An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 111

111. #21 – The Beginning and the End (5)

“Oh, Seo-bin?”

When Choi Seo-bin arrived at the WG Entertainment office, the employees’ eyes widened.

He usually doesn’t come to the office.

They seemed surprised by his appearance.

“Hello. It’s been a while.”

Choi Seo-bin greeted the gazes directed at him, then headed straight for his manager, Section Chief Bae’s, desk.

“Hyung!” [Korean honorific term for older brother or close male friend]

At Choi Seo-bin’s call, Section Chief Bae stood up from his seat, startled.

“Seo-bin, I told you I was coming to pick you up later. Why did you come all the way here?”

“No, I don’t have any schedules today, and this is a personal matter.”

“Let’s have some coffee first and continue talking.”

Choi Seo-bin nodded.

They headed to the break room of WG Entertainment.

The two quickly headed to the break room without any conversation.

“Wow.”

“It’s my first time seeing Choi Seo-bin.”

“Me too. I never thought I’d see Choi Seo-bin at the company after joining.”

Choi Seo-bin wore a deeply pressed hat and a large black mask, completely covering his face when he came to the office, but no one failed to recognize him.

The small voices whispering among themselves reached Choi Seo-bin’s ears.

However, he didn’t care, pulled his hat down once more, and moved his feet.

“Seo-bin, here.”

Arriving at the break room, Section Chief Bae immediately handed him coffee.

Choi Seo-bin finally took off his mask and said to Section Chief Bae.

“Thanks.”

During working hours.

There were no other employees in the break room besides Choi Seo-bin and Section Chief Bae.

Choi Seo-bin took a deep breath, seemingly feeling stuffy because of the mask, and then asked him.

“Hyung, what about what I asked for?”

At Choi Seo-bin’s question, Section Chief Bae handed over the documents he had brought.

“Here.”

And with the documents in his hand, he asked Choi Seo-bin.

“But what are you going to do with these documents?”

“I have to try something.”

Choi Seo-bin smirked and took a sip of the coffee in front of him.

Section Chief Bae tilted his head, then frowned and said to him with a worried expression.

“Seo-bin, you’re not thinking of going there directly, are you?”

“Will hyung come with me?”

“…Seo-bin!”

Section Chief Bae, surprised, immediately jumped up from his seat and shouted, but Choi Seo-bin shrugged it off as if it were nothing.

“I have to step up.”

“Haa…”

A moment of silence fell between them.

Choi Seo-bin looked into his eyes and said.

“Hyung, you know this industry.”

“Still… it’s dangerous for you to step up.”

“It’s okay. I won’t be in danger. You don’t have to worry.”

The coffee in front of Section Chief Bae was still steaming, and Choi Seo-bin’s coffee was already empty.

Section Chief Bae kept sighing with worry, then nodded as if he had made up his mind.

“It’s not like I can stop you even if I try.”

At his words, Choi Seo-bin smirked.

Section Chief Bae pointed outside with his chin and said.

“Let’s go. If you’re going anyway, I’ll give you a ride.”

Choi Seo-bin nodded and got up from his seat.

About thirty minutes passed.

The car immediately left WG Entertainment.

“Seo-bin, I’ve already contacted them.”

“Thanks, hyung.”

“Should I come up with you?”

He still looked at Choi Seo-bin with worried eyes.

Choi Seo-bin leaned back in his chair and shook his head.

“If anything happens, call me right away.”

“Okay.”

It wasn’t a long distance, so they soon arrived at their destination.

Squeak.

The car stopped at the gate.

Section Chief Bae turned to look at Choi Seo-bin and said.

“I’ll wait downstairs.”

“Okay.”

Choi Seo-bin got out of the car without hesitation and headed to the agreed location.

***

“Oh my, what brings our top star here?”

HS Entertainment’s Head Kang approached Choi Seo-bin with a bright face and extended his hand.

“It’s been a while, Head Kang.”

“Indeed.”

They shook hands, moving their clasped hands up and down.

They were smiling brightly on the outside, but their inner thoughts were very different.

‘When did you reject our offer, and what gives you the right to come here as you please?’

Behind Head Kang’s suspicious smile was a cold heart, but he hid it well and opened his mouth towards Choi Seo-bin.

“You’ve come a long way, but this is all I can offer,” Head Kang said, looking at the teacup on the table.

Choi Seo-bin shook his head and replied.

“It’s alright.”

“Please, have a seat quickly.”

“Yes.”

The two sat facing each other.

Head Kang was very curious about the reason why Choi Seo-bin had come to find him.

But he couldn’t ask as soon as he sat down, so he just smiled and asked about his recent activities.

“Seo-bin’s movie was released, and I heard it’s very interesting.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Choi Seo-bin cut off the conversation with a short answer, picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and asked, looking at Head Kang.

“Didn’t HS Entertainment’s actor, Jin Hee-sung, also release a movie?”

“Yes, it was released recently. Thank you for noticing.”

“Of course, I have to know.”

Choi Seo-bin straightened his back, which had been leaning, to begin a serious conversation.

He looked Head Kang in the eyes and said, “But I heard there are many articles saying that you are having a legal battle with the company these days?”

“……”

At Choi Seo-bin’s words, Head Kang’s expression momentarily distorted.

The fact that Choi Seo-bin of WG Entertainment, a rival company, came to bring up the internal affairs of his company…

It wasn’t pleasant to hear.

But he quickly hid his expression and opened his mouth.

“I guess that rumor reached Seo-bin’s ears.”

“Of course. Isn’t actor Jin Hee-sung a rising star?”

Head Kang put the teacup on the table, annoyed by Choi Seo-bin’s words.

He smiled and looked straight into his eyes.

“So, what is the reason for your visit today…?”

Before he could finish, Choi Seo-bin cut him off.

“Terminate the contract. Let’s end it cleanly.”

“Excuse me?”

Choi Seo-bin looked at Head Kang, who was frowning, and repeated clearly.

“Actor Jin Hee-sung. Stop stirring up the media and give up cleanly.”

“Haa, really.”

In an instant.

The kindly smile vanished from Head Kang’s face without a trace.

His eyes turned cold.

“Hey, actor Choi Seo-bin. I don’t care if you’re a top star, but not in front of me.”

It wasn’t just his eyes that changed.

Head Kang muttered in a cold tone.

However, Choi Seo-bin was not intimidated.

Clack.

He immediately placed the prepared documents on the table.

Head Kang glared at the text on the document.

The document was a contract with the name of an entertainer from HS Entertainment.

Choi Seo-bin, watching Head Kang’s face as he looked at the document, began to speak.

“‘Always report your location and get approval in advance when leaving the country.'”

At his words, Head Kang frowned.

“‘To the extent that it does not interfere with entertainment activities, the ‘甲方’ [Party A, the company] can demand ‘everything’ from the ‘乙方’ [Party B, the artist].'”

Choi Seo-bin recited the contract’s contents as if reading lines.

He continued without missing a single word.

“‘Even if the contract with HS Entertainment is terminated, you cannot engage in the same entertainment industry. All similar entertainment activities must be suspended.'”

At his words, Head Kang bit his lip.

“…What are you trying to do now?”

“Again!”

Choi Seo-bin looked straight into his eyes and spoke again.

“‘You must appear in any event requested by HS Entertainment, and you must appear in events hosted by HS Entertainment and its affiliates for free.'”

He swallowed hard and said.

“‘Without the permission of HS Entertainment, ‘乙方’ cannot arbitrarily suspend or retire from entertainment activities.'”

Finally, Head Kang picked up the contract.

Tear-!

He tore the paper in half.

“Choi Seo-bin, don’t cross the line.”

“Do you think this is a valid contract?”

Choi Seo-bin leaned closer to him and said.

“If you reveal to the world that you are making slave contracts with new female entertainers, do you think HS Entertainment will be safe?”

“This is within the company…”

“Ha, internal regulations?”

“Anyway, this is what we were talking about with the trainees… Isn’t it strange that WG Entertainment is suddenly doing this?”

Choi Seo-bin gave a hollow laugh.

He quickly wiped the laughter from his face and spoke with a firm expression.

“Jin Hee-sung… just let him go.”

“Are you doing this because of Jin Hee-sung?”

Choi Seo-bin jumped up from his seat.

He looked down at Head Kang and said.

“If you touch him any more, I will expose all the toxic clauses in this contract. And the dark secrets deep inside HS Entertainment that I know… I will expose them all.”

At his warning, Head Kang clenched his teeth.

His facial muscles trembled as he bit down hard.

“Then I’ll take it that we’re settling this cleanly, and I’ll leave now.”

Choi Seo-bin turned to leave.

Head Kang got up and shouted at the back of his head.

“Choi Seo-bin, you’ve picked the wrong opponent. What do you think you can do against a company right now?”

He smirked.

Choi Seo-bin stopped walking.

He turned his head and looked at Head Kang.

Then, with an impassive face, he said.

“I’m Choi Seo-bin.”

After uttering that short sentence, he left the office.

Bang.

The door slammed shut.

“Aoh, you son of a bitch!”

Head Kang slammed the table and shouted in the empty room.

***

“Haa… how did the contract leak out!”

HS Entertainment’s CEO Lim threw the paper at Head Kang and shouted.

He folded his hands respectfully and bowed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Damn it. What is it about Jin Hee-sung that makes you do this?”

Bang.

CEO Lim slammed his table.

He sighed deeply, his face contorted.

CEO Lim spoke as if he had made up his mind, to Head Kang, who was still bowing.

“Just let him go.”

“Yes?”

“Jin Hee-sung. Just terminate the contract!”

“Ah, shall we proceed like that?”

CEO Lim loosened his tie, frustrated, and replied.

“Yeah, but deduct a lot of penalties and expenses from his settlement.”

“I understand.”

Head Kang gathered the documents.

He bowed again.

“Don’t drag it out, settle it quickly. Don’t let any unnecessary words get out.”

“Yes, I will handle it right away.”

“Call Jin Hee-sung to my room right away, too.”

“Yes.”

CEO Lim shouted, his face still contorted.

“Haa, I really stepped in shit. Damn it….”

***

Suddenly, I received a notice from CEO Lim that he would terminate my contract.

Puzzled, I rushed to the CEO’s office.

“Oh, Hee-sung. Sit down.”

He greeted me as if he had been waiting.

I sat down warily.

“I heard about the contract termination, right?”

“Yes, but why suddenly….”

CEO Lim cut me off and quickly replied.

“You requested the contract termination, Hee-sung.”

“……”

I frowned.

Clearly, the company had failed to protect its affiliated entertainers, so I had requested termination of the contract due to breach of contract.

Head Kang had ignored my words, acting dumbfounded.

That’s why we were in a legal battle.

But now he was accepting the termination.

I was curious about CEO Lim’s intentions.

But he didn’t offer any answers.

“I’m curious as to why you’re suddenly doing this.”

“Why would there be a reason? The affiliated entertainer is having a hard time and requests termination of the contract, so there’s no choice but to listen.”

I was suspicious of CEO Lim, who was now pretending to be generous.

I steeled myself, thinking that he wouldn’t easily terminate the contract without something in return.

“Then you’re going to terminate it right away?”

He nodded.

“Without any compensation or conditions?”

He looked into my eyes and answered my repeated question.

“Instead, keep your mouth shut about everything that happened here.”

Of course.

He wasn’t just going to let someone go without any conditions.

He had ignored the fact that an entertainer might have a stalker.

As a result, the stalker even trespassed.

It seemed they wanted their mistakes to remain hidden.

To be honest, I didn’t like the conditions.

The ridiculously long contract period of 7 years that he had demanded.

The agency that failed to protect its affiliated entertainers.

I wanted to expose everything, but something else was more important now.

It was the termination of the contract.

I thought I had to escape this cage.

In the end, I nodded.

After stamping the seal.

Several hours passed.

The company wanted the termination of my contract to be known.

The article was released quickly.

[[Exclusive] HS Entertainment – Termination of exclusive contract with Jin Hee-sung… Respect for actor’s wishes]