Chapter 31: Ready to Soar (8)
The final shoot was relatively Simple.
Kim Ye-ji, kicked off the ledge by Han Ye-ri, survived but became a vegetative shell—a fitting end for someone who manipulated everything but could no longer control her own body. Han Ye-ri, saved by the pipe, retreated to a quiet countryside, living with memories of her daughter.
“Great work, everyone!”
As filming wrapped, actors and crew exchanged smiles and greetings, confident ‘Don’t Forget’ would be a hit.
“Unnie, I’m gonna get so much hate when this releases, right?” Kim Ye-ji’s actress asked Shim Ji-young.
“Probably. But wasn’t this the image transformation you wanted?” Shim Ji-young replied.
“True, but… maybe it’s too different. By the way, don’t you think you’ll win an award this year?”
“Maybe. Would be nice, but I’ve got competition,” Shim Ji-young said.
“Competition?”
She meant ‘Revenger’, the film that broke 10 million viewers, where she’d played a supporting role.
“I think we’ll win, though.”
She didn’t deny Revenger’s quality but believed in her director, writer, co-actors, and crew. They surpassed ‘Revenger’ in her mind.
With that, everyone, including Shim Ji-young, eagerly awaited the ‘Don’t Forget’ premiere.
***
Kim Ji-hyun was in high spirits lately. Since hiring the coordinator, negative comments had decreased, and articles about her were turning positive. But one thing gnawed at her: her former manager’s attitude.
He grumbled whenever she spoke to him, making her, the new coordinator, and the new manager uncomfortable.
“Sigh… Manager, I’m really uneasy. Can’t you just stay as my manager?”
She asked the new manager after a schedule.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got my original team—unknown idols, but they’re important to me,” he replied.
Truthfully, managing the famous Kim Ji-hyun would’ve been a career boost. Compared to a group of idols, she was easier to handle and had a good personality. She might’ve taken him to a bigger agency or given him bonuses. But he couldn’t abandon his first clients.
“I’ll talk to the CEO about your old manager and help find a new one, so don’t worry,” he assured.
“Thank you. I feel bad for burdening you,” she said, looking dejected.
Seeing her like that, the manager decided to do one last thing. At the agency, he met the CEO.
“Sir, I need to talk about Ji-hyun.”
He explained her struggles, especially with the CEO’s nephew, the former manager. The CEO’s brow furrowed.
“That kid never listens. Alright, I’ll handle it. For now, Manager Choi, please stick with her a bit longer. We’ll find a new manager.”
“Thank you,” Choi said. “Oh, and about the coordinator?”
“How’s she doing?”
“I’m not a fashion expert, but Ji-hyun seems satisfied.”
“She’s paying the coordinator’s salary?”
“I believe so.”
“How much?”
“I don’t know the details.”
“Alright, you can go.”
Alone, the CEO stewed. He’d promised to find a coordinator, but Ji-hyun had hired one herself, which stung his pride. Still, as a small agency, he couldn’t afford to upset a star like her. The manager situation was different, though.
“I’ll cover the coordinator’s minimum wage. Ji-hyun can handle the rest. As for that kid…” He called his nephew. “Don’t come in tomorrow. You’re fired.”
— Uncle? What’s that supposed to mean?
“Fired. You’ll get your last paycheck this month. Don’t show up.”
— What did I do? I’m learning the job!
The nephew yelled, but the CEO was unmoved.
“What did you do? Let’s not get into it. Hang up. I need to call your dad.”
Click.
Furious, the nephew trashed his apartment. “Damn it! What did I do wrong?!”
Calming down, he grew suspicious. “No way…”
He was convinced Kim Ji-hyun and the new manager had teamed up to oust him. Otherwise, his uncle had no reason to fire him.
“Unbelievable. I took such good care of her, and she stabs me in the back twice? She’s a total snake. Just you wait—I’m done with this industry.”
Unbeknownst to Kim Ji-hyun, she’d gained a vindictive anti-fan.
***
Kim Si-woo was living the good life. Don’t Forget’s filming was done, freeing him from constant travel, and a massive sum had hit his bank account—1.3 billion won from Revenger’s profits. A 5% stake had paid off handsomely.
“Pfft, hehe.”
He chuckled. It wasn’t enough to retire forever, but used wisely, it could last years. No more writing while starving or rushing under job pressure—a huge relief.
“Maybe I’ll buy a car,” he mused.
Rolling out of bed, Kim Si-woo headed straight for a shower. Afterward, dressed in the designer clothes Shim Ji-young had bought him, he strolled to a car dealership, humming confidently.
“Hmm, hmm.”
Thanks to the luxury attire, no one dismissed him as broke, unlike in some drama clichés.
“Can I test-drive that one?”
He asked, pointing to a Mercedes-Benz, one of Germany’s big three brands.
“Real men drive Benz,” he muttered to himself.
He climbed into a model at the dealership. “Oh…”
His first impression? Underwhelming. ‘Not that different from other cars.’
He hesitated—buy a Benz or stick with a practical domestic car? Honestly, he didn’t need a fancy ride. He rarely went out anyway.
‘If I don’t drive it, I’ll just let Dad use it.’
He thought, half for himself, half for filial piety.
Approaching a salesperson, he said, “Give me the best one you’ve got.”
But their response floored him. “It’ll take six months to deliver.”
“Six months?” he echoed, stunned.
“Yes, sir. That’s the fastest we can do.”
The issue wasn’t the price—it was the wait. “Alright…” he said, leaving with a pang of disappointment.
His next stop was a used car lot, accompanied by his high school friend, Jung Dong-sik, an Audi service center employee.
“Dude, you’re paying me for this, right? I took a half-day off,” Dong-sik said.
“I’ll cover your fee, dinner, and drinks—just pick a good car.” Kim Si-woo replied.
“Sigh… What’s your budget?”
“Two, maybe three hundred million?”
“What? You said you made bank, but damn, that much?”
Dong-sik stared, shocked. He’d assumed Si-woo was looking for a modest domestic car.
“How much did you make writing?” Dong-sik pressed.
“About 1.3 billion. They said more will come later,” Si-woo said casually.
“1.3 billion? In less than a year? What the hell did you write?”
To some, 1.3 billion was a lifetime’s earnings; to others, a stroke of luck in under a year.
“A movie script,” Si-woo said.
“A movie?”
Si-woo explained he wrote ‘Revenger’.
“You serious?”
Dong-sik asked, incredulous.
“Yup.”
“How’d you keep that from me? That’s huge!”
“Keep what? You’re always off with your college buddies. When was I supposed to tell you?”
“That’s different! Remember our old promise? You said you’d buy me a car if you got rich!”
“What nonsense!” Si-woo laughed.
“Come on, you promised!”
Dong-sik whined, channeling his teenage self. At 28, his aegyo was painful to witness, tempting Si-woo to throw a punch.
“Sigh… What do you want?” Si-woo relented.
“K9.”
“Fine, but you’re covering drinks and dinner every time we meet.”
“Deal! Unless I’m broke,” Dong-sik grinned.
Si-woo, never one to obsess over money, was fine splashing out for an 11-year friend. As long as he had enough to live comfortably, he was content.
As they walked, Dong-sik made a call.
“Hey, boss, it’s Dong-sik. Get the latest top-tier Benz ready. And a K9. Don’t try to scam us—I’ll spread the word if you do. Thanks.”
Hanging up, he smirked at Si-woo. “Let’s go, my best friend. I always believed in you.”
“Yeah, right,” Si-woo scoffed.
Dong-sik and the used car dealer were acquaintances through the Audi service center, often arranging loaner cars for repairs. A bell jingled as they entered the lot.
“Dong-sik, you here?” the dealer called.
“Yup. Can we see the cars?”
“Got the best ones ready, as you asked. You know they’re pricey, right?”
“Of course,” Dong-sik said.
They followed the dealer to a spot where a Benz S-Class and a K9 stood side by side.
“Let’s check them out,” Dong-sik said.
Exuding professional flair, he pulled tools from his bag, measuring, inspecting, and test-starting the cars.
“No accident history, no defects, minimal scratches, low mileage. These are top-grade.”
“Told you I picked the good ones,” the dealer said.
Si-woo, clueless about cars, stood awkwardly.
“Yo, Dong-sik, how’s it look? The car good?”
“Mine’s solid. S-grade,” Dong-sik said.
“Not yours, idiot—mine!”
“Yours is S-grade too. Safe to buy.”
The deal moved fast—cash upfront. The dealer even threw in a slight discount for the lump sum. “Drive safe!” he called, suddenly polite.
“Dong-sik, meet me at 6 p.m. in Cheongdam-dong,” Si-woo said.
“Cool.”
They drove off in their new cars. By 6 p.m., Si-woo was staring at the East Sea.
“Uh… Dong-sik, sorry, I’m at Gangneung’s Gyeongpo Beach right now.”
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