<The Marsh Where the Moon Sets>.
It was a film set against an old mansion hidden deep in the mountains, notable for its cold, melancholic yet delicate visual beauty.
That movie, which had the charm of detailed paintings drawn page by page in a very old book, was also the very work I had matched scripts with Seo Nakil not long ago.
Since it was one of the handful of memorable events in my 20s, which had many gloomy days, it was a proposal that was touching beyond being welcome.
However.
‘Why is this person making this proposal?’
It’s true that with my contract in an ambiguous state, Seon Jeonghyeon and Revalue Entertainment are supporting me. In fact, he even offered to dispatch Director Jeong as my personal manager.
Even so, it didn’t make sense for Seon Jeonghyeon to make this casting proposal. Because originally, that proposal was supposed to arrive at the Cosmos CEO as an official document.
Seon Jeonghyeon, who noticed my flustered expression, explained in a kind voice.
“There’s a long story behind this work. It would be a boring story, so to cut it short…… It started when I was previewing the next works to give to Nakil and discovered this work.”
I listened to his story while half-eating my meal.
Seon Jeonghyeon, who read the <The Marsh Where the Moon Sets> scenario, said he felt tremendous potential in this work. However, with an unknown director and a mediocre distributor involved, he was skeptical about whether it could fully demonstrate that potential.
Normally, considering Seo Nakil’s fame, he wouldn’t have even tried to get involved unless it was a big project, but this time was an exception. After consulting with Seo Nakil, Seon Jeonghyeon expressed his intention to pull in family funds to invest if he accepted this lead role.
“I felt it was destiny. I thought it would do well.”
Seo Nakil added calmly.
“Despite his young age, he has a good business sense. This is the first time I’ve seen him invest this big though.”
I slightly pushed away a kidney bean with my chopsticks and thought.
‘His foresight is amazing……’
I don’t know about him now, but this investment will bring tremendous success. It will bring honor two, three, no, ten times greater than vague expectations.
“Anyway, because of that, the director is being quite accommodating to us. It’s okay to say we have the right to choose. For the female lead, we decided to hold a blind audition with the film’s style as the top priority, and the results will be out around next week.”
If nothing goes wrong, the same actress as before, Kim Rahee, will take it.
“And the ‘Yeojeong’ role I mentioned earlier is Nakil’s recommendation.”
“……Why?”
Seon Jeonghyeon shrugged.
“I think it would be faster to ask him next to you rather than asking me.”
“It’s a decision made based solely on the work.”
Seo Nakil’s chopsticks suddenly entered my view. He nonchalantly took my kidney bean that had been rolling around on the small plate. Thanks to him silently eating it up, I didn’t need to worry about whether to eat it or not.
“Ijae-ssi’s appearance and atmosphere fit the role precisely. Since it’s not a role with that much weight, I thought the burden wouldn’t be too great either.”
“The director thought the same. He jumped up from his seat as soon as he received the photo. Saying it was exactly the image of ‘Yeojeong’ he had dreamed of.”
I looked back and forth between the two people with a dazed expression.
Was my role created through Seon Jeonghyeon’s investment and Seo Nakil’s recommendation? Seeing the two people’s confident attitudes, it didn’t seem like a joke or whim.
Then, was it like this in the life before turning back death?
“If I weren’t receiving help from Revalue but was still with Cosmos, what do you think would have happened?”
“Well, naturally we would have sent an official document to Cosmos, right?”
It was the moment it was revealed that the person who sent the official document to Cosmos Entertainment before turning back time was Seon Jeonghyeon.
“Right now that procedure has been omitted, so I’m asking you directly. As you’ll know from looking at the settlement agreement, Cosmos can no longer exercise any rights over Ijae-ssi’s individual activities except for Starium activities.”
“……”
“We will fully support all the expenses, personnel, and even acting coaching if needed for your activities. We can also adjust the schedule to after the concert.”
While I hesitated without readily accepting the script, Seo Nakil reached out and gently held my hand.
“I think it’s a good opportunity.”
“……”
“So I’m going to add the privilege granted to me to CEO Seon’s proposal to persuade you.”
Those words also meant he would use his second wish voucher that he had been saving.
Although the route of receiving the proposal was somewhat unexpected, it was still a story with nothing bad for me. I could roughly understand why Seo Nakil was using the wish voucher.
‘Even if it’s a supporting role with little weight, we’ll have to show our faces together at various schedules……’
It was inevitably a request contrary to my wish to rest and retire after the concert. Not only would I have to cooperate with filming throughout the second half of the year, but I might also have to attend the production announcement and stage greetings afterward.
After thinking for a moment, I said.
“I’ll do that.”
Seon Jeonghyeon’s face brightened as if lit up.
“Really? Ijae-ssi, you’ve really thought well. Thank you……”
“However, I have one condition.”
He answered enthusiastically.
“I hope it’s something I can grant. Truly. What is it?”
“I’ll yield my appearance fee to Revalue Entertainment.”
I wasn’t doing this for money. In a way, this work was also closer to a privilege that Seon Jeonghyeon and Seo Nakil were bestowing on me. So I thought I should give up the practical benefits.
I don’t think this bit of money can straighten the scales tilted in my favor, but still.
“And…… I think Revalue can take the personal schedule profits that come in until filming is finished. I’ll cooperate as long as it’s not too unreasonable.”
I brought it up thinking that was the only way to repay the favor, but it seemed Seon Jeonghyeon understood it in a different way.
“Then, can I think of it as you choosing our Revalue Entertainment?”
“……What?”
“After cleanly finishing Starium activities and parting with Cosmos, you’ll move your nest to our side. It would be convenient to think of this movie filming as matching up in advance.”
A businessman is indeed a businessman. His attitude of drawing the topic toward an exclusive contract was infinitely natural. I almost nodded without realizing it.
“The name ‘Revalue’ isn’t attached carelessly. We discover and re-evaluate talent that’s been worn down in society’s misunderstanding. Please give us the opportunity to announce Ijae-ssi’s potential to the world.”
“……”
“Basically it’s a 2-year contract, but those are just numbers on the contract—we’re confident we can support Ijae-ssi for life. We can also match the conditions to the best in the industry.”
“I……”
My mouth dried up in an instant. I felt self-loathing at the fact that I couldn’t purely rejoice before those conditions that many people desperately wished for.
“I don’t have the confidence to be active for life.”
I know that even if I wanted to, the world wouldn’t help.
“But I’ll definitely remember your proposal. Thank you.”
“If you do that, I couldn’t ask for more.”
“Let’s stop the work talk here. Ijae-ssi also needs time to think.”
Seo Nakil stepped in appropriately and changed the atmosphere. He handed me the <The Marsh Where the Moon Sets> script and called an employee to ask them to bring the next dish.
Even in front of the dessert—ice cream made with carrots and ginger on top of sweet red bean paste and rice cake balls—my mood didn’t improve.
Seo Nakil, who was watching me silently, lightly tapped the back of my hand with his index finger.
“Should I ask them to bring something warm?”
I looked at his face that had come close and asked carefully.
“……Would they have chamomile tea?”
Seo Nakil asked back in a gentle voice.
“Is there nothing more you want?”
He spoke as if he would fulfill anything I wanted, as if he hoped I would want anything.
“I want to look at the garden on our way out after we finish eating.”
“Okay. Shall we look together?”
“On the way back……”
“Do you want to go alone? I want to stop you because it’s dangerous.”
I quickly shook my head. That wasn’t what I wanted to say. It was rather the opposite.
Fortunately, Seo Nakil caught on quickly. A satisfied smile spread thinly across his handsome face.
“Of course I’ll take you back.”
“And……”
My heart, which had been wavering at his affectionate touch, seemed to pour out completely, revealing everything contained inside.
“……Please make time next time too. Watching movies is good, eating meals is good, other things are good too……”
Let’s date, us.
Although I couldn’t quite say those words, I could tell they were fully conveyed.
Because Seo Nakil responded with a beautiful smile.
