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Haejoo and Hyunseong were communicating via Dojun’s phone. As the car stopped at a light, Dojun passed his phone to the back seat.
“Hyunseong sent a message.”
“Did he?”
“He says he might get fired from the company.”
“Really?”
“Ask him if he’s interested in stocks.”
“He doesn’t know anything about that.”
A distressed Haejoo sent a reply to Hyunseong.
[Hyunseong, it’s Haejoo. Is something wrong?]
[It’s too long to chat about.]
On the day of the press conference, Haejoo had completely exhausted her energy. It wouldn’t have been that bad if she hadn’t met Chairman Yoo. It was like being confined and threatened. And that too, when she was in her weakest state.
[Is it serious?]
[The director suspects me.]
[It’s because of me, isn’t it?]
[I somewhat expected this.]
Haejoo had collapsed without properly finishing the press conference. It was no exaggeration to say she endured it purely on willpower. She only remembered Dojun carrying her and running down the hallway; when she woke up again, she was in Hyunwoo’s hospital. For her sake, Hyunseong had relayed the outside situation and even sent her the waiting room CCTV footage.
[Are you in a lot of trouble?]
[A little, yes.]
Among the agency staff, only Hyunseong was close to Haejoo. Since she had cut off contact after the press conference, she expected him to face significant hardships at the company. Despite this, Hyunseong showed no sign of distress.
[I’m out for a family matter right now. I’ll call you after I’m done.]
[Okay, noona.]
Just thinking of Hyunseong filled her with guilt. But if she didn’t go into hiding like this, she simply couldn’t get proper rest. After receiving Hyunseong’s call, Haejoo’s heart felt heavy.
“Is something wrong with Hyunseong?”
“It seems he’s being grilled because of contacting me.”
Since Haejoo was still under contract with the agency, it was difficult to tell Hyunseong to resign. For now, she couldn’t accept any manager other than Hyunseong.
“We’ll find a way, so don’t worry.”
“I guess I’ll have to go to the company.”
“Get more rest.”
“But that would make it quite difficult for the company. We also need to discuss the CF shoot.”
She just wanted to disappear forever. But there were still too many things she had to take responsibility for. This was the burden of being an adult.
“We’re almost there now.”
Lee Jun’s funeral was a tree burial. President Park personally chose the spot for his son, who passed away at a young age. His only concern, having been diagnosed with dementia, was the fear that he might forget the son buried in his heart. He had cried like a child before going to the nursing home. The surprising thing was that President Park accurately remembered the address of where Lee Jun was laid to rest. When the memorial day came around, like today, he was happier than anyone, saying he was meeting his son.
“Father, please take your time getting out.”
As autumn set in, the temperature was quite cool. The area was surrounded by mountains, and the scent of grass filling their nostrils was pleasant. The three walked side by side to Lee Jun’s spot. Then, President Park ran ahead, urging them to hurry.
“Here he is, our Lee Jun!”
They finally arrived at the tree where Lee Jun was buried. Haejoo felt solemn looking at the gravestone with his name carved on it.
“Son, Dad’s here. Are you watching from heaven?”
While President Park talked to Lee Jun, Dojun opened the bag he had brought. He carefully took out the snacks Lee Jun used to enjoy. Haejoo helped him. Her heart swelled because without Lee Jun, things with Dojun might have completely ended. Dojun also placed an ultrasound photo of the fetus in a frame. It was an ambiguous combination, but it was surprisingly okay.
“Park Lee Jun, you have a nephew, you punk.”
Lee Jun’s image from her dream was vivid. He looked like a young man, and it seemed as if he was smiling. Haejoo couldn’t say anything. She could only whisper “thank you” in her heart.
“Let’s meet often, even in dreams. It was good seeing you last time.”
When he sent off his only twin brother, it felt like the sky was falling. Dojun believed that Lee Jun had sent a baby in his stead after he left.
“Lee Jun, didn’t you miss Dad?”
President Park, sitting bent over, wiped the gravestone with a handkerchief. He was smiling with his lips, but his eyes had long since become moist.
“Son, Dad’s hurting. When Dad goes to heaven, I’ll make you everything you want to eat.”
“Father can’t go to heaven. You have to see your grandchild too.”
“That’s just an expression, you rascal!”
President Park threw a feeble punch at Dojun, who broke the mood. He glared at his son, who deftly dodged, and continued mumbling to himself.
“Our eldest son is always in Dad’s heart. You know that, right?”
Haejoo envied Lee Jun and Dojun, who grew up receiving President Park’s love. She envied them so much that tears welled up.
“Me, that is. Lee Jun, I did everything you told me to. The day I buried you, I even gave Haejoo fifty million won.”
An indescribable emotion surged in Haejoo’s chest. It was even more so because gratitude and apology towards Lee Jun arose simultaneously. Dojun’s expression also sank heavily. He listened silently to President Park’s mumbling, then Dojun finally spoke.
“That fifty million won was actually my money.”
“What?”
“Do-jun!”
President Park and Haejoo looked at Dojun in surprise simultaneously.
“I gave it to Lee Jun to use after I enlisted.”
Until now, Haejoo had only known that the fifty million won was Lee Jun’s money. And now, even that was given by Dojun...
On one side, President Park was greatly surprised for another reason. Sitting, he lightly hit Dojun’s thigh and started nagging.
“Are you still doing stocks?”
“...”
“I told you stocks are gambling! When are you going to grow up?”
“...”
“You’ll lose everything doing that. Get a grip before you go measure the water temperature in the Han River.”
President Park was still the same. He would fuss, saying he felt stifled just thinking of Dojun.
“Lee Jun, still, it seems your brother is quite a man.”
“...”
“Heavens, that guy made a baby.”
At that moment, Haejoo’s tears instantly dried up. Dojun, looking nonchalant, reluctantly listened to President Park’s rambling.
________________________________________
“This baby in the picture is your nephew. Isn’t she pretty?”
President Park smiled broadly. At his smile, Haejoo also smiled brightly and wiped away her tears. Before they knew it, people started arriving one by one. Dojun ended their brief visit and bid farewell to Lee Jun.
“I’ll come again.”
Haejoo pulled down the hat she had brought and opened her parasol to completely cover her face. Dojun then tidied up around the gravestone and turned back.
________________________________________
On the last day of filming in Jeju, Director Kwak gathered the actors separately. After filming, the freelance staff, as if they had been waiting, packed up and left Jeju. The actors also felt that the atmosphere was strange. At this, Director Kwak stood before the actors and their agency representatives.
“Due to sudden circumstances, the schedule after the Jeju filming has been postponed or canceled.”
It was shocking news. The actors, who had the highest expectations for the film, couldn’t hide their bewilderment.
“What’s the reason?” Junwoo asked.
Director Kwak, who had rubbed his drawn face, swallowed hard.
“It’s a long story to explain, but the movie itself hasn’t been scrapped.”
“Is it because of Haejoo?” Yoonji, who was most shocked, asked.
Director Kwak answered cautiously.
“Honestly, Haejoo isn’t at fault. It’s more accurate to say that the side with greater power is being overly ambitious.”
“Please explain it in an easy-to-understand way!”
“The movie is getting good investment, but someone is trying to hijack it.”
“Who?”
“Who do you think it is? Haven’t there been similar cases before?”
Director Kwak asked back with a bitter smile. Then Junwoo replied in a small voice.
“It’s GN again.”
GN never took risks. They were famous in the film industry for not doing anything that would result in a loss. They would eye ambiguous film proposals and then act once their value was proven. Previously, there was a case where a film director had independently secured investment and started production, only for GN to usurp the project. They would modify the script to their liking and create commercial successes. They monopolized not only theaters but also distribution, often burying competing films.
“From what I see, GN seems to be coveting our film, using Haejoo as an excuse.”
Overseas, Director Kwak’s film was already receiving calls. There were even proposals to release it abroad first, suggesting the possibility of winning film awards. Dojun had spared no support as an investor. Director Kwak, who had been focusing solely on the film, was now experiencing something he had only heard about.
“So, what happens now?”
“There’s a reason why I didn’t submit the proposal to GN’s investment division from the start.”
“...”
“They might have gotten the investment, but they would have had to sacrifice artistic merit.”
Directors who had made films with investment from GN all expressed their disgust. They only did it out of necessity for money, and they would turn those who loved cinema into puppets.
“Can’t you just refuse GN and film it anyway?” Yoonji asked, flabbergasted, as if arguing.
At this, Director Kwak revealed the harsh reality they were facing.
“It seems GN has already made their move because all the freelance directors are saying they can’t work anymore.”
Those gathered gasped in unison. They hadn’t realized the situation had become this dire.
“They seem to want me to bow down and come to them somehow.”
“What do we do...”
“I’ll try to find a solution, so please trust me and wait a little longer.”
The actors reassured Director Kwak, saying it was okay. Yoonji also pretended to be cool on the outside, but fire raged within her. The day she arrived in Seoul, she heard that Haejoo had collapsed during the press conference. Yoonji gnashed her teeth and went to the agency the next day.
“Is this Yoo Jinhan’s doing, that bastard?”
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Suddenly, with nowhere else to turn, she rushed straight to Jinhan’s office. Hyunseong was talking to Jinhan there.
“Director, I came from Jeju yesterday.”
“Filming ended already?”
“...Yes.”
Jinhan seemed unaware of what had happened to Director Kwak. It went beyond being dumbfounded; he was furious.
“I was talking with Hyunseong, so wait outside for a moment.”
Hyunseong, looking exhausted, only nodded to Yoonji. After Yoonji left, Jinhan asked a repetitive question.
“Tell me honestly. Are you in separate contact with Haejoo?”
“I can’t reach her, and I only get answers if I call CEO Park Dojun.”
“You really don’t know where she is at all?”
“Not yet.”
“There’s not just one or two things to sort out.”
The companies with CF contracts had at least decided to continue their consecutive contracts. They seemed relieved after seeing Haejoo’s press conference. The problem was that the postponed CF shooting had to proceed soon, putting him under pressure.
“Hyunseong, how unwell is Haejoo?”
“I don’t know the details myself. That person always takes her to the hospital.”
Hyunseong kept Haejoo’s pregnancy a secret. He judged that it would be better for Haejoo to tell Jinhan directly.
“If I find out you’ve been lying to me, you’ll be in big trouble.”
“...”
“You remember signing the pledge when you joined, right?”
“Yes.”
“If you try to hide things ‘for Haejoo,’ you’ll only make things worse. You saw it yourself this time.”
“Understood.”
“You can go now.”
Hyunseong left the office. As if waiting, Yoonji entered. Jinhan leaned his head against the sofa and rubbed his face with his palm. There was an unspoken reason why he was so anxious. It was because of his father, the head of GN. He had told Chairman Yoo that Haejoo was unwell and in the hospital. If her disappearance became known, the problem would escalate. As Haejoo’s absence grew, so did the losses. It was slowly becoming too much for Jinhan to handle alone.
“Director, where did Haejoo go?”
“I don’t know. She disappeared.”
“Disappeared?”
“Haejoo is unwell. She’ll come back when she recovers.”
Yoonji knew why Haejoo was unwell. Seeing the current situation, she tightly closed her mouth, as it seemed Haejoo deliberately hadn’t told Jinhan.
“What if Haejoo never comes back?”
“I’ll get fired.”
In fact, Chairman Yoo was looking for a new manager for GN Entertainment. Someone reasonably intelligent and obedient, but also ruthless. If that happened, there was a high possibility that a bloodbath would sweep through GN Entertainment.
“I need to fire Hyunseong.”
He needed bait to lure Haejoo back. To Jinhan’s frustrating solution, Yoonji bluntly said,
“Just let Haejoo go.”
It was her own kind of wisdom.
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