IJLMT 32

Chapter 32

Who could truly understand how intimidating Jang Hyung-geon’s 90-degree bow is—unless you’ve actually received it?

Just by looking at age, it’s obvious. Jang Hyung-geon is 42 this year, and I’m 27. He’s 15 years older than me. On top of that, he’s all muscle, with sharp, commanding features. If you were to compare him to a character from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he’d be like Guan Yu.

Not just in appearance, but in personality too—he is Guan Yu. About six years ago, a story surfaced that he had opened the window of a struggling junior’s home, tossed in a stack of cash, and ran off.

When asked why he gave money in such a strange way, he replied:

“If I give it directly, won’t they feel pity? They might feel embarrassed or inadequate. I hate that atmosphere. They’re friends who can rise again anyway, so if I make a show of it, it only hurts my pride.”

There was a bit of controversy because he used the phrase “hurts my pride” in public, but it was half-joking. In the entertainment industry, Jang Hyung-geon’s image is that of a “big brother”—someone you can trust and follow.

And yet, I received a 90-degree bow from him in front of a crowd. How humiliating could that be? I even heard people whispering around me:

“Did you see that? Jang Hyung-geon bowed 90 degrees! Like a gang member…”
“What’s going on between him and Manager Yoo Hyun-jae?”
“Did you hear the rumor? Yoo Hyun-jae is actually… in the underworld.”
“Really? No wonder he doesn’t seem like an ordinary person…”

I endured my embarrassment and entered a room-style café with Jang Hyung-geon after the shoot. I was there for a promotional schedule. We had agreed with the drama production company to quickly produce teaser videos and posters, and I needed to brief him about that.

“Finally, we meet again, Manager.”

Jang Hyung-geon bowed his head once more.

“H-Haha. Please don’t go so far, Actor. I’m embarrassed.”
“What do you mean by ‘don’t’?”
“I’m only 27. I’m still a rookie. When the big brother of the entertainment world, Actor Jang Hyung-geon, treats me with such respect, I don’t know how to react.”
“Rookie? That’s nonsense, Manager. As far as I know, Yoo Hyun-jae, you’re the very definition of an adult! If I don’t show you respect, who else should I?”

Guan Yu immediately came to mind. His stubbornness wasn’t a joke.

I finally convinced him to spare me from the 90-degree bow. Now I had to give him the schedule, but first, there was something I had to ask.

“How’s your wife’s health?”

A basic courtesy in social interactions. No matter who you’re speaking to, you ask about their well-being before diving into business.

At that moment, Jang Hyung-geon’s eyes welled up, and his lips trembled.

‘Wait… in the future Onion showed me, she was fine. Did I miss something?’

He drank a glass of water and spoke:

“She’s fine.”

I exhaled in relief.

‘See? She’s fine.’

“…Truly, Manager, you are a great man. To share my relief that my wife is okay…”
“It’s really important for our company too.”
“And you don’t even take credit for it?”

Because that would be wrong—it wasn’t my achievement. It was gratitude that should have gone to Onion.

I stayed quiet. Jang Hyung-geon examined my face, nodded a few times, and continued:

“…The lesion was removed. That’s all. It was so early that there’s no need for harsh chemotherapy or radiation. We will check again for any spread, but for now, there’s nothing. If she recovers as she is, that’s it.”
“That’s a relief.”

Just as I thought, ‘Now I can move on to the schedule,’ he spoke in a low, deep voice:

“Manager, if it weren’t for you, we would have died. My wife and I.”
“No…”
“Really. You know my personality, right? I can’t live alone in a world without my wife. Manager, I learned life from you.”

Tears trickled from his blazing eyes. I was utterly flustered. How could I possibly teach life lessons to 42-year-old Jang Hyung-geon?

“I wanted to be someone who treats my wife well. But thanks to you, I realized the difference between wanting to be someone who treats my wife well and wanting to treat my wife well. I just wanted to look cool! I wasn’t sincere. Sincerity is something you have, and I didn’t understand that!”

I thought internally:

‘Please… please stop thanking me.’

Being treated like I had taught life lessons to a 42-year-old older brother—there’s no way to describe this feeling.

“I’ve decided to start anew. I’ll throw away all pretentiousness. I’ll love sincerely, work sincerely, live sincerely—only sincerely! And for that, today… I want to give this to you, Manager.”

He handed me a small package.

“What’s this?”
“I ordered it last year, but thinking about it, I probably bought it to look cool. I feel I should give it to you, Manager, to feel right.”

I opened it and broke into a cold sweat.

Inside was a key… for a Mercedes-Benz. On the side, it said Maybach.

“This… is a Benz?”
“S680. It’s parked outside, so you can drive it immediately. If you don’t like it, you can sell it.”

The S680 costs nearly 400 million KRW. The company provided a Mercedes for work, but this was more than twice as expensive!

“Actor Jang Hyung-geon… you really don’t need to feel indebted to me. Receiving this—my heart—”
“Indebted?”

He looked at me, incredulous.

“Indebted? This has nothing to do with gratitude! It’s purely self-satisfaction.”

Self-satisfaction by giving someone a 400-million-won car?

“Manager, I don’t repay gratitude like this. I don’t just hand over a car and say, ‘Thanks.’”
It’s hardly “just a car.” But I couldn’t break his momentum. Who could?

“You saved my wife’s life, my life, and taught me how to live. How could I possibly repay that with just a Mercedes?! I’ll treasure it till I die!”
“Treasuring? As a manager, it’s my duty to look after you, not the other way around.”
“Outrageous!”

The struggle continued, but Jang Hyung-geon would never bend. Finally, I received the Maybach key, promised to visit his home once his wife recovered, and only then could I go over the schedule.

‘Somehow, I’ve got a house, a car… but no timing to spend my 1.5 billion KRW lottery winnings.’

“Hyun-jae oppa, why have you been so busy lately? Aren’t you busier than me?”

Yoo Joo called Hyun-jae.

[Are you serious? Need anything?]

“Are we just supposed to contact each other when necessary? Can’t I just call?”

[No, anytime. Feel free.]

“Did you try the drink I gave you?”

[Ah, sorry. Haven’t had time. Because of the US trip.]

“Isn’t the schedule set? How can you still be busy?”

[Confidential, but we decided to perform the English version of Ugly Syndrome. The organizers loved it, so there’s a lot to handle.]

“What? An English version too? Isn’t that too much for the company? Nova Girls are already busy.”

[They wanted it. Davin wrote the lyrics. They practiced on their own.]

“How could they even have time for that…?”

[Aren’t they admirable? They never stop.]

Hyun-jae laughed.

‘Admirable? Of course, from his perspective.’

But I felt uneasy. A sense of frustration had built since appearing on Star Behind with Lee Joo-ah, and now it surged again—like a crustacean starting to molt.

[I was about to call first. Yoo Joo, we got an offer from Singers are Singers this year too. You’ll reject it again, right? It overlaps with Chalk and Window filming.]
“…Of course.”
“Good. Keep your condition. Contact me if needed.”

The call ended, but Yoo Joo felt reluctant.

“Singers are Singers” is a music competition. Seven singers compete to find the best.

Yoo Joo had declined last year. Honestly, it was intimidating. Competing against older, senior singers—why risk upsetting them?

Actually, that was an excuse. She just didn’t want the anxiety of winning or losing.

After succeeding as a singer-songwriter, Yoo Joo adopted “live leisurely, don’t struggle” as her motto. She has it all: money, fame, popularity, image… nothing she lacks.

When her father’s business failed, she struggled. Failing every audition, crying, making instant noodles at a PC cafe after a part-time job, crying again… Why can’t I do it?

Now she wanted stability. She didn’t want the sky to fall again.

But…

• Aren’t they admirable? They never stop.

‘Does Hyun-jae oppa see me as stopped right now?’

When the production team called, I held the ring and thought of Yoo Joo.

“I don’t want to compete with seniors. And with Chalk and Window filming, I’m too busy.”

The onion bracelet didn’t give off a smell. So when she said she wouldn’t go, I accepted it. But… minutes after the call, something changed. A fragrance emerged from the onion—sweet, like muskmelon flesh.

The scene in my mind:

“How did you manage three tasks simultaneously? You didn’t slack off in any.”
“This year was legendary. The whole nation saw Yoo Joo anew.”

‘Three tasks?’

At that moment, my phone vibrated. Yoo Joo. As soon as I picked up, she shouted:

[Hyun-jae oppa, did you contact Gagasu? Not yet, right?]
“Uh, not yet.”
[I’ll do it. Tell them I’ll do it.]

Her voice had determination.

“Are you sure? Chalk and Window filming starts next week.”

[Working Man’s Lee Jung-gi also handled MC, drama filming, and OST composition simultaneously. I can do it too. Less sleep when young.]

The future changed. I was bewildered. What happened in those 30 minutes before she called again? What caused the future to shift?

[I’ll definitely show you something.]

Yoo Joo’s voice now was completely different from the previous future I had seen.

[Surprise Announcement?! Girl group NovelBiz guerrilla concert on March 19 in Hongdae!]
[World-class idol street event! What fan event did NovelBiz prepare?]

Lee Jong-muk was watching entertainment news. He had anticipated this from Park Min-kyu’s side.

It was the right decision. Even Lee Jong-muk would have done the same. Letting Nova Girls lose to NovelBiz and go to New York is the worst scenario for Valhalla.

Park Min-kyu, the CEO of Valhalla, is ranked first in the industry. He always acts rationally.

Lee Jong-muk, however, didn’t respond. Not because he trusted Yoo Hyun-jae with everything, but because he judged inaction as the best move.

Nova Girls losing to NovelBiz wouldn’t be a problem—it’s expected. If the company forced a win, public opinion might see them as arrogant.

Let politics stir the story; why intervene?

Park Min-kyu also struggles to manage emotions. Knowing the right move isn’t enough; a CEO must convince others. He often misses that, especially when impatient.

Would NovelBiz even want to hold this event? Could it inspire the public?

‘Few are impressed by insincerity.’

Then…

[Nova Girls: “We tried our best to convey our sincerity.” English release of Ugly Syndrome ahead of New York visit!]

“Hahaha…”

[Singer Yoo Joo joins Gagasu? “I desperately want to sing.”]

“Yoo Hyun-jae… really has no limits.”

I couldn’t help laughing, but also felt fear.

Yoo Hyun-jae doesn’t compromise. He won’t let NovelBiz monopolize the spotlight.

The Nova Girls suddenly produced the English version, ready for practice,

and Yoo Joo suddenly said, “Even though they’re seniors, I want to win. Not just ‘win if I can,’ but I want to win.” She agreed to appear on Gagasu.

It was terrifying. Can anyone intentionally achieve that? How did she change her mind? Persuasion alone wouldn’t suffice.

‘I said there’s a tyrant in his heart… no, this isn’t just that.’

Jong-muk thought of Leviathan, a colossal sea monster that could swallow cities and smash continents.

NovelBiz performs on March 19; Nova Girls go to New York on the 20th.

What will people be saying next?