Chapter 45: Not doing it, not doing it

Mystic Entertainment CEO’s Office.

CEO Kim Yi-seo explained the main points of the contract and the key considerations to keep in mind as part of Mystic Entertainment, one by one. However, Sua seemed to only endlessly nod along, lost in thought.

During this, Sua sneaked a glance at Kim Sun-il.
‘…Yeah. I’m sure. He doesn’t seem to dislike me.’

Even Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il hadn’t received this level of treatment during their first contracts, but they didn’t show any signs of bewilderment or jealousy. Instead, they warmly welcomed Sua.
‘The terms are great, the atmosphere is great—Mystic is the best.’

Sua, who had tried nearly every part-time job in search of her aptitude, thought about how dealing with people was always harder than the job itself. The mere presence of unpleasant people could make even easy tasks difficult.

In that sense, Mystic felt incredibly comforting. It felt like she had taken the right first step since stepping into the entertainment world.

As Sua was basking in satisfaction with her decision, CEO Kim Yi-seo finished explaining and gazed at her quietly.
“This should cover everything for now. Sua, Mystic will do its very best for you.”

With those words, Kim Yi-seo handed the contract back to her.

What’s this? I already signed it, didn’t I?

However, this time it was slightly different. Kim Yi-seo pointed precisely to where Sua needed to sign.

Ah, so I need to sign there.

She barely managed to suppress her face from turning red. Embarrassing…

“Of course, please do.”

Sua signed again as if nothing had happened. For the first time, CEO Kim Yi-seo, who had never shown much expression, displayed a noticeable change—she smiled brightly.
“Thank you. Let’s inspire each other from now on.”

Kim Yi-seo held Sua’s hands with both of hers and shook them firmly up and down.

Sua hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was okay to think of the CEO as cute, and found it fascinating that she now officially belonged to an agency.

Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il each chimed in.
“Finally, we’re family now, Sua. Let’s get along well from here on out.”
“That’s good. The next schedule is tight. Let’s move.”

“Hey, couldn’t you say something warmer before leaving? Honestly, you were the one most excited about Sua joining…”

As Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il left amicably, Sua lightly waved back at them. It finally sank in.
Wow, I’m in the same agency as such top-tier actors.

…Oh, and with the thought of having an agency, something occurred to her.

Sua decided to ask right away.
“CEO.”
“Yes, Mystic’s Sua.”

Kim Yi-seo emphasized the word “Mystic” with particular pride.

“An agency supports all aspects of my career, right?”
“Of course. When I said we’d do our best, I meant it.”

“In that case…”

Sua showed her phone.
“Can you take care of these?”

Is this too bold of a request? Sua felt a little anxious but decided to push through. She had signed the contract fair and square. As a legitimate agency actor, she figured she could make this level of request.

After all, this was precisely why she had sought an agency in the first place. Yep, yep.

Meanwhile, Kim Yi-seo was in great shock.

[31 Unread Messages]
[CF Audition Schedule Notification]
[Hello, this is Director Lee Yeon-hwa, who assisted with your treatment today. By the way, we’re recruiting a model…]
[This is Bada Actors. Please contact us when you have time.]

“I expected it, but… this many?”

It was easy to anticipate that Sua would be popular, but the sheer volume of it was staggering. It felt like her phone was practically on fire. As she stared blankly at the notifications, Sua spoke.

“I can’t handle all of this on my own.”

Kim Yi-seo swallowed nervously.

The level of popularity Sua enjoyed among industry insiders was unprecedented, and on top of that, Sua’s attitude toward the agency was extraordinary.

Usually, agencies don’t start work immediately. First, they announce the collaboration between the talent and the agency, and then they begin handling tasks.

But Sua’s attitude?

“Sua is smart. She must know how this works. So, does that mean…?”

Multiple pieces of information came together in Kim Yi-seo’s mind.

“Ah.”

And she realized.

“Sua wants to see what I’m capable of.”

It seemed Sua wanted to assess her abilities. She wasn’t ready to fully trust the agency’s handling of her career yet.

“You’re absolutely right, Sua.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve seen your acting countless times, but you’ve never seen how I handle things. That is indeed unfair. From now on, let me show you how I work.”

Kim Yi-seo meticulously scanned the phone.

[Deer: Unban me.]
[Deer: You @&!% hippopotamus woman.]
[Deer: If you don’t unban me, I’ll really cry.]

“What is this?”

Nevertheless, Kim Yi-seo’s approach was both skilled and swift. She efficiently categorized tasks into those that could be completed quickly and those that would take more time. She decided to tackle the simpler ones first.

“You applied for a CF audition. Let’s start with this one…”

At that moment, Sua’s phone rang.

“Hello, this is Kim Yi-seo from Mystic Entertainment.”

Kim Yi-seo answered the call, ensuring the phone was on speaker so Sua could also listen.

The matter was straightforward: a hair studio wanted to sign a contract with Sua. There couldn’t have been a more fitting stage for Kim Yi-seo to showcase her negotiation skills.

Her decision didn’t take long.

“I’ll bring Sua over now.”

Lee Yeon-hwa’s Hair Studio.

Four people were seated around a rectangular table. On one side were Director Lee Yeon-hwa and Manager Seo Jae-woo, and on the other were Sua and Kim Yi-seo.

“This is my chance—to leave a good impression on Sua.”

“Why is the representative of Mystic here…? Could it be…?”

Amidst the tangled thoughts of everyone, the negotiation began.

The staff at the hair studio looked at Kim Yi-seo with a gaze that seemed to say, “Why is this kid sitting here?” However, at least Manager Seo Jae-woo knew that the person sitting across from him was someone to be feared—Death itself.

Wasn’t this Kim Yi-seo, the representative of Mystic Entertainment?

“So, in the end, Mystic took her in? More importantly, this makes it much harder to get on Lee Yeon-hwa’s good side…”

Kim Yi-seo had a notorious reputation for never compromising in negotiations. Thanks to this, rumors had spread throughout the industry that Seo Yeon-ju and Kim Sun-il were always guaranteed great conditions, no matter what they did.

Of course, Lee Yeon-hwa, who was unaware of these circumstances, thought:

“…So, all I need to do is somehow get this woman to like me?”

She didn’t understand the intricacies of YouTube, blogs, or social media. Lee Yeon-hwa, who had been focused on improving her skills abroad, had no clue about such things.

“Yeah. I get it. I just need to get this woman to like me.”

But even she, when faced with Sua again, realized the truth.

This woman could definitely save the hair studio.

“A thousand faces.”

A look that would suit any style.

Lee Yeon-hwa felt a surge of desire.

As a stylist, being able to style someone like this was enough of an achievement. But the added bonus of publicity made it truly a double win.

Kim Yi-seo broke the silence first.

“You want to make a contract with our Sua.”

She particularly emphasized the word “our” a little too much.

“That’s right. We wish to take good care of Sua at this studio and film the process. It’s a mutually beneficial deal.”

Kim Yi-seo observed the opposite side closely.

Lee Yeon-hwa swallowed nervously, while Manager Seo Jae-woo seemed anxious.

“I can feel it. All of it.”

Humans have their own distinct aura, and Kim Yi-seo had an uncanny ability to sense it. She could immediately tell that the other party was both anxious and desperate.

“Mutually beneficial? That’s a laughable joke.”

“Mutually beneficial?” The use of that word felt like a shallow tactic.

Though they tried to frame it as something that would help both sides, if you look at it closely, Sua’s side was clearly in control. Sua was irreplaceable, but the hair studio could always be replaced.

In fact, there was no need for Kim Yi-seo to even be there.

“Sua could have handled the negotiations on her own. She knows her own worth and value. She’s a master negotiator.”

Just looking at the conditions Mystic had already promised Sua made it clear. Even Kim Yi-seo, who was confident in her negotiation skills, had given away three cars. The terms were skewed in Sua’s favor.

Yet, despite that, Kim Yi-seo had come along.

“No matter how great Sua’s abilities are, in the end, she’s just one person. I wonder if the agency can act as her extension. Sua wants to evaluate my capabilities.”

At that thought, a bitter laugh escaped her.

“Hah.”

The more I try to argue, the more I can only laugh bitterly.

As the representative, here I am struggling to prove my abilities to a mere newcomer.

It’s me—Kim Yi-seo—who’s in this position.

Kim Yi-seo spoke coldly.

“Mutually beneficial, huh? What do you think mutual benefit is?”

“Styling for Sua will be completely free of charge. However, we will use the footage for various promotional materials. Any revenue generated from views on YouTube or blogs will, of course, go to Sua.”

But here’s the surprising part.

To Kim Yi-seo, the conditions the other side offered seemed quite good. She could even feel the sincerity and politeness behind it.

This was already far from attempting to undercut Sua. On the contrary, they seemed to be begging her to allow them to just promote the fact that they were managing Sua, while they would give their full effort to care for her.

…There’s nothing left to negotiate, is there?

Upon further inspection, it was clear that the contract had been hastily revised.

Ah, it must be because of her name value. The moment they realized Mystic was involved, they quickly adjusted the terms.

From Kim Yi-seo’s perspective, this worked out well. If she explained these circumstances to Sua, it would allow her to showcase the prestige of Mystic. It would be a perfect way to maintain face.

Anyway, there was nothing to say for now.

But the technique of making the other party anxious was essential.

“I’ll be right back, I need to speak with Sua for a moment.”

Outside the hair studio.

“Sua, there’s nothing that needs to be changed, is there?”

Kim Yi-seo smiled brightly.

“It’s good to have the name value of the agency. They don’t try to pull any cheap tricks. It was obvious they hastily revised the contract once they realized Mystic was involved.”

She continued, feeling a bit proud of herself.

“Sua, I’ll keep doing my best like this. I’ll help Mystic grow even more, so that even when I’m not by your side, the benefits will automatically come to you.”

“Mm.”

“Do you think you’ve started to trust me a little?”

Kim Yi-seo added with confidence.

“Remember this. Mystic considers Sua family. And as the representative, I’ll do whatever I can for my family.”

But Kim Yi-seo’s mood began to shift.

There was no answer.

There was still no response from Sua.

“Mm, was this still not enough?”

It was a long time before the representative of Mystic, Kim Yi-seo, appeared again.

After getting into the van, Kim Yi-seo quietly spoke.

“Sua.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve made a few more adjustments to the conditions.”

“Yes?”

She unknowingly asked again.

“…You really don’t have to push this far.”

“What are you talking about? It’s not a problem at all.”

It was then.

“Representative! Oh! Representative Kim Yi-seo!”

Seo Jae-woo, with a face full of distress, ran out.

“Just a moment! Really, just a moment!”

He clung to the front of the van, begging. He looked almost like a suction cup octopus.

“Representative! Isn’t this just too much…!”

Kim Yi-seo pressed the button near the window. After the black window fully lowered, she snapped back in a cold voice.

“It’s not too much at all. It’s just right.”

Sua was secretly surprised. Representative Kim Yi-seo was so much kinder to her than she had been to herself.

“Well, yes. I understand. Then, Representative…”

“No.”

“Oh, yes. This time, it’s not about the styling contract, but something else. Please, just listen for a moment.”

“What is it?”

“It’s not that…”

Seo Jae-woo finally took a breath.

“Well, about the styling contract—didn’t Mystic have the overwhelmingly advantageous contract?”

“It was just right.”

“Ah, I misspoke. Yes, the contract was well done. But, could you take a look at this just once?”

He hurriedly pulled something out.

“Could you review this script from Mystic…?”

The mention of a script made both of their ears perk up.

“A script? What kind of script?”

This time, it was Sua who asked. The fact that Sua showed even a slight interest made Seo Jae-woo visibly happy.

“This is from Director Kim Jun-ki.”

This time, Kim Yi-seo reacted to the director’s name.

Kim Jun-ki?

The attitude of Seo Jae-woo, who had been begging a moment ago, suddenly changed, and he puffed out his chest.

“That’s right! Director Kim Jun-ki, the one who gets things done! Sua, do you know how many tough shoots there are in the world? War movies, or ones where you’re stuck in some remote mountain village, how difficult are they?”

He continued with a lively voice.

“But this one will be fun from the start. It’s a story about high society. Every scene is just luxurious. Wearing nice clothes, eating nice food, riding nice things!”

From Sua’s perspective, this was a sparkling proposition.

After all, wasn’t it true that she had no desire to experience the torture scenes from before? Compared to that, this was enticing. Just experiencing it would probably bring immense satisfaction.

“The role of the youngest daughter from a chaebol family is open right now. The competition for the audition is a bit fierce, but Sua, you’ve already passed with your face alone. I’ll actively appeal to Director Kim Jun-ki! This role! He has to choose you for it!”

Seo Jae-woo gestured like a balloon figure, his whole body swaying as he passionately spoke. He even spat at times.

“Ah, why even explain further? Just look at the script. Every scene is luxurious. Come on! Hurry!”

Sua placed her palm on the script and briefly closed her eyes.

Immediately, everyone around her held their breath. It looked as though Sua was signaling that she was about to focus.

After a moment, Sua opened her eyes and began flipping through the pages one by one.

Meanwhile, Kim Yi-seo, who was standing nearby, became lost in thought.

Kim Jun-ki? Does this kind of luck come to you on the very first day of signing with Mystic? Is this some sort of lucky charm?

Seo Jae-woo cautiously spoke up.

“What is Director Kim Jun-ki famous for? He’s known for his connections, right? Just being part of this project will get you noticed by other directors. It’s like walking down a red carpet.”

“Is that so?”

Sua answered calmly while fiddling with the script.

Seo Jae-woo, on the other hand, was amazed by how she could stay so composed after such an offer.

At that moment, Sua tilted her head slightly.

It was a subtle movement, almost undetectable to those around her.

That was when Kim Yi-seo gathered her thoughts.

“Hey, Sua. Can I have your ear for a moment?”

Kim Yi-seo raised the van’s window briefly and then spoke.

“Sua, the role of the youngest daughter from a chaebol family really intrigues me.”

“It seems you like it.”

“Very much. If you take a role that matches your image, the advantage is immense. Sun-il once played a clean freak murderer, and even though he had an easy time with the shoot, it got the best reaction ever. It’s like you just have to breathe and it works.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Plus, Director Kim Jun-ki’s connections are definitely wide. For a newcomer like Sua, it’s an excellent stepping stone.”

Kim Yi-seo’s voice was full of confidence.

“How about this? After the Special Forces 808 shoot, your schedule won’t be free, but from a viewer’s perspective, they’ll get to see you all year long.”

“I agree.”

At her words, Kim Yi-seo nodded.

Yes, from the moment the offer was made, participating had already been a done deal. It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up.

“But…”

It was then that Sua pressed the button to open the window.

At the same time, she handed the script back to Seo Jae-woo.

“I won’t do it. Thank you for the offer.”