Chapter 56: Star Maker (2)
After immediately paying for Hong Soo-yeon’s grandmother’s surgery, Kim Si-woo prepared two sheets of A4 paper and a pen to write up a contract with her.
The terms were simple.
She would repay the money he lent her with the income she earned from acting—all within ten years, starting from now, with no interest.
Additionally, if she quit acting after three years or couldn’t repay it even after ten years, she would not be required to pay back the money at all.
Since it was a contract where she could only benefit, Soo-yeon signed it right away, but then looked at Si-woo anxiously.
“But what if… after three years, I quit because I don’t want to repay the money?”
“Well, then it can’t be helped. You’ll just have to blame my poor judgment.”
“…You’re a weird ajusshi.”
“I get that sometimes. Anyway, fussing over you more would feel nosy, so I’ll go. Call me if anything happens.”
“Okay… thank you. Please get home safely.”
Si-woo hurried back to where he left Yoo-jin, and found her sitting up perfectly fine, sipping hot chocolate.
“Writer-nim, are you done?”
“Yeah… wait. You look totally fine. Were you actually not drunk earlier?”
“Huh? Ah… no, I was drunk.”
(Truth: she pretended to be fast asleep because she wanted to stay on his back longer.)
Afraid that the sharp-sensed Si-woo might catch on, she changed the subject quickly.
“Anyway… who was that girl? She was really pretty.”
“She’ll be in my next project.”
“You’re preparing your next work already? A drama? A movie?”
“A movie.”
“W-what about me? Can I be part of it too?”
Hearing he was preparing a movie made Yoo-jin perk up.
But when he mentioned “next project,” Si-woo remembered something—the script he had already submitted to W Studio.
“Ah—right. My next project is already set…”
“Huh?”
“I submitted a script to W Studio. They said they’d start prepping in March.”
“Really?”
Talking about the March project, the two walked inside the hotel.
***
The next afternoon, the YouTube team members finally woke up, moving around like strengthless zombies.
“Writer-nim… hello…”
“Yeah, hey.”
“I didn’t know you could drink that well, Writer-nim… ugh—!”
“Hurry up and wake the others. We need hangover soup.”
“Y-yes! Ugh—!”
The ones gagging rushed to wake the rest.
Then they all headed to a famous soup restaurant near the hotel to recover and began touring around again.
“You guys are unbelievable. You were dry heaving earlier, and now you’re taking pictures…”
“We’re young, after all.”
For some reason, it felt like they were excluding him when they said we’re young, and Si-woo felt a sting in his heart.
“Writer-nim, hurry!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Still—there was at least one person who always cared about him.
That alone comforted him: Lee Yoo-jin.
After touring for the day and taking nearly 300 photos, the team ended up at another bar that evening.
“Grilled clams with soju is a must. Aunty, ten bottles of soju please!”
“Okay~.”
Watching them order more alcohol despite their earlier suffering made him realize—yeah, these people WERE university students just a short while ago.
“I’m going to eat and head out first.”
After filling his stomach with grilled clams and assorted dishes, Si-woo stood up.
“Drink in moderation, all of you.”
Leaving that warning behind, Si-woo headed straight to the hospital where Soo-yeon’s grandmother was admitted.
Holding two containers of porridge, he arrived and called Soo-yeon.
“Hello?”
—Yes, ajusshi.
“Where are you?”
—In front of the ICU.
“Got it.”
He hung up and walked toward the ICU.
There, he found Soo-yeon sitting on a chair with her younger brother fast asleep beside her.
“Oh boy… look at your hair. So greasy. Did your grandmother finish her surgery?”
“Yes… thankfully, it went well. The doctor said she’ll be okay as long as we take good care of her now.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Even though only a day had passed, Soo-yeon looked terrible.
Her hair was oily and stuck together, and her eyes were swollen from crying.
Even so, what amazed him was that despite her messy appearance, she still carried a certain charm.
“Go home, let your brother wash up, and you too.”
“No… I can’t. My grandmother is still…”
“There’s nothing you can do right now. You won’t be late even if you come back after she’s moved to a regular ward.”
“But still…”
“Take a shower, then eat this with your brother. I’ll stay here in the meantime. If anything happens, I’ll call you.”
“…Thank you.”
Soo-yeon hesitated as if her feet were heavy, slowly walking away. But before she fully left, she turned back and called him.
“By the way… ajusshi.”
“What?”
“Why are you doing so much for me? If it’s because of casting, you don’t need to go this far. I won’t run away anyway, since I owe you money.”
“It’s my choice. Now go wash up and eat. I’m tired too. Once you come back, I’ll head to the hotel and sleep.”
“O-okay…”
Hearing his slightly curt answer, Soo-yeon felt her steps grow lighter.
She could tell—that tone wasn’t his real feelings.
“Then… I’ll be back.”
“Alright.”
After she left, Si-woo wandered through the quiet hospital.
Some people were happy, some were sad, some were in despair…
A hospital was a place where more emotions gathered than anywhere else.
“So strange…”
Three hours later, Soo-yeon returned with her sleeping brother and repeatedly thanked him.
“Okay. When they move her to a regular ward, call me.”
“Yes… ajusshi.”
Leaving the hospital, Si-woo walked back to the hotel, lost in thought.
***
Two days passed, and as Si-woo’s trip came to an end, he sat at a café drinking coffee before heading back. At that moment, his phone rang.
—Ajusshi… We moved my grandmother to a regular room.
“Okay. Got it.”
After ending the call, Si-woo turned to Yoo-jin.
“Yoo-jin.”
“Yes, Writer-nim.”
“Let’s stop by the hospital for a bit.”
“Ah… okay!”
Noticing that they were going to see Soo-yeon, Yoo-jin quickly put on her coat.
“This should be enough for a hospital visit, right?”
“Yes… it’s more than enough.”
Both of them carried their hands full—fruit and bottled drinks.
Slide—
They arrived at the ward Soo-yeon mentioned. Inside was her grandmother asleep in bed, her younger brother playing on a smartphone beside her, and Soo-yeon watching over her grandmother with worried eyes.
“Ajusshi.”
Seeing Si-woo and Yoo-jin enter, Soo-yeon stood up from her seat.
“Looks like the little guy’s awake today.”
“Sis… who are they?”
“These are the people who helped me.”
The little brother, shy around strangers, hid behind Soo-yeon while peeking at Si-woo and Yoo-jin.
“We brought some stuff since we were visiting. Eat it later.”
“Y-you didn’t have to… thank you.”
“Noona! Can I eat the giant mandarin?”
The boy was already eyeing the hallabong.
“Say ‘thank you’ to the ajusshi first.”
“Okay! Ajusshi, thank you for the food!”
“Yeah…”
Hearing ajusshi again and again made Si-woo feel strangely sad.
“Anyway, take care. Once your grandmother gets discharged, bring her up to Seoul. If you’re short on money, text or call me.”
“Yes, ajusshi.”
“Goodbye.”
“Yeah, and listen to your sister.”
On the way out, Kim Si-woo paid most of the hospital fees for Soo-yeon’s grandmother, including the room charges.
“Writer-nim.”
“Yeah?”
“Why are you doing this much for her? Her acting hasn’t even been proven yet…”
“I feel like I’ve heard that question a few days ago. Anyway, if you want a reason—it’s just how I feel.”
Inwardly, Si-woo thought of the three students from Our Teacher. Compared to them, he was certain Soo-yeon would easily act better. So he wasn’t worried at all.
“What if I’m sick someday and I can’t afford surgery? Let’s say it costs… 100 million won. Would you pay for that too?”
“Sure. And when the surgery’s done, you’d have to work under me until you paid it back. I didn’t give Soo-yeon money—I lent it to her. Look.”
Si-woo showed Yoo-jin the loan agreement he had written with Soo-yeon.
After reading it, Yoo-jin shook her head as if she expected as much.
“The more I see you… seriously…”
“You mean I’m a pushover?”
“Yes. You even got taken advantage of by Choi Dae-ho.”
Hit by Yoo-jin’s brutally accurate comment, Si-woo hurried to change the subject.
“No, well… forget that. Let’s just go home. This trip made me even more tired.”
In truth, he felt that the very fact Soo-yeon hadn’t gone astray despite her environment was enough to understand what kind of person she was.
Even if she never became an actress, she would repay him one day.
Maybe he was misjudging her—but if so, he’d just think of it as helping someone who needed it.
It was far more meaningful than accidentally donating money to some shady “charity organizations.”
If I get tricked again… fine. Then I’ll admit I really am a pushover, a fool, an idiot…
After taking the bus back to Seoul, Si-woo immediately scheduled a meeting with W Studio and visited three days later.
“Have you been well?”
“Oh! Writer Kim! Was the trip here alright?”
“Kim Dong-su, you brat! Seeing your face is more uncomfortable. If you’d chosen your friends better, Writer Kim wouldn’t have gone through all that.”
Park Chan-young scolded Dong-su right in front of Si-woo.
“Argh! I-I didn’t know either! Still, let me apologize again. I’m truly sorry, Writer-nim.”
“It’s fine. Anyway, we should start preparing for the movie.”
“Of course. Everyone’s already getting things ready in the meeting room.”
Dong-su and Chan-young escorted Si-woo into the meeting room with genuine respect.
Inside were several high-ranking staff members.
“This feels… a bit overwhelming.”
“Huh? Should I send half of them out?”
“No, no. Let’s just start.”
Before the atmosphere grew heavier, Si-woo urged them to begin.
When the meeting started, he was genuinely impressed.
Anyone could see that the presentation materials had been prepared with extreme care.
The movie’s title was “Gangster Detective.”
The son of a crime boss becomes a police officer and catches criminals—using evil to defeat a greater evil, with a comedic twist.
“First, regarding the lead role—after discussing with the investors, we’ve compiled this list.”
On the tablet were profiles, acting clips, and recommendations for male leads and supporting actors.
While reviewing the list, Si-woo suggested someone for the movie’s final boss: the serial killer.
“What about this guy for the serial killer?”
He recommended Park Jun-ho, the YouTuber who helped him before. After checking his filmography and acting videos, Chan-young and Dong-su nodded.
“Wow… at this level, he’s more than good enough. Amazing talent for his age.”
Then the casting list progressed rapidly.
“Ah, and—would it be possible for some of my YouTube team members to appear in small cameo roles?”
“Of course! That’s totally fine.”
Si-woo collected the sheet listing roles with 10 seconds or less of screen time.
“If I think any of these are too much for them, I’ll tell you. No need to worry.”
“Understood. Then we’ll finalize the casting and send the script to each agency. I doubt anyone will reject it.”
“Great. Thank you for the hard work.”
As the meeting ended, Dong-su stopped Si-woo at the door.
“Writer-nim… about Dae-ho…”
“Aish, enough. I’m really fine. I already got my revenge. If you bring it up again, this is where our relationship ends.”
“T-Thank you…”
Seeing the much older Dong-su bow so humbly made Si-woo feel awkward.
When he was younger, Si-woo thought that once he became famous, he’d definitely act like a big shot.
But now that he was famous, he found it surprisingly hard to lord over others.
But still… the kids will love this, right? It’ll be their first movie debut, after all.
And so began Kim Si-woo’s full-scale campaign to take care of his people.