Chapter 1327. Exploding (2)

Being on standby wasn’t an arduous task.

It might feel like a living torture to those who were bad at handling boredom, but not Kang Jin-Ho. He had never been the active type or felt claustrophobic in a limited space.

As a matter of fact, he felt more relaxed than ever after finally getting away from the rat race.

...If only it wasn’t for a certain person busy emitting bloodlust right before his eyes, that was!

GRIT!

“...”

Kang Jin-Ho subtly lowered his gaze at the teeth gritting noise.

While transforming from Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor to Kang Jin-Ho, he experienced many changes. If someone asked him what had changed the most for him, he’d unhesitantly pick this one thing. And that was...

...Fear.

In the past, he didn’t know what fear was. More correctly, he had nothing to fear, since such an emotion came from the prospect of losing something. Such as losing his life, his possession, or even losing relationships.

Losing the respect of society, losing one’s face... The worries about losing something valuable usually manifested into fear.

However, Kang Jin-Ho during those days had none of those.

His life was basically a spare change he picked up on the ground. He never had relationships to worry about, either. Every passing day was a slog, an endurance test. He wouldn’t have regretted anything, even if he died at any given moment.

But that wasn’t true anymore. Kang Jin-Ho had rediscovered what fear was. In other words, he now had precious things he didn’t want to lose.

When judged by the common sense of the modern era, a fearless person developing fear shouldn’t be an encouraging change. But Kang Jin-Ho didn’t view it as a net negative.

Every human emotion had its use; fear would inevitably lead to prudence. And prudence would make a person more circumspect with their actions. They would think a little harder, calculate a little more, and consider other options. So, the way Kang Jin-Ho saw it, this change was not a step backward, but actual progress toward becoming

more human.

At least, that was what he used to think, but now...!

Is it really progress, though?

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at the face of the person before him. Staring at Choi Yeon-Ha’s scowling face, which was

this

close to erupting like a volcano, roused this very unpleasant emotion deep within him.

So, then. How should he describe this development, then?

Well, at least it’s not something to celebrate, that’s for sure.

In that case, would “sorrowful” suit this situation the best?

“Seriously?!”

Choi Yeon-Ha growled menacingly, her teeth gnashing growing louder.

“What the hell are these bastards trying to pull here? Do they think we’re playing games?!”

Even Lee Hyeon-Su didn’t dare stare at Choi Yeon-Ha and subtly turned his entire body away. But the most pitiful person among this group had to be Han Eun-Sol.

“

Huh

...”

Han Eun-Sol didn’t seem scared or stuck in a state of disconcertment. He was merely sagging on the sofa like a corpse and staring blankly at the ceiling, that was all!

Choi Yeon-Ha gnashed her teeth some more. “I didn’t come this far for this crap...!”

Griiiiiit!

Kang Jin-Ho grimaced while thinking,

She’s going to grind her teeth down to nothing at this rate.

Despite the viciousness of her teeth grinding, though, no one dared to stop her. Because they all knew why she was so angry right now.

Choi Yeon-Ha growled menacingly again. “There’s a limit to how much you can insult a person, you know!”

Even though they had set all the appointments before traveling to China, every single one of the bastards changed their tune when they finally met.

Even the people offering contracts that Choi Yeon-Ha thought was a done deal started shouting “No can do!” while looking disgusted. At least some were mature enough to say they were sorry. And those who did bother to show up at the meeting location deserved to be treated as human beings.

That was because more than half of the bastards one-sidedly canceled the meeting and even outright refused to speak to her in person!

Han Eun-Sol sighed. “That was why I...”

“Don’t! Don’t say it!”

“...Yes, noona.”

Without saying anything else, Han Eul-Sol sagged on the sofa again. Hints of life had returned to his demeanor when he was trying to say something, but all those hints visibly sapped out of him in an instant.

Choi Yeon-Ha glared at her manager. “Hey. Go get me beer! Lots of it!”

“Don’t drink, noona. Please don’t.”

“If I can’t drink now, when can I?!”

“You mustn’t drink, because you’re gonna create a scene, noona! Please calm down, okay? It’s not like we don’t have other appointments left.”

“You just wait! Even those bastards will call us ten minutes before the appointment and say they can’t come because of an emergency! And that they don’t want to work with us anymore! And it wouldn’t be the first time that happened to us, no?!”

“Yeah. We’ve been had seven times already.”

“See?! Then why can’t I drink some beer?!”

That was when Han Eun-Sol quietly stared at Kang Jin-Ho. He was silently begging the boyfriend of his talent to do something about her.

Unfortunately, even Kang Jin-Ho didn’t have the strength to stop the enraged Choi Yeon-Ha. So, he urgently avoided meeting that pleading gaze, but Hang Eun-Sol didn’t give up and continued to stare doggedly at Kang Jin-Ho’s face.

Eventually, Kang Jin-Ho raised the white flag of surrender, then groaned softly. “Miss Yeon-Ha, do you know why they are acting this way? Isn’t this like they are colluding with each other?”

“How should I know!”

Choi Yeon-Ha yelled loudly as fierce steam gushed out from her nostrils. However, she sneakily glanced at Kang Jin-Ho next.

Even if the raw emotions had gotten better of her, taking her anger out on the people around her was a terrible habit.

She sucked in several deep breaths to calm herself down a little, then replied in a somewhat suppressed-sounding voice.

“Their excuse was something about the government restricting the consumption of Korean culture and products, but who can believe that nonsense?! When it’s not like absolutely everyone is forbidden from working here, anyway!”

“...”

Unable to watch on anymore, Han Eun-Sol stepped up to offer a better explanation.

“The most common excuse they used was the CCP forbidding Korean actors from appearing in Chinese TV productions, as well as importation of Korean movies and TV shows. They said signing a contract with noona will be too difficult for them in the current climate.”

Kang Jin-Ho contemplatively nodded. “

Mm

...”

“But the issue with that excuse is that... It’s not entirely convincing, you see? It’s not like there’s a total ban on Korean movies and shows, after all. And Korean actors can get roles in Chinese productions, too. In fact, if I remember correctly, there are two actors currently working in China at the moment...”

Han Eun-Sol sighed loudly as if to expel his own soul.

“So, we figured we might get lucky with one, maybe two contracts. But to think everything would go down the drain like this!”

At this stage, it’d be more apt to say their trip to China had bombed spectacularly. Han Eun-Sol wasn’t exaggerating. He genuinely thought they could skirt past the restriction somehow and land one or two roles for Choi Yeon-Ha, but this...!

“This situation makes no sense, you know? At this point, it’s like the CCP had singled us out and told the producers to never work with us or something.”

Lee Hyeon-Su casually remarked, “Maybe that could be it. Since Miss Yeon-Ha was doing so well locally.”

Han Eun-Sol shot a sharp glare at Lee Hyeon-Su, something he wouldn’t have dreamed of doing in any other situation. However, right now? He couldn’t care less about the consequences right now.

Kang Jin-Ho curiously asked, “Then, what will you do? Any other plans?”

“What can we do when the people writing checks say they don’t want to work with us?”

Han Eun-Sol sighed deeply again.

It wasn’t as if Choi Yeon-Ha needed the Chinese market to survive. Yes, some working actors wouldn’t have a job without China, so this restriction would have spelled doom for their careers. But not Choi Yeon-Ha. She was still a top-rated actor back in South Korea.

The money earned in China was astronomical, but missing out on that wealth wouldn’t cause trouble in her life, either.

The real issue with this situation was, though...

“There’s a limit to how much insult I can take!”

Choi Yeon-Ha was trembling in pure indignation.

Indeed, the real issue was Choi Yeon-Ha’s pride, which got shattered into millions of pieces after all the cold-shoulder treatment from the Chinese producers.

If they returned to Korea like this, a catastrophe was bound to occur.

Even Han Eun-Sol was having a tough time calming down, so how much worse would it be for Choi Yeon-Ha? He would’ve sympathized with her even if she started throwing a massive hissy fit in the middle of a street.

Kang Jin-Ho asked Han Eun-Sol. “I heard there’s another meeting left for today, though?”

“Yes, and it’s the biggest fish, too. If we can get this fish to bite, all that’s happened so far won’t matter anymore, but...”

Han Eun-Sol roughly scratched his head.

“It’s a big budget drama produced by CNTV, you see? This channel is almost on the level of the state broadcaster, so they will definitely push the show like crazy. As long as noona can get a role in the production, it’d be like hitting a jackpot...”

Choi Yeon-Ha snorted derisively.

“Listen, Eun-Sol. Even the small fries didn’t want to deal with us, so what makes you think the big fish will? Stop dreaming. Reality ain’t that kind.”

“But, noona. We should at least try to clutch at straws...”

“What straws? Where there aren’t any?! We’re stuck in the middle of an ocean, Eun-Sol! Forget straws, there ain’t even bits of plastic floating around nearby!”

“

Eh

? But plastic polluting seas is a hot topic right now?”

“That ain’t the story here!”

Choi Yeon-Ha coldly spat out as if she was facing the harsh reality.

“Unrealistic anticipations will only worsen your disappointment, okay? Let’s just go back to Korea, and...”

Before she could finish, Han Eun-Sol’s phone rang first.

He took out his phone and confirmed the caller’s number, then pressed his index finger against his lips.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Choi Yeon-Ha got the message and clamped her mouth shut.

“Hello, this is Han Eun-Sol from MK Entertainment speaking.”

Somewhat awkward Chinese came out from Han Eun-Sol’s lips.

“Yes?

Oh

...

Ah

, yes!”

Han Eun-Sol’s expression grew serious. He said a few more things to the phone, ended the call, then turned toward Choi Yeon-Ha.

“Noona, they want to meet us.”

Choi Yeon-Ha tilted her head. “

Ng

?”

“They said we can come to the meeting location at the time we agreed on.”

“Really?” Choi Yeon-Ha asked back, her expression brightening, only for her demeanor to become cold again. “It might be better not to bother if they are going to say no. I don’t want to waste my time like that.”

“At least we cleared one hurdle, though?”

“We don’t know if clearing this hurdle has landed us in a mud pit, okay?”

Choi Yeon-Ha groaned loudly again. Despite not being a natural pessimist, she still didn’t feel all that hopeful about the upcoming meeting. After all, the tides so far had not been in her favor.

CNTV was one of the largest broadcasters in China. “Largest” in this case meant it held quite an influence over the entertainment industry. Naturally, the government would be watching such a broadcaster with a great deal of interest.

The small fries not under the constant monitoring of the government didn’t want to work with Choi Yeon-Ha, so it was obvious that a much-larger broadcaster like CNTV wouldn’t want her anywhere near their big-budget production.

“Noona, these people have a lot on their plate, so they would’ve told us over the phone if they weren’t interested. I mean, they were the most lukewarm out of everyone until now.”

“Hnnng...?” Choi Yeon-Ha snorted, still unconvinced.

But Han Eun-Sol was right. They desperately had to clutch at straws right now.

“Fine. When are we supposed to meet them?”

“We gotta leave right now if we want to make it on time.”

“I hope this won’t turn into yet another waste of time...” Choi Yeon-Ha sighed deeply, then got up.

Han Eun-Sol also got up, his expression much better than before.

She turned toward Kang Jin-Ho. “Wish us luck, okay?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “

Mm

.”

“And don’t worry too much about us. If things go wrong, I’m gonna destroy some stuff in here to vent.”

“No, please don’t do that.”

“We’ll be back soon, so no nagging about staying late, okay?”

“...”

“Uh-whew~! Being too popular has its downsides, you know? This is why being pretty can be so exhausting.”

Kang Jin-Ho clamped his mouth shut. “...”

“Then, later.”

Choi Yeon-Ha grinned, then lightly waved her hand before leaving the suite. Han Eun-Sol hurriedly bowed at Kang Jin-Ho and Lee Hyeon-Su and chased after her.

Lee Hyeon-Su watched them leave, then quietly asked, “Should I follow them?”

“Mm...”

Kang Jin-Ho scratched his cheek. He didn’t think anything

too bad

would happen, but...

“It’s because I’m getting some bad vibes from what they told us, sir,” said Lee Hyeon-Su.

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow. “You also felt that way, huh?”

“Yes, sir.”

Being a part of this side of the world meant Lee Hyeon-Su had witnessed situations similar to this one. An event that didn’t seem logical usually came about because of behind-the-scenes shenanigans.

“I’m kinda nervous, so let me accompany them for a little while,” said Lee Hyeon-Su.

“...”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell the others that you got anxious about a woman and had me chase after her. Let me handle this, sir.”

“...”

“Well, then.”

When Lee Hyeon-Su got up and headed to the exit, Kang Jin-Ho urgently reached out and grabbed him.

“Hold on, Chief Lee.”

“

Eiii

, come on now. I told you, I’ll handle this, sir. You can just wait for—”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Sir?”

Lee Hyeon-Su turned around, only to discover Kang Jin-Ho making an unconvinced expression.

Kang Jin-Ho asked, “If something does happen, can you actually handle it?”

“...”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s cheeks twitched slightly. “Sir, I’m still a martial artist, you know?”

“

Mm

...”

Lee Hyeon-Su sorrowfully cried out, “If you’re really worried about her, why don’t you accompany her personally?! Just say it to my face, sir! I can handle the truth!”

“I just wanted to make sure, that’s all. Okay, I’ll leave it to you.”

“

Eiii

! Seriously...!”

Lee Hyeon-Su spun around on his heels fast enough to generate the

whoosh

noise and stormed out of the suite’s exit. Kang Jin-Ho could only helplessly shrug at that.