Chapter 56
Baek Kyung, feeling exhilarated after delivering a satisfying performance, cheerfully greeted Moon Sungil.
“Director, I will never forget the grace you’ve shown me by allowing me to perform such an amazing stage.”
“Ah, yes. Baek Kyung, you did a great job as well.”
Hearing the compliment, Baek Kyung’s lips curled into a smile.
But soon after, he turned to Doyun and spoke in a choked-up voice.
“Producer Kim, thanks to you, I was able to perform on stage with all my limbs intact. Thank you so much.”
“Baek Kyung, it seems like an agency contacted you after the broadcast.”
“Oh, you heard my phone call?”
“Since I was suddenly made an assistant director, I ended up overhearing unintentionally.”
Having taken over Kwak Cheolwoong’s role as assistant director, Doyun had overheard Baek Kyung’s conversation with his manager while the singer was heading back to the waiting room after his performance.
To bring Moon Sungil and Oh Youngguk into the conversation, Doyun lifted his head and spoke.
“Melodia offered to help with album production, but the person who contacted your manager seemed to have an ambiguous position.”
“Who was it?”
Moon Sungil asked, and Baek Kyung answered instead.
“It was from a management company called Mella. They usually recruit and manage artists who fit their style, so I found it odd when they suggested I release an album under Melodia despite my existing contract with another agency.”
Anyone could see that the offer was suspicious.
It was like praising the kimbap from Dodo’s Snack Bar and then offering to supply ingredients from Piggy’s Snack Bar instead.
“So, what did you decide to do?”
“The conditions were just too good. They offered 100 million won just to release my album. An artist like me getting such an offer… it felt unreal.”
At that moment, Moon Sungil and Oh Youngguk spoke simultaneously.
“They’re trying to put Baek Kyung inside the Trojan Horse.”
“They plan to use you as a Trojan Horse.”
“Huh?”
Baek Kyung, clueless about what they meant, blinked in confusion as he looked back and forth between them.
Doyun approached him and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Baek Kyung, your father’s involvement in a fraud case… your agency has been blocking the news, but it’s going to come out soon.”
“…How do you know that?”
“I have good ears.”
Of course, Doyun couldn’t tell him that he had lived through the future and knew that Baek Kyung’s career would plummet due to his father’s fraud scandal.
‘His agency won’t protect him. In the end, they’ll abandon him.’
Doyun gripped Baek Kyung’s shoulder tightly.
“Before moving to Harmony, accept Mella’s help for now.”
“But… will Harmony really take me in?”
“If you’re a singer nurtured by Director Moon, I’m sure they will.”
Moon Sungil smirked and looked at Doyun.
“So, this was your plan all along—getting him to Harmony?”
“Yes. Mella must already know that Baek Kyung’s father is involved in a fraud case.”
A Greek soldier in need of money.
Or in this case, a singer.
Baek Kyung was desperate enough to hide inside the Trojan Horse and infiltrate the enemy’s stronghold.
And Melodia and Mella were the ones offering him that opportunity.
‘So, you guys were the ones backing Kwak Cheolwoong.’
Baek Kyung’s eyes welled up with tears.
“I want to perform on Director Moon’s stage. If I can do that, I’ll do anything. I’ll work hard for the rest of my life to repay this kindness.”
“Alright.”
Moon Sungil seemed to have made up his mind to trust Baek Kyung.
‘This worked out well.’
Not only did he prevent Baek Kyung, a talented singer willing to give his all, from falling…
But he also managed to secure Moon Sungil’s final live broadcast.
“Baek Kyung, just tell Mella this—”
“Tell them you’ll do whatever they ask, except sign a contract.”
“Understood.”
“And Director Moon, you should make Baek Kyung the main act in your final live broadcast.”
“Sounds good.”
With their brief strategy meeting concluded, Oh Youngguk wiped the sweat from his forehead and spoke.
“This whole thing feels like a drama in itself, doesn’t it?”
“Seriously.”
Moon Sungil also pulled out a handkerchief, his palms damp with sweat.
“Producer Kim, since I got to watch the show with my daughter thanks to you, I’ll treat you to dinner. Bring your mother and sister. How about some premium Hanwoo beef?”
As soon as Oh Youngguk offered dinner, Moon Sungil approached Doyun.
“You helped prevent a broadcasting accident today, so there’s no way I can just let you go. You know my personality, right? I can’t stand being in debt. Let’s go to a place that serves fresh wild-caught red seabream.”
Hanwoo beef and red seabream.
Both were tempting, but Doyun already had prior commitments.
“Uh, Director Moon… and Chief Oh.”
Doyun glanced at the two men before bowing slightly.
“I actually have a reservation at the 63 Building buffet, so I need to leave. I’m really sorry.”
***
“Ha… that guy.”
Oh Youngguk watched as Doyun wrapped his arms around his mother and sister protectively, walking away. He stood there for a long moment, unable to leave easily.
‘I thought he was just obsessed with success because of his ambition…’
If that were the case, he wouldn’t have turned down a dinner invitation from the drama director.
“Sangah, what should we eat for dinner? Tell me anything you want, and I’ll get it for you.”
“Hmm… I want chicken. But Uncle’s coming too.”
Sangah, fiddling with her phone, looked up at Oh Youngguk.
“Did you call Uncle Beom-un?”
“No, he called me first. He asked where I was.”
“I see.”
Oh Youngguk’s voice softened as he patted Sangah’s head.
His ex-wife’s close friend, the screenwriter Lee Sekyung.
And Lee Beom-un, her cousin.
At first glance, it seemed like they were worlds apart, but that wasn’t the case at all.
Since Lee Sekyung worked at the same broadcasting station, Oh Youngguk ran into her almost daily in the hallway.
Because of that, whether he wanted to or not, he even heard about his ex-wife’s relationships through her.
‘And now, my daughter Sangah is caught up in it too. What a mess.’
The problem was that now that the set had been fully built, Lee Beom-un had to focus on studio filming.
But instead, he was coming near the broadcasting station to eat chicken with Sangah?
‘He must have something to say to me.’
He wasn’t unaware of the importance of separating work and personal matters.
But the issue was that it wasn’t something he could handle on his own.
‘Feels like I’m starring in a makjang drama myself.’
The closer he got to Sangah today, the stronger the urge to take a step back gnawed at Oh Youngguk.
***
“Mother, hello. I’m Go Dongsoo, and I live with Doyun.”
Thanks to Han Jiseon’s generosity, they had a buffet dinner at the 63 Building before heading to Dongsoo’s apartment with his mother and Dohee.
There was no way he could send his mother and Dohee back on a late-night express bus.
‘I have to meet the editing director tomorrow, so I didn’t have a choice.’
Hearing that Doyun’s mother and sister were coming, Dongsoo had cleaned his place thoroughly and was now greeting them politely.
As she looked around his apartment, his mother couldn’t hide her mix of admiration and guilt.
It was hard for a parent to see their child living at someone else’s house.
But seeing her reaction, it was Dongsoo who ended up feeling restless.
“Mother, if there’s anything you’d like for breakfast tomorrow, just let me know. Cooking is actually my hobby.”
“Oh, I’m already imposing too much. Donggu, really, thank you.”
“Um… I’m not Donggu…”
“Oh my! A cat!”
As soon as Dohee saw Whitey, she dashed over and scooped him up in her arms.
“So you’re Dohee? I actually have a younger sister around your age.”
“Really? I didn’t know Donggu oppa had a sister.”
“Huh? I’m not Donggu…”
“Oh wow! You said you have four cats, and here’s a tabby too!”
Dohee put Whitey down and picked up the tabby cat instead.
Meanwhile, their mother rolled up her sleeves and headed toward the kitchen.
“I sent over some side dishes before, but I don’t know if they suited your taste, Donggu.”
“They were delicious. But Mother, I’m not Donggu…”
“My goodness! The kitchen is spotless! And look at how well the fridge is organized. The woman who marries Donggu is going to be so lucky.”
“Heeeng.”
Upset that his name was being mispronounced, Dongsoo pouted.
“Mother, his name is Dongsoo, not Donggu.”
“Oh? Sorry about that. But why do I keep remembering you as Donggu?”
“Mother, could it be because I remind you of ‘Donggu’ from that morning drama?”
“Oh my! That’s right. You have the same kind and dependable aura as him.”
“Hehe. Then you can call me Donggu if you want.”
Feeling better, Dongsoo started peeling some fruit.
“Donggu, you don’t have to do that. Let me handle it. You must be exhausted from filming.”
“All I do is run around all day.”
“It must be so tough in this heat. But hold on a second…”
His mother looked into his eyes before breaking into a bright smile.
“Your eyes sparkle too. That means you love what you’re doing, doesn’t it? You look so happy.”
“Of course! Though, I bet I’m not as happy as Doyun, working with the nation’s fairy, Jeon Sera.”
“You like Sera? Then should I give you this?”
His mother pulled out a hand-stitched phone charm from her handbag.
“Sera made this. She stitched them in between shoots when she was bored and gave me three. One for me, one for my son, and this last one.”
“Whoa, Kim Doyun! So that’s what’s been hanging on your phone all this time? You traitor!”
A dangerous glint appeared in Dongsoo’s eyes.
‘I knew this would happen, which is why I never mentioned it.’
To avoid Dongsoo’s gaze, Doyun quickly retreated into his room, muttering under his breath.
“I don’t have enough pillows for everyone… Dohee might have to use my winter coat as a pillow.”
“Hey, Kim Doyun! How could you make Mother sleep in the small room? She should take the master bedroom.”
Fuming, Dongsoo turned to their mother and spoke gently.
“Mother, I’ve already set out summer blankets. You and Dohee should take the master bedroom. Doyun and I can sleep in the living room.”
“I’m sleeping in my room.”
“You traitor!”
As she watched Doyun and Dongsoo bicker, their mother fondly looked around the living room once more before asking.
“Donggu—oh no! Sorry, Dongsoo, how much does an apartment like this cost?”
“I have no idea.”
“I should check the real estate listings before heading home tomorrow. Ever since Sera visited the snack shop, business has been booming.”
The way she said it made it clear she was serious, not just talking.
Doyun chuckled to himself.
It was true that business had been picking up.
Word had spread, and tourists coming to Gangneung were making a point to visit his mother’s snack shop.
Since it was all cash transactions, business was only going to get better.
‘Is my mother going to become a building owner in Seoul just by selling tteokbokki?’
***
[The hit drama A Summer’s Cantabile is facing a major crisis.]
Early in the morning, after sending his mother and Dohee off on the express bus, Doyun was on his way to see Ji Seonju for editing when he saw the future news.
His face stiffened.
‘What do you mean, crisis?’
—
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