Cashing In on Lost Time

As mentioned before, it wasn’t that he had no intention of asking for help from others, but it had been entirely accidental.
Why it happened exactly, he couldn’t say.
Perhaps because he had read reports suggesting that ever since Hyun-soo had been imprinted, he’d been dodging every approach.
Or maybe because it seemed that Choi Jong-won was one of the few people he met regularly.
Or perhaps it was simply because he had descended to the parking lot, following the manager without a second thought…

Instead of answering that it had been awkward, Hyun-soo let out a long sigh.
After a brief pause, he spoke words that were entirely unexpected.

“I thought the contract was canceled.”

“Why?”

“Because there was no further contact after you left.”

“Right. I thought it wouldn’t be fair to ask someone who already has an imprint to do anything for me, so I was going to treat it as if it never happened.”

“…….”

“But Hyun-soo said it was fine, that I didn’t need to get permission.”

He didn’t say more about that, only scratching behind his ear awkwardly.

“But the moment your condition improved, you came running straight here.”

“Eh?”

“The place you were staying had good air, so it was ideal for recuperation.
But once you go in, it’s hard to leave, and there’s no way to contact you.”

Concern and curiosity shone in Hyun-soo’s eyes.
Until a moment ago, he had responded vaguely and gloomily, as if burdened with some household trouble.
Taehwa’s mind briefly entertained a ridiculous thought.
Maybe he should’ve pretended to exaggerate his condition from the start.

“You went to recuperate? Were you really that unwell?”

“Do I look unwell? Do I really seem that bad right now?”

A playful smirk curled Taehwa’s lips, and Hyun-soo’s gaze lingered, trying to judge whether he was joking or serious.

“You look fine… far too fine to imagine you were unwell…”

Embarrassed at being caught staring, Hyun-soo quickly clarified, showing his teeth in a late smile.
“I meant, I’m really glad you look fine, that’s all.”

Much better than struggling to respond, Taehwa snorted softly.

Noticing the traffic signal had changed, Taehwa reluctantly turned forward and started driving.

“So, Hyun-soo.”

“Yes, me? I’ve been fine.”

“What have you been doing while being fine?”

“Oh… I worried about getting cut, but I still met the director, read scripts, attended action school… just in case.”

“You’ve managed well, then. That’s good.”

“Yes, I was anxious and restless, but I wasn’t really having a hard time.”

The subtly dissatisfied tone made Taehwa smile.

“May I ask just one question?”

“Go ahead.”

“There’s an advertising model proposal. From Wooshin.”

Even without finishing the sentence, Hyun-soo’s hesitation was clear.
He was asking if it had been Taehwa who arranged it.

“You said you’d help me recover what I’d lost. Advertising was one of the things I’d lost.”

“Oh… right. I’ve lost a lot of ads.”

Taehwa glanced sideways.
Hyun-soo’s reaction was ambiguous.
He didn’t dislike it, but he didn’t seem particularly happy either.

“Why? Don’t you like the ad?”

Hyun-soo raised his eyebrows in surprise, waving his hand.

“No, no! Absolutely not! That’s impossible! I was just worried, it’s definitely not that I dislike it!”

“Worried? About what?”

“Well… it seems difficult to become the model the client wants.”

“If they didn’t want you as the model, they wouldn’t have offered you the contract. No need to worry.”

Taehwa thought it was a reasonable answer, yet an awkward silence stretched.
It seemed like he still had something to say.
When Taehwa pressed, Hyun-soo fidgeted before speaking.

“Um… I don’t know if you’re aware, but being an idol attracts a lot of rumors.
There are lots of articles, too.
I heard that for that reason, the company rarely uses idols as models.”

“I see.”

“So… I don’t have enough leeway to pay any cancellation fees or damages.”

Taehwa recalled hearing in passing at a family gathering that there weren’t many suitable people to model.
Among recognizable celebrities, only those who’d had or were about to have serious controversies remained, so picking a few and carefully managing them after contracts was best.

If the contract explicitly stated image management, it was something even he couldn’t influence.
After monitoring the chaos around Hyun-soo’s image for months, he understood why Hyun-soo worried.

“If it’s too much, you don’t have to do it. Not all ads are exclusively from Wooshin.”

“…Thank you.”

Still, hearing the words of thanks even though he had no obligation to accept it didn’t make him feel particularly pleased.
Especially since he had coordinated with Taehwa to make it happen.

He recalled Ji-ho, who had bragged that no one would dislike a Wooshin ad.
Because he met celebrities often, it seemed credible.
He shouldn’t have trusted Ji-ho’s empty talk.

“Then how about that van from earlier? Do you like it?”

He hoped at least one of the efforts made that day had been satisfying.

“Ah, I like it! With so many staff moving around during filming, I was worried about transportation.
The company said they’d provide a vehicle, but I’d already sold the previous one, so until I get another, I’ll keep using the manager’s car…”

Hyun-soo poured out how much he needed it.
Taehwa, feeling a mix of pride and unease, realized it had been more of a burden than a gift.
Even without seeing the interior, the lengthy explanation made him quietly pleased.

Feeling he should react more to the second gift since he’d refused the first, he smiled with satisfaction.
He realized he genuinely wanted Hyun-soo to be happy about it.

“But, it’s a bit much for me―”

“Let’s end it with what you like.”

Before the second could be refused, Taehwa cut him off.
The car, which had been wandering aimlessly, naturally headed toward Hyun-soo’s officetel.

Even when they stopped in the underground parking lot, Hyun-soo hesitated, fiddling with his seatbelt.
Taehwa looked at him, wondering if he had anything else to say.
Hyun-soo cleared his throat.

“Um, the drama investment is quite large, so the appearance fee is generous…”

“Is that so?”

“I’ll do my best so you don’t lose even a small amount. Enter safely.”

Watching Hyun-soo’s flustered retreat, Taehwa raised an eyebrow.
Once the overseas OTT rights are signed, the investment will be recovered without loss… but a bit of determination isn’t bad.
He let a faint smile slip and pressed the accelerator.

****

[Post]

[Official] ‘The One’ Choi Min-ah X Ha Young-jun → Hyun-soo cast… Filming starts in September

Action romance drama about center agents with unique abilities, exploring love and friendship (Director Baek Hyun-soo, Orange Pictures), confirms final casting and begins shooting next month.

Choi Min-ah, Ha Young-jun, Lee So-hyung, Park Jung-heum, Ryu Kyung-ah confirmed.
Finally, Hyun-soo joins as Han Jung-woon, completing a dazzling lineup.
Choi Min-ah plays Oh Yu-ri, a righteous agent who solves mysterious cases her way for her fiancé.
Ha Young-jun plays Kim Ji-hyung, a romantic willing to risk anything for love.
Hyun-soo plays the team leader Han Jung-woon, making cold, precise decisions in opposition to Ji-hyung.

Directed by Baek Hyun-soo, known for films ‘List’ and ‘July’s Sun’, marking his first drama.

Comments 231

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└Wow, Hyun-soo? No way, must see!

└Why? What happened?

└Huh? Haha, nothing.

└Just reading the news doesn’t give any sense of the story…

└What’s the plot? Center makes me think of a welfare center, but genre is action romance… agent…?

└Fresh combo? People who’d never meet in one drama are all together.

└Totally agree… the director is so unfamiliar haha why is Baek Hyun-soo doing a drama?

└Seems like a superpower plot haha already popular overseas… but why does it feel like a rookie-friendly story here?

└I wonder if a superpower story can really succeed in Korea.

└Why does Hyun-soo joining make the lineup dazzling? Isn’t it supposed to be dull…?

└Stop adding idols to finished dramas, please.

└They’re using him for publicity despite the quality hit, what’s the merit?

└Controversy ensures attention, haha.

└Is Hyun-soo a good actor?

└So-so.

└Not really by my standard.

└He hasn’t done anything worthy of acting.

└Finally, superpower story in Korea!!! Can’t wait!!!

└Exactly, we’ve been waiting for a Korean-style superpower drama, let’s go!

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Seems it was here lol
It’s a rural area.
Elders were gathered yesterday morning; they said a drama was shooting.
Everyone murmured about filming here.
I asked a friend after taking a photo; he said it’s a popular idol.
Was shocked by how small his face was.
Will definitely watch the drama lol
Leaving the photo as proof.

(photos)

└Thanks, bless you.

└With a photo too… have a nice day.

└Saw him up close, jealous. Thanks for the pic.

So the rumor about joining a drama this second half was true.
400 billion won blockbuster, even the lead;;
Was his inactivity in the first half just to gain momentum?

└Finally, a chance to escape misfortune, let’s do well alone.

What kind of drama is this?
Here it’s a rural village,
But in Tilt they say a Gangnam club.
Rural village and Gangnam club coexist? What’s going on.

└No idea.

Will there be romance?
Yeah?
└Doesn’t matter, even with sexy scenes, it’s needed.

└Not really.
└According to staff, it’s a love triangle.
└What staff? Drama? Agency?

But seriously, it seems like he has momentum.
My friend in advertising said he’s pushing a lot lately.
└He was just resting, see?
└Poor work handling, they must have been frustrated enough to post photos and videos.
└If Do-cheol had posted the warning first, none of this would’ve happened.
└Why did Do-cheol post it, the legal team usually does.
└So what.