Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 1320

Several rounds of drinks had been poured.

However, Han Eun-sol and Choi Yeon-ha didn’t easily bring up the topic of the contract.

‘This is a battle of nerves.’

The one who speaks first would seem to be revealing their eagerness. This made it awkward to initiate the conversation.

However, they couldn’t just waste time with pointless chatter.

Choi Yeon-ha and Han Eun-sol exchanged glances.

“The last drama was really good. I enjoyed it a lot. It would have been great if it had aired on our channel.”

“We also regret that.”

“If it had, Choi Yeon-ha, you could have become even more popular, right?”

“Wouldn’t it be okay if I could get a good opportunity now?”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled faintly, and Wu Chao laughed heartily.

“That’s right, that’s right. You’re absolutely right.” His face was already flushed.

“But, you see…”

Initially, Zhao Xu had done most of the talking, but after a few rounds of drinks, Zhao Xu became quiet, and Wu Chao started to take the lead.

“It’s not that easy, you see.”

Wu Chao turned his head and looked at Choi Yeon-ha.

“Do you know why?”

“Well, I’m not sure… I guess I didn’t appeal to the Vice President.”

“Hahahaha, that can’t be. Not with someone so beautiful.”

Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes twitched slightly as she heard the translation.

‘Ugh, I really want to lose my temper.’

She wanted to kick him in the face with her heel. If someone else had said it, she could have brushed it off, but hearing it from this old man made her blood boil. She had been trying hard to ignore the way he kept glancing at her chest and legs.

“Because this is a matter beyond my control.”

Han Eun-sol subtly interjected.

“Excuse me, but we don’t know much about this… Could you please explain in a bit more detail?”

“It’s not difficult. You probably already know. The Party has issued an order not to use Korean actors.”

Wu Chao raised his glass and took a hearty gulp of alcohol. Then, he placed the glass on the table and stared intently at Choi Yeon-ha.

“How about a drink poured by a beauty?”

“Yes, of course.”

Choi Yeon-ha grabbed the bottle and poured alcohol into Wu Chao’s glass.

Han Eun-sol watched as the bottle in Choi Yeon-ha’s hand trembled slightly, and he clenched his thigh.

‘She’ll hold it in, right?’

No, maybe she won’t?

He wished they would make a decision, one way or the other. Otherwise, Han Eun-sol felt like he might have a heart attack first.

“Hahaha, it’s been a while since I’ve had such a delicious drink.”

Wu Chao took a sip and sighed.

“I also want to enjoy this delicious drink many times, but the situation is not favorable. Unless the Party changes its mind, there’s nothing we can do.”

“So, you mean the contract is impossible.”

“That’s right, that’s right. But have you ever heard this saying?”

“What?”

“Heaven never blocks a person’s path.”

The translator, who had been quietly translating, added.

“In Korea, we say that even if the sky falls, there’s always a way out.”

‘Was that a Chinese proverb?’

Choi Yeon-ha nodded, and Wu Chao gestured slightly exaggeratedly.

“Fortunately, someone from the Party has been keeping an eye on Choi Yeon-ha. So… if we can change that person’s mind, it’s not a difficult task. That person has a lot of power.”

Choi Yeon-ha narrowed her eyes.

So…

Originally, she couldn’t appear due to the Korean Wave ban [a restriction on the import of South Korean cultural content], but there’s a powerful person who can nullify it, or someone connected to the people who oversee the ban. So, if she can talk to that person, it’s possible. That’s roughly what it means.

“Is this someone the Vice President knows?”

“Of course. That’s why I’m here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t waste my time.”

Wu Chao took another swig of alcohol.

He was drinking the strong liquor that made her shiver just by smelling it, like it was water. The problem wasn’t that he was a heavy drinker, but that he was drinking so fast. In an instant, Wu Chao’s face turned red, and his eyes glazed over.

“So, if we can persuade that person, we can secure viewership ratings, and Choi Yeon-ha can make money. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Wu Chao leaned close to Choi Yeon-ha.

“And if things go well, the money you receive will increase significantly. I guarantee it. Of course, I can’t increase the money visibly… but I can give it to you under the table.”

As he got close enough to touch her face, Choi Yeon-ha clenched her fist slightly. But Wu Chao quickly returned to his seat and put down the glass he was holding.

“If things go well, that is.”

‘This bastard is getting on my nerves.’

Choi Yeon-ha forcefully suppressed her boiling anger. She couldn’t tell if he was making mistakes because he was drunk or if he was blatantly sexually harassing her. Either way, it was clearly rude, but she couldn’t figure out how to respond.

“So, is the Vice President going to try to persuade that person?”

“No.”

Wu Chao waved his hand.

“If I could do that, why would I be here? I would have already gone and persuaded them. The one who can persuade that person is not me, but Choi Yeon-ha.”

“…Excuse me?”

“It’s a good opportunity, a very good opportunity. An opportunity like this doesn’t come easily. If you can seize this opportunity, Choi Yeon-ha, you can have a smooth career in China. Not the kind of mediocre path you’ve been thinking about. You’ll have a truly glamorous life. That’s the power of a great nation.”

Han Eun-sol tilted his head, not understanding what Wu Chao was saying. But Choi Yeon-ha seemed to understand what Wu Chao meant, and her face hardened.

“Then, the conversation is over.”

“Will you meet them?”

“It was a good time. Let’s end it here.”

Choi Yeon-ha tried to get up from her seat. Then, Wu Chao reached out and pressed down on Choi Yeon-ha’s shoulder.

“Ah, wait a minute, wait a minute.”

“Don’t touch me. I’m warning you.”

“Don’t get so angry, just listen to me. I’m not talking nonsense.”

Choi Yeon-ha glared at Wu Chao. But Wu Chao just smiled slyly.

“…Alright, go ahead and speak.”

“Choi Yeon-ha, you were lucky. The drama you filmed wasn’t supposed to be that popular. No, to be precise… you shouldn’t have been able to appear in that drama.”

“Only recognized actors can appear in such dramas.”

“To you?”

“No, to those higher up. You can only become a top actor if those who make the decisions recognize you. Choi Yeon-ha, you were just lucky once. That luck won’t come twice.”

Choi Yeon-ha bit her lip slightly.

“Usually, people think there’s another path. But that path will never open again. So, you get frustrated and look for another path, and you won’t receive the same conditions as this time. There’s only one difference between a top actor and a non-top actor. It’s whether they seize the opportunity when it comes, or if they miss it and regret it.”

Wu Chao grinned.

He had done this quite often. And about half of the actresses he had talked to showed a similar reaction to Choi Yeon-ha. But not many of them maintained that attitude until the end.

In the end, they all crumbled before the reality.

“This isn’t my proposal. It’s not even that person’s proposal. This is the Party’s proposal. It’s a big deal. It means the Party is accepting you, a foreigner, as one of their own. It’s an opportunity that comes once in a decade. If you accept this, not only Choi Yeon-ha but also the actors in your agency can receive treatment equivalent to Chinese citizens. Then, becoming rich is just a matter of time.”

“I’m already rich.”

“Absolutely not. The rich you talk about in the small land of Korea and the rich we talk about in a great nation are completely different concepts. The rich in your land wouldn’t even be treated as rich here. You don’t know what real wealth is, what a real rich person is.”

Zhao Xu, who had been silent, chimed in.

“Chinese stars don’t need to advance into other countries. The money they earn in China alone is more than what they would earn traveling around the world. Chinese people don’t spare money for those they love. You need to know that.”

“Just close your eyes. This is, in a way, a blessing. Do you know how many actors want to seize this opportunity? And that opportunity is given to you, a foreigner, not even a Chinese person… no, a Korean.”

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

Wu Chao, taking that smile as a sign of acceptance, subtly reached his hand behind her.

Wu Chao’s hand wrapped around Choi Yeon-ha’s waist.

“It’s not such a bad offer. You must have dated before, right? So, while you’re in China, you just need to sleep with them. Of course, I’ll be connecting you, so I need to get a commission. Don’t you think?”

Wu Chao’s hand moved further down.

Even as his hand groped around her buttocks, Choi Yeon-ha didn’t say anything and just smiled.

Han Eun-sol, who had been listening to their conversation and realized what was going on, jumped up from his seat.

“What are you doing!”

“Sit down.”

“Noona!”

“I said sit down.”

Han Eun-sol glared at Wu Chao with a flushed face, then nervously sat back down at Choi Yeon-ha’s gaze.

“Tsk tsk. That’s why I told you not to come. This kid who doesn’t know the ways of the world is ruining the mood.”

“He’s young. Please understand.”

“Hmm, understand?”

“Yes. More than that…”

Choi Yeon-ha held out her glass.

“Give me some.”

“Huh?”

“Give me some alcohol. You said we have to drink together to become friends, right?”

“Ah, that’s right, that’s right.”

Wu Chao laughed and poured alcohol into Choi Yeon-ha’s empty glass. Choi Yeon-ha downed the glass of alcohol in one shot.

“Hahaha! A true heroine. A real heroine.”

“Cough…”

Choi Yeon-ha wiped her mouth with her hand and grabbed the bottle.

“Come on, pour me a glass. Now we’re one family. We’ll all succeed together.”

Choi Yeon-ha stared at the bottle for a moment, then put it down and grabbed a beer bottle next to her.

“Beer is not good?”

“You’ll probably start to like it now.”

“Huh?”

Choi Yeon-ha smiled and got up from her seat. Wu Chao’s hand awkwardly fell away from Choi Yeon-ha’s body. At that moment, Choi Yeon-ha chuckled.

“Don’t just drink one glass at a time, let’s just drink it all at once.”

“What?”

At that moment, Choi Yeon-ha brought the beer bottle in her hand down on Wu Chao’s head.

Smash!

There was a sound of something breaking, and Wu Chao grabbed his head and fell to the side.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

“V, Vice President!”

Zhao Xu was horrified and jumped up from his seat.

In the room that had instantly turned into a mess, Choi Yeon-ha, with the only calm face, shouted at Wu Chao, who was clutching his head and collapsed.

“You son of a bitch, trying to pull a fast one! I’ll smash your head!”

Her booming voice echoed through the building.