Chapter 31: Dissolve: His Last Choice

“Oh, Grandma. It’s me.”

[Why isn’t there any news yet?]

“Huh? What did you say?”

[The news, the news. The news about you filming a drama series. You said it’d be out soon.]

“Ah… that.”

For a moment, it hurt enough to bring tears to his eyes, but thankfully, his toe looked fine on the outside.

[These old folks keep getting fooled. They treat me and your grandpa like we’re liars.]

“Just wait a little longer. They said it’s been delayed by a week or two.”

[Why? Did something happen? Are they canceling the drama?]

A shadow of worry instantly crept into Grandma’s voice.

“No way. It’s a movie His Highness the Crown Prince is filming— how could it get canceled?”

[Right, of course. That makes sense.]

He could almost see Grandma nodding on the other end, and Song Hyunsoo let out a chuckle.

That was the level of trust the public had in the name Yoon Jooho.

There were plenty of young actors popular among teens and those in their twenties, but it was extremely rare to find one who appealed to such a wide age range, from children to the elderly.

That was exactly why Yoon Jooho was always in such high demand in the advertising industry— his reach was unmatched, and so was the impact of his endorsements.

Even Song Hyunsoo’s grandmother had grown up watching Yoon Jooho and felt an intimate familiarity with him.

After all, even if it was just through TV, she had witnessed the entire growth of one child, and that naturally fostered affection.

[But Hyunsoo, isn’t His Highness the Crown Prince pitiful?]

“Why would he be pitiful?”

Where else in the world would you find someone who lived so well and had everything…

Well, actually, Yoon Jooho could very well be pitiful.

As Song Hyunsoo recalled the reasons why Yoon Jooho might be pitiable, he nodded to himself in understanding.

[His parents keep showing up everywhere, making him out to be some kind of villain.]

“Right, Grandma?? Those people are seriously messed up, aren’t they?”

Finally finding someone who understood, Song Hyunsoo’s eyes lit up with relief.

[I heard they had a huge fight with the old lady from the butcher shop. That woman kept saying, ‘No matter what, a child shouldn’t treat their parents like that,’ taking the side of those heartless parents.]

“You did great. You did great, Grandma.”

[So it’s wrong for a child to treat their parents badly, but it’s fine for parents to treat their child like that? A parent’s job is to protect their child, even if it kills them.]

“That’s exactly what I’ve been saying!”

[He was a son who listened without complaint for thirty years. Did everything he was told and avoided what he wasn’t. If a son like that turns out this way, there’s a reason for it. Do you think he’d just suddenly grab someone by the collar out of nowhere?]

The kettle began to whistle shrilly as the water boiled.

Song Hyunsoo got up and headed back to the kitchen.

One of his rabbit slippers was wedged in the corner, making his steps uneven and limping.

He thought he was fine, but when he put weight on his foot, his little toe still felt a bit sore.

[He can’t even speak freely about it anywhere. He must be holding so much inside that he can’t tell anyone.]

“……”

He turned off the gas stove, and the kettle finally fell silent.

Grandma was the type who would tear up at even the slightest mention of someone suffering on TV.

Knowing that Yoon Jooho, whom she adored almost like her own grandson, was going through hardship must have been hard on her.

[You’re working on the drama together, right? The people around him should at least say something warm to comfort him.]

Ever since hearing that Song Hyunsoo would be working on a project with Yoon Jooho, Grandma seemed to think they had become close friends.

Well, it wasn’t like he hadn’t exaggerated a little to hype it up…

But still, he wasn’t exactly in a position to offer Yoon Jooho warm words of comfort.

Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to shatter Grandma’s dream that her grandson was now on friendly terms with Yoon Jooho.

“Grandma, by the way, what’s Grandpa doing ri—”

Beep beep beep beep.

As always, the call with Grandma ended abruptly and one-sidedly.

Staring awkwardly at his phone, Song Hyunsoo nearly dropped it when it suddenly vibrated and rang again.

This time, it wasn’t a call but a message.

《Hyunsoo, it’s about the apartment move. This is Jooho’s manager 😄

Can you come to this address by 1 PM today?

We’ll discuss the part-time job details and conditions when we meet.》

Limping over to the shoe rack, Song Hyunsoo found his flipped-over slipper, put it on, and replied to the moving manager.

Is Director Bang coming? So it’s not something to do with Yoon Jooho? Well, what reason would Yoon Jooho have to hire a part-timer anyway.

He tossed his phone onto the mattress, pushed aside the curtain covering the clothes rack, and skimmed through the outfits.

Thankfully, Jungho had lent him a bunch of clothes before leaving. 

He held up a thick gray hoodie to his chest and stood in front of the mirror.

Did he say to wear this with the brown padded jacket?

This looks way too much like a student, though.

He paired a navy blue sweatshirt with dark indigo jeans.

Yeah, this looks better. 

What did Jungho say again?

Did he say to cuff the hem of these pants?

As he laid the pants flat on the mattress and folded the cuffs, Song Hyunsoo suddenly paused.

He realized he was putting more effort into picking an outfit than he ever did for a script reading.

It wasn’t to impress Director Bang.

Somewhere inside him, there was still a lingering hope that he might run into Yoon Jooho.

With a scoff, he straightened his bent back.

“And what if Yoon Jooho shows up? Am I gonna try to flirt with him or something?”

Leaving the chosen clothes behind, he ruffled his hair roughly and headed to the kitchen.

He needed coffee first.

But the water he’d just boiled had already gone lukewarm.

“Ah, it’s because of Grandma.”

Blaming the innocent grandmother, he turned the gas stove burner back on.

■

Changing buses at Exit 3 of Sinsa Station, the bus sped along Dosandaero.

It was the same route as the way to the script reading.

Even passing by the ‘Look Planning’ building was identical.

But this time, Song Hyunsoo’s emotions as he gazed up at the building were slightly different.

The building still stood tall and imposing.

Its gleaming glass surface appeared flawless.

And the sign remained unchanged.

In one sensational article covering the dispute between Yoon Jooho and his parents, it was rumored that the building, which Yoon Jooho had purchased for 30 billion won, was now worth at least 50 billion.

Yet, Yoon Jooho hadn’t shown his face there for months.

Despite it being undeniably his building and his company.

Whether by choice or circumstance, one thing was certain: it had been that way since Eternal Night went off the air.

Look Planning had started as a one-person agency solely representing Yoon Jooho.

But had since grown into a mid-sized agency specializing in actor management.

Everyone knew it.

None of this growth would have been possible without the influence of Yoon Jooho as an actor.

Only his parents and their supporters pretended otherwise.

But Look Planning was also a company shrouded in unsavory rumors.

They allegedly secured their actors by forcing them into Yoon Jooho’s projects as package deals.

Or swooping in to poach rising stars just as other companies had finished nurturing them through their unknown years…

If, as Yoon Jooho’s father claimed, his parents had been handling the management all along.

Then those rumors were their doing.

In short, they had been exploiting Yoon Jooho’s name to gather only the most profitable actors.

And now, Yoon Jooho was probably trying to change that business model.

Despite the rumors, Look Planning remained the most coveted agency among actors.

Of course, it had been the same for Song Hyunsoo.

But for me, it’s an unreachable tree.

A company like that wouldn’t sign someone as unknown as me.

In front of the Look Planning building, a few girls were taking pictures.

Though Asian, their vibe seemed distinctly foreign.

Likely fans of Yoon Jooho.

The traffic light changed.

And the bus picked up speed.

Gazing absently out the window.

Song Hyunsoo turned up the volume on his earphones.

Maybe because of the dream.

Even listening to his favorite Growing Up didn’t lift his spirits today.

If only I’d been more popular.

If I’d had more influence.

Maybe Hong-seo wouldn’t have ended up like that.

He had always thought so.

But perhaps that wasn’t it either.

He’d assumed someone like Yoon Jooho— a top star— could live however he wanted.

As easy as lying down and eating rice cakes.

But reality wasn’t like that.