NB | Chapter 10

Seo Woohyun always 97c56562a7 had a shadow d10b96e167 over him. It had been that d37bd7edfe way since birth.f6bce1a2250845b8

A con artist father 77cba51c9a who swindled others, a 3b626f558d mother who had to 39241a614e marry him because of 9c01608763 a child, and a c0f7431860 snot-nosed younger brother who b87a72338d suddenly became his sibling 11c7218687 when he returned from baddb0cbd5 kindergarten.209319d43f592b7b

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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.df51713f57167ef3

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.046656c860728b3d

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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.ae6ce7cd496af758

Woohyun was 802e6146be quick with ac3fcfc62b his hands b702991f7a and feet. It was something 1c4183b3d4 he could do 2a0df3ff22 because he was 166717fd59 a child. People let their d2da72b46a guard down easily, 84656a8038 and even if 51e605dbeb caught, they were 6c1d005ad5 quick to sympathize.75a86d5125915557

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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.342ad8f59491cd99

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.ed06d11f8651b8b1

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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.eb89296ac95f7202

“You’ve had a hard time looking after your brother without me, haven’t you?”613c350e9e3071e2

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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.2a75bcec3c206c38

“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?”925fd158aa69605e

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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.0f891e1ddedffb85

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.423bb6a9b50aaf18

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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.76c9e643787a8739

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.3185d7d1b1476b5c

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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.69707114223b5aa7

Woohyun’s background was that poor.5fc1d907ece6ca91

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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.480e5e1adc965b97

Celebrities who c9e56d5e1e failed in ba1c9b8093 business and 5a26972b5f owed billions e751ceccd2 could appear b8920a9ef4 on various 61f2b1d8c8 shows and 07c614d20f repay their 3794551630 debts in c2f4379834 a few c9881dd095 years.3532c603014e2042

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There’s a famous saying that you shouldn’t worry about celebrities.7928442bb3c5369b

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.7f9ea75adbca5396

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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.”58a3d6de5c84c9a0

If he was an 0f6e90b292 empty can without direction, 82ed8e8727 then he was a 55b4a6c948 soda can now. One that 3351f5dd95 would explode 5b3de87994 if opened 5068c771df after being 59d8584520 shaken and 28b0225ff1 tossed around.9ecc6e86cf7a54a2

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“In other words, you’re a blank check.”0be86445d379da4f

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.d501ad208a214583

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“Listening to others isn’t hard…”826713739b8eefa6

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.d6ddb5170c77bded

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Woohyun quietly closed 7b1cf2c8da his eyes and a91944f1d8 waited for the d9afeb1be2 sun to rise. He had 5fbb474319 somewhere to aa9189d1fb go as bc9622b90a soon as d24cbac808 it did.bc2d1d776731cf4b

***2b2fe71b917ce0af

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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.fc1feafeefbb7643

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.5aa85197751405cc

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He had 355e68c190 worried enough afd2ed2b5e on the 31bd2346e8 way here; 46cdfc5594 now that fbe9a6eb37 he was 48176edc57 at the e4c11a04f1 entrance, further c5a12500cf hesitation was 67cc523e95 a waste 656d57afa0 of time. Resolute, Woohyun stepped into c69afd7684 the Newon building.bd489ef347ec27a1

The lobby, f898fe3d3f visible as 7a8faf43ad soon as a0ae954be3 he entered, 02b27153b1 had a a2171faf28 high ceiling. People moved between 3326852e22 the two floors, fbe704a39d and a thick cba5c24bdf circular pillar stood ea94a6ffde like a central 48c3c73bb1 support.1a194097776da5a4

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The pillar 2916313789 had an 145736dc56 electronic display, 6cd79bdec9 allowing anyone 5f3292d510 to watch 092253855b promotional videos f622a125ab of affiliated e00f4e6713 artists from cf7efa3597 any direction.3573dcfaaab3cb14

Woohyun paused, momentarily captivated 31fd22b103 by the display.9940a320ea8d0b4a

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The production company he c49889c72a visited before was much f8945819e4 smaller and older, giving 41cbf300d7 a cozy and familiar 2ec64e1de5 feel, but the Newon 14d7633e2f building exuded considerable intimidation b407d7b3db just by its structure.9b128b63185d105d

Everywhere he looked, 41883691d4 the sophisticated interior d8a45b7da5 caught his eye, 6c38a39f14 and the cleanliness 9a5f6ecc8a was impressive. Woohyun felt a 6d107d1f78 sense of alienation 0dccfee5f4 surrounded by the fef3bf8f18 urban atmosphere but 273b97dc52 calmly approached the 7aae456a66 information desk.413a3bb9dee18286

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“What brings you here?”faa7f92ad07d8ed3

“I have a 10 o’clock appointment with Director Kang Jiwon.”b693caec3ca144b9

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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.758e44b134fc7f71

“Take the left elevator to the 15th floor.”52aee1bd1e3bd981

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It would be nice ffdfd1efba to work at a fc5b2aa73a company like this. Inside the 6c96516e82 elevator, distracted 60f1b7fa19 by the 481301f8aa feel of 46e121590d the carpet 8482651de1 under his 76c6a4983a sneakers and 3be0239b3f the city ae13606ee1 view through 500cb63637 the glass deef5ae288 wall, he f60d77da10 muttered to f63faec7b3 himself.2419a96d4c1bdeec

The elevator took him 5cf2f8a397 straight to the 15th 70dbc9a1cf floor. Before he b27b8e7ee4 could worry dab8c1a405 about where 34fb7328fd to go d01ea9e440 next, a 888d188552 receptionist approached.e7c8633d3547693e

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“Seo Woohyun?”0297aa2bdaddb358

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.c5d17b25fc895326

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The double doors 842441eaa8 opened smoothly, revealing 14c5956744 a spacious area. It was so 44a39af90f large it was b2acdb5f05 hard to take c59748a237 in at once.e9bafb2709ad339f

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.0f913661aa74ec8a

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Kang Jiwon, sitting 9a7f5c8afd in front of 17db5f924e it, exuded an 91281d0afc aura that made 186cff1314 it clear he e740573b5d was the owner 5f7ec8577a of the place.80b08ac5fd763bdd

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.d0eb9098e8ab120c

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Kang Jiwon gestured for 0c5b935bb7 Woohyun to come closer 644ff3ae1b as he approached the aa865b9f9d guest sofa.5e7213422ca41745

“Hello.”d464d42018e5dd57

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“So your name is… Seo Gideok?”544e7704e6745b83

It’s Deokbae.36bfe34a71585e11

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He almost corrected reflexively 3b2eab9b24 but held his tongue. But it seemed Jiwon 3ea9c522f6 noticed his lips move. Seeing his teasing smile, d3fb39b45b Woohyun realized he was 83c830b2f6 being teased.fbe85127d3c6eb1c

“It’s Seo Woohyun.”f8e60e7caaefc0f0

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He answered quietly 04c308079b and took a 7ebec49dc6 seat. They were positioned diagonally, fe046b98f7 allowing them to see 65bc927130 each other.3576a2e12cfe288a

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.1895139177eadc8d

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“It’s the contract. Review it and ask if you have any questions.”159d7b3e32a283f2

Straight to 12f625bb2c the point.c9c670c6f7f8ed9d

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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.cc0883e76484b19f