Chapter 5

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The Kind Manager, Baegom

Just as he was about to arrive home, Woo-hyuk's phone rang.

It was Baegom, who had been Woo-hyuk's manager for three years at the second agency.

Baegom, a 28-year-old young man, was nicknamed "Baegom" because of his large build.

He appeared ordinary, but Baegom had an amazing talent.

He could tell whether an actor, singer, or director would become successful just by looking at them.

Not only that, he could predict the success of movie scripts, TV scripts, plays, and novels just by hearing the title and plot.

Baegom didn't particularly like reading. He had severe dyslexia.

It took him about a month to read a single script.

After such a difficult read, he couldn't remember anything.

However, what he heard was different.

Even in school, he remembered everything the teacher said.

But his grades were always the lowest because school exams were on paper.

It wasn't that his vision was bad.

His ability to decode letters was poor, but he never forgot a picture, photo, person, building, or road after seeing it once.

He found it difficult to read novels but read comics very quickly, focusing only on the pictures.

He could accurately grasp the content of a comic without reading the dialogues or text.

People didn't realize it, but Baegom was extremely intelligent.

He was not only intelligent but also very strong.

He had incredible strength but didn't know how strong he was.

Baegom was kind.

Most people liked him, but occasionally, someone would ignore or tease him, even kicking or slapping him, but he never fought back.

Woo-hyuk, who rarely got angry, would fly into a rage when he encountered such people.

Baegom was an excellent manager.

He was outgoing and had great interpersonal skills, so he got along well with even the most malicious directors, PDs, and actors in the film and broadcasting industries.

He had a talent for persuading people with his innocent smile and unexpected tears.

When Baegom was Woo-hyuk's manager, he brought in many good projects.

However, the agency's president and vice president often rejected the roles Baegom brought in and cast Woo-hyuk in the projects they had scouted.

At the time, Woo-hyuk, who was just starting as a manager, had no choice but to trust the more experienced president and vice president.

After a few failed projects, three years passed quickly, and the agency closed due to the president's reckless and incompetent management and lack of funds.

Surprisingly, all the projects Baegom had brought in became huge hits.

The two were close like brothers, but they had to part ways when the agency closed.

Another agency, recognizing Baegom's abilities, approached him with sweet talk and got him to sign a contract and take him away.

Even though their professional relationship ended, Baegom often called Woo-hyuk to check on him and met him for dinner about once a month.

Since Baegom didn't drink, they usually met at restaurants he had found.

"Are you doing well?"

– Hyung, Hyuk! Let's go eat something delicious for lunch. I found an amazing place.

"Probably not today. I have a shoot."

– What about dinner?

"Dinner is fine. But are you okay?"

They had never met on a weekday evening before, usually meeting on holidays or Sunday afternoons.

Today was Tuesday.

– I got fired.

"Why?"

– I'm a bit slow, and the kids don't like me. They say they can't work with me.

He seemed to have had problems after taking charge of a girl group.

Before that, he had managed a famous male actor who refused to work with him.

Although the details were unknown, it was easy to guess how he was treated.

– Working with you was the best... Have you found a new agency?

"Not yet."

– What's your next project? Another movie?

"I haven't decided yet."

– Didn't you say you were going to a shoot earlier?

"It's a cameo. I have to be in Gapyeong by 10."

– If you don't have an agency, you don't have a manager, right? Are you going alone?

"Yeah."

– Can I go with you?

"You've been busy. Why don't you rest at home for a while? Maybe go on a trip."

– I feel scared... no, bored, being alone at home.

"Where are you now?"

– Home.

Baegom lived in a one-room apartment about 10 minutes by car from Woo-hyuk's house.

There was also a one-room apartment near the company, but Baegom had stayed in this place for three years.

"Did you eat breakfast?"

– I can eat a lot at lunch.

I need to make him breakfast.

"Let's go. Come to my place."

– Haha, okay, Hyung! I'll come right away. Wait for me.

***

Baegom arrived in 10 minutes.

"Hello, Mrs. Woo-hyuk!"

Baegom bowed 90 degrees to Yeeun as he entered the house. Due to his belly, it only looked like 15 degrees.

"Welcome. It's been so long."

Yeeun greeted Baegom warmly.

"Here, take this."

He brought a box of apples, which Yeeun liked. It looked like about 40 apples.

He thought it was light, but it wasn't.

If Yeeun had taken the box, she might have hurt her back.

Woo-hyuk took the box instead.

'Such a heavy thing...'

"I'll set the table in a moment. Please wait."

Yeeun said to Baegom.

"No, Mrs. Woo-hyuk! I have to go to the shoot now."

"You have plenty of time if you eat breakfast first. Take off your shoes and come in."

"I'll turn off my car and come in. I thought you were leaving right away, so I left the engine on."

Baegom hurried and bumped into the door.

Fortunately, his belly acted as a cushion, so he didn't hit his face.

"Phew, I would have been in trouble without an airbag. Haha."

Baegom pointed to his belly and looked at Woo-hyuk and Yeeun.

After Baegom left, Yeeun said with a smile.

"He's so cute. Like Winnie the Pooh."

Woo-hyuk's face also lit up with a smile.

Baegom came back after turning off the engine.

"Hyung, Hyuk! I saw a kid going to kindergarten in front of the house. So cute. Hyung, don't you want to have a baby?"

Baegom didn't know about Yeeun's pregnancy and miscarriage.

Woo-hyuk, aware of Yeeun in the kitchen, took Baegom into a small room and told him everything.

"I didn't know... Oh!"

Slap!

He hit his own mouth with a hand as big as a pot lid.

"How could this happen? How could the heavens be so cruel?"

Baegom clenched his fists, as if he would punch the creator if he were in front of him.

"Damn!"

Tears welled up in Baegom's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Hyung. I was too hasty."

"It's okay. You didn't know. Just be careful in front of Yeeun."

"Got it."

"Don't cry."

Baegom wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

At that moment, a text message notification sounded.

It was a message from Min-hwan saying he had sent the script and storyboard.

Woo-hyuk turned on the computer, checked the email, downloaded the files, and printed them.

The storyboard contained only the scenes to be shot today, while the script was a Korean file of the entire movie.

The movie title was [Ginger].

Woo-hyuk's role was 'Torture Technician.'

"What role are you playing, Hyung?"

"Torture Technician."

"Torture Technician? It doesn't seem to match your image. How can someone with such a kind face torture people?"

Baegom spoke his honest thoughts.

Woo-hyuk didn't respond and stared at the storyboard, trying to get a feel for it. It wasn't a role anyone could play.

If he messed it up, it could be disastrous.

'Can I do this?'

Worries flooded his mind.

'Min-hwan must have overestimated me.'

Baegom, who had been watching Woo-hyuk's expression, looked at the storyboard.

"Wow, it's amazing. But this requires a great actor."

Baegom accurately assessed the situation.

"Are you really going to do this? I think it's better not to."

Baegom knew Woo-hyuk's acting skills better than anyone.

That's why he was trying to dissuade him.

Woo-hyuk was a good actor, but there were roles he could and couldn't play.

Expanding his acting range was good, but greedily taking on a role he couldn't handle could leave a significant mark on his career.

"Tell them you can't go, Hyung!"

"No!"

"Are you going to do it?"

"Yes."

"If you mess it up... Oh!"

Baegom jumped back as if he had seen a ghost.

Woo-hyuk was staring at him with a look that seemed to say he would eat him alive.

The eyes of a murderer.

"Hyung! Why are you doing this?"

Baegom stumbled backward.

"Beautiful! So beautiful! This scar, I gave it to you, didn't I?"

Woo-hyuk pointed to Baegom's forehead with his finger.

He was acting as a torture murderer.

Baegom stood there with his mouth open, unable to move.

Suddenly, he came to his senses, picked up the storyboard, and compared it to Woo-hyuk's expression.

"Hyung!"

"What do you think? Should I tell them I can't go?"

"Why would you do that? You should go."

Baegom paced around the room with the storyboard in hand.

"Hyung! I promise, this movie will be a hit when it opens. I almost fainted, Hyung!"

"Can I do this role?"

"Yes!"

Baegom nodded vigorously.

"You have to do this! Absolutely!"