NB | Chapter 10

Seo Woohyun always ce9c4e011e had a shadow 36a950b74f over him. It had been that 592147dddd way since birth.2c0d358c86a9e76f

A con artist father 8cbb46169a who swindled others, a d0e9aee8d0 mother who had to 46d797da9c marry him because of 4348242828 a child, and a 8c70099577 snot-nosed younger brother who 68ef87856e suddenly became his sibling 33e1f34c13 when he returned from b025627ab3 kindergarten.03740512a798cbd4

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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.436e5ee8d4f02b4e

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.0cc022596faf0f75

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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.073f49528246ab8d

Woohyun was quick with 30714b0d90 his hands and feet. It was something he deafc8be4c could do because he 18950f095b was a child. People let their 9e538a61d7 guard down easily, ead7946559 and even if 4ad904cff7 caught, they were 137e16ea18 quick to sympathize.6248113185951a8b

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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.2cd01cbc3b2c1187

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.951e0814a28d2db3

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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.b24f1ee0ca5f4d4d

“You’ve had a hard time looking after your brother without me, haven’t you?”e4045895d613ae44

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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.d59b5dfcbbee7bbe

“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?”d90f8907fcb1f3dd

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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.fa48827a6df7d372

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.0993487646c09bcd

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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.8c5c855b3d36b9db

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.1efb77de3b9761b3

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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.b990fd1aaf1644d1

Woohyun’s background was that poor.bad1b4c40b137994

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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.431e95e602080b9a

Celebrities who failed 0983a4e927 in business and e5a27cf490 owed billions could ce354a48bd appear on various d032cad830 shows and repay 7f566d069e their debts in f435cd1dbc a few years.1318f2d90e37655c

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There’s a famous saying that you shouldn’t worry about celebrities.974a9cfe2f4d218b

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.36d98381f7bc8eba

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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.”408c8f6ed354fe06

If he was an 0ad9d1070d empty can without direction, dc88b62655 then he was a 4475f7a244 soda can now. One that would explode b2935af070 if opened after being 6f30b22fcb shaken and tossed around.e82776b4617e4d7c

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“In other words, you’re a blank check.”3031128cb3b0b89c

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.17794dabe3b8a602

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“Listening to others isn’t hard…”e0ad44a4bb143e48

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.bafceeae87b3d9c6

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Woohyun quietly 4b3e6bc859 closed his dca47222ce eyes and d177e3a3c6 waited for 2a871868ea the sun c403dc8467 to rise. He had somewhere a46eb3be98 to go as b2072b15ea soon as it 5177022c24 did.048a8ea7a769f1c9

***5419715ef75ffeed

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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.92366f59ced69bf2

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.e1d82102451891cd

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He had worried 2fd8ff33a2 enough on the 1ba8d596e8 way here; now b51cdf5329 that he was 6188508514 at the entrance, 2ed5f100a5 further hesitation was e829fd54c9 a waste of 16e59a5d3b time. Resolute, Woohyun 4b3134a31e stepped into 806f936b10 the Newon 9a73efd0ff building.6b2cde06de49a22e

The lobby, visible as a9d76a4b29 soon as he entered, 1a5fac8891 had a high ceiling. People moved between 709b015a6f the two floors, 24ae7bf103 and a thick efb3de065c circular pillar stood 969fb9acd2 like a central 51e5b6a095 support.9bbe97ef17a2b3ff

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The pillar had d5a75e7561 an electronic display, 15dfd5775f allowing anyone to c70f56a007 watch promotional videos f455939498 of affiliated artists bf2f470c8a from any direction.70fba7babeb31320

Woohyun paused, momentarily 3803589822 captivated by the e5bb2c0367 display.a4cf7aabac62c6b0

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The production company a800e2bebd he visited before d6bd770ffd was much smaller 91ff66d806 and older, giving cbccd42e1c a cozy and 9a39ea9b5b familiar feel, but 7762b78b52 the Newon building 254b270d4f exuded considerable intimidation 1c7cf8d0a4 just by its 430f620256 structure.7f7a96cb34937084

Everywhere he 31e4fd01f2 looked, the bafca975d8 sophisticated interior 3680f60337 caught his 4bc6af878a eye, and f8317bc932 the cleanliness eb2aaa7727 was impressive. Woohyun felt a 39eba81513 sense of alienation d8f77c1744 surrounded by the d6dd5f982d urban atmosphere but d1fac2ccf4 calmly approached the b2ae7909db information desk.bb3b77da132ef29a

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“What brings you here?”8de24e69fbf162cd

“I have a 10 o’clock appointment with Director Kang Jiwon.”80c2a8aef34e2bca

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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.4bf6bd96e773dbd8

“Take the left elevator to the 15th floor.”d66c3d3b312ec841

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It would be fce10f7af9 nice to work 46f90f7038 at a company a23cb4e930 like this. Inside the 1d2f3e27fc elevator, distracted 277b53c418 by the cc3071c6ae feel of 5479daefda the carpet dfbb9d0c9c under his 2241fd33a3 sneakers and a67af63f4b the city 9be06ffda3 view through 2ba881b2f2 the glass e33d3c089a wall, he acb661f463 muttered to 844d4ed3d9 himself.e36dfcc0c9122672

The elevator took him a270b68088 straight to the 15th a8ad945764 floor. Before he 82490d78ac could worry fa3fcf17ca about where f211d975e1 to go d70ee03a84 next, a f4528ee800 receptionist approached.cd2e8a5b550a3ac6

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“Seo Woohyun?”7b8b0e7b4caefb84

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.21df323227db7616

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The double doors opened 088779c448 smoothly, revealing a spacious db5ad4beb2 area. It was 918262f438 so large f10c0806c3 it was 9ad3ee76a4 hard to 555428b898 take in 9ca8e4641c at once.e5653341ee9f185f

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.f33fced951cdeaff

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Kang Jiwon, sitting 3540773475 in front of 71f4e7f223 it, exuded an c23dd20b44 aura that made b39844fd58 it clear he 6b90610fd8 was the owner 558e91a8a3 of the place.264f6f25e86d5a8e

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.42f8cff320ff8c5a

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Kang Jiwon gestured for cb3d168555 Woohyun to come closer db717f4c8b as he approached the 1641db4100 guest sofa.ac59036bb53ac952

“Hello.”59e0782379b83664

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“So your name is… Seo Gideok?”b1bc8474681ce5bd

It’s Deokbae.366f2af04323a495

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He almost corrected reflexively 7cbcedf01b but held his tongue. But it seemed 0cd27610cf Jiwon noticed his 3edb1c028c lips move. Seeing his teasing smile, 1a5715c3f7 Woohyun realized he was dc098bc9bf being teased.9f8992782243281d

“It’s Seo Woohyun.”fd1657663139f560

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He answered quietly 625d859b06 and took a 5702448e8d seat. They were 0e7697aab2 positioned diagonally, bf33227f25 allowing them ec35152558 to see 30c53ff6d1 each other.3785a1e7e82743e2

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.9ecc8ab1b3b167e8

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“It’s the contract. Review it and ask if you have any questions.”c9e9856b9a97cac7

Straight to 5a97f7c5fa the point.0f7706983883859c

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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.187369144393c1af