The Baby Seizes Fortune - Chapter 33
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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 33
An email had arrived saying they would proceed exactly as I had requested.
“Great. But how much money did we make?”
Even excluding the unofficial costs for data collection, the recovering stocks were working hard.
[The balance is 210 million won.]
I checked the stock list.
Awesome! They’re growing well,
but it seems like it’s time to gradually pull out of theme stocks.
For investments with better returns, that is.
“Great! From here to here, put in sell orders!”
[Understood!]
* * *
Though the dark night had come, Junho couldn’t fall asleep easily. He stroked the forehead of the soundly sleeping Chaea several times, let out a small sigh, and turned on the television.
Thanks to the PD of 【Typhoon Internal Medicine】 and Yeong-il, he would likely avoid being dropped from the show, but he knew his situation wasn’t good.
At this rate, he might really have to give up his dream of being an actor.
But from the moment he started living as Chaea’s father, he couldn’t deny in front of people that he was Chaea’s dad.
What about the wounds the child would receive from such a thing…
He ran his hand through his hair, temporarily set aside his thoughts, and focused on the investigative program currently airing.
It was a program called 【I Want to Know This】 that aired around eleven at night when children were asleep.
This time, content related to corruption and exploitation in the entertainment industry was being broadcast, which had been much talked about even on filming sets.
-Stepping into the entertainment industry, is it the beginning of a dream? Or is it entering the shadow, the dark side of the light?
With a familiar voice, a scene of a dark dressing room was shown.
The silhouette of a woman with mosaic treatment sitting in front of a mirror could be seen.
-We signed contracts. But demands that weren’t in the contract began.
The content that was eventually broadcast was quite shocking.
It was about small entertainment agencies mobilizing rookie female entertainers for private meetings with wealthy individuals, advertisers, and investment-related personnel.
But for Junho, it wasn’t that shocking content.
Because such proposals had come to Saebyeol as well.
An interview scene with a rookie actor whose voice was altered and face was kept private appeared.
-They said they’d use another actor if I refused. I had no choice.
Junho’s tightly clenched fist trembled.
Knowing that such bad people who made unfair demands actually existed, he had been even more worried about Chaea showing interest in the entertainment industry.
The agency refused official interviews and stated that ‘the content is groundless and we have never intervened in personal meetings,’ but…
“How ridiculous. Bad bastards.”
Junho let out a hollow laugh. He had witnessed Saebyeol receiving such pressure, and Junho had even been kicked in the shin when he confronted them about it.
If Mincheol hadn’t appeared to help Saebyeol, it would have been something he couldn’t resolve alone.
‘Back then I thought Mincheol hyung was noona’s savior… where the hell did he go.’
Soon the host appeared on screen and continued speaking.
-Of course, despite such pressure, there was an actor who ultimately rejected the temptation.
At the photo that appeared next, Junho’s eyes shook violently.
-The late actress Kang Sae-byeol, who died in a traffic accident a year ago. According to information we obtained from acquaintances, there was considerable unfair pressure, but she shook it off. Her manager was said to have been of great help in her choice.
The host added to the comment that without someone nearby actively helping with such final conscience, it’s difficult for rookie actors to resist.
-An acquaintance of actress Kang Sae-byeol praised Gu Jun-ho, who was her manager at the time, and told us another truth about this small hero.
Junho, who had been watching the screen, froze and blinked.
“…Why am I coming out here?”
At that moment, the corner of Chaea’s mouth, who was lying behind him with her eyes slightly open watching the screen, curled up slightly.
* * *
While watching the drama 【Love You Even If I Die】, the part I was most absorbed in was indeed the section where Saebyeol faced difficulties.
The corrupt agency president had tried to make Saebyeol accompany a man called ‘Chairman’ to a drinking session.
I remember watching with trembling fists, thinking ‘dirty bastards.’
Even when Mincheol appeared magnificently to stop this, my heart was pounding.
‘Kim Min-cheol, that bastard.’
Anyway, I judged that now was a good time to expose the dirty true face of this era’s entertainment industry.
I researched data by recalling the companies, real names, and specific episodes of the villains I remembered from binge-watching 【Love You Even If I Die】.
It was also to get revenge on the bastards who tried to torment mom in the drama. Through this, if the things that happened to mom were revealed, it could prevent other victims from being created.
I even hired part-timers from PC communication chatrooms to take photos of those places.
And I sent those materials to the production team of 【I Want to Know This】, and received a reply that they would investigate.
During the investigation, they often sent me emails wanting to meet with me, but I pretended to live abroad and avoided them while only delivering the information I knew.
And on the day I received an email that a broadcast based on my tip-off had been scheduled, I sent them a scanned copy of the letter Saebyeol had written to Junho.
That letter Junho had shown to the Kang siblings at mom’s funeral home.
The content asking Junho to take good care of Chaea.
In exchange for providing materials and tips about this matter, I asked them to include a story revealing the truth about the hero Gu Jun-ho who bravely prevented such things.
-According to the tip-off, actor Gu Jun-ho, who is currently appearing in a certain sitcom, was actress Kang Sae-byeol’s manager. He not only courageously protected her from such ugly affairs, but also…
Soon the letter Saebyeol had written to Junho filled the screen.
-She left a letter asking him to take care of her child, who was from an unwed mother, in case she died. The reason was that although Gu Jun-ho wasn’t the child’s biological father, he was the only good person she could trust.
Junho, who had been sitting blankly, suddenly jumped up from his seat.
-And Mr. Gu Jun-ho is currently raising Kang Sae-byeol’s child alone.
And without taking his eyes off the television screen, he began frantically searching through drawers.
Then the letter Saebyeol had written to him came out exactly as it was.
“How did this… happen…?”
I laughed to myself, kyokyo.
Actually, it was one of the methods for revealing his status as an unwed father that I had been planning since Junho started his acting career.
‘Well, he couldn’t hide it forever anyway.’
The host’s voice continued to be heard from the television.
-But now, actor Gu Jun-ho, who merely helped Saebyeol, is in crisis. Because of a certain magazine company that’s driving him into a corner as an unwed father, using provocative words without even investigating the facts.
Soon the camera closed up on the host’s face.
Blue subtitles appeared below.
-Our 【I Want to Know This】 awaits tips from those who have suffered significant damage to their livelihoods due to such unverified and reckless media power. This has been 【I Want to Know This】.
‘The connection to the next episode is perfect.’
The program ended with its characteristic background music.
I whispered to Noah.
“How’s the reaction on PC communication?”
[Reactions about this matter are immediately being posted… and the perception of actor Gu Jun-ho is rapidly changing positively!]
Good. I should sleep comfortably tonight.
Hoping that Junho, who still couldn’t take his eyes off the screen, would sleep peacefully tonight, I quickly closed my eyes before he noticed.
* * *
The next day, the entertainment industry was turned upside down.
Because a full-scale police investigation began after the case of forcing rookie female entertainers into escort services, which had been hushed up, exploded.
Hoyeong, the president of Westree, was also busy dealing with the police who had come.
“We have absolutely no such incidents.”
He was confident, and actually had reason to be confident.
“We will cooperate with all procedures necessary for the investigation.”
“No, it’s just… Claudia Entertainment. We need a witness investigation about that place.”
“I’ve met with other agency presidents at official industry gatherings, but I’ve never met privately…”
“Ah, I see.”
Junho’s eyebrows twitched as he sat next to Hoyeong.
Come to think of it, Claudia Entertainment was one of the agencies Junho had considered contracting with.
Chaea had told him to contract with Westree here, not that place.
She said Saebyeol had said this place was good.
‘Noona… I don’t understand what this is all about. Why was noona’s letter…’
“Mr. Gu Jun-ho.”
Soon, a police officer’s voice was heard.
Jun-ho raised his head to look at the officer.
“I was very moved watching yesterday’s broadcast. To think there’s such a righteous young man. However, you mentioned that you protected the late actress Kang Sae-byeol when she was under pressure. When you have time, could you briefly tell us about the circumstances surrounding those incidents? We also need to verify information about the individuals involved.”
“…Yes, of course.”
He had always thought those dirty bastards would be punished someday, but he never expected that moment to come so early.
“You’re truly admirable.”
The officer extended his hand, offering Jun-ho a handshake.
Jun-ho accepted the officer’s handshake with a stern expression.
“Please, I ask that you conduct the investigation thoroughly.”
* * *
The large logo reading ‘Truth Talk Box’ flashed like neon, and the audience seats were filled with a mix of middle-aged people and college students.
Every time the placards on the audience members’ laps rustled, the camera boom slowly moved, sweeping across the studio.
Everyone knew who today’s guest was, which made them hold their breath even more.
“….”
In the center of the stage sat Gu Jun-ho. His tall height and broad shoulders, neat hairstyle and flawlessly clear skin, calm eyes beneath subtle double eyelids.
The gaze of millions beyond the lens, tomorrow’s entertainment headlines, and the lingering echoes of yesterday’s breaking news seemed to hang thick in the studio.
The host turned a cue card. Deliberately slowly, steadying his breath as he began to speak.
“Yesterday, there was quite shocking news.”
Simultaneously, a small murmur arose from the audience.
The host raised his head to look at Gu Jun-ho.
The question was something everyone already knew, but it had to be asked on live television.
“The revelation by actress Im Su-yeon, that is… the claim that you’re an unmarried father… is that false?”
The camera immediately zoomed in on Jun-ho.
Gu Jun-ho’s face filled the entire screen.
The studio noise seemed to disappear completely, and he didn’t avoid the gaze.
Gu Jun-ho looked straight into the camera, took a breath with slight tension at the corners of his mouth.
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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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