By Zephyria To the CEO of an agency, their celebrity clients were, simply put, a means of making money, a product. No one would badmouth their own product in front of customers. However, as CEO Myeong continued to praise him, Choi Hong-seo found it difficult to maintain his expression.
“It’s the truth, after all. Have I only known Hong-seo for a year or two? The editors here, the makeup and hair general managers, the stylists… they’ve all seen Hong-seo in a good light since his debut. We’re all so proud of how well Hong-seo is doing these days. You must be enjoying life too, CEO, after supporting him for so long.”
“It’s all thanks to the general managers here. By the way… fans are really looking forward to seeing Hong-seo’s sexy side these days, so General Manager, could you perhaps include a few cuts with that kind of vibe…”
“Ah, yes. Sexy Hong-seo, the one fans love. I know exactly what you mean.”
As the photographer gave an okay sign and nodded, CEO Myeong gave her a thumbs-up and exclaimed enthusiastically.
“As expected, our General Manager! You really know your stuff. Are you hungry? I brought some simple snacks, so please enjoy them, and please do your best with the rest of the shoot, General Manager.”
“Yes, I’ll enjoy them. Thank you, CEO.”
After a round of sales talk with the photographer, CEO Myeong approached Choi Hong-seo, who was sitting in the makeup waiting room in the back.
“Drink water, not coffee. You’ll get ugly if you lose hydration.”
“I’m just trying to push through because I’m tired.”
“Oh dear, Mr. Top Star, you’re tired? Think about how you used to envy those who were tired from their schedules just a year ago.”
His tone was quite different from how he addressed the general managers.
“It’s not that I’m complaining about being busy, I’m just tired.”
“What’s there to be tired about for someone who’s moving into UN Village after this Vietnam schedule? If it were me, I’d be full without eating and energetic without sleeping. You’re going to live in a better house than mine now, you punk.”
“Oh my, CEO, Hong-seo is moving to UN Village?”
The stylist general manager, who happened to be passing by, approached with a brightened face at the mention of UN Village. Even though it was obvious he wanted to brag, CEO Myeong feigned shyness, scratching the back of his head and speaking awkwardly.
“Ah… haha… Yes, the kids from ‘Layered’ are moving their dorm.”
“Congratulations, Hong-seo! Why didn’t you say anything about such good news?”
“Well, Hong-seo isn’t the type to blab or brag… haha…”
Before Choi Hong-seo could reply, CEO Myeong patted him on the shoulder and spoke for him. Then, with an apologetic tone and expression, he added while rubbing his shoulder.
“After coming to such a small company and struggling for years, we’re finally able to move their dorm.”
“You’ve had your share of hardships supporting them too, CEO. UN Village is top-tier for an idol dorm. It’s comparable to Gangnam or Seongsu-dong. So, is it a Han River view?”
“Yes, well… we pushed ourselves a bit, but UN Village is synonymous with a Han River view, isn’t it? Haha.”
To escape CEO Myeong’s grasp, Choi Hong-seo deliberately leaned further in, pretending to reach for the coffee on the shelf. He hated seeing the CEO act as if he were making a sacrifice for ‘Layered’ when the dorm costs would ultimately be deducted from the settlement amount.
“Hong-seo, I’m so jealous! You’re finally seeing the light! The number of people around me who say they’re your fans has really increased. It’s palpable.”
The stylist patted Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder, beaming with pride and joy as if it were her own sibling’s success.
“It’s all thanks to the general managers who took good care of me. You often called me even when I was unknown, didn’t you?”
“We called you because you were so likable. And you work well. You should have become famous even sooner.”
Once the stylist had left and was out of sight, CEO Myeong nudged Choi Hong-seo’s arm with his elbow.
“Look at people’s reactions when they hear you’re moving to UN Village. See? That’s why it’s important to become famous and make money. What you wear, what you drive, who you associate with… that’s your value.”
Moving the dorm to UN Village was CEO Myeong’s idea in the first place. Choi Hong-seo had been reluctant because moving to a better dorm would only reduce his settlement amount.
CEO Myeong had urged the members, saying that one must pay attention to their appearance to match their popularity, and it went without saying that the members agreed to the move as soon as they saw photos of the spacious and luxurious options, which were incomparable to their current dorm.
Choi Hong-seo was the only one who considered the high-end villa rent in a wealthy neighborhood as a new debt.
“Oh, and don’t forget to thank the Vice President.”
“……”
“Don’t just say it with words. When you go to Vietnam, bring something back from the duty-free shop. The Vice President has everything, but it’s good to show sincerity like that, so you look even better.”
“Thank… thank you?”
“For the new dorm, you punk. The Vice President gave it to you at a really good price.”
This was the first he was hearing of it. The coffee cup in Choi Hong-seo’s hand crinkled with a sharp sound.
“If not for that, could you afford such a place with your current income? You’ve barely recouped your investment! Don’t your calculations work?”
“Did you ask him? The Vice President?”
His voice rose, sounding agitated.
“When we were talking about moving dorms, and I seemed worried about not finding a suitable place, the Vice President offered it first. Ask him? What are you talking about, you idiot?”
“Why would you discuss moving dorms with the Vice President?”
Choi Hong-seo had to clench his teeth to prevent his voice from rising further. He wanted to mess up his hair or run his hand over his face, but he couldn’t because of the shoot. He could only scratch his lower lip in frustration.
CEO Myeong, scanning the surroundings with snake-like eyes, pressed down firmly on Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder. Then, lowering his voice so no one else could hear, he said.
“Very thankfully, the Vice President is very interested in you. He’s showing great interest in where you’re living, if you’re comfortable, if there’s anything he can do to help… He’s asking me because he knows you might refuse if he asked directly, so should I lie, you punk?”
“……”
“Frankly, are you going to live in that house, or am I?”
The new dorm with a Han River view was a place where the monthly rent could range from several million to well over ten million won. CEO Myeong had puffed himself up, claiming he rented it at a good price through an acquaintance. He never imagined that acquaintance would be Lee Hae-sung.
If the new dorm belonged to Lee Hae-sung, the aftermath was predictable. He would have allowed UB to report it as paid at market price while renting it out at a price lower than market value. Even if ‘Layered’ lived there, it would ultimately benefit CEO Myeong.
“It means the Vice President thinks highly of you. Who knows? If you work even harder here, that house might become yours.”
“……”
“Judging by the vibe, he doesn’t seem like he wants to end it after one time. It’s an opportunity to become Lee Hae-sung’s actual lover, not just a temporary escort. Do you think you’ll get such a chance in your life again?”
The lover CEO Myeong spoke of was entirely different from the boyfriend candidate Lee Hae-sung had mentioned. It meant a relationship where a VIP exclusively and consistently supported him.
Choi Hong-seo hated that CEO Myeong thought of Lee Hae-sung the same way as those other VIPs.
But he hated even more confessing the events between him and Lee Hae-sung to CEO Myeong.
CEO Myeong came up behind Choi Hong-seo, rubbed his shoulders, and said familiarly.
“Hong-seo, I’m not asking for much. Considering my hard work supporting you for the past seven years, just… give me 5 billion won.”
Choi Hong-seo tried to shake off his hand, shaking his shoulder forcefully, but CEO Myeong in the mirror just chuckled as if it were amusing. The grip, like a trap that prevented him from escaping a cesspool, clutched his shoulder again.
“Whether you earn it as ‘Layered,’ or by working as an ‘escort’… or if the Vice President pays for it… you just need to make me 5 billion won and then you can leave.”
“……”
“If you sit on the Vice President’s lap, would someone like me even dare to meet your eyes? At that point, we can just bury our past memories in that 5 billion won and go our separate ways, right? Huh?”
CEO Myeong in the mirror grinned and tapped Choi Hong-seo’s cheek.
“Still, you’re still pretty and your body is fresh, so you still have a chance to hook a big fish like the Vice President. I can’t even dream of that kind of social climbing. I’m the one who set up the stage for you to seize such an opportunity. If it weren’t for me, you’d still just be a host bar player.”
The fact that he himself had dragged him into that host bar seemed completely erased from Myeong Do-hoon’s memory.
There was no point in resisting. He hadn’t not resisted before.
“I’m just envious of your fate, so why are you always so dissatisfied?”
CEO Myeong clicked his tongue as if he were pathetic and shook his head, then disappeared towards the table where people were eating snacks.
Choi Hong-seo placed the coffee cup back on the shelf as if throwing it down and gnawed on his lip with his fingers.
The 5 billion won CEO Myeong mentioned wasn’t the profit he brought to the company. It was money Choi Hong-seo had to pay Myeong Do-hoon personally, separate from that, a kind of ‘past settlement fee.’
When he started working at the host bar, CEO Myeong had lent him large sums of money very easily whenever he was in need. It was no different from loan sharking. No, it was worse than loan sharking. Even while sacrificing his body to repay the money, he couldn’t keep up with the ever-increasing principal and interest.
He had signed a new contract, lured by the promise that he could repay his debts quickly once he became a celebrity, but after becoming a celebrity, it was just the beginning of new debts.