NOVEL WEB Chapter 7 - I Will Prove It
Chapter 7: I Will Prove It
“Is it really okay for me to live here?”
“This place was occasionally used like a villa, so it has all the basic furniture. If you need anything additional, you can use the card I gave you.”
“···Madam!”
“Give me back the card.”
“Hey, I was just kidding. Just a joke.”
I quickly stepped back to avoid Kim Eun-ha’s hand. A look of disbelief shot at me like an arrow, but I pretended to be looking around the house and casually shrugged it off.
‘Indeed, money is a good thing.’
I don’t have a house or a car.
I tried to make a light black comedy joke about it. But it seems like a serious issue to her.
Kim Eun-ha delegated her work to her secretary who arrived on time and immediately headed to the outskirts of Seoul with me.
There, I encountered a splendid two-story detached house, even with a garden.
‘But it feels a bit desolate.’
Maybe because people don’t usually stay here. I heard that a caretaker regularly cleans it up, but it still felt strangely empty.
“Where do you usually stay?”
“In an officetel near the department store.”
“And you leave such a great house?”
“It’s inefficient for commuting. Even if it’s 1~2 hours a day, that’s 10 hours a week. At least 40 hours a month. It’s a huge national loss.”
Aah, I see.
I barely managed to swallow the words that were about to reflexively come out.
I wonder what kind of life one must lead to be so full of pride, but then again, when you see the results, you can’t help but nod in agreement.
The most valuable thing she inherited as the heir of the Mirae Group must be this kind of mental attitude, not just capital or land.
‘Did she say she hardly had any financial support?’
I heard that the current Mirae Group Chairman, Kim Seok-ho, is very strict about children’s education. A curriculum that ordinary people couldn’t endure for even a month.
Naturally, there’s almost no support for business startup funds. Of course, ‘almost none’ for chaebols might differ from the common standard.
Anyway, the fact that she earned the position of CEO of Mirae Department Store is purely due to Kim Eun-ha’s abilities. I guess I should think of this house in front of me as part of her achievements.
“···In many ways, it’s impressive.”
“What is?”
“Eun-ha ssi.”
“If you cut off the beginning and the end, how would I know what you’re talking about?”
“Pretty, rich, and capable.”
“Bringing that up out of the blue.”
“······.”
I felt strange with her reaction, different from what I expected. Of course, it’s true, but when the person themselves take it so naturally, it kind of makes me feel weird.
With that, I shook my head and continued to explore the house. The kitchen, living room, bathroom, of course. And specialized spaces like a pantry or laundry room, even a dressing room.
“There are three bathrooms!?”
“One of them is a bath.”
“Is there such a luxurious space in the world?”
“···Where have you been living all this time?”
“Just a normal studio apartment.”
A kitchen, living room, room, dressing room all combined into a Korean-style all-in-one house.
A groundbreaking idea of cramming everything possible into a space barely 10 pyeong, maximizing the number of occupants per unit area, the pinnacle of capitalism. (TL: 1 pyeong is roughly 3.3 sqm)
After a brief explanation, Kim Eun-ha looked at me with a very doubtful expression and said,
“Aren’t you exaggerating?”
“Actually, it’s the opposite. I was relatively better off, but there are really harsh ones where the bathroom is combined into the studio.”
“···How do you combine a bathroom?”
“Sitting on the toilet while cooking, or if one wishes, they can eat and relieve themselves at the same time. It’s the extreme of efficiency.”
Ugh-
Seemingly with a rich imagination, Kim Eun-ha covered her mouth with her hand and began to retch.
In fact, there were places even worse than that. But fearing I might really be disliked if I said more, I firmly shut my mouth.
“Are you okay?”
“···No. I feel queasy.”
“You have a weak stomach.”
“I think I’m quite normal!?”
Kim Eun-ha retorted, raising her voice. This was a significant gap from the demeanor she had shown before, and it was quite cute.
Seeing my thoughts reflected on my face, Kim Eun-ha sighed deeply and said,
“···Anyway.”
“If you leave out the context, how am I supposed to understand?”
“Don’t mimic me.”
“Mimicking··· Yes. Understood.”
Glare-
Kim Eun-ha glared at me with a face void of any smile. Seeing that she might bury me in the front yard if I teased her further, I quickly raised both hands to show my surrender.
“···Sigh. Anyway, until you pick a suitable car, use mine for the time being.”
Wow-
I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation. She was referring to the car we drove together from the department store to here.
Surprisingly, it was not a foreign car but a domestic company’s mid-to-low-priced premium line.
It was an odd choice for a chaebol heiress, so when I casually asked about it:
– My grandfather also drives a domestic car.
– Is it to be mindful of public opinion?
– Yes. Negative opinions about luxury goods are starting to arise domestically. We’re being cautious to avoid the image of flaunting wealth. It also helps in strengthening relations between domestic groups.
That was her response.
Of course, when they say mid-to-low-priced, it’s still a car worth tens of millions without any options, and it seemed to have been completely customized inside.
‘At least it looks domestic.’
What’s important now is that I have a personal car to drive.
“Just to be clear, be extra careful not to have an accident. Use taxis for non-essential schedules.”
“I have been a substitute driver for five years. Including my military service as a driver, that makes it seven years, so don’t worry about that.”
“······.”
“······.”
Kim Eun-ha looked into my eyes silently for a while, as if gauging the truth. When I met her gaze without averting my eyes, she nodded slightly.
“I’ll trust you this time.”
“You won’t regret it!”
“···I’m starting to regret it already.”
Sigh-
Kim Eun-ha let out a deep sigh. After a moment of hesitation, she finally handed me the car keys.
“Thank you. But what will you drive in the meantime, Eun-ha ssi?”
“There are a few more at the department store.”
Ah, I see.
I decided not to impose ordinary common sense on her anymore. If I’m to act as a chaebol, I need to be more familiar with their ways.
“Then, I should head back to the company. Woo-ju ssi, make sure to prepare for the audition and get anything you need.”
“Audition? What do you mean?”
“Oh, did I not mention it?”
Grin-
Meeting my eyes, Kim Eun-ha raised one corner of her mouth. Seeing that mischievous smile, I was sure she did it on purpose.
“That’s the production team’s requirement. They want to see if Woo-ju ssi is qualified for the role of Kang Joo-heon.”
“What if they don’t like it?”
“Even if I withdraw all support, they can’t give you the role of Kang Joo-heon to someone unsuitable, they were very adamant about that.”
“I see.”
It was the first time I heard this, but I nodded calmly. Kim Eun-ha tilted her head, seemingly puzzled by my reaction.
“You don’t seem very surprised?”
“I think it’s only natural. In fact, I would have been disappointed if they had accepted me just because of the sponsorship.”
What’s the use of a high production budget if a single poor actor can ruin the whole work.
Viewers are wary of idol-turned-actors for a reason. Awkward acting disrupts immersion and can ruin the production.
Moreover, a failed production leaves an indelible mark on everyone involved in its creation, from the actors to the writers, directors, and all staff.
No matter how desperate I am for acting opportunities, I don’t want to ruin a production with my own hands. What I need is simply an ‘opportunity’.
“Probably Eun-ha ssi thinks the same.”
“Hmm?”
“If I fail the audition, you won’t withdraw your support. Instead, you’ll invest more to bring in a well-known actor. For instance…”
“Seo Jun-woo.”
Kim Eun-ha cut me off. She looked at me with a cold, business-like expression that was uncharacteristic of her.
“As you said. If Woo-ju ssi fails the audition, I’ll bring in actor Seo Jun-woo, the star of Mirae Department Store.”
“Is that so.”
“Are you upset?”
“It would be a lie to say I’m not.”
I’m human, after all. It hurts to be told to my face that ‘there are plenty of others to replace you’. But.
“I just need to pass, right?”
“What?”
“The audition, I mean.”
“······.”
Seo Jun-woo taking my place is a story for if I fail the audition. Therefore, the solution is surprisingly simple.
“I will prove myself.”
“You seem oddly confident.”
“I have nothing to lose. And…”
“And?”
Kim Eun-ha, her curiosity piqued, pricked up her ears and asked. Recalling the mischievous smile she had just shown, I said,
“I have a girlfriend who believes in me, right?”
“Oh, how boring.”
“Whoa, has your affection for me already cooled down? Just yesterday you said, ‘I believe my husband will definitely do it’.”
“···That was this morning.”
“It’s just a figure of speech. Oh, how boring.”
“······.”
Kim Eun-ha’s brow furrowed deeply. She seemed to have a lot to say, but her expression showed she didn’t know what to say.
“Sigh… Fine.”
“You’re leaving already?”
“I don’t like being around you; it’s draining.”
“I really, really like Eun-ha ssi.”
“Go away. Just go!”
Kim Eun-ha recoiled in disgust as I deliberately clung to her. Her look was as if she had seen a cockroach, which honestly hurt a little.
Seemingly flustered by her own genuine reaction, Kim Eun-ha’s face reddened.
“Suddenly clinging to me like that!”
“What’s that? Such an innocent reaction.”
“What else… No, never mind! Stop talking. I really need to go to work now. Prepare well for your audition.”
“I’ll take you to the department store.”
“I don’t need it.”
Click-clack-!
Kim Eun-ha, perhaps trying to hide her embarrassment, left with particularly forceful steps. I watched her confident departure and called out,
“The exit is on the other side.”
“I know that! This is my house, after all!?”
“Then why go that way?”
“···I’m going to the bathroom first.”
“Aha.”
“······.”
Kim Eun-ha walked away with determination, as if to prove her point. However, she had overlooked one fact.
‘What will she use to leave?’
When she arrived, I saw no other car, and she had said the spare ones were at the department store parking lot. Calling a taxi would take a long time to get here.
Sure enough, beyond the fence, I saw her pacing indecisively, not knowing what to do.
‘···Such a tiresome type.’
Sigh-
I let out a small sigh and immediately headed to the parking lot with the car keys. Then, I drove out in the car Kim Eun-ha had transferred to me.
She turned her head in surprise at the sound of the car. I rolled down the passenger side window and cheekily asked.
“I was just heading out to pick up some things for the house. Would you like to join me? I can drop you off nearby.”
“······.”
Nod-
Inside the car, Kim Eun-ha didn’t even glance my way. She just silently looked out the window.
Only I knew that her neck was blushing like a persimmon due to this.
* * *
“You’re really going to parachute someone in!?”
“Ah, my ears are going to fall off from the noise.”
“Director! How can you do this? You know how much I cherish this project! When you invited me to work on this project, you definitely said…”
“Writer Jung.”
Gone was Kang In-ho’s usual jovial image; he spoke with a serious expression and tone.
This cooled down the heated Jung Ha-rin a bit, and the experienced Kang In-ho didn’t miss this opportunity to continue.
“It’s not just Writer Jung who values this project. Do you think I feel any differently? But to survive long in this business, we ultimately have to prove ourselves through ratings.”
“······.”
“Think about the last project. Celebrating the protagonist’s release from the prison with chocolates? This is much better than stuffing the show with awkward PPL, right?”
Sigh-
Watching Writer Jung’s spiritless expression, Director Park swallowed a bitter smile. He sank into the old sofa and continued.
“Moreover, they were the ones who suggested the audition first. They even said that if we don’t like the performance, we don’t have to cast him.”
“Do you believe that?”
“People might not be trustworthy, but contracts are. Of course···”
Knock-knock-
Just then, someone knocked on the door. The two of them, as if by agreement, quieted their voices and turned their heads simultaneously.
Click-
As if on cue, the door opened boldly, and a man entered. The faces of the two people widened in surprise upon seeing Kang Woo-ju.
****
TL: Hi, thanks for reading. English is not my first language, so if the wording feels a bit unnatural, please let me know in the comments. Also, I will try to get an editor for this series, and if anyone wants to volunteer, please let me know. Thanks.