NB | Chapter 10

Seo Woohyun always fde025f5b8 had a shadow 5758c2530e over him. It had been that 34f3f6edf2 way since birth.234023598fcea631

A con artist father a38ee17f44 who swindled others, a 39e1b300f8 mother who had to de0938d536 marry him because of 2c1d6d7a10 a child, and a 0f497e77c2 snot-nosed younger brother who 6cb0f903b5 suddenly became his sibling d7e107d27a when he returned from e8737f249b kindergarten.ca5314b5faf984f8

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Except for his father, Seo Jungho, they didn’t feel like a family, but being together created a bond. They all had a clear target for their anger, so there was no need to misdirect it. The focal point of their anger was undoubtedly Seo Jungho.00ed484942467403

Seo Jungho was rarely home, constantly gambling and scamming, then fleeing and getting caught. Their mother practically raised the two sons alone, but it was too much for her. Young Woohyun, whose body hadn’t matured yet, thought of stealing as a way to help her.4ffa6f3815b4acb2

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It wasn’t hard to deceive the elderly, hard-of-hearing owner of a small supermarket. He still remembers bringing home the first stolen bag of snacks to share with his brother while waiting for their mother to return. That day, it felt like time flew by as they waited for her.f1b499a49b96e178

Woohyun was quick 883b902981 with his hands c10c2f6afe and feet. It was something he 678aef589e could do because he f72b78f56c was a child. People let 2d82f8cf8d their guard 7a5d67153a down easily, 24017c57b0 and even 7f55aa33ac if caught, 863411f11e they were c19a87d908 quick to 9edf27083e sympathize.f6763bf96349f3b5

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Of course, not all adults were lenient just because he was a child. After repeated thefts, he was finally caught and taken to the police station. It was there, with a bloody scab on his lip from a slap, that he faced his mother and realized he hadn’t helped her but made her sad.177b7d18caa0ec44

His mother seemed to have rushed out from washing dishes at a restaurant. Her hands, always rough with eczema despite wearing rubber gloves, were coarse. Yet Woohyun was grateful she held his hand and took him out of the police station. He was glad she didn’t scold him for what he did.4148ddf1b539c2b2

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That night, she lay in bed with a son tucked under each arm. After confirming his younger brother was already in dreamland, she patted Woohyun’s back and spoke.13d45d880f58df74

“You’ve had a hard time looking after your brother without me, haven’t you?”f11f8e68c0e455b6

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He hadn’t thought it was hard, but her voice made him feel melancholic. He buried his face in her embrace to stifle his sniffles. Perhaps thinking he felt guilty about what happened, she hugged him tighter.7764b6af762f0064

“I’m not scolding you. I know you’ve been playing the role of mom at home because I’ve been too busy to care for you. But Woohyun, it’s not wrong to want things that belong to others, but you shouldn’t take them by force. I hope you become someone who works hard to make things your own rather than coveting what you can’t have. Do you understand that what you did today was wrong?”6f12335e54e15aa5

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Her body trembled slightly. Woohyun instinctively lifted his head, but her arms didn’t let go. He could guess her face was stained with tears even without seeing it. What he exchanged for the stolen goods was his mother’s guilt.1452a74e1cada495

If he had realized the joy of earning through hard work and grown up diligently, he might have been happy without worries, but Woohyun’s world wasn’t so forgiving.1c217a94dc503a7e

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When necessary, he didn’t hesitate to fight to protect himself, and he lied without much guilt as a means of survival. He wasn’t without reason or justification for his actions, even if he lacked money.4044099b456cb76f

Director Lee might have wanted to cast him as a delinquent because he sensed this rough impression. He seemed to think Woohyun wasn’t keen on the role because he didn’t like it, but that wasn’t the reason.a24811ebb275b21e

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A person with no issues and a clean personal life. In that sense, he didn’t fit what the director was looking for. Even someone like him, who wasn’t interested in celebrities, might have thought anyone could become one if someone from a similar background debuted as an actor.19165ad7990546c0

Woohyun’s background was that poor.ead6f696e02cce44

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Even if he hadn’t lost his sense of justice, Woohyun didn’t consider himself the type to live a decent life. He wouldn’t deny that his reason for accepting this casting was more about the vague expectation of making money as a successful celebrity than a pure dream of becoming an actor.dabd0e1d869e85af

Celebrities who failed in 36e9f2112c business and owed billions a5efc2eab1 could appear on various becd69a567 shows and repay their 1fbf8b01ab debts in a few f5bffd746f years.1971e22a75226ec4

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There’s a famous saying that you shouldn’t worry about celebrities.6ab2ad2921ff71c8

If this drama became a hit and he could benefit from that saying, it would be great. But it wasn’t something that could be achieved with just one drama, so he inevitably needed management to support him.558a3a5d59a394b6

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“If you’re a blank check, it means your ability depends on how specifically and clearly the person directing you explains things.”9becdcc74d6acb27

If he was an b1ffdf1626 empty can without direction, e880394301 then he was a aace94a4f4 soda can now. One that would 144e382029 explode if opened 05a6593a7b after being shaken 8a1ac4cb91 and tossed around.ed65cbe2c4795dc2

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“In other words, you’re a blank check.”d0540edb4b23c464

But according to Kang Jiwon’s logic, even someone like him could become something complete and non-threatening. Though it came with the condition of listening to him well.ab9adc75b3b5cc9e

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“Listening to others isn’t hard…”2e20c8257fe6b6ca

As long as it wasn’t nonsense, he was confident he could handle it, and Kang Jiwon didn’t seem like someone who would spout nonsense. If he were just a smooth talker, he wouldn’t have reached such a position and would have become a con artist like his father.e6a08fca04ecd522

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Woohyun quietly closed 40ea7ec996 his eyes and be7c221598 waited for the 628c0c9c0d sun to rise. He had 00da2f276c somewhere to 1e1b08b249 go as dccdcb6098 soon as 2b8b04cd13 it did.26dffce74f1b04de

***55fbbe070ad6fc81

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The building, with its glass facade, was so tall that he had to crane his neck to see the top. The weather was nice today, and the blue sky and fluffy clouds reflected on the building’s exterior like a mirror. The sun hung at rooftop height like a twin.0f223620fe0b0a22

The sunlight warming his head felt a bit hot. He brushed the back of his neck, feeling the sweat on his skin. He couldn’t tell if it was the heat or nerves.71428c43257b3a3b

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He had worried enough 0205f9cffe on the way here; f4d6225593 now that he was 735b4e3fed at the entrance, further ce104237cb hesitation was a waste 63eebac629 of time. Resolute, Woohyun stepped 4c61c44e81 into the Newon 936409e82f building.1ffa599edbdc3786

The lobby, efc7cff03f visible as d5840a6c2f soon as 3249889b2e he entered, a7df474aef had a 6f16ddfd49 high ceiling. People moved between the c3c9bab963 two floors, and a 0299129a7b thick circular pillar stood d6597cf330 like a central support.c3aed2c090c4672b

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The pillar had aeb6b8eb0b an electronic display, 52218ddab8 allowing anyone to 0f39012afb watch promotional videos 5ade4af717 of affiliated artists c77534fd70 from any direction.e7c16f44990a1177

Woohyun paused, a0d19bf530 momentarily captivated 5088b53337 by the 943047d8c4 display.18938f29b142475d

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The production company he 4ddbfe467f visited before was much 7d45fe3ffb smaller and older, giving 8f4117c8bc a cozy and familiar c6cfa210d5 feel, but the Newon 0b482c9f64 building exuded considerable intimidation ade6e0450e just by its structure.1c7e73d350c324b2

Everywhere he looked, fdcef87fef the sophisticated interior b61e781783 caught his eye, 2ec7b164e4 and the cleanliness 1172904663 was impressive. Woohyun felt 4cde4d0a70 a sense ffae4e9a1f of alienation b374b8f305 surrounded by bea22bbf8a the urban 3a19960aca atmosphere but b01196da0a calmly approached 29a4a24575 the information b5b2337ab6 desk.a973c717057b5ccd

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“What brings you here?”d06985570b15d5e0

“I have a 10 o’clock appointment with Director Kang Jiwon.”5478973303d085c9

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Only after speaking did he realize the déjà vu. The response came reflexively, a habit from following an air conditioner repairman last summer. But the desk staff didn’t seem to find it odd, checking the computer monitor and smiling.3488d7fdd63fbfe2

“Take the left elevator to the 15th floor.”c673211a59dbcc80

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It would 0f5995c4ed be nice 4fec5f6b6c to work 30e7357313 at a dccfce4416 company like 10012af361 this. Inside the elevator, 764e3b3c11 distracted by the 293ce3d231 feel of the 4f8e525ddb carpet under his 6150a6812f sneakers and the 97221439d7 city view through 51a7c306ad the glass wall, 960632bc3e he muttered to c2ebb01720 himself.1ed19b2278bc3139

The elevator took him ca00f2a5b0 straight to the 15th 8305f33054 floor. Before he c7094db32a could worry e255e98363 about where 088625c631 to go a056f153b5 next, a da466e1a17 receptionist approached.dc2b26a154df5ebb

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“Seo Woohyun?”4b0a46a61c0c3ef4

He nodded, and they gestured politely to guide him. The staff here are all so friendly… Woohyun bowed slightly in acknowledgment and stood before the director’s office.0d7f753826795926

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The double doors opened 5e05b0c215 smoothly, revealing a spacious ed1af84ed1 area. It was so b64deb19cf large it was 6e45b5ccbd hard to take db97e13fbd in at once.da248441c3fd4b94

For a moment, he thought he had been led to an office rather than the director’s room, but there was only one desk that looked like it was for work.62d52937af02f4f3

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Kang Jiwon, f92e7c5639 sitting in 839a39d119 front of 6a1838684c it, exuded 251556da13 an aura b9c17999fa that made a1caff46b0 it clear 0e7e0035d1 he was 5af4985f84 the owner 8b367e1aae of the 3299b435e1 place.c1c595f2412739d6

Their previous meetings had all been outside, making Kang Jiwon’s status feel distant. But seeing him here, Woohyun felt he could fully trust the man. At least he wasn’t a con artist.ee97c3cada2ae20a

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Kang Jiwon gestured 4b4e4c3d41 for Woohyun to 6ba86adf15 come closer as 96cbfa4e71 he approached the 7d826c802b guest sofa.c00eae91c03f6953

“Hello.”9e78883588c6451b

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“So your name is… Seo Gideok?”a8f5469750a0e9e7

It’s Deokbae.a337f1bc8284200b

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He almost corrected f1dbc27bd3 reflexively but held 57fd9ce9a4 his tongue. But it seemed Jiwon ef69b57c20 noticed his lips move. Seeing his 45aa564717 teasing smile, 203afc20f9 Woohyun realized 507ff6f4b4 he was 22e5933e6a being teased.045befa6b127cd46

“It’s Seo Woohyun.”6cebb3f10c4a46b9

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He answered ca854e8ad3 quietly and 494d1e503d took a 46ce9a1c8e seat. They were positioned diagonally, 3728484d98 allowing them to see ed64e20a03 each other.51040ee19a840f14

When the joke didn’t land, Jiwon seemed to lose interest quickly and pulled out a black file from the side table, handing it over.97c9d3ab6e750ff0

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“It’s the contract. Review it and ask if you have any questions.”cc3f4b7ed2446ea6

Straight to the d374a0b88d point.40017b811a9551de

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He hadn’t come for small talk, but he couldn’t stop his hands from trembling slightly as he took the contract.45819022ff71161f