Chapter 9

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A Grateful Friend

"Mr. Woo-hyuk, I'll get a definite answer from the company, so please keep an eye on things."

Manager Jeong Ji-chan asked Min-hwan.

Then he walked quickly toward the parking lot, intending to make a phone call from his car.

He had overheard a phone call where Yoon Dae-sung, the manager of WOW, one of the top three entertainment agencies in the country, declared that he would bring Kang Woo-hyuk to the company and sign him today, no matter what.

He couldn't just stand by and let this happen.

At the very least, he didn't want to lose Kang Woo-hyuk to WOW.

The agency 'Tree' where Manager Jeong worked was only about half the size of 'WOW,' but the employees, including CEO Ahn Chang-hyun, considered 'WOW' a formidable competitor.

A goal to surpass, a target to overcome.

Manager Jeong decided to beg the team leaders and department heads, and if that didn't work, he would plead with CEO Ahn Chang-hyun to get a definite answer regarding Kang Woo-hyuk's contract.

CEO Ahn Chang-hyun was Manager Jeong's maternal uncle, his mother's youngest brother.

The uncle, who was nine years younger than his sister, had taken on the role of a mother to Manager Jeong's mother after their grandmother passed away. Therefore, the uncle couldn't refuse his sister's requests.

His mother and uncle were the cards Manager Jeong could play when he was in a desperate situation, like now.

Just like any manager, when they see a promising new actor, their eyes light up. It's like a child who can't pass by a beautiful balloon.

Even if they already have a balloon, they can't just walk past another one.

How could they not go crazy wanting to have one more?

Especially if the balloon is truly beautiful and they find out another child is eyeing it.

The only option is to beg their mother to buy the balloon.

While working in the highly competitive world of entertainment agencies, Manager Jeong maintains his composure and handles his tasks calmly.

He may seem slow and patient, but once he bites, he never lets go. He is persistent and stubborn.

Who is Director Choi Hee-rak?

Isn't he a director who has achieved both commercial success and artistic merit?

While his box office performance may not be at the top, he is one of the most recognized directors in Korea.

The lead role in Director Choi's new film, "Ginger," was a great opportunity for Seol Min-hwan, who was just starting to become a star, to broaden his acting spectrum.

When discussing the final choice between a romantic comedy that would likely be more commercially successful and more comfortable for Min-hwan to act in, Manager Jeong insisted on "Ginger."

The romantic comedy was suggested by CEO Ahn Chang-hyun.

Manager Jeong didn't want to exploit actors and then discard them. He wanted to help them grow into deeply rooted trees. This was also the business philosophy of his uncle, CEO Ahn Chang-hyun, which is why the agency was named 'Tree.'

Out of a sense of responsibility, even though he wasn't Min-hwan's direct manager, Manager Jeong willingly took on the role when Min-hwan's manager, Jo Hae-jin, had other commitments, as he did today.

But unexpectedly, he found a beautiful balloon.

It wasn't the first time he had seen this balloon. He had always thought it was just an ordinary balloon. But today, it seemed like a balloon he didn't want to miss, one he didn't want anyone else to take, a truly amazing balloon.

Min-hwan couldn't help but smile as he watched Manager Jeong walk quickly toward his car parked in the lot.

True to his nickname 'Youngban-nari' (Young Gentleman), he didn't run even in this situation.

He's a good manager.

But Min-hwan is on Woo-hyuk's side.

He hopes Woo-hyuk will get good conditions, join a good agency, benefit from a good system, and learn a lot from good actors, and ultimately succeed.

Min-hwan looked up at the blue sky, recalling the past.

If it weren't for Woo-hyuk, there might not be the Min-hwan of today.

Woo-hyuk was the one who held Min-hwan back when he was about to give up acting.

Three years ago, with no income, no prospects, and his agency going bankrupt (he and Woo-hyuk were in the same agency at the time), and being mocked by a young star actor, Min-hwan fell into deep despair about his acting career.

To make matters worse, he learned that his mother had cancer.

He needed a large sum of money.

Yet, as an only son, he was still taking money from home, even though he was approaching thirty.

Min-hwan would call Woo-hyuk out for drinks every evening, pouring out his frustrations, tears, and anger. He did this every day for a month.

Woo-hyuk listened silently and drank with him.

One day, a miracle happened, and a film offer came in.

It was the most significant role in his acting career. The cast included some of the biggest stars of the time.

Without hesitation, he accepted the offer and used the advance to pay for his mother's surgery.

Later, he found out that the role was initially offered to Woo-hyuk.

It would have been a great opportunity for Woo-hyuk, but he had given it up.

That film became a turning point in Min-hwan's acting career.

He met incredible actors and learned a lot from them.

Their approach to acting and the intense energy they brought to their roles.

They were acting monsters.

Seeing these monsters made Min-hwan realize how shallow his own acting was.

But his acting improved dramatically.

When the film was released, the response was overwhelming.

Offers for films and dramas poured in.

It was only after the film ended that he learned from the director that the role was first offered to Woo-hyuk, who had recommended Min-hwan for the part.

That night, drunk, he called Woo-hyuk and lashed out. He couldn't even apologize or say thank you.

The next morning, he felt guilty, but it was too late.

Since then, he has been plagued by a sense of debt.

If Woo-hyuk hadn't given up that role, he would have met those senior actors, learned a lot, and his acting range and depth would have been completely different.

While Min-hwan's career soared after the film, Woo-hyuk remained in small roles, stagnating.

But today, he felt an incredible energy in Woo-hyuk's acting.

When their eyes met, he saw not his friend Woo-hyuk, but the eyes of a torturer.

He was overwhelmed by Woo-hyuk's intensity, and his lines kept getting tangled.

Had he ever shown this much intensity recently?

Woo-hyuk had mastered it on his own.

Woo-hyuk's talent surpassed Min-hwan's. He acted naturally without much effort, like a child.

At the beginning, Woo-hyuk's acting was clearly superior.

But there was no development.

Today was different. It was as if he was seeing a completely different person.

Min-hwan hadn't seen Woo-hyuk in recent months, using his busy schedule as an excuse. He was indeed busy.

What had happened in that time?

Oh, right, he vaguely remembered hearing that Woo-hyuk's wife was pregnant during their last call.

Was that it?

Becoming a father.

Responsibility and the weight of life?

Maybe.

But he saw more sadness in Woo-hyuk's eyes than responsibility.

A sadness he had never seen before.

What had happened?

He, who claimed to be his best friend, hadn't even noticed his friend's pain.

He should make time for a drink soon.

Woo-hyuk is walking over.

It seems they've been given a break.

"Bro, you look amazing. Look at all this sweat."

Baeggom handed Woo-hyuk a towel.

"Why are you suffering when you could just let a stunt actor do it?"

Min-hwan said, but Woo-hyuk, out of breath, couldn't respond. He sat on a box and wiped his sweat.

Baeggom, who had somehow found a large towel, kept fanning Woo-hyuk to cool him down.

Min-hwan sat next to Woo-hyuk.

They sat in silence for a moment, looking at the sky.

"Acting with you is really great."

Min-hwan said.

Woo-hyuk nodded slightly.

"Woo-hyuk, do you remember? When we did extra work in college."

"Of course."

"It was really tough, wasn't it? We were treated like objects, not people."

"Looking back, it's all a memory now."

"Memory? I don't even want to think about it. Doing that for a little money."

"If we hadn't done extra work, we might not have met."

"True. There's such a thing as fate. By the way, is your wife doing well?"

Baeggom, who had been fanning, stopped when he heard Min-hwan's question.

Woo-hyuk looked up at the sky instead of answering.

"Bro!"

Baeggom gave Min-hwan a look.

"What?"

Baeggom whispered to Min-hwan, checking Woo-hyuk's reaction.

"Bro Woo-hyuk's baby went to heaven 50 days ago."

At that moment, something seemed to choke Min-hwan's throat.

Ah, that's it.

Now he understood the sadness in Woo-hyuk's eyes.

He had no idea that his friend's child had passed away 50 days ago.

"Woo-hyuk!"

"Y-yes?"

"..."

His throat was tight, and he couldn't speak. He felt like he would burst into tears if he tried.

"If something like this happened, you should have called me. I would have dropped everything and come. You can always call a friend for a drink when you're going through a tough time."

"Leaving my wife alone for a drink? If my pain was 1, hers must have been a billion, a trillion. She carried the baby inside her."

Woo-hyuk said, still looking at the sky.

Min-hwan realized how deep a friend Woo-hyuk was.

A friend with a lot to learn from. They were the same age and friends, but Woo-hyuk often felt like an older brother.

Thank you for having such a person as a friend.

He suddenly remembered his mother's passing a year ago.

Woo-hyuk had stayed at the funeral parlor for four days.

When drunk mourners caused trouble, he calmed them down. When they wanted to play cards, he played with them. When there were no mourners, he sat alone, drinking soju.

When the seats were full, he gave up his spot and disappeared, only to reappear when the parlor was empty.

On the second night, there were no mourners.

There's nothing as lonely as an empty funeral parlor.

Woo-hyuk was the only mourner.

Min-hwan was about to go to Woo-hyuk's seat, but his father sat opposite him first.

The two of them just passed the soju back and forth, not really talking.

His father was a man of few words, and Woo-hyuk was a quiet friend. They just refilled each other's glasses.

After the funeral, his father said,

"His name is Kang Woo-hyuk, right? You must have done a lot of good in your past life to have a friend like him. Be good to him."

Min-hwan remembered his father's words from a year ago.

He glanced at Woo-hyuk, who was looking at the sky.

He wanted to ask if he had enough living expenses but decided against it.

Min-hwan knew what kind of situation Woo-hyuk was in.

So he borrowed some cash from Manager Jang.

But he didn't know how to give it to him without hurting his pride or making him feel bad.

It wasn't about the money, but he hoped Woo-hyuk could find a good agency with good conditions.

"Excuse me."

Someone interrupted.

It was the man who had passed by earlier, talking on the phone about bringing Woo-hyuk to the company to sign a contract.

The man introduced himself to Kang Woo-hyuk, handing him a business card.

"Hello, I'm Yoon Dae-sung from WOW Entertainment."

WOW Entertainment?

Min-hwan was surprised.

One of the top three agencies in the country.

Oh, this is getting interesting.

Min-hwan quietly stood up and let Yoon Dae-sung take his seat.

It would be good if Woo-hyuk joined the same agency, but Min-hwan hoped he would get a better deal.

Is Manager Jeong still on the phone?

Manager Jeong is cautious but stubborn and will push through with his demands, but he might be a step too late.

Just then, Manager Jeong got out of his car and walked over.

Min-hwan gestured to the man, smiling.

If they compete for Woo-hyuk, the one who offers the best conditions will win.

This will be an interesting spectacle.

Manager Jeong must have been in a hurry.

Recognizing the man sitting next to Woo-hyuk, he quickened his pace, almost running.

Manager Jeong, who was nicknamed 'Young Gentleman' because he was probably a nobleman in a past life, rarely ran, but he was running now.

He was incredibly fast, like Usain Bolt.