Vol 1 Ch 18

Tap tap, a careless knock and the announcement “I’m coming in” happened almost at the same time.

 

Seungwon, who had been practicing putting in a corner of his office to loosen his stiff body, jerked his head so suddenly that his neck cracked out of alignment.

 

The ball, knocked off angle, shot past the hole and landed somewhere completely wrong.

 

Physical pain together with psychological damage.

 

Seungwon shouted in outrage.

 

“Hey. At least wait for an answer before coming in. You think this is your bedroom or something?”

 

But instead of apologizing, Yeonho only showed a look of pity.

 

“You think this is hole number eight? Why are you planting grass here?”

 

“…….”

 

“Enough. Put the stick down. You have a guest.”

 

Guest?

 

Having gotten yelled at for doing nothing, Seungwon pouted and tilted his head.

 

“Come in.”

 

Then, as the unfamiliar man followed Yeonho inside, Seungwon’s eyes widened.

 

From his early twenties when he worked part-time on the road, to now as the CEO of an entertainment company, he had seen nearly every kind of face.

 

Handsome types. Pretty types. Innocent types. Sexy types.

 

He had seen so many that now, no matter how good-looking someone was, his first thought was, How much did that cost? From the nose shape, was that Dr. Min in Gangnam?

 

He was at the point of calculating estimates before admiration.

 

But this time was different.

 

It felt like he had been thrown back to his rookie days. It had been a long time since he had been this shocked. And never before had he been so completely speechless.

 

Predicting exactly that, Yeonho only shrugged as if it were nothing.

 

“Say hello. He looks like this, but he’s the CEO of our company. And this is… the guy I mentioned before.”

 

“Hello. I’ve heard… a lot about you.”

 

He was someone who could have easily been addressed as “sir,” yet Yeonho merely called him “the guy.”

 

Marteo’s voice was rich and deep enough to melt the surroundings.

 

Seungwon threw the putter to the floor and rushed forward like something had lit his tail on fire.

 

“So… this is the friend you mentioned back then?”

 

“Are your eyes open or asleep? Yes.”

 

“No… you didn’t say he was like this at the time.”

 

“Like what?”

 

“You should have said he was unbelievably, ridiculously, insanely handsome.”

 

“…….”

 

Understandable or not… Seungwon would be forty soon.

 

He spoke without filter, and it was unbelievably irritating.

 

Why was the embarrassment always Yeonho’s problem?

 

Too irritated to curse, Yeonho plopped down on the sofa.

 

“Sit. You too. And ignore that man.”

 

The added comment was unnecessary for Marteo.

 

Even if he tried, he would not pay attention to Seungwon.

 

Acting like he was obeying, Marteo sat right next to Yeonho, close enough to touch.

 

Only after that did Seungwon’s sense of shame belatedly return.

 

Two pairs of eyes staring at him like he was a zoo monkey…

 

Finally, too late, Seungwon coughed awkwardly and shuffled over to sit across from them.

 

“That… excuse me. I got a bit carried away on our first meeting.”

 

“A bit?”

 

Yeonho did not miss the chance to tease, but it did not last long.

 

Seungwon glared back and counterattacked.

 

“And you? You said you might be a ‘bit’ late, yet you show up this early. You told him to come at three. It’s not even two-thirty. Looks like you don’t understand the meaning of ‘a bit.’”

 

Yeonho’s mouth snapped shut in embarrassment.

 

Marteo slowly turned toward him.

 

“Three… o’clock?”

 

He did not add any words, but his eyes said everything.

 

Then he laughed quietly.

 

He had clearly seen through him completely.

 

‘I mean… I didn’t think he’d come this fast either…’

 

Yeonho cleared his throat.

 

Thinking it was because of him, Seungwon lifted his chin proudly and looked at Marteo.

 

“Anyway, nice to meet you. Yeonho, no, our Director Do told me about you, but seeing you in person, you’re even more impressive than expected.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“You should thank your parents for that, haha.”

 

“…….”

 

“By the way, can I speak casually to you… to me?”

 

“Speak however you like.”

 

“Great. Your personality’s straightforward too. And your Korean is really good. I heard you were mixed Korean. Did you learn the language from your parents?”

 

“…I lived here for a short time when I was young.”

 

“Oh, so things learned young really stick. Is the reason you want to work in Korea related to your childhood memories?”

 

“…….”

 

“I heard you don’t have an agency right now. Is that true?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Any short-term contracts? Like signing something that gives rights to a project for a set period, or paperwork with an agency, management company, or hiring service?”

 

“No.”

 

“Even outside Korea?”

 

“No.”

 

“That’s good. Some people think it’s nothing and end up getting hit with lawsuits.”

 

“…….”

 

“By the way, what visa did you enter with? And how long has it been since you arrived?”

 

Despite being a company CEO, the detailed questions were surprising.

 

Marteo quickly calculated.

 

Morphers, especially bird or fish types, sometimes crossed borders unintentionally.

 

That was why the E-7X visa existed, a special visa for non-standard entry cases.

 

But the visa Marteo used was an investment visa.

 

Either way, he could not tell the truth.

 

He chose the safest answer.

 

“I came on a jobseeker visa. It’s been about a month since I arrived.”

 

“Then you have about five months left before it expires. Well, that can be extended anyway. And since it’s not a student visa, you must not be a student. Did you graduate college? Actually, how old are you?”

 

Marteo instinctively looked at Yeonho.

 

His answer came after a beat.

 

“Twenty… four.”

 

“Twenty-four?”

 

The one who reacted was not Seungwon but Yeonho.

 

Seungwon stared at him, baffled.

 

“What, you didn’t know his age?”

 

He only thought, as long as he’s not a minor…

 

Unable to answer, Yeonho pressed his lips together.

 

Clicking his tongue, Seungwon glared at him before smiling again and turning to Marteo.

 

“What’s your name?”

 

Seizing the chance as if to make up for his mistake, Yeonho spoke for him.

 

“Tony.”

 

“…Tony?”

 

“His full name is Antonio, but he shortens it to ‘Tony’ for convenience.”

 

“Hmm. Somehow it does not fit his image. Isn’t it a bit too cute?”

 

“At twenty-four, cute is to be expected.”

 

At their exchange, Marteo’s face stiffened slightly.

 

A wrinkled face with streaks of gray hair flashed across his mind.

 

Yeah… at that age cute could still be cute… maybe.

 

He decided to treat it as so.

 

“Anyway, what do you think? About that Im Somin drama you mentioned, can you get him in?”

 

Meanwhile Yeonho cut the small talk and moved to the main point.

 

Seungwon rubbed his chin with a changed expression.

 

Im Somin drama?

 

He had not heard of it, but he guessed it involved him.

 

Marteo looked between the two of them with a thoughtful gaze.

 

“It seems unlikely.”

 

“Why? Because he cannot act? I let it slide then, but with that face even if his acting’s weak it could work.”

 

“I would not agree, though I almost do. It is not that kind of problem.”

 

“Then what is it?”

 

“There was a decent bit-part role, but it looks like Kim Seungyeol’s people put their rookie in. Yesterday I had a brief call with the director and he chewed me out about bundled casting. After setting things up like that, how could they do that to me?”

 

“Getting shouted at is the job of a CEO.”

 

“Hey.”

 

“If that’s the case, why did you ask to see his face. Now you only wasted time.”

 

Seungwon looked aggrieved at the sharp rebuke.

 

Still, Yeonho snorted disdainfully without caring.

 

Suppressing the urge to hit him, Seungwon turned to Marteo.

 

“It’s a shame, but wait for now. Anyway, every one I pick for Director Do does well. By the way, do you know Kang Jiwon? You must have heard the line ‘I reserved every seat next to you starting today,’ right?”

 

Whoever delivered that performance would be unforgettable.

 

He had never heard the line, but it sounded like something that would contort a face in disgust.

 

More pressing was how the name ‘Kang Jiwon’ twisted Yeonho’s expression even further.

 

Seungwon began counting on his fingers as he looked at Yeonho.

 

“That one left to another place now, but he used to be our family. Yeonho picked Jiwon for his first drama. Not just Kang Jiwon, but Oh Taejin, Kim Joonhyuk, Lee Geonwoo… who else was there? Anyway, anything Director Do touches, no one fails.”

 

It sounded like boasting, but Marteo’s expression grew more statue-like.

 

The point was, all those names he rattled off had been involved with Do Yeonho in one way or another.

 

He had suspected and heard hints, but had tried not to get into specific names.

 

Did Yoon Seungwon realize?

 

Right now he had just dumped a whole sack of ash on a perfectly fine entertainer’s future.

 

Marteo, chewing over the names stored in his mind, finally raised the corner of his mouth toward Yeonho.

 

On the surface it was a careful smile, but why did it send a chill down his spine?

 

Reflexively averting his eyes because he thought the other was easy prey, Yeonho glared at Seungwon.

 

“Ah, do not get anyone’s hopes up for nothing.”

 

“What? Am I wrong?”

 

“You cannot even get him one bit-part. Fine, if the drama is impossible, find something like a print ad.”

 

“Right, by the way, Lee Changhoon is back in Korea, right?”

 

“Who, that writer? Why him?”

 

“We need to prepare a tidy profile photo for the kid.”

 

He said it simply, but it was an exceptional favor.

 

Lee Changhoon was famous for working only with top stars and would never bother with raw rookie profiles.

 

More than that… for some reason he and Yeonho did not get along well.

 

Noticing Seungwon’s sour look, Yeonho shrugged.

 

“His skills are solid. Send me the contact later.”

 

From the way he spoke, Marteo guessed the number had already been deleted.

 

Still, seeing Marteo in his sight made his feelings understandable.

 

Of course you would not take that kind of talent to a neighborhood photo studio for an instant-photo strip.

 

“I’ll ask if his schedule is possible.”

 

“If he plays hard to get, double the pay.”

 

“……Company expense?”

 

“My money.”

 

“…….”

 

“Then we will take our leave.”

 

“Now? How long have you been here. At least have a cup of coffee before you go.”

 

“This one hates coffee. Give the CEO two cups. What are you doing. Not getting up?”

 

Standing up at last, Yeonho looked down at Marteo.

 

He had thought to pry information about Yeonho through Yoon Seungwon, but it looked like he would have to drop that plan.

 

On the surface, Marteo rose as if he could not refuse Yeonho.

 

Seeing the pair depart without regret, Seungwon reluctantly hauled himself up.

 

But then suddenly, “Director Do!” he grabbed Yeonho again in a hurry.

 

Yeonho, already heading toward the door, turned his face sour and looked back.

 

This time Seungwon glanced at Marteo.

 

More than ten years had passed.

 

They understood each other without words.

 

“Go out and wait for a moment.”

 

Pausing briefly, Marteo bowed slightly to Seungwon without much comment and left the office.

 

As if relieved, Seungwon hurried to close the distance.

 

“Hey. Did you seal the deal?”

 

“What seal. A contract?”

 

“Don’t play innocent. Did you sleep with him?”

 

“…….”

 

“Not yet? If not, go sleep with him quickly.”

 

“…….”

 

“You know, the scariest thing is the emotional attachment. If you get attached you cannot expect others not to try. I can tell that if that thing runs amok on the streets, we will get a truckload of business cards. Do not dawdle and let someone else steal him. Manage him well, okay?”

 

“…….”

 

“Why are you not answering?”

 

Not amused.

 

From rank-and-file employees to the CEO, how could everyone in this company be so rude to him?

 

He was clearly the one who had approached first to get sponsorship, so why was he treated like this?

 

He had even talked about arranged meetings, and lately so many people had been trying to sell him.

 

“Whether I sleep with him or keep him, I will take care of it, so mind your own business.”

 

Unable to hold back, Yeonho kicked the door hard with all his might.