Chapter 34

Villain Only Acting 034

What Exploded?

Manager Yoo Jeong-a and Kim Seok-joon were suffering from a headache due to the flood of calls.

For three hours straight, he had been receiving calls from all over and making calls to various places without a break.

"Yes, absolutely not. We just got a bit closer while filming the drama together, but we're not a couple. Our Jeong-a isn't interested in dating."

"Oh, reporter. I've always treated you with such care, and now you're jumping into this false controversy. I'm starting to feel hurt."

"The company is preparing a correction report. Take down the article quickly. Don't you know that Jeong-a is going through a very important time? Our representative is on the verge of losing all his hair."

"Are you saying you're just getting to know each other? Absolutely not. I don't know why such photos were taken, but it's not true."

"Director. Don't you know how Jeong-a treats men like they're rocks? What if she falls for a third-rate tabloid article?"

Not only Kim Seok-joon but the entire PR department was suffering from the scandal.

Yoo Jeong-a, known for her grace and aloofness, was a top-tier star in South Korea, and until now, she had never been involved in a scandal.

Many star actors had shown interest in her and made advances, but the rumors were that she had always turned them down.

Now, Yoo Jeong-a was involved in a scandal with a newcomer actor who was just starting to rise in popularity.

"Really, I'm going to go crazy. I knew this would happen. That guy's eyes were not normal."

Kim Seok-jeon threw his phone down and roughly untied his tie.

A female employee quickly asked.

"Wow. So, is it true that Jung Se-hoon really charmed Jeong-a? That's surprising, really."

"No, it's the opposite."

"Really?"

"Jeong-a's eyes when she looked at Jung Se-hoon were not normal."

"Really? Really?"

"Don't tell anyone. I'm telling you because you need to know to cover this."

"Of course. But it's really surprising. Wow, Jeong-a is really cool."

"I noticed it when she brought twenty different mouthwashes for the kiss scene, making it a game to pick one. She even let Jung Se-hoon choose which one she would use."

The female employee covered her mouth.

"Wow. She brought twenty?"

"Yeah. And she even let Jung Se-hoon choose which one she would use."

"Wow. Is Jeong-a really serious about this?"

The female employee couldn't take her hand off her open mouth.

Kim Seok-joon glared at the photo on the monitor with a nervous look.

It captured the moment when Jung Se-hoon supported Yoo Jeong-a, who had stumbled.

He must have caught her when she tripped from drinking too much.

To an outsider, it might look like they were leaning affectionately on each other.

"What the hell is going on here?"

"It's a third-rate tabloid company with only two employees, I think."

"Only two employees? Then where did this photo come from?"

"Maybe they bought it?"

"Would you sell such a scoop to a third-rate tabloid with only two employees?"

"No, you'd bring it to our company. You could get thousands for it."

Kim Seok-joon gritted his teeth.

"Who the hell is this? I'll catch you. I won't let you off easily."

***

The after-party atmosphere was further heightened.

The staff, forgetting to eat and drink, were busy searching for reactions to the scandal on their phones.

"Wow, the photo is really good. They look like a perfect couple."

"It's not the work of a third-rate paparazzi. They must have been waiting and caught it at the right moment. They really hit the mark."

"Even the post-processing was done nicely. It's a perfect shot. Maybe we should buy the paparazzi a drink for this?"

Especially Song Jeong-woo and Kim Sang-hee were excited.

They treated the scandal as if it were a great omen.

Even Yoo Jeong-a, the person involved, didn't seem to take it seriously.

In the end, Jung Se-hoon asked Yoo Jeong-a casually.

"Are you okay?"

"What's not okay?"

"It's a false report. We're not even related. And the photo was taken when we were drinking at a bar in Cheongdam with the writer."

"Then it's fine. We're innocent. What's the problem?"

"I'm worried it might be bad for Yoo Jeong-a's image."

Yoo Jeong-a, crossing her arms and leaning forward, said haughtily.

"For a top actress like me, it's natural for a scandal to break out every once in a while. It was strange that it hadn't happened before."

"Is that so?"

"And it's actually good."

"Good?"

"Look at the PD and the writer."

Turning his head, Jung Se-hoon saw the two of them so excited they looked like they could dance.

"Now that the final episode is left, this controversy will make people very curious. The ratings for episode 12 will probably be record-breaking. Maybe even 30%?"

Jung Se-hoon realized that everyone at the table, whether PD, actor, or staff, was obsessed with the ratings.

"Are you upset? About the scandal with me?"

"Not really."

"I'm secretly happy. I got the first scandal partner spot with Jung Se-hoon. It's like an achievement. A rare title."

Jung Se-hoon wasn't really upset either.

He was just a bit flustered because it was his first time experiencing something like this.

But no one seemed to mind, and they even saw it as a good omen for the drama's success.

Messages kept coming from Jung Soo-yeon.

- Stop talking to Yoo Jeong-a

- Don't even laugh

- Don't let another photo be taken

- Your fandom is weak. If Yoo Jeong-a's fandom tears you apart, it'll be a problem

- Her fandom is extreme, like a girl group's hardcore fans

- Move away and stay as far from Yoo Jeong-a as possible

The only one who was cautiously pessimistic was the script supervisor.

Song Jeong-woo said calmly.

"Don't worry too much. This kind of thing happens all the time in this industry."

Kim Sang-hee agreed.

"The problem is when something you want to hide comes out. But when something that doesn't exist comes out, it's actually a good thing. You can capitalize on the attention and boost your profile."

Song Jeong-woo added.

"Exactly. It seems like Se-hoon is really doing well. Wow, causing such a big stir at the end. When should we clarify this?"

"After episode 12. Let's keep this momentum going. Se-hoon, don't clarify anything about the scandal until then, no matter what questions you get."

"Don't even contact the reporters. Let's go for the mysterious approach. Since the filming is almost done, don't leave home until after episode 12."

"Se-hoon, if you stay quiet, Yoo Jeong-a's agency will handle it. You don't need to worry at all."

Song Jeong-woo and Kim Sang-hee's advice was reassuring.

Except for their slightly slurred speech from drinking too much.

Song Jeong-woo asked in a slightly serious tone.

"But Se-hoon, are you really not involved with her? If there is something, we need to handle it differently."

"No, nothing. I was there that day too. This guy just happened to take a photo of the two of us without me."

"Oh, the writer was there too? Then it's fine."

"Jeong-a almost fell and he caught her. It seems a paparazzi was following her."

"Jeong-a's agency is sharp, so there's nothing to worry about."

Kim Sang-hee, with a drunken smile, patted Jung Se-hoon's shoulder.

"I know there's nothing between you two, so don't worry at all."

"Understood. I won't worry."

"You might get some hate, but what can you do? Fame and hate go hand in hand."

Song Jeong-woo patted his own chest.

"Look at us. Not even actors, just a PD and a writer, but the hate we've received could earn us a place in the Guinness World Records."

"Since I'll take you with me for every project, you won't suffer any disadvantages from this scandal. Just enjoy the moment."

"Kim, why 'I'? It should be 'we'."

"Sure, sure. I'll take you with me for every project. Got it?"

Originally, he wasn't worried, but seeing everyone's reactions, he felt he didn't need to worry.

Even if the fandom or the public hates him, anonymous hate comments don't affect Jung Se-hoon.

Compared to the experience of being bombarded, losing comrades, and killing countless enemies, internet hate comments are like insignificant dust.

As Kim Sang-hee got more drunk, he kept repeating the same things to Jung Se-hoon.

He was completely drunk.

"Scandal? Don't worry! I'm Kim Sang-hee, Kim Sang-hee! If I want to use an actor, what can you do? What have you done for the script, added a line?"

Song Jeong-woo, with a flushed face, chimed in.

"Exactly! If I want to use this actor, what can you do? Investment? We can get it elsewhere! Production? There are many