Chapter 53: Is He Trying to Seduce You?

And so, Qi Huai could only contact Yoon Nam-hyuk in secret, unable to meet him until the day he joined the film crew.

Assistant Yoo had already spread the news that Woosan was going to terminate Qi Huai’s contract. To show the company’s cold shoulder to Qi Huai, Yoo Ji-hoon did not personally send him to the set, but only sent a junior assistant, Xiao Shi-yu, to accompany him.

Xiao Shi-yu was the 24-hour personal assistant that Yoon Nam-hyuk had arranged for Qi Huai. After being idle for a long time, he finally had a use for his skills. This made Xiao Shi-yu, who had been receiving a salary for doing nothing for many days, feel a sense of unreality.

Ah…

A big company is great, he thought. They pay you even if you don’t work. Even an artist who is about to have his contract terminated has a 24-hour personal assistant. President Yoon is practically a Bodhisattva.

However, Xiao Shi-yu still had one question.

He was now Qi Huai-hyung’s assistant. Qi Huai-hyung was Best Actor Kim’s “assistant.” The director said that others couldn’t help Qi Huai-hyung with his work, and that he had to do his own work. So what was he supposed to do?

Was he still getting paid for doing nothing?

This… this isn’t right…

“You can go back first.”

Today was the first day on set, and also the last day of Qi Huai’s assistant work. After he finished his work today, he would be free. At the very least, he wouldn’t have to endure the smell of perfume that filled Best Actor Kim’s room anymore.

“Ah?” Xiao Shi-yu was bewildered, like a koala staring wide-eyed while eating leaves. “I’ll wait for you at the door, Qi Huai-hyung.”

Qi Huai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He felt that Assistant Xiao was a bit slow, a world apart from a fast-thinking workplace elite like Assistant Yoo. But that was also good. At least he wouldn’t be like Choi Min-jun, deliberately causing trouble for them.

Qi Huai: “What would it look like for you to be squatting at Min-kyung hyung’s door? Go back and rest. My assistant work will be over soon.”

“Oh… okay. Then call me if you need anything, Qi Huai-hyung.”

“Mmm.”

Assistant Xiao looked back every three steps, reluctant to leave and return to the days of freeloading and getting paid for doing nothing.

---

The film was being shot in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, about forty kilometers from Seoul. Most of the cast and crew had driven there and checked into the hotel that the crew was cooperating with.

As an important supporting actor, Qi Huai was assigned a business king room. As the absolute lead and an RC shareholder, Kim Min-kyung was staying in a luxury suite. It had two bedrooms, a living room, and a small kitchen. One room was for sleeping, the other was a temporary walk-in closet. It was fully equipped and very comfortable.

Best Actor Kim’s fifteen overflowing suitcases had all arrived at the luxury suite. Qi Huai’s job today was to work with the others to take out the contents of the suitcases and put them away in an organized manner.

He just hoped Kim Min-kyung wouldn’t spray perfume in front of him today. The strong scent made him dizzy if he smelled it for too long…

“Good afternoon, everyone~”

It wasn’t until after three in the afternoon that Kim Min-kyung finally came over lazily, his amorous fox eyes half-closed, clearly not fully awake.

He yawned and approached Qi Huai, smiling as he studied his expression. “How have you been lately, Actor Qi?”

We see each other every day. How can there be a ‘lately’?

Qi Huai knew with his every fiber of being that the news of him terminating his contract with Woosan had probably reached Kim Min-kyung’s ears.

“I’m fine,” Qi Huai said with a faint smile.

Kim Min-kyung also smiled. “That’s good.”

Most of the ordinary staff still didn’t know about the rumors between Qi Huai and Woosan. But Kim Min-kyung was different. He was both a member of the Korean upper class and a shareholder of RC. Therefore, if there was any news about the Yoon family or Woosan, he would know a little about it.

Not only that, but that Reporter Song was also interesting. He had even sent the video and photos to the matchmaker who had set up Kim Nam-joo and the Yoon family.

The matchmaker was furious and had complained bitterly at church. Now, the fact that Yoon Nam-hyuk was gay had spread throughout almost the entire upper class of Seoul.

Really terminating the contract?

Really broke up?

Kim Min-kyung smiled, pacing over to Qi Huai’s side. He pulled up a chair and sat next to him, his chin resting on his hand, chuckling as he watched him help pack his suitcases.

The tall man was patient and meticulous, very pleasing to the eye when he was working seriously. What a great body, Kim Min-kyung thought.

As expected of a mixed-race model. Although he doesn’t look strongly mixed-race, his features are very exquisite, almost flawless. The proportions of his body and face are perfect. Even in the entertainment industry, he’s top-tier. No wonder that kid Yoon Nam-hyuk likes him.

Mmm… his personality is also very good. He always speaks politely and unhurriedly. He’s very gentlemanly even to the most insignificant staff members. He’s very charming and likable. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him nervous or angry.

If he hadn’t taken on the role of Yuan Jae-seok, who needs to go against his superior, he probably wouldn’t show an angry expression with gritted teeth no matter what, right?

A person with such stable emotions who looks so reassuring seems to be a completely different type from me~

Kim Min-kyung couldn’t help but wonder, could a person like two types of people at the same time? He chuckled to himself. Of course, falling in love with everyone you meet is human nature, right?

Just like himself. He was curious about the world, and curious about different people.

He wanted to try everything he hadn’t eaten. If he couldn’t get it, he would inevitably think about it day and night. When he finally got it, he would immediately find it boring. Only when he encountered a very special delicacy would he savor it for a longer time.

For example, Eun Chul-woo.

Although the other had come to him on his own initiative, he was so delicious that he couldn’t help but savor him for several years.

Even while maintaining his relationship with Eun Chul-woo, Kim Min-kyung would also sample others. But after trying them, those ordinary goods were like the difference between pork belly from the street and top-grade Hanwoo beef compared to Eun Chul-woo. The gap was quite large~

He had originally just thought of him as a plate of meat on the table. But now that the Hanwoo beef wanted to jump into someone else’s grill, it really annoyed him~

“Why do you keep looking at me, Min-kyung hyung?” Qi Huai asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Do I?” Kim Min-kyung blinked. “Perhaps it’s because I, as your superior, am thinking about how to torture you~”

The other assistants couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t listen to his nonsense, Actor Qi. Min-kyung hyung often gets lost in thought when he’s thinking about the script. He’s always like this when he joins a new project. You’ll get used to it, Actor Qi.”

Kim Min-kyung laughed for a long time, then sent two of the assistants out to order afternoon tea for the crew. In an instant, only he and Qi Huai were left in the suite.

This was clearly a sign that he had something to say. Qi Huai waited for him to make his move. After thinking for a long time, Kim Min-kyung finally said, “I heard Woosan is going to terminate your contract?”

Qi Huai smiled faintly. “Even you know, Min-kyung hyung?”

The way he lowered his eyes and said nothing made him look very dejected. Kim Min-kyung blinked, his expression unreadable. “Don’t worry. For the sake of the matchmaker and our two families, this matter won’t be spread around. The Yoon family and the Kim family will use money to shut the reporters’ mouths. Director Baek’s film won’t be affected either. Your contract termination will confuse your fans for a while, but you don’t have many fans now. No one will remember in the future. The only thing you need to worry about is whether Woosan will blacklist you in the industry.”

Kim Min-kyung: “Every TV station has its own blacklist. You should know that, right? Those artists who have done drugs, drunk driving, or evaded military service are basically blacklisted by default by the TV stations. Although what happened between you and Yoon Nam-hyuk is not a crime, with the Yoon family’s influence in the industry, regardless of whether it’s Woosan’s own TV station, as long as Chairman Yoon says the word, everyone will give him some face.”

Qi Huai sighed. “Do you mean my acting career is over, Min-kyung hyung?”

“Of course not.”

Kim Min-kyung smiled and leaned closer to Qi Huai. “Terminating the contract is better than being blacklisted. As long as you find a suitable new company, it won’t have a big impact on you. I’m a shareholder of RC. It’s a piece of cake for me to protect an artist. The Yoon family will give the Kim family face.”

He bumped Qi Huai with his shoulder, his eyes alluring. “I can help you with your career. As for your love life… how about you consider me? I’m more interesting and have a better personality than Nam-hyuk. And my father has three sons. Besides me, they are all married and have children. I don’t have to worry about continuing the family line. We’ll definitely have a lot of fun together~”

Qi Huai: …

System: …

System: [Host Oppa, is he trying to seduce you?]

How did he suddenly get so flirty while they were just talking?

How would I know? Qi Huai thought.

He found Kim Min-kyung’s actions very strange. If he really was interested in Yoon Nam-hyuk as he had guessed, he just needed to watch everything unfold. Why would he say such ambiguous things to him? What was this guy’s purpose?

Kim Min-kyung keenly sensed Qi Huai’s stunned silence and asked with a smile, “What’s wrong? Were you scared by my words?”

“I’m fine,” Qi Huai said with a smile.

Kim Min-kyung pouted. “You don’t seem surprised at all?”

Qi Huai feigned contemplation. “Mmm… because Min-kyung hyung’s personality is very special, so nothing you do surprises me.”

Kim Min-kyung laughed. “See? It’s because you’re so likable that I fell for your charm~”

The next second, he leaned in and stared into Qi Huai’s eyes, saying ambiguously, “What do I have to do to get a surprised expression from you? How about I kiss you?”

The System was incredulous: [Tui! Tui! He—tui!]

Qi Huai took two steps back, showing the surprised expression that Kim Min-kyung had wanted. “Did you change your perfume, Min-kyung hyung? It smells really good.”

This surprise did not seem feigned; his acting was outstanding.

Kim Min-kyung was stunned for a long moment, then he couldn’t stop laughing. “Hahaha, you’re really… interesting~”

After laughing enough, Kim Min-kyung returned to the sofa and lounged lazily, following Qi Huai’s lead. “Mmm~ I changed my perfume today. It was a gift from that guy Chul-woo. He’s picky about scents and always complains that my endorsed perfume doesn’t smell good, so he gave me a bottle. I heard it’s custom-made. But since I have an endorsement deal, I only wear it when I see him, so he won’t complain about me. What do you think? Does it smell good?”

“It smells good,” Qi Huai said with a smile and a nod. “It suits you very well.”

It did smell very good.

Although it was also a woody scent, the custom-made fragrance from Eun Chul-woo was crisp and unique, much more memorable than the perfume Kim Min-kyung endorsed.

The corner of Kim Min-kyung’s eyebrow quirked up, his expression very pleased, with an inexplicable hint of showing off. “By the way, I heard you can cook, Actor Qi?”

Qi Huai was confused. “Mmm.”

“I haven’t had a chance to taste your cooking these past few days. I probably won’t have a chance after filming starts. I wonder if I’ll have the honor tonight?” Kim Min-kyung smiled. “That guy Eun Chul-woo is also coming later. Have him help you out. Don’t mind his clumsiness.”

---

[Sigh…]

“What are you sighing about?”

In the supermarket closest to the hotel, Qi Huai was seriously selecting ingredients. Although he had promised Kim Min-kyung he would cook something delicious, he was too lazy to go to too much trouble and just wanted to make some quick dishes.

Pasta, Parma ham salad, curry shrimp, and a fruit platter. Anyway, they were all people who had to manage their figures and couldn’t eat much.

The more the System thought about it, the angrier it got. It couldn’t help but complain, [He said he wanted to eat, and you just do it? Couldn’t you have found an excuse to refuse? Like your hand is uncomfortable, your rhinitis is acting up, or your susceptibility…ah, your period is here. Anyway, just refuse!]

It almost forgot that Qi Huai had been blocked from his Alpha traits and didn’t have a susceptibility period.

Qi Huai chuckled. “Why should I refuse? Have you forgotten about the elusive mastermind? Kim Min-kyung is one of my suspects. If he has a request, I’ll do it and see what he’s planning.”

For the current Qi Huai, the Yoon family was bait, Yoon Nam-hyuk was bait, and even he himself was bait. If they could really catch the mastermind as soon as possible, it would actually be a good thing for him and Yoon Nam-hyuk.

“Qi Huai? What a coincidence.”

As Qi Huai was throwing cherry tomatoes into his shopping cart, a very familiar voice came from behind him—it was Eun Chul-woo.