Chapter 34
“Understood. I’ll attend this week’s broadcast. How many people can I bring along?”
When Doyun readily accepted, Moon Sungil was even more delighted.
“-If Producer Kim is coming, I’ll need to prepare even more thoroughly. You have a sharp eye and might catch something. Haha. Try to keep the group under five people.”
“Got it. I’ll finalize the number and let you know.”
A ticket to Music Campfire, known to ignore requests from politicians and even broadcasting station presidents, was now in Doyun’s hands.
“Five people, huh…?”
As he mulled over who to bring, Doyun headed toward Sillim-dong.
Choi Geunseong had emailed him a revised contract for the Snow Star members.
When Doyun forwarded it to Moon Sungil, the director confirmed it as a standard contract.
‘The six kids are finally free from slavery.’
Additionally, as soon as Doyun submitted a written agreement not to press charges, 20 million won was deposited into his account.
Doyun called Eun Jihoon to return the money to its rightful owner.
In his previous life, Eun Jihoon had never even touched that 20 million won and was shackled instead.
To pay back the debt, even after returning from the military, he was stuck under Choi Geunseong’s MJ Entertainment.
“Hey, Jihoon. Have you eaten?”
“Yes.”
Across from him in a café, Eun Jihoon looked tired and unkempt.
“Filming starts soon. Why aren’t you taking care of yourself?”
“Sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for? Stop saying sorry and take this.”
Doyun handed over a bankbook and card issued under his name. Since Jihoon was a minor, he needed a guardian’s consent to open an account.
“What’s this?”
“Give it to your grandmother.”
When Jihoon saw the amount in the account, his eyes widened. While he must have been shocked by the large sum, Doyun didn’t plan to explain.
He would discuss Eun Hyeran with Jihoon when he was older and more mature.
“Remember the contract we signed before? That’s the contract money. Use it to be good to your grandmother. She raised you, so she’s your real mom.”
At Doyun’s words, telling him to forget about someone who had abandoned him, Jihoon nodded.
“Yes.”
“If you give her everything at once, someone bad might take it, so give it in smaller amounts.”
“…It’s still too much.”
Lowering his head, Jihoon let out thick tears.
“This time, Yoon Ji-ah, who was cast as Jeon Sera’s child role, got 10 million won for four filming sessions.”
“T-Ten million won?”
“Yes. She’s a child star, so that’s what she got. You’ll likely get a similar amount for your next role.”
Wiping away his tears, Jihoon looked at him with disbelief.
“Really?”
“Yes. I’m not telling you to be greedy for money. I want you to realize your worth.”
He didn’t want Jihoon to step in front of the camera with a defeated mindset. To encourage him, he added,
“I want you to be confident. Whether in front of the camera or the public, I want you to shine like a star in the night sky, a beacon of hope for those returning home after a tiring day.”
He hoped Jihoon would become someone who inspired fans, brought them joy, and sometimes gave them hope.
“You’ll be a star.”
“…Yes!”
“That’s enough lecturing for now.”
Softening his serious expression, Doyun continued.
“This is a request you can refuse, so feel free to say no.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Dongsoo, who’s living with me. He’ll be starting filming soon and won’t be home for a while. I’ll also be heading to Jeongdongjin.”
“What about the cats?”
Jihoon asked immediately, recalling Dongsoo had mentioned raising four cats.
“That’s why I need you to look after them while we’re away. But you’ll be starting your own filming soon, so…”
“I’ll do it!”
Jihoon, who had always wanted to see Dongsoo’s cats, seemed a little excited.
“I really like cats. And dogs too.”
“By the way, Dongsoo wanted to invite you over.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow. You can meet the cats then.”
“Okay!”
Seeing Jihoon’s brightened expression lightened Doyun’s heavy heart.
“Eat well, okay?”
“…Yes.”
***
That evening, Doyun met Park Yoonho at a pub.
After graduating from the academy, Doyun joined a drama production company, Dongsoo went into film, and Yoonho became a broadcasting station FD.
Thinking it was the most stable option, Yoonho had chosen what now felt like a dead-end path.
Though he smiled, his face carried a heavy sense of defeat.
No matter how hard a contract FD worked, the best they could hope for was another contract renewal.
No pay raise, no promotion—just endless errands without any real authority.
They were treated as replaceable parts, discarded whenever convenient.
In just one year and three months, Doyun had gone from an assistant producer to a planning producer, and Dongsoo had climbed to a junior producer role.
But Yoonho was still an FD. Next year, the year after that—if he said he wanted a break, someone else would fill his spot.
In the previous life, Yoonho had quit in his third year and returned to his hometown.
But the fire of creativity seemed to burn within him, and he came back to Seoul to work at a debt-ridden drama production company owned by loan sharks.
‘He’ll suffer there for ten years.’
Looking at Yoonho, Doyun said,
“Thanks, Yoonho.”
“What’s with the sudden gratitude?”
Yoonho blinked in surprise.
“If it weren’t for you, how could I have gotten in touch with Director Moon Sungil?”
“Director Moon contacted you?”
Hearing that the legendary Moon Sungil had called first, Yoonho looked astonished.
“Yeah. We’ve decided to stay in touch.”
“Wow, I can’t believe how things connect like that. When I left the envelope on his desk, I was so worried it might end up in the trash.”
By the time Doyun became Mflix’s head producer, so many people sought him out that he couldn’t answer every call.
He carried two phones just to manage it all.
But no matter how busy he got, he always checked the registered mail or packages left on his desk.
‘Just curiosity.’
Even when he knew nothing special would come out of it, he still opened boxes placed in front of him or tore open registered mail.
That was how the photo of Jeongdongjin he sent to Jeong Woon-Young had been delivered.
“I got help here and there after meeting Director Moon. That’s why I wanted to treat you to a drink.”
The draft beer they ordered arrived, along with fried chicken for the table.
Although Park Yoonho hadn’t eaten dinner yet and must have been hungry, he didn’t touch the chicken and only sipped his beer.
He had likely realized this wasn’t just a casual invitation for drinks.
“Honestly, you must have something to say to me, right?”
At Yoonho’s question, Doyun leaned forward on the table.
“You’re sharp. I wanted to ask if you’d like to work with me on a drama. That’s why I called you here.”
Now that he’d been promoted to planning producer, he needed to hire an assistant producer.
“…Isn’t your company full of jerks?”
“True, but a few of the loudest dogs left recently, so it’s quieter now.”
There was no need for a lengthy explanation—what mattered was Yoonho’s decision.
“The thing is… you’d have to work under me. You’re free to decline. But just know this.”
“That it’s for my sake?”
“Why would I do something for you? We’re in the same boat.”
Yoonho was the same age as him, and they had started their careers at the same time.
It wasn’t about opening a new path for Yoonho, who seemed stuck at a dead end.
He simply wanted to look after people he could, within his capacity.
Yoonho was his friend, after all.
You could always find colleagues to work with, but real friends weren’t so easily found.
Friendships born out of necessity didn’t last long either.
Having died once and been given a second chance at life, Doyun now clearly distinguished people he wanted to work with from those he wanted to avoid.
With that thought in mind, Doyun said to Yoonho,
“I’m asking because I want to work with you.”
“……”
“I didn’t mention the salary. The base pay for an assistant producer is…”
“I’ll do it.”
Without waiting to hear the amount, Yoonho immediately agreed.
“Working under a friend would normally hurt my pride, but I don’t mind with you. How are we the same? You graduated top of the class and already got promoted to planning producer.”
Shaking his head in disbelief, Yoonho’s expression seemed drained. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Doyun quipped,
“Yeah, we’re not the same. You’re bigger than me.”
“What are you talking about?”
Yoonho chuckled and looked at Doyun.
“I’m eager to work with you and learn as much as I can. How do I get as good as you? How do I get recognized? I’ll watch and learn from you.”
Yoonho’s words left Doyun feeling both flattered and burdened.
Not wanting Yoonho to feel the pressure, he joked,
“You might regret saying that. ‘Turns out Kim Doyun’s a jerk,’ you’ll say.”
“You might regret it first. ‘Park Yoonho’s a pain in the neck,’ you’ll think.”
With that, Doyun grinned and raised his beer mug.
“Regret? Sure, let’s regret it together. But you know what?”
“What?”
“You’ve always been a pain.”
“Idiot.”
Clink—the beer mugs collided, foam bubbling up. Yoonho downed his beer in one gulp.
Doyun just sipped his and pressed the table bell. Yoonho, thinking he was ordering another beer, handed his empty mug to the waiter.
But—
“Let’s go, Yoonho.”
“Already?”
“Dongsoo’s waiting at home. Please pack up the chicken and bring the bill.”
“Understood.”
The waiter took away the untouched chicken. Watching this, Yoonho let out a baffled laugh.
“Some treat this is—just one beer?”
“Wasn’t the beer refreshing?”
“Wow, so refreshing. Unbelievable, man.”
“Pfft! Then isn’t that enough?”
As they joked, Doyun’s phone vibrated with a notification.
-“Kim Doyun has transferred 300,000 won to Jeong Soonrye.”
Jihoon must have transferred money to his grandmother.
‘I told him to give it in small amounts.’
Just then, a floating message appeared in the air.
[Success satisfaction for Eun Jihoon: 50%]
‘It increased by 10%.’
When Eun Hyeran appeared and signed the contract with Choi Geunseong, Jihoon’s success satisfaction had dropped by 30%.
But transferring 300,000 won to his grandmother had raised it by 10%.
Ding. Another notification arrived on his phone.
-“Kim Doyun has transferred 100,000 won to Jeong Soonrye.”
“Hah! Guess 300,000 won wasn’t enough.”
Muttering to himself, Doyun drew Yoonho’s puzzled gaze.
“Ah, sorry. Got lost in thought for a moment.”
Another floating message appeared.
[Success satisfaction for Eun Jihoon: 60%]
Another 10% increase. 300,000 won and 100,000 won both raised the same amount. ‘There’s no pattern to this.’
Regardless, it was clear that Jihoon’s success satisfaction improved whenever he showed filial piety.
-“Kim Doyun has transferred 100,000 won to Jeong Soonrye.”
[Success satisfaction for Eun Jihoon: 70%]
With one more transfer, Jihoon’s satisfaction returned to its original level.
‘Jihoon, just one more transfer, and you’ll hit 80%.’
—
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