There Are Four Top Idol Uncles - Chapter 202

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Part 2, Episode 28
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“So… you’re saying you want to invest in me right now?”
Director Yoo Jungseok regarded the man before him with an expression of rare bewilderment.
How many industries existed where one could experience everything under the sun the way the film world did? Even for a director as seasoned as Yoo, who had long since grown inured to the extraordinary, this was genuinely surprising.
“Yes.”
There wasn’t a director alive who wouldn’t be startled when one of the nation’s top conglomerates suddenly appeared and offered full-scale investment in their work.
Director Yoo steadied his racing heart.
“I do make art house films, but they aren’t small-budget productions. Even if they don’t reach Hollywood scale… an enormous amount of money goes into them.”
Director Yoo explained calmly, wondering if the man before him had somehow mistaken his work for something that could be done on a shoestring budget.
“Haion won’t be the only investor. Time Entertainment and Sumbbit Film will invest alongside us.”
“!”
“If the amount seems too large, just say so. We’ll work out an arrangement accordingly.”
Yusong said this and scrawled a figure on a napkin, then slid it across to Director Yoo.
“For now, we’re thinking in the range of this amount.”
“…?”
Director Yoo glanced at the number Yusong offered, confusion warring with curiosity.
And then.
“…!!”
He drew a sharp breath, nearly choking on air.
Had this man lost his mind?
No matter how wealthy Haion was, a sum of this magnitude was not easy money by any measure.
Least of all for a director like himself, who had taken such a long hiatus.
“I’m not the kind of director who chases commercial viability. What I create might not recoup your investment.”
“I know. I’ve watched your body of work thoroughly.”
Despite Director Yoo’s continued reservations, Yusong showed no sign of wavering.
If anything, his expression suggested mild bemusement at the concern—which only deepened Director Yoo’s bewilderment.
Was it possible that for the ultra-wealthy, such sums truly were mere pocket change?
Yet no matter how he turned it over in his mind, this was absolutely not pocket change.
“…May I ask why you’re doing this for me?”
“My daughter wants to work on one of your films.”
“!”
At Yusong’s words, Director Yoo’s eyes widened.
In the current film world, there was hardly anyone who didn’t know who Yusong’s daughter was.
The young actress generating the most buzz lately—Yewon. How could anyone not know her?
But that child wanted to work on his films. And for that reason alone, this man was offering him such a massive sum.
Director Yoo’s expression grew heavy with concern.
This was not an occasion for unmixed joy.
“…First, I’m deeply grateful to Miss Yewon. After all, I’m just a washed-up director, and the fact that she’d want to work on my projects is…”
Director Yoo paused, collecting himself before continuing.
“But precisely because of that, I’m afraid I must decline this proposal.”
“!”
At this unexpected refusal, Yusong’s expression hardened with striking rarity.
It was the first time he’d encountered a case where “too much money to refuse” simply didn’t apply, which shocked him all the more.
Seeing that grim look, Director Yoo felt even worse.
“I can’t block the promising path of a talented actress for my own selfish reasons. Please don’t misunderstand—I think Miss Yewon is an exceptional actress. That’s precisely why I must decline.”
“…May I ask why you believe working on my films would obstruct Yewon’s future?”
Sensing the sincerity behind Director Yoo’s words, Yusong composed himself and asked calmly.
“…”
Director Yoo found himself unable to speak easily.
It was only natural. How could he easily lay bare family secrets to a man he’d met for the first time today?
And yet…
Director Yoo looked at the man before him—his face unnervingly trustworthy.
It wasn’t merely that he was handsome; there was something strange about him, a peculiar aura of reliability. The kind of presence that made one feel any worry, once spoken, would be quietly resolved without another soul knowing.
And having kept this secret bottled up for so long, his tongue finally loosened.
He’d held it in too long.
He wanted to confess it to someone, anyone.
“…I have two sons.”
“…”
Though he already knew this fact, Yusong listened in attentive silence.
“My second son is a very good person. Not just because he’s my son, but because there aren’t people like him in this world anymore. I simply feel sorry.”
Yoo Jungseok spoke those words, then let out a long breath as thoughts of Euhnoh weighed on him.
“The problem is my eldest.”
Yoo Jungseok hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“The eldest isn’t a bad child either, actually. If anything, he’s too virtuous—that’s his flaw. He was simply… clumsy, that’s all.”
Yoo Jungseok spoke while covering his face with both hands, distressed.
“My eldest got into a fistfight with some so-called school bullies at school, and he was reported as the perpetrator of school violence.”
“….”
This was information Yusong already knew.
The eldest, Yoo Sunoh, was enrolled at a boys’ liberal arts high school, unlike Euhnoh. During an incident there, while trying to stop a school bully who was picking on a smaller boy, a fight broke out.
The bullies rushed at Sunoh all at once, and he naturally fought back against them.
Up to that point, it was just an ordinary schoolyard scuffle.
The real problem came after.
Since violence had occurred, both sides naturally underwent investigation, and during that process, Sunoh exposed in detail how those bullies had been tormenting and assaulting other students all this time.
The school began investigating the bully group based on Sunoh’s testimony.
Up until then, Yoo Jungseok had never dreamed his son would end up being branded as the perpetrator.
The problem lay in the fact that the bullies’ parents were unreasonable people.
Once they learned that Sunoh’s father was Yoo Jungseok, they completely changed their stance.
They hired expensive lawyers, obtained hospital diagnoses, and instead reported Sunoh as the perpetrator of school violence.
“I suppose being a public figure was my sin.”
Yoo Jungseok drew his hand across his face, recalling that time.
“Those people told Sunoh that unless he retracted his statement—saying it was all lies—they would tip off the reporters. They said they’d tell them that the son of the famous Yoo Jungseok had been reported as a school violence perpetrator.”
“….”
“I’ve been in this industry and seen many things. Journalists don’t write only the truth. They’ll never report that the child hasn’t been confirmed as a perpetrator yet and is still under investigation. They’ll simply write sensational articles with glee, selling my name for the sake of shock value. Because that’s what makes money.”
Yusong quietly agreed.
Supporting Yewon, he had more than once witnessed how viciously journalists wrote about her if they weren’t paid off.
“Once the public starts attacking and cursing someone, they don’t want to know anything about the ‘real’ truth anymore. Because that would make them wrong. So the article couldn’t come out at all. For the sake of Sunoh’s future.”
Born as the son of a celebrity, he couldn’t let the boy be branded for life with the mark of school violence perpetrator.
And that wasn’t the end of it.
Shamelessly, they even went so far as to threaten Yoo Jungseok that if he tried to return to the industry, they would release articles about Sunoh.
Since school violence was such a serious matter, Yoo Jungseok knew that once such an article came out, his film would suffer tremendous damage—so he couldn’t easily start a new project.
He couldn’t do it, if only out of apology to the investors, production crew, and actors who would suffer harm from this unjust accusation.
“You don’t have to say any more.”
Yusong spoke in an even tone.
“As someone who is also raising children, I understand completely what you’re feeling.”
“…Thank you.”
At Yusong’s words, Yoo Jungseok bowed his head.
Tears began to well up in his eyes at receiving such understanding for the first time in a long while.
“In any case. Given the situation, it wouldn’t be good for Yewon to participate in my film—”
“No.”
“!”
At Yusong’s firm voice, Yoo Jungseok looked up in surprise.
“Even before hearing your story, I wanted to invest. But now that I’ve heard it, I’m all the more certain.”
Yusong spoke with unwavering conviction.
“I will take care of your problem, Director. Just focus on preparing your film.”
“!”
At words he could scarcely believe, Yoo Jungseok’s mouth fell open.

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