NOVEL WEB Episode 86 - Name
Returning home with a yellow envelope, Yeon-woo opened it to find a neatly written manuscript inside.
「Sketch」
A simple scenario.
Initially, Yeon-woo lay on the bed, starting to read in a comfortable position. But as he progressed through the middle, questions arose in his mind, prompting him to sit up and continue reading. By the end, he was deeply engrossed in profound thoughts.
“…As expected, it’s good.”
Reading the scenario, Yeon-woo reaffirmed his decision made earlier in the day.
The story begins with a man named Jay, adopted to the United States at the age of seven, harboring resentment toward his abandoned parents and homeland. Raised happily in a harmonious Caucasian family, Jay became a perfect American. Starting composition in high school, Jay receives an invitation as a composer from a Korean music label, leading him to revisit his birthplace due to circumstances beyond his control.
As the story unfolds with various twists and turns, it evolves into a human documentary film from the perspective of a man born in Korea but raised as an American, with a music code running through the entire drama and a final plot twist adding to its charm.
Though he wasn’t sure what the director saw when watching himself on screen…
In form and circumstance, Jay Miller, the protagonist of the drama also known as Lee Jihoon, resembled Yeon-woo in several aspects, orphaned at a young age, long-term residence in a foreign country, and the feeling of being abandoned by his homeland, albeit in the drama, it’s by his parents rather than the nation itself.
Though their backgrounds, journeys, and lives were different, Yeon-woo felt drawn to the protagonist of the drama.
“Hmm, come to think of it, the problem won’t be solved just because I like it.”
Being tied to the agency, LN Entertainment, negotiations with them seemed necessary.
Yeon-woo immediately made a call to the person who could resolve the matter.
[Um, Yeon-woo. What’s the matter?]
The deep, middle-aged voice of a gentleman came through the receiver.
“Sir, I just had dinner with Director Park Chan-hong.”
After briefly summarizing the situation, Yeon-woo heard CEO Kim Joo-seong’s hearty laughter.
[Alright, let’s do this. While I’m personally supportive, there might be issues with contracts or audits later on, so LN Entertainment will pay double the amount you plan to invest under your name. And regarding the profit distribution compared to the investment in the film, let’s agree on 70% for you and 30% for us.]
Yeon-woo stroked his chin at the unexpected offer.
“With such conditions, the film would need to generate more than triple the investment to prevent losses on the company’s side.”
[If it’s you, Yeon-woo, I believe it’s entirely possible. Are you not confident?”
CEO Kim Joo-seong’s words sounded more like playful taunting]
Yeon-woo chuckled in response.
“I considered whether giving just 20% would be enough. Of course, I’m confident.”
[Hahaha, I can’t be outdone.]
Yeon-woo retorted, turning the tables with jest, which made CEO Kim Joo-seong burst into laughter.
“Thank you for your attention in many ways.”
Yeon-woo expressed his gratitude sincerely.
[As I mentioned before, I really love ‘acting’.]
With that, Yeon-woo concluded the call, stating that further details would be handled by Manager Yoo, who was responsible for contract-related issues.
Just as he hung up, a message popped up on Yeon-woo’s smartphone.
[Team Leader Yeon-woo, there’s something I need to report. I’m currently in Incheon. Shall we meet in person?]
‘What’s in Incheon? Seems like a frequent visit.’
Yeon-woo mused as he read the message from Han Hae-woon.
He typed his response
[Then let’s meet at the mortuary parking lot. It should take about an hour if I leave now.]
[Okay, got it.]
After sending the message, Yeon-woo put on his coat, grabbed his car keys, and headed outside.
Winter was approaching, and the sun was already setting, casting a dim light.
Meanwhile, Han Hae-woon, recalling his encounter with Jeong Hye-min in Incheon, sighed heavily as he drove toward the mortuary parking lot where he arranged to meet Yeon-woo.
“Is this a wise decision?”
He wondered, thinking of Jeong Hye-min , whom he had just met. Since he had taken her to the mortuary once and they had become somewhat close, he would occasionally drop by under the pretext of work, having coffee or chatting. Jeong Hye-min didn’t seem to mind, and as their relationship grew closer, Han Hae-woon’s concerns only increased.
“…I miss Hye-min so much, but I feel so uncertain.”
He mumbled, scratching his head as he sat in the driver’s seat.
He tried to suppress the urge to secretly visit his young daughter at the daycare. He feared he might break down emotionally when he faced her.
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***
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As Yeon-woo drove into the parking lot, he spotted Han Hae-woon already there, smoking in a corner. Parking the car, Yeon-woo approached him.
Han Hae-woon hurriedly extinguished his cigarette and stomped it out with his foot upon seeing Yeon-woo approaching.
“Did you always smoke?” Yeon-woo asked.
“I do in this life.” Han Hae-woon replied.
Yeon-woo nodded, pondering his response.
“What’s the matter you wanted to report?”
“Yes, I investigated Plus Ten Entertainment and found a lead in this ‘Park Kyung-wan’ case.”
Han Hae-woon took out a document from his suit pocket, placing it in a white envelope. Yeon-woo received the document and unfolded it. It seemed that the investors listed inside were likely involved in both ‘Valdor’ and the ‘Park Kyung-wan’ case.
As Yeon-woo glanced over the list, he nodded.
“Then, let’s look into whether these backers have any connection to actor Ahn Jun-ho aside from Park Kyung-wan. Do you have paper and a pen?”
“Yes.”
Han Hae-woon replied, pulling out a notepad and pen from his jacket pocket and handing them to Yeon-woo. Yeon-woo jotted down a few names and affiliations.
“These are the journalists who collaborated with entertainment industry insiders to break stories during my domestic affairs department days. It might be easier to focus on this area.”
“Understood.”
Taking the notepad, Han Hae-woon nodded, then spoke again.
“Oh, Team Leader, I found an interesting fact during the investigation. It’s from LN Entertainment’s CEO Kim Joo-seong.”
“Hmm? Why him?”
Yeon-woo’s curiosity was piqued when Han Hae-woon mentioned Kim Joo-seong’s name just after their call.
“It seems that besides ‘Park Kyung-wan,’ there were numerous other manipulations in ‘The Star Beyond the River’, such as spreading malicious rumors without evidence through articles. Anyway, CEO Kim Joo-seong apparently intervened and cut off such attempts. He seems to wield more influence in the entertainment industry than one might think.”
“Hmm, really?”
Yeon-woo, stroking his chin, gazed at Han Hae-woon, smiling quizzically.
“But what about you? Your face is full of concern. Is the investigation tough?”
“Me?”
Han Hae-woon sighed deeply as he massaged his cheek.
“It might be because of my past life’s karma. I’ve been meeting my wife occasionally lately.”
As Han Hae-woon spoke, he released a heavy sigh, revealing his concerns. To be honest, who else could listen to his story, which is based on the ridiculous notion of reincarnation? Apart from Yeon-woo, where else could he find someone to confide in?
Listening attentively, Yeon-woo finally spoke.
“In my past life, Baek Yoo-hyun didn’t smoke. He believed that every second mattered and that one should run a second faster and live a minute longer.”
“But in this life, I smoke.”
Han Hae-woon chuckle knowingly as he listen to Yeon-woo’s unexpected remark.
“So, are you Baek Yoo-hyun now or Han Hae-woon?”
Han Hae-woon was caught off guard by Yeon-woo sudden question.
“As I mentioned when we met again in the underground parking lot of the National Theater, I am Ryu Yeon-woo. Jeon Su-hwan has died. If you want to meet your past life’s wife, it’s not as Baek Yoo-hyun but as Han Hae-woon. Do what you want to do now. Han Hae-woon.”
Han Hae-woon looked at Yeon-woo quietly who patted his shoulder.
He is not the terrifying special agent devoid of emotion that he saw in his past life. Instead, there’s just an ordinary college student standing in front of him. Just excessively handsome.
“I think I’m Han Hae-woon. No, I’m Han Hae-woon.”
He nods, contemplating Yeon-woo’s words.
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***
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Two weeks flew by quickly.
During this time, a formal contract for Director Park Chang-hong’s 「Sketch」 was finalized. With Director Park receiving 3 billion won and the 1.5 billion won paid by the agency under Yeon-woo’s name, a budget of 4.5 billion won was secured. In today’s film market, where production costs often exceed 10 billion won, and considering Director Park’s history of directing blockbusters that surpassed 20 billion won, he had never worried about money while filming, except in the early stages. Instead, he enjoyed brainstorming for cost-effective yet compelling direction.
While Director Park brainstormed, ‘The Star Beyond the River’ aired for two weeks, heading towards its final episode, Episode 16. With the surprise appearance of Son Jin-yuk and the release of still cuts, which quickly spread across internet communities, even young viewers who didn’t usually watch live broadcasts were drawn in. It all started with one netizen’s imaginative comment under a photo collage of the three hot actors:
[Which one of these three would you like to date? .jpg]
The charm of the three actors, each with their unique allure, quickly turned into viral memes. Their masks, each showcasing different charms, combined with their roles as male leads in the most popular dramas and movies of the past three years, made the picture a legendary meme that circulated throughout online communities. Influencers and celebrities joined in, asking fans about their preferences based on the photo. As a result, the viewership ratings for ‘The Star Beyond the River’ soared, both for its original airing and its reruns.
Observing this trend, the agency advised Yeon-woo to hold off on signing any contracts for commercials and wait for his value to increase further. Despite being only twenty years old and having starred in only two dramas and two movies, Yeon-woo’s name was already gaining power as an actor.
[Yeon-woo, you can come down now.]
“Sure, I’ll be right down, Min-soo hyung.”
Today, Yeon-woo attended his second wrap-up party in his career, this time as the lead role rather than a supporting one. With a sense of accomplishment, he opened the door and stepped out of his house.