Chapter 42: Do You Like Him?

Director Baek continued to tell the old story while eating barbecue: “At that time, I was revising the script and drawing the storyboards. You know how inspiration is, when it comes, it’s always messy. I was writing in a mix of Korean and English, just trying to get it all down to organize later. Because there were so many manuscripts, and the winter wind was strong, a gust would inevitably come in whenever the cafe door opened and closed. As luck would have it, the first page of my script just flew right in front of Mr. Robert…”

Walter Robert picked up the manuscript, saying, “I accidentally saw what was written on it, I’m so sorry,” but his eyes were glued to it, unable to look away.

After a moment of hesitation, the British gentleman stood in front of Baek Se-won and asked very politely, “Excuse me, are you writing a script? I saw the storyboards you drew. I’ve always wanted to invest a little in the film and television industry, so…”

The word “invest” instantly struck a chord with Baek Se-won. He immediately invited Robert to sit down, exchanged business cards with him, and then told him the story of the script.

The script was actually quite cliché, starting with love at first sight and ending with them being worlds apart. It was heart-wrenching, full of drama—a popular plot structure for that era.

In addition, there were the three controversial core themes of white x Asian, gentleman x cross-dresser, and male x male. If the investor was bold enough, it would be a very interesting film.

And so, Director Baek and the elegant British tycoon talked for a long time in the coffee shop. The other greatly admired his talent, praised the story, and even supported his focus on the cross-dressing community, writing him a check for fifty thousand pounds on the spot.

Fifty thousand pounds.

That was a huge sum of money at the time.

With that money, Director Baek spent a year assembling a team, finding actors, and shooting the first film of his life—Flying Flowers and Autumn Moon, a film with a shockingly large scale.

Although the film was only shown at his own school and some small cinemas due to its theme and scale, and eventually became a treasured possession of the British investor, Director Baek would never forget this kindness for the rest of his life.

Later, whenever Director Baek Se-won made a new film, he would send a videotape to him, and they would occasionally call each other to catch up.

A few years later, the tycoon adopted Eun Chul-woo from a Korean orphanage. When Director Baek found out, he would even mail some Korean toys and animation discs to Eun Chul-woo, which was also the reason why Eun Chul-woo and Director Baek had a good relationship.

Baek Se-won: “Later, when Robert passed away, my pen pal became little Chul-woo, haha. He learned Korean, and perhaps influenced by his father, he was very interested in the film and television industry. He first studied in the United States, and then came to Korea. It really feels like a lifetime ago.”

Kim Min-kyung blinked. “Why don’t you make films like this anymore, Director? Cross-dressers and all that, sounds very interesting.”

Baek Se-won sighed. “The me of today has been beaten into submission by the waves of society. What kind of themes to shoot, let’s just let the data from the research team speak. Otherwise, I really can’t afford to feed you guys who drink a bottle of soju with two plates of pork belly.”

Everyone roared with laughter, and the long-ago story came to an end.

Most of the people hearing this story for the first time were marveling at the wonders of fate. They thought, Eun Chul-woo’s adoptive father had kindly sponsored Baek Se-won back then, and even though the investment project didn’t make money, he still treated the Korean director with courtesy.

Twenty years later, Baek Se-won had become Eun Chul-woo’s cash cow. This must be karma, right?

Sowing the seeds of kindness and good fortune.

One generation plants the trees, and another gets the shade.

But only Qi Huai knew in his heart that the coincidences arranged by fate might contain a hint of irony.

Was Eun Chul-woo a natural-born cross-dresser? Was this hobby related to his adoptive father? Did Robert invest in Baek Se-won really for the sake of making money, or was he just attracted to the keyword “cross-dresser”? Most importantly, was Robert’s trip to Korea to adopt an Asian-blooded Eun Chul-woo related to seeing Baek Se-won’s film?

Was all of this a coincidence, or an ill-fated connection?

“Is everyone eating well?” Director Baek suddenly stood up, raised his glass, and looked around at everyone.

Everyone in the room shouted in unison, “Ne!”

Baek Se-won smiled and patted Eun Chul-woo’s shoulder. “With me and this moneybag here, we’ll make sure everyone eats well. But everyone has to work very seriously too.”

He continued, “This afternoon, you all introduced yourselves, and I briefly talked about the story of the script. Although there’s still some time before filming begins, and the script reading isn’t over, some characters still need to get familiar with each other in advance. For example, Actor Liang Dong-yuan and Actor Bian Tai-xian, you’re playing an adoptive father and son who have been together for over a decade. It won’t do if you’re still so polite when filming starts. You should live together for a while. Actor Liang’s house is a big villa, very spacious. Actor Bian, don’t be shy, just move right in. By the way, Actor Bian, can you cook?”

Bian Tai-xian quickly stood up and said, “Yes, Director. I can make kimchi stew, bean sprout soup, seafood pancake, and japchae.”

Director Baek: “Wow, very lavish. Good. Cook for Actor Liang for a few days, get close, understand?”

Bian Tai-xian: “Yes, sir!”

Director Baek: “And Min-kyung, you and Qi Huai.”

Kim Min-kyung still had his foxy smile. He discreetly glanced at Eun Chul-woo. “My house is also very big. Qi Huai is welcome to stay anytime.”

Eun Chul-woo looked down and poured himself a drink with a smile, as if he hadn’t heard.

Director Baek slapped Kim Min-kyung on the head. “What are you thinking? You two aren’t playing a father-son relationship. You’re superior and subordinate, superior and subordinate, understand? You’re too young to be playing a father.”

Kim Min-kyung protected his head. “Ah, Director, you can’t hit a man’s head. The hairstyle is key.”

Director Baek ha-ha-ha’d. “Qi Huai…”

Qi Huai smiled. “Yes, Director.”

Director Baek: “Before filming starts, be Min-kyung’s assistant for a few days.”

In the script of Evil Plan, although the young police officer Yuan Jae-seok was very dissatisfied with his new superior, Seo Sang-hyuk, who was sloppy, lazy, unmotivated, and always shirking his work, he did not slack off on the tasks assigned to him. On the contrary, he was very smart and serious, able to quickly understand what Seo Sang-hyuk wanted, and even exceed expectations.

It was precisely because of this that Seo Sang-hyuk, who was carrying a secret, gradually began to trust Yuan Jae-seok’s abilities and character, and revealed that he was investigating the secret of the collusion between the police department and the illegal organization.

So, for the week before filming began, the director hoped that Qi Huai could be Kim Min-kyung’s assistant for a few days, and that Kim Min-kyung would not be polite and would boss him around until Qi Huai could react to his needs subconsciously.

“Oh, right!” Baek Se-won slapped his forehead and asked Eun Chul-woo with a smile, “This is an actor from your rival company. Is it okay for him to be an assistant at RC for a few days? There won’t be any trade secrets, right?”

Eun Chul-woo smiled and said, “Director, please stop teasing me. As long as you need it, even if you ask me to be Min-kyung’s assistant, I will dedicate myself to art.”

Kim Min-kyung’s eyebrow twitched.

Baek Se-won was extremely satisfied and immediately asked Qi Huai when he would be free.

Qi Huai: “When do you need me, Director? I’m free anytime.”

“Oh, you two are just~”

Baek Se-won laughed heartily, his face beaming. “So likable! Let’s have a drink, everyone!”

And so, several pairs of actors who needed to get familiar with each other in advance were arranged by Director Baek.

The atmosphere at the dinner grew more and more lively. Towards the end, everyone was clearly no longer just drinking soju; they were drunk and would drink anything.

The owner brought out sake and whiskey in front of Director Baek, and also added grilled beef intestines, grilled beef heart, and spicy stir-fried octopus, even making a heart-shaped fried rice with cheese for everyone.

Qi Huai was very gentlemanly and talkative, with a very broad range of knowledge. Whether it was financial investment or overseas customs, whatever topic came up, he could always contribute a few words.

Baek Se-won liked him to no end. Even Actor Liang, who seemed very difficult to get along with, patted him on the shoulder and said he wanted to be his friend despite their age difference, praising him for his extensive knowledge and pleasant way of speaking, saying that chatting with him was a real pleasure.

Eun Chul-woo watched Qi Huai with a smile. He had to admit that besides his stunning face, Qi Huai had countless other merits.

For example, his conversation skills, personality, acting, and intelligence… his physique was also very good, and his voice was very pleasant to listen to. It seemed there was indeed a reason why the cold Yoon Nam-hyuk would like such a person.

Very charming.

No one would dislike him.

The boisterous dinner came to an end.

Some people with low alcohol tolerance were already snoring. Those who were still sober had to be responsible for sending the drunks home.

Qi Huai had always had a good tolerance for alcohol, but drinking a mix of different kinds of liquor like tonight inevitably made him feel a bit light-headed. And when the cold wind from outside blew on him, his head ached, and he felt even dizzier, and sleepy.

Baek Soo-kyung carefully approached him. “Qi Huai hyung, let’s go together. I didn’t drink much, I can take you home.”

The 19-year-old boy had a sweet smile and a gentle voice. His acting was improving rapidly. Most importantly, he was soaking up all the useful knowledge like a sponge.

The stories of Baek Se-won and Eun Chul-woo’s father tonight had greatly inspired him. This kind of “investment vision” was something his parents had never had, nor had they had the ability to teach him.

Everyone was right. Making connections was also a kind of investment. Those potential stocks were investment products, like Qi Huai.

Although they were contemporaries and might even have some competitive relationship, and they had had arguments and unpleasantness, Qi Huai had really helped him in the past.

He was a good actor, smart, and highly regarded by the directors. Even a big shot like Chairman Eun, who had seen countless Best Actors and Actresses and had no need to flatter a small-time actor, had praised Qi Huai’s acting as stunning.

If he started to get close to Qi Huai from today and became good friends with him, then when Qi Huai grew, would he be able to bring him more benefits?

Even…

He couldn’t help but think, if he could balance the relationship well, it wouldn’t be impossible to do something more intimate than friends with Qi Huai.

Didn’t Seok-jin sunbae also have many past sponsors? Sunbae would occasionally go out and spend the night with these sponsors, and Manager Tae would even send gifts to them. It didn’t seem like a bad thing.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, right?

Thinking of this, Baek Soo-kyung took the initiative to link his arm with Qi Huai’s, his voice gentle. “Let’s go, Qi Huai hyung. I’ll support you. When we get to your place, I can make you some hangover soup.”

Qi Huai rubbed his forehead and pulled his arm away. “Sorry, I…”

“Qi Huai, why didn’t you reply to the message I sent you last time?”

Eun Chul-woo suddenly appeared, his hand on Qi Huai’s shoulder. Baek Soo-kyung was stunned at his words. The tipsy Qi Huai was also a bit dazed. “Message? What message?”

Eun Chul-woo’s smile was helpless, as if he was very hurt. “I sent you a message after we added each other on KKT. Didn’t you see it? Are you that busy?”

Qi Huai thought back carefully and only then remembered that night when Yoon Nam-hyuk was having dinner at his place and had asked for his phone, saying he wanted to check it.

So Yoon Nam-hyuk saw the message Eun Chul-woo sent him? No wonder he brought up dinner and all that.

That guy didn’t delete the message, did he…

Qi Huai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He could only make an excuse. “Sorry, I probably had too many messages and didn’t notice.”

Eun Chul-woo smiled. “It’s okay. I’m not a petty person. But you have to give some compensation to the person who waited so anxiously for a reply, right? How about…”

Beep, beep.

A sudden honk.

A deep black Bentley slowly pulled up in front of the restaurant. The rear window rolled down, revealing Yoon Nam-hyuk’s cold, handsome face.

He glanced at Eun Chul-woo’s hand on Qi Huai’s shoulder, then at Baek Soo-kyung, who was trying to link arms with him. His voice was laced with ice. “Qi Huai, drunk out of your mind? Get in the car.”

With that, he immediately rolled up the window, not even bothering to greet Eun Chul-woo, Kim Min-kyung, or the others.

Assistant Yoo got out of the driver’s seat, his smile proper and polite. He greeted everyone at the door, then took the reeking-of-alcohol Qi Huai from the hands of Eun Chul-woo and Baek Soo-kyung. “As his manager, I will take care of Actor Qi. Thank you all for your hard work.”

Then, Assistant Yoo said to Baek Soo-kyung and the others, “President Yoon knew you were out for a dinner party and has specially arranged for cars to pick up everyone from Woosan Entertainment. You don’t need to take a taxi yourselves. Go on.”

As soon as he finished speaking, several more Bentleys pulled up in front of the restaurant. The black luxury cars gleamed, the drivers got out and opened the doors, waiting. The actors from Woosan Entertainment cheered and rushed forward. Only Baek Soo-kyung didn’t quite react, being dragged away by the other actors in a daze.

Once in the car, these Woosan artists excitedly created a group chat to discuss.

「Wasn’t there a rumor that Actor Qi and President Yoon’s relationship isn’t good? President Yoon actually came to pick him up in person?」
「The ‘not good’ part is just for show, right? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have arranged for his own assistant to be Actor Qi’s manager. That’s Assistant Yoo! A high-level talent who returned from studying abroad! Is he someone just anyone can boss around?」
「Could it be, as the rumors say, that they really are in that kind of relationship?」

Several people tagged Baek Soo-kyung. The actor in the same car as him even stared at him with bright eyes.

Baek Soo-kyung forced a smile and replied in the group chat: 「We did have the same manager in the past, but after Manager Choi left, I haven’t had much contact with Qi Huai hyung, so I don’t know much about these things. Sorry.」

At the restaurant entrance.

Eun Chul-woo, who was also watching Qi Huai leave, suddenly heard Kim Min-kyung’s slightly amused whisper in his ear, “What, do you like him?”