Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1265

“Hello, senior.”

Choi Yeon-ha relaxed her stiff expression.

“Yeah, hi.”

Choi Yeon-ha greeted her guest with a bright smile, but Han Eun-sol could read the true emotions hidden behind that cheerful facade.

‘She’s subtly annoyed.’

And for good reason.

The person who entered was Go Ah-reum.

She was the actress double-cast in the commercial Choi Yeon-ha was filming today.

Choi Yeon-ha hated to admit it, but among the many actresses who debuted after Choi Yeon-ha in South Korea, she was one of the few who stood out.

In Choi Yeon-ha’s opinion…

“I know I make a living off my looks, but still, isn’t she a bit much? If she thinks she’s at least an actress, shouldn’t she try to act? She’s like an elementary schooler… no, I shouldn’t say that. Child actors would be upset. A mannequin could probably act better than her.”

From an acting perspective, neither the director, the viewers, nor even her agency or herself had any expectations, but because her visuals were so good, she was cast very frequently.

And this commercial would not only be a hot topic for Choi Yeon-ha, but it would also be a chance for Go Ah-reum to make her mark. The fact that Choi Yeon-ha and a ‘post-Choi Yeon-ha’ [an actress who debuted after Choi Yeon-ha and is often compared to her] were in the same scene was symbolic.

“Senior, I came to say hello.”

“Oh, really? Aren’t you supposed to start filming?”

“They said I need to prepare a bit more.”

“Hmm.”

Choi Yeon-ha tilted her head.

Although they were both appearing in the same commercial, they weren’t filming together. The concept itself had them in slightly contrasting positions.

“You seem relaxed? You have the time to visit someone else’s waiting room before filming.”

“Well, it’s just a commercial shoot, not a drama or movie. There’s no need to be so nervous.”

“Is that so?”

Han Eun-sol stepped back slightly.

‘I hate this kind of thing.’

It was a conversation with smiles.

But in reality, they were throwing razor blades and axes at each other with all their might.

‘There’s no need to be nervous for a commercial.’

It was a trivial statement, but the hidden meaning was, ‘If I were up against you in a drama or movie, I might be pushed back because of my acting skills, but this is a commercial, so there’s no way I’ll lose to you in terms of visuals.’

‘Isn’t that too much of an interpretation?’

No way.

‘Look at her expression.’

Her tone was polite, but Go Ah-reum’s expression was anything but. And Han Eun-sol had seen this kind of thing way too many times.

Actresses don’t get along.

Do actresses on TV seem to be friendly with each other?

That’s nonsense.

To be precise… actresses can get along, but ‘beautiful actresses’ absolutely do not get along with each other. Even in groups of actresses who form their own little cliques, there is always only one beauty.

– Well, I don’t really know if I’m pretty. There are so many seniors and juniors who are prettier than me.

That’s just complete bull.

If you have eyes and a brain, how can you not know if you’re pretty? None of the actresses who talk like that have good personalities.

Basically, actresses who have been pretty since they were young receive favors and consideration from those around them, so their way of thinking is inevitably self-centered.

And in their world, an actress who is prettier or similarly pretty is just a rival and a stumbling block in their path.

Beautiful friendships between beautiful actresses are just a fantasy for those who don’t know the industry well.

That’s why when these two meet…

‘It’s always like this.’

However, there was one thing.

Han Eun-sol frowned.

‘She doesn’t know her place.’

No matter how well Go Ah-reum was doing these days, she wasn’t at the level to start a power struggle with Choi Yeon-ha.

If she had reached a similar level as Choi Yeon-ha, Go Ah-reum would be called ‘Go Ah-reum’ instead of a ‘post-Choi Yeon-ha’.

There are those types sometimes.

Types who, when their popularity rises and more people seek them out, prematurely conclude their rosy future. And they think of their future as already achieved, equating their current level with their future selves.

In short, they’re the type who go around saying with their whole body, ‘I might be a bit behind you now, but I’ll be better than you soon anyway, so what’s the problem with me being a bit equal to you now?’

“Okay, what’s the matter?”

“I told you, I came to say hello, senior.”

“Yes, what’s the matter?”

Go Ah-reum’s expression subtly hardened.

It meant, ‘Stop talking nonsense and get to the point.’ Judging by the fact that she understood the intention, she wasn’t as dumb as she seemed.

“Senior, I heard you started your own agency?”

“Why are you bringing up something from the past now?”

“I just heard about it. I’ve been so busy lately.”

“Oh, really?”

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled.

“You don’t look that busy.”

“…Yes. I guess so compared to you, senior. But I’m getting busier and busier, so it’s not easy to adjust.”

“There’s nothing to adjust to. Well, how long will it last anyway?”

Go Ah-reum glared.

“Oh my? Look at her eyes. Are you glaring at me right now?”

“Oh, no. Of course not. I think it’s because my makeup is too heavy.”

When Choi Yeon-ha directly pulled out her knife [a metaphor for being direct and confrontational], Go Ah-reum subtly backed down. No matter how arrogant Go Ah-reum was, she couldn’t directly confront Choi Yeon-ha.

“Okay, I started an agency. So what?”

“I’m just trying to find out more. I’m interested.”

“Why? Are you thinking of moving over here?”

“I’m considering it. My contract is almost up, and the fact that I’m joining the company where you’re the CEO would be symbolic, wouldn’t it?”

“But what to do?”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled brightly, crossing her legs.

For a moment, Go Ah-reum looked blank. Choi Yeon-ha, whom she was seeing right in front of her, was different from the actresses she had encountered so far.

Not only was she beautiful, but she also had an aura that was impossible to approach.

“We don’t accept just anyone.”

“…What?”

“It’s as I said. We don’t accept just anyone. Especially actors.”

Choi Yeon-ha chuckled and said,

“We’re not a model agency. We’re a company that makes a living off of actors, so we can’t bring in people who would be embarrassed to have the title of actor. I have my own reputation, and I have my pride. Don’t you think so?”

Go Ah-reum couldn’t answer and bit her lip slightly.

‘So, she wants to play this game?’

Go Ah-reum, with a fierce look in her eyes, forced a smile.

“Well, I guess so. If the agency is big, it’s okay, but in such a small agency, the CEO has to do their own sales and business… it must be difficult. I heard you have additional filming tomorrow, senior?”

“So?”

“It’s something that would have been unimaginable in the past, but the director is being too much. He shouldn’t be looking down on people like that.”

Han Eun-sol heard it.

The sound of Choi Yeon-ha grinding her teeth.

‘Wow! That girl is something else?’

There have been quite a few who have tried to match up to Choi Yeon-ha, but there were hardly any who made Choi Yeon-ha grind her teeth. And Go Ah-reum was doing that difficult thing.

Choi Yeon-ha, who seemed about to explode, glanced at her phone. After confirming something on the screen, Choi Yeon-ha relaxed her expression and smiled.

“Are you busy? Do you have time to talk?”

“I can’t give you too much time.”

“Oh, really? Then, would you like to go out front with me? I have to go to my car, and I don’t have more time to talk. If you’re uncomfortable walking with me, you don’t have to.”

“It’s okay, senior. I’m not uncomfortable at all.”

“Is that so?”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled brightly.

“Then, let’s go out together.”

“Yes, senior. But it seems like you drive separately? It seems like your agency is having a hard time.”

“It’s not that, but there’s a bit of a situation.”

Choi Yeon-ha grabbed her handbag and walked out.

“Eun-sol, talk about tomorrow’s schedule with the company and go home.”

“Yes, noona [older sister or a term of endearment for a close female friend].”

“You, follow me.”

“Yes, senior.”

Go Ah-reum smiled and followed Choi Yeon-ha.

As they walked down the hallway, Go Ah-reum kept talking.

“It must be hard working as a CEO?”

“Yeah, well.”

“There are many unnies [older sister or a term of endearment for a close female friend] who started their own agencies and regretted it. If it were easy, everyone would start their own company, so why would they look for an agency? Our agency is still quite powerful, so there are many comfortable aspects.”

“You said you were thinking of moving over here earlier?”

“I’m just thinking about it, just thinking. It’s your agency, after all.”

“Hmm.”

Choi Yeon-ha snorted. Not ‘senior’ but ‘unnie’?

“Should I give you some advice?”

“Yes?”

“Your feet are off the ground.”

Go Ah-reum glanced down at her feet.

“This is sincere advice, but there are a dozen or so kids who float up for a moment and then disappear forever every year in this industry. If you think that your current popularity is your real popularity, you’ll get burned.”

“I don’t think that way.”

“Really?”

“Not yet. But if I work hard for a few years, won’t it become mine? By then, you’ll have fully transitioned into an actress, so I’ll take what you leave behind.”

“You’re bold.”

Very bold.

Choi Yeon-ha curled up the corners of her lips.

These kinds of kids don’t get intimidated by being overpowered or yelled at. They think that no matter what happens, they’ll be the ones who win in the end.

If you just leave them alone, they’ll eventually realize reality, but Choi Yeon-ha’s heart wasn’t big enough to wait that long.

“Okay, do your best. I hope you can take what I leave behind when I’m pushed out.”

“Oh, come on. There’s no way you’ll be pushed out, unnie?”

“It could happen. Because…” Choi Yeon-ha stopped walking as she entered the parking lot.

“I’m going to be even busier in the future.”

Brummmmm.

A sleek sports car, which looked expensive at first glance, approached and stopped in front of Choi Yeon-ha.

Go Ah-reum, not understanding the situation, looked back and forth between the sports car and Choi Yeon-ha.

“Did you buy a car?”

“No. It’s not my car.”

“Unnie, you’re being childish. I know you have a lot of money. You don’t have to…”

“I said it’s not my car.”

At that moment, the driver’s side door opened, and a man got out.

Go Ah-reum’s eyes widened even more.

“Oh…”

A man in a charcoal gray suit with his hair neatly styled back.

Go Ah-reum’s eyes trembled when she saw the man.

‘What is that? Why is he so handsome?’

Still, Go Ah-reum was an actress. She had met all the top male actors in South Korea at least once. But no matter how hard she searched her memory, she couldn’t think of a man who could stand next to him.

“Just a moment. I’m talking with my junior.”

“Yes.”

Choi Yeon-ha slightly lifted her chin and looked at Go Ah-reum.

“Un… senior.”

Go Ah-reum said, narrowing her eyes. Her voice was a bit venomous.

“You’re bold. Is it okay to date so openly like this? If a scandal breaks out, it’ll be a mess?”

“You seem to be mistaken about something, but it’s okay for me to have a scandal.”

“…What?”

“It’s good for advertising. This person is the CEO of our company.”

“…C, CEO?”

“To be precise, he’s the chairman. But that sounds a bit old-fashioned, so let’s call him CEO.”

“Isn’t it your company, unnie?”

Choi Yeon-ha covered her mouth and laughed.

“You’re joking too much. What money do I have to start a company? Companies are started by people with a lot of money. If a poor person like me starts a company, it’s a recipe for disaster.”

Poor?

Choi Yeon-ha?

Go Ah-reum’s eyes trembled.

The money Choi Yeon-ha earned surpassed that of most small and medium-sized companies. In terms of assets, there were hardly any actors who could surpass Choi Yeon-ha. Even among all celebrities, there would be no one to compare to her except for certain singers or idols.

And yet, poor?

Then how much money does that man have?

“Ah-reum.”

“…Yes, senior.”

“Enjoy my absence.”

Choi Yeon-ha looked down at Go Ah-reum with an arrogant face.

Go Ah-reum, feeling a deep sense of defeat from that gaze, bit her lip without being able to answer.

“Then.”

As Choi Yeon-ha got into the car, Kang Jin-ho also got into the car without a word.

Brummmmm!

The exhaust fumes left behind by the Lamborghini swept past Go Ah-reum, who was standing there blankly.