Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 67

67. Luck-ster Top Star

There are various types of dramas in the world.

Comedy, historical, romance, action, thriller, horror, legal, medical, and so on.

The types are truly countless.

However, among these, there was a type of drama that rookie actors particularly favored.

That was.

[I just want to film one food drama.]

Food-themed dramas.

Dramas that feature the protagonist cooking or running a restaurant.

Why do they prefer this?

The reason is none other than advertisements.

[Baker ‘Wonjin’ Challenges Real-Life Baking]

[‘Real Chef’ Cast Opens Italian Restaurant on a Roll]

[The Korean Restaurant from the Drama Appears Near Konkuk University Station!]

Food is a field closely related to the public’s lives.

Therefore, it is also closely related to companies, making it easier to obtain related advertisements.

Lee Min-ki, who appeared in the recently popular drama [Cafe del Dia], was no different.

“Heh heh, heh heh heh, heh heh.”

Lee Min-ki hummed.

He even did a little shoulder dance to the rhythm.

Anyone who saw it would be embarrassed and want to hide in a mouse hole, but if he didn’t do this, he felt like he would float up into the sky, making it difficult to control his feelings.

Because.

‘Now I’m a confident TV CF [Commercial Film] actor too!’

It was because he had signed a contract.

Last week, with a very decent company.

[Actor, we have received an offer for a beverage-related promotional model through an advertising agency.]

JC’s manager, Park Han-mo, told him.

A company that ranks about 3rd in the food industry expressed their intention to contract with him after seeing his performance in the coffee drama.

[A personal barista just for you, CoffeeO]

CoffeeO.

It was a reasonably famous franchise coffee brand.

Its characteristic was that it managed accounts separately for each customer and provided custom menus.

‘They said the contract terms are better than average. Among the conditions a rookie can receive, it’s the best.’

Were the contract terms the only good thing?

The fact that it was a coffee advertisement was a huge benefit.

There is a famous saying in this industry that even a passing nutria [a semi-aquatic rodent] knows.

[A true actor should not be picky about their work. But they must be picky about advertisements.]

Depending on the advertisement, the actor’s image can be solidified in the future.

In other words, choosing the wrong one can ruin you.

This saying was not just a maxim, but also a reality.

Actors who mainly shoot fashion advertisements often continue to shoot fashion ads.

Electronics are electronics.

Insurance ads are insurance ads.

Just as a warrior in a game changes jobs to a paladin or berserker, actors can also be seen as following a certain path.

In fact, up to this point, it’s okay.

Everyone does these things.

The problem was things like loan shark or underwear advertisements.

‘There were celebrities whose images were completely ruined and their value plummeted.’

The money they call is big, but the risk is also extreme.

Then, what about coffee?

Let’s talk about this.

[Coffee advertisements are the dream of everyone at least once.]

It was truly perfect.

[It won’t ruin your image, and it’s good for getting related follow-up advertisements. Coffee advertisements have been famous as advertisements loved by top stars since ancient times.]

Top-tier among advertisements.

There was no reason to hesitate.

It was a rare opportunity for a rookie actor, and perhaps he was invited because of the power of [Cafe del Dia].

‘The day I film a TV CF is coming.’

How envious he had been of the celebrities who showed their faces on TV.

No, he didn’t even feel envious.

You only envy things that are within reach, but if it’s in a world above the clouds, it just feels like a different world.

‘I can’t believe it.’

Lee Min-ki gave a bitter smile.

Moreover, it’s not just any TV CF, but coffee.

‘Elegant, soft, sophisticated, subtle, aloof, ethereal, kind, friendly. Fragrant, homely…….’

The images that come to mind are all like that.

Although he signed a contract with the 3rd-ranked company, not the 1st or 2nd, what does it matter?

3rd place is still a large company.

He remembered what Song Jin-bae, the chairman of Bumcheon Food Company, said at the production presentation, but that level of lip service is done everywhere.

‘Now that I have drama appearance fees and advertising fees, I won’t have to worry about money for a while.’

A big smile appeared on Lee Min-ki’s face.

‘I’m free now.’

He had been chased by money his whole life, but now he was starting to see signs of breaking free.

He should buy his family beef.

This time, he’s going to visit them confidently.

‘It starts in two days.’

The first shoot is in the studio in two days.

It starts from there.

“Heh heh, heh heh heh, heh heh. Hee hee, hoo hoo hoo hoo.”

He was rolling around the living room, happily holding the printed copy of the contract.

Buzzz-

“Gasp!”

Suddenly, his phone rang.

But he endured it.

‘I’ve improved now.’

There was a reason why he had been so surprised when the phone rang.

In the past, most of the calls he received were debt collection calls.

Trauma remained, and he was startled by a sudden phone call, but he was gradually overcoming it.

‘Good job. Me.’

Feeling a small growth from a single phone call, he answered the phone.

“Yes, Director.”

The content of the call was a little different.

Lee Min-ki’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Bumcheon contacted me?”

Bumcheon.

It was the number one company in the Korean coffee industry.

* * *

JC headquarters, which he visited after a long time.

As he approached the office building near Mapo-gu [district in Seoul], a man was outside smoking a cigarette.

“Actor, this way.”

It was Manager Park Han-mo.

A man who spews out subtle poison, unlike his kind face.

He discovered Lee Min-ki, put out his cigarette in a portable ashtray, and said with a light smile.

“Let’s go inside and talk. The director is waiting for you.”

“Director Seo Jeong-woo?”

“Yes, it seems like it would be good to discuss this matter together.”

Hmm, was it that important?

As Lee Min-ki was about to let out a small groan, Manager Park Han-mo said as he passed by.

“It’s about contract termination, after all.”

“……”

“Perhaps the actor’s future activities may change.”

Lee Min-ki sighed softly at the main point that came out from the beginning.

“That’s true.”

That’s right.

The reason Lee Min-ki visited JC headquarters was to discuss whether to terminate the existing contract.

Logically, it would be right to prioritize the existing contract company.

But coincidentally, the company that intervened in the middle was Bumcheon.

“This way.”

Click.

When he went up to the 5th floor of the JC office building, a small conference room was prepared.

Director Seo Jeong-woo was sitting leisurely inside, reading a book.

“You’ve arrived.”

Director Seo Jeong-woo smiled and put the book he was reading on the desk.

The title written on the cover was this.

[17 Reasons to Live Kindly]

Unlike the elegant handwriting, it was a title that reeked of self-help.

‘Those are fun.’

But what we are discussing today is a completely different story from living kindly.

Rather, what should I say?

How to live selfishly, without losing money.

To put it nicely, how to live like an adult.

“Hello.”

As Lee Min-ki bowed his head and tried to sit down, Director Seo Jeong-woo opened his mouth.

“Actor, I think you’ve heard the story about this advertisement.”

“Yes, the problem is whether to terminate it or not.”

“That’s right. Let me tell you my thoughts clearly first.”

The next moment.

Director Seo Jeong-woo said as if launching a surprise attack.

“It’s right to terminate it.”

“……”

It came out quickly.

He thought he would stop him at least once, so he was a little puzzled by those words, but Director Seo Jeong-woo said as if it were natural.

“Bumcheon tends to choose models very carefully, even when filming one advertisement. Perhaps because they are the number one company in the industry, they try to use only the best models as much as possible.”

Number one in the industry.

Suddenly, Lee Min-ki seemed to know what he was trying to say.

“Working with Bumcheon means becoming number one.”

Advertisements beget advertisements.

This means that it is right for Lee Min-ki to advertise the brand, but conversely, the brand is also advertising the actor Lee Min-ki.

In short, this advertisement was like a placement test in a game.

Once you have a relationship with a Bumcheon-level company through advertising, it will be easier to work with companies of similar stature in the future.

This was especially true for rookies.

“Yes, advertisements beget advertisements.”

Director Seo Jeong-woo smiled at the expected reaction and continued.

“Let me point out in advance that CoffeeO, which the actor signed with last week, is also an overflowing good company.”

“Hmm.”

“But Bumcheon is different in size. It’s as different as a hyena and a lion.”

Listening to Director Seo Jeong-woo’s words, CoffeeO seemed like a shabby brand.

But there was not much exaggeration in those words.

Perhaps he was speaking as calmly as possible.

‘The difference between 1st and 2nd place in the industry is big, but if it’s 3rd place, there’s no need to say more.’

Moreover, there was an even bigger reason for this.

“Actor, what I’m about to say is off the record. There was an offer from Bumcheon.”

Manager Park Han-mo tilted his head slightly and lowered his voice.

“They said they would add a contract termination fee on top of the existing contract.”

“Huh.”

It was a condition that made his head spin.

It meant that they would eliminate even the slightest hesitation.

Aren’t they being too aggressive?

What if it gets out?

Of course, that was possible because Bumcheon’s position was so solid.

“It’s a rare condition. That means they are greedy for the actor.”

The face of that representative came to mind.

Was his name Song Jin-bae? He looked like a very rigid person.

“Leaving everything else aside, there is no reason to refuse when viewed objectively. Perhaps nine out of ten would choose Bumcheon. The actor can choose the side they are drawn to.”

Director Seo Jeong-woo said with a neat smile as always.

“Of course, the later you are, the more rude it will be, so as soon as possible.”

Does that mean it’s not rude to reject the contract now?

But why?

To Lee Min-ki’s ears, that soft voice sounded like the whisper of the devil.

‘They called with good conditions from another place, so I betray the company I contracted with just yesterday.’

It’s something that happens like a custom.

Lee Min-ki recalled the appearance of the agency employee who signed the contract with him last week.

‘He was a good person.’

He looked like a quokka [a small marsupial known for its smiling face].

He clearly remembered him bowing his head and saying thank you to Lee Min-ki several times.

Strictly speaking, he didn’t have to be so subservient since he was in a position to give work, but he was extremely respectful.

It was an attitude he had never seen before.

His worries deepened.

‘Would they be troubled if I suddenly terminated the contract?’

Advertising is more labor-intensive than you think.

It had only been a week since the contract was signed, but the advertising team was likely to have been working on all sorts of tasks in the meantime.

On-site recruitment.

Prop production.

Packaging production, exchanging and reviewing approval documents up and down.

At least dozens of people would have been working busily all day.

It was not difficult to predict that several more contracts would have been made in the meantime.

‘And it’s only two days until the main shoot.’

Lee Min-ki asked just in case.

“Manager, if I terminate the contract, will the people over there be a little disappointed?”

“Yes, that’s obvious.”

Manager Park Han-mo nodded.

“If you terminate it with two days left until the first shoot and expect not to be criticized, you’re someone who has fed your conscience to the dogs.”

“……”

His words are a bit harsh.

Unlike the words coming out of his mouth, he maintained a smiling face and continued.

“They would have already completed most of the preliminary work to make the most of the drama while it was airing. But if it suddenly floats in the air, they will chew on Lee Min-ki and JC like gum from behind. Saying that he’s a rookie who just got popular but has a high nose [is arrogant].”

Hmm, a corner of his heart tingles.

He understood enough, but Manager Park Han-mo continued his unique poison as if it was still far from enough.

“This isn’t the end. What if they find out that the actor abandoned them and signed with Bumcheon after some time? If I were them, I would hold a grudge for the rest of my life.”

“……”

“Maybe they’ll make a blacklist and circulate it. My hands are already itching.”

Would they really go that far?

Lee Min-ki smiled, guessing that half of those words were a joke.

But there was a corner to listen to.

‘I’m feeding those people water [causing them trouble] for my own benefit.’

It can be done, but this is not a question of whether to do it or not.

Is it a question of whether to do it?

Or should I not do it?

Do I want to live a life that only pursues immediate gains?

Do I treat even a contract as just a piece of paper?

‘What kind of person am I?’

Lee Min-ki fell into deep thought for the first time in a while.

He thought about it in another direction.

‘Is this luck?’

He thought he was already lucky when he was contacted by the 3rd-ranked coffee company.

But then he was contacted by the 1st-ranked company.

Is this good luck?

Can I call it good luck?

In a way, luck was a terribly cruel thing.

Because there is no distinction between good and evil.

No matter how evil a person is, can’t they have as much luck as they want?

‘Yes, like that person.’

One person came to Lee Min-ki’s mind.

It was the president of the company he used to work with, back when Lee Min-ki was still alive.

He was a person who was extremely lucky.

He was really a human being who always worked out well no matter what he did.

The problem was that he used all that luck to rip off others.

He had ruined them so meticulously.

‘Starting with me, it was a slave contract.’

There were many celebrities in a similar situation to him.

After the victims piled up, he blew up the company and ran away.

It was a bankruptcy that had no legal problems.

Yes, there was no problem.

He probably had a lot of money stashed away.

The last news he heard was that he had bought an apartment in front of the Han River.

‘Did that bastard think that was a rational and adult choice?’

It’s not just this president.

All the people who called me in the past saying they wanted to film something with me and then canceled on the day, did they all have rational reasons?

What was so rational that they fed people water without a second thought?

It was the moment when Lee Min-ki’s thoughts reached this point.

‘I’m angry.’

He was angry.

He was angry at the president.

He was angry at everyone in the past who had lightly broken their contracts with him.

But at the same time, he was angry at himself for being shaken by this and indulging in worries.

‘Min-ki, when did you become so ugly?’

That’s right.

Lee Min-ki felt that he had become ugly.

Even if you live without money, don’t live like you don’t have any, but how much more like you don’t have any is this choice?

It’s difficult because it’s the first time, but it will be easy later. How selfish will I live then?

‘Now that I’m in an advantageous position, should I become the same person? Nonsense.’

Even though he has lived as an unknown actor, he has pride as a person before that.

Click.

Lee Min-ki straightened his posture.

“Hoo.”

And after taking a moment to calm his breath, he finally opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“I’ll refuse.”

“Are you talking about CoffeeO?”

Director Seo Jeong-woo nodded as if he knew it.

But Lee Min-ki said, looking straight ahead.

“No, Bumcheon’s offer.”

“Yes?”

It was that moment.

Director Seo Jeong-woo, who had been calm all along, opened his eyes wide for the first time.

As if he had heard words he couldn’t hear.

As if Lee Min-ki had deviated from his expectations.

Nevertheless, Lee Min-ki calmly continued.

“I want to proceed with CoffeeO for this model job. No, I will.”

It was a confirmation.

While Director Seo Jeong-woo couldn’t say anything to the very firm voice, Manager Park Han-mo said as if he was surprised.

“Actor, let me tell you again, but Bumcheon will definitely be better in the long run. Even if you get criticized right now, if the actor’s stature increases.”

“Yes, I think that’s probably true. I’ll get some criticism and move on. But still.”

Lee Min-ki said once more.

“I just want to do it that way.”

“……!”

Manager Park Han-mo blinked at the extremely strong voice.

I want to do it.

Not whether I can do it or not, but I want to do it this way.

That will was completely melted into Lee Min-ki’s voice, expression, and gestures.

“As the manager said, they are preparing very hard over there. It would be a nuisance if I suddenly overturned it. Right?”

Perhaps because Lee Min-ki’s voice was so solid.

Silence flowed for a few seconds.

“Heh heh.”

Suddenly, there was someone who let out a laugh.

It was Director Seo Jeong-woo.

He laughed to himself, wondering what was so funny, and then said with a relieved voice.

“Actually, I was more interested in that side.”

“Yes?”

“I was nervous.”

Wasn’t this person telling me to refuse until just now?

As he thought it was unexpected, Director Seo Jeong-woo continued.

“Well, if you’re a man, isn’t it about saving face? It’s more face-saving to choose loyalty over money.”

“……”

“Scars on the body heal over time, but scars on the heart do not heal.”

Ah, that’s the reason.

It’s a hot reason, unlike what he looks like.

While Lee Min-ki chuckled at the line that seemed like it would pop out of the Kim Seong-mo universe [referencing a character known for dramatic lines], Director Seo Jeong-woo smiled inwardly.

‘I chose the right person.’

On the outside, it is an industry full of dreams and hopes, but on the inside, it is an industry that only looks at numbers and rolls around.

People like Lee Min-ki were never common.

Although it may seem foolish, at least Director Seo Jeong-woo didn’t hate this romantic choice.

‘Rather, I like it.’

Manager Park Han-mo had the same thought.

‘……Is this person an idiot?’

It was a situation where anyone should have chosen Bumcheon.

But he’s saying he’ll choose loyalty over profit?

To be honest, it’s fun.

The person was fun.

From the company’s point of view, they may have to be happy, but from the point of view of a salaried worker, it’s fun.

Manager Park Han-mo, whose thoughts reached this point, opened his mouth.

“Then I’ll be more comfortable because I have less work.”

It’s a reason that’s truly like a manager belonging to a company.

“That’s good. Then.”

Director Seo Jeong-woo looked at the clock on the wall and said.

“Since you’re here, let’s have a meal and go.”

“Ah, that’s good.”

“There’s a restaurant nearby that makes really good salmon soy sauce.”

At the three letters of the name salmon soy sauce, Lee Min-ki’s tension disappeared and saliva flowed from his mouth.

He’s been eating salmon soy sauce often these days.

‘Which one is better, the salmon soy sauce made by Tae-yang or this salmon soy sauce?’

The tension built up by the meeting was relieved, and before he knew it, his head was full of thoughts of food.

It was the moment when he was happily moving his steps outside the JC headquarters with anticipation.

Weeing-

Just as he arrived in front of the store, Manager Park Han-mo’s phone suddenly rang.

“Just a moment.”

He tilted his body diagonally, held his phone, read it slowly, and said.

“Oh my.”

“What’s wrong?”

Manager Park Han-mo said with an unlike him embarrassed expression.

“They say they want to terminate the contract.”

“Yes?”

“From CoffeeO.”

“……Yes?”

What’s going on again?