Chapter 63: The Suspicious Professor (3)

The meeting with Professor Lee Sejong was brief.

After leaving a few essential explanations and instructions, Lee Sejong exchanged business cards and left the room.

Kim Sanghee, who seemed to have been struck by some inspiration from Lee Sejong, buried her face in her laptop, while Jang Seungwon, who had been holding his breath the entire time, was now hyperventilating as he asked:

"Who exactly is that professor?"

"He's a professor in the electronics department and also my advisor."

"No, that's not what I mean. What kind of person says something like, 'I can cover 300 billion won with my own money, hehehe.' with a laugh?"

"I don't know much, but I do know that his personal assets exceed 100 billion won."

"......100 billion won."

Jang Seungwon felt his legs go weak.

He wasn't sure whether to be shocked that a university professor could have over 100 billion won or to be taken aback by Jung Seohoon's nonchalant attitude in mentioning such a sum.

"Are professors usually that rich? Or do you have to be rich to become a professor at Korea University?"

"His family was wealthy to begin with, but most of the money he has is what he earned himself."

"But how did he do that?"

"Through patent royalties."

"......Patents?"

The more he heard, the more he felt like he was sinking into a quagmire.

What kind of patents?

"The professor runs a patent-specialized company in Silicon Valley. He has several original patents, and he also buys high-potential technologies at low prices, improves them, and then provides them as patents to manufacturing companies, earning royalties."

"......Patents can make that much money?"

"Most of them are important patents. He's still consistently filing new ones."

"By the way, which companies pay the patent fees......?"

"Intel, AMD, ARM, NVIDIA, Apple, Microsoft, and various other companies. Domestic large corporations also pay patent fees."

"I heard that domestic large corporations don't pay royalties and just steal patents......"

"The company is owned by the professor, but it's an American company. You can't mess around with patents."

Jang Seungwon, who had been listening to the explanation in a daze, gradually returned to his normal expression.

"So, Professor Lee Sejong wasn't bluffing when he said that, right?"

"Yes, I can guarantee that. But I didn't expect him to mention the convenience of my undergraduate life. I was planning to delay my return to school for the filming of 'Hegemon.'"

"Don't delay it; just go back to school."

When Jang Seungwon said this without hesitation, Jung Seohoon pretended to be slightly surprised and replied:

"PD? That will definitely affect the filming schedule."

"I'll do my best to adjust the shooting schedule to fit Seohoon's. Since most of the outdoor daytime scenes aren't that many, we can shoot them all at once. There are more indoor and nighttime scenes. Oh, and will Seohoon be physically able to handle both school and filming?"

"I have no problem with my physical condition. As long as the schedule works, I'm fine."

Indeed.

Due to the remnants left by Hye-seong, his body is becoming stronger every day.

During the illegal filming accident, he climbed up using only his arm strength, and no matter how much he drinks, he doesn't get hangovers or feel physically drained.

He has never felt a lack of stamina.

"Then that's even better. Seohoon will be attending school while also acting in a drama. This will be a hot topic. A current Korea University genius student actor in a fusion historical drama! Viewers who don't usually watch dramas won't be able to resist."

"Seohoon, you know, the production team is all obsessed with ratings."

"Isn't that true for writers too? Why are you pretending otherwise?"

"No matter how good the ratings are, how could you think of selling an actor to a professor?"

"There's only one semester left. He can graduate whenever he wants, and he's going to return to school anyway. Wouldn't it be better to use the title of a current Korea University top student to add value to our drama? It's a one-semester card."

"That professor seems suspicious."

When Kim Sanghee made this conclusion, Jang Seungwon's expression became slightly more serious.

"Why? Is there something that bothers you?"

"What motivation could a professor have to be nice to a 21-year-old Korea University top student who is about to return to school after military service and has only one semester left?"

"Well, graduate school......"

Jang Seungwon stopped mid-sentence, his throat catching and his breath pausing.

Kim Sanghee looked at him triumphantly, as if to say, "Now you get it."

"Professor Lee wants Seohoon, who is worth 300 billion won, to come to graduate school."

"No, why would someone who is supposed to be an actor go to graduate school? What did Seohoon do wrong?"

"PD, graduate school isn't a place you go when you do something wrong."

"Boys go to juvenile detention centers when they do something wrong. College students go to graduate school."

Kim Sanghee muttered, and Jang Seungwon asked urgently:

"Hey, we really need to stop this. Seohoon, did the professor say he was investing on the condition that you go to graduate school?"

"He didn't say anything like that."

"Ah, just because he didn't say it doesn't mean it's not true. Professors have a skill for subtly instilling a sense of debt in undergraduates, making them feel uncomfortable. Before they know it, they find themselves in a lab."

Kim Sanghee's playful tone made Jang Seungwon's expression even more serious.

"Is this going to cause big trouble? Should we just refuse?"

"Don't worry. I'm going to be an actor for life."

***

Jung Seohoon decided to sign a contract for a commercial.

It was a deal that his manager, Ha Tae-soo, strongly recommended.

"It's a one-year contract with good conditions. You only need to shoot three times. By the time your historical drama ends, this contract will be over, so it's a good idea to do it."

"Sounds right. I'll do it."

"Who will review the contract......?"

"I'll do it. I have some legal knowledge."

"Oh, right, you got a patent attorney license. I forgot."

Jung Seohoon skimmed through the contract and signed it without hesitation.

A few days later, Jung Seohoon met with the advertiser and the commercial director.

More specifically, the marketing director of the company that commissioned the commercial.

"Actually, I'm a huge fan of Jung Seohoon. I really enjoyed 'Illegitimate' and I've seen 'The Treasure' in theaters more than ten times."

"Thank you for your kind words."

"Can I ask for a signature personally?"

The marketing director, a woman in her late thirties, couldn't look Jung Seohoon in the eye and kept avoiding his gaze throughout the meeting.

The commercial director spoke in a dry, businesslike manner.

"We'll send you the shooting concept by the end of today. There will be some light emotional acting, but since you're an actor, not a singer, it shouldn't be difficult. It's very easy. We've tailored the concept to match Jung Seohoon's acting image."

"Understood."

"By the way, your co-star will be Chae Ji-hyun."

On the way back from the hour-long meeting, Ha Tae-soo, who was driving, said jokingly:

"Chae Ji-hyun again. Are you going to cause another scandal like with Yoo Jeong-a?"

"I don't care."

"Our Seohoon is becoming a big actor. By the way, Bong-chul said that when you were filming 'The Treasure,' he thought you had the experience of a twenty-year veteran. You're so composed."

"I just don't get flustered easily. That's just my personality."

"Having a strong mental game is a great advantage for an actor."

Leaning his chin on his hand and looking out the window, his phone buzzed.

[Chae Ji-hyun] I heard we're doing the same commercial!

[Me] I'm on my way back from the meeting. I just heard about it.

[Chae Ji-hyun] Hehe, we're working together again. What are you doing today?

[Me] I'm going to catch up on some overdue homework at home.

[Chae Ji-hyun] Overdue homework......?

[Me] I didn't watch much media before becoming an actor. I'm investing at least four hours a day in watching movies and dramas.

[Chae Ji-hyun] Ah, what are you going to watch today?

Just as he was about to type the title of the movie he planned to watch, he received a message from someone else.

[Yoo Jeong-a] What are you doing today?

[Chae Ji-hyun] I have a great home theater set up. I spend all day watching movies at home on my days off!

[Yoo Jeong-a] Want to have a drink?

[Chae Ji-hyun] Are you driving?

[Yoo Jeong-a] Why aren't you responding? Are you busy? In a meeting? I heard you're doing a commercial with Ji-hyun.

[Chae Ji-hyun] You shouldn't text while driving. Be careful! Let me know when you're done driving.

[Hwang Ra-hee] Hi! 😄

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.