Chapter 130: Invitation to the Trap

“Money came in?”

“Of course, who do you think I am? I got a full year’s worth deposited right away. Hehehe.”

Yongmin’s friend who was working with him smiled contentedly as he looked at the account on his smartphone.

“Hey, wanna hear something funny?”

“What?”

“Those guys, since the number of students here is increasing, they think this is a good academy and strut around proudly. Puhaha!”

He couldn’t hold back his laughter even as he told the story, finding it hilarious himself.

“Totally idiots.”

“Just idiots? Complete top-tier morons. Aren’t they the ones missing something upstairs?”

Even though they were the victims they had deliberately deceived, they felt no guilt at all and were busy mocking them instead.

“Hey, but…… I think it’s time we wrap this up soon.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

Yongmin couldn’t understand why they should fold when things were going so well.

“Some guys seem to have caught the scent.”

“Scent?”

“The number of punks questioning and getting suspicious is increasing one by one, and it’s bothering me.”

“Then just quietly take care of those punks. No need to fold entirely, right?”

It was too wasteful to quit the business when they were raking in money like this.

“You idiot, if the tail is long, it gets stepped on.”

“Still, it’s a shame right now. I have meetings with two more next week.”

They looked dumb and easy to hook, so it was regrettable to let them go like this.

“Then let’s do just up to there.”

“Aish— Still a waste though.”

Yongmin still had lingering regrets.

“Didn’t you see in dramas how they get caught after ‘just one more, just one more’?”

“Dramas…… You were the type to chicken out over that stuff?”

“What?”

His friend frowned, clearly annoyed at Yongmin’s words that seemed to call him a coward.

“That’s all just dramas. The cops? Hey, they have zero interest in us.”

“Hah……”

“Honestly, at our level, it’s small potatoes. Those running reading rooms or drugs, voice phishing guys take in billions a month.”

Yongmin rationalized by comparing themselves to crime organizations hauling in billions.

“Aren’t we conscientious compared to that? Plus, we do give acting lessons.”

The so-called acting lessons were just bringing in anyone to blabber knowingly, but Yongmin thought they’d done enough at this level.

“Hah, this guy’s gone crazy over money. They say when poor folks taste money, this happens.”

“What, am I doing this just to make money alone? Anyone would think you’re doing free volunteer work.”

“Fine. Fine. I’ll just snag those two and bail, so you do whatever.”

His friend decided, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it as he spoke, while Yongmin racked his brain hard.

“Ah~ It’d be a problem if that guy bails.”

Originally, he was the one who came up with the idea, set up the acting academy, dummy accounts, and all the basics.

In fact, all Yongmin had done here was use his few months of agency experience to meet aspiring actors and talk them up.

“Okay, got it. Let’s do up to there. Might as well have a proper hocance overseas or something.”

It seemed better to stick with that guy and do the next job together rather than going solo.

“Okay. Then……”

“But before that, let’s do one thing.”

“Huh?”

“I have someone I need to pay back a debt to.”

Yongmin had something he’d been keeping in mind for a while.

“Now it’s time to return it.”

What Hyunjae had done to him.

***

“Hyung, I’ll report it.”

“Huh? You?”

“Yes, there’s someone I need to repay a favor to.”

Last time, thanks to Jintaek, I met Woodeuk and could send Jungwoo away, and coincidentally, this good opportunity came up.

“Still, as a celebrity…… Wouldn’t it be better if I or the company does it?”

Hayoon seemed worried about me getting involved in this.

“It’s fine. He’s trustworthy.”

From previous experience, I knew what kind of person Jintaek was.

“Still……”

“And anyway, if reported, my name will come out naturally.”

Since comments about me attending an acting academy came out, when the case breaks, people will quickly figure out which celebrity is involved.

“Will it be okay?”

“We didn’t do anything wrong, so no need to hide this much.”

No need to hide just because it gets known, even though I’m the victim.

“Let’s go do our broadcast first.”

“When did time…… Yeah. Hurry.”

We rushed back to the waiting room and ran into the assistant director in the hallway.

“Huh? I was on my way to get you.”

“Haha, figured, so I was heading there.”

“Then let’s go right away.”

We moved straight to the set.

“Hello~”

“Ah.”

Seeing Aina’s face reminded me I hadn’t checked the note.

“I’ll check it later.”

For now, broadcast first, so I seriously finished the rehearsal and the show.

“Bye~”

“Congratulations!”

After announcing the No. 1, we came down from the stage, and Aina was no different from usual.

“Maybe just a thank-you greeting?”

Thinking it might be nothing special, I changed into casual clothes.

“Let’s hurry and leave!”

Yerin happily packed up quickly for leaving, and we exited the broadcasting station.

“Tomorrow’s Collision shoot starts at 5…… After returning clothes, I can rest a bit! Yes~”

“Haha, that happy?”

While walking, Yerin cheered alone.

“Of course. You should only do works like Collision.”

“Why?”

“No hair, no makeup, and clothes just need to be inconspicuous, so super easy.”

“I like that too.”

Shorter prep time is good for me.

“Haa~ Sad that such good days won’t last long…… Huh?”

Yerin, who was talking enthusiastically, turned her head to the appeared person, and there was an uninvited guest.

“Hyung, what brings you?”

It was none other than Yongmin, and Hayoon, knowing what kind of person he is, blocked in front of me warily.

“Haha, came to see you. What else.”

“Me?”

“Saw you MC well.”

“Ah, yes well……”

His unusually friendly behavior was highly suspicious.

“No~ Actually, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor……?”

“Yeah, not hard. I run an acting academy, so come to our academy and say some good words to the students.”

Just hearing it, not a hard favor.

But knowing the academy isn’t normal, I had no reason to go.

“Won’t take much time. Like 30 minutes? I’ll pay proper lecture fee, so come once.”

“Sorry, but such things……”

Hayoon tried to stop Yongmin, but I was faster.

“Got it.”

“Really?”

Yongmin looked slightly surprised, not expecting me to agree so readily.

“We have a connection, so 30 minutes is doable.”

“Hahat, yeah thanks! Knew you’d have loyalty!”

“Hyunjae……”

Hayoon sent worried looks, but I winked it’s fine.

“Then send the address. Where’s the academy?”

I naturally asked for the address, and Yongmin kindly told me.

“When should I come?”

“Sunday at 6 okay?”

Sunday is two days later.

“Yes, seems fine.”

“I’ll roll out the red carpet~ So come carefully!”

Having achieved his goal, he left smiling brightly, and I waved at him going.

“What? Who? What acting academy?”

Yerin, knowing nothing, wondered the situation, and Hayoon was serious with worry.

“Come~ Hurry get in. We gotta leave, us.”

After dropping Yerin first to return clothes, when alone with Hayoon, he spoke first.

“Hyunjae, no matter how I think, going there is too dangerous……”

“I know. That it’s dangerous.”

I wasn’t unaware it’s 100% a trap.

If just to use my fame, would’ve asked for photo or autograph.

Why ask to come directly, high chance of refusal?

“Then why say you’ll go?”

“I’m not going. Why would I go there.”

Who knows what I’d face going.

“Whaa? Then why tell that guy you’ll go earlier?”

“I can’t go, but I can send someone else.”

***

“Who?”

“A hyung I have deep ties with.”

The Pro Actor Academy.

Near the subway, but in such an old, barely noticeable mall that you’d wonder if such a place existed.

-Hey, aren’t you making this too big?

“It’s fine. That punk doesn’t know what I’m doing anyway.”

Yongmin confidently said while on call with his friend.

“On the surface, no issues, how would he know.”

Even if she boldly went in and out of the broadcasting station and they only talked at a café, Hyunjae would have absolutely no way of knowing.

Plus, this acting academy had nothing suspicious at all.

-Still, he’s a celebrity now, probably cautious, will he really come?

“No, he’ll come. 100%.”

He was the guy who looked down on me.

So coming today must be to check how well I’m doing.

-What confidence?

“I know that guy a bit.”

At Yongmin’s words, a snort came from the other end.

-Yeah, do as you please. Just don’t get caught.

“How would that bastard know? Honestly, the ones in front are aspiring actors, right? Don’t worry.”

“Ah? Hehe.”

It was funny calling those clueless old fogeys aspiring actors.

-Aspiring actors are…… for the fallen ones.

“Yeah? Don’t worry, I’ll hand over to that punk and wrap up properly.”

Tomorrow the academy would vanish like dust, and Yongmin had a plane ticket booked for tomorrow.

“All on Jeong Hyunjae.”

Show Jeong Hyunjae to them today, and when they disappear, all arrows would point to Jeong Hyunjae.

That was Yongmin’s plan.

-Yeah, wrap up well, contact me.

“Yeah, don’t worry, see you at airport tomorrow.”

After ending the call, Yongmin entered the space roughly labeled “Practice Room” with marker, and there were people from late 30s to early 50s.

“Now~ Everyone, my little brother will arrive soon. If you have questions, think ahead.”

“Thanks to CEO, seeing a celebrity this close.”

“My first time seeing a celebrity in person, so nervous!”

“Hehehe, not meeting a girlfriend, why nervous?”

They were excited at the thought of meeting a celebrity, and a cheerful atmosphere flowed.

“Ah, but there, seems you didn’t pay the 300,000 won observation fee today.”

“Sorry. I could only prepare 200,000 won……”

“Tsk~ This is tricky…… My treat! I’ll specially cover 100,000 won, so just give 200,000 won.”

“CEO, thank you!”

Even though the money would all come to him anyway, he pretended to cover 100,000 won, and the other bowed in thanks.

Knock— Knock—

The moment he pocketed the 200,000 won, a knock sounded.

“Timing perfect. I’ll bring the celebrity, wait a bit.”

Yongmin excitedly ran to the entrance and opened the locked door.

“Was it hard to find…… Who are you?”