Chapter 635: Missing, and the Story After (2)

[Director Ahn Jung-Hae: I just visited Mr. Park in the hospital and heard everything that happened. This might be a bit awkward to say in this situation... But Mr. Jung, may I write about today's events as part of

Missing 2 – The Story After?

]

My heart began to race at the suggestion of turning today's story into a film. The genre had changed, but the idea that this story would become a movie felt surreal.

I wanted to respond right away, but it wasn't my place to answer. This story required the permission of Park Dong-Joon and Lee Soo-Yeon.

Then, Ahn Jung-Hae sent another message via Kk Talk.

[Director Ahn Jung-Hae: Oh, and I've already gotten permission from Mr. Park and Ms. Soo-Yeon. Also, what do you think about playing the lead role yourself? I'm planning to make sure the profits from the film go mostly to the families of the missing. What do you say?]

I was surprised at how quickly he had gotten their permission.

'

But me, the lead?

'

No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't take on the lead role in a movie. After all, I was a talent agent, not a celebrity.

[Chief Jung Yoon-Ho: If Tae-Poong plays the lead, I could understand, but I think it'd be difficult for me. I'd be fine with a cameo, though.]

A reply came immediately.

[Director Ahn Jung-Hae:

Ah~

that's a shame. But you're promising a cameo appearance, right?]

I chuckled and responded.

[Chief Jung Yoon-Ho: A cameo, anytime.]

And just like that,

Missing 2 – The Story of That Day

changed genres and became

Missing 2 – The Story After

.

Now, I had a story to tell Yoo-Jin and Miso. Thanks to that, I found myself humming while taking a shower.

***

After my shower, I dried off and put on my underwear.

Then I called Lee Soo-Yeon right away to ask if what Ahn Jung-Hae had said was true. She confirmed that both she and Park Dong-Joon had agreed to the film under the condition that the proceeds would go toward psychological support for the families of the missing.

Lee Jun-Sung and his father had also given their okay. The only ones left were Lee Soo-Chan and the private investigator who had been kidnapped along with him. Ahn Jung-Hae's drive was something even I had to admire.

Then, during our call, Lee Soo-Yeon began telling me about something only she knew—her conversation with Choi Sung-Hyun. She even shared the reason she had forgiven him. Thanks to her, I now had even more to tell Miso and Yoo-Jin about as I dried my hair and stepped out of the bathroom.

Clack.

When I opened the door, Yoo-Jin and Miso were crouched right in front of it with their eyes sparkling.

"Yoo-Jin, Miso... by 'later,' did you mean right after I finished showering?"

Yoo-Jin and Miso grinned.

"Of course, oppa."

"Yes, Uncle Yoon-Ho!!"

They clearly wouldn't leave until I talked, so I told them what I had discussed with Ahn Jung-Hae and Lee Soo-Yeon.

"Ms. Soo-Yeon said that Lieutenant Choi Sung-Hyun had genuinely treated her well. So while she resents the crimes he committed, she said she couldn't bring herself to hate him as a person. That's why Mr. Ahn Jung-Hae is planning to make a movie about it."

Lee Soo-Yeon apparently had some idea that Choi Sung-Hyun was putting on an emotional act. Even if he acted well, it wasn't possible to fool someone he was dating completely. She had found it odd at first, but she said there were times when Choi Sung-Hyun showed real emotions.

For example, she had trouble going out because of her trauma from the abduction, so he took pictures for her, brought her good food, and went out of his way in ways most people wouldn't. As they spent more time together, she said she noticed Choi Sung-Hyun was slowly opening up emotionally.

In other words, Choi Sung-Hyun's closed heart had already begun to open even before Park Dong-Joon tried to persuade him, thanks to Lee Soo-Yeon.

When I told them the story, Yoo-Jin and Miso let out amazed exclamations.

"Woooowww~"

"

Waaah~

"

"This is top secret, okay? I'm only telling you two. So it can't leak. Got it? If the synopsis leaks, the movie won't get made."

At that, Yoo-Jin and Miso looked at each other and covered their mouths with their fingers.

"Miso,

shhh!

"

"Okay, Mom.

Shhh!

"

They looked thrilled and held hands while bouncing on their feet.

Then Miso asked excitedly, "Uncle Yoon-Ho, did he change because of the power of love? Right? That's it, isn't it?"

In the Powertuff Girls cartoon, a lot got solved with the power of love. Miso asked if that's what happened, like it was straight out of a cartoon.

Looking at her expectant face, I couldn't say no. And honestly, she wasn't wrong.

"Y-yeah, I guess so?" I answered.

Miso turned to look at her mom with a glowing face. "Mom! Mom! Can I be in

Missing 2

too?"

"Huh? You, Miso?"

"Yeah! I want to be in

Missing 2

! You be in it too, Mom~"

Yoo-Jin smiled with crescent-shaped eyes. "

Hmm

. Then I'll play Ms. Soo-Yeon. But what role should you take, Miso?"

Miso's face suddenly darkened. In the story I told today, the only roles for girls were from the orphanage.

"Huh? What should I do? A random kid from the convenience store? Or one of the kids at the orphanage? Or...

aww,

I don't have a role. I want to be in it too!"

Miso looked disappointed and stomped her feet. Watching her furrow her brows in distress made me laugh.

Fortunately, there was a solution.

I said, "Miso, it's a movie, not a documentary. You could play the role of Lee Jun-Sung. I'll ask Mr. Ahn if we can change the character from a boy to a girl."

Miso blinked, then she grabbed my arm with an excited face. "Yay!! Then who'll play my dad? Uncle Yoon-Ho? Will you do it?"

Now that I thought about it, the dad role would need to appear too.

"I promised the director I'd do a cameo, so I'll ask if I can take that role."

"Really?"

"Yeah. But only if the director agrees."

Just then, Miso suddenly said something out of the blue. "Uncle Yoon-Ho, let's record an audition video and send it to the director. Then he'll say yes for sure."

"An audition video? But we don't even have a script."

"Yeah! Right now! Let's film the scene where Jun-Sung meets his dad!"

'

Well, I suppose it's better than nothing, but still, we don't have a script. What are we supposed to do?

'

Yoo-Jin seemed excited too and pulled out her phone. "Oppa, I'll film the video."

"But how are we going to practice with no lines?"

"We'll just wing it. Just go along with Miso, okay?"

I was caught off guard being asked to act so suddenly. At that moment, Miso's eyes started to fill with tears.

'

Already?

'

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she slowly walked toward me. Then she jumped into my arms.

"Daddy~ don't gooo~"

Miso sobbed as she clung tightly to my shirt. Miso's tiny hands gripped tightly, as if she never wanted to let go.

At that moment, a lump formed in my throat. It was just practice, but I found myself emotionally drawn to Miso without even realizing it. And before I knew it, the acting began to feel natural.

I knelt down, hugged Miso tightly in my arms, and poured out my feelings with a trembling voice. "Yes, my daughter...Daddy will never... leave you."

That's when Miso slowly lifted her head from my arms. Her tear-streaked face beamed with a smile. "Do you promise...?"

I reached out and wiped away the tears from her eyes. As I cleared each tear, it felt like the painful memories from our past were slowly being washed away too.

"Yes. I promise."

The moment I said it, Miso broke into a bright smile. Her sunny grin made me smile without thinking. Watching her quietly, I turned to the side, thinking the filming was over.

Yoo-Jin was holding up the phone, silently crying. Unlike what I had seen before the regression, Yoo-Jin shed tears easily now.

Back then, I had never really seen her cry. Thinking about it, she probably hadn't had the strength or freedom to cry as she was too busy protecting little Miso alone. Now that I was here, she had the space to cry again.

Feeling relieved, I gave Yoo-Jin a small smile. "Yoo-Jin, I think we're done filming, right?"

Wiping her tears, Yoo-Jin replied, "Cut! Okay~ That was amazing! Oppa, you could actually act, you know?"

"Come on, acting? Me?"

I waved it off and finished up the audition video we would send to Ahn Jung-Hae.

***

After gently setting Miso down, I called Ahn Jung-Hae.

-Yes, Mr. Jung. What's going on?

"If

Missing 2

becomes a movie, Yoo-Jin and Miso are both going to be in it."

-Really?

"Yes. Since the story centers around Ms. Soo-Yeon and Mr. Sung-Hyun, Yoo-Jin said she'd like to play Ms. Soo-Yeon."

-That's perfect! I couldn't ask for more if Miss Yoo-Jin takes that role. Oh, and don't worry too much. I'm confident I can shoot this well.

Before the regression, Ahn Jung-Hae had made a film called

Fate.

Fate

told the story of a man suffering from a terminal illness and abandoned by his lover, who checks into a hospice. There, he meets a woman who had suffered the same fate of terminal illness and betrayal, and they cherish the final year of their lives in a touching love story.

Ahn Jung-Hae had a talent not only for social commentary but also for deeply human stories of love and emotion, and

Fate

had drawn in a whopping 8 million viewers.

"I trust your skills, Mr. Ahn. But I have one request."

-Yes, go ahead.

"Can Miso play the child role of Lee Jun-Sung? And I'd like to play his father. Miso insisted on filming an audition video, so we recorded one. Could you take a look and let me know?"

I spoke cautiously, not wanting to clash with his creative vision. Unlike my concerns, Ahn Jung-Hae readily responded.

-Changing Lee Jun-Sung to a girl is no problem. But now I'm curious about Miso's and your performances. Could you send the video now?

I agreed and forwarded the video Yoo-Jin had taken. A moment later, Ahn Jung-Hae's excited voice came through.

-Wow~ That came out really well. You two looked like a real father and daughter with such deep emotion. Mr. Jung, are you sure you've never acted before? This feels too good for a cameo. Are you really still refusing the lead role...?

"No, thank you."

-

Hahaha

. Okay.

Ahn Jung-Hae seemed even more pleased than I expected.

-Well, I should be the one thanking you. Let's go with what you suggested. I'll see you at next week's script reading.

"Got it."

After hanging up, I gave Miso a thumbs-up. In that instant, Miso and Yoo-Jin let out a cheer.

As they bounced with excitement, I calmed them down and said, "Now I'm gonna eat before I go."

A little while later, a launch event and popup store for THE Best coffee would begin at 7 p.m., on the first floor of the Jinseong Hotel Samsung branch near LT Cinema Samsung.

A temporary popup store had been set up in the hotel lobby where three kinds of THE Best coffee would be sold. And I was scheduled to work there as a one-day part-timer.

The Best's advertising models, Lee Tae-Poong and Go Jae-Soo, were going to stop by briefly to help with sales before attending the premiere of

Jiri Mountain

at midnight at the nearby LT Cinema Samsung branch.

Just then, Yoo-Jin spoke. "Oppa, then I'll come help too."

"Huh? You?"

Miso raised her hand high and answered, "Uncle Yoon-Ho, I'm helping too!"

I said it was fine, but the two insisted they wouldn't let me go alone. Because I had gone all the way to Gwacheon and had a tough day, they were worried.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

I didn't have much choice.

"Alright. Then let's eat the kimbap Sang-Bong brought and head out right after. We have to get there by 6:50 p.m."

"Okay~~"

After sharing the kimbap that Jung Sang-Bong had brought, we all headed to Jinseong Hotel.

***

I arrived at the first floor of Jinseong Hotel Samsung Branch with Yoo-Jin, Miso, and Jung Sang-Bong.

The time was now 6:45 p.m. In the hotel's banquet hall, the launch event for THE Best was in full swing with reporters in attendance. The event would end at 7 p.m., and the popup store would be open for three hours afterward. I was supposed to wear a barista uniform and sell THE Best coffee at the popup store.

Since Jin Sung-Joon was inside the banquet hall for the event, we were greeted by Jin Ah-Ram, the acting head of Jinseong Hotel & Resort.

Jin Ah-Ram looked surprised to see Yoo-Jin and Miso. "What are you two doing here?"

"Hello, Ms. Jin. We're here to work part-time."

"Oh, this is great... But I don't know how much to pay you!"

Yoo-Jin gave a cheeky smile. "Just take care of us however you see fit.

Haha

."

Jin Ah-Ram shivered slightly at Yoo-Jin's smile. "Somehow, that's even scarier."

"No~ it's not."

It totally was. Yoo-Jin had worked a ton of part-time jobs, and she was a master negotiator.

Jin Ah-Ram joked and said, "When my brother comes out later, squeeze him for everything."

"If you back me up, I'll give you a 20% cut. Deal?"

At that, Jin Ah-Ram giggled. "I knew it~ Alright, deal!"

After the playful negotiation, Jin Ah-Ram continued, "In a little bit around 7 p.m., the reporters will come out from the main hall. Start by taking photos with them, then begin selling. We've also notified the hotel staff and guests, so they'll come down too. There's really not much to it—just wear the barista outfit and hand out the coffee. Our staff will handle the payments, so don't worry."

Yoo-Jin and Miso rolled up their sleeves. "Where do we change?"

"Right this way."

As Jin Ah-Ram walked ahead, I asked, "Do you have a barista outfit for Miso to wear?"

"Yes, we had one made for the bear mascot. I think it'll fit her just fine."

The bear mascot for THE Best happened to be just about Miso's height.

"Perfect."

Then, an idea hit me.

"What if we also sell THE Pure, the product Yoo-Jin advertises, right next to it?"

Jin Ah-Ram smiled. "Oppa's going to love that."

"Please play your part as the hype crew."

"Leave it to me! Let's see if we can shake down his wallet real good."

With that, we all headed to the changing room to get ready.

***

After quickly changing into the barista uniform, I stood at the popup store table.

In the roughly 66-square-meter space set up on the first floor of Jinseong Hotel, stacks of THE Best RTD coffee were arranged alongside coffee machines. At the long table stood me, Jung Sang-Bong, and five hotel staff members.

Just then, Yoo-Jin and Miso came out of the changing room dressed in barista uniforms.

"Wow~ you look great."

With attention pouring in, Yoo-Jin and Miso proudly posed. Since there was still time before the event started, the hotel staff began pulling out their phones to take pictures of the two. Yoo-Jin and Miso smiled at each other and held up the three types of THE Best coffee next to their faces as if they were the official advertising models.

Click, click.

The staff began lining up to take pictures with them.

A little while later, 7 p.m. struck. The banquet hall doors opened, and the reporters who had attended THE Best launch show poured out all at once.

We shouted loudly toward them.

"Free tasting of THE Best coffee! It's also on sale!"

"Come try it and grab some to go~"

The reporters all stopped in their tracks.

"What... what is this?"

"Why is Jung Yoo-Jin here?"

"Miso's here too?"

"Hey... take a photo. Get photos!"

When reporters began scrambling to pull out their cameras, the startled security guards stepped in to hold them back. "Please don't push. There's plenty of time."

The reporters scoffed. "Time? What a joke. You think we actually have that?"

"What do you mean by"

Then, murmuring began to ripple from the far end of the lobby.

"What's going on?"

"What is it?"

A guard stationed near the exit came running. "Ms. Jin, some regular fans have shown up."

"What? How?"

"I don't know either. But they're coming in through the lobby."

Fans were now flooding into the hotel lobby. Each one had an autograph book in one hand and a pen in the other.

Seeing our shocked faces, the reporters muttered in frustration. "Of course this happened. Photos must've already gone up on Instargem or somewhere. Anyway, security team, please block those fans for now so we reporters can get our interviews in, yeah?"

The chief of security immediately set up a barricade. "Uh, yes. Yes, of course."

As the reporters had pointed out, it was a mistake to underestimate Yoo-Jin and Miso's popularity.

The reporters, now flustered, hurried to start interviewing them.

"Miss Yoo-Jin, today's model for THE Best was supposed to be Mr. Lee Tae-Poong. Does showing up dressed like this mean you're the next model?"

"No, I just came to cheer on the event. And... ta-da!" Yoo-Jin lifted a bottle of THE Pure. "I'm also here to promote this."

Yoo-Jin smiled, holding THE Best in one hand and THE Pure in the other, and the reporters snapped away relentlessly.

Meanwhile, I poured samples of THE Best for the reporters I knew and actively promoted the product. The reporters, each holding a cup of coffee, sipped as they typed up articles and snapped more photos. They were known for being frugal, but all of them praised the coffee and went ahead with their purchases.

Just like Everyday had told me, it was turning into a joyful day.

***

Thirty minutes had passed since the reporters finished their interviews and the fans started buying the product, but the line for coffee and photo ops showed no signs of shrinking.

Even foreign hotel guests began lining up out of curiosity upon hearing that Yoo-Jin, the lead from

Blue Sky

and

In the Name of God

, was here.

Jin Sung-Joon, caught off guard by the sudden "global sales" of THE Best, couldn't stop laughing even as he shook his head in disbelief.

And just like that, Jinseong Hotel Samsung had become the hottest spot in Seoul.

At that moment, Lee Tae-Poong and Go Jae-Soo arrived.

"Hey! It's Lee Tae-Poong!"

"Go Jae-Soo is here too!"

The two who were scheduled to attend the

Jiri Mountain

premiere event showed up already dressed in their outfits.

"Hyung, we're here."

"Mr. Jung."

Since both of them were already in barista uniforms, there was no need to change.

"Wow~ this is crazy! What's going on today?"

"Man, you really should've told us ahead of time."

Fans who had left the line earlier quickly returned and formed another line at the back of the lobby. With the scene turning into something like a fan signing event, the entire hotel was buzzing with noise.

At that, Jin Ah-Ram sighed and called the front desk. "Hello, front desk? Please apologize to our hotel guests for the disturbance and offer them complimentary breakfast coupons and $30 vouchers. Also, deliver a set of all three types of THE Best coffee and three bottles of THE Pure to every room."

-Yes, Ms. Jin!

Jin Ah-Ram glanced at me and let out a small laugh. She, too, found the situation unbelievable.

Then, my phone buzzed.

[Caller ID: Assistant Manager Kim Mi-Hye]

When I answered, she cried out in a rush.

-M-mr. Jung! Have you seen the news?

"What news? I've been busy working here and haven't checked anything."

-Please check right now and tell me what to do. The company's getting flooded with calls!

I immediately pulled up the entertainment news section. And just as Kim Mi-Hye said, it was getting flooded with ridiculous articles.