NOVEL NEXT Ch 147
“What the heck is this kid?”
Seo Jun-young, who had been pretending to be relaxed, could no longer hold back and showed his anger. However, Choi Hong-seo’s expression and attitude did not change at all.
“The director warned you.”
“……”
“The Vice President is like an omnipotent demigod in this world. Don’t make God angry for no reason and get angry. Keep your mouth shut. Even though the Director advised you that, you continue to act recklessly. Don’t you think you don’t understand the situation?”
Before they knew it, the other people had stopped talking and were concentrating on the two’s tense argument. A few of them were sending anxious and worried looks, but most of the other looks were… of course, simple interest in watching the fight.
Seo Jun-young, who had his arms tightly crossed in front of his chest, smiled mockingly, one corner of his mouth raised. His facial muscles trembled as the medicine rose to its fullest.
“In this day and age, people with money and power are considered demigods? That’s not funny. You may be living a mean life, obsessed with money and power, but there are still people like me in this world. Shouldn’t someone speak the truth without bowing down to power?”
“Does cursing someone with money and power make it all the right words? Even from my uneducated perspective, the things you say about the vice president that come out of your mouth are at best baseless, bad words and low-quality gossip.”
Phew. As soon as Choi Hong-seo finished speaking, someone burst into laughter, mocking the brief silence. It was actress Kim Yi-jung. It was a mockery aimed at Seo Jun-young, who had been hit hard on the head without any objection.
Seo Jun-young, who glared at Choi Hong-seo and Kim Yi-jeong alternately as if he was going to stab them, tried hard to calm his blushing face.
“Ah… Now that I think about it, it seems like there was another reason why Lee Hae-seong wanted to erase the subtitles.”
Seo Jun-young’s expression, filled with hostility in every syllable, was utterly venomous. His eyes were filled with a mad determination to definitely hurt the other person.
It was a very ugly face. Choi Hong-seo’s expression was crumpled, as if he had witnessed a disgusting or horrible scene.
I thought that the people who had been happily posting malicious comments on my articles without any interest in the truth might have had exactly that kind of face. I felt like vomiting when I thought about it.
“Choi Hong-seo has been abandoned, so it seems that Lee Hae-seong’s interest has now shifted to someone else?”
Seo Jun-young, who had regained his offensive power and was taking Choi Hong-seo’s continued silence as surrender, opened his mouth in excitement.
“But the taste of understanding is also very consistent.”
“……”
“Are they all rags?”
The proud look in his eyes and mouth as if he had just had a good, big meal.
How is it? Are you feeling dizzy? Choi Hong-seo, who was fixating his gaze on Seo Jun-young’s face, who was raising his chin and pouted, twisted his lips in anger.
“Cancel it.”
“What? Should I take back my words about calling a tree a tree, calling the Han River the Han River, and calling a rag a rag? I don’t understand why.”
“I want you to take back the insults you made to the vice president.”
“Ha, it’s okay that I called you a rag, but take back what I said about the Vice President’s taste in rags? Wow… Is there no need to be so loyal even in a position where you don’t have anything? I guess being mean is ingrained in your blood, so there’s no answer.”
“I’d rather be mean than talk dirty about people I don’t even know, just because I feel like it. Do you enjoy chewing on other people like that? Cancel. Cancel!”
“……”
Seo Jun-young, who I thought would rush over immediately, didn’t respond. He wasn’t even looking at Choi Hong-seo. He was looking over Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder and a little higher. The people around him were also quiet. The more he spoke, the more angry he became, and the louder he became, as if throwing a tantrum, and only Choi Hong-seo’s grumbling breathing resonated in the room.
That was when.
A large hand was placed on my head as lightly as a snowflake falling.
“Isn’t the crank-in almost here?”
A voice with a soft and rich bass that seemed to be slightly scratched. It was Lee Hae-seong.
Choi Hong-seo swallowed dry saliva without looking back or up. He couldn’t figure out where he had been listening. However, judging from the cold and hardness in the seemingly cheerful and affectionate voice, he definitely didn’t hear anything. Even if others didn’t notice, Choi Hong-seo knew. He was definitely hiding a knife.
In a place where everyone’s eyes were focused, he placed his hand on Yoon Hye-an’s head and affectionately ruffled her hair. He then placed his hand on Yoon Hye-an’s shoulders and continued talking.
“It’s really here now. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Everyone looked at each other with nervous expressions as if they were walking on thin ice, and no one readily agreed with what he said.
“The director’s works are all so great that he has won many awards at various film festivals, but he has not had much of a connection with Cannes. Of course, many of his works were invited to the competition section, but… strangely, none of them won awards. Of course, whether or not he wins an award does not indicate the value of the work, and the director is not someone who is obsessed with honors, but… I personally have high expectations for
While pressing Yoon Hye-an’s shoulder as if massaging it, Lee Hae-seong added in a hopeful tone.
“This time, we should aim for the Palme d’Or.”
People began to relax slowly at the sound of his bright voice and smile. The atmosphere was one of relief, as if Lee Hae-seong had not heard the argument from earlier, or if he had, he expected it to pass quietly.
“What are you talking about, Vice President? You brought up Khan again.”
Director Kang Woo-hyun, who appeared with a housekeeper from the kitchen, glared at Lee Hae-seong.
“I told you not to burden our actors.”
“I’m not trying to be a burden, I’m just saying to be ambitious. Not everyone makes movies as a hobby.”
“What, now that I think about it, are you putting pressure on me and not the actors?”
After lightly ruffling Yoon Hye-an’s hair once more, Lee Hae-seong moved to the upper seat together with Director Kang.
As always, wine was used for the after-party, in line with Director Kang Woo-hyun’s taste. The atmosphere of the after-party was cheerful, making the tension of wondering if any warnings would be issued at any moment seem meaningless.
Seo Jun-young’s expression, which had been pensive, gradually returned to normal. Judging from his attitude of glancing at Lee Hae-seong’s expression, it seemed like he hadn’t completely shaken off his uneasiness.
“Last time, you asked me to postpone studying because you had something important to do. Did you finish your work?”
As the place became more ripe, Director Kang Woo-hyun asked Lee Hae-seong as if he had remembered him, and Lee Hae-seong put down his wine glass on the table and smiled with satisfaction.
“Yes, the results were better than expected. It was thanks to your cooperation.”
“We could have just studied among ourselves, but you said you wanted to attend this study session so badly that you asked us to postpone it for a week. But today, you only showed up for the after-party.”
“I’m here to cheer you on, but if I attend the after-party, I’m attending the study session. Isn’t that right?”
Lee Hae-seong, who had accepted Kang Woo-hyun’s nagging, looked around at the people sitting around the table and asked jokingly.
That’s right! That’s right!
ARA Understanding, and no one could stand up to the film’s biggest investor.
“Isn’t that so?”
“……”
“Ms. Yoon Hye-an?”
“yes?”
As if everyone else’s nod wasn’t enough, Lee Hae-seong pointed out ‘Yoon Hye-an’ and asked her again. Choi Hong-seo, who had been hunched over with his chin inside the turtleneck he had pulled at, met Lee Hae-seong’s eyes and nodded.
“Yes… that’s right.”
Lee Hae-seong smiled with satisfaction. The meaning of that smile was probably known only to Choi Hong-seo.
A moment of space between “Isn’t that so?” and “Ms. Yoon Hye-an?” And the tone of voice that subtly emphasized the name Yoon Hye-an. It was a sign that only the two of them could understand, a joke. His voice, emphasizing Yoon Hye-an, sounded like he was emphasizing the fact that he was actually Choi Hong-seo.
A secret between just the two of us.
You are actually Choi Hongseo, and it’s like proof that only the two of us share that secret… From now on, the name Yoon Hye-an will feel like a nickname he gave you.
“But are the clothes uncomfortable? They keep pulling on you.”
“No, this is just for nothing…”
“Yeah, it suits you well. The turtleneck.”
While raising the wine glass to his lips again, Choi Hongseo hurriedly turned his gaze away from Lee Hae-seong, who continued to smile, and emptied the wine he had barely been drinking. Even though he knew why he had to wear a turtleneck. Of course, the people here wouldn’t even guess what he meant… But to Choi Hongseo, Lee Hae-seong’s words felt very bold. As if he had left a hickey in front of everyone.
Other than that, it was a normal after-party atmosphere. I thought everything would pass without incident.
Just as Seo Jun-young looked relieved, Choi Hong-seo also felt relieved. He had no intention of ignoring Seo Jun-young’s insulting remarks. However, he did not want Lee Hae-seong to feel emotionally drained because of Seo Jun-young.
The place was empty, and some of the excited people left Director Kang’s house to discuss where to meet for the second round.
The young actor who was gathering more people as the main force hurriedly grabbed Seo Jun-young who was getting up from his seat and stopped him.
“Senior Junyoung, you will of course go to the second round, right?”
“Ah… Please leave me alone today.”
“Senior, you’re missing? Are you kidding? Put me on the list?”
“No, I really have to go home today. I can’t handle alcohol. I barely drank at the after-party.”
Among the regular members who enjoy drinking, Seo Jun-young was the best. Choi Hong-seo has never stayed up that long, but I heard that once he starts, he is the type who has to finish it with hangover soup and soju before going home after seeing the morning sun.
Seo Jun-young, who was like that, was only refusing the second round. There was no trace of the momentum he had shown when he boasted about not caring about the chaebols.
“Mr. Seo Jun-young, aren’t you going to the second round?”
These were the first words that Lee Hae-seong spoke directly to Seo Jun-yeong at this location.
“Ah… yes, well… I’m not feeling like drinking today.”
Seo Jun-young answered roughly with a bitter expression. Since he had bragged in front of everyone, his pride would not allow him to show a sly attitude now.
“Okay, let’s go in first. Thank you for your hard work, Director.”
Seo Jun-young, who had his bag slung over his shoulder, nodded his head in greeting and made his way through the crowd toward the entrance. His hasty actions to get out of this place as quickly as possible were clearly visible.
“If you’re not going to the second round, come see me for a moment and then go, Seo Jun-young.”
“……”
Seo Jun-young wasn’t the only one who stopped and remained silent. Everyone who remained in the restaurant stopped moving with an expression that said what was coming had come.
There was no trace of anger or malice in Hae-seong’s expression.
“Director, can I borrow the reception room on the second floor?”
After saying that, Haeseong took out his cell phone, looked at it, and left the restaurant.
What are you trying to say? Where have I heard this before? Choi Hong-seo couldn’t move his feet. It seemed like everyone else was feeling the same.
A short vibration was felt inside his coat pocket. Choi Hong-seo quickly checked the message, feeling that it was Lee Hae-seong.