Chapter 43

Villain Only Acting 043

When Innocence is Trampled (3)

"Director, I don't understand. The adultery article is fabricated, right? Surely you're not going to cut an actor who was framed and replace him with another actor?"

Jeong Seohoon deliberately pulled back his foot.

He wanted to pounce and tear his prey's throat out, but to minimize the possibility of failure and hide his desperate desire, he pretended to be calm and let it pass.

-This is the situation...

"I'm not recording, so don't worry. We can talk in person."

A small groan escaped him.

It was evident that he had been worried about the possibility of being recorded.

-No, I didn't think that. Why would Seohoon do something like recording me?

Lies. He had thought about it.

-It's just that it's someone else's privacy, so it feels a bit awkward. I'll tell you, but you mustn't say anything to the outside. Ah, I'll only discuss this with you. You can listen in right now.

"Okay."

-Ha, it seems that Yoon Hyeong-sik's adultery is true. I can't go into details, but I've received evidence.

"But the movie is already finished. Can you really reshoot because of a supporting actor's adultery? Wouldn't the costs and schedule be completely messed up?"

-It's not just about reshooting. The movie might be completely scrapped.

"Is that even possible now?"

Jeong Su-yeon's eyes widened as she listened in speaker mode.

-You don't understand, right? But the situation is like that. The movie really might be scrapped.

"Even if the movie is already finished, will it be scrapped? If I do the reshoots for the role of Kim Chan, will it not be scrapped? I don't understand."

-I can't be certain, but there's a chance to prevent it. That's why I need Seohoon's definite answer.

Jeong Seohoon deliberately took a breath.

To melt his prey's, or rather, his opponent's heart even more.

-I'll set everything up for Seohoon. Honestly, I can't guarantee it won't be scrapped, but there's a chance if Seohoon comes.

"Still, I need to know the details to assess the risk. I can't understand how a 290 billion won movie can be scrapped just because of a supporting actor's adultery."

-Sigh, I see. I'll tell you. The adultery partner is the girlfriend of someone who has the power to scrap the movie.

"······!"

Jeong Su-yeon's eyes widened in shock, and she covered her mouth.

Jeong Seohoon remained expressionless and calm.

-Now do you understand the situation? It's not about money. It's about emotions, emotions.

"Then won't that person still try to scrap the movie even if Yoon Hyeong-sik is cut?"

-If only that guy is cut, it won't go that far. I can persuade him. That's why Seohoon's participation is crucial.

"What about other actors?"

-We don't have time. Seohoon is the only one who can step in immediately. No, no, what am I saying? There's a specific image for the reshoots, and Seohoon fits it perfectly. The movie will be even better.

Jeong Su-yeon seemed really desperate.

If she had been a bit more level-headed, she wouldn't have said, "There's no one else with the time." It could hurt his pride.

She quickly wrote a note on her phone.

[Decide right now, whether to do it or not. Don't make him wait.]

"I'll do it."

-Really? Thank you, really thank you! You won't change your mind later, right?

"Please take care of my fee."

-Don't worry! I'll give you the best treatment! I'm in a hurry, so I'll hang up now. I'll call you back later.

Before hanging up, a voice urging, "Mr. Kim, let's get going now!" was heard.

Jeong Su-yeon let out a deep breath she had been holding throughout the call.

"Wow, this is crazy. How could this happen? The girlfriend of the movie investor had an affair?"

"He didn't say it was an investor."

"If it's someone with the power to scrap the movie, it must be an investor. Probably a major one, not just a small investor. Maybe the primary or secondary investor."

"If it's the investor's girlfriend, she must be quite proud. How did he manage to charm her?"

"Exactly. It's not easy to even meet her. If it were Choi Sung-bin, it might be different."

Choi Sung-bin, now in his early 40s, was a former handsome youth star and played the role of a former National Intelligence Service agent among the three thieves.

"But are you really going to do this? It'll be tight since you're stepping in as a replacement."

"I'm not in a position to be picky about cold or hot water, am I?"

"What do you mean? You have a truckload of scripts and scenarios coming your way."

"I haven't even seen them. Have you?"

"I haven't either, but they must be piled up, right?"

"Until I see them, they're all uncertain. I have to assume they don't exist."

"But what was the role that Yoon Hyeong-sik played?"

It was a supporting role with not much screen time, so Jeong Su-yeon didn't remember it particularly well.

There were too many eye-catching scenes in the movie to remember a nondescript supporting actor.

"Action leader Kim Chan. Choi Ji-hyun's subordinate."

"Oh, right."

"So he was the scoundrel who was always flirting with Choi Ji-hyun. He died at the end, right?"

"That's right."

"How long has it been since my mother lost her third child? I can't let her lose her fourth. I don't want her crying in the theater again."

"It's not a deeply emotional character, so I don't think she'll cry."

"But how can you act well without a deep backstory? Kim Chan is a villain, but he's too shallow. He's very different from Lee Jin-wook."

"Am I similar to Lee Jin-wook, then?"

"No, that's not it. Now that I think about it, you'll do well. It'll be easier than Lee Jin-wook. But Yoon Hyeong-sik and you have completely different images. Is this okay?"

Action leader Kim Chan.

A character used by the deputy director (played by Choi Ji-hyun) to manage artworks and eliminate competitors.

He was completely smitten by the deputy director's charm and was lost in the fantasy of a luxurious future with her, filled with astronomical wealth.

In the end, he was abandoned by the deputy director and met a lonely death.

From start to finish, he was nothing more than a tool for the deputy director.

It feels familiar.

'Similar to the situation before leaving for the resort.'

The scenes where action leader Kim Chan led his subordinates to raid the art gallery, moved the stolen items and cash, and eliminated competitors were still vivid in Jeong Seohoon's mind.

In those scenes, the lieutenant was reminded of the raids and sweeps he led with his squad, searching for and eliminating stragglers while collecting war trophies.

When Kim Chan imagined being praised by the deputy director after eliminating the last competitor, Jeong Seohoon recalled the excitement of capturing a high-ranking officer and being promoted, which made everyone laugh.

Because he had experienced it vividly, he felt he could do it better.

'What kind of scenery will I see on the movie set?'

Just imagining it makes his mouth water.

***

Hwang In-joon paused to steel his resolve before entering the headquarters of SH Invest.

When he said his name at the front desk on the first floor, a female employee guided him to the elevator as if she had been waiting for him.

Before entering the CEO's office, Hwang In-joon took a deep breath.

"Welcome, Director Hwang. Is this the first time we're meeting?"

A middle-aged man with sharp features greeted him with a smile.

It seemed like there was a hidden ferocity in his smile.

"Nice to meet you, sir. I wish I could have greeted you with good news about the movie. It's a shame."

"I know. I finally made my first bet on a new work by the promising Director Hwang from Chungmuro, but unfortunately, this disaster happened."

Park Si-hong spoke naturally, and Hwang In-joon didn't feel the slightest bit of displeasure.

He values etiquette, but sometimes, adhering to it is meaningless.

"Before that, I have one question. Did Director Hwang know about this?"

"Absolutely not."

"You seem genuine. Your eyes and attitude. That's why I feel even more sorry. It's not your fault, after all."

Hwang In-joon tensed even more at the words of regret.

"Find another investor. If you find one, return the investment. Until then, the movie can't be shown."

"Sir."

"Don't try to persuade me."

Park Si-hong's voice was dry and emotionless.

His eyes were calm and unwavering.

His rock-solid attitude paradoxically showed how intense his anger was.

"I know. It's unreasonable. It's not a matter of ethics or a breach of contract. Do you think I don't know that?"

"······."

"But you're a man, so you should understand, right?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Really? Your expression says otherwise. Why, does it disgust you to see an old man with nothing but money and age trying to keep a young woman he met through money?"

The gentle, lecturing tone added to the intense pressure.

The unique sharpness of someone who has long straddled the line between legality and illegality.

Ironically, Hwang In-joon felt a thrill.

'Crazy. Is this the time for that?'

From Park Si-hong's firm stance, a villainous character was forming in his mind, like a clay figure.

A real, raw energy that couldn't be created by imagination alone.

If it weren't for the duty to save the movie, he would have been tempted to provoke him to get an even more raw reaction.

However, now was the time to be loyal to his role as the director.

"No, I absolutely don't think that. Whether it's money or anything else, if it's his woman, anyone would be furious if someone else touched her."

Personal morals had to be set aside for now.

Now was the time to align his emotions with the other party's, for the sake of the movie.

For the future and livelihood of the many people involved in the movie.

"It's natural to be so angry that you want to cut off his means of living and ban him from the industry."

"Cut off his means of living?"

At those words, Park Si-hong showed a rare, bright smile.

"You, being an artist, are really good at reading people's emotions. That's exactly how I feel. I want to cut off his means of living, his reputation, everything. I want him to struggle with poverty, be driven to a corner, and then drag his whole family into the abyss with him."

"······."

It was genuine. And this man was real.

Someone who fit more into the world of illegality, more comfortable in the shadows than in the light.

"Feeling good now that I'm talking to someone who understands."

"Thank you, sir."

"That's why I need you to find another investor. Return my investment."

"Sir!"

"What can I do? If the movie is scrapped, his reputation will hit rock bottom, and his means of living will be completely cut off. I can't stand the thought of him sneaking back into the broadcasting industry later when the fuss dies down."

The pressure was so intense that he couldn't even properly deliver his prepared speech.

"No matter how I think about it, this is the right way. The movie must be scrapped for him to truly fall. He'll be hated from all sides, his means of living cut off, divorced, and end up as a lonely old man eating only ramen until he dies of carbon monoxide poisoning. What do you think of my plan?"

"Sir, please reconsider just once. I'll find a way."

"Remove all of that guy's scenes now? That could work. We can't reshoot, so if we release it as is, it won't even break even and will fail. But then what about my money? Where will I get compensation for my 116 billion?"

He must have killed people before.

Even if he didn't do it himself, he must have driven many to death through illegal means.

Using money as a tool.

"I may be a man who uses money to meet women, but I still have some innocence. It's been trampled. So I have to become a gangster, don't I?"

Hwang In-joon thought of a famous line from a well-known gambling movie, but it wasn't the right time to mention it.

Park Si-hong suddenly chuckled and leaned back into the sofa.

"What, you don't know this famous line? I thought you'd laugh."

"······."

"Never mind. I was just thinking of a gangster who couldn't even keep one woman."

"······Yes?"

"Now, tell me your side of the story."

Park Si-hong placed his interlocked hands on his crossed legs calmly.

"Businessman Park Si-hong still wants to hear your side of the story."

"······."

"Gangster or businessman. The fate of this movie depends on who wins in this office. So do your best. Start."

Businessman Park Si-hong gave him a chance to argue.

Ironically, Hwang In-joon felt like he was in a scene from a movie.