Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 130

Former Hero is a Million-Dollar Actor – Episode 130 (130/199)

From Each Planet (4)

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In the middle of the night, a dimly lit hospital room.

Soft snoring fills the private room.

“How long will she be asleep?”

“They said she’ll sleep soundly until tomorrow morning and to maintain absolute rest even after that.”

Standing beside Gun in front of Jin Ji-yu’s bed, writer Eun Hee-wook sighed heavily.

“Easy to say ‘rest,’ but in this situation…”

Her pale face, framed by scattered short hair, shone faintly in the moonlight. The patient tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep after receiving a sedative.

‘No, why can’t we go in! We’re practically her real family!’

The ‘Four Queens’ members, who arrived late due to their schedules, cried in the hallway after being told they shouldn’t stimulate the patient, and then left.

Past midnight, the only people guarding the hospital room are Park Gun, who brought Jin Ji-yu, and Eun Hee-wook, who has been a friend since the beginning.

“Did you know, writer?”

At Gun’s question, Eun Hee-wook smiled bitterly.

“I knew, but there was nothing I could do. If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have told them to publish the article regardless of the company or image.”

Eun Hee-wook carefully revealed a story, saying she didn’t know everything either, but it was as expected.

What tormented Jin Ji-yu was none other than her family. Not just one person, but everyone related by blood.

It’s not a surprising story. Since her debut as a child model… until her great success as an idol, relatives and in-laws had been squandering the money she earned, parasitizing off one successful person.

“…It wasn’t just that. Back then, there were many malicious contracts for celebrities, especially idols. ‘Five Queens’ was one of the most prominent victims of unfair contracts.”

“Jin Ji-yu was the leader, right?”

Eun Hee-wook nodded.

“Yes, POP Entertainment. The head of the agency that Ji-yu worked so hard to make successful, appearing on all sorts of broadcasts, was an absolute scoundrel. The problem was that Ji-yu’s parents had a side deal with him.”

“A side deal…?”

Contempt flashed across Eun Hee-wook’s face.

“They took the profits that should have gone to the artist before they were even paid out. And they took the amount Ji-yu received after settlement as well. When Ji-yu said she would leave the group, it was Ji-yu’s parents who sided with CEO Jo.”

A heroic tale I had heard before suddenly came to mind.

In the early days of Roman Entertainment, CEO Noh Joong-man fought legal battles, tearing down corrupt agencies and bringing artists who had been exploited into the company.

‘Five Queens’ becoming ‘Four Queens,’ and a top idol transitioning into an actress, had such circumstances behind it.

Gun pondered for a moment.

‘There was a reason she couldn’t finish it. Things get complicated when blood is involved.’

A full-scale war would be easier. Cha In-hyuk, who openly showed hostility and tried to harm him and those around him, could be dealt with using the same violence.

But the family of a colleague? It’s not an amount that can be repaid on their behalf, and it’s even more inappropriate to step in directly to solve it.

‘This isn’t the Iron Kingdom, but modern times. I have no choice but to find a suitable solution.’

Even if it’s not the Iron Kingdom, it’s a story far removed from the lives of ordinary modern people.

A family that incurred debt by selling their child’s name, and a daughter who can’t cut off that family…

If she hadn’t entered the entertainment industry, she would have only encountered it as a passing news article.

When asked if legal sanctions were impossible, writer Eun Hee-wook clenched her fist and replied.

“In the first place, the stalking laws themselves are stupid. Even if a complete stranger follows you, they aren’t properly punished, but if family relationships are involved, the definition of criminal activity becomes even narrower. Even if you report it for violating the restraining order, they only have to pay a fine…”

The female streamer Yoonbal25 brought to the drama wrap-up party had also suffered similar damage.

Money and fame are problems, but… an even bigger shackle is the pain that individuals have to endure.

Seeing that she had even obtained a restraining order, she must have suffered for decades since her debut. Leaving the team due to panic disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression must have also left her with guilt.

-Nice to meet you. I’m Jin Ji-yu.

-I’m Park Gun.

-I really wanted to come. I’m a huge fan of ‘The Dog of Seoul,’ it’s the best drama I’ve seen lately.

The face that greeted me warmly with a bright smile at the very first drama set overlapped with the bloodless face on the bed.

If Baek Ha-ni is prickly to everyone, Jin Ji-yu is kind to everyone, making her seem like a celebrity.

A 3rd generation girl group center, a breadwinner who saved the group from disbanding, how much effort she poured in to escape tyranny and rise to become a top actress… it’s hard to even imagine.

“I’ll go first.”

Eun Hee-wook, who was standing next to him, flinched as he turned around.

“…Are you perhaps going to go and smash up their house or something?”

“Why would I do that? The awakened patient would faint again.”

“That’s true, but hearing those words from actor Park feels somehow…”

Writer Eun Hee-wook trailed off, looking as if her pride was hurt, but Gun didn’t care.

“There’s not much time. I also have to prepare to go to Cannes.”

“Ah, the Black Priest invitation.”

“Yes. And it’s already very late.”

“What are you talking about?”

Gun paused for a moment.

“There is an expiration date for the recovery of relationships. If the rift is too deep, you have to build a fence so they can’t cross over.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have to do something, whatever it takes.”

In his briefly closed eyes, those he had tried to save hundreds of times but ultimately failed to save flashed by.

He looked down at the sleeping Jin Ji-yu and said.

“Everything I can.”

Even in this world, the hero does not pass by a fallen comrade.

“Writer, do you happen to have any connections with KBC [Korean Broadcasting Corporation]? A CP [Chief Producer] or PD [Producer Director], or even better, a writer?”

“KBC?”

Eun Hee-wook’s expression changed subtly.

“You didn’t know? The director there is my uncle.”

*

No matter how much you try to control it, there is a limit to blocking the flowing water.

Eventually, several articles were published in just one day.

[Idol-turned-top star B… Turns out to be suffering from debtors?]

[Family borrowed money, estimated ‘over 10 billion won’ [approximately $7.5 million USD]… The unspeakable circumstances of the actress]

…The headlines are malicious from the start.

At least they used initials like B or C, but how many idol-turned-top stars are there? If you narrow down the candidates to those who are active, you can roughly guess.

The PR team staff desperately tried to stop it, but speculation about the identity of B was already spreading in the article comments and communities.

“Team Leader Gong, can’t you shut those trash reporters’ mouths? Should I just go out and say something?”

“Why are you like this too, Phillip? Calm down first!”

It’s a scandal involving a member of the family, and a representative actress who is kind to everyone.

Everyone at Roman Entertainment was furious. Choi Phillip, who visited the company, stayed in the PR office for a long time, and in the CEO’s office, a completely unexpected person was bursting with anger.

“It’s ridiculous, really!”

CEO Noh Joong-man looked at Baek Ha-ni with an interesting expression.

The company’s other top actress, the representative player rumored to be an enemy of Jin Ji-yu, suddenly came in and was angry at him.

“What is she, a philanthropist? Does she have a disease where she’ll die if she doesn’t give everything to her parents? Then she should just retire and do volunteer work for the rest of her life, why is she acting?”

“It can’t be helped. She’s been suffering since she was so young, there were many problems even when I brought her in.”

Baek Ha-ni nervously chewed on her red lips.

“You too, CEO. If you’re the head of the company, shouldn’t you get rid of those freeloaders right away?”

“I told you, family relationships are difficult even by law.”

“That damn family, bullshit!”

In the end, her old temper flared up. Baek Ha-ni, looking around wildly to see if there was anything to throw, finally regained her composure.

“Then what are you going to do? Tell me to go and grab those bastards by the hair, unless she wants to be sucked dry for the rest of her life and end up in a closed ward.”

CEO Noh shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m more surprised that you’re angry.”

“…What?”

“When was it, didn’t you cancel all the filming because an air conditioner commercial went to Jin Ji-yu? That’s when Director Lee’s nameplate was broken for the first time.”

It was when the two were working together in the early days, when the tension was at its peak. Baek Ha-ni lowered her eyes with a hit expression and grumbled.

“That was supposed to be mine. It’s because you unnecessarily pushed her and took it away.”

“No. The refrigerator and cosmetics offers were for you, Seowon Air Conditioner was for Jin Ji-yu.”

“…You have an unnecessarily good memory.”

Noh Joong-man waved his hand to change the subject.

“So, what’s the reason for coming here?”

“Tell her to behave herself. Don’t be a pushover and ruin the company’s image, and the image of the few actresses we have.”

The heels she’s wearing today are at least 8 centimeters high.

When Baek Ha-ni, who turned around coldly, left the CEO’s office with a cold wind, the vocal trainer and the A&R [Artists and Repertoire] team leader were talking downstairs.

“What’s going on? The company is in chaos.”

“I heard actor Gu came and went earlier? People are definitely stepping up because it’s about Ji-yu.”

The A&R team leader shook his head.

“What’s the point? It’s something that’s difficult for her to solve herself. Don’t you remember Kim Yeon-hong? Only celebrities suffer when their families are like that.”

The ‘Kim Yeon-hong Gate,’ where the family acted as the manager and colluded with the agency to embezzle profits and shares, was a news story that once turned the entertainment industry upside down.

The vocal trainer, who had been clicking his tongue, asked.

“Ah, speaking of which, what about Park Gun? I remember they were quite close.”

“Well… now that I think about it, I haven’t seen him for a few days. He’s the kind of person who would have rushed over first if something like this happened.”

Everyone at Roman Entertainment knows about Park Gun’s ‘comradeship,’ if it’s anyone else.

Is it because he’s from a special forces unit? He’s a person full of altruism who takes care of his fellow colleagues so much, even if he doesn’t know it himself. If there’s no news from him so far…

The two people’s eyes met. The A&R team leader, who had watched the Lee Jang-mi scandal during ‘Black Priest’ and the school violence controversy right before ‘White Robe General,’ carefully opened his mouth.

“I’m only saying this just in case, but is he already running around? So he’s going to handle this in a week too…”

“…No way. Park Gun isn’t Superman, and even if he is, family matters are difficult.”

“Oh, I guess so?”

*

A secluded pavilion surrounded by a pond.

The surface of the water with floating petals is rippling, and the chirping of birds can be heard.

Two people sat facing each other on the floor of the pavilion, where a top-class Korean set meal was beautifully laid out.

“Hello.”

The young man, taking off his mask and hat and bowing briefly, is Park Gun. An actor who, with his recent image, could win a district election even if he ran for office.

The middle-aged man with a generous impression smiled brightly, pleased with the exclusive meeting with such a young man.

“I’m Hong Gwang-seok. Finally, we meet.”

Park Gun met the politician’s gaze.

Hong Gwang-seok of the People’s Power Party, the current opposition party’s lawmaker and a veteran who has successfully been re-elected at a relatively young age.

When EBC aired the documentary, he also subtly jumped on the ‘Path of Injustice’ bandwagon, saying he would submit an amendment to the Fire Services Act to the National Assembly [South Korea’s legislative body].

The bill actually proposed by Hong Gwang-seok went all the way to the plenary session deliberation with enthusiastic support.

“I heard you contacted me several times. My work schedule is tight, so my reply was delayed.”

“Rather, you didn’t want to get involved with us. In a situation where agencies and entertainment companies, and even broadcasting stations are lining up, actor Park was firm, which was refreshing.”

It’s nothing new that the entertainment business has close ties with the political and business worlds.

Hong Gwang-seok poured tea into the teacup in front of him.

“Well… I benefited thanks to you, so I was just going to convey my gratitude.”

“I was just doing what I had to do.”

“That’s right, that’s what’s refreshing. Such a person said he wanted to see me, so can I understand that there’s something we can do together?”

The politicians I’ve dealt with are only aristocrats of a different dimension, but now, as then, there’s no time to delay. Especially if it’s a situation involving the safety of a colleague.

What kind of pressure did he feel? Assemblyman Hong’s hand, which was pouring tea, suddenly stopped.

Pouring… Above the tea overflowing from the cup, black eyes target the seasoned politician.

“Yes, this time it’s by my own will.”

* * *