Chapter 428 (1/2)

(Note: The following scene might be VERY disturbing. You have been warned.)

“Did I tell you this last time? I was really touched after seeing your first movie. Your first movie is what made me want to become an actor.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Lee Hyuk took a bite from the crêpe when Giwoo told him to eat. Although the crêpe contained lots of cream and fruit, he couldn’t taste anything. He only mechanically moved his jaws to break it down and swallow it.

“Is the food to your tastes?”

“Yes. It’s good.”

“A patissier I really like created it for me. It’s really hard to get ahold of this since he usually stays in France, but he came to Korea a while ago.”

Giwoo ate the crêpe with a happy face. Lee Hyuk drank the water in his cup in one gulp before heaving a deep breath out. He had emptied four glasses of water already.

“Looks like you’re thirsty.”

“No, I just really like water.”

“I see. Oh, I heard you went to a shoot. How was it?”

“It was the same as usual. Shoot, rest, shoot, rest.”

“I heard that the director was quite eccentric.”

“Ah, the director. He is a little eccentric.”

“What was he like?”

“He instructs us on what acting to do.”

“Isn’t that the same for the other directors?”

“His participation is on a whole different level. He doesn’t let any actors do what they want. We just had to do precisely what the director told us to do.”

“That’s rather peculiar. Then there are no improvisations or ad-libbing?”

“No, not a single one.”

“I see. What an interesting director. I’d like to see him once.”

Oh, please excuse me - he added before picking up his phone. He didn’t use any polite speech as though he was talking to a friend. Lee Hyuk checked the time with the watch he received. It was nearly 1 a.m. He didn’t know how long he would be staying here. Although it was frustrating, there was nothing he could do. He could only wait obediently until he was told that it was okay to go.

“That’s not it. You must leave some room behind. Our ancestors were never wrong. A cornered rat will bite. So don’t push too hard and leave some breathing room. Only then will there be no accidents. Yeah, yeah. Right. You can enjoy yourself more, but keep this in mind: you cannot let that person challenge you. You must leave just enough room for that person to run away. If that person turns around and tries to bite you, then you should completely suppress that person. No, actually, you can’t get to that stage. It means that you’re lacking. You can’t be played with by someone you’re trying to toy with. Isn’t that right?”

Giwoo spoke as though he was explaining a math formula to a neighboring student. Lee Hyuk felt his nerves tightening and he started eating the crêpe in a rush. Giwoo’s voice was buried beneath his chewing noise. He didn’t want to know what that kid was talking about nor who he was talking to. No, he should never know either. Just as he was looking for the sweet flavor with his numb tongue, Giwoo put down his phone and spoke.

“Sorry about the call just now.”

“Not at all.”

“Rather than that, it seems like you really like that crêpe. Should I order some more?”

“I-I’m fine. I’m full now that I ate one in a rush.”

Giwoo smiled and nodded. Lee Hyuk felt as though the yucky cream smell was climbing back out of his throat. He really wanted to eat something spicy right now.

“Eunjoo-noona is quite mischievous, isn’t she?”

“No, not at all. She’s a good person.”

“Haha, you don’t have to be so nervous. Her mischief is quite famous among us. That watch, it looks like you got it from her, right?”

“Ah, yes. Just now.”

Lee Hyuk slowly lowered his arm so that the watch face couldn’t be seen. The conversation had halted for a while. Giwoo chewed on the crêpe he said he liked with a relaxing smile. Seeing Giwoo’s chin slowly move, Lee Hyuk felt his tongue go dry. The sound of a clock ticking could be heard from somewhere. There was no clock in the room. He didn’t know where the sound was coming from, but Lee Hyuk felt stifled by the sound.

“You helped me out a lot, senior.”

“Help? Oh, no, not at all.”

“Yes, you did. From the moment you met me along with Eunjoo-noona three years ago, you helped me out quite a lot. Thanks to that, I was able to have a successful debut, and I managed to digest the historical drama that I’m shooting now without a problem. Oh, you know that one, right? The one with Han Myung-hoe as the main character.”

“Yes, I do. I really do.”

“Ah… but it seems like my acting was a bit old. The producer said that it was good at first, but the more we progressed, the less he seemed satisfied.”

Lee Hyuk subconsciously put strength into the hands he placed on his knees. He had met this kid three years ago. Back then, he had screwed up his business so badly that he had lost his house to the debt and was thinking about committing suicide. Just then, he was introduced to Kim Eunjoo by one person. She was someone that was given the title of senior managing director for her 30th birthday. She lived in a completely different world. She earned enough money to pay taxes for her luxuries, which amounted to what an ordinary breadwinner would earn in a year. Her concept of ‘consumer’ was completely different from the others.

Lee Hyuk, while he was still at rock bottom, was able to make a comeback thanks to her. He started getting advertising contracts again which were cut off before. Numerous contracts flooded him during the past three years. Although he didn’t belong to any agency, he had no problems doing his activities. Eunjoo also solved his tax problems by assigning him a very capable tax accountant. His stamp was never dry of ink. He had gained a new life in exchange for doing cute tricks in front of her.

However, now that three years had passed, Lee Hyuk had found a new rope that bound his body. Contract. Her methods were smart and were just as scary.

In that process, Lee Hyuk was introduced to Kang Giwoo, who Eunjoo called a ‘close little brother’. He was a rather kind-looking boy. He smiled at every word and was kind. Just as he thought that there could be a kid like this in this world, he got to see the true nature of the boy.

Lee Hyuk shook his head lightly and snapped out of it.

“Old, you said?”

“Yes. My acting was definitely good, but it seems that it doesn’t fit the latest trends.”

“Th-then what do I do?”

“Nothing specific. I learned a lot from you until now after all. I just set up this occasion in order to thank you. Oh, and also, take this.”

Giwoo gave him a box wrapped with a silver strap. When he opened it, he saw a necktie pin.

“Apparently, it’s made of platinum. It should suit you.”

“Th-thanks….”

Lee Hyuk closed the box again and looked at Giwoo.

“Does that mean I don’t need to coach you anymore?”

“Yes, we’re done. I don’t have anything I can learn from you anymore after all. Thanks for everything until now.”

“U-uhm.”

He hurriedly called out to Giwoo, who was standing up from his seat.