Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1308

‘She’s so young.’

‘She really is Choi Yeon-ha.’

‘Her face is the size of a fist. So small.’

‘Isn’t she too thin? They say that when you see celebrities on TV in person, they’re just skin and bones.’

‘Is that what you call thin?’

‘I think your perspective on thin is a bit different.’

The flight attendants whispered amongst themselves. First-class flight attendants often had the chance to see celebrities, but seeing an actress like Choi Yeon-ha up close was a special experience for them.

‘I heard she’s going to China for a contract.’

‘Her last Chinese drama was a huge hit. It was insane.’

‘But aren’t Korean actors not allowed to go to China anymore?’

‘Who knows? It might be different for someone of Choi Yeon-ha’s caliber.’

Choi Yeon-ha leaned back in her seat.

‘I can hear you all, you guys.’

Choi Yeon-ha had unnecessarily good hearing, so she couldn’t miss such comments. If she weren’t so easygoing about other people’s attention, she would have been incredibly stressed.

At that moment, Choi Yeon-ha’s phone started ringing.

Choi Yeon-ha frowned as she looked at the screen.

“Hey, why are you calling from there?”

[Because I can’t come over.]

Han Eun-sol was sitting in economy class on the same plane. Choi Yeon-ha had nagged her several times to come to first class, but Han Eun-sol insisted that such extravagance was unacceptable for a company that wasn’t making much profit yet, so she stubbornly stayed in economy.

‘If you just look at what she does, she acts like the boss.’

What kind of employee worries about the company’s expenses? It’s good to have a sense of ownership, but this was a bit too much.

‘Well, she’s practically the boss.’

Technically, Choi Yeon-ha was the person in charge, but there wasn’t much she could do since she didn’t know much about the practical side of things. Most of the work was handled by Han Eun-sol, who was doing a better job than Choi Yeon-ha had imagined.

‘That’s why this job is important.’

If it were just Choi Yeon-ha’s one-person agency, there would be nothing to worry about. But Choi Yeon-ha and Han Eun-sol had recruited quite a few rookies and mediocre actors to properly grow MK Entertainment.

Because that was the standard way to make money.

Other top stars?

There’s nothing left.

Top stars don’t need to be marketed. Generally, those who are considered top-tier get offers without the help of an agency. There’s not much you can do for them.

Top stars know this, so when they choose an agency, they try to get the highest percentage of the profits. After paying for managers and other expenses, there’s not much left.

Still, having top stars is beneficial in terms of marketing and image, so large agencies try to recruit big names. However, Choi Yeon-ha chose to exclude all top stars.

‘They’re not profitable.’

Choi Yeon-ha knew how difficult it was to manage top stars. They basically had a sense of superiority, believing they were different from ordinary people, and they would throw tantrums whenever they felt like it.

How did she know?

‘Because I was like that.’

Choi Yeon-ha was one of the worst of those top stars.

But now, Choi Yeon-ha at least knew how to be considerate of others. And she knew that she wasn’t anything special.

Of course, she hadn’t completely changed her personality, but compared to before, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she had become a decent person.

How did Choi Yeon-ha end up like this?

[It’ll take about two hours. Just bear with it for two hours, and don’t bother the flight attendants. If there’s a problem, ask them to call me instead.]

“Hey, are you calling me now because you think I can’t last two hours without causing trouble?”

[It’s not that I think you’ll cause trouble, it’s that I’m worried you might be uncomfortable.]

“You talk a good game.”

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled.

“Don’t worry. I won’t cause any trouble.”

[I mean it.]

“If something pisses me off, I’ll run over there, smack you, and come back.”

[…Thank you.]

“Hang up.”

Choi Yeon-ha hung up the phone and chuckled.

What a worrywart.

“Ma’am.”

Choi Yeon-ha turned her head. A flight attendant was smiling brightly at her.

“Is there anything that is uncomfortable?”

“I’m fine. Everything is great.”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled slightly.

Uncomfortable things…

In the past, there would have been several. A slightly uncomfortable seat, or the position of the seat.

But now she could endure it.

Because she now knew that if she complained, not only she but others would be uncomfortable.

‘Choi Yeon-ha, you’ve really grown up.’

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled.

To be honest, she hadn’t grown up. She wondered if it was even possible for a person to grow up. Maturing as a person or becoming a better person was like a dream.

It was just that she had learned to think a little more.

‘Maybe…’

“Excuse me.”

Choi Yeon-ha turned her head slightly.

A person walked to the seat next to her.

A familiar face.

But it was a face that made her feel a slightly different emotion each time she saw it.

‘I shouldn’t act like I know him.’

She had heard that Kang Jin-ho was using a different name for work. So, she shouldn’t show that they were acquainted here.

Kang Jin-ho sat down in his seat.

Although the seats were next to each other, the first-class seats had partitions that blocked the view.

Whirr.

The center partition slowly lowered. Kang Jin-ho, who was sitting down, turned his head with a bewildered expression.

Choi Yeon-ha smiled at Kang Jin-ho.

“Hello.”

“Ah, yes…”

“Since we’re sitting next to each other, we should introduce ourselves. I’m Choi Yeon-ha. You know me, right?”

“Ah…”

“What’s your name?”

“My name.”

Kang Jin-ho’s lips trembled.

“K-Kim Cheol-soo.”

For a moment, Choi Yeon-ha’s body froze.

Twitch.

The corners of her mouth twitched.

“Ah, Kim Cheol-soo. Yes, that’s a good name. Very standard.”

“…Thank you.”

Kang Jin-ho decided that he needed to meet Lee Jong-wook once he returned from China.

“I lowered the partition because it was stuffy, is that okay?”

“I-Is it okay?”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

“Okay. It’ll be nice to look at a pretty face during the flight. It’s a service.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes twitched.

“Is there a problem?”

“…Not at all.”

Choi Yeon-ha giggled and leaned back in her seat.

“Then, have a good trip.”

“Ah, yes.”

Watching Kang Jin-ho sigh and sit down, the corners of her mouth kept curling up.

‘It must be because of this person.’

That’s why Choi Yeon-ha had changed.

Of course, she didn’t want to change to suit Kang Jin-ho. Choi Yeon-ha was Choi Yeon-ha. If she lost her confidence, she would no longer be Choi Yeon-ha.

Choi Yeon-ha smiled and stared at Kang Jin-ho.

Feeling Choi Yeon-ha’s gaze, Kang Jin-ho coughed a few times and opened his mouth.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Because you’re handsome.”

Kang Jin-ho turned his head slightly. Although the flight attendant wasn’t visible, there were people sitting in other seats. Kang Jin-ho lowered his voice and spoke softly.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“I told you not to act like you know me.”

“I didn’t act like I know you?”

Choi Yeon-ha shrugged.

“Saying not to act like I know you doesn’t mean I can’t talk to you. If a handsome man sits next to me, I can talk to him, can’t I?”

Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes widened as Kang Jin-ho sighed. Then, she lowered her voice and whispered.

“Ah, if you’re upset because of what I just said, don’t be. It’s not like I talk to just anyone, I’m not that kind of woman.”

Kang Jin-ho covered his face.

‘Was this a good idea?’

He had decided to travel with Choi Yeon-ha because he was worried about her, but it wasn’t easy from the start. It would have been more comfortable to sit next to Lee Hyun-soo.

“Still, I feel good.”

“Huh?”

Choi Yeon-ha said while staring at Kang Jin-ho.

“This is the first trip I’m taking with you, Kang Jin-ho.”

Kang Jin-ho, at a loss for words, closed his mouth.

“Well, of course, it’s a business trip, and it’s to China, which I hate, and we can’t act like we know each other, and we’ll be too busy to hang out, and there’s nothing we can do as we please.”

Feeling the unspoken… no, the pressure of a will, Kang Jin-ho wiped the slight cold sweat from his sleeve and said.

“Let’s go on a proper trip next time.”

“Really?”

“If you’re just saying that to get through this situation, you should cancel it. I never forget things like this.”

“R-Really.”

“Hmm.”

Choi Yeon-ha looked at Kang Jin-ho with suspicious eyes. But there was a playful look on her face.

“Well, okay. It’s half empty words anyway, but it’s a great improvement that you’ve learned to say those empty words.”

Kang Jin-ho laughed.

What would Lee Jong-wook think if he saw this scene?

From his perspective, would he laugh or frown at the sight of Kang Jin-ho, who he had trouble even talking to, being flustered?

Kang Jin-ho didn’t know either.

Choi Yeon-ha whispered softly.

“Come to think of it, we always go to China for our overseas trips. Let’s go in the opposite direction next time.”

“I’d like that.”

Kang Jin-ho smiled bitterly.

Even in his new life, Kang Jin-ho didn’t expect to be so constantly entangled with China. It was as if he had a connection with China in his past life.

‘The problem is that it’s not a good connection.’

Kang Jin-ho lightly closed his eyes.

On the outside, he seemed relaxed, but inside, he was filled with tension.

That’s what China was like for Kang Jin-ho.

It wasn’t because of anything special. Just the fact that he was going to China made his blood rush. For Kang Jin-ho, China was a land where he always had to fight and fight again.

‘It hasn’t changed.’

Even though the world had changed, his body had changed, and his life had changed… the feelings he had for China hadn’t changed much.

A subtle tension, a little anxiety, and…

“Why are you smiling?”

“Huh?”

“You were smiling strangely?”

Smiling?

Kang Jin-ho was slightly flustered and touched his lips.

There wasn’t anything to smile about…

“Well, you must have been thinking something weird again.”

Choi Yeon-ha scolded him and leaned back in her seat. But she didn’t take her eyes off Kang Jin-ho’s face.

“Are you going to keep looking at me like that?”

“Is there a problem with me looking at my man’s face?”

“…No, there isn’t.”

Kang Jin-ho closed his eyes. He couldn’t win with words anyway, and if the conversation dragged on, he would only suffer.

“This time…”

Choi Yeon-ha sighed and said.

“I hope we can come back without any problems.”

Kang Jin-ho frowned slightly at Choi Yeon-ha’s words.

‘I feel the same way.’

Well.

It didn’t seem likely.

As the plane began to move, Kang Jin-ho looked out the window with slightly sunken eyes.

‘China…’

He didn’t think there would be anything to get involved with.

‘Hong Wang.’

It just wouldn’t leave his mind.

Kang Jin-ho pushed aside the heat rising in his chest and fastened his seatbelt.

‘First, the mission.’

It was a promise he couldn’t guarantee he could keep.