boyutpedia Chapter 436: Ahn Jung-Hae (1)
Chapter 436: Ahn Jung-Hae (1)
Chapter 436: Ahn Jung-Hae (1)
At Kim Soo-Myung's Life Clinic, the investigators arrested the hospitalized members of the Eun-Gyu gang. At that moment, Seo Jae-Ill whispered to me, revealing that on the day Kang Eun-Gi was nearly killed at the hospital, one of the three police officers who had cleared the entrance for the assassin to enter had been caught.
I asked, "Is that really true?"
Seo Jae-Ill nodded. "Yes. We got lucky and caught him in an unexpected place."
Apparently, one of those three officers had been arrested at an illegal gambling den while spending money recklessly.
He continued, "A junior prosecutor is handling the initial investigation, but I plan to go down and interrogate him personally soon. Now that I'm set to become a deputy chief prosecutor, this won't end in vain like before."
The deputy chief prosecutor was roughly equivalent to the head of a district office. Seo Jae-Ill's career was advancing three years faster than his peers with a significant promotion.
"I'll be looking forward to it."
Seo Jae-Ill smiled and added, "Oh, and please call me first next time something like this happens."
"I'll make sure to. I've learned a lot this time."
Seo Jae-Ill also informed me that arrest warrants had been issued for Woo Sung-Chan's parents on charges of conspiracy to commit murder. "It looks like they'll spend the year-end holidays with their beloved son in correctional facilities. One in the detention center and the other in prison."
Woo Sung-Chan’s parents had initially only given instructions to abduct and intimidate. However, stronger charges were applied since the Eun-Gyu gang thugs had used knives, which resulted in their urgent arrest.
"Anyway, get well soon and I'll be in touch later."
"For sure. See you next time."
After delivering a slew of good news, Seo Jae-Ill left.
***
Once the members of the Eun-Gyu gang were taken away, I finished my IV and got up.@@@@
I expressed my gratitude to Lee Soo-Chan and his men and suggested having a celebratory dinner soon. Then I headed to the test site where Lee Si-Yoon had taken his exam.
Kim Sung-Chan finished his work and met me there. "I was really worried, but I'm glad you're safe."
"Didn't I tell you? I'm good at fighting. Oh, and I'm pretty decent at running too though I forgot to mention that."
Kim Sung-Chan clicked his tongue in disbelief, "You’ve got quite the nerve, huh?"
Then, the school bell rang.
Ding ding ding.
The familiar sound of the bell signaled the end of the CSAT.
At that moment, countless parents who had been praying outside the test site eagerly waited for their children to come out.
A short while later, the students who had just taken the test that could determine their future emerged with a variety of expressions.
"Here they come."
The students carried various expressions of relief, disappointment, and resignation. These young students who had endured years of grueling preparation approached their parents, letting their emotions show.
"Oh, Dong-Sik. Well done. Look how pale you've gotten."
"What do you want to eat, my son?"
"Forget everything for today and just rest."
I felt glad I had come for Lee Si-Yoon upon watching families embrace each other.
At that moment, I saw Lee Si-Yoon running toward me with a bright smile. "Yoon-Ho hyung!"
"Hey, Si-Yoon."
Lee Si-Yoon was wearing the clothes I had given him as a gift. Panting slightly from running over, he grinned widely. "I didn't feel cold at all today thanks to you hyung. I think I did well on the test because of that."
"Really? How well?"
"I think I managed everything except for one question. I just need to compare my answers now."
"Whoa~ Are you going to get a perfect score?"
Even Kim Sung-Chan looked surprised. "You sound so confident. Maybe you'll really get a perfect score."
Lee Si-Yoon smiled. "I have to aim that high to become your hoobae, Mr. Kim."
"Hahaha. Is that so?"
Now that I thought about it, Kim Sung-Chan was also a graduate of Seoul National University.
"Shall we check your answers?"
"Just a moment."
Lee Si-Yoon pulled out a sheet of paper, saying he had written his answers on the back of his exam ticket. I handed him a tablet with the official answer sheet I had downloaded earlier.
Lee Si-Yoon stood still and began checking his answers. After a while, he folded the exam ticket in half and let out a deep sigh.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Seeing both Kim Sung-Chan and I looking worried, Lee Si-Yoon smiled brightly and replied, "I got a perfect score as long as I didn't mark wrong on the scantron."
At that moment, my chest swelled with so much pride that I couldn't help but hug Lee Si-Yoon tightly.
"I brought the sandwiches that you made for Miso."
"That's a talent agent's job. Why are you doing it?"
"Oh, come on. I have hands and feet, don't I? Besides, I don't have any shoots today. I'm Miso's mom today, so no nagging!"
This was why I liked Yoo-Jin. Even though she had become a huge star, she hadn't changed at all since the first time I met her.
That's when I noticed something unusual in the parking lot.
'Hmm? What are those guys doing here?' I wondered.
Two men stepped out from an old car at least ten years old. They were Director Ahn Jung-Hae and his production manager, Park Hyun-Soo.
Looking worn out, the two got out of the car and sighed deeply.
Then I remembered, 'Oh, that's right. Mr. Ahn must be starting a new project.'
The forty-year-old Ahn Jung-Hae was known for tackling socially conscious themes in his films. He debuted three years ago with the movie Hit and Run, which attracted only five hundred thousand viewers.
Due to its lackluster performance, securing investments for his next film hadn't been easy. However, his upcoming movie titled Missing: The Lost Ones was based on a true story from twenty years ago, and would eventually achieve five and a half million viewers due to its well-developed characters.
The movie was set to release in March next year, so production would be starting around now.
Unfortunately, Ahn Jung-Hae would remain in financial straits despite the success of the film. His contract with YH Venture Capital, the main investor, had been so unfavorable that even a hit film would bring him almost no earnings.
The head of YH Venture Capital, Yang Hak-Joo, was not only Yang Yi-Ji's father but also the husband of Lee Tae-Yeon.
'Come to think of it, Yang Yi-Ji played the child role in Missing.'
I considered getting out of the car to start a conversation, but Lee Tae-Yeon spotted Ahn Jung-Hae first and approached him.
Lee Tae-Yeon beamed as she walked over and extended her hand. "Oh my, Mr. Ahn! You're finally here."
Ahn Jung-Hae and Park Hyun-Soo immediately bowed deeply at a 90 degree angle. "I'm sorry we're a bit late."
Their bowing looked almost like they were begging for mercy.
Lee Tae-Yeon said cheerfully, "You must have had a tough time getting here."
Ahn Jung-Hae hesitantly asked, "So...when can we discuss the investment...?"
At that moment, Lee Tae-Yeon's expression sharpened as she glared at him. "Did you forget what I said? The follow up investment only happens if you cast Yi-Ji as the child actor."
When Ahn Jung-Hae didn't respond, Lee Tae-Yeon grumbled further. "Fine, just watch Yi-Ji's acting today and think it over again. If she's confirmed for your movie, I'll personally handle the investment."
"Understood..."
It was clear Lee Tae-Yeon had summoned Ahn Jung-Hae to the Gyeongju set to dangle the promise of investment in exchange for casting Yang Yi-Ji as the child actor.
While directors were usually the authority figures on a movie set, that power was only reserved for directors who consistently produced hits. Directors who failed at the box office and couldn't secure funding were not only powerless but often treated like debtors.
Judging by Ahn Jung-Hae's nervous demeanor, it seemed he was deeply in debt and desperate to secure funding to pay it off.
Even so, the fact that he hadn't yet confirmed Yang Yi-Ji as the child actor suggested he had some backbone.
"Go ahead, Ms. Lee. I'm not feeling well from car sickness...so I'll rest a bit and follow you later."
Lee Tae-Yeon waved her skirt as she walked toward the set. "Alright, I'll head over first. Don't take too long~"
Ahn Jung-Hae let out a long sigh. "Sigh... I'm sorry, Hyun-Soo. It's all because I'm useless..."
"Don't say that, Mr. Ahn. It'll work out this time."
"Ah, I could really use a cigarette."
Ahn Jung-Hae pulled out a cigarette, but there was only one left in the pack. "Damn it...this is my last one."
Staring at the last cigarette, Ahn Jung-Hae seemed to confront the reality of his poverty. With a wry smile, he held it out to Park Hyun-Soo. "You take it."
"No, Mr. Ahn. You should have it."
At that moment, I decided to help Ahn Jung-Hae.
Ahn Jung-Hae was one of the very few filmmakers in the industry who would take on personal debt to pay his staff, including the lowest-ranking ones. This was extremely rare in an industry notorious for exploiting workers and withholding even meager wages.
The thought of him struggling financially even after Missing: The Lost Ones achieved five and a half million viewers was unbearable.
I resolved to free Ahn Jung-Hae from the grip of Lee Tae-Yeon and Yang Hak-Joo, the head of YH Venture Capital. Separately, I also had a favor to ask of Ahn Jung-Hae.
Turning to Yoo-Jin, I asked, "Yoo-Jin, do you think Miso could take on a role as a child actor in a crime thriller?"
When I briefly summarized the plot of Missing: The Lost Ones, Yoo-Jin nodded readily. "As long as you're on set often to look after Miso."
"Of course, that's a given."
"Then it's a deal! Miso's been saying she wants to act again besides her food tour show, so this works out perfectly."
"Great."
With Yoo-Jin's approval, I now needed to replace the investor and secure Miso as the child actor.
I had a pack of Mallboro Reds and a lighter stashed for networking purposes though I didn't smoke. Grabbing them, I approached the two men who were still politely insisting the other take the last cigarette.