Descent of The Demon Master [EN]: Chapter 942

“You know, I’ve been letting things slide with you lately, right?”

The way she was grinning and looking at him put a slight pressure on Kang Jin-ho.

“I don’t think I could go back there again.”

Choi Yeon-ha shook her head.

“Being a global star and all that is great, but I guess I’m Korean to the bone. It’s nice to gain popularity, but I didn’t realize that living away from Korea wouldn’t suit me this much.”

“Isn’t it because you went to such a remote place?”

“I stopped by other places on my way back to Korea, and it was the same. Come to think of it, I had a similar feeling when I was going back and forth to the US, trying to break into Hollywood. I thought it was because traveling overseas was inconvenient back then, but I guess that wasn’t it.”

Choi Yeon-ha shrugged.

“Looking back, it was such an obvious thing.”

“Huh?”

“Because it’s not my kind of clothes.”

Choi Yeon-ha’s voice was refreshing. The content might have been a bit negative, but her tone didn’t make it feel that way.

“You know how it is, the route that someone has to take to succeed.”

“Yes.”

“For an actor, it’s like starting with extra roles, getting noticed by a director, debuting as a supporting actor, then becoming a star with acting skills or visuals and landing a lead role… You know the rest, right? Shooting tons of commercials and debuting as a lead. After that, you either become a character actor or a visual actor. Well, there are many ways to succeed.”

Choi Yeon-ha continued, scooping out some kimchi stew.

“The problem is what comes next. Once you’ve made it big in Korea, if you want to go higher, you eventually have to try overseas. As you know, Koreans are very favorable towards people who have succeeded abroad. So, a Hallyu star… [Korean Wave star] ?”

Choi Yeon-ha covered her mouth and laughed, finding it funny even as she said it.

“I just thought I had to follow that route. The best place to advance would be Japan, but their film industry isn’t great. China is a good place for Korean actors to go. If you do well there, your recognition goes up, and maybe you can even get a call from Hollywood, so it’s like killing two birds with one stone. But…”

Choi Yeon-ha looked straight at Kang Jin-ho and said,

“Which is better to choose, becoming a good actor or a popular actor?”

It wasn’t an area Kang Jin-ho could answer.

This was an area that Choi Yeon-ha had to answer herself. She probably wasn’t expecting an answer from Kang Jin-ho either.

“I guess I’m a bit of a snob.”

“You don’t seem like one.”

“You know, do you remember what I said? That I would become a woman who wouldn’t be lacking for you, Kang Jin-ho.”

“…I’ve never thought you were lacking.”

“I also answered that it was like my own inferiority complex.”

“You did.”

Choi Yeon-ha tapped her rice bowl with her spoon.

It was a bit difficult to say, but it was a problem she couldn’t not talk about.

“It’s so strange. Usually, if you feel inadequate, you should think about how to fill that gap, but the moment I felt inadequate, I thought about how to succeed more. It was only later that I realized this was a bit weird.”

“Hmm.”

He seemed to understand what she meant.

“Of course, it’s not like I regret it. If I hadn’t had the experience in China, I wouldn’t have known this. It was a path I chose, and a path I wanted to take, so I really did my best. I think I deserve praise for that, right? Huh?”

Choi Yeon-ha stared intently at Kang Jin-ho.

Under that implicit pressure, Kang Jin-ho reluctantly opened his mouth.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Hey, that’s not it.”

Choi Yeon-ha laughed as if that wasn’t the reaction she wanted.

“It’s just like that. It was a time to look back at myself a bit more, and thanks to that, I realized that the success I was thinking of was recognition and money. Thanks to that, I realized how much of a snob I am.”

Kang Jin-ho gave a soft smile.

Watching someone grow is a truly enjoyable thing. Especially if it’s someone close to you.

“So, now you’re going to look a little further than those material things? Is that it?”

“No, I’m not?”

What the heck.

Kang Jin-ho’s face, which had been trying to continue a heartwarming conversation, was filled with question marks.

“Huh?”

“I told you, I realized how much of a snob I am.”

“No, I mean.”

Choi Yeon-ha waved her hand as if she knew what Kang Jin-ho had misunderstood.

“Ah, so you realized you’re a snob. So now you’re going to try not to be a snob? Personal completion? Meditation and yoga? Or Pilates?”

“I can’t do that kind of thing by nature. I’m a snob by nature.”

Kang Jin-ho was speechless.

‘I’m getting used to it.’

Come to think of it, Choi Yeon-ha was originally this kind of woman.

“Now that I know I’m a snob, and I know what success means to me, I have to do my best for that. Make more money! Get more recognition! Isn’t it all good if I’m happy?”

Even with the same experience, people accept and feel things differently.

However, Choi Yeon-ha was probably the only one who could come to this conclusion through this experience.

“Then shouldn’t you be more careful?”

“No. This is what I realized this time. Do you know why Hollywood stars do whatever they want, whether fans are watching or not?”

“…Because that’s how it is there?”

“Well, that’s also true. But there’s something more important than that. What it is, is that no matter what I do, if I’m good enough, fans won’t leave me. That’s a place where they make movies even after doing drugs and going to jail.”

“Ah.”

“Conversely, trying to dress myself up while worrying about paparazzi and stuff is because my product value will drop and my popularity will fall if my true self is exposed.”

So, in the end…

“I’ve decided not to care anymore. No matter how much I think about it, I’m like a masterpiece in this industry. I’m irreplaceable. So why should I live caring about others? I’m just going to do what I want now.”

The reason, the purpose, and the experience that led to that reason were all strange, but the conclusion was very much like Choi Yeon-ha.

“Is it fun?”

“Huh?”

“You were smiling.”

“It’s not that it’s fun, but…”

Kang Jin-ho smiled and replied,

“I just thought it suits you well.”

“It’s not something you should be smiling about, Kang Jin-ho?”

“Huh?”

“I told you, I’m going to do what I want now. What do you think will happen if I get photographed like this?”

Kang Jin-ho couldn’t answer. Choi Yeon-ha grinned and said,

“Choi Yeon-ha, on a date with an unidentified man. A seemingly affectionate scene captured. Kang Jin-ho’s face, with a line drawn over his eyes, will be plastered on the front page of the entertainment section of every portal.”

Kang Jin-ho flinched.

He hadn’t thought of that.

“This is something I should be asking for your permission. If you want to live a life where you don’t get attention from others, I should run out and buy a mask and put it on my face right now, shouldn’t I?”

“…Not that far.”

“Can’t you see? Around us?”

“Huh?”

Kang Jin-ho glanced around.

‘Ah….’

The people in the restaurant were glancing at them.

There was a reason why he hadn’t noticed it earlier. Kang Jin-ho was also good-looking, so he was used to getting these kinds of looks when he was alone or eating with friends.

But looking again, the gazes now were clearly different from those times. There was a question mixed in their eyes.

So, it’s like,

“That woman looks like Choi Yeon-ha, who’s that guy eating with her? Are they dating?”

“Yes. That’s the look.”

Choi Yeon-ha giggled as if it was funny.

“It’s so ironic. When I try to do something, I have to consider whether it’s comfortable for me and whether it will cause harm to others. It’s all a path I chose, and it’s something I have to endure, but sometimes it’s a bit frustrating.”

This time, Kang Jin-ho also greatly sympathized.

What Choi Yeon-ha was saying was in line with what Kang Jin-ho had been feeling recently.

The higher a person’s status and the more authority they have, the more they have to take responsibility for, and they have to consider the impact of every single action.

The same goes for Choi Yeon-ha.

The more her recognition increases and the more of a star she becomes, even trivial actions become a hot topic. So, of course, she has to be careful.

“How is it? Are you okay with it?”

Kang Jin-ho didn’t answer right away.

Choi Yeon-ha, who hadn’t let go of her playfulness until now, had become a bit serious.

“Well, not really.”

Kang Jin-ho looked at Choi Yeon-ha and answered.

“I don’t enjoy being recognized or becoming a hot topic.”

“Right. Because you’re that type of person, Kang Jin-ho.”

“But…”

Choi Yeon-ha, who couldn’t hide her subtle disappointment, raised her head.

“If you don’t do that, it will cause problems for you to meet me in the future, right?”

“It won’t be much different from now.”

“Then.”

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

“I can handle being recognized.”

Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes slightly trembled.

She thought Kang Jin-ho would never accept this. Looking back from when she first met Kang Jin-ho, he was someone who hated becoming famous.

“Ah, of course. It’s not like I’m going to actively promote it. I’ll do my best to prevent that from happening, even if I have to use my own methods. But… well, it’s like that. I don’t want to meet you while worrying about the surroundings, just in case that kind of situation happens.”

Choi Yeon-ha stared intently at Kang Jin-ho.

A bit of bewilderment, and an undeniable joy, were revealed in Choi Yeon-ha’s eyes.

“That’s an answer I didn’t expect.” Choi Yeon-ha scratched her cheek a couple of times with her finger and smiled brightly.

“I feel good for now.”

Kang Jin-ho also smiled back at Choi Yeon-ha.

“But before that, I think there’s one thing we need to decide.”

“Yes?”

“All of this has one premise, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Actually, I’ve been vaguely glossing over it because of your personality, but now I need to get a definite answer. Right?”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes were filled with question marks.

And Choi Yeon-ha didn’t let go of the momentum she had gained.

“What are we?”

“Yeah. I know, roughly, what we are. But I don’t like it when we implicitly agree on something and then subtly move on to the next stage. So, I want to make it clear here. What are we? Kang Jin-ho?”

Choi Yeon-ha asked with a bright smile.

It was as if she had learned some martial arts in China, her attack power was no joke. The mighty Kang Jin-ho was slowly backing away.

“Stand up straight!”

“Yes.”

“Now. Answer me. What are we?”

“Uh… well, that’s…”

Kang Jin-ho hesitated, but Choi Yeon-ha didn’t loosen her expression or posture. Even though Kang Jin-ho hesitated, Choi Yeon-ha changed her words.

“The question was a bit ambiguous. Let’s put it another way.”

Choi Yeon-ha made her move.

“Do you like me?”