Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1428

A humming sound echoed through the room.

Han Eun-sol, arms crossed, blankly watched Choi Yeon-ha applying makeup.

It had been an hour since she started with the base, and seeing Choi Yeon-ha’s dedication to her makeup made him feel a bit melancholic.

Was she really going overboard with the makeup?

An hour for makeup was already excessive. But she kept washing her face and redoing it because she didn’t like it.

Seeing Choi Yeon-ha, who usually had her eyes twitching like crazy if makeup took more than 30 minutes on set, voluntarily spending an hour on it, made him feel strangely detached.

‘Hmm, I don’t like it?’

Choi Yeon-ha frowned, looking at herself in the mirror.

‘Well, it’s okay, I guess. My natural beauty is just too good.’

‘…Noona.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Are you that happy?’

‘Why? Are you trying to pick a fight again?’

‘No, it’s not that…’

‘Eun-sol.’

‘Yes?’

Choi Yeon-ha sighed deeply, looking at Han Eun-sol.

‘People have a thing called privacy, you know?’

‘Of course.’

‘Even if you’re my manager, you shouldn’t interfere with an actress’s private life like this.’

Han Eun-sol looked dumbfounded.

‘When have I ever interfered with your private life? If there’s a manager who doesn’t touch their client’s private life as much as I do, bring them out.’

‘So, you followed me all the way to America?’

‘And barged into an actress’s room at the crack of dawn to nag?’

‘You might have a problem, you know?’

Han Eun-sol’s face trembled.

‘I wouldn’t live like this if I were managing another actor! I’m doing this because you cause trouble the moment I take my eyes off you!’

‘What trouble have I caused?’

‘Should I list them all? Huh? Shall we start? Should I recite the epic saga of all the things you’ve done over the years? Huh?’

‘Enough. I’m busy.’

Choi Yeon-ha scoffed and turned her head away, and Han Eun-sol sighed deeply.

‘No conscience, no conscience at all.’

If this were some island in Southeast Asia instead of America, Han Eun-sol wouldn’t have bothered to follow her. Even if he had, he would have gone sightseeing instead of sticking so close to Choi Yeon-ha.

But this was America.

A place where you could trip over Koreans on the street.

Han Eun-sol was worried that the excited Choi Yeon-ha might not pay any attention to her surroundings. That’s why he had barged in to nag her from the morning…

Suddenly, Choi Yeon-ha stared at Han Eun-sol with a pout.

‘Come to think of it, you’re being a bit much, aren’t you?’

‘I apologize.’

‘A person should have common sense.’

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled.

She wasn’t angry because she knew that Han Eun-sol was looking out for her with good intentions.

Choi Yeon-ha looked at Han Eun-sol with a fresh gaze.

‘…Are you going to scold me again?’

‘I was just thinking.’

‘Thinking what?’

‘Just wondering if I could have come this far without you?’

‘Wow…’

Han Eun-sol was extremely surprised in two ways.

One was that ‘the’ Choi Yeon-ha could think like that, and the other was that she was only thinking about it now.

‘Did you eat something wrong this morning?’

‘I didn’t eat anything!’

‘Ah… Thanks for the answer.’

Choi Yeon-ha laughed as Han Eun-sol looked flustered and got up from her seat.

‘Still, I endured this harsh world because you were there.’

‘Ah, no. Noona, I…’

‘My face did about 90 percent, and my acting did about 5 percent. So, did you do about 5 percent? Maybe?’

Just swear at me, just swear.

He wondered why she was acting so out of character.

Well, even Choi Yeon-ha acknowledging 5 percent of Han Eun-sol’s contribution was a groundbreaking event.

‘Though it’s a downhill now.’

‘…No, why are you suddenly in a gloomy mood?’

‘It’s the truth.’

Contrary to her words, Choi Yeon-ha had a very cheerful expression.

‘I’ve had a dating scandal, and I’m not getting cast.’

‘You’re getting tons of CF [Commercial Film] offers though.’

‘It’s over if I’m not getting cast as an actress. I’m not a CF model.’

Choi Yeon-ha shrugged.

‘But well, it can’t be helped. It’s not Hollywood, and who would want to cast an actress with a boyfriend?’

‘Hey, the world isn’t like that these days.’

‘Enough.’

Choi Yeon-ha waved her hand.

‘If there’s an uphill, there’s a downhill. If I try to deny it, I’ll just look pathetic.’

Han Eun-sol felt a sudden fear.

‘Why is she like this?’

Choi Yeon-ha was someone who lived on confidence.

Han Eun-sol had never heard Choi Yeon-ha say anything so weak in all the time he had known her.

‘Could it be?’

Come to think of it, she had been saying ‘If I fail, Kang Jin-ho will take care of me’ as a habit recently.

Han Eun-sol was startled and said,

‘No, noona, you’re not thinking about retiring, are you?’

‘Huh?’

‘You’re not planning to retire and become a housewife after marrying Kang Jin-ho, are you? Noona, think carefully. That’s a really bad idea.’

‘Why?’

‘You can’t be a housewife. How can someone who can’t even cook be a housewife…’

‘You little…’

Choi Yeon-ha glared at him.

It was true, but that made it even more annoying. That’s how a fact bomb works, isn’t it?

‘Retire my ass! Are we playing a game, you punk?’

‘No, what you’re saying…’

‘You’re talking nonsense. How much have I done so far? Even if I get married, I’ll keep working!’

She’s not saying she won’t get married anymore.

People are really…

‘But I can’t be a top star forever. There will come a day when I go down. But I can’t whine about it. A star has a star’s role, and an actress has an actress’s role. I’ll keep finding roles that fit my age until I die.’

It was a good thing to say.

If it hadn’t come from someone who had caused a scandal, ran away to America, and was preparing for a date, he would have applauded!

‘But why are you suddenly saying that?’

‘Saying what?’

‘That you’re on a downhill, and stuff.’

‘It’s the truth.’

Choi Yeon-ha walked towards Han Eun-sol and placed her hand on his head.

‘Eun-sol, Eun-sol. People need to be cold-hearted. No matter how much they cheer for a comeback or a loyal image, those people aren’t my real fans. I’m just a has-been actress whose fan base has dropped sharply.’

It was a self-inflicted fact bomb.

Han Eun-sol was speechless for a moment at her harsh words. But Choi Yeon-ha continued as if it were nothing.

‘Now that my image has improved, people will flock to me. But how long will that image last? What’s important isn’t temporary popularity but a consistent image. I’ve lost a lot of fans who would create that consistent image for me. That’s what I call a downhill.’

As Han Eun-sol hesitated, unable to find a suitable rebuttal, Choi Yeon-ha looked at him intently and opened her mouth.

‘So, what should we do now?’

‘Well… work harder?’

‘Tsk, tsk.’

Choi Yeon-ha clicked her tongue and looked at Han Eun-sol with a pathetic gaze.

‘Where are we?’

‘America.’

‘What’s next to us?’

‘Well… Oh? Are you talking about Hollywood?’

‘That’s why I like you. You’re quick-witted.’

Han Eun-sol’s eyes trembled.

No, why was the story flowing like that? Was she building up from there just for this? From there?

‘Since you followed me all the way here as my manager, you have to work now. Go get me a role. Isn’t a crisis an opportunity? If I’m losing popularity in Korea, I should try to break into America.’

‘Hollywood isn’t a corner store, you can’t just go there and get a role! And you have a drama contract in China! How are you going to manage the schedule?’

‘American people are usually laid-back, so the filming schedule won’t be that tight. Even if I get cast now, filming will probably start next year? On the other hand, the Chinese will start filming as soon as the schedule is set.’

That was true.

But there was an important issue.

‘Noona, it’s not like here where scripts just come to us. If a newcomer wants to get cast, they have to go to auditions.’

Choi Yeon-ha looked at Han Eun-sol with a pout and said,

‘Okay. Go find out about it.’

‘…What?’

‘Auditions.’

‘O-okay, you’re going to audition?’

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled, seeing Han Eun-sol’s surprised reaction.

‘Why? You’re the one who said it.’

‘Ah, no. I didn’t think you would go through auditions to get a role.’

‘Since I came all the way to America, it would be boring to just go back. It wouldn’t be bad to try out some auditions. And I’m just an actress in Korea, what kind of recognition do I have here to refuse auditions? A thirsty person digs a well [a Korean proverb meaning that one must take initiative to achieve their goals].’

Han Eun-sol nodded blankly.

‘You’re good at English, right?’

‘…I’m not that good, but I can hold a conversation.’

‘Then you can read scripts too. Look for a role that suits me. If possible, something with few lines.’

Choi Yeon-ha smiled and patted Han Eun-sol’s shoulder.

‘I’m counting on you, Manager.’

‘Just fire me?’

‘Hey, what are you saying? We’re going to be together forever, forever.’

‘If that’s the case, the salary…’

‘It’s late. See you later!’

Choi Yeon-ha waved her hand and left the room, and Han Eun-sol stared blankly at her, looking dazed.

Then, he chuckled without realizing it.

‘It’s a relief that she hasn’t lost her drive.’

Actually, this wasn’t something to complain about. Choi Yeon-ha had gone through too much in this Kang Jin-ho incident. It wouldn’t be strange if she felt disillusioned with the entertainment industry after her fans turned on her, and then the people who had criticized her started praising her again.

If other actors had gone through this, they might not have retired, but they would have lost their motivation for at least a few months.

‘Well, that’s why she’s where she is now.’

Her personality might be problematic, but Choi Yeon-ha’s attitude towards work was something he wanted to show to others. That’s why even the juniors who knew her personality was bad wanted to work with her and moved agencies.

Han Eun-sol chuckled and left the room.

‘Ha, the more I think about it, the more I feel bad. What does she think of me?’

I was already looking into it, you know?

In his room, there were piles of information about auditions that fit the schedule. To look through all that information and find a suitable role for Choi Yeon-ha, it would take all day to analyze it.

Han Eun-sol, whose goal was to make Choi Yeon-ha the best actress, wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity. If she said she wouldn’t audition, he was planning to cling to her and make her do it, but she came out like this, so he was very proud as a manager.

But there was one thing.

‘…But can she do English acting?’

Well, she probably can. Hopefully…