The Third-Gen Chaebol Becomes a Genius Actor

Chapter 147 < Vicious Murder (5) >

“Don’t act like that again.”

“But it turned out well, didn’t it?”

“Maybe, but it was like cutting my own flesh.”

“I can’t help it. There’s something wrong with this thing.”

Yeon Seo tapped his Adam’s apple with his index finger. Judging by their reactions, they had a rough idea of what was going on, so he didn’t bother to hide it.

“It’ll be fine once some time passes.”

And if he caught the culprit… maybe? He couldn’t be sure. It was all because of that one request…

Park Seunghwan whispered, “Is he always like that? So frustrating.” Lim Seunghyun sighed in response.

“Hasn’t it been long enough?”

“Anyway, that’s the situation. Let’s start filming tomorrow, okay?”

He ignored the people who told him to rest and insisted on filming right away.

“Why do you look like that?”

“Uh… never mind. Jaeho and I are going out. Take a break.”

“Yes. Sorry about today.”

The filming was delayed, and the money came out of Yeon Seo’s pocket. He had to do what the investor said, even if he was unhappy. Park Seunghwan and Kim Jaeho, the director, left with gloomy faces, and Lim Seunghyun and Lee Taegyeom remained in the room.

“Are you okay?”

“What could be wrong?”

Yeon Seo clicked his tongue. He didn’t expect to sync with it even without trying. Was it because the beta was an old model? It was quick to find memories, but it was troublesome when they popped up like this.

‘No, don’t rush.’

He felt worse mentally when he was impatient. He clenched the blanket.

Yeon Seo returned to the set right after a day off. Everyone he passed by asked how he was, and he was fine at first, but it got annoying as it continued.

“How was the scene yesterday?”

Lim Seunghyun, who followed him, answered.

“We’ve reported it to the police for now.”

“Good job.”

“But we can’t stop it from spreading.”

Yeon Seo sighed, knowing that. It was a small world, full of rumors. He was able to handle it as a condition problem when it happened during ‘National Bird’. It was after he went to the emergency room. But if it happened more than once, people would get suspicious.

(Mother) Yeon Seo, are you feeling okay?

Just like now. He had to be careful because his mother was a powerful person in this industry.

“It’s already spread.”

“Is it the vice president?”

Yeon Seo nodded and replied. He said it was nothing, but he didn’t know if Choi Yujin would let it go or not.

‘I only need my brother and grandmother to know this.’

The more people knew, the more headache he had. And his grandfather’s interest was not good these days. He felt his headache getting worse as he thought about it.

“Hey, you collapsed. Are you okay?”

Then, Kang Cheonhee, who he became friends with while filming, sat next to Yeon Seo. He was supposed to film a scene with him yesterday, but it was postponed because of him.

“I’m fine, that’s why I came. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

“It’s okay… I don’t have anything else to do besides this.”

Didn’t he hear him say he had an audition today? Yeon Seo looked at Kang Cheonhee curiously.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

His acting was not bad, and his face was not exceptionally handsome, but it had distinctive features that suited any role. Yeon Seo thought he should make a job for him soon and opened the script.

“No, it’s nothing. Let’s practice the lines.”

“Okay.”

***

“Grandpa has cancer.”

Hwang Minjae’s words made Park Jiwu drop the fish cake he was eating. The soup splashed and burned his foot.

“Ouch, you made me lose 700 won.”

“I need money for the treatment… Is there no way?”

“I’m telling you in advance, I don’t have any money.”

“I’m not asking you to lend me. And if I ask you to lend me money, can you?”

Hwang Minjae kicked Park Jiwu’s calf lightly. Park Jiwu whined.

“Can I get compensation for this too?”

“What is it?”

Hwang Min-jae thought of his mother who sighed from the hard work. She complained that they made her work overtime but didn’t pay her extra. And there was the evidence in her diary, and the company that always came up before and after her death.

“Hey, this is suspicious. Why didn’t you do anything? You should have ripped them off.”

“Is it too late now?”

“It’s not too late.”

He didn’t take any action back then, overwhelmed by the grief and loss of his mother, but if he did well…

“Then let’s start with the public opinion.”

“How?”

He started a petition and a one-man protest with the help of Park Ji-woo.

And Hwang Dae-sik was living the same life, making food for his grandson and picking up trash. He ignored his grandson’s plea to go to the hospital.

‘Is this the right way to live?’

He still had regrets in his heart.

‘I should feed Min-jae something delicious.’

His grandson was busy these days. He didn’t show up at his usual part-time job, and he didn’t help him with his work sometimes. He wasn’t angry that he didn’t help. He was just worried about what he was doing.

He went to the big supermarket that he never went to for his grandson and heard a familiar voice.

“Please sign this!”

His grandson, who bravely ran out to raise money for his grandfather’s treatment when he should have been focusing on his studies in his senior year of high school, was there.

‘Why is he there…’

He remembered that Hwang Min-jae’s mother died in an unjust accident. Could it be… he was demanding compensation. Hwang Dae-sik hid behind the wall and secretly watched his grandson’s actions.

“Hey, is it going well?”

“No.”

“Tomorrow, the kids from the next class will help you.”

“Really?”

And there were many friends with his grandson. Wasn’t he blocking his grandson’s bright future with his illness?

‘Jun-ho…’

Hwang Dae-sik thought of his son who died before him as he looked at his smiling grandson.

He gave up on his son, but his grandson didn’t give up on him. And that was something that an adult, a guardian, should have done.

‘I sent Jun-ho away to lighten my burden.’

It wasn’t because he was poor, but because he was tired of living and didn’t want to go alone.

When he opened his eyes in the emergency room of the hospital, he felt relieved that he had survived. He vowed never to make that choice again.

He didn’t think of his son who was lying next to him then. His life was the only thing that mattered. He felt sick with guilt as he thought of that. His son’s coughing sound grew louder in his ears.

(Cough… Dad…)

Hwang Dae-sik clenched his fist and turned around with a determined look.

He asked his grandson casually when he came back from the protest.

“Is it going well?”

“Yes! I think I can raise the money for the treatment soon!”

“Isn’t that the money your mother worked hard for? You should use it for yourself…”

“This is for me.”

Hwang Min-jae frowned. He was afraid that he would get angry again, so he quietly scooped up some rice and put it in front of his grandson.

“But, did you know?”

“I know. Who wouldn’t know if you make such a fuss.”

“Anyway, since the response is good, you should go to the hospital first.”

He felt a sense of relief as he saw his grandson’s expression brighten. Hwang Dae-sik felt a pressure on his body.

(Your grandson’s grades are so good. He doesn’t even go to the academy…)

(Is it him?)

(Yes, with these grades, he could aim for the top universities in Seoul… But Min-jae said he would work right after graduation…)

(…)

(I’m also looking for ways to support him in various ways… But it’s not easy.)

He couldn’t forget what his homeroom teacher said at the parent-teacher conference. Wasn’t he holding his grandson back with his old age and illness?

“Okay… I got it.”

Hwang Min-jae smiled broadly at Hwang Dae-sik’s calm answer. It seemed that holding him back had worked, as his stubborn grandfather had quieted down.

Meanwhile, Hwang Dae-sik watched his grandson stuffing his mouth with rice and reaffirmed his decision.

If he left like this, his grandson would surely be sad. But he thought this was the right thing to do for his future.

Hwang Min-jae was now an adult. He was a young man with a bright path ahead of him. Unlike him and his son, who had no one by their side, he had reliable friends and caring teachers.

Hwang Dae-sik was born in a poor family and lived a hard life. He lost his wife early. 

He had a bad health and couldn’t do a proper job. His daughter ran away, and his son was so sick that even the hospital wouldn’t take him. 

He had a hard time getting any benefits from the country, as if there were too many restrictions.

He had to carry too many burdens for a single person.

‘I shouldn’t be a burden to you…’

***

“Where did it leak from…?”

Jo Yeon-chul frowned as if he was fed up with the crowd that rushed in. It was well known that Yoo Yeon Seo was filming a movie in this neighborhood, as he had left many photos, and naturally, people who saw the news came flocking.

“It’s a good thing that this neighborhood is being redeveloped… If not, they would have kept coming.”

Of course, that was also one of the reasons why they started filming early. Yoo Yeon Seo looked at Cha Yoon-ho, who was babbling next to him.

“Why are you here, Cha secretary? It’s burdensome for the director.”

“I’m supposed to serve the director, but I have to obey the vice president if he orders me.”

“Haah…”

Yoo Yeon Seo rubbed his forehead and sighed.

“It’s nothing, why…”

“Parents are all like that. They’re quick to act when it comes to their children.”

He was as good at flattering as Yoo Gunmin. But it was strange that he was so devoted to someone who wasn’t even his son. Come to think of it, he had only investigated his maternal relatives… No way, that can’t be. Yoo Yeon Seo shook his head vigorously.

“So, why did the vice president send you here?”

“Don’t you know, Cha secretary?”

“I know that the director collapsed while acting.”

“That’s right.”

He didn’t seem to care much. ‘I’ll just say that he was too immersed in acting.’ He added.

“Is that how you get immersed?”

“Huh?”

“Why, am I some kind of acting god?”

Yoo Yeon Seo looked at Park Seung-hwan, who had finished his makeup. The chemistry of acting did vary depending on who the co-star was.

He didn’t feel much in ‘Baekho Ship’ and ‘Evil Spirit’. But he felt a good synergy here. He felt some synergy with Jin Suho in ‘Dreaming’ and Shin Ye-won in ‘National Bird’, but Park Seung-hwan was on a different level. He always maintained the atmosphere of ‘Hwang Dae-sik’, whether the camera was rolling or not.

‘I feel sorry for my previous co-stars…’

He unconsciously recalled the past.

“You’re not an acting god, are you?”

“Hey, don’t be like that.”

Park Seung-hwan pretended to be coy and Yoo Yeon Seo chuckled. But still… There were a lot of them. But there were always crowds like this on the set.

‘It’ll take a long time to get in the mood.’

Yoo Yeon Seo looked at the sky and closed his eyes.

“…Are you okay today?”

“Yes, I don’t get tired even if I run for a long time. I have good stamina.”

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“What are you talking about then?”

This guy, he’s pretending not to know. Park Seung-hwan finally raised both hands.

“Let’s do well in the last scene.”

“Yes.”