RACA 108

Because he suddenly came to the company and brought up the contract, Eunsol, who had thought President Kim just hadn’t had time to prepare, turned to Jaebeom as soon as they were alone.

“What’s this place? Do you know it, Jaebeom-ssi?”

“As you know, I’m the head of a bank. It’s important to select a company with strong financial resources and secure it in advance.”

Eunsol’s eyes narrowed slightly at Jaebeom’s completely different explanation. It wasn’t the answer he’d expected.

“We’ve known each other before. President Kim ran a club in Yeongdeungpo and Gangnam, and he used a lot of my money back then.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Eunsol nod. Their connection back to the club days made sense.

“But the investment this time wasn’t from the bank.”

“Then whose is it?”

“To be precise, it was Chairman Jang who did it.”

“The Chairman?”

Eunsol tilted his head, surprised by the unexpected name. Jaebeom’s eyes crinkled gently, finding his reaction adorable.

“Yeah. You know Chairman Jang likes you more than me, right?”

“That’s true.”

Eunsol was also acutely aware of how much Chairman Jang cared for him. He’d come to see him when he found out he was pregnant, and then showered him with gifts afterwards. When he was unconscious, he’d come to the hospital every day to see the newborn twins.

But Eunsol felt that Chairman Jang’s affection was more for the twins than for himself.

“That’s because you’re the one who held onto that disobedient, unruly son. So feel free to use him as you wish.”

Jaebeom said casually, as if joking.

“That’s like a drama protagonist.”

“Well, the version of me he knows is like that character.”

Eunsol felt a subtle sense of dissatisfaction. The Jaebeom he knew was more sincere and caring than anyone else, and someone who put others first. Yet, the image this world created for him was that of a sly alpha.

Bitterness washed over him as he realized that Jaebeom was being judged poorly because of his assigned role. Then, he was suddenly overcome with a sense of unease.

“Now that I think about it… …”

Eunsol looked at Jaebeom again.

“What?”

He met his gaze, seemingly oblivious. Or maybe he was so natural that it didn’t show.

‘No. The Pyo Jaebeom I know wasn’t sly and shameless.’

That was what felt strange. When his memories returned, he was clearly the actor he knew.

But gradually, the actor Pyo Jaebeom and the former gangster boss Pyo Jaebeom seemed to blend together, and now he felt closer to the latter.

“Jaebeom-ssi, are you still acting?”

“Hmm?”

“Just…”

He tried to point it out, but he couldn’t find the right words. Jaebeom, watching Eunsol hesitate, unsure of how to express himself, was the first to nod, saying, “Ah.”

“I told you before. What people see of me as an actor isn’t everything.”

Eunsol has heard that before. He said that with the popularity and the public’s attention, the agency deliberately created that kind of persona.

But how could he completely change his everyday behavior and habits?

“Then is this closer to your true self?”

Eunsol couldn’t help but look at him with suspicion. Aren’t drama roles ultimately just illusions?

“A person’s nature doesn’t change much. But their personality and behavior can change depending on their environment.”

“That’s true.”

Eunsol nodded, but something felt off.

“Think of it this way. The times we spent here were different, right? The me you remember in the dramas always had the same face…”

Jaebeom took a breath and looked at Eunsol directly.

“I grew up here. I’ve spent more than thirty years in this world. My memories came back, but the personality and habits ingrained in this body can’t be exactly the same as before.”

“But you still have your old memories.”

“Yes. But that’s closer to a past life to me. It’s the years I’ve lived here that have shaped me into who I am today. I’ve come too far for past memories to shake me now.”

Eunsol stared at him silently. His words made sense. Unlike before he lost his memories, Jaebeom was sly yet still affectionate. Yet, an inexplicable discomfort lingered in his chest.

As if reading his mind, Jaebeom asked,

“Do you not like me like this?”

“No.”

Eunsol answered instinctively, and the corners of his mouth twitched at Jaebeom’s smile. It was annoying. But then again, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“I like Jaebeom-ssi in every way.”

As he spoke firmly, Jaebeom’s smile deepened.

“See? So, acknowledge me for who I am now, not just as actor Pyo Jaebeom.”

“Ah…”

What could Eunsol do when he said that? He nodded, and Jaebeom kissed his lips, seemingly praising him for doing well.

He opened his mouth without realizing it, and Jaebeom tried to slip his tongue in. Just as the kiss was about to become more intense,

“Ahem!”

A sudden sound startled Eunsol, and he pushed Jaebeom’s chest. Jaebeom, who nearly fell backwards due to Eunsol’s lack of control, furrowed his eyebrows, but quickly sat up calmly.

“You’re here?”

His tone was calm, but there was a hint of criticism. President Kim pretended not to hear, but he was seething.

“Well, who told you to flirt in someone else’s precious office?”

He was already uncomfortable with him, and he hated the sight of him.

“Well then, Eunsol-ssi. Here’s the contract. Please review it carefully and sign or stamp the signature box below.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Eunsol, who had been in the entertainment industry for a long time but had never signed a formal contract before, nervously pulled the document closer.

“As you can see, the terms are much more favorable than those of a typical rookie. We’ll prioritize your opinion regarding the direction of our activities as well.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you. I’ll look into it first and let you know if I have any questions.”

It was reassuring to Eunsol, who had only heard stories of unfavorable contracts from agencies. He still carefully reviewed each item.

President Kim glanced at Jaebeom, who was watching Eundol, out of the corner of his eye. He worried he might interfere, but he simply sipped his coffee.

No, even while drinking coffee, he was ruffling Eunsol’s hair, stroking his shoulder, and playing with his ear.

‘Wow… This is the first time I’ve ever seen Pyo Jaebeom do something like that in my life.’

It felt like an unconscious expression of affection, he didn’t seem aware of it. What was surprising was that Eunsol just accepted it and focused solely on the contract. Just by looking at it, he could tell how strong their relationship was.

It was only then that President Kim realized for sure. There was someone else he needed to show off to right now.

‘Good thing I revised the contract.’

At first, he’d written it to please Pyo Jaebeom by leaning the terms toward Eunsol’s favor. But from the look of things now, he’d benefit anyway once Eunsol succeeded.

While President Kim was lost in thought, Eunsol was astonished at the contract’s favorable terms. The contract period was the same as everyone else’s.

The subtle difference is that the contract wouldn’t automatically extend during inactive periods.

‘That kind of clause is pure manipulation. They say it’s to protect the actor, but that’s nonsense!’

Not counting hiatuses as part of the contract term basically meant the actor would have no freedom to rest. Even if the actor was exhausted, the company could pressure them with the contract, leaving no choice.

‘The worst thing is how they use the term as leverage to control them. If the company doesn’t give them work, the contract period keeps getting extended, and they can’t go anywhere.’

Many actors were tied down like that, unable to properly pursue their careers, and eventually left the industry. However, the current contract lacked that automatic renewal clause.

And that wasn’t all. Eunsol received 60% of all profits from projects and advertising, and the company covered all deductions except for promotional expenses. Furthermore, Eunsol would have the first right to negotiate whether to accept a project.

“The conditions are better than I expected.”

Considering that he was a rookie with no experience, it was quite unconventional. However, there were still some concerns.

“Um… It says we’ll negotiate activity rights first. What does that mean?”

When Eunsol pointed to the item, President Kim explained.

“Oh… That means you can reject any projects you don’t want to work on.”

Eunsol’s eyes widened slightly. The right to choose projects you don’t want to do? He’d struggled to get projects until now, and he wasn’t in a position to turn them down.

“The company is even considerate of this.”

He was in awe.

“Why negotiate? They should just give you priority.”

The moment Jaebeom blurted out the question, President Kim twisted his lips in a resigned manner.