By Zephyria 
The passing conditions for the new test were an even narrower gate. And that wasn’t the end of it. Secretary Yang continued to list the conditions. They would allow them to use the house.
After all, they needed a place to live. Everything else besides housing would have to be arranged by themselves. Utilities would also have to be paid from their own earnings.
Park Hae-jun nodded. It felt like walking into a trap, but he couldn’t refuse. Professor Seok’s career had to be ruined, and Lee A-gon needed an assistant.
“I wish you luck in the future.”
Secretary Yang smiled. It wasn’t a twisted sneer or mockery, but a genuinely happy smile.
How he knew, Park Hae-jun didn’t know, but Secretary Yang seemed like someone who had anticipated that he would make this choice.
“If you could act this well, why did you behave like that at the audition?”
When they arrived at the filming location, the director who had scolded him appeared with a beaming smile as they were about to leave. She suddenly grabbed Lee A-gon’s hand and even shook it.
“I’ll remember your name, Lee A-gon, and hope to see you again when the opportunity arises. Just don’t act like you did at the audition, okay? Understand?”
She even said she wanted to see him again. The director seemed to really like Lee A-gon’s acting.
“What were you like at the audition to get that reaction?”
When asked on the way home, Lee A-gon replied obediently, “I was so nervous that I made a lot of mistakes. I’m sorry.”
“I told you there’s nothing to apologize to me for.”
Park Hae-jun roughly ruffled the back of Lee A-gon’s head. Lee A-gon did well today. He deserved praise.
“Lee A-gon, I have something to tell you.”
“Are you going to abandon me?”
As Park Hae-jun was about to begin telling him about his conversation with Secretary Yang, Lee A-gon wrapped his hands around Park Hae-jun’s arm with an anxious expression. Park Hae-jun waved his hands.
“No, no. Secretary Yang said that from now on, they’ve decided not to support you from your house.”
“Ah.”
Lee A-gon was relieved. He seemed fine with anything as long as Park Hae-jun wasn’t saying he was leaving him.
“Will you be okay?”
“With what?”
“Woomyung won’t support you anymore. You can still live in the house, but from now on, there won’t be anyone coming to clean or cook, they won’t provide living expenses, and you’ll have to pay all the utilities like electricity and water bills yourself. They’ll accept you back when you become a leading or supporting actor by surviving on your own.”
“But you’ll still be with me, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I don’t care.”
“Really? You won’t be able to live as comfortably as you do now.”
“Yes.”
“Even if you have to take buses to go to auditions from now on?”
“Yes.”
“Even if you have to eat only ramen because there’s no money?”
“Yes.” Once again, Lee A-gon nodded with conviction.
Park Hae-jun was a bit surprised. Lee A-gon really didn’t seem to mind at all.
“I only need you, hyung. As long as I’m with you, I don’t care even if we have to sleep on the streets. I’m fine with walking instead of taking the bus. I’m okay with everything. So, hyung. Don’t be angry.” Lee A-gon sent him a desperate look. Those eyes contained only pure affection.
Park Hae-jun’s heart swelled. Lee A-gon’s affection for him was always this innocent. He wanted nothing but for Park Hae-jun to be by his side.
“I was never angry.”
“You were angry. Because I didn’t find the lighter for you then.”
Park Hae-jun blinked. Come to think of it, there was such an incident.
“I told you, I wasn’t angry.”
“I won’t do it again. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
“Forgive or not, I wasn’t angry.”
Park Hae-jun averted his gaze subtly. Honestly, he wasn’t angry. It wasn’t anger but discomfort. For some reason, he felt uncomfortable with Lee A-gon and awkward being with him. Even though Lee A-gon had no responsibility for that power outage.
He had been immature toward someone much younger. Park Hae-jun reflected on himself. Why had he been so selfish to this child who became so anxious just because he distanced himself a little? Park Hae-jun felt sorry for Lee A-gon. He gently wrapped his hand around Lee A-gon’s.
“I’ll be your manager from now on. Secretary Yang said you just need to prove yourself once. He said it would be enough if your name appears in the opening credits. With your skills, you can achieve it quickly.”
“Do you think so?” Lee A-gon asked, lacking confidence.
Park Hae-jun nodded vigorously. “I believe in you.”
At those words, a smile finally appeared on Lee A-gon’s face. He smiled brightly. “Then I’ll believe in myself too.”
He did not say that he believed in himself. He was saying that since Park Hae-jun believed in him, he would try to believe as well.
“I was really surprised earlier. You’re a really good actor. I actually thought you were going to kill the main character. How were you able to act like that?”
The two were now chatting comfortably with their heads close together.
“Hmm. I thought about someone I really wanted to kill.”
“You had someone like that? Who was it?”
“Yang Hyun-tae.”
Lee A-gon answered so casually that Park Hae-jun took a moment to recall who that was.
“Yang Hyun… Senior Yang? Why would you…”
“That man was in a room with you. Wearing only underwear. Just the two of you.”
“Hey, don’t tell me you still…”
“I’ll never forget it. I’ll hate him until the day I die.”
After answering firmly with a voice full of resentment, Lee A-gon belatedly checked Park Hae-jun’s reaction and added, “Sorry. But I can’t forgive him.”
“…”
“…I’m sorry, hyung.”
When Park Hae-jun continued not to respond, Lee A-gon grew anxious again. He added cautiously, “I won’t hate him enough to wish death. Just up to the brink of death… I’ll hate him just enough to wish he gets into an accident—not a major traffic accident, just getting hit by a bicycle.”
“…”
“That’s not okay either? Then I’ll hate him just enough to wish a rock hits his head. You don’t like that either? Then, then I’ll just wish he trips while walking. I, I really can’t go any lower than that.”
Park Hae-jun couldn’t help but laugh at these words delivered with a tearful expression. “Hahaha,” a clear laugh burst out.
Lee A-gon. Ah, cute Lee A-gon.
Like a puppy who knows it’s done something wrong, checking Park Hae-jun’s reaction while confessing his hatred for Senior Yang. Kind Lee A-gon, who hates Senior Yang so much but all he can do is use that feeling for his acting.
Why had he been wary of him? When he’s this sweet.
“Lee A-gon, let’s work hard.” Park Hae-jun pressed his forehead against the back of Lee A-gon’s hand. And spoke as if making a vow, “Let’s succeed and prove ourselves to Woomyung .”
And then I’ll send you back to Woomyung ‘s embrace and I’ll bring down Professor Seok. Then we can each be happy in our own ways.
“Yes, hyung.”
Lee A-gon leaned docilely on Park Hae-jun’s shoulder. Even though he was taller and had to bend his neck considerably, Lee A-gon persisted in that position. Park Hae-jun gently stroked his face.
∞ ∞ ∞
An optimistic hope from an unknown source welled up. Somehow, it felt like everything would work out well. Park Hae-jun was confident. Since Lee A-gon was a good actor, he was certain that he would pass if he just got an audition.
But we need money to hold out until then.
Park Hae-jun opened the envelope of money kept in his drawer. The emergency fund envelope that Secretary Yang had prepared at the first safe house originally contained 1 million won. Of that, he had carelessly spent 100,000 won, so there was about 900,000 won left.
How much do I have in my account?
Phone bills, insurance, and rent would be automatically deducted—he had asked to terminate his lease on his studio apartment, but the deposit hadn’t been returned yet—and it had been… since he had quit all his part-time jobs after the Professor Seok incident, so by now probably…
“…”
Park Hae-jun frowned. He didn’t have money. A lot of it.
“Well, first.”
Shaking his head to clear his mind, Park Hae-jun turned on his laptop. This rookie manager with just 900,000 won had to turn a rookie actor into a significant supporting or leading role in the shortest time possible. He didn’t even know where to start.
He began searching. He needed to learn how other rookie actors get roles.
First, when a casting notice appears, submit a profile. If contacted, go to an audition.
“Okay.” Park Hae-jun quickly checked places with open calls.
Visit production companies and leave profiles. You have to do this whenever you have time? What’s this? There are agencies that do profile tours for you?
But with only 900,000 won left and no guarantee of success, he couldn’t spend money on such services.
Alright, I’ll go on foot like other actors.
Hmm, this person submitted profiles for three years straight but didn’t get a single call back. Why are there so many people who never even make it to an audition?
Park Hae-jun continued clicking with a serious face. The more information he found, the more anxious he became. Someone had written in a cynical tone that only 1 percent of aspiring actors become actors, and only 1 percent of those actors become stars. Park Hae-jun needed to put Lee A-gon in that 1 percent of 1 percent.
What if it takes longer than expected? What if it takes 5 or 10 years until his name appears in opening credits…
As he searched for information, an ominous thought occurred to him. Park Hae-jun shook his head to dispel it. He had no intention of dragging this out that long. He was determined to accomplish this within 6 months.