Chapter 86: Name

When he returned home with the yellow envelope and opened it, a neatly written manuscript came out.

"Sketch"

A simple title for the script.

At first, he started reading it in a comfortable position, lying on the bed.

Then, as he reached the middle, doubts began to form in his mind, and he found himself sitting up to read.

After reading the latter part, he fell into deep thought.

"Indeed, it's good."

While reading the script, Yeonwoo reaffirmed the decision he made today.

The story begins with a man named Jae, who was adopted to the United States at the age of seven, harboring resentment towards his parents and homeland who abandoned him.

He grew up happily in a harmonious white family and became a perfect American.

Starting to compose music in high school, Jae received an invitation from a Korean music label to work as a composer, which led him to step back onto the land where he was born.

The script then portrays a human documentary film from the perspective of a man born in Korea but raised in America, depicting various twists and coincidental events. The film is enhanced by a musical code that runs throughout and a final twist.

"I don't know what kind of image the director saw of me on screen..."

Although the form and the cause are different, the protagonist, Lee Jihoon, also known as Jay Miller, shares several similarities with Yeonwoo.

Being orphaned at a young age, living abroad for a long time, and feeling abandoned by his homeland are similar points.

Of course, it's not that he was abandoned by the country, but in the story, the protagonist was abandoned by his parents, while Yeonwoo was abandoned by an unknown organization.

Although their origins, processes, and lives are all different, Yeonwoo feels drawn to the protagonist of the story.

"Hmm, thinking about it, this isn't a problem that can be solved just by me liking it."

Since he is bound by his agency, it seems he needs to coordinate with LN Entertainment.

Yeonwoo immediately called someone who could resolve this matter.

- Hmm. Yeonwoo, what's the matter?

The deep, middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the line.

"President, I just had dinner with Director Park Chan-hong."

He then briefly explained the situation.

Kim Joo-sung, the CEO, laughed heartily and spoke.

- Then let's do this. While I support you, there might be issues with the contract in the future, such as at the board meeting or audit. So, the company will pay twice the amount you plan to invest personally, under your name. And for the profit distribution, you will get 70%, and the company will get 30%.

Yeonwoo stroked his chin at the unexpected offer.

"If those are the conditions, the movie needs to earn at least three times the investment for the company not to incur a loss."

- I believe you can do it, Yeonwoo. Are you not confident?

Yeonwoo chuckled at CEO Kim Joo-sung's playful provocation.

"I was considering giving 20%, but of course, I'm confident."

- Hahaha, you got me there.

CEO Kim Joo-sung laughed heartily at Yeonwoo's witty response.

"Thank you for your consideration in every aspect."

- As I said before, I really love 'acting.'

He then concluded the call, promising to have the details checked by Team Leader Yoo, who handles contract-related issues.

Just as he hung up, a message came to Yeonwoo's smartphone.

- Team Leader Yoo, I have something to report. I'm in Incheon now. Should I report in person?

'What's in Incheon? He seems to go there often.'

Yeonwoo, who received the message from Han Haeun, tilted his head and started typing.

- Then let's meet at the columbarium parking lot. It should take about an hour to get there if I leave now.

- Yes, I understand.

After finishing the message, Yeonwoo put on his coat, grabbed his car keys, and went outside.

It was already getting dark as winter approached.

Meanwhile, Han Haeun, after meeting his ex-wife Jeong Hye-min in Incheon, drove to the columbarium parking lot where he was to meet Yeonwoo.

"Is this the right thing to do?"

Han Haeun sighed, thinking about Jeong Hye-min, whom he had just met.

They had become somewhat close since he started visiting her, often stopping by under the pretext of work to have coffee or chat.

Jeong Hye-min, who seemed to have a natural attraction to him, didn't dislike him, and as their relationship grew closer, Han Haeun's worries increased.

"…I really miss Da-yoon, but I'm not confident enough to see her."

Thinking about his young daughter, who was now old enough to attend kindergarten, Han Haeun scratched his head in the driver's seat.

He could secretly visit and see her, but he was afraid he might emotionally break down when he saw his young daughter, so he held back.

***

When Yeonwoo drove into the parking lot, he saw Han Haeun smoking in a corner.

After parking his car, Yeonwoo approached Han Haeun.

Han Haeun quickly threw away his cigarette and stomped it out when he saw Yeonwoo approaching.

"Did you used to smoke?"

"In this life, I do."

Yeonwoo nodded, thinking about something.

"What do you have to report?"

"Yes, while investigating Plus Ten Entertainment, I found a clue in the 'Park Kyung-wan' incident and looked into the investment companies."

Han Haeun took out a white envelope containing documents from his suit pocket.

Yeonwoo took the documents and unfolded them.

"The investment companies listed here seem to be the ones behind the 'Park Kyung-wan' incident and the investment in 'Baldur.'"

Yeonwoo nodded as he read the list.

"Then check if there's any connection between these backers and actor Ahn Jun-ho. Do you have paper and a pen?"

"Yes."

Han Haeun took a notebook and pen from his jacket pocket and handed them to Yeonwoo, who wrote down a few names and affiliations.

"These are journalists who, when I worked in the domestic sector, colluded with political and business figures to create issues. Investigating them will make it easier."

"Understood."

Han Haeun nodded and continued.

"Ah, Team Leader. I found something interesting while investigating. It's about LN Entertainment's CEO Kim Joo-sung."

"Hmm? Why him?"

Yeonwoo's eyes showed curiosity when he heard the name of Kim Joo-sung, whom he had just spoken to.

"It seems there were many other operations in 'Beyond Garam' besides 'Park Kyung-wan,' such as attempts to publish malicious articles based on groundless rumors. CEO Kim Joo-sung cut all of these in the middle. He seems to have more influence in the entertainment industry than I thought."

"Hmm. Is that so?"

Yeonwoo, who had been stroking his chin, looked at Han Haeun and tilted his head.

"But what's wrong with you? You look troubled. Is the investigation difficult?"

"Me?"

Han Haeun, who had been stroking his cheek, sighed deeply.

"…It seems to be due to the connection from my previous life. I've been meeting my wife occasionally lately."

Han Haeun, who had been sighing deeply after confiding his troubles, continued.

In this world, who else would listen to his unbelievable story of reincarnation and his troubles except for Ryu Yeonwoo?

Yeonwoo, who had been nodding silently, finally spoke.

"The Baek Yoo-hyun I remember from my previous life didn't smoke. He said he had to run faster and longer to survive."

"But in this life, I do smoke."

Han Haeun chuckled, seemingly remembering Yeonwoo's words.

Then Yeonwoo asked him.

"Then, are you Baek Yoo-hyun or Han Haeun?"

Han Haeun, taken aback by the sudden question, couldn't speak, so Yeonwoo continued.

"As I said in the underground parking lot of the National Theater when we met again, I am Ryu Yeonwoo. The previous life's Jeon Su-hwan is dead. If you want to meet your wife from your previous life, it's not Baek Yoo-hyun but Han Haeun who wants to meet her. Do what you want to do now. Han Haeun."

Han Haeun looked at the person who quietly patted his shoulder.

He wasn't the terrifying special agent, a combat machine devoid of emotion, that he had seen in his previous life.

In front of him was just an ordinary college student.

Just exceptionally handsome.

"…I think I am Han Haeun. Yes, I am Han Haeun."

Han Haeun, nodding, pondered over what Yeonwoo had said.

***

Two weeks passed quickly.

During this time, the contract for Park Chan-hong's "Sketch" was officially signed.

The budget was set at 45 billion won, combining 30 billion won from Park Chan-hong and 15 billion won paid by the agency under Yeonwoo's name.

With the average production cost of films nowadays easily exceeding 100 billion won, and Park Chan-hong, the king of commercial films, primarily directing blockbusters with budgets over 200 billion won, Park Chan-hong, who had never worried about money in his film career except for the early days, racked his brain to make the production as cost-effective as possible. However, he found it not only challenging but also enjoyable.

While Park Chan-hong was planning this, "Beyond Garam" aired for two weeks and approached its final episode, the 16th.

The sudden appearance of Son Jin-wook and the released still cut spread across internet communities, attracting even young viewers who usually didn't watch the show.

It started with a netizen's imaginative post about the still cut.

- Who would you date among these three? .jpg

A still cut that perfectly captured the charm of three currently popular actors quickly spread like a meme.

The photo, featuring three men with distinct and different charms, who were the male leads in the most hit dramas and films over the past three years, became a legendary meme and circulated through communities.

It became even more famous as fans started asking influencers and celebrities for their preferences, and the ratings of "Beyond Garam" soared, both for the live broadcast and reruns.

The agency, reading this trend, suggested putting on hold the CF contract that Yeonwoo had chosen, waiting for his value to rise.

At the age of twenty, with only two drama and two film credits, and with a long way to go, Yeonwoo's name as an actor was starting to gain some strength.

- Actor, you can come down now.

"Yes, I'll come down right away, Min-su."

Today, Yeonwoo is attending his second end-of-series party.

This time, he is finishing a drama not as a supporting actor but as the protagonist. He opened the door and left his house.