episode_0202

Thud, thud, thud─!

Next Day Headquarters.

Seo Team Leader, seated at his desk, hammered away at the keyboard like a madman. Just looking at the bloodshot eyes was enough to tell how urgent the situation was.

“Damn bastards, damn bastards…”

Seo Team Leader muttered non-stop even as he frantically typed. His whole body was filled with irritation and dissatisfaction.

“I gave those lousy things information, and they stabbed me in the back! This is why you shouldn’t trust private investigators without roots…!”

He wanted to call the private investigator right away and demand what they were doing, but he didn’t even have time for that.

Seo Team Leader had been complacent until now. He thought he was the only one who had obtained this information, so he didn’t write anything down.

Of course, in reality, Seo Team Leader *was* the only one who had obtained this information… but right now, there were many invisible competitors in his head. It was all because of Kim Iseo’s psychological warfare.

“Quickly… as quickly as possible…”

Seo Team Leader first selected only the photos that were okay to release, then typed the article like crazy. He didn’t even have time to proofread for typos. He had to write it as if he were being chased.

“Damn it, I wanted to put more effort into it. I should’ve filled a whole page with detailed information…”

Seo Team Leader felt a sense of regret.

Because it’s best to keep such a nuke close to your chest and then fire it when the timing is right.

‘The ideal timing was to detonate it when Lee Juhyun and Kang Hakman had increased their stock a little more. That would have been the best…’

Kang Hakman and Lee Juhyun were both high-profile, but they’d been quiet on the internet these days. So Seo Team Leader originally planned to wait until the two of them resurfaced.

Because people pay more attention to shooting down a bird in flight than targeting one sitting on a wire.

‘…But if I put too much effort into it and miss my chance, it’ll just become mediocre. That’s something I absolutely can’t let happen.’

If he holds onto it too tightly and someone else detonates it, Next Day will be left empty-handed. Therefore, Seo Team Leader continued to write the article even while furious.

“This sentence isn’t very smooth… Ah, whatever. It doesn’t matter. The most important thing is the fastest report.”

He decided to focus solely on being the first to break the story.

The article itself might be sloppy, but it wouldn’t matter. It was, after all, Kang Hakman and Lee Juhyun’s affair. Just delivering the facts would shock everyone.

At this time, Kim Hyunmo, the department head, reeking of cigarette smoke, crossed his arms behind Seo Team Leader. He, too, had many worries.

“Seo Team Leader. You’re not wasting time on details, are you? Let’s go as fast as possible. If we get scooped, it’s game over.”

“I know that! That’s what I’m doing!”

Seo Team Leader moved his fingers non-stop while racking his brain. The problem was still time. Even if he gave up all the side details and rushed, it would still take two hours.

“Two hours! Just give me two hours!”

“Alright, just hurry up!”

Next Day was properly ignited… no, forcibly ignited. They had no idea they were being played.

◈◈◈◈◈

Meanwhile, at the same time.

In a bathroom that looked like something out of a movie, a man in a bathrobe exited.

His body and face were well-scrubbed, and his hair was still wet. He was David Park, a Korean actor who had experienced Hollywood.

“Phew, you really feel refreshed after a bath.”

He started wiping the water dripping from his hair, but he wasn’t making much progress. That’s because he was focused on something other than drying his hair.

“Let’s see…”

David Park skimmed the script, barely drying his hair. It was Go Taemin’s ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ script.

Rustle, rustle─

The sound of pages turning began, and at some point, David Park completely stopped drying his hair.

“…The work is good. It’ll be well-received in Korea.”

The setting, the characters’ personalities, and even the big picture that Director Go Taemin had mapped out were all commendable. He would have gladly accepted the offer if it had been made to him.

But soon, another curiosity drew him in.

“Huh?”

He paused as he flipped through the pages.

“So, this is the role that Lee Suah is playing?”

He checked the Kim Sohee role that Lee Suah was playing. Even after seeing just a few scenes, the difficulty was considerable.

“Savants Syndrome and piano performance… that won’t be easy. Has she ever played anything like this before?”

At the same time, Director Go Taemin’s words came to mind.

That Suah is like a liquid with a unique color, so she can take any shape no matter what aquarium you put her in. Does that mean she’ll willingly take on this role as well?

He shook his head.

“…Even so, I think she’s going to have a hard time? This isn’t a role you can play with ordinary effort.”

─♩♪♬

Then the phone rang.

The caller was the CEO of David Park’s agency.

“Hello. CEO?”

“How is it now that you’re back in Korea? Is the air good?”

“I’m not some kind of air purifier. I’m just glad to be back.”

“Okay, have fun while you can. How long do you think you’ll be resting? Don’t misunderstand, I’m not rushing you.”

“Umm, I think I need to rest for at least three months.”

“Alright. Then I won’t schedule anything during that time.”

It seemed like that was the end of the main topic. So he could hang up right away, but…

David Park asked.

“CEO, do you know Lee Suah?”

“…Of course I know her? You’ve been in the United States, so you don’t know, but Korea was buzzing about Lee Suah in the first half of this year. There’s never been a rookie with this kind of impact.”

“But if she’s this good, shouldn’t there have been rumors about her before her debut? Korea is small, so if you go through one or two people in the same industry, everyone knows each other, right?”

“I heard that Lee Suah didn’t really have that because she’s an overseas Korean. I don’t know exactly where she came from or what she was doing, but she was already refined like a human weapon.”

“Umm, so would she be marketable in Hollywood too?”

“What?”

“No, it’s nothing. I’ll call you again later. My hair is all wet. I have to dry it.”

David Park hung up the phone and looked back at the past.

When David Park faced the wall of Hollywood, the feeling he felt was simple. It’s still vivid in his mind.

‘I was able to admit quickly that I couldn’t do it. However, I hoped that someone else would overcome this wall someday.’

Yes, that’s what I thought.

What about Lee Suah?

‘I hope she’s really as great as the rumors say.’

.

.

.

.

.

Yang Harin’s house.

Currently, Yang Harin’s expression was not good.

“Hmm…”

She was a little embarrassed. The article she had seen a few days ago regarding ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ kept lingering in her mind.

[ ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ Casting Complete! Only Smooth Sailing Remains… Lee Suah─Ham Ayoon and others are still undisclosed. ]

‘It’s already a work that’s finished casting?’

That was why Yang Harin was worried.

Why did Suah give Yang Harin a script for a work that had already been cast? Does the fact that casting is complete mean that Yang Harin has been internally decided? Or, is it just for her to read and write a review?

‘I don’t think it’s a mockery.’

The words that Suah had said to Yang Harin at the time were far from a mockery. Rather, it was a statement acknowledging her as a rival.

That’s when it happened.

─♩♪♬

Yang Harin’s phone rang. The caller was her manager.

“Hello.”

“Harin, are you doing well?”

Of course, her contract with CT Entertainment had already ended, but her manager still contacted Harin from time to time.

“You’re not having any bad thoughts again, are you?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Okay, that’s a relief. What are your plans for the future?”

“Um…”

To be exact, it was closer to a relationship where her manager, worried that Yang Harin would make an extreme choice, contacted her periodically. Her manager knew Yang Harin’s condition better than anyone else.

“Harin, are you interested in operating an internet broadcast or YouTube channel? There are quite a few people who have had a second heyday with these things after retiring from the entertainment industry.”

“…”

Words that scratched Yang Harin’s pride like crazy.

But she couldn’t argue with anything. Yang Harin knew better than anyone else that her position was so ruined that she had to find another way.

…Yes, that’s what it would have been like until two days ago.

But now it’s different.

Her mindset has changed slightly.

Yang Harin changed the subject.

“Manager, do you know ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’?”

“Of course I know Director Go Taemin’s work. I heard Lee Suah and Ham Ayoon are starring. The scale is no joke.”

“With a work of this level, of course they wouldn’t pick just anyone, right?”

“Yeah. I heard the actors who haven’t been revealed yet besides Lee Suah and Ham Ayoon are quite high-profile.”

“…That’s right.”

Yang Harin fell into even deeper thought.

Why did this script come to me?

To be exact, why did you give me something so amazing?

But if you think about it, it’s not difficult.

Isn’t Lee Suah hoping that Yang Harin will prove that she’s still strong through this? Expecting Yang Harin to become Lee Suah’s rival.

At least that’s what Yang Harin concluded.

“Harin, is there something you want to say?”

“It’s not a big deal.”

Yang Harin paused for a moment before adding.

“I’m going to try to live hard again.”

◈◈◈◈◈

Two hours later. A luxury hotel.

Lee Juhyun and Kang Hakman were lying in bed in their underwear. They had just spent a hot time together.

Lee Juhyun suddenly asked.

“Did you like Lee Suah that quickly?”

“What?”

“You touched Lee Suah’s thigh. You couldn’t help but notice.”

“Juhyun, that was an accident.”

“Accident, my ass. You used that kind of skinship when you first approached me… But she’s no joke.”

Lee Juhyun thought of Lee Suah.

‘Where did she come from? She’s pretty and her figure is flawless, and her personality is confident…’

As an adulteress, Lee Juhyun couldn’t help but feel anxious. She had latched onto the married Kang Hakman, but the married man seemed to be turning his eyes to another woman.

“Her portfolio is perfect, and just looking at her wrist twist in front of everyone shows that she’s not ordinary. You have to be even more careful when filming starts. Got it?”

“I’m telling you, it’s really not like that…”

“Then give me your phone.”

“Phone?”

“Yeah. Give it to me.”

“Ugh, alright. Here.”

After that, Lee Juhyun grabbed Kang Hakman’s phone and checked it thoroughly. From the gallery to the messenger.

It’s pathetic, but that’s what adulterous couples are like.

They commit acts that they shouldn’t because they’re attracted to each other, but the time of pleasure is short. The rest of the time is filled with suspicion.

“You haven’t contacted Lee Suah separately.”

“Juhyun, how many times do I have to say it? It was an accident.”

Lee Juhyun bit her lip.

There were many things to be worried about.

‘I’m standing at a crossroads. I bet everything on this work.’

Lee Juhyun was at a crucial crossroads.

Because she was an actress who had risen to stardom in a flash. If she continues this form in the future, she will become a top-tier actress, but if she doesn’t maintain it, she will just become a forgotten existence in an instant.

So she had an affair with Kang Hakman. She used Kang Hakman to somehow get into ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’.

From the beginning, it was an affair close to a deal.

Kang Hakman satisfies his sexual desire, and Lee Juhyun satisfies her desire for success. From the beginning, there was no love between them.

‘You married son of a bitch obsessed with women. Once I finish filming this work, I’m done fucking with you, you pervert.’

That’s what Lee Juhyun was thinking when it happened.

─♩♪♬

Suddenly, a phone call came. Lee Juhyun frowned.

“What is it.”

The caller was none other than Kang Hakman’s wife.

“Your wife called? Why is she calling?”

“I want to ask you that. You said you’re going through a divorce? Why is she calling, what’s going on?”

“I really don’t know! Give it to me!”

Kang Hakman answered the phone.

“Hello. Oh, what’s wrong?”

Soon, Kang Hakman’s expression soured.

Lee Juhyun next to him couldn’t hear the detailed conversation, but she could tell that the other person was shouting at him. The leaking voice was amazing.

“What nonsense are you talking about all of a sudden? I’m working. You and I are already over, why are you calling now?”

Then suddenly Kang Hakman became greatly embarrassed.

“What, what did you say?”

“…”

Lee Juhyun crossed her arms and suspiciously watched Kang Hakman, who was greatly embarrassed, but it didn’t last long. Soon, her phone also started vibrating.

‘CEO?’

The caller was the CEO of her agency.

It was a strange thing. Usually, a manager or director would call, but why was the CEO calling directly?

Lee Juhyun moved to the bathroom and answered the phone. So that the sounds of each other’s calls would not overlap.

“CEO? What’s going on?”

“Hey! Lee Juhyun! You crazy bitch!”

Lee Juhyun unknowingly frowned and moved her phone away from her ear. Embarrassment came a beat later.

“Yes?”

“Explain it! What the hell are you trying to do!”

“What… are you asking me to explain?”

Then the CEO became even more agitated.

“What else, you crazy bitch! Hey! I told you to act, not to roll your body! I’m going crazy!”

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden. Are you crazy…”

“You’re the one who’s crazy! Look at the internet!”

Lee Juhyun frowned and tapped the screen of her phone.

Looking at it now, besides the CEO, she’s receiving a lot of calls to Lee Juhyun. What is it? She first clicked on the link that the CEO sent her via messenger.

And.

“…Huh?”

Lee Juhyun’s eyes, which had been half-closed with annoyance and embarrassment, widened twice as much. The article the CEO sent her delivered a shock like a hammer hitting her head.

[ “From the car that takes her daughter to the adulteress”… The truth about Kang Hakman, who had a good reputation! The other party is Lee Juhyun? ]

“Wait, wait a minute… What is this…”

Lee Juhyun repeated the words to wait as if possessed. But the world doesn’t wait. The world around her began to urge Lee Juhyun like crazy.

“It’s not a wait, try to explain it a little bit? Did you really sleep with a married man? You crazy bitch!”

From the CEO spitting fire.

[ Juhyun *unnie*, is this real? ] [ Juhyun, what is this? ] [ Juhyun *ssi*, an article about you and Kang Hakman came out ] [ Juhyun *ssi*, I think you should see this…. ]

The phone kept ringing, asking Lee Juhyun about the truth of the incident.

The world started moving several times faster, but Lee Juhyun’s time stopped. She hung up the phone.

Because her head went blank.

“This… what’s going on…”

Lee Juhyun, trembling with her phone in her hand, soon burst out of the bathroom and ran out. And almost bumped into Kang Hakman. The other party was also running this way.

“…” “…”

The two stared blankly at each other.

Different people, but it was like looking in a mirror.

A stupid face, a trembling hand holding a phone, and a mouth that can’t say a word.

“…” “…”

The two remained silent for a long time after that with pale faces. Their heads were full of thoughts that they were screwed.

◈◈◈◈◈

One hour later. Director Go Taemin’s studio parking lot.

Kim Iseo and Suah were waiting inside a black van. As soon as they confirmed that Next Day had broken the first article, they quickly moved here.

‘Thank God. Thank God, really.’

Kim Iseo thought to herself several times.

‘Kang Hakman and Lee Juhyun’s affair was true. What the hell are you doing after building a family? Are you crazy…’

The reaction was, of course, amazing. The reputation that Kang Hakman had built up so solidly was collapsing like a sandcastle.

Besides, where else?

[ “I can say it now” Lee Suah, terribly sexually harassed by Kang Hakman ]

[ ‘Kang Hakman with a good marriage’ But how is he doing now… Sexually harassing rookie Lee Suah. Touched her thigh at will. ]

Starcatch was quickly chasing after the tail. Following the affair, the sexual harassment of Suah, who is popular these days. At this rate, it’s practically social execution.

‘Now that his reputation is ruined, no one will take Kang Hakman’s side. I’ll make him pay the price for touching Suah.’

Yes, this is just the beginning. Adultery is adultery, and the price for touching Suah must be paid separately? Kim Iseo gritted her teeth.

After that, when Kim Iseo glanced at Suah.

“…”

She unknowingly clicked her tongue.

‘Why is Suah so calm? She doesn’t have any reaction.’

She suffered a shocking sexual harassment, and ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ barely overcame the crisis of breaking up, and two high-profile actors fell to rock bottom in an instant…

…Amazing things are happening one after another, but there is no reaction. She doesn’t get surprised or happy.

‘Well, Suah planned and planned everything from the beginning. I wonder if she was sure that this would happen.’

Of course, this is Suah’s misunderstanding. In reality, Suah.

‘No, so what am I supposed to choose…’

She was choosing chicken to eat in the morning.

─There’s a half and half option, you know? Order half and half.

‘But I don’t want to order half and half. I can only eat half of the delicious thing. I want to eat the most delicious thing completely.’

─*Ahhae*, then order two.

‘I can’t eat it all. I’m full.’

─No, how many times do I have to tell you to order the basic one!

─I see that you don’t even have the intelligence to dip it in the sauce. Just order the sauce comfortably. Please, Suah *sunbae*.

─Ah, please just order anything. How long is this meeting going to last? I’m going crazy….

Huh? Why are you thinking about this?

Why else, Suah put herself in a lot of trouble in her recent conversation with Yang Harin. Thanks to that, she’s under a lot of overload. Suah is stupid! Suah is empty!

─♩♪♬ ─♩♪♬ ─♩♪♬

In the meantime, Kim Iseo’s phone was ringing like it was on fire, and Kim Iseo didn’t bother to answer it. Most of the time, she only replied with an automatic response message.

She only answered Director Go Taemin’s phone.

“Yes. Director. I’m nearby. I’ll see you in person now.”

After that, Suah entered Go Taemin’s studio with Kim Iseo. Go Taemin ran out and greeted them.

“Ah, CEO Kim…!”

You could tell how surprised he was just by his short reaction. He was so surprised that his hands were trembling.

“I didn’t think this would be real… I’m so flustered that I don’t know what to say first. Ah, first of all, thank you. Thanks to you, we overcame the crisis.”

“It’s nothing. We did it to benefit each other.”

“I knew you were unusual since you raised Yeonju *ssi* and Sunil *ssi*, but there’s a reason why you’re making a name for yourself in the industry. How did you plan this…”

“I didn’t plan it.”

Kim Iseo smiled slightly and tapped Suah’s shoulder, who was standing next to her like a signboard.

“I’m confessing because things went well, but I didn’t do anything. I’m Suah’s puppet doll. I just followed what she told me to do.”

Then the director’s wide eyes turned to Suah.

“…Suah *ssi*’s puppet doll?”

“Oh. Doll. I like dolls.”

Suah, who was overloaded, responded without thinking. Dolls and arctic foxes were always a topic that Suah welcomed.