Entertainment Life With A Camera

Chapter 202:

They were digging into you.

Lawyer Jeong Yeon-jae of Seo & Woo Law Firm received a phone call after staying late at the office.

Hey, Ian.

(Hello, uncle. How have you been?)

Im busy with work, how about you?

(Im doing well, too. Are you free right now?)

Lawyer Jeong felt suspicious about why Ian called.

He must want something from me.

He would have gotten updates on the lawsuit through his agency, so he probably didnt call to ask about that.

Dont worry, I have time for my nephew. What is it? Just tell me.

(I want to invest in something, can you help me?)

Invest? Sure, thats not hard.

Lawyer Jeong rolled his pen and wrote down some things that came to his mind on a memo.

(Thank you, Ill pay you back.)

Hey, its not a big deal, why are you so

(No, this kind of thing needs careful calculation.)

Youre just like your grandfather in that regard.

Lawyer Jeong chuckled softly.

Did he remember what I said before?

He wondered if he had given him false hope, but he also had a strange feeling that Ian would do well.

Hmm, Ill find you a good investment company or agent.

(Thank you very much.)

This is nothing. But, are you starting to invest?

(Let me try.)

Ian recalled his memories from his Kim Yong-min days, but he didnt know much information except for some major events since he wasnt interested in watching them back then.

Fortunately, Jin was well-informed about this kind of thing. He decided to use the changed Jin to his advantage.

Dont overdo it.

(Of course, Im my. grandfathers grandson.)

Right, he must have taught you well. Okay, Ill try my best for you.

(Okay, see you again with uncle.)

Sure, see you later.

Ian leaned back on his chair after hanging up. He was worried about his nationality, but luckily he was classified as a foreigner with domestic treatment and had no trouble investing.

I took the first step.

He couldnt get involved directly because of his busy schedule. He was glad he had someone to help him.

Making money is just the beginning, its not my priority.

Jin echoed his sentiment.

[You cant ignore your connections.]

Thats right.

What should I do? Ians eyes sparkled.

***

The shooting for the advertisement was almost over. The members of AWY used their day off to meet the members of MyKit as a group.

Hey, theyre here. Here!

Long time no see.

MyKit, who were waiting for AWY at the restaurant, waved their hands happily.

You came early?

Were seeing our superstar after a long time, we have to wait in advance.

Oh, stop it.

Jo Tae-woong took off his mask and smiled slightly at Kim Cheolmins teasing.

Unlike AWY, who were wrapped up in inconspicuous clothes, hats, and masks, MyKit were relatively lightly dressed.

Wow, look. Isnt that AWY?

Awesome.

Despite the partition, some customers recognized AWY. Someone was taking pictures from behind.

Did you guys do well? You went to Japan, right?

Lee Joo-hyuk tried to ignore the peoples stares and asked. MyKits faces darkened.

We came back for a while. We have to go again.

Really?

Park Seo-dam stopped drinking water and exclaimed. As the coronavirus situation calmed down a bit, MyKits agency tried to make some money from their Japan activities and sent them back to the underground life.

They want us there

We cant help it.

MyKits leader, Jung Ji-soo, smiled bitterly and changed the topic.

Ian, your drama teaser came out, right?

Right, I saw it.

The E-Flix drama that Ian had filmed, Z-Day, was scheduled to be released early next year after a long editing process.

Kim Chul-min recited Ians line from the trailer. He must have tried to act, but it was very clumsy.

Hey, Chul-min. Seriously, dont ever act.

Why not!

Kim Chul-min and Kim Ju-young bickered while the other members chatted with each other in the background.

Ian also listened to Kim Chul-min and Park Seons conversation while sitting across from them and politely declined the requests from people who asked him to take pictures.

I should get a license or something like Ju-young. Im done with the entertainment industry.

Why?

Kim Chul-min sighed and said. Ian and Kim Ju-young looked up.

I feel like Im just going to be a mediocre deep-sea idol.

[He suddenly got serious.]

Ian wanted to argue that they were not deep-sea idols, but he knew it would be useless. He silently ate his food and listened to them.

Our company is not a good one to renew the contract with, and I dont know if any other company will take me.

Really?

Thats not to say Im a golden spoon either. I think I need to learn some skills now.

Debuting as an idol meant sacrificing the time of your teens and twenties without any guarantee of success, so it was a risky choice.

I know how you feel

Ian smiled bitterly.

There were cases where people debuted within a year of becoming a trainee, but they were not many.

Usually, they entered as trainees from a young age, and the agencies preferred young trainees, so it was even more so.

They spent several years as trainees, but they either failed to make it to the debut group or the company did not have the resources to debut them, so the debut schedule was canceled. That was the first hurdle to debut.

I dont know about Japan either. How long can we survive as underground idols? There are so many idols there too

They barely managed to debut, but the agency only supported them for about two years. If they did not perform better than the agency expected, they would either abandon them to focus on the next debut group or for some other reason.

We cant even do things like Youtube because were tied to the contract.

You know whats funny? Our company doesnt even allow us to work part-time?

Wow.

And depending on the contract terms, they could be legally bound to not do anything other than idol activities.

Usually, the artist contract was seven years, and if they were men, they had to go to the military, so they could only start anew in their thirties. But by then, they had nothing to show for and nothing to learn, so it was a difficult time.

I guess we should be glad that we can at least tour in Japan I dont know.

Im thinking of trying something like a heavy equipment operator, maybe I can buy one when we tour in Japan?

But our company never mind.

Ian in his Kim Yong-min days had endured stubbornly, but most people gave up on the entertainment industry and looked for other jobs.

You guys are lucky.

Honestly, I thought you would do well. Youre all talented.

Kim Chulmin and Park Seon smiled bitterly. Ian and Kim Ju-young, who were listening from across the table, had nothing to say.

Kim Ju-young thought that it could have been his future as well and became lost in thought. Ian felt awkward.

***

As they moved to the second place, Ian received a call from lawyer Jeong Yeon-jae.

Yes, uncle.

(Hello, Ian. You know the favor you asked me before? I found a good person for you.)

Thank you so much.

(It turns out he has a connection with your grandfather too. Hell take good care of you.)

Really?

Grandpa, who are you?

Anyway, it was good news. Ian smiled brightly.

(Anyway, he liked you when I told him about you. He said to leave it to him.)

Then lets have a meal together sometime. The schedule can I contact you later?

(Sure.)

He had become Choi Ian and thought he only had his face and body to thank for, but he also had the luck and background of his family.

Hes lucky.

[Does he really have the luck of saving the country?]

Ian hung up the phone and was about to enter the restaurant with a light step when he saw Park Seon smoking a cigarette in the alley next to him.

Did you smoke before?

No. I just started recently.

He looked lonely smoking alone, so Ian stood next to Park Seon and looked at the small sky between the alleys.

Actually, I dont think our company is in a good situation.

How come?

Accounting is delayed.

Isnt that a bit serious?

Ian frowned. He couldnt do anything else while accounting was delayed.

What was their agency again?

[ST Entertainment.]

Dont you remember anything?

[No.]

He searched his past memories, but he had no recollection of ST Entertainment or MyKit. Jin tried to recall something with a mechanical sound, but nothing came up.

[Maybe you had a glitch, but you got better later. So you dont remember?]

Is that so?

Ian wasnt sure, but he trusted Jins judgment. He had a lot of information, after all. But he still felt uneasy.

Well, even if its delayed, some money came in, so itll be fine this time too.

It wasnt even the first time this happened. Ian sighed as Park Seon finished his cigarette and exhaled the last smoke.

Im sorry to say this when were meeting after a long time. I have nowhere else to talk to You guys are the only ones. The people who keep in touch with us

Park Seons nice guy strategy that caught attention at the Arimpyc lasted for about half a year and then faded quickly. He was only called when his rude character was needed. After he resumed his activities in Japan, even that was gone.

Its okay, were friends.

Ian had also gone through a slump in the past, so he didnt feel like Park Seons situation was someone elses problem.

Park Seons expression brightened a bit at Ians answer. He felt sorry for complaining to the AWY members who treated him the same even after they became world-famous.

We may not say it, but were all grateful to you.

What are you thankful for? Its obvious. Arent we all waiting? Lets go in.

Ian tapped Park Seons arm. As they were about to enter the restaurant, Park Seon grabbed Ians shoulder.

Wait, Ian. Do you know a reporter named Yang In-jun?

Yeah. Why? Did something happen?

Yang In-jun. The FactPix reporter who offered him a sponsorship and then sent him a weird text message when he refused.

He called me out of the blue and asked me about you. In a bad way.

Really? What did he ask?

About drinking, women, that kind of stuff. So I just hung up. It felt like I shouldnt answer anything.

Ians face hardened in an instant. Park Seon hurriedly added.

I didnt say anything wrong, did I? I dont know whats going on, but I thought you should know.

No, it was really helpful. Thanks for telling me. Hes a FactPix reporter. Theres nothing good about getting involved with him.

Wow.

Park Seon scowled.

It must be hard to be famous. Having such a reporter on your tail.

Be careful too. You never know.

What would he be interested in a loser like me? Ill let you know if he contacts me again about you.

Thanks.

Park Seon said that and went inside the restaurant. Jo Taeung was scolding him for being late.

Ian followed him and sat down in an empty seat. The AWY members noticed the bad mood and didnt try to talk to him.

Jin.

[Yeah.]

Anything else useful? Give me more info.

Yang In-jun, that guy. He didnt like him from the first time he saw him. What was he up to this time?

I need to speed up the plan.