Chapter 22
Nod.
My heavy head drooped forward.
I quickly slapped my face with both hands.
Slap. Slap. Slap.
Mom lifted me into her arms, her face full of pity.
"Seong-guk, are you sleepy?"
[I'm sleepy, but I can't fall asleep.]
I shook my head side-to-side (doridori).
"Seong-guk, Mommy will put you to sleep."
[What are you talking about! I told you I can't sleep.]
I quickly slipped out of Mom's embrace and started toddling around the room.
Right now, Mom, Kim Mi-yeong, and Dad were in the middle of a serious discussion about recruiting Im Seon-mi.
I couldn't miss this important adult conversation.
Dad's face showed worry foremost.
"If Im Seon-mi-ssi comes, setting aside the contract terms, can we even handle her?"
"First off, the manager Im Seon-mi-ssi works with has agreed to move together. There are about two projects currently under contract discussion, both just waiting for signatures on the contracts. She said she wants to sign those contracts as soon as she moves agencies."
Kim Mi-yeong explained the details of her communication with Im Seon-mi thoroughly.
Even though she only had a high school diploma, Kim Mi-yeong had cut her teeth at Samjeon Planning. When it came to work, she was solid.
"Instead of a signing bonus, she wants a 3-year contract term, with a 9:1 ratio split. Honestly, even 10% of Im Seon-mi-ssi's advertising, drama, or movie contract fees is a structure that allows our company, at its current scale, to make a sufficient profit."
Toddle, toddle.
I endlessly circled the room, nodding my head.
Im Seon-mi was shrewder than I thought.
In a situation where countless entertainers lived their whole lives with family members leeching off them, she had appropriately cut ties with her family and now seemed to be seriously preparing for her later years.
In three years, Im Seon-mi would be in her mid-to-late thirties.
In the early 90s, one of the set patterns in the entertainment industry was for actresses in their mid-to-late thirties to see their positions gradually diminish, eventually retiring upon marriage.
Dad looked at Kim Mi-yeong with a troubled expression.
"If this happens, we'll really become a proper company. We'll have to pay close attention, but honestly, I want to focus on doing my current job better."
"Honey."
Mom chimed in.
"How about I try working?"
"So-yeong-ah…"
Dad stared blankly at Mom for a moment.
"I graduated from commercial high school and worked in accounting, remember? I have what I learned throughout three years of high school, and though brief, I have work experience too. I can understand and manage the company's finances. If Unni [referring to Kim Mi-yeong] handles the external affairs like she does now, I think I can take care of the company's housekeeping."
Mom had a certain determination.
Kim Mi-yeong added.
"Seong-guk's father, think about it. I think it's a good suggestion. We need an employee to handle the company finances anyway if we bring Im Seon-mi in, and there's no one more trustworthy than Seong-guk's mother."
"Honey, I want to work."
Mom gently coaxed Dad.
"What about Seong-guk and Min-guk?"
[Don't worry about me. I can even change my own diapers now.]
"We have that auntie who sometimes watches Min-guk, don't we? From what we've seen, she works well, and Min-guk likes her, so I think we can trust her."
"It's an age when kids need a lot of attention…"
Dad's face hardened.
I toddled over and pretended not to notice as I smacked Dad's back. Thwack!
[Dad, snap out of it. For this family to get on its feet, dual income is basic.]
"Seong-guk, don't do that."
Dad easily lifted me into his arms.
A three-year-old was absolutely no match for the strength of a young father still in his twenties.
"So-yeong, I understand how you feel, so let's take some time and think about it seriously."
"Please do. Honestly, until the contract is stamped, nobody knows for sure. Even if the Im Seon-mi contract goes through, it won't be too late to start working then."
"Wow, just thinking about working makes my heart pound. I should dig out my old study materials again."
Mom looked quite excited.
Im Seon-mi faced Shin Seong-jung with a poker face.
Shin Seong-jung's face was flushing red.
"Seon-mi, you can't do this to me."
"What do you mean, I can't?"
"I took you in and raised you when you were struggling, and now you're saying you won't renew the contract?"
"Regarding taking me in and raising me during hard times, I believe my guarantees have more than repaid that debt."
"Hmph-."
Shin Seong-jung finally snorted contemptuously.
Then he leaned forward.
Im Seon-mi watched Shin Seong-jung leisurely, arms crossed.
It was too obvious what cards Shin Seong-jung was about to play.
"Seon-mi, listen here. Do you know what happens if I just open my mouth?"
"..."
Im Seon-mi waited persistently for Shin Seong-jung's next words.
"You know. If I spread those gossip flyers (jjirasi) all over the financial district…"
"I can no longer work with you, CEO Shin, who works so dirtily."
"Hey! Do you know who I am?"
"I do. Of course. The day those flyers are spread anywhere, CEO Shin, you won't be able to survive in this industry either. Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyeong won't stand by and watch me, an exclusive Samjeon model, fall into a filthy cesspool. You know, don't you? How Jeonsin Planning, which got on Samjeon Group's bad side, collapsed. There isn't a single program in South Korea that doesn't carry Samjeon Electronics advertisements."
Shin Seong-jung was speechless.
Instead of words, he clenched his fists tightly.
Jeonsin Planning had failed to suppress an actress's drug scandal while she was an exclusive model for the Samjeon Group.
That incident damaged the Samjeon Group's image, leading to a lawsuit for damages that completely dismantled the agency.
Im Seon-mi calmly stood up from her seat.
It was a moment where the Chanel tweed jacket and skirt she wore today truly shone.
"CEO Shin, thank you for everything until now. And I hope you're still the CEO of Shinseong Planning the next time we meet."
"What?"
An enraged Shin Seong-jung stood up to follow, but Im Seon-mi simply turned her back and walked out of the Shinseong Planning CEO's office.
Then, the corners of her mouth turned up.
Finally, she was free from the detestable Shin Seong-jung.
The thought crossed Im Seon-mi's mind that perhaps all of this was thanks to Seong-guk.
None of this would have been possible if she hadn't met Seong-guk.
July 4, 1994.
The front page of the sports newspaper carried the news of Im Seon-mi's contract renewal.
Moves to New Agency SKJ!
SKJ is the One-Man Agency of Jeon Seong-guk, Star of 'Five Men and a Baby Basket'!>
The heat was already intense.
I stared blankly at Mom and Kim Mi-yeong, who were setting up the office.
*[Why do my armpits keep sweating?] *
I lifted my armpits and dried them in front of the fan.
Mom and Kim Mi-yeong were trying to arrange the desks this way and that.
"Unni, people will be shocked speechless if they find out Im Seon-mi's new agency doesn't even have a proper office."
"Do people like us who work freely really need an office? Besides, what kind of office is this? It's just a one-room apartment we cleared out in our building."
"Thanks to that, I'm so happy I can work near the children."
So, my very first agency office was a one-room unit (wonrum) in the multi-family building where I lived.
A tenant happened to be moving out, and it was an appropriate choice to lessen the worries of Dad, who constantly fretted about Min-guk and me.
Placing desks and chairs in the one-room, along with a table, made it look roughly like an office.
Mom saw me drying my armpits open to the fan and smiled faintly.
"Seong-guk, isn't the office cool?"
Doridori (Shake head 'no').
[Was that too blunt? I should boost Mom's spirits.]
Kkeudeokkkeudeok (Nod head 'yes').
"Unni, it seems Seong-guk likes it too."
"Seong-guk, beginnings are supposed to be humble for the future to be great."
*[I wouldn't know about those so-called humble beginnings, Manager Kim, I've never experienced them. Anyway, aren't you installing an air conditioner? The summer of 1994 is the worst heatwave!] *
Mom and Kim Mi-yeong were also sweating buckets.
"Unni, it's really hot this summer, isn't it?"
"It's only early July, I worry how much hotter it will get if it's already like this."
Ring-ring. Ring-ring. Ring-ring.
"Unni, the phone!"
Mom pointed at the phone, startled.
"That's Seong-guk's mom's responsibility from now on."
"Ah, right."
Mom hurriedly answered the phone.
"Hello. This is SKJ Agency. Yes. I'll check the schedule for Friday evening, July 8th, and call you back."
Click.
Mom hung up the phone and placed a hand over her surprised heart.
"Unni, I just received a call from the Samjeon Electronics Planning Department."
"What is it about?"
"They said July 8th is Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyeong's eldest son's birthday. They're having a birthday party in the evening at the Samjeon Hotel Diamond Hall, and they're asking for Seong-guk to come."
July 8th was the birthday of Jeon Tae-guk, the one who could never even catch up to my heels in my entire life.
I crossed my arms.
*[Who do they think they are, ordering me around like this? I'm not going! Absolutely not!] *
Kim Mi-yeong took out her planner and checked the schedule.
"Seong-guk has a clothing photoshoot next week, so Friday should be fine. I'll try to coordinate the time and the hourly pay."
[Hey, Manager Kim. I said I'm not going!]
As I mumbled, Kim Mi-yeong pinched my cheek as if I were cute.
[Manager Kim, don't touch my body.]
"Aww, how cute. Seong-guk, I'll specially order that jajangmyeon you like that day."
[Jajangmyeon?]
Gulp.
Embarrassingly, the sound of my swallowing was loud.
I hate Jeon Tae-guk, but I want to eat jajangmyeon.
I gripped my brow with my short fingers.
[Jajangmyeon or Jeon Tae-guk. That is the question.]
"Unni, speaking of which, we need to eat lunch too. How about Chinese food?"
[Mom, I want jajang.]
I shot my hand up.
"Seong-guk can share jajangmyeon with Mom."
[Mom, I eat a whole bowl by myself now.]
Just then, the doorbell rang, and Im Seon-mi's voice was heard.
"Is this the famous SKJ Agency?"
"Oh my, welcome."
Mom greeted Im Seon-mi brightly.
"You came at a perfect time. We were just about to eat lunch. Seon-mi-ssi, is Chinese food okay?"
"I start filming a movie next month. I'm on a diet. I just came to drop this off. It's a money tree (Geumjeonsu). Both I and SKJ Agency need to hit it big from now on, right?"
Mom quickly accepted the money tree.
"Thank you."
Im Seon-mi spotted me pouting and came over.
"Seong-guk, you're hot, aren't you?"
I deliberately sat in front of the fan with my armpits open.
[Seon-mi noona, can't you tell by looking at me sitting here with my armpits wide open in front of the fan?]
Im Seon-mi looked back at Mom.
"Seong-guk's mother, I'll gift you an air conditioner to celebrate the opening."
"It's alright. We've managed just fine with a fan all along."
[I've had enough of living without AC up till now. I've experienced plenty of commoner life, so just accept it, Mom!]
"I need to make a good impression, and just one money tree isn't enough, right? Actually, I already placed the order. This summer is so hot that the contracts are extremely backed up, so they said it would take a few days."
I gave Im Seon-mi a thumbs-up.
[I thought I was going to die from heat rash all over my body, what a relief. Thanks, Seon-mi noona.]
Kim Mi-yeong offered Im Seon-mi some cold barley tea.
"This won't affect your diet, so it's okay, right?"
"Of course. Oh, my next movie has a lot of regional filming, please take good care of things."
"Don't worry. I'm actually meeting the film company tomorrow to sort everything out, starting with accommodation."
"I'm fine with everything else, but I'm a bit sensitive about where I sleep."
"Of course, you should be sensitive. Sleep is the most important thing. Don't worry about things like that. If there's anything else I should look into, please tell me frankly. I need to know those things to take care of them."
"Okay then, I'll go home today, write some things down this evening, and call you early tomorrow morning."
"Yes!"
Kim Mi-yeong answered quite professionally now.
[Manager Kim, this is all thanks to me. So hurry up and order that jajangmyeon.]
"Seong-guk, it's morning. Time to wake up!"
[Ugh, I don't want to open my eyes.]
I tossed and turned.
If it weren't for the money, going to Jeon Tae-guk's birthday was something I hated more than death.
"Seong-guk, you need to wash your face and brush your teeth (chika)."
[No wanna. No wanna.]
I rubbed my sleepy eyes as much as possible.
While doing so, I nestled into Mom's embrace, something that had become familiar.
*[Haaah, Mom's embrace really is warm. Why didn't I know how good this was before I regressed?] *
Mom stroked my head with her hand.
"Seong-guk, do you want to rest at home today? They said Vice Chairman Jeon Jae-hyeong's son really wants to see you, but if you don't want to go, you can rest."
[Mom, what are you saying? It's 10 million won just to show my face. Never mind Jeon Tae-guk, I'd go to Kim Il-sung's birthday party across the 38th parallel. Ah, wait….]
At that moment, an event flashed through my mind.
The sweltering summer of 1994.
That was when North Korea's Kim Il-sung died.