HTMB 06

Chapter 06

“Come in.”

Tae-hoon’s executive assistant, Jeong I-won, entered with documents in hand.

“It’s about The Olim Entertainment.”

Tae-hoon answered leisurely, seated in his chair and leaning back against it.

“Yes.”

“As you know, President Lee Hwan-su is notorious in the industry for being malicious. It’s known that he worked as a model, had an accident, and then started an agency. And the first person he recruited was Im Yuna. Perhaps because her image has been so heavily consumed, it seems he’s turning his eyes toward wherever there’s money to be made. All her existing exclusive advertisements have been cut off, and…”

It seemed I-won intended to ramble on about things Tae-hoon already knew. Tae-hoon cut him off.

“…Is there anything else, other than what I already know?”

“Ah, there was another suicide attempt recently. There’s even talk that her pulse stopped and then she came back to life.”

“Recently?”

“Yes. It would have been less than a week ago. This is probably the third suicide attempt.”

It was strange. The Im Yuna he had seen was absolutely not someone with the eyes of a person who would make such an extreme choice.

They were the eyes of someone fighting fiercely, doing everything possible to break through somehow. They were clearly the complete opposite of the dark, gloomy eyes of Im Yuna he had seen on television.

Could a person change after dying and coming back to life? It was ironic.

“Im Yuna’s contract with The Olim Entertainment is set to expire in just a few days, but it seems Im Yuna’s side removed the automatic renewal clause. However, Lee Hwan-su is likely planning to use an adult film as a pretext to extend it.”

“An adult film.”

At the words “adult film,” Tae-hoon let out a cold laugh.

It seemed Lee Hwan-su was determined to squeeze out every last drop from Im Yuna. To think he was already turning his eyes in that direction now that she was becoming useless.

Tae-hoon rolled the fountain pen on his desk and asked Secretary Jeong.

“It’s fortunate that there’s no automatic contract renewal clause. Anything else?”

“I heard that Im Yuna’s mother is especially being difficult regarding the adult film contract. It’s said things are delayed because she’s demanding a huge sum as a signing bonus, but if it goes through, it will mean an automatic contract with The Olim.”

“Hmm…”

“Also, the mother manages all of Im Yuna’s expenses. But because of gambling debts, the real estate has already been put up for sale. Buying and selling real estate seems to be an annual occurrence.”

“I see.”

It meant that while Lee Hwan-su and the mother were pushing and pulling over the adult film and The Olim contract extension, Im Yuna had been lingering around the Hwaja building.

Im Yuna’s circumstances were worse than he had thought.

Tae-hoon recalled how Im Yuna must have felt when she came to Hwaja Entertainment and suddenly said she wanted to audition. She must have been desperate and precarious.

If Im Yuna hadn’t caught his eye, what would have happened?

He didn’t know why, but Tae-hoon felt a sudden chill.

“Shall I look into more, Executive Director?”

“No.”

Tae-hoon set down the fountain pen he had been rolling all along.

“It’s too sordid; I can’t bear to hear any more. I’ve decided for now.”

“Yes? Decided what?”

“Im Yuna. I’ll bring her in.”

“Im Yuna…?”

Secretary Jeong’s eyes widened in surprise as he asked again, but Tae-hoon paid no attention to such a reaction.

“When is CEO Choi Hwaja coming?”

“She’s currently in New York, absorbed in album work and lectures, so it seems returning to Korea within the year will be difficult.”

“What is she trying to mess up over there that she’s staying so long?”

“Ah, well, she has a lot of interest in overseas markets, so…”

Secretary Jeong laughed awkwardly and checked Tae-hoon’s expression.

Hwaja and Tae-hoon did not have a good business relationship.

They were both people who had contributed greatly to the growth of the entertainment business, but when together, they were like two poles, so it was more comfortable for both of them to be apart.

However, Tae-hoon was subtly waiting for Choi Hwaja’s return, something he normally wouldn’t have cared about at all.

The reason was Im Yuna.

She wanted to meet CEO Choi with a strange intensity.

Of course, it wasn’t strange for a singer to want to connect with a composer. But when Im Yuna spoke of Choi Hwaja, her expression seemed tinged with longing.

Someone she wanted to see, or someone she missed.

It was puzzling that she would make such an expression toward someone she should have no connection with.

Of course, it could simply be fan admiration for a composer she liked, but Tae-hoon sensed something different.

“Tell her to return as soon as possible.”

“Yes?”

“You keep asking again. Can’t you hear me?”

“Ah, I, I will relay the message.”

He was curious. What kind of expression Im Yuna would make when she actually saw CEO Choi.

***

Sui couldn’t do anything for a full day, having been unable to sleep at night. Her heart was pounding again, and her face turned red in an instant.

Kang Tae-hoon. If someone said that with such a face, asking her to sing only for him, what woman wouldn’t be startled?

She ran to the sink and frantically washed her face with cold water. Then she looked in the mirror at Yuna, who was pale and pretty without any makeup.

She had followed Tae-hoon, who said he would show her Choi Hwaja, and ended up auditioning before she knew it.

And there was no contact. It seemed she had been brutally rejected.

Sui brushed back her flowing hair and steeled herself.

Right now, am I upset about being rejected at the audition, or is my heart heavy because Tae-hoon’s face keeps flickering before my eyes?

Having tossed and turned all night with that thought, her whole body was exhausted.

She dragged her tired body, opened the closet, got dressed, and prepared to go out.

As soon as Sui stepped outside, Jin-suk called.

This woman contacted her several times a day without rest, pouring out a torrent of curses.

‘She’s going to be in a panic. This woman.’

She had been thinking of going to the main house anyway. It seemed that Yuna’s bankbook and seal related to her contract were with Jin-suk.

Everything seemed to be handled by President Lee and Jin-suk without regard for Yuna’s wishes.

If they carelessly stamped the seal for the adult film, Sui would be in a difficult situation too. In this situation, even if clothes came off, it would be Sui taking them off.

She absolutely must not let that happen.

Sui picked up the continuously ringing cell phone.

“Hello.”

[Hey. Where are you?]

“Tell me the house address. I’ll go there.”

[What?]

“Give me some food. I’m hungry.”

[You brat, you’re suddenly demanding food? Anyway, I need to see you too, so come here right now.]

The call was cut off immediately, and a minute later, only the address came in a text message.

‘What is this? They’re mother and daughter, but they didn’t visit each other’s homes?’

She had prepared excuses to ramble on about if Jin-suk asked why she was asking for the address, but she never expected her to just send the address.

A daughter who is a celebrity is left in a shabby apartment, while the person called her mother lives in a top-tier apartment with tight security.

‘Yuna. Why didn’t you just give your soul to your mother too? Tsk.’

Sui shook her head, feeling sorry for the merely kind Im Yuna.

When she pressed the bell, Jin-suk opened the door with a displeased face.

Sui couldn’t understand what kind of grudge Jin-suk held against Yuna that made her make such a face every time she saw her.

If she’s a mother, shouldn’t she at least look at her warmly?

Well, that’s not something to say to the person who grabbed Yuna’s hair the moment she woke up in the hospital room.

Sui looked around the spacious, luxurious house and sat down at the dining table near the kitchen.

But the bankbook and seal she had been looking for were sitting right there on the table.

As she was fiddling with them, Jin-suk approached Sui with a very angry face.

Sui spoke as brightly as she could.

“What about the food?”

“You brat, have you been whining about food since earlier? Stop the nonsense and get ready, we need to go to the hotel right away.”

My mom always gave me heaping bowls of rice, but this mom, food or whatever, is just anxious to send me somewhere.

But what did she mean by hotel?

Jin-suk looked Sui up and down with a pathetic expression and said.

“A so-called celebrity, and you came crawling here looking like this? You look like a beggar. Put on some makeup. The director wants to see you in person because of the film we’re shooting this time.”

“You’re telling me to shoot that film? No, to sign the contract?”

Sui glared at Jin-suk with wide eyes.

She had made such a fuss saying she’d die, and now she was saying she would sign that adult film contract.

“I already did. You’re getting older, and delaying won’t make it happen.”

“I told you I won’t do it!”

“Then what are you going to do about the debts?”

“What debts? Why should I pay back what you brought on yourself!”

Before she could even finish speaking, a tissue box flew at Sui’s face.

It didn’t hurt, but Sui’s pride suffered a serious crack.

“You brat, have you been talking back at every word since you woke up in the hospital? You’re getting more and more out of line?”

Sui bit her lip and took a deep breath so it wouldn’t be heard.

‘Patience, Jeong Sui. This person isn’t someone I know, and she’s not cursing at me. There’s no need to get so worked up.’

Sui endured with tremendous patience the urge to flip everything over as was her nature.

Whether it was because of the possession or because she had assimilated Yuna’s emotions, she didn’t know why she was so angry and felt so wronged.

“So, are you going to renew the contract with President Lee too?”

“Then where else would you go, you brat? Do you think there’s anywhere else that would take someone like you? President Lee is coming here now too. We’re going to meet the director together, so know that.”

“Are you… really my biological mother?”

“You brat, where are you glaring and defying me! I brought you from the cold orphanage and raised you!”

Orphanage? She’s not… my biological mother? Then? Did she bring a little kid like this and roll her into the entertainment industry? Like a money-making machine?

Sui, thinking only to herself, accidentally blurted it out loud.

“Wow. This is completely trashy.”

“What? T-trashy?”

“Ah, it just slipped out. Sorry.”

“You haven’t even paid back everything I’ve raised you with, and you’re talking about biological mothers! Go die, you brat!”

Just as Jin-suk was about to pick up something else around her and throw it.

The phone rang in the living room. It was Jin-suk’s, not Sui’s.

“You just wait.”

Whether it was an important call, she glared fiercely at Sui and turned toward the living room.

As Jin-suk passed by, Sui leisurely stretched out her leg.

“Aagh!”

Jin-suk tripped over her leg and went sprawling.

Jin-suk began to scream.

“Aigo! You brat, why are you sticking your leg out? I’ll break it off!”

Sui, resting her chin on her hand, spoke languidly.

“You’re harsh with your words to your daughter.”

“I’m going to kill you.”

Then, as Jin-suk was about to jump up, Sui once again tensed and stretched out her leg. Jin-suk tripped over her toes again and this time fell on her rear.

She inwardly cheered, but Sui spoke very calmly.

“Your legs give out? Why do you keep falling?”

“Huh, my back, aigo.”

“I’ll help you up. Stay still.”

Sui smiled gently and pulled Jin-suk’s arm firmly.

Just then, Sui’s cell phone also began to ring.