Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 128

Former Hero is a Top Star-128

From Each of Their Planets (2)

* * *

A breath can be heard.

Is it the dorm? The moment she thought so in her sleep, she felt the empty bed next to her.

This isn’t the ‘Four Queens’ dorm. Her younger sisters, who trusted and followed her, aren’t by her side either.

Because Jin Ji-yu herself ran away from her agency and the CEO at the time.

-Ji-yu.

At the same time, a voice is heard. A soft but uneasy voice, as if afraid the peacock will fly away.

···Jin Ji-yu can never escape forever.

From the shackles of blood ties that bind her ankles.

-You need to wake up, right?

In an instant, her breathing quickens. Symptoms of a panic disorder that come suddenly. Gasping for air as if drowning, she clutches her neck, and a blocked breath bursts out.

“Haa, huh, heok······.”

Lying down, Jin Ji-yu exhaled. After a long time, a tired voice flows out.

“You bastards.”

On the days when their calls come, or when they come in person, she always experiences similar symptoms.

Much like how the body aches before it rains. If stiff joints are evidence of aging, her trauma is a brand imprinted on both her mind and body.

‘Hello, who is this?’

It was a week ago that she received another call. A call came from an unknown number, and when she answered, they spoke cautiously.

-···Ji-yu, how have you been?

The moment she recognized whose voice it was, goosebumps rose reflexively. She hung up and blocked the number, and no more calls came.

But··· that wasn’t the end of it. Just yesterday, when she was debating whether to go to the ‘Manghwe-dol’ [a portmanteau of ‘ruined’ and ‘idol,’ referring to a group that has lost popularity] wrap-up party or not.

Hearing someone calling her name as she was coming back from the convenience store in front of her house, wearing a hat pulled low.

‘Ji-yu, just a moment.’

Turning around, her mother and older sister were standing there. Where are the others? She stepped back reflexively, but her father and younger brother weren’t visible.

Her mother, whose cheeks were more sunken than the last time she saw her, spoke pleadingly.

‘Don’t you have any affection? Why do you hang up the phone like that? If you heard my voice, you could at least exchange greetings. Do you have to be so heartless?’

Even though her appearance was haggard, her extremely self-centered tone and thinking hadn’t changed.

Jin Ji-yu bit her lower lip.

‘The restraining order is still valid. Don’t you know that Mom and Unnie [older sister] aren’t allowed to contact me?’

‘What are you talking about? Why can’t family members contact each other? That’s all because your CEO bribed the judges to get it······.’

‘Mom, stay out of it. Ji-yu must have suffered a lot too, being deceived by scammers.’

Her older sister, pushing her mother back, approached with a benevolent smile.

Where did all the luxury goods she used to wear go? The only remaining ring earring sparkled vulgarly.

‘Ji-yu, don’t be like that, let’s talk for a bit. Mom was so worried, even going to the traditional medicine clinic because she’s been feeling weak lately.’

‘···I’m done, I have nothing to say.’

‘What do you mean······.’

‘Don’t ever come looking for me again. Don’t call either, or I’ll report you for unlawful approach again.’

That’s what she said as she stepped back. Her sister’s dissuasion and her mother’s patience, who had been holding back, reached their limit.

‘Hey, then deposit some money for us! It’s really dangerous now, are you going to send your whole family to jail?’

‘I don’t know, I don’t know anything! Don’t come near me!’

Shouting, she ran straight into the apartment complex. Whether it was because of the security guard or fear of other people’s eyes, her family didn’t follow her in.

“···Well, they’re incredibly good at taking care of themselves.”

The injunction against approach, the citation of the law applied for in civil court, doesn’t exert much power.

In the first place, what can she do when they call pretending not to know, and then come to her when they’re forgotten?

Of course, underlying that is the calculation that the second daughter won’t be able to impose harsh fines.

“······.”

Jin Ji-yu found her smartphone. Deep inside the secretly hidden photo album, a family photo is reflected in her empty eyes.

A studio snapshot of a happy-looking young couple with their still young three children.

-Could you send us a little more? Your dad is playing rounds with some golfer these days, and the money it costs······.

-Noona [older sister], I’ll definitely succeed this time. Just trust me one more time, I mean it.

-Ji-yu, it’s all for your own good. You can’t be a celebrity forever, and if Ji-hoo succeeds in business, it’ll be good for you too, right?

-What? Leaving the company? How much has CEO Kim done for us, why are you trying to betray him!

When she was active as ‘Five Queens,’ Jin Ji-yu’s nickname was the girl breadwinner.

It’s not actually wrong. Since she was a clueless teenager, the money she earned fed five families.

And the wealth she accumulated while working as a child model was enough to ruin everyone. Even her parents and older sister, who were ordinary office workers, and her younger brother, who said he supported his sister.

“I wish I didn’t exist······.”

Wouldn’t my family not have ended up like this? She knows it’s foolish self-blame, but the long-rotted self-loathing drives her into a black swamp.

The agency’s exploitation, unreasonable contracts, embezzlement of settlement money schemed by her family and CEO······.

She had overcome all those injustices, but in the face of the name of family, she collapses again. Even now, after receiving a restraining order after a long lawsuit.

“···I’m tired.”

Jin Ji-yu, having thrown away her phone, buried her face in the pillow.

*

The next morning. At Roman Entertainment headquarters, a quiet commotion spread.

Jin Ji-yu went AWOL [Absent Without Official Leave].

Leaving only a text saying ‘I’m sick and can’t go out,’ she suddenly disappeared.

Thanks to that, several schedules were delayed··· and some that couldn’t be postponed were canceled altogether.

“Jin Ji-yu? No, why would someone who stood on stage even with a fever over 37 degrees [Celsius]?”

“I know. It seems like it’s the first time she’s ever canceled a schedule since her debut······.”

“That’s amazing. Did she burn out from running too hard?”

‘Manghwe-dol’ ended successfully, and ‘Black Priest,’ led by Park Geon, was about to be invited to Cannes.

It’s a situation where expectations are focused because it’s a competition category work that has been listed in a long time. Recently, the entire agency has been walking on a flower path [experiencing good fortune], so it’s attracting more attention.

In the meeting room, General Manager Yoo Joon-il, Team Leader Jung Il-joon, Public Relations Team Leader Gong Gi-hyung, and Jin Ji-yu’s road manager gathered to hold an emergency meeting.

“···So, what happened?”

At General Manager Yoo Joon-il’s question, Team Leader Jung Il-joon, who practically takes care of Jin Ji-yu, made a groaning sound.

“I don’t know. All I got was a message saying she wasn’t feeling well and asking to postpone the schedule.”

“Jong-soo?”

Park Jong-soo, who has been Jin Ji-yu’s road manager for about a year, also had a look of not knowing what was going on.

“I only received a similar message to the team leader··· Ah, but Ji-yu seemed to be in bad condition from about a week ago, her complexion was also bad.”

“This is a first. I could understand if Baek Ha-ni caused an accident somewhere, since she’s been so quiet lately. But Ji-yu··· huh, geez.”

General Manager Yoo, narrowing his brow, clicked his tongue. It’s Jin Ji-yu, of all people.

A professional workaholic.

An entertainer recognized by everyone.

The epitome of talent and effort.

In fact, she was the reason why Four Queens··· no, Five Queens reigned at the top of the 3rd generation girl groups.

“What, what else could it be? If her condition suddenly worsens, a celebrity might take a few days off.”

Team Leader Gong, who was listening, chimed in, but General Manager Yoo Joon-il rubbed his chin as if suspicious.

“Am I new to this industry? The atmosphere feels different. The CEO and the head of headquarters seem to know something, but they’re not the type to say anything······.”

“Even the general manager doesn’t know? It’s about the company’s actress.”

“I’m not the public relations team, how would I know all the actors’ private lives? I’m busy scheduling, crunching numbers, and buttering up the old guys at the broadcasting station.”

That’s the truth. If the road manager spends the most time with the assigned celebrity, then the team leader is next, and the general manager is even further away.

They’re too busy handling company matters to care about celebrity mental care or stress management.

Knowing something, Team Leader Gong muttered with a bitter expression.

“Park Geon must have been very envious. Watching her activities these days.”

“Huh? What are you talking about, why is Park Geon suddenly coming up?”

Team Leader Gong raised his index finger and pointed upwards.

“He went up a while ago. It looked like he was going to the CEO’s office.”

“The CEO’s office? Because of Ji-yu?”

“No way. The drama is over and he’s going to Cannes soon··· to discuss future plans?”

Perhaps because they saw each other often while filming ‘Baekjeong General’ and ‘Manghwe-dol.’ Unlike before, General Manager Yoo Joon-il’s voice was filled with conviction.

“No. Park Geon never wastes time. Being in the spotlight means there’s something to resolve.”

“···Where did that saying come from?”

*

Two people sat facing each other in the CEO’s office on the top floor, 14th floor, of Roman Entertainment.

Whether they recently changed the diffuser, the scent of wood that was somewhat different from the usual scent wafted through the air. Noh Joong-man, in a dark gray suit, praised expressionlessly.

“I’ve been hearing the news. You’ve worked hard.”

“Thank you.”

Geon bowed slightly.

Although he hasn’t become as close as other actors, he’s much closer to this man than before.

First of all, the way of speaking.

From a polite form mixed with honorifics, it has now completely changed to plain speech. The actor asked first, telling him to speak comfortably.

“You’ll be resting now. Or, were you going straight to Cannes?”

“There’s a grace period of a few weeks. Terrorists are rampant in Western Europe after Fashion Week, so they’ve exceptionally delayed the opening of the film festival.”

“Be careful. The international situation is unusual, it’s funny to give advice to someone with more experience than me, but.”

“I understand.”

If there used to be no unnecessary conversations at all, now there are some greetings that are similar to checking in.

Noh Joong-man, leaning back on the sofa, asked.

“So, what are your next steps?”

“I think I’ll decide after going to Cannes. I’ve been reading scenarios since the drama ended, but I haven’t felt anything from movies or dramas.”

“Headquarters Director Lee is pushing for entertainment shows. Your father’s impact was so great, he said that comfortable programs with the family would be good too.”

He also heard this story through his younger sibling. Geon nodded readily.

“I’ll discuss it positively.”

He’s only picky about choosing works, he doesn’t really care about advertisements or entertainment shows.

In fact, most of the CFs [Commercial Films, i.e., advertisements] were being decided by Park Seon in consultation with General Manager Yoo and Team Leader Gong.

Noh Joong-man, nodding, picked up his teacup.

“Thanks to you, I feel a little more comfortable. I’ve had a headache since this morning.”

“Is it about Jin Ji-yu?”

The end of Noh Joong-man’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

“You’re like a ghost.”

“I heard it briefly on the way up. The article hasn’t been released, but everyone is saying the same thing.”

“Just covering up schedule cancellations is fine, it’s not like we’re silencing malicious paparazzi. The problem is if this situation drags on.”

Geon tilted his head. He could only hear about Jin Ji-yu’s news, who had noticeably been less in contact for the past few days, after coming to the company.

Usually so active, she canceled all the scheduled shoots, saying she wasn’t feeling well.

-I can’t answer the phone right now, please call again later······.

The 1 in the talk [unread message indicator] continues to not disappear, and she doesn’t answer the phone calls he made just in case. It was completely different from her usual self, who was the fastest to contact among her acquaintances.

“What’s going on?”

CEO Noh Joong-man seemed to have been waiting for him to ask, or rather, to take an interest in his colleague.

Information in a dry tone flowed out.

“Do you know why Ji-yu left her former agency and came to our company?”

“I don’t.”

“···That’s probably it. Because she wanted to move on quietly, the articles didn’t cover it much.”

Article? Suddenly, Lee Jang-mi’s agency dispute during ‘Black Priest’ came to mind.

Even at that time, he didn’t look up information about fellow celebrities, but he guessed that there must have been something unpleasant.

“Was it an unfair contract issue? Or with that CEO······.”

CEO Noh Joong-man shook his head. In his eyes, which were businesslike even when facing DG head-on, a faint anger could be seen.

“It’s because of her family.”

* * *