By Zephyria Although he had had opportunities to brush past him in the same space several times as Yoon Hye-an, this was the first time he had smelled perfume on him.
‘I don’t wear perfume for public appearances, but I sometimes wore it when meeting Hong-seo. To look good. For Hong-seo.’
After their first night together, while soaking in the bathtub, he had told him that. He said it was for him, to look good for him. Those whispers had been more intoxicating to Choi Hong-seo than the scent of the perfume.
Then, was he wearing perfume this time to look good for someone else?
Since he wasn’t someone who used perfume often, his mind was filled with such thoughts, and his mouth went dry just watching him talk with Park Dong-ha.
He felt a sense of relief that he hadn’t revealed the inside of his house to others, and he agonized over the reason he wore perfume, which he rarely used.
He didn’t even have the right to be jealous.
Choi Hong-seo, who had only consumed a small amount of food and water, reached for his wine for the first time. As he tilted his chin slightly to drink, their eyes met.
Although it wasn’t a close distance, he could be sure. He didn’t pretend not to be looking this way and then brush it off. Since he continued to meet his gaze even after their eyes met, it couldn’t be a mistake.
Choi Hong-seo was the first to break eye contact.
The fact that he was looking this way while talking to Park Dong-ha bothered him. Had he heard something? Was that why he was looking at me?
His heart fluttered with anxiety, and he drank a little too much wine at once.
Choi Hong-seo awkwardly turned his gaze to Kim Yi-jung, like a creaking robot.
“We’re the only ones our age, and most people on set are Seonbaenims. Regardless of rumors, Hyean-ssi feels more comfortable to me right now than the veteran actors. It doesn’t have to be that we become best friends, but let’s get along well during filming.”
“Yes, I’ll be looking forward to working with you too.”
“And I’ll tell you in advance, if Hyean-ssi hits me, I’ll hit back twice, three times.”
She seriously warned him and proposed a toast. Choi Hong-seo smiled faintly and clinked his glass against hers.
Strangely, Kim Yi-jung felt more comfortable than Park Dong-ha, who had been close to Yoon Hye-an. Some people might find her blunt way of speaking rude, but at least she seemed straightforward. If she disliked someone, she would say it to their face, not gossip behind their back and spread rumors, and Choi Hong-seo liked that.
Just then, the volume of the cheerful music playing in the background slowly decreased. The atmosphere stirred, as if something was about to begin. Park Dong-ha, who was still lingering by the grill with meat on his plate, was returning to the table with a disappointed expression.
Lee Hae-sung, having put down the barbecue equipment, moved towards the large screen. He stood before the guests, holding his wine glass with a relaxed, informal demeanor.
“Uh… you don’t have to pay so much attention. Please listen comfortably while you eat.”
He began with a light joke.
“I should first explain why I’ve arranged this gathering today, to look good for all of you.”
Laughter rippled through the tables, and Lee Hae-sung also smiled.
“The reason is, we intend to insert a memorial message for Choi Hong-seo in the ending credits of our film.”
This time, a moment of silence fell, followed by murmurs. Some immediately showed resistance, others were bewildered by the unexpected announcement, and some paid no particular attention and focused on their meal – various reactions.
Choi Hong-seo dropped his gaze to the table and clenched the napkin on his lap. He was the only one showing such a reaction.
Lee Hae-sung briefly surveyed the mood of the guests and continued speaking without wavering.
“I’ve discussed this with the director, but I thought it would be best to inform everyone here beforehand, so I arranged this gathering.”
Choi Hong-seo couldn’t lift his head. His heart was pounding in his ears. He felt like he was committing a sin just by looking at Lee Hae-sung, who still cherished him so dearly even though he was no longer in this world.
He twisted the napkin even tighter. His heart pounded violently, and the nausea grew just as intensely.
During the brief commotion, someone raised their voice in a serious and displeased tone.
“If it were an actor who actually participated in the filming, perhaps… but dedicating a part of the movie for an actor who didn’t even film a single scene together, isn’t that excessive?”
A few timid voices echoed in agreement with the speaker’s opinion. Among them was Seo Jun-yeong, sitting at the next table.
“Song Ji-seok.”
Lee Hae-sung’s calm voice followed, calling out the person’s name.
“I understand you’ve been investing in films for a long time. For your investment experience, your understanding of film seems quite lacking.”
“……”
“Excessive because he didn’t film a single scene together… Isn’t the pre-production phase part of filmmaking? Is filming the only part of making a movie?”
While suppressing his displeasure, he clearly conveyed that he was indeed displeased.
The other party, who seemed to be one of the investors in
“I heard what the Vice President said about Choi Hong-seo last time, and I agree with that. However… for investors, this movie is purely a business. Regardless of the truth, the public’s overwhelming memory of Choi Hong-seo is one of disgrace. So, is there a need to provide fodder for gossip by including such a memorial message in the movie?”
The investor’s voice grew increasingly rigid as he spoke.
Choi Hong-seo was the only one with his head bowed like a criminal, while most watched this argument with interest.
“The intention is precisely to try and change that disgraceful memory. Was my explanation that difficult to understand?”
“The Vice President may have invested with only respect for Director Kang’s films, even at the risk of loss, but for investors like me, it’s a business that needs to generate profit. Honestly… I feel that the Vice President is overstepping his bounds as the largest investor.”
“Overstepping.”
Lee Hae-sung repeated the investor’s words and laughed as if he had heard a pleasant joke.
After swallowing several times, Choi Hong-seo slowly raised his head.
Lee Hae-sung was watching the investor, having placed his wine glass on a nearby table.
“Song Ji-seok, you invested in Director Baek Jong-hoon’s films, didn’t you?”
“……”
“He had already directed three or four films after his debut and had his own box office hits, but how much respect did you, Song Ji-seok, show the director back then? Not only did you demand script revisions during filming, causing trouble for the director, staff, and actors, but I also heard you interfered with the editing later on.”
All eyes turned to the investor, and Lee Hae-sung continued to corner and pressure him in his characteristic calm tone, without raising his voice.
“You said that the real owner of a movie is the investor, and that the principles of capitalism are like that, however bitter. That’s what Song Ji-seok told the director. That’s why I… truly never imagined you wouldn’t understand this much of a decision from the largest investor.”
He walked slowly towards the investor’s seat, leaned over, resting his hands on the edge of the table, and met the investor’s eyes. A faint madness even flickered in Lee Hae-sung’s smiling gaze.
“Song Ji-seok, from the beginning, I said this was a gathering to inform you in advance, not to seek your agreement. As bitter as it is, the principles of capitalism grant me that much authority, so your agreement is unnecessary.”
Only then did the investor completely shut his mouth. His tightly pursed lips and trembling eyelids conveyed his indignant feelings, but he could no longer find any words to counter.
When he was Choi Hong-seo, he had been impressed several times by Lee Hae-sung’s eloquence in silencing Chairman Jo. It was even more striking because he wasn’t the type to silence others solely with power.
Then, as now, his skill in rendering his opponent speechless was backed by irrefutable evidence and logic. Power wasn’t everything.
Even so, it was true that he had become much more sensitive than before.
Whenever it concerned Choi Hong-seo, he instantly became cold and frightening, as if not tolerating even the slightest noise. It was the same for ‘Yoon Hye-an.’
I was the one who made him like that. My death became his wound. Because touching a wound makes anyone unable to react rationally. Without even noticing his rapidly beating heart or the sweat trickling down his temples, Choi Hong-seo’s trembling eyes were fixed on Lee Hae-sung.
He straightened up and walked back to where he had placed his wine glass, continuing his speech.
“Choi Hong-seo was proactive in his script and character research. He actively communicated with the costume design team and offered his opinions. Choi Hong-seo was diligent throughout the entire pre-production process.”
Holding his glass, he drained the remaining wine in one gulp.
“He is not an irrelevant actor to this film just because he couldn’t film a single scene, but rather, isn’t he an even more regrettable fellow actor who had to leave without being able to film even a single scene of the movie he prepared so diligently for?”
He looked around at the guests, seeming to compose himself for a moment. His slightly calmer voice followed.
“As the largest investor, I will not exert any pressure on the director or the production company. Even if there are casting choices or developments I personally don’t want, my belief is that a film should fundamentally be produced according to the director’s intentions.”
Lee Hae-sung’s gaze, which had been drifting among the guests, stopped abruptly on Choi Hong-seo, on Yoon Hye-an.
Choi Hong-seo couldn’t move, as if his breath had been caught in a grip.
Maintaining eye contact, Lee Hae-sung moved his lips.
“However, this issue is different.”
“……”
“From now on, I would like everyone to refrain from arguing about matters related to Choi Hong-seo. For all other aspects of film production, I will provide full support to ensure the staff and actors have no discomfort.”
Do not touch Choi Hong-seo. If you ignore this warning, you will pay the price.
It was as good as saying that. He was making his point more clearly than at the previous dinner. Furthermore, it was also a warning directed at Yoon Hye-an.
Only after his gaze moved away, Choi Hong-seo quickly gasped for breath. Until just a moment ago, the seasickness had been bearable, but now the floor and tables seemed to warp and melt.
But he didn’t want to draw any more attention. He truly didn’t want to incur more dislike.