An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 321

321. How to Turn an Enemy into an Ally (3)

Clink-

CEO Lee Seol-in swirled her wine glass and clinked it against mine and Choi Seo-bin’s.

“Welcome to LA, Hee-sung.”

I smiled brightly at her words.

“Thank you, CEO.”

Choi Seo-bin raised the corners of her lips and chimed into our conversation.

“It’s amazing that the day has come when the three of us are sharing a drink together.”

“I know, right? I never thought my relationship with you, Seo-bin, would last this long either. It’s fascinating.”

“Tch, same here, you know?”

I bit my lip, suppressing a smile at their conversation.

I couldn’t participate in their conversation as former lovers, nor could I laugh along with them.

I could only admire their cool relationship.

Choi Seo-bin raised her eyebrows and changed the subject.

“Oh, right. Hee-sung, are you going straight back to Korea after this meeting?”

“Um… I think so.”

Lee Seol-in nodded at my words and asked.

“Do you have any schedules in Korea?”

“No, not really, but there’s no particular reason for me to stay in LA any longer… It’s still undecided.”

She made a ‘tss’ sound, as if she had something to say, and looked at me.

“Hee-sung.”

“Yes, CEO.”

“Have you ever thought about appearing on a program?”

“What kind of program…”

I tilted my head and asked her, and Lee Seol-in smiled and replied.

“Like a variety show. I was wondering if you might want to do a few before starting your next project.”

“In America?”

“Of course.”

I hesitated to answer her suggestion.

I had been on a few variety shows in Korea to promote my work before.

But I had never filmed a variety show separately without a project.

I always appeared with a purpose.

So, I couldn’t help but wonder at her suggestion to appear on an American variety show, even before filming a project.

“Not for the purpose of promoting a project?”

“Yes, not to promote a project, but to promote Hee-sung.”

“Ah….”

Lee Seol-in put down the wine glass she was holding and began to lead the conversation in earnest.

“It’s nothing grand, just a talk show. Of course, Hee-sung, you’ve already made your name known by debuting in Hollywood once, but I thought it would be good to show that you’ve returned.”

“Hmm…. I haven’t thought about it yet, so I’ll have to think about it.”

“Okay. You don’t have to do it if you’re uncomfortable, but our company wants to push you, Hee-sung.”

I nodded at her words.

The reason why she was trying to get me on a variety show now, before my project had even come out, wasn’t just to promote future projects, but more than that, it was to make my name known in Hollywood.

So, it was a suggestion for my benefit.

I smiled at Lee Seol-in’s suggestion.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“It’s nothing. It’s my job to help good actors become even more successful.”

Choi Seo-bin, who had been listening quietly next to us, opened her mouth.

“Hee-sung, give it a try. You can speak English. Being a fluent English speaker among Asian actors is a huge advantage.”

“It’s a field I haven’t thought about yet.”

Lee Seol-in chuckled and said to Choi Seo-bin.

“Well, Seo-bin needs to study English a bit more to go on a talk show.”

“Are you going to keep teasing me?”

“Haha, I understand.”

Lee Seol-in raised her wine glass high again, and I clinked my glass against hers.

“Hee-sung, think about it. As Seo-bin said, not just anyone can go on these programs.”

“Yes, I’ll think about it and let you know.”

***

WG Entertainment’s CEO’s office.

The sofas in the CEO’s office were filled with company directors.

CEO Park, seeing the director sitting in the last seat, cleared his throat and began the meeting.

“Now that everyone’s here, shall we start right away?”

The directors responded in unison.

“Yes.”

Then, the director sitting closest to CEO Park looked at his diary and said.

“We need to liquidate two of our idol groups. With this level of profit, it won’t help the company even if we keep dragging them along….”

At his words, CEO Park stroked his chin and pondered, and the other directors next to him nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. If we consider the company’s losses, we need to liquidate some of the actors too….”

The atmosphere in WG Entertainment’s CEO’s office seemed quite different from before.

The company’s direction had completely changed.

In fact, WG Entertainment wasn’t a bad company in terms of its relationship with its affiliated celebrities and its reputation in the entertainment industry.

Rather, it was one of the top three agencies in Korea.

However, WG Entertainment’s current position was quite precarious.

Of course, no company could match WG Entertainment in terms of economics.

However, the stories circulating among celebrities were quite different from the economic aspect.

The only reason WG Entertainment had changed like this was because the company’s board of directors had been replaced.

The internal directors were all replaced, and as a result, the ownership structure also changed significantly.

In the past, the word ‘humane’ was appropriate for the company, but now ‘profit’ had become the standard for everything at WG Entertainment.

The company had become all about ‘money’.

Recently, WG Entertainment aggressively absorbed one of the top three entertainment companies through M&A [Mergers and Acquisitions].

Having forcibly acquired an entertainment company through a corporate merger, the company’s board of directors, including CEO Park, had no choice but to chase profits relentlessly.

“Oh, did Song Yu-na sign with another company?”

Director Choi, sitting at the end, answered CEO Park’s question.

“Yes, she recently signed with Best Entertainment.”

“Haa… I see.”

He nodded.

If it weren’t for this corporate merger, he would have made it impossible for Song Yu-na to gain a foothold in the entertainment industry.

He sighed as he thought of Song Yu-na, who was still trying to work in the entertainment industry.

Sensing CEO Park’s feelings, Director Choi carefully asked him.

“CEO, shall we dig into Song Yu-na a bit?”

“Song Yu-na?”

“Yes, if we want to show that our WG Entertainment has a unique position, as you said, isn’t it best to target an actor who left the company?”

“That’s right. We need to show them now. Listen carefully, everyone.”

CEO Park narrowed his eyes and straightened his posture.

“You know what happens when celebrities mess with the company? They’re screwed. We need to show them that clearly.”

He smiled meaningfully and continued.

“WG Entertainment can protect you if something happens, but other places don’t have the ability to protect you… So, we need to show that our WG Entertainment has absolute power as a management company.”

The directors all nodded their heads at CEO Park’s words.

“That’s right. That’s the only way they’ll sign with WG Entertainment.”

“So… are you going to make an example of Song Yu-na?”

“That’s right. Since Song Yu-na has already shaken the company once, shouldn’t we target her?”

CEO Park pondered for a moment at the directors’ words, and then opened his mouth with his legs crossed.

“No, public opinion is already against Song Yu-na, so it’s better not to touch her anymore. If possible, it’s better to target those who left….”

CEO Park made a ‘tss’ sound and muttered, and Director Choi raised his eyebrows and said to him.

“Among the actors who left, the top ones are Choi Seo-bin, Hwang Min-hyun, Park Sa-ra, Jin Hee-sung….”

Before his words could finish, CEO Park raised his hand.

“Wait, Jin Hee-sung?”

“Yes, but Jin Hee-sung is making his Hollywood debut this time, isn’t he too big to mess with?”

At Director Choi’s words, CEO Park slyly raised the corners of his lips.

“Wait and see. I’ve already put someone next to that guy to be my eyes.”

A wicked smile spread across CEO Park’s face as he thought of Jin Hee-sung.

***

After all the discussions regarding the contract with WOM [a talent agency] were over.

CEO Kim, along with Manager Park and the stylist, gathered at the house where Jin Hee-sung was staying.

And soon, they started a meeting with serious faces.

“Hyung [older brother or close male friend], what did WOM say?”

At Jin Hee-sung’s question, CEO Kim opened his diary.

“So, CEO Lee Seol-in said she can arrange a talk show right away.”

“As expected, WOM’s power is strong.”

“Yeah, the program they’re going to get us on is quite big.”

Manager Park tilted his head at his words.

“CEO, aren’t we going to Korea this week?”

“That’s right. That’s why I’m worried. I have to go back to Korea for work right away….”

Jin Hee-sung looked at the calendar and spoke.

“It’s much better to film this time than to come back and do a talk show later… is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s right.”

At CEO Kim’s words, Jin Hee-sung nodded without hesitation.

“Then what’s the problem? We can just appear on the talk show this time, right?”

“That’s true, but I have to go to Korea. If I just do one thing in Korea and come back… the time is a bit tight.”

Jin Hee-sung glanced at Manager Park sitting next to him and said.

“Does Manager Park have to go too?”

“No.”

“Then I can film with Manager Park and go to Korea.”

It wasn’t just Manager Park who was surprised at his words.

CEO Kim also widened his eyes and asked Jin Hee-sung again.

“Still… it’s your first program since debuting in Hollywood, is it okay to just be with Manager Park?”

He asked carefully with a worried expression and tone, and Manager Park also pursed his lips and waited for Jin Hee-sung’s answer.

“Manager Park is good at his job. He took good care of me when I was working on projects in Korea, and we work well together now.”

CEO Kim slowly nodded his head at his words.

“Yeah, Manager Park is good at his job. But American programs are very different from Korea. Manager Park doesn’t have any experience with overseas activities….”

Before CEO Kim could finish speaking, Jin Hee-sung smiled and answered.

“I’ll try it with Manager Park. He’s good at his job and trustworthy. He’s a junior [someone younger or less experienced] that hyung trusts and relies on.”

Manager Park could only avoid their gaze and wait for their answer.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course. Manager Park is my manager. I’ll trust Manager Park and film well, then go to Korea.”

As soon as Jin Hee-sung finished speaking, CEO Kim nodded his head.

“Okay, if you’re okay with it, let’s do that. Manager Park, can you handle it?”

Only then did Manager Park slowly lift his head, which had been lowered.

“…Yes, I will do my best.”

His palms were sweaty, even though he had answered confidently.

“Then hyung, no, CEO Kim, are you going to Korea tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I’m going to Korea….”

CEO Kim and Jin Hee-sung continued their conversation, but Manager Park couldn’t concentrate on their conversation.

He swallowed hard and rubbed the sweat on his palms against his jeans.

Then, he glanced at Jin Hee-sung, who was smiling and talking, and fell into thought.

‘I thought it was all an act, him being nice to the staff and taking care of them at first… but he was serious.’

Manager Park realized once again that he had been prejudiced against Jin Hee-sung.

He recalled the past when he had misunderstood him, and swallowed a sigh as he reflected on what he had done.

‘I came with an ulterior motive… I’m so sorry….’

At that moment.

Buzzz-

An alarm rang on Manager Park’s cell phone.

The person who sent the text message was none other than CEO Park of WG Entertainment.

-How did Jin Hee-sung’s Hollywood contract go? Check his schedule and report it.

A spy that WG Entertainment had placed next to Jin Hee-sung.

That was Manager Park.

His eyes trembled as if an earthquake had struck as he quickly read the text message.

The reason and purpose he was here were clear, but he was gradually wavering because of Jin Hee-sung’s sincerity.

Manager Park held his cell phone tightly in his hand and looked into his own heart.

‘What… what should I do now…?’

A stream of cold sweat ran down his spine.

At that moment.

“Manager Park?”

He was startled by Jin Hee-sung’s voice suddenly calling out to him and flipped his cell phone over.

“Ah… yes!”

Then, he looked at Jin Hee-sung with a serious face, and Jin Hee-sung opened his mouth towards Manager Park with a bright smile.

“Can I call you hyung now?”

“…Yes? Ah, of course.”

“Hyung, you can talk to me comfortably now too. We’re as close as family now, hyung.”

Jin Hee-sung smiled and held out his hand to him.

Manager Park stared blankly at his hand, then nodded and shook his hand.

“I’ll do my best in the future.”

He immediately opened his cell phone, deleted the text message, and shouted loudly in a voice full of enthusiasm.

“Hee-sung, let’s start preparing for the talk show!”