Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 568: BiHyungRang (1)

"Chief Jung, I want to give you half of the shares of Mirinae, which will soon be revived."

Mirinae had the potential to generate tens of billions in profit just with the production of Haze after its revival. If I continued helping with drama production even a little, it could eventually lead to hundreds of billions in revenue.

Han Yoo-Sik said he wanted to give me half the shares of such a company. I wondered if he was scared because of what he experienced during bankruptcy, so I tried to reassure him.

"Mr. Han. If you're worried that loan sharks might come after you again, please don't worry. Daeheung Savings Bank, which took over the debts from the Myeongdong Rebuild Crew, is a place I know very well. Also, with Yung-In as the lead and Miso appearing too, this project will definitely succeed. So you don't have to worry about bankruptcy."

"That's not it."

Han Yoo-Sik shook his head and began to talk about the conversation he had with his wife last night.

"Last night, lying in our warm room, my wife and I talked about how we could repay you. But we realized we had almost nothing left. We have only Mirinae..."

I felt touched, but I sensed that giving me the shares wasn't the only reason. That's when a sudden thought crossed my mind.

"Is it because of your children?" I asked.

Han Yoo-Sik stayed silent for a moment before slowly nodding. "To be honest, that's part of it. If I return to the industry, those bastards who are worse than beasts will come looking for me. But I don't want to pass anything I have to them. I'd rather give it to you, the person who saved us from ruin."

He must have been hurt so deeply that he would rather give the shares to a stranger like me. However, I couldn't accept the shares. If I accepted shares from a related industry company, the talent agents from Gwanwoo Entertainment would attack me citing the no-duplicate-employment clause.

"Sir, I am truly grateful. But please hold onto them for now. If your children come asking for them later, you can decide then."

Han Yoo-Sik thought for a moment before replying. "Hmm... then could you pass it on to someone you trust the most? Later, you can get it back from them."

There was desperation in Han Yoo-Sik's voice. Even though I tried to persuade him a few more times, I eventually had no choice but to nod.

"Understood... if you really insist, I will find someone trustworthy."

Only then did Han Yoo-Sik flash a bright smile, as if he had completed something he had to do. "Thank you. Oh, right. If you transfer the shares when the rehabilitation process begins, you can practically transfer them for free. Please decide quickly and let me know."

"Yes, sir."

Han Yoo-Sik smiled and looked at Ju Yung-In. "By the way, to think that the great Miss Yung-In will be the heroine of our drama, it's really moving."

Ju Yung-In shook her hand and said, "Aw, don't flatter me too much, Mr. Han."

"I'm not flattering you. I'm stating a fact. How could a drama starring a Grand Acting Award winner fail?"

"I'll do my best to live up to your expectations."

When Ju Yung-In smiled brightly, Han Yoo-Sik said, "Then Miss Yung-In, today let's just draft a letter of intent for the role and we'll sign the actual contract after Mirinae completes its revival."

"Got it."

Ahn Yung-Hee brought over the letter of intent, and Ju Yung-In signed it. After signing, Ju Yung-In pointed at the ceiling with her finger. "Mr. Han, the third to fifth floors of our building are vacant. How about using them as Mirinaes' new office?"

"Here?"

"Yes. It's my building anyway, and it would be a waste to leave the space empty."

Han Yoo-Sik hesitated for a moment before nodding. "The location is good and the building is nice. Let's do that. Thank you."

"Sure~"

Afterward, discussions about investment in Haze and drama scheduling continued for several hours. Once the heated discussions wrapped up, Han Yoo-Sik stood up.

"Alright then. I'll head to TNT Entertainment and try persuading actor Sung Gyu-Hwan."

The original male lead of Haze, Sung Gyu-Hwan, would grow into an S-class, critically acclaimed actor in two years. Although he was still a bit lacking in recognition, his skills were something I could trust.

As Han Yoo-Sik smiled and got up from his seat, Ju Yung-In also stood up to head to her schedule. I too went down to the parking lot to head out of town and spoke to myself internally.

'Mr. Han, please don't worry. I will help make sure you never experience anything like the past again.'

Since he trusted me, I intended to repay him in kind.

***

Han Yoo-Sik headed to TNT Entertainment to secure the male lead, and Ju Yung-In left JU Entertainment for her schedule.

I headed down to the parking lot to pick up Miso at Yeosu, the filming site of The Foodie Nomads, and then drove to the set of Hwaranjeon in Gyeongju.

Just before starting the car, I called the person I trusted most.

"Hello, Mom?"

-My son~ What's the occasion so early in the morning?

"Mom, I have a favor to ask..."

-What is it? If it's my son asking, I will do anything.

Hearing her always respond with a willingness to give everything made my nose sting a little.

"Actually, someone wants to give me shares of a stable company, but I want you to receive them instead."

-Huh? Why would they give them to me? They're yours.

My mom had always been selfless, wanting to give everything for me and my siblings without any desire for herself. If there really was a heaven, my mom surely would have the best spot reserved for her.

"I can't receive them myself. If you don't accept them this time, I won't be able to get the shares at all."

I exaggerated a little, and the flustered Mom replied.

-If you don't take them, they'll disappear for good?

"They'll be gone for sure!"

After a brief moment of thought, she answered.

-Then... okay. I'll do what my son asks. But just for a while, right?

'Yes, just for about 40 years.'

I wished she would live a long, long time as I answered in my heart.

"Yes. I'll arrange it so that the Angel Foundation owns it."

Being a nun, my mom did not personally own property. However, she operated a separate foundation to run the Angel Orphanage. That very foundation was the Angel Foundation. I planned to register the shares under the foundation's name so that dividends from the drama production company would flow into it.

I wanted my mom to use that money to comfortably support my other siblings.

"Then I'll hang up now. I need to head down south to pick up Yoo-Jin."

-Okay. Love you, my son.

"Yes, I... love you too."

Those words spoken with difficulty made Mom burst into laughter.

-You're getting used to saying it now, huh? Hahaha. Hearing my son say he loves me makes me so happy~

Seeing how much joy it brought her, I thought I should say it more often from now on.

"I'll visit in a few days."

Then Mom replied.

-No, I'll be going up to Seoul soon. I'll get a check-up at a big hospital and visit Eun-Gi too.

Currently, Lee Yeon-Sil was 28 weeks pregnant. With roughly 80 days left until delivery, she planned to get another check-up at a large hospital in Seoul. At the same time, they planned to visit Kang Eun-Gi.

"Got it. Then please stay at our house when you come."

-Okay~ See you then~

After finishing the promise, I hung up the phone. Thinking that the day I would meet my niece or nephew wasn't far off made my lips twitch into a smile.

Hoping that only good days like this would continue, I finally started the car.

Vroom~

The engine noise echoing through the parking lot sounded better than ever.

***

Today was the day to completely reshoot the scenes featuring the goblin BiHyungRang, who would appear starting from episode 4 of Hwaranjeon.

Originally, the role of BiHyungRang was played by Kim Sun-Hyuk of TNT Entertainment, but after he got into trouble, he was replaced by Han Woo-Hyuk.

Han Woo-Hyuk was an actor who had retired after being diagnosed with cancer four years ago and had miraculously recovered. However, when I first scouted him, he was so frail that he barely weighed 50 kilograms, so he wasn't physically ready to return to acting immediately.

Thanks to the help of Doctor Kim Soo-Myung, he recovered significantly and began filming today.

Miso also had to come here after filming The Foodie Nomads to reshoot a scene where young Princess Yu-Hwa meets BiHyungRang in episode 4. So I picked up Miso in Yeosu, and then arrived at the Hwaranjeon set in Gyeongju.

When we arrived at the set, it was 7 p.m. The surroundings were dim. I turned off the car engine and looked back.

Miso, sitting in the back seat, had unfolded a table attached to the seat and was drawing in her sketchbook. Even though she must have been uncomfortable in her young Princess Yu-Hwa costume, she was drawing energetically with the colored pencils she had received from Eun-Byul.

Scritch, scratch.

Miso's face was full of smiles as she drew.

"Miso, we're here."

Miso paused and peeked her head up. "Oh? Already?"

"Yeah. What are you drawing?"

Miso grinned and said, "A goblin!"

"A goblin?"

"Yes! Today is the day I meet Goblin Uncle."

Calling Han Woo-Hyuk 'Goblin Uncle,' Miso was planning to give him her drawing as a present. Thinking about Miso's drawing skills, I already felt a cold sweat running down my back without even seeing it.

"R-Really?"

"Yes! It's almost done. Just a moment, please."

Miso grabbed her colored pencil again with determination. However, the color she picked up was black.

'Miso, what exactly are you drawing?'

I couldn't bring myself to ask and the pounding of my heart echoed in my ears.

A moment later, Miso shouted brightly, "Done! Uncle Yoon-Ho, let's get out now."

"Before that... Can I take a look at the drawing?"

Miso proudly handed over the sketchbook. "Here you go!"

Flip.

I received the sketchbook from Miso. But the moment I saw the drawing, I couldn't close my mouth.

What Miso had drawn was not a cute and adorable goblin. The goblin had black hair, white skin, sharp fangs, and horns, and was breathing fire from its mouth. In its left hand, it held a spear made of lightning, and in its right hand, something that looked like a horned conch shell.

Miso's goblin was exuding an overwhelming force, looking like it could annihilate every enemy in its sight.

"Hahaha... T-This is amazing. Why did you draw it like this?"

Miso grinned and answered. "Goblin Uncle was sick, right? So I wanted him to become super strong and never get sick again."

At that moment, I looked at Miso's drawing with new eyes.

'The heart behind the drawing...'

Realizing Miso's sincere feelings, my own heartfelt emotions spilled out.

"You drew it~ so~ well!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! It's the best."

Miso got so excited that she stomped her feet. "Then let's hurry! I want to give it to Goblin Uncle!"

"Alright."

After praising Miso, beaming from ear to ear, I grabbed our things and got out of the car. Miso held my hand tightly and hugged her sketchbook dearly.

I smiled warmly at Miso and headed toward the bamboo forest where Han Woo-Hyuk was filming.

***

About a hundred meters to the left from the Moon Palace set of Hwaranjeon, there was a bamboo forest.

The bamboo forest stretched across thousands of pyeong, filled densely with bamboo about fifteen meters tall. Snow from two days ago was layered thickly between the bamboo branches, which didn't shed their leaves even in winter. At the entrance to the bamboo forest, there was a stream with thin ice flowing through it and an arched wooden bridge crossing over.

Since Hwaranjeon featured the goblin's fireflies living near the stream, BiHyungRang always made his appearance here.

Han Woo-Hyuk was sitting on the railing of that wooden bridge. He was wearing a pure white robe, and because of the body-hugging design, his slender figure was clearly highlighted. He also wore a black wig that flowed down to his waist, held a daegeum[1] in his right hand, and had a script open in his left hand as he waited to begin filming.

'What a scene stealer.'

With a faint smile on his face, he looked so confident that I almost couldn't believe he was the same Han Woo-Hyuk I had once known. Thanks to recovering his strength, it seemed his confidence had also returned.

At that moment, Oh Bok-Hee spotted us and called out. "Mr. Jung! Miso!"

Since Hwaranjeon had just scored a 19.8% viewership ratings for episode 1 yesterday and had beaten Queen Jeong-hee to take first place in the same time slot, her voice was practically high-pitched.

Holding Miso's hand, I greeted Oh Bok-Hee. "Sorry we're a little late."

"No, you arrived just in time. We can start filming right away, right?"

"Yes."

At that moment, Miso, hugging her sketchbook tightly, tugged at my pants.

"Alright, Miso."

Before preparing Miso for her scene, I asked Oh Bok-Hee if we could quickly greet Han Woo-Hyuk.

Oh Bok-Hee nodded. "Sure. After you greet each other, we'll start shooting right away."

"Yes, ma'am."

Holding Miso's hand, I headed up to the bridge. Han Woo-Hyuk was still absorbed in his script.

"Mr. Woo-Hyuk."

Han Woo-Hyuk slowly lifted his head. "Mr. Jung, you're here. And Miso too. Hello, Miso."

Miso hugged her sketchbook and bowed politely. "Nice to meet you, Goblin Uncle."

Han Woo-Hyuk laughed. "Haha, that's right. Since I'm the goblin, you can keep calling me Goblin Uncle from now on."

Miso opened her sketchbook and handed it to Han Woo-Hyuk. "Heehee, okay~ Oh, and Goblin Uncle, this is a present for you."

Receiving the sketchbook, Han Woo-Hyuk looked at the drawing with a joyful expression. "Wow~ That's powerful! Did you draw this for me?"

"Yes! So you won't get sick again, just like the strong goblin in the picture."

Han Woo-Hyuk smiled warmly, moved by her words. "Thank you, Miso. I'll make sure to stay healthy."

"Okay~~!"

Pointing at the sketchbook, Han Woo-Hyuk said, "Please take good care of this drawing, Mr. Jung. This is the most precious picture in the world to me."

"Understood."

Holding the sketchbook, I spoke to Miso.

"By the way, Miso, are you ready to film right away?"

Miso nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

Since she had already filmed the scene once before, Miso answered with confidence.

"Good. Then let's give it your best!"

After cheering Miso on, I also warned Han Woo-Hyuk. I reminded him that Miso's immersion in her role was intense, almost scary, and told him to be prepared. I especially emphasized multiple times to be careful during the part where Miso would faint and collapse, before finally stepping away from the bridge.

Seeing that everything was ready, Oh Bok-Hee picked up her megaphone. "This is the scene in episode 4 where young Princess Yu-Hwa meets BiHyungRang. Mr. Woo-Hyuk, at the signal, walk slowly from the bamboo forest to the bridge. And stuntmen, hide in the pine forest on the opposite side please."

"Yes, Mrs. Oh."

At Oh Bok-Hee's instructions, seven men dressed in black martial arts costumes hid in the pine forest.

Once everyone was in position, Oh Bok-Hee asked, "Miso, are you ready?"

"Yes!"

Since Han Woo-Hyuk had already gone into the bamboo forest, Miso stood alone on the bridge and nodded firmly.

Seeing this, Oh Bok-Hee nodded back and then turned to me. "Mr. Jung, you haven't seen Mr. Woo-Hyuk's acting since his recovery, right?"

"Right."

Oh Bok-Hee grinned. "Once you see Mr. Woo-Hyuk's acting, you're going to be so~ surprised."

"What's he like now?"

"You'll see."

Leaving me hanging with curiosity, Oh Bok-Hee then grabbed the megaphone and shouted. "Alright, scene 7 of episode 4. Ready~~ Action!"

At that moment, just as Oh Bok-Hee said, Han Woo-Hyuk and Miso began to deliver an astonishing performance.

1. The daegeum is a large bamboo flute, a transverse flute used in traditional Korean music. It has a buzzing membrane that gives it a special timbre ☜

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