Chapter 72

72

"'Summer is in our hands.'?"

"Refreshing and good."

A commercial for a carbonated drink came in. It was a rare outdoor shoot, and being the first major commercial we were all a bit nervous.

Next to me, Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun were riding the skateboards they had chosen as props, zipping around.

"Phew, I was going to use a stand-in, but they're doing really well!"

The commercial director looked very satisfied. Jung Da-jun, being young, had recovered twice as fast as the doctor's prognosis, and was dashing around the set as usual.

"Tsk, I told him to be careful…."

"He must want to run and play."

"I get nervous every time I see him. He looks like a child left by the river."

I sighed, and Seo Ji-won glanced at me with a subtle, pleased look. What's with him, really.

His attitude towards me has been strangely irritating since last time. When I glared at him, Seo Ji-won quickly caught on and changed the subject.

"Ho-yun, aren't you going to ride?"

"I've only ridden a regular one."

"Can you ride well?"

"No one in the neighborhood could beat me…."

"Sometimes I get confused whether you're serious or not…."

Regardless of what Seo Ji-won mumbled, I finished checking the commercial storyboard I was holding. Kang Eun-jae, who seemed to have caught the bug, was filming behind-the-scenes footage with a camcorder, following Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun around. This time, he approached Seo Ji-won.

"Mr. Seo Ji-won! What are you doing right now~?"

"We are shooting the 'Ranta' commercial today. I'm checking the storyboard with Mr. Seo Ho-yun~."

"Ranta is so delicious~! Can you give us a comment?"

"Yes, yes…! We are here thanks to the fans. To not let down the advertiser who kindly invited us, we will show our passion in everything we do."

"Wow… Did you memorize that?"

"…What? I'm being serious?"

"……."

Kang Eun-jae, looking quite flustered, then grabbed me as the next target.

"Mr. Seo Ho-yun. Do you often drink Ranta?"

"Often?"

I frowned, displeased.

"Really, my blood is made of Ranta…."

"Oh! I apologize."

"Be more careful with your words."

"Oh, oh. I'm sorry~."

Satisfied with my response, Kang Eun-jae hummed and went off in search of the next target.

That guy, he's not filming to show others, he's doing it for his own satisfaction. Tsk, tsk. By the time I finished checking the storyboard, all the members had gathered.

It was fortunate that we had a morning schedule. Even if the shoot took a bit longer, I could still go to the CEO's office.

'Right, today's the day.'

It was finally time to change the members' contracts.

Even if it could be changed by mutual agreement, this was almost a special measure.

From what I could see, the company didn't do much for us, yet we had grown and succeeded on our own. The current ratio we were receiving was absurdly low.

"Let's start the shoot!"

Fitting for a carbonated drink commercial, the staff were full of energy from the start. We responded loudly, bowed our heads, and entered the pre-arranged skate park.

"Starting with Mr. Seo Ho-yun's shot!"

"Okay."

I brushed my hair back and walked slowly.

The members' faces were full of amusement, knowing I wasn't in the shot.

The camera slowly focused on the carbonated drink in my hand, then moved to my face. I looked at the camera and recited the line I had memorized.

"Summer is in our hands."

The camera director slightly raised the angle. I took a step forward, faced the camera, and smiled.

"Capture the refreshing youth."

"—Cut!"

Did it come out well?

Even though we would do ADR later, I still delivered the lines.

The director, checking the footage, tilted his head slightly.

Was he not satisfied?

"Mr. Seo Ho-yun. It's good, but let's do it one more time from a different angle."

"Understood."

I nodded and returned to my original position, getting ready. The members, who had been about to tease me, now watched silently.

The director, who had cut again, stroked his chin and monitored the footage before turning to me.

"Mr. Seo Ho-yun."

What's wrong with it?

"Yes, what is it?"

I was prepared to do anything, but the director said something unexpected.

"Your diction is really good, like an actor's."

"……Yes?"

"Your expression is good too…. Just out of curiosity, have you taken acting lessons?"

What is this….

Lately, acting talk has been popping up everywhere. I wondered if the CEO had influenced this as well, but I answered reflexively, slightly on guard.

"Haha, no, I just follow the director's detailed instructions."

"Wow, you speak so smoothly."

The director didn't say anything more. I was relieved that the 'Do you want to act?' line didn't come up here.

Fortunately, the company is small, so they can't exert much influence on commercial directors….

"Wow!"

Suddenly, the staff burst into exclamations of admiration. I turned my head to see what was happening and saw Kim Sung-hyun gesturing from a distance.

"Seo Ho-yun, look at this."

"What?"

Kim Sung-hyun poured a drink into a paper cup and, holding it, got on a skateboard. Then he rode down the halfpipe.

"……What?"

Swish!

He rode down from the right vert, using the momentum to spin in the air while holding the cup.

"Wow…."

Kang Eun-jae was genuinely impressed. Kim Sung-hyun returned to his original position and raised the cup. Not a single drop of the drink had spilled.

"Pretty good, right?"

"Mr. Kim Sung-hyun!! An interview! Give us an interview!"

As Kim Sung-hyun sipped the drink in the paper cup and walked over slowly, Kang Eun-jae cheered and pushed the camera close.

This guy… could have been an idol even if he hadn't become one?

"Mr. Kim Sung-hyun! That! Let's use that in the commercial!"

The director, having seen this, excitedly rushed over. Since it was a spontaneous action, Kim Sung-hyun was slightly flustered but eventually included it in the final cut.

"I want to try it too!!"

"Don't."

"Boo."

I cut Jung Da-jun off immediately as he tried to follow Kim Sung-hyun with a board. What is he trying to do, even though he's injured….

After that, it was Kim Sung-hyun's time. The staff didn't hold back their praise and applause for him. The good scenes and the quick completion of the shoot made it even better.

I turned my head to take a break and met Seo Ji-won's gaze.

"Ho-yun."

"…What. Why."

I get uneasy when he makes that face.

Especially since Seo Ji-won can kill with a smile and practice.

"I heard everything earlier. Are you going to act?"

"Why are you getting involved too?"

I narrowed my eyes and clicked my tongue.

"Who else did you hear from?"

"The manager said that Seo Ho-yun received a recommendation from senior Min Ji-hun but rejected it."

"Isn't that an exaggeration?"

"So what?"

What do I care if I like it or not. If I'm told to reject it, I have to. …But this is wrong. I put on a training jacket over my tracksuit and gulped down the carbonated drink.

"No."

"Why? The director just asked you if you wanted to act. I think you have talent."

"Everyone has talent, right? He's just saying it."

"No, when I was at a major company, I saw many people receive acting training and actually shoot."

"Seo Ji-won."

I warned him to stop, and he slightly flinched but then laughed and continued to hover around me.

"Did the manager ask you to try to persuade me?"

"No, it's not that. I just think you're thinking too much."

Thinking too much?

Not understanding what he meant, I asked, and Seo Ji-won sat down next to me, opening a carbonated drink.

"I can see exactly what you're thinking, Ho-yun. We don't have a seniority system, and we're a group that topped the charts. It's best to avoid individual activities until we build a stable reputation. With mediocre acting skills, if one person stands out, it could cause internal conflicts."

"……."

Ding!

[Is he a Talmud?]

I was struck by the truth and fell silent. I was confident I could counter any argument, but being so bluntly exposed left me speechless.

"But I just want you to do what you want. Don't worry about what others think."

"……."

"You have the qualifications, more than enough."

Isn't he upset? He's the one who dedicated his youth and practiced for so long, yet Seo Ji-won considered the members first. Sensing my displeasure, he made a joke.

"And if you become more popular, we can benefit too, right?"

"…How far are you willing to step back?"

"Huh? Haha… I'm not stepping back, Ho-yun."

Seo Ji-won wrinkled his nose, tidied up his drink can, and left. But the core issue was separate. Seo Ji-won and everyone else are mistaken….

"…I'm not interested in acting."

Ding!

[I gave you the trait!!]

Why does everyone think I want to act?

It's not true at all. I have no talent. Even Min Ji-hun said he didn't know before he rejected me.

I clicked my tongue and threw the empty can in my hand into the trash.

"Really, I can't understand."

Putting aside the unsolvable problem, I proceeded with the monitoring. Kim Sung-hyun's trick looked even more artistic with the sunlight reflecting.

'What a great shot.'

"Let's wrap up the shoot, good job everyone!"

"Good job~."

Everyone clapped, happy about the early wrap, and exchanged greetings with the staff.

Just as I was about to shake hands with the youngest prop assistant and leave, my phone rang.

"……."

It was the CEO. Feeling a bad omen, I stared at my phone for a moment before pressing the call button and slowly bringing it to my ear.

"Yes, Seo Ho-yun here."

[Oh, Ho-yun.]

The low sigh and slightly apologetic voice.

[I'm sorry, but we can't renew this time.]

"…What?"

[I've already talked to the manager. Let's talk about it later.]

Just as I was about to ask what he meant, the manager rushed into the set in a hurry. At the same time, the CEO sighed and hung up.

'……What now?'

"Hey, hey, everyone!"

Anyone with that face would know something was wrong. All the members, frozen, waited for the manager to speak.

The manager, who had rushed in, now cautiously looked around and gently grabbed Jung Da-jun.

"Da-jun, I'm sorry, but we need to go to the company right after the shoot."

"Why?"

"Kim Sung-hyun, later…."

"Why?"

As the leader, Kim Sung-hyun stepped in first, blocking the manager and Jung Da-jun. Jung Da-jun looked at the manager with a puzzled, shocked face.

I walked over, trying to piece together the situation.

'Jung Da-jun? Why Jung Da-jun?'

What's left? Victory is mine? Broadcasting company? No, I've already dealt with those. Jung Da-jun will keep his promise to me, so it's not a dating scandal.

Then what….

Ding!

The unsettling system notification rang.

I stopped, glanced up, and sighed at the message that appeared.

"Ha…."

It's driving me crazy, really.

Meanwhile, Kim Sung-hyun, still unaware of the situation, was holding the manager and asking earnestly.

"We need to know so we can prepare."

"That… Oh, I shouldn't…."

The manager, fidgeting, finally covered his mouth and whispered quietly.

"The exclusive contract issue has come up."

"…What?"

"Da-jun. Jung Da-jun had a dual exclusive contract. We need to go and explain. The CEO is very angry…."

Jung Da-jun's eyes grew wider. I looked at the system notification, lamenting my cursed fate.

['Dual Exclusive Contract' Solve Jung Da-jun's dual exclusive contract issue!

Success: 10,000 points Failure: Jung Da-jun's departure, main scenario cannot proceed]

How can not a single day go by quietly?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1) An inclined half-cylinder slope.

2) The wall of the halfpipe.