Chapter 38: He’s Hitting on You

As the artist directly invited by Director Baek Se-won, Qi Huai was the first to go on stage. However, almost no one knew this; everyone just thought he was lucky.

Qi Huai followed the staff member backstage and into the theater. When he stepped onto the performance stage, there was a noticeable stir in the audience, but unfortunately, due to the lighting setup, Qi Huai couldn’t see their expressions clearly.

“Heavens, is he really that tall?” the screenwriter whispered in surprise. “He was so thin in The Witch’s Law, he had a kind of fragile feel. I thought he was around 180cm, but he must be close to 190cm, right, Director?”

The assistant director glanced at the file. “Daebak… so he’s 188cm. He is indeed too tall. I originally thought he could try out for the journalist role, but looking at him now, it might not be suitable. The contrast would be too strong; the audience would be taken out of it.”

Director Baek Se-won stroked his chin, sizing up Qi Huai. After a long moment, he praised, “Wow, Chul-woo, the kid you recommended is truly stunning. He’s even better looking in person than on TV. Did Director Lee Seung-yoo tone down his visuals with makeup?”

Director Baek wasn’t wrong. The Witch’s Law aired one episode a week and had only aired four so far. The spotlight was almost entirely on the male and female leads. Qi Huai’s character, Oh Sheng-hwan, was just a pitiful character in the early stages, either pale-faced or covered in injuries, which didn’t fully showcase his handsome features.

“I just thought his acting in the show was good, that he was a very capable rookie. I didn’t expect him to be so…” Eun Chul-woo smiled. “Eye-catching.”

Eye-catching.

That was the first adjective that came to Eun Chul-woo’s mind when he saw Qi Huai in person. When Qi Huai was standing with a group of other rookie actors just now, even though Eun Chul-woo tried his best to control himself, he couldn’t help but get closer, even exchanging a few extra words with the Woosan manager leading the group.

No wonder Yoon Nam-hyuk likes him, Eun Chul-woo thought, sizing up Qi Huai, as if assessing what other merits he had that could make a picky person like Yoon Nam-hyuk so obsessed.

His looks were, of course, impeccable—not just refined, but also noble. His temperament and physique were also excellent, a golden ratio. He had heard that he was modeling for Choo Min-young’s brand, a brand that even top idols were picky about.

And those eyes…

Eun Chul-woo loved looking at people’s eyes because eyes were the windows to desire. A person’s desires, ambitions, fears, and affections… would all be revealed there.

A shrewd person could control their expressions to the greatest extent, but their eyes could never be hidden.

He has such candid eyes.

Eun Chul-woo thought.

In front of so many people who could decide the outcome of his audition, Qi Huai wasn’t nervous, wasn’t eager, wasn’t desperate. Those were a pair of beautiful, ambition-free eyes, calm and open.

Was this why Yoon Nam-hyuk liked him?

Unmoved by everything right in front of him—did such people exist in the world? If Qi Huai was that kind of person, why would he rent luxury cars and goods? Why would he have a debt of over 100 million won? The debt was paid off quickly, though. Did Yoon Nam-hyuk help?

Interesting~

Eun Chul-woo was intrigued.

“Actor Qi, you wish to audition for two roles, is that correct?” Director Baek Se-won asked.

Qi Huai smiled and nodded. “Yes, I’m very interested in both the roles of Yuan Jae-seok and Son Ik-han.”

Baek Se-won: “Mmm… can you tell me your thought process? These two characters are black and white. One fights for justice, even to the point of turning against his own family for the greater good. The other fights for his family, disregarding justice. They are very different.”

Qi Huai: “On the surface, they do seem very different. But if you set aside their positions and identities, they are essentially both passionate, determined, and reckless people who sacrifice themselves for what they want to protect. Although they are black and white in the story, they are actually mirror characters. They have more similarities than differences; it’s just that their standpoints are different.”

Director Baek nodded silently, saying in a low voice, “He really understands the characters. He didn’t just look at the surface. A very dedicated actor.”

The screenwriter nudged the director’s arm. “Stop looking for a soulmate, Director. Let’s get started. Let’s see his acting first.”

Baek Se-won cleared his throat. “Please draw from the box next to you. The character names are on the boxes. The scene you draw is the scene you will audition for. Let’s start with the young police officer, Yuan Jae-seok.”

The audition lasted for an hour.

From morning until now, no other actor had taken that long.

Originally, Qi Huai was only supposed to audition for one scene for each character. The director and screenwriter were so conflicted—they felt he was suitable for both—that they had to ask him to do two more.

Baek Se-won even specifically chose a scene for Qi Huai to perform as an extra. After the audition, he asked a ton of additional questions, leaving Qi Huai’s mouth dry.

Finally, it was over.

Qi Huai left the stage, his head spinning.

The System said quietly: [This Director Baek is really serious… does that mean our audition was successful?]

“We’ll wait for the notification,” Qi Huai said, rubbing his forehead.

The System flew around, chattering: [Host Oppa, which number is Baek Soo-kyung’s audition? Should we wait for him to finish before we leave?]

Qi Huai nodded. “Let’s wait. It seems Eun Chul-woo is one of the judges. They won’t be able to talk during the audition, but it’s hard to say what will happen after it’s over.”

He had to at least watch Baek Soo-kyung get on the company bus back before he could rest easy. Who knew what stupid ideas these love interests would come up with…

There was an outdoor corridor between the audition area and the waiting area, connected by two large automatic glass doors. Since Christmas had just passed not long ago, the glass doors were still covered in colorful Christmas stickers. Although they were pretty, they obstructed the view a little.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, but just as Qi Huai stepped out of the main door, he heard someone shout, “Get out of the way! Out of the way!”

He looked up, and a huge Christmas tree covered in colored lights was toppling towards him! Two staff members were waving at him frantically, telling him to get out of the way.

Dodging this tree was just a matter of taking two steps back for Qi Huai. But someone was faster. A pair of hands gentlemanly pulled Qi Huai behind him and quickly pressed the emergency close button on the door.

“Are you okay?” the person asked, turning to look at Qi Huai, his smile gentle, his demeanor handsome and polite.

It was Eun Chul-woo.

Qi Huai was slightly surprised. “I’m fine. Thank you, Chairman Eun.”

Eun Chul-woo smiled. “You’re… Qi Huai, right? Your audition was brilliant, very impressive. After you left, Director Baek even praised you as a natural talent. He said Min-kyung is too lazy and should feel some pressure from the juniors. I think he has a point.”

Qi Huai couldn’t figure out what Eun Chul-woo was getting at, so he just smiled. “The director is too kind. My acting skills are still far from Best Actor Kim’s.”

“You’re very modest. A very good quality.”

Eun Chul-woo smiled and took out a business card, handing it to Qi Huai. “This is your first time participating in a film invested in by RC Entertainment, right? RC’s style is very different from Woosan Entertainment’s, but I believe you’ll like it. I hope we’ll have more opportunities to collaborate in the future.”

Qi Huai took the business card, his eyebrow raised slightly. “…Is this considered a spoiler? Did I get the part?”

Eun Chul-woo couldn’t help but laugh, his gaze on Qi Huai full of meaning. “Your skill is beyond question. It’s just a matter of which role. The director and screenwriter are still debating that point, so it’s difficult for me, the investor, to give you an answer.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

Although it was good news, what was Eun Chul-woo’s motive for doing this? To curry favor with a new artist… was he trying to poach him?

“So you owe me two favors now, right?” Eun Chul-woo suddenly asked.

Qi Huai froze.

The System immediately shrieked: [Attack Dog Number Five is so despicable, Host! He did both of those things on his own initiative! He’s PUA-ing you! No, he’s hitting on you! Ahhhhhh! Attack Dog Number Five is hitting on you!!!]

The System was about to go crazy with anger.

Qi Huai, on the other hand, just smiled.

His deep, tranquil eyes were even more captivating when filled with a smile. Eun Chul-woo was dazzled and momentarily stunned. “What are you smiling at?”

Qi Huai said with a smile, “I just suddenly thought of an old saying: wú shì bù dēng sānbǎo diàn.”¹

Eun Chul-woo didn’t understand Chinese. He carefully studied Qi Huai’s flawless face, trying to catch a hint of his emotions. “Chinese? What does it mean? It’s not something bad, is it?”

Qi Huai shook his head. “Why don’t you tell me first, Chairman Eun, how you’d like me to repay the favors?”

From the looks of it, Eun Chul-woo’s target had shifted from Baek Soo-kyung to him. This was very surprising to Qi Huai, but it might be a good thing for completing the mission.

He just didn’t understand what Eun Chul-woo’s standards for liking someone were. He and Baek Soo-kyung should be completely different types, right?

Eun Chul-woo seemed to sense his wariness and quickly held up his hands. “Actor Qi, no need to be on guard. Although RC Entertainment and Woosan are competitors, Min-kyung and President Yoon Nam-hyuk grew up together. Thanks to Min-kyung, I can also sit down and have a drink and chat with Nam-hyuk. Competition in business is inevitable, but this kind of healthy competition won’t affect our friendship. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll have a chance to collaborate. In any case, I won’t ask you to do anything bad.”

The System let out an “omo”: [So President Yoon and Attack Dog Number Four are childhood friends? Hey, wait, if the three of them are such good friends, why is he trying to hook up with you? Is this the legendary fake friendship?]

Qi Huai smiled and didn’t speak.

He knew very well that business friendships were just for show. Whether they were real friends or fake friends all depended on how they chose to act when their interests conflicted. You couldn’t just listen to what they said.

Eun Chul-woo didn’t know what Qi Huai was thinking. He tilted his head and leaned in, whispering in his ear, “Since Actor Qi isn’t saying anything, I’ll take that as a yes. The way to repay the first favor is—accept my KKT request. If we want to have a long-term collaboration, it’s better to have a convenient way to contact each other. What do you think, Actor Qi?”

“Okay.”

Qi Huai smiled faintly and nodded, agreeing so readily that it surprised Eun Chul-woo.

“What? Does Chairman Eun regret it?” Qi Huai took out his phone, signaling for Eun Chul-woo to enter his ID himself.

Eun Chul-woo burst out laughing. “…I thought you would refuse me.”

At the very least, he should have played hard to get a little before agreeing. Didn’t expect him to be so straightforward. Won’t Yoon Nam-hyuk be angry? That guy’s temper isn’t exactly great.

What’s there to refuse? Qi Huai thought. It’s just a contact. I have the numbers of the guy who sells roasted chicken salad and the lady who sells kimbap downstairs. One more won’t hurt. Playing hard to get and giving you a chance to bother me is the worst strategy.

“Actor Qi, Assistant Yoo is looking for you.”

Across the hallway, Manager Byo Yoon-jung calmly waved her phone at Qi Huai, with an expression that said, I don’t want to, but I have no choice.

Eun Chul-woo smiled at Manager Byo, then leaned in and patted Qi Huai’s shoulder. “A pleasure working with you. I won’t disturb you… Remember to accept your lifesaver’s friend request. Actor Qi still owes me a favor. See you next time~”

With that, Eun Chul-woo left.

The System muttered: [Hero saves… cough, saves the handsome man, hits on him, asks for his contact info… Maybe Korean guys have eaten too much instant noodles (pào miàn) and pickled kimchi (pào cài), how did they get so good at hitting (pào) on people?² It’s baffling.]

Qi Huai ignored the System. He looked up at Manager Byo’s teasing expression and thought, Well, Yoon Nam-hyuk will definitely know about this now.

It turned out Qi Huai was right.

After the audition, all the artists went their separate ways. Qi Huai and the others also got on the company bus. Not long after he got home, he received a message from Yoon Nam-hyuk for the first time in a long while.

「Yoon Nam-hyuk: How was the audition?」

This was the first time Yoon Nam-hyuk had messaged him since their “great battle” in the restroom.

Qi Huai couldn’t help but smile. 「I think it was successful, but I’m not sure which role.」

「Yoon Nam-hyuk: Is that so? The other artists are still waiting for a notification, and you already know the result right after your audition ^^?」

From the passive-aggressive text, Qi Huai could guess that his face was probably contorted in a grimace on the other side of the screen.

He won’t reply to messages, but he’ll get jealous.

He’ll close his eyes before a kiss, but refuse to admit it afterwards.

Drugging, pulling down pants, touching abs… President Yoon did all of that with his own hands. When he was being spanked on the bed, he was resisting and enjoying it at the same time. But once he was out of that room, he started pretending it never happened.

Not only does he not answer my questions, but he also sends someone to threaten to confiscate my phone. Should I call President Yoon a cold and violent scumbag?

Qi Huai knew exactly what Yoon Nam-hyuk wanted to ask, but he didn’t answer his question directly. Instead, he asked back, 「Isn’t President Yoon giving me the silent treatment? Why are you contacting me just to ask this?」

「Yoon Nam-hyuk: ?」
「Yoon Nam-hyuk: Who’s giving you the silent treatment?」

「Qi Huai: I message you, and you don’t reply, only having Assistant Yoo relay messages. Isn’t President Yoon the one who hasn’t contacted me for half a month?」

「Yoon Nam-hyuk: I am the president! Does the president need to talk to the company’s artists every day? Even if you’re a foreigner, you can’t be unreasonable, you know?」
「Yoon Nam-hyuk: Also, why aren’t you answering my question? How do you know the audition result? Feeling guilty?」

「Qi Huai: Oh.」

「Yoon Nam-hyuk: Oh?」
「Yoon Nam-hyuk: Is that the attitude to have when talking to the president?」

「Qi Huai: Then what attitude should I have? What attitude should an artist have towards the president? And what attitude should the president have towards an artist?」
「Qi Huai: Does President Yoon have a relationship with every artist where you’ve touched, held, and kissed them in bed, and had scandals with them?」
「Qi Huai: Have you come in their hands too?」

Hey—!

Yoon Nam-hyuk slammed both his hands on the table with a loud bang. His fair face instantly turned bright red, like a burning charcoal briquette, his ears practically steaming.

Assistant Yoo, who was standing nearby, jumped in fright.

Yoon Nam-hyuk, whether from rage or embarrassment, was trembling down to his fingertips, his replies illogical and frantic.

「When have I ever done that with anyone else!」
「Hey! Is that what we’re talking about!」
「Are you deliberately changing the subject!」
「Shibal! When did I ever kiss you!」

It was a long moment before Qi Huai replied: 「We haven’t had the chance to kiss yet. We’ll talk about it next time.」

Just one light, breezy sentence.

Yoon Nam-hyuk was so thoroughly baited that his whole body felt hot.

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1. ¹wú shì bù dēng sānbǎo diàn (无事不登三宝殿): A Chinese idiom that literally means “one doesn’t visit the temple of the Three Treasures for no reason.” It’s used to say that someone only visits or gets in touch when they want something. ↩︎
2. ²Hitting on people (泡/pào): The original text makes a pun on the word “pào,” which can mean “to steep/soak” (as in “pào miàn” for instant noodles or “pào cài” for kimchi/pickled vegetables) and also “to hit on/flirt with someone.” The System is sarcastically wondering if eating so many “pào” foods has made Korean guys good at “pào-ing” (hitting on) people. ↩︎