Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 652

There are moments in life when a person is at a loss for words. You know you should say something, but you have no idea what words to use to fill the awkward silence.

The assistant director was facing such a situation right now.

What on earth should he say in this situation?

“Didn’t you see him?”

It was a relief.

It was much easier to answer a question than to come up with something to say.

“I did. Of course, I saw him. But…”

The assistant director recalled Kang Jin-ho’s face. It was such a striking situation that even though he had only seen his face once, it was very clear in his mind.

“He is handsome, yes. But…

There are plenty of guys who look like that. Just look at Liu Wei.”

“Liu Wei?”

The assistant director, sensing the ridicule in Jang Xiang’s voice, shut his mouth. Before becoming a director himself, he believed that the most important thing in this industry was not talent or ability, but rather the ability to read the room.

“You call that guy handsome?”

“He’s actually very popular, isn’t he?”

“I just don’t understand. ‘Handsome’ isn’t a word to describe someone like Liu Wei. That guy from earlier, that’s what handsome looks like.”

The assistant director’s lips trembled slightly.

“His visuals are art. Especially that type…”

“Um… Director.”

The assistant director cut off Jang Xiang. It was something he would never normally do, but he couldn’t listen anymore.

“Of course, I acknowledge your personal taste. People are all different. So, well, I don’t particularly want to point it out, but…”

The assistant director sighed.

Well, it was a common thing in the entertainment industry.

Although they were collectively called Chinese, those from mainland China and those from Hong Kong or Macau had different tendencies. The director was from Hong Kong, and it was common for actors and entertainment personnel from Hong Kong to come out [referring to coming out as gay or lesbian].

“Of course, I didn’t know you were that way inclined. Anyway, making decisions based on such personal feelings is a bit…”

“Personal feelings?”

The assistant director asked hesitantly.

“Didn’t you mean that you liked that guy?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s possible, of course, it’s possible. People are all different. It’s anachronistic to be wary of it like in the past.”

“Huh?”

“But this is about filming, and bringing in personal affection is…”

“Affection?”

Jang Xiang looked at the assistant director as if he was talking nonsense. Seeing his confused face, the assistant director realized that something was wrong.

“Weren’t you coming out?”

“What? You crazy bastard!”

The director threw the script he was holding at the assistant director. The assistant director covered his face after being hit by the flying script.

“Why is coming out coming up here!”

“Well… you were talking like that. And it’s not something to be ashamed of, is it?”

“Listen carefully.”

“Yes.”

“I like women very, very much.”

“…I understand.”

The sincerity in his voice resonated with the assistant director.

“But then why did you agree with that kid’s words?”

“I never agreed with his words.”

“Then?”

“I agreed with his face.”

Is he really into women?

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not interested in handsome men. But I’m a director, you know. I can’t ignore someone who can attract an audience just with their face. Especially a face with such strong features.”

“You see him as an actor? He seemed like a complete newbie.”

“Damn it. We’re using someone like Liu Wei as a lead actor, what does it matter if he’s a newbie? He could be mute for all I care. As long as I can use that face.”

“…Wait a minute, Director.”

The assistant director was flustered.

The reason Jang Xiang became known overseas was because of his unique visual aesthetics. But the people who filled that visual aesthetic were not actors. Props, composition, and color were Jang Xiang’s strengths.

But he was willing to sacrifice the work for the sake of an actor’s face.

“You’re not serious, are you?”

“I’m half-joking, but…”

The director smiled wryly.

“I’m curious what will happen if we put makeup on that face and point a camera at it. He could create an atmosphere just with his face. We haven’t had a mask like that for a while. Someone who, how should I put it, just by holding a cigarette, can create a noir atmosphere. The actors who used to do that are all old now.”

“Noir is outdated.”

“Genres don’t change. The way genres are expressed changes with the times. I wanted to do a modern noir anyway, and he’s perfect. He’s also good at Chinese.”

“His accent was terrible.”

“That’s the point. He has a bit of a, how should I put it, a wildness to him, right?”

“…Director.”

Jang Xiang chuckled at the assistant director’s dumbfounded face.

“You must find it strange to see me so captivated by a man’s face.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“But it’s not my fault. It’s you who can’t recognize his true value.”

“That’s no joke. There are many handsome guys. But a man with those kinds of features is rare these days. He has strong features but isn’t overwhelming, and he has an aura about him.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“That’s why you’re the assistant director, and I’m the director.”

“Come on, Director. I’m an assistant director because I’m under you, but anywhere else, I’d be treated like a director.”

“Yeah, a director. You’ll become a dime-a-dozen director. With those eyes.”

“Try to open your eyes a bit more. It won’t be easy, though.”

Jang Xiang clicked his tongue at the hesitant assistant director.

‘You idiot.’

Scenario? Directing?

They’re all important.

But the most important thing for a director is imagination. You have to be able to imagine even the most detailed scenes in your head and have the ability to accurately realize those scenes.

The world seen through a camera is different from the world seen with the naked eye. If you can’t distinguish that difference, you can’t be a good director. In that sense, this guy was hopeless.

He couldn’t understand even after I explained it this much.

‘I need to make a good impression.’

This drama is just a stepping stone for him. Due to the nature of the drama genre, no matter how well he finishes it, it won’t raise his reputation. His evaluation will also be put on hold. A film director has to make films.

‘If I can use him, he’s a really amazing card.’

Jang Xiang smacked his lips.

Usually, no one would refuse when he asked them to make a movie together, but this case was a bit different.

“He went in the same car as Choi Yeon-ha, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Okay. I understand.”

Jang Xiang nodded his head emphatically. Then, he frowned.

“But Liu Wei, has that bastard still not been contacted?”

“He’s suddenly on vacation.”

Choi Yeon-ha leaned back on the sofa.

Normally, she would have gone straight up to her room without looking back the moment she arrived at the hotel, but today she felt at ease.

First, it was because she had received two days off, tomorrow and the day after, and the other reason was…

‘It’s amazing how just having someone nearby can make me feel so calm.’

It was a strange thing.

Choi Yeon-ha’s condition was complicated and difficult in many ways.

It wasn’t just because filming was hard. Homesickness, a culture that didn’t suit her, and other problems were intertwined and tormenting her.

But just the fact that Kang Jin-ho was hanging around made all of those things seem like minor problems.

Even this awkwardly decorated hotel cafe felt as comfortable as a cafe in Korea.

‘Comfortable, huh…’

Choi Yeon-ha felt that she wasn’t normal.

After almost being attacked last night and going through all that hardship on set, she felt comfortable?

This wasn’t a normal reaction.

Either she had gone crazy due to excessive stress, or…

“Why is your face suddenly red again? Are you going through menopause?”

“You wanna die, really?”

Choi Yeon-ha grabbed a cushion, and Han Eun-sol protected the drinks in front of her instead of herself.

“It’s because your face suddenly changed.”

“Do I need your permission to change my face?”

“Um… I’m your manager, so shouldn’t I?”

“Call Korea and tell them to send another manager.”

“Sis, get a grip. You’re the hellhole of the manager industry, the gate to hell. Who would want to be your manager?”

“Is it that bad?”

“They wouldn’t do it even if you paid them double.”

Choi Yeon-ha looked at Han Eun-sol as if she couldn’t understand.

“I’m really asking because I don’t understand…”

“Yes.”

“Honestly, I’m really good to you, aren’t I?”

Choi Yeon-ha raised her eyebrows at Han Eun-sol’s indescribable expression.

“Am I not?”

“No, you are. Yes, you’re good to me. Yes, you are.”

“There’s no soul in your answer?”

“…Sis.”

“Yeah?”

“When people usually try to figure out someone’s personality…”

Han Eun-sol’s voice became serious.

“They don’t look at how that person treats their close friends. They look at how they treat people they’re not close to.”

“Well, that’s true. But I’m good to people I’m not close to too.”

“You’re not good to people you’re not close to, you’re good to people you don’t know. Like fans, people you pass by, or people you’ve only talked to a few times.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“What kind of person is a new manager to you?”

“Someone who runs errands for me.”

“Should you be good to that person, or not?”

“Your question is incredibly stupid. Why would I worry about whether I should be good to that person or not? They’re here to make money, and I’m paying them to run errands for me. We can just treat each other professionally.”

“…Then that’s the conclusion. Your concept of ‘professional’ is a bit strange.”

“It’s not?”

Choi Yeon-ha tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.

‘She’s hopeless.’

This can’t be fixed.

Han Eun-sol still hasn’t forgotten the hardships she endured when she first became Choi Yeon-ha’s manager.

They were in the middle of filming in Gangwon-do, and suddenly, she threw a fit because she wanted coffee from her regular cafe, making her go all the way to Seoul and back. Then, when she brought the coffee, she said it was cold and threw it away.

‘I endured it because I was a fan.’

If she didn’t personally like Choi Yeon-ha as an actress, she would never have been able to endure it.

Well, compared to Choi Yeon-ha back then, Choi Yeon-ha now is an angel, an angel. And that’s…

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Oh, no.”

Han Eun-sol quickly waved her hand.

‘Come to think of it, this person… she’s been very normal lately, hasn’t she?’

Objectively speaking, the recent Choi Yeon-ha is less demanding than the average actress. Compared to the past when she was called the queen of actresses, the hellhole of the manager industry, she’s a completely different person.

Han Eun-sol thought it was because she had become much closer to Choi Yeon-ha, but looking back, there haven’t been any complaints from the staff lately either.

Han Eun-sol looked at Choi Yeon-ha with a renewed expression.

“What are you glaring at?”

“…”

No, it seems like the person hasn’t changed after all.

Not yet.