At Haesung’s last words, Hakyung’s face turned deathly pale.
Covering his mouth with one hand while rubbing his jaw, he shook his head.
But as if he wouldn’t crumble like this, he glared at Dohyeong with his neck tensed.
“Do you think everything can go back to how it was just because you’re doing this?”
At Hakyung’s trembling voice asking the question, Haesung’s answer came through the phone.
[There’s nothing to go back to. All that remains is Im Hakyung-ssi’s struggles.]
“Wha, what are you saying? What does that mean!”
Hakyung reached out to snatch Dohyeong’s phone, but the call had already ended.
Dohyeong lightly pulled his hand back, blocking his reach.
And he stepped back two steps. Dohyeong’s eyes were cold.
It wasn’t the appearance he’d shown on set until now.
“That’s how it turned out.”
At his frighteningly calm demeanor, Hakyung shook his head.
Even as he tried to get angry, he forced a smile and approached Dohyeong.
“Sunbae, you can’t do this to me. You know too. How miserable it is to remain unknown, how desperate it is when not a single job comes in! You know, you should know.”
Still, was he conscious of the surroundings? Hakyung’s voice wasn’t very loud.
But Dohyeong didn’t bat an eye. He put his phone in his pocket and looked at him with even colder eyes.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t agree.”
“What?”
“Yeah. That’s right. Living as an actor with no name. The feeling of only wandering at the bottom. I know better than anyone. But still, I’m different from you.”
“Different? You and I are different?”
“At least I never threw away my pride as an actor. I wanted to compete with my skills, I didn’t intend to compete by selling someone else’s name.”
Dohyeong chuckled and reached out to put his wallet and lip balm in his pocket.
A moment later, he heard Wootae and Soyeon’s voices calling for him from somewhere.
Dohyeong, who had been glancing at Hakyung, turned to walk away, then turned back around to face him again.
“Value your life a bit more. While trying to be clever, you might lose everything you’ve built up with difficulty.”
“Who are you to tell me what to do.”
Seeing him grind his teeth and answer until the end somehow deflated him.
Right, if he was that kind of person anyway, there would be no use saying more.
Moreover, looking at his current state…
“Well, it seems like you’re going to lose everything anyway.”
Because it seemed like there was nothing left in his hands.
Dohyeong coldly turned around and moved away from Hakyung.
Though he spoke calmly, his heart was still beating fast.
As if this was truly the beginning, the signal flare shot up high was ringing noisily in his ears.
***
[<Glass Holding Stars> Im Hakyung reveals the true face of Director Na Taeseok’s team in detail.]
What we should pay most attention to is the question of where the treatment for this supporting actor is. Schedule adjustments for Omega and Alpha actors were issues secretly agreed upon.
However, underneath them lay the sacrifice of actors who possessed no traits and had yet to shine in the world. Did the production team ask for their opinions? Wasn’t this a result that threatened the survival rights of supporting actors?
(Omitted)
Anyone can thirst for love. There is also love one doesn’t want to let go.
But are such feelings important enough to be obtained by hurting others? Using the name of love recklessly while hurting others is bound to come back around. Endpatch could not help but be shocked upon receiving this tip.
That someone hurt in the name of love would hurt another person under that pretext is an impossible story. An actor on Director Na Taeseok’s team who was hurt by love. There must be a name that naturally comes to mind.
Even if one uses others to get back together, how long do you think those feelings and that relationship will last? Doesn’t this situation, unable to provide any answer, speak the truth?
Director Na Taeseok announced a strong response to malicious rumors, but Endpatch always pursues only the truth. We have decided to stand on the side of the weak who cannot raise their voices, not the strong who can.
(Omitted)
(Photo)
What is the truth? Indeed, who was it that used sincere hearts? The judgment is yours, the readers of this article.
***
Exactly 2 hours after the party ended.
As Hakyung had warned, Endpatch posted one long article detailing the drama’s circumstances in great detail. At the same time, various media outlets cited their article as if they’d been waiting and released articles full of questions.
Wootae, who had been quietly observing the internet, snorted.
“Is this an article or a column? Ha… they really do all sorts of things.”
Tsk, clicking his tongue, he sneakily glanced at Seri.
Though she was sitting quietly with her eyes closed, he could tell at a glance. That she was currently at maximum fury.
“……What are you thinking of doing, Dohyeong-ssi.”
Just the fact that she attached ‘-ssi’ to Dohyeong’s name said it all.
Gulp. Wootae, who swallowed dry saliva, turned his gaze to Dohyeong.
“Do you have evidence to refute it?”
“To be honest.”
Wootae quickly shook his head. It meant not to say anything at all, but.
“It’s true that actor schedules were adjusted centered around my heat cycle. So I think I can’t refute that. CEO-nim.”
“……”
“But that I used Yuchan, that I used Im Hakyung-ssi to do something with Haesung hyung. That, we can stop somehow.”
“How?”
“……You know that Haesung hyung is going on a talk show tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. I just heard from CEO Jo.”
Seri pressed down hard on her throbbing head. She received a glass of water handed to her by the secretary standing beside her, drank it, and let out a big sigh.
“That won’t be a perfect shield. You know that, right?”
“Yes. I know.”
“Another plan?”
“Under Director Na’s leadership, all the staff have been interviewed. Related articles will come out, and there happened to be something good.”
“Something good?”
“Director Na likes to record the scene whenever he films a drama. It was like that during the last filming too, and this time the assistant that the director brings around filmed it all. The atmosphere on set, the way the director treats other actors, it’s all captured. Even the way he considers everyone’s situation when adjusting schedules.”
At Dohyeong’s smiling appearance, Wootae’s eyes widened. Seri was the same.
“Hey, why are you only saying this now!”
“I didn’t know I’d use that card. I only just heard about it too. He said he absolutely couldn’t stand it anymore. If only he were getting criticized, it would be fine… but since all the other staff are affected too. He said that’s not something he can just watch.”
“Right, good. That’s settled. Then what about your matter?”
Dohyeong became mute as if his mouth was stuffed with honey.
Even if all the controversies were resolved, there was no way to withdraw the arrows of criticism directed at him.
It was when he was deeply pondering.
The phone rang in the office, and the secretary answered on behalf of Seri.
“CEO-nim. Actor Choi Yuchan is outside right now. What should I do?”
At the mention that Yuchan had come, both Dohyeong and Wootae looked at the secretary in surprise.
“…Tell him to come in.”
“Yes. Understood.”
A moment later, Yuchan entered the office. As always, he had a genially smiling face.
“Have you been well? It’s been a while.”
“…It would have been better if we could greet each other with smiles. What’s going on? As you can see, we’re not in a situation to leisurely chat either.”
“Yes. I also heard and rushed to finish my schedule and came in. Fortunately the filming ended quickly. May I sit?”
Seri nodded, and Yuchan sat beside Dohyeong.
Hmm, after pondering for a while, Yuchan quietly looked down at the tablet on the table.
“You were in the middle of discussion.”
“…Well, given the situation.”
“I think I might be able to help. Of course, I also came after finishing talking with my CEO. My mind hasn’t been clear at all since returning to the country.”
At his joking appearance, Dohyeong, Wootae, and even Seri looked at him.
“If I step forward, which side becomes the fool?”
“You’re stepping forward, Yuchan-ssi?”
“Yes. The truth is that it was Dohyeong and Jung Haesung-ssi who cultivated good feelings. But since the two of them acted so frustratingly. I put up a bridge in between. Also, I thought it would be too hard if a scandal broke out first, so it’s true that I worked hard as a shield. But I was never once used. Rather, I followed them to the department store that day to keep Hakyung, who was clinging to Dohyeong, in check.”
“Is there evidence to support that?”
“There isn’t. But isn’t it strange? That evidence follows every matter. If we present evidence like people preparing something, wouldn’t that also be ridiculous?”
At Yuchan’s answer, the three people couldn’t say anything.
Thinking about it, they couldn’t present evidence for every matter. When things flowed as if scripted, it would rather be strange to refute their backed claims one by one while presenting evidence.
Especially if it was about emotions targeting Dohyeong.
“Ah, Soyeon sunbaenim also agreed to help. She became a mentor to Jung Haesung-ssi and gave him something like romance advice.”
“That might backfire.”
“Of course. Things like killing rookie actors and all will be said, but. That’s a problem they touched on first. It’s true that they jumped on Dohyeong without fact-checking. It seems like they don’t have solid evidence either.”
At Yuchan’s words, Seri pressed her brow as if pondering.
Dohyeong couldn’t say anything. He knew he wasn’t in a position to say things like thank you or please to Yuchan.
Then, Wootae carefully opened his mouth while reading the room.
“It seems fine, CEO-nim. People will also be curious about Yuchan’s position. If people around start saying one by one that it’s not like that, public opinion will turn a lot too. Plus, what’s important right now is that we need to continuously refute the continuously emerging stories….”
Even at Wootae’s deflated voice, Seri didn’t answer.
Yuchan swallowed dry saliva and tapped Dohyeong’s hand. It meant it was okay.
After pondering for a long time, Seri lifted her head.
“Alright. I’ll be indebted to you again this time. And Dohyeong-ssi, don’t just stay still either. Book a talk show with Haesung-ssi. Go out and talk about everything.”
“CEO-nim.”
“We have to do it that way. When Director Na is also stepping forward, there’s no need for Dohyeong-ssi to just stay still. The aftermath is the agency’s responsibility, so go and speak honestly.”
“…Thank you.”
Dohyeong clasped his hands tightly.
He alternated looking at Wootae, who was happy saying it was settled now, and Yuchan, who was joking that he should get a facial pack too, and smiled faintly.
Still, what worried him was. The fear that the same thing as last time might repeat again.
He swallowed down the surging worry inside. No, this time it will go well. He thought it would be resolved well and he too would pass this crisis without problems.
