Chapter 54 : I’m a Living Actor (54)

“That’s……”

“Uncle, you’re something else. After driving such a huge nail into the kid’s heart who was desperate to stop the group from breaking up, you still want to do whatever you want?”

At the continuing reproach, CEO Park Sung-joo’s slightly parted lips snapped shut.

Seeing that, Im Seok-gu chuckled quietly to himself.

If it was going to end like this anyway, why did it have to happen every time? Even though he was his uncle, Seok-gu really found him pathetic in moments like this.

‘Well, that’s why his business is only going like this.’

Though CEO Park had achieved decent results, in the eyes of the overly ambitious Im Seok-gu, everything seemed trivial.

Above all, being unable to handle just Yoo Chae-min and being pushed around by his nephew—that was unbearable.

“Anyway, replace everyone except the original members? That kid seems pretty decent……”

“That issue hasn’t been decided yet. Let’s discuss it at the next meeting. Bring the materials prepared.”

At CEO Park Sung-joo’s sharp words, Im Seok-gu froze, mouth slightly open.

After smacking his lips, he finally nodded.

“Fine. Let’s do that.”

Though he said it, his gaze toward CEO Park was full of displeasure.

‘Needlessly proud, as always.’

In the end, I’m right, and I’m correct. Lost in his own pride, Im Seok-gu genuinely believed so.

With a bang, the door to the CEO’s office closed.

CEO Park Sung-joo stared at the shut door with a complicated expression before burying his face in his hands.

“Ah, geez……”

He had thought this business was something he could do well, something he was doing well.

Whenever he saw the young kids gradually achieving their dreams with the support of the company, his heart swelled with pride.

Of course, since it was a business, he couldn’t ignore the financial side, but he tried his best to keep the right balance.

To the artists under his wing, he wanted to be a good partner, a tree they could rely on in the rough entertainment industry.

Was that too big a desire?

The idol group Pump Up was undoubtedly formed of talented kids but ended up a painful thorn in his side for not shining as expected.

When they gained fame through a reverse hit, he was genuinely happy. He wanted to use that opportunity to allow the kids to focus on their music without worries.

But the result was dismal.

Still, he thought it wasn’t the end.

As long as the kids didn’t give up, there would surely be another chance.

“Sir, I just can’t do this anymore. I can’t live as Yoo Chae-min’s backup!”

“People only talk about Yoo Chae-min and the kids. Do I have to keep doing this while hearing that?”

By the time the contract renewal discussion took place, the kids’ minds had already rotted through.

Every member who faced the CEO said the same thing: they wanted to quit, it was too hard.

“Me… if possible, I want to keep going……”

Only Yoo Chae-min was different.

CEO Park sensed some misunderstanding had arisen among the kids.

But it was too late.

The misunderstanding among the kids was beyond the CEO’s intervention.

In fact, the kids never truly opened their hearts to CEO Park.

Only then did CEO Park realize he had forgotten the most important fact at some point.

The kids were no longer just children, and after all, they were bound together by business.

In the end, the idol group Pump Up disbanded.

Yoo Chae-min couldn’t accept the group’s breakup easily.

‘It was entirely my fault.’

During the contract renewal discussion, Chae-min had painfully but haltingly revealed his situation, and CEO Park had boasted not to worry.

He promised that although the misunderstandings among members couldn’t be fully resolved, at least the group wouldn’t break up. Just trust him.

Even knowing Chae-min, who had come to Seoul trusting only his manager, was relying heavily on the agency’s CEO, he made those promises.

But Chaemin didn’t resent CEO Park.

He just festering inside.

Until, eventually……

“Uncle! Yoo Chaemin!!”

The news came suddenly on a stormy summer day.

Even now, recalling that moment, he could almost feel the humid air and the musty scent of rain.

The blackness spreading before his eyes, the heart-dropping sensation……

“Hoo.”

CEO Park’s gaze slowly turned toward the scripts on the table.

Such valuable scripts… but was even this desire just selfishness as his nephew said?

At that moment, the image of Yoo Chaemin in came to mind.

Always the same, leaving a pitiful feeling about his acting.

Monitoring all of Chaemin’s performances, CEO Park only confirmed through his nephew that the kid’s intentions were sincere.

He was just grateful Chaemin hadn’t quit acting altogether.

‘…This time was definitely different.’

His eyes, which had always been trembling and hazy, became clear.

Staring sharply at one spot and expressing his emotions plainly, it felt so unfamiliar it was almost awkward.

‘Chaemin has changed.’

People could change anytime.

Even if they had no interest in acting before, that could be different now.

Moreover, that kind of acting couldn’t appear without genuine intent and effort.

CEO Park hastily grabbed his phone.

After quickly checking the contacts, he stopped, eyes fixed on a name filling the screen.

[Yoo Chaemin, Actor]

He just had to press the call button, but it was incredibly difficult.

Words he had heard from his nephew ran through his mind, weighing heavily on his heart.

Though it was for Chaemin’s sake, was his attitude only deepening the kid’s wounds?

What if Chaemin, barely recovering, slipped back into the past…….

CEO Park stared blankly at his phone, unable to do anything.

When the screen finally went dark, he sighed and put the phone down.

‘Better than expected.’

That was the verdict on ’s performance.

Public opinion and Chaemin’s image had improved somewhat, and the ratings honestly exceeded expectations.

‘I thought anything over 5% would be considered good.’

The atmosphere on set was the same.

They had long surpassed 5%, now aiming for 10%.

For a fantasy school drama airing at 10 p.m. on terrestrial TV targeting teens and twenties, this was quite impressive.

‘The buzz isn’t bad either.’

Chaemin’s acting and the drama’s content were hot topics online every day.

When a drama gets this kind of response, broadcasters usually send additional offers to the lead actors.

“Oh, those two actors appear quite a lot on variety shows, huh?”

“……”

“But why is Yoo Chaemin, the main male lead, just staying home?”

I shut off the web variety show I was watching.

“Oh, why? Not watching till the end?”

“Don’t just suddenly show up like that.”

My words made Team Leader Kkae fold his arms and chuckle softly.

“Staff member Myung Seungho sure expects a lot from his boss.”

“Well, I feel like I’m always asking for the same things.”

“Is that so?”

Kkae shrugged and naturally sat on the sofa beside me.

“Why are you sitting?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking why you’re sitting. Like you’re here to stay a while.”

“If I’m just staying a bit, can’t I sit?”

“Fair enough.”

I was already a bit sensitive lately, and here was someone deliberately picking at that.

I thought he’d come empty-handed just to give a quick notice and leave, but no.

“So, why are you here?”

When I told him to get to the point and leave, Kkae’s lips curled.

“I’m happy.”

“……Excuse me?”

“The drama’s reaction has been really hot lately. As a superior, I can’t just ignore the dazzling achievements of my subordinate.”

That didn’t sound very pleasant.

“Congratulations, Staff Member Myung Seungho.”

“Thank you.”

“……”

“Is that it?”

Kkae shrugged.

“As a team leader, it’s a bit disappointing if that’s all you say.”

“Ah……”

He clearly understood what I meant, but only now realized it.

“So I’m still waiting, aren’t I?”

I was about to ask if he was talking nonsense, but then I realized.

He meant the promise to help when I got into trouble.

‘Though honestly… I don’t really trust that either.’

“We always keep our promises. We have to.”

Kkae said softly, as if reading my mind.

I looked at him silently, then asked, “Then, can you get rid of Yoo Chaemin’s manager?”

“I can’t directly take a life.”

‘So indirectly it’s possible?’

No, but why jump to that conclusion?

“I’m not asking to get rid of him from the world, just to get him away from Yoo Chaemin……”

“Exactly.”

Such a breezy answer came back.

For a moment, I doubted whether Kkae really understood what I said.

He smiled like usual, clearly aware of who he was and what he had just said.

‘No way.’

“Is there no way to get him away from Yoo Chaemin other than having him leave his life?”

“In the end, yes.”

It was a terrifying statement.

Like a chilling prophecy that the guy would cling to Chaemin until he died.

“But I think I can tell you this much: that manager is definitely blocking Yoo Chaemin’s path.”

“That’s……”

I almost said ‘I know that too’ but closed my mouth.

‘At least he didn’t say anything stupid.’

There must be a reason for saying this now.

That reason was probably……

“Seems like there are quite a few scripts coming in for Yoo Chaemin thanks to this drama?”

Kkae’s smile deepened.

It was a positive sign.

When an actor impresses in a drama, good scripts come their way. It was only natural.

But this was Yoo Chaemin.

Though the drama improved his perception somewhat, it was only partial.

The biggest word still describing Chaemin was ‘bad acting.’

‘And objectively, his acting skills still aren’t good.’

Yet they were sending scripts, meaning they were willing to take a gamble.

The problem was, none of those scripts had been passed to me.

Not just that.

[Seo Sang-woo: Hyung, this might be rude, so please tell me if it is ㅠㅠ]

[Seo Sang-woo: I heard you rejected the web variety show we’re filming. Is that true? Did you really reject it?]

Even the schedules derived from the drama were being rejected at the company level without asking me.

“To be honest, I’m a bit surprised.”

That soft, yet somehow sinking voice drilled into my ear.

Instead of answering, I looked at Kkae.

His eyes, visible through his mask of pleasure, gleamed strangely.

“Why are you just staying quiet? Knowing you, Myung Seungho, I thought you’d have already gotten rid of him.”

“……”

“You’ve already prepared everything, haven’t you?”

His question was coated in a mask, his intentions unreadable.