Chapter 19

Translator: Diva

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: 이번 생엔 남편 말고 오스카상이요 19화

Translator: Diva

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: A President's Loyalty

After ignoring Ha Kyung-soo's calls, I blocked him completely.

Thanks to that, I wouldn't get any more contacts, but since he was the type who could blow up out of nowhere, I decided to give the agency a heads-up.

"What is it? A sudden meeting like this has me on edge."

President Heo seemed pretty tense about the abrupt meeting request.

Was he worried I'd caused some kind of trouble?

Well, the music video was opening in four weeks, right?

In a situation like that, it would be a nightmare if the lead actress—especially a freshly signed rookie—stirred up any scandals.

The problem was...

'If this counts as trouble...'

I recalled what Kanna's CEO had said in my past life.

"Eun-rae-ya. Managing risks like this is what makes a good actress. Look at Kang Ye-ji. She's not from some ultra-elite family, but she keeps herself polished from head to toe, and you can tell she's been trained in how to speak. But you? Every time family comes up on variety shows, you make that sour face. Seriously."

"Sorry..."

"And get your dad under control. I'm exhausted managing your image. Do I have to have our marketing team glued to you? I'm only saying this because I used to work with you and feel some loyalty—don't twist my words."

Twist her words? Even taken straight, it was garbage talk from that jerk.

Still, it was true that a family background could be a liability for an actress.

They say the big three risks for actors are faked education, debt scandals, and school violence...

Crime records aside, obviously.

I pressed down on my tense heart and took a sip of the tea in front of me.

"Um... President."

"Oh, no!"

Heo Kyung-hoe shot up from his seat and waved his hands frantically.

"...?"

"Look, I hate to say this now, but..."

"Yes?"

"Truth is, I've liked you since the first time we met?"

"But you're a married man..."

"What are you talking about?"

President, what on earth?

"That audition stuff? I was just bluffing a bit. The fact is, I fell for you hard! I knew it right away! I can make you a star! Where'd they offer? How much? I don't have a house, but I could sell my parents' place!"

"...What are you saying...?"

He'd totally misunderstood.

I cut in before the misunderstanding could deepen.

"My family situation is complicated, so I've cut ties with them. I just wanted to give you a heads-up in case they contact the agency."

That's when the excited President Heo slowly sat back down.

"Huh?"

"...Of course, I'll do everything to keep my side clean, but if you hear about it from them instead of me, it could lead to misunderstandings."

"Ah... so that's what you meant?"

President Heo regained his composure and started listening.

It was a dizzyingly long story, but I kept it as brief as possible.

My father's business failures stretching back to my childhood.

His descent into alcoholism and violence.

My mother, who cursed that father endlessly yet kept borrowing money from relatives for her lavish spending.

And my brother, who claimed to hate our parents but drank and gambled just like them.

'Wow. Telling it out loud, this is peak soap opera territory.'

And as I spoke...

'Ha... Maybe I should've mentioned this before signing.'

It might feel like a gut punch to President Heo.

"...I'm sorry. I realize now I should have told you sooner. I didn't think of it... I needed the money badly... And more than anything..."

I bit my lip, then bowed my head.

"I want to act. I didn't want to miss this chance."

"..."

No response came from across the desk I couldn't lift my head to face.

A heavy silence filled the president's office.

What do I do?

As I agonized...

"What does that have to do with your acting?"

A voice full of frustration rang out.

I looked up at President Heo Kyung-hoe.

His face was stiff.

"I picked you for your acting, not your background?"

"Pardon?"

"What does our agency's name look like to you?"

Heo Kyung-hoe pointed at the sign hanging in the office, his expression somewhere between annoyed and determined.

"...Naru Stage?"

"Right. Naru Stage. A launchpad where actors can sail from a small pond to the big ocean. That's our motto."

"..."

"I thought you'd be launching from our Naru Stage, but it seems you weren't planning to stick around?"

"...Pardon?"

Heo Kyung-hoe now openly furrowed one side of his face.

"What I'm saying is, no need for useless worries."

He even slid a piece of paper and a pen toward me.

"Write down your family members' names and contacts. If they reach out to us, we'll handle it. And from now on, tell anyone contacting you to go through the agency. I'll let Jong-ho know too—no private contacts allowed."

"...!"

What?

I thought he was just in it for the profit, but turns out...

I couldn't hold back the tears.

"...Thank you."

He was a businessman who ran on loyalty. Heo Kyung-hoe.

Sensing the tremor in my voice, Heo Kyung-hoe pulled a pink jelly from his pocket and offered it.

"I don't give these out easily. My eldest daughter loves them."

Really...

...I know I shouldn't, but...

"You bastard. How could you lay a hand on your own daughter? I can't understand it."

I couldn't stop the tears right there.

"Thank you... really..."

"What did our president say?"

Heading out after the meeting, I ran into Executive Director Jang.

She spotted that I'd been crying like a ghost.

"Oh, no. Just had something to tell him... President Heo seems like a good guy."

Executive Director Jang hesitated a moment, then gave a faint smile.

"Right? He comes off a bit flighty, but."

"Yeah."

That much was true.

"I actually had something to tell you too—perfect timing."

"What is it?"

"You don't have an SNS account yet, do you?"

"SNS? I have K-Talk, but—"

Executive Director Jang tilted her head.

"You live like SNS is the enemy? Are you the type who avoids it like Kyung-bin?"

I'd never made one since childhood, scared debt collectors might track me down.

How do I explain this...?

I hesitated, then gave her a quick rundown of my family situation too.

"Sorry, I should've mentioned it sooner—"

"Sorry? Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault."

Executive Director Jang reacted just like President Heo.

That's what you call it.

'Extreme rage.'

"Ugh, those kinds of scum should be bagged up as waste and tossed. Not even recyclable, the lowest of the low! Ah... I wasn't trying to badmouth your family or anything."

Executive Director Jang glanced at me cautiously.

I shook my head.

"No, they are scum."

Especially thinking about how they'd dragged me down my whole life.

"Anyway, don't worry about it. You didn't do anything wrong. Once you get famous... hmm... Not sure what you think, but we can line up an interview right away and spread the word that you've cut ties with your parents."

"I was thinking the same."

The moment I blew up, my family—who'd leech off my fame to borrow money everywhere—would pounce.

Better to get the family story out fast.

"Then I'll assume it's fine and set up your SNS. Okay?"

"Sure, no problem, but—"

I tilted my head.

"If I start an SNS now, will anyone even look?"

Right now, all I had to show was some shopping mall model photos.

SNS?

"If anything, I think you're late to the game."

Executive Director Jang smirked.

It was puzzling, but there was no reason to ignore advice from Jang Hee-ja, who'd engineered career highs for agency actors before.

And soon, I understood what Executive Director Jang meant.