Chapter 90. Seo Tae-gwang

As soon as the call connected, Yeon-woo was surprised by the unexpected words and asked in return.

Then, Jeong Su-yeon continued from the other side of the line.

- I passed the first round of the announcer exam!

"Really? For real?"

- Yes! I feel like I'm flying right now. I just got the call.

"Congratulations. We should get together with the kids sometime?"

Although he couldn't bring up the movie, the corners of his mouth turned up.

- The first round was a camera test, and I was so nervous I thought I would die. Even though I've acted in front of cameras all my life, I was so, so nervous...

Su-yeon, excitedly recounting her experience, was thrilled.

She had originally planned to take the exam just for the experience and hadn't told her friends, but unexpectedly passed the first round and was now preparing for the second.

Even though she didn't dream of passing all four rounds, she was excited and said that since she was only twenty, she might pass before graduation.

"Congratulations. That's great news."

- Thanks, Yeon-woo. Let's meet up soon.

"Sure. Take care."

After hanging up, Yeon-woo scratched his cheek and called the next target.

- Yeon-woo? What's up?

"Ah, So-hyun."

When Han So-hyun answered the phone cheerfully, she showed interest when he explained the situation.

- I really, really want to do it. But you know I'm tone-deaf, right?

"Huh?"

- I'm completely tone-deaf. Can I still be a composer and you sing? Oh, but I can't play any instruments anyway. Sniff.

"…I see. I'm also completely tone-deaf."

An unexpected obstacle.

Because he was so bad at singing, he hadn't thought that others might be as bad.

- Then, how about Ji-eun, who acted in the drama with us? Is she busy? She played an idol in her debut work 'School,' and I heard she was a former idol trainee.

"Ah, really? I didn't know because I didn't see her debut work."

After exchanging pleasantries with Han So-hyun, he hung up and searched for Seo Ji-eun in his contact list.

Although they had been married in the last drama, he hadn't become as close to her as he had to Han So-hyun, mainly because he hadn't appeared in the action scenes with Jin Yu-han or the political scenes of the Goryeo court.

'There was the stalker incident, the risk of falling off a horse, and many other events...'

Looking at the wallet Seo Ji-eun had given him, which was on the table, he pressed the call button.

- Oh, Yeon-woo! Ah!

Seo Ji-eun answered the phone loudly.

"Are you okay?"

Yeon-woo's voice, tilting his head in confusion, was met with a moment of silence before Seo Ji-eun's mother's voice was heard from a distance.

- This clumsy one has spilled it again!

Holding the smartphone, Yeon-woo waited for a moment, and then Seo Ji-eun's voice came hurriedly.

- Sorry, Yeon-woo. I spilled the tteokbokki while carrying it to the sink.

"Uh, are you hurt?"

- No! I had already eaten most of it, and only the broth was left.

"Thank goodness. I called you because..."

While explaining the movie, Seo Ji-eun interrupted with a loud voice.

- I want to do it!

"Huh? I haven't finished explaining yet..."

- I definitely want to! Please let me! I want to do a musical!

Surprised by her unexpectedly enthusiastic response, Yeon-woo scratched his head.

"I welcome you with open arms."

***

Yeon-woo then called another person.

- Oh, Yeon-woo.

"Teacher. Is everything okay?"

Yeon-woo's first acting teacher, Jung Cheol-min, answered the phone cheerfully.

- Haha, what do you mean? I was just bored, so I had a drink with your dad yesterday. I thought I'd be busy with more students at the acting school, but it turns out we hired some great teachers, so I have nothing to do.

"Is that so? Then, Teacher, can you memorize English lines perfectly?"

- Suddenly, English?

Yeon-woo proposed the role of a manager at the production company, which appears early in the script, to Jung Cheol-min.

He thought the role's image fit perfectly, and he also wanted to share a frame with his teacher.

- In Director Park Chan-hong's movie? Ah, is this for real? Yeon-woo, my heart is racing.

"Yes, the director said he wants to see me act with the person I want."

- Yeon-woo... If this kid makes a forty-something man cry, what will happen? I'll memorize the English lines perfectly.

After calming down the emotionally moved Jung Cheol-min, Yeon-woo hung up and saw missed calls and messages.

- Team Leader Jung Hyuk: Mr. Yeon-woo. Regarding the chairman of Lee Han Group. Is it okay if we meet tomorrow? He said the sooner, the better.

'Hmm, the sooner, the better for me too.'

To finish the CF schedule quickly and start filming "Sketch" before the Netflix audition, it would be better to meet as soon as possible.

- Ryu Yeon-woo: Yes, Team Leader. Let's meet tomorrow. I'm fine with it.

After sending the message, he received a quick reply.

- Team Leader Jung Hyuk: Understood. Min-soo will pick you up for lunch tomorrow.

The next day, Kim Min-soo arrived to pick up Yeon-woo.

"Let's go, Mr. Actor."

"Hmm, do I need to dress up? It's not an official schedule."

"Even if you don't, you look great."

Getting into Min-soo's car, they headed to the address he had received, which turned out to be a high-end residential area.

"I thought it might be Pyeongchang-dong, but it seems the chairman invited you to his house, not a restaurant. Is he trying to introduce you to his granddaughter?"

"Hmm, that's possible."

Hearing Min-soo's words, Yeon-woo stroked his chin.

Thinking about it, it wasn't an impossible scenario. Considering his age, it was more likely that one of the chairman's family members was a fan of Yeon-woo.

"Is this your chance to become the son-in-law of a wealthy family?"

Smiling and joking, Min-soo made Yeon-woo chuckle.

"I'm not interested in that."

"True, considering the money you'll earn, it's not necessary..."

It was winter, and Yeon-woo was turning twenty-one.

Considering the income he had earned so far and his rising value, there was no reason for him to meet the chairman of a large corporation just for the money.

"It seems we're here. It's quite impressive."

Looking out the window at Min-soo's words, Yeon-woo saw a high wall and an elegant gate, which made the high-end village where Son Jin-wook lived look modest in comparison.

Stepping out of the car, Yeon-woo looked at the high wall, which obscured the view of the inside.

As he got out, the black gate opened as if waiting for him, and a security guard approached.

"Welcome. Thank you for coming. Please come this way."

"Ah, yes. Hello."

Yeon-woo greeted and followed the security guard with his manager.

Following the elegantly laid stone steps, they came to a beautifully landscaped garden, reminiscent of a European castle.

"This is the chairman's favorite garden. He asked me to show it to you."

"Ah, I see. The landscaping is beautiful."

"The chairman is a bit uncomfortable moving around, so he's sorry he can't greet you in person."

"That's fine. No problem."

After passing through the garden and a grand wooden door, they finally reached the entrance.

'It looks like a European nobleman's villa. I didn't know such a place existed in Seoul.'

Min-soo, the manager, was also amazed, looking around the place.

Following the security guard inside, the interior was very Korean, unlike the exterior.

It looked like a high-end Korean-style hotel.

Stopping in what seemed to be a living room, Min-soo said,

"I'll wait here."

"Ah, I'll bring you some food."

Min-soo nodded and sat on the sofa.

The security guard, who seemed to be both a guard and a butler, instructed a staff member and then led Yeon-woo again.

"Mr. Ryu Yeon-woo, this way."

Passing through a wide living room and a corridor with plants, they came to a large hall where Seo Tae-gwang and a young woman, presumably his granddaughter, were sitting at a table.

Seeing her with him, Yeon-woo wondered if Min-soo's words were true, but Seo Tae-gwang spoke.

"Hehe, you've come. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Hello, Chairman. I'm actor Ryu Yeon-woo."

Bowing slightly, Yeon-woo greeted, and Seo Tae-gwang smiled.

"Yes, please sit there. Seon-hye, you can go now."

"Yes, Grandfather."

As Yeon-woo sat down, the young woman, who seemed to be his granddaughter, bowed lightly and left.

"She's my granddaughter. She's about to get married in two months."

"Ah, congratulations. I congratulate you in advance."

"Hehe, thank you."

Laughing, Seo Tae-gwang signaled for the food to be brought out and stared at Yeon-woo.

'If it's not about his granddaughter, why did he ask to see me?'

Then, Seo Tae-gwang spoke.

"You must have been surprised when an old man like me asked to see you."

"Yes, I was quite surprised, Chairman."

Nodding, Yeon-woo spoke, and Seo Tae-gwang laughed again.

"Indeed, young people these days are straightforward and honest, which I like. Call me Grandfather, not Chairman. You're not my employee, so I'm not your chairman."

"Then, I'll call you Sir."

"Uhehe, that's fine."

After taking a sip of the tea brought by the staff, Seo Tae-gwang looked at Yeon-woo and said,

"I asked you here not for anything else but to show you a portrait behind you."

Pointing to the back, Yeon-woo saw a painting of a woman in a purple dress.

'Hmm? Where have I seen this before?'

It was definitely a familiar portrait.

Staring at the portrait for a few seconds, Yeon-woo suddenly clapped his hands.

"It's the portrait of Mr. Seo Hee at the Diplomatic Research Institute."

"Oh? I didn't expect you to recognize it. The one there is a replica, and this is the original. Do you know my name, young actor?"

Hearing Seo Tae-gwang's words, Yeon-woo felt all the pieces fall into place.

"Sir, you are a descendant of Mr. Seo Hee."

"Yes, I'm the head of the Seo clan of Icheon."

Nodding, Seo Tae-gwang continued with a smile.

"Our ancestor saved this country from a crisis, but there has never been a drama or movie about him, which is very regrettable. But making one myself would be like putting gold on my own face, which is ridiculous."

"While filming the drama, I learned more about Mr. Seo Hee's achievements."

Hearing Yeon-woo's words, Seo Tae-gwang smiled gently and, as the staff brought out the food, offered it to Yeon-woo.

"That's why I wanted to treat you, as a descendant, for playing our ancestor. Please, have some."