Former Warrior Turns Into A Million-Dollar Actor [EN]: Chapter 68

Former Hero is a Million-Dollar Actor – Episode 68 (68/199)

Neutralize the Smear Campaign (4)

* * *

[Exclusive] Special Interview with Jin Gyu-il, Head of C&J Content Business Division

About a dozen reporters entered the C&J building.

The destination was the Content Business Division Head’s office on the upper floor.

Since each media outlet had called in fairly seasoned people, there were many familiar faces.

The gathered reporters exchanged greetings and followed the secretary.

“The head of the division’s work is not yet finished, so please wait a moment.”

The secretary, who had guided the reporters to the office, bowed and left.

Naturally, there was a slight delay. It wasn’t an atmosphere for small talk, but a few in the back whispered quietly.

‘···It’s unexpected, though, that a scion of the Changjin Group is classmates with Park Geon.’

‘Right. Maybe this is also an attempt to ride on Park Geon to restore CVN’s image?’

‘Surely not. If they mess up, they’ll both fall into the abyss.’

While the reporters were whispering, the screen door behind the bookshelf opened, and a man in a gray shirt and vest came out.

As befitting a top-tier conglomerate, there seemed to be another space inside the head of the division’s office.

“Let’s begin.”

Jin Gyu-il said curtly and raised one finger before the reporters could open their mouths.

“However, briefly, one at a time. When all the information to be conveyed has been given, the interview will end.”

It was a somewhat overbearing attitude, but it was still a privilege to be able to interview for such an exclusive.

A reporter quickly asked a question.

“What is your relationship with actor Park Geon?”

“We are classmates from Gyeongil High School. Class of ’31, we were in the same class in the second year.”

“You said that Park Geon was a victim, not a perpetrator. Do you know the full story?”

“It is as I said. Park Geon never hit anyone while attending Gyeongil High School.”

“Then, the meaning of ‘victim’ is······.”

“He was the one who was attacked. He was beaten for telling the perpetrators to stop the violence.”

A younger-looking reporter raised his hand.

“If Park Geon was the victim, why was he suspended?”

“Because the ones who were beaten were more seriously injured than the one who hit them. Also, the son of a powerful figure was at the center of the school violence, and it was a case where inappropriate backroom deals and the influence of power manipulated the educational system.”

“Was the power game within Gyeongil High School that fierce? With you there, how could that influential figure······.”

The somewhat blatant question was abruptly cut off. Jin Gyu-il turned his head and stared at the reporter who had asked the question.

“Because I was a coward.”

“Pardon?”

Jin Gyu-il closed and opened his eyes as if reminiscing about the past.

“I tried to hide my background even until high school. I planned to live quietly, without doing anything conspicuous. Knowing that it would become noisy if I stepped forward, I turned a blind eye to the injustice before me.”

No one had expected that the answer they were trying to elicit would come out this easily. Amidst the silence where even the sound of laptop typing had stopped, a calm recollection continued.

“Since then, I have not contacted actor Park Geon at all. Because it would be ridiculous to contact him belatedly and apologize. However, I could not bear to watch this time without repaying the debt I owed him from 9 years ago, so I got involved.”

No one asked any further questions. Even one reporter who had raised his hand quickly lowered it, watching the atmosphere.

“I would like to take this opportunity to tell him. I am sorry for standing by and being silent.”

After finishing speaking, Jin Gyu-il looked around at the audience. A faint smile crossed his face, which resembled Jin Seong-han, the current second-in-command of the Changjin Group.

“Ask the people who did the hitting about the rest.”

*

Roman Entertainment, Studio 12.

Despite the late hour, most of the people who had gathered yesterday were gathered again.

Park Geon and his brother Park Seon, Bae Young-ho and the Seo Seung-ah duo.

CEO Noh Joong-man and Director Lee Sang-cheol were absent, and instead, Manager Yoo Joon-il and Team Leader Gong Gi-hyung joined.

As Team Leader Gong went out to take a call, Seo Seung-ah muttered with a bewildered expression.

“···What on earth is going on.”

“I know, what’s happening?”

Even while agreeing, Bae Young-ho’s gaze kept moving to the side.

Manager Yoo sighed, seeing that the guest’s eyes were completely glazed over.

“Excuse me. Are you a public relations employee?”

Jin Ji-yoo, who was sitting side by side with the Park Geon brothers and seriously manipulating an iPad, replied.

“Yes, this is our company, so don’t pick a fight.”

“Yes, yes, anyone would think you come here often.”

“They’re trying to slander a colleague from the agency. I came as an advisor on malicious rumors, so please be quiet, Manager.”

Jin Ji-yoo, who had put a long finger to her lips and then removed it, made a surprised expression towards her classmates.

“Ah, I’m sorry. If you two are uncomfortable because of me······.”

“No, not at all. Absolutely not.”

“It’s okay. We’re grateful if even one more person helps Geon.”

Even Seo Seung-ah, who is usually unfazed, had a look of wonder.

People who see her every day have become accustomed to it, but when a top actress you only see in movies is being cute right in front of you, reality disappears.

Meanwhile, Park Seon, whose eyes had become hollow, said.

“But I really couldn’t have imagined it. That the great-grandson of a conglomerate owner went to our school, and even to your class, hyung [older brother/male friend]. Did you know, hyung?”

“I didn’t know. I never talked to him.”

He had no idea that a guy who went to the same school, even the same class, was the fourth generation of the Changjin Group.

He wasn’t interested when he was in school… and if he was trying to hide it, he wouldn’t have come to reunions or anything after graduation.

These days, the heirs of conglomerates don’t reveal their identities until they join the company, and it seemed that Jin Gyu-il was the same.

Seo Seung-ah, who was looking through the articles, nudged Bae Young-ho.

“The interview is intense. Bang-ho, do you remember him?”

“I don’t know. Only vaguely? I think I talked to him, but he was such an unremarkable guy······.”

“But what’s funny is, how does he know everything that happened back then? We only found out that Kim Jong-seung’s wrist was broken after hearing it from Geon.”

“He must have just been watching from somewhere. He must have thought he shouldn’t step forward back then.”

Bae Young-ho, who had replied, smacked his lips.

“Well, I’m grateful that the fourth generation of a chaebol [family-owned conglomerate] is turning the tables like this.”

The situation was completely reversed.

The public opinion, which had said it was the agency’s gag order or Roman’s media play, was mostly cleared up, and praise that ‘it was Park Geon after all’ took over.

The truth that Jin Gyu-il, the fourth generation of the Changjin Group and head of the division, had revealed was that shocking.

‘Park Geon is the only victim of the incident. I, the teachers, the classmates, everyone who stood by and watched the injustice at that time were bystanders and perpetrators.’

The interview, which he revealed by calling reporters to his office, was even featured on terrestrial news and spread.

From the beginning, school violence is a sensitive topic. In addition, when the controversy over the perpetrator and victim and the exposure of the fourth generation of a chaebol were intertwined, posts from those involved who heard the news began to appear.

[I am a Gyeongil High School Class of ’31 alumnus. Authentication available]

I uploaded my diploma along with it, and to explain further, there was a guy named Kim who had a powerful family.

That guy joined the soccer team and gave the juniors and seniors a hard time, and one day Park Geon went to him and told him to stop.

Kim and his lackeys were carried out with broken knuckles; Park Geon was suspended, but there were rumors that he was beaten, not that he hit them.

I didn’t believe it back then, but after seeing him filming action scenes, I thought it was possible. The judgment is up to you.

After that, the connections between the city council member, who was presumed to be ‘Kim’s’ father, and the superintendent of education at the time, as well as the criminal records of their children’s drunk driving and gambling, were revealed one after another, virtually sealing the deal.

Seo Seung-ah suddenly turned to Jin Ji-yoo and bowed her head.

“Actor, Manager, thank you so much. Everyone worked hard to put out the fire.”

While the public opinion battle was unfolding, everyone in Park Geon’s circle rolled up their sleeves and helped.

Byun Hwi-seung and Seo Hee-do, along with the members of ‘The Dog of Seoul’, ‘The Black Priest’, and ‘Hoido Team’, all poured out angry interviews.

Among them, the biggest impact was Jin Ji-yoo’s support. She turned on an SNS live broadcast and held a meeting to reveal the slander and fabrications she had suffered.

The live broadcast, in which even the ‘Four Queens’ members joined in with multi-cams, drew tens of thousands of viewers and came to an end.

“They’re family, so I have to help. I can’t stand seeing things like that.”

“Of course, I thought you would. I’m grateful on behalf of Geon, too.”

As Jin Ji-yoo smiled shyly, Bae Young-ho also expressed his gratitude in a polite tone.

“······.”

While Manager Yoo and Seo Seung-ah were giving each other glances that said, ‘What are we going to do with these two?’, Team Leader Gong came in.

“Oh, Team Leader!”

“I just took a call from the CEO. The head of the division was there too, so the conversation was long.”

“They must have been out of their minds too. What did CEO Noh say?”

Team Leader Gong deliberately hesitated before dramatically raising both fists.

“I just broke up with the people involved, and it seems like we don’t have to worry anymore.”

“Then now······.”

“Yes. Let’s all take a breather.”

Sighs and cheers mixed together and burst out. Seo Seung-ah, leaning back in her chair, groaned while pressing her forehead.

“Ugh, this is tougher than our firm’s cases······.”

“But it’s really a relief! Everyone didn’t sleep and worked so hard, Seung-ah noona [older sister/female friend] and Young-ho hyung, and Ji-yoo actress too!”

“Hey, what did we do? Seo Seung-ah worked hard to win over her alumni.”

Even amidst the compliments, Manager Yoo Joon-il’s expression was gloomy.

“Anyway, it must be those guys again, right? Byun Dong-geun and Cha In-hyuk, those crazy bastards. It seems like Red Swan got completely cleaned out by Quantum this time and sharpened their knives.”

Team Leader Gong also gritted his teeth and replied.

“It could be Joinus. Recently, paparazzi kept sticking to the Puffing Dolls kids too. When they thought it was dangerous, they tried to dig up a scandal somehow······.”

“I must have been caught.”

As Park Geon said calmly, everyone around him closed their mouths.

During the 24 hours that the controversy broke out, the person who was actually the subject of the rumors didn’t even seem anxious.

Even when his classmates Seo Seung-ah and Bae Young-ho were filled with anger and rampaging, all he did was mutter with a calm face.

‘The truth will be revealed anyway. If the worst comes to the worst, it’s not too late for me to step in then.’

Park Seon glanced sideways at his brother. He didn’t know what that ‘stepping in’ meant, but he thought he could guess.

“···I’m really glad.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“No, hyung. I’m glad everything worked out.”

Park Geon smiled faintly.

“Thanks. So, Team Leader, would it be okay to ask you a favor?”

“Oh, of course. What can’t I do for our Geon, who has worked the hardest?”

Team Leader Gong Gi-hyung, who had spoken loudly, felt goosebumps on his spine.

‘Uh······?’

Even though he knew it wasn’t a drama, he stopped breathing. The scary, expressionless face he had seen during ‘The Dog of Seoul’ days was asking him.

“When will we be able to accurately identify the mastermind behind this incident?”

···The low, soft voice sounded like a question of who should be killed.

Seo Seung-ah and Bae Young-ho also stared blankly at their friend with their mouths open. It was when someone swallowed hard that Park Seon, who had asked for understanding, took his ringing smartphone and left the conference room.

And exactly 30 seconds later, he ran back in about three times as fast as when he had left.

“I got a call directly from Head of Division Jin Gyu-il. He wants to meet actor Park Geon!”

*

Clouds flow beyond the glass windows.

The reception room at the top of Changwol Tower, where even those buildings over 30 or 40 floors look infinitely low.

Vice Chairman Jin Seong-han, with a go board in front of him, was sitting alone.

The chief of staff, who had entered silently, reported.

“It seems the third young master has drawn his sword. It is expected that he will move soon.”

“He’s late for that guy. Or is he fast?”

Muttering, Jin Seong-han looked closely at the stones on the go board.

Since it is a game of go played alone, the game is tight. Black is trying to overwhelm by greatly expanding the upper side, and White is trying to secure the lower side, avoiding the approaching enemy.

“Shouldn’t we help?”

“What’s with the sudden concern? Once they turn ten, the Changjin Group’s sons have to stand on their own.”

Jin Seong-han’s three sons are doing their best in their respective positions.

The eldest, who will inherit the main affiliates, the second, who is finding a way to break through in the heavy industry sector, and the third, who was entrusted with the entertainment business, which had been the group’s wasteland until now.

“They showed some unsightly behavior, didn’t they?”

“Yes, all those who tried to take the opportunity to slander other groups have been cut off.”

Jin Seong-han smiled bitterly.

“That’s what the entertainment business is like. If you look down on it, it’s just a bunch of entertainers, but if you look at it well, it’s a future source of funds. That’s why I entrusted it to Gyu-il.”

“The young master will also be convinced.”

“Yes. That guy looks like a leisurely scholar, but he has the tenacity to not avoid mud fights. He’s the kind of guy who will dig up wild ginseng and climb back up if you throw him off a cliff.”

The chief of staff was silent. There were always questions about the third young master’s temperament.

He always lowered himself among his brothers, and although he showed his abilities, he never pushed aggressively. Hasn’t he failed to achieve any significant results for over a year since taking over the C&J Content Business Division?

Vice Chairman Jin Seong-han, who placed a white stone, called out.

“Chief Woo.”

“Yes.”

“I gave Gyu-il three years. To pull out the embedded stones and widen your scope. There was a reason why he was lying flat and cooking porridge.”

“Yes.”

“It seems he’s finally got a hand. While making all that fuss.”

The chief of staff’s eyes widened slightly. He understood the meaning of his lord’s words.

Black, who had been taking the offensive, flinches and turns his body. White, who had already invaded the left side, is heading towards the large dragon.

The vice chairman, stroking his chin, made the next move.

“Even a guy who is good at catching big dragons needs stones.”

*