Chapter 71
I had always known that I would eventually receive a payout for my shares, but seeing the actual amount written in numbers right before my eyes left me feeling dazed.
As if he had read my expression, CEO Han Tae-seong smiled.
“Just as you said, it came out to about the price of a passenger car.”
“Thank you...”
The 0.1 percent stake that had begun as nothing more than a playful bet had returned to me like this.
“So, what are you planning to do with the money? Since it’s enough to buy a car, actually buying one wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“I’m not really at an age where I need a car yet... I think reinvesting it in Timeless, which we’ll be producing next year, might not be a bad idea either.”
“Oh... That’s not a bad idea.”
Fifteen days ago, during the final pitching session held before CEO Han Tae-seong and the company employees, I Am the Culprit and Timeless had been officially selected for production in 2007.
“I’ll cast my vote for Director Kim Tae-gyeong’s I Am the Culprit. Maybe it’s because it’s based on a true story, but the plot is incredibly gripping.”
Everyone gathered there seemed to agree with the executive director’s opinion.
“My vote goes to Timeless. To be honest, I really want to try making a science-fiction film. More importantly, the screenplay is excellent.”
“I agree. It has a romantic comedy, a tear-jerking drama, just the right amount of action, and science-fiction elements that aren’t overdone... I think it could attract a wide range of audiences.”
Producer Baek Seong-han and Producer Eom Ji-yeon expressed the same opinion for the first time.
Of course, the opposition was just as strong.
“Science fiction? Isn’t that still a little too ambitious for our country?”
“The story is good, but I’m not sure it can overcome the limitations of its genre... Personally, I think the romantic comedy recommended by Han-yeong would be a safer choice. Most romantic comedies at least break even, don’t they?”
“Come on, Director. That’s not always true these days. Besides, romantic comedies rely far too heavily on their actors...”
As expected, the accounting team leader and the executive director seemed reluctant to produce the film because of the risks associated with the science-fiction genre.
Nevertheless, Timeless would be Director Song Jae-hyeon’s next project.
His previous film had not only been recognized for its quality at the Busan International Film Festival, but after its official theatrical release, it had also attracted nearly eight hundred thousand viewers in only two weeks.
The high expectations surrounding his next project played a major role, and in the end, both Timeless and I Am the Culprit were approved for production.
I had calculated in advance that Director Song’s film would receive a theatrical release. That was why I had shown him the screenplay first and persuaded him to join the project as its director.
Fortunately, my plan had worked.
“Ah, I heard Director Song’s film has already passed 1.3 million viewers.”
“Yes. Word of mouth has been spreading, so I heard they decided to increase the number of screens from thirty to fifty.”
“Wow. At this rate, you won’t just earn enough to buy a car. You’ll have more than enough to put down the deposit on a rental home. Hahaha.”
Han Tae-seong laughed cheerfully.
“It’s all thanks to you, sir.”
“Thanks to me?”
“If you think about it, Director Song’s distribution problem was only resolved because you invited me to join your meeting with the person in charge of distribution at C Entertainment during the Busan International Film Festival.”
The corners of Han Tae-seong’s lips lifted.
“Is that so?”
“Actually, there’s something I’ve been curious about for a while. That day, you deliberately praised me in front of them...”
“Hahaha. My intentions, you say... As expected, you’re quick-witted. So you realized that I was deliberately talking you up in front of them.”
As I thought... There really was something behind it.
“To be honest, meeting you there that day was a coincidence, so it was a rather spontaneous plan. Still, I think we’ll soon see whether promoting you like that was worthwhile. Hahaha.”
What does that mean? Is he saying the results of promoting me will appear soon?
Just as my questions were beginning to pile up, the phone in my pocket suddenly began ringing loudly.
Flustered, I quickly pulled it out and rejected the call.
Han Tae-seong smiled at me as though telling me it was fine.
At that moment, a message notification sounded.
“It seems urgent. You should check it.”
“Ah, no. It’s all right. I’ll check it later...”
But then several more message notifications sounded in succession.
“You should probably check. What will you do if it really is urgent?”
Han Tae-seong spoke with a relaxed smile.
Looking apologetic, I hurriedly pulled out my phone and checked the message.
It was from Ma Sang-hui.
<Gi-baek, something terrible has happened! Please contact me as soon as possible.>
Something terrible?
My expression hardened before I even realized it.
Noticing the change in my face, Han Tae-seong asked worriedly,
“Has something bad happened?”
Only then did I snap back to my senses and lower my phone.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I think something has happened to a friend of mine.”
“Is that so? If it’s urgent, you may leave.”
“No, it’s all right. Didn’t you have something else you wanted to tell me?”
Han Tae-seong paused for a moment before continuing.
“No. Take care of your own matter first.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll be going.”
I hurried out of the CEO’s office and immediately checked my phone again.
[Gi-baek! Something terrible has happened. Please contact me as soon as possible. -Ma Sang-hui-]
[Hey, Gi-baek. Did you see the article? This isn’t about Bo-yeong, is it? -Cha Seung-jun-]
[Gi-baek, have you seen the online article? I think something may have happened to Bo-yeong. Can you reach her? -Song Jae-hyeon-]
Judging from the messages, I didn’t know exactly what had happened, but it was clear that the situation was serious.
Wait... An article? What article?
Before calling Ma Sang-hui, I connected to the internet to check whether any articles related to Gil Bo-yeong had been published.
The moment I opened the internet, however, I saw Gil Bo-yeong’s name listed among the portal site’s most searched terms.
<Shocking! Former Child Actress Miss B Revealed to Have Visited Entertainment Establishments and Entertained Guests Since She Was a Minor!>
<Hot Issue! Miss B, the Former Child Prodigy Actress, Visited Entertainment Establishments for a Sponsor While Still Underage!>
The internet was flooded with articles bearing sensational headlines.
No way...!
I quickly called the number Mun Chang-su had given me.
<Hello?>
“Chang-su, it’s me. Gi-baek.”
<Hyung!>
After work, I rushed to the one-room officetel that Mun Chang-su used as both his home and office.
Ma Sang-hui and Mun Chang-su were already there, along with Mun Hyeon-bin and Gil Bo-yeong.
Gil Bo-yeong’s face looked worn and haggard, as though the sudden situation had taken a heavy emotional toll on her.
Seeing her like that made my heart feel heavy.
“Noona, are you all right?”
“Because of me, you couldn’t even rest after work and had to come all the way here...”
Gil Bo-yeong tried to act as though she was fine. Instead, she felt sorry for making me rush over as soon as I finished work.
“Don’t say that. Of course I had to come. And please don’t worry too much. We’ll definitely find a way to resolve this.”
After reassuring Gil Bo-yeong, I turned to Ma Sang-hui.
“Have you looked into the reporter who wrote the article?”
“Yes. His name is Go Chang-sik, a reporter for Sunday News... I already spoke with him on the phone. He claimed that he had merely received an anonymous tip. Then he got angry at me, saying he had only called her ‘Miss B’ and had never once said it was Gil Bo-yeong.”
At Ma Sang-hui’s words, Mun Chang-su became even more furious.
“That crazy bastard! Anyone can tell from the circumstances that he’s talking about Gil Bo-yeong, yet he says what? ‘Miss B’?! I swear, I’m going to find that bastard and...”
“That’s enough. Stop. I’m grateful that you’re angry on my behalf, but we don’t have the luxury of losing our tempers right now.”
At that moment, Mun Hyeon-bin, who had remained silent with a serious expression the entire time, finally spoke in frustration.
“More importantly, shouldn’t we take some kind of action as quickly as possible?”
“If we step forward and explain ourselves first, it may look as though we’re admitting that Miss B is Gil Bo-yeong...”
Ma Sang-hui responded cautiously, but Mun Hyeon-bin frowned impatiently.
“But look at this. She was a child actress who won the Best Supporting Actress award, disappeared for seven years, and recently made a successful comeback through a film. Anyone can tell from those details that they’re talking about Bo-yeong.”
Mun Hyeon-bin was worried that if they simply sat back and did nothing, people would eventually accept it as fact that Gil Bo-yeong had visited entertainment establishments because of a sponsor.
“Since it has come to this, why don’t we reveal the truth first? Her former agency’s CEO used Bo-yeong noona to obtain investment money and expand his company! When you really think about it, Bo-yeong noona was the victim!”
Mun Chang-su heatedly burst out once again.
“I’ve told you before. Whether she’s seen as the perpetrator or the victim, being trapped within that kind of narrative is poison to an actress. This is a situation where we need to be extremely careful.”
Ma Sang-hui glanced at Gil Bo-yeong, who had remained silent with a dark expression throughout the conversation. She then gave Mun Chang-su a look, silently telling him to control himself.
Even while everyone exchanged their opinions, my mind was working furiously.
Before my regression, the conflict between Gil Bo-yeong and her agency’s CEO had briefly become an issue.
However, she had never been caught up in a rumor about visiting such establishments while she was underage.
But perhaps, if I handled this situation properly, I could turn it into an opportunity that would benefit all of us.
“Manager Ma is right. Even if we reveal the truth, we can’t do it like this. That’s why, before coming here, I briefly spoke with our company’s legal adviser...”
The moment I mentioned a lawyer, everyone’s eyes turned toward me at once.
“A lawyer?”
“Yes. I didn’t mention Bo-yeong noona’s name. I only said that it concerned an actress who had appeared in a film produced by our company.”
“Ah, I see...”
Mun Hyeon-bin quickly interrupted, urging me to continue.
“So, what did the lawyer say?”
“According to him, if the information provided through the initials is specific enough for people to identify the person involved, it satisfies the legal requirement of identifiability. That means we can file a lawsuit for defamation and related offenses.”
He had also explained that, in cases involving celebrities, it was better for the agency to step forward than for the individual to respond personally.
By framing the matter as harm done to the company rather than merely to an individual, the agency could demand a stronger response and harsher punishment.
“Ah... An agency...”
A short sigh escaped Ma Sang-hui’s lips.
“I suppose... if we had a proper agency, something like this could have been resolved quickly...”
“Hey, both Bo-yeong and I have been able to handle our work this well without an agency because of you and Manager Ma. So don’t say things like that.”
Mun Hyeon-bin spoke comfortingly when Mun Chang-su suddenly became discouraged.
“Wait a moment. I haven’t finished speaking yet.”
“Oh, sorry. Go on.”
“So, I’ve been thinking... Why don’t we create our own agency?”
The four of them stared at one another in shock.
I continued before any of them could speak.
“Actually, I’ve been thinking about it for some time. We’ve worked together for a year, so I think we’ve had more than enough time to adjust to one another. Why don’t we use this opportunity to establish an official corporation?”
Fortune can arise from misfortune.
Yes. Let’s turn this crisis into an opportunity!
Perhaps this was the perfect time to establish Starlight.
