NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 190

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 190. 「Saebyeol Media」

 

When Yeon-woo called the number written on the back of the business card, the secretary’s office answered and said they would send a car to where Yeon-woo was currently located.

 

 

 

The background investigation on Chairman Seo Tae-gwang had been conducted steadily and secretly since their first meeting.

 

 

 

During the additional filming for the Patriotic Veterans Month commemorative Commercial Film last time, he had discovered that there was some trouble with certain military generals related to defense industry corruption issues.

 

 

 

After that, he and Han Hae-woon had dug quite deeply into it, but they found that Ihan Group had no connection with Baeksol whatsoever – in fact, they were in a considerably antagonistic relationship.

 

 

 

‘A pot that leaks inside can’t be intact outside.’

 

 

 

How could the generals who had been receiving bribes from Baeksol refuse such well-seasoned meat called ‘defense industry corruption’?

 

 

 

The military generals who had been continuously fed bribes by Baeksol to control the military faction were the main culprits of the defense industry corruption case, and thus naturally came into conflict with Ihan Group, which suffered damage as a result.

 

 

 

‘Chairman Seo Tae-gwang doesn’t seem like someone who would speak with a forked tongue, but…’

 

 

 

Even if he refused the request, there would be no problem with the operation, and since they stood on completely opposite sides regarding military-related issues, at least there would be no chance of information leaking to Baeksol’s side.

 

 

 

After waiting briefly, a car arrived to pick up Yeon-woo.

 

The car sent by Chairman Seo carried Yeon-woo for quite a while before arriving at a luxurious private villa near Seongsan.

 

 

 

As Yeon-woo got out of the car, the bodyguard he had seen last time approached.

 

 

 

“Hello. You’re the person I met last time.”

 

“It’s been a while, actor. The Chairman is waiting for you.”

 

“Yes. Let’s go.”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo followed the bodyguard into the villa.

 

 

 

Past the Inner Door, surprisingly, there was a living room decorated with exactly the same interior as the house in Pyeongchang-dong.

 

 

 

Perhaps sensing Yeon-woo’s change in expression, the bodyguard quietly spoke as he walked.

 

 

 

“The Chairman likes to feel as if he’s at home wherever he is, so the structure is identical.”

 

“I see.”

 

 

 

However, unlike the house in Pyeongchang-dong, the outside scenery visible through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows showed the sea instead of a lawn.

 

 

 

The bodyguard knocked on the door that appeared to be a study.

 

 

 

Knock knock─.

 

 

 

“Chairman. The guest has arrived.”

 

 

 

Then he carefully opened the door and politely gestured inside with both hands to Yeon-woo.

 

 

 

“Please go in.”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo bowed lightly and entered inside.

 

 

 

In the room were antique-style bookshelves and a desk, a floor-to-ceiling window filling one wall, and two rocking chairs placed in the center of the room facing the sea.

 

 

 

Chairman Seo Tae-gwang, who had been sitting at the study desk, approached with a smile.

 

 

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

 

 

Seeing Chairman Seo Tae-gwang approaching with his hand extended, Yeon-woo smiled.

 

 

 

“Have you been well all this time?”

 

“What else would an old man have but more difficulty with each passing year. Hehe.”

 

 

 

After shaking hands, Seo Tae-gwang pointed to the rocking chairs and offered a seat.

 

 

 

“Please sit.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

 

 

Chairman Seo Tae-gwang, sitting in the rocking chair facing the sea, looked at Yeon-woo and continued speaking.

 

 

 

“That chair was originally where my granddaughter used to sit.”

 

“I felt it last time too, but you have a good relationship with your granddaughter.”

 

“Good, my foot. She got married and doesn’t even show her face anymore. Ugh, it’s so lonely.”

 

 

 

Then he looked at the sea and spoke again.

 

 

 

“I thought you had thrown away my business card for candy. But you remembered it?”

 

“It was such a precious opportunity that I couldn’t use it carelessly.”

 

 

 

At Yeon-woo’s answer, Chairman Seo Tae-gwang laughed heartily.

 

 

 

“Now you don’t really need my help anymore, do you? When I saw you last time, you looked exactly like a boy, but now you’ve become quite the young man.”

 

 

 

He probably wasn’t talking about outward appearance.

 

Reading Chairman Seo Tae-gwang’s intention in speaking about Ryu Yeon-woo’s growth as an actor, Yeon-woo shook his head.

 

 

 

“I was lucky enough to achieve some small success, but I think good fortune doesn’t last long.”

 

“Hehe. A young fellow being modest. So what is it you want to ask of me?”

 

 

 

Then Yeon-woo looked at Chairman Seo Tae-gwang.

 

 

 

“It’s related to LN Media.”

 

“Hmm, LN Media… I heard that the person who discovered you stepped down from the representative position.”

 

 

 

At the unexpected words, Yeon-woo tilted his head.

 

While LN Media had considerable influence in the entertainment industry, from Ihan Group’s perspective, it was a small company that was barely visible.

 

 

 

It was surprising that he knew about the internal affairs of such a company.

 

 

 

“Were you originally interested in our company, sir?”

 

 

 

Then Seo Tae-gwang shook his head.

 

 

 

“I’m not Old Man Kwon from CT Group, so why would I be interested in a movie-making company? I’m not interested in your company, but in you. Aren’t you our group’s model?”

 

 

 

He was referring to Chairman Kwon Jin-seop of CT Group.

 

Unlike CT Group, which had earnestly entered the culture industry, Ihan Group had no connection to it whatsoever.

 

 

 

Since Ihan Group’s image had actually improved greatly after Ryu Yeon-woo became their advertising model, he was simply interested in him.

 

 

 

Since Chairman Seo Tae-gwang had been interested in Ryu Yeon-woo even before he became as successful as he was now, he felt as if he had some kind of foresight for recognizing him, which made him grow even more fond of the young man named Ryu Yeon-woo.

 

 

 

Chairman Seo Tae-gwang continued speaking.

 

 

 

“A favor related to the company… It’s not asking me to restore your CEO position. What is the favor? Don’t beat around the bush and tell me.”

 

“I would like Ihan Group to briefly show movements as if they’re trying to acquire LN Media.”

 

 

 

At the unexpected words, Chairman Seo Tae-gwang looked at Yeon-woo.

 

 

 

“Movements as if trying to acquire LN Media… You must be asking me to briefly shake up public opinion.”

 

 

 

As expected, the Chairman immediately understood Yeon-woo’s words.

 

Just as Yeon-woo nodded and was about to give additional explanation, Chairman Seo Tae-gwang spoke first.

 

 

 

“Would that be enough?”

 

 

 

Without even asking the reason for the favor, Chairman Seo Tae-gwang looked at Yeon-woo.

 

And reading that look in his eyes, Yeon-woo nodded.

 

 

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

“Understood. I’ll do that for you. Then that uses up your business card.”

 

“Of course.”

 

 

 

Chairman Seo Tae-gwang’s eyes curved into crescents as he smiled again.

 

 

 

“Have you eaten?”

 

“I deliberately came on an empty stomach, knowing you’d treat me to something delicious like last time.”

 

 

 

At Yeon-woo’s answer, Chairman Seo Tae-gwang chuckled heartily.

 

 

 

“This young fellow is quite amusing.”

 

 

 

Chairman Seo Tae-gwang pressed the bell on the table and said.

 

 

 

“Bring in the meal we prepared. I’ll eat with this fellow while looking at the sea.”

 

– Understood, Chairman.

 

 

 

The door to the study opened and servants entered.

 

 

 

They brought a dining table and chair in front of the glass window overlooking the sea and began setting food on top of it.

 

 

 

“Come, let’s eat.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

 

 

When he sat down, there was samgyetang just like the meal he had been treated to last time.

 

 

 

“You seem to have the fortune to eat well. Our chef happened to be planning to make chicken dishes today, but when your call came, I told him to boil it instead.”

 

 

 

Even though samgyetang was no longer such a precious dish in an era when Michelin-starred gourmet restaurants were increasingly common, Yeon-woo smiled knowing Chairman Seo Tae-gwang’s intention to treat his guest well.

 

 

 

Originally in our culture, wasn’t slaughtering a hen for an honored guest the highest form of hospitality?

 

 

 

“I will eat well.”

 

 

 

While dining with Chairman Seo Tae-gwang, they didn’t discuss LN Media any further and mainly talked about the Berlin Film Festival and experiences he had in LA.

 

 

 

Chairman Seo Tae-gwang smiled and nodded as if listening to stories from his grandchild.

 

 

 

Then he looked at Yeon-woo and asked.

 

 

 

“But do you know why I help you?”

 

 

 

At first, he thought it was repayment for helping the corporate image.

 

 

 

Since he said he would help once if Yeon-woo brought his business card for any matter, he also thought that someone of Chairman Seo Tae-gwang’s stature couldn’t go back on his word and was keeping it.

 

 

 

But after today’s conversation, it seemed that wasn’t all there was to it.

 

 

 

After pondering deeply, Yeon-woo shook his head.

 

 

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“It’s because of your eyes. When I look at you, I’m reminded of myself. Ah, of course I don’t mean your pretty appearance.”

 

 

 

Chairman Seo Tae-gwang laughed once, then gazed intently at Yeon-woo’s face before continuing.

 

 

 

“My father, who farmed his whole life in the countryside, was swindled by some scoundrel and lost several plots of farmland that were like everything to him. But I was happy about it. Instead of just following my father and farming in the countryside, I had to go out into the bigger world and earn money.”

 

“So that’s when you came to Seoul and started your business.”

 

 

 

At Yeon-woo’s words, Chairman Seo Tae-gwang quietly nodded.

 

 

 

“When I look at your eyes, I’m reminded of myself back then. Eyes that think of crisis as opportunity and enjoy it. I don’t know what your favor to me is for, but it seemed like you were trying to turn crisis into opportunity, so I agreed.”

 

 

 

Yeon-woo looked at Chairman Seo Tae-gwang and then bowed his head deeply.

 

 

 

“Thank you, sir.”

 

 

 

Seeing such a Yeon-woo, Chairman Seo Tae-gwang chuckled.

 

 

 

“Well, now you know. Let’s pick up our spoons again.”

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

Meanwhile, CEO Kim Ju-seong clutched his head as the doorbell continued to ring incessantly.

 

 

 

“Why aren’t the agents outside stopping this kind of thing?”

 

 

 

Holding his throbbing head, he headed toward the entrance.

 

 

 

Ding-a-ling─.

 

 

 

When he opened the front door, a man immediately complained.

 

 

 

“Ah, CEO! Why didn’t you open the door for so long?”

 

“Team Leader Jeong. I’m not a CEO anymore.”

 

 

 

It was Team Leader Jeong Hyeok who had been pressing Kim Ju-seong’s doorbell.

 

 

 

Then Jeong Hyeok also smiled brightly.

 

 

 

“Yes. I’m not a team leader anymore either. I submitted my resignation letter.”

 

 

 

Kim Ju-seong stared at Jeong Hyeok’s words.

 

 

 

“Why.”

 

“Just because.”

 

 

 

Kim Ju-seong scratched his head and then opened the door wide.

 

 

 

Then his eyes met with agent Lee Kyu-jin, who was peeking out from the emergency staircase behind Jeong Hyeok.

 

 

 

When Kim Ju-seong nodded to indicate it was okay, Lee Kyu-jin hid himself back in the emergency staircase.

 

 

 

Then he stepped aside and said to Jeong Hyeok.

 

 

 

“Come in for now.”

 

“Yes!”

 

 

 

As Jeong Hyeok entered the house, Kim Ju-seong walked to the sofa and plopped down.

 

 

 

“What are you going to do writing a resignation letter without a plan, Hyeok-ah?”

 

 

 

Jeong Hyeok grinned at the awkwardness of Kim Ju-seong calling him by name instead of “Team Leader Jeong.”

 

 

 

“…Could I also call you hyung by any chance?”

 

“No.”

 

 

 

At the sharp rejection, Jeong Hyeok laughed briefly and then pulled out an envelope from his jacket.

 

 

 

“What’s this?”

 

“Yeon-woo asked me to deliver this to you, CEO.”

 

“…Actor Ryu?”

 

 

 

At the unexpected news, Kim Ju-seong took the envelope and opened it.

 

 

 

Inside was letter paper.

 

 

 

As Kim Ju-seong read the contents, he frowned, scratched his head, read with a serious expression, and then chuckled.

 

 

 

“What does it say? I was going crazy with curiosity.”

 

 

 

At Jeong Hyeok’s words, Kim Ju-seong looked at him.

 

 

 

“You didn’t read what was inside?”

 

“It was sent to you, CEO, so why would I read it?”

 

 

 

Kim Ju-seong nodded.

 

 

 

That was the kind of person Jeong Hyeok was.

 

Someone who was always consistently upright and honest, which is why he had kept him by his side for so long as his right-hand man.

 

 

 

Kim Ju-seong stared at the letter for a long time, contemplating, then let out a deep sigh and looked at Jeong Hyeok.

 

 

 

“Hyeok-ah.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Would you like to try being a CEO? The CEO of a new company.”

 

“…What?”

 

 

 

The letter Yeon-woo sent contained a proposal for establishing a new company.

 

In the form of Ryu Yeon-woo and Kim Ju-seong jointly investing and hiring Jeong Hyeok as a professional manager.

 

 

 

Kim Ju-seong looked at the company name written at the bottom of the letter and chuckled.

 

 

 

“Hmm, ‘Saebyeol Media’… It seems a bit tacky, but it’s not bad either.”

 

 

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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