Ch.24How should we organize the forms of address then?

I’m ruined.

I’m fucked.

My life is over.

“I’m not even worth living.”

In the empty office.

Choi Seokho, CEO of Veritas, stared blankly out the window.

The outside view was nice.

‘It’s just that the inside view is the worst.’

Could there be a more fitting word for the current situation than desolate?

He thought his connections were sufficient, and his career solid.

But he was ruined.

Why?

Because he crossed a major corporation.

“Did it have to go this far?”

You can’t stop an actor from choosing projects.

That’s the business of writers and directors.

But you could stop actors from choosing agencies.

Especially when it’s not just any agency, but a one-person agency that crossed a major corporation.

For Cybers QA, choking the life out of such a small operation was nothing.

‘I just want to… jump out the window.’

He tried to recruit numerous actors, but the result was zero.

He offered the highest profit-sharing ratios, adjusted contract periods, increased signing bonuses.

No matter what he tried, he couldn’t recruit a single actor.

The rumors had spread far and wide.

Choi Seokho had crossed Cybers QA,

and if you didn’t want to get on Cybers QA’s bad side, don’t sign with Choi Seokho.

At this point, he wanted to cry.

Everything he had built in his mid-thirties seemed to have collapsed,

his career that he had worked so hard for was just a sandcastle.

‘I’m lonely.’

Especially since everyone around him had left.

It’s true that no one could help in this situation.

But to think that not a single person would reach out.

The “me” who left a major corporation is truly nothing.

Choi Seokho fell into deep loneliness.

So he impulsively asked the building owner to have a meal together.

He wanted to grab any stranger and pour his heart out,

to lean on any kindness that came his way.

He just wanted to have a conversation with someone.

‘It’s about time for the meeting.’

After looking around the office with no employees or contracted actors.

Choi Seokho tidied himself up in front of the mirror.

The owner said they would come when they had time.

All Seokho had to do was wait patiently.

And right then.

Creeeeak.

The door opened.

“Hello. My name is Kim Donghu. Are you the CEO of Veritas?”

Light came in.

‘What’s this?’

First of all, he’s handsome. Extremely handsome. Unbelievably so.

Next is his tall, well-proportioned figure.

And finally, his aura.

Seokho had seen the aura of many actors, and they all had one thing in common.

A strong impression. What people commonly call presence.

In that sense, Seokho was feeling the strongest presence right now.

But a young man like this walks into a management office on his own?

This was an opportunity sent by God.

“Yes! Yes! I, I am CEO Choi Seokho.”

Unconsciously speaking formally, Seokho rushed toward the young man.

Kim Donghu, was it? He’s incredibly handsome.

Thinking this, he shook hands first.

“Welcome to Veritas! What should we, what should we do first? Contract? Looking for projects?”

Seokho was extremely excited.

However, his excitement didn’t last long.

“Dinner.”

“What, pardon?”

“We had a dinner appointment today, didn’t we?”

Dinner appointment? When did I make such plans with this young man?

Then suddenly it hit him.

‘Dinner with the building owner.’

As everything clicked into place, Seokho’s jaw dropped.

His cry of shock unfolded like a painting.

“…the, the building owner?!”

+++++

Awkward, awkward.

If I had to summarize the current situation, that would be the only word.

Bubble, bubble, bubble.

The army stew between me and CEO Choi Seokho was making its own statement.

The ajumma told us to eat once it boiled more, and we were awkwardly looking at each other.

“So… h-how…”

“I was lucky. Just did this and that.”

“Ah, um… you can speak comfortably. You’re the building owner after all…”

“No, you’re still much older than me, I should show respect.”

“Then, you could call me hyung…”

CEO Choi Seokho, no, Seokho hyung was trying hard to break the awkward atmosphere.

Actually, I wasn’t feeling awkward at all, but he was feeling it enough for both of us.

“Ah, then I’ll call you hyung. Thank you for your consideration, Seokho hyung.”

“Uh, yeah… yes. But is army stew really okay with you?”

“Yes, they make it well here.”

For reference, this is the Daemawang Army Stew restaurant on the first floor of our building.

The owner knows me, which means…

“Oh my, our building owner Donghu is here? You should have said something! Ladies! Add more noodles here, and make an egg roll too~”

When you meet the owner, the service comes pouring in.

“…They serve egg rolls here too?”

“It’s a building owner’s privilege, it’s really delicious.”

I didn’t know that existed- Seokho hyung muttered in amazement.

Then, as if coming to his senses, he quickly spoke.

“Ah, I wanted to thank you in person. For the congratulatory wreath you sent.”

“That was nothing, it was only natural.”

“No, I have various circumstances… it really meant a lot to me.”

“Donghu building owner~ It’s all boiled now, you can start eating~!”

“Yes, thank you, ma’am.”

The owner’s signal to start eating interrupted our conversation.

Seokho hyung, looking awkward again, took my bowl and served me some stew.

Plenty of ramen noodles and lots of spam.

The obvious show of goodwill felt nice.

“Thank you.”

“No, no, I’m the one who should be thankful.”

And so our army stew meal continued.

After about 5 minutes of eating in silence, Seokho hyung kept shaking his head intermittently.

‘He seems to be contemplating something.’

Actually, I knew what he was thinking about.

So just as I was about to casually bring it up…

“Would you be interested in becoming an actor?”

Seokho hyung went straight to the point.

“An actor?”

“Yes, if you become an actor, you could really… really become famous. I’ve never seen someone as handsome as you in my life.”

Seokho hyung’s eyes looked quite serious as he said this.

And at that moment, I suddenly saw my past self.

Moving forward despite feeling powerless all over,

not cursing a life ruined by appearance alone but continuing to walk.

Somehow, I saw that image overlapping with Seokho hyung.

“I’m already an actor.”

“Oh, is… is that so?”

As soon as he heard those words, Seokho visibly aged.

It was hard to believe a person could change like that so suddenly.

Seeing Seokho hyung deflate like a balloon, I quickly gave him hope.

“But I don’t have an agency yet.”

“That! Uh! Ah! J-just a moment! Please wait a moment!”

Munch, munch, munch.

Seokho hurriedly chewed a few bites of army stew and jumped up from his seat.

It seemed like he was going to get a contract, and I wondered how urgent it must have been for him.

‘I didn’t even say I would sign a contract yet.’

Of course, I knew I would.

The information from [Sims – Real Life] would ensure my life rolled along smoothly.

Bang, crash!

Once again nearly falling, Seokho appeared before me, breathing heavily.

As expected, he seemed to have brought a contract, but there was a pile of documents.

+++++

Naturally, contracts don’t happen in army stew restaurants.

Seokho himself realized what kind of unseemly behavior he was displaying.

Was it because it had been so long since he met an actor without an agency?

With a reddened face, Seokho continued speaking despite his embarrassment.

“…So you’re currently appearing in High Dream, and you’re in a supporting role? With about 5 episodes of screen time planned.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And you have 10,000 followers on Facestorm…”

This went beyond simply being an actor.

He was past the point of being called a rookie, having already adapted to filming.

There were cases like this.

When a major rookie appears.

But normally, this would happen after an agency had nurtured them to some extent.

‘I can’t believe he’s been active on his own like this.’

Is this talent? Thinking this, Seokho sharpened his focus.

This was a contract that absolutely had to succeed, and he was backed into a corner.

In this situation, holding anything back would be foolish.

“First, the signing bonus is 3,000, and the profit-sharing ratio is 9:1. Ah, for reference, I get 1.”

Seokho laid all his cards on the table.

He didn’t want to ruin the situation by being stingy.

“The reason for 3,000 is because I see your potential. High Dream, I know about it too. It’s definitely going to be a huge drama, and you’re already in the middle of filming…”

“The profit-sharing ratio is the same. Usually with rookies, there’s a lot to take care of, but in your case, that’s not necessary since you’ve already accomplished so much on your own.”

“And finally, about the contract period.”

Seokho closed his eyes tightly.

“I’ll make it 1 year as well. Honestly, this is all I have to offer.”

Now all he had to do was wait for the other party’s response.

What could be more frightening than a building owner holding all the cards?

That’s when Kim Donghu opened his mouth.

“Why such good terms? Even if the conditions are like that, you could extend the contract period.”

“Because that wouldn’t be right. I’m going to do business based on trust. And at the same time, it shows my confidence.”

“Pardon?”

“That you will renew the contract with me again after a year.”

Would you please give me that chance?

In response to Seokho’s trembling words, Kim Donghu smiled brightly and answered.

“Of course.”

Reminded of his own past self who had worked hard, he expressed his intention to sign the contract.

And Seokho immediately fell apart.

“Uh, um, so… what should I call you? Building owner? D-Donghu-nim…? Building owner Donghu-nim?”

How should I address you?

At those words, Kim Donghu burst out laughing.

“You can comfortably call me Donghu.”

“O-okay, I understand, building owner Donghu-ya.”

“…?”

Isn’t there something very wrong with that?

+++++

At the same time at Shinbit Middle School.

It was time for all the students to be going home.

A man who got out of a luxury sedan stared intently at the school gate.

He had been waiting for about 40 minutes, thinking he would definitely recognize him since he was extremely handsome.

After waiting for so long with no sign of him, the man finally approached a nearby male student.

“Do you know a student named Kim Donghu?”

“D-D-D-Donghu, Donghu?”

Glance.

Looking at his name tag, it said Na Kangsik, a slightly chubby student.

Since he said “Donghu,” he seemed to be a friend.

“Yes, I’m not a suspicious person…”

Slide.

He took out his business card to show who he was.

Studio Geumgang, CEO Park Geumgang.

He was someone who wanted his film to succeed more than anyone else.

And at this point, he wanted Kim Donghu more than anyone else.

But.

“D-D-Donghu hasn’t been coming to school for a while.”

“Eh, what?! Why, why?!”

“Um, well, I shouldn’t disclose personal information, so I can’t tell you.”

“!”

He’s right.

The young friend is smart.

With no other choice, Director Park went into the school, met Kim Donghu’s homeroom teacher.

After explaining the situation, he contacted Donghu’s parents first.

Only after going through this entire process was he able to get Kim Donghu’s number.

It was a long and arduous journey.

Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring.

Kim Donghu, we must meet.

Director Park’s eyes were burning with determination as he made the call.