An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 110

110 #21 – The Beginning and the End (4)

“Let’s end it here.”

At my words, Director Kang’s face twisted in displeasure.

“Jin Hee-sung… no, Secretary Kim. Can’t you manage your assigned celebrities properly?”

He turned his head and shouted at Secretary Kim, not me.

Secretary Kim, too, seemed surprised by my announcement that I would terminate my contract with the company.

However, he didn’t argue with me or try to dissuade me.

He, too, seemed shocked by Director Kang’s brazen attitude.

Secretary Kim sighed, his lips pressed tightly together.

Director Kang turned and walked back to his desk.

He sat in his large chair, took a slow, deep breath, and looked at me.

“You came all the way here to cancel your contract in this manner?”

I took a step closer to him and opened my mouth.

“No. I just wanted to confirm something.”

His eyebrows arched at that.

I continued, looking directly into Director Kang’s eyes.

“Whether you were aware of the report about the stalker to the company, and if you knew, why you didn’t take any action. Why you condoned it!”

As I spoke, my voice grew louder, and the corners of Director Kang’s mouth trembled.

“So, you’re going to terminate the contract….”

“Yes, don’t you have any intention of protecting me as an affiliated celebrity anymore?”

“That’s….”

I cut off Director Kang’s words and spoke again.

“No, you already haven’t protected me. So, isn’t there no need for me to be within the HS Entertainment fence?”

At my words, he smirked, raising one corner of his mouth.

Then, he rested his elbows on the desk, propped his chin, and said to me.

“Go ahead and do whatever you want.”

“Yes, I will end my relationship with HS Entertainment.”

I stared intently at him, then finally turned around.

Director Kang shouted at my back.

“It won’t be as easy as you think.”

His voice made me stop in my tracks.

I grabbed the handle of the director’s office door, turned my head slightly, and glanced at him.

“I’ll do it according to the law.”

***

As soon as I calmed my excited heart, I began to prepare for the next step.

I mustn’t forget.

HS Entertainment is one of the top companies in the country.

Fighting against such a large corporation would not be easy.

Simply fulfilling the contract period and parting ways with the company….

I couldn’t just stay like this until that time.

Before the contract period with the company expired, I had to make thorough preparations to terminate the contract.

“Hee-sung….”

Secretary Kim called me with a worried expression.

I forced a smile and replied to him.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend, term of endearment], I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance.”

In fact, until I had the conversation with Director Kang, I had no intention of terminating the contract with the company.

Of course, there was always a question of whether I should continue my relationship with HS Entertainment.

Director Kang ignited that spark today.

Secretary Kim shook his head vigorously and said.

“No, I was also surprised to hear Director Kang’s words.”

“I know. I didn’t want to leave the company on bad terms… but it looks like that’s how it’s going to be.”

Secretary Kim suppressed a sigh.

He raised his eyebrows and asked.

“So, do you have a plan?”

“I have to prepare now. A plan to safely part ways with HS Entertainment.”

Secretary Kim nodded and said.

“I’ll help with anything.”

Even if I leave HS Entertainment, Secretary Kim will not run away from the company with me.

He is an employee of HS Entertainment.

Perhaps Secretary Kim, who might have to persuade me under the company’s instructions, says he will help me.

I was grateful to him just for that.

“Thank you, Hyung. I’ll be sure to tell you if I need help.”

Secretary Kim kept sighing as he looked out the window.

Then, he came to me and handed me a piece of paper.

“What’s this?”

What he handed me was none other than a business card.

The place written on the business card was a law firm.

“It’s a good place with skilled lawyers. If you don’t know any, go there.”

At his words, I bit my lip.

“Hyung….”

Looking at him, who was helping me from my side, not the company’s, my heart swelled.

“I can go with you to make an appointment.”

I shook my head at his words and replied.

“No. I’ll try it alone. It’s been enough help.”

Secretary Kim drooped his eyebrows at my words and made a worried expression.

Soon, he lit up his eyes and said.

“I’m not a super old person in the manager industry, but I’ve seen a lot in this field. If it’s that lawyer, there’s enough chance of winning, so be sure to go.”

With the thought that I had a reliable supporter, I raised the corners of my mouth.

I looked at him and nodded.

***

“Yes, I have reviewed the data well.”

Lawyer Jang Seung-hyun sat across from me, tapping the data with his hand.

I pulled my body forward, looked into his eyes, and asked.

“How do you think it will go?”

I came out of the company shouting loudly, but the truth was that I was worried.

Anyway, a fight that goes to court….

It wouldn’t be fighting to lose.

I had to win against the large corporation HS Entertainment somehow.

I had to hear a more definite answer, not a vague one.

I swallowed hard and looked at Lawyer Jang.

He tilted his head and handed me a document.

“Is there any possibility that this data is fabricated?”

At his words, I opened my mouth quickly without a moment’s rest.

“Of course. The fan cafe’s management team organized the data on the stalker Jung Yeo-jin, and this was delivered to the company as is.”

Clack.

I took out a USB and placed it on the table.

“What is this?”

“It’s proof that the company received this data.”

A few days ago.

The day I met Director Kang to talk about the stalker.

I habitually recorded the conversation I had with the director.

Secretly recording someone else’s conversation is illegal.

But it is not illegal for me to record a conversation with the other party.

Rather than going into the director’s office with the intention of recording.

It was one of my habits since I was a rookie actor.

I always recorded all the lines when practicing, to look at my acting more objectively.

In those days when I was not treated like an actor.

I developed a habit of easily pressing the record button because of some staff members who changed their words.

I never dreamed it would be used like this.

Besides, Director Kang was spewing out stories.

Moreover, I never dreamed that things would get this big.

Lawyer Jang nodded and pulled the USB towards him.

“I will review this as well.”

“Yes, the company wouldn’t have known that this would happen, but they definitely knew about the first report.”

At my words, he bit his lip and replied.

“When you reported to the company, is there any evidence that the company knew for sure about the contents?”

“This recording.”

“Hmm… it would be nice to have more solid evidence….”

At his words, I quickly rolled my eyes.

Lawyer Jang looked at me and continued.

“If the company sent a reply to this content, that would be evidence, right?”

“Of course. Replying means that they were definitely aware of it.”

I stroked my chin and fell into thought.

There was no time to think deeply.

The most certain way.

I could ask the reporter, fan cafe manager, Park Soon-hee.

“Just a moment, Lawyer. I’ll check right away.”

I hurriedly opened SNS [Social Networking Service] and sent her a message.

Whether she has that definite evidence….

After sending the message, I waited only for her reply.

Lawyer Jang was skimming through the remaining data.

About ten minutes passed like that.

Sooner than I thought, I was able to receive a reply from Park Soon-hee.

As soon as she read the message, she sent me a photo.

The photo was a captured photo of an email.

When I clicked on the photo, a bitter smile spread across my lips.

It was a reply from the company to her report.

‘…Thank you for your report. The company is always working hard to protect its affiliated celebrities. Based on the contents you reported, we will review and take action.’

It was a short reply.

This reply email made two feelings coexist in me.

First, the cheers for the joy of finding evidence.

And the bitter feeling that comes.

It couldn’t be easily erased from one side of my heart.

Because I had once again confirmed with my own eyes that the affiliated company was definitely aware of this danger.

Nevertheless, I felt bitterness and anger at the fact that they had not taken any special action, or rather, no action at all.

I hurriedly handed the data to Lawyer Jang.

He raised one corner of his mouth and replied.

“That’s it. This has a 100% chance of winning.”

The anger or regret I felt a little while ago quickly disappeared at his words.

“100%?”

“Yes, it means that the company was fully aware of the contents.”

I nodded at his words and listened attentively.

Lawyer Jang lit up his eyes and continued.

“Although it is a formal content, sending a reply means that they have confirmed the contents of the email sent by Park Soon-hee.”

“Yes.”

“However, the fact that they did not take any gestures means that they did not protect the affiliated celebrity. In other words, it is a violation of the contract, so the contract can be terminated.”

At Lawyer Jang’s words, I clenched both fists.

The day I get out of HS Entertainment’s fence seemed closer than I thought.

***

“Hello. I am Kim Seul-hee, who will be in charge of hosting the production presentation for the movie ‘Survivor of the Destroyed World’ today. Nice to meet you!”

With the greeting of the host Kim Seul-hee, we clapped our hands.

Dozens of cameras were pointed at her and us sitting in our seats.

“In a world that was only happy, one day zombies appeared, and darkness fell as a result. A movie about the breathtaking survival of the only remaining survivors in that place….”

She began to introduce the movie.

The movie production presentation had already passed thirty minutes.

“I heard that our actor Hee-sung’s acting stood out even more in this movie. I heard that there was a lot of praise on set?”

At Kim Seul-hee’s question, I gave an awkward smile.

Before I could answer, Director Kang opened his mouth.

“That’s right. This time, Jin Hee-sung’s acting impressed every staff member in every scene.”

“Then, did actor Hee-sung play a zombie?”

At Kim Seul-hee’s question, I hurriedly grabbed the microphone.

“Haha, I think it would be better to check it out at the theater on the release date.”

“Wow, that’s right. I want to quickly go to the theater and see with my own eyes whether actor Hee-sung turns into a zombie or remains a survivor until the end.”

She turned the script and looked at me again.

“I will ask actor Hee-sung. You have been famous for your chemistry with other actors in every movie and drama. I would like to ask how this movie was.”

“Hmm… well. This movie had many scenes where chemistry came out with all the actors….”

I smiled brightly at her question and continued to answer.

My role in this movie is not the main role but a supporting role.

However, the questions that continued were so many that I forgot that I was a supporting role.

The number of questions and attention poured out was no different from the main role.

The time for the production presentation was over.

We bowed and sent our greetings.

“Thank you. Please give a lot of love to our ‘Survivor of the Destroyed World’!”

The production presentation ended successfully in a friendly atmosphere.

The actors and Director Kang even smiled and came down from the stage.

As soon as we headed to the back of the stage, Director Kang opened his mouth to us.

“Everyone worked hard. Looking at the atmosphere today, the articles will come out well. I have a very good feeling? Haha.”

“I know. Director, you also worked hard.”

“Are we just waiting for our movie to be a hit now? Hahaha.”

We exchanged conversations in lively voices.

At that time.

“Huh?”

Secretary Kim, who was fiddling with his cell phone, distorted his face.

As soon as I heard his voice, I turned my body and headed towards him.

“Hyung, what’s wrong?”

“Haa….”

He sighed while looking at his cell phone.

I hurriedly looked at the screen that appeared on his cell phone.

“[Jin Hee-sung’s legal dispute with his agency, what’s going on ahead of the release of the movie ‘Survivor of the Destroyed World’?]”

“[Agency dispute Jin Hee-sung, started at the same time as the production presentation….]”

“[Jin Hee-sung, conflict with his agency erupted with the release of the movie.]”

“[Jin Hee-sung, conflict with his agency erupted just before the release of the movie. What will his next move be….]”

…Damn it.

Now that articles about the movie release and production presentation are coming out.

An article about a legal dispute with the agency broke out.

It was clear that HS Entertainment released this.

It must be to ruin my future on purpose.

I distorted my face as I looked at the article title.

My facial muscles were trembling because I clenched my teeth.

HS Entertainment… you sons of bitches.