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Chapter 8
Translated by Naralara
Edited by Naralara
“This is what we will be interviewing today. The answers were written briefly based on what I had interviewed before.”
From early morning until late at night, he worked by his side, wondering when to prepare something like this. Choi Inseop’s time was not 24 hours, but 36 hours.
“…Don’t you need it?”
Choi Inseop asked, blinking his big eyes.
“No. thank you.”
Lee Wooyeon accepted the file and looked through the questionnaire and expected answers with his eyes. Usually, before an interview, reporters would send in a question for the day. Today’s interview was with a reporter notorious for asking embarrassing questions to actors. That’s why the agency deliberately requested to ask him a predictable question.
“I think it will take about 40 minutes or so.”
Lee Wooyeon, who saw the questionnaire, muttered as he estimated the expected time. Today, after this schedule, he was going to go home and rest.
“I’m going to finish early today.”
“Yes. I see.”
“What do you do when you’re done? Date?”
“Oh, I don’t. not like that.”
“Why? Don’t you have a girlfriend?”
“…No.”
He could see the strength in the hand holding the steering wheel. Lee Wooyeon leaned back on the seat and continued talking.
“Then what do you do on your day off?”
“At home… rest.”
When an uninteresting answer came back, Lee Wooyeon stopped his curiosity towards the manager and closed his eyes. Choi Inseop, who was grunting about whether he should add another answer, noticed that the other person had completely closed his eyes and let out a small sigh.
Choi Inseop, who stopped the car in front of the cafe in Cheongdam-dong, the meeting place, turned his head and asked.
“We’re here. Where should I wait?”
“Come inside and let’s have a cup of tea together.”
“Yes? I’ll just…”
Choi Inseop was smiling and waving his hand at the suggestion. Lee Wooyeon was joking, and got out of the car.
Choi Inseop pressed his opposite hand with the palm of his hand. It was a habit these days. Calm down.
“Ura-cha-cha.”
Choi Inseop slapped his cheeks with his warm palms and gave himself a boost. It reminded him of a Korean proverb ‘even if you are bitten by a tiger, you can live if you are conscious’. He found a parking lot, parked the car, and went out. After confirming that the reporter and Lee Wooyeon were sitting opposite each other in the all-glass cafe, Choi Inseop took a seat on the terrace. The clerk came out and suggested that he have a seat inside, but he replied that he would be outside. It was still cold, so the friendly clerk brought a lap blanket along with the coffee he ordered to the bizarre customer sitting on the terrace.
Choi Inseop placed a blanket on his lap and wrapped his hands on the warm mug to warm his cold fingers.
According to the information he has gathered so far, Lee Wooyeon hated having a manager chasing after him. It was important to keep a reasonable distance. Originally, he wanted to stick close to him and take one picture per second, but now he couldn’t. There wasn’t much time left. Choi Inseop already knew that the maximum time he could be with Lee Wooyeon as a manager was three months.
“Let’s hold on. Since it has been ten days and today, one day has already passed…Whoa.”
Choi Inseop sighed as he counted the time he had left with his fingers.
He habitually turned his gaze to Lee Wooyeon.
The side view of Lee Wooyeon, who was having a conversation with a reporter near the window, was as beautiful as a painting. The scene where Lee Wooyeon, with a neat and beautiful face, held a coffee cup in his hand looked like a masterpiece painted by a master who gave his soul to the devil.
“…uh?”
Choi Inseop, who was spying on Lee Wooyeon’s profile, stood up without hesitation.
***
“There were rumors like that, what do you think?”
“Hahaha. Are there any rumors like that?”
Lee Wooyeon smiled softly, but he was swearing inside. Reporter Kim Haeshin, who was notorious for her tenacity, had been throwing the same question with a slurred smile since before.
“Yes. From what I know, last year alone, the manager changed five times, and this year too, the change was not easy. Is there any special reason?”
“I think I’ve said it before, but there were personal reasons for quitting, so they resigned themselves. Do you have any other questions?”
The purpose of this interview was to ask questions related to the movie to be released next month. But as soon as he sat down, this woman was like a mad dog, persistently pouring out only questions about the manager.
“Don’t you think resignation is too frequent for personal reasons? It’s widely believed that managers don’t change for celebrities who have a good image like Lee Wooyeon.”
“Am I the first exception? Then.”
Lee Wooyeon smiled and picked up a cup of coffee.
Such a jerk. The slyness was clearly visible. No matter what he answered, it was clear that this interview would be inflated with a provocative headline.
Lee Wooyeon wondered how long he had to sit and be interviewed.
“Well. As a journalist, I have realized that there is no way smoke will come out of an open chimney. What do you think? Lee Wooyeon.”
“I have no idea.”
He put down his coffee cup. Gradually,heI felt the limit. He looked at his watch and saw that he had been seated for less than ten minutes.
At times like this, if someone dies, it would be nice to use it as an excuse.
Lee Woo-yeon smiled with a terrible thought in his head.
“What do you think about the rumors that Lee Wooyeon usually bullied managers and made them quit? Do you think that your kind image is a calculated action made with a thorough plan?”
It was one of the most common types of malicious comments on Lee Wooyeon’s articles. Although he was an actor famous for having no antis, he did not always have only good comments. Even among the occasional malicious comments, whenever someone saw that all of Lee Wooyeon’s actions were pretentious, they showed them and laughed. As if they were having a lot of fun.
“How can a human being be perfect?You’re a human too, so there must be some downsides.”
When he returned the stereotypical, obvious answer, reporter Kim Haeshin showed him her notebook with a smile.
“Look here. This is the time when Lee Wooyeon’s manager came in and left, right? Do you have any thoughts on seeing this?”
Looking at the dates written on it, Lee Wooyeon smiled brightly.
This person is a real motherfucker…
Lee Wooyeon’s eyes, which had been pouring swear words at the reporter, shone. He called out the new manager’s name in an exhilarating voice.
“Inseop!”
“…!”
Choi Inseop, who was standing behind a large flower pot, opened his eyes in surprise like a cat on fire.
“Inseop. You said you worked nearby, did you come for coffee?”
Lee Wooyeon also treated the manager with respect. However, there was a difference between being polite and being informal. He was the type of person who never had any private meeting with the manager or had any personal contact with him. Of course, even though he told them to be comfortable, he  never went out with them.
Choi Inseop could not help but be astonished at the scene where Lee Wooyeon called him by name only a few days after meeting him.
“I’ll buy you a drink.”
“yes… uh,…”
Lee Wooyeon said to the reporter, “Wait a minute,” and got up from his seat. He patted Choi Inseop on the shoulder and asked what he would like to drink.
“…what to drink What would be good?”
A cold sweat ran down the back of Choi Inseop, who pretended to look at the menu and muttered. After discovering that Lee Wooyeon’s atmosphere was unusual, he entered the store just in case, and got caught up in an absurd situation.
“Choose anything. as you like.”
Choi Inseop accurately noticed the meaning hidden in Lee Wooyeon’s words. It was a threat masquerading as kindness. Don’t worry, just choose anything.
“Americano. hot.”
When Choi Inseop placed an order, Lee Wooyeon took out a card from his wallet and handed it to the clerk. The clerk glanced at Lee Wooyeon’s face and took the card.
“Please sign on the card reader.”
Lee Wooyeon smiled and picked up the pen. At that moment, Choi Inseop saw Lee Wooyeon’s fingertips pointing to the terminal. Instead of writing his signature on the reader, he wrote a short phrase.
After hesitating for a moment, the clerk offered Lee Wooyeon a paper and a pen. In a natural manner, this time he drew an autograph with his name clearly on it.
“Inseop. Drink and go.”
“…Huh.”
If he doesn’t answer in a semi-verbal way, it seems like something big will happen, so Choi Inseop responded to him as much as possible.
Lee Wooyeon went back to his seat and sat down. Choi Inseop took the coffee handed to him by the clerk and went outside.
“Who was that?”
“Someone I know. I heard that he worked nearby, but we met by chance. Sorry. Where were we?”
“It’s about the manager.”
“Ah. Yes. That’s right.”
Reporter Kim Haeshin swallowed her saliva and waited for Lee Wooyeon’s next words. Then, Lee Wooyeon’s cell phone, which was placed on the table, rang.
“Wait. Sorry.”
The name on the phone was Manager. Lee Wooyeon asked for forgiveness and answered the phone call. It wasn’t long before Lee Wooyeon’s expression hardened.
“sorry.”
He got up from his seat and politely bowed his head and apologized to the reporter.
“Something bad has happened and I think I need to go back to the office right now. Sorry.”
“What happened?”
“An acquaintance contacted me saying that his father passed away. I’ve met his father several times because he was like my older brother…”
The corners of his eyes, which had blurred the end of his words, were wet with sadness. Reporter Kim Haeshin, who saw it, had to say without realizing it, go quickly. Lee Wooyeon picked up his clothes.
“Then I will see you next time. Please make an appointment through the office.”
“Yes, then…”
“I’ll do the calculations. I apologize again.”
Lee Wooyeon politely greeted and left the store. Looking back, the reporter had to admit his defeat. She could feel that the broken board could not be set up again, with the feeling of an old reporter.