An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 311

311. #56 – Hidden Truth (6)

Two months have passed.

As the media attention towards Song Yuna subsided, the attention towards WG Entertainment also began to diminish.

With Song Yuna receiving a suspended sentence, the malicious comments and negative public opinion directed at her disappeared.

Furthermore, the public’s interest shifted to ‘WG Entertainment,’ which had initially spread the story about her alleged drug use.

For a while, WG Entertainment was the center of attention, attracting a barrage of negative comments.

They claimed their actions were a tip-off for the public good, and then they remained silent.

After that, critical comments targeting WG Entertainment accumulated daily.

-How could they expose their own company’s celebrity?

-They’re so ruthless.

-She took drugs for medical treatment because she was sick, but they reported her for drug charges… The entertainment industry is terrifying.

-Was WG Entertainment trying to terminate Song Yuna’s contract?

┕That’s right. Song Yuna’s contract with WG Entertainment is expiring soon.

┕If they’re really cutting her off like that… they’re inhuman.

-Anyone want to boycott WG Entertainment?

┕2 Me.

┕33 Me too! I don’t want to support WG Entertainment because they’re scary.

┕4 Shouldn’t the celebrities who are still with WG Entertainment flee?

-Evil people who manipulate others using their weaknesses.

-That explains it. They suddenly started promoting celebrity S to replace Song Yuna; it must have started then. They were preparing to abandon Song Yuna.

┕S… is it SGR?

┕Seems right. Song Yuna’s long-time soju [Korean distilled spirit] advertisement deal also went to S.

┕Creepy ㄷㄷ [Korean internet slang expressing disbelief or shock].

However, unlike the initial public outcry, articles about WG Entertainment gradually decreased.

Obviously.

It seemed that WG Entertainment had silenced the reporters with money.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense that they wouldn’t report on a matter of public interest that was being so widely discussed.

As WG Entertainment hoped, when articles related to WG Entertainment and Song Yuna stopped appearing online, public interest slowly waned.

As if it had never been such a big deal.

Even the comments that seemed like they would protect Song Yuna forever.

Even the comments that seemed like they would ruin WG Entertainment in an instant.

From one day to the next, not a single line was seen on the internet.

They had lost interest.

In the entertainment industry, one issue is quickly covered up by another.

I was used to it.

However, WG Entertainment’s actions remained clear to me and Song Yuna, and would continue to be remembered.

WG Entertainment wouldn’t collapse anytime soon.

Because it was such a well-established company.

But that didn’t matter much.

Everyone who needed to know already knew about WG Entertainment’s malicious intentions.

The industry also developed a reluctance to renew contracts with WG Entertainment because of their actions of abandoning their own talent.

WG Entertainment had been cutting off their celebrities in this way, but after Song Yuna, they couldn’t easily do the same to other celebrities.

Usually, when WG Entertainment released damaging articles or exploited their artists’ weaknesses like this,

The celebrities seemed to lie low and obey Chairman Park of WG Entertainment, groveling.

However, thanks to Song Yuna stirring things up once, they didn’t seem to be able to easily repeat the same actions.

I was sure… WG Entertainment would slowly collapse.

There is a saying that even if a rich family goes bankrupt, it will take three years to see the effects. [A Korean proverb indicating that the effects of wealth linger even after bankruptcy.]

So WG Entertainment would also falter for a while, but it would remain relatively stable in the short term.

Especially since the rookies are already tied up with long-term contracts of 5 or 7 years.

The important thing is what comes next.

If a few years pass after that… WG Entertainment will have no choice but to slowly decline.

No one will renew their contracts, and no other celebrity will sign a contract with WG Entertainment willingly.

It would be fun to watch them slowly collapse.

Because it was WG Entertainment, not me and Song Yuna, who initiated the conflict.

* * *

The car is getting further and further away from the city.

A remote place far from the bustling downtown of Gangwon-do [province in South Korea].

When we arrived in front of a pension [rental cabin or resort], Song Yuna and I smiled at each other.

“We’re here.”

At my words, she smiled and looked around.

“There’s really no one here?”

“Yeah, we rented the whole pension, so it’s just us.”

“…Good.”

Getting out of the car and taking in the mountain air, she said as if exhaling a long-held breath.

My heart ached at her appearance.

I approached Song Yuna and stood next to her, opening my mouth.

“We’re finally here for a trip. It’s been a long time.”

At my words, she nodded and murmured.

“I know. I didn’t know it would take two months.”

“Let’s rest well and go. Don’t worry about anything.”

“Okay.”

I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her in.

“It’s a bit chilly here because it’s in the mountains. Let’s go in and have dinner quickly. I’ll grill you some meat.”

“We’ll see if you can grill it.”

Song Yuna, glancing at me with a slightly sulky tone, entered the pension.

Seeing her, who had been so dejected for over two months, seemed to be returning to her old self, and a smile burst out for no reason.

“That’s like Song Yuna…”

After enjoying a barbecue party in the yard, we sat side by side under the darkened sky, blankly watching the fire and sipping wine.

“Aren’t you cold?”

At my words, she nodded and replied.

“Yeah, I’m okay with a blanket.”

“That’s a relief.”

Clink-

The wine glasses collided in front of us.

We looked at each other deeply and took a sip of wine.

Song Yuna, who swallowed the bright red wine, stared at me and opened her mouth.

“Thank you.”

At her words, I tilted my head and asked.

“For what?”

Then Song Yuna’s gaze fell down.

“That time. When I attended the prosecution… I didn’t know you would show up and help me like that.”

Knowing that Song Yuna was usually clumsy in expressing her emotions, such as saying thank you and sorry,

I was surprised to see her bring up the story first.

I knew Song Yuna’s heart even if she didn’t have to say thank you, so of course I didn’t feel the need for it.

I glanced at her and replied gruffly.

“I was disappointed.”

Song Yuna’s eyes widened as if she hadn’t expected the words that came out of my mouth, and then she asked.

“…Huh?”

“Instead of pushing me away in that situation, you should have relied on me.”

“……”

Instantly.

Song Yuna’s eyes became moist.

Just by that look, Song Yuna’s pain from the incident was conveyed as it was.

But because we couldn’t stand this overly sentimental situation, Song Yuna cleared her throat and playfully changed the atmosphere.

“Ahem, but I must have been cut from that movie then, right?”

She had even finished meeting with the film director before the drug use scandal broke out.

She spoke as if complaining, recalling the work, and I put down the wine glass and opened my mouth to Song Yuna.

“Ah, I had something to say about that.”

“What is it?”

“Director Choi Han-beom contacted me.”

Song Yuna turned around in surprise at my words and asked me.

“Why did Director Choi contact you?”

“Well…”

* * *

Two months ago.

“Song Yuna suddenly dropped out, and we will support 5 billion won [Korean currency, approximately $3.7 million USD] in production costs as compensation.”

Chairman Park of WG Entertainment threw an offer to Director Choi, who was sitting in front of him.

“Isn’t it a business where the director has nothing to lose?”

“Um…”

Chairman Park raised his eyebrows and repeatedly opened his mouth as if pushing.

“Song Yuna is a falling, no, already fallen actress. Replace Song Yuna with Seo Gyuri and additionally support 5 billion won in production costs. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”

“Do you think so?”

Director Choi stroked his chin and asked Chairman Park.

Then he smiled and nodded.

“Of course. In addition, we will send our WG Entertainment’s leading actor, Na Hyun-woo, as the lead role.”

“……”

Chairman Park offered Director Choi to remove Song Yuna and give Seo Gyuri, Na Hyun-woo, and 5 billion won in investment.

His actions were not the attitude of someone making an offer. It was no different from a notification.

Chairman Park thought that this offer would not be rejected.

But strangely, Director Choi made a sound of “tsk” and fell into thought.

Tak-

Chairman Park slammed the table with his hand and smiled slyly.

“From the investment to Na Hyun-woo’s leading role, I will confirm it right away today. What do you think, Director Choi?”

At his question, Director Choi’s expression eventually distorted.

“But you know what? Anyone who hears it will think you’re the director?”

“…Yes?”

Director Choi raised his voice in a half-spoken manner as if revealing his hidden claws.

“Where are you acting like a boss?”

“Why are you suddenly talking down to me? What kind of boss am I being…?”

“I know WG Entertainment is a large agency. But in the movie industry, you’re just one of the many large agencies struggling to cast celebrities.”

At his words, Chairman Park bit his lip, and Section Chief Han and Seo Gyuri watched and kept their mouths shut at Director Choi’s appearance.

“I’m Choi Han-beom. Should I list all the companies that will invest in my movie so that Chairman Park of our WG Entertainment will lower his tail?”

“No, Director…”

Director Choi cut off Chairman Park’s words and said.

“So be careful when you mess with people. You cut Song Yuna’s part last time and asked me to put in Seo Gyuri, so I put her in.”

At his words, Chairman Park opened his mouth politely in a low posture.

“Thank you. That’s why I came to offer this…”

“No, I’ve accepted it once or twice, but now you’re trying to shake my whole movie. How dare you…!”

Director Choi kicked his seat and shouted, pushing away Chairman Park’s proposal in front of him.

“WG Entertainment is not in my movie. Just take it all out!”

* * *

Meanwhile.

Tap tap tap-

Song Yuna stared at the fire burning in front of her and focused on my words.

“So Director Choi was angry because of Chairman Park and called you?”

“Yeah, he was going to contact Yuna’s manager at that time, but it seemed ambiguous because the manager was also with WG Entertainment, so he contacted me.”

She turned her head and looked at me, asking.

“Why didn’t he contact me and contacted you?”

“You weren’t receiving outside calls because the article had just broken out at that time.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“So he contacted me through Choi Seo-bin senior.”

At my words, she nodded.

“Chairman Park pushed me to that point and tried to put in Seo Gyuri again in the meantime. Really… ha…”

I patted her shoulder.

Song Yuna, who had been keeping her mouth shut for a while, looked at me with curiosity and asked.

“What, but why are you telling me now?”

“I didn’t have the mental capacity to tell you this story at that time. I didn’t think you would want to talk about work either.”

“Well, even if I had heard it then, I probably wouldn’t have done the work.”