Chapter 26
CEO didn’t seem to be paying much attention to my answer.
“I know that your family isn’t struggling to the point where you need to help support them. You’ve said so yourself. But Jiin… ha… right, I’m speaking honestly as family here, so don’t take this the wrong way.”
“……”
“Looking at how you’re still living in the company dorm, it seems like your family in Italy isn’t that well-off either… How about making up your mind and properly showing filial piety for once, hmm?”
I was obligated to live in the dorm until the investment recovery was complete. It was specified in the contract. Only after completing a full year since debut was I able to pay off all the accumulated investment costs.
The reason I didn’t become independent even after that wasn’t because my family was financially struggling, but because I had no particular complaints about dorm life. Whether it was because I had no desire for luxury homes in wealthy areas or large imported cars, or… because somewhere in my heart I still considered my life in Korea temporary, I couldn’t tell myself.
But I think there was basis for CEO’s misunderstanding.
Many colleagues and juniors moved houses and changed cars as soon as they cleared their investment debts and income started flowing. Eight or nine times out of ten. It was common for the company to suggest house and car changes first when debt recovery was just around the corner. It was a system where they received houses and cars from the company at levels difficult to afford with immediate income, then paid them back again.
Hongseo called this “miking.”
Although I felt Korean more comfortable as my mother tongue than English or Italian, I was inevitably a bit weak with slang. Hongseo said miking was slang meaning debt owed to the company.
It was a system that seemed like the company was treating actors well out of trust, but ultimately it was money that had to be repaid. In that it encouraged living more luxuriously than actual income, it was even more dangerous than ordinary debt.
When my answer didn’t come easily, CEO leaned his upper body forward and took a more aggressive posture.
“Or, would you like to move dorms this time? You’ve been living in cramped dorm conditions for four years since signing the contract, so you might lack motivation. Cars can’t even enter right up to your current dorm. You’d want some privacy too. Should I look into a Han River view officetel? An appropriate size for living alone.”
CEO was suggesting I take on that very miking.
As my silence continued, CEO’s voice lowered.
“Jiin.”
“……”
“If you just make up your mind to properly establish yourself, I can bring work from here and there too. Until now I’ve only recommended incoming work, but I’ve been around this industry for years… I’m capable enough to get you roles. But I can only push forward if you want it yourself. Is it lack of ambition, or is your heart elsewhere?”
Like Director Hwang Sooyoung, I thought with a bitter smile that I’d been hearing that kind of talk often lately.
“Funny…”
“Actually, I’ve been thinking lately… that I need to make a decision one way or another. As CEO knows better than anyone, this isn’t an easy industry where you can survive just by dragging things out…”
CEO’s eyes suddenly sharpened.
“Why, did something happen?”
Though he furrowed his brow and lowered his voice expressing worry, strangely to my eyes it looked like he was trying to suppress interest and excitement.
“Don’t tell me… it’s not something that would give the media ammunition, is it?”
Shaking his head as if that couldn’t be, CEO narrowed his eyes.
Just then the food was ready. CEO naturally stopped the conversation and appropriately praised the plating of the served dishes.
Meanwhile, Lee Han from Knox Hotel naturally came to mind.
Something that would give the media ammunition.
If CEO found out what happened last night, he’d grab the back of his neck. He was someone who had urged me that even if I slept with anyone without him knowing, I should at least choose someone from the same industry.
But why was that? Even though I had no special affection for CEO, nor any particular ill feelings, I felt like a thoughtless adolescent boy who had dodged strict parents to commit minor transgressions and felt exhilarated.
Saying the owner chef here had been head chef at a hotel’s Chinese restaurant for 20 years so the food quality was high, CEO personally served food onto my plate.
As CEO said, the dongpo pork had lively fat layers making it bouncy yet tender. But this wasn’t a place to enjoy the taste either. I made a show of eating a little out of courtesy then put down my chopsticks. CEO too seemed uninterested in the food he’d praised so much, continuously emptying only wine.
“Jiin, as I told you when we wrote the contract. In this muddy bottom, we’re like family who’ve boarded the same ship. Even the most trivial matter that could become a seed of problems must be shared. That way the company can prepare responses in advance for bombs that might explode. Right?”
“……”
Did he judge that my closed-mouth reaction was really because there was some problem? CEO pulled his chair even closer forward.
“What is it? Money problems? Woman problems?”
“Nothing like that. Just… I guess it’s like a slump. I’ve never taken such a long break from work since debut.”
CEO nodded, but didn’t seem to believe my words at face value.
“You manage yourself excellently, but… there’s no one who doesn’t have dust when shaken down. Dust is just dust, not even filth… but whether it’s the public or media, they attack like they want to kill you over just that one speck of dust…”
CEO suddenly pulled his tie knot slightly as if frustrated, then emptied more than half of his newly filled wine at once. Then he looked around rolling his eyes even though no one was listening, and lowered his voice.
“As long as my contract with you is valid, there’s no one in this industry more on your side than me. You must clearly believe that much. If something goes wrong with you, it’s true that I and UB get headaches too. Whether it’s love problems, family matters, money, whatever… if there seems to be even a slight problem, definitely consult before problems explode. Okay?”
CEO emphasized that part several times. It wasn’t wrong in itself. But I had no intention of sharing my problems with anyone, not just UB. It wasn’t because I didn’t trust CEO. It would have been the same with any company contract.
CEO looked at me somewhat frustratedly as I just nodded silently, then sighed as if giving up and relaxed his shoulders. Then he changed the topic to create new tension.
“Actually… it looks like I’ll luckily be connected with someone who can give you a good opportunity. Since you hate business so much, the company hasn’t even brought it up until now. If your thoughts have changed, I’ll arrange a meeting once. Honestly… you have seniority now so you probably know to some extent, but there are limits to roles you can get working without business. Ah, right! You’re close with Yoon Juho. You know Yoon Juho also splits his busy schedule to drink with PDs, bureau chiefs, executives, investors… people like that? Don’t think of it as business, think of it as building connections.”
There’s no irreplaceable value in this industry. There could be two or three, or as many as four or five actors with suitable images for one role. So among actors with similar images, who would those with casting decision power choose? Ultimately, it’s personal connections.
CEO rambled on about that kind of content for a while.
“If you just say yes, I can set up a meeting right away. It’s an opportunity to get into a new work within this quarter.”
“Director Hwang’s audition results are still pending.”
“……”
This time CEO made an expression like he’d been hit in a vital spot.
“Ah… uh, right. That’s still pending.”
Averting his gaze, CEO reached for his wine glass. It seemed the company wasn’t expecting much from this casting.
“How to proceed from now on… when <Eternal Night> casting is definitely off the table, I’ll let you know then.”
Though he looked like he hadn’t gotten the answer he wanted to hear, CEO nodded.
“Right. Whether it’s a new dorm or vehicle, the company is ready to support you anytime you want. Just say the word if you need it.”
“Yes, I will. Thank you.”
“And yesterday… I’m sorry. I know you hate that kind of business… but as I was proceeding with Director Kang’s matter, I got greedy. Even if the director misunderstood, I wasn’t trying to push a package deal blindly. The role I mentioned really seemed perfect for you the more I thought about it.”
I definitely didn’t like ‘business.’
But even if I got cast in <Eternal Night>, strictly speaking it was thanks to Yoon Juho introducing me to Director Hwang, so it was no different from business through connections. It wasn’t much different from CEO calling me out to Director Kang Woohyeon’s party. It was just a slightly more humiliating occasion dealing with slightly ruder people.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
