PAYBACK BOOK 2.

Chapter 6.2

The arthritis guy who was taking care of us in the manager's place was a man of few words. When Han-soo and I went to the magazine advertising audition, he was completely silent, even dozing off.

 

When I saw patches of white hair, I realised it was a small flyer shoot, just as my manager had said. We easily agreed, changed clothes, and went for the shoot, which took only a few takes. They said we'd be shooting the sponsor's commercial in this kind of atmosphere, focusing more on the product than on us. Then we started shooting.

 

After a shoot that took all afternoon, everyone was finally exhausted and starving. Although Han Soo looked better on camera, his nervousness made him look ten years older after filming. Then we gazed at the arthritis-averse uncle who was still comfortably dozing off in his chair.

 

"If I were the manager, I would have bought a kimbap and been waiting, but that old man is lying there drooling." Upon closer inspection, there was a dried white trace of saliva clinging to the edge of the old man's open mouth.

 

"Our manager probably couldn't stop praising how great we were after the shoot, and that really made all our tiredness disappear. But the more I looked at that old man, the more tired I felt."

 

After listening to Han Soo talk, I felt even more tired.

 

"Let's go remove our makeup and then come back."

 

I urged Han Soo on through my gaze, and he finally nodded listlessly before asking as if puzzled.

 

"By the way, who are you waiting for to contact you?"

 

"Hee?"

 

"That phone, sir."

 

When Han Soo pointed to my hand, I realised I was holding my phone. When I told him I wasn't waiting for anyone to contact me, Han Soo said he wanted to take a shower first.

 

"I'll be right back," he said, and then ran off. Even so, when he returned, I was still glued to my phone, my head down. I was waiting for that jerk to contact me, even though I could contact him first. I don't know why I'm still waiting for him to reach out first. Then I realised what I was doing and shoved my phone back into my pants pocket. Soon, unconsciously, I began to wonder if he might have contacted me while I wasn't looking.

 

I was just wondering about the situation at the company that Chief Park told me about this morning, that's all. Even though I've said that to myself countless times, I still can't find a reason to do this. I'm not used to waiting with such anxiety and frustration. Finally, after deciding to send a message, I felt a short 'creed' vibration. My phone notified me that I had received a message, but I didn't open it right away.

 

My breathing quickened strangely, and my head was filled with anticipation. Was it him? Before I could read the message, a sense of tension crept in. Instead of anxiety and frustration, the moment I looked at the screen, all those feelings vanished as if by magic. It was just a short, single sentence, as usual, but I felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

 

[Come to Alice]

 

I handed the script to Han Soo before heading to Alice's Labyrinth. Although it took me quite a while to read it, the content was the best I've ever read. I've read it before. Actually, the plot is quite clichéd: the protagonist searches for clues about their long-lost father and ends up getting involved in various situations. Nevertheless, there are some unexpected and unconventional plot twists, as well as parts that make you think about certain things. 

 

This is why people say this novel has received overwhelming popularity; it is probably true, because, besides the screenplay being written in simple dialogue and scene descriptions, even I, who don't like reading, was hooked.  One unique aspect is the pop song interspersed throughout the novel's first half. It's a song the protagonist's father liked, and he had hidden a code in it. The protagonist listened to this song frequently. It was very important to him because he initially got the clues from a Korean translation of the lyrics. Later, he pieced together vocabulary from the lyrics, searched for English versions, and eventually solved the mystery.

 

"What song is this part of?"

 

Han Soo, who was putting the script into his bag, turned to look at me with a surprised expression. Why is he looking at me like that? When I raised one eyebrow, that expression disappeared instantly, but a glimmer of disbelief remained in his eyes.

 

"Don't you know this song?"

 

"..."

 

"Wait a minute, how could you not know this famous song?"

 

"...But perhaps they wouldn't know."

 

I immediately lowered my fist as Han Soo's voice faded. Even so, he looked into my eyes as if he wanted to say something else, but ultimately just sent the music file to my phone before we parted ways.

 

"This is the song. Give it a listen. I'm sure you'll exclaim, 'Ah, so this is it!'" Han teased me, wondering if my old phone could even play music, before tossing me the earphones and running off without waiting for me to tell him. 

 

As soon as I pressed play, I heard it. The song sounded familiar, but it was a different kind of familiarity. As I headed towards Alice's maze, I pondered for a while where I'd heard it before. Just as I arrived, I remembered it was the same song I'd heard in that jerk's car earlier. I recalled his expression as he turned up the volume after the song started playing. He probably turned it up because he remembered the TV show, or maybe he was worried about the Dream Productions being taken away. 

 

My unease about him widened again. I suppressed my remaining discomfort, feeling neither happy nor unhappy, and went down to the ground floor, only to be met with a familiar face I hadn't seen in a long time.

 

"Please come in, Mr Two Hundred Won."

 

The club manager must have been informed in advance that I would be here. He, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, gave me his usual smile. I nodded. Instead of a polite greeting, he was about to walk towards the madman's office as usual, but the madman stopped him.

 

"The boss wants to see you first."

 

After that, the club manager led us to the boss's room. I didn't follow immediately. He said, "You want to see me?" He probably wasn't laughing at a joke.

 

Two hundred won just for one person, and besides, he's someone I really didn't want to see. But even though I tried to hide my expression before entering the boss's office, it was useless, because the boss noticed the moment he looked at me.

 

"Oh, Lord Hundred Won, you're here... Hmm, why the long face?"

 

My face must have been very obvious as I was suppressing my frustration, afraid you'd say something even more outrageous. But even if I hadn't shown it, the feeling was conveyed, and the boss smirked, as if he knew everything.

 

"Is that so? I understand. You're nervous, aren't you? Wondering what kind of incredibly eloquent and impressive magic awaits you this time? Haha! Actually, my jokes that day were pretty brilliant!"

 

Or maybe the boss dreams of being an actor too? Otherwise, people wouldn't be able to act like they're in a play. The really annoying one is me. I gradually adjusted to my boss's behaviour until it became normal, and thought to myself, "At least I should be a little more sensible," before asking him curtly.

 

"Do you have anything to say?"

 

"I think I'm sometimes quite quick-witted. Hmm, no, I didn't mean to say anything in particular. I just wanted to see your face."

 

"Now that you've  seen your face, I'll take my leave."

 

I slammed the door shut with a loud "bang" after I finished speaking and walked out immediately. Although I felt like I could hear a "Huh?" coming through the door, I continued walking forward. Ignoring everything, I suddenly felt irritated by that idiot who'd made me a two-hundred-won fool. 

 

Before opening the door to his office, I found the crazy guy with black glasses sitting behind his desk, just as I'd expected. When I saw him, I couldn't help but frown. When I realised that the person who had burst in without knocking was me, he smiled, very relaxed. It was a smile that made me completely forget what I had been thinking. My gaze was drawn to his smiling face, and I unconsciously held my breath, as if time had stopped, until I heard his voice

 

"What's wrong?"

 

My brain, which had momentarily stopped processing, hesitated deeply when I heard the deep, resonant voice enter my ears. I watched him slowly rise from his seat before realising that I was still standing by the door. That moment might have been just a fraction of a second, but it felt unusually long to me, making me even more hesitant. Seeing that crazy guy suddenly get serious, I walked into the room. When I playfully asked, "What is it?" as if nothing had happened, he narrowed his eyes and watched my movements.

 

"Do you have a problem?"

 

This time, I answered, "No," before sitting down on the sofa, avoiding his gaze. The feeling of hesitation and not being myself should have disappeared.

 

"Go now," but it still clung to my beating heart. Why am I like this? I think I must be making a grim face because I'm in a situation I don't understand and am unfamiliar with. The crazy guy who slumped down beside me asked again.

 

"Why are you making that face?"

 

"How does my face look?"

 

As he turned back to ask curtly, a smile spread across his lips, but I didn't smile along with him.

 

"Because you looked at me with a grumpy face, like you didn't want to be invited to do anything."

 

I could sense his anger from his cold tone. Even so, I thought it was better than having it revealed that my furious expression was actually due to shock at his smile.

 

"I always give you a disapproving look." I blurted it out, then looked away again, afraid my lie wouldn't be convincing. But he kept staring at me from the side, and that only made me feel worse. Things got really awkward.

 

"I greeted you because you look different today."

 

Different, huh? I couldn't help but glance at him, only to meet his gaze that seemed to devour me.

 

"Well, you look different than usual."

 

"..."

 

"Tell me what happened."

 

Even though I'm usually speechless when I hear that crazy guy's ridiculous question, this time I was genuinely speechless. There was nothing really going on, so why would I give it a thumbs up?

 

"Did you meet Chung Myungshin? Or President Kim... that's even more impossible." At the sound of the soft voice, he felt puzzled. Why would President Kim be impossible?

 

"I asked if you went to see Chung Myungshin again."

 

I don't know if it's because no matter how much he thinks, all he can think of is Myungshin, which is why he's demanding an answer so aggressively. For a moment, I thought about bringing Myungshin here. He claimed he would eventually give up the idea, but he acted as if, should he notice the atmosphere change because of Myungshin, he would grab my hand and drag me away to scold Myungshin.

 

"I'm just tired." I hesitated before lowering my eyes. When I glanced up again, I saw that his gaze had softened slightly. He still seemed puzzled, but then he understood.

 

"Okay, I've heard that when people are tired, the atmosphere around them just changes." 

 

Wasn't that you? And you're shamelessly talking as if it's someone else's problem? Because of the awkwardness, I felt hesitant.

 

"Well, yes, there really are people like that."

 

I screamed in my head at every word he said, "That's you, Mr Director!" But he went along with it so easily, just like a complete lunatic.

 

"Even though this is the first time I've seen you, it seems you're that kind of person."

Why does just talking to him make me feel so frustrated? Even though I've learned from experience that I can never win an argument, I still secretly and subtly mocked him.

 

"It's great that this is the first time you've met someone like me."

 

"I don't know. If I saw someone like you, I'd probably be annoyed."

 

Just as I was starting to feel annoyed, wondering if I was being irritating or something, he stared blankly into the distance and continued speaking as if he were talking to himself.

 

"But now that you've done that, I don't feel annoyed anymore."

 

Then, he looked at me without thinking and added...But I actually felt good about it, because it was like you were being whiny with me."

 

"..."

 

"You're acting really strange today. Normally you'd be stern and tell me to stop talking nonsense."

 

"Don't talk nonsense."

 

He smiled, his eyes crinkling as if he couldn't contain his amusement. It was a smile I was becoming familiar with lately; not a cold, feigned smile on his face, but in his eyes. I didn't smile along. Seeing his cheerful smile, a tingling sensation welled up in my heart. I suppressed the trembling, almost unsettling feeling, but still couldn't bring myself to speak. 

 

When I stood still and said nothing, he stopped smiling and raised his hand, his expression serious.

 

"You must be very tired."

 

He reached out and ran his hand through my hair, and when I tried my best to turn my face away from his touch, he grinned widely and pointed to the sofa.

 

"Then rest here. I'm waiting for someone to contact me, so I can't go home yet."

 

Then he stood up and walked to the table. I stared at his movements for a moment before something important occurred to me.

 

"Why did you call me here?"

 

He sat down on the chair before glancing towards the table.

 

"That book on the table."

 

It's the same as the script I once read. I saw a hardcover book in a haphazard pile, and my eyes were immediately drawn to the title on the cover. Because it was called…"Here, take this and read it."

 

At first, I was thinking of giving him a sarcastic reply, but then I remembered the look on his face when he said, "Don't talk nonsense," and I abandoned the idea. I picked up that heavy book because I had planned on reading it anyway. When I saw on the cover that it was volume one, I became curious. What was going on? How many volumes were there in this series? That's when he explained it to me, as if he could read my mind.

 

"It's only three volumes long. I'll finish reading it in no time."

 

For someone like me, who spends days reading a script to the end—that "soon" could mean weeks—I dislike the fact that I suddenly did it.

 

Following that guy's greedy orders, I opened the hardcover book, wondering if I should throw it away. But then I saw someone's handwriting inside.

 

"Your two hundred won. Enjoy your reading!"

 

Then there was a name I'd never seen before written below that text. No, I'd seen this name before, on the front cover. I realised it was the author's name. The book's cover page was read in silence for a moment before the reader finally spoke, having just remembered something important.

 

"Damn, how did he get an autograph under the name '200 Won'?"

 

The neurotic person, working while staring at the screen, paused for a moment before replying without much thought.

 

"Well, I like the name 'Two Hundred Won'."

 

"You like the name 'Two Hundred Won', huh?"

 

He was typing, so he replied briefly, "Yes." After a moment, he added...Because it's the name I gave you."

 

Upon hearing his answer, which seemed to imply that it had to be that way, I frowned and tried to ignore the strange heat building up in my chest.

 

"Did you call me here to give me this book?"

 

I turned around and saw Director Yoon, wearing glasses, intently staring at the screen. Before his answer was heard, the sound of small keyboard clicks accompanied it.

 

Tap tap

"I just wanted to see your face, that's all."

 

I only found out the screenplay was based on this book after flipping through a couple of pages. Actually, I was a little worried about when I'd actually get to read the book. This thick book is almost finished, and I thought I'd get bored with its length before I finished it. But after flipping to the first page, all my worries vanished.

 

The protagonist's monologue, which begins with a cold, indifferent tone amid a normal new day, only made me even more anticipatory, even though I already knew from the script what it would be. What will happen next? That's right, the protagonist will go outside, listening to their father's favourite pop songs as usual, before getting involved in the first incident, right?

 

I've been transported into the protagonist's world before the events unfolded, and I've lost track of time, probably because I'm reading very slowly. Then, when I sensed something and looked up, I realised that in the hour that had passed, I had only read a few dozen pages.

 

"It was fun, wasn't it?"

 

I don't know when that crazy guy made me look up from my book and end up here. Before I knew it, he was sitting beside me, staring at me, just like before. I felt incredibly awkward letting someone else see me so engrossed in something, so I replied curtly.

 

"I've only read a little bit of the story so far; I don't know yet."

 

He tilted his head to the side before blurting it out. "Don't tell me you said that intentionally because you were embarrassed."

 

The moment I gave him a sharp look that said, "Huh? You're talking nonsense," he smirked again, in a good mood.

 

"There's no point in staring like that, because no matter what you do, it's always interesting. But if someone else did it, I'd be too obvious."

 

"I'm all worn out."

 

"It's better to do it that way, and then I can get revenge on you," he finally chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling into a smile.

 

"Damn it, this just makes me even more aroused."

 

A look of desire flashed in his eyes as he uttered a soft, almost whispered curse. I stared at him with an emotionless face, as if creating a shield. I was defending myself, and he spoke up as if to reassure me.

 

"I'm not doing it. Right now, sleep is more important."

 

After speaking, he glanced at the book and asked if I wanted to continue reading. I should have replied that if he were finished, I'd like to leave, but I swallowed my words. The words were spoken exactly as they were.

 

"I think I'll read a little more." I replied coldly, before he suddenly leaned towards me as if to say, "That's good then." While I was still startled and wondering what he was going to do, he pushed my hand that was holding the book up and, taking advantage of the moment, rested his head on my lap.

 

"What are you doing?"

 

I was so stunned by his actions that I could only ask what he was doing with a book suspended in mid-air. Actually, I could have just smacked him on the head. Then no, I actually intended to do that, but that guy, who was sleeping soundly, mumbled something groggily.

 

"I am sleepy"

 

Then he folded his arms and began breathing in a steady rhythm. His eyelids were tightly closed, making one wonder if he had truly fallen asleep. His body would relax automatically soon, I murmured, watching the other person fall asleep without taking off their glasses.

 

"I'll push you so hard you'll roll on the ground."

 

Despite my threats, his chest still rose and fell, only his breathing sounding. He looked so defenceless that my will to fight vanished. Even so, being a pillow for this lunatic? Am I going crazy from being around him? 

 

Despite the shock, I eventually lowered my eyes and continued reading the book in my hand without pushing him away. Strangely, not only did the words not sink in, but my gaze kept circling to his sleeping face. Get a grip, I murmured, forcing my eyes to focus on the book in front of me. 

 

After I had refocused on my book for a short while, I began to hear strange, disturbing noises. They were faint whispers, so soft I thought they were the sound of wind drifting in from outside. I set my book aside and focused on listening for the sound, finally discovering its source.

 

Although the sound was so faint that I had to strain to listen, I could tell it was people talking, so I quickly closed the book. There must be someone at the door; even though I'm on the same side as that lunatic, I still felt uneasy. Was someone spying on us here? I made to get up, but stopped short because someone was sleeping on me. A thought flashed through my mind: if I moved, he might wake up. So maybe it's better to ignore the sound. Thinking that, I calmed myself down and exhaled. Damn it, whether he wakes up or not, it doesn't matter. I glanced down at him, carefully cradled his head in my hand, and stood up, just as he gently lowered his head. He was still asleep on the sofa.

 

Just then, I heard the familiar, unsettling voice again and realised my original purpose. I quietly approached the door and pressed my ear against it. Although the sound was faint through the small gap, I could barely make out what was being said. It was the sound of two people arguing behind the door.

 

"Something's definitely going on inside. That hundred-won guy's acting differently today. My gut feeling's telling me right," the club owner said, followed by a soft reply from someone else.

 

"He's just like always."

 

That person was definitely the club manager, but the owner still insisted on his own opinion.

 

"No, something's different. He can't fool me. If something unexpected happens, it might become three hundred won." 

 

Damn it! I swallowed the curse that almost escaped my throat. The club owner's voice, mentioning three hundred won, was full of anticipation. Then the club manager dissuaded the owner as if he already knew the meaning of "three hundred won."

 

"Then you definitely shouldn't watch him, right? You might get misunderstood and thought to be a pervert."

 

"I'm family. I was just worried and keeping an eye on things. What kind of misunderstanding could there be?"

 

"In that case, you'd probably be mistaken for a family member with a mental illness."

 

"Hey, where did you get the idea that I'm a psychopath...?" The boss yelled first, then immediately lowered his voice.

 

"Ahem, we haven't heard anyone yet. As long as those two aren't using gags and doing *that* kind of thing, we can still eavesdrop without any problem."

 

"No one is as normal as the boss."

 

"Yes, and you know, club manager, sometimes you're too cold to me," the boss said sadly. The club manager replied in an even sadder tone. 

 

"If you're old, who in this world understands a boss better than me...?" I clearly heard the word "me" at the end of the sentence because I opened the door and listened directly.

 

"Well, at least I have one... *gasp!*"

 

The club owner and the manager, who were squatting side by side in front of the door, jumped in surprise and fell backwards, landing hard on their bottoms. Even though the owner was strange, the manager's reaction was completely unexpected, making me stare at him intently, as if scrutinising him. The manager, perhaps sensing that he shouldn't have done that, showed a startled expression for the first time. Even so, he got up with his usual robotic smile and made excuses as if nothing had happened.

 

"We're just measuring the length of the door frame for interior repairs, right, boss?"

 

"Ahem, yes, I'm inspecting the door frame to repair the inside."

 

The boss's automatic lies were useless when he spoke in a strange voice. I thought I couldn't let it slide any longer, so I opened it.

 

"Do you have anything to say?"

 

While standing by the half-open doorway, the boss craned his neck to inspect behind me, but he couldn't see me because that crazy guy was asleep up there.

 

"There's a sofa with a high backrest," he asked, sweeping his gaze around the room again with a puzzled expression.

 

"Where did Jay go?"

 

"He didn't go anywhere."

 

I glanced at the screen before gesturing with my chin towards the sofa behind me.

 

"He's sleeping over there."

 

Suddenly, the boss froze as if in shock. I thought I'd said something wrong, so I spoke again. "He's lying on the sofa."

 

"S-sleep? Here?"

 

Is there a rule against sleeping here? While I was wondering about that, I heard the boss's trembling voice.

 

"Ah...oh...really? Hmm... so... he's asleep. Jay never usually sleeps anywhere, but he's sleeping...here like this." 

 

Never slept anywhere before? He's sprawled out comfortably. He's even slept on the company's rooftop bench before. But I said it out loud. No, because the boss's voice sounded trembling, as if he were about to cry. Why was he like this? His reaction was too sensitive to turn his back on him so easily. Although he didn't understand, he could only watch him silently. Finally, as the corners of his eyes reddened, the boss cleared his throat again before turning away.

 

"Ahem... Ah, Jay seems quite comfortable here... Im..."

 

It seemed like the other person turned away to hide their face, but I had a vague feeling they did it because they were happy. And if that wasn't enough, the club manager also congratulated the boss with a relieved expression.

 

"That's a relief, boss. It seems the director is opening up to you again, just like he treated me when he was a kid."

 

"P-please! What are you talking about! I wasn't...interested at all. What's wrong with...opening my heart...ahem..." The boss said that, then looked like he was about to cry, walked away, and made up a vague claim about having a dust allergy, not forgetting to give a quiet instruction to the staff. He took care of the club before disappearing from view. If I heard correctly, that's what he probably said.

 

"Club manager, please hand out the tteokbokki."

 

After the boss left to treat his dust allergy, and the club manager followed to distribute dog treats, I returned to the room and was about to close it. I turned around and saw that jerk sitting on the sofa, his phone pressed to his ear, listening to the call. After saying only one word, "Understood," without saying anything else, he hung up. He turned towards me, squinting slightly like someone who had just woken up.

 

"Why are you standing there?"

 

I closed the door and asked him a question in return, instead of answering. "How are you related to the boss?"

 

The crazy guy stared at me for a moment before answering simply. "It's my uncle."

 

Oh, is that so? But the boss said they 'used to' be related...

 

"So, the boss's last name is also Han, right?"

 

The original last name of that crazy guy was Han, so I thought the boss must have the same last name. However, the answer I heard was...

 

"Nothing"

 

I looked at him with a puzzled expression, then he rotated his shoulder as if in pain from a muscle ache before beginning to explain.

 

"Originally, the boss was supposed to use the surname Han, but he couldn't. As for me, I used to use the surname Han, but I changed it to Yoon instead."

 

I understood even less. The bewilderment must have been evident on the crazy guy's face, as he stood up with a smirk. "Nothing much. More importantly, I have an appointment."

 

"What appointment?"

 

"It's Song Myungshin and Chairman Kim."

 

I glanced down at the cell phone in his hand. So this is about this matter?

 

"I heard that in three days, Chung Myungshin will be leaving the country for a four-day magazine photoshoot. So I arranged to meet them the day after they return." That means in a week, right? While I was counting down the days in my head, I heard his voice.

 

"I'll tell you beforehand, so don't be alarmed."

 

I asked, "What are you talking about?" as I watched him walk to his desk. He looked at his screen and replied with a smile. "I plan to give up in this first match."

 

Two days later, in the morning, the entire country was once again overwhelmed with news of Cha Jung-woo. A press conference was held immediately after he underwent questioning. The police officers had left. The company lounge was only showing the news on TV, perhaps because the incident was broadcast live yesterday, and news and entertainment programs have been continuously covering it, so not many people were paying attention to the screens showing the morning entertainment news summarising the main story.

 

Even so, I, who hardly ever watch TV, was glued to the screen, catching a glimpse of the manager's face. Cha Jung-woo had a pale complexion, yet, looking directly at the camera and rarely averting his gaze while speaking, he appeared somewhat uncertain yet ready to confront his mistakes. He apologised for his wrongdoing in a calm voice, his eyes slightly reddened as he looked at the camera, and he appeared on the verge of tears. Even so, he continued speaking without trembling, offering apologies and acknowledging his error. 

 

His apologies mirrored the image of his manager hastily writing those same words down on a piece of paper, alone. The manager even wrote down small details, such as not resting elbows on the table, not wearing glasses that obscure the face, and lowering the gaze only briefly. Before looking at the camera to apologise, he took the time to say so. When asked if it was really necessary to go to such lengths, he just nodded.

 

"That's right. If you can't apologise sincerely, at least make it look convincing."

 

The manager added bitterly, "After doing all this, someone's bound to know that I wasn't speaking from the heart." Then, the reporter on screen asked in an accusatory tone, "Knowing full well it was wrong, why did you do it?" I was amazed that it was exactly the question the manager had anticipated. The manager carefully considered his answer.

 

"Look at the reporter, pause for a few seconds, then lower your gaze once before responding."

 

"I'm scared. I think the most glorious period of my life is about to end. I keep having nightmares because I'm afraid of what my life will be like once I join the military. Was the army tough enough? And I was constantly worried that after being away from the industry for two years, people would forget me. Even though it's a fear every man has to admit to, at that time I was selfish and only thought about myself."

 

"Focus heavily on the word 'selfish' to make others feel that you see yourself as a bad person, then calmly say the next sentence to create a sense of calm."

 

I was impressed by this part.

 

"So I was swayed when I heard there was a way to evade military service. Deep down, I knew I shouldn't do it, but at the same time I kept justifying it, thinking I wasn't the only one resorting to such convenient methods. Ultimately, I gave in to temptation, and now I regret it. I realise how foolish I was."

 

Cha Jung-woo followed his manager's script and instructions to the letter. I was amazed by his expression; anyone could sense his sorrow and regret. The pain he was feeling was undeniable, but what was truly astonishing was the reporter's next question.

 

"Is it true that your former manager exposed your corruption scheme to evade military service on the internet? If so, how does it feel to be betrayed?"

 

"The answer to the first question is no, it's not true. Therefore, I have nothing to say about the second question."

 

"But I heard he fled to another country..."

 

"Don't jump to conclusions without knowing the full story. I still have faith in him and believe that, no matter the situation, he must have an explanation. I accept it. Please stop writing speculative articles about my former manager. He didn't do anything wrong to me."

 

The clear, articulate tone of voice demonstrated the confidence Cha Jung-woo, the former manager, possessed. I stifled a burst of laughter. That confidence was unmistakable. Waving a golf club at your ex-manager, huh? Well, you didn't become a top star without any acting skills, did you?

 

After the press conference ended, the TV screen cut to a news studio. The apology from Cha Jung-woo was discussed, but that was the main topic of conversation. Cha Jung-woo decided to donate his earnings from the past 10 months back to society to express his apology. Because it was a massive sum of nearly two billion won, this became a bigger issue than Cha Jung-woo's apology itself.

 

"The internet is abuzz with drama. Some people are even saying it's all just acting," Han Soo, who had arrived a little earlier, put down the bag he was carrying and stared at the TV.

 

"Even so, the atmosphere completely changed. Some said that Cha Jung-woo's excuse was one that other men understood well, and many people's attitudes softened considerably because He was so willing to donate such a large sum of money. Furthermore, news leaked out late at night that Cha Jung-woo had sold his house to prepare for that donation. The atmosphere became one of sympathy, with everyone believing he was truly remorseful."

 

Then Han Soo smiled broadly and said, "Our manager is truly the best!"

 

The reason we're lounging around watching TV in the quiet lounge early in the morning is that we're newbies with not much work to do, but we're waiting for someone because I received a message last night.

 

[I contacted Youngseok to say I wanted to join, so he told me to come over because Chung Yoohan would be coming to the company this morning.] 

 

If you turn at the elevator lobby, you can see the lounge immediately, so sometimes the lounge's music reaches the quiet elevator lobby as well. I used the remote I got. I bought a cup of coffee, turned up the TV volume, and just by turning it on, the news about Cha Jung-woo started playing. Anyone waiting for the elevator would definitely hear it. So, even though I'd been watching the same interview scene over and over since morning, I wasn't bored at all, because I was waiting for the fish to bite and show itself.

 

"Oh, that's right! Yesterday I found a suitable image for the task you asked me to do, and I already edited it in Photoshop," Han Soo said, as if suddenly remembering, before a smirk played on his lips as he found it amusing. Even though it's footage from abroad, when you edit it into a hilarious and wacky video, it becomes absolutely crazy. Especially when you add the background music...It's become a pretty good joke, a funny joke."

 

"Did you post it on the internet?"

 

He nodded repeatedly.

 

"I posted it yesterday evening. I only posted it in one place, but the response was so good that everyone shared it everywhere. I checked and saw that others had uploaded it. That picture was posted on the community forum that Hyung Chung Yoo-han frequents every day. The number of views is going to hit the top soon. Ah, let me show you. Here it is."

 

Meanwhile, Han Soo took out his phone and showed me a saved image. It was a picture of an expensive sports car parked awkwardly across a lane in a crowded parking lot—the same model as Myungshin's. The next image was taken at night, with all the cars gone except for that sports car, which was still parked there because an even more expensive car had parked in front of it, blocking it. A message box was floating above the more expensive car, saying...'If you want to leave, push it yourself, you old wreck!'

 

"But will it actually work?"

 

While I was looking at the picture, Han Soo tilted his head, as if he didn't understand, then mentioned the task I had asked him to do.

 

"You asked me to take a picture of a car that looks like the one Myungshin uses regularly, edit it to make it as funny as possible, and then share the picture. I think it would be good if Myungshin hyung were a little more heated, but Mr Taemin..."

 

Even though Han Soo's voice was soft, I could guess what he was going to say. He probably asked if getting revenge with such a small thing wasn't enough. Of course, it wasn't satisfying enough. The image manipulation was like turning up the TV volume. It was a bait to trigger Myungshin's extravagance, just like what was heard on TV. 

 

Myungshin, who was walking in with his eyes fixed on the TV, stopped abruptly. Noticing me looking at him, he immediately frowned and put on a cold, stoic expression. I deliberately held up the remote in front of him and turned up the volume even more.

 

"...There have been positive reviews saying that a straightforward apology was heard at this press conference, and it's good that Cha Jung-woo didn't just express remorse through other means. Regarding the mere verbal apology, sources indicate that Cha Jung-woo, who was heavily affected by the soaring stock prices, chose to sell his house instead to fulfil his promise to return all his income to society. While there were criticisms that he was trying to cover up the news with money, many comments understood his explanation. Perhaps because of this, there are reports that the company that was going to demand compensation from Cha Jung-woo is still maintaining its original promise."

 

Suddenly, a moment of silence fell. The muted TV screen continued to display images, but no one was watching it anymore. There were only a few people in the lounge, and they were either talking softly to each other or slumped over, trying to nap from a lack of sleep the night before. Even with the TV silent, no one paid any particular attention, except for one person.

 

"Oh, acting all haughty and accepting of something like that? Are you crazy?" Myungshin spoke while taking a few more steps towards me. I deliberately didn't get up and looked up at him as he approached.

 

"But you should be jealous, because the only thing you have to brag about is that dilapidated car."

 

"What did you say?" He stared at me with a stunned expression. "What nonsense are you talking? Calling my car a wreck? Even if you offered yourself in exchange, you couldn't buy that car! You don't know anything, yet you're so arrogant. You bastard!"

 

His reaction to the car was exactly as I expected, so I shrugged at him, finding it amusing.

 

"That dilapidated car... I'd never buy it, not even if I had to risk my life, you bastard!" 

 

Myungshin looked at me as if I were insane, and finally let out a sarcastic laugh, as if he thought I wasn't worth arguing with.

 

"Haha, I'm going crazy. It looks like you want to bring up my car, but you don't know where I stand. I can crush a kid. I can train you to the point of burying you in the ground in one go, just like squashing a fly."

 

"Then go ahead and give it a try."

 

"Yeah, I'll do it. I'll make sure you have no place in this industry anymore, you wait..."

 

"Show it to me now." I interrupted him, lifting my chin. You said you could crush me into the ground in one blow? Then do it now. If you're really as great as you claim to be, then...Just one phone call and I could be fired, couldn't I?"

 

Myungshin glared at me, gritting his teeth in denial, while I merely chuckled.

 

"I knew it. You're at a level where you can't even make a single phone call....This is fun. Keep chattering on, and I'll laugh even louder when I see you in your downfall later." Even though he gritted his teeth so hard his jawbone was visible, he wasn't swayed by my provocation. “I told you to keep talking. As long as you're in this industry, I can keep listening to you speak."

 

If he doesn't get swayed by that nonsensical rambling, then we'll have to escalate the situation a bit.

 

"You're as dilapidated as your car, man. I'm going to stay in this business longer than you."

 

"Haha, you?"

 

I nodded and replied softly. "Because my sponsors will help make it happen."

 

Myungsin froze, as if holding his breath for a moment. Perhaps he had just realised that he also had a sponsor, even though he was still pretending not to.

 

"Moreover, my sponsor said they would listen to everything I want without me having to act like a pimp. That's why I thought...It's tough deciding whether to beg him. I'm wondering if I should ask him to trample you into the ground like crushing a fly," he said, biting his lower lip as if suppressing his anger.

 

"You begged him, the one who said he'd listen to everything, to let you continue as a trainee, right?"

 

"Yes, that's what I asked for. I said I would rise through the ranks based on my own abilities and wouldn't let him interfere and undermine my dignity. But asking to Trample on my master hasn't diminished my dignity in the slightest."

 

"You keep lying non-stop. If you could really get such a big sponsor, the rumours would spread like wildfire. It looks like you're just an old fool."

 

"There's nothing special about it, is there?"

 

The crashing sounds are entertaining to me. Get caught, be wary, and feel like competing with me.

 

"Then why don't you come and see for yourself?"

 

"...What did you say?"

 

"I was planning to go to Alice's Labyrinth this evening."

 

Myungshin narrowed his eyes when he heard the words "Alice's Labyrinth." He was probably thinking of the people who kept coming in and out of Alice's Labyrinth, wasn't he? Then he smirked. He smiled as if thinking that among all the people he distrusted, none of them was likely to be my sponsor, because he thought that at least I wasn't that person named "200 Won."

 

"Fine, then. I'll arrange it as you wish. Reveal your major sponsors, and continue acting arrogant and fearless like this. That's it, until you're utterly defeated."

 

He burst into laughter as if something had suddenly occurred to him. "I could utterly defeat you in an instant! That guy who fought you one-on-one last time is eagerly waiting for you…!" Myungshin suddenly stopped speaking and recoiled in shock. While wondering why he did so, he blurted out a question.

 

"Who are you?"

 

I saw Myungshin's gaze fixed on the area between Han Soo and me, so I turned my head and was startled.

 

"Aargh!"

 

But Han Soo was even more uneasy because someone was sitting on the chair between us, as if he had suddenly sprung up from the ground. He was the new Disease Manager.

 

What's going on with this guy? Just a moment ago, nobody was sitting here. I was staring straight ahead at the entrance, and I'm sure I didn't see anyone come out of there. How could he sit here so quietly? Now I understand Han-soo’s expression, like he'd seen a ghost, because even I was startled. 

 

Despite being stared at by three people with stunned expressions, he asked us questions with eyes as small as peas instead.

 

"When are we going to have breakfast?"

 

"...If you're hungry, you can eat first."

 

After I replied to Han Soo, who was still in shock, he slowly raised his hand to scratch his head, which was covered in grey hairs.

 

"I heard the company is paying for the meals."

 

A chilling silence swept through us once more, causing Myungshin to turn and disappear, leaving only a short, silent farewell, as if speechless.

 

"Ugh, damn it, that whole group is so annoying!"

 

I watched Myungshin's back disappear before hearing Han Soo’s question, as he finally regained consciousness.

 

"Wow, you startled me! When did you arrive?" 

 

Suddenly, a murmur was heard: "Before."

 

"Earlier, huh?" I thought to myself, finally understanding. I remembered someone sleeping slumped on the table when I arrived a while ago. So what time did he arrive? I surveyed him with a sceptical look and noticed he looked younger than I thought. At first glance, with half his head covered in grey hair, I guessed he was in his late forties, but up close, he looked more like someone in their early forties. No matter his age, this man always had a vacant, dreamy expression. Moreover, he often mumbled, like someone shy, so I had to strain to hear what he was saying.

 

"Earlier? You didn't have to come so early today. We don't have any work today except for a magazine commercial shoot this afternoon," he nodded slightly before replying.

"But I get paid hourly."

 

"…"

 

"…"

 

That was the first time I felt like I missed my manager.

 

"Search terms pop up so quickly," Han Soo said confidently. "These days, if an image goes viral, it gets saved as a search term immediately." 

 

After work that evening, I typed 'dilapidated car' into the studio computer, and MyungShin's car appeared. He probably needs someone to comfort him now. I called Cha Jung Woo's road manager before heading to Alice's maze, and luckily, he recognised me, and I got to talk to Cha Jung Woo.

 

"Lee Taemin? What is it now? This is so annoying!"

 

The sound of annoyance in his voice reached my ears. He seemed quite tired from performing in the most uncomfortable seating situation of his life. I didn't take an interest in his condition; I fired off a question immediately.

 

"You must be feeling uncomfortable, aren't you?"

 

"Why are you asking me that?"

 

"I will help you breathe more easily than you've felt in a long time."

 

"Don't joke around. How do you know if I'm uncomfortable or not?"

 

"You're tired of being stuck at home and lashing out at innocent people, aren't you? I'll help you vent your anger to your heart's content." I immediately heard the question in return: "How?"

 

"Come to Alice. Chung Yoohan is waiting for you to vent your feelings to the fullest."

 

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line upon hearing Myungshin's name. Perhaps he gritted his teeth the moment he heard it. Then, as expected, he asked in a deep, resonant voice. "Is he at Alice right now?"

 

"Yes, and there are also effective ways to help you regain your self-confidence."

 

"What method?"

 

"When you want to annoy Chung Yoohan, try making fun of his car. It'll work instantly." 

 

When Cha Jung-woo asked, sounding disbelieving, "How do you know that?", I unconsciously smirked. How did I know? Because of you.

 

"Since watches have worked before, a more expensive car should definitely work."

 

Actually, I feel a little uneasy being in Alice's maze. The source of that unease is the constant recurring thoughts, even though I try not to pay attention to them. The fact that I'm waiting for his contact, as Han Soo mentioned, or the shock of seeing him smile in Alice's maze- these things linger inside and won't go away. That's why I didn't want to be here if possible. But there's no place more suitable than Alice's maze.

 

Furthermore, it's not often that a trainee like me is given the privilege of coming and going here freely. So when the club manager came out to greet me said that the crazy guy wasn't there. I breathed a sigh of relief, but it was still too early to feel completely relieved.

 

"The boss is waiting for you."

 

I didn't say I was coming, but he was waiting for me? It seems the club manager read my mind, smiling robotically in response.

 

"And actor Chung Yoohan just arrived. He said to let me know when actor Lee Taemin arrives," Myung-shin seemed quite anxious about who my sponsor was. I pictured him waiting anxiously before he pleaded with the club manager.

 

"Let me know in an hour or two, then you can tell Song Yoohan that Lee Taemin has arrived."

 

"What if he leaves earlier and doesn't come back?"

 

I smiled and spoke to reassure the club manager.

 

"He definitely won't be going back first."

 

Myungshin wouldn't leave until he was sure I was his enemy. I planned to comfortably spend the rest of my time reading the book that crazy guy gave me. Of course, there were things I needed to take care of beforehand, so I was prepared.

 

"May I go to the boss's room?"

 

The club manager nodded and led me along as usual. This time, I resolved that no matter how nonsensical the owner's speech was, I wouldn't be surprised. But I froze, and I smelled the pungent odour that wafted out.  I was stunned by the atmosphere inside the room. The boss's room was now filled with flower stands and bouquets of all kinds. There were ribbons with handwritten messages attached to flower stands, seemingly congratulatory. 

 

The words that caught my eye the most were "Happy Family Reunion" and "Welcome Uncle." The boss, surrounded by flowers, sat behind his desk, a smug expression on his face. I knew he had an over-the-top personality and liked to show off, so I wasn't particularly impressed, but I was still amazed at how successful he was in business. 

 

"Oh, Hundred Won, you're here?"

 

I took a deep breath before walking into his flower-filled, hellish grove. However, he, with his face held high and a strange glint in his eyes, looked odd.  I walked a little further, as if to make me notice something. After taking a few steps, I couldn't help but glance around, hold my breath, and ask...

 

"...It looks like something good is going to happen."

 

"Hmm, good things, huh? No way! What good things are there? Ha ha ha! There's no such thing! Wahahaha?!" He burst into laughter, jumping up as if he'd been waiting for this moment, then pointed to the flowers around him.

 

"It's nothing big. Uh, I don't know what you heard from or where, but suddenly a lot of people sent me these flowers." Of course, people sent them, since you're handing them out everywhere. But the phrase "How touching for you, Uncle", anyone who saw that would think he passed an entrance exam.

 

I studied in the same field as my uncle at Seoul National University. I paused, my gaze fixed on the handwriting, before the boss cleared his throat.

 

"Ahem, you probably don't know, but I'm actually Jay's uncle."

 

Of course, I knew because I heard it from that lunatic, but I was afraid that if I said it out loud, the boss, who was already annoyed, would distribute the tteokbokki to the whole world, so I just nodded slightly, as if to say I understood. Then, suddenly, he looked slightly 

disappointed.

 

"Aren't you surprised?"

 

"Didn't you say earlier that you were related to him?"

 

"Oh, I see. But..."

 

He turned his face to the side, his lower lip pouting. He seemed to expect an enthusiastic reaction from me, as if everyone else who sends flowers did. When things didn't go as expected, he sulked. Of course, I had no desire to comfort him, but since I was already here, I had a request. If Myungshin were asked about his car by the host he'd called into the room, he'd probably get even more furious. If I rubbed it in, he might even get a new car right away, just like I wanted. I thought before slowly opening my mouth to speak.

 

"What you said is partly true, and you two are so similar that I could guess you're closely related."

 

"Huh... similar?"

 

I nodded, and in an instant, his face turned bright red.

 

"Ahem, well, I've heard... stories like that... quite a lot."

 

The boss must have heard of it for the first time. He suppressed his joy; his face contorted as if he were angry. I thought that if I asked him for anything now, he would probably listen. Even though it was a compliment with ulterior motives, his reaction was very straightforward. His eyes shone with overwhelming joy, like a child's. 

 

Seeing that, I didn't want to ask anything outright. I justified to myself that I could have provoked Myungshin on my own without asking the boss. However, beneath that excuse, I felt jealous of him. The boss's heart, overflowing with joy simply from watching the small changes in that lunatic up close, made my chest feel strangely empty. The boss can easily express his true feelings. No, perhaps I'm jealous that he can do such comical things as distributing dogs.

 

I could go anywhere, because I can't do that. I shouldn't feel anything. No, even if I do... I have to get rid of it. And then, a face flashed through my mind. That face of his, the one that's made me feel strange these past few days.

 

"Hey, you're not coming to see Jay today? I didn't hear anything about you coming here."

I nodded in response, "Yes," before concluding to myself, "So that's it. I have to get rid of this feeling right now, because I have feelings for that crazy guy, whether it's love or something else.

 

"I used bait to lure Chung Yoohan into my trap. I told him our sponsor would be here today, but in reality, I intended for him to meet Cha Jung-woo." 

 

The boss regained his normal expression, quickly reading my mind.

 

"I heard that Cha Jung-woo will be enlisting soon and then disappearing to do volunteer work. So you're using him... You're using a small bait to lure him into a bigger trap, aren't you?"

 

I nodded. 

 

"A bigger trap, perhaps?"

 

The boss mumbled something before breaking into a wide smile, immediately pointing out the crucial part of my plan, making me nervous at being caught so easily.

 

"You intend to separate that guy from Chairman Kim, don't you?"

 

The place where I waited for Cha Jung-woo to arrive had inadvertently become that crazy guy's room. I've already read half of the first book. My initial concern was when I'd finish this thick book. In the meantime, I listened to the pop song that centred on the novel so many times that it stuck in my head. So, the lyrics and melody that the protagonist kept thinking about and dreading started popping into my head while I read. I don't know how much time had passed before my phone rang, pulling me up from the book.

 

"Yes"

 

"I'm in the room now. Where is that Chang Yoohan?"

 

I checked my watch and realised it had been an hour and a half since I had called Cha Jung-woo. It seems he took quite some time to sneak out.

 

I said just one last thing to him: "Wait," and then hung up. After that, I left the room to find the club manager. I asked the manager to tell Myungshin something before slowly walking into the room where Cha Jung-woo was waiting. I walked along the winding path in the labyrinth, a path I never quite recognised, no matter how many times I'd walked it. I stopped in front of a room that a waiter had led me to, pulled out my phone, and lingered in front of it for a moment. But I didn't need to do anything, because while I was idly staring at my phone, a familiar voice interrupted me perfectly.

 

"Damn it, Lee Yoohan, where's that sponsor you've been bragging about so much?" 

 

Myungshin walked from the winding hallway and stood directly in front of me before looking towards the door.

 

"So you're inside here, huh? That idiot who sponsors someone like you."

 

Myungshin, with his chin held high decisively and confidently, seemed to say that no one inside could defeat Chairman Kim, who was sponsoring him. He grabbed the doorknob and opened the door, stepping slightly to the side so the other person could see inside.

 

"Curious to know who that idiot inside is?"

 

Myungshin sensed something strange through my relaxed tone and turned to look at me, but I had already turned the doorknob and opened the door. Suddenly, I made eye contact with someone reclining on the sofa. The person in the room looked at me first before their gaze met Myungshin's. Hearing a soft sigh from the person next to me, I suggested...

Bring in Myungshin and Cha Jungwoo.

 

"I saw you were wondering who that idiot was, so I brought him to introduce him to you," Cha Jung-woo slowly rose from his seat, his gaze still fixed on Myungshin.

 

"Ah, I wonder what kind of idiot I am," Myungshin, who had just regained his senses, said softly as he walked over.

 

"Damn it... So you're a sponsor for this guy?" 

 

Cha Jung-woo took a few steps before stopping abruptly and smirking at Myungshin's disbelieving tone.

 

"What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I sponsor a guy I've only met a few times?"

 

Suddenly, Myungshin whirled around to face me. I stood with my arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe, intending to observe his reaction. Myungshin clenched his jaw tightly when he saw my posture.

 

"Did you trick me, you coward...?"

 

"So, calling me to the parking lot and bringing that crazy dog ​​along... that was just playing games, wasn't it?" When the topic of him calling me and bringing his gang along came up, Myungshin's face immediately turned pale.

 

"So what? You're the type who holds a grudge."

 

"That's why I'm setting myself up to pay you back. I have plenty more things to repay you for."

 

"I don't care. Keep your revenge to yourself," Myungshin said coldly, then whispered with narrowed eyes.

 

"Because soon, that accumulating burden will weigh you down until you can't get up again," he said harshly, as expected, before taking a step back. Then I heard a sarcastic remark.

"You can't fight anymore, so you're trying to run away, huh?"

 

Myungshin involuntarily rolled his eyes before Cha Jung-woo also looked at him.

 

"Are you wondering what kind of idiot I am?"

 

Myungshin, who had just shut his mouth, seemed to have calmed down and glared at Cha Jung-woo. Suddenly, Cha Jung-woo provoked him with a smile.

 

"Has he gone completely mute or something? That damn bastard!"

 

Cha Jung-woo looked at Myungshin again and asked. "I'm asking you, are you wondering what kind of idiot I am?"

 

Still speechless as usual, Cha Jung-woo glanced at Myungshin, looking him up and down.

 

"I don't know about anything else, but I can tell you you look like a total loser. You wear clothes like that?" Then he turned to me. "That trainee looks better than you."

 

"Cha Jung-woo, watch your mouth."

 

"Watch your mouth, huh? Oh, right. Sorry. Thinking about it again, your clothes look better than mine. But that's just your clothes, because you're so pathetic that even your clothes look pathetic."

 

"Fine, I'm coming along. Actually, you already look like trash in your original state, so you have to put on fancy clothes to cover it up, huh? Do you think a country bumpkin like you can look like me in those kinds of clothes? Come to think of it, you tried to imitate me before and got humiliated several times, didn't you? Looks like you still haven't learned your lesson. Right?"

 

"At least I can think better than you, who ended up as trash because of the scandal of evading military service," Myungshin replied to Cha, and the smile instantly vanished from Cha Jungwoo's face.

 

"Those who are closer to being destroyed than trash are all talk."

 

"It seems you have complete faith in your sponsor, but if your sponsor really wanted you, they wouldn't let you go on vacation."

"He's driving around in that old junk car."

 

It seemed that Myungshin acted strangely when the topic of cars came up, and perhaps because of that, he didn't respond immediately. Cha Jungwoo, seizing this opportunity, didn't miss it. He immediately turned to me and taunted me loudly.

 

"This guy's just driving around carefree, completely unaware that his car is a total mess. He probably thinks he's some cool guy."

 

"What nonsense are you guys talking about?"

 

"Try searching the internet to see what nicknames other people give to that kid-like sports car you drive around in." Suddenly, Myungshin's face froze, as if he'd stopped breathing for a moment. For Myungshin, a car might be a true indicator of his success. Therefore, if the car's value decreased, he might feel his own value diminished as well. No matter how expensive the car, being ridiculed with a nickname would be embarrassing. Just as Cha Jungwoo accepted everything only because he was afraid of the watch scandal, for Myungshin, the car was a symbol of his experience in the industry. That's why Cha Jungwoo made that sarcastic remark to Myungshin, who couldn't say anything.

 

"If you didn't have a sponsor, you'd probably just be some broke guy who doesn't have a single penny to buy an expensive car, right? Don't you think so, you idiot?"

 

"Excuse me,"

 

Looking in the direction Myungshin disappeared, I realised my suspicions were correct. I thought that even though Cha Jung-woo had a scandal regarding avoiding military enlistment... But if that's coming from someone Myungshin used to look up to, it should be able to provoke Myungshin to some extent. 

 

From the moment he leaves for overseas until he returns, Myungshin will probably still be restless and only thinking about the car. So I should make the situation more interesting. And judging from the message that kind-looking person sent, it shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[I was talking to Youngseok, and it seems like he's getting annoyed.]

 

That's right. All the work Myungshin did was merely working for Chairman Kim. Even though he only did that much, Myungshin still received all the credit. It's only natural that Young-seok would be displeased.

 

Having finished my business here and about to turn around and leave, Cha Jung-woo, who was in the room, called out to me. As soon as I turned to look at him, he glanced in the direction Myungshin walked away, asking a question as he went.

 

"Shall I suggest something?"

 

I wondered who he was recommending before I understood through his explanation.

 

"Even though I don't have the same power as Chairman Kim, I should still be able to help you."

 

"It's not necessary."

 

"Why? Do you think you can handle it on your own? Get a grip. If it's just Song Yoo-han alone, you can at least find his weaknesses and scare him. He might have gotten what he wants now, but ultimately, he still has Chairman Kim backing him."

 

I turned to look at him before speaking curtly. "I'm not alone, so you don't need to worry about it."

 

"Not alone? Do you have a sponsor too?"

 

He widened his eyes as if he hadn't expected it.

 

"Anyone who dares to challenge Chairman Kim must be a very powerful person."

 

"It's not something you need to know."

 

I interrupted coldly before warning him. "You've had enough fun; now go home. Don't make my manager worry."