Come Back

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⤷ Whether Mr. Deokbo gets off or not, whether he does volunteer work or not, there’s nothing worth reporting on. Who is he?

⤷What is this cultural volunteer work? Doing a play in front of the locals? Even a dog passing by would laugh. ㅋㅋ While talking about cultural volunteer work, you’ll probably go to India and do some yoga. After you go there, you’ll probably go around and brag about it and show off.

⤷ I go to the same △△ church as you, and although I’ve been acting devout on TV since long ago, I only go to church once or twice a month. Don’t even think about going to India to volunteer, just give some money, brother.

⤷But isn’t missionary work in India something that requires risking your life? There are a lot of areas where missionary work is prohibited.

⤷ I really felt like vomiting after seeing you criticize our Kyuyeon’s acting last time. You’re a fucking old man. Even though you’re an idol, you act better than me. Don’t come to India or anywhere. Ugh

⤷These days, if you’re ugly, you’re all considered actors, and even if you’re in the theater world, you’re all treated as actors, so I don’t know if you’re a good actor. You always act the same way, over-the-top.

⤷ What kind of stepping down is a step down ㅋㅋ Everyone in the film industry knows that he is very greedy for awards, but he would never step down from a Kang Woo-hyun movie ㅋㅋ He is a sure thing to be invited to Cannes, and even if he doesn’t, the media is talking about how he will win the Palme d’Or if he does well in the Best Director category, but Seo Jun-young is stepping down because of volunteer work? There’s absolutely no way that would happen ㅋㅋ He was 100% fired for showing off ㅋㅋ

The actors who gathered on time for the script study were all talking about the Seo Jun-young article. It was sudden and not a good thing, so two or three people lowered their voices and whispered. Someone said they couldn’t get in touch with Seo Jun-young and asked if the news of his departure was true. However, everyone just shook their heads, as if they couldn’t get in touch with him.

“Senior Junyoung, did you get cut?”

“There was an article saying you were going to India or somewhere to do volunteer work.”

“Do you believe that, senior? Why, that day… you were called by Lee Hae-seong at the last minute.”

A young actor who had been talking on the other side lowered his voice as he watched Yoon Hye-an’s reaction. That Seo Jun-yeong had been called out by Lee Hae-seong after fighting with Yoon Hye-an.

“There were a lot of hate comments on the article. People were saying things like, ‘You go to the same church as senior Junyoung,’ or ‘You worked on the same movie together, so you know each other well…”

“Honestly, it’s your own fault.”

Someone spoke quietly, in a hesitant tone.

“Mr. Junyoung, you’ve been talking about other people you don’t even know. Honestly, I was offended when you mentioned rags last time. You crossed the line.”

When one person complained about Seo Jun-young, this time, there were many people who agreed with him. They were the people who had been silent whenever Seo Jun-young acted rudely. Choi Hong-seo felt bitter about their change of attitude, but he also understood that it was inevitable. Morality was not an obligation. He could not criticize others for not making morally better choices.

Kim Yi-jeong, who had been looking at her cell phone as if she wasn’t interested in what other people were saying, leaned toward Choi Hong-seo and whispered.

“I knew it would happen to him sooner or later.”

Choi Hong-seo looked at her.

“It’s the Manshin who presided over our movie screening. He gave me a hint when I went to pay my respects last time.”

Choi Hong-seo’s heart pounded at the thought of Man-shin.

“There will be a change of scenery soon, so keep your distance so as not to get entangled in anything. I thought that must be senior Seo Jun-young.”

“Mr. Lee Jeong, did you go to see him?”

“Why, are you interested, Hyean? Do you want to go together? I already have a reservation for two weeks.”

Kim Yi-jeong approached me with her eyes shining. She rarely expressed her emotions, so this was the first time she showed so much interest.

Of course I wanted to meet him. I had a lot of questions to ask.

The day I met with the clinical team leader at ENA, after I got seriously ill again, the number of spots increased. I wanted to ask what these spots, which were not ringworm and not itchy, meant.

“How did a ghost get a body, and how did a corpse get a soul?”

I wanted to ask why he said that. If the obituary he mentioned back then meant Yun Hye-an, then what happened to Yun Hye-an’s soul?

And most of all, what should I do to stay by Hae-seong’s side? Is there a way? That’s what I wanted to ask the most. But I couldn’t break my promise to Hae-seong. I didn’t want to make him anxious.

“I want to go, but…”

“People who haven’t been there might find it a little scary.”

Kim Yi-jeong nodded, saying she understood.

“I just think of it as counseling. It’s like getting life counseling from an experienced senior. Life counseling.”

Then he searched through his bag and handed me a business card. Shaman Lee Jong-ik. It was a business card with only his name on it, without any of the usual nicknames like general or fairy.

“If you want to receive counseling in private, give us a call. It’s hard to make a new appointment there without a referral.”

Choi Hong-seo was unable to readily accept the business card handed to him by Kim Yi-jeong and just looked down at it.

“Well, Hyean-ssi… I think Manshin-nim will welcome you even without an introduction.”

It was a meaningful statement. He asked with his expression what it meant, but instead of answering, Kim Yi-jeong simply held out her business card to Choi Hong-seo once more.

At that moment, Park Dong-ha appeared as he was about to enter the restaurant. He was always early, but this time he showed up almost on time. Choi Hong-seo, who had been hesitating, took the business card and put it in his cardigan pocket, then hurriedly approached Park Dong-ha.

“Let’s talk in the hallway for a moment.”

“What is it?”

I tried contacting Park Dong-ha several times over the past few days, but he refused to listen to Yoon Hye-an. I had no choice but to wait for him to meet me at the script study.

As soon as he left the restaurant and stopped in the hallway, he shook off Choi Hong-seo’s pounding hand. It was a gesture of desperation, as if he was shaking off an unpleasant bug.

“Dupulli, you’re not going today either?”

“Why? What does that have to do with you, hyung?”

“After you finish studying, give me some time. I have something important to tell you.”

“Something important? What, cat treats?”

Park Dong-ha glared at Choi Hong-seo with his unkind eyes, snorting. He seemed to have completely made up his mind to treat ‘Yoon Hye-an’ hostilely. It was an expected reaction.

“There’s something we need to talk about. It’s the ‘Titan’ story.”

“……”

He opened his eyes wide, unable to hide his surprise, forgetting the hostility he had been glaring at. I didn’t know those words would come out of your mouth first. The guy’s expression said so.

“It’s a bit awkward to talk about it outside. Your house is nice, and my house is nice too.”

Although she was staying at Hae-seong’s house in Bundang, the officetel she had previously lived in was still there. She and Hae-seong discussed it and decided that it would be good to leave it there for an alibi in case of an emergency. Clothes, household items, furniture… In other words, everything that once belonged to Yoon Hye-an was still there.

Compared to his hesitation, where he had been chewing his lower lip, Park Dong-han answered clearly.

“Okay. Look. I have something to say too.”

“I’ll go to your house, then.”

“Then… that.”

Park Dong-ha, who had been maintaining a sullen attitude as if he was not particularly interested, shifted his gaze over Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder. The expression on the guy’s face softened as he trailed off. As if he was embarrassed or embarrassed, he avoided eye contact and looked down.

I thought I knew what he saw that made him react like this without having to turn around to check.

“Hello, Vice President.”

Park Dong-ha was the first to bow his head and greet him, and Choi Hong-seo also turned around to check Lee Hae-seong’s face.

“hello.”

It was a greeting that was as dry as possible, without any feelings mixed in. On the other hand, Hae-seong stopped walking in front of the two with a warm smile.

“how have you been doing?”

“Yes. Mr. Vice President… I think you’ve lost a little weight.”

At Park Dong-ha’s words, Lee Hae-seong stroked his jawline and narrowed his eyes.

“Really? Did you lose it? I’m not sure… How is it, Hyean? Do you think it’s lost more since the last time I saw you?”

Lee Hae-seong turned his face towards Yoon Hye-an. As if telling him to look closely.

He had seen Hae-seong off to work in the morning. His naturalness in asking the person he had been with a few hours before, “Do you think you’ve lost weight since the last time I saw you?” embarrassed Choi Hong-seo.

“Well, well… I guess it’s just the same…”

“Hmm, really? It seems like Ms. Yoon Hye-an isn’t as interested in me as Mr. Park Dong-ha.”

Lee Hae-seong’s every word and action was thrilling. It made Choi Hong-seo nervous.

It doesn’t matter what people think. Even if they declare that they are lovers and not sponsors, people will think whatever they want anyway, so I hope they at least recognize the fact that Lee Hae-seong cares for ‘Yoon Hye-an’. Because that’s Lee Hae-seong’s position.

“Ah, Haesung-ssi is here. Come in. It seems like everyone is already noisy because of Junyoung-ssi.”

Director Kang Woo-hyun, who had been in the kitchen, appeared with a dark face. Director Kang, who seemed to be annoyed by the work, hurried his steps and passed the three people, leading the way, with Lee Hae-seong following behind.

As he passed by the two people who had stepped aside to one side of the hallway, Lee Hae-seong placed his palm on Yoon Hye-an’s cheek. Up until that point, it was fine. It was a kind of skinship where an older man would be affectionate toward his much younger junior, and he could have been coaxed to do so. However, the last touch, where he played with her earlobe, was too much.

Not only Park Dong-ha, but even Choi Hong-seo was surprised. Lee Hae-seong was clearly enjoying this secret love affair, and it was also clear that he was enjoying Choi Hong-seo’s embarrassment. He had no intention of keeping this secret love affair a secret.

Park Dong-ha felt his glaring gaze. It was a look that said, ‘You and Lee Hae-seong are not related at all?’ Since he had nothing to say in response, Choi Hong-seo could only pretend not to know. He looked at Lee Hae-seong’s broad back as he entered the restaurant first with a little resentment. It felt like he would turn around and give him a mischievous wink at any moment. It was one of the few moments when Lee Hae-seong looked annoying.