Chapter 436: Ahn Jung-Hae (1)

At Kim Soo-Myung's Life Clinic, the investigators arrested the hospitalized members of the Eun-Gyu gang. At that moment, Seo Jae-Ill whispered to me, revealing that on the day Kang Eun-Gi was nearly killed at the hospital, one of the three police officers who had cleared the entrance for the assassin to enter had been caught.

I asked, "Is that really true?"

Seo Jae-Ill nodded. "Yes. We got lucky and caught him in an unexpected place."

Apparently, one of those three officers had been arrested at an illegal gambling den while spending money recklessly.

He continued, "A junior prosecutor is handling the initial investigation, but I plan to go down and interrogate him personally soon. Now that I'm set to become a deputy chief prosecutor, this won't end in vain like before."

The deputy chief prosecutor was roughly equivalent to the head of a district office. Seo Jae-Ill's career was advancing three years faster than his peers with a significant promotion.

"I'll be looking forward to it."

Seo Jae-Ill smiled and added, "Oh, and please call me first next time something like this happens."

"I'll make sure to. I've learned a lot this time."

Seo Jae-Ill also informed me that arrest warrants had been issued for Woo Sung-Chan's parents on charges of conspiracy to commit murder. "It looks like they'll spend the year-end holidays with their beloved son in correctional facilities. One in the detention center and the other in prison."

Woo Sung-Chan’s parents had initially only given instructions to abduct and intimidate. However, stronger charges were applied since the Eun-Gyu gang thugs had used knives, which resulted in their urgent arrest.

"Anyway, get well soon and I'll be in touch later."

"For sure. See you next time."

After delivering a slew of good news, Seo Jae-Ill left.

***

Once the members of the Eun-Gyu gang were taken away, I finished my IV and got up.

I expressed my gratitude to Lee Soo-Chan and his men and suggested having a celebratory dinner soon. Then I headed to the test site where Lee Si-Yoon had taken his exam.

Kim Sung-Chan finished his work and met me there. "I was really worried, but I'm glad you're safe."

"Didn't I tell you? I'm good at fighting. Oh, and I'm pretty decent at running too though I forgot to mention that."

Kim Sung-Chan clicked his tongue in disbelief, "You’ve got quite the nerve, huh?"

Then, the school bell rang.

Ding ding ding.

The familiar sound of the bell signaled the end of the CSAT.

At that moment, countless parents who had been praying outside the test site eagerly waited for their children to come out.

A short while later, the students who had just taken the test that could determine their future emerged with a variety of expressions.

"Here they come."

The students carried various expressions of relief, disappointment, and resignation. These young students who had endured years of grueling preparation approached their parents, letting their emotions show.

"Oh, Dong-Sik. Well done. Look how pale you've gotten."

"What do you want to eat, my son?"

"Forget everything for today and just rest."

I felt glad I had come for Lee Si-Yoon upon watching families embrace each other.

At that moment, I saw Lee Si-Yoon running toward me with a bright smile. "Yoon-Ho hyung!"

"Hey, Si-Yoon."

Lee Si-Yoon was wearing the clothes I had given him as a gift. Panting slightly from running over, he grinned widely. "I didn't feel cold at all today thanks to you hyung. I think I did well on the test because of that."

"Really? How well?"

"I think I managed everything except for one question. I just need to compare my answers now."

"

Whoa~

Are you going to get a perfect score?"

Even Kim Sung-Chan looked surprised. "You sound so confident. Maybe you'll really get a perfect score."

Lee Si-Yoon smiled. "I have to aim that high to become your hoobae, Mr. Kim."

"

Hahaha.

Is that so?"

Now that I thought about it, Kim Sung-Chan was also a graduate of Seoul National University.

"Shall we check your answers?"

"Just a moment."

Lee Si-Yoon pulled out a sheet of paper, saying he had written his answers on the back of his exam ticket. I handed him a tablet with the official answer sheet I had downloaded earlier.

Lee Si-Yoon stood still and began checking his answers. After a while, he folded the exam ticket in half and let out a deep sigh.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Seeing both Kim Sung-Chan and I looking worried, Lee Si-Yoon smiled brightly and replied, "I got a perfect score as long as I didn't mark wrong on the scantron."

At that moment, my chest swelled with so much pride that I couldn't help but hug Lee Si-Yoon tightly.

Even the usually composed Kim Sung-Chan showed an unusually emotional side. "Well done, Si-Yoon."

Lee Si-Yoon's voice trembled softly as he spoke. "Thank you, hyung and Mr. Kim. It's all thanks to the effort you both put in for me..."

***

Later that evening, we celebrated with a party at a premium Hanwoo restaurant after Lee Si-Yoon's parents returned home from work.

When I casually recounted the events of the day to Lee Si-Yoon over dinner, he once again firmly declared his intention to become a prosecutor.

I planned to pay for the meal in honor of gaining a reliable ally for the future, but Lee Si-Yoon's parents strongly insisted otherwise.

"It's all thanks to you that our son has come this far, Mr. Jung. We've been meaning to treat you to a proper meal but you're always so busy. I'm glad we finally found the time today."

They explained that the reason they had gone to work even on the day of their son's college entrance exam was to save up money for a proper meal to thank me, their benefactor.

I was momentarily speechless upon hearing the reason. In the end, I couldn't refuse and graciously accepted their heartfelt gesture. That meal felt like one of the most precious I had ever received and left my heart warm.

The next day after taking a good rest, I headed to Gyeongju late in the afternoon.

It was around 5 p.m when I arrived at the set of

Hwaranjeon.

Today marked the final shoot for Miso and the other child actors.

Holding a megaphone, Oh Bok-Hee called out to the bustling staff. "Alright, everyone! Today is the child actors' final shoot. Let's make sure they have an amazing send off!"

"Yes, Mrs. Oh!"

"And remember, KBC has started production on

Queen Jeong-Hee

starring So Yi-Yung. We're the best, but the competition isn't weak. So stay sharp!"

KBC had also begun filming

Queen Jeong-Hee

with its president pouring massive funds into publicity efforts to secure his reelection.

However, the staff of

Hwaranjeon

remained unfazed.

"Mrs. Oh, don't tell us that you are nervous?"

"

Pfft.

With the difference in actor levels, there's no way."

The staff's lively responses lifted Oh Bok-Hee's spirits. "Well, they can't match our cast no matter how much of a historical drama expert they are. Okay then, let's finish today's shoot and have a wrap party. Deal?"

"Deal!"

"We'll start filming Scene 44 of Episode 4 in ten minutes. It's the poisonous mushroom scene. Everyone, get ready."

The staff quickly moved to their respective positions at Oh Bok-Hee's command.

In the meantime, I made my way to the waiting area where Miso was. With winter in full swing, the tent was wrapped in transparent plastic and resembled a clear dome.

As I entered through the plastic door, I saw Miso practicing her lines while loosening her facial muscles in a unique way.

"

Rang rang rang~ Rong-rong-rong~ Lil lil lil~ Lul lul lul~ Hoi-hoi

~"

Miso had learned those diction exercises from Yoo-Jin to improve her performance.

The scene Miso was preparing for, Scene 44 in Episode 4, involved the three princesses going on a picnic to a nearby hill where one of them ate a poisonous mushroom, leading to a life or death situation.

In this scene, Princess Jeong-Hwa disguised a poisonous mushroom as an edible one and tricked Princess Yu-Hwa into eating it. After consuming the mushroom, Princess Yu-Hwa collapsed in pain and lost consciousness.

Despite the challenging scene ahead, Miso looked delighted as always.

"Miso, are you feeling okay?" I asked.

Miso looked up from her script and turned to me with a bright smile. "Yes, Uncle Yoon-Ho! By the way, how should I fall when I collapse after eating the mushroom in Scene 44? Should I fall face down or fall backward? Or maybe flop to the side?"

Miso demonstrated several dramatic falls with different screams which I found every one of them charming in its own way. The forward fall was adorable, the backward one was cute, and the side flop was just funny.

After a moment of thought, I made my choice. "How about this? Grab your neck like this."

I clutched my neck with my left hand while stretching my right hand out dramatically. Then I staggered forward like a zombie, eventually collapsing onto my knees as if my strength had drained away.

Grabbing Miso's hand, I gasped dramatically. "

Grrr... gasp

... in the name of justice... I will... never... forgive you...

urgh!

"

I let out one last dying groan and fell flat on my face.

A brief silence followed before Miso burst out laughing. "

Hehehe

, Uncle Yoon-Ho. That was the best!"

Yang So-Ri, who worked with the makeup team of

Hwaranjeon

, also burst out laughing. "

Hahaha.

Mr. Jung, you should've just become an actor."

Hwaranjeon

had its own dedicated makeup team, but only major actors with approval from the PD were allowed to bring personal makeup artists. With many actors needing makeup and not enough hands, it was a practical solution.

As I stood up and brushed the dirt off my knees, I replied with a grin, "Maybe I'll be an actor in my next life."

"You should!"

Though I joked to Yang So-Ri, I knew my acting was leagues behind the real actors. Moreover, even if I were reborn, I would still choose my true calling as a talent agent.

Ever the optimist, Miso gave me nothing but endless praise. "Uncle Yoon-Ho! If that happens, promise to act with me!"

I smiled and pointed to her script. "What I just showed was an example. It's probably better if you follow the script and move a little before collapsing. Falling right away might feel unnatural."

When I explained that the script suggested acting out pain from the mushroom before collapsing, Miso nodded thoughtfully. "Got it. I'll think about it more!"

Leaving Miso in Yang So-Ri's care, I stepped out of the tent and headed to the parking lot to grab snacks for Miso and Yoo-Jin. That's when I saw Yoo-Jin near the car.

"Oh, Yoo-Jin? What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I brought the sandwiches that you made for Miso."

"That's a talent agent's job. Why are you doing it?"

"Oh, come on. I have hands and feet, don't I? Besides, I don't have any shoots today. I'm Miso's mom today, so no nagging!"

This was why I liked Yoo-Jin. Even though she had become a huge star, she hadn't changed at all since the first time I met her.

That's when I noticed something unusual in the parking lot.

'

Hmm? What are those guys doing here?

' I wondered.

Two men stepped out from an old car at least ten years old. They were Director Ahn Jung-Hae and his production manager, Park Hyun-Soo.

Looking worn out, the two got out of the car and sighed deeply.

Then I remembered, '

Oh, that's right. Mr. Ahn must be starting a new project.

'

The forty-year-old Ahn Jung-Hae was known for tackling socially conscious themes in his films. He debuted three years ago with the movie

Hit and Run

, which attracted only five hundred thousand viewers.

Due to its lackluster performance, securing investments for his next film hadn't been easy. However, his upcoming movie titled

Missing: The Lost Ones

was based on a true story from twenty years ago, and would eventually achieve five and a half million viewers due to its well-developed characters.

The movie was set to release in March next year, so production would be starting around now.

Unfortunately, Ahn Jung-Hae would remain in financial straits despite the success of the film

.

His contract with YH Venture Capital, the main investor, had been so unfavorable that even a hit film would bring him almost no earnings.

The head of YH Venture Capital, Yang Hak-Joo, was not only Yang Yi-Ji's father but also the husband of Lee Tae-Yeon.

'

Come to think of it, Yang Yi-Ji played the child role in Missing.

'

I considered getting out of the car to start a conversation, but Lee Tae-Yeon spotted Ahn Jung-Hae first and approached him.

Lee Tae-Yeon beamed as she walked over and extended her hand. "Oh my, Mr. Ahn! You're finally here."

Ahn Jung-Hae and Park Hyun-Soo immediately bowed deeply at a 90 degree angle. "I'm sorry we're a bit late."

Their bowing looked almost like they were begging for mercy.

Lee Tae-Yeon said cheerfully, "You must have had a tough time getting here."

Ahn Jung-Hae hesitantly asked, "So...when can we discuss the investment...?"

At that moment, Lee Tae-Yeon's expression sharpened as she glared at him. "Did you forget what I said? The follow up investment only happens if you cast Yi-Ji as the child actor."

When Ahn Jung-Hae didn't respond, Lee Tae-Yeon grumbled further. "Fine, just watch Yi-Ji's acting today and think it over again. If she's confirmed for your movie, I'll personally handle the investment."

"Understood..."

It was clear Lee Tae-Yeon had summoned Ahn Jung-Hae to the Gyeongju set to dangle the promise of investment in exchange for casting Yang Yi-Ji as the child actor.

While directors were usually the authority figures on a movie set, that power was only reserved for directors who consistently produced hits. Directors who failed at the box office and couldn't secure funding were not only powerless but often treated like debtors.

Judging by Ahn Jung-Hae's nervous demeanor, it seemed he was deeply in debt and desperate to secure funding to pay it off.

Even so, the fact that he hadn't yet confirmed Yang Yi-Ji as the child actor suggested he had some backbone.

"Go ahead, Ms. Lee. I'm not feeling well from car sickness...so I'll rest a bit and follow you later."

Lee Tae-Yeon waved her skirt as she walked toward the set. "Alright, I'll head over first. Don't take too long~"

Ahn Jung-Hae let out a long sigh. "

Sigh

... I'm sorry, Hyun-Soo. It's all because I'm useless..."

"Don't say that, Mr. Ahn. It'll work out this time."

"

Ah

, I could really use a cigarette."

Ahn Jung-Hae pulled out a cigarette, but there was only one left in the pack. "Damn it...this is my last one."

Staring at the last cigarette, Ahn Jung-Hae seemed to confront the reality of his poverty. With a wry smile, he held it out to Park Hyun-Soo. "You take it."

"No, Mr. Ahn. You should have it."

At that moment, I decided to help Ahn Jung-Hae.

Ahn Jung-Hae was one of the very few filmmakers in the industry who would take on personal debt to pay his staff, including the lowest-ranking ones. This was extremely rare in an industry notorious for exploiting workers and withholding even meager wages.

The thought of him struggling financially even after

Missing: The Lost Ones

achieved five and a half million viewers was unbearable.

I resolved to free Ahn Jung-Hae from the grip of Lee Tae-Yeon and Yang Hak-Joo, the head of YH Venture Capital. Separately, I also had a favor to ask of Ahn Jung-Hae.

Turning to Yoo-Jin, I asked, "Yoo-Jin, do you think Miso could take on a role as a child actor in a crime thriller?"

When I briefly summarized the plot of

Missing: The Lost Ones,

Yoo-Jin nodded readily. "As long as you're on set often to look after Miso."

"Of course, that's a given."

"Then it's a deal! Miso's been saying she wants to act again besides her food tour show, so this works out perfectly."

"Great."

With Yoo-Jin's approval, I now needed to replace the investor and secure Miso as the child actor.

I had a pack of Mallboro Reds and a lighter stashed for networking purposes though I didn't smoke. Grabbing them, I approached the two men who were still politely insisting the other take the last cigarette.