An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 90

90. #18 – A More Suitable Person (5)

Power Balance.

A company nestled in a large forest of buildings.

After taking a deep breath in front of the building, I stepped inside.

Kim had already done everything possible within HS Entertainment to reclaim the advertisement.

However, the advertisement did not return to me.

It was too unfair to just stand by and watch.

The only way to get it back was to take matters into my own hands.

That’s why I came directly to Power Balance, the advertiser.

The advertisement model they initially chose was Jin Hee-sung, not Baek Young-hoon.

Now that I know the whole story, it wasn’t Power Balance who suggested changing the model to Baek Young-hoon.

It was HS Entertainment who pressured them to switch to Baek Young-hoon.

That’s why I ended up here.

Knock, knock.

As I opened the door and entered, the employee who had come to HS Entertainment for the meeting looked at me with an awkward expression.

“Oh… Hee-sung, you’re here?”

I didn’t just barge into the company.

Even so, I couldn’t just show up unannounced.

Perhaps the fact that I came to this company has already been conveyed to HS Entertainment.

But it didn’t matter.

Because this is an effort to reclaim my work.

He forced a smile and guided me to a seat.

“Yes, how have you been?”

“Ah, I’m fine.”

“I apologize for contacting you so suddenly and coming here.”

He shook his head and handed me a coffee.

“No, not at all. You’ve gone through trouble to come here, but all I can offer is coffee.”

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

Before getting to the point, we took a moment to catch our breath and sipped our coffee.

A small conference room separated from the employees.

In the quiet atmosphere, I could even hear the employee swallowing nervously.

It’s probably not comfortable for them that an actor who has been excluded from a contract like this has come to visit, rather than a meeting or contract.

Without wasting any more time, I opened my mouth towards him.

“I’m sure you’re busy, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

“Yes, please do.”

“I heard that the advertisement you offered me has been passed on to actor Baek Young-hoon.”

“Ah… yes.”

He didn’t bother to make excuses or hide it.

No, there was no need to.

“But I understand that it was our company, not Power Balance, that changed the model to Baek Young-hoon.”

Then he nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

I swallowed a sigh at the reconfirmed fact and opened my mouth.

“To be honest, within the company, without consulting me….”

I began to tell him about what happened at the company.

There was no criticism or complaints about the company at all.

I simply told him the fact that Baek Young-hoon’s side had used tricks to take it away.

He nodded at my words.

“Actually, from our perspective, we thought actor Jin Hee-sung was the right model for Power Balance.”

He looked into my eyes and continued.

“That’s why we offered you the advertisement. But as you know, HS Entertainment gave us such a good offer that it was hard for us to refuse.”

I could understand his words.

A contract period twice as long, one year.

In addition, the contract fee was 80 million won [approximately $60,000 USD], 20 million won [approximately $15,000 USD] less, so it was inevitable that they would be tempted.

“But actually, we budgeted as we told Hee-sung….”

He made a ‘tss’ sound and bit his lip.

“Besides, if we tell HS Entertainment again that we’re going to work with Hee-sung, we’re worried that there might be trouble between the companies.”

He paused, took a sip of coffee, and continued.

“They gave us such good conditions for our sake, but suddenly overturning everything….”

I looked him straight in the eye and replied.

“I don’t think there will be any problems if you proceed with the model that the advertiser wants.”

“Hmm… If there’s a problem, you know, the advertisement model’s image is directly linked to the brand image, so we have to start with a risk.”

I had to reassure the employee who was worried about the problem with HS Entertainment.

And worried about the loss of their brand image in the future because of it.

I put strength in my eyes, looked at him, and opened my mouth firmly.

“For the 6-month contract period. No, even after that, there will be absolutely no trouble. No, there won’t be. I guarantee it.”

He seemed surprised by my confident words.

But soon he raised his eyebrows.

It seemed like he was wondering how I would guarantee it.

I stated again, my voice firm and reassuring.

“If any problem arises during the contract period, I’ll even offer a full refund.”

His eyes widened.

Usually, this is what the advertiser suggests, not me.

“…Really?”

“Yes, I can say that I am that confident and certain. In addition, there will be no trouble related to my actor image.”

“Hmm… Then we’ll discuss it internally.”

After a brief greeting with him, I left the Power Balance building.

I couldn’t say for sure that it had come back to me.

But I didn’t feel like it would never happen either.

However, I took a long breath, feeling that I had done everything I could.

Now, all that’s left is to wait for a call.

***

“So, no contact yet?”

I was talking with Manager Kim in the company elevator.

“No, it’s only been a day since I went there, so I have to wait a little longer.”

Ding-dong.

The elevator stopped at the floor Manager Kim pressed.

“Hee-sung, go to the conference room and practice. I’ll just check the documents and come.”

“Okay, take your time.”

Manager Kim hurriedly got off the elevator.

I leaned against the wall, crossed my arms, and watched the closing door.

At that moment.

Screech.

The closing elevator door reopened.

Someone must have pressed the elevator button.

I straightened up to greet them.

“Oh?”

The person getting on the elevator was none other than Baek Young-hoon.

As soon as our eyes met, I couldn’t help but frown.

But Baek Young-hoon, for some reason, was grinning and raising the corners of his mouth at me.

“Hyung [older brother/term of respect], long time no see?”

Now, he didn’t bow his head or say hello.

Of course, I didn’t want to receive insincere greetings from him.

He waved his hand and approached me as if he were treating me like an old brother or a close friend.

“Hyung, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I missed you. Haha.”

His appearance gave me goosebumps all over my body.

Without saying anything, I stared into his eyes.

Baek Young-hoon finally seemed to notice and stood next to me, opening his mouth.

“Oh, right. Hee-sung hyung, I’m sorry.”

I turned my head and looked at Baek Young-hoon at his words.

“About what?”

“About Power Balance. I heard that advertisement was originally offered to hyung… What should I do? They said they wanted me so much…”

I was speechless at Baek Young-hoon’s words, but I didn’t even respond.

Was he lying to me in this situation?

Why did he try so hard to steal my advertisement?

I didn’t want to say things like that.

No, I didn’t even want to have that kind of conversation.

I thought that if I responded to Baek Young-hoon’s actions, I would become the same level of person as him.

I just crossed my arms and stared at the floor number displayed in front of the elevator.

Then, Baek Young-hoon opened his mouth again in a teasing voice.

“If it were my personality, I would never have filmed hyung’s advertisement. You know. The advertisers said they wanted me more than hyung, and the company told me to film it no matter what….”

The corners of his mouth twisted slyly.

Ding-dong.

The elevator arrived at that moment.

I straightened up and walked towards the door.

Thud.

And I stopped in front of the door and muttered.

“Do you think I don’t know why that advertisement suddenly went to you?”

I turned my head slightly and made eye contact with him.

Baek Young-hoon’s brow furrowed instantly.

At the same time, I sent him a contemptuous look and turned my head again, walking out of the elevator.

***

A car speeding down an open road.

And a cold atmosphere lingering inside the car.

“Oppa [older brother/term of endearment used by females],”

Song Yoona’s prickly tone.

Even though she was just calling Manager Choi.

Manager Choi flinched and looked in the rearview mirror.

Because he could tell Song Yoona’s emotions even from the way she usually called him.

“Uh, Yoona.”

“What is this?”

He raised his eyebrows and asked her back.

“What are you talking about?”

Song Yoona silently shook the paper she was pushing towards the driver’s seat.

“Ah, that’s the Power Balance advertisement content we had a meeting about last time.”

When Manager Choi didn’t understand the point of her question, Song Yoona said in an annoyed tone.

“So, what is this?”

“The advertisement content… the amount to be included in the contract, and a summary of the advertisement model. That’s all?”

“Oppa, can’t you just say it all at once so I can understand?”

Manager Choi wanted to sigh at Song Yoona’s annoyance.

But he cooled down his boiling heart and turned his head.

“I’m sorry, but can you tell me what you’re talking about?”

Song Yoona scanned Manager Choi’s face up and down and replied.

“Ah, the model!”

Then she tapped the paper and continued.

“It was Jin Hee-sung. Why did it suddenly change to Baek Young-hoon?”

“Ah… that?”

Manager Choi looked ahead again and continued.

“Well, I guess there was a situation. They reprinted the documents saying it would be Baek Young-hoon this time.”

Song Yoona frowned at his words.

“Jin Hee-sung and Baek Young-hoon are both in our company.”

“That’s right.”

She crossed her legs, leaned her head against the chair, and said.

“The higher-ups switched it out.”

Song Yoona’s entertainment career could not be ignored.

She had already seen and felt so much over the years that she could immediately understand the reason.

Then she sighed deeply and muttered.

“HS Entertainment… This isn’t the first time they’ve done this. Seriously, haa.”

“…….”

Manager Choi pursed his lips tightly at her words.

Because Manager Choi was also an HS Entertainment employee.

He couldn’t agree with her words, nor could he disagree.

Anyway, after several processes had already passed at the top, he was just notified.

Silence flowed in the car for a moment.

In the silence, Manager Choi just focused on driving.

Song Yoona stared intently at the paper in her hand.

Then Song Yoona, who had been leaning, raised her body and shouted at Manager Choi.

“Tell them to switch it back.”

“What?”

“Tell them to change the model back to Jin Hee-sung as it was originally!”

Manager Choi seemed surprised by her sudden shout, and his eyes widened.

He tilted his head and asked Song Yoona.

“…Why, is there any reason why it has to be Jin Hee-sung?”

Their eyes met in the rearview mirror.

Song Yoona hurriedly averted her gaze at Manager Choi’s words.

Then she turned her head to look out the window, hesitated, and opened her mouth.

“Hiking… I mean, the model for hiking clothes should be someone who likes hiking!”

“…What?”

Manager Choi twitched his eyebrows and looked at Song Yoona.

She crossed her arms, squeezed her eyes shut, and shouted.

“Anyway, I won’t do the advertisement if it’s with Baek Young-hoon.”