63

The reason obsession was scary is because one doesn't realize that they are obsessed. The person gets used to being greedy till it becomes a habit, so he takes it for granted to be obsessed with something. Even if it was abnormal in the eyes of others. A black hole that only the person can't see.

The hole that Myungshin will fall into was that car. I was waiting for the manager at the entrance of the company parking lot to go to an audition for a small role on a cable channel that the manager had earned. A well-made foreign car stopped suddenly in front of me. The manager's car is a piece of junk that can collapse on the road at any moment, so it's certainly not the manager's. Of course, the owner of this car was someone I knew. It's the car I saw in front of the restaurant the other day.

Slam!

Myungshin got out of the car and slammed the door shut. When I looked at him, he stood in front of the car proudly for a moment and then slowly walked closer. The car, which had not yet had its temporary license plate replaced, was gleaming without a speck of dust. I had a feeling at the restaurant where I met Chairman Kim a few days ago, but I didn't realize Myungshin would get a new car so quickly.

Of course, it was a good thing for me, but I wondered if he had better funds than I thought. I heard that he doesn't do many commercials, but did he make a lot of money under Chairman Kim? How did he get the money this time? Then I have no choice but to push him even harder.

"Are you in contact with Cha Jungwoo? He might be stuck in some orphanage somewhere, I can't find him anywhere."

"Why are you asking me that?"

When I asked, Myungshin sneered.

"Cha Jungwoo always comes running when you call him, so try calling him again to come see me, asshole."

It was not to see you, but rather, to show him your car. It seems like you want to brag a lot. I suppressed the laughter that was about to bubble out and turned my gaze to the car. I deliberately looked over the car, giving him the words he wanted to hear.

"Is it your car? You didn't borrow it?"

"Ha! You're shitting me. Don't believe it? That I can easily buy a car like this?"

I glanced at him and turned back to the car, replying nonchalantly.

"Yeah. I can't believe it. To be honest, that car doesn't suit your popularity or income."

"What the hell do you think you know?"

"I know you're nothing but Chairman Kim's dick-sucking tool."

Myungshin grit his teeth and glared at me. He must have remembered his own appearance at the restaurant a few days ago. In the end, since I found out that he was only being used, it would be difficult for him to brag about Chairman Kim to me anymore. No matter how much he mentions Chairman Kim's backing, I would laugh at him. Like this.

"Besides, it seems like you're not the only one sucking Chairman Kim's dick. So your only possession will be that car."

"What bullshit?"

Myungshin clenched his fists and took a step closer to me. Even so, knowing that he couldn't throw that fist, a sneer tugged at the corner of my mouth.

"I saw Chairman Kim at the company before. While you were filming overseas, Hyungseok was clinging to his side. Do you know, Since Hyungseok is younger than you, he sucks dick better than you. Maybe he can make Chairman Kim's dick last longer. Anyway, Chairman Kim doesn't care who sucks his dick. Whether it's you or Hyungseok."

"Son of a bitch. What bullshit are you spewing?"

"Bullshit? What, do you really not know? Or are you pretending not to know?"

There was no answer this time. It's clear that he was already wary of Hyungseok, so he couldn't lie. I turned my eyes back to his car.

"Hyungseok will ride that car someday. What will you be riding around then? Oh, Are you going to walk? If you lose that position to Hyungseok, you're nothing."

After trying to force himself to calm down, Myungshin spoke in a low voice.

"… Shut up, bastard."

"Song Myungshin."

Calling his name, I took a step forward.

"Fucking bastard, who are you giving orders to?"

I smiled, baring my teeth, not missing the moment when his eyes trembled slightly.

"You wouldn't be shit if you didn't have Chairman Kim.. So it will soon fall apart. Then you should sell that expensive car first, right?"

After taking a quick glance at the car, I added lightly. Staring at Myungshin with amusement as his hands balled into fists in anger.

"I'll always keep an eye out for when you're going to be crawling around selling your shitty car."

***

The next day, before going to Photographer Lee's studio, I received a text message from the good-looking guy as expected.

― Hyungseok was trampled on by Song Yoohan.

It's a short sentence, but it was the most welcome news I've ever received from him. I must have been smiling unconsciously.

"What's so interesting?"

The manager who was driving next to me looked at me and asked, and suddenly his expression hardened.

"Don't tell me… it's the madman?"

"No." He sighed lightly as I answered, putting the phone in my pocket. Then he glanced hesitantly to see if I wanted to say something, but he coughed first.

"Ahemm, Taemin. By the way, hmm, are you close with the madman?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Huh? Oh no, I'm not trying to interfere with your relationship…"

He glanced at me again. When I stared at him intently implying he should speak, he cleared his throat again.

"Ahemmm, wouldn't it be better to stay away from the madman? Of course, he taught you good common sense about Vilnius, but his original personality is also crazy, and he even has the temperament of a stalker! I mean, I grabbed Hansoo and the road manager and asked them yesterday, but the road manager only cried when I brought up Jay!"

Did that uncle cry?

"Really?"

"Of course! …He wasn't really crying, but the anguish on that face was tantamount to tears. The madman really must have been chasing and harassing the road manager. At home, his wife tells him to go out and earn money, but outside, the madman stalks him. I really feel sorry for that man."

The manager must have been the one who shed tears. Anyway, what the hell is the relationship between the road manager and the madman? I hadn't asked him about it. Next time we meet, I shouldn't forget to ask… As I was thinking about this, I remembered what he said in the parking lot. One week. The deadline to ask him the truth. There are two days left. So far there has been no contact from him. Perhaps he really intends to wait a week. And my mind naturally flashed back to Chairman Kim, who had given me another week's deadline.

"Have you heard anything about Dream Project?"

The manager suddenly sighed.

"Whoa, that problem is really… frustrating."

"Has Chairman Kim been completely decided as Dream Project's President?"

The manager, who had slowed down the car to switch lanes, turned around frowning as he stopped at a traffic light.

"Yeah. They said they would formally appoint him as president at a board meeting in about three weeks. But they say that they are already holding all the Dream Project work in their hands. I think it's because the president's opponents are on Chairman Kim's side and are pressuring him. The production of the drama, which was sluggish so far, is already in progress…"

After a moment of silence, he added seriously.

"To think that such a good drama will be produced by someone like Chairman Kim. The purpose of making a drama is only for money, so I wonder if there will be proper content. Even if there is not, he's already started pouring money into buying land and building sets. Why would he just invest that money? He's obviously trying to earn it back somehow. Fill it up with stimulating content for box office success, and plaster places with indirect advertisements."

The manager let out a big sigh again, as if it was obvious.

"Then, they would put a Hallyu star in the lead role as the face of the drama and export it to foreign countries."

He, who had been speaking gloomily, brought up a possibility with a slightly brighter voice.

"Still, there is a possibility that director Yoon is the largest shareholder in Dream Project, so he can stop it. Please, I hope Director Yoon doesn't go over to Chairman Kim."

Who knows. He wouldn't, but he might give up his shares. I kept getting caught up, thinking about him saying he could give up Dream Project for me was a joke.. Of course, he wouldn't give it up for me, but I had the feeling that he considered giving up an option anyway.

"That drama, can't it be produced elsewhere other than Dream Project?"

"Yes. Our company owns the copyright, so it can as long as there is a contract. However, the contract has already been signed with Dream Planning, and the director has also signed, so it is almost impossible to take it back."

Then giving up on Dream Project means giving up on the drama as well. What the hell is going on in the madman's head? As I was thinking, I heard the manager's small murmur.

"Hmm, since the production of the drama has been pushed, there will be an actor audition soon. Tsk, that will take up a lot of money there again."

Money, huh. Surely Myungshin won't join the ranks of hallyu? Since he knew that he was not a very important person to Chairman Kim, he would take the money himself and run. Just then, the manager told me about my schedule.

"Oh, come to think of it, PD Jung contacted me. He said he wanted you to come to the studio and see a new script reading in three days when there is time."

As I wondered 'How's that movie coming along?', the manager answered as if he heard my thoughts.

"They said they were done filming. Except for four parts. They said it was already being edited."