An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 319

319. How to Turn the Enemy into an Ally (1)

The ground receded with a tremendous roar.

An airplane heading from Korea to LA.

As soon as the cabin stabilized, a glass of champagne was placed before us.

Kim, the CEO, sitting next to me, offered the champagne glass with a bright smile.

Clink.

“It’s so nice that we’re going to LA together so leisurely.”

At my words, CEO Kim nodded and took a sip of champagne.

“Right. It feels less guilty being in first class when we’re bringing the manager and staff in business class.”

Inside the plane heading to LA.

We were enjoying this feeling with relaxed minds and bodies.

I opened a book with music, and CEO Kim took out a diary and scribbled something.

How many hours had we been flying?

I glanced at CEO Kim, who was writing intently in his diary.

I opened my mouth towards him.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend],”

“Huh?”

“What are you doing?”

CEO Kim, seeing the diary at the end of my gaze, raised his eyebrows and straightened his posture.

“I was just organizing some things.”

“What kind of organizing?”

“The settlements coming in this time and the amount I organized while signing the WOM [World of Musicals] contract.”

At his words, I also straightened my posture and focused on CEO Kim’s story.

CEO Kim pointed to the amounts he had written down and said.

“The settlement amount for this month is quite large.”

I tilted my head and asked again.

“Wasn’t my movie ‘Undercover’ all settled?”

“Yeah, the one from when you were filming is over.”

“Then there were no schedules after that, so is there more to be settled?”

At my question, he nodded and began to explain.

“‘Undercover’ was a big hit on OTT [Over-The-Top media service, like Netflix], not just in theaters.”

“Yeah.”

“Because of that, Hee-sung, your previous works are going crazy.”

“Really?”

He showed me a chart and said.

“Yeah. The movies and dramas you filmed before are still rising in the OTT rankings.”

“Wow… one work does well, and it’s no joke.”

“So the settlement fee for that alone is enormous.”

At CEO Kim’s words, I raised the corners of my mouth, and he also smiled brightly and clicked his tongue.

“On top of that, once this WOM contract and the musical are over….”

CEO Kim’s lips were rising involuntarily as he calculated, as if he was happy.

Me working hard and earning money.

Of course, CEO Kim, the head of my agency, also makes money.

The more I grow, the more he and the company grow together.

CEO Kim exclaimed and looked at me.

“Hee-sung, you’re going to rake in the money!”

“Keuh… it sounds good just hearing it. Am I the one building the foundation of our company? Haha.”

“Of course. Is it just the foundation of the company?”

CEO Kim looked around the quiet cabin and leaned closer to me.

He spoke in a very small voice so that only the two of us could hear.

“With the money to be settled this time and your contract fee….”

At his words, I could barely believe my ears.

“Wow….”

A huge amount.

It was an amount that couldn’t be compared to when I was at WG Entertainment.

Of course, it’s also true that my value then and my value now are different.

But the ratio at WG Entertainment and the ratio now were worlds apart.

Starting a company with CEO Kim, the settlement ratio was, needless to say, a good condition for me.

That’s not to say that CEO Kim was earning less money than when he was at WG Entertainment.

He was also taking away much more money than when he was at WG Entertainment.

It was a win-win for each other.

CEO Kim smiled and said to me.

“Hee-sung, your name alone is a big deal now. Everything you do is a hit.”

At his words, I smirked.

CEO Kim made a tsk sound and continued.

“Advertisements are still coming in, and if the musical does well, advertisements will be lined up. You’ll really be sitting on a pile of money.”

“It makes me happy just hearing it.”

“Let’s work hard.”

“Yeah!”

I nodded and leaned back in my chair.

And I was diligently calculating in my head.

The current balance in my account.

The settlement amount I heard from CEO Kim.

In addition to the contract fee to be deposited from WOM, musicals, movies, etc.

If I calculate all the money I’ll be settled with….

Even if I estimate… 100 billion won [approximately $75 million USD]?

“…Crazy!”

At my voice, CEO Kim was startled and looked at me.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

At his question, I waved my hand in the air and replied.

“Ah, nothing.”

Then I closed my eyes and fell into thought.

100 billion won….

It’s an unimaginable amount.

With this money… I wouldn’t be able to spend it all in my lifetime?

***

LA, where we arrived after flying for over 10 hours.

Having arrived here, we headed straight to the meeting place.

I was going to rest for a day due to fatigue, but the flight was comfortable, so I didn’t need to take a break.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to LA.”

At my words, CEO Kim nodded and replied.

“Yeah. It’s been a long time.”

At our conversation, Director Park and the stylist were staring at the streets of LA with their mouths open.

Their eyes were full of wonder at every building and every road.

We got into the car and drove towards WOM, each lost in thought.

And I remembered that day a few months ago.

LA….

The day I was going to end my 10,000 years of life.

That day, at that time, I was staying in LA.

A place where no one was.

I was going to disappear here without anyone knowing.

But now I’ve come back here with amazing conditions.

‘It’s a new feeling’… that’s exactly the right thing to say.

To think I’d come back here to film a project.

While reminiscing while looking out the running window.

Buzzz.

The cell phone in my pocket vibrated.

I quickly checked and it was a name I hadn’t seen in a while, Brian.

A precious actor who is my American friend and worked with me in LA.

He saw my article and sent me a text.

-Jin, I saw the article that you signed with WOM and are doing a musical. Congratulations.

As soon as I checked the text, I called him without hesitation.

And Brian’s voice was heard before the signal even rang.

-Hello?

“Brian!”

-Oh, Jin. Did you call after seeing the text?

“Yeah, it’s amazing that you heard my news through an article. Thanks for congratulating me.”

-You’re welcome. So are you coming to LA soon?

At his words, I smiled while looking at the LA scenery outside.

“I’m in LA right now.”

-Really?

“Yeah, I just arrived in LA a little while ago, and I was so surprised to get a text from Brian. Haha.”

-Wow, I sent the text at just the right time. Are you already here to film?

“No, just for a meeting. I have a schedule this time, so I won’t be able to meet Brian.”

-That’s too bad. Let’s definitely meet next time you come for a long shoot.”

“Of course. When the filming schedule comes out and I come to LA, I’ll contact Brian first.”

-Good.

“Let’s have a strong drink then.”

-Of course, friend.

“Thanks for contacting me first after seeing the article.”

-Haha, yeah. Let’s see each other soon.”

Hanging up the phone with Brian, I was reminded of the days I spent with him back then.

The time when we worked together and adapted to Hollywood.

I chuckled and reminisced, and before I knew it, we were almost at the production company.

A welcome Hollywood sign visible through the window.

After driving for a few more minutes, the car stopped in front of a large building.

“We have arrived.”

The driver looked at the building and said to us.

“Thank you.”

We, including CEO Kim, got out of the car and looked at the WOM building.

“Wow… the building is incredibly magnificent.”

“Yeah.”

The moment we were admiring the building with exclamations with the staff.

“Ugh….”

I frowned and grabbed my head at the sudden headache.

CEO Kim and Director Park, seeing my appearance, hurriedly grabbed me.

“Hee-sung, are you okay?”

“Hee-sung!”

They grabbed my arms from both sides and asked, as if surprised.

I tried to hide the pain and nodded.

“Ah… I’m okay.”

But the headache didn’t subside.

I complained of the pain in my throbbing head.

What is it?

Do I have any memories related to this building?

And quickly, a memory filled my head.

Suddenly, I remembered the past.

A long time ago, I remembered building a building similar to this one.

But it wasn’t the WOM building I was looking at.

If memories like this start flooding in like a tide… it’s really hard….

I was already having painful days with the sudden headaches, so I wasn’t happy with the sudden memory.

I went to the meeting, pressing my temples to erase the headache.

I endured it, hiding the pain so that CEO Kim and Director Park wouldn’t worry about me.

***

Opening the door to the CEO’s office, a person greeted us.

The CEO of WOM.

A woman with long hair in her early to mid-30s.

She approached us in a neat suit and greeted us with a bright smile.

“Hee-sung, hello!”

“Ah, hello.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. CEO, and the manager and staff, right?”

“Yes, it’s finally nice to meet you. We’ve heard a lot about you too, CEO.”

She handed me a business card and replied.

“I know. I thought I’d see you at the filming next time, but I’m so glad to see you this time. I’m Lee Seol-in from WOM.”

Lee Seol-in held out her hand to me, and I shook it.

“Nice to meet you, CEO.”

After exchanging light greetings, we sat down.

She briefly briefed the schedule.

“Today, we’re going to show you the house. And….”

At Lee Seol-in’s words, we nodded and listened, and after talking for a while.

She raised her eyebrows and asked me.

“You must be tired from coming, have you decided on the schedule after this?”

At Lee Seol-in’s question, I shook my head and looked at CEO Kim next to me.

Then he answered for me.

“No. I think we’ll rest right away.”

“Ah, dinner….”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

At CEO Kim’s answer, Lee Seol-in looked at me and asked.

“Then Hee-sung, if you have time, would you like to have dinner with me?”

At her words, I smiled and nodded my head.

“Yes, that’s good.”

Then I immediately looked at CEO Kim and the staff and started to speak.

“Our staff too….”

But CEO Kim cut me off.

“No, you eat with CEO Lee and come. We can eat by ourselves.”

“Ah… okay.”

As soon as our short conversation ended, Lee Seol-in looked at me.

“We’re not eating alone either, but if it’s okay with Hee-sung… I was wondering if we could eat with the friend who recommended Hee-sung for this project. How is it?”

At her words, I frowned, surprised.

“What….”

It was something I didn’t know at all.

And CEO Kim next to me also looked surprised, as if he was hearing it for the first time.

WOM’s musical, movie project.

I had never heard that there was someone who recommended me for this work.

Lee Seol-in, seeing my bewildered face, smiled.

“I think it’s someone who knows Hee-sung well. Of course, it’ll be someone Hee-sung knows well too.”

“Who is it?”

Lee Seol-in smiled and turned away, even at my question.

“Um… I know it’s someone Hee-sung knows well.”

But since it was a person I couldn’t even guess, I bit my lip while looking at Lee Seol-in.

“I wish you’d tell me who it is… who recommended me?”

And soon, Lee Seol-in’s mouth opened as if to satisfy my curiosity.

“Choi Seo-bin.”