NB | Chapter 22

Only then did Woohyun check the preamble of the contract in his hand. As he mentioned, the contract and dating were bundled together as one combination.

In short, it was an agreement that Kang Jiwon and Seo Woohyun would be in a relationship for three months. He couldn’t count how many times his eyelids twitched as he read through the single-page document.

Was it because the person who proposed the contract was Kang Jiwon? It was hard to see it as a cute little contract that young couples sign for fun.

The page was densely packed with the purpose and obligations of the contract relationship, the payment of compensation, and even the modification and termination of the contract.

The gist of the contract was that Seo Woohyun would fulfill the obligations of a lover as demanded by Kang Jiwon, and Kang Jiwon would provide the compensation that Seo Woohyun required.

Woohyun placed the contract on his lap and composed himself.

When he received the business card, he immediately recognized it as a golden opportunity in his life, but now he was confused about whether it was an opportunity or not. However, he felt he should at least listen to what Kang Jiwon had to say, so he calmly asked.

“Do you know how much younger I am than you, Director?”

“Of course.”

“…Do you have any conscience?”

“If I had that, I wouldn’t have made this proposal in the first place.”

It was a valid point, but the other party was so confident that Woohyun was at a loss for words. So, he decided to address the most important curiosity first.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“There are two reasons. One is to break off the engagement with Park Sejin, and the other is that I need someone to be my hands, eyes, and ears within Newon.”

Woohyun bit his tongue from the moment he heard the first reason, and only released it when Jiwon finished speaking. Jiwon, who was watching Woohyun’s upper arm twitch, continued to explain.

“Since you said you didn’t want a sponsor, I just changed the word. There won’t be any public exposure of our relationship. What I want is to avoid getting entangled with Park Sejin.”

“Then what’s the second reason?”

“One of Newon’s business goals this year is to acquire a foreign drama production company. I’m moving to enter the North American market in earnest, but President Kang Namwoo is still fixated on the Japanese market. Since our directions don’t align, obstacles keep appearing in every project I plan.”

Jiwon paused, as if gauging Woohyun’s reaction. As expected, Woohyun’s eyes widened as he quickly grasped who was placing obstacles in Director Kang Jiwon’s path.

“…Do you think the president is interfering?”

“You don’t need to concern yourself with management issues, Seo Woohyun.”

Kang Jiwon drew a clear line, judging it to be unnecessary curiosity. Woohyun closed his mouth and obediently nodded.

As an actor affiliated with Newon, if the company’s internal affairs become chaotic, it would inevitably affect him as well. However, he thought there must be a valid reason for Kang Jiwon to suspect the president.

President Kang Namwoo was someone Woohyun naturally learned about while looking up information on Director Kang Jiwon.

As the CEO of Newon and Kang Jiwon’s uncle, he was inevitably compared to Kang Jiwon as Kang Jiwon’s position solidified over the years.

Whenever Kang Jiwon’s business performance peaked, articles would emerge trying to drive a wedge between them. They would say that when President Kang Namwoo recklessly expanded, Director Kang Jiwon would somehow clean up and cover the losses.

“I believe there’s someone around me that President Kang Namwoo has planted. If I personally go on a search, it would be too conspicuous, so I need someone relatively new here. And most importantly, it has to be someone I can trust.”

Someone relatively new to Newon, someone trustworthy.

Woohyun soon realized that the second reason was closer to the true purpose of the contract. Breaking off the engagement was important, but it was secondary. It seemed this man intended to assign two roles to one person to deal with bothersome matters all at once.

Even from a superficial understanding, it was clear this wouldn’t be an ordinary task. The term “contract relationship” was just a pretty package; if you dig deeper, it was no different from a spy extraction under the guise of sponsorship.

Despite having done all sorts of jobs over the years, from manpower agencies to errands, and even working on a squid fishing boat in the East Sea, this was the first time he received such a proposal, and it was undeniably bewildering.

He felt as if he had unintentionally overheard Newon’s confidential information. It seemed awkward to back out now, as if he had been forced onto the same boat. It wouldn’t be surprising if this man persuaded and recruited people to his side as smoothly as a snake slithering over a wall.

“If I act on your orders, it means I’m aligning with you, Director. That could mean getting on President Kang Namwoo’s bad side, right?”

“That’s why I’m asking you to also be my lover. If you’re my lover, I have enough reason to help you. Surely, you don’t think I lack that much ability, do you?”

Woohyun shook his head firmly. Kang Jiwon’s influence extended not only within Newon but throughout the entire entertainment industry. Even though he hadn’t officially debuted yet, he could feel the impact and authority of Kang Jiwon.

The title of “lover” was, in a way, a double-edged sword.

Woohyun needed some time to organize his thoughts, so he remained silent. Then he realized that the fundamental question of why he was being offered such a proposal hadn’t been resolved.

“Did you say I was obedient after watching my video just to make me do this kind of work?”

“I wasn’t considering Seo Woohyun from the beginning. What I felt then was a genuine evaluation.”

Kang Jiwon was saying that he saw potential as an actor in him. Woohyun was about to smile in relief, confirming that his efforts hadn’t been tainted.

“I decided Seo Woohyun was the right person last night. Originally, I planned to attach you to Park Sejin and then separate you.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“I planned to catch Park Sejin in the act if he tried to assault you. I didn’t expect him to use such a nasty drug, though.”

“Wait a minute! So, you’re saying Sejin hyung did something to me?”

“I confirmed that an unapproved pheromone enhancer was circulating at the party yesterday. The side effects of the drug include clouded judgment immediately after consumption and memory loss the next day.”

“With the intention of doing what to me?”

When Kang Jiwon nodded, Woohyun couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

At that moment, Kang Jiwon placed a few photos on the table. They were CCTV images showing the hotel corridor and the area in front of the elevator doors.

In the first photo, Park Sejin was supporting him with an arm around his shoulder. In the second photo, Kang Jiwon had joined them, and the three were standing in front of the elevator. In the last photo, Park Sejin was alone, lying on the floor, looking into the open elevator.

He had thought it was strange. He could drink ten bottles of soju and still make it home fine, yet he became so intoxicated from a few cocktails that he lost his memory.

It wasn’t even the cycle period, yet his body heated up as if he were in rut, and pheromones flowed uncontrollably. The mention of a pheromone enhancer suddenly made everything make sense.

As the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, Woohyun’s eyes, which had been staring at the photos, filled with a light of disgust.

“You knew from the beginning, Director.”

This time, there was no verbal response or nod, but it wasn’t hard to guess that he was affirming it.

He felt both confused and absurd. It was even more so because Kang Jiwon didn’t seem to be lying.

Woohyun felt a sudden emptiness in his chest. Should he be grateful to Kang Jiwon for saving him from being assaulted by Park Sejin while he was unconscious, or should he be disgusted that he only changed his mind at the last minute?

Although there was the premise of “I didn’t expect him to use a pheromone enhancer,” in his current state, it was a truth that was difficult for Seo Woohyun to easily grasp.

If he were to measure the size of his anger, he was undoubtedly most furious with Park Sejin, but since the person in front of him was Kang Jiwon, his anger naturally directed towards him.

He thought Kang Jiwon was truly a scary and selfish person. To present a contract while he was feeling guilty. If he hadn’t clarified the facts, he might have signed it immediately, thinking he could at least ease his conscience by helping him.

His heart, having realized a series of hard-to-accept truths, kept pounding. Woohyun tried to calm his breathing.

“What happens if I refuse your proposal, Director?”

“A contract is only meaningful when it’s based on mutual trust, but sometimes an unfair method is necessary.”

“You ask me to be your lover, yet it seems love is thoroughly excluded from this contract.”

“Love is just a personal feeling. As a contract lover, I will fulfill my duties with faith and sincerity, but it’s best not to expect anything beyond that.”

“I never expected anything. I haven’t even agreed to your proposal.”

“Unfortunately, I have many ways to pressure you, Seo Woohyun.”

Jiwon made a genuinely regretful expression. If he had decided to hide the truth from yesterday, Seo Woohyun would have found out much later. Therefore, his words about wanting to establish a contract based on mutual trust were undoubtedly sincere. Although it seemed the other party took it as a threat.

“If you need time to think, I’ll give it to you.”

He watched the process of Seo Woohyun’s eyes sharpening and delivered the final blow.

“You can leave now.”

In defiance of the unilateral order to leave, pheromones surged from Seo Woohyun. It should have been uncomfortable, even painful, but Jiwon couldn’t help but feel like laughing, so he had to cover his mouth with his palm.

***

Woohyun, who had bought a cold bottle of water from a convenience store near his home, opened the cap and gulped it down on the spot. The cold water in the 500ml PET bottle slid down his throat, sending a tingling sensation to his brain.

He roughly wiped the water trickling down his chin with the back of his hand and let out a big, hollow laugh.

“He has many ways to pressure me?”

He was so furious. It seemed he had thought of Kang Jiwon as a good person all this time. A person he had only known for a month.

Knowing what Park Sejin intended to do to him and still telling him to have a good time at the party, well, it was infuriating but could be dismissed as absurd. However, hearing a declaration from someone he thought would be an absolute ally, saying they could ruin him anytime they wanted, was truly a shitty feeling.

He said he’d show me how great I am.

“Fuck… Seriously, what a jerk.”

Woohyun kicked the now-empty PET bottle with all his might. The bottle flew in a large arc, hit a wall, and then rolled weakly into the alley.

The sound from the alley came just as the bottle disappeared from view. It sounded vaguely like a human groan.

It wasn’t likely that someone had been hit by the bottle he kicked, but the timing was oddly coincidental. This is why you shouldn’t litter on the streets. Woohyun decided to check what was going on and slowly moved his steps.