Chapter 44: …Why?

The office was momentarily still.

“…?”

Sua’s mind went blank for a moment.

She was in shock.

The impact was too much for her brain to handle.

The fact that she could choose just one was incredible, but suddenly, she was offered all of them.

In total, there were three cars.

But from Kim Yi-seo’s perspective, it was a rather reasonable offer.

In the worst case, she had been prepared to give up her house.

So, this was quite a bargain.

If it was Sua, she’d easily be able to cover the costs of maintaining and insuring six cars, probably just by breathing.

Sua tapped the box lightly, still in a daze.

“So, you’re saying I can have all three?”

“Yes. Every single one.”

“First it was one, now it’s three. That’s a huge difference.”

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Sua didn’t intend to argue, but she was just so fascinated by the situation.

This moment felt unreal.

She had always thought that a car would never be a part of her life.

Not only was the price of the car itself huge, but the insurance and maintenance fees were so overwhelming that saving any money would have been impossible.

So, she had resigned herself to being a pedestrian forever.

Could life really change this drastically?

But refusing wasn’t an option.

Although this situation was overwhelming, Sua didn’t want to throw away such an opportunity.

After all, she wasn’t receiving anything through bad means.

Already, her imagination was running wild.

An open highway, pressing the accelerator to the floor, the sound of the engine roaring as she sped ahead…

‘Yeah. I should accept it. But…’

Sua thought further. She should ask why this was happening.

“You must have thought a lot about this.”

What had made Kim Yi-seo come to this conclusion?

It would definitely be helpful to know.

Someday, when she had to negotiate with someone else, this could be useful as a reference.

Once she thought about this, Sua unconsciously tilted her head.

What’s going on? Did I get a bit smarter?

It was at that moment that Kim Yi-seo nodded.

“That’s only natural.”

She looked at Sua with a steady gaze.

“In this industry, it’s extremely rare to offer something upfront to an actor.”

“Hmm.”

“Actors are like plants. You can’t truly evaluate them until they’ve fully grown. So, usually, payments are made after the contract is renewed or when they move to another company. They’re paid later.”

“That’s the same as what I knew.”

Sua casually acted like she already knew.

“Why is there no upfront payment in this industry? It’s simple when you think about it. It’s really hard to set a price in advance. Who will rise, who will fall…”

Kim Yi-seo’s voice was clear and calm.

“…It’s just impossible to predict. Life is like that, isn’t it? Until a price tag is attached, you can’t be sure of the value. You can’t offer anything in advance.”

“That’s right. Usually, that’s how it works.”

“Of course, it’s not like nothing is ever given. Sometimes, there are exceptional new talents. But even then, cars are not part of the deal. Maybe a few months’ worth of living expenses, at most?”

“Hmm.”

“In that sense, if anyone knows that I’m offering this much to a rookie, they’ll probably think I’m crazy. People who know Sua’s acting abilities would warn that such an investment is too risky. The entertainment industry is unpredictable after all.”

Kim Yi-seo nodded.

“Now, Sua, haven’t you felt something strange at this point? How is it that someone as unknown and inexperienced as you can receive this much upfront? Something that could shake Mystic Entertainment itself?”

Sua was also curious. How had she become part of a strong team…?

But slowly, Sua was becoming more shrewd. As she kept thinking, she soon found the optimal answer.

“I don’t usually talk about things like that.”

“That’s right. What would you know, Sua?”

Kim Yi-seo clasped her hands together and gently rested her chin on them.

“This means that Mystic doesn’t just think of you as an actress.”

“Then, what do they think of me? A driver?”

“Oh, is that it?”

As Sua was thinking this, Kim Yi-seo continued speaking.

“I think Mystic could consider you part of their family.”

Sua reflected on her thoughts. Kim Yi-seo’s words were unexpectedly warm.

“Your acting skills are exceptional, Sua. You also have a great sense of choosing scripts. But you didn’t land the lead role in Special Operations Team 808 just because of that. The short film ‘Sword’ was made because of you, too. There’s another reason behind it.”

“Can I hear it?”

“Every actor has a scent, and your scent is very special.”

Kim Yi-seo slightly emphasized her voice.

“You have a scent that encourages those around you. It makes people around you excited, and inspiration flows from it. That’s why I’m investing in you and trying to bring you into the family.”

After saying this, Kim Yi-seo extended her palm sideways. Seo Yeon-ju placed a folder onto it.

“Think of the car as Mystic’s way of showing their sincerity towards you. Now, this is the important part. Ta-da, this is the contract that you said was cute last time.”

Kim Yi-seo slid it towards Sua.

“I’ve revised the payment ratio and contract period. It should look much better now. Take a look.”

As soon as Sua saw the paper, she felt dizzy. The words on the paper were hard to understand, so she immediately closed the contract.

“…I don’t need to look. I’ll hear it from the CEO.”

Kim Yi-seo chuckled and said,

“Actually, saying things like this out loud is something most entertainment companies avoid. Not every actor’s conditions can be the same.”

She pointed to Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il with her chin.

“Think about it. I signed a 50/50 contract, but someone else signed a 60/40, and someone else signed a 70/30. Won’t that naturally create a weird atmosphere within the agency? But.”

Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-ju both nodded in unison, as if to say it didn’t concern them.

“Both Yeon-ju and Sun-il agreed to these conditions. So, the final contract conditions for Sua are…”

Sua perked up her ears. What would her terms be?

“The ratio is 80/20. The contract period is one year. It’s the same as Yeon-ju’s.”

The same terms as Seo Yeon-ju? Sua couldn’t believe it.

“That’s all the explanation. So, how do you feel about it, Sua?”

Sua didn’t answer.

She simply signed the contract.

Meanwhile, at Lee Yeonhwa’s hair studio.

The space, usually filled with the sound of scissors cutting, was unusually quiet now.

Everyone, including the director, Lee Yeonhwa, was gathered in a circle for a meeting.

Among them was Head Manager Seo Jae-woo. He was the one who confidently declared that this was Sua’s lowest point.

He was raising his voice, veins popping in his neck.

“I’m telling you, once she gets bigger, her price will go up and we won’t be able to get her. We have to grab her now. When you saw her in person, didn’t you feel it? She’s going to be huge, right?”

Everyone nodded in unison.

“Her mask was exceptional. She’s a natural-born model.”

“You can tell she’s a celebrity. She definitely has a different aura from regular people. It’s a little intimidating.”

“But no matter how much I search, I can’t find anything about her.”

Seo Jae-woo nodded.

“That’s why now is the chance. She’s going to show her face in something huge soon. I can’t tell you what, but I’m serious.”

He continued in a serious tone.

“From the start, all the publicity you guys wanted will be solved as soon as we get Sua. No complications.”

“That’s true. Just filming the process of cutting her hair like a vlog could be used in so many ways.”

“Exactly. And imagine if she hits it big. This salon will blow up with her. All the problems you’re facing can be solved just with Sua.”

It was then that Director Lee Yeonhwa shrugged her shoulders.

“She really does seem like a big deal, but we have no choice but to wait. I’ve already sent her a message. Of course, she might not have seen it…”

“Hmm.”

“Still, thank you. When you think about it, it’s not even your job, Jae-woo, but you’ve stepped up to help like this. I really appreciate it.”

Lee Yeonhwa’s words were right.

Seo Jae-woo was someone involved in film distribution.

By definition, he had no direct connection to the hair studio.

But he had his own calculations in mind.

— “She has the face of someone who could kill people with a bundle of money!”

In fact, Seo Jae-woo had talked about Sua to a renowned director before.

But the director’s response was to bring her directly.

It was a tricky situation for them to connect.

…But if I just play the middleman well, won’t it all flow naturally, even bringing her to the director?

The director was desperate to find the right actress for the role of the youngest daughter of a conglomerate family.

He had promised huge rewards if the right actress was found, almost like putting up a bounty.

The amount of benefits to be gained was unimaginable.

Already, Seo Jae-woo was excited.

He would be recognized as a competent head manager by the director, and be seen as the wonderful older brother who solved the problem for Yeonhwa.

Once I become an older brother, becoming a father will be quick.

Seo Jae-woo took out his phone.

“Yeonhwa, don’t worry. I’ll try contacting her right now.”

Seo Jae-woo stepped outside the salon and made the call.

After three rings, there was a click, and the call was answered.

He was lucky. The other party picked up.

“Ah, yes! Hello! Actually, the reason I’m calling is—”

This was why Seo Jae-woo had stepped outside the salon to make the call.

He didn’t want to show any submissiveness in front of Yeonhwa.

But then—

“Huh? Who is this? Isn’t this Sua’s number?”

Soon, his voice was filled with confusion.

“Uh? Ah, Mystic’s CEO? Yes?”

Seo Jae-woo blinked like a toad.

“Uh… You’re saying you’ll come here right now…?”

He unknowingly repeated the question.

“Why…?”