PAYBACK BOOK 2.

Chapter 5.2

I thought I hadn't been there long, but by the time I came out, forty minutes had passed, and during that time, someone was waiting for me.

 

"Mr Taemin! This way!"

 

Turning around, with a feeling as if this had happened forty minutes ago, I saw Han Soo beckoning me from the corner. "You've been hiding there until now?" I glanced at the reporters who completely ignored us before walking towards him, feeling defeated. Then, this time, the kid grabbed me and pulled me out of sight.

 

"How are you?"

 

I handed him the magazine instead of explaining.

 

"It's very useful."

 

"No, that's not it. What are you talking about? 

Do you think it will go smoothly?"

 

"Um"

 

Even I was surprised I gave in so easily, but I had a feeling he was in a desperate situation. He'll contact me eventually.

 

"Find our manager," Han Soo said, his eyes widening in surprise at my answer before repeatedly asking, "Are you serious? What a relief! I heard Cha Jung-woo has a terrible personality, and our manager got into a lot of trouble. But if the manager can clear his name, and if they handled the Cha Jung-woo matter smoothly, Myungshin hyung must be furious, right?"

 

Han Soo's spirits brightened in an instant, as if he was excited just thinking about it, before he dragged me outside.

 

"Oh, the manager called. He asked where we were. I was sweating profusely trying to deflect him."

 

"Why did the manager contact you?"

 

"I heard there's a small advertising flyer job that they want us both to test out. Oh, and they said the director contacted us too. Apparently, it's tomorrow. The weather forecast says it will be sunny, so I'll take some photos of you, Taemin, first."

 

I wondered what the clear weather had to do with the suicide scene, but because Han-soo was in a hurry and said he needed to see the manager urgently, we put the idea of ​​filming on hold. 

 

After meeting the manager, we took test photos without even having time to eat, and a day flew by. The three of us were so busy that we got hectic about Cha Jung-woo. We were even thinking about what else to order while eating ramen at a restaurant when the manager's phone rang.

 

"Yes, Choi Deuk..."

 

The moment the manager's voice stopped mid-sentence while saying his own name, Han-soo and I, who were busy eating ramen, looked up simultaneously. We saw that the manager was listening with a calm expression and, after a long while, replied. "I'll go right now, Mr Cha Jung-woo."

 

After dropping off Han Soo and driving back to the parking area near Cha Jung-woo's villa, I turned to tell the manager we had arrived, only to see him looking down. The envelope of documents he had been holding silently for a while, waiting without saying anything, was finally spoken to him.

 

"This will definitely be a great opportunity, right?"

 

"Even if it's a bad opportunity, turn it into something good."

 

The manager looked up at me from the side before giving me a hesitant smile.

 

"Hmm, I guess that's what I have to do. Everyone knows this industry is dirty. The best I can do is avoid getting fired and find a way to make ends meet. I only paid the tuition fee for my child."

 

The manager's words didn't sound like those of someone worried that Cha Jung-woo wouldn't keep his word. I pointed to the envelope of documents and contracts he was looking at.

 

"When did you get it?"

 

"Hmm, oh, I got this this morning. Chief Park gave it to me. He said that if I get the signature on the contract today, it will prove my innocence."

 

"Did he say anything else when he gave it to you?"

 

The manager lowered his gaze to the contract instead of answering. I expected to hear something, but he didn't say a word. He said, "TaeMin, don't worry. Let's go."

 

Cha Jung-woo listened to the manager's explanation so attentively that I wondered if he was a different person from this morning, even though the living room looked no different from the morning before. The only difference was the homeowner, who looked spotlessly clean, as if he had just taken a thorough bath.

 

"You need to start by reporting to the police station the day after tomorrow evening. Then there's a press conference scheduled for the following evening. I'll write down what you need to answer. For that morning, think of it as a script you can memorise. Regarding makeup and clothes, I'll tell Cody in advance. Besides that, there are a couple of things to watch out for. First, don't say anything long in front of the police. When asked, answer "yes" or "no."

 

When Cha Jung-woo glanced up with a questioning look, the manager immediately added, "I know a detective, so I told him about it. They usually ask perfunctory questions, so there's nothing to stress about. Next, let's speak informally."

 

The manager reviewed the previous employee's notebook, marking each item one by one, then glanced up at the other person silently before finally nodding.

 

"Yes, the next thing to be very careful about is the press conference, but I'll tell you more details then. Oh, and you can squeeze out the tears whenever you want, can't you?"

 

"Should I cry during the press conference?"

 

"No, absolutely do not cry. If you cry, you'll look even worse. People who aren't your fans will laugh at you. But you can make your eyes red and swollen, right? You have to make it look like you're about to cry. People who want to criticise will criticise you no matter what you do. Don't pay attention to them. It's better to use empathy to attract people who are on your side. Do that, and the public's opinion will shift in your favour."

 

Cha Jung-woo nodded as if to say he could do it.

 

"Please write down everything I need to do before I leave, including how much it will cost." The manager stared back at him silently again, but didn't say anything in particular.

 

"There's no need to rush into borrowing money now. People often forget the 'D-Day ', and then their fate is decided on the day of enlistment, when the public will be watching closely again."

 

"On the day he enlists, the news should be made up to create a big fuss, highlighting his volunteer work and donations. Then the reporters will be waiting for him after his discharge, and public opinion will completely reverse, like they're waiting for their good son who has repented and returned."

 

"...I need to have the money ready within a month, as long as I can."

 

"Let me emphasise this in advance: do not borrow money from illegal lenders. Even though I've heard of celebrities borrowing money from illegal lenders to pay for cosmetic surgery."

 

"Come on, I don't need to borrow from informal lenders."

 

The manager mumbled, "That's a relief," before adding something else.

 

"If I could interfere in one more thing, I'd like you to sell the house regardless of the money. People will only sympathise when they see that the property is up for sale."

 

"Yes"

 

After that, the two of them continued discussing the details, so I got up and walked to the kitchen. The disease manager was sitting there looking dejected. As soon as he saw me, he suddenly stood up, so I quickly raised my hand to stop him.

 

"Stay there. I just came for a drink of water."

 

"Um, so Manager Choi is Jung Woo's main manager now, right?" I picked up a clean glass and filled it with water from the water filter, hearing his murmuring mingle with the sound of the running water.

 

"How did everything resolve itself so quickly?"

 

"What is it?"

 

"Yes, uh...well..."

 

I took a deep breath of cold water before urging him to answer. He glanced briefly at the living room before finally speaking.

 

"Actually, Jung-woo doesn't have any concrete evidence that the manager secretly recorded that. In my opinion, Jung-woo was guessing. But then the manager couldn't answer, so he decided to go alone. And the manager hasn't actually admitted to doing it yet. Jung-woo and the manager have been together for a long time; they're like brothers. I thought that with some time, they could clear things up and get back together. But Jung-woo has a new manager now, and the previous manager..."

 

He stopped speaking mid-sentence and tilted his head to the side.

 

"Today, I was so stressed I could barely think straight. But my former manager said he's completely given up on Jung-woo. He also told me not to contact him again because he's going abroad for a couple of months. Wait, when did he start planning to leave? Sigh. Anyway, those two handled things really quickly. Seriously, what's going on?"

 

I listened to the other person speak as I walked towards the kitchen entrance. Then I saw the manager and Cha Jung-woo still sitting and talking. Cha Jung-woo, who had looked very serious, looked even more composed and clean-cut, he nodded in agreement with the manager's words, his hostile aura completely gone. How could he keep his anger in check? 

 

I narrowed my eyes, staring at him even harder, unable to understand. The atmosphere changed suddenly, as if he were a loser, a loser, really. Really? I don't know why that phrase came to mind, but I understood the reason when I heard Cha Jung-woo ask me before he left his house with his manager.

 

"'This '"

 

Cha Jung-woo called out to me while the manager and the road manager were discussing something at the entrance to the house. He glared at me, standing with his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall.

 

"What's up"

 

"Shall I suggest something?"

 

"No."

 

I abruptly turned away before hearing his advice, which he gave without caring whether I would refuse.

 

"If you want to stay in this business, do you know who you should be most wary of?"

 

I glanced at him as he continued speaking in an indescribably bitter tone.

 

"Rival actors, managers, the media, fan clubs—they're not those people."

 

"..."

 

"It's the agency you're signed to that's the most terrifying," I turned away, not thinking I needed to listen to him any longer, before hearing a very familiar name.

 

"Watch out for Director Yoon."

 

Director Yoon...Director Yoon. I've repeated this thought over and over. Even though it hurts to admit it, have I really deliberately shut myself off from anything related to him? No, because I was afraid that if I got more involved in that guy's affairs, I would develop unpleasant feelings. So I overlooked things I should have known, like an idiot. The word "Yuni" followed by "Channi [!]" that sounded funny in Cha Jung-lu's audio file must mean "Director Yoon."

 

"I told you that if you turned up the volume before listening, you'd find something interesting." Yeah, I should have believed what that lunatic said from the start. Everything unfolded way too quickly, just as the manager suspected. 

 

The president of the cream company I met in the parking lot didn't care about Cha Jung-woo's problems at all. And then there's the fact that the lunatic had concrete evidence of the culprit from the beginning. In the end, you're the one behind it all, aren't you? Because you're the one who caused all this crazy trouble.

 

(Where are you)

 

I stopped to send a text message right at the subway station entrance before he replied instantly. 

 

[Wait at home, I'm coming back.]

 

Whether it was because I was familiar with his house or not, I walked through the short hallway, illuminated only by the entrance door, into the dimly lit living room. Without hesitation, once I knew the location of the light switch, my hand touched the correct spot on the wall without even looking. The moment the light flashed, my little world instantly transformed, becoming more colourful.

 

The living room still has books and documents scattered haphazardly, but strangely, I don't feel any clutter at all. It seems Someone must have cleaned the room already; that's why there's no dust. I also noticed that the glass on the kitchen table that was there before they left this morning is gone, so it's safe to assume someone came in.

 

Seeing the house, cleaned but still not tidy, I suddenly thought of the homeowner who must have requested something like this from the cleaner.  While sitting down among the untouched and unkempt items on the sofa, not arranged as he desired, lay a movie script I had completely forgotten about. I stared at it silently before slowly reaching out and picking it up. Yesterday, after he left, I sat here reading the script and dozed off on the sofa. I leaned back comfortably, just like I had for the past twenty-four hours, and flipped to the page I had been reading. Before focusing on the content, I realised I didn't feel uncomfortable in this place at all. Even though I was in someone else's house, especially the house of that complete lunatic, I didn't feel strange or uneasy at all.

 

While glancing back at where I left off yesterday, something occurred to me, and I exclaimed "Ah!" because of the things scattered haphazardly around me. Or perhaps it's because this place feels so alive. The warmth of those who aren't here still lingers in the air, making it feel like a truly habitable space. I don't know if I've unconsciously found myself feeling comfortable in this room, but realising it makes me feel strangely uneasy. I always see things from the opposite perspective and find comfort in that viewpoint, like the dark corridors leading to the cemetery and the graves. The corpse and the profound silence. The dangers are increasing.

 

"Okay," I flipped the page and focused on the continuing content, my mind filled with the protagonist's world as it began to spiral downwards. A soft creaking sound instantly jolted me back to reality from my momentary lapse of consciousness. Startled, I opened my eyes to find the living room ceiling right in front of me. I guess I dozed off again. Damn it. 

 

I cursed to myself as I got up from the sofa I'd been sleeping on. As I stood up, the soft cushions that had been sagging slowly returned to their original shape. All because the sofa was too comfortable, that's why I dozed off. I blamed the unscathed sofa as I scanned the area for the source of the sound, but I didn't need to waste time searching. The crazy guy just walked out of the kitchen, with his hair still damp and wearing only loose pants as if he’d just taken a shower and was taking a big gulp of water when he noticed I'd drunk. I stared blankly, trying to force myself to drink fully, before he stopped near the table and offered me the bottle.

 

"Have a drink."

 

Still half-asleep, he whispered, "Refuse it," but my hand instinctively accepted the bottle of water he offered. Watching him drink, I suddenly felt thirsty too. The ice-cold water, freshly taken from the fridge, spread across my mouth before flowing down my throat. It helped to wash away my slight drowsiness. I held the empty bottle, which I'd gulped down in one go as if my throat were parched, before scanning the trash can for a place to dispose of it.

 

"What are you looking for?"

 

"Rubbish bin"

 

I thought that after I answered, the homeowner would tell me where the trash can was, but I didn't expect him to reach out his hand.

 

"Give it to me, I'll throw it away for you."

 

“…"

 

I looked up at him, bewildered, wondering if I'd misheard, but he easily snatched the water bottle from my hand before I could do anything. He walked towards the kitchen, and soon returned empty-handed, asking me as if he had just remembered something.

 

"Aren't you hungry?"

 

I had a feeling something was amiss. Why was he smiling so casually? He wasn't smiling out of politeness, but with a sense of justice. The fact that he was there only made me more apprehensive. I straightened up and stared at him as he walked in with sharp eyes, but he just sat down beside me and comfortably rested one arm on the back of the sofa where I was sitting before asking in a gentle voice.

 

"If you want anything to eat, I can order it for you, okay?"

 

"...No."

 

I vehemently refused, stiffening in anger, yet the atmosphere around him grew even warmer.

 

"You should be sleeping comfortably on the bed. Oh, so you waited for me until you fell asleep on the sofa?" He nodded and smiled, showing his dimples because he was in a good 

mood.

 

"I tried to come back early, but the people waiting for me in America contacted me, so I was a little late," he said, his hand resting on the sofa, gently stroking my head.

 

"It's nice to see you sleeping, but it's even better to see you awake."

 

At this point, paranoia crossed the line into overwhelming terror. I raised my stiff, robotic arm and swatted him away.

 

"Go ahead and ask," he said in a serious tone.

"You must be really tired, aren't you?"

 

Although I brushed his hand away, he readily backed off without showing any sign of displeasure, and then stared into the air as if deep in thought for a moment. I nodded in agreement.

 

"Hmm, just hearing you talk is making me tired."

 

No, not 'feeling' like that. I meant to shout that you're incredibly exhausted right now! His hand, which had just withdrawn, was about to touch me. I grabbed his hand again, just before it could touch my face. He laughed, immediately grabbed my hand back, and said… "I understand. I'll hold your hand."

 

I felt like a swarm of insects was crawling up from inside me. That creepy, indescribable feeling of nausea and disgust made my brain stop processing for a moment. If he had acted normally, I would have cursed him out. But his deliberate self-deception, his playful stroking of my hand, and his inability to stop smiling prevented me from responding. What kind of lunatic is this?

 

"When was the last time you slept?"

 

He thought for a moment, his eyes filled with worry, before finally speaking.

 

"I came back and met you here yesterday for about thirty minutes."

 

"That doesn't count naps. I mean, proper 

sleep."

 

"Three days ago, I spent two hours sleeping in the same bed with you."

 

"...And before that?"

 

He seemed to be acting unusually stubborn, interrupting me again as if he had just remembered something.

 

"Three days before that, it was about an hour and a half."

 

Wasn't that three days ago when he met me in city xxx? If so, that means he stayed up all night going down to that city just to kiss me.

 

"Just a moment?" I was bewildered, half-comprised and half-disbelieving, before he urged me to continue speaking.

 

"Any more?"

 

I gave him a questioning look, as if to say, "What else are you talking about? What is it?" 

 

Meanwhile, he ran his thumb in a circular motion on my hand. Before I knew it, I had tried to pull my hand back with force, but the guy who claimed to be tired was surprisingly strong.

 

"If you have any more questions, feel free to ask."

 

There are quite a few things I'm wondering about, especially regarding Cha Jung-woo, which is the main reason I came to see him. I know I could probably get a simple answer if I asked now, but I don't want to just blurt it out. Besides, I don't want to talk to that guy who's acting so cheesy. Deep down, I'm harbouring suspicion and anxiety.

 

He was like a ticking time bomb. His kind and gentle demeanour was a warning sign that he was about to reach his breaking point. If that happened, it was as if, when something displeased him, his hidden cruel instincts would surface without any pretence. Like when I stubbornly pulled my hand away from his; in that instant, the smile vanished from his face. So, I blurted out what I wanted to say abruptly, even though I felt a shiver run down my spine.

 

"You should go to bed now."

 

I gestured towards the bedroom. He stared at me expressionlessly before grabbing my hand again, which I had tried to pull away. The force of his grip was so strong it felt like my bones were about to snap. I was about to yank my arm away when I heard a warning from him.

 

"Make it simple."

 

I glanced up at the stiff-bodied man, only to see him smile politely as usual. "Say that again."

 

"I told you to go to bed."

 

"Why"

 

It's the same question: why would they make such an excuse? Because you're sleep-deprived and acting more nervous than usual, that's why. I swallowed the answer that was lingering on my tongue and replied with something else, even though I didn't know the answer.

 

"Because I'm sleepy."

 

As soon as I answered, the coldness in his eyes disappeared for a moment before he asked again: "Hey, are you sleepy?"

 

"...yes"

 

Of course, I'd been sleepy for a while. After I nodded in agreement, he said, "Just kidding," his gaze softening again, and he even smiled through his squinting eyes. The curve sent shivers down my spine again. Damn it, I'm not used to this at all. While I was thinking that a fistfight would be better, that lunatic got up, still holding my hand.

 

"Okay then, let's go to bed."

 

I resisted and struggled a little against the pull, but he, in a good mood, didn't notice and quickly yanked me away. He was the one who said he was tired! Why does he have so much strength? I was dragged into a dark bedroom, feeling indignant. He climbed onto the bed with one leg and turned around, but the room was so dark I couldn't tell what he was doing.

 

"Let go of me first."

 

"Why"

 

Upon hearing his short question, I blurted out my true feelings without thinking.

 

"It's awkward. I don't know why we have to sleep together."

 

The curt answer caused a moment of silence, followed soon by a slow, deliberate tone.

 

"Then you definitely have to sleep in the same bed as me."

 

"Why?" I asked the same question, and this time he answered immediately.

 

"Didn't you say your life couldn't be easy because you had to atone for your sins? So you're deliberately seeking suffering instead of pleasure, aren't you? Because  if you say you're uncomfortable, then you definitely have to sleep with me."

 

This guy's so tired he's become stubborn, huh? I know it's a ridiculous argument, but I couldn't think of a better way to respond. Meanwhile, he got on the bed first, then pulled me up with him. I used one hand to push myself up against his strength, struggling to speak while opening my mouth.

 

"No way."

 

The force that was pulling my hand stopped abruptly, before his other hand rested on my shoulder instead. He squeezed my shoulder tightly with heavy force, accompanied by soft words. The chilling light made it possible to sense his current condition.

 

"No way. I'm absolutely furious with that phrase."

 

I hesitated for a couple of seconds, wondering if I should push him away and have a fight with this out-of-control guy, but I put that thought aside and made an excuse...I'm tired too.

 

"I think I need to take a shower too."

 

The complaint I made was my only way to escape him. I intended to sleep on the sofa, using a shower as an excuse, but my plan fell apart when a hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me down. The moment my upper body fell onto the bed before I could react, he, who was straddling me, nuzzled his nose against my neck and whispered softly. "It's okay, I like the scent of you."

 

I frowned again, feeling uncomfortable by what he said. What was there to like? I was out all day and came back drenched in sweat. Come to think of it, that nice-smelling body odour of his after a shower... what kind of crazy body odour is that? I was taken aback by my own thoughts and cursed inwardly, while unconsciously taking a deep breath. A faint, pleasant scent wafted into my nose. It was the refreshing, comforting smell of someone who had just showered; nothing particularly special, like the scent of shampoo. It was a familiar scent, one that I'd probably smelled somewhere before, but because it was so ordinary, I didn't feel anything particular about it. It was similar to how seeing his messy house had calmed her down and made her feel comfortable there. So she let him hug her from behind again like a doll, forgetting about running away for a moment, before deliberately provoking him to hide these feelings.

 

"Is your sense of smell messed up?"

 

"Wow, you even know about the sense of smell."

 

Do you think I'm an idiot? I turned my head away angrily, but jumped and froze when I felt a warm breath on my ear. Before I was just about to say, 'Hey, get out!', I heard a whisper that tickled my ear.

 

"Did you know that the sense of smell is the very first sense? Even single-celled bacteria have a sense of smell. So it's the first, fully developed sense from the embryonic stage in the womb. Newborn babies use smell to distinguish food, locate things, and even record their first memories—that this person has been by their side."

 

The strange, drawn-out voice continued to speak.

 

"We find more comfort in the scent of someone familiar than in a pleasant fragrance, don't we?" I felt the body pressed against my back as I took a deep, relaxed breath. It was as if he was inhaling my scent, filling his lungs with it, and then radiating that comfort to me as if it were contagious. Familiarity and intimacy shouldn't have any special meaning, yet he displayed them toward me in a way that made me uncomfortable. I knew I wanted to push him away, but I couldn't. All I could do was try to find excuses to respond to his nonsensical words.

 

"Your body odour is not pleasant at all."

 

"Keep that to yourself."

 

"What the...it's ticklish! Move away!"

 

I hunched my shoulders and tried to escape his face that was pressed so close, feeling him press his lips against my shoulder, and then suddenly bite through the fabric.

 

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?"

 

Although it wasn't exactly painful, it was so startling that I jumped in a way that made me feel unlike myself.

 

"But you said yourself that you felt uncomfortable."

 

I was about to ask him what kind of nonsense he was spouting again, but then I remembered his strange remarks before lying down in bed.

 

"Didn't you say your life couldn't be easy because you had to atone for your sins? So you're deliberately seeking suffering instead of pleasure, aren't you? Because if you say you're uncomfortable, then you definitely have to sleep with me."

 

I was about to push him away in frustration, but he hugged me tightly as if he knew all along.

 

"Someday, you'll find my scent comfortable too."

 

"Your body odour is just the scent of regular shampoo."

 

"That can't be true. You should know my scent."

 

Did he have a unique scent or something? I tried to recall, but quickly dismissed the thought.

 

"You're not wearing perfume, are you?"

 

A soft laugh came from behind me. He must have been quite sleepy to laugh so dreamily, as if he were about to doze off for a moment. But the words that came out the sleepy words from someone woke me up completely.

 

"Next time, I'll ejaculate all over your face so you can smell my scent completely." Ejaculate? What are you talking about...?

 

"Damn it!" I cursed as I tried to push him away and stand up, but that demonic man took me down in one swift motion, pinning my shoulders down and straddling me. Even though I was grabbed from behind and put in a disadvantageous position from the start, the difference in our skills was astonishingly vast.

 

He looked down into my eyes, a mixture of frustration and stubbornness clearly visible, and let out a soft chuckle. I swallowed the curses I intended to hurl as I met his dark gaze. His eyes looked listless and sleepy, yet the emotionless coldness in them sent a shiver down my spine. He mumbled something that sounded like a silent warning.

 

"If I set my mind to it now, there's nothing I can't do."

 

I gritted my teeth to hide my fear before speaking softly. "Go to sleep."

 

"How about that?"

 

"....”

 

While I was still speechless and stunned, he turned back to his original position and gently stroked my hair, as if to lull me to sleep, while making an invitation.

 

"Let's go to sleep."

 

I only managed to sleep for a few hours, contrary to my intention to keep awake all night. Meanwhile, he, who had me trapped beside him with his arms wrapped around me, also drifted off to sleep. His breathing was still steady the moment he fell asleep. I should have escaped, but the slightest movement he made, surprisingly, alerted me instantly before he whispered to me.

 

"Shall we do it?"

 

Even though he didn't say what he intended to do, I got goosebumps the moment I heard that, and I instinctively abandoned the idea of ​​running away, because this guy seemed like someone who had a plan. I really felt like he could fall asleep, wake up in the mood, and shove his dick into my mouth, making it taste salty and delicious. Even though I didn't intend to let him do anything easily, I was too tired and sleepy to risk fighting him. In the end, I just decided to go to sleep with him.

 

Then I opened my eyes for the second time in bed. This time I didn't wake up on my own, but felt a slight, tingling, heavy sensation in my lower abdomen. It was a feeling that Men are probably familiar with; it's natural for that part of the body to be erect in the morning. However, this was the first time in my life I woke up with rapid, shallow breaths.

 

"...hack"

 

I unconsciously exhaled a hot breath and moved to move, then felt arms holding me captive. That jerk was lying behind me; he pulled up my unbuttoned shirt and draped his arm over my waist. Before I knew it, he had reached between my bare legs, where my pants had been removed, and was caressing my penis.

 

"Hoy"

 

I uttered a hoarse voice through my heavy breathing, and suddenly the man who had been sucking on my neck pressed even closer, as if he'd been waiting for this moment.

 

"What's wrong?"

 

He asked softly, moving his lips to my ear, while his hand stroked that area more rapidly, making my already sluggish body tremble. I began to feel aroused and weak at the touch of his movements.

 

"What the hell are you doing?"

 

I stammered, twisting my shoulder backwards, but my weak resistance was no use. That guy, who'd been sleeping to regain his strength, was back to being a lunatic. As usual, he responded with a shameless tone.

 

"I'm making you feel good, aren't I?"

 

"Who would feel good about that?... Hmph."

 

The moment he forcefully pulled on my penis, a mixture of ecstatic pleasure and pain surged through my lower abdomen. All I could do was close my eyes and grind my body. I could feel that part of him pressed firmly against my back, and I could tell that the groove between my hips, where his erection was touching, was getting wet. Don't tell me this guy had rubbed that thing against me while I slept until he was finished. Even so, all that came out of my mouth were muffled, suppressed moans.

 

"Cough, cough..."

 

"If you don't feel well, that's fine." He added with a chuckle, increasing the speed of his hand movements.

 

"Do you want to feel uncomfortable, or is it more exciting?"

 

A lewd, wet sound immediately followed his question, along with the scraping sound each time his hand stroked my wet, dripping penis.

 

"Tell me, how do you feel about me helping you masturbate? Because before you knew it, you were almost there. Your... that thing... is so hot it's practically going to explode!" *kiss*

 

"And it's very hard too."

 

A deep, husky voice echoed in my ear as a slender tongue caressed my earlobe. The wet, squelching sound ignited a heat within me. Suddenly, he stopped his hand movements, gripping the swollen, firm tip of my penis, bringing the intense pleasure to a sudden halt, like reaching the top of a staircase.

 

"gulp..."

 

I grabbed his wrist, which had unconsciously stopped moving, and twisted violently in regret, but the pain intensified from the hand covering the head. Hold it back so it doesn't leak out.

 

"Let go!"

 

Of course, the guy behind me understood the meaning, mixed with the barely audible sound of breathing. His lips slid down below my ear, and he spoke. He chuckled softly against my skin. Suddenly, our bodies were abruptly changed. He pulled me onto my back and quickly straddled me, then used his knees to spread my legs apart while still keeping his hand on my penis. Before I could even realise what was happening, he knelt down between my widely spread legs, wrapped one hand around my waist, and pulled me closer, forcing me to spread my legs even further apart uncomfortably. The problem was, his hand was still gripping my genitals, causing pain. The blocked, unable-to-ejaculate penis overwhelmed all my senses.

 

"Damn it... Ugh, I told you to let go!"

 

I clenched my jaw and twisted my body, but no matter how hard I tried to push his arm away, I was no match for him in this position. Even though I barely survived normally, he pulled my hand elsewhere, to a place I knew without even looking. He guided my hand to his hot, hard shaft before looking down at me from above and giving an order.

 

"Catch it!"

 

I could feel that his voice, though usually so, sounded even more passionate than the sensation of his penis as my hand touched it. I looked up at him, my chest heaving. He placed his hand over mine, which remained motionless, and forced me to grip his shaft again. Suddenly, he took a short breath, his eyes serious.

 

"Damn, hurry up and try masturbating."

 

Then he released my hand, grabbed my waist again, and pushed himself closer between my legs.

 

"Your hesitation has only one meaning: you like the feel of this thing of mine so much that you can't resist," he smirked, before gripping my penis again, the tip previously covered, as if wanting to squeeze it.

 

"Heavily!"

 

I automatically curled up and exhaled in pain, but this time he wasn't going to wait any longer.

 

"Hurry up, you want to eat it too, don't you? Try moving your hand as if you're stroking your own." 

 

Ah...ha...Perhaps because of the excruciating agony that assaulted me, I closed my eyes and began moving my hand unconsciously. The painful squeeze on my penis loosened as promised. I let out a deep sigh, as if my pent-up breath had exploded, before feeling the tingling sensation slowly building up in the same spot. By then, it was too late to feel shocked or regretful. I didn't even realise I was squeezing a large object that wasn't mine. I just closed my eyes and focused all my attention on the surging, pleasurable emotions rising from within. The faster I moved my hand, the more intense the pleasure became. I writhed my hips and moaned automatically.

 

"Haha... one more gasp..."

 

Suddenly, the hand that was gripping that part of me froze. Before he leaned forward slightly, and as he began to arouse my genitals again, I realised something other than a hand was touching me. I don't know when his fingertips had cupped both our penises in his palm; then he held my still hand, as if to guide it to move. As we began to move our penises together, the arousal that had been slow until now surged like an explosion in an instant.

 

A wet, squelching sound echoed every time our bodies moved, glistening with the sticky fluid that made them swell and tighten. It was in my hand and his, unable to grow any larger. I arched my hips, feeling ready to ejaculate soon. Just then, I heard the command from above.

 

"Forget about it quickly."

 

I struggled to forget the name when I heard the voice speaking with ragged breathing before meeting the other's eyes. He looked directly at me and licked his lips. Below his eyes, filled with a ravenous lust like a wild animal spotting its prey, stared at me intently, his grip around my waist tightening. I looked into his eyes as his chest heaved with the pleasure of his surging climax, and finally, I squeezed my eyes shut again. No, more like, I closed them involuntarily.

 

"Haha...again...again!"

 

My lower abdomen and thighs tensed, and a cloudy white fluid spurted violently from my erection. The fluid had a predominantly sour smell. Before, half of his palm was soaking wet; the other half spilt onto my stomach. After that area twitched a few times, I felt my own hand moving. I wasn't moving it myself; it was following the other person's hand that was gripping it. My heart, pounding like I'd run a short sprint, roared loudly inside. But when I opened my eyes and saw his face again, I couldn't feel my heart beating anymore. He exhaled softly from his parted lips.

 

With a slight frown, he held my hand and guided me to stroke his own penis for a while before closing his eyes tightly for a moment as a warm fluid ejaculated. His soft, satisfied breath still echoed in my ears. I lay still, gazing at his eyes, which soon opened. I could feel the weariness in his dark eyes, smiling faintly for a moment, but that feeling didn't last long as he looked down at his hand, wet with our shared fluids, before tracing it between my legs. 

 

The moment the sticky, wet liquid touched my anus, I felt my drowsiness vanish completely, and I was fully awake. My body stiffened in an instant. Although he should have noticed my sudden change in reaction, he moved his other hand indifferently. He slipped his hand under my widely spread, bent leg and lifted it. I flinched and tried to straighten my body, but I couldn't move anymore as his fingers were inserted inside that opening without warning. He slid two fingers in at once, along with some sticky fluid, before exploring the inner walls and pushing his fingers even deeper.

 

"Again! Don't...."

 

My whole body was stiff as a log due to the discomfort that came with the pain.

 

"Relax a little." He said it simply, while he pushed his finger further inside.

 

"Damn it!"

 

I cursed under my breath, glancing up at him. I saw him narrow his eyes and look down at my lower body, where he was inserting his fingers.

 

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you get there on time for the filming."

 

It was then that I noticed his penis hadn't shrunk even after ejaculation, and I could sense the intense desire hidden in his voice. I really intended to do it. That thing just wouldn't calm down. I don't know if it's because I got some sleep beforehand, but the tip of my swollen shaft was glistening as if I couldn't control the power.

 

"How...how could I possibly believe that?"

 

He twirled his fingers inside as if searching for something, then paused and finally glanced up. My heart sank for a moment when I saw his gaze.

 

"Lack of stamina" was different from seeing that mad dog. Suddenly, a smirk appeared on his lips.

 

"Why can't you trust me?"

 

I was breathing heavily from the sudden halt in movement, before muttering to myself, my chest heaving violently.

 

"Well, you're the executive... Owner, and you're even planning to bring down the company's top stars. How can I be sure you'll keep your promise to the new recruit? Like me, who's only been here for two months, because your only goal is to get me..."

 

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to adjust to the disturbing foreign object in my rear passage. When there was no movement, I began to get used to the sensation. The pain intensified, allowing me to meet his gaze calmly.

 

"Once you've had me, you might secretly do something to me behind my back, just like you did to Cha Jung-woo, who knows?" The simmering emotion and the smile that had once plagued his eyes vanished in an instant. Soon, he felt the fingers that had caused him pain slowly withdraw. Get away before that hand rests on my stomach instead. The still-wet hand circles around my navel, as if its fingers are moving aimlessly.

 

"Speak your mind honestly."

 

A gentle smile replaced the emotionless look in his eyes.

 

"Are you trying to get out of this situation, or do you really think I'll betray you?"

 

"Both"

 

I spoke, resting my elbows on the bed to slightly straighten myself. The moment our eyes met, a faint fear formed, a dread that he might kill me. Yet, when I met his gaze without flinching, he unexpectedly recoiled. He smirked and mumbled as if he had something amusing he couldn't contain.

 

"This is absolutely crazy."

 

"About what"

 

"Even when you act like this, you still look cute."

 

I frowned immediately upon hearing words that were more appropriately applied to a woman, but he grinned again as if he found something incredibly amusing, before leaning down directly at me.

 

My hands were gripping his chest, and realising what he intended to do, I tried to pull my legs away, but his lips were already pressed against mine. A kiss. He kissed and sucked on the inside of my thigh before slowly lowering my leg. It was then that I tried to close my uncomfortably wide-spreading legs before shuffling along.

 

"There's only one thing that would make me betray you." He spoke coldly before getting up and leaving the bed.

 

"That's if you've successfully taken revenge on me, and are now trying to escape from me."

 

His naked body stood facing me. I could see his still-erect penis fully erect, but I tried to avert my gaze before glancing back...

 

"My goal is to have you, that's true, but if my only goal was to have you, I wouldn't just stand there doing nothing when I'm trembling with desire."

 

Unconsciously, I lowered my gaze to that part of him again.

 

"If it's not for that, then what else could it be?"

 

I tried to avert my gaze from his erect penis before asking calmly, but strangely, despite the unease that permeated my mind, I remained composed. Deep down, why does my heart race at his words and at that erection of his?

 

"Do not know"

 

I looked up when I heard the answer suddenly blurt out. "So, you're saying you don't know?" he added softly as he walked towards the room.

 

"After I finish showering, I'll explain everything about Cha Jung-woo to you. Because if I don't get a little cold water on me now, I'll probably end up eyeing you."

 

After he left, I realised I was sitting on the bed in an awkward position, wearing only a revealing shirt over my naked body. The front was so open it offered absolutely nothing to conceal. Even worse... while taking off my shirt, I realised the button had been ripped off completely. Doesn't this guy know how to unbutton things properly?

 

After showering in another bathroom in the house and coming out wearing only pants, I saw him sitting on the sofa in the living room. He was looking at something and asked me...Without looking up.

 

"Are you hungry yet?"

 

I glanced at the wall clock. It was seven twenty. Although I hadn't slept for long, I felt like I'd had a full night's sleep and was incredibly refreshed. A moment passed. Later, realising it was a disturbing thought, I quickly dismissed it. Sleeping next to that idiot wouldn't refresh me at all, and besides, when I woke up, all my freshness would be drained away.

 

"Aren't you going to the company?"

 

I slumped down beside him, resting my damp head on the sofa's backrest. I closed my eyes for a moment, then felt fingertips touch my face. I jumped, startled. Then, when I opened my eyes, I saw him running his hand across my cheek, stroking my damp hair.

 

"Are you trying to stop me from going?"

 

"I asked if you weren't going to the company."

 

"I asked you first if you were hungry."

 

I realised then that I had ignored his question first. I felt like I had lost something, so I didn't reply immediately, before tilting my head to the side. I was ready to clench my lips in anger instead.

 

"I'm not very hungry."

 

"Anyway, grab something to eat to tide you over. We can go have lunch together before heading to the company."

 

He glanced at his watch, finished making his plan, and then suddenly added in a firm voice, "You can't take the train; you can take the subway."

 

"Why? Are you afraid the first subway train hasn't run yet?"

 

He smirked, a smile playing on both sides of his lips. Though familiar with that smile, it seemed to draw my attention more and more.

 

"No, I'm afraid that if I can't resist and take off your shirt on the train, you'll be embarrassed in front of everyone." 

 

If that happened, it would be even more fun. I could send you to jail as a pervert! While thinking that, his eyes suddenly caught sight of a script. In his hand was the script that Han-soo had given me to read yesterday. Realising I was watching him, he lowered his gaze as well.

 

"Shall I tell you something interesting? Actually, Cha Jung-woo is also eyeing the lead role in the upcoming drama set to air next year. To be honest, he is one of the few actors who has a high probability of getting a leading role."

 

"Then why are you trying to get rid of him?"

 

I recalled the voice of Cha Jung-woo's former manager, which was included in the audio file. The way that former manager said "Jung-woo, the broker," and then called him by name.

Director Yoon, whose name I misheard as 'Yoon' or 'Sunny,' definitely meant he was reporting to that lunatic. The former manager was probably also informing him that they were recording, as Director Yoon had ordered. I don't understand why that guy would try to destroy such valuable company assets before revealing the far-too-simple answer.

 

"Because he was trying to escape."

 

Suddenly, the word "escape" that he had said in the bedroom flashed through my mind, and I was stunned. But his next words meant something different.

 

"I found out that he's been in contact with other companies while his contract only has six months left. Cha Jung-woon is a big-name actor. If there's still time left on his contract, it's normal for someone else to contact him sooner or later, but the problem is that he actually intends to leave the agency."

 

"So you're going to destroy him before he becomes someone else's commodity?"

 

The slow, drawn-out voice that came from his mouth sounded cold. I felt as if, after a day, the anger and shock I felt when I first found out would vanish. The initial suspicion that he was behind the Cha Jung-gok affair was dismissed. He nodded indifferently at my question.

 

"It's obvious. If they're on the same side, they're products. But if they switch to another side, they become a pain in the ass."

 

".."

 

"Luckily, Cha Jung-woo was already determined to get rid of the manager who had propelled him to this point. So, I was able to handle it easily without needing to persuade his manager at all."

 

Suddenly, I remembered something the "Disease Manager" said for the first time.  Cha-jung asked his manager if he was the culprit and then went on a huge rampage.

So that's what his former manager said: "You're the one who betrayed him." 

 

Even so, I still don't understand. Cha Jung-woo isn't just a mid-level star; he's a top star, isn't he?

 

"Wouldn't it be better to persuade him to renew his contract than to destroy the relationship? Better than trying to mould another top star of that calibre. It's much better to train new people."

 

He interrupted me, then smiled kindly, as if he were explaining something to a child.

"Stars usually rise to fame because their agency nurtures them, except for a few who become famous on their own. The rest are all trained by their agencies. Those are Just princes and princesses appearing on TV with the glamorous image the masses want to see. Top stars like Cha Jung-woo? I can promise I can push you to that point within two years. Because those who are everywhere in the industry are all just puppets. But those with sky-high egos don't realise that and forget their origins. Those puppets."

 

The word "puppet," used to refer to inanimate objects, sounded strangely chilling. I realised that in his eyes, the stars under his management weren't even people. No, perhaps he thought of them all as subordinates to be commanded. Suddenly, I wondered how he viewed me, but realising it was a silly question, I dismissed it from my mind.

 

"The evidence that you ordered Cha Jung-woo's former manager to record, you're the one who leaked that evidence, aren't you? And you also leaked it to Myungshin and the employees. That person involved also got caught in the crossfire."

 

"I don't need to get my hands dirty with my own hands," he shrugged, as if it were killing two birds with one stone.

 

"Actually, it doesn't necessarily have to be Chung Myungshin. If you gave the information that could completely destroy Cha Jung-woo to any other actor, anyone would find a way to expose the actor. That's right. But since the opportunity has arrived, I thought I'd use this to drag Chung Myungshin into it and wipe him out as well. That is, if you hadn't already declared your intention to take revenge yourself."

 

"Are you planning to use this scandal as an opportunity to destroy Myungshin?"

 

"Well... something like that. And the timing just worked out perfectly. I needed to expose more evidence before Cha Jung-woo was summoned for questioning by the police. The testimony was given in order to provide an intriguing bait for the reporters."

 

The tempting bait refers to the snake-hunting man who has to report to the police station, right?

 

"If you want this to become an ongoing issue, you'll need to release evidence every two or three days, and Cha Jung-woo will be trembling like a dog. Even so, I didn't expect to completely destroy Chung Myungshin with this."

 

Then he murmured softly, "But at least we've managed to remove some of the thorns."

 

I wanted to ask what he meant, but I chose to ask a different question instead, because it sounded like he was implying he could get rid of Cha Jung-woo in one fell swoop. So, Chung Myungshin is more difficult to deal with, huh?

 

"Is it because Myungshin has Chairman Kim backing him?"

 

"Ah, you don't have to worry about that person."

 

"..."

 

"Why are you smiling?"

 

How could I not smile?

 

"Doesn't it sound like you're worried about me? That's too much for someone whose only goal is to get me." 

 

I thought the crazy guy would retort something typical of him in the next sentence, but he remained silent. Then, suddenly, he jumped up from his seat. Before saying a few parting words, he turned and walked away.

 

"Let's get ready to go out."

 

What? Is that all you said? Why did you act so taken aback? After he slammed the door shut and walked out of the room, I realised he thought he had won the argument for the first time, but he wasn't happy at all; instead, he felt more irritated. My heart started beating faster again for no reason when I saw his reaction—I was speechless and unable to argue back.

 

He said I ate too much this morning? I focused on my breathing to relieve the indigestion while watching the scenery pass by in the luxurious car as it drove smoothly. It's all that idiot's fault. He saw how much food I ate at the hotel breakfast buffet, laughed, and provoked me, so I ended up devouring several plates. In fact, he was on the phone with someone the entire morning before he even had a proper meal. And the conversation was in a foreign language. I couldn't understand the English, but I could guess he was angry with the other party because things weren't going as he'd hoped. I remember him saying the other day that he came home late because he was waiting for contact from America. Has that matter still not been resolved?

 

After hanging up, he drove silently, without saying a word, all the way to the company. Even so, the car wasn't completely silent; there was still music playing, by a singer. An unfamiliar song was playing in the background from the stereo. Judging by one familiar pop song that had just started playing, it might be by a famous singer. When we stopped at a red light before reaching the company, I was the one who spoke first.

 

"Could you please park over there?"

 

"Why"

 

Are you asking because you don't know, or what? I glanced at him, bewildered, before he glanced back at me.

 

"If you're afraid of getting caught and becoming the subject of rumours, then the crowded sidewalk is even more terrifying," he said, driving off as soon as the traffic light changed.

 

"Oh really? The company's underground parking lot must be very safe then."

 

"So what? Even if someone from the company saw us, they'd probably think I picked you up on the way. Conversely, it would be even more surprising if they saw you getting out of a car near the company."

 

"I'm even more suspicious that there's something so outrageous that they have to hide like this."

 

After he said that, I realised it might be true. I shouldn't have gotten in this car in the first place. While I was feeling a little regretful, he raised his voice. It happened so suddenly, right when the song had just ended, and the next one was about to start. So I asked about it out of curiosity.

 

"Do you like this song?"

 

"Nothing"

 

The answer was so sharp that it immediately piqued my curiosity, and part of that curiosity was sparked by his expression. The moment the music started playing, he grinned as if remembering something, before blurting out a question out of nowhere.

 

"You haven't finished reading yet?"

 

I knew he was referring to the script that was lying on my bed, so I nodded in response.

 

"There's still a little bit left."

 

"After you've finished reading this, try reading the original text as well."

 

".."

 

"This drama is a big project for the company, so many actors are currently being considered."

 

Even though it's being called a big project, I strangely didn't feel very interested in it, as if it were far removed from me. Just as I was wondering why, I heard him… "Especially Chung Myungshin."

 

Then he glanced at me with a sly smile, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

 

"Of course, you were eyeing this role too." The thought that came so easily from his mouth sent a chill down my spine.

 

"...I never said that."

 

"You didn't say it directly, number 9. But when you said you had to approach 'Director Yoon' at first, it meant something similar. You said 'Director Yoon' wasn't just anyone. Logically, the person you need to approach first to get revenge on Chung Myung Shin is his sponsor, isn't it? Just stealing his sponsor would be enough. But you specifically mentioned 'Director Yoon,' which means you know Chung Myung Shin's plan to approach me, all because of that drama."

 

"It's number 7, isn't it?"

 

That's why I feel uncomfortable around smart people. When I look back, speechless and unable to deny anything, he...Reiterate the same thing to me again.

 

"Make sure you can read the original manuscript."

 

Then, with a cold smile, he continued speaking as if to himself.

 

"Victory belongs to those who know a lot and are always prepared."

 

Before heading up to the small conference room that was regularly used for meetings with the manager, that idiot gave me a strange parting remark, "See you in ten minutes," he mumbled. I quietly inquired about what ten minutes he was referring to, while opening the conference room door. Upon entering, I saw the manager and Han Soo anxiously waiting and greeting me loudly.

 

"Taemin! Why aren't you answering my calls?"

 

"Wow, I was so worried when I couldn't contact you!"

 

Did they call? That's when I took my phone out of my pocket and saw it was off. Curious, I pressed the power button to check the battery.

 

"Is it dead?" A light flashed on the screen, and the battery symbol showed full. "Huh? I never turn it off!" Meanwhile, the manager continued to groan. Feeling frustrated/responsible.

 

"Suddenly, I received a call from the company in the early hours of this morning asking us to meet up. I called you, but you didn't answer, so I assumed you were asleep."

 

"Or maybe not? When I called again, his phone was switched off... Taemin, are you annoyed with me?"

 

I dodged away from the manager who was trying to grab my arm before realising who it was that might have turned off my phone. Damn it! I gritted my teeth.

Tight and unexpected, Han Soo jumped and grabbed onto the other arm.

 

"I was so worried when I couldn't contact you!"

 

"Why are you so worried just because I didn't answer the phone?"

 

The moment I shook off Han Soo and replied with annoyance, I understood why he was so worried about me.

 

"Of course we're worried! Director Yoon called us all together. What are we going to do if someone as thick-skinned and shameless as you, Taemin, isn't here?" They're not worried about me; they're worried about themselves, are they? I decisively shook off the two who were trying to cling to me again, my face expressionless.

 

"Is Director Yoon a demon or something?"

 

I muttered to myself that he was definitely insane before the manager responded seriously.

 

"Fighting like a demon would be better. If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to just scream and run away?” Han Soo, who was standing beside him, nodded and added.

"Director Yoon is truly terrifying. Absolutely terrifying."

 

I looked at them both alternately with a somewhat confused expression. Outwardly, he seemed like a normally cheerful person. What was there to be afraid of?

 

"There's nothing to be afraid of, is there? They're not trying to fire us or anything."

 

Suddenly, the manager slammed his hand down with a loud thud and shouted loudly.

 

"Hey, idiot! Have you forgotten about meeting Director Yoon in city xxx? He was the one who asked me some general knowledge questions, like about the capital of Lithuania."

 

"You're so relaxed and carefree."

 

"..."

 

"That's it. That stoic expression means you've figured it out, right? We have to thank that idiot for saving us from that precarious situation."

 

"That was a very close call! What if Director Yoon asks about general knowledge when we meet again? We'd be no different than wooden chopsticks rolling around in a drawer of a Chinese restaurant—they wouldn't matter if we threw them away!"

 

I was furious for a moment, wondering why I was being lumped together with these people like a bunch of wooden chopsticks. I was about to say, "The crazy one is Director Yoon!"

 

"Well, even if they asked something like that, I'd probably answer correctly anyway," he thought, but he held back, because if those two knew that the crazy guy and Director Yoon were the same person, they might be even more terrified.

 

"Let's consider Lithuania an exception."

 

"An exception? Do you think asking about the capital of Lithuania is general knowledge?"

 

"Yes"

 

I nodded and, somewhat reluctantly, explained to the two of them, who were still in a state of shock.

 

"I heard that country has a lake that's shaped like the Korean Peninsula. That might be some general knowledge for people from our country."

 

"Look for?"

 

"Huh?"

 

They both proved themselves to be a pair of wooden chopsticks by making silly noises in unison. Actually, this isn't the time to gossip about...Aren't you afraid of Director Yoon?

 

"So there's no need to be afraid."

 

After forcefully pushing the two people who were lost in thought, they looked at each other, blinking repeatedly as if to say, "Is that so?" Han Soo then exclaimed, 

 

"Oh!"

 

It's as if what I said actually worked.

 

"That's right. Have you heard that rumour? Maybe Director Yoon really is just an ordinary person. I heard he takes the subway to work.  It happened a couple of days ago, actually."

 

I squinted beside the manager, who exclaimed in surprise, "Did the train get buried?" That rumour... don't tell me...

 

"And I even ran into one of our company's interns on the subway! Wow!"

 

Suddenly, Han Soo lowered his voice and frowned.

 

"Apparently, when they got off the train, that trainee dropped something in a rather awkward way right in front of Director Yoon. Then, he deliberately waited for him in the underground parking lot and went straight in and started flirting with him."

 

Wait a minute. While I was still wondering who we were talking about, the manager suddenly got really angry.

 

"Good heavens, what a deceitful and manipulative person!"

 

"Even more shocking, the person was a man!"

 

"What? Then... he must be called a cunning wolf, huh? I can't believe he trained his acting skills that way. What kind of manager must that kid have?"

 

"Isn't that right? It's also the manager's fault. That trainee might not have done it alone; the manager might have ordered him to. I really want to see the face of an actor under the management of someone like that."

It was me, which is why I didn't say anything. Then Han Soo, who was getting really excited, gave me more information.

 

"Speaking of the cunning wolf, huh? I was completely taken aback. I heard that trainee didn't just meet Director Yoon in the basement parking lot. But he deliberately approached him, who was with the chairman, and then sold himself out in front of them. He was so fake, it was unbelievable. Wow, his face must be reinforced with thick concrete, wouldn't you say, Mr Taemin?"

 

I stared at Han-soo silently, mentally thanking my idiot for saying I wouldn't take the subway to work again. The more I listened to Han-soo's story, the more certain I became.

 

"Anyway, because of that, it's not just the trainees, but for the past few days, a lot of new actors have been going on the subway in the mornings, causing chaos. They're all gone. What a waste. And this morning I even saw xxx or 000, who seems to be somewhat famous, while I was on the subway."

 

"That looks really chaotic."

 

I heard the manager shake his head before asking Han Soo. "You usually come by bus, don't you?"

 

The manager, hearing my question, also turned to look at Han Soo. After a closer look, he noticed that Han Soo was unusually neatly dressed and his hair was styled impeccably. Moreover, when he became the target of our gaze, he froze and immediately looked away.

 

"W-well, the bus just hasn't arrived..."

 

At first, I was going to help him recall his boast that there were six bus lines serving the company's entrance. But then I got annoyed and abandoned the idea. I wanted The conversation ended there, but the manager, who overheard the bus incident, joined in the cursing before turning to try and comfort me.

 

"Taemin, you don't need to get so worked up about that cunning wolf. Think about it, you already have an unusual relationship with Director Yoon, don't you?"

 

Don't tell me he knows that guy's crazy. I gave him a fleeting look of disbelief before the manager smiled kindly and patted my shoulder.

 

"Where else can you find such a precious relationship, like standing next to Director Yoon while he's using the restroom, huh?" The manager burst into cheerful laughter before giddyly walking out the door with Han Soo, completely forgetting his fear of Director Yoon from the start. I don't know where they went. I, still standing in the room, was so lost in thought that I didn't follow them immediately. Am I free from those two now?

 

The group of people who had gathered that morning were back together in the same place as three days ago. Myungshin, the company employee, and Chief Park arrived first. Of course, that lunatic was also there. But the situation was completely the opposite of before. Director Yoon tossed a file of documents down in front of Myungshin with a loud thud, then gestured towards the manager who had just walked in.

 

"This is the evidence they presented yesterday evening to prove their innocence."

 

"Evidence... you mean?" Myungshin asked with a serious expression as he picked up a file. He still seemed unaware of the details of the case involving former manager Cha Jung-woo. Perhaps It's possible that because I just cast one bait, they became busy searching for loopholes in the evidence they themselves fabricated. That's why, when they realised the evidence we had in store was Cha Jung-woo's contract, they started looking suspicious.

 

"What kind of evidence is this...?"

 

Myungshin was about to leave, but then he abruptly shut his mouth as if he had noticed something in the contract. He must have noticed the name of the new manager on the first line of the contract, and he stared at the paper so intently that it almost seemed to pierce through, his face showing disbelief.

 

"That's right. So what kind of evidence is it? Explain it to me."

 

Director Yoon gave the order directly to me rather than to the manager. Suddenly, Myungsin turned to face me. I saw his eyes narrow and a smile on his lips. That guy, his body slowly turning towards me, radiated an aura of malevolence as if to taunt me, "Ah, come to think of it, you once said you would get revenge on me, didn't you?"

 

"That's right. Could you please explain it to me, Mr Lee Taemin?"

 

Although he should have guessed what I was going to say after seeing the manager's name on the contract, there was no sign of panic in his eyes. Instead, the atmosphere was completely different from a few days ago. Myungshin might have changed his mind about confronting me. Seeing that I had a goal of revenge, he decided to fight me seriously instead. Myungshin probably knew that he needed unwavering determination to get rid of me, because he saw me as someone who wouldn't give up even if it meant bloodshed. So I smiled and replied.

"Do you still need an explanation after seeing that? How could someone with a brain that big memorise such lines?" The faint smile faded from Myungshin's face before a cold voice rang out.

 

"Shut up. Can't you distinguish between what's appropriate and inappropriate to say to your senior in front of others?" With that, Myungshin smirked at the manager standing next to me. "You've trained the new recruits really well."

 

"Really? I thought you were the one I trained best." The manager took a step forward and pointed to the file Myungshin was still holding. "If I were the one slandering Cha Jung-woo as you insist, he wouldn't have let me be his manager." 

 

Myungshin whirled around, as if completely discarding the cheerful facade he had been putting on in front of Director Yoon.

 

"Cha Jung-woon is so stupid. He might not even know."

 

The manager's face immediately darkened upon hearing the sarcastic retort. He stared at Myungshin with an expression that conveyed more sadness than anything else.

 

"Then you're an utter fool for making me your manager for so many years."

 

After speaking, a soft sigh was heard, tinged with the manager's lingering sadness over Myungshin. Even though he himself had been bullied to that extent, it seemed that, in his heart, there was still a part he couldn't let go of. Perhaps it was the memory of the good Myungshin that he, in the past, had nurtured. Therefore, I felt more disbelief than frustration. Those good feelings from the past still lingered in a corner of his heart. And those feelings resurfaced along with those memories. If you were to examine the manager's heart, you might see a vibrant red rather than the pale grey. Unlike my heart, which, while still holding onto the joyful memories of my time with Myungshin, felt nothing at all.

 

"If you did something wrong, please apologise, Myungshin."

 

Suddenly, the manager called out Myungshin's real name while taking another step forward.

 

"No matter how big a mistake you make, if you apologise from the heart, you will be forgiven someday." those words were spoken to Myungshin, but they left me breathless for a moment. My gaze was unconsciously fixed on the manager's back as he walked forward. He wore a shabby, faded old jacket, and his voice, as he continued speaking, echoed around me as if reverberating from afar.

"You might think it's too late and that you'll never be forgiven, but there's always one last chance. So please, I'm sorry. Don't worry, I'm not out of it yet."

 

That's too much. Apologise and admit your mistake. If you miss this opportunity..."

 

"Stop it, Mr Manager. Haven't you gotten over that childish habit of lecturing others yet? What difference does it make if you miss this opportunity? Are you trying to say I have no conscience? Huh." Myungshin chuckled and shook his head. "'You're pretending to be a good guy again just because you're in charge with Director Yoon. Don't act so smug just because you have the advantage in this matter.'"

 

Then he turned around and placed the file of documents on the table. "Director Yoon, I'm a little disappointed. Isn't this just circumstantial evidence? My testimony is pure, unequivocal evidence. So you're going to let the culprit go free just because he's Cha Jung-woo's new manager?"

 

"What if it's not just that?"

 

"Isn't that all...?"

 

"What if I had testimony that provided concrete evidence that Manager Choi was not the culprit?"

 

"How could something like that even exist?"

 

"Are you accusing me of lying for Manager Choi?" Director Yoon spoke specifically to the manager, smiling.

 

"What's so great about him? Oh, yes."

 

His gaze returned to me, and I caught a fleeting glimpse of a smile in his eyes.

 

"Maybe I did this because I wanted to sleep with someone who's only been a trainee for a few months." The room fell silent for a moment at Director Yoon's cheerful expression before Myungshin gave his answer with a strange sigh.

 

"I know it's not like that," Myungshin said, "I just don't believe there's any evidence." 

 

While Myungshin was speaking, the manager standing next to him whispered something to me. "Because he wants to sleep with you, huh? Director Yoon, he's quite the jokester."

 

"Hmm, you were surprised by Director Yoon's joke, weren't you?"

The manager spoke first, patting me lightly on the back as if to say, "It's alright." But even with the manager's reassurance, I didn't feel okay at all. Why would that crazy guy spout nonsense in front of other people? However, Director Yoon's joke temporarily eased the tense atmosphere before Myungshin took the opportunity to speak softly.

 

"Tell me that testimony, and I'll take a step back."

 

"Taking a step back is still not enough."

 

"Is that too little? I didn't do anything other than give testimony for the company. 

Do I have to take responsibility for anything?" Myungshin's voice was deep, in contrast to the forced smile on his lips. But Director Yoon unexpectedly shook his head, dispelling Myungshin's anxiety.

 

"No, I don't care whether you're responsible for company matters or not. But if that matter directly harms me, that's a different story. I would definitely demand that you take responsibility."

 

Everyone looked at Myungshin with questioning eyes, wondering what he had damaged. They were all stunned into silence when they heard about the extent of the damage from Director Yoon in the next sentence.

 

"Didn't you call me to gather here three days ago? I told you I was hoping to hear some useful information, worthy of waking me from my slumber."

"Sweetest thing in years," I heard, but...what if it's misinformation...?

"How are you going to ensure I get enough sleep?"

 

How are we supposed to take responsibility? I don't think it's just me, but everyone seems to be thinking the same thing. The reason he's determined to resolve this issue is...

Was he just annoyed that he had to wake up so peacefully while sleeping? And there was genuine irritation in his voice, so much so that no one dared to question him, wondering, "Is he joking or something?"

 

Meanwhile, Director Yoon signalled to Chief Park, who then took his cell phone out of his pocket and played an audio file for everyone to listen to simultaneously.

It was someone's phone conversation with interference.

 

"I did it all myself. I secretly recorded Cha Jung-woo's corruption to avoid military service, and I accepted money from a company employee in exchange for sending the files. I had the other party secretly release the audio clip online. I did it all myself. If you want proof, I can show you."

Although I was hearing this voice for the first time, I could recognise it without needing an explanation. This was the voice of Cha Jung-woo's former manager. Among the words he said, one phrase I heard particularly clearly was "Take the money." I couldn't help but automatically turn to look at Director Yoon. So it was you who used Cha Jung-woo's former manager to create the situation where Myungshin paid the bribe, wasn't it? He intended to trap Myungshin with this. Of course, Myungshin would seize the opportunity, thinking that the evidence to overthrow Cha Jung-woo was a windfall, completely unaware that he had fallen into Director Yoon's trap. Does this guy only need to be clever when he's causing trouble? I admire him reluctantly, before hearing Chief Park's question from the audio file.

 

"Are you a company employee? To whom did you give the audio file?"

 

Suddenly, I saw slight movement in the two people in my field of vision: Myungshin, who was clenching his fists tightly, eyes wide, and the employee...

Myungshin, who was close to him, took a step back with a pale face. But before he could move anywhere, Cha Jung-woo's former manager revealed the answer.

 

"I've sent the audio file to Assistant Kim in team xx."

 

Everyone's eyes simultaneously turned to the employee. Whether the manager had paused the audio file or not, the entire room was left with a dazed expression. In the eerie silence, the employee at its centre was trembling and muttering, as if they couldn't believe their ears.

 

"W-what nonsense are you talking about?... Didn't you say you'd keep it a secret...?" 

 

He flinched, then looked at everyone with a panicked expression before opening his mouth to speak.

 

"N-no, it wasn't me. M-Director Yoon, I didn't..." Then the employee turned to Myungshin and pointed his finger. "It was...it was Chung Yoo-han who gave the orders..."

 

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

 

A shrill, piercing voice immediately cut in. The employee stood there, mouth agape and frozen, staring at Myungshin in stunned disbelief, his face showing that he could not believe the other man would say those words to him, but Myungshin only raised his voice in frustration.

 

"You're lying to drag others into this, aren't you? Me? The one who gave the orders? Ordered what? Where's the evidence?"

 

"Y-Yoo-Han, what are you saying...? Are you betraying me?"

 

"Betrayal? Just because I became a little friendly with someone, you're trying to drag me into it? Don't misunderstand, you're the one who did this yourself, aren't you?"

 

"It's my fault for believing your words and blaming Manager Choi, only to be betrayed like this."

 

The employee, barely able to support his trembling legs, leaned against a nearby table. His face was pale, as if he were about to faint, and he could only gag, speechless like an idiot. Myungshin stared coldly at the employee before taking a few steps back, as if declaring his innocence. Then he turned to Director Yoon, who was grinning as if he found the situation amusing.

 

"Was that person really the culprit? I was very surprised, Director Yoon."

 

"They seemed really shocked too. They said it was you, Chung Yoo-han, who gave the orders, right?"

 

"No, I never ordered anything like that," Myungshin replied in a firm voice, then gritted his teeth for a moment before lowering his head and looking down as if making a decision. The employee, who was breathing heavily, took the opportunity to shout out.

 

"Don't listen to what Chung Yoo-han says! He's the one who ordered me to do it! I confirm that Chung Yoo-han ordered everything!"

 

"Shut your mouth right now!" Myungshin roared in a low voice, his face contorted in a terrifying way. It was a Myungshin I had never seen before, as if it were a real person. His true self had changed; he was no longer an imitation of a famous actor.

 

"Song Yoo-han, you...how could you do this to me? I helped you so much to get to this point..."

 

"Stop rambling, you idiot!"

 

"Stop rambling, huh? After hearing that, you're still saying that? The money I gave to Cha Jung-woon's former manager was money you told me to give him. Remember that?"

 

"Can you tell me where you gave me that money? I met you at the bar. I had a hidden camera in my bag."

The employee's chest heaved as he panted, gripping the chair so tightly that his knuckles turned white and swollen.

 

"Haha, I secretly recorded a video because I was afraid something like this would happen someday, but I never thought I'd actually use it. Song Yoo-han, you think you can save yourself? Really? Don't be so dramatic."

 

The loud laughter, coupled with the employee's pale face, gave off a strange feeling. When Myung-shin finally fell silent, he turned to look at Director Yoon.

 

"Now you know, all of this is because of Choi Yoo-han. He's the one who ordered me to do it from the beginning..."

 

"I told you to talk less."

 

"Huh? Didn't you hear me? I said I secretly filmed it..."

 

"So what?"

 

Myungshin questioned the employee in return before turning to look at Director Yoon with a surprisingly calm expression, and a faint smile spreading across his face. His face, which didn't at all match the disadvantageous situation he was facing, remained calm and insistent while everyone wondered what was going on.

 

"I didn't do it. I'm the victim. I was just tricked by that guy, so I gave false testimony against Manager Choi. I hope Director Yoon will believe me."

 

"Why should I believe you?"

 

"Because...that's why."

 

A faint whisper drifted over. The others looked as if they didn't understand Myungshin's words, except for the crazy guy who seemed to grasp what he meant, grinning widely, revealing his dimples, and glaring fiercely at the others. The reason for this was Myungshin's repeated words, this time louder and clearer. "Because of Dream Production"

 

Myungshin closed his mouth as if he had explained the whole story in a single sentence, before Director Yoon interrupted him.

 

"What does 'Dream Production' mean?"

 

"..."

 

"Mr Chung Yoo-han, please explain in more detail. I don't understand."

 

Myungshin didn't just see through Director Yoon's smile; even I knew it was a lie. He understood exactly what Myungshin was trying to convey. He already knew, but he probably wanted to hear it clearly from the other person's own mouth, as if to confirm whether his thoughts were correct. After a moment of silence, Myungshin spoke briefly.

 

"Dream Production might get taken over."

 

It was still an explanation I didn't understand, but Director Yoon didn't ask any further questions. Myungshin probably saw his reaction and spoke in a cheerful tone.

As the earlier anxiety dissipated, the atmosphere changed instantly, as if everything had become so easy in the blink of an eye.

 

"Of course, I'm not saying this because anyone is interfering with Director Yoon's personal investments in America," Myungshin said slowly, his smile fading from Director Yoon's face. He looked at Myungshin before speaking.

 

"Obstructing? Does that mean that old man is going to get into this business too?"

 

"Yes", Myungshin answered Director Yoon's question easily with a smile.

 

"I've been on Director Yoon's side from the very beginning. Therefore, you must believe my word. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to turn my back on Director Yoon."

 

He spoke the last sentence clearly. It was then that I understood the reason Myungshin dared to reveal his true identity to Director Yoon so casually. He realised that a simple smile wouldn't work. The problem was, President Kim must be planning something behind the scenes. That's why Myungshin made such a drastic offer. And what was it? Dream Production is a drama production company under Dream Entertainment, right? Furthermore, they said there was interference with Director Yoon's work in America. While I was trying to piece together what I didn't understand, I heard a weary reply from Director Yoon.

 

"So that's it. You, Choi Yoo-han, are on my side, huh?" He spread his lips into a wide grin and stared at Myung-shin coldly.

 

"Then I guess I'll have to side with you, Chung Yoo-han, too," a triumphant smile spread across Myungshin's face as he met his gaze.

 

"Thank you, Director Yoon. That's truly worthy of you." Director Yoon turned to Chief Park while listening to Myungshin's compliment.

"Did you hear that? Mr Chung Yoo-han has nothing to do with this. Let's end this by punishing Assistant Kim," Assistant Kim, hearing this, shouted something completely unreasonable before Chief Park dragged him out of the meeting room. I watched the person who had been making a fuss leave and finally understood what that lunatic meant. He meant that even if Myung-shin couldn't completely eliminate him, he could still remove some of the obstacles. That obstacle was that assistant, wasn't it? As soon as Assistant Kim left, the door closed, and an awkward silence fell once again. Myung-shin seemed pleased that Director Yoon had backed down a bit, looking at me and the manager with a scornful smile, as if to say, "No matter how likely you are to win, you can never surpass me."

 

"Manager Choi, you told me to apologise before it's too late, right? I'm sorry. I just assumed you would cause the same trouble you've done in the past. Once again, I apologise. Will you forgive me?" His face brightened even more when he saw the manager's gloomy expression.

 

"If we meet again, I will welcome you very warmly."

 

Anyone could understand the hidden meaning in that cheerful tone. Myungshin meant, "Next time, I'm going to stomp you to pieces!" And with that, He glared at me disdainfully, as if to say, "So I'm even in this room?" before turning to Director Yoon.

 

"I'm relieved that the culprit has been caught. Since we're talking now, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to arrange a private meeting with you sometime. Yes, there's someone who really wants to meet Director Yoon."

 

He retorted with a smile, "Really?" before easily agreeing. "I'd like to meet him sometime as well. Just let me know when you've set a date, and I'll host the meeting."

 

"Yes, he would surely be pleased. He enjoys socialising with people."

 

"That's great then." Director Yoon smiled slightly before turning sharply towards me.

"Since I know they enjoy socialising with people, why not have these two go together?"

 

Myungshin immediately turned around and glared at the manager. It seemed he thought the director was persuading the manager standing next to me.

 

"Director Yoon, I appreciate your suggestion, but I think Manager Choi won't like it," Myungshin stared at the manager as if to say, "Isn't that right?" before continuing. "Because Manager Choi is avoiding someone under your command," he didn't specify who, but seeing the manager's pale face, it was clear he was referring to that mad dog.

 

"Manager Choi, I was right, wasn't I?"

 

"....Hmm."

 

I don't know if the manager suddenly got scared of that mad dog or what, but he mumbled a reply with difficulty. Myungshin, who seemed pleased, turned to look at me while I spoke to Director Yoon.

 

"I think it wouldn't be appropriate to involve this trainee. There's no need to call him in..."

 

"Mr Lee Taemin, won't you be coming with us?"

 

He asked me about Myungshin's role. I shook my head, feeling as if we had just made serious eye contact for the first time since stepping foot inside.

 

"No, I'm going too."

 

Then I turned to thank Myungshin, who was frowning. "Thank you for inviting me. I'd love to participate fully." Han Soo chattered nonstop on the way to the filming location, while his manager said only that he had to drive and looked noticeably gloomy. Occasionally, it seems like I'm thinking about Myungshin. 

 

I was thinking about this morning too, but I'm more bothered by that crazy guy. If Chairman Kim is going to obstruct this lunatic's work like this, then ultimately, he probably won't have to obey Chairman Kim's orders, right? Perhaps he himself is incredibly hard to overcome the obstacles, as evidenced by his work enthusiasm, even sacrificing sleep. When we first met, he was working late into the night, even going up to the rooftop. Then there was his attempt to build his workspace in Alice's maze, his constant dedication to his work. But his overconfidence completely obscured his genuine effort.

 

Therefore, I felt like I had just discovered a side of him I had never seen before, even though that side had been right in front of me all along. He worked so hard, sacrificing sleep, that even I couldn't do it. Perhaps the reason I trusted he would win, despite my worries about President Kim, was this—that his overconfidence wasn't due to excessive self-assurance but rather to the fact that he was trying incredibly hard.

 

I scanned the dialogueless suicide scene in the swaying car for the hundredth time, and in the process, nonsensical thoughts kept creeping in. It was enough to get me some rest. Suddenly, I found myself standing in mid-air, somewhere unknown. In my mind, scenes formed one by one, overlapping the empty, white space: the grey cement rooftop, the chest-high iron railings resting on the ground, the iron door slamming shut behind me with a loud bang, and finally, the backdrop of nothing but the sky.

 

Okay, let's go fishing.

 

The moment my body fell into the void, someone's voice shattered the space in my head into pieces.

 

"Taemin, aren't you getting out of the car?"

 

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself on the film set.