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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Two Men
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Yeongin heard the reply, "Let's talk once I see your face," and hung up the phone. She turned her head towards the piercing gaze and saw a clearly displeased face.
She wondered what he wanted her to do, telling her to answer the call, then so overtly showing his displeasure.
She was actually regretting having answered it. Whatever the reason, it certainly wasn't an urgent matter that couldn't wait a second. Still, she couldn't keep someone who had come to see her waiting for long.
"If you have nothing further to say, I'll take my leave now."
Seonghyeok's tightly sealed lips slowly parted.
"It seems someone is here for you."
"Yes."
"Seo Jingyo?"
"Yes."
"What for?"
"I'm not sure."
"Isn't this working hours?"
Seonghyeok knew he was being incredibly petty. He was deliberately nitpicking because he didn't want to let her go easily. Especially since the person was Seo Jingyo.
"I'll know when I go down, but it's probably not entirely unrelated to work."
"Why do you think that?"
"Actor Seo Jingyo isn't so thoughtless as to visit the company for personal matters during work hours."
Yeongin's answer made him even more displeased.
"You seem to know Seo Jingyo well."
"I know that much."
"Does Chae Yeongin know more about me, or more about Seo Jingyo?"
"..."
When Yeongin remained silent, Seonghyeok changed his question.
"Does Seo Jingyo know as much about Chae Yeongin as I do?"
"Yes."
Seo Jingyo knew things Cha Seonghyeok didn't.
For instance, how much Chae Yeongin had liked Cha Seonghyeok.
"Go on. Actor Seo Jingyo must be waiting."
Yeongin gave a silent bow to his mocking tone and left the CEO's office, pausing for a moment to take a deep breath before heading to the elevator.
When she arrived on the first floor, Jingyo was standing with his arms crossed in front of a large LED screen, watching trailer videos of SL Entertainment's actors.
"Seonbae."
A smile spread across Jingyo's lips as he recognized Yeongin's face.
"Did I happen to pick a busy time to come?"
"Yes, you couldn't have picked a worse time."
"My bad. I guess I was thoughtless."
Jingyo playfully retorted, thinking it was a joke, but Yeongin's words held a certain degree of sincerity.
She greatly regretted that if he had come just ten minutes earlier or ten minutes later, she might not have had to see Seonghyeok's scowling face.
Yeongin belatedly realized he was alone.
"Where's your manager?"
"I gave them a vacation."
"What brings you here, all by yourself?"
"This isn't a conversation for standing. How about we grab a cup of tea?"
"There's a cafe over there."
The two walked into the cafe next to the building entrance and sat opposite each other by the window.
Thanks to the top star, who was openly showing his face without a hat or mask, people's gazes poured onto Yeongin as well. It was a familiar situation, so she didn't pay it much mind.
"Alright, tell me. What's going on?"
"I came to sign a contract."
"A contract? What kind of contract?"
"An exclusive contract."
Yeongin's eyes widened.
"Was SL the company you said you'd be signing with soon?"
"Yeah."
"No wonder you kept me waiting and didn't tell me."
Yeongin let out a small laugh.
"You came to sign the contract? Which team will be managing you, I wonder."
The oldest Team 1? The highest-grossing Team 2?
"Which team did you say you were on?"
"Team 5."
"Then I'm obviously on Team 5."
Jingyo rested both arms on the table and grinned.
"Because I'm signing with SL because of you."
"Because of me?"
"I want you to manage me."
"..."
Only then did Yeongin understand the situation. While she was pondering what to say, Jingyo beat her to the punch.
"We've known each other for over two years, so why have you never asked me to work with you? If it was because your contract period was still active, you could have told me to come to Hyesung after your contract ended."
He had always been curious about the reason. More precisely, he was curious if his guess was correct.
"Hyesung was too small to accommodate a great actor like you, Seonbae. I didn't want to burden you, knowing full well there were better options for you. And for the past few months, there's been talk of a sale, so it was even less possible."
"What about after it was decided to sell to SL? I even subtly hinted to you then that I hadn't made up my mind yet."
"If I was confident that SL Entertainment was a good enough company to offer you an exclusive contract, and if you still hadn't signed with another company by then, I might have."
Jingyo exaggeratedly furrowed his brow.
"And when would that be?"
Yeongin shrugged in response.
"Who knows."
"Anyone with a short lifespan would have died waiting for your offer."
"I had to be careful. I can quit whenever I feel it's not right, but you would be tied down for the contract period. What if I dragged you in and then ran away by myself?"
Jingyo's lips curved with satisfaction, having confirmed that his guess was correct.
"This is why I like you."
He felt Yeongin flinch slightly and naturally added,
"You're close, but you don't pretend to be closer than you are."
He felt a little deflated seeing Yeongin's expression relax.
"Are we really close?"
"Don't tell me I was the only one who thought we were close all this time?"
Jingyo's eyes widened as if he were greatly shocked.
"Someone asked if I was close with you, and I said yes, but then I wondered if that was the right answer."
"Who asked?"
"Someone, just someone."
A somewhat forlorn smile appeared on Yeongin's face, and at the same time, a man's face flashed before Jingyo's eyes. Unlike before, he hoped his guess was wrong this time and changed the subject.
"Has it been about a week since you came to SL?"
"Yes."
"How is it? You don't feel like running away already, do you?"
"I'll have to wait and see a bit more, but the company itself seems systematic and not bad. But there might come a day when I suddenly want to quit."
If she were to quit, it would probably be because of Cha Seonghyeok.
"I appreciate you wanting to help me stand tall, Seonbae, but you don't have to. I'll just take the thought, thank you."
While the situation was similar for other management agencies, SL Entertainment, in particular, had fierce sales competition between teams. It was widely rumored in the industry, even Jingyo knew about it.
"SL Entertainment isn't bad for me either. It's not a sacrifice for you, it's a win-win. If you had gone to some absurd company instead of SL Entertainment, I would have thought about it more carefully."
Yeongin could no longer refuse. She didn't want to refuse.
"Seonbae, can you promise not to resent me if I suddenly quit?"
"I won't resent you. I'll just miss you."
Jingyo smiled brightly, and a smile spread across Yeongin's face too.
"Then let's sign the contract."
"First, I'd like to meet the CEO."
"...The CEO?"
Yeongin's lukewarm reaction was due to remembering the uncomfortable atmosphere between the two men two days ago. So, she couldn't readily agree.
"There are a few conditions I need to confirm before signing the contract."
"Can I ask what kind of conditions they are first?"
"It's nothing like a 10 billion won signing bonus, so don't worry. I just think it's better if I tell the CEO directly."
Yeongin didn't think he would present unreasonable conditions.
"Just a moment, Seonbae. Let me check if the CEO is available for a meeting."
Yeongin picked up her phone from the table and called the CEO's office. Then she stated her business to the secretary who answered the call.
"This is Chae Yeongin from Management Team 5. Actor Seo Jingyo is considering an exclusive contract with our SL Entertainment, and he wishes to discuss the contract with the CEO. Please check if the CEO can spare some time."
Surely he wouldn't refuse?
Though she tried to act calm, Yeongin's heart was pounding.
***
Fortunately, the meeting was arranged.
Seonghyeok agreed to the meeting proposal, even postponing a scheduled conference, not because of the expectation that Seo Jingyo might join SL Entertainment. It was simply his judgment that it would be better to have the two of them right in front of his eyes.
Jingyo was the first to extend his hand to Seonghyeok for a handshake.
"We meet again."
Seonghyeok grasped his hand.
"I heard you're considering an exclusive contract."
Yeongin's assurance that he wasn't so thoughtless as to visit the company for personal matters during work hours seemed to be true.
"I came to plead with you to sign a contract because I want to work with Team Leader Chae Yeongin."
A look of embarrassment flickered across Yeongin's face. Seonghyeok was displeased with Jingyo humbling himself so much to praise Yeongin.
"I asked to meet the CEO because there are a few things I need to confirm."
"Please, have a seat first."
Yeongin and Jingyo sat on the left and right, respectively, from the head of the sofa.
Jingyo looked at Seonghyeok, who was seated at the head, and naturally began the conversation.
"If you don't mind me asking, may I ask you something?"
"I'll decide if it's rude after I hear it."
Only Yeongin secretly wore a dumbfounded expression, while Jingyo remained quite calm.
"Where were you before coming to SL Entertainment, if I may ask?"
"I was at SL Motors' US branch."
"Ah, I knew it."
"What do you mean?"
"I just had a feeling you were in the US."
Seonghyeok didn't want to respond to the illogical word 'feeling,' so he changed the subject.
"Let's get to the point."
Jingyo readily complied.
"I have a few conditions I'd like."
"Please state them."
"I have a manager I've worked with for a long time. I'd like to sign a contract with them as well."
"No problem."
"I gave my manager a month's vacation. I need a manager to accompany me and take care of me during that time."
"We will assign you a capable and experienced manager."
"I have someone in mind."
"Who is it?"
Seonghyeok had a guess as to whose name would come out of Jingyo's mouth. And his guess was correct.
"Chae Yeongin."
The gaze of both men simultaneously turned to Yeongin.
