Chapter 256 (1/2)

He was lucky. He never imagined that he would come into contact with someone belonging to JA Production in such a manner. He checked the papers he saw behind the ripped envelope. It was definitely a contract form.

“You look like you got a burn. Are you really okay?”

The child looked at him worriedly. Dongwook decided to take back his words of being okay.

“It prickles a little, so I might have a serious burn.”

“That’s not good. There’s a pharmacy nearby, let’s go there for now.”

“Sh, shall we?” Dongwook almost couldn’t hold back his laughter. He thought that the effort he put into prying the internal matters about JA Productions was finally receiving a reward. Now, he had to be careful. From how this child was worried for him despite the fact that his wound was small, it could be said that this child was a kind boy. If he convinced this boy well, he might be able to get some info about JA Production.

“It’s not that serious, so this will do,” Dongwook spoke as he applied the ointment he got from the pharmacy. The child still had a worried expression on his face.

“Are you really okay?”

“It prickles a little, but this won’t hurt me.”

“I’m really sorry. I should have watched where I was going.”

“No, no, not at all. It’s me who spilled my coffee after all.”

Dongwook took out a laptop and a camera from his bag as he put the ointment inside. On top of that, he pretended to rummage through his belongings and dropped a few of his business cards on the floor. After seeing that the child saw the business card falling on the ground, Dongwook pretended to know nothing and kept looking inside his bag.

The child bent down and picked up the business card.

“Uhm, here.”

The child gave him the business card. Dongwook smiled as naturally as possible as he received it.

“Are you a journalist?” The child asked with curious eyes.

He fell for the trap. Rookies were especially vulnerable to journalists. It was because they didn’t know anything. They were always filled with expectation that the journalist would write a good article about them.

“I once worked in a TV station. You know YBS, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. Wow, you’re actually a journalist.”

Although he quit that job a long time ago, he wasn’t exactly lying. After all, there was a time when he was a journalist at YBS. After seeing the wariness around the boy disappear, Dongwook started speaking about his true intentions.

“Uhm, it was kinda unintentional, but I kinda ended up looking at something that I shouldn't have.”

“Oh, this?”

The child pushed the envelope towards him as he spoke. It seemed that he wanted to boast about it. Dongwook inwardly rejoiced.

“I signed a contract recently.”

“With JA Production?”

“Yes.”

“Is that so? Hm, I’m writing an article about the entertainment industry recently and….”

“Oh really?”

“You can call it a special edition article talking about new actors that still haven’t received the spotlight despite being in famous companies.”

The boy widened his eyes when he heard the words ‘special edition article’. Yes, there was a reaction. He didn’t seem that shy and he seemed to be somewhat ambitious as well. In cases like these, he would start spilling out all sorts of information with a bit of a push.

“It would be really good if my name got on it, right?”

“That’s right. What, are you interested?”

“...Hahaha,” The boy laughed awkwardly. Dongwook pointed at the cafe across the street and spoke.

“Then let’s have a little talk then, shall we? Something that we can both find profit in.”

Dongwook put his arms around the boy’s shoulders.

“My name is Kim Dongwook, what’s yours?”

“Ah, that’s right. My name is Yoo Sooil.”

“Sooil? That’s a good name.”

Dongwook smiled and walked towards the cafe.

* * *

“You look tired.”

Junmin smiled back at the chef who said those words to him as he put down the tea.

“Looks like decreasing my sleep just a little is showing its effects already. Looks like I’m getting old as well.”

A bittersweet smell came up from the tea. It seemed to be ginger tea. The chef left after saying that health was the most important thing. Junmin replied that that was the case as he drank the tea. The sweetness from the dessert was washed away. The tea made him breathe some hot air out subconsciously.

“I’ve confirmed the two leaving.”

Junmin nodded his head when he heard the words that came from behind him.

“Head manager Kang. What of Maru?”

“He just left.”

“How about president Park?”

“She couldn’t be seen anywhere.”

“Looks like i was worried for nothing. I thought she’d probe out some more.”

“She’s not foolish enough to do something that displeases the party she came to ask something from.”

“You’re right. Head manager Kang. Have you had dinner yet?”

“Not yet, sir.”

“Then have a seat.”

“Yes, sir.”

When Junmin raised his hand, one of the female staff approached him quickly. He asked head manager Kang what he wanted.

“Ramyun and eggs. Is that possible?”

The staff made a slightly awkward smile at those words.

“Just give him what he wants. Sorry for the weird request,” Junmin followed up. The staff bowed before going away.

“Don’t you ever get tired of ramyun?”