him, almost a threat.
“Run. To somewhere nobody knows about, if possible.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you run to a place where I can’t catch you, at least you won’t die.”
“---!”
Dojun and Secretary Song calmly disappeared. Choi Inho, watching their retreating figures, found his legs give out and slumped to the ground.
________________________________________
Director Kwak gathered his staff early in the morning. They couldn’t postpone filming indefinitely, so he released a plan regardless of Haejoo’s situation.
“Filming will proceed as scheduled. And Myeongwoo, make sure no outsiders, including reporters, come anywhere near the set.”
“Understood!”
Myeongwoo, the assistant director, replied with force. He contacted each of the actors stuck in Jeju Island to inform them of the resumption of filming. The set lost its usual laughter. Nevertheless, the actors did their best to be faithful to their roles.
“Let’s push a little harder!”
Despite the continuous filming, Director Kwak showed no signs of tiring. Just as he was absorbed in thoughts of perfectly wrapping up this location shoot, Assistant Director Myeongwoo rushed over, overly excited.
“Director, someone’s here. You need to step out for a moment.”
“Not now. And I said outsiders should refrain from entering.”
“It’s not a reporter... Just come out.”
Myeongwoo pestered him so much that Director Kwak was pulled out. He was about to scold him when he noticed an unfamiliar car. Director Kwak, on high alert, looked around to see if there were any reporters nearby. As he stepped back, the car’s back door opened. The person who appeared was a man in a neat suit.
“Director Kwak, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Despite his cold demeanor, he bowed his head first in greeting. Director Kwak, taken aback, returned the greeting.
“Yes. Hello. Excuse me, but where are you from?”
“Hmm...”
He abruptly surveyed his surroundings. Seemingly not pleased with the location, he reached for the back seat of the car.
“Would you mind getting in? It’s an important matter.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time right now.”
“It’ll only take a moment.”
The atmosphere was unusual. Director Kwak hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly got into the car.
“Fifteen minutes will be enough for the matter.”
“Understood.”
The car, having left the filming site, stopped in front of a small coffee shop nearby. A bodyguard opened the car door for Director Kwak.
“No one else will be allowed into the coffee shop until the conversation is over.”
Director Kwak entered the coffee shop. At a mere glance from the man, the bodyguards locked the entrance. The coffee shop owner, utterly frozen, began preparing a drink that hadn’t even been ordered. Not long after he sat down, the drink Director Kwak enjoyed was placed in front of him.
“Please drink.”
“Before that... where are you from?”
“My apologies for the late introduction.”
The man took out his business card and placed it on the table. Director Kwak, his brows furrowed, murmured the identity written on the business card.
“GN Han Jintae, Chief Secretary?”
Han Jintae was the chief secretary who had assisted Chairman Yoo of GN for over 10 years. Among businessmen, he was known to wield great power, favored by Chairman Yoo. Such a person had come to find Director Kwak without prior notice. And it was after Haejoo’s incident broke out.
“What’s the reason for your visit?”
“The Chairman has high expectations for your film.”
“...”
“It’s only regrettable that GN didn’t discover your film earlier.”
When Director Kwak’s scenario first came out, everyone was cold towards it. The reason was that it seemed too niche. Just as the film was about to be scrapped during the planning stage, he sent the film proposal and scenario to Dojun. Dojun contacted him, agreeing to invest in the film without hesitation. Thinking about it now, it was thanks to the explanation that he had Haejoo in mind for the female lead. Yet, Han Jintae, known strictly as a GN person, brought up the film. He had a bad feeling about it.
“The film is being produced smoothly.”
“It seems to be in the early stages, is that correct?”
“I’ll only know after post-production and editing are done, but the Jeju Island shoot accounts for 50% of the film.”
“Then there will be plenty of opportunities, I suppose.”
“Opportunities?”
Director Kwak lowered his hand that had been resting on Han Jintae’s business card. He fixed his gaze on him, his pupils greatly narrowed.
“I came today to propose investing in your film.”
“Investing?”
“We’ll cover all contract losses with the existing investors, so let’s join hands with GN.”
Chairman Yoo of GN was famous worldwide for his immense wealth. If such a person decided to invest, the scale of the money was beyond words.
“Your sudden proposal is bewildering.”
“You must know that to achieve good results at film festivals, artistic merit alone isn’t enough.”
“---!”
“GN will provide the necessary support.”
“The film is already in production.”
“Someone of your caliber, Director, could easily change direction, couldn’t you?”
“What?”
“You just need to meet the conditions the Chairman wants, within a comfortable range.”
It was a dangerous deal. Although not explicitly mentioned, upon closer examination, it was clear that it was a proposal to betray Dojun. Among GN’s affiliates were large cinema chains. If he fell out of favor with Chairman Yoo, he would suffer for a long time, and his mouth went dry.
“I’m sorry, but I think I need to get back to the set.”
“I hope for your courageous decision within this week.”
Han Jintae bowed courteously. Director Kwak felt that even being asked for an answer was a form of coercion, so he fled the coffee shop.
________________________________________
While Hyunseong briefly went down from the rooftop, Haejoo fiddled with her phone. As she savored the thought of her first film’s success, which felt like a dream, a thrill surged through her. Director Kwak’s current film was set to be a major turning point for Haejoo. It was an opportunity to reach the pinnacle of her acting career and fulfill her fervent hope for an international film festival award. However, actress Lee Haejoo could be nothing without Dojun. She absolutely could not forget that.
“This time, I’ll protect Dojun.”
Haejoo finished organizing what she wanted to say in her mind. She firmly decided and was about to go down from the rooftop when Hyunseong returned.
“Noona!”
“I’m going to meet Director.”
“Let’s go together.”
They went to Jinhan’s office. Jinhan, still busy, brightened when he saw Haejoo.
“The media response team is drafting the press conference statement. It’ll be finished soon, so wait.”
“I haven’t offered any opinions.”
“There’s no time to think. We should have held the press conference today, if not sooner.”
“Let’s talk before that.”
“Alright.”
Jinhan moved to his office. He let out a sigh and sat opposite Haejoo.
“Alright. What do you want to do?”
“Dojun is my husband, and I am his wife.”
“Haejoo!”
Haejoo raised her hand, cutting off Jinhan’s words immediately. She spoke her opinion firmly, as if there was nothing more to hear.
“I cannot follow your opinion, Director. I will tell the truth in front of the camera.”
Haejoo earnestly prayed for a blessing upon her choice.
Google Sites
Report abuse