By Zephyria ■
It was a weekend morning in Hannam-dong after a long time.
Lee Man-sung decided to move into this mansion himself, and after bringing in new belongings, he had hardly ever left this place. Seocho-dong and Bundang had almost become like empty houses. Then, as the film production became active again, I stayed in Seocho-dong for a while. During the completion of the division, it was also more convenient to be close to the company in Seocho-dong.
The reason for having to stay at the house in Seocho-dong while understanding Yoon Hye-an must have been significant.
The hooded sweatshirts that Choi Hong-seo often wore, the bed where he slept, the comic books stained with his fingerprints, the keyboard used for composing, and the MacBook were all still waiting for their owner in this house, and I had no intention of bringing anyone else in.
“The weather is not very clear.””Director Kang, who was serving breakfast, looked out at the sky over the Han River and added in a worried voice.
“It is said that there is news of rain in the Gangwon Province today.”To hold the ritual for the “Cream Mansion,” Lee Hae-sung had to depart for Gangwon-do early in the morning on the weekend.
“Since the event will be held indoors, the weather shouldn’t matter.””Lee Hae-seong answered nonchalantly without taking his eyes off the report on the tablet.”
The most hectic and sensitive period was considered to have passed as the separation of the series was successfully completed on paper. The stage where understanding was necessary and interference was required has passed, and only the task of reviewing the process of the business proceeding as agreed by both parties remained.
However, the report that Lee Hae-seong is reviewing today is not related to ARA.
“After holding a brief memorial service for about 30 minutes at the columbarium, we moved to the restaurant that was fully reserved for the rest of the event.” This is a photo of that restaurant.Director Kang briefly explained the photo where Lee Haesung’s gaze is fixed.
“What is the location?””We have decided on the area near Gangnam Station for your convenience after the event.” You are also scheduled to travel from Hanam to the restaurant by chartered bus.”Well done.” It’s not an area with convenient transportation.The first anniversary of Choi Hong-seo’s death was just a few days away. Less than a week remains.
I learned a couple of months ago that fans are planning to hold a modest event to commemorate his first anniversary. It was an occasion to watch videos of Choi Hong-seo’s activities during his lifetime, share writings and drawings in his memory, and comfort each other in our sorrow. Euhyeseong was fully sponsoring the event under the name of an anonymous fan.
“If you look at the back, we have organized the meal options that will be provided to the fans that day.” I thought the vice president would want to choose personally, so I have put the decision on hold for now.”As she slowly flipped through the photos that organized the variety and types of food by price range, Haengseong tried her best to suppress her emotions.”
“What is the final number of participants expected?””It is said to be about a hundred people.””
“…Is that so? It has decreased a lot. Didn’t they say it was about one hundred and fifty people before?”It seems that the number of initial applicants will inevitably decrease.””After Lee Seo-kyung was murdered in Bangkok, Lee Hae-sung was finally able to step into the building of the columbarium where Choi Hong-seo’s remains were enshrined for the first time.”
I was on my way out after the final audition for the role of Hwang Ji-woo in
Once a week, I sent someone to the columbarium to arrange new flowers and received updates on the situation there through photos. Every time, the photos, drawings, and messages left by the fans were a great comfort to Lee Hae-seong. I hoped that they would remember and cherish Choi Hong-seo for a long time.
It would have been nice if more people had come. At least that will probably decrease every year. I wonder how many people will come next year. What about the following year? In 5 years, in 10 years… Is there anyone who remembers a child named Choi Hong-seo?
I wonder how long I can hold onto that child.
Lee Hae-sung’s hand, which was flipping through the photos, suddenly stopped.
He pushed aside the plate with half a sandwich left and placed the tablet down in that spot.
“Let’s proceed with the best menu options.” These are the people who took the time to come for our Hongseo, so we should treat them well.”Yes, I will do that.””He tried to moisten his lips with a sip of water, but Lee Haesung felt that it was not enough.”
“I’ll have a glass of whiskey.””
“……”Ihaeseong looked up at Director Kang, who showed no response and remained still.”
Director Kang said, ‘Are you talking about this from the morning?’was looking down with an expression that said ‘what are you doing?’.
“Is it okay to drink a little?” During a time like these?”Even when I poured it in, it seemed like it wasn’t enough, and when I raised my voice slightly in irritation, only then did Director Kang turn away with an expression that said there was nothing he could do.”
Understanding Seong, who rested both elbows on the table, let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face with both hands. As the day approached, I felt like I was going crazy. An emotion that cannot be fully explained by the word sadness. It would be more accurate to say that I felt like I was going crazy because I didn’t know what to do.
I have tried everything I could.
In addition to sponsoring the memorial event, they borrowed the name of the production company of
Still, it was not enough. In order to somehow endure the first anniversary of that child’s passing, there was a need for something more that could be done.
I thought about just going to Bangkok. The place where the child jumped and the child’s body… I thought about self-harming as I visited each place I returned to. I wanted to cover this chaos, this bewildered state of not knowing what to do, even if it meant greater pain.
As Director Kang placed the glass of On The Rocks down with a quiet sound, Lee Hae-sung lifted his face from his palm. I quickly emptied about half of the whiskey that was filled to about one-third without adding ice.
Director Kang, who looked down on such understanding, finally opened his mouth with an awkward expression.
“The flower decoration is… What will you do?”No matter how busy I was, I couldn’t help but check this part since it was Lee Hae-sung who chose the flowers to decorate Choi Hong-seo’s shrine himself.”
Understanding took another sip of the remaining whiskey as if it were a painkiller and picked up the tablet again.
“Fans must have something they want to do.” That day is not one where I should take the initiative. Let’s think about it again after the deadline.”Vice President.””
“……”How about I take care of the remaining details?””You look so painful.” Director Kang was talking while hiding those words.
Lee Hae-sung, who had placed the tablet on the edge of the table, leaned back against the chair. His face, scratching the crystal surface engraved with vertical stripes while holding the onyx, was lost in deep thought.
Understanding, staring blankly out somewhere beyond the window, muttered.
“Director Kang is.”.. Your way of speaking is quite unique, isn’t it?It was an unexpected question.
“Is that so?” I actually think it has no particular characteristics.”That’s the characteristic.” Almost no one has a way of speaking that doesn’t reveal their own habits.”I see.”Director Kang had no interest in such things, and they were not important issues. I was only worried about the employer’s mental state.
“I must have such traits too, right?””That’s right.” You don’t have very noticeable habits, but you definitely have your own tone.”So, can Director Kang recognize me just by my tone of voice?””Having asked that question, Lee Hae-sung raised his glass and took another sip of his drink.” His gaze was still directed out the window. However, I was not looking out the window.
“The vice president has a quite unique voice, so I think it will be easy to recognize.””Huh Sung, who was sitting with a hunched back, slowly shook his head while looking down at the almost empty cup in his hand.”
“No, it’s not about the voice.” Even if the voice is different, can you distinguish me just by the way I speak?”Are you talking about something like voice modulation?””Voice modulation?” That’s right. You could say it’s something similar.Lee Hae-seong nodded with a bitter smile, chuckling lightly.
“If it’s a voice like that distorted mechanical sound.”.. Well, that might be difficult.”Although I couldn’t understand why my employer was asking such questions, Director Kang had no choice but to answer sincerely first.”
“Or, how well do you think Director Kang can imitate my tone?”As you know, I am not someone who has a talent for that.”Lee Hae-seong was continuously asking Director Kang questions, but judging by the focus in his eyes and his tone, he didn’t seem very interested in hearing the answers.” It seemed closer to what one would say to oneself in the form of a question.
“Let’s assume that a crime has occurred.””
“……”However, the suspect may have left a message, or else.”.. I left a voice memo of the situation at the time of the incident. It was found as evidence. What the suspect said at the actual crime scene based solely on that evidence… Do you think you can find that out?”
Manager Kang’s employer was sinking deeper into a labyrinth. Lee Hae-sung, his fingertips still tracing the surface of Ondaroks, appeared extremely unstable.
“The facial features are different, but the expression was the one that looked at me, and the voice is different, but the tone was the one that called me.”
Manager Kang began to feel genuinely worried about his employer. He realized he had no choice but to speak frankly at this point.
“Vice President, I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
“It means I might have to entrust ARA to a professional manager instead of myself from now on.”
“…What?”
Even Manager Kang, who rarely had to ask for clarification and could read his employer’s intentions like a ghost, couldn’t follow Lee Hae-sung’s train of thought this time.
“We can’t entrust the group’s management to a madman.”
Lee Hae-sung, assessing himself with cynical self-deprecation, finished the remaining whiskey. He stood up, placing the napkin he had spread on his lap onto the table, seeming to have emerged slightly from his reverie.
“We’ll depart in five minutes.”
His tone had returned to normal from the dazed, solitary state, but his steps as he walked out of the restaurant were unsteady. A single glass of whiskey shouldn’t have been enough to unsettle Lee Hae-sung.
As Lee Hae-sung’s retreating figure disappeared, Manager Kang, his gaze still fixed on the hazy scenery outside the window, muttered with a sigh.
“Please, let him go now, won’t you?”
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