“……”
“Even though he’s an actor from a different agency, I’ve seen Yeongwon since he was little. First of all, he’s pure and cute, really. So I thought that’s why he’s popular, but he’s also bold and even hot-blooded.”
Since they’d been together from Jiseo’s debut until now, although he wasn’t a signed actor, it wasn’t that he’d never seen Yeongwon at all.
Whether seeing him in person, on TV, or considering his age, just the fact that he’d made a sloppy marriage proposal to Jiseo brought out a bit of a hollow laugh.
Anyway, in the end, even though he’d thrown a tantrum, he was rejected, so that’s why this sudden proposal came from Jiseo’s mouth.
In fact, that alone gave the CEO a headache. He understood their circumstances, but there were many things to consider. Looking at such a CEO, Jiseo smiled calmly and calmly continued persuading.
“Even you say he’s cute, CEO. That’s how much I want to show him receiving affection from other people. Anyway, I won’t fall for him, so it won’t continue to the main program. Then it’s no different from just a variety show, so wouldn’t it be okay to appear once?”
“……”
“Since I’m not going on with the genuine purpose of dating or marriage, I can explain the situation later. I don’t think there’ll be cases where it harms my image or other works either.”
“……”
“Changes did actually occur in all relationships, but the purpose itself is to do it virtually. If that’s the intention, there will be exceptions. Honestly, I’m not interested in the image of being a thief either.”
“Did you tell Joo Yeongwon that too? That you don’t want to be a thief?”
“I did, but it didn’t work.”
If everyone found out that Yeongwon rather treats him himself as a thief, apart from it not working, they’d all be speechless.
Since Yeongwon’s cute argument would be revealed anyway, Jiseo added with a smile without deliberately conveying it.
“Anyway, it is my fault. If the age gap had been much bigger, like over twenty, he would’ve thought he was crazy as he grew up, but I stayed in a similar age range, so I guess I made him recognize us as peers.”
“When did you say you dreamed of being an actor?”
“After entering high school.”
“You should’ve held out a few more years before promising. Then it would’ve gone as fan service.”
At the whisper mixed with a joke while seeming sincere, the CEO clicked his tongue and retorted.
It was a principle that everyone in the world knew—the one who doesn’t keep a promise is much worse than the one who insists on keeping it. If you’re going to do it, keep it boldly. Handsome guys falling for each other would happen in an instant.
If Jiseo were an ordinary person, he would’ve advised him to date first and get thoroughly criticized later if he didn’t want to. Since he wanted it so desperately.
“Just because I said this doesn’t mean I’m ignoring Yeongwon’s feelings. Thinking about it, it’s because of you. Why did you carelessly make such a promise without thinking of the consequences? You’re lucky it’s just one person—what if several people came demanding you keep your promises?”
“I haven’t thrown them around carelessly since then. Yeongwon was the only baby who confessed to me saying let’s get married.”
“Conscientiously, you shouldn’t date if possible until he dates first. The kid will get hurt. You should have that much sense of responsibility.”
“I won’t meet anyone until Yeongwon turns thirty. So can I go on there?”
Looking back at the conversation so far, it was certain that his company CEO was on Yeongwon’s side rather than his. Jiseo readily accepted it.
Still, since it was something to consider, the other person, who sent a hand gesture to wait for a moment, fell into deep thought with his forehead pressed.
The CEO, who had been tapping the table with a pen for a while as if weighing various conditions, sighed and nodded.
“Go and take responsibility. From what I see, even if Joo Yeongwon’s agency opposes the appearance, you should persuade them and take him on. Take responsibility by any means.”
“……”
“Let him do as he wants. I’ll worry about how to respond to your marriage rumors in 10 years. For now, you have to solve it yourself, what else can we do? And after 10 years as an actor, well, it’s an okay time for one dating rumor to come out.”
“……”
“There’s really no possibility of being linked with someone else, right? If it gets complicated with other matters, it becomes more complex. You know?”
“Yes. That won’t happen.”
“Do well so we don’t hear that the company isn’t doing anything. Even if it’s absurd, if I hear such talk, I’ll make a statement that the company isn’t at fault, we won’t protect you, and you decided to take responsibility.”
“Please also state that Yeongwon has no fault. That’s all I need. First, I’ll contact the PD myself.”
There was a clear reason why he could obtain permission easily. It must be because even in his company CEO’s eyes, Yeongwon and he were seen as a relationship where it was difficult for feelings to sprout.
Rather than forcing Yeongwon to unilaterally give up his feelings, he increasingly felt this method was right. No matter how much he talked, Yeongwon wouldn’t know he himself was precious and would only think he alone was precious.
‘Looking at the announcement, there’s an email address you can send to personally……’
By the time he thought that far, Jiseo immediately took out his phone and first opened the chat window with Yeongwon.
First of all, they’d reached an agreement between themselves, but the company’s permission was absolutely important. So Yeongwon would be waiting for his reply.
If the news is slow, what I’ll get is just Yeongwon’s urging. It might look like he was hesitating after boldly accepting. Since there were still many mountains to cross, from Yeongwon’s standpoint, it would be quite a frustrating process, so at least he had to move quickly.
Once I send it, a reply will arrive while I’m going home. Since there were still parts to discuss, he could proceed with that step by step.
***
On the way home after finishing his schedule, Jiseo briefly pondered whether or not to call Yeongwon.
First of all, a few days ago, he’d sent in an application, and afterward conveyed the same news to Yeongwon. He’d heard Yeongwon had also contacted them, but there’d been no news since then.
Standing in front of the entrance and pressing the door lock, Jiseo took out his phone without thinking.
That’s when it happened. A notification that a message had arrived just in time came through.
Hello. Yoo Jiseo, the new program being launched……
At the brief title showing as a preview, Jiseo immediately clicked on the message.
Hello. I’m the person in charge of the new program being launched, <Would You Like to Date?>.
After reading the title with the summarized part fully revealed, he realized the contact he’d sent before had arrived.
Jiseo slowly took in the content.
Hello, Yoo Jiseo. I’m PD Kim Youngjin in charge of the program called <Would You Like to Date?>. First, after confirming that you conveyed your intention to appear on the program to us, I’m contacting you like this. Please check comfortably and when you have time, at the contact number below……
While slowly reading the message, Jiseo entered the contact number he found into his phone. Then he calmly pressed the call button.
“Hello, I’m Yoo Jiseo who just received contact.”
― …….
“I’m calling after seeing the message. Can you talk?”
After a brief greeting, Jiseo immediately conveyed the purpose of his call.
Whether recognizing his voice, the other person showed welcome without a shred of doubt.
― I didn’t know you’d contact me so quickly. Hello. First, as written in the introduction, I’m PD Kim Youngjin, who’s in charge of the new launch program as main. You’re Actor Yoo Jiseo, correct?
“……”
― It’s nothing else, but to us…… That is, you directly gave your intention to appear, is that correct? We also confirmed several times before contacting you, but honestly you’re someone we didn’t expect at all.
“……”
― And we also confirmed the appearance application that Joo Yeongwon sent, and there was a bit of an explanation. So we judged that both of you really did apply.
“……”
― First, I’ll send one document to the email I contacted you from, do you have time to read it right away?
At Yeongwon’s name mentioned as if tied together with him, Jiseo showed slight bewilderment only in his expression. Since Yeongwon was mentioned, it seemed he needed to read the material the other person would deliver.
― I just sent it, so you can check it.
With a clean finish, Jiseo, who ended the call, opened the message that had just arrived without delay. What was attached in the message was a file named application form.
Applicant: Joo Yeongwon
What was written at the very top was Yeongwon’s name.
Below that was personal information like address and phone number. So without needing to check, he lowered his eyes to the application motive written at the very bottom.
